AgentsThe story, in brief
OpenAI fixes Codex bug that deleted real user files without permission
OpenAI's Codex agent was deleting user home directories instead of temp files. The fix: verification before deletion, and no more accidental full-access mode.
The KeyNews take
Why it matters
A critical agent reliability failure—autonomous systems executing destructive operations without safeguards—and the fix that prevents similar blind spots in production agent deployments.
The key facts
5 to knowCodex/GPT-5.6 Sol deleted real user files autonomously
Root cause: cleanup command targeted wrong directories (home vs. temp)
Fix includes deletion verification and accidental full-access prevention
Published August 19, 2026 on The Decoder
Agent safety/reliability engineering in production
Go to the source
The Decoderthe-decoder.com
Publisher excerpt: OpenAI patched Codex after GPT-5.6 Sol started deleting real user files on its own. A cleanup command meant for temporary folders was wiping home directories instead. Codex now verifies deletion targets first, and full-access mode can no longer be triggered by accident.