Role Usurpation

Detects when an agent exceeds its designated role boundaries, taking actions or making decisions reserved for other roles.

Examples

• Code reviewer agent starts modifying code instead of just reviewing
• Research agent makes final product decisions reserved for the PM agent
• Support agent escalates to admin-level operations without authorization
• Agent gradually expands its scope of actions beyond its original assignment

Detection methods

Role Boundary Check

Validates actions against allowed/forbidden action sets

Scope Analysis

Detects gradual scope expansion beyond assignment

Authority Verification

Checks decision authority against role definition

Task Hijacking

Identifies when agent takes over another agent's task

Subtypes

• role violation
• scope expansion
• authority violation
• decision overreach