diff --git a/docs/gateway/security/index.md b/docs/gateway/security/index.md
index b3f11d8d84f..ca048fa6910 100644
--- a/docs/gateway/security/index.md
+++ b/docs/gateway/security/index.md
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ We may add a single `readOnlyMode` flag later to simplify this configuration.
 
 Additional hardening options:
 
-- `tools.exec.applyPatch.workspaceOnly: true` (recommended): ensures `apply_patch` cannot write/delete outside the workspace directory even when sandboxing is off.
+- `tools.exec.applyPatch.workspaceOnly: true` (default): ensures `apply_patch` cannot write/delete outside the workspace directory even when sandboxing is off. Set to `false` only if you intentionally want `apply_patch` to touch files outside the workspace.
 - `tools.fs.workspaceOnly: true` (optional): restricts `read`/`write`/`edit`/`apply_patch` paths to the workspace directory (useful if you allow absolute paths today and want a single guardrail).
 
 ### 5) Secure baseline (copy/paste)
diff --git a/docs/tools/apply-patch.md b/docs/tools/apply-patch.md
index fb10adc2cef..bf4e0d47035 100644
--- a/docs/tools/apply-patch.md
+++ b/docs/tools/apply-patch.md
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ The tool accepts a single `input` string that wraps one or more file operations:
 ## Notes
 
 - Patch paths support relative paths (from the workspace directory) and absolute paths.
-- Optional: set `tools.exec.applyPatch.workspaceOnly: true` to restrict patch paths to the workspace directory (recommended when untrusted users can trigger tool execution).
+- `tools.exec.applyPatch.workspaceOnly` defaults to `true` (workspace-contained). Set it to `false` only if you intentionally want `apply_patch` to write/delete outside the workspace directory.
 - Use `*** Move to:` within an `*** Update File:` hunk to rename files.
 - `*** End of File` marks an EOF-only insert when needed.
 - Experimental and disabled by default. Enable with `tools.exec.applyPatch.enabled`.
diff --git a/docs/tools/exec.md b/docs/tools/exec.md
index 47a79537353..70770af9f6f 100644
--- a/docs/tools/exec.md
+++ b/docs/tools/exec.md
@@ -178,4 +178,4 @@ Notes:
 - Only available for OpenAI/OpenAI Codex models.
 - Tool policy still applies; `allow: ["exec"]` implicitly allows `apply_patch`.
 - Config lives under `tools.exec.applyPatch`.
-- Optional: set `tools.exec.applyPatch.workspaceOnly: true` to restrict patch paths to the workspace directory (recommended when untrusted users can trigger tool execution).
+- `tools.exec.applyPatch.workspaceOnly` defaults to `true` (workspace-contained). Set it to `false` only if you intentionally want `apply_patch` to write/delete outside the workspace directory.
diff --git a/docs/tools/index.md b/docs/tools/index.md
index d0079c16975..f1496a5982a 100644
--- a/docs/tools/index.md
+++ b/docs/tools/index.md
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ Optional plugin tools:
 
 Apply structured patches across one or more files. Use for multi-hunk edits.
 Experimental: enable via `tools.exec.applyPatch.enabled` (OpenAI models only).
-Optional: restrict patch paths to the workspace directory with `tools.exec.applyPatch.workspaceOnly: true`.
+`tools.exec.applyPatch.workspaceOnly` defaults to `true` (workspace-contained). Set it to `false` only if you intentionally want `apply_patch` to write/delete outside the workspace directory.
 
 ### `exec`
 
diff --git a/src/agents/apply-patch.e2e.test.ts b/src/agents/apply-patch.e2e.test.ts
index be89c1009ec..c3d3fa9ace2 100644
--- a/src/agents/apply-patch.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/apply-patch.e2e.test.ts
@@ -71,9 +71,12 @@ describe("applyPatch", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("rejects path traversal outside cwd", async () => {
+  it("rejects path traversal outside cwd by default", async () => {
     await withTempDir(async (dir) => {
-      const escapedPath = path.join(path.dirname(dir), "escaped.txt");
+      const escapedPath = path.join(
+        path.dirname(dir),
+        `escaped-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(16).slice(2)}.txt`,
+      );
       const relativeEscape = path.relative(dir, escapedPath);
 
       const patch = `*** Begin Patch
@@ -81,14 +84,16 @@ describe("applyPatch", () => {
 +escaped
 *** End Patch`;
 
