feat(discord): add exec approval forwarding to DMs (#1621)

* feat(discord): add exec approval forwarding to DMs

Add support for forwarding exec approval requests to Discord DMs,
allowing users to approve/deny command execution via interactive buttons.

Features:
- New DiscordExecApprovalHandler that connects to gateway and listens
  for exec.approval.requested/resolved events
- Sends DMs with embeds showing command details and 3 buttons:
  Allow once, Always allow, Deny
- Configurable via channels.discord.execApprovals with:
  - enabled: boolean
  - approvers: Discord user IDs to notify
  - agentFilter: only forward for specific agents
  - sessionFilter: only forward for matching session patterns
- Updates message embed when approval is resolved or expires

Also fixes exec completion routing: when async exec completes after
approval, the heartbeat now uses a specialized prompt to ensure the
model relays the result to the user instead of responding HEARTBEAT_OK.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

* feat: generic exec approvals forwarding (#1621) (thanks @czekaj)

---------

Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Co-authored-by: Peter Steinberger <steipete@gmail.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 - Docs: expand FAQ (migration, scheduling, concurrency, model recommendations, OpenAI subscription auth, Pi sizing, hackable install, docs SSL workaround).
 - Docs: add verbose installer troubleshooting guidance.
 - Docs: update Fly.io guide notes.
+- Exec approvals: forward approval prompts to chat with `/approve` for all channels (including plugins). (#1621) Thanks @czekaj. https://docs.clawd.bot/tools/exec-approvals https://docs.clawd.bot/tools/slash-commands
 
 ### Fixes
 - Web UI: hide internal `message_id` hints in chat bubbles.

docs/tools/exec-approvals.md

@@ -157,6 +157,36 @@ Actions:
 - **Always allow** → add to allowlist + run
 - **Deny** → block
 
+## Approval forwarding to chat channels
+
+You can forward exec approval prompts to any chat channel (including plugin channels) and approve
+them with `/approve`. This uses the normal outbound delivery pipeline.
+
+Config:
+```json5
+{
+  approvals: {
+    exec: {
+      enabled: true,
+      mode: "session", // "session" | "targets" | "both"
+      agentFilter: ["main"],
+      sessionFilter: ["discord"], // substring or regex
+      targets: [
+        { channel: "slack", to: "U12345678" },
+        { channel: "telegram", to: "123456789" }
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+Reply in chat:
+```
+/approve <id> allow-once
+/approve <id> allow-always
+/approve <id> deny
+```
+
 ### macOS IPC flow
 ```
 Gateway -> Node Service (WS)

docs/tools/slash-commands.md

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ Text + native (when enabled):
 - `/skill <name> [input]` (run a skill by name)
 - `/status` (show current status; includes provider usage/quota for the current model provider when available)
 - `/allowlist` (list/add/remove allowlist entries)
+- `/approve <id> allow-once|allow-always|deny` (resolve exec approval prompts)
 - `/context [list|detail|json]` (explain “context”; `detail` shows per-file + per-tool + per-skill + system prompt size)
 - `/whoami` (show your sender id; alias: `/id`)
 - `/subagents list|stop|log|info|send` (inspect, stop, log, or message sub-agent runs for the current session)

src/auto-reply/commands-registry.data.ts

@@ -164,6 +164,13 @@ function buildChatCommands(): ChatCommandDefinition[] {
       acceptsArgs: true,
       scope: "text",
     }),
+    defineChatCommand({
+      key: "approve",
+      nativeName: "approve",
+      description: "Approve or deny exec requests.",
+      textAlias: "/approve",
+      acceptsArgs: true,
+    }),
     defineChatCommand({
       key: "context",
       nativeName: "context",

src/auto-reply/reply/commands-approve.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import type { ClawdbotConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
+import type { MsgContext } from "../templating.js";
+import { buildCommandContext, handleCommands } from "./commands.js";
+import { parseInlineDirectives } from "./directive-handling.js";
+import { callGateway } from "../../gateway/call.js";
+
+vi.mock("../../gateway/call.js", () => ({
+  callGateway: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+function buildParams(commandBody: string, cfg: ClawdbotConfig, ctxOverrides?: Partial<MsgContext>) {
+  const ctx = {
+    Body: commandBody,
+    CommandBody: commandBody,
+    CommandSource: "text",
+    CommandAuthorized: true,
+    Provider: "whatsapp",
+    Surface: "whatsapp",
+    ...ctxOverrides,
+  } as MsgContext;
+
+  const command = buildCommandContext({
+    ctx,
+    cfg,
+    isGroup: false,
+    triggerBodyNormalized: commandBody.trim().toLowerCase(),
+    commandAuthorized: true,
+  });
+
+  return {
+    ctx,
+    cfg,
+    command,
+    directives: parseInlineDirectives(commandBody),
+    elevated: { enabled: true, allowed: true, failures: [] },
+    sessionKey: "agent:main:main",
+    workspaceDir: "/tmp",
+    defaultGroupActivation: () => "mention",
+    resolvedVerboseLevel: "off" as const,
+    resolvedReasoningLevel: "off" as const,
+    resolveDefaultThinkingLevel: async () => undefined,
+    provider: "whatsapp",
+    model: "test-model",
+    contextTokens: 0,
+    isGroup: false,
+  };
+}
+
+describe("/approve command", () => {
+  it("rejects invalid usage", async () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      commands: { text: true },
+      channels: { whatsapp: { allowFrom: ["*"] } },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    const params = buildParams("/approve", cfg);
+    const result = await handleCommands(params);
+    expect(result.shouldContinue).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.reply?.text).toContain("Usage: /approve");
+  });
+
+  it("submits approval", async () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      commands: { text: true },
+      channels: { whatsapp: { allowFrom: ["*"] } },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    const params = buildParams("/approve abc allow-once", cfg, { SenderId: "123" });
+
+    const mockCallGateway = vi.mocked(callGateway);
+    mockCallGateway.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true });
+
+    const result = await handleCommands(params);
+    expect(result.shouldContinue).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.reply?.text).toContain("Exec approval allow-once submitted");
+    expect(mockCallGateway).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        method: "exec.approval.resolve",
+        params: { id: "abc", decision: "allow-once" },
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+});

src/auto-reply/reply/commands-approve.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+import { callGateway } from "../../gateway/call.js";
+import { GATEWAY_CLIENT_MODES, GATEWAY_CLIENT_NAMES } from "../../utils/message-channel.js";
+import { logVerbose } from "../../globals.js";
+import type { CommandHandler } from "./commands-types.js";
+
+const COMMAND = "/approve";
+
+const DECISION_ALIASES: Record<string, "allow-once" | "allow-always" | "deny"> = {
+  allow: "allow-once",
+  once: "allow-once",
+  "allow-once": "allow-once",
+  allowonce: "allow-once",
+  always: "allow-always",
+  "allow-always": "allow-always",
+  allowalways: "allow-always",
+  deny: "deny",
+  reject: "deny",
+  block: "deny",
+};
+
+type ParsedApproveCommand =
+  | { ok: true; id: string; decision: "allow-once" | "allow-always" | "deny" }
+  | { ok: false; error: string };
+
+function parseApproveCommand(raw: string): ParsedApproveCommand | null {
+  const trimmed = raw.trim();
+  if (!trimmed.toLowerCase().startsWith(COMMAND)) return null;
