fix(extension): handle tab return cleanup edge cases

apps/extension/src/browser-driver/__tests__/chromium-cdp.test.ts

@@ -254,6 +254,69 @@ describe("ChromiumCdp", () => {
     expect(cdp.isAttached(7)).toBe(false);
   });
 
+  it.each([
+    false,
+    true,
+  ])("waits for detach before reconnecting a returned tab (detach rejects: %s)", async (rejectDetach) => {
+    const { api } = fakeApi();
+    const attached = new Set<number>();
+    let finishDetach!: () => void;
+    vi.mocked(api.attach).mockImplementation(async ({ tabId }) => {
+      if (attached.has(tabId!)) throw new Error("Another debugger is already attached");
+      attached.add(tabId!);
+    });
+    vi.mocked(api.detach).mockImplementation(async ({ tabId }) => {
+      attached.delete(tabId!);
+    });
+    vi.mocked(api.detach).mockImplementationOnce(
+      ({ tabId }) =>
+        new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+          finishDetach = () => {
+            attached.delete(tabId!);
+            if (rejectDetach) reject(new Error("tab already detached"));
+            else resolve();
+          };
+        }),
+    );
+    const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(api);
+    cdp.trackSessionTab("aa11", 7);
+    await cdp.ensureAttached(7);
+    const returning = cdp.releaseSessionTab("aa11", 7);
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(api.detach).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
+    let duplicateDetachFinished = false;
+    const duplicateDetach = cdp.detach(7).then(() => {
+      duplicateDetachFinished = true;
+    });
+
+    cdp.trackSessionTab("bb22", 7);
+    // Register rejection handlers immediately; the pre-fix driver rejects
+    // both commands while the browser still has the previous attachment.
+    const pending = Promise.allSettled([
+      cdp.send(7, "Runtime.evaluate", { expression: "document.title" }),
+      cdp.send(7, "DOM.getDocument"),
+    ]);
+    await cdp.send(8, "DOM.getDocument");
+    const finishedEarly = duplicateDetachFinished;
+    finishDetach();
+    await Promise.all([returning, duplicateDetach]);
+
+    expect(await pending).toEqual([
+      { status: "fulfilled", value: { ok: true } },
+      { status: "fulfilled", value: { ok: true } },
+    ]);
+    expect(finishedEarly).toBe(false);
+    expect(vi.mocked(api.attach).mock.calls.filter(([target]) => target.tabId === 7)).toHaveLength(
+      2,
+    );
+    expect(cdp.isAttached(7)).toBe(true);
+    expect(cdp.isAttached(8)).toBe(true);
+    await cdp.detachSession("bb22");
+    expect(api.detach).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(cdp.isAttached(7)).toBe(false);
+    expect(attached.has(7)).toBe(false);
+    expect(cdp.isAttached(8)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("detachAll() iterates every cached tab", async () => {
     const { api } = fakeApi();
     const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(api);
@@ -651,6 +714,155 @@ describe("ChromiumCdp", () => {
     expect(cdp.networkEntriesSince(33, 0, 50, 1000).entries[0].url).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
+  it("releases only the returning session's claim on a tab", async () => {
+    const { api } = fakeApi();
+    const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(api);
+    await cdp.ensureAttached(1);
+    await cdp.ensureAttached(2);
+    cdp.trackSessionTab("aa11", 1);
+    cdp.trackSessionTab("bb22", 1);
+    cdp.trackSessionTab("aa11", 2);
+
+    await cdp.releaseSessionTab("unknown", 1);
+    await cdp.releaseSessionTab("aa11", 1);
+    expect(api.detach).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    await cdp.releaseSessionTab("bb22", 1);
+    await cdp.releaseSessionTab("bb22", 1);
+    expect(api.detach).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith({ tabId: 1 });
+    expect(cdp.isAttached(2)).toBe(true);
+
+    await cdp.detachSession("aa11");
+    expect(api.detach).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(api.detach).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ tabId: 2 });
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    false,
+    true,
+  ])("releases a tab with an attachment in flight (new owner: %s)", async (newOwner) => {
+    const { api } = fakeApi();
+    let finishAttach!: () => void;
+    vi.mocked(api.attach).mockImplementationOnce(
+      () =>
+        new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+          finishAttach = resolve;
+        }),
+    );
+    const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(api);
+    cdp.trackSessionTab("aa11", 1);
+    const attaching = cdp.ensureAttached(1);
+    const releasing = cdp.releaseSessionTab("aa11", 1);
+    if (newOwner) cdp.trackSessionTab("bb22", 1);
+    finishAttach();
+    await Promise.all([attaching, releasing]);
+
+    expect(cdp.isAttached(1)).toBe(newOwner);
+    expect(api.detach).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(newOwner ? 0 : 1);
+  });
+
+  it("stops accepting dialogs on a returned tab even when another session keeps CDP attached", async () => {
+    const { api, onEvent } = fakeApi();
+    let controlled = true;
+    const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(api, { shouldAutoAcceptDialog: () => controlled });
+    cdp.trackSessionTab("aa11", 1);
+    cdp.trackSessionTab("bb22", 1);
+    await cdp.ensureAttached(1);
+    onEvent.fire({ tabId: 1 }, "Page.javascriptDialogOpening", {
+      type: "confirm",
+      message: "before return",
+    });
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(cdp.dialogsSince(1, 0)).toHaveLength(1));
+    vi.mocked(api.sendCommand).mockClear();
+
+    controlled = false;
+    await cdp.releaseSessionTab("aa11", 1);
+    expect(cdp.isAttached(1)).toBe(true);
+    onEvent.fire({ tabId: 1 }, "Page.javascriptDialogOpening", {
+      type: "confirm",
+      message: "after return",
+    });
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    expect(api.sendCommand).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(cdp.dialogsSince(1, 0)).toHaveLength(1);
+
+    controlled = true;
+    onEvent.fire({ tabId: 1 }, "Page.javascriptDialogOpening", {
+      type: "alert",
+      message: "borrowed again",
+    });
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(cdp.dialogsSince(1, 0)).toHaveLength(2));
+    expect(api.sendCommand).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(
+      { tabId: 1 },
+      "Page.handleJavaScriptDialog",
+      { accept: true },
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("ignores dialog events after detach, including a pending eligibility check", async () => {
+    const { api, onEvent } = fakeApi();
+    let resolveEligibility!: (value: boolean) => void;
+    const shouldAutoAcceptDialog = vi.fn(
+      () =>
+        new Promise<boolean>((resolve) => {
+          resolveEligibility = resolve;
+        }),
+    );
+    const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(api, { shouldAutoAcceptDialog });
+    await cdp.ensureAttached(1);
+    onEvent.fire({ tabId: 1 }, "Page.javascriptDialogOpening", { type: "alert" });
+    await cdp.detach(1);
+    resolveEligibility(true);
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    onEvent.fire({ tabId: 1 }, "Page.javascriptDialogOpening", { type: "alert" });
+
+    expect(shouldAutoAcceptDialog).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(api.sendCommand).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.anything(),
+      "Page.handleJavaScriptDialog",
+      expect.anything(),
+    );
+    expect(cdp.dialogsSince(1, 0)).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("does not accept dialogs when the tab's current scope cannot be determined", async () => {
+    const { api, onEvent } = fakeApi();
+    const shouldAutoAcceptDialog = vi.fn(async () => {
+      throw new Error("tab is gone");
+    });
+    const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(api, { shouldAutoAcceptDialog });
+    await cdp.ensureAttached(1);
+    vi.mocked(api.sendCommand).mockClear();
+
+    onEvent.fire({ tabId: 1 }, "Page.javascriptDialogOpening", { type: "confirm" });
+    await Promise.resolve();
+
+    expect(shouldAutoAcceptDialog).toHaveBeenCalledWith(1);
+    expect(api.sendCommand).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(cdp.dialogsSince(1, 0)).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("does not restore dialog state when an acceptance completes after detach", async () => {
+    const { api, onEvent } = fakeApi();
+    const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(api);
+    await cdp.ensureAttached(1);
+    let finishAccept!: () => void;
+    vi.mocked(api.sendCommand).mockImplementationOnce(
+      () =>
+        new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+          finishAccept = resolve;
+        }),
+    );
+
+    onEvent.fire({ tabId: 1 }, "Page.javascriptDialogOpening", { type: "alert" });
+    await cdp.detach(1);
+    finishAccept();
+    await Promise.resolve();
+
+    expect(cdp.dialogsSince(1, 0)).toEqual([]);
+    expect(cdp.dialogCursor(1)).toBe(0);
+  });
+
   it("detachSession only detaches tabs no other session owns", async () => {
     const { api } = fakeApi();
     const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(api);

