diff --git a/crates/workdir/src/delegation.rs b/crates/workdir/src/delegation.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..19c3beea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/workdir/src/delegation.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,781 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::path::Path;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicU64, Ordering};
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, Weak};
+
+use async_trait::async_trait;
+use fs_operation::{
+    EditRequest, EditResult, FsPath, GlobRequest, GlobResult, GrepRequest, GrepResult, ListRequest,
+    ListResult, ReadRequest, ReadResult, StatRequest, StatResult, WriteRequest, WriteResult,
+};
+
+use crate::{
+    CommandHandle, CommandOutput, CommandOutputRequest, CommandRequest, CommandStatus, Workdir,
+    WorkdirError, WorkdirSession, WorkdirSessionCapabilities, WorkdirSessionCapability,
+    WorkdirSessionHandle,
+};
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub enum WorkdirDelegationPermission {
+    Read,
+    Write,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub struct WorkdirDelegationRule {
+    pub target: FsPath,
+    pub permission: WorkdirDelegationPermission,
+    pub recursive: bool,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub struct WorkdirDelegationRequest {
+    pub rules: Vec<WorkdirDelegationRule>,
+    pub cwd: FsPath,
+}
+
+pub struct WorkdirDelegation {
+    pub scoped_session: WorkdirSessionHandle,
+    pub capabilities: WorkdirSessionCapabilities,
+    validity: Arc<SessionValidity>,
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for WorkdirDelegation {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("WorkdirDelegation")
+            .field("workdir", &self.scoped_session.workdir())
+            .field("capabilities", &self.capabilities)
+            .field("active", &self.is_active())
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl WorkdirDelegation {
+    pub fn is_active(&self) -> bool {
+        self.validity.is_active()
+    }
+
+    pub fn release(&self) {
+        self.validity.active.store(false, Ordering::Release);
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for WorkdirDelegation {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        self.release();
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct SessionValidity {
+    active: AtomicBool,
+    parent: Option<Arc<SessionValidity>>,
+}
+
+impl SessionValidity {
+    fn root() -> Arc<Self> {
+        Arc::new(Self {
+            active: AtomicBool::new(true),
+            parent: None,
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn child(parent: Arc<Self>) -> Arc<Self> {
+        Arc::new(Self {
+            active: AtomicBool::new(true),
+            parent: Some(parent),
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn is_active(&self) -> bool {
+        self.active.load(Ordering::Acquire)
+            && self.parent.as_ref().is_none_or(|parent| parent.is_active())
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+struct ActiveWriteLease {
+    validity: Weak<SessionValidity>,
+    rules: Vec<WorkdirDelegationRule>,
+}
+
+struct DelegatingWorkdirSession {
+    source: WorkdirSessionHandle,
+    scope: Option<Vec<WorkdirDelegationRule>>,
+    capabilities: WorkdirSessionCapabilities,
+    validity: Arc<SessionValidity>,
+    child_write_leases: Mutex<HashMap<u64, ActiveWriteLease>>,
+    next_lease_id: AtomicU64,
+    closes_source: bool,
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for DelegatingWorkdirSession {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("DelegatingWorkdirSession")
+            .field("workdir", &self.source.workdir())
+            .field("scope", &self.scope)
+            .field("capabilities", &self.capabilities)
+            .field("active", &self.validity.is_active())
+            .finish_non_exhaustive()
+    }
+}
+
+/// Wrap a provider session with logical-path delegation and parent write gates.