-      await expect(applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir, workspaceOnly: true })).rejects.toThrow(
-        /Path escapes sandbox root/,
-      );
-      await expect(fs.readFile(escapedPath, "utf8")).rejects.toBeDefined();
+      try {
+        await expect(applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir })).rejects.toThrow(/Path escapes sandbox root/);
+        await expect(fs.readFile(escapedPath, "utf8")).rejects.toBeDefined();
+      } finally {
+        await fs.rm(escapedPath, { force: true });
+      }
     });
   });
 
-  it("rejects absolute paths outside cwd", async () => {
+  it("rejects absolute paths outside cwd by default", async () => {
     await withTempDir(async (dir) => {
       const escapedPath = path.join(os.tmpdir(), `openclaw-apply-patch-${Date.now()}.txt`);
 
@@ -98,9 +103,7 @@ describe("applyPatch", () => {
 *** End Patch`;
 
       try {
-        await expect(applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir, workspaceOnly: true })).rejects.toThrow(
-          /Path escapes sandbox root/,
-        );
+        await expect(applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir })).rejects.toThrow(/Path escapes sandbox root/);
         await expect(fs.readFile(escapedPath, "utf8")).rejects.toBeDefined();
       } finally {
         await fs.rm(escapedPath, { force: true });
@@ -108,7 +111,7 @@ describe("applyPatch", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("allows absolute paths within cwd", async () => {
+  it("allows absolute paths within cwd by default", async () => {
     await withTempDir(async (dir) => {
       const target = path.join(dir, "nested", "inside.txt");
       const patch = `*** Begin Patch
@@ -116,13 +119,13 @@ describe("applyPatch", () => {
 +inside
 *** End Patch`;
 
-      await applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir, workspaceOnly: true });
+      await applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir });
       const contents = await fs.readFile(target, "utf8");
       expect(contents).toBe("inside\n");
     });
   });
 
-  it("rejects symlink escape attempts", async () => {
+  it("rejects symlink escape attempts by default", async () => {
     await withTempDir(async (dir) => {
       const outside = path.join(path.dirname(dir), "outside-target.txt");
       const linkPath = path.join(dir, "link.txt");
@@ -136,16 +139,14 @@ describe("applyPatch", () => {
 +pwned
 *** End Patch`;
 
-      await expect(applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir, workspaceOnly: true })).rejects.toThrow(
-        /Symlink escapes sandbox root/,
-      );
+      await expect(applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir })).rejects.toThrow(/Symlink escapes sandbox root/);
       const outsideContents = await fs.readFile(outside, "utf8");
       expect(outsideContents).toBe("initial\n");
       await fs.rm(outside, { force: true });
     });
   });
 
-  it("allows symlinks that resolve within cwd", async () => {
+  it("allows symlinks that resolve within cwd by default", async () => {
     await withTempDir(async (dir) => {
       const target = path.join(dir, "target.txt");
       const linkPath = path.join(dir, "link.txt");
@@ -159,9 +160,60 @@ describe("applyPatch", () => {
 +updated
 *** End Patch`;
 
-      await applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir, workspaceOnly: true });
+      await applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir });
       const contents = await fs.readFile(target, "utf8");
       expect(contents).toBe("updated\n");
     });
   });
+
+  it("rejects delete path traversal via symlink directories by default", async () => {
+    await withTempDir(async (dir) => {
+      const outsideDir = path.join(path.dirname(dir), `outside-dir-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}`);
+      const outsideFile = path.join(outsideDir, "victim.txt");
+      await fs.mkdir(outsideDir, { recursive: true });
+      await fs.writeFile(outsideFile, "victim\n", "utf8");
+
+      const linkDir = path.join(dir, "linkdir");
+      await fs.symlink(outsideDir, linkDir);
+
+      const patch = `*** Begin Patch
+*** Delete File: linkdir/victim.txt
+*** End Patch`;
+
+      try {
+        await expect(applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir })).rejects.toThrow(
+          /Symlink escapes sandbox root/,
+        );
+        const stillThere = await fs.readFile(outsideFile, "utf8");
+        expect(stillThere).toBe("victim\n");
+      } finally {
+        await fs.rm(outsideFile, { force: true });
+        await fs.rm(outsideDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+      }
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("allows path traversal when workspaceOnly is explicitly disabled", async () => {
+    await withTempDir(async (dir) => {
+      const escapedPath = path.join(
+        path.dirname(dir),
+        `escaped-allow-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(16).slice(2)}.txt`,
+      );
+      const relativeEscape = path.relative(dir, escapedPath);
+
+      const patch = `*** Begin Patch
+*** Add File: ${relativeEscape}
++escaped
+*** End Patch`;
+
+      try {
+        const result = await applyPatch(patch, { cwd: dir, workspaceOnly: false });
+        expect(result.summary.added.length).toBe(1);
+        const contents = await fs.readFile(escapedPath, "utf8");
+        expect(contents).toBe("escaped\n");
+      } finally {
+        await fs.rm(escapedPath, { force: true });
+      }
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/agents/apply-patch.ts b/src/agents/apply-patch.ts
index 7f22e20c8b3..32c017e495a 100644
--- a/src/agents/apply-patch.ts
+++ b/src/agents/apply-patch.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import os from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
 import type { SandboxFsBridge } from "./sandbox/fs-bridge.js";
 import { applyUpdateHunk } from "./apply-patch-update.js";
-import { assertSandboxPath, resolveSandboxPath } from "./sandbox-paths.js";
+import { assertSandboxPath } from "./sandbox-paths.js";
 
