Files
PaperClipAI/server
DottaandClaude Opus 5.5 6154b9485e fix(authz): name the Experimental settings page when an agent is denied an instance experiment (#20894)
## Thinking Path

> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work
> - People ask chat agents to turn on instance experiments, such as
Cases
> - Agents cannot read or change experimental instance settings, which
is correct
> - The denial they get names no page, so the agent cannot tell the
person where to act
> - The case API gate ("Cases are disabled") also names no page
> - This pull request makes both denials, and the API catalog entry,
name the Experimental settings page
> - The benefit is that the agent replies with a usable link instead of
a vague "ask an admin"

## Linked Issues or Issue Description

**What happened**
An agent that asks for `GET` or `PATCH
/api/instance/settings/experimental` gets the generic board-only denial.
That denial says "Link a page only if you already know its route; do not
search for one." The case API, while Cases is off, returns only "Cases
are disabled". The agent has no route to give the person.

**Expected behavior**
The denial is final and names the page where an instance admin turns the
feature on: `[Open Experimental
settings](/<prefix>/company/settings/instance/experimental)`. If the
operator hides that page, the denial does not link it.

**Steps to reproduce**
1. Use an agent API key.
2. Send `PATCH /api/instance/settings/experimental` with
`{"enableCases": true}`.
3. See a 403 with a remediation that names no page.
4. With Cases off, send `GET /api/companies/<id>/cases` with the agent
key.
5. See a 403 "Cases are disabled" with no remediation.

Refs the chat eval `instance-operations.instance-settings` (retargeted
from the removed Agent Chat toggle to Cases).

## What Changed

- `server/src/routes/authz.ts`: the board-only denial map links
Experimental settings for `/instance/settings/experimental`. It does not
link it when `instance.experimental` is hidden.
- `server/src/routes/cases.ts`: the Cases gate keeps the "Cases are
disabled" message. It adds `code: cases_disabled` and a final
remediation that names the same page (same hidden-page guard).
- `server/src/routes/openapi.ts`: the GET and PATCH catalog entries for
experimental settings name the page. They say that agent credentials
cannot read or change these settings. They give Cases (`enableCases`) as
an example.
- Regression tests in `board-access-denial.test.ts`,
`cases-routes.test.ts` and `openapi-routes.test.ts`.

## Verification

- `cd server && pnpm exec vitest run
src/__tests__/board-access-denial.test.ts
src/__tests__/openapi-routes.test.ts
src/__tests__/cases-routes.test.ts`: 107 passed.
- Red check: with the three source files reverted, 4 new assertions fail
(GET and PATCH denial links, the catalog entry, the Cases gate).
- `src/services/native-runtime/runner-api.test.ts` and
`src/__tests__/instance-settings-routes.test.ts`: pass.

## Risks

- Low risk. Only error bodies and catalog text change. Status codes and
the "Cases are disabled" message stay the same.
- The catalog text is static, so it names the page even when an operator
hides it. The denials check the hidden setting.

## Model Used

- Anthropic Claude Opus 5.5 (`claude-opus-5-5`), tool use and code
execution in Claude Code.

## Checklist

- [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context
to this change
- [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability
details)
- [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate
planned core work
- [x] I have searched GitHub for duplicate or related PRs and linked
them above
- [x] I have either (a) linked existing issues with `Fixes: #` / `Closes
#` / `Refs #` OR (b) described the issue in-PR following the relevant
issue template
- [x] I have not referenced internal/instance-local Paperclip issues or
links (only public GitHub `#NNN` / `github.com/paperclipai/paperclip`
URLs)
- [x] My branch name describes the change (e.g. `docs/...`, `fix/...`)
and contains no internal Paperclip ticket id or instance-derived details
- [x] I have run tests locally and they pass
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable
- [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [ ] All Paperclip CI gates are green
- [ ] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

---------

Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-11-11 13:14:42 -06:00
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