fix: add system PATH fallback for ripgrep resolution (#26777)

integration-tests/globalSetup.ts

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ if (process.env['NO_COLOR'] !== undefined) {
 import { mkdir, readdir, rm, readFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
 import { join, dirname, extname } from 'node:path';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
-import { canUseRipgrep } from '../packages/core/src/tools/ripGrep.js';
+import { resolveRipgrepPath } from '../packages/core/src/tools/ripGrep.js';
 import { disableMouseTracking } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { isolateTestEnv } from '../packages/test-utils/src/env-setup.js';
 import { createServer, type Server } from 'node:http';
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ export async function setup() {
   isolateTestEnv(runDir);
 
   // Download ripgrep to avoid race conditions in parallel tests
-  const available = await canUseRipgrep();
+  const available = await resolveRipgrepPath();
   if (!available) {
     throw new Error('Failed to download ripgrep binary');
   }

integration-tests/ripgrep-real.test.ts

@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ import { describe, it, expect, beforeAll, afterAll } from 'vitest';
 import * as path from 'node:path';
 import * as fs from 'node:fs/promises';
 import * as os from 'node:os';
-import { RipGrepTool } from '../packages/core/src/tools/ripGrep.js';
+import {
+  RipGrepTool,
+  resolveRipgrepPath,
+} from '../packages/core/src/tools/ripGrep.js';
 import { Config } from '../packages/core/src/config/config.js';
 import { WorkspaceContext } from '../packages/core/src/utils/workspaceContext.js';
 import { createMockMessageBus } from '../packages/core/src/test-utils/mock-message-bus.js';
@@ -48,6 +51,10 @@ class MockConfig {
   validatePathAccess() {
     return null;
   }
+
+  async getRipgrepPath() {
+    return resolveRipgrepPath();
+  }
 }
 
 describe('ripgrep-real-direct', () => {

memory-tests/globalSetup.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 import { mkdir, readdir, rm } from 'node:fs/promises';
 import { join, dirname } from 'node:path';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
-import { canUseRipgrep } from '../packages/core/src/tools/ripGrep.js';
+import { resolveRipgrepPath } from '../packages/core/src/tools/ripGrep.js';
 
 const __dirname = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
 const rootDir = join(__dirname, '..');
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export async function setup() {
   process.env['GEMINI_CONFIG_DIR'] = join(runDir, '.gemini');
 
   // Download ripgrep to avoid race conditions
-  const available = await canUseRipgrep();
+  const available = await resolveRipgrepPath();
   if (!available) {
     throw new Error('Failed to download ripgrep binary');
   }

packages/core/src/config/config.test.ts

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ import { ShellTool } from '../tools/shell.js';
 import { AgentTool } from '../agents/agent-tool.js';
 import { ReadFileTool } from '../tools/read-file.js';
 import { GrepTool } from '../tools/grep.js';
-import { RipGrepTool, canUseRipgrep } from '../tools/ripGrep.js';
+import { RipGrepTool, resolveRipgrepPath } from '../tools/ripGrep.js';
 import {
   logRipgrepFallback,
   logApprovalModeDuration,
@@ -89,6 +89,22 @@ vi.mock('fs', async (importOriginal) => {
   };
 });
 
+vi.mock('../utils/paths.js', async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import('../utils/paths.js')>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    resolveToRealPath: vi.fn((p) => p),
+  };
+});
+
+vi.mock('../utils/fileUtils.js', () => ({
+  fileExists: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock('../utils/shell-utils.js', () => ({
+  resolveExecutable: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
 // Mock dependencies that might be called during Config construction or createServerConfig
 vi.mock('../tools/tool-registry', () => {
   const ToolRegistryMock = vi.fn();
@@ -120,7 +136,7 @@ vi.mock('../tools/ls');
 vi.mock('../tools/read-file');
 vi.mock('../tools/grep.js');
 vi.mock('../tools/ripGrep.js', () => ({
-  canUseRipgrep: vi.fn(),
+  resolveRipgrepPath: vi.fn(),
   RipGrepTool: class MockRipGrepTool {},
 }));
 vi.mock('../tools/glob');
@@ -2288,7 +2304,7 @@ describe('setApprovalMode with folder trust', () => {
     });
 
     it('should register RipGrepTool when useRipgrep is true and it is available', async () => {
-      vi.mocked(canUseRipgrep).mockResolvedValue(true);
+      vi.mocked(resolveRipgrepPath).mockResolvedValue('/mock/rg');
       const config = new Config({ ...baseParams, useRipgrep: true });
       await config.initialize();
 
@@ -2306,7 +2322,7 @@ describe('setApprovalMode with folder trust', () => {
     });
 
     it('should register GrepTool as a fallback when useRipgrep is true but it is not available', async () => {
-      vi.mocked(canUseRipgrep).mockResolvedValue(false);
+      vi.mocked(resolveRipgrepPath).mockResolvedValue(null);
       const config = new Config({ ...baseParams, useRipgrep: true });
       await config.initialize();
 
