docs/HOW_GITEA_MCP_WORKS.md

@@ -125,12 +125,21 @@ by area:
 | Search / Templates | code_search, create_project_from_template |
 | Composite | tbd_ship (trunk-based ship helper) |
 
-**`tbd_ship` merge gate (gitea-mcp#63).** A PR is squash-merged only when ALL of: the head commit's CI is fully green,
-the base branch is not review-protected, and the issue named in `issue` carries **exactly one** `risk/` label, `risk/low`.
-No `issue`, no `risk/` label, several, an unknown value (`risk/lowish`), `risk/medium`, `risk/high`, or an issue that
-cannot be read all fail closed: the PR is opened, `merged:false`, with a `reason` and the `risk` tier in the result.
-Unclassified is not low. Limit: the gate enforces the tier of the issue the caller names; it cannot prove that issue is
-the one the change belongs to, so the link is the caller's claim (the convention in local-dev rule 5 still applies).
+**Merge gate: `tbd_ship` (gitea-mcp#63) and `pr_merge` (gitea-mcp#74).** The two merge tools share one gate
+(`evaluateShipGate`). A PR is merged only when ALL of: the head commit's CI is fully green, the base branch is not
+review-protected, and the issue named in `issue` carries **exactly one** `risk/` label, `risk/low`. No `issue`, no
+`risk/` label, several, an unknown value (`risk/lowish`), `risk/medium`, `risk/high`, or an issue that cannot be read
+all fail closed: nothing is merged, the result is `merged:false` with a `reason`, the `ci_status` and the `risk` tier.
+Unclassified is not low. Above `risk/low` a human reviews and merges in the Gitea UI (which this gate does not touch).
+`pr_merge` additionally fails with an error, merging nothing, when the PR or the base's branch-protection state cannot
+be read. A merge conflict is still an error.
+Both tools bind the merge to the head commit whose CI the gate evaluated (`head_commit_id`), so a push to the PR
+branch after the check makes Gitea refuse the merge instead of merging unchecked code.
+
+Limits: the gate enforces the tier of the issue the caller names; it cannot prove that issue is the one the change
+belongs to, so the link is the caller's claim (local-dev rule 5's convention still applies). Not gated: merging in the
+Gitea UI, and `file_write_branch` committing directly to a branch (`main` included), which is how `risk/low` work
+reaches trunk. Platform-level enforcement for those is branch protection on `main` (local-dev#27 option 2).
 
 Shared tool-layer hygiene (`internal/tools/tool.go`):
 - **Alias normalization** — `repo`↔`name` and `number`↔`index` are reconciled so

internal/gitea/pulls.go

@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ type MergePRArgs struct {
 	Do    string `json:"Do"`
 	Title string `json:"merge_message_title,omitempty"`
 	Body  string `json:"merge_message_field,omitempty"`
+	// HeadCommitID binds the merge to the commit whose CI was checked: if the PR branch moved, Gitea refuses.
+	HeadCommitID string `json:"head_commit_id,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (c *Client) MergePullRequest(ctx context.Context, owner, repo string, index int, args MergePRArgs) error {

internal/tools/pr_merge.go

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ import (
 	"git.d-ma.be/mathias/gitea-mcp/internal/registry"
 )
 
+// PRMerge merges an existing PR behind the same gate as tbd_ship (gitea-mcp#74, #63): CI fully green, base not
+// review-protected, and the issue named in `issue` classified exactly risk/low. Above risk/low a human reviews and
+// merges in the Gitea UI; this tool then merges nothing and says why.
 type PRMerge struct {
 	c *gitea.Client
 	a *allowlist.Allowlist
@@ -22,16 +25,18 @@ func NewPRMerge(c *gitea.Client, a *allowlist.Allowlist) *PRMerge {
 func (t *PRMerge) Descriptor() registry.ToolDescriptor {
 	return registry.ToolDescriptor{
 		Name:        "pr_merge",
-		Description: "Merge a pull request. style: merge (default), squash, or rebase.",
+		Description: "Merge a pull request, gated like tbd_ship: it merges ONLY when the head commit's CI is fully green AND the base branch is not review-protected AND the issue named in `issue` carries exactly one risk/ label, risk/low. Otherwise it merges nothing and returns merged:false with a reason and the risk tier (no issue named, no or several risk/ labels, an unknown value, risk/medium, risk/high, an unreadable issue, CI pending/red/absent, a review-protected base). Above risk/low a human reviews and merges in the Gitea UI. style: merge (default), squash, or rebase. Set ci_timeout_seconds to poll CI to completion (default 0 = single snapshot). Returns {merged, pr_number, ci_status, risk, reason}.",
 		InputSchema: json.RawMessage(`{
 			"type":"object",
 			"properties":{
 				"owner":{"type":"string"},
 				"repo":{"type":"string"},
 				"number":{"type":"integer","minimum":1},
+				"issue":{"type":"integer","minimum":1,"description":"Issue number in the same repo whose risk/ label classifies this change. Merge happens only for exactly one label, risk/low; no issue, none, several, an unknown value, risk/medium or risk/high means nothing is merged (unclassified is not low)."},
 				"style":{"type":"string","enum":["merge","squash","rebase"]},
 				"merge_message_title":{"type":"string"},
-				"merge_message_field":{"type":"string"}
+				"merge_message_field":{"type":"string"},
+				"ci_timeout_seconds":{"type":"integer","minimum":0,"maximum":600,"description":"Poll CI up to this long for the head commit's runs to complete. Default 0 (single snapshot)."}
 			},
 			"required":["owner","repo","number"]
 		}`),
@@ -39,12 +44,14 @@ func (t *PRMerge) Descriptor() registry.ToolDescriptor {
 }
 