 const BEGIN_PATCH_MARKER = "*** Begin Patch";
 const END_PATCH_MARKER = "*** End Patch";
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ type SandboxApplyPatchConfig = {
 type ApplyPatchOptions = {
   cwd: string;
   sandbox?: SandboxApplyPatchConfig;
-  /** When true, restrict patch paths to the workspace root (cwd). Default: false. */
+  /** Restrict patch paths to the workspace root (cwd). Default: true. Set false to opt out. */
   workspaceOnly?: boolean;
   signal?: AbortSignal;
 };
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export function createApplyPatchTool(
 ): AgentTool<typeof applyPatchSchema, ApplyPatchToolDetails> {
   const cwd = options.cwd ?? process.cwd();
   const sandbox = options.sandbox;
-  const workspaceOnly = options.workspaceOnly === true;
+  const workspaceOnly = options.workspaceOnly !== false;
 
   return {
     name: "apply_patch",
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ export async function applyPatch(
     }
 
     if (hunk.kind === "delete") {
-      const target = await resolvePatchPath(hunk.path, options, "unlink");
+      const target = await resolvePatchPath(hunk.path, options);
       await fileOps.remove(target.resolved);
       recordSummary(summary, seen, "deleted", target.display);
       continue;
@@ -254,7 +254,6 @@ async function ensureDir(filePath: string, ops: PatchFileOps) {
 async function resolvePatchPath(
   filePath: string,
   options: ApplyPatchOptions,
-  purpose: "readWrite" | "unlink" = "readWrite",
 ): Promise<{ resolved: string; display: string }> {
   if (options.sandbox) {
     const resolved = options.sandbox.bridge.resolvePath({
@@ -267,16 +266,15 @@ async function resolvePatchPath(
     };
   }
 
-  const resolved = options.workspaceOnly
-    ? purpose === "unlink"
-      ? resolveSandboxPath({ filePath, cwd: options.cwd, root: options.cwd }).resolved
-      : (
-          await assertSandboxPath({
-            filePath,
-            cwd: options.cwd,
-            root: options.cwd,
-          })
-        ).resolved
+  const workspaceOnly = options.workspaceOnly !== false;
+  const resolved = workspaceOnly
+    ? (
+        await assertSandboxPath({
+          filePath,
+          cwd: options.cwd,
+          root: options.cwd,
+        })
+      ).resolved
     : resolvePathFromCwd(filePath, options.cwd);
   return {
     resolved,
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-tools-agent-config.e2e.test.ts b/src/agents/pi-tools-agent-config.e2e.test.ts
index cbd11203a06..220bb75b9cb 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-tools-agent-config.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-tools-agent-config.e2e.test.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import "./test-helpers/fast-coding-tools.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/config.js";
@@ -5,6 +8,10 @@ import type { SandboxDockerConfig } from "./sandbox.js";
 import type { SandboxFsBridge } from "./sandbox/fs-bridge.js";
 import { createOpenClawCodingTools } from "./pi-tools.js";
 
+type ToolWithExecute = {
+  execute: (toolCallId: string, args: unknown, signal?: AbortSignal) => Promise<unknown>;
+};
+
 describe("Agent-specific tool filtering", () => {
   const sandboxFsBridgeStub: SandboxFsBridge = {
     resolvePath: () => ({
@@ -110,6 +117,99 @@ describe("Agent-specific tool filtering", () => {
     expect(toolNames).toContain("apply_patch");
   });
 