+  const rest = trimmed.slice(COMMAND.length).trim();
+  if (!rest) {
+    return { ok: false, error: "Usage: /approve <id> allow-once|allow-always|deny" };
+  }
+  const tokens = rest.split(/\s+/).filter(Boolean);
+  if (tokens.length < 2) {
+    return { ok: false, error: "Usage: /approve <id> allow-once|allow-always|deny" };
+  }
+
+  const first = tokens[0].toLowerCase();
+  const second = tokens[1].toLowerCase();
+
+  if (DECISION_ALIASES[first]) {
+    return {
+      ok: true,
+      decision: DECISION_ALIASES[first],
+      id: tokens.slice(1).join(" ").trim(),
+    };
+  }
+  if (DECISION_ALIASES[second]) {
+    return {
+      ok: true,
+      decision: DECISION_ALIASES[second],
+      id: tokens[0],
+    };
+  }
+  return { ok: false, error: "Usage: /approve <id> allow-once|allow-always|deny" };
+}
+
+function buildResolvedByLabel(params: Parameters<CommandHandler>[0]): string {
+  const channel = params.command.channel;
+  const sender = params.command.senderId ?? "unknown";
+  return `${channel}:${sender}`;
+}
+
+export const handleApproveCommand: CommandHandler = async (params, allowTextCommands) => {
+  if (!allowTextCommands) return null;
+  const normalized = params.command.commandBodyNormalized;
+  const parsed = parseApproveCommand(normalized);
+  if (!parsed) return null;
+  if (!params.command.isAuthorizedSender) {
+    logVerbose(
+      `Ignoring /approve from unauthorized sender: ${params.command.senderId || "<unknown>"}`,
+    );
+    return { shouldContinue: false };
+  }
+
+  if (!parsed.ok) {
+    return { shouldContinue: false, reply: { text: parsed.error } };
+  }
+
+  const resolvedBy = buildResolvedByLabel(params);
+  try {
+    await callGateway({
+      method: "exec.approval.resolve",
+      params: { id: parsed.id, decision: parsed.decision },
+      clientName: GATEWAY_CLIENT_NAMES.GATEWAY_CLIENT,
+      clientDisplayName: `Chat approval (${resolvedBy})`,
+      mode: GATEWAY_CLIENT_MODES.BACKEND,
+    });
+  } catch (err) {
+    return {
+      shouldContinue: false,
+      reply: {
+        text: `❌ Failed to submit approval: ${String(err)}`,
+      },
+    };
+  }
+
+  return {
+    shouldContinue: false,
+    reply: { text: `✅ Exec approval ${parsed.decision} submitted for ${parsed.id}.` },
+  };
+};

src/auto-reply/reply/commands-core.ts

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   handleWhoamiCommand,
 } from "./commands-info.js";
 import { handleAllowlistCommand } from "./commands-allowlist.js";
+import { handleApproveCommand } from "./commands-approve.js";
 import { handleSubagentsCommand } from "./commands-subagents.js";
 import { handleModelsCommand } from "./commands-models.js";
 import { handleTtsCommands } from "./commands-tts.js";
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ const HANDLERS: CommandHandler[] = [
   handleCommandsListCommand,
   handleStatusCommand,
   handleAllowlistCommand,
+  handleApproveCommand,
   handleContextCommand,
   handleWhoamiCommand,
   handleSubagentsCommand,

src/config/types.approvals.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+export type ExecApprovalForwardingMode = "session" | "targets" | "both";
+
+export type ExecApprovalForwardTarget = {
+  /** Channel id (e.g. "discord", "slack", or plugin channel id). */
+  channel: string;
+  /** Destination id (channel id, user id, etc. depending on channel). */
+  to: string;
+  /** Optional account id for multi-account channels. */
+  accountId?: string;
+  /** Optional thread id to reply inside a thread. */
+  threadId?: string | number;
+};
+
+export type ExecApprovalForwardingConfig = {
+  /** Enable forwarding exec approvals to chat channels. Default: false. */
+  enabled?: boolean;
+  /** Delivery mode (session=origin chat, targets=config targets, both=both). Default: session. */
+  mode?: ExecApprovalForwardingMode;
+  /** Only forward approvals for these agent IDs. Omit = all agents. */
+  agentFilter?: string[];
+  /** Only forward approvals matching these session key patterns (substring or regex). */
+  sessionFilter?: string[];
+  /** Explicit delivery targets (used when mode includes targets). */
+  targets?: ExecApprovalForwardTarget[];
+};
+
+export type ApprovalsConfig = {
+  exec?: ExecApprovalForwardingConfig;
+};

src/config/types.clawdbot.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { AgentBinding, AgentsConfig } from "./types.agents.js";
+import type { ApprovalsConfig } from "./types.approvals.js";
 import type { AuthConfig } from "./types.auth.js";
 import type { DiagnosticsConfig, LoggingConfig, SessionConfig, WebConfig } from "./types.base.js";
 import type { BrowserConfig } from "./types.browser.js";
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ export type ClawdbotConfig = {
   audio?: AudioConfig;
   messages?: MessagesConfig;
   commands?: CommandsConfig;
+  approvals?: ApprovalsConfig;
   session?: SessionConfig;
   web?: WebConfig;
   channels?: ChannelsConfig;

src/config/types.discord.ts

@@ -72,6 +72,17 @@ export type DiscordActionConfig = {
   channels?: boolean;
 };
 
+export type DiscordExecApprovalConfig = {
+  /** Enable exec approval forwarding to Discord DMs. Default: false. */
+  enabled?: boolean;
+  /** Discord user IDs to receive approval prompts. Required if enabled. */
+  approvers?: Array<string | number>;
+  /** Only forward approvals for these agent IDs. Omit = all agents. */
+  agentFilter?: string[];
+  /** Only forward approvals matching these session key patterns (substring or regex). */
+  sessionFilter?: string[];
+};
+
 export type DiscordAccountConfig = {
   /** Optional display name for this account (used in CLI/UI lists). */
   name?: string;
@@ -124,6 +135,8 @@ export type DiscordAccountConfig = {
   guilds?: Record<string, DiscordGuildEntry>;
   /** Heartbeat visibility settings for this channel. */
   heartbeat?: ChannelHeartbeatVisibilityConfig;
+  /** Exec approval forwarding configuration. */
+  execApprovals?: DiscordExecApprovalConfig;
 };
 
 export type DiscordConfig = {

src/config/types.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 export * from "./types.agent-defaults.js";
 export * from "./types.agents.js";
+export * from "./types.approvals.js";
 export * from "./types.auth.js";
 export * from "./types.base.js";
 export * from "./types.browser.js";

src/config/zod-schema.approvals.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+const ExecApprovalForwardTargetSchema = z
+  .object({
+    channel: z.string().min(1),
+    to: z.string().min(1),
+    accountId: z.string().optional(),
+    threadId: z.union([z.string(), z.number()]).optional(),
+  })
+  .strict();
+
+const ExecApprovalForwardingSchema = z
+  .object({
+    enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
+    mode: z.union([z.literal("session"), z.literal("targets"), z.literal("both")]).optional(),
+    agentFilter: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
+    sessionFilter: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
+    targets: z.array(ExecApprovalForwardTargetSchema).optional(),
+  })
+  .strict()
+  .optional();
+
+export const ApprovalsSchema = z
+  .object({
+    exec: ExecApprovalForwardingSchema,
+  })
+  .strict()
+  .optional();

src/config/zod-schema.providers-core.ts

@@ -244,6 +244,15 @@ export const DiscordAccountSchema = z
     dm: DiscordDmSchema.optional(),
     guilds: z.record(z.string(), DiscordGuildSchema.optional()).optional(),
     heartbeat: ChannelHeartbeatVisibilitySchema,
+    execApprovals: z
+      .object({
+        enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
+        approvers: z.array(z.union([z.string(), z.number()])).optional(),
+        agentFilter: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
+        sessionFilter: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
+      })
+      .strict()
+      .optional(),