 type prMergeArgs struct {
-	Owner  string `json:"owner"`
-	Repo   string `json:"repo"`
-	Number int    `json:"number"`
-	Style  string `json:"style"`
-	Title  string `json:"merge_message_title"`
-	Body   string `json:"merge_message_field"`
+	Owner        string `json:"owner"`
+	Repo         string `json:"repo"`
+	Number       int    `json:"number"`
+	Issue        int    `json:"issue"`
+	Style        string `json:"style"`
+	Title        string `json:"merge_message_title"`
+	Body         string `json:"merge_message_field"`
+	CITimeoutSec int    `json:"ci_timeout_seconds"`
 }
 
 func (t *PRMerge) Call(ctx context.Context, raw json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessage, error) {
@@ -64,13 +71,47 @@ func (t *PRMerge) Call(ctx context.Context, raw json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessag
 		style = "merge"
 	}
 
+	// The gate's inputs. An unreadable PR or branch-protection probe is an error: the gate cannot be evaluated, so
+	// nothing is merged. An unreadable issue is a tier (unreadable), not an error: it is reported and not merged.
+	pr, err := t.c.GetPullRequest(ctx, args.Owner, args.Repo, args.Number)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read PR #%d: %w", args.Number, err)
+	}
+	// Gitea refuses closed and merged PRs itself; the gate does not depend on that.
+	if pr.State != "open" || pr.Draft {
+		reason := fmt.Sprintf("the PR is not open (state %q) — nothing to merge", pr.State)
+		if pr.State == "open" {
+			reason = "the PR is a draft — not merged"
+		}
+		return textOK(map[string]any{"merged": false, "pr_number": args.Number, "reason": reason})
+	}
+	bp, err := t.c.GetBranchProtection(ctx, args.Owner, args.Repo, pr.Base.Ref)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("branch protection probe: %w", err)
+	}
+	runs := pollRuns(ctx, t.c, args.Owner, args.Repo, pr.Head.Sha, args.CITimeoutSec)
+	risk := riskTierOf(ctx, t.c, args.Owner, args.Repo, args.Issue)
+	gate := evaluateMergeGate(pr.Head.Sha, runs, bp, risk)
+
+	result := map[string]any{
+		"merged":    false,
+		"pr_number": args.Number,
+		"ci_status": gate.ciStatus,
+		"risk":      string(risk),
+	}
+	if !gate.merge {
+		result["reason"] = gate.reason
+		return textOK(result)
+	}
+
 	if err := t.c.MergePullRequest(ctx, args.Owner, args.Repo, args.Number, gitea.MergePRArgs{
-		Do:    style,
-		Title: args.Title,
-		Body:  args.Body,
+		Do:           style,
+		Title:        args.Title,
+		Body:         args.Body,
+		HeadCommitID: pr.Head.Sha,
 	}); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-
-	return textOK(map[string]any{"merged": true})
+	result["merged"] = true
+	return textOK(result)
 }

