fix(security): prevent alias depth bypass in YAML validator

The global 'seen' set allowed anchored subtrees validated at a shallow
depth to be skipped when later referenced via alias at a greater depth.
This could let effective nesting exceed MaxYAMLDepth, enabling DoS.

Fix: replace the single 'seen' set with two tracking maps:
- validated (node -> min depth): only short-circuits when current depth
  <= previously validated depth; re-checks at deeper contexts.
- visiting (node -> bool): per-path recursion stack for true cycle
  detection (breaks alias loops without suppressing depth checks).

Add TestYAMLAliasDepthBypass that constructs a document with an
anchored 15-level subtree referenced via alias under 6 levels of
nesting, verifying the combined effective depth (22) is rejected.

Addresses security-review-bot findings on review #2774.

review/persona_test.go

@@ -484,7 +484,6 @@ func TestYAMLDeeplyNestedRejection(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-
 func TestYAMLEmptyFileRejection(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 
@@ -536,7 +535,7 @@ func TestYAMLFileSizeLimit(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestYAMLAliasCycleDetection(t *testing.T) {
 	// Test that our checkYAMLDepth function handles alias cycles gracefully
-	// by using the seen map to prevent infinite recursion.
+	// by using the visiting map to prevent infinite recursion.
 
 	// Create a node structure where an alias points to a parent node,
 	// simulating what could happen with crafted input.
@@ -559,17 +558,18 @@ func TestYAMLAliasCycleDetection(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	nodeCount := 0
-	seen := make(map[ast.Node]struct{})
+	validated := make(map[ast.Node]int)
+	visiting := make(map[ast.Node]bool)
 
-	// This should NOT hang or stack overflow - the seen map prevents infinite recursion
-	err := checkYAMLDepth(parent, 0, MaxYAMLDepth, MaxYAMLNodes, seen, &nodeCount)
+	// This should NOT hang or stack overflow - cycle detection prevents infinite recursion
+	err := checkYAMLDepth(parent, 0, MaxYAMLDepth, MaxYAMLNodes, validated, visiting, &nodeCount)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error traversing cyclic structure: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	// Verify we tracked the parent in the seen map
-	if _, ok := seen[parent]; !ok {
-		t.Error("parent node not tracked in seen map")
+	// Verify we tracked the parent in the validated map
+	if _, ok := validated[parent]; !ok {
+		t.Error("parent node not tracked in validated map")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -644,16 +644,63 @@ func TestCheckYAMLDepthCycleDetectionDirect(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	nodeCount := 0
-	seen := make(map[ast.Node]struct{})
-	err := checkYAMLDepth(node, 0, MaxYAMLDepth, MaxYAMLNodes, seen, &nodeCount)
+	validated := make(map[ast.Node]int)
+	visiting := make(map[ast.Node]bool)
+	err := checkYAMLDepth(node, 0, MaxYAMLDepth, MaxYAMLNodes, validated, visiting, &nodeCount)
 
 	// Should complete without infinite recursion due to cycle detection
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
-	// The seen map should contain multiple entries
-	if len(seen) < 2 {
-		t.Errorf("seen map has %d entries, expected at least 2", len(seen))
+	// The validated map should contain multiple entries
+	if len(validated) < 2 {
+		t.Errorf("validated map has %d entries, expected at least 2", len(validated))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestYAMLAliasDepthBypass(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test that an anchored subtree first validated at a shallow depth is
+	// re-checked when referenced via alias at a deeper position. Without the
+	// depth-aware validated map, the alias reference would skip re-checking
+	// and allow the effective nesting to exceed MaxYAMLDepth.
+
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "alias-depth-bypass.yaml")
+
+	// Build YAML with an anchor at shallow depth containing a subtree near the limit,
+	// then reference it via alias deep enough that effective depth exceeds MaxYAMLDepth.
+	var sb strings.Builder
+	sb.WriteString("name: test\nidentity: test\n")
+
+	// Create the anchored subtree at depth 1 (key level) that nests 15 levels deep.
+	sb.WriteString("anchor_key: &deep_anchor\n")
+	for i := 0; i < 15; i++ {
+		sb.WriteString(strings.Repeat("  ", i+1))
+		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("level%d:\n", i))
+	}
+	sb.WriteString(strings.Repeat("  ", 16))
+	sb.WriteString("leaf: value\n")
+
+	// Create a wrapper that nests 6 levels deep, then references the anchor.
+	// Effective depth at alias target = 6 (wrapper nesting) + 1 (alias) + 15 (subtree) = 22 > 20
+	sb.WriteString("wrapper:\n")
+	for i := 0; i < 6; i++ {
+		sb.WriteString(strings.Repeat("  ", i+1))
+		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("n%d:\n", i))
+	}
+	sb.WriteString(strings.Repeat("  ", 7))
+	sb.WriteString("alias_ref: *deep_anchor\n")
+
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(sb.String()), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to write test file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err := LoadPersona(path)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error for alias depth bypass, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "nesting depth exceeds") {
+		t.Errorf("error = %q, want containing 'nesting depth exceeds'", err.Error())
 	}
 }