+pub fn delegation_capable_session(source: WorkdirSessionHandle) -> WorkdirSessionHandle {
+    let capabilities = source.capabilities();
+    Arc::new(DelegatingWorkdirSession {
+        source,
+        scope: None,
+        capabilities,
+        validity: SessionValidity::root(),
+        child_write_leases: Mutex::new(HashMap::new()),
+        next_lease_id: AtomicU64::new(1),
+        closes_source: true,
+    })
+}
+
+impl DelegatingWorkdirSession {
+    fn ensure_active(&self) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        if self.validity.is_active() {
+            Ok(())
+        } else {
+            Err(WorkdirError::SessionClosed)
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn ensure_capability(
+        &self,
+        required: WorkdirSessionCapability,
+        operation: &'static str,
+    ) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_active()?;
+        if self.capabilities.supports(required) {
+            Ok(())
+        } else {
+            Err(WorkdirError::Denied(format!(
+                "delegated workdir session does not permit {operation}"
+            )))
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn ensure_path(
+        &self,
+        path: &FsPath,
+        permission: WorkdirDelegationPermission,
+    ) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_active()?;
+        if let Some(scope) = &self.scope {
+            if !scope
+                .iter()
+                .any(|rule| rule_allows_path(rule, path, permission))
+            {
+                return Err(WorkdirError::Denied(format!(
+                    "logical workdir path `{path}` is outside the delegated {permission:?} scope"
+                )));
+            }
+        }
+        if permission == WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write {
+            self.ensure_parent_write_available(path)?;
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn ensure_read(
+        &self,
+        path: &FsPath,
+        capability: WorkdirSessionCapability,
+    ) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_capability(capability, "read operations")?;
+        self.ensure_path(path, WorkdirDelegationPermission::Read)
+    }
+
+    fn ensure_write(
+        &self,
+        path: &FsPath,
+        capability: WorkdirSessionCapability,
+    ) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_capability(capability, "write operations")?;
+        self.ensure_path(path, WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write)
+    }
+
+    fn ensure_command(&self, starting: bool) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_capability(WorkdirSessionCapability::Command, "command execution")?;
+        if starting && self.has_active_write_lease() {
+            return Err(WorkdirError::Denied(
+                "command execution is denied while a child holds a write delegation".into(),
+            ));
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn ensure_parent_write_available(&self, path: &FsPath) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        let mut leases = self
+            .child_write_leases
+            .lock()
+            .expect("workdir delegation lease mutex poisoned");
+        leases.retain(|_, lease| lease.validity.upgrade().is_some_and(|v| v.is_active()));
+        if leases.values().any(|lease| {
+            lease.rules.iter().any(|rule| {
+                rule.permission == WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write
+                    && rule_allows_path(rule, path, WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write)
+            })
+        }) {
+            Err(WorkdirError::Denied(format!(
+                "logical workdir path `{path}` is leased to a child session"
+            )))
+        } else {
+            Ok(())
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn has_active_write_lease(&self) -> bool {
+        let mut leases = self
+            .child_write_leases
+            .lock()
+            .expect("workdir delegation lease mutex poisoned");
+        leases.retain(|_, lease| lease.validity.upgrade().is_some_and(|v| v.is_active()));
+        leases.values().any(|lease| {
+            lease
+                .rules
+                .iter()
+                .any(|rule| rule.permission == WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write)
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn validate_delegation_rules(
+        &self,
+        rules: &[WorkdirDelegationRule],
+    ) -> Result<WorkdirSessionCapabilities, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_active()?;
+        if rules.is_empty() {
+            return Err(WorkdirError::Denied(
+                "workdir delegation requires at least one logical scope rule".into(),
+            ));
+        }
+        let writable = rules
+            .iter()
+            .any(|rule| rule.permission == WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write);
+        if !self.capabilities.supports(WorkdirSessionCapability::Read)
+            || (writable
+                && (!self.capabilities.supports(WorkdirSessionCapability::Write)
+                    || !self.capabilities.supports(WorkdirSessionCapability::Edit)))
+        {