internal/tools/pr_merge_test.go

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"git.d-ma.be/mathias/gitea-mcp/internal/allowlist"
@@ -15,80 +17,380 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
+// pr_merge is gated exactly like tbd_ship (gitea-mcp#74, #63): it merges only when the head commit's CI is fully
+// green, the base is not review-protected AND the issue named in `issue` carries exactly one risk/ label, risk/low.
+// The fake serves the whole read side the gate needs and records whether (and how) the merge endpoint was hit.
+
+const (
+	greenRuns = `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"success","head_sha":"abc"}]`
+	lowLabels = `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"}]`
+)
+
+type prMergeFakeOpts struct {
+	runs              string // workflow_runs array for the head commit
+	issueLabels       string // labels array of issue 42
+	issueStatus       int
+	prStatus          int // GET pulls/7
+	protectionStatus  int // 0 → 404 (unprotected); 200 with required approvals when requiredApprovals>0
+	requiredApprovals int
+	mergeStatus       int
+	emptyHeadSha      bool   // the PR reports head.sha == ""
+	prState           string // default "open"
+	prDraft           bool
+}
+
+type prMergeFake struct {
+	*httptest.Server
+	mu         sync.Mutex
+	mergeCalls int
+	mergeBody  []byte
+	runsQuery  string // raw query of the last workflow-runs request
+}
+
+func (f *prMergeFake) merged() bool { f.mu.Lock(); defer f.mu.Unlock(); return f.mergeCalls > 0 }
+
+func newPRMergeFake(t *testing.T, o prMergeFakeOpts) *prMergeFake {
+	t.Helper()
+	if o.runs == "" {
+		o.runs = greenRuns
+	}
+	if o.issueLabels == "" {
+		o.issueLabels = lowLabels
+	}
+	if o.issueStatus == 0 {
+		o.issueStatus = http.StatusOK
+	}
+	if o.prStatus == 0 {
+		o.prStatus = http.StatusOK
+	}
+	if o.mergeStatus == 0 {
+		o.mergeStatus = http.StatusNoContent
+	}
+	if o.prState == "" {
+		o.prState = "open"
+	}
+	sha := "abc"
+	if o.emptyHeadSha {
+		sha = ""
+	}
+	f := &prMergeFake{}
+	f.Server = httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		p := r.URL.Path
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		switch {
+		case r.Method == http.MethodGet && p == "/api/v1/repos/owner/repo/pulls/7":
+			w.WriteHeader(o.prStatus)
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"number":7,"title":"t","state":"` + o.prState + `","draft":` + boolJSON(o.prDraft) + `,"html_url":"http://x/pulls/7","head":{"ref":"feat","sha":"` + sha + `"},"base":{"ref":"main"}}`))
+		case r.Method == http.MethodGet && strings.Contains(p, "/branch_protections/"):
+			switch {
+			case o.protectionStatus != 0:
+				w.WriteHeader(o.protectionStatus)
+				_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"message":"boom"}`))
+			case o.requiredApprovals > 0:
+				_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"required_approvals":` + itoa(o.requiredApprovals) + `}`))
+			default:
+				w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+				_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"message":"not found"}`))
+			}
+		case r.Method == http.MethodGet && strings.Contains(p, "/actions/runs"):
+			f.mu.Lock()
+			f.runsQuery = r.URL.RawQuery
+			f.mu.Unlock()
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"total_count":0,"workflow_runs":` + o.runs + `}`))
+		case r.Method == http.MethodGet && p == "/api/v1/repos/owner/repo/issues/42":
+			w.WriteHeader(o.issueStatus)
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"number":42,"title":"t","state":"open","labels":` + o.issueLabels + `}`))
+		case r.Method == http.MethodPost && p == "/api/v1/repos/owner/repo/pulls/7/merge":
+			body, _ := io.ReadAll(r.Body)
+			f.mu.Lock()
+			f.mergeCalls++
+			f.mergeBody = body
+			f.mu.Unlock()
+			w.WriteHeader(o.mergeStatus)
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"message":"merge conflict"}`))
+		default:
+			t.Errorf("unexpected request: %s %s", r.Method, p)
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+		}
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(f.Close)
+	return f
+}
+
+func boolJSON(b bool) string {
+	if b {
+		return "true"
+	}
+	return "false"
+}
+
+func callMerge(t *testing.T, f *prMergeFake, args string) (map[string]any, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+	tool := tools.NewPRMerge(gitea.NewClient(f.URL, "tok"), allowlist.New([]string{"owner"}))
+	out, err := tool.Call(context.Background(), json.RawMessage(args))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var res map[string]any
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(out, &res))
+	return res, nil
+}
+
+const mergeArgs = `{"owner":"owner","repo":"repo","number":7,"issue":42}`
+
 func TestPRMergeSuccess(t *testing.T) {
-	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-		assert.Equal(t, "/api/v1/repos/owner/repo/pulls/7/merge", r.URL.Path)
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
-	}))
-	defer srv.Close()
+	f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{})
+
+	res, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
 
-	tool := tools.NewPRMerge(gitea.NewClient(srv.URL, "tok"), allowlist.New([]string{"owner"}))
-	out, err := tool.Call(context.Background(), json.RawMessage(`{"owner":"owner","name":"repo","index":7}`))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	var result map[string]any
-	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(out, &result))
-	assert.Equal(t, true, result["merged"])
+	assert.Equal(t, true, res["merged"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "success", res["ci_status"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "low", res["risk"])
+	assert.Equal(t, float64(7), res["pr_number"])
+	assert.True(t, f.merged())
 }
 
