doc: clarify that process._debugProcess() is not restricted by the Permission Model#62537
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cybe4sent1nel wants to merge 3 commits intonodejs:mainfrom
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RafaelGSS
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Apr 1, 2026
Co-authored-by: Rafael Gonzaga <rafael.nunu@hotmail.com>
RafaelGSS
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Apr 1, 2026
lpinca
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Apr 1, 2026
Clarified that a target process does not need to run under `--permission` to open its V8 Inspector.
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Thanks for catching that — I've updated the sentence to remove the |
RafaelGSS
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Apr 2, 2026
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What
Adds a documentation note to the Permission Model page clarifying that
process._debugProcess()is not restricted by thekInspectorpermission scope or any other Permission Model scope.
Why
The Permission Model documentation lists "Inspector protocol" as a
restricted surface. A developer reading this reasonably expects that
--permissionprevents all Inspector activation — includingcross-process activation via
process._debugProcess().The current behavior creates a silent inconsistency:
kInspectorblocks the sandboxed process from opening its ownInspector.
kInspectordoes not block the sandboxed process from callingprocess._debugProcess(pid)to force another Node.js process toopen its Inspector.
This gap is not documented anywhere. This note ensures developers are
not surprised by this behavior when they rely on the Permission Model
as a sandbox.
Behavior unchanged
This is a documentation-only change. No API behavior is modified.
Background
Discussed with @RafaelGSS. The behavior is consistent with the Node.js
threat model (Node.js trusts the OS environment it runs in, and
cross-process signaling is an OS-level capability). The fix here is
documentation so operators understand what responsibility falls on them
vs. the Permission Model.
Checklist
make lintpasses