@@ -2330,7 +2346,7 @@ describe('setApprovalMode with folder trust', () => {
 
     it('should register GrepTool as a fallback when canUseRipgrep throws an error', async () => {
       const error = new Error('ripGrep check failed');
-      vi.mocked(canUseRipgrep).mockRejectedValue(error);
+      vi.mocked(resolveRipgrepPath).mockRejectedValue(error);
       const config = new Config({ ...baseParams, useRipgrep: true });
       await config.initialize();
 
@@ -2366,7 +2382,7 @@ describe('setApprovalMode with folder trust', () => {
 
       expect(wasRipGrepRegistered).toBe(false);
       expect(wasGrepRegistered).toBe(true);
-      expect(canUseRipgrep).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(resolveRipgrepPath).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
       expect(logRipgrepFallback).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
   });

packages/core/src/config/config.ts

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import { ReadFileTool } from '../tools/read-file.js';
 import { ReadMcpResourceTool } from '../tools/read-mcp-resource.js';
 import { ListMcpResourcesTool } from '../tools/list-mcp-resources.js';
 import { GrepTool } from '../tools/grep.js';
-import { canUseRipgrep, RipGrepTool } from '../tools/ripGrep.js';
+import { RipGrepTool, resolveRipgrepPath } from '../tools/ripGrep.js';
 import { GlobTool } from '../tools/glob.js';
 import { ActivateSkillTool } from '../tools/activate-skill.js';
 import { EditTool } from '../tools/edit.js';
@@ -773,6 +773,7 @@ export class Config implements McpContext, AgentLoopContext {
   private readonly sandbox: SandboxConfig | undefined;
   private _sandboxForbiddenPaths: string[] | undefined;
   private readonly targetDir: string;
+  private _ripgrepPathPromise?: Promise<string | null>;
   private workspaceContext: WorkspaceContext;
   private readonly debugMode: boolean;
   private readonly question: string | undefined;
@@ -2134,6 +2135,32 @@ export class Config implements McpContext, AgentLoopContext {
     return this.targetDir;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns the path to the ripgrep binary, or null if not found or unsafe.
+   * Uses Promise-based caching to prevent race conditions and redundant I/O.
+   */
+  async getRipgrepPath(): Promise<string | null> {
+    if (!this._ripgrepPathPromise) {
+      this._ripgrepPathPromise = resolveRipgrepPath();
+    }
+    return this._ripgrepPathPromise;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Checks if ripgrep is available.
+   */
+  async canUseRipgrep(): Promise<boolean> {
+    return (await this.getRipgrepPath()) !== null;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Resets the cached ripgrep path. Used for testing.
+   * @internal
+   */
+  __resetRipgrepPathCache(): void {
+    this._ripgrepPathPromise = undefined;
+  }
+
   getWorkspaceContext(): WorkspaceContext {
     return getWorkspaceContextOverride() ?? this.workspaceContext;
   }
@@ -3866,7 +3893,7 @@ export class Config implements McpContext, AgentLoopContext {
       let useRipgrep = false;
       let errorString: undefined | string = undefined;
       try {
-        useRipgrep = await canUseRipgrep();
+        useRipgrep = await this.canUseRipgrep();
       } catch (error: unknown) {
         errorString = String(error);
       }

