feat(FN-3731): add action-gate reload endpoint for reloadable exempt-tools

Adds a reload endpoint for action-gate exempt tools, exposing `POST /api/system/reload-exempt-tools` on the dashboard to hot-reload the engine's mutable EXEMPT_TOOLS registry without a restart. The endpoint is wired through `agent-action-gate.ts` with test coverage for reloadable behavior.

Fusion-Task-Id: FN-3731

.changeset/fn-3731-reloadable-exempt-tools.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@runfusion/fusion": patch
+---
+
+Add a runtime action-gate exempt-tools reload API so operators can refresh exemptions without restarting the engine process.

docs/agents.md

@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ Unknown/unclassified tool fallback:
 - In permanent-agent sessions, unknown tools default to `require-approval` (fail-safe).
 - Category `none` only yields `allow` when the tool is positively recognized as read-only.
 - Internal Fusion runtime coordination tools (heartbeat completion, task/agent coordination, messaging, evaluations, identity reflection, memory bookkeeping) are exempt by design and always allowed so permanent-agent heartbeats can complete.
+- Operators can reload the in-memory exempt-tool registry at runtime via `POST /api/action-gate/reload` (optional body `{ "tools": string[] }`) to apply exemption-list updates without restarting the engine process.
 
 Interim enforcement behavior (persistence-integrated, pre-resume lifecycle):
 

packages/dashboard/src/__tests__/routes-system.test.ts

@@ -44,11 +44,20 @@ const mockCentralListProjects = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]);
 const mockCentralInit = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
 const mockCentralClose = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
 const mockCentralReconcileProjectStatuses = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
-const { mockPerformUpdateCheck, mockClearUpdateCheckCache, mockExecSync, mockExecFile } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+const {
+  mockPerformUpdateCheck,
+  mockClearUpdateCheckCache,
+  mockExecSync,
+  mockExecFile,
+  mockReloadExemptTools,
+  mockGetExemptToolNames,
+} = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   mockPerformUpdateCheck: vi.fn(),
   mockClearUpdateCheckCache: vi.fn(),
   mockExecSync: vi.fn(),
   mockExecFile: vi.fn(),
+  mockReloadExemptTools: vi.fn(),
+  mockGetExemptToolNames: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(["read", "find"]),
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../update-check.js", async () => {
@@ -111,6 +120,8 @@ vi.mock("@fusion/core", async (importOriginal) => {
 vi.mock("@fusion/engine", async () => {
   const { createEngineMock } = await import("../test/mockCoreEngine.js");
   return createEngineMock({
+  reloadExemptTools: mockReloadExemptTools,
+  getExemptToolNames: mockGetExemptToolNames,
   createFnAgent: vi.fn(async (options?: { onText?: (delta: string) => void }) => ({
     session: {
       state: {
@@ -310,6 +321,54 @@ describe("route registrar ordering invariants", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("POST /api/action-gate/reload", () => {
+  function buildApp(store: TaskStore, options?: Parameters<typeof createApiRoutes>[1]) {
+    const app = express();
+    app.use(express.json());
+    app.use("/api", createApiRoutes(store, options));
+    return app;
+  }
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockReloadExemptTools.mockReset();
+    mockGetExemptToolNames.mockReset();
+    mockGetExemptToolNames.mockReturnValue(["read", "find"]);
+  });
+
+  it("reloads defaults when no tools body is provided", async () => {
+    const store = createMockStore();
+    const res = await REQUEST(buildApp(store), "POST", "/api/action-gate/reload", JSON.stringify({}), {
+      "content-type": "application/json",
+    });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(mockReloadExemptTools).toHaveBeenCalledWith();
+    expect(res.body).toEqual({ ok: true, tools: ["read", "find"] });
+  });
+
+  it("reloads explicit tool list when tools are provided", async () => {
+    const store = createMockStore();
+    mockGetExemptToolNames.mockReturnValue(["custom_tool"]);
+    const res = await REQUEST(buildApp(store), "POST", "/api/action-gate/reload", JSON.stringify({ tools: ["custom_tool"] }), {
+      "content-type": "application/json",
+    });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(mockReloadExemptTools).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["custom_tool"]);
+    expect(res.body).toEqual({ ok: true, tools: ["custom_tool"] });
+  });
+
+  it("returns bad request when tools is not a string array", async () => {
+    const store = createMockStore();
+    const res = await REQUEST(buildApp(store), "POST", "/api/action-gate/reload", JSON.stringify({ tools: ["ok", 1] }), {
+      "content-type": "application/json",
+    });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(mockReloadExemptTools).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
 describe("GET /api/system-stats", () => {
   const projectId = "proj-system-stats";
 

