PAT-0340
Overreach
A structural condition where actions, effects, authority, or modifications extend beyond declared scope without authorization.
Primary Lenses
Overreach Lens
Detects structure that exceeds declared scope or authority reach.
Lens Application
The Overreach Lens is a primary inspection mechanism for Overreach because it directs attention to mismatches between stated scope and actual reach. It helps surface cases where authority, modification, access, or downstream impact may exceed what was declared, bounded, or permitted.
Inspect For
- Actions extending past stated scope
- Authority used beyond assigned boundaries
- Modifications affecting undeclared areas
- Effects reaching unintended systems or parties
Avoid
Treat scope mismatch as a signal for inspection rather than a settled finding of Overreach.
Boundary Compliance Lens
Evaluates observed structure against declared boundary posture, including allow, block, and exception rules.
Lens Application
The Boundary Compliance Lens is a primary inspection mechanism for Overreach because it focuses on whether observed behavior stays within declared allow, block, and exception boundaries. It helps surface scope expansion, unauthorized effects, or modifications that exceed stated boundary posture.
Inspect For
- Actions operating outside declared scope
- Effects crossing blocked or restricted boundaries
- Exceptions used without clear authorization
- Modifications extending beyond approved limits
Avoid
Treat boundary mismatch as an inspection signal requiring review, not as proof that Overreach has occurred.
Secondary Lenses
Propagation Lens
Traces how structural declarations, effects, or state changes propagate across boundaries or stages.
Lens Application
As a secondary lens, the Propagation Lens helps inspect Overreach indirectly by following how declarations, effects, or state changes travel across stages or boundaries. It can highlight where an authorized action begins producing consequences outside its stated scope.
Inspect For
- Effects crossing declared scope boundaries
- Permissions or authority extending downstream
- State changes applied outside intended targets
- Boundary transitions without explicit authorization
Avoid
Treat propagation paths as indicators for further inspection rather than confirmation that Overreach has occurred.
Primary Issue Matches
AI Adds Work Not Requested
The AI adds tasks, steps, analysis, checks, changes, or follow-up work that the user did not ask for.
AI Touches Unrelated Scope
The AI affects, edits, analyzes, changes, or reasons over material outside the scope of the requested task.
Hallucinated Fields
The AI adds fields, keys, attributes, columns, or structured elements that were not declared, requested, or allowed by the expected schema.
Routing Overrides Task Intent
Routing, mode selection, agent behavior, or workflow classification sends the task down a path that overrides what the user was trying to accomplish.
Supporting Issue Matches
Agent Keeps Expanding the Task
The agent repeatedly expands the task, plan, scope, or next-step list instead of completing the declared work.
Agent Modified Unrelated State
An agent changes state outside the requested task, target, file, record, workflow, or authorized scope.
Agent Permission Expands Over Steps
An agent begins with limited permission but gains, assumes, or exercises broader authority as the workflow continues.
AI Uses External Information When Forbidden
The AI uses outside knowledge, sources, tools, memory, or assumptions after the task forbids external information or limits the allowed source set.
Behavior Does Not Match Declared Role
The AI or agent behaves outside, below, or differently from the role, authority, responsibility, or permission posture declared for it.
File-Bounded Task Uses Outside Content
The AI is asked to work only from a specific file or document but uses content, assumptions, or sources outside that file.
Local Rule Spreads to Broader Cases
A rule intended for one local case, file, context, user, workflow, or exception begins affecting broader cases.
Policy Exception Spreads Too Far
A narrow policy exception, allowance, or special case spreads beyond its intended scope and begins governing broader cases.
Retrieval Exceeds Evidence Limit
The AI retrieves, uses, cites, or considers more evidence than the task permits or more than the review surface can support.
Too Many Tool Calls
The AI or agent makes more tool calls, searches, retrievals, API calls, or integration actions than the task requires or permits.