Context compression cross-session contamination bugs and fixes

NousResearch/hermes-agent · cluster 9413 · agent

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Nothing open on GitHub. Fix merged in #41717. Check it covers your case.

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A fix was merged to main in PR #41717. Check it covers your case. No release data is tracked.
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A cluster of bug reports and fixes addressing context/compression logic that leaks summary state across sessions and drops recent conversation turns. Multiple fixes target clearing per-session state on session end and preserving recent turns during compaction.

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Fixes on record

Merged to main. A stamp counts the issues a fix is linked to.

  • #41717 fix(compression): stop cross-session _previous_summary contamination

    merged to main

    files: agent/context_compressor.py, scripts/release.py, tests/agent/test_context_compressor_cross_session_guard.py

  • #45259 fix(agent): honor protect_last_n (capped) as the compaction tail floor (salvages #39170)

    merged to main

    files: agent/context_compressor.py, tests/agent/test_context_compressor.py

  • #56239 fix(compression): clear all per-session state in on_session_end, not just _previous_summary

    merged to main

    files: agent/context_compressor.py, tests/agent/test_context_compressor_session_end_clears_state.py

    Show the diff
    • agent/context_compressor.py
      @@ -640,26 +640,47 @@ def on_session_reset(self) -> None:
               self._ineffective_compression_count = 0
               self._summary_failure_cooldown_until = 0.0  # transient errors must not block a fresh session
               self._last_summary_error = None
      +        self._last_compress_aborted = False
               self.last_real_prompt_tokens = 0
               self.last_compression_rough_tokens = 0
               self.last_rough_tokens_when_real_prompt_fit = 0
               self.awaiting_real_usage_after_compression = False
       
           def on_session_end(self, session_id: str, messages: List[Dict[str, Any]]) -> None:
      -        """Clear per-session compaction state at a real session boundary.
      -
      -        ``_previous_summary`` is per-session iterative-summary state. It is
      -        cleared on ``on_session_reset()`` (/new, /reset), but session *end*
      -        (CLI exit, gateway expiry, session-id rotation) goes through
      -        ``on_session_end()`` instead — which inherited a no-op from
      -        ``ContextEngine``. Without clearing here, a cron/background session's
      -        summary could survive on a reused compressor instance and leak into the
      -        next live session via the ``_generate_summary()`` iterative-update path
      -        (#38788). ``compress()`` already guards the leak at the point of use;
      -        this is defense-in-depth that drops the stale summary the moment the
      -        owning session ends.
      +        """Clear all per-session compaction state at a real session boundary.
      +
      +        Session end (CLI exit, gateway expiry, session-id rotation) goes
      +        through this method rather than ``on_session_reset()`` (/new, /reset).
      +        The original fix (#38788) only cleared ``_previous_summary``, but the
      +        same cross-session contamination risk applies to every per-session
      +        variable that ``on_session_reset()`` clears: stale
      +        ``_ineffective_compression_count`` can suppress compression in a
      +        subsequent live session; ``_summary_failure_cooldown_until`` can block
      +        summary generation; ``_last_compress_aborted`` can make callers think
      +        compression is still aborted; ``_last_aux_model_failure_*`` can surface
      +        stale error warnings; ``_last_summary_dropped_count`` /
      +        ``_last_summary_fallback_used`` can produce misleading user warnings.
      +
      +        ``compress()`` already guards ``_previous_summary`` leakage at the
      +        point of use; this is defense-in-depth that resets the full per-session
      +        surface the moment the owning session ends.
               """
               self._previous_summary = None
      +        self._last_summary_error = None
      +        self._last_summary_dropped_count = 0
      +        self._last_summary_fallback_used = False
      +        self._last_aux_model_failure_error = None
      +        self._last_aux_model_failure_model = None
      +        self._last_compression_savings_pct = 100.0
      +        self._ineffective_compression_count = 0
      +        self._summary_failure_cooldown_until = 0.0
      +        self._last_compress_aborted = False
      +        self._context_probed = False
      +        self._context_probe_persistable = False
      +        self.last_real_prompt_tokens = 0
      +        self.last_compression_rough_tokens = 0
      +        self.last_rough_tokens_when_real_prompt_fit = 0
      +        self.awaiting_real_usage_after_compression = False
       
