diff --git a/scripts/hooks/config-protection.js b/scripts/hooks/config-protection.js
index 83a7150a..d8d459a0 100644
--- a/scripts/hooks/config-protection.js
+++ b/scripts/hooks/config-protection.js
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ const PROTECTED_FILES = new Set([
   '.stylelintrc.yml',
   '.markdownlint.json',
   '.markdownlint.yaml',
-  '.markdownlintrc',
+  '.markdownlintrc'
 ]);
 
 function parseInput(inputOrRaw) {
@@ -99,13 +99,22 @@ function run(inputOrRaw, options = {}) {
     // The hook's purpose is blocking modifications; writing a brand-new
     // config file in a project that has none is a legitimate bootstrap
     // path (e.g. scaffolding ESLint into a fresh repo).
-    let exists = false;
+    //
+    // Fail closed on any stat error other than ENOENT. fs.existsSync would
+    // swallow EACCES/EPERM and return false, which would let an agent
+    // overwrite a file whose parent directory we cannot traverse. statSync
+    // exposes the error code explicitly so we can treat only genuine
+    // "file not found" as absent.
+    let exists = true;
     try {
-      exists = fs.existsSync(filePath);
-    } catch {
-      // Be conservative: on stat errors (EACCES, etc.) treat as existing
-      // so we never silently weaken the guard.
-      exists = true;
+      fs.statSync(filePath);
+      // stat succeeded — file exists.
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (err && err.code === 'ENOENT') {
+        exists = false;
+      }
+      // Any other error (EACCES, EPERM, ELOOP, etc.) leaves exists=true
+      // so the guard is never silently weakened.
     }
 
     if (!exists) {
@@ -118,7 +127,7 @@ function run(inputOrRaw, options = {}) {
         `BLOCKED: Modifying ${basename} is not allowed. ` +
         'Fix the source code to satisfy linter/formatter rules instead of ' +
         'weakening the config. If this is a legitimate config change, ' +
-        'disable the config-protection hook temporarily.',
+        'disable the config-protection hook temporarily.'
     };
   }
 
@@ -143,7 +152,7 @@ process.stdin.on('data', chunk => {
 process.stdin.on('end', () => {
   const result = run(raw, {
     truncated,
-    maxStdin: Number(process.env.ECC_HOOK_INPUT_MAX_BYTES) || MAX_STDIN,
+    maxStdin: Number(process.env.ECC_HOOK_INPUT_MAX_BYTES) || MAX_STDIN
   });
 
   if (result.stderr) {
diff --git a/tests/hooks/config-protection.test.js b/tests/hooks/config-protection.test.js
index 86eabf36..51382409 100644
--- a/tests/hooks/config-protection.test.js
+++ b/tests/hooks/config-protection.test.js
@@ -71,150 +71,204 @@ function runTests() {
   let passed = 0;
   let failed = 0;
 
-  if (test('blocks protected config file edits through run-with-flags', () => {
-    const tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ecc-config-protect-'));
-    try {
-      const absPath = path.join(tmpDir, '.eslintrc.js');
-      fs.writeFileSync(absPath, 'module.exports = {};');
-
-      const input = {
-        tool_name: 'Write',
-        tool_input: {
-          file_path: absPath,
-          content: 'module.exports = {};'
-        }
-      };
-
-      const result = runHook(input);
-      assert.strictEqual(result.code, 2, 'Expected protected config edit to be blocked');
-      assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, '', 'Blocked hook should not echo raw input');
-      assert.ok(result.stderr.includes('BLOCKED: Modifying .eslintrc.js is not allowed.'), `Expected block message, got: ${result.stderr}`);
-    } finally {
+  if (
+    test('blocks protected config file edits through run-with-flags', () => {
+      const tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ecc-config-protect-'));
       try {
-        fs.rmSync(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
-      } catch {
-        // best-effort cleanup
+        const absPath = path.join(tmpDir, '.eslintrc.js');
+        fs.writeFileSync(absPath, 'module.exports = {};');
+
+        const input = {
+          tool_name: 'Write',
+          tool_input: {
+            file_path: absPath,
+            content: 'module.exports = {};'
+          }
+        };
+
+        const result = runHook(input);
+        assert.strictEqual(result.code, 2, 'Expected protected config edit to be blocked');
+        assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, '', 'Blocked hook should not echo raw input');
+        assert.ok(result.stderr.includes('BLOCKED: Modifying .eslintrc.js is not allowed.'), `Expected block message, got: ${result.stderr}`);
+      } finally {
+        try {
+          fs.rmSync(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+        } catch {
+          // best-effort cleanup
+        }
       }
-    }
-  })) passed++; else failed++;
+    })
+  )
+    passed++;
+  else failed++;
 
