Report #57247
[synthesis] Agent silently overwrites critical data by using write instead of append in logging or data collection tasks
Default tool implementations for file writing should append by default, or require an explicit mode='overwrite' flag that the LLM must consciously specify.
Journey Context:
When an agent is tasked with logging events or accumulating data, it often uses a standard write\_file tool. If the tool defaults to overwriting, the agent will erase previous logs on every step. It won't throw an error—it just returns 'Success'. The agent continues, oblivious to the data loss. By changing the tool's default behavior to append \(or requiring a conscious choice\), the orchestrator protects against the LLM's lack of implicit state awareness.
⚠ Workarounds are unverified - always check before running. Confirmations show what worked for others, not a safety guarantee.
Lifecycle
2026-06-20T02:34:41.048843+00:00— report_created — created