-func TestPRMergeDefaultsToMergeStyle(t *testing.T) {
-	var captured []byte
-	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-		var err error
-		captured, err = io.ReadAll(r.Body)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
-	}))
-	defer srv.Close()
-
-	tool := tools.NewPRMerge(gitea.NewClient(srv.URL, "tok"), allowlist.New([]string{"owner"}))
-	_, err := tool.Call(context.Background(), json.RawMessage(`{"owner":"owner","name":"repo","index":7}`))
+func TestPRMergeDefaultsToMergeStyleAndPassesStyleThrough(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{})
+	_, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-
 	var payload map[string]any
-	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(captured, &payload))
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(f.mergeBody, &payload))
 	assert.Equal(t, "merge", payload["Do"])
+
+	f2 := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{})
+	_, err = callMerge(t, f2, `{"owner":"owner","repo":"repo","number":7,"issue":42,"style":"squash"}`)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(f2.mergeBody, &payload))
+	assert.Equal(t, "squash", payload["Do"])
 }
 
+// TOCTOU: the gate read CI for ONE head commit. The merge must be bound to that commit, so a push to the PR branch
+// after the check makes Gitea refuse the merge instead of merging code nobody checked.
+func TestPRMerge_TheMergeIsBoundToTheCommitTheGateChecked(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{})
+
+	_, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	var payload map[string]any
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(f.mergeBody, &payload))
+	assert.Equal(t, "abc", payload["head_commit_id"], "the head sha the CI check used")
+}
+
+// A merge conflict is still an error, as before the gate existed.
 func TestPRMergeConflictReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
-	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusConflict)
-		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"message":"merge conflict"}`))
-	}))
-	defer srv.Close()
+	f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{mergeStatus: http.StatusConflict})
+
+	_, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
 
-	tool := tools.NewPRMerge(gitea.NewClient(srv.URL, "tok"), allowlist.New([]string{"owner"}))
-	_, err := tool.Call(context.Background(), json.RawMessage(`{"owner":"owner","name":"repo","index":7}`))
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	assert.ErrorIs(t, err, gitea.ErrConflict)
+	assert.True(t, f.merged(), "the merge was attempted: the gate had passed")
 }
 
-// #45: pr_merge advertises the canonical `number` (was `index`); `index` stays
-// an accepted alias via the shim.
+// #45: pr_merge advertises the canonical `number` (was `index`); `index` stays an accepted alias via the shim.
 func TestPRMergeNumberCanonical(t *testing.T) {
 	sch := string(tools.NewPRMerge(gitea.NewClient("http://unused", ""), allowlist.New([]string{"owner"})).Descriptor().InputSchema)
 	assert.Contains(t, sch, `"number":`, "pr_merge must advertise number")
 	assert.NotContains(t, sch, `"index":`, "pr_merge must not advertise index")
 
 	for _, args := range []string{
-		`{"owner":"owner","repo":"repo","number":7}`,
-		`{"owner":"owner","repo":"repo","index":7}`,
+		`{"owner":"owner","repo":"repo","number":7,"issue":42}`,
+		`{"owner":"owner","repo":"repo","index":7,"issue":42}`,
+		`{"owner":"owner","name":"repo","index":7,"issue":42}`,
 	} {
-		var gotPath string
-		srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-			gotPath = r.URL.Path
-			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
-		}))
-		tool := tools.NewPRMerge(gitea.NewClient(srv.URL, "tok"), allowlist.New([]string{"owner"}))
-		_, err := tool.Call(context.Background(), json.RawMessage(args))
+		f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{})
+		res, err := callMerge(t, f, args)
 		require.NoError(t, err, args)
-		assert.Equal(t, "/api/v1/repos/owner/repo/pulls/7/merge", gotPath, args)
-		srv.Close()
+		assert.Equal(t, true, res["merged"], args)
 	}
 }
 
