On file deletions. We’ve investigated a handful of reports where GPT-5.6 unexpectedly deleted files. What we have found is that this most commonly occurs when: Full access mode is enabled and codex is run without sandboxing protections, including without auto review being enabled The model attempts to override the $HOME env var to define a temporary directory. The model makes an honest mistake and mistakenly deletes $HOME instead. — Thibault Sottiaux, describing a pretty gnarly Cod ✦ AI generated
Thibault Sottiaux confirms that Codex's engineering team investigated multiple reports of GPT-5.6 deleting files it shouldn't have, describing it as a gnarly bug.
Thibault Sottiaux: We've investigated a handful of reports where GPT-5.6 unexpectedly deleted files.
explains mechanism · 1extends · 1
Sottiaux describes the technical failure chain: the model tries to redefine $HOME for a temp directory but mistakenly deletes the real $HOME directory instead.
Thibault Sottiaux: The model attempts to override the $HOME env var to define a temporary directory. The model makes an honest mistake and mistakenly deletes $HOME instead.
The bug is most prevalent in an unsafe configuration: full access mode with sandboxing and auto review both disabled.
Thibault Sottiaux: Full access mode is enabled and codex is run without sandboxing protections, including without auto review being enabled
explains mechanism · 1