Definition · foundations
least privilege
least privilege is the rule that a user, agent, or service should receive only the access needed for its current task. You can spot least privilege in practice when the record shows what the system observes, what choice it makes, and what changes next, without asking the reader to guess or trust a slogan.
157 definitions656 sourced recordsNamed source: ACL Anthology
Why does least privilege matter?
Narrow access contains mistakes and attacks because the agent cannot reach systems the current task does not require. For least privilege, start with three checks: What can the system observe? What choice can it make? What changes after it acts? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does least privilege look like?
A reporting agent receives read access to one warehouse view and no write permission. This example makes least privilege visible by naming the actor, the action, and the result in practice. It is an illustration for readers, not a claim that every product behaves this way.
What is least privilege easy to confuse with?
Least privilege is the access rule. Capability security is one technical way to grant scoped rights. The closest entries here are large language model (LLM), LLM as judge, router agent. Compare their definitions with least privilege before using the names as if they mean the same thing.
How certain is this definition?
This definition is provisional. ACL Anthology supports the version you see today, but a better or more direct source may change it. Open the cited page and check its date before you use this entry to choose a product, write a policy, set a safety control, or design a system.
Who introduced the term least privilege?
We have not verified who first introduced least privilege. The source supports a useful definition, but it may not be the earliest use. Until a dated primary record settles the question, we leave the origin open. A popular article or product page is not enough to name the person who coined a term.
What should you understand before least privilege?
Read artificial intelligence (AI) first when least privilege depends on a more basic idea or mechanism. The link gives you a useful route through the glossary. It does not mean every author teaches the subject in this order, so follow the source when the sequence matters.
What should this term help you answer?
Use least privilege to ask what an agent can observe, decide, change, remember, or hand off. The questions below turn the definition into a practical check. They are prompts for your own work, not claims made by the source, so change them to fit the system you are examining.
- What can the system observe?
- What choice can it make?
- What changes after it acts?
Which source supports this definition of least privilege?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of least privilege. We checked the link on 2026-07-12. Open the original record for its context, methods, limits, and publication details. The short explanation here is a guide to least privilege; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundleast privilegeChecked 2026-07-12→