   })
   .strict();
 

src/config/zod-schema.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { z } from "zod";
 import { ToolsSchema } from "./zod-schema.agent-runtime.js";
+import { ApprovalsSchema } from "./zod-schema.approvals.js";
 import { AgentsSchema, AudioSchema, BindingsSchema, BroadcastSchema } from "./zod-schema.agents.js";
 import { HexColorSchema, ModelsConfigSchema } from "./zod-schema.core.js";
 import { HookMappingSchema, HooksGmailSchema, InternalHooksSchema } from "./zod-schema.hooks.js";
@@ -220,6 +221,7 @@ export const ClawdbotSchema = z
       .optional(),
     messages: MessagesSchema,
     commands: CommandsSchema,
+    approvals: ApprovalsSchema,
     session: SessionSchema,
     cron: z
       .object({

src/discord/monitor/exec-approvals.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  buildExecApprovalCustomId,
+  parseExecApprovalData,
+  type ExecApprovalRequest,
+  DiscordExecApprovalHandler,
+} from "./exec-approvals.js";
+import type { DiscordExecApprovalConfig } from "../../config/types.discord.js";
+
+describe("buildExecApprovalCustomId", () => {
+  it("encodes approval id and action", () => {
+    const customId = buildExecApprovalCustomId("abc-123", "allow-once");
+    expect(customId).toBe("execapproval:id=abc-123;action=allow-once");
+  });
+
+  it("encodes special characters in approval id", () => {
+    const customId = buildExecApprovalCustomId("abc=123;test", "deny");
+    expect(customId).toBe("execapproval:id=abc%3D123%3Btest;action=deny");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("parseExecApprovalData", () => {
+  it("parses valid data", () => {
+    const result = parseExecApprovalData({ id: "abc-123", action: "allow-once" });
+    expect(result).toEqual({ approvalId: "abc-123", action: "allow-once" });
+  });
+
+  it("parses encoded data", () => {
+    const result = parseExecApprovalData({
+      id: "abc%3D123%3Btest",
+      action: "allow-always",
+    });
+    expect(result).toEqual({ approvalId: "abc=123;test", action: "allow-always" });
+  });
+
+  it("rejects invalid action", () => {
+    const result = parseExecApprovalData({ id: "abc-123", action: "invalid" });
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("rejects missing id", () => {
+    const result = parseExecApprovalData({ action: "deny" });
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("rejects missing action", () => {
+    const result = parseExecApprovalData({ id: "abc-123" });
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("rejects null/undefined input", () => {
+    expect(parseExecApprovalData(null as any)).toBeNull();
+    expect(parseExecApprovalData(undefined as any)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("accepts all valid actions", () => {
+    expect(parseExecApprovalData({ id: "x", action: "allow-once" })?.action).toBe("allow-once");
+    expect(parseExecApprovalData({ id: "x", action: "allow-always" })?.action).toBe("allow-always");
+    expect(parseExecApprovalData({ id: "x", action: "deny" })?.action).toBe("deny");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("roundtrip encoding", () => {
+  it("encodes and decodes correctly", () => {
+    const approvalId = "test-approval-with=special;chars&more";
+    const action = "allow-always" as const;
+    const customId = buildExecApprovalCustomId(approvalId, action);
+
+    // Parse the key=value pairs from the custom ID
+    const parts = customId.split(";");
+    const data: Record<string, string> = {};
+    for (const part of parts) {
+      const match = part.match(/^([^:]+:)?([^=]+)=(.+)$/);
+      if (match) {
+        data[match[2]] = match[3];
+      }
+    }
+
+    const result = parseExecApprovalData(data);
+    expect(result).toEqual({ approvalId, action });
+  });
+});
+
+describe("DiscordExecApprovalHandler.shouldHandle", () => {
+  function createHandler(config: DiscordExecApprovalConfig) {
+    return new DiscordExecApprovalHandler({
+      token: "test-token",
+      accountId: "default",
+      config,
+      cfg: {},
+    });
+  }
+
+  function createRequest(
+    overrides: Partial<ExecApprovalRequest["request"]> = {},
+  ): ExecApprovalRequest {
+    return {
+      id: "test-id",
+      request: {
+        command: "echo hello",
+        cwd: "/home/user",
+        host: "gateway",
+        agentId: "test-agent",
+        sessionKey: "agent:test-agent:discord:123",
+        ...overrides,
+      },
+      createdAtMs: Date.now(),
+      expiresAtMs: Date.now() + 60000,
+    };
+  }
+
+  it("returns false when disabled", () => {
+    const handler = createHandler({ enabled: false, approvers: ["123"] });
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest())).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("returns false when no approvers", () => {
+    const handler = createHandler({ enabled: true, approvers: [] });
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest())).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("returns true with minimal config", () => {
+    const handler = createHandler({ enabled: true, approvers: ["123"] });
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest())).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("filters by agent ID", () => {
+    const handler = createHandler({
+      enabled: true,
+      approvers: ["123"],
+      agentFilter: ["allowed-agent"],
+    });
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest({ agentId: "allowed-agent" }))).toBe(true);
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest({ agentId: "other-agent" }))).toBe(false);
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest({ agentId: null }))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("filters by session key substring", () => {
+    const handler = createHandler({
+      enabled: true,
+      approvers: ["123"],
+      sessionFilter: ["discord"],
+    });
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest({ sessionKey: "agent:test:discord:123" }))).toBe(
+      true,
+    );
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest({ sessionKey: "agent:test:telegram:123" }))).toBe(
+      false,
+    );
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest({ sessionKey: null }))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("filters by session key regex", () => {
+    const handler = createHandler({
+      enabled: true,
+      approvers: ["123"],
+      sessionFilter: ["^agent:.*:discord:"],
+    });
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest({ sessionKey: "agent:test:discord:123" }))).toBe(
+      true,
+    );
+    expect(handler.shouldHandle(createRequest({ sessionKey: "other:test:discord:123" }))).toBe(
+      false,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("combines agent and session filters", () => {
+    const handler = createHandler({
+      enabled: true,
+      approvers: ["123"],
+      agentFilter: ["my-agent"],
+      sessionFilter: ["discord"],
+    });
+    expect(
+      handler.shouldHandle(
+        createRequest({
+          agentId: "my-agent",
+          sessionKey: "agent:my-agent:discord:123",
+        }),
+      ),
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(
+      handler.shouldHandle(
+        createRequest({
+          agentId: "other-agent",
+          sessionKey: "agent:other:discord:123",
+        }),
+      ),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(
+      handler.shouldHandle(
+        createRequest({
+          agentId: "my-agent",
+          sessionKey: "agent:my-agent:telegram:123",
+        }),
+      ),
+    ).toBe(false);
+  });
+});

src/discord/monitor/exec-approvals.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,549 @@
+import { Button, type ButtonInteraction, type ComponentData } from "@buape/carbon";
+import { ButtonStyle, Routes } from "discord-api-types/v10";