           def bind_session_state(self, session_db: Any = None, session_id: str = "") -> None:
               """Bind the current session row so durable cooldowns can round-trip."""
    • tests/agent/test_context_compressor_session_end_clears_state.py
      @@ -0,0 +1,242 @@
      +"""Tests for on_session_end() clearing all per-session compressor state.
      +
      +Bug: on_session_end() (added in #38788) only cleared _previous_summary, but
      +on_session_reset() clears 14+ per-session variables. When a session ends
      +(cron exit, gateway expiry, session-id rotation) and the compressor instance
      +is reused, these stale values survive:
      +
      +- _ineffective_compression_count: can suppress compression in next session
      +- _summary_failure_cooldown_until: can block summary generation
      +- _last_compress_aborted: can make callers think compression is aborted
      +- _last_aux_model_failure_*: can surface stale error warnings
      +- _last_summary_dropped_count / _last_summary_fallback_used: misleading warnings
      +- _context_probed / _context_probe_persistable: stale context probe state
      +
      +Fix: on_session_end() now clears all per-session state, matching
      +on_session_reset()'s surface.
      +"""
      +
      +import sys
      +import types
      +from pathlib import Path
      +
      +# Ensure repo root is importable
      +sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent.parent))
      +
      +# Stub out optional heavy dependencies not installed in the test environment
      +sys.modules.setdefault("fire", types.SimpleNamespace(Fire=lambda *a, **k: None))
      +sys.modules.setdefault("firecrawl", types.SimpleNamespace(Firecrawl=object))
      +sys.modules.setdefault("fal_client", types.SimpleNamespace())
      +
      +from agent.context_compressor import ContextCompressor
      +
      +
      +def _make_compressor():
      +    """Build a ContextCompressor with enough state to pass compress() guards."""
      +    c = ContextCompressor.__new__(ContextCompressor)
      +    c.quiet_mode = True
      +    c.model = "test/model"
      +    c.provider = "test"
      +    c.base_url = "http://test"
      +    c.api_key = "[redacted:secret-assignment]"
      +    c.api_mode = ""
      +    c.context_length = 128000
      +    c.threshold_tokens = 64000
      +    c.threshold_percent = 0.50
      +    c.tail_token_budget = 20000
      +    c.protect_last_n = 12
      +    c.summary_model = ""
      +    c.last_prompt_tokens = [redacted:secret-assignment]
      +    c.last_completion_tokens = 0
      +    c.last_total_tokens = [redacted:secret-assignment]
      +    c._summary_failure_cooldown_until = 0.0
      +    c._max_compaction_summary_tokens = 0
      +    c.summary_budget_tokens = 0
      +    c.abort_on_summary_failure = False
      +    c._last_compress_aborted = False
      +    c._summary_model_fallen_back = False
      +    c.compression_count = 0
      +    c._context_probed = False
      +    c._context_probe_persistable = False
      +    c._last_compression_savings_pct = 100.0
      +    c._ineffective_compression_count = 0
      +    c._last_summary_error = None
      +    c._last_summary_dropped_count = 0
      +    c._last_summary_fallback_used = False
      +    c._last_aux_model_failure_error = None
      +    c._last_aux_model_failure_model = None
      +    c.last_real_prompt_tokens = 0
      +    c.last_compression_rough_tokens = 0
      +    c.last_rough_tokens_when_real_prompt_fit = 0
      +    c.awaiting_real_usage_after_compression = False
      +    c._previous_summary = None
      +    return c
      +
      +
      +def _simulate_cron_session_state(c):
      +    """Simulate per-session state that a cron compaction would leave behind."""
      +    c._previous_summary = "Cron session summary that must not leak"
      +    c._last_summary_error = "Cron session summary error"
      +    c._last_summary_dropped_count = 5
      +    c._last_summary_fallback_used = True
      +    c._last_aux_model_failure_error = "Cron aux model error"
      +    c._last_aux_model_failure_model = "cron-model/v1"
      +    c._last_compression_savings_pct = 3.0
      +    c._ineffective_compression_count = 2
      +    c._summary_failure_cooldown_until = 9999999999.0
      +    c._last_compress_aborted = True
      +    c._context_probed = True
      +    c._context_probe_persistable = True
      +    c.last_real_prompt_tokens = 50000