+// gitea-mcp#74: the descriptor tells the caller about the gate.
+func TestPRMergeDescriptorAdvertisesTheGate(t *testing.T) {
+	d := tools.NewPRMerge(gitea.NewClient("http://unused", ""), allowlist.New([]string{"owner"})).Descriptor()
+	assert.Contains(t, string(d.InputSchema), `"issue":`)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(d.InputSchema), `"ci_timeout_seconds":`)
+	assert.Contains(t, d.Description, "risk/low")
+	assert.Contains(t, d.Description, "merged:false")
+}
+
 func TestPRMergeAllowlistRejects(t *testing.T) {
 	tool := tools.NewPRMerge(gitea.NewClient("http://unused", ""), allowlist.New([]string{"allowed"}))
 	_, err := tool.Call(context.Background(), json.RawMessage(`{"owner":"evil","name":"repo","index":1}`))
 	require.Error(t, err)
 }
+
+// ---- the tier: only exactly one risk/low merges ----
+func TestPRMerge_RiskTier_OnlyLowMerges(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name         string
+		labels       string
+		wantMerged   bool
+		wantInReason string
+	}{
+		{"risk/low merges", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"}]`, true, ""},
+		{"risk/low among other labels merges", `[{"id":2,"name":"type/fix"},{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"}]`, true, ""},
+		{"risk/medium does not merge", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/medium"}]`, false, "risk/medium"},
+		{"risk/high does not merge", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/high"}]`, false, "risk/high"},
+		{"no risk label is unclassified, not low", `[{"id":2,"name":"type/fix"}]`, false, "no risk/"},
+		{"no labels at all", `[]`, false, "no risk/"},
+		{"two risk labels are ambiguous", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"},{"id":2,"name":"risk/high"}]`, false, "more than one"},
+		{"two identical risk/low labels are still ambiguous", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"},{"id":2,"name":"risk/low"}]`, false, "more than one"},
+		{"an unknown value does not merge", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/lowish"}]`, false, "unknown"},
+		{"the value is case-sensitive: risk/Low", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/Low"}]`, false, "unknown"},
+		{"trailing space in the value", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low "}]`, false, "unknown"},
+		{"RISK/LOW is not a risk/ label", `[{"id":1,"name":"RISK/LOW"}]`, false, "no risk/"},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{issueLabels: tc.labels})
+
+			res, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
+
+			require.NoError(t, err, "a refusal is a result, not an error")
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.wantMerged, res["merged"])
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.wantMerged, f.merged(), "the merge endpoint is called iff the tier allows it")
+			assert.Equal(t, "success", res["ci_status"], "CI was green: the tier alone decided")
+			if !tc.wantMerged {
+				assert.Contains(t, res["reason"], tc.wantInReason)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPRMerge_NoIssue_Unclassified_NoMerge(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{})
+
+	res, err := callMerge(t, f, `{"owner":"owner","repo":"repo","number":7}`)
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "none", res["risk"])
+	assert.Contains(t, res["reason"], "issue")
+	assert.False(t, f.merged(), "an unclassified change must not merge")
+}
+
+func TestPRMerge_IssueLookupFails_FailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, status := range []int{http.StatusInternalServerError, http.StatusNotFound, http.StatusForbidden} {
+		f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{issueStatus: status})
+
+		res, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
+
+		require.NoError(t, err, "status %d", status)
+		assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"], "status %d", status)
+		assert.Equal(t, "unreadable", res["risk"], "status %d", status)
+		assert.False(t, f.merged(), "status %d: an unreadable issue must not merge", status)
+	}
+}
+
+// ---- risk/low is necessary, not sufficient: CI and branch protection still gate ----
+func TestPRMerge_RiskLow_DoesNotOverrideCI(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, runs := range map[string]string{
+		"red":         `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"failure","head_sha":"abc"}]`,
+		"cancelled":   `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"cancelled","head_sha":"abc"}]`,
+		"in_progress": `[{"id":1,"status":"in_progress","conclusion":"","head_sha":"abc"}]`,
+		"no runs":     `[]`,
+		"mixed":       `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"success","head_sha":"abc"},{"id":2,"status":"queued","conclusion":"","head_sha":"abc"}]`,
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{runs: runs})
+
+			res, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
+
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
+			assert.NotEmpty(t, res["reason"])
+			assert.False(t, f.merged(), "risk/low must not override CI that is not fully green")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPRMerge_RiskLow_DoesNotOverrideAReviewProtectedBase(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{requiredApprovals: 1})
+
+	res, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
+	assert.Contains(t, res["reason"], "review")
+	assert.False(t, f.merged())
+}
+
+// An unreadable PR or an unreadable branch-protection probe is an error, never a merge.
+func TestPRMerge_ReadSideFailures_AreErrorsAndNeverMerge(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, o := range map[string]prMergeFakeOpts{
+		"PR lookup 500":        {prStatus: http.StatusInternalServerError},
+		"PR lookup 404":        {prStatus: http.StatusNotFound},
+		"protection probe 500": {protectionStatus: http.StatusInternalServerError},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			f := newPRMergeFake(t, o)
+
+			_, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
+
+			require.Error(t, err)
+			assert.False(t, f.merged(), "must not merge when the gate cannot be evaluated")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// The classification comes from the issue the caller names, not from `number`: a PR number that is also an issue
+// must not classify itself by accident. (The gate trusts the named issue: documented limit.)
+func TestPRMerge_TheTierIsReadFromTheNamedIssueOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{issueLabels: `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/high"}]`})
+
+	res, err := callMerge(t, f, `{"owner":"owner","repo":"repo","number":7,"issue":42}`)
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "high", res["risk"])
+	assert.False(t, f.merged())
+}
+
+// ---- review of PR #76 ----
+
+// An empty head sha used to disable BOTH the CI scoping (the runs query lost its head_sha filter, so the repo's most
+// recent runs of any commit were classified) and the merge binding (head_commit_id is omitempty). Fail closed.
+func TestPRMerge_AnEmptyHeadShaFailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{emptyHeadSha: true})
+
+	res, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
+	assert.Contains(t, res["reason"], "head commit")
+	assert.False(t, f.merged(), "an unknown head commit must never merge")
+	assert.Empty(t, f.runsQuery, "no unscoped CI query may be made when the head sha is unknown")
+}
+
+// CI is read for the PR's head commit only: the query names it.
+func TestPRMerge_CIIsScopedToTheHeadCommit(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newPRMergeFake(t, prMergeFakeOpts{})
+
+	_, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, f.runsQuery, "head_sha=abc")
+}
+
+// Defence in depth: Gitea refuses closed/merged PRs itself, but the gate should not depend on that.
+func TestPRMerge_ClosedOrDraftPRsAreNotMerged(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, o := range map[string]prMergeFakeOpts{
+		"closed": {prState: "closed"},
+		"merged": {prState: "merged"},
+		"draft":  {prDraft: true},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			f := newPRMergeFake(t, o)
+
+			res, err := callMerge(t, f, mergeArgs)
+
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
+			assert.NotEmpty(t, res["reason"])
+			assert.False(t, f.merged())
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/tools/tbd_ship.go