+            return Err(WorkdirError::Denied(
+                "parent workdir session cannot delegate the requested capabilities".into(),
+            ));
+        }
+        for requested in rules {
+            if let Some(scope) = &self.scope {
+                if !scope
+                    .iter()
+                    .any(|parent| rule_contains_rule(parent, requested))
+                {
+                    return Err(WorkdirError::Denied(format!(
+                        "logical workdir scope `{}` exceeds the parent delegation",
+                        requested.target
+                    )));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        let mut delegated = vec![WorkdirSessionCapability::Read];
+        for capability in [
+            WorkdirSessionCapability::Glob,
+            WorkdirSessionCapability::Grep,
+        ] {
+            if self.capabilities.supports(capability) {
+                delegated.push(capability);
+            }
+        }
+        if writable {
+            delegated.push(WorkdirSessionCapability::Write);
+            delegated.push(WorkdirSessionCapability::Edit);
+        }
+        Ok(WorkdirSessionCapabilities::from_capabilities(delegated))
+    }
+}
+
+#[async_trait]
+impl WorkdirSession for DelegatingWorkdirSession {
+    fn workdir(&self) -> &Workdir {
+        self.source.workdir()
+    }
+
+    fn capabilities(&self) -> WorkdirSessionCapabilities {
+        self.capabilities
+    }
+
+    fn is_delegation_capable(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
+    async fn capture_delegation_source(&self) -> Result<WorkdirSessionHandle, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_active()?;
+        if self.scope.is_some() {
+            return Err(WorkdirError::Denied(
+                "scoped Workdir sessions cannot expose their provider source".into(),
+            ));
+        }
+        self.source.capture_delegation_source().await
+    }
+
+    async fn delegate(
+        &self,
+        request: WorkdirDelegationRequest,
+    ) -> Result<WorkdirDelegation, WorkdirError> {
+        let capabilities = self.validate_delegation_rules(&request.rules)?;
+        if !request
+            .rules
+            .iter()
+            .any(|rule| rule_allows_path(rule, &request.cwd, WorkdirDelegationPermission::Read))
+        {
+            return Err(WorkdirError::Denied(format!(
+                "delegated cwd `{}` is outside the delegated readable scope",
+                request.cwd
+            )));
+        }
+        let source = self.source.capture_delegation_source().await?;
+        let validity = SessionValidity::child(self.validity.clone());
+        let id = self.next_lease_id.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        if request
+            .rules
+            .iter()
+            .any(|rule| rule.permission == WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write)
+        {
+            self.child_write_leases
+                .lock()
+                .expect("workdir delegation lease mutex poisoned")
+                .insert(
+                    id,
+                    ActiveWriteLease {
+                        validity: Arc::downgrade(&validity),
+                        rules: request.rules.clone(),
+                    },
+                );
+        }
+        let child: WorkdirSessionHandle = Arc::new(DelegatingWorkdirSession {
+            source,
+            scope: Some(request.rules),
+            capabilities,
+            validity: validity.clone(),
+            child_write_leases: Mutex::new(HashMap::new()),
+            next_lease_id: AtomicU64::new(1),
+            closes_source: false,
+        });
+        let scoped_session: WorkdirSessionHandle =
+            if capabilities == WorkdirSessionCapabilities::READ_ONLY {
+                Arc::new(ReadOnlyWorkdirSession::new(child))
+            } else {
+                child
+            };
+        Ok(WorkdirDelegation {
+            scoped_session,
+            capabilities,
+            validity,
+        })
+    }
+
+    async fn stat(&self, request: StatRequest) -> Result<StatResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_read(&request.path, WorkdirSessionCapability::Read)?;
+        self.source.stat(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn read(&self, request: ReadRequest) -> Result<ReadResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_read(&request.path, WorkdirSessionCapability::Read)?;
+        self.source.read(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn write(&self, request: WriteRequest) -> Result<WriteResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_write(&request.path, WorkdirSessionCapability::Write)?;
+        self.source.write(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn edit(&self, request: EditRequest) -> Result<EditResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_write(&request.path, WorkdirSessionCapability::Edit)?;
+        self.source.edit(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn list(&self, request: ListRequest) -> Result<ListResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_read(&request.path, WorkdirSessionCapability::Read)?;
