Inbound authorization observation failed for ${sourceNodeId}

Error message

Inbound authorization observation failed for ${sourceNodeId} (mode=${authorizationMode})

What it means

Warns that the inbound authorization evaluator errored while the plugin is running in a non-enforce mode (legacy/observe). The failure is recorded for observation only; the message is still allowed through because this mode never blocks traffic — the log exists to surface evaluator instability before flipping to enforce.

Source

Thrown at v3/@claude-flow/plugin-agent-federation/src/application/inbound-dispatcher.ts:419

        message,
        peer,
        signatureVersion,
        messageSizeBytes: new TextEncoder().encode(canonicalEnvelope).byteLength,
      });
      if (!decision || typeof decision.allowed !== 'boolean') {
        throw new TypeError('Inbound authorization evaluator returned an invalid decision');
      }
      authorizationDecision = decision;
    } catch {
      if (authorizationMode === 'enforce') {
        await deps.audit.log('message_rejected', {
          sourceNodeId,
          metadata: { address, reason: 'AUTHORIZATION_ERROR', messageType: message.type },
        });
        deps.logger.warn(`Inbound authorization failed for ${sourceNodeId} (addr=${address})`);
        return { accepted: false, reason: 'AUTHORIZATION_ERROR' };
      }
      deps.logger.warn(
        `Inbound authorization observation failed for ${sourceNodeId} (mode=${authorizationMode})`,
      );
    }
  } else if (authorizationMode === 'enforce') {
    await deps.audit.log('message_rejected', {
      sourceNodeId,
      metadata: { address, reason: 'AUTHORIZATION_ERROR', messageType: message.type },
    });
    deps.logger.warn('Inbound rejected: enforce mode has no authorization evaluator');
    return { accepted: false, reason: 'AUTHORIZATION_ERROR' };
  }

  if (authorizationDecision && !authorizationDecision.allowed) {
    if (authorizationMode === 'enforce') {
      await deps.audit.log('message_rejected', {
        sourceNodeId,
        metadata: {
          address,

View on GitHub (pinned to fa13ee4ad6)

Solutions

Inspect the authorization observation failure; in observe mode this is logged for diagnosis — fix the evaluator before enabling enforce.

Defensive patterns

Strategy: fallback

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at v3/@claude-flow/plugin-agent-federation/src/application/inbound-dispatcher.ts:419 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of ruvnet/ruflo@fa13ee4ad6 (2026-08-18). Data as JSON: /api/errors/37d57950490b3094. Report an issue: GitHub.