agent-approvals-security.md Codex Docs, 2026-05-07 20:02 UTC → 2026-05-14 07:00 UTC

121approvals_reviewer = "auto_review"121approvals_reviewer = "auto_review"

122```122```

123 123 

124For the full reviewer lifecycle, trigger conditions, configuration precedence,

125and failure behavior, see

126[Auto-review](https://developers.openai.com/codex/concepts/sandboxing/auto-review).

127 

124The reviewer evaluates only actions that already need approval, such as sandbox128The reviewer evaluates only actions that already need approval, such as sandbox

125escalations, network requests, `request_permissions` prompts, or side-effecting129escalations, blocked network requests, `request_permissions` prompts, or

126app and MCP tool calls. Actions that stay inside the sandbox continue without an130side-effecting app and MCP tool calls. Actions that stay inside the sandbox

127extra review step.131continue without an extra review step.

128 132 

129The reviewer policy checks for data exfiltration, credential probing, persistent133The reviewer policy checks for data exfiltration, credential probing, persistent

130security weakening, and destructive actions. Low-risk and medium-risk actions134security weakening, and destructive actions. Low-risk and medium-risk actions

131can proceed when policy allows them. The policy denies critical-risk actions.135can proceed when policy allows them. The policy denies critical-risk actions.

132High-risk actions require enough user authorization and no matching deny rule.136High-risk actions require enough user authorization and no matching deny rule.

133Timeouts, parse failures, and review errors fail closed.137Prompt-build, review-session, and parse failures fail closed. Timeouts are

138surfaced separately, but the action still does not run.

134 139 

135The [default reviewer policy](https://github.com/openai/codex/blob/main/codex-rs/core/src/guardian/policy.md)140The [default reviewer policy](https://github.com/openai/codex/blob/main/codex-rs/core/src/guardian/policy.md)

136is in the open-source Codex repository. Enterprises can replace its141is in the open-source Codex repository. Enterprises can replace its

139take precedence. For setup details, see144take precedence. For setup details, see

140[Managed configuration](https://developers.openai.com/codex/enterprise/managed-configuration#configure-automatic-review-policy).145[Managed configuration](https://developers.openai.com/codex/enterprise/managed-configuration#configure-automatic-review-policy).

141 146 

142In the Codex app, these reviews appear as automatic review items with a status such147In the Codex app, these reviews appear as automatic review items with a status

143as Reviewing, Approved, Denied, Stopped, or Timed out. They can also include a148such as Reviewing, Approved, Denied, Aborted, or Timed out. They can also

144risk level for the reviewed request.149include a risk level and user-authorization assessment for the reviewed

150request.

145 151 

146Automatic review uses extra model calls, so it can add to Codex usage. Admins152Automatic review uses extra model calls, so it can add to Codex usage. Admins

147can constrain it with `allowed_approvals_reviewers`.153can constrain it with `allowed_approvals_reviewers`.

148 154 

149### Common sandbox and approval combinations155### Common sandbox and approval combinations

150 156 

151| Intent | Flags | Effect |157| Intent | Flags / config | Effect |

152| ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |158| ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |

153| Auto (preset) | _no flags needed_ or `--sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval on-request` | Codex can read files, make edits, and run commands in the workspace. Codex requires approval to edit outside the workspace or to access network. |159| Auto (preset) | _no flags needed_ or `--sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval on-request` | Codex can read files, make edits, and run commands in the workspace. Codex requires approval to edit outside the workspace or to access network. |

154| Safe read-only browsing | `--sandbox read-only --ask-for-approval on-request` | Codex can read files and answer questions. Codex requires approval to make edits, run commands, or access network. |160| Safe read-only browsing | `--sandbox read-only --ask-for-approval on-request` | Codex can read files and answer questions. Codex requires approval to make edits, run commands, or access network. |

155| Read-only non-interactive (CI) | `--sandbox read-only --ask-for-approval never` | Codex can only read files; never asks for approval. |161| Read-only non-interactive (CI) | `--sandbox read-only --ask-for-approval never` | Codex can only read files; never asks for approval. |

156| Automatically edit but ask for approval to run untrusted commands | `--sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval untrusted` | Codex can read and edit files but asks for approval before running untrusted commands. |162| Automatically edit but ask for approval to run untrusted commands | `--sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval untrusted` | Codex can read and edit files but asks for approval before running untrusted commands. |

163| Auto-review mode | `--sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval on-request -c approvals_reviewer=auto_review` or `approvals_reviewer = "auto_review"` | Same sandbox boundary as standard on-request mode, but eligible approval requests are reviewed by Auto-review instead of surfacing to the user. |

157| Dangerous full access | `--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox` (alias: `--yolo`) | <ElevatedRiskBadge /> No sandbox; no approvals _(not recommended)_ |164| Dangerous full access | `--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox` (alias: `--yolo`) | <ElevatedRiskBadge /> No sandbox; no approvals _(not recommended)_ |

158 165 

159For non-interactive runs, use `codex exec --sandbox workspace-write`; Codex keeps older `codex exec --full-auto` invocations as a deprecated compatibility path and prints a warning.166For non-interactive runs, use `codex exec --sandbox workspace-write`; Codex keeps older `codex exec --full-auto` invocations as a deprecated compatibility path and prints a warning.