apps/extension/src/browser-driver/chromium-cdp.ts

@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ export class ChromiumCdp {
   private readonly api: CdpDebuggerApi;
   private readonly attachedTabs = new Set<number>();
   private readonly attachInFlight = new Map<number, Promise<void>>();
+  private readonly detachInFlight = new Map<number, Promise<void>>();
   private readonly tabOwners = new Map<number, Set<string>>();
   private readonly dialogBuffers = new Map<number, JavaScriptDialogInfo[]>();
   private readonly dialogSequences = new Map<number, number>();
@@ -182,7 +183,13 @@ export class ChromiumCdp {
   private networkSubscription: { dispose(): void } | null = null;
   private frameTargetSubscription: { dispose(): void } | null = null;
 
-  constructor(api: CdpDebuggerApi = chromeDebuggerApi) {
+  constructor(
+    api: CdpDebuggerApi = chromeDebuggerApi,
+    private readonly options: {
+      /** CDP observation alone does not authorize dismissing user dialogs. */
+      shouldAutoAcceptDialog?: (tabId: number) => boolean | Promise<boolean>;
+    } = {},
+  ) {
     this.api = api;
     this.bindAutoDetach();
     this.bindDialogHandler();
@@ -193,6 +200,10 @@ export class ChromiumCdp {
 
   /** Attach to `tabId` if we haven't already in this driver. */
   async ensureAttached(tabId: number): Promise<void> {
+    // Returning a tab clears the cache before Chrome finishes detaching.
+    // New observers must wait before opening the next connection to that tab.
+    const detaching = this.detachInFlight.get(tabId);
+    if (detaching) await detaching;
     if (this.attachedTabs.has(tabId)) return;
     const existing = this.attachInFlight.get(tabId);
     if (existing) {
@@ -425,6 +436,11 @@ export class ChromiumCdp {
 
   /** Detach if attached; never throws. */
   async detach(tabId: number): Promise<void> {
+    const existing = this.detachInFlight.get(tabId);
+    if (existing) {
+      await existing;
+      return;
+    }
     this.attachInFlight.delete(tabId);
     if (!this.attachedTabs.has(tabId)) return;
     this.attachedTabs.delete(tabId);
@@ -432,13 +448,19 @@ export class ChromiumCdp {
     this.clearConsoleState(tabId);
     this.clearNetworkState(tabId);
     this.clearFrameState(tabId);
-    try {
-      await this.api.detach({ tabId });
-    } catch (err) {
-      // Tab may already be gone — Chrome auto-detaches on close. Log
-      // at debug so production builds aren't noisy.
-      console.debug("[bsk cdp] detach failed (likely tab already closed)", err);
-    }
+    const detach = (async () => {
+      try {
+        await this.api.detach({ tabId });
+      } catch (err) {
+        // Tab may already be gone — Chrome auto-detaches on close. Log
+        // at debug so production builds aren't noisy.
+        console.debug("[bsk cdp] detach failed (likely tab already closed)", err);
+      }
+    })().finally(() => {
+      this.detachInFlight.delete(tabId);
+    });
+    this.detachInFlight.set(tabId, detach);
+    await detach;
   }
 
   /** True iff `ensureAttached(tabId)` has succeeded since the last detach. */
@@ -453,6 +475,17 @@ export class ChromiumCdp {
     this.tabOwners.set(tabId, owners);
   }
 