+        self.source.list(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn glob(&self, request: GlobRequest) -> Result<GlobResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_read(&request.path, WorkdirSessionCapability::Glob)?;
+        self.source.glob(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn grep(&self, request: GrepRequest) -> Result<GrepResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_read(&request.path, WorkdirSessionCapability::Grep)?;
+        self.source.grep(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn start_command(&self, request: CommandRequest) -> Result<CommandHandle, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_command(true)?;
+        self.source.start_command(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn command_status(&self, handle: CommandHandle) -> Result<CommandStatus, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_command(false)?;
+        self.source.command_status(handle).await
+    }
+
+    async fn command_output(
+        &self,
+        request: CommandOutputRequest,
+    ) -> Result<CommandOutput, WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_command(false)?;
+        self.source.command_output(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn cancel_command(&self, handle: CommandHandle) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        self.ensure_command(false)?;
+        self.source.cancel_command(handle).await
+    }
+
+    async fn close(&self) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        self.validity.active.store(false, Ordering::Release);
+        if self.closes_source {
+            self.source.close().await
+        } else {
+            Ok(())
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// A fail-closed read-only view over an already scoped delegated session.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct ReadOnlyWorkdirSession {
+    inner: WorkdirSessionHandle,
+}
+
+impl ReadOnlyWorkdirSession {
+    pub fn new(inner: WorkdirSessionHandle) -> Self {
+        Self { inner }
+    }
+}
+
+#[async_trait]
+impl WorkdirSession for ReadOnlyWorkdirSession {
+    fn workdir(&self) -> &Workdir {
+        self.inner.workdir()
+    }
+
+    fn capabilities(&self) -> WorkdirSessionCapabilities {
+        WorkdirSessionCapabilities::READ_ONLY
+    }
+
+    fn is_delegation_capable(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
+    async fn delegate(
+        &self,
+        request: WorkdirDelegationRequest,
+    ) -> Result<WorkdirDelegation, WorkdirError> {
+        if request
+            .rules
+            .iter()
+            .any(|rule| rule.permission == WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write)
+        {
+            return Err(WorkdirError::Denied(
+                "read-only workdir session cannot delegate write access".into(),
+            ));
+        }
+        self.inner.delegate(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn stat(&self, request: StatRequest) -> Result<StatResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.inner.stat(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn read(&self, request: ReadRequest) -> Result<ReadResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.inner.read(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn write(&self, _request: WriteRequest) -> Result<WriteResult, WorkdirError> {
+        Err(WorkdirError::Denied("read-only workdir session".into()))
+    }
+
+    async fn edit(&self, _request: EditRequest) -> Result<EditResult, WorkdirError> {
+        Err(WorkdirError::Denied("read-only workdir session".into()))
+    }
+
+    async fn list(&self, request: ListRequest) -> Result<ListResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.inner.list(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn glob(&self, request: GlobRequest) -> Result<GlobResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.inner.glob(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn grep(&self, request: GrepRequest) -> Result<GrepResult, WorkdirError> {
+        self.inner.grep(request).await
+    }
+
+    async fn start_command(&self, _request: CommandRequest) -> Result<CommandHandle, WorkdirError> {
+        Err(WorkdirError::Denied("read-only workdir session".into()))
+    }
+
+    async fn command_status(&self, _handle: CommandHandle) -> Result<CommandStatus, WorkdirError> {
+        Err(WorkdirError::Denied("read-only workdir session".into()))
+    }
+
+    async fn command_output(
+        &self,
+        _request: CommandOutputRequest,
+    ) -> Result<CommandOutput, WorkdirError> {
+        Err(WorkdirError::Denied("read-only workdir session".into()))
+    }
+
+    async fn cancel_command(&self, _handle: CommandHandle) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        Err(WorkdirError::Denied("read-only workdir session".into()))
+    }
+
+    async fn close(&self) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
+        self.inner.close().await
+    }
+}
+
+fn rule_allows_path(
+    rule: &WorkdirDelegationRule,
+    path: &FsPath,
+    required: WorkdirDelegationPermission,
+) -> bool {
+    if required == WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write
+        && rule.permission != WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+    path_in_rule(rule, path)