+import type { ClawdbotConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
+import { GatewayClient } from "../../gateway/client.js";
+import { GATEWAY_CLIENT_MODES, GATEWAY_CLIENT_NAMES } from "../../utils/message-channel.js";
+import type { EventFrame } from "../../gateway/protocol/index.js";
+import type { ExecApprovalDecision } from "../../infra/exec-approvals.js";
+import { createDiscordClient } from "../send.shared.js";
+import { logDebug, logError } from "../../logger.js";
+import type { DiscordExecApprovalConfig } from "../../config/types.discord.js";
+import type { RuntimeEnv } from "../../runtime.js";
+
+const EXEC_APPROVAL_KEY = "execapproval";
+
+export type ExecApprovalRequest = {
+  id: string;
+  request: {
+    command: string;
+    cwd?: string | null;
+    host?: string | null;
+    security?: string | null;
+    ask?: string | null;
+    agentId?: string | null;
+    resolvedPath?: string | null;
+    sessionKey?: string | null;
+  };
+  createdAtMs: number;
+  expiresAtMs: number;
+};
+
+export type ExecApprovalResolved = {
+  id: string;
+  decision: ExecApprovalDecision;
+  resolvedBy?: string | null;
+  ts: number;
+};
+
+type PendingApproval = {
+  discordMessageId: string;
+  discordChannelId: string;
+  timeoutId: NodeJS.Timeout;
+};
+
+function encodeCustomIdValue(value: string): string {
+  return encodeURIComponent(value);
+}
+
+function decodeCustomIdValue(value: string): string {
+  try {
+    return decodeURIComponent(value);
+  } catch {
+    return value;
+  }
+}
+
+export function buildExecApprovalCustomId(
+  approvalId: string,
+  action: ExecApprovalDecision,
+): string {
+  return [`${EXEC_APPROVAL_KEY}:id=${encodeCustomIdValue(approvalId)}`, `action=${action}`].join(
+    ";",
+  );
+}
+
+export function parseExecApprovalData(
+  data: ComponentData,
+): { approvalId: string; action: ExecApprovalDecision } | null {
+  if (!data || typeof data !== "object") return null;
+  const coerce = (value: unknown) =>
+    typeof value === "string" || typeof value === "number" ? String(value) : "";
+  const rawId = coerce(data.id);
+  const rawAction = coerce(data.action);
+  if (!rawId || !rawAction) return null;
+  const action = rawAction as ExecApprovalDecision;
+  if (action !== "allow-once" && action !== "allow-always" && action !== "deny") {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return {
+    approvalId: decodeCustomIdValue(rawId),
+    action,
+  };
+}
+
+function formatExecApprovalEmbed(request: ExecApprovalRequest) {
+  const commandText = request.request.command;
+  const commandPreview =
+    commandText.length > 1000 ? `${commandText.slice(0, 1000)}...` : commandText;
+  const expiresIn = Math.max(0, Math.round((request.expiresAtMs - Date.now()) / 1000));
+
+  const fields: Array<{ name: string; value: string; inline: boolean }> = [
+    {
+      name: "Command",
+      value: `\`\`\`\n${commandPreview}\n\`\`\``,
+      inline: false,
+    },
+  ];
+
+  if (request.request.cwd) {
+    fields.push({
+      name: "Working Directory",
+      value: request.request.cwd,
+      inline: true,
+    });
+  }
+
+  if (request.request.host) {
+    fields.push({
+      name: "Host",
+      value: request.request.host,
+      inline: true,
+    });
+  }
+
+  if (request.request.agentId) {
+    fields.push({
+      name: "Agent",
+      value: request.request.agentId,
+      inline: true,
+    });
+  }
+
+  return {
+    title: "Exec Approval Required",
+    description: "A command needs your approval.",
+    color: 0xffa500, // Orange
+    fields,
+    footer: { text: `Expires in ${expiresIn}s | ID: ${request.id}` },
+    timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+  };
+}
+
+function formatResolvedEmbed(
+  request: ExecApprovalRequest,
+  decision: ExecApprovalDecision,
+  resolvedBy?: string | null,
+) {
+  const commandText = request.request.command;
+  const commandPreview = commandText.length > 500 ? `${commandText.slice(0, 500)}...` : commandText;
+
+  const decisionLabel =
+    decision === "allow-once"
+      ? "Allowed (once)"
+      : decision === "allow-always"
+        ? "Allowed (always)"
+        : "Denied";
+
+  const color = decision === "deny" ? 0xed4245 : decision === "allow-always" ? 0x5865f2 : 0x57f287;
+
+  return {
+    title: `Exec Approval: ${decisionLabel}`,
+    description: resolvedBy ? `Resolved by ${resolvedBy}` : "Resolved",
+    color,
+    fields: [
+      {
+        name: "Command",
+        value: `\`\`\`\n${commandPreview}\n\`\`\``,
+        inline: false,
+      },
+    ],
+    footer: { text: `ID: ${request.id}` },
+    timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+  };
+}
+
+function formatExpiredEmbed(request: ExecApprovalRequest) {
+  const commandText = request.request.command;
+  const commandPreview = commandText.length > 500 ? `${commandText.slice(0, 500)}...` : commandText;
+
+  return {
+    title: "Exec Approval: Expired",
+    description: "This approval request has expired.",
+    color: 0x99aab5, // Gray
+    fields: [
+      {
+        name: "Command",
+        value: `\`\`\`\n${commandPreview}\n\`\`\``,
+        inline: false,
+      },
+    ],
+    footer: { text: `ID: ${request.id}` },
+    timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+  };
+}
+
+export type DiscordExecApprovalHandlerOpts = {
+  token: string;
+  accountId: string;
+  config: DiscordExecApprovalConfig;
+  gatewayUrl?: string;
+  cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
+  runtime?: RuntimeEnv;
+  onResolve?: (id: string, decision: ExecApprovalDecision) => Promise<void>;
+};
+
+export class DiscordExecApprovalHandler {
+  private gatewayClient: GatewayClient | null = null;
+  private pending = new Map<string, PendingApproval>();
+  private requestCache = new Map<string, ExecApprovalRequest>();
+  private opts: DiscordExecApprovalHandlerOpts;
+  private started = false;
+
+  constructor(opts: DiscordExecApprovalHandlerOpts) {
+    this.opts = opts;
+  }
+
+  shouldHandle(request: ExecApprovalRequest): boolean {
+    const config = this.opts.config;
+    if (!config.enabled) return false;
+    if (!config.approvers || config.approvers.length === 0) return false;
+
+    // Check agent filter
+    if (config.agentFilter?.length) {
+      if (!request.request.agentId) return false;
+      if (!config.agentFilter.includes(request.request.agentId)) return false;
+    }
+
+    // Check session filter (substring match)
+    if (config.sessionFilter?.length) {
+      const session = request.request.sessionKey;
+      if (!session) return false;
+      const matches = config.sessionFilter.some((p) => {
+        try {
+          return session.includes(p) || new RegExp(p).test(session);
+        } catch {
+          return session.includes(p);
+        }
+      });
+      if (!matches) return false;
+    }
+
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  async start(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.started) return;
+    this.started = true;
+
+    const config = this.opts.config;
+    if (!config.enabled) {
+      logDebug("discord exec approvals: disabled");
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (!config.approvers || config.approvers.length === 0) {
+      logDebug("discord exec approvals: no approvers configured");
+      return;
+    }
+
+    logDebug("discord exec approvals: starting handler");
+
+    this.gatewayClient = new GatewayClient({
+      url: this.opts.gatewayUrl ?? "ws://127.0.0.1:18789",
+      clientName: GATEWAY_CLIENT_NAMES.GATEWAY_CLIENT,
+      clientDisplayName: "Discord Exec Approvals",
+      mode: GATEWAY_CLIENT_MODES.BACKEND,
+      scopes: ["operator.approvals"],
+      onEvent: (evt) => this.handleGatewayEvent(evt),
+      onHelloOk: () => {
+        logDebug("discord exec approvals: connected to gateway");
+      },