+  /** Release one session's claim, preserving attachments still used by another. */
+  async releaseSessionTab(sessionId: string, tabId: number): Promise<void> {
+    const owners = this.tabOwners.get(tabId);
+    if (!owners?.delete(sessionId) || owners.size > 0) return;
+    this.tabOwners.delete(tabId);
+    // An observation may still be attaching when the tab is returned. Wait
+    // for it so detach cannot miss the attachment or remove a new owner's claim.
+    await this.attachInFlight.get(tabId)?.catch(() => {});
+    if (!this.tabOwners.has(tabId)) await this.detach(tabId);
+  }
+
   /** Subscribe to all CDP events. Returned disposable removes the listener. */
   onEvent(handler: (source: CdpDebuggee, method: string, params: unknown) => void): {
     dispose(): void;
@@ -639,13 +672,23 @@ export class ChromiumCdp {
   }
 
   private async onJavaScriptDialogOpening(tabId: number, params: unknown): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.attachedTabs.has(tabId) && !this.attachInFlight.has(tabId)) return;
     const parsed = parseDialogOpeningParams(params);
     try {
+      if (
+        this.options.shouldAutoAcceptDialog &&
+        !(await this.options.shouldAutoAcceptDialog(tabId))
+      ) {
+        return;
+      }
+      // The tab may have been returned while its current scope was checked.
+      if (!this.attachedTabs.has(tabId) && !this.attachInFlight.has(tabId)) return;
       const handleParams: { accept: boolean; promptText?: string } = { accept: true };
       if (parsed.type === "prompt") {
         handleParams.promptText = parsed.defaultPrompt ?? "";
       }
       await this.api.sendCommand({ tabId }, "Page.handleJavaScriptDialog", handleParams);
+      if (!this.attachedTabs.has(tabId) && !this.attachInFlight.has(tabId)) return;
       const sequence = (this.dialogSequences.get(tabId) ?? 0) + 1;
       this.dialogSequences.set(tabId, sequence);
       this.appendDialog(tabId, {
@@ -835,15 +878,9 @@ export class ChromiumCdp {
 
   /** Detach tabs only when no other live session has claimed them. */
   async detachSession(sessionId: string): Promise<void> {
-    const tabsToDetach: number[] = [];
-    for (const [tabId, owners] of this.tabOwners) {
-      owners.delete(sessionId);
-      if (owners.size === 0) {
-        this.tabOwners.delete(tabId);
-        tabsToDetach.push(tabId);
-      }
-    }
-    await Promise.all(tabsToDetach.map((tabId) => this.detach(tabId)));
+    await Promise.all(
+      Array.from(this.tabOwners.keys(), (tabId) => this.releaseSessionTab(sessionId, tabId)),
+    );
   }
 }
 

apps/extension/src/entrypoints/background.ts

@@ -51,7 +51,12 @@ export default defineBackground(() => {
   const controller = new ConnectionController();
   const transport = new WSTransport({ url: __BSK_DAEMON_WS_URL__ });
   const sessions = new SessionManager();
-  const cdp = new ChromiumCdp();
+  const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(undefined, {
+    shouldAutoAcceptDialog: async (tabId) => {
+      const tab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
+      return sessions.findByWindowId(tab.windowId) !== null;
+    },
+  });
   const sessionsLive = attachSessionsLiveFlag({ manager: sessions });
   let overlayGeneration = 0;
   const controlModes = new Map<string, OverlayMode>();

apps/extension/src/tools/__tests__/dispatcher.test.ts

@@ -747,6 +747,135 @@ describe("ToolDispatcher", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it.each([
+    { tab_id: 7, code: "not_found" },
+    { tab_id: undefined, code: "invalid_params" },
+  ])("keeps hover when tab_return is rejected with $code", async ({ tab_id, code }) => {
+    const sendMessage = vi.fn(async () => undefined);
+    vi.stubGlobal("chrome", {
+      tabs: {
+        sendMessage,
+        get: vi.fn(async () => ({ id: 7, windowId: 100, active: true })),
+        query: vi.fn(async () => [{ id: 7, windowId: 100, active: true }]),
+      },
+    });
+    const { transport, sent, deliver } = fakeTransport();
+    const sessions = new SessionManager({
+      agentWindow: {
+        create: vi.fn(async () => 100),
+        remove: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+        ensureActiveTab: vi.fn(async () => 1),
+      },
+    });
+    await sessions.start("aa11");
+    const cdp = {
+      send: vi.fn(async <T>() => ({}) as T),
+      detachSession: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+      releaseSessionTab: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    };
+    const dispatcher = new ToolDispatcher({
+      transport,
+      sessions,
+      cdp: cdp as unknown as TestDispatcherCdp,
+    });
+    const helpers = dispatcher as unknown as {
+      rememberHover: (sessionId: string, result: unknown) => unknown;
+      setHoverBypass: (sessionId: string, tabId: number, enabled: boolean) => Promise<void>;
+      withHoverReassert: <T>(
+        params: { session_id: string; tab_id?: number },
+        work: () => Promise<T>,
+      ) => Promise<T>;
+    };
+    helpers.rememberHover("aa11", { tab_id: 7, x: 10, y: 20 });
+    await helpers.setHoverBypass("aa11", 7, true);
+    dispatcher.start();
+    deliver(makeRequest("tool.tab_return", { session_id: "aa11", tab_id }));
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(sent).toHaveLength(1));
+
+    expect(sent[0]).toMatchObject({ error: { code } });
+    expect(cdp.releaseSessionTab).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(sendMessage).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(7, expect.objectContaining({ enabled: false }));
+    await helpers.withHoverReassert({ session_id: "aa11", tab_id: 7 }, async () => ({}));
+    expect(cdp.send).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(7, "Input.dispatchMouseEvent", {
+      type: "mouseMoved",
+      x: 10,
+      y: 20,
+    });
+    dispatcher.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("releases the returned tab's hover before moving it and leaves other tabs alone", async () => {
+    const sendMessage = vi.fn(async () => undefined);
+    const move = vi.fn(async () => {
+      expect(sendMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith(7, expect.objectContaining({ enabled: false }));
+      return { id: 7, windowId: 200, index: 4 };
+    });
+    vi.stubGlobal("chrome", {
+      tabs: { sendMessage, move },
+      windows: { get: vi.fn(async () => ({ id: 200 })) },
+    });
+    const { transport, sent, deliver } = fakeTransport();
+    const sessions = new SessionManager({
+      agentWindow: {
+        create: vi.fn(async () => 100),
+        remove: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+        ensureActiveTab: vi.fn(async () => 1),
+      },
+    });
+    const ctx = await sessions.start("aa11");
+    ctx.borrowedTabs.set(7, { tabId: 7, originalWindowId: 200, originalIndex: 4 });
+    const cdp = {
+      send: vi.fn(async <T>() => ({}) as T),
+      detachSession: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+      releaseSessionTab: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    };
+    const dispatcher = new ToolDispatcher({
+      transport,
+      sessions,
+      cdp: cdp as unknown as TestDispatcherCdp,
+    });
+    const helpers = dispatcher as unknown as {
+      rememberHover: (sessionId: string, result: unknown) => unknown;
+      setHoverBypass: (sessionId: string, tabId: number, enabled: boolean) => Promise<void>;
+      withHoverReassert: <T>(
+        params: { session_id: string; tab_id?: number },
+        work: () => Promise<T>,
+      ) => Promise<T>;
+    };
+    for (const [sessionId, tabId] of [
+      ["aa11", 7],
+      ["aa11", 8],
+      ["bb22", 9],
+    ] as const) {
+      helpers.rememberHover(sessionId, { tab_id: tabId, x: 10, y: 20 });
+      await helpers.setHoverBypass(sessionId, tabId, true);
+    }
+    dispatcher.start();
+    deliver(makeRequest("tool.tab_return", { session_id: "aa11", tab_id: 7 }));
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(sent).toHaveLength(1));
+
+    expect(sent[0]).toMatchObject({ result: { tab_id: 7, returned_to_window_id: 200 } });
+    expect(cdp.releaseSessionTab).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith("aa11", 7);
+    await helpers.withHoverReassert({ session_id: "aa11", tab_id: 7 }, async () => ({}));
+    expect(cdp.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    for (const [sessionId, tabId] of [
+      ["aa11", 8],
+      ["bb22", 9],
+    ] as const) {
+      expect(sendMessage).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        tabId,
+        expect.objectContaining({ enabled: false }),
+      );
+      await helpers.withHoverReassert({ session_id: sessionId, tab_id: tabId }, async () => ({}));
+      expect(cdp.send).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(tabId, "Input.dispatchMouseEvent", {
+        type: "mouseMoved",
+        x: 10,
+        y: 20,
+      });
+    }
+    dispatcher.stop();
+  });
+
   it("transfers hover overlay bypass ownership between sessions", async () => {
     vi.stubGlobal("chrome", {
       tabs: {