+}
+
+fn path_in_rule(rule: &WorkdirDelegationRule, path: &FsPath) -> bool {
+    let target = Path::new(rule.target.as_str());
+    let path = Path::new(path.as_str());
+    if path == target {
+        return true;
+    }
+    let Ok(suffix) = path.strip_prefix(target) else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    let depth = suffix.components().count();
+    rule.recursive || depth <= 1
+}
+
+fn rule_contains_rule(parent: &WorkdirDelegationRule, child: &WorkdirDelegationRule) -> bool {
+    if child.permission == WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write
+        && parent.permission != WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+    if !path_in_rule(parent, &child.target) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    parent.recursive || !child.recursive
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use std::fs;
+
+    use manifest::{Permission, Scope, ScopeConfig, ScopeRule, SharedScope};
+    use tempfile::TempDir;
+
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::LocalWorkdirSession;
+
+    fn fs_path(path: &str) -> FsPath {
+        FsPath::new(path).unwrap()
+    }
+
+    fn session(root: &Path) -> WorkdirSessionHandle {
+        let scope = SharedScope::new(
+            Scope::from_config(&ScopeConfig {
+                allow: vec![ScopeRule {
+                    target: root.to_path_buf(),
+                    permission: Permission::Write,
+                    recursive: true,
+                }],
+                deny: Vec::new(),
+            })
+            .unwrap(),
+        );
+        delegation_capable_session(Arc::new(LocalWorkdirSession::materialized_bound(
+            Workdir::new("delegation-test"),
+            root.to_path_buf(),
+            root.to_path_buf(),
+            scope,
+            WorkdirSessionCapabilities::ALL,
+        )))
+    }
+
+    fn request(path: &str, permission: WorkdirDelegationPermission) -> WorkdirDelegationRequest {
+        WorkdirDelegationRequest {
+            rules: vec![WorkdirDelegationRule {
+                target: fs_path(path),
+                permission,
+                recursive: true,
+            }],
+            cwd: fs_path(path),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn read(path: &str) -> ReadRequest {
+        ReadRequest {
+            path: fs_path(path),
+            offset: 0,
+            limit: 20,
+            max_bytes: 1024,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn write(path: &str, content: &str) -> WriteRequest {
+        WriteRequest {
+            path: fs_path(path),
+            content: content.as_bytes().to_vec(),
+            expected_hash: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn non_recursive_rule_covers_target_and_direct_children_only() {
+        let rule = WorkdirDelegationRule {
+            target: fs_path("docs"),
+            permission: WorkdirDelegationPermission::Read,
+            recursive: false,
+        };
+        assert!(path_in_rule(&rule, &fs_path("docs")));
+        assert!(path_in_rule(&rule, &fs_path("docs/readme.md")));
+        assert!(!path_in_rule(&rule, &fs_path("docs/guides/start.md")));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn read_only_delegation_allows_prefix_and_denies_siblings_and_mutation() {
+        let root = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        fs::create_dir_all(root.path().join("docs")).unwrap();
+        fs::create_dir_all(root.path().join("secret")).unwrap();
+        fs::write(root.path().join("docs/readme.md"), "visible").unwrap();
+        fs::write(root.path().join("secret/key"), "hidden").unwrap();
+        let parent = session(root.path());
+
+        let child = parent
+            .delegate(request("docs", WorkdirDelegationPermission::Read))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(child.capabilities, WorkdirSessionCapabilities::READ_ONLY);
+        assert_eq!(
+            child
+                .scoped_session
+                .read(read("docs/readme.md"))
+                .await
+                .unwrap()
+                .bytes,
+            b"visible"
+        );
+        assert!(matches!(
+            child.scoped_session.read(read("secret/key")).await,
+            Err(WorkdirError::Denied(_))
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            child.scoped_session.write(write("docs/new.md", "no")).await,
+            Err(WorkdirError::Denied(_))
+        ));
+        assert!(
+            !child
+                .capabilities
+                .supports(WorkdirSessionCapability::Command)
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn write_lease_blocks_parent_region_until_release() {
+        let root = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        fs::create_dir_all(root.path().join("leased")).unwrap();
+        fs::create_dir_all(root.path().join("other")).unwrap();
+        let parent = session(root.path());
+        let child = parent
+            .delegate(request("leased", WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(matches!(
+            parent.write(write("leased/file", "parent")).await,
+            Err(WorkdirError::Denied(_))
+        ));
+        parent.write(write("other/file", "parent")).await.unwrap();
