diff --git a/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/api.rs b/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/api.rs
index 418ace365..e4f6d961a 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/api.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/api.rs
@@ -1287,6 +1287,38 @@ impl HostApi for PluginApi {
         let value = user.get(key).filter(|v| setting.accepts(v)).cloned().unwrap_or(setting.default);
         serde_json::to_string(&value).ok()
     }
+
+    fn read_text_file(&self, real: &Path, max: usize) -> Result<String, HostError> {
+        // Unsaved editor contents win, as they do for project files.
+        if let Some(text) = self.shared.workspace().and_then(|w| w.buffer_text(real)) {
+            return Ok(text);
+        }
+        let meta = std::fs::metadata(real).map_err(|e| not_a_file(real, e))?;
+        if !meta.is_file() {
+            return Err(HostError::Invalid(format!("{}: not a file", real.display())));
+        }
+        if meta.len() > max as u64 {
+            return Err(too_large(real, max));
+        }
+        let loaded = ide_vfs::load_text(real).map_err(failed)?;
+        if loaded.binary {
+            return Err(HostError::Invalid(format!("{}: not text; read it as bytes", real.display())));
+        }
+        Ok(loaded.text)
+    }
+}
+
+/// A file that is not there, or cannot be read, as the plugin sees it.
+fn not_a_file(path: &Path, e: std::io::Error) -> HostError {
+    match e.kind() {
+        std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => HostError::NotFound(format!("{}: no such file", path.display())),
+        std::io::ErrorKind::PermissionDenied => HostError::Denied(format!("{}: {}", path.display(), "not readable")),
+        _ => failed(e),
+    }
+}
+
+fn too_large(path: &Path, max: usize) -> HostError {
+    HostError::Invalid(format!("{}: file is larger than {} MiB", path.display(), max >> 20))
 }
 
 /// [`PluginWorkspace`] over the desktop host's open projects.
diff --git a/crates/ide-host/tests/plugins.rs b/crates/ide-host/tests/plugins.rs
index e961f51b7..a34dec395 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/tests/plugins.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/tests/plugins.rs
@@ -126,6 +126,19 @@ fn misbehave_pkg() -> PathBuf {
     repo().join("crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave")
 }
 
+/// `misbehave` with `fs.read:<granted>` added to its capabilities.
+fn misbehave_granted(dir: &Path, granted: &Path) -> PathBuf {
+    let pkg = dir.join("misbehave-granted");
+    copy_dir(&misbehave_pkg(), &pkg);
+    let manifest = pkg.join("plugin.toml");
+    let text = std::fs::read_to_string(&manifest).unwrap();
+    let path = granted.to_string_lossy().replace('\\', "/");
+    let required = format!("required = [\"project.read\", \"fs.read:{path}\"]");
+    let text = text.replace("required = [\"project.read\"]", &required);
+    std::fs::write(&manifest, text).unwrap();
+    pkg
+}
+
 /// Whether `f` holds within 5 s. A call a slow runner keeps waiting behind
 /// another (or behind a new instance starting) holds once it caught up.
 fn eventually(mut f: impl FnMut() -> bool) -> bool {
@@ -374,6 +387,64 @@ fn read_file_is_confined_to_the_project() {
     assert_eq!(f.status("misbehave"), PluginStatus::Active);
 }
 
+/// `fs.read` reaches the granted paths and nothing else, through the real
+/// component: the same checks the runtime makes, against a real file system.
+#[test]
+fn fs_read_reaches_only_the_granted_paths() {
+    let f = fixture(Limits::default());
+    let shared = f._tmp.path().join("shared");
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&shared).unwrap();
+    let notes = shared.join("notes.txt");
+    std::fs::write(&notes, "outside the project\n").unwrap();
+    // A sibling whose name starts with the grant's: not covered by it.
+    let sibling = f._tmp.path().join("shared-other");
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&sibling).unwrap();
+    let other = sibling.join("notes.txt");
+    std::fs::write(&other, "not the same directory\n").unwrap();
+    let secret = f._tmp.path().join("secret.txt");
+    f.install(&misbehave_granted(f._tmp.path(), &shared));
+
+    assert_eq!(f.run("misbehave", "fsread", Some(notes.to_str().unwrap())).unwrap().unwrap(), "outside the project\n");
+    let err = f.run("misbehave", "fsread", Some(secret.to_str().unwrap())).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(err.contains("fs.read:"), "the refusal names what to grant: {err}");
+    let err = f.run("misbehave", "fsread", Some(other.to_str().unwrap())).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(err.contains("fs.read:"), "a name prefix grants nothing: {err}");
+    let err = f.run("misbehave", "fsread", Some("notes.txt")).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(err.contains("absolute"), "{err}");
+    let err = f.run("misbehave", "fsread", Some(shared.to_str().unwrap())).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(err.contains("not a file"), "{err}");
+    let missing = shared.join("gone.txt");
+    let err = f.run("misbehave", "fsread", Some(missing.to_str().unwrap())).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(err.contains("no such file"), "{err}");
+    // A refusal is the plugin's to handle, like any other error it gets.
+    let info = f.host.info_of("misbehave").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!((info.status, info.stats.crashes, info.stats.errors), (PluginStatus::Active, 0, 0), "{info:?}");
+}
+
+/// `fs.read-dir` lists a granted directory, sorted, and refuses the rest.
+#[test]
+fn fs_read_dir_lists_a_granted_directory() {
+    let f = fixture(Limits::default());
+    let shared = f._tmp.path().join("shared");
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(shared.join("zeta")).unwrap();
+    std::fs::write(shared.join("beta.txt"), "b").unwrap();
+    std::fs::write(shared.join("alpha.txt"), "a").unwrap();
+    f.install(&misbehave_granted(f._tmp.path(), &shared));
+
+    let listing = f.run("misbehave", "read-dir", Some(shared.to_str().unwrap())).unwrap().unwrap();
+    let lines: Vec<&str> = listing.lines().collect();
+    assert_eq!(lines, vec!["file alpha.txt", "file beta.txt", "dir zeta"], "{listing}");
+
+    // A file is not a directory, and a path outside the grant is refused.
+    let file = shared.join("alpha.txt");
+    let err = f.run("misbehave", "read-dir", Some(file.to_str().unwrap())).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(err.contains("not a directory"), "{err}");
+    let err = f.run("misbehave", "read-dir", Some(f._tmp.path().to_str().unwrap())).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(err.contains("fs.read:"), "{err}");
+    let info = f.host.info_of("misbehave").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!((info.status, info.stats.crashes, info.stats.errors), (PluginStatus::Active, 0, 0), "{info:?}");
+}
+
 /// A missing capability is an error the plugin can handle, not a trap.
 #[test]
 fn ungranted_capabilities_are_denied_not_trapped() {
@@ -650,7 +721,7 @@ fn idle_instances_are_reclaimed_and_schedules_reactivate() {
     assert_eq!(f.host.instances(), 0);
     let info = f.host.info_of("misbehave").unwrap();
     assert_eq!((info.status, info.stats.reclaims), (PluginStatus::Inactive, 1));
-    assert_eq!(f.command_titles("misbehave").len(), 10, "contributions stay");
+    assert_eq!(f.command_titles("misbehave").len(), 12, "contributions stay");
     assert_eq!(f.run("misbehave", "echo", Some("y")).unwrap().as_deref(), Some("y"));
     assert_eq!(f.host.info_of("misbehave").unwrap().stats.activations, 2);
 