      +    c.last_compression_rough_tokens = 60000
      +    c.last_rough_tokens_when_real_prompt_fit = 55000
      +    c.awaiting_real_usage_after_compression = True
      +
      +
      +def test_on_session_end_clears_all_per_session_state():
      +    """on_session_end() must clear every per-session variable, not just
      +    _previous_summary. Otherwise stale state from a prior session
      +    (e.g. a cron job) contaminates the next live session."""
      +    c = _make_compressor()
      +    _simulate_cron_session_state(c)
      +
      +    c.on_session_end("cron-session-1", [])
      +
      +    assert c._previous_summary is None, (
      +        f"_previous_summary must be None after on_session_end, got {c._previous_summary!r}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._last_summary_error is None, (
      +        f"_last_summary_error must be None after on_session_end, got {c._last_summary_error!r}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._last_summary_dropped_count == 0, (
      +        f"_last_summary_dropped_count must be 0, got {c._last_summary_dropped_count}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._last_summary_fallback_used is False, (
      +        f"_last_summary_fallback_used must be False, got {c._last_summary_fallback_used}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._last_aux_model_failure_error is None, (
      +        f"_last_aux_model_failure_error must be None, got {c._last_aux_model_failure_error!r}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._last_aux_model_failure_model is None, (
      +        f"_last_aux_model_failure_model must be None, got {c._last_aux_model_failure_model!r}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._last_compression_savings_pct == 100.0, (
      +        f"_last_compression_savings_pct must be 100.0, got {c._last_compression_savings_pct}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._ineffective_compression_count == 0, (
      +        f"_ineffective_compression_count must be 0, got {c._ineffective_compression_count}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._summary_failure_cooldown_until == 0.0, (
      +        f"_summary_failure_cooldown_until must be 0.0, got {c._summary_failure_cooldown_until}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._last_compress_aborted is False, (
      +        f"_last_compress_aborted must be False, got {c._last_compress_aborted}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._context_probed is False, (
      +        f"_context_probed must be False, got {c._context_probed}"
      +    )
      +    assert c._context_probe_persistable is False, (
      +        f"_context_probe_persistable must be False, got {c._context_probe_persistable}"
      +    )
      +    assert c.last_real_prompt_tokens == 0, (
      +        f"last_real_prompt_tokens must be 0, got {c.last_real_prompt_tokens}"
      +    )
      +    assert c.last_compression_rough_tokens == 0, (
      +        f"last_compression_rough_tokens must be 0, got {c.last_compression_rough_tokens}"
      +    )
      +    assert c.last_rough_tokens_when_real_prompt_fit == 0, (
      +        f"last_rough_tokens_when_real_prompt_fit must be 0, got {c.last_rough_tokens_when_real_prompt_fit}"
      +    )
      +    assert c.awaiting_real_usage_after_compression is False, (
      +        f"awaiting_real_usage_after_compression must be False, got {c.awaiting_real_usage_after_compression}"
      +    )
      +
      +
      +def test_on_session_end_matches_on_session_reset_surface():
      +    """Both on_session_end and on_session_reset must clear the same set of
      +    per-session variables. If one is updated and the other isn't, it's a
      +    cross-session contamination bug waiting to happen."""
      +    c1 = _make_compressor()
      +    c2 = _make_compressor()
      +    _simulate_cron_session_state(c1)
      +    _simulate_cron_session_state(c2)
      +
      +    c1.on_session_end("session-1", [])
      +    c2.on_session_reset()
      +
      +    per_session_attrs = [
      +        "_previous_summary",
      +        "_last_summary_error",
      +        "_last_summary_dropped_count",
      +        "_last_summary_fallback_used",
      +        "_last_aux_model_failure_error",
      +        "_last_aux_model_failure_model",
      +        "_last_compression_savings_pct",
      +        "_ineffective_compression_count",