apps/extension/src/tools/__tests__/session.test.ts

@@ -257,11 +257,15 @@ describe("handleSessionStop with auto-return", () => {
       moves: [],
     };
     const { tabs, windows } = makeApis(state, { moveThrowsFor: new Set([1]) });
+    const cdp = {
+      detachSession: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+      releaseSessionTab: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    };
 
     const res = await handleSessionStop(
       sm,
       { session_id: "aa11" },
-      { tabManagement: { tabs, windows } },
+      { cdp, tabManagement: { tabs, windows } },
     );
     if ("code" in res) throw new Error(`unexpected error: ${JSON.stringify(res)}`);
     expect(res.return_failures?.map((f) => f.tab_id)).toEqual([1]);
@@ -269,6 +273,8 @@ describe("handleSessionStop with auto-return", () => {
     expect(sm.has("aa11")).toBe(true);
     expect(ctx.borrowedTabs.has(1)).toBe(true);
     expect(ctx.borrowedTabs.has(2)).toBe(false);
+    expect(cdp.releaseSessionTab).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith("aa11", 2);
+    expect(cdp.detachSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(aw.remove).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 

apps/extension/src/tools/__tests__/tabs.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { type CdpDebuggerApi, ChromiumCdp } from "@/browser-driver/chromium-cdp";
 import { SessionManager } from "@/session-manager/manager";
+import { handleHover } from "../interaction";
 import {
   type AgentOverlayResetApi,
   type ChromeWindowsApi,
@@ -547,6 +549,148 @@ describe("handleTabBorrow", () => {
 });
 
 describe("handleTabReturn", () => {
+  it.each([
+    "not_found",
+    "cdp_failed",
+  ])("detaches after selector resolution fails with %s", async (code) => {
+    const sm = new SessionManager({ agentWindow: fakeAgentWindow([100]) });
+    const ctx = await sm.start("aa11");
+    ctx.borrowedTabs.set(7, { tabId: 7, originalWindowId: 200, originalIndex: 4 });
+    const state: FakeTabState = {
+      tabs: new Map([[7, { id: 7, windowId: 100 } as chrome.tabs.Tab]]),
+      nextTabId: 50,
+      windowsClosed: new Set(),
+    };
+    const { api } = makeTabMutationApi(state);
+    const { api: windows } = makeWindowsApi(state);
+    const debuggerApi = {
+      attach: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+      detach: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+      sendCommand: vi.fn(async (_target: unknown, method: string) => {
+        if (method === "DOM.getDocument") return { root: { nodeId: 1 } };
+        if (method === "DOM.querySelector") {
+          if (code === "cdp_failed") throw new Error("selector query failed");
+          return { nodeId: 0 };
+        }
+        return {};
+      }),
+      onEvent: { addListener: vi.fn(), removeListener: vi.fn() },
+      onDetach: { addListener: vi.fn(), removeListener: vi.fn() },
+    };
+    const cdp = new ChromiumCdp(debuggerApi as unknown as CdpDebuggerApi);
+
+    const hover = await handleHover(
+      sm,
+      { session_id: "aa11", tab_id: 7, selector: "#missing" },
+      {
+        cdp,
+        tabsApi: { get: api.get, query: vi.fn(async () => []) },
+      },
+    );
+    expect(hover).toMatchObject({ code });
+    expect(cdp.isAttached(7)).toBe(true);
+
+    const returned = await handleTabReturn(
+      sm,
+      { session_id: "aa11", tab_id: 7 },
+      {
+        tabs: api,
+        windows,
+        cdp,
+        agentOverlayReset: { resetAgentOverlays: vi.fn(async () => {}) },
+      },
+    );
+    expect(returned).toMatchObject({ returned_to_window_id: 200 });
+    expect(ctx.borrowedTabs.has(7)).toBe(false);
+    expect(cdp.isAttached(7)).toBe(false);
+    expect(debuggerApi.detach).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith({ tabId: 7 });
+    cdp.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("honours cancellation while preparing a validated return", async () => {
+    const sm = new SessionManager({ agentWindow: fakeAgentWindow([100]) });
+    const ctx = await sm.start("aa11");
+    ctx.borrowedTabs.set(7, { tabId: 7, originalWindowId: 200, originalIndex: 4 });
+    const state: FakeTabState = {
+      tabs: new Map([[7, { id: 7, windowId: 100 } as chrome.tabs.Tab]]),
+      nextTabId: 50,
+      windowsClosed: new Set(),
+    };
+    const { api, spies } = makeTabMutationApi(state);
+    const { api: windows } = makeWindowsApi(state);
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    const beforeReturn = vi.fn(async () => {
+      controller.abort();
+    });
+    const result = await handleTabReturn(
+      sm,
+      { session_id: "aa11", tab_id: 7 },
+      {
+        tabs: api,
+        windows,
+        signal: controller.signal,
+        beforeReturn,
+      },
+    );
+
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ code: "cancelled" });
+    expect(beforeReturn).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith("aa11", 7);
+    expect(spies.move).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(ctx.borrowedTabs.has(7)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    "original",
+    "fallback",
+    "cleanup_failed",
+    "failed",
+    "cancelled",
+  ])("releases CDP only after a successful return (%s)", async (mode) => {
+    const sm = new SessionManager({ agentWindow: fakeAgentWindow([100]) });
+    const ctx = await sm.start("aa11");
+    ctx.borrowedTabs.set(7, { tabId: 7, originalWindowId: 200, originalIndex: 4 });
+    const state: FakeTabState = {
+      tabs: new Map([[7, { id: 7, windowId: 100 } as chrome.tabs.Tab]]),
+      nextTabId: 50,
+      windowsClosed: new Set(),
+    };
+    const { api, spies } = makeTabMutationApi(state);
+    const { api: windowsApi } = makeWindowsApi(state, { lastFocused: 500 });
+    const success = mode !== "failed" && mode !== "cancelled";
+    if (mode === "fallback") spies.move.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("original move failed"));
+    if (mode === "failed") spies.move.mockRejectedValue(new Error("move failed"));
+    let windowAtRelease: number | undefined;
+    const cdp = {
+      releaseSessionTab: vi.fn(async () => {
+        windowAtRelease = state.tabs.get(7)?.windowId;
+        if (mode === "cleanup_failed") throw new Error("debugger release failed");
+      }),
+    };
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    if (mode === "cancelled") controller.abort();
+
+    const result = await handleTabReturn(
+      sm,
+      { session_id: "aa11", tab_id: 7 },
+      {
+        tabs: api,
+        windows: windowsApi,
+        cdp,
+        signal: controller.signal,
+        agentOverlayReset: { resetAgentOverlays: vi.fn(async () => {}) },
+      },
+    );
+
+    expect("code" in result).toBe(!success);
+    expect(ctx.borrowedTabs.has(7)).toBe(!success);
+    expect(cdp.releaseSessionTab).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(success ? 1 : 0);
+    if (success) {
+      expect(cdp.releaseSessionTab).toHaveBeenCalledWith("aa11", 7);
+      expect(windowAtRelease).toBe(mode === "fallback" ? 500 : 200);
+      expect(spies.move).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(mode === "fallback" ? 2 : 1);
+    }
+  });
+
   it("returns the tab to its original window/index and clears borrowedTabs", async () => {
     const sm = new SessionManager({ agentWindow: fakeAgentWindow([100]) });
     const ctx = await sm.start("aa11");