-  if (test('passes through safe file edits unchanged', () => {
-    const input = {
-      tool_name: 'Write',
-      tool_input: {
-        file_path: 'src/index.js',
-        content: 'console.log("ok");'
-      }
-    };
-
-    const rawInput = JSON.stringify(input);
-    const result = runHook(input);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.code, 0, 'Expected safe file edit to pass');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, rawInput, 'Expected exact raw JSON passthrough');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.stderr, '', 'Expected no stderr for safe edits');
-  })) passed++; else failed++;
-
-  if (test('blocks truncated protected config payloads instead of failing open', () => {
-    const rawInput = JSON.stringify({
-      tool_name: 'Write',
-      tool_input: {
-        file_path: '.eslintrc.js',
-        content: 'x'.repeat(1024 * 1024 + 2048)
-      }
-    });
-
-    const result = runHook(rawInput);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.code, 2, 'Expected truncated protected payload to be blocked');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, '', 'Blocked truncated payload should not echo raw input');
-    assert.ok(result.stderr.includes('Hook input exceeded 1048576 bytes'), `Expected size warning, got: ${result.stderr}`);
-    assert.ok(result.stderr.includes('truncated payload'), `Expected truncated payload warning, got: ${result.stderr}`);
-  })) passed++; else failed++;
-
-  if (test('allows first-time creation of a protected config file', () => {
-    const tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ecc-config-protect-'));
-    try {
-      const absPath = path.join(tmpDir, 'eslint.config.mjs');
+  if (
+    test('passes through safe file edits unchanged', () => {
       const input = {
         tool_name: 'Write',
         tool_input: {
-          file_path: absPath,
-          content: 'export default [];'
+          file_path: 'src/index.js',
+          content: 'console.log("ok");'
         }
       };
 
       const rawInput = JSON.stringify(input);
       const result = runHook(input);
-      assert.strictEqual(result.code, 0, `Expected exit 0 for first-time creation, got ${result.code}; stderr: ${result.stderr}`);
-      assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, rawInput, 'Expected raw passthrough when creation is allowed');
-      assert.strictEqual(result.stderr, '', `Expected no stderr for first-time creation, got: ${result.stderr}`);
-    } finally {
-      try {
-        fs.rmSync(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
-      } catch {
-        // best-effort cleanup
-      }
-    }
-  })) passed++; else failed++;
-
-  if (test('still blocks writes to an existing protected config file', () => {
-    const tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ecc-config-protect-'));
-    try {
-      const absPath = path.join(tmpDir, '.eslintrc.js');
-      fs.writeFileSync(absPath, 'module.exports = { rules: {} };');
-
-      const input = {
-        tool_name: 'Edit',
-        tool_input: {
-          file_path: absPath,
-          content: 'module.exports = { rules: { "no-console": "off" } };'
-        }
-      };
-
-      const result = runHook(input);
-      assert.strictEqual(result.code, 2, 'Expected exit 2 when modifying an existing protected config');
-      assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, '', 'Blocked hook should not echo raw input');
-      assert.ok(result.stderr.includes('BLOCKED: Modifying .eslintrc.js is not allowed.'), `Expected block message, got: ${result.stderr}`);
-    } finally {
-      try {
-        fs.rmSync(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
-      } catch {
-        // best-effort cleanup
-      }
-    }
-  })) passed++; else failed++;
-
-  if (test('legacy hooks do not echo raw input when they fail without stdout', () => {
-    const pluginRoot = path.join(__dirname, '..', `tmp-runner-plugin-${Date.now()}`);
-    const scriptDir = path.join(pluginRoot, 'scripts', 'hooks');
-    const scriptPath = path.join(scriptDir, 'legacy-block.js');
-
-    try {
-      fs.mkdirSync(scriptDir, { recursive: true });
-      fs.writeFileSync(
-        scriptPath,
-        '#!/usr/bin/env node\nprocess.stderr.write("blocked by legacy hook\\n");\nprocess.exit(2);\n'
-      );
+      assert.strictEqual(result.code, 0, 'Expected safe file edit to pass');
+      assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, rawInput, 'Expected exact raw JSON passthrough');
+      assert.strictEqual(result.stderr, '', 'Expected no stderr for safe edits');
+    })
+  )
+    passed++;
+  else failed++;
 
+  if (
+    test('blocks truncated protected config payloads instead of failing open', () => {
       const rawInput = JSON.stringify({
         tool_name: 'Write',
         tool_input: {
           file_path: '.eslintrc.js',
-          content: 'module.exports = {};'
+          content: 'x'.repeat(1024 * 1024 + 2048)
         }
       });
 