+        child
+            .scoped_session
+            .write(write("leased/file", "child"))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        child.release();
+        parent
+            .write(write("leased/parent", "parent"))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            child.scoped_session.read(read("leased/file")).await,
+            Err(WorkdirError::SessionClosed)
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn nested_delegation_is_attenuated_and_parent_revocation_cascades() {
+        let root = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        fs::create_dir_all(root.path().join("docs/sub")).unwrap();
+        fs::create_dir_all(root.path().join("docs/peer")).unwrap();
+        fs::write(root.path().join("docs/sub/a"), "a").unwrap();
+        fs::write(root.path().join("docs/peer/b"), "b").unwrap();
+        let root_session = session(root.path());
+        let child = root_session
+            .delegate(request("docs", WorkdirDelegationPermission::Read))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let nested = child
+            .scoped_session
+            .delegate(request("docs/sub", WorkdirDelegationPermission::Read))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        nested
+            .scoped_session
+            .read(read("docs/sub/a"))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            nested.scoped_session.read(read("docs/peer/b")).await,
+            Err(WorkdirError::Denied(_))
+        ));
+        assert!(
+            child
+                .scoped_session
+                .delegate(request("docs/sub", WorkdirDelegationPermission::Write))
+                .await
+                .is_err()
+        );
+
+        child.release();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            nested.scoped_session.read(read("docs/sub/a")).await,
+            Err(WorkdirError::SessionClosed)
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn closing_parent_invalidates_delegated_sessions() {
+        let root = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        fs::create_dir_all(root.path().join("docs")).unwrap();
+        fs::write(root.path().join("docs/a"), "a").unwrap();
+        let parent = session(root.path());
+        let child = parent
+            .delegate(request("docs", WorkdirDelegationPermission::Read))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        parent.close().await.unwrap();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            child.scoped_session.read(read("docs/a")).await,
+            Err(WorkdirError::SessionClosed)
+        ));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/workdir/src/http.rs b/crates/workdir/src/http.rs
index 8dd73c17..c6855751 100644
--- a/crates/workdir/src/http.rs
+++ b/crates/workdir/src/http.rs
@@ -120,7 +120,10 @@ impl WorkdirTransportError {
             WorkdirError::UnknownCommand(_) => {
                 (Code::UnknownCommand, "Workdir command was not found")
             }
-            WorkdirError::Unavailable(_) => (Code::Unavailable, "Workdir session is unavailable"),
+            WorkdirError::Unavailable(_) | WorkdirError::SessionClosed => {
+                (Code::Unavailable, "Workdir session is unavailable")
+            }
+            WorkdirError::Denied(_) => (Code::InvalidRequest, "Workdir operation was denied"),
             WorkdirError::Transport(_) => (Code::Internal, "Workdir transport failed"),
             WorkdirError::InvalidPath(_)
             | WorkdirError::RelativePath(_)
@@ -169,7 +172,7 @@ mod client {
     use reqwest::{Client, StatusCode, Url};
 
     use super::*;
-    use crate::{Workdir, WorkdirSession};
+    use crate::{Workdir, WorkdirSession, WorkdirSessionHandle};
 
     /// Provides a fresh bearer token for each Runtime request. Backend
     /// implementations can mint short-lived capability tokens without making a
@@ -310,6 +313,21 @@ mod client {
             self.capabilities
         }
 
+        async fn capture_delegation_source(&self) -> Result<WorkdirSessionHandle, WorkdirError> {
+            if self.closed.load(Ordering::Acquire) {
+                return Err(WorkdirError::SessionClosed);
+            }
+            Ok(Arc::new(Self {
+                client: self.client.clone(),
+                base_url: self.base_url.clone(),
+                authorization: self.authorization.clone(),
+                workdir: self.workdir.clone(),
+                session_id: self.session_id.clone(),
+                capabilities: self.capabilities,
+                closed: AtomicBool::new(false),
+            }))
+        }
+
         async fn stat(&self, request: StatRequest) -> Result<StatResult, WorkdirError> {
             match self.operate(WorkdirSessionOperation::Stat(request)).await? {
                 WorkdirSessionOperationResult::Stat(result) => Ok(result),
diff --git a/crates/workdir/src/lib.rs b/crates/workdir/src/lib.rs
index 957c7bbd..d165e67f 100644
--- a/crates/workdir/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/workdir/src/lib.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 //! bound to one Worker. Tools consume sessions; they do not own Workdir
 //! materialization or cleanup.