apps/extension/src/tools/dispatcher.ts

@@ -345,7 +345,11 @@ export class ToolDispatcher {
         return result;
       }
       case "tool.tab_return":
-        return handleTabReturn(this.sessions, req.params as TabReturnParams, { signal });
+        return handleTabReturn(this.sessions, req.params as TabReturnParams, {
+          signal,
+          cdp: this.cdp,
+          beforeReturn: (sessionId, tabId) => this.releaseHoverLatch(sessionId, tabId),
+        });
       case "tool.window_resize":
         return handleWindowResize(
           this.sessions,

apps/extension/src/tools/interaction.ts

@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ export async function resolveBackendNode(
   }
   // selector path
   try {
+    // Selector lookup itself attaches CDP, even when no element is found.
+    cdp.trackSessionTab?.(ctx.sessionId, target.tabId);
     const doc = await cdp.send<{ root?: { nodeId?: number } }>(target.tabId, "DOM.getDocument", {
       depth: 0,
     });

apps/extension/src/tools/session.ts

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { type SessionManager, SessionStartCleanupError } from "@/session-manager
 import type { RpcError } from "@/transport/types";
 import { rpcError } from "./errors";
 import { clearRecordingForSession } from "./record";
-import type { ChromeTabsApi } from "./shared";
+import type { CdpRunner, ChromeTabsApi } from "./shared";
 import { isRpcError } from "./shared";
 import { returnBorrowedTab, type TabManagementDeps } from "./tabs";
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export interface SessionStopResult {
 
 export interface SessionStopDeps {
   signal?: AbortSignal;
-  cdp?: {
+  cdp?: Pick<CdpRunner, "releaseSessionTab"> & {
     detachSession(sessionId: string): Promise<void>;
   };
   /**
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ export async function handleSessionStop(
     try {
       const tabManagement = {
         ...(deps.tabManagement ?? {}),
+        cdp: deps.cdp ?? deps.tabManagement?.cdp,
         signal: deps.signal,
         isAgentWindowId:
           deps.tabManagement?.isAgentWindowId ??

apps/extension/src/tools/shared.ts

@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ export interface CdpRunner {
   getFrameGraph?(tabId: number): Promise<CdpFrameGraph>;
   ensureAttachedToUrl?(tabId: number, expectedUrl: string | undefined): Promise<void>;
   trackSessionTab?(sessionId: string, tabId: number): void;
+  releaseSessionTab?(sessionId: string, tabId: number): Promise<void>;
   onEvent?(handler: (source: CdpDebuggee, method: string, params: unknown) => void): {
     dispose(): void;
   };

apps/extension/src/tools/tabs.ts

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {
 import type { SessionContext, SessionManager } from "@/session-manager/manager";
 import type { RpcError } from "@/transport/types";
 import { rpcError } from "./errors";
-import { isRpcError, lookupSession } from "./shared";
+import { type CdpRunner, isRpcError, lookupSession } from "./shared";
 
 export type TabScope = "user" | "agent" | "all";
 
@@ -287,6 +287,10 @@ export interface TabManagementDeps {
   approveBorrow?: BorrowConfirmationApprover;
   /** Clears Agent-scoped overlays after a borrowed tab is returned. */
   agentOverlayReset?: AgentOverlayResetApi;
+  /** Releases this session's CDP claim after a borrowed tab is returned. */
+  cdp?: Pick<CdpRunner, "releaseSessionTab">;
+  /** Runs after tab_return validation, before moving the borrowed tab. */
+  beforeReturn?: (sessionId: string, tabId: number) => Promise<void>;
   /**
    * Reports whether `windowId` is any live session's Agent Window.
    * `tab_return`'s fallback window picker uses this to avoid moving a
@@ -945,16 +949,22 @@ async function cleanupUnusedFallbackWindow(
   }
 }
 