-      const result = runCustomHook(pluginRoot, 'pre:legacy-block', 'scripts/hooks/legacy-block.js', rawInput);
-      assert.strictEqual(result.code, 2, 'Expected failing legacy hook exit code to propagate');
-      assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, '', 'Expected failing legacy hook to avoid raw passthrough');
-      assert.ok(result.stderr.includes('blocked by legacy hook'), `Expected legacy hook stderr, got: ${result.stderr}`);
-    } finally {
+      const result = runHook(rawInput);
+      assert.strictEqual(result.code, 2, 'Expected truncated protected payload to be blocked');
+      assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, '', 'Blocked truncated payload should not echo raw input');
+      assert.ok(result.stderr.includes('Hook input exceeded 1048576 bytes'), `Expected size warning, got: ${result.stderr}`);
+      assert.ok(result.stderr.includes('truncated payload'), `Expected truncated payload warning, got: ${result.stderr}`);
+    })
+  )
+    passed++;
+  else failed++;
+
+  if (
+    test('allows first-time creation of a protected config file', () => {
+      const tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ecc-config-protect-'));
       try {
-        fs.rmSync(pluginRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
-      } catch {
-        // best-effort cleanup
+        const absPath = path.join(tmpDir, 'eslint.config.mjs');
+        const input = {
+          tool_name: 'Write',
+          tool_input: {
+            file_path: absPath,
+            content: 'export default [];'
+          }
+        };
+
+        const rawInput = JSON.stringify(input);
+        const result = runHook(input);
+        assert.strictEqual(result.code, 0, `Expected exit 0 for first-time creation, got ${result.code}; stderr: ${result.stderr}`);
+        assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, rawInput, 'Expected raw passthrough when creation is allowed');
+        assert.strictEqual(result.stderr, '', `Expected no stderr for first-time creation, got: ${result.stderr}`);
+      } finally {
+        try {
+          fs.rmSync(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+        } catch {
+          // best-effort cleanup
+        }
       }
-    }
-  })) passed++; else failed++;
+    })
+  )
+    passed++;
+  else failed++;
+
+  if (
+    test('allows first-time creation when the parent directory does not exist yet', () => {
+      const tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ecc-config-protect-'));
+      try {
+        // Path under a non-existent subdirectory — statSync returns ENOENT
+        // on the final segment, which should be treated as "does not exist"
+        // and allow the write. (Agent or CLI is expected to create parents
+        // during the Write itself; this hook does not need to.)
+        const absPath = path.join(tmpDir, 'no-such-parent', '.prettierrc');
+        const input = {
+          tool_name: 'Write',
+          tool_input: {
+            file_path: absPath,
+            content: '{}'
+          }
+        };
+
+        const rawInput = JSON.stringify(input);
+        const result = runHook(input);
+        assert.strictEqual(result.code, 0, `Expected exit 0 for ENOENT path, got ${result.code}; stderr: ${result.stderr}`);
+        assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, rawInput, 'Expected raw passthrough when path does not exist');
+      } finally {
+        try {
+          fs.rmSync(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+        } catch {
+          // best-effort cleanup
+        }
+      }
+    })
+  )
+    passed++;
+  else failed++;
+
+  if (
+    test('still blocks writes to an existing protected config file', () => {
+      const tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ecc-config-protect-'));
+      try {
+        const absPath = path.join(tmpDir, '.eslintrc.js');
+        fs.writeFileSync(absPath, 'module.exports = { rules: {} };');
+
+        const input = {
+          tool_name: 'Edit',
+          tool_input: {
+            file_path: absPath,
+            content: 'module.exports = { rules: { "no-console": "off" } };'
+          }
+        };
+
+        const result = runHook(input);
+        assert.strictEqual(result.code, 2, 'Expected exit 2 when modifying an existing protected config');
+        assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, '', 'Blocked hook should not echo raw input');
+        assert.ok(result.stderr.includes('BLOCKED: Modifying .eslintrc.js is not allowed.'), `Expected block message, got: ${result.stderr}`);
+      } finally {
+        try {
+          fs.rmSync(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+        } catch {
+          // best-effort cleanup
+        }
+      }
+    })
+  )
+    passed++;
+  else failed++;
+
+  if (
+    test('legacy hooks do not echo raw input when they fail without stdout', () => {
+      const pluginRoot = path.join(__dirname, '..', `tmp-runner-plugin-${Date.now()}`);
+      const scriptDir = path.join(pluginRoot, 'scripts', 'hooks');
+      const scriptPath = path.join(scriptDir, 'legacy-block.js');
+
+      try {
+        fs.mkdirSync(scriptDir, { recursive: true });
+        fs.writeFileSync(scriptPath, '#!/usr/bin/env node\nprocess.stderr.write("blocked by legacy hook\\n");\nprocess.exit(2);\n');
+
+        const rawInput = JSON.stringify({
+          tool_name: 'Write',
+          tool_input: {
+            file_path: '.eslintrc.js',
+            content: 'module.exports = {};'
+          }
+        });
+
+        const result = runCustomHook(pluginRoot, 'pre:legacy-block', 'scripts/hooks/legacy-block.js', rawInput);
+        assert.strictEqual(result.code, 2, 'Expected failing legacy hook exit code to propagate');
+        assert.strictEqual(result.stdout, '', 'Expected failing legacy hook to avoid raw passthrough');
+        assert.ok(result.stderr.includes('blocked by legacy hook'), `Expected legacy hook stderr, got: ${result.stderr}`);
+      } finally {
+        try {
+          fs.rmSync(pluginRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
+        } catch {
+          // best-effort cleanup
+        }
+      }
+    })
+  )
+    passed++;
+  else failed++;
 
   console.log(`\nResults: Passed: ${passed}, Failed: ${failed}`);
   process.exit(failed > 0 ? 1 : 0);