+      onConnectError: (err) => {
+        logError(`discord exec approvals: connect error: ${err.message}`);
+      },
+      onClose: (code, reason) => {
+        logDebug(`discord exec approvals: gateway closed: ${code} ${reason}`);
+      },
+    });
+
+    this.gatewayClient.start();
+  }
+
+  async stop(): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.started) return;
+    this.started = false;
+
+    // Clear all pending timeouts
+    for (const pending of this.pending.values()) {
+      clearTimeout(pending.timeoutId);
+    }
+    this.pending.clear();
+    this.requestCache.clear();
+
+    this.gatewayClient?.stop();
+    this.gatewayClient = null;
+
+    logDebug("discord exec approvals: stopped");
+  }
+
+  private handleGatewayEvent(evt: EventFrame): void {
+    if (evt.event === "exec.approval.requested") {
+      const request = evt.payload as ExecApprovalRequest;
+      void this.handleApprovalRequested(request);
+    } else if (evt.event === "exec.approval.resolved") {
+      const resolved = evt.payload as ExecApprovalResolved;
+      void this.handleApprovalResolved(resolved);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async handleApprovalRequested(request: ExecApprovalRequest): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.shouldHandle(request)) return;
+
+    logDebug(`discord exec approvals: received request ${request.id}`);
+
+    this.requestCache.set(request.id, request);
+
+    const { rest, request: discordRequest } = createDiscordClient(
+      { token: this.opts.token, accountId: this.opts.accountId },
+      this.opts.cfg,
+    );
+
+    const embed = formatExecApprovalEmbed(request);
+
+    // Build action rows with buttons
+    const components = [
+      {
+        type: 1, // ACTION_ROW
+        components: [
+          {
+            type: 2, // BUTTON
+            style: ButtonStyle.Success,
+            label: "Allow once",
+            custom_id: buildExecApprovalCustomId(request.id, "allow-once"),
+          },
+          {
+            type: 2, // BUTTON
+            style: ButtonStyle.Primary,
+            label: "Always allow",
+            custom_id: buildExecApprovalCustomId(request.id, "allow-always"),
+          },
+          {
+            type: 2, // BUTTON
+            style: ButtonStyle.Danger,
+            label: "Deny",
+            custom_id: buildExecApprovalCustomId(request.id, "deny"),
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    ];
+
+    const approvers = this.opts.config.approvers ?? [];
+
+    for (const approver of approvers) {
+      const userId = String(approver);
+      try {
+        // Create DM channel
+        const dmChannel = (await discordRequest(
+          () =>
+            rest.post(Routes.userChannels(), {
+              body: { recipient_id: userId },
+            }) as Promise<{ id: string }>,
+          "dm-channel",
+        )) as { id: string };
+
+        if (!dmChannel?.id) {
+          logError(`discord exec approvals: failed to create DM for user ${userId}`);
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        // Send message with embed and buttons
+        const message = (await discordRequest(
+          () =>
+            rest.post(Routes.channelMessages(dmChannel.id), {
+              body: {
+                embeds: [embed],
+                components,
+              },
+            }) as Promise<{ id: string; channel_id: string }>,
+          "send-approval",
+        )) as { id: string; channel_id: string };
+
+        if (!message?.id) {
+          logError(`discord exec approvals: failed to send message to user ${userId}`);
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        // Set up timeout
+        const timeoutMs = Math.max(0, request.expiresAtMs - Date.now());
+        const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
+          void this.handleApprovalTimeout(request.id);
+        }, timeoutMs);
+
+        this.pending.set(request.id, {
+          discordMessageId: message.id,
+          discordChannelId: dmChannel.id,
+          timeoutId,
+        });
+
+        logDebug(`discord exec approvals: sent approval ${request.id} to user ${userId}`);
+      } catch (err) {
+        logError(`discord exec approvals: failed to notify user ${userId}: ${String(err)}`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async handleApprovalResolved(resolved: ExecApprovalResolved): Promise<void> {
+    const pending = this.pending.get(resolved.id);
+    if (!pending) return;
+
+    clearTimeout(pending.timeoutId);
+    this.pending.delete(resolved.id);
+
+    const request = this.requestCache.get(resolved.id);
+    this.requestCache.delete(resolved.id);
+
+    if (!request) return;
+
+    logDebug(`discord exec approvals: resolved ${resolved.id} with ${resolved.decision}`);
+
+    await this.updateMessage(
+      pending.discordChannelId,
+      pending.discordMessageId,
+      formatResolvedEmbed(request, resolved.decision, resolved.resolvedBy),
+    );
+  }
+
+  private async handleApprovalTimeout(approvalId: string): Promise<void> {
+    const pending = this.pending.get(approvalId);
+    if (!pending) return;
+
+    this.pending.delete(approvalId);
+
+    const request = this.requestCache.get(approvalId);
+    this.requestCache.delete(approvalId);
+
+    if (!request) return;
+
+    logDebug(`discord exec approvals: timeout for ${approvalId}`);
+
+    await this.updateMessage(
+      pending.discordChannelId,
+      pending.discordMessageId,
+      formatExpiredEmbed(request),
+    );
+  }
+
+  private async updateMessage(
+    channelId: string,
+    messageId: string,
+    embed: ReturnType<typeof formatExpiredEmbed>,
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+      const { rest, request: discordRequest } = createDiscordClient(
+        { token: this.opts.token, accountId: this.opts.accountId },
+        this.opts.cfg,
+      );
+
+      await discordRequest(
+        () =>
+          rest.patch(Routes.channelMessage(channelId, messageId), {
+            body: {
+              embeds: [embed],
+              components: [], // Remove buttons
+            },
+          }),
+        "update-approval",
+      );
+    } catch (err) {
+      logError(`discord exec approvals: failed to update message: ${String(err)}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async resolveApproval(approvalId: string, decision: ExecApprovalDecision): Promise<boolean> {
+    if (!this.gatewayClient) {
+      logError("discord exec approvals: gateway client not connected");
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    logDebug(`discord exec approvals: resolving ${approvalId} with ${decision}`);
+
+    try {
+      await this.gatewayClient.request("exec.approval.resolve", {
+        id: approvalId,
+        decision,
+      });
+      logDebug(`discord exec approvals: resolved ${approvalId} successfully`);
+      return true;
+    } catch (err) {
+      logError(`discord exec approvals: resolve failed: ${String(err)}`);
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+export type ExecApprovalButtonContext = {
+  handler: DiscordExecApprovalHandler;
+};
+
+export class ExecApprovalButton extends Button {
+  label = "execapproval";
+  customId = `${EXEC_APPROVAL_KEY}:seed=1`;
+  style = ButtonStyle.Primary;
+  private ctx: ExecApprovalButtonContext;
+
+  constructor(ctx: ExecApprovalButtonContext) {
+    super();
+    this.ctx = ctx;
+  }
+
+  async run(interaction: ButtonInteraction, data: ComponentData): Promise<void> {
+    const parsed = parseExecApprovalData(data);
+    if (!parsed) {
+      try {
+        await interaction.update({
+          content: "This approval is no longer valid.",
+          components: [],
+        });
+      } catch {
+        // Interaction may have expired
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const decisionLabel =