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/src/runtime.rs b/crates/ide-plugin/src/runtime.rs
index 35f154751..80dbf6df5 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/src/runtime.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/src/runtime.rs
@@ -206,6 +206,10 @@ pub trait HostApi: Send + Sync {
     fn locale(&self) -> String;
     /// A setting of the plugin as JSON (project over global over the schema default).
     fn setting(&self, root: Option<&Path>, key: &str) -> Option<String>;
+    /// Reads and decodes a text file outside the project, whose real path an
+    /// `fs.read` grant already covers: the unsaved buffer wins, then the disk.
+    /// `max` bounds the bytes read.
+    fn read_text_file(&self, real: &Path, max: usize) -> Result<String, HostError>;
 }
 
 /// Shared compilation engine plus an epoch ticker thread for wall-clock limits.
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/src/sandbox.rs b/crates/ide-plugin/src/sandbox.rs
index 71a03d615..523a2b2f4 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/src/sandbox.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/src/sandbox.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 //! Capability checks for host functions that touch the file system.
 
+use ide_extension::Capability;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 /// Largest file `read-file` returns.
+/// The most entries `fs.read-dir` hands over: the same cap as `find-files`.
+pub const MAX_LIST_ENTRIES: usize = 4096;
+
 pub const MAX_READ_BYTES: u64 = 16 << 20;
 
 /// The canonical `root` and the absolute form of `path` (absolute, or
@@ -124,6 +128,72 @@ pub fn read_text(real: &Path) -> Result<String, String> {
     String::from_utf8(bytes).map_err(|_| format!("{}: not valid UTF-8 text", real.display()))
 }
 