-function resetAgentOverlaysInReturnedTab(
+async function releaseReturnedTabState(
   ctx: SessionContext,
   tabId: number,
   deps: TabManagementDeps,
-): void {
+): Promise<void> {
   void getAgentOverlayResetApi(deps)
     .resetAgentOverlays(tabId, ctx.sessionId)
     .catch((err) => {
       console.debug("[bsk tab_return] agent overlay reset failed", err);
     });
+  try {
+    await deps.cdp?.releaseSessionTab?.(ctx.sessionId, tabId);
+  } catch (err) {
+    // A successful move must not be retried because debugger cleanup failed.
+    console.debug("[bsk tab_return] CDP release failed", err);
+  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1028,7 +1038,7 @@ export async function returnBorrowedTab(
     });
     const movedTab = Array.isArray(moved) ? moved[0] : moved;
     const finalIndex = typeof movedTab?.index === "number" ? movedTab.index : targetIndex;
-    resetAgentOverlaysInReturnedTab(ctx, tabId, deps);
+    await releaseReturnedTabState(ctx, tabId, deps);
     return {
       tabId,
       toWindowId: targetWindowId,
@@ -1070,7 +1080,7 @@ export async function returnBorrowedTab(
         });
         const movedTab = Array.isArray(moved) ? moved[0] : moved;
         const finalIndex = typeof movedTab?.index === "number" ? movedTab.index : target.index;
-        resetAgentOverlaysInReturnedTab(ctx, tabId, deps);
+        await releaseReturnedTabState(ctx, tabId, deps);
         return {
           tabId,
           toWindowId: target.windowId,
@@ -1116,6 +1126,7 @@ export async function handleTabReturn(
       message: `tab_return: tab ${params.tab_id} is not borrowed by this session`,
     };
   }
+  await deps.beforeReturn?.(ctx.sessionId, params.tab_id);
   const outcome = await returnBorrowedTab(ctx, params.tab_id, {
     ...deps,
     isAgentWindowId:

apps/extension/src/tools/vom/__tests__/capture.test.ts

@@ -215,29 +215,21 @@ function makeCdp(snapshot: unknown) {
       if (method === "Runtime.evaluate") {
         return {
           result: {
-            deepSerializedValue: {
-              type: "array",
-              value: [
+            value: {
+              controls: [
                 {
-                  type: "array",
-                  value: [
-                    { type: "node", value: { backendNodeId: 13 } },
-                    {
-                      type: "string",
-                      value: JSON.stringify({
-                        state: "filled",
-                        sensitive: true,
-                        placeholder: "secret",
-                      }),
-                    },
-                  ],
+                  state: "filled",
+                  sensitive: true,
+                  defaultValue: "hunter2",
+                  value: "hunter2",
+                  placeholder: "secret",
                 },
               ],
+              childFrames: [],
             },
           },
         };
       }
-      if (method === "Runtime.releaseObjectGroup") return {};
       throw new Error(`unexpected ${method}`);
     }) as unknown as <T>(tabId: number, method: string, params?: object) => Promise<T>,
   };
@@ -281,11 +273,8 @@ describe("captureViewModel", () => {
     expect(cdp.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       4,
       "Runtime.evaluate",
-      expect.objectContaining({
-        serializationOptions: expect.objectContaining({ serialization: "deep" }),
-      }),
+      expect.objectContaining({ returnByValue: true }),
     );
-    expect(cdp.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(4, "Runtime.releaseObjectGroup", expect.anything());
     expect(cdp.send).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(4, "DOM.resolveNode", expect.anything());
     expect(cdp.send).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(4, "Runtime.callFunctionOn", expect.anything());
   });