packages/dashboard/src/routes.ts

@@ -295,7 +295,12 @@ async function discoverDashboardPiExtensions(cwd: string): Promise<PiExtensionSe
   };
 }
 
-import { createFnAgent as engineCreateFnAgentForRefine, promptWithFallback as enginePromptWithFallback } from "@fusion/engine";
+import {
+  createFnAgent as engineCreateFnAgentForRefine,
+  getExemptToolNames as engineGetExemptToolNames,
+  promptWithFallback as enginePromptWithFallback,
+  reloadExemptTools as engineReloadExemptTools,
+} from "@fusion/engine";
 
 // Test-injectable override; defaults to the statically imported engine binding.
 let createFnAgentForRefine: typeof import("@fusion/engine").createFnAgent | undefined = engineCreateFnAgentForRefine;
@@ -1269,6 +1274,33 @@ export function createApiRoutes(store: TaskStore, options?: ServerOptions): Rout
     }
   });
 
+  /**
+   * POST /api/action-gate/reload
+   * Reloads action-gate exempt tools from defaults or a provided override list.
+   */
+  router.post("/action-gate/reload", async (req, res) => {
+    try {
+      const body = (req.body && typeof req.body === "object") ? (req.body as Record<string, unknown>) : {};
+      const hasTools = Object.hasOwn(body, "tools");
+      if (hasTools) {
+        const tools = body.tools;
+        if (!Array.isArray(tools) || tools.some((tool) => typeof tool !== "string")) {
+          throw badRequest("Request body must provide tools as string[] when present");
+        }
+        engineReloadExemptTools(tools);
+      } else {
+        engineReloadExemptTools();
+      }
+
+      res.json({ ok: true, tools: engineGetExemptToolNames() });
+    } catch (err: unknown) {
+      if (err instanceof ApiError) {
+        throw err;
+      }
+      rethrowAsApiError(err);
+    }
+  });
+
   /**
    * GET /api/executor/stats
    * Returns executor status metadata for dashboard status surfaces.

packages/engine/src/__tests__/agent-action-gate.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { evaluateAgentActionGate, computeApprovalDedupeKey } from "../agent-action-gate.js";
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  addToExemptTools,
+  computeApprovalDedupeKey,
+  evaluateAgentActionGate,
+  reloadExemptTools,
+} from "../agent-action-gate.js";
 import type { AgentPermissionPolicy } from "@fusion/core";
 
 const unrestrictedPolicy: AgentPermissionPolicy = {
@@ -13,6 +18,17 @@ const unrestrictedPolicy: AgentPermissionPolicy = {
   },
 };
 