+/// Why a read outside the project was refused.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum Refusal {
+    /// No `fs.read:<path>` grant covers the file; names the capability to declare.
+    Denied(String),
+    /// The path cannot be read as asked.
+    Invalid(String),
+}
+
+/// Expands a leading `~` or `~/` to the user's home; everything else as written.
+fn expand_tilde(path: &str) -> PathBuf {
+    let rest = if path == "~" {
+        Some("")
+    } else if let Some(rest) = path.strip_prefix("~/") {
+        Some(rest)
+    } else {
+        path.strip_prefix("~\\")
+    };
+    match rest {
+        Some(rest) => std::env::var_os("HOME")
+            .or_else(|| std::env::var_os("USERPROFILE"))
+            .map(|home| PathBuf::from(home).join(rest))
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| PathBuf::from(path)),
+        None => PathBuf::from(path),
+    }
+}
+
+/// The real path of `path` when an `fs.read:<path>` grant covers it.
+///
+/// The grant is compared with the **real** path, so a symlink pointing out of
+/// a granted tree is refused, and `fs.read:/srv/app` covers `/srv/app/x` but
+/// not `/srv/application`. Windows' `\\?\` prefix (what `canonicalize` adds)
+/// is stripped from the file side so a manifest may spell `C:\Program Files\X`.
+pub fn resolve_granted(granted: &[Capability], path: &str) -> Result<PathBuf, Refusal> {
+    let asked = expand_tilde(path);
+    if !asked.is_absolute() {
+        return Err(Refusal::Invalid(format!("{path}: use an absolute path (or ~/…)")));
+    }
+    let real = asked.canonicalize().map_err(|_| Refusal::Invalid(format!("{path}: no such file")))?;
+    let plain = strip_verbatim(&real);
+    let cap = Capability::FsRead(plain.clone());
+    let mut covered = false;
+    for grant in granted {
+        let Capability::FsRead(base) = grant else { continue };
+        // The grant is compared where it really is too: `/tmp/x` is `/private/tmp/x` on macOS.
+        let base_real = expand_tilde(base).canonicalize().map(|p| strip_verbatim(&p)).unwrap_or_else(|_| base.clone());
+        if !Capability::FsRead(base_real).covers(&cap) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        // A directory that is its own parent is a root: `/`, `C:\`.
+        if Path::new(base).parent().is_none() {
+            return Err(Refusal::Invalid(format!(
+                "{plain}: fs.read:{base} covers a whole file system; declare a directory"
+            )));
+        }
+        covered = true;
+    }
+    if covered { Ok(real) } else { Err(Refusal::Denied(cap.to_string())) }
+}
+
+/// `\\?\C:\…` (what `canonicalize` returns on Windows) as `C:\…`.
+fn strip_verbatim(path: &Path) -> String {
+    let text = path.to_string_lossy();
+    text.strip_prefix(r"\\?\").unwrap_or(&text).to_owned()
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
@@ -226,4 +296,128 @@ mod tests {
         let p = resolve_in_root(tmp.path(), "b.bin").unwrap();
         assert!(read_text(&p).unwrap_err().contains("UTF-8"));
     }
+
+    /// The grant a manifest author would write for `dir`: the plain path, no
+    /// `\\?\` prefix.
+    fn grant_for(dir: &Path) -> Capability {
+        Capability::FsRead(strip_verbatim(&dir.canonicalize().unwrap()))
+    }
+
+    fn text_at(dir: &Path, name: &str, body: &str) -> PathBuf {
+        let file = dir.join(name);
+        std::fs::write(&file, body).unwrap();
+        file.canonicalize().unwrap()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_file_outside_every_grant_is_denied_naming_the_capability() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let file = text_at(tmp.path(), "app.properties", "name=YonBIP\n");
+        let err = resolve_granted(&[], file.to_str().unwrap()).unwrap_err();
+        match err {
+            Refusal::Denied(cap) => assert!(cap.starts_with("fs.read:"), "{cap}"),
+            other => panic!("expected denied, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+        // A grant on another tree does not cover it either.
+        let elsewhere = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let err = resolve_granted(&[grant_for(elsewhere.path())], file.to_str().unwrap()).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(matches!(err, Refusal::Denied(_)), "{err:?}");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_grant_covers_what_is_under_it_but_not_a_sibling_with_its_prefix() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let granted = tmp.path().join("seeyon");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(granted.join("conf")).unwrap();
+        let file = text_at(&granted.join("conf"), "server.xml", "<server/>");
+        let cap = grant_for(&granted);
+
+        assert_eq!(resolve_granted(std::slice::from_ref(&cap), file.to_str().unwrap()).unwrap(), file);
+        // The directory itself, asked for explicitly, is covered too.
+        assert!(resolve_granted(std::slice::from_ref(&cap), granted.to_str().unwrap()).is_ok());
+
+        // `/x/seeyon` must not cover `/x/seeyon-old/app.properties`.
+        let sibling = tmp.path().join("seeyon-old");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&sibling).unwrap();
+        let other = text_at(&sibling, "app.properties", "x=1");
+        assert!(matches!(resolve_granted(&[cap], other.to_str().unwrap()), Err(Refusal::Denied(_))));
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[test]
+    fn a_grant_declared_through_a_symlinked_directory_covers_its_files() {
+        // `/tmp/tool` on macOS is `/private/tmp/tool`: the grant is resolved too.
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let real = tmp.path().join("real");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&real).unwrap();
+        let file = text_at(&real, "a.txt", "a");
+        let link = tmp.path().join("link");
+        std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&real, &link).unwrap();
+        let cap = Capability::FsRead(link.to_string_lossy().into_owned());
+        assert!(resolve_granted(std::slice::from_ref(&cap), link.join("a.txt").to_str().unwrap()).is_ok());
+        assert!(resolve_granted(&[cap], file.to_str().unwrap()).is_ok());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_granted_symlink_target_must_still_be_covered() {
+        // The grant is compared with the real path, so a link inside a granted
+        // tree cannot be used to read outside it.
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let granted = tmp.path().join("granted");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&granted).unwrap();
+        let secret = text_at(tmp.path(), "secret.txt", "s");
+        #[cfg(unix)]
+        {
+            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&secret, granted.join("link")).unwrap();
+            let cap = grant_for(&granted);
+            let err = resolve_granted(&[cap], granted.join("link").to_str().unwrap()).unwrap_err();
+            assert!(matches!(err, Refusal::Denied(_)), "{err:?}");
+        }
+        #[cfg(windows)]
+        {
+            // Creating symlinks needs a privilege tests do not have; hard links
+            // to the same file are covered by the parent directory anyway, so
+            // only the textual check is exercised here.
+            let _ = secret;
+            assert!(resolve_granted(&[grant_for(&granted)], granted.to_str().unwrap()).is_ok());
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_path_must_be_absolute_and_exist() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let cap = grant_for(tmp.path());
+        let err = resolve_granted(std::slice::from_ref(&cap), "app.properties").unwrap_err();
+        assert!(matches!(err, Refusal::Invalid(ref m) if m.contains("absolute")), "{err:?}");
+        let err = resolve_granted(&[cap], tmp.path().join("missing").to_str().unwrap()).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(matches!(err, Refusal::Invalid(ref m) if m.contains("no such file")), "{err:?}");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_root_grant_is_refused() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let file = text_at(tmp.path(), "a.txt", "hi");
+        #[cfg(windows)]
+        let cap = Capability::FsRead(format!("{}\\", std::env::var("SystemDrive").unwrap_or_else(|_| "C:".into())));
+        #[cfg(unix)]
+        let cap = Capability::FsRead("/".into());
+        let err = resolve_granted(&[cap], file.to_str().unwrap()).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(matches!(err, Refusal::Invalid(ref m) if m.contains("whole file system")), "{err:?}");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_tilde_starts_at_the_users_home() {
+        let home = std::env::var_os("HOME").or_else(|| std::env::var_os("USERPROFILE"));
+        if home.is_none() {
+            return;
+        }
+        let expanded = expand_tilde("~/app.properties");
+        assert!(expanded.is_absolute(), "{}", expanded.display());
+        assert!(expanded.starts_with(home.unwrap()));
+        assert_eq!(
+            expand_tilde("~"),
+            PathBuf::from(std::env::var_os("HOME").or_else(|| std::env::var_os("USERPROFILE")).unwrap())
+        );
+        assert_eq!(expand_tilde("relative/x"), PathBuf::from("relative/x"));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/src/wit_host.rs b/crates/ide-plugin/src/wit_host.rs
index bf9d92b09..caa8b2517 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/src/wit_host.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/src/wit_host.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ pub(crate) mod syntax_bindings {
             "openidea:plugin/net": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::net,
             "openidea:plugin/secrets": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::secrets,
             "openidea:plugin/process": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::process,
+            "openidea:plugin/fs": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::fs,
             "openidea:plugin/views": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::views,
             "openidea:plugin/settings": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::settings,
         },
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ pub(crate) mod providers_bindings {
             "openidea:plugin/net": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::net,
             "openidea:plugin/secrets": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::secrets,
             "openidea:plugin/process": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::process,
+            "openidea:plugin/fs": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::fs,
             "openidea:plugin/views": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::views,
             "openidea:plugin/settings": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::settings,
         },
@@ -105,6 +107,7 @@ pub(crate) mod views_bindings {
             "openidea:plugin/net": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::net,
             "openidea:plugin/secrets": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::secrets,
             "openidea:plugin/process": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::process,
+            "openidea:plugin/fs": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::fs,
             "openidea:plugin/views": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::views,
             "openidea:plugin/settings": super::bindings::openidea::plugin::settings,
         },
@@ -112,7 +115,7 @@ pub(crate) mod views_bindings {
 }
 
 use bindings::openidea::plugin::{
-    commit, diagnostics, editor, events, invocation, log, net, process, secrets, settings, storage, tasks,
+    commit, diagnostics, editor, events, fs, invocation, log, net, process, secrets, settings, storage, tasks,
     types as wit, ui, vcs, views, workspace,
 };
 
@@ -193,6 +196,12 @@ impl StoreData {
         if self.granted.iter().any(|g| g.covers(&cap)) { Ok(()) } else { Err(wit::Error::Denied(cap.to_string())) }
     }
 
+    /// `path` as the real path an `fs.read:…` grant covers, or what the plugin
+    /// should be told instead (`denied` naming the capability to declare).
+    fn granted_file(&self, path: &str) -> Result<PathBuf, wit::Error> {
+        sandbox::resolve_granted(&self.granted, path).map_err(Into::into)
+    }
+
     fn client(&self) -> Option<&str> {
         self.invocation.client.as_deref()
     }
@@ -533,25 +542,7 @@ impl workspace::HostProject for StoreData {
                 return Ok(Err(e));
             }
         };
-        let meta = match std::fs::symlink_metadata(&real) {
-            Ok(m) => m,
-            Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => {
-                return Ok(Err(wit::Error::NotFound(format!("{path}: no such file"))));
-            }
-            Err(e) => return Ok(Err(wit::Error::Failed(e.to_string()))),
-        };
-        let kind = if meta.is_file() {
-            workspace::FileKind::File
-        } else if meta.is_dir() {
-            workspace::FileKind::Directory
-        } else if meta.is_symlink() {
-            workspace::FileKind::Symlink
-        } else {
-            workspace::FileKind::Other
-        };
-        let modified =
-            meta.modified().ok().and_then(|t| t.duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH).ok()).map(|d| d.as_secs());
-        Ok(Ok(workspace::FileStat { kind, size: meta.len(), modified }))
+        Ok(file_stat(&real, &path))
     }
 