 
+mod delegation;
 pub mod http;
 mod local;
 mod operation;
@@ -12,11 +13,14 @@ pub mod workspace;
 
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::sync::Arc;
-use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
+pub use delegation::{
+    ReadOnlyWorkdirSession, WorkdirDelegation, WorkdirDelegationPermission,
+    WorkdirDelegationRequest, WorkdirDelegationRule, delegation_capable_session,
+};
 pub use fs_operation::{
     ContentHash, EditRequest, EditResult, EntryKind, FsPath as WorkdirPath, GlobRequest,
     GlobResult, GrepOutputMode, GrepRequest, GrepResult, ListEntry, ListRequest, ListResult,
@@ -140,6 +144,30 @@ pub trait WorkdirSession: std::fmt::Debug + Send + Sync {
     fn workdir(&self) -> &Workdir;
     fn capabilities(&self) -> WorkdirSessionCapabilities;
 
+    fn is_delegation_capable(&self) -> bool {
+        false
+    }
+
+    /// Capture a provider-specific source for a delegated child session.
+    /// Remote providers use this boundary to pin attachment identity without
+    /// exposing transport handles or host paths.
+    async fn capture_delegation_source(&self) -> Result<WorkdirSessionHandle, WorkdirError> {
+        Err(WorkdirError::Denied(
+            "workdir provider does not support delegated sessions".into(),
+        ))
+    }
+
+    /// Attenuate this session into a revocable child lease. Only sessions
+    /// created with [`delegation_capable_session`] implement this operation.
+    async fn delegate(
+        &self,
+        _request: WorkdirDelegationRequest,
+    ) -> Result<WorkdirDelegation, WorkdirError> {
+        Err(WorkdirError::Denied(
+            "workdir session is not delegation-capable".into(),
+        ))
+    }
+
     async fn stat(&self, request: StatRequest) -> Result<StatResult, WorkdirError>;
     async fn read(&self, request: ReadRequest) -> Result<ReadResult, WorkdirError>;
     async fn write(&self, request: WriteRequest) -> Result<WriteResult, WorkdirError>;
@@ -160,107 +188,14 @@ pub trait WorkdirSession: std::fmt::Debug + Send + Sync {
 
 pub type WorkdirSessionHandle = Arc<dyn WorkdirSession>;
 
-/// Ephemeral least-authority view over an existing Workdir session.
-///
-/// The wrapper exposes only stat/read/list/glob/grep and never forwards write,
-/// edit, command, or close authority to the underlying Worker session. Closing
-/// the wrapper is terminal for the view but deliberately leaves the owner's
-/// source session open.
-#[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct ReadOnlyWorkdirSession {
-    source: WorkdirSessionHandle,
-    closed: AtomicBool,
-}
-
-impl ReadOnlyWorkdirSession {
-    pub fn new(source: WorkdirSessionHandle) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            source,
-            closed: AtomicBool::new(false),
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn ensure_open(&self) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
-        if self.closed.load(Ordering::Acquire) {
-            Err(WorkdirError::Unavailable(
-                "read-only Workdir session is closed".to_string(),
-            ))
-        } else {
-            Ok(())
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-#[async_trait]
-impl WorkdirSession for ReadOnlyWorkdirSession {
-    fn workdir(&self) -> &Workdir {
-        self.source.workdir()
-    }
-
-    fn capabilities(&self) -> WorkdirSessionCapabilities {
-        WorkdirSessionCapabilities::READ_ONLY
-    }
-
-    async fn stat(&self, request: StatRequest) -> Result<StatResult, WorkdirError> {
-        self.ensure_open()?;
-        self.source.stat(request).await
-    }
-
-    async fn read(&self, request: ReadRequest) -> Result<ReadResult, WorkdirError> {
-        self.ensure_open()?;
-        self.source.read(request).await
-    }
-
-    async fn write(&self, _request: WriteRequest) -> Result<WriteResult, WorkdirError> {