+      parsed.action === "allow-once"
+        ? "Allowed (once)"
+        : parsed.action === "allow-always"
+          ? "Allowed (always)"
+          : "Denied";
+
+    // Update the message immediately to show the decision
+    try {
+      await interaction.update({
+        content: `Submitting decision: **${decisionLabel}**...`,
+        components: [], // Remove buttons
+      });
+    } catch {
+      // Interaction may have expired, try to continue anyway
+    }
+
+    const ok = await this.ctx.handler.resolveApproval(parsed.approvalId, parsed.action);
+
+    if (!ok) {
+      try {
+        await interaction.followUp({
+          content:
+            "Failed to submit approval decision. The request may have expired or already been resolved.",
+          ephemeral: true,
+        });
+      } catch {
+        // Interaction may have expired
+      }
+    }
+    // On success, the handleApprovalResolved event will update the message with the final result
+  }
+}
+
+export function createExecApprovalButton(ctx: ExecApprovalButtonContext): Button {
+  return new ExecApprovalButton(ctx);
+}

src/discord/monitor/provider.ts

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import {
   createDiscordCommandArgFallbackButton,
   createDiscordNativeCommand,
 } from "./native-command.js";
+import { createExecApprovalButton, DiscordExecApprovalHandler } from "./exec-approvals.js";
 
 export type MonitorDiscordOpts = {
   token?: string;
@@ -406,6 +407,31 @@ export async function monitorDiscordProvider(opts: MonitorDiscordOpts = {}) {
     }),
   );
 
+  // Initialize exec approvals handler if enabled
+  const execApprovalsConfig = discordCfg.execApprovals ?? {};
+  const execApprovalsHandler = execApprovalsConfig.enabled
+    ? new DiscordExecApprovalHandler({
+        token,
+        accountId: account.accountId,
+        config: execApprovalsConfig,
+        cfg,
+        runtime,
+      })
+    : null;
+
+  const components = [
+    createDiscordCommandArgFallbackButton({
+      cfg,
+      discordConfig: discordCfg,
+      accountId: account.accountId,
+      sessionPrefix,
+    }),
+  ];
+
+  if (execApprovalsHandler) {
+    components.push(createExecApprovalButton({ handler: execApprovalsHandler }));
+  }
+
   const client = new Client(
     {
       baseUrl: "http://localhost",
@@ -418,14 +444,7 @@ export async function monitorDiscordProvider(opts: MonitorDiscordOpts = {}) {
     {
       commands,
       listeners: [],
-      components: [
-        createDiscordCommandArgFallbackButton({
-          cfg,
-          discordConfig: discordCfg,
-          accountId: account.accountId,
-          sessionPrefix,
-        }),
-      ],
+      components,
     },
     [
       new GatewayPlugin({
@@ -510,6 +529,11 @@ export async function monitorDiscordProvider(opts: MonitorDiscordOpts = {}) {
 
   runtime.log?.(`logged in to discord${botUserId ? ` as ${botUserId}` : ""}`);
 
+  // Start exec approvals handler after client is ready
+  if (execApprovalsHandler) {
+    await execApprovalsHandler.start();
+  }
+
   const gateway = client.getPlugin<GatewayPlugin>("gateway");
   const gatewayEmitter = getDiscordGatewayEmitter(gateway);
   const stopGatewayLogging = attachDiscordGatewayLogging({
@@ -575,6 +599,9 @@ export async function monitorDiscordProvider(opts: MonitorDiscordOpts = {}) {
     if (helloTimeoutId) clearTimeout(helloTimeoutId);
     gatewayEmitter?.removeListener("debug", onGatewayDebug);
     abortSignal?.removeEventListener("abort", onAbort);
+    if (execApprovalsHandler) {
+      await execApprovalsHandler.stop();
+    }
   }
 }
 

src/gateway/server-methods/exec-approval.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { ExecApprovalDecision } from "../../infra/exec-approvals.js";
+import type { ExecApprovalForwarder } from "../../infra/exec-approval-forwarder.js";
 import type { ExecApprovalManager } from "../exec-approval-manager.js";
 import {
   ErrorCodes,
@@ -9,7 +10,10 @@ import {
 } from "../protocol/index.js";
 import type { GatewayRequestHandlers } from "./types.js";
 
-export function createExecApprovalHandlers(manager: ExecApprovalManager): GatewayRequestHandlers {
+export function createExecApprovalHandlers(
+  manager: ExecApprovalManager,
+  opts?: { forwarder?: ExecApprovalForwarder },
+): GatewayRequestHandlers {
   return {
     "exec.approval.request": async ({ params, respond, context }) => {
       if (!validateExecApprovalRequestParams(params)) {
@@ -69,6 +73,16 @@ export function createExecApprovalHandlers(manager: ExecApprovalManager): Gatewa
         },
         { dropIfSlow: true },
       );
+      void opts?.forwarder
+        ?.handleRequested({
+          id: record.id,
+          request: record.request,
+          createdAtMs: record.createdAtMs,
+          expiresAtMs: record.expiresAtMs,
+        })
+        .catch((err) => {
+          context.logGateway?.error?.(`exec approvals: forward request failed: ${String(err)}`);
+        });
       const decision = await decisionPromise;
       respond(
         true,
@@ -112,6 +126,11 @@ export function createExecApprovalHandlers(manager: ExecApprovalManager): Gatewa
         { id: p.id, decision, resolvedBy, ts: Date.now() },
         { dropIfSlow: true },
       );
+      void opts?.forwarder
+        ?.handleResolved({ id: p.id, decision, resolvedBy, ts: Date.now() })
+        .catch((err) => {
+          context.logGateway?.error?.(`exec approvals: forward resolve failed: ${String(err)}`);
+        });
       respond(true, { ok: true }, undefined);
     },
   };

src/gateway/server.impl.ts

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import {
 import { startGatewayDiscovery } from "./server-discovery-runtime.js";
 import { ExecApprovalManager } from "./exec-approval-manager.js";
 import { createExecApprovalHandlers } from "./server-methods/exec-approval.js";
+import { createExecApprovalForwarder } from "../infra/exec-approval-forwarder.js";
 import type { startBrowserControlServerIfEnabled } from "./server-browser.js";
 import { createChannelManager } from "./server-channels.js";
 import { createAgentEventHandler } from "./server-chat.js";
@@ -396,7 +397,10 @@ export async function startGatewayServer(
   void cron.start().catch((err) => logCron.error(`failed to start: ${String(err)}`));
 
   const execApprovalManager = new ExecApprovalManager();
-  const execApprovalHandlers = createExecApprovalHandlers(execApprovalManager);
+  const execApprovalForwarder = createExecApprovalForwarder();
+  const execApprovalHandlers = createExecApprovalHandlers(execApprovalManager, {
+    forwarder: execApprovalForwarder,
+  });
 
   const canvasHostServerPort = (canvasHostServer as CanvasHostServer | null)?.port;
 

src/infra/exec-approval-forwarder.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import type { ClawdbotConfig } from "../config/config.js";
+import { createExecApprovalForwarder } from "./exec-approval-forwarder.js";
+
+const baseRequest = {
+  id: "req-1",
+  request: {
+    command: "echo hello",
+    agentId: "main",
+    sessionKey: "agent:main:main",
+  },
+  createdAtMs: 1000,
+  expiresAtMs: 6000,
+};
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.useRealTimers();
+});
+
+describe("exec approval forwarder", () => {
+  it("forwards to session target and resolves", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    const deliver = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]);
+    const cfg = {
+      approvals: { exec: { enabled: true, mode: "session" } },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+
+    const forwarder = createExecApprovalForwarder({
+      getConfig: () => cfg,
+      deliver,
+      nowMs: () => 1000,
+      resolveSessionTarget: () => ({ channel: "slack", to: "U1" }),
+    });
+