     fn find_files(&mut self, this: Resource<ProjectRes>, glob: String, limit: u32) -> Fallible<Vec<String>> {
@@ -991,6 +982,104 @@ impl settings::Host for StoreData {
 
 impl views_bindings::openidea::plugin::view_types::Host for StoreData {}
 
+fn file_kind(t: std::fs::FileType) -> workspace::FileKind {
+    if t.is_file() {
+        workspace::FileKind::File
+    } else if t.is_dir() {
+        workspace::FileKind::Directory
+    } else if t.is_symlink() {
+        workspace::FileKind::Symlink
+    } else {
+        workspace::FileKind::Other
+    }
+}
+
+/// `project.stat` and `fs.stat`: the metadata of `real`, named `shown` in errors.
+fn file_stat(real: &Path, shown: &str) -> Result<workspace::FileStat, wit::Error> {
+    let meta = std::fs::symlink_metadata(real).map_err(|e| match e.kind() {
+        std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => wit::Error::NotFound(format!("{shown}: no such file")),
+        _ => wit::Error::Failed(e.to_string()),
+    })?;
+    let modified = meta.modified().ok().and_then(|t| t.duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH).ok()).map(|d| d.as_secs());
+    Ok(workspace::FileStat { kind: file_kind(meta.file_type()), size: meta.len(), modified })
+}
+
+/// A refused `fs.read` as the plugin sees it: `denied` carries the capability
+/// string, so the plugin can say exactly what its manifest lacks.
+impl From<sandbox::Refusal> for wit::Error {
+    fn from(refusal: sandbox::Refusal) -> Self {
+        match refusal {
+            sandbox::Refusal::Denied(cap) => Self::Denied(cap),
+            sandbox::Refusal::Invalid(message) => Self::Invalid(message),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Files outside the open projects, gated by `fs.read:<path>` grants.
+impl fs::Host for StoreData {
+    fn read_file(&mut self, path: String) -> Fallible<String> {
+        let real = match self.granted_file(&path) {
+            Ok(real) => real,
+            Err(e) => return Ok(Err(e)),
+        };
+        Ok(self.host.read_text_file(&real, sandbox::MAX_READ_BYTES as usize).map_err(to_wit))
+    }
+
+    fn read_bytes(&mut self, path: String) -> Fallible<Vec<u8>> {
+        use std::io::Read;
+        let real = match self.granted_file(&path) {
+            Ok(real) => real,
+            Err(e) => return Ok(Err(e)),
+        };
+        let max = sandbox::MAX_READ_BYTES;
+        let read = std::fs::File::open(&real).and_then(|file| {
+            let mut bytes = Vec::new();
+            // One byte over: a file that grew past the limit is refused, not truncated.
+            file.take(max + 1).read_to_end(&mut bytes).map(|_| bytes)
+        });
+        Ok(match read {
+            Ok(bytes) if bytes.len() as u64 > max => {
+                Err(wit::Error::Invalid(format!("{path}: larger than {} MiB", max >> 20)))
+            }
+            Ok(bytes) => Ok(bytes),
+            Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => {
+                Err(wit::Error::NotFound(format!("{path}: no such file")))
+            }
+            Err(e) => Err(wit::Error::Failed(format!("{path}: {e}"))),
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn stat(&mut self, path: String) -> Fallible<workspace::FileStat> {
+        Ok(self.granted_file(&path).and_then(|real| file_stat(&real, &path)))
+    }
+
+    fn read_dir(&mut self, path: String) -> Fallible<Vec<fs::DirEntry>> {
+        let real = match self.granted_file(&path) {
+            Ok(real) => real,
+            Err(e) => return Ok(Err(e)),
+        };
+        let read = match std::fs::read_dir(&real) {
+            Ok(read) => read,
+            Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => {
+                return Ok(Err(wit::Error::NotFound(format!("{path}: no such directory"))));
+            }
+            Err(_) if real.is_file() => return Ok(Err(wit::Error::Invalid(format!("{path}: not a directory")))),
+            Err(e) => return Ok(Err(wit::Error::Failed(format!("{path}: {e}")))),
+        };
+        let mut entries: Vec<fs::DirEntry> = read
+            .flatten()
+            .take(sandbox::MAX_LIST_ENTRIES)
+            .map(|e| fs::DirEntry {
+                name: e.file_name().to_string_lossy().into_owned(),
+                kind: e.file_type().map_or(workspace::FileKind::Other, file_kind),
+            })
+            .collect();
+        // Sorted, so what a plugin picks doesn't depend on the disk's order.
+        entries.sort_by(|a, b| a.name.cmp(&b.name));
+        Ok(Ok(entries))
+    }
+}
+
 /// Largest message between a plugin and its view's frame.
 const MAX_VIEW_MESSAGE: usize = 1 << 20;
 
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/commit/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/commit/dist/plugin.wasm
index 610b9b9e7..06b81cb17 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/commit/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/commit/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/commit/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/commit/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 51d9c12f7..453b22e93 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/commit/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/commit/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-73c4c46303636f64afe278feb3987937ad64be427783412ba8a5f67e966b9b3b
+51c5348038e63c340b14111e3925f0fce96ea18a0a05293f4725dcc7072b7374
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/endpoints/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/endpoints/dist/plugin.wasm
index a85348d92..5e7760fe0 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/endpoints/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/endpoints/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/endpoints/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/endpoints/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 1b3352545..2df0fdd91 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/endpoints/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/endpoints/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-4f66df6e4650759aebcf0a1b75550bbad09acf3ac50129f55c17edf5a35ebc90
+ab2496c849c79e82ec5826a133587a8c15f56aa62fb97ce8a08921f304c9e66a
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm
index b01c003f5..fa3faf4cf 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 41ad8e0bb..9bf6a9c20 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-83081a6195792336c98704cd270ef8373fd25e73d14a86b517f12eafe845dee1
+9930626a916fca1a4ffb041faff00eaaf66277c3f6e169b20ef40d8eee8becd0
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hover/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hover/dist/plugin.wasm
index 04486b8dd..6a760fe02 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hover/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hover/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hover/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hover/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index f07847b94..3db54b4e0 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hover/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hover/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-bb94b980261fc996c92bc8eceb5a89e8dbdaf26b5e4466223a86fe8abb9b63e0
+2a81c76cb9e2482f17a3cb080dbd1f9109c9305153cddcd232158c16b1a099c2
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm
index 626ee3d8b..9c353983a 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index ea69603ef..ff44e303b 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1e94c7de6c49e8b821b4e60825385bef5954983e983530d91b2d765eb9dda9ef
+602d2bb91e8f43a518602c9205f4f81cad9b1e4f65e23730e016662f47859156
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/inlay-hints/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/inlay-hints/dist/plugin.wasm
index 578f845e3..1618e48b5 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/inlay-hints/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/inlay-hints/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/inlay-hints/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/inlay-hints/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index ac690f4be..e4c12ad55 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/inlay-hints/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/inlay-hints/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-17137e31b7997f20beee8ddc1c30918428c4083cb7284ad505a4b888b1ba34c0
+072674781078ba19d74b8f2ceb023edc23a822ddfd32eb8865084d42fbeb2b71
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm
index ec949d20b..cdb25003e 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 228a0f7ef..bb624f51d 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-85f4f7fed98833c0a70346f37279c0e27bac5f07cfeb50c4b7afab290a1bd87e
+e3282ad3db4c73c0b3d43b7d87dab24c58132059fcfd22adeb8cc26ef054fe99
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm
index db85e4fe3..1781d6c05 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 3b42c446a..30c00cb58 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-ca8e84a495a450c61c818e6807a71463ae17716a06ece993849239a24f08e2e6
+1dc4cf2e2c0ef41972479a3ada9e787cc1374c3372368297ef86036ad085fb1f
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/plugin.toml b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/plugin.toml
index 1eae84d20..a037a0b92 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/plugin.toml
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/plugin.toml
@@ -33,6 +33,14 @@ title = "read"
 id = "root"
 title = "root"
 