      +        "_summary_failure_cooldown_until",
      +        "_last_compress_aborted",
      +        "_context_probed",
      +        "_context_probe_persistable",
      +        "last_real_prompt_tokens",
      +        "last_compression_rough_tokens",
      +        "last_rough_tokens_when_real_prompt_fit",
      +        "awaiting_real_usage_after_compression",
      +    ]
      +
      +    for attr in per_session_attrs:
      +        v_end = getattr(c1, attr)
      +        v_reset = getattr(c2, attr)
      +        assert v_end == v_reset, (
      +            f"on_session_end and on_session_reset must produce the same "
      +            f"value for {attr}: on_session_end={v_end!r}, "
      +            f"on_session_reset={v_reset!r}"
      +        )
      +
      +
      +def test_ineffective_compression_count_does_not_leak_across_sessions():
      +    """A cron session that hit ineffective compression limits must not
      +    suppress compression in a subsequent live session."""
      +    c = _make_compressor()
      +    c._ineffective_compression_count = 2  # hit the anti-thrashing limit
      +    c._last_compression_savings_pct = 3.0
      +
      +    c.on_session_end("cron-session", [])
      +
      +    # After session end, the next session must start with a clean slate
      +    assert c._ineffective_compression_count == 0
      +    assert c._last_compression_savings_pct == 100.0
      +
      +
      +def test_summary_failure_cooldown_does_not_leak_across_sessions():
      +    """A cron session's summary failure cooldown must not block summary
      +    generation in a subsequent live session."""
      +    c = _make_compressor()
      +    c._summary_failure_cooldown_until = 9999999999.0
      +
      +    c.on_session_end("cron-session", [])
      +
      +    assert c._summary_failure_cooldown_until == 0.0
      +
      +
      +def test_compress_aborted_flag_does_not_leak_across_sessions():
      +    """A cron session's _last_compress_aborted flag must not make callers
      +    think compression is still aborted in a subsequent live session."""
      +    c = _make_compressor()
      +    c._last_compress_aborted = True
      +
      +    c.on_session_end("cron-session", [])
      +
      +    assert c._last_compress_aborted is False
      +
      +
      +def test_aux_model_failure_does_not_leak_across_sessions():
      +    """Stale aux model failure info from a cron session must not produce
      +    misleading error warnings in a subsequent live session."""
      +    c = _make_compressor()
      +    c._last_aux_model_failure_error = "cron-model/v1 failed"
      +    c._last_aux_model_failure_model = "cron-model/v1"
      +
      +    c.on_session_end("cron-session", [])
      +
      +    assert c._last_aux_model_failure_error is None
      +    assert c._last_aux_model_failure_model is None

4 PRs closed without merging

From the close comments: merged via another change 3 · stale or abandoned 1

  • #38148 fix(gateway): avoid transcript rewrite on hygiene compression no-op · stale or abandoned → #9413
  • #38832 fix(compression): guard against cross-session stale _previous_summary contamination · merged via another change → 8513a6a, #41717, #39725
  • #39170 fix(agent): preserve recent turns during compression · merged via another change → aec3885, #45259
  • #39725 fix(agent): clear _previous_summary on session end to prevent cross-contamination (#38788) · merged via another change → cca3b77, #41717
Closed issues · 2
  • Closed#9413[Bug]: Context compression drops recent conversation记忆 and injects cross-session fragments
  • Closed#38788[Bug]: Context compaction cross-contamination — cron session summaries leak into unrelated live conversations
How this cluster was grouped
  • Link evidence (partly structural links): some members are connected by structural evidence (shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference); the rest are joined by an automated relevance judgement over their text.
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  • Pairwise link density 0.20: the share of item 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.

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At a glance

Subsystem
agent
Merged PRs
#41717, #45259, #56239
Closed issues
2
Attempts
4 PRs closed without merging
Fix link checked
1 Jul 2026

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