apps/extension/src/tools/vom/__tests__/form-state.test.ts

@@ -1,270 +0,0 @@
-import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-import { type CdpRunner, cdpRunnerForTarget } from "../../shared";
-import { captureViewModel } from "../capture";
-
-interface Control {
-  id: number;
-  value: string;
-  type?: string;
-}
-
-function snapshot(groups: Control[][]) {
-  const strings: string[] = [];
-  const str = (value: string) => {
-    let index = strings.indexOf(value);
-    if (index < 0) index = strings.push(value) - 1;
-    return index;
-  };
-  const documents = groups.map((controls, groupIndex) => ({
-    frameId: `frame-${groupIndex}`,
-    nodes: {
-      parentIndex: [-1, 0, ...controls.map(() => 1)],
-      nodeName: [str("html"), str("body"), ...controls.map(() => str("input"))],
-      backendNodeId: [8000 + groupIndex * 2, 8001 + groupIndex * 2, ...controls.map((c) => c.id)],
-      attributes: [
-        [],
-        [],
-        ...controls.map((c) => [
-          str("type"),
-          str(c.type ?? "text"),
-          str("placeholder"),
-          str("snapshot placeholder"),
-        ]),
-      ],
-      inputValue: {
-        index: controls.map((_, i) => i + 2),
-        value: controls.map((c) => str(c.value)),
-      },
-      contentDocumentIndex: { index: [] as number[], value: [] as number[] },
-    },
-  }));
-  const root = documents[0].nodes;
-  for (let i = 1; i < documents.length; i++) {
-    root.contentDocumentIndex.index.push(root.backendNodeId.length);
-    root.contentDocumentIndex.value.push(i);
-    root.parentIndex.push(1);
-    root.nodeName.push(str("iframe"));
-    root.backendNodeId.push(9000 + i);
-    root.attributes.push([]);
-  }
-  return { strings, documents };
-}
-
-function state(value: string) {
-  return {
-    value,
-    defaultValue: "",
-    placeholder: "live placeholder",
-    state: value ? "filled" : "empty",
-    sensitive: false,
-  };
-}
-
-function reply(entries: Array<[number, unknown]>) {
-  return {
-    result: {
-      deepSerializedValue: {
-        type: "array",
-        value: entries.map(([backendNodeId, fields]) => ({
-          type: "array",
-          value: [
-            { type: "node", value: { backendNodeId } },
-            { type: "string", value: JSON.stringify(fields) },
-          ],
-        })),
-      },
-    },
-  };
-}
-
-function fakeCdp(groups: Control[][], evaluate: (params: Record<string, unknown>) => unknown) {
-  const snap = snapshot(groups);
-  const send = vi.fn(async (_tabId: number, method: string, params?: object) => {
-    if (method === "DOMSnapshot.captureSnapshot") return snap;
-    if (method === "Runtime.evaluate") return evaluate(params as Record<string, unknown>);
-    return {};
-  });
-  return { send, cdp: { send: send as CdpRunner["send"] } };
-}
-
-describe("form state identity", () => {
-  it("matches reordered controls by identity and preserves controls missing from the batch", async () => {
-    // The snapshot includes a shadow input. The runtime query skips it,
-    // encounters a new input, and sees the remaining inputs in a new order.
-    const { cdp } = fakeCdp(
-      [
-        [
-          { id: 10, value: "" },
-          { id: 11, value: "old email" },
-          { id: 12, value: "old city" },
-        ],
-      ],
-      () =>
-        reply([
-          [99, state("new control")],
-          [12, state("上海")],
-          [11, state("alice@example.com")],
-        ]),
-    );
-    const captured = await captureViewModel(cdp, 7);
-    expect(captured.nodes.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 10)).toMatchObject({
-      formValue: "",
-      formState: "empty",
-      formPlaceholder: "snapshot placeholder",
-    });
-    expect(captured.nodes.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 11)).toMatchObject({
-      formValue: "alice@example.com",
-    });
-    expect(captured.nodes.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 12)).toMatchObject({ formValue: "上海" });
-    expect(captured.nodes.some((n) => n.backendNodeId === 99)).toBe(false);
-  });
-
-  it("does not shift state between frames when one frame is absent from the runtime batch", async () => {
-    const { cdp } = fakeCdp(
-      [
-        [],
-        [{ id: 11, value: "inaccessible frame" }],
-        [{ id: 21, value: "old second" }],
-        [{ id: 31, value: "old third" }],
-      ],
-      () =>
-        reply([
-          [31, state("third frame")],
-          [21, state("second frame")],
-        ]),
-    );
-    const captured = await captureViewModel(cdp, 7);
-    const controls = [...captured.iframeNodes.values()].flat();
-    expect(controls.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 11)?.formValue).toBe("inaccessible frame");
-    expect(controls.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 21)?.formValue).toBe("second frame");
-    expect(controls.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 31)?.formValue).toBe("third frame");
-  });
-
-  it("keeps identical backend ids in different OOPIF targets separate", async () => {
-    const sendToTarget = vi.fn(async (target, method) => {
-      if (method === "DOMSnapshot.captureSnapshot") return snapshot([[{ id: 11, value: "old" }]]);
-      if (method === "Runtime.evaluate") return reply([[11, state(target.sessionId)]]);
-      return {};
-    });
-    const send = vi.fn(async () => {
-      throw new Error("unexpected top-level target");
-    });
-    const cdp = { send, sendToTarget } as unknown as CdpRunner;
-    for (const sessionId of ["left-frame", "right-frame"]) {
-      const captured = await captureViewModel(cdpRunnerForTarget(cdp, { tabId: 7, sessionId }), 7);
-      expect(captured.nodes.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 11)?.formValue).toBe(sessionId);
-      expect(sendToTarget).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        { tabId: 7, sessionId },
-        "Runtime.releaseObjectGroup",
-        expect.anything(),
-      );
-    }
-    expect(send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-  });
-
-  it.each([
-    "unsupported",
-    "legacy",
-    "malformed",
-    "invalid-state",
-  ])("preserves snapshot data when enrichment is %s", async (mode) => {
-    const { cdp, send } = fakeCdp([[{ id: 11, value: "snapshot value" }]], () => {
-      if (mode === "unsupported") throw new Error("serialization unsupported");
-      if (mode === "legacy") return { result: { value: { controls: [state("wrong value")] } } };
-      const result = reply([
-        [11, mode === "invalid-state" ? { value: "wrong value" } : state("wrong value")],
-      ]);
-      if (mode === "malformed")
-        result.result.deepSerializedValue.value[0].value[1].value = "not json";
-      return result;
-    });
-    const captured = await captureViewModel(cdp, 7);
-    expect(captured.nodes.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 11)).toMatchObject({
-      formValue: "snapshot value",
-      formPlaceholder: "snapshot placeholder",
-    });
-    expect(send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(7, "Runtime.releaseObjectGroup", expect.anything());
-  });
-
-  it("releases the batch's remote objects when capture is cancelled", async () => {
-    const controller = new AbortController();
-    const { cdp, send } = fakeCdp([[{ id: 11, value: "old" }]], () => {
-      controller.abort();
-      return reply([[11, state("new")]]);
-    });
-    await expect(captureViewModel(cdp, 7, { signal: controller.signal })).rejects.toMatchObject({
-      name: "AbortError",
-    });
-    expect(send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(7, "Runtime.releaseObjectGroup", expect.anything());
-  });
-
-  it("skips entries without node identity while still applying valid entries", async () => {
-    const { cdp } = fakeCdp(
-      [
-        [
-          { id: 11, value: "snapshot value" },
-          { id: 12, value: "old value" },
-        ],
-      ],
-      () => {
-        const result = reply([
-          [11, state("wrong value")],
-          [12, state("live value")],
-        ]);
-        const element = result.result.deepSerializedValue.value[0].value[0];
-        delete (element.value as { backendNodeId?: number }).backendNodeId;
-        return result;
-      },
-    );
-    const captured = await captureViewModel(cdp, 7);
-    expect(captured.nodes.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 11)?.formValue).toBe("snapshot value");
-    expect(captured.nodes.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 12)?.formValue).toBe("live value");
-  });
-
-  it.each([
-    "password",
-    "text",
-  ])("redacts a sensitive %s control after identity matching", async (type) => {
-    const { cdp } = fakeCdp([[{ id: 11, value: "secret", type }]], () =>
-      reply([[11, { ...state("secret"), sensitive: true }]]),
-    );
-    const captured = await captureViewModel(cdp, 7);
-    const control = captured.nodes.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 11);
-    expect(control?.formState).toBe("filled");
-    expect(control?.formValue).toBeUndefined();
-    expect(control?.formDefaultValue).toBeUndefined();
-    expect(control?.attrs.value).toBeUndefined();
-  });
-
-  it("keeps one bounded batch without per-control CDP queries", async () => {
-    const controls = Array.from({ length: 251 }, (_, i) => ({ id: i + 1, value: "old" }));
-    const elements = controls.map((c) => ({
-      backendNodeId: c.id,
-      tagName: "INPUT",
-      type: "text",
-      value: `live ${c.id}`,
-      defaultValue: "",
-      placeholder: "",
-    }));
-    const { cdp, send } = fakeCdp([controls], (params) => {
-      const doc = {
-        querySelectorAll: (selector: string) =>
-          selector === "input,textarea,select" ? elements : [],
-      };
-      const entries = new Function("document", `return ${params.expression}`)(doc) as Array<
-        [{ backendNodeId: number }, string]
-      >;
-      expect(entries).toHaveLength(250);
-      return reply(entries.map(([element, json]) => [element.backendNodeId, JSON.parse(json)]));
-    });
-    const captured = await captureViewModel(cdp, 7);
-    expect(captured.nodes.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 250)?.formValue).toBe("live 250");
-    expect(captured.nodes.find((n) => n.backendNodeId === 251)?.formValue).toBe("old");
-    expect(send.mock.calls.filter(([, method]) => method === "Runtime.evaluate")).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(
-      send.mock.calls.filter(([, method]) => method === "Runtime.releaseObjectGroup"),
-    ).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(send).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(7, "DOM.resolveNode", expect.anything());
-    expect(send).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(7, "Runtime.callFunctionOn", expect.anything());
-  });
-});

