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kiro-cli v3: /tools lists write for an agent with "tools": ["read"], but the agent cannot use it #12113

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Description

@peepeepopapapeepeepo

Before opening, please confirm:

Operating System

Amazon Linux 2023 (x86_64)

Kiro Version

kiro-cli 2.34.0 (agent engine V3)

Bug Description

For an agent whose tools list contains only read, /tools shows a write tag as well. The agent does not actually have it: asked to write a file, the model answers that it has no write tool and nothing is written. So /tools shows a tool set that differs from the one the agent really gets, which makes it hard to check an agent's configuration.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Create .kiro/agents/readonly.json:
    {"name":"readonly","description":"read only","prompt":"You are terse.","tools":["read"],
     "permissions":{"rules":[{"capability":"fs_read","effect":"allow"}]}}
  2. Run kiro-cli chat --agent readonly, then /tools. Observed:
    /tools · 2 tags
    read          builtin     read-file, diagnostics, search tools
    write         builtin     write-file tools
    
  3. Send Use your write tool to create the file /tmp/w.txt containing the word hi. Do not use shell. Observed: I don't have a write/file-creation tool available — only read and search tools. I can't create the file. No approval prompt; the file is not created.

Expected Behavior

/tools lists only the tools the agent can use (read here).

Conversation ID

No response

Additional Context

The same extra write tag appears with "tools": ["read", "@<mcp-server>"] (one more tag than listed).

Activity

  1. github-actions commented on Oct 25, 2026

    @github-actions

    Thanks for opening this issue and for the clear, detailed reproduction steps! 🙏 It's a great catch that /tools is displaying tools (like write) that aren't actually available to the agent, making it tricky to verify an agent's real configuration. A maintainer will take a look at this shortly — we appreciate you helping us make the CLI experience more accurate and reliable!

  2. AnilMaktala commented on Oct 26, 2026

    @AnilMaktala
    Contributor

    Thanks for raising this.

    For an agent whose tools list contains only "read", the /tools command displays a write tag as well. The agent correctly refuses to write when asked, so the restriction is enforced at runtime, but the /tools display is misleading and cannot be relied on for capability auditing or access verification in automated workflows.

    Marking this as a bug to investigate further.

  3. added theissue type on Oct 26, 2026
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