+[[contributes.commands]]
+id = "fsread"
+title = "fsread"
+
+[[contributes.commands]]
+id = "read-dir"
+title = "List a directory outside the project"
+
 [[contributes.commands]]
 id = "insert"
 title = "insert"
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/src/lib.rs b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/src/lib.rs
index 3fc1b81f9..bbfb782c6 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/src/lib.rs
@@ -63,6 +63,26 @@ impl commands::Guest for Misbehave {
                 project.read_file(&arg.unwrap_or_default()).map(Some)
             }
             "root" => ctx.project().map(|p| p.root()).transpose(),
+            // The `fs.read` grants: the text of `arg`, or the refusal naming what it needs.
+            "fsread" => openidea::plugin::fs::read_file(&arg.unwrap_or_default()).map(Some),
+            // The `fs.read-dir` listing: "name kind" lines.
+            "read-dir" => {
+                use openidea::plugin::workspace::FileKind;
+                let entries = openidea::plugin::fs::read_dir(&arg.unwrap_or_default())?;
+                let lines: Vec<String> = entries
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|e| {
+                        let kind = match e.kind {
+                            FileKind::File => "file",
+                            FileKind::Directory => "dir",
+                            FileKind::Symlink => "link",
+                            FileKind::Other => "other",
+                        };
+                        format!("{kind} {}", e.name)
+                    })
+                    .collect();
+                Ok(Some(lines.join("\n")))
+            }
             // `editor.write` is not granted: an error, not a trap.
             "insert" => {
                 let editor = ctx.editor().ok_or_else(|| failed("no editor"))?;
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/path-events/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/path-events/dist/plugin.wasm
index 043a98de0..ab5f37c09 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/path-events/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/path-events/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/path-events/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/path-events/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 00cae590f..c5490cf23 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/path-events/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/path-events/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-66d958477027d1fc085f4096d082ddb71a26e173c4a93cfda42d3e770f27b25d
+fed7a3a23d48cdb44e9621597011b61a37dd292a6590870f92545dd7164e08c7
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/semantic-tokens/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/semantic-tokens/dist/plugin.wasm
index 10292aee9..346356a45 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/semantic-tokens/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/semantic-tokens/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/semantic-tokens/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/semantic-tokens/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index dc17a0146..fcad221bf 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/semantic-tokens/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/semantic-tokens/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-98ab76da97224a698cb20a032d304e545ee168da97273f471030a74288b0f018
+4ab92904d16f49a632fd37e3f4f3501b181a310d6f457a92fa03fd8bdadebe63
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/storage/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/storage/dist/plugin.wasm
index ce1898c67..bbc46d28e 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/storage/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/storage/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/storage/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/storage/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index fe09a781d..5d16f8a5c 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/storage/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/storage/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-33a5b4ebe6447df38a3c87ab3ead83aac4e2c0a9f08a744527cf90438b366787
+af793ed8c51662c30c45c55a9b6ae3cccfd5b814fa31c16bf414eb188d43588d
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/tables/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/tables/dist/plugin.wasm
index 8b2e2ce3e..71460d4df 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/tables/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/tables/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/tables/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/tables/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 0f9e3ec65..e532820fb 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/tables/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/tables/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-92654b80a977c272264c15d8b608e8bdac6c5d5612a5da2707bab156e655f615
+768198dc62d18f2c6d6c0aec57116df79ebc5a608abbff3d9912bdb24c893787
diff --git a/plugins/README.md b/plugins/README.md
index fa14654b0..4aefec7f5 100644
--- a/plugins/README.md
+++ b/plugins/README.md
@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ machine. Users can revoke optional capabilities in Settings › Plugins.
 | Capability          | Risk   | Unlocks today                                                                                                                |
 | ------------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 | `project.read`      | low    | `Project::root`, `read_file`, `find_files`, `host::projects`, `publish_diagnostics`                                          |
+| `fs.read:<path>`    | high   | `host::fs::read_file`, `read_bytes`, `stat`, `read_dir` — files outside the projects, under the grant's directory            |
 | `editor.read`       | low    | `TextEditor::document`, `selections`                                                                                         |
 | `editor.write`      | medium | `TextEditor::apply_edits`                                                                                                    |
 | `vcs.read`          | low    | `Project::vcs_status` (branch, upstream, ahead/behind, changes), `vcs_remotes`, `host::pending_commit`, before-commit checks |
@@ -269,8 +270,16 @@ working. On grant the program is resolved to an absolute path and its content
 hash is recorded; it is checked again right before every start, and a replaced
 file is refused until the user approves it again. In a remote project the
 server resolves and pins the program on its own machine (see _Remote
-projects_). `fs.read:<path>` can be declared and granted; it unlocks nothing
-yet.
+projects_).
+
+`fs.read:<path>` grants reading outside the open projects: a directory (its
+files, at any depth) or one file. The path is resolved to its real location
+before it is compared, so a symlink pointing out of the granted directory is
+refused, and a sibling whose name merely starts with the granted one (`/opt/see`
+vs `/opt/seeyon`) is not covered. Granting a whole file system (`/`, `C:\`) is
+refused when the manifest is read: declare the directories you need. Reads are
+capped — text over the limit fails rather than truncating, and files that are
+not text have to be read as bytes.
 