+    await forwarder.handleRequested(baseRequest);
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    await forwarder.handleResolved({
+      id: baseRequest.id,
+      decision: "allow-once",
+      resolvedBy: "slack:U1",
+      ts: 2000,
+    });
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+
+  it("forwards to explicit targets and expires", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    const deliver = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]);
+    const cfg = {
+      approvals: {
+        exec: {
+          enabled: true,
+          mode: "targets",
+          targets: [{ channel: "telegram", to: "123" }],
+        },
+      },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+
+    const forwarder = createExecApprovalForwarder({
+      getConfig: () => cfg,
+      deliver,
+      nowMs: () => 1000,
+      resolveSessionTarget: () => null,
+    });
+
+    await forwarder.handleRequested(baseRequest);
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+});

src/infra/exec-approval-forwarder.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,282 @@
+import type { ClawdbotConfig } from "../config/config.js";
+import { loadConfig } from "../config/config.js";
+import { loadSessionStore, resolveStorePath } from "../config/sessions.js";
+import type {
+  ExecApprovalForwardingConfig,
+  ExecApprovalForwardTarget,
+} from "../config/types.approvals.js";
+import { createSubsystemLogger } from "../logging/subsystem.js";
+import { parseAgentSessionKey } from "../routing/session-key.js";
+import { isDeliverableMessageChannel, normalizeMessageChannel } from "../utils/message-channel.js";
+import type { ExecApprovalDecision } from "./exec-approvals.js";
+import { deliverOutboundPayloads } from "./outbound/deliver.js";
+import { resolveSessionDeliveryTarget } from "./outbound/targets.js";
+
+const log = createSubsystemLogger("gateway/exec-approvals");
+
+export type ExecApprovalRequest = {
+  id: string;
+  request: {
+    command: string;
+    cwd?: string | null;
+    host?: string | null;
+    security?: string | null;
+    ask?: string | null;
+    agentId?: string | null;
+    resolvedPath?: string | null;
+    sessionKey?: string | null;
+  };
+  createdAtMs: number;
+  expiresAtMs: number;
+};
+
+export type ExecApprovalResolved = {
+  id: string;
+  decision: ExecApprovalDecision;
+  resolvedBy?: string | null;
+  ts: number;
+};
+
+type ForwardTarget = ExecApprovalForwardTarget & { source: "session" | "target" };
+
+type PendingApproval = {
+  request: ExecApprovalRequest;
+  targets: ForwardTarget[];
+  timeoutId: NodeJS.Timeout | null;
+};
+
+export type ExecApprovalForwarder = {
+  handleRequested: (request: ExecApprovalRequest) => Promise<void>;
+  handleResolved: (resolved: ExecApprovalResolved) => Promise<void>;
+  stop: () => void;
+};
+
+export type ExecApprovalForwarderDeps = {
+  getConfig?: () => ClawdbotConfig;
+  deliver?: typeof deliverOutboundPayloads;
+  nowMs?: () => number;
+  resolveSessionTarget?: (params: {
+    cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
+    request: ExecApprovalRequest;
+  }) => ExecApprovalForwardTarget | null;
+};
+
+const DEFAULT_MODE = "session" as const;
+
+function normalizeMode(mode?: ExecApprovalForwardingConfig["mode"]) {
+  return mode ?? DEFAULT_MODE;
+}
+
+function matchSessionFilter(sessionKey: string, patterns: string[]): boolean {
+  return patterns.some((pattern) => {
+    try {
+      return sessionKey.includes(pattern) || new RegExp(pattern).test(sessionKey);
+    } catch {
+      return sessionKey.includes(pattern);
+    }
+  });
+}
+
+function shouldForward(params: {
+  config?: ExecApprovalForwardingConfig;
+  request: ExecApprovalRequest;
+}): boolean {
+  const config = params.config;
+  if (!config?.enabled) return false;
+  if (config.agentFilter?.length) {
+    const agentId =
+      params.request.request.agentId ??
+      parseAgentSessionKey(params.request.request.sessionKey)?.agentId;
+    if (!agentId) return false;
+    if (!config.agentFilter.includes(agentId)) return false;
+  }
+  if (config.sessionFilter?.length) {
+    const sessionKey = params.request.request.sessionKey;
+    if (!sessionKey) return false;
+    if (!matchSessionFilter(sessionKey, config.sessionFilter)) return false;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+function buildTargetKey(target: ExecApprovalForwardTarget): string {
+  const channel = normalizeMessageChannel(target.channel) ?? target.channel;
+  const accountId = target.accountId ?? "";
+  const threadId = target.threadId ?? "";
+  return [channel, target.to, accountId, threadId].join(":");
+}
+
+function buildRequestMessage(request: ExecApprovalRequest, nowMs: number) {
+  const lines: string[] = ["🔒 Exec approval required", `ID: ${request.id}`];
+  lines.push(`Command: ${request.request.command}`);
+  if (request.request.cwd) lines.push(`CWD: ${request.request.cwd}`);
+  if (request.request.host) lines.push(`Host: ${request.request.host}`);
+  if (request.request.agentId) lines.push(`Agent: ${request.request.agentId}`);
+  if (request.request.security) lines.push(`Security: ${request.request.security}`);
+  if (request.request.ask) lines.push(`Ask: ${request.request.ask}`);
+  const expiresIn = Math.max(0, Math.round((request.expiresAtMs - nowMs) / 1000));
+  lines.push(`Expires in: ${expiresIn}s`);
+  lines.push("Reply with: /approve <id> allow-once|allow-always|deny");
+  return lines.join("\n");
+}
+
+function decisionLabel(decision: ExecApprovalDecision): string {
+  if (decision === "allow-once") return "allowed once";
+  if (decision === "allow-always") return "allowed always";
+  return "denied";
+}
+
+function buildResolvedMessage(resolved: ExecApprovalResolved) {
+  const base = `✅ Exec approval ${decisionLabel(resolved.decision)}.`;
+  const by = resolved.resolvedBy ? ` Resolved by ${resolved.resolvedBy}.` : "";
+  return `${base}${by} ID: ${resolved.id}`;
+}
+
+function buildExpiredMessage(request: ExecApprovalRequest) {
+  return `⏱️ Exec approval expired. ID: ${request.id}`;
+}
+
+function defaultResolveSessionTarget(params: {
+  cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
+  request: ExecApprovalRequest;
+}): ExecApprovalForwardTarget | null {
+  const sessionKey = params.request.request.sessionKey?.trim();
+  if (!sessionKey) return null;
+  const parsed = parseAgentSessionKey(sessionKey);
+  const agentId = parsed?.agentId ?? params.request.request.agentId ?? "main";
+  const storePath = resolveStorePath(params.cfg.session?.store, { agentId });
+  const store = loadSessionStore(storePath);
+  const entry = store[sessionKey];
+  if (!entry) return null;
+  const target = resolveSessionDeliveryTarget({ entry, requestedChannel: "last" });
+  if (!target.channel || !target.to) return null;
+  if (!isDeliverableMessageChannel(target.channel)) return null;
+  return {
+    channel: target.channel,
+    to: target.to,
+    accountId: target.accountId,
+    threadId: target.threadId,
+  };
+}
+
+async function deliverToTargets(params: {
+  cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
+  targets: ForwardTarget[];
+  text: string;
+  deliver: typeof deliverOutboundPayloads;
+  shouldSend?: () => boolean;
+}) {
+  const deliveries = params.targets.map(async (target) => {
+    if (params.shouldSend && !params.shouldSend()) return;
+    const channel = normalizeMessageChannel(target.channel) ?? target.channel;
+    if (!isDeliverableMessageChannel(channel)) return;
+    try {
+      await params.deliver({
+        cfg: params.cfg,
+        channel,
+        to: target.to,
+        accountId: target.accountId,
+        threadId: target.threadId,
+        payloads: [{ text: params.text }],
+      });
+    } catch (err) {
+      log.error(`exec approvals: failed to deliver to ${channel}:${target.to}: ${String(err)}`);
+    }
+  });