-        Err(WorkdirError::Unsupported(WorkdirSessionCapability::Write))
-    }
-
-    async fn edit(&self, _request: EditRequest) -> Result<EditResult, WorkdirError> {
-        Err(WorkdirError::Unsupported(WorkdirSessionCapability::Edit))
-    }
-
-    async fn list(&self, request: ListRequest) -> Result<ListResult, WorkdirError> {
-        self.ensure_open()?;
-        self.source.list(request).await
-    }
-
-    async fn glob(&self, request: GlobRequest) -> Result<GlobResult, WorkdirError> {
-        self.ensure_open()?;
-        self.source.glob(request).await
-    }
-
-    async fn grep(&self, request: GrepRequest) -> Result<GrepResult, WorkdirError> {
-        self.ensure_open()?;
-        self.source.grep(request).await
-    }
-
-    async fn start_command(&self, _request: CommandRequest) -> Result<CommandHandle, WorkdirError> {
-        Err(WorkdirError::Unsupported(WorkdirSessionCapability::Command))
-    }
-
-    async fn command_status(&self, _handle: CommandHandle) -> Result<CommandStatus, WorkdirError> {
-        Err(WorkdirError::Unsupported(WorkdirSessionCapability::Command))
-    }
-
-    async fn command_output(
-        &self,
-        _request: CommandOutputRequest,
-    ) -> Result<CommandOutput, WorkdirError> {
-        Err(WorkdirError::Unsupported(WorkdirSessionCapability::Command))
-    }
-
-    async fn cancel_command(&self, _handle: CommandHandle) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
-        Err(WorkdirError::Unsupported(WorkdirSessionCapability::Command))
-    }
-
-    async fn close(&self) -> Result<(), WorkdirError> {
-        self.closed.store(true, Ordering::Release);
-        Ok(())
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
 pub enum WorkdirError {
+    #[error("Workdir operation denied: {0}")]
+    Denied(String),
+
+    #[error("Workdir session is closed")]
+    SessionClosed,
+
     #[error("Workdir session does not support {0:?}")]
     Unsupported(WorkdirSessionCapability),
 
diff --git a/crates/workdir/src/local.rs b/crates/workdir/src/local.rs
index dd36b997..6fdfc99c 100644
--- a/crates/workdir/src/local.rs
+++ b/crates/workdir/src/local.rs
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ use crate::{
     CommandHandle, CommandOutput, CommandOutputRequest, CommandRequest, CommandStatus, EditRequest,
     EditResult, GlobRequest, GlobResult, GrepRequest, GrepResult, ListRequest, ListResult,
     ReadRequest, ReadResult, StatRequest, StatResult, Workdir, WorkdirError, WorkdirPath,
-    WorkdirSession, WorkdirSessionCapabilities, WorkdirSessionCapability, WriteRequest,
-    WriteResult,
+    WorkdirSession, WorkdirSessionCapabilities, WorkdirSessionCapability, WorkdirSessionHandle,
+    WriteRequest, WriteResult,
 };
 #[cfg(test)]
 use crate::{EntryKind, WriteOutcome};
@@ -371,6 +371,10 @@ impl WorkdirSession for LocalWorkdirSession {
         self.inner.capabilities
     }
 
+    async fn capture_delegation_source(&self) -> Result<WorkdirSessionHandle, WorkdirError> {
+        Ok(Arc::new(self.clone()))
+    }
+
     async fn stat(&self, request: StatRequest) -> Result<StatResult, WorkdirError> {
         self.ensure_capability(WorkdirSessionCapability::Read)?;
         let logical = request.path.clone();
diff --git a/crates/workdir/src/workspace.rs b/crates/workdir/src/workspace.rs
index f55a7589..ce2ed61c 100644
--- a/crates/workdir/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/crates/workdir/src/workspace.rs
@@ -314,3 +314,17 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(decoded, detail);
     }
 }
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+pub struct WorkspaceWorkdirSessionOperationRequest {
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub expected_session_fence: Option<String>,
+    pub operation: crate::http::WorkdirSessionOperation,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+pub struct WorkspaceWorkdirSessionFence {
+    pub value: String,
+}