 Logging, notifications, status bar items, tasks and run-time contributions
 are always available. Calling a gated function without its capability returns
diff --git a/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm
index 41b13eb14..157cdf643 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 4c26aa7a6..e4f655b81 100644
--- a/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-abd041ece9d10d591c377e1a432dc83d0bf4240f502bb62f8c1d1876585f2d9c
+4063a70e22e64b0124ca6b2e600b1e5df89abe79c03ccf5bfca1bef4c53f7f18
diff --git a/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm
index 113710bcc..8d002969b 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 3937291d0..d11c3807d 100644
--- a/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-7e6d23a7ac4da5429c453ec33dae8ce4e19ca87114a741b289cd4041b05fb59f
+8713c59c1e6d8c8210bcd19c33e0b306df4fb3bed1d55da8058625d52b9af7e1
diff --git a/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm
index 46f165e97..3668c9b51 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index a994d32a5..c350daccd 100644
--- a/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-d63205db552dfd0d48c6834e662e7423481bc0d54b4a66755bae20ba085d5c99
+b431d938419fc817d050d9ade5928cd79fb7e9873c030bffba925dd989e82060
diff --git a/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm
index 0e75c8192..5b6ec3ad9 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 0ff05c2b1..75eaec047 100644
--- a/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2ef0482dce9edcf0bb0e8e13e5df7fd1fe735832d8091dbe4603f49bb01dd22a
+5ec4b1998682babf21c3bebbbb9abf5f7d717cb00f67ce7027c6e3684c9d0f5c
diff --git a/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm
index 29c352cd3..32960f3d7 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 99dff7b05..e7fd54d5e 100644
--- a/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-4a1788b4a53f87cfe921f70102d76d6bc31668fbc3f993d81d60f8d2c92143bb
+5810ca91766fff8e4bef16a952ef9c9877133f079388899298769d6fb603076f
diff --git a/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm
index 94d6c2566..130b49e65 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 37f95f763..dfdaa2126 100644
--- a/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-d2992f8f58b131ba05e70262d4c825f61449c3b45f6c9543eb90f27bf8ef8748
+d558d709d79c09dd1d8745ed65d3ce4b2c4083e1922522c2b2328c46f0d9e54a
diff --git a/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm
index 239765768..d7c80ac18 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index f8e01f0aa..b1653a867 100644
--- a/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-582fb1f8b6c24e54c70b1f6028cd4cdfed067482f4a4635d6e7720608bca3584
+2bb41b4e45f335141e7d257cd81a0cdcd767d77441d0fd2d12235735881f124c
diff --git a/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm
index d2663a440..4174e6a1a 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index e6a1f675b..4a7601cd0 100644
--- a/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3cfbfad0d9554cc7dad2e3255054e9a06f60f6e0745a99a608ef29143c93f42b
+2cf14518608fd55cf27ded77116feb14245c9563794fe01315d5e18ef0badbd3
diff --git a/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm
index 81d96c857..7712f2323 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 3cd7203d1..d02c6e45d 100644
--- a/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2238f16cbfca44f1ab02768e733e37fa713c0ee817ef32e94d3c27d8c07bb09c
+afcf7cac63902be3d7547b99ff62db27034fdc27f3f6dd34e6beb1ec4b928e25
diff --git a/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm
index 4aba760b8..bf9127080 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index b9561d44b..53759122f 100644
--- a/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-dff3656603212315d37e27a498e7090d494e0a52df20c4bd9541fb0c933aeb47
+b0291bb0db88956c65758d82f5ea57fd65404e963cb87343ade6c713faccf47d
diff --git a/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm
index d4921ebbe..b91e377d3 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index c90232e94..9d1953079 100644
--- a/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-8bb9095d0dae184aabbc8f2abfe9a3bf6c44ff97e73b7eda6f39d3504d040340
+3805e5469c539186fd83fef1f4eef831149d4ba846c54d16e1f9b941d49acb04
diff --git a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/host.rs b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/host.rs
index b08e3df37..d98525ff1 100644
--- a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/host.rs
+++ b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/host.rs
@@ -315,19 +315,38 @@ mod imp {
     }
 
     pub fn project_stat(p: &ProjectRes, path: &str) -> Result<FileStat, Error> {
+        p.stat(path).map(file_stat).map_err(error)
+    }
+
+    fn file_kind(kind: wit::workspace::FileKind) -> FileKind {
         use wit::workspace::FileKind as K;
-        p.stat(path)
-            .map(|s| FileStat {
-                kind: match s.kind {
-                    K::File => FileKind::File,
-                    K::Directory => FileKind::Directory,
-                    K::Symlink => FileKind::Symlink,
-                    K::Other => FileKind::Other,
-                },
-                size: s.size,
-                modified: s.modified,
-            })
-            .map_err(error)
+        match kind {
+            K::File => FileKind::File,
+            K::Directory => FileKind::Directory,
+            K::Symlink => FileKind::Symlink,
+            K::Other => FileKind::Other,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn file_stat(s: wit::workspace::FileStat) -> FileStat {
+        FileStat { kind: file_kind(s.kind), size: s.size, modified: s.modified }
+    }
+
+    pub fn fs_read_file(path: &str) -> Result<String, Error> {
+        wit::fs::read_file(path).map_err(error)
+    }
+
+    pub fn fs_read_bytes(path: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>, Error> {
+        wit::fs::read_bytes(path).map_err(error)
+    }
+
+    pub fn fs_stat(path: &str) -> Result<FileStat, Error> {
+        wit::fs::stat(path).map(file_stat).map_err(error)
+    }
+
+    pub fn fs_read_dir(path: &str) -> Result<Vec<super::fs::DirEntry>, Error> {
+        let entries = wit::fs::read_dir(path).map_err(error)?;
+        Ok(entries.into_iter().map(|e| super::fs::DirEntry { name: e.name, kind: file_kind(e.kind) }).collect())
     }
 
     pub fn publish_diagnostics(path: &str, items: &[Diagnostic]) -> Result<(), Error> {
@@ -824,6 +843,46 @@ pub fn unsubscribe(kind: EventKind) {
 