@@ -117,19 +117,19 @@ func classifyRisk(labels []gitea.Label) riskTier {
 	}
 }
 
-const unclassifiedReason = "no risk/ label on the named issue (or no issue named) — unclassified is not low; PR opened, not merged"
+const unclassifiedReason = "no risk/ label on the named issue (or no issue named) — unclassified is not low; PR left open, not merged"
 
 // riskBlockReason explains why a tier other than riskLow blocks the merge.
 func riskBlockReason(r riskTier) string {
 	switch r {
 	case riskMedium, riskHigh:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("the issue is risk/%s — above risk/low a human reviews the change; PR opened, not merged", r)
+		return fmt.Sprintf("the issue is risk/%s — above risk/low a human reviews the change; PR left open, not merged", r)
 	case riskAmbiguous:
-		return "the issue carries more than one risk/ label — ambiguous classification; PR opened, not merged"
+		return "the issue carries more than one risk/ label — ambiguous classification; PR left open, not merged"
 	case riskUnknown:
-		return "the issue carries an unknown risk/ value — PR opened, not merged"
+		return "the issue carries an unknown risk/ value — PR left open, not merged"
 	case riskUnreadable:
-		return "could not read the issue's labels — fail-closed; PR opened, not merged"
+		return "could not read the issue's labels — fail-closed; PR left open, not merged"
 	case riskLow:
 		return "" // never asked: only a non-low tier needs explaining
 	case riskNone:
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ func evaluateShipGate(runs []gitea.WorkflowRun, bp *gitea.BranchProtection, risk
 	// Review-protected base can't be auto-merged regardless of CI.
 	if bp != nil && bp.Protected && bp.RequiredApprovals > 0 {
 		return shipGate{false, ci, fmt.Sprintf(
-			"base branch requires %d approving review(s) — auto-merge disabled; PR opened for manual merge", bp.RequiredApprovals)}
+			"base branch requires %d approving review(s) — auto-merge disabled; PR left open for manual merge", bp.RequiredApprovals)}
 	}
 
 	// Only risk/low merges on green. Checked before CI so an unclassified change never reads as "waiting for CI".
@@ -189,14 +189,25 @@ func evaluateShipGate(runs []gitea.WorkflowRun, bp *gitea.BranchProtection, risk
 	case "success":
 		return shipGate{true, ci, ""}
 	case "pending":
-		return shipGate{false, ci, "CI is still running for the head commit — PR opened; re-invoke once checks complete, or merge manually"}
+		return shipGate{false, ci, "CI is still running for the head commit — PR left open; re-invoke once checks complete, or merge manually"}
 	case "failed":
-		return shipGate{false, ci, "CI failed for the head commit — PR opened, not merged"}
+		return shipGate{false, ci, "CI failed for the head commit — PR left open, not merged"}
 	default: // none
-		return shipGate{false, ci, "no CI runs found for the head commit — fail-closed: a change with no CI gate is never auto-merged to trunk; PR opened for manual merge"}
+		return shipGate{false, ci, "no CI runs found for the head commit — fail-closed: a change with no CI gate is never auto-merged to trunk; PR left open for manual merge"}
 	}
 }
 
+// evaluateMergeGate is what both merge tools call. It adds one precondition to evaluateShipGate: the PR's head commit
+// must be known. CI is read for that commit and the merge is bound to it (head_commit_id); with an empty sha the runs
+// query would lose its filter (the repo's most recent runs of ANY commit would be classified) and the binding would be
+// dropped, so an unknown head commit never merges.
+func evaluateMergeGate(headSHA string, runs []gitea.WorkflowRun, bp *gitea.BranchProtection, risk riskTier) shipGate {
+	if headSHA == "" {
+		return shipGate{false, "none", "the PR's head commit is unknown — fail-closed (CI cannot be scoped and the merge cannot be bound to it); PR left open, not merged"}
+	}
+	return evaluateShipGate(runs, bp, risk)
+}
+
 var shipSlugRe = regexp.MustCompile(`[^a-z0-9]+`)
 