+  await Promise.allSettled(deliveries);
+}
+
+export function createExecApprovalForwarder(
+  deps: ExecApprovalForwarderDeps = {},
+): ExecApprovalForwarder {
+  const getConfig = deps.getConfig ?? loadConfig;
+  const deliver = deps.deliver ?? deliverOutboundPayloads;
+  const nowMs = deps.nowMs ?? Date.now;
+  const resolveSessionTarget = deps.resolveSessionTarget ?? defaultResolveSessionTarget;
+  const pending = new Map<string, PendingApproval>();
+
+  const handleRequested = async (request: ExecApprovalRequest) => {
+    const cfg = getConfig();
+    const config = cfg.approvals?.exec;
+    if (!shouldForward({ config, request })) return;
+
+    const mode = normalizeMode(config?.mode);
+    const targets: ForwardTarget[] = [];
+    const seen = new Set<string>();
+
+    if (mode === "session" || mode === "both") {
+      const sessionTarget = resolveSessionTarget({ cfg, request });
+      if (sessionTarget) {
+        const key = buildTargetKey(sessionTarget);
+        if (!seen.has(key)) {
+          seen.add(key);
+          targets.push({ ...sessionTarget, source: "session" });
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (mode === "targets" || mode === "both") {
+      const explicitTargets = config?.targets ?? [];
+      for (const target of explicitTargets) {
+        const key = buildTargetKey(target);
+        if (seen.has(key)) continue;
+        seen.add(key);
+        targets.push({ ...target, source: "target" });
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (targets.length === 0) return;
+
+    const expiresInMs = Math.max(0, request.expiresAtMs - nowMs());
+    const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
+      void (async () => {
+        const entry = pending.get(request.id);
+        if (!entry) return;
+        pending.delete(request.id);
+        const expiredText = buildExpiredMessage(request);
+        await deliverToTargets({ cfg, targets: entry.targets, text: expiredText, deliver });
+      })();
+    }, expiresInMs);
+    timeoutId.unref?.();
+
+    const pendingEntry: PendingApproval = { request, targets, timeoutId };
+    pending.set(request.id, pendingEntry);
+
+    if (pending.get(request.id) !== pendingEntry) return;
+
+    const text = buildRequestMessage(request, nowMs());
+    await deliverToTargets({
+      cfg,
+      targets,
+      text,
+      deliver,
+      shouldSend: () => pending.get(request.id) === pendingEntry,
+    });
+  };
+
+  const handleResolved = async (resolved: ExecApprovalResolved) => {
+    const entry = pending.get(resolved.id);
+    if (!entry) return;
+    if (entry.timeoutId) clearTimeout(entry.timeoutId);
+    pending.delete(resolved.id);
+
+    const cfg = getConfig();
+    const text = buildResolvedMessage(resolved);
+    await deliverToTargets({ cfg, targets: entry.targets, text, deliver });
+  };
+
+  const stop = () => {
+    for (const entry of pending.values()) {
+      if (entry.timeoutId) clearTimeout(entry.timeoutId);
+    }
+    pending.clear();
+  };
+
+  return { handleRequested, handleResolved, stop };
+}
+
+export function shouldForwardExecApproval(params: {
+  config?: ExecApprovalForwardingConfig;
+  request: ExecApprovalRequest;
+}): boolean {
+  return shouldForward(params);
+}

src/infra/heartbeat-runner.ts

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import {
 } from "../config/sessions.js";
 import type { AgentDefaultsConfig } from "../config/types.agent-defaults.js";
 import { formatErrorMessage } from "../infra/errors.js";
+import { peekSystemEvents } from "../infra/system-events.js";
 import { createSubsystemLogger } from "../logging/subsystem.js";
 import { getQueueSize } from "../process/command-queue.js";
 import { CommandLane } from "../process/lanes.js";
@@ -88,6 +89,14 @@ export type HeartbeatSummary = {
 const DEFAULT_HEARTBEAT_TARGET = "last";
 const ACTIVE_HOURS_TIME_PATTERN = /^([01]\d|2[0-3]|24):([0-5]\d)$/;
 
+// Prompt used when an async exec has completed and the result should be relayed to the user.
+// This overrides the standard heartbeat prompt to ensure the model responds with the exec result
+// instead of just "HEARTBEAT_OK".
+const EXEC_EVENT_PROMPT =
+  "An async command you ran earlier has completed. The result is shown in the system messages above. " +
+  "Please relay the command output to the user in a helpful way. If the command succeeded, share the relevant output. " +
+  "If it failed, explain what went wrong.";
+
 function resolveActiveHoursTimezone(cfg: ClawdbotConfig, raw?: string): string {
   const trimmed = raw?.trim();
   if (!trimmed || trimmed === "user") {
@@ -453,11 +462,13 @@ export async function runHeartbeatOnce(opts: {
 
   // Skip heartbeat if HEARTBEAT.md exists but has no actionable content.
   // This saves API calls/costs when the file is effectively empty (only comments/headers).
+  // EXCEPTION: Don't skip for exec events - they have pending system events to process.
+  const isExecEventReason = opts.reason === "exec-event";
   const workspaceDir = resolveAgentWorkspaceDir(cfg, agentId);
   const heartbeatFilePath = path.join(workspaceDir, DEFAULT_HEARTBEAT_FILENAME);
   try {
     const heartbeatFileContent = await fs.readFile(heartbeatFilePath, "utf-8");
-    if (isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty(heartbeatFileContent)) {
+    if (isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty(heartbeatFileContent) && !isExecEventReason) {
       emitHeartbeatEvent({
         status: "skipped",
         reason: "empty-heartbeat-file",
@@ -483,12 +494,20 @@ export async function runHeartbeatOnce(opts: {
       : { showOk: false, showAlerts: true, useIndicator: true };
   const { sender } = resolveHeartbeatSenderContext({ cfg, entry, delivery });
   const responsePrefix = resolveEffectiveMessagesConfig(cfg, agentId).responsePrefix;
-  const prompt = resolveHeartbeatPrompt(cfg, heartbeat);
+
+  // Check if this is an exec event with pending exec completion system events.
+  // If so, use a specialized prompt that instructs the model to relay the result
+  // instead of the standard heartbeat prompt with "reply HEARTBEAT_OK".
+  const isExecEvent = opts.reason === "exec-event";
+  const pendingEvents = isExecEvent ? peekSystemEvents(sessionKey) : [];
+  const hasExecCompletion = pendingEvents.some((evt) => evt.includes("Exec finished"));
+
+  const prompt = hasExecCompletion ? EXEC_EVENT_PROMPT : resolveHeartbeatPrompt(cfg, heartbeat);
   const ctx = {
     Body: prompt,
     From: sender,
     To: sender,
-    Provider: "heartbeat",
+    Provider: hasExecCompletion ? "exec-event" : "heartbeat",
     SessionKey: sessionKey,
   };
   if (!visibility.showAlerts && !visibility.showOk && !visibility.useIndicator) {
@@ -558,7 +577,19 @@ export async function runHeartbeatOnce(opts: {
 
     const ackMaxChars = resolveHeartbeatAckMaxChars(cfg, heartbeat);
     const normalized = normalizeHeartbeatReply(replyPayload, responsePrefix, ackMaxChars);
-    const shouldSkipMain = normalized.shouldSkip && !normalized.hasMedia;
+    // For exec completion events, don't skip even if the response looks like HEARTBEAT_OK.
+    // The model should be responding with exec results, not ack tokens.
+    // Also, if normalized.text is empty due to token stripping but we have exec completion,
+    // fall back to the original reply text.
+    const execFallbackText =
+      hasExecCompletion && !normalized.text.trim() && replyPayload.text?.trim()
+        ? replyPayload.text.trim()
+        : null;
+    if (execFallbackText) {
+      normalized.text = execFallbackText;
+      normalized.shouldSkip = false;
+    }
+    const shouldSkipMain = normalized.shouldSkip && !normalized.hasMedia && !hasExecCompletion;
     if (shouldSkipMain && reasoningPayloads.length === 0) {
       await restoreHeartbeatUpdatedAt({
         storePath,