# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Restrict .env file permissions to owner-only 0600

## Open now

- Nothing open on GitHub.

A reported bug and several related fixes addressing that the ~/.hermes/.env file was created with overly permissive mode 0664, exposing secrets to group and world readers. The fixes tighten permissions to 0600 across all creation sites.

## TL;DR

- 6 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 1 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 1 merged PR(s), 4 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #25779. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #25779 (and any competing PRs below) before filing. Confirm the merged change covers your symptom.

## Maintainer resolution verdict

- Internal-tracker verdict over this cluster's issue members: `resolved` · deciding PR(s): `pr-25779`. This is distinct from the fix status above. Weigh it yourself.

## How this cluster was grouped

- Link evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.
- Pairwise link density `0.33`: the share of member pairs that carry a link, counting a structural link in full and a relevance-only link at 0.36. `1.00` means every pair is linked.

## Closed / duplicate issues

- #25477: \[Bug\]: Installer leaves ~/.hermes/.env at file mode 0664 — group/world readable, secrets exposed

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#25779: fix: restrict .env file permissions to 0600 (#25562)**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`; implication `superseded`
  - files: `hermes_cli/memory_setup.py`, `scripts/install.sh`
- **#25533: fix(install): restrict ~/.hermes/.env to owner-only permissions (0600) (#25477)**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `#25779`, `#25779`
- **#25560: fix(install): restrict ~/.hermes/.env to owner-only permissions (0600)**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `#25562`, `#25477`
- **#25562: fix: restrict .env file permissions to 0600**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `merged_via`; implication `superseded`; refs `#25779`
- **#25726: fix(security): tighten .env file permissions to 0600 at all creation sites**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `duplicate_of`; implication `duplicate`; refs `#25497`, `#25477`, `#25533`, `#25560`, `#25562`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #25779 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-05-14`.