 // deriveBranch builds a deterministic short-lived branch name from the change,
@@ -302,9 +313,9 @@ func (t *TBDShip) Call(ctx context.Context, raw json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessag
 	}
 
 	// CI gate on the PR head commit.
-	runs := t.pollRuns(ctx, args.Owner, args.Repo, pr.Head.Sha, args.CITimeoutSec)
-	risk := t.riskTierOf(ctx, args.Owner, args.Repo, args.Issue)
-	gate := evaluateShipGate(runs, bp, risk)
+	runs := pollRuns(ctx, t.c, args.Owner, args.Repo, pr.Head.Sha, args.CITimeoutSec)
+	risk := riskTierOf(ctx, t.c, args.Owner, args.Repo, args.Issue)
+	gate := evaluateMergeGate(pr.Head.Sha, runs, bp, risk)
 
 	result := map[string]any{
 		"merged":    false,
@@ -320,9 +331,9 @@ func (t *TBDShip) Call(ctx context.Context, raw json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessag
 	}
 
 	// Green + unprotected → squash-merge, then delete the short-lived branch.
-	if err := t.c.MergePullRequest(ctx, args.Owner, args.Repo, pr.Number, gitea.MergePRArgs{Do: "squash"}); err != nil {
+	if err := t.c.MergePullRequest(ctx, args.Owner, args.Repo, pr.Number, gitea.MergePRArgs{Do: "squash", HeadCommitID: pr.Head.Sha}); err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, gitea.ErrConflict) {
-			result["reason"] = "base moved and the merge is not clean — PR opened, not merged; resolve the conflict and merge manually"
+			result["reason"] = "base moved and the merge is not clean — PR left open, not merged; resolve the conflict and merge manually"
 			return textOK(result)
 		}
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("merge PR #%d: %w", pr.Number, err)
@@ -339,11 +350,11 @@ func (t *TBDShip) Call(ctx context.Context, raw json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessag
 // riskTierOf classifies the change from the named issue. No issue, or an issue that cannot be read, never yields
 // riskLow. The link between the PR and the issue is the caller's claim: the gate enforces the tier of the issue it
 // is given, it cannot prove that issue is the one the change belongs to (stated limit, gitea-mcp#63).
-func (t *TBDShip) riskTierOf(ctx context.Context, owner, repo string, issue int) riskTier {
+func riskTierOf(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo string, issue int) riskTier {
 	if issue <= 0 {
 		return riskNone
 	}
-	iss, err := t.c.GetIssue(ctx, owner, repo, issue)
+	iss, err := c.GetIssue(ctx, owner, repo, issue)
 	if err != nil || iss == nil {
 		return riskUnreadable
 	}
@@ -353,7 +364,10 @@ func (t *TBDShip) riskTierOf(ctx context.Context, owner, repo string, issue int)
 // pollRuns lists the head commit's workflow runs, polling up to timeoutSec for
 // them to reach a terminal state. timeoutSec == 0 is a single snapshot (no
 // sleep). A listing error yields no runs → the gate fails closed.
-func (t *TBDShip) pollRuns(ctx context.Context, owner, repo, headSHA string, timeoutSec int) []gitea.WorkflowRun {
+func pollRuns(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo, headSHA string, timeoutSec int) []gitea.WorkflowRun {
+	if headSHA == "" {
+		return nil // never query without the commit filter: Gitea would return the repo's latest runs of any commit
+	}
 	if timeoutSec < 0 {
 		timeoutSec = 0
 	}
@@ -362,7 +376,7 @@ func (t *TBDShip) pollRuns(ctx context.Context, owner, repo, headSHA string, tim
 	}
 	deadline := time.Now().Add(time.Duration(timeoutSec) * time.Second)
 	for {
-		runs := t.listRuns(ctx, owner, repo, headSHA)
+		runs := listRuns(ctx, c, owner, repo, headSHA)
 		switch classifyCI(runs) {
 		case "success", "failed":
 			return runs // terminal — no point waiting
@@ -393,8 +407,8 @@ func (t *TBDShip) findOpenPR(ctx context.Context, owner, repo, branch string) (*
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("no open PR found for head %s: %w", branch, gitea.ErrNotFound)
 }
 
-func (t *TBDShip) listRuns(ctx context.Context, owner, repo, headSHA string) []gitea.WorkflowRun {
-	resp, err := t.c.ListWorkflowRuns(ctx, owner, repo, gitea.ListWorkflowRunsArgs{HeadSHA: headSHA, Limit: 50})
+func listRuns(ctx context.Context, c *gitea.Client, owner, repo, headSHA string) []gitea.WorkflowRun {
+	resp, err := c.ListWorkflowRuns(ctx, owner, repo, gitea.ListWorkflowRunsArgs{HeadSHA: headSHA, Limit: 50})
 	if err != nil || resp == nil {
 		return nil
 	}

internal/tools/tbd_ship_internal_test.go

@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 package tools
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"testing"
 