+  it("defaults apply_patch to workspace-only (blocks traversal)", async () => {
+    const workspaceDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-pi-tools-"));
+    const escapedPath = path.join(
+      path.dirname(workspaceDir),
+      `escaped-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(16).slice(2)}.txt`,
+    );
+    const relativeEscape = path.relative(workspaceDir, escapedPath);
+
+    try {
+      const cfg: OpenClawConfig = {
+        tools: {
+          allow: ["read", "exec"],
+          exec: {
+            applyPatch: { enabled: true },
+          },
+        },
+      };
+
+      const tools = createOpenClawCodingTools({
+        config: cfg,
+        sessionKey: "agent:main:main",
+        workspaceDir,
+        agentDir: "/tmp/agent",
+        modelProvider: "openai",
+        modelId: "gpt-5.2",
+      });
+
+      const applyPatchTool = tools.find((t) => t.name === "apply_patch");
+      if (!applyPatchTool) {
+        throw new Error("apply_patch tool missing");
+      }
+
+      const patch = `*** Begin Patch
+*** Add File: ${relativeEscape}
++escaped
+*** End Patch`;
+
+      await expect(
+        (applyPatchTool as unknown as ToolWithExecute).execute("tc1", { input: patch }),
+      ).rejects.toThrow(/Path escapes sandbox root/);
+      await expect(fs.readFile(escapedPath, "utf8")).rejects.toBeDefined();
+    } finally {
+      await fs.rm(escapedPath, { force: true });
+      await fs.rm(workspaceDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("allows disabling apply_patch workspace-only via config (dangerous)", async () => {
+    const workspaceDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-pi-tools-"));
+    const escapedPath = path.join(
+      path.dirname(workspaceDir),
+      `escaped-allow-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(16).slice(2)}.txt`,
+    );
+    const relativeEscape = path.relative(workspaceDir, escapedPath);
+
+    try {
+      const cfg: OpenClawConfig = {
+        tools: {
+          allow: ["read", "exec"],
+          exec: {
+            applyPatch: { enabled: true, workspaceOnly: false },
+          },
+        },
+      };
+
+      const tools = createOpenClawCodingTools({
+        config: cfg,
+        sessionKey: "agent:main:main",
+        workspaceDir,
+        agentDir: "/tmp/agent",
+        modelProvider: "openai",
+        modelId: "gpt-5.2",
+      });
+
+      const applyPatchTool = tools.find((t) => t.name === "apply_patch");
+      if (!applyPatchTool) {
+        throw new Error("apply_patch tool missing");
+      }
+
+      const patch = `*** Begin Patch
+*** Add File: ${relativeEscape}
++escaped
+*** End Patch`;
+
+      await (applyPatchTool as unknown as ToolWithExecute).execute("tc2", { input: patch });
+      const contents = await fs.readFile(escapedPath, "utf8");
+      expect(contents).toBe("escaped\n");
+    } finally {
+      await fs.rm(escapedPath, { force: true });
+      await fs.rm(workspaceDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
   it("should apply agent-specific tool policy", () => {
     const cfg: OpenClawConfig = {
       tools: {
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-tools.ts b/src/agents/pi-tools.ts
index acffdedf54b..15809c1c434 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-tools.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-tools.ts
@@ -256,7 +256,9 @@ export function createOpenClawCodingTools(options?: {
   const workspaceRoot = options?.workspaceDir ?? process.cwd();
   const workspaceOnly = fsConfig.workspaceOnly === true;
   const applyPatchConfig = execConfig.applyPatch;
-  const applyPatchWorkspaceOnly = workspaceOnly || applyPatchConfig?.workspaceOnly === true;
+  // Secure by default: apply_patch is workspace-contained unless explicitly disabled.
+  // (tools.fs.workspaceOnly is a separate umbrella flag for read/write/edit/apply_patch.)
+  const applyPatchWorkspaceOnly = workspaceOnly || applyPatchConfig?.workspaceOnly !== false;
   const applyPatchEnabled =
     !!applyPatchConfig?.enabled &&
     isOpenAIProvider(options?.modelProvider) &&
diff --git a/src/config/schema.help.ts b/src/config/schema.help.ts
index 97e43e5b187..7f399156785 100644
--- a/src/config/schema.help.ts
+++ b/src/config/schema.help.ts
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export const FIELD_HELP: Record<string, string> = {
   "tools.exec.applyPatch.enabled":
     "Experimental. Enables apply_patch for OpenAI models when allowed by tool policy.",
   "tools.exec.applyPatch.workspaceOnly":
-    "Restrict apply_patch paths to the workspace directory (default: false).",
+    "Restrict apply_patch paths to the workspace directory (default: true). Set false to allow writing outside the workspace (dangerous).",
   "tools.exec.applyPatch.allowModels":
     'Optional allowlist of model ids (e.g. "gpt-5.2" or "openai/gpt-5.2").',
   "tools.exec.notifyOnExit":