 /// The plugin's persistent key-value store (≤ 64 MiB of UTF-8 keys and values).
 /// Needs `storage`; rejected writes preserve the stored data.
+/// Files outside the open projects, for a program the plugin integrates with
+/// or a tool installed elsewhere. Every path needs an `fs.read:<path>` grant
+/// covering it; without one a call returns [`Error::Denied`] naming the
+/// capability the manifest has to declare. Paths are absolute, or start with
+/// `~/` for the user's home. A file inside a project is [`Project::read_file`].
+pub mod fs {
+    use super::imp;
+    use crate::types::{Error, FileKind, FileStat};
+
+    /// An entry of a directory ([`read_dir`]).
+    #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+    pub struct DirEntry {
+        /// The entry's name, without its directory.
+        pub name: String,
+        pub kind: FileKind,
+    }
+
+    /// A text file, decoded as the editor decodes it (BOM and encoding
+    /// detection), at most 16 MiB; unsaved editor contents win.
+    pub fn read_file(path: &str) -> Result<String, Error> {
+        imp::fs_read_file(path)
+    }
+
+    /// The bytes of a file (images, class files, archives), at most 16 MiB.
+    pub fn read_bytes(path: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>, Error> {
+        imp::fs_read_bytes(path)
+    }
+
+    /// Metadata of an existing path; a missing path is [`Error::NotFound`].
+    pub fn stat(path: &str) -> Result<FileStat, Error> {
+        imp::fs_stat(path)
+    }
+
+    /// The entries directly under a directory, sorted by name, at most 4096;
+    /// a file is [`Error::Invalid`].
+    pub fn read_dir(path: &str) -> Result<Vec<DirEntry>, Error> {
+        imp::fs_read_dir(path)
+    }
+}
+
 pub mod storage {
     use super::imp;
     use crate::types::Error;
diff --git a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/mock.rs b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/mock.rs
index a01e8f510..d701b82dd 100644
--- a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/mock.rs
+++ b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/mock.rs
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ struct State {
     root: Option<String>,
     other_projects: Vec<String>,
     files: BTreeMap<String, String>,
+
+    /// Files outside every project, for `fs.read` (absolute paths).
+    external: BTreeMap<String, String>,
     dirs: BTreeSet<String>,
     editor: Option<Editor>,
     selected_paths: Vec<String>,
@@ -177,6 +180,13 @@ impl MockHost {
         self.state.borrow_mut().selected_paths = paths.iter().map(|p| (*p).to_owned()).collect();
     }
 
+    /// A file outside every project, for [`crate::host::fs::read_file`]: it is
+    /// readable once an `fs.read:<a directory above it>` capability is granted.
+    /// Directories are inferred from the paths it holds.
+    pub fn add_external_file(&self, path: &str, text: &str) {
+        self.state.borrow_mut().external.insert(path.to_owned(), text.to_owned());
+    }
+
     /// Focuses an editor on `text` with selections `(line, col, line, col)`.
     pub fn open_editor(&self, path: &str, language: &str, text: &str, selections: &[(u32, u32, u32, u32)]) {
         let selections =
@@ -446,6 +456,43 @@ pub mod current {
         if s.capabilities.iter().any(|c| c == cap) { Ok(()) } else { Err(Error::Denied(cap.to_owned())) }
     }
 
+    /// `fs.read:<base>` covers `<base>` itself and what is under it: `/a` covers
+    /// `/a/b` but not `/ab`.
+    fn require_fs(s: &State, path: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        let covered = s.capabilities.iter().any(|c| match c.strip_prefix("fs.read:") {
+            Some(base) => {
+                let base = base.trim_end_matches(['/', '\\']);
+                !base.is_empty()
+                    && (path == base
+                        || matches!(path.strip_prefix(base), Some(rest) if rest.starts_with('/') || rest.starts_with('\\')))
+            }
+            None => false,
+        });
+        if covered { Ok(()) } else { Err(Error::Denied(format!("fs.read:{path}"))) }
+    }
+
+    /// The paths `fs` takes are absolute; `~/…` is the user's home on the real
+    /// host, and the mock resolves nothing, so add it to the mock as it is.
+    fn check_absolute(path: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        let bytes = path.as_bytes();
+        let drive = bytes.len() > 2
+            && bytes[0].is_ascii_alphabetic()
+            && bytes[1] == b':'
+            && (bytes[2] == b'/' || bytes[2] == b'\\');
+        if path.starts_with('/') || drive {
+            Ok(())
+        } else {
+            Err(Error::Invalid(format!("{path}: use an absolute path (or ~/…)")))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// `fs` checks what the real host checks, minus canonicalisation: absolute
+    /// path, then a grant covering it.
+    fn check_external(s: &State, path: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        check_absolute(path)?;
+        require_fs(s, path)
+    }
+
     pub fn log(level: LogLevel, message: &str) {
         with(|s| s.logs.push((level, message.to_owned())))
     }
@@ -706,6 +753,74 @@ pub mod current {
         })
     }
 