+const lockedDownPolicy: AgentPermissionPolicy = {
+  presetId: "locked-down",
+  rules: {
+    "git_write": "block",
+    "file_write_delete": "block",
+    "command_execution": "block",
+    "network_api": "block",
+    "task_agent_mutation": "block",
+  },
+};
+
 const approvalPolicy: AgentPermissionPolicy = {
   ...unrestrictedPolicy,
   presetId: "approval-required",
@@ -26,6 +42,9 @@ const approvalPolicy: AgentPermissionPolicy = {
 };
 
 describe("agent-action-gate", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    reloadExemptTools();
+  });
   it("classifies write/edit as file_write_delete", () => {
     const write = evaluateAgentActionGate({ agentId: "a1", toolName: "write", args: { path: "a.ts" }, permissionPolicy: unrestrictedPolicy });
     const edit = evaluateAgentActionGate({ agentId: "a1", toolName: "edit", args: { path: "a.ts" }, permissionPolicy: unrestrictedPolicy });
@@ -93,34 +112,12 @@ describe("agent-action-gate", () => {
     "fn_update_identity",
     "fn_reflect_on_performance",
   ])("always allows newly exempt internal tool %s under locked-down policies", (toolName) => {
-    const lockedDownPolicy: AgentPermissionPolicy = {
-      presetId: "locked-down",
-      rules: {
-        "git_write": "block",
-        "file_write_delete": "block",
-        "command_execution": "block",
-        "network_api": "block",
-        "task_agent_mutation": "block",
-      },
-    };
-
     const decision = evaluateAgentActionGate({ agentId: "a1", toolName, args: {}, permissionPolicy: lockedDownPolicy });
     expect(decision.disposition).toBe("allow");
     expect(decision.category).toBe("exempt");
   });
 
   it("keeps bash and write blocked under locked-down policy", () => {
-    const lockedDownPolicy: AgentPermissionPolicy = {
-      presetId: "locked-down",
-      rules: {
-        "git_write": "block",
-        "file_write_delete": "block",
-        "command_execution": "block",
-        "network_api": "block",
-        "task_agent_mutation": "block",
-      },
-    };
-
     const bashDecision = evaluateAgentActionGate({
       agentId: "a1",
       toolName: "bash",
@@ -138,6 +135,64 @@ describe("agent-action-gate", () => {
     expect(writeDecision.disposition).toBe("block");
   });
 
+  it("uses default exemptions without reload", () => {
+    const decision = evaluateAgentActionGate({
+      agentId: "a1",
+      toolName: "read",
+      args: {},
+      permissionPolicy: lockedDownPolicy,
+    });
+
+    expect(decision.category).toBe("exempt");
+    expect(decision.disposition).toBe("allow");
+  });
+
+  it("reloadExemptTools can replace and restore exemptions", () => {
+    reloadExemptTools(["custom_tool"]);
+    const customDecision = evaluateAgentActionGate({
+      agentId: "a1",
+      toolName: "custom_tool",
+      args: {},
+      permissionPolicy: lockedDownPolicy,
+    });
+    expect(customDecision.category).toBe("exempt");
+    expect(customDecision.disposition).toBe("allow");
+
+    reloadExemptTools([]);
+    const readBlocked = evaluateAgentActionGate({
+      agentId: "a1",
+      toolName: "read",
+      args: {},
+      permissionPolicy: lockedDownPolicy,
+    });
+    expect(readBlocked.category).toBe("command_execution");
+    expect(readBlocked.disposition).toBe("block");
+
+    reloadExemptTools();
+    const readRestored = evaluateAgentActionGate({
+      agentId: "a1",
+      toolName: "read",
+      args: {},
+      permissionPolicy: lockedDownPolicy,
+    });
+    expect(readRestored.category).toBe("exempt");
+    expect(readRestored.disposition).toBe("allow");
+  });
+
+  it("addToExemptTools exempts a custom tool", () => {
+    addToExemptTools("my_new_tool");
+
+    const decision = evaluateAgentActionGate({
+      agentId: "a1",
+      toolName: "my_new_tool",
+      args: {},
+      permissionPolicy: lockedDownPolicy,
+    });
+
+    expect(decision.category).toBe("exempt");
+    expect(decision.disposition).toBe("allow");
+  });
+
   it("resolves disposition from policy", () => {
     const result = evaluateAgentActionGate({ agentId: "a1", toolName: "write", args: { path: "a.ts" }, permissionPolicy: approvalPolicy });
     expect(result.disposition).toBe("require-approval");

packages/engine/src/agent-action-gate.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type {
   AgentPermissionPolicyActionCategory,
   AgentPermissionPolicyDisposition,
 } from "@fusion/core";
+import { runtimeLog } from "./logger.js";
 
 export type AgentActionGateResourceType = "file" | "git" | "task" | "agent" | "research" | "command" | "other";
 