 	"git.d-ma.be/mathias/gitea-mcp/internal/gitea"
@@ -98,3 +103,36 @@ func TestClassifyRisk(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// The merge gate needs a head commit to scope CI to and to bind the merge to: without one nothing merges.
+func TestEvaluateMergeGate_UnknownHeadCommitNeverMerges(t *testing.T) {
+	green := []gitea.WorkflowRun{{Status: "completed", Conclusion: "success"}}
+	g := evaluateMergeGate("", green, &gitea.BranchProtection{}, riskLow)
+	if g.merge {
+		t.Fatalf("merge = true for an empty head sha (reason %q)", g.reason)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(g.reason, "head commit") {
+		t.Errorf("reason %q should name the head commit", g.reason)
+	}
+	if ok := evaluateMergeGate("abc", green, &gitea.BranchProtection{}, riskLow); !ok.merge {
+		t.Errorf("a known head sha with green CI and risk/low must still merge, got %q", ok.reason)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPollRuns_NoShaMakesNoQuery(t *testing.T) {
+	var requests atomic.Int32
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		requests.Add(1)
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"total_count":1,"workflow_runs":[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"success"}]}`))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	c := gitea.NewClient(srv.URL, "tok")
+
+	if runs := pollRuns(context.Background(), c, "o", "r", "", 0); len(runs) != 0 || requests.Load() != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("an empty sha must make no request and return no runs, got %d runs after %d requests", len(runs), requests.Load())
+	}
+	// positive control: with a sha the same server is asked, so the zero above means something
+	if runs := pollRuns(context.Background(), c, "o", "r", "abc", 0); len(runs) != 1 || requests.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("control: with a sha expected 1 run after 1 request, got %d runs after %d requests", len(runs), requests.Load())
+	}
+}

internal/tools/tbd_ship_test.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package tools_test
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"strings"
@@ -59,10 +60,12 @@ func shipFakeFull(t *testing.T, runsJSON string, requiredApprovals, mergeStatus
 			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"content":{"path":"x","sha":"s"},"commit":{"sha":"c"}}`))
 		case r.Method == http.MethodPost && strings.HasSuffix(p, "/pulls"):
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusCreated)
-			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"number":7,"title":"t","html_url":"http://x/pulls/7","state":"open","head":{"ref":"tbd/x","sha":"abc"},"base":{"ref":"main"}}`))
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"number":7,"title":"t","html_url":"http://x/pulls/7","state":"open","head":{"ref":"tbd/x","sha":"` + shipPRHeadSha + `"},"base":{"ref":"main"}}`))
 		case r.Method == http.MethodGet && strings.Contains(p, "/actions/runs"):
 			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"total_count":0,"workflow_runs":` + runsJSON + `}`))
 		case r.Method == http.MethodPost && strings.HasSuffix(p, "/pulls/7/merge"):
+			body, _ := io.ReadAll(r.Body)
+			shipLastMergeBody.Store(string(body))
 			merged.Store(true)
 			w.WriteHeader(mergeStatus)
 			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{}`))
@@ -216,6 +219,41 @@ func TestTBDShip_Resume_ExistingBranchAndPR(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.True(t, merged.Load())
 }
 
+// shipPRHeadSha is the head sha the fake reports for the PR it opens (tests may blank it, then restore it).
+var shipPRHeadSha = "abc"
+
+// shipLastMergeBody is the body of the most recent merge request the fake received.
+var shipLastMergeBody atomic.Value
+
+// An empty head sha used to unscope the CI query and drop the merge binding (review of PR #76). Fail closed.
+func TestTBDShip_AnEmptyHeadShaFailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	shipPRHeadSha = ""
+	t.Cleanup(func() { shipPRHeadSha = "abc" })
+	var merged, deleted atomic.Bool
+	srv := shipFake(t, shipGreen, &merged, &deleted)
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, shipArgs)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
+	assert.Contains(t, res["reason"], "head commit")
+	assert.False(t, merged.Load(), "an unknown head commit must never merge")
+}
+
+// TOCTOU: the merge is bound to the head commit whose CI the gate evaluated (gitea-mcp#74).
+func TestTBDShip_TheMergeIsBoundToTheCommitTheGateChecked(t *testing.T) {
+	var merged, deleted atomic.Bool
+	srv := shipFake(t, shipGreen, &merged, &deleted)
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, shipArgs)
+
+	require.Equal(t, true, res["merged"])
+	var payload map[string]any
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal([]byte(shipLastMergeBody.Load().(string)), &payload))
+	assert.Equal(t, "abc", payload["head_commit_id"], "the head sha the CI check used")
+}
+
 // ---- gitea-mcp#63: the risk tier is an input to the gate. Only exactly one risk/low label merges. ----
 const (
 	shipGreen = `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"success","head_sha":"abc"}]`