+    pub fn fs_read_file(path: &str) -> Result<String, Error> {
+        with(|s| {
+            check_external(s, path)?;
+            // Unsaved editor contents win, as on the real host.
+            if let Some(e) = s.editor.as_ref().filter(|e| e.path == path) {
+                return Ok(e.text.clone());
+            }
+            s.external.get(path).cloned().ok_or_else(|| Error::NotFound(path.into()))
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn fs_read_bytes(path: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>, Error> {
+        with(|s| {
+            check_external(s, path)?;
+            let text = s.external.get(path).ok_or_else(|| Error::NotFound(path.into()))?;
+            Ok(text.clone().into_bytes())
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn fs_stat(path: &str) -> Result<FileStat, Error> {
+        with(|s| {
+            check_external(s, path)?;
+            if let Some(text) = s.external.get(path) {
+                return Ok(FileStat { kind: FileKind::File, size: text.len() as u64, modified: None });
+            }
+            // A directory is a prefix of the files the mock holds.
+            let holds_files = s.external.keys().any(
+                |file| matches!(file.strip_prefix(path), Some(rest) if rest.starts_with('/') || rest.starts_with('\\')),
+            );
+            if holds_files {
+                Ok(FileStat { kind: FileKind::Directory, size: 0, modified: None })
+            } else {
+                Err(Error::NotFound(path.into()))
+            }
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn fs_read_dir(path: &str) -> Result<Vec<crate::host::fs::DirEntry>, Error> {
+        with(|s| {
+            check_external(s, path)?;
+            if s.external.contains_key(path) {
+                return Err(Error::Invalid(format!("{path}: not a directory")));
+            }
+            let mut entries: BTreeMap<String, FileKind> = BTreeMap::new();
+            for file in s.external.keys() {
+                let rest = match file.strip_prefix(path) {
+                    Some(rest) if rest.starts_with('/') || rest.starts_with('\\') => &rest[1..],
+                    _ => continue,
+                };
+                match rest.split(['/', '\\']).next() {
+                    Some(name) if !name.is_empty() => {
+                        let kind = if rest.contains('/') || rest.contains('\\') {
+                            FileKind::Directory
+                        } else {
+                            FileKind::File
+                        };
+                        entries.insert(name.to_owned(), kind);
+                    }
+                    _ => {}
+                }
+            }
+            if entries.is_empty() {
+                return Err(Error::NotFound(path.into()));
+            }
+            Ok(entries.into_iter().map(|(name, kind)| crate::host::fs::DirEntry { name, kind }).collect())
+        })
+    }
+
     pub fn invocation_project(_: InvocationRef<'_>) -> Option<ProjectRes> {
         with(|s| s.root.clone().map(|root| MockProject { root }))
     }
@@ -1181,6 +1296,21 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(mock.notifications().len(), 1);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn files_outside_the_project_need_an_fs_read_grant() {
+        let mock = MockHost::install().with_capabilities(&["fs.read:/opt/tool"]);
+        mock.add_external_file("/opt/tool/conf/app.yaml", "port: 8080");
+        mock.add_external_file("/opt/tool/README", "hi");
+        mock.add_external_file("/opt/other/secret", "no");
+        assert_eq!(host::fs::read_file("/opt/tool/conf/app.yaml").unwrap(), "port: 8080");
+        assert_eq!(host::fs::read_bytes("/opt/tool/README").unwrap(), b"hi");
+        assert_eq!(host::fs::stat("/opt/tool/conf").unwrap().kind, FileKind::Directory);
+        let names: Vec<_> = host::fs::read_dir("/opt/tool").unwrap().into_iter().map(|e| (e.name, e.kind)).collect();
+        assert_eq!(names, [("README".into(), FileKind::File), ("conf".into(), FileKind::Directory)]);
+        assert!(matches!(host::fs::read_file("/opt/other/secret"), Err(Error::Denied(_))));
+        assert!(matches!(host::fs::read_file("relative"), Err(Error::Invalid(_))));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn missing_capabilities_are_denied() {
         let mock = MockHost::install().with_capabilities(&["project.read"]);
diff --git a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/fs.wit b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/fs.wit
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f7297bbec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/fs.wit
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package openidea:plugin@1.3.0;
+
+/// Files outside the open projects: the configuration of the program a
+/// plugin integrates with, a tool installed elsewhere, a licence file.
+///
+/// A plugin's own WASI has no preopened directory, so every path here is
+/// checked against its `fs.read:<path>` grants; without one covering the path
+/// a call returns `denied` naming the `fs.read:<path>` the manifest has to
+/// declare. A file inside a project is `workspace.project.read-file`. `path`
+/// is absolute, or starts with `~/` for the user's home.
+interface fs {
+    use types.{error};
+    use workspace.{file-kind, file-stat};
+
+    /// A text file, decoded as the editor decodes it (BOM and encoding
+    /// detection), at most 16 MiB. Unsaved editor contents win, as they do
+    /// for `project.read-file`.
+    read-file: func(path: string) -> result<string, error>;
+
+    /// The bytes of a file (images, class files, archives), at most 16 MiB.
+    read-bytes: func(path: string) -> result<list<u8>, error>;
+
+    /// Metadata of an existing path, as `project.stat` reports it; a missing
+    /// path is `not-found`.
+    stat: func(path: string) -> result<file-stat, error>;
+
+    /// An entry of a directory.
+    record dir-entry {
+        /// The entry's name, without its directory.
+        name: string,
+        kind: file-kind,
+    }
+
+    /// The entries directly under a directory, sorted by name, at most 4096
+    /// (like `find-files`); a file is `invalid`.
+    read-dir: func(path: string) -> result<list<dir-entry>, error>;
+}
diff --git a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/plugin.wit b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/plugin.wit
index 311c4cef6..2f8afeb49 100644
--- a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/plugin.wit
+++ b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/plugin.wit
@@ -3,16 +3,18 @@
 /// API"); a 2.0 keeps 1.0 running through an adapter in the host.
 ///
 /// A plugin is a WebAssembly component targeting the `plugin` world (or
-/// `plugin-syntax`). It runs sandboxed: no filesystem, network, environment
-/// or processes beyond WASI's clocks and randomness; everything else goes
-/// through the imports below, gated by the capabilities granted in
-/// `plugin.toml` (a missing one returns `error::denied`).
+/// `plugin-syntax`). It runs sandboxed: no file system, network, environment
+/// or processes beyond WASI's clocks and randomness; files are read through
+/// `fs` and `workspace`, and everything else goes through the imports below,
+/// gated by the capabilities granted in `plugin.toml` (a missing one returns
+/// `error::denied`).
 package openidea:plugin@1.3.0;
 
 world plugin {
     import log;
     import ui;
     import storage;
+    import fs;
     import workspace;
     import editor;
     import invocation;
diff --git a/wit/fs.wit b/wit/fs.wit
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f7297bbec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wit/fs.wit
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package openidea:plugin@1.3.0;
+
+/// Files outside the open projects: the configuration of the program a
+/// plugin integrates with, a tool installed elsewhere, a licence file.
+///
+/// A plugin's own WASI has no preopened directory, so every path here is
+/// checked against its `fs.read:<path>` grants; without one covering the path
+/// a call returns `denied` naming the `fs.read:<path>` the manifest has to
+/// declare. A file inside a project is `workspace.project.read-file`. `path`
+/// is absolute, or starts with `~/` for the user's home.
+interface fs {
+    use types.{error};
+    use workspace.{file-kind, file-stat};
+
+    /// A text file, decoded as the editor decodes it (BOM and encoding
+    /// detection), at most 16 MiB. Unsaved editor contents win, as they do
+    /// for `project.read-file`.
+    read-file: func(path: string) -> result<string, error>;
+
+    /// The bytes of a file (images, class files, archives), at most 16 MiB.
+    read-bytes: func(path: string) -> result<list<u8>, error>;
+
+    /// Metadata of an existing path, as `project.stat` reports it; a missing
+    /// path is `not-found`.
+    stat: func(path: string) -> result<file-stat, error>;
+
+    /// An entry of a directory.
+    record dir-entry {
+        /// The entry's name, without its directory.
+        name: string,
+        kind: file-kind,
+    }
+
+    /// The entries directly under a directory, sorted by name, at most 4096
+    /// (like `find-files`); a file is `invalid`.
+    read-dir: func(path: string) -> result<list<dir-entry>, error>;
+}
diff --git a/wit/plugin.wit b/wit/plugin.wit
index 311c4cef6..2f8afeb49 100644
--- a/wit/plugin.wit
+++ b/wit/plugin.wit
@@ -3,16 +3,18 @@
 /// API"); a 2.0 keeps 1.0 running through an adapter in the host.
 ///
 /// A plugin is a WebAssembly component targeting the `plugin` world (or
-/// `plugin-syntax`). It runs sandboxed: no filesystem, network, environment
-/// or processes beyond WASI's clocks and randomness; everything else goes
-/// through the imports below, gated by the capabilities granted in
-/// `plugin.toml` (a missing one returns `error::denied`).
+/// `plugin-syntax`). It runs sandboxed: no file system, network, environment
+/// or processes beyond WASI's clocks and randomness; files are read through
+/// `fs` and `workspace`, and everything else goes through the imports below,
+/// gated by the capabilities granted in `plugin.toml` (a missing one returns
+/// `error::denied`).
 package openidea:plugin@1.3.0;
 
 world plugin {
     import log;
     import ui;
     import storage;
+    import fs;
     import workspace;
     import editor;
     import invocation;