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ export interface AgentActionGateContext {
 
 // FN-3724: Internal Fusion runtime/coordinator tools never perform external mutations.
 // They must bypass user-configurable approval/block policies so permanent-agent heartbeats cannot deadlock.
-const EXEMPT_TOOLS = new Set([
+const DEFAULT_EXEMPT_TOOLS = [
   "read",
   "find",
   "grep",
@@ -55,7 +56,44 @@ const EXEMPT_TOOLS = new Set([
   "fn_read_evaluations",
   "fn_update_identity",
   "fn_reflect_on_performance",
-]);
+] as const;
+
+let _exemptTools: Set<string> | null = null;
+
+function getExemptTools(): Set<string> {
+  if (!_exemptTools) {
+    _exemptTools = new Set(DEFAULT_EXEMPT_TOOLS);
+  }
+  return _exemptTools;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Reloads the exempt-tools registry used by the action gate.
+ * If no tool list is provided, the canonical default exemption set is restored.
+ */
+export function reloadExemptTools(newTools?: string[]): string[] {
+  const nextTools = newTools ?? [...DEFAULT_EXEMPT_TOOLS];
+  _exemptTools = new Set(nextTools);
+  const toolNames = [..._exemptTools];
+  runtimeLog.log(`[action-gate] Reloaded exempt tools (${toolNames.length})`);
+  return toolNames;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Adds a tool to the exempt-tools registry at runtime.
+ */
+export function addToExemptTools(toolName: string): string[] {
+  const nextTools = new Set(getExemptTools());
+  nextTools.add(toolName);
+  _exemptTools = new Set(nextTools);
+  const toolNames = [..._exemptTools];
+  runtimeLog.log(`[action-gate] Added exempt tool: ${toolName}`);
+  return toolNames;
+}
+
+export function getExemptToolNames(): string[] {
+  return [...getExemptTools()];
+}
 
 const TASK_AGENT_MANAGEMENT_TOOLS = new Set([
   "fn_task_create",
@@ -68,6 +106,8 @@ const TASK_AGENT_MANAGEMENT_TOOLS = new Set([
 
 const NETWORK_API_TOOLS = new Set(["fn_research_run"]);
 
+const READONLY_DISCOVERY_TOOLS = new Set(["read", "find", "grep", "ls"]);
+
 const GIT_WRITE_SUBCOMMANDS = new Set([
   "add",
   "commit",
@@ -209,9 +249,13 @@ export function evaluateAgentActionGate(params: {
     operation = params.toolName;
     resourceType = "file";
     resourceId = typeof args.path === "string" ? args.path : undefined;
-  } else if (EXEMPT_TOOLS.has(params.toolName)) {
+  } else if (getExemptTools().has(params.toolName)) {
     category = "exempt";
     operation = params.toolName;
+  } else if (READONLY_DISCOVERY_TOOLS.has(params.toolName)) {
+    category = "command_execution";
+    operation = params.toolName;
+    resourceType = "file";
   } else if (TASK_AGENT_MANAGEMENT_TOOLS.has(params.toolName)) {
     category = "task_agent_mutation";
     operation = params.toolName;

packages/engine/src/index.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 export { AgentLogger, type AgentLoggerOptions, summarizeToolArgs } from "./agent-logger.js";
+export { reloadExemptTools, addToExemptTools, getExemptToolNames } from "./agent-action-gate.js";
 export {
   createTaskCreateTool,
   createTaskDocumentReadTool,