packages/core/src/sandbox/utils/commandSafety.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2026 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
+import {
+  isStrictlyApproved,
+  isKnownSafeCommand,
+  isDangerousCommand,
+} from './commandSafety.js';
+import * as paths from '../../utils/paths.js';
+
+vi.mock('../../utils/paths.js', async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import('../../utils/paths.js')>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    resolveToRealPath: vi.fn((p: string) => p),
+    isTrustedSystemPath: vi.fn(() => false),
+  };
+});
+
+describe('commandSafety', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.resetAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  describe('rg specific logic', () => {
+    it('should consider rg safe without unsafe args if path is trusted', () => {
+      vi.mocked(paths.resolveToRealPath).mockReturnValue('/usr/bin/rg');
+      vi.mocked(paths.isTrustedSystemPath).mockReturnValue(true);
+
+      // Using isKnownSafeCommand which calls isSafeToCallWithExec under the hood
+      expect(isKnownSafeCommand(['/usr/bin/rg', 'pattern', 'file.txt'])).toBe(
+        true,
+      );
+      expect(paths.resolveToRealPath).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/usr/bin/rg');
+      expect(paths.isTrustedSystemPath).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/usr/bin/rg');
+    });
+
+    it('should not consider bare rg safe (Search Path Interruption prevention)', () => {
+      // Bare 'rg' is not an absolute path, so it fails `isTrustedCommandPath`
+      expect(isKnownSafeCommand(['rg', 'pattern', 'file.txt'])).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should not consider rg safe with unsafe args even if path is trusted', () => {
+      vi.mocked(paths.resolveToRealPath).mockReturnValue('/usr/bin/rg');
+      vi.mocked(paths.isTrustedSystemPath).mockReturnValue(true);
+
+      expect(
+        isKnownSafeCommand(['/usr/bin/rg', '--search-zip', 'pattern']),
+      ).toBe(false);
+      expect(isKnownSafeCommand(['/usr/bin/rg', '-z', 'pattern'])).toBe(false);
+      expect(isKnownSafeCommand(['/usr/bin/rg', '--pre=cat', 'pattern'])).toBe(
+        false,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should consider rg dangerous with unsafe args', () => {
+      vi.mocked(paths.resolveToRealPath).mockReturnValue('/usr/bin/rg');
+      vi.mocked(paths.isTrustedSystemPath).mockReturnValue(true);
+
+      expect(
+        isDangerousCommand(['/usr/bin/rg', '--search-zip', 'pattern']),
+      ).toBe(true);
+      expect(isDangerousCommand(['/usr/bin/rg', '--pre=cat', 'pattern'])).toBe(
+        true,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should not consider rg safe if path is untrusted', () => {
+      vi.mocked(paths.resolveToRealPath).mockReturnValue('/tmp/malicious/rg');
+      vi.mocked(paths.isTrustedSystemPath).mockReturnValue(false);
+
+      expect(isKnownSafeCommand(['/tmp/malicious/rg', 'pattern'])).toBe(false);
+      expect(paths.resolveToRealPath).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/tmp/malicious/rg');
+    });
+
+    it('should not consider rg safe if path resolution throws', () => {
+      vi.mocked(paths.resolveToRealPath).mockImplementation(() => {
+        throw new Error('Resolution failed');
+      });
+      vi.mocked(paths.isTrustedSystemPath).mockReturnValue(true);
+
+      expect(isKnownSafeCommand(['/some/path/rg', 'pattern'])).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should flag untrusted rg as dangerous if it has unsafe args (Paranoid validation)', () => {
+      vi.mocked(paths.resolveToRealPath).mockReturnValue('/tmp/malicious/rg');
+      vi.mocked(paths.isTrustedSystemPath).mockReturnValue(false);
+
+      // isDangerousCommand relies on isRipgrepCommand, which strictly identifies intent (name)
+      // and doesn't care about path safety. So even an untrusted rg will be flagged if it has unsafe args.
+      expect(isDangerousCommand(['/tmp/malicious/rg', '--search-zip'])).toBe(
+        true,
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('isStrictlyApproved', () => {
+    it('should approve rg if explicitly in approved tools regardless of path', async () => {
+      // In this case, isStrictlyApproved relies on `tools.includes(command)`
+      expect(
+        await isStrictlyApproved(
+          '/tmp/malicious/rg',
+          ['pattern'],
+          ['/tmp/malicious/rg'],
+        ),
+      ).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should approve rg if path is trusted', async () => {
+      vi.mocked(paths.resolveToRealPath).mockReturnValue('/usr/bin/rg');
+      vi.mocked(paths.isTrustedSystemPath).mockReturnValue(true);
+
+      expect(await isStrictlyApproved('/usr/bin/rg', ['pattern'])).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should reject rg if path is untrusted and not explicitly approved', async () => {
+      vi.mocked(paths.resolveToRealPath).mockReturnValue('/tmp/malicious/rg');
+      vi.mocked(paths.isTrustedSystemPath).mockReturnValue(false);
+
+      expect(await isStrictlyApproved('/tmp/malicious/rg', ['pattern'])).toBe(
+        false,
+      );
+    });
+  });
+});

packages/core/src/sandbox/utils/commandSafety.ts

@@ -3,13 +3,32 @@
  * Copyright 2026 Google LLC
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
+import path from 'node:path';
 import { parse as shellParse } from 'shell-quote';
 import {
   extractStringFromParseEntry,
   initializeShellParsers,
   splitCommands,
   stripShellWrapper,
 } from '../../utils/shell-utils.js';
+import { isTrustedSystemPath, resolveToRealPath } from '../../utils/paths.js';
+
+function isRipgrepCommand(cmd: string): boolean {
+  const cmdBasename = path.basename(cmd);
+  return cmdBasename === 'rg' || cmdBasename === 'rg.exe';
+}
+
+function isTrustedCommandPath(cmd: string): boolean {
+  if (!path.isAbsolute(cmd)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  try {
+    const realPath = resolveToRealPath(cmd);
+    return isTrustedSystemPath(realPath);
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
 
 /**
  * Determines if a command is strictly approved for execution on macOS.
@@ -191,7 +210,9 @@ function isSafeToCallWithExec(args: string[]): boolean {
     return !args.some((arg) => unsafeOptions.has(arg));
   }
 
-  if (cmd === 'rg') {
+  if (isRipgrepCommand(cmd)) {
+    if (!isTrustedCommandPath(cmd)) return false;
+
     const unsafeWithArgs = new Set(['--pre', '--hostname-bin']);
     const unsafeWithoutArgs = new Set(['--search-zip', '-z']);
 
@@ -453,7 +474,7 @@ export function isDangerousCommand(args: string[]): boolean {
     return args.some((arg) => unsafeOptions.has(arg));
   }
 
-  if (cmd === 'rg') {
+  if (isRipgrepCommand(cmd)) {
     const unsafeWithArgs = new Set(['--pre', '--hostname-bin']);
     const unsafeWithoutArgs = new Set(['--search-zip', '-z']);