apps/extension/src/tools/vom/capture.ts

@@ -190,9 +190,9 @@ interface CapturedFormState {
   sensitive?: boolean;
 }
 
-interface DeepSerializedValue {
-  type: string;
-  value?: unknown;
+interface CapturedFrameFormState {
+  controls: CapturedFormState[];
+  childFrames: CapturedFrameFormState[];
 }
 
 function formStateBatchExpression(maxControls: number): string {
@@ -215,63 +215,43 @@ function formStateBatchExpression(maxControls: number): string {
         ...(sensitive ? {} : { value: rawValue, defaultValue }),
       };
     };
-    const controls = [];
     const collect = (doc) => {
+      const controls = [];
       for (const el of Array.from(doc.querySelectorAll(controlSelector))) {
         if (remaining <= 0) break;
-        // Deep serialization supplies the node's backend id. Keep the
-        // state as JSON so decoding needs no general-purpose V8 deserializer.
-        controls.push([el, JSON.stringify(controlState(el))]);
+        controls.push(controlState(el));
         remaining -= 1;
       }
+      const childFrames = [];
       for (const frame of Array.from(doc.querySelectorAll("iframe"))) {
-        if (remaining <= 0) break;
         let childDoc = null;
         try { childDoc = frame.contentDocument; } catch { childDoc = null; }
-        if (childDoc) collect(childDoc);
+        childFrames.push(childDoc && remaining > 0 ? collect(childDoc) : { controls: [], childFrames: [] });
       }
+      return { controls, childFrames };
     };
-    collect(document);
-    return controls;
+    return collect(document);
   })()`;
 }
 
-function formStatesByBackendId(result: RuntimeEvaluateReply): Map<number, CapturedFormState> {
-  const states = new Map<number, CapturedFormState>();
-  const serialized = result.result?.deepSerializedValue;
-  if (serialized?.type !== "array" || !Array.isArray(serialized.value)) return states;
-  for (const entry of serialized.value as DeepSerializedValue[]) {
-    if (entry?.type !== "array" || !Array.isArray(entry.value)) continue;
-    const [element, json] = entry.value as DeepSerializedValue[];
-    if (element?.type !== "node" || json?.type !== "string" || typeof json.value !== "string") {
-      continue;
-    }
-    const backendNodeId = (element.value as { backendNodeId?: number } | undefined)?.backendNodeId;
-    if (typeof backendNodeId !== "number" || !Number.isSafeInteger(backendNodeId)) continue;
-    try {
-      const state = JSON.parse(json.value) as CapturedFormState | null;
-      if (
-        !state ||
-        !["empty", "filled", "default"].includes(state.state ?? "") ||
-        typeof state.sensitive !== "boolean" ||
-        typeof state.placeholder !== "string" ||
-        (!state.sensitive &&
-          (typeof state.value !== "string" || typeof state.defaultValue !== "string"))
-      ) {
-        continue;
-      }
-      states.set(backendNodeId, state);
-    } catch {
-      // A malformed entry must not overwrite the snapshot's own state.
-    }
+function flattenFrameFormStates(
+  frame: CapturedFrameFormState | undefined,
+  out: CapturedFormState[][] = [],
+): CapturedFormState[][] {
+  if (!frame) return out;
+  out.push(Array.isArray(frame.controls) ? frame.controls : []);
+  for (const child of Array.isArray(frame.childFrames) ? frame.childFrames : []) {
+    flattenFrameFormStates(child, out);
   }
-  return states;
+  return out;
 }
 
-function applyFormStates(nodes: CapturedNode[], states: Map<number, CapturedFormState>): void {
+function applyFormStates(nodes: CapturedNode[], states: CapturedFormState[]): void {
+  let index = 0;
   for (const node of nodes) {
     if (!isFormControlTag(node.tag)) continue;
-    const state = states.get(node.backendNodeId);
+    const state = states[index];
+    index += 1;
     if (!state) continue;
     node.formState = state.state;
     node.formPlaceholder = state.placeholder ?? "";
@@ -296,37 +276,26 @@ async function enrichFormControlStates(
     nodes.some((node) => isFormControlTag(node.tag)),
   );
   if (!hasControls) return;
-  const objectGroup = `bsk-vom-forms-${crypto.randomUUID()}`;
   try {
     throwIfAborted(signal);
     const result = await cdp.send<RuntimeEvaluateReply>(tabId, "Runtime.evaluate", {
       expression: formStateBatchExpression(MAX_FORM_ENRICH_CONTROLS),
-      objectGroup,
-      serializationOptions: {
-        serialization: "deep",
-        maxDepth: 3,
-        additionalParameters: { maxNodeDepth: 0, includeShadowTree: "none" },
-      },
+      returnByValue: true,
     });
     throwIfAborted(signal);
-    // Backend ids are scoped to this capture's CDP target. OOPIF targets
-    // use their own captureViewModel call and never share this lookup.
-    const states = formStatesByBackendId(result);
-    for (const nodes of frameNodeGroups) {
-      applyFormStates(nodes, states);
+    const frameStates = flattenFrameFormStates(runtimeValue<CapturedFrameFormState>(result));
+    for (let i = 0; i < frameNodeGroups.length; i += 1) {
+      applyFormStates(frameNodeGroups[i], frameStates[i] ?? []);
     }
   } catch (error) {
     if (isAbortError(error)) throw error;
     // Best-effort enrichment. DOMSnapshot/AX data still carries the nodes.
-  } finally {
-    await cdp.send(tabId, "Runtime.releaseObjectGroup", { objectGroup }).catch(() => undefined);
   }
 }
 
 interface RuntimeEvaluateReply {
   result?: {
     value?: unknown;
-    deepSerializedValue?: DeepSerializedValue;
   };
 }