diff --git a/tests/tools/test_browser_ssrf_local.py b/tests/tools/test_browser_ssrf_local.py
index 44d3b8ea1..27b6e3933 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_browser_ssrf_local.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_browser_ssrf_local.py
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
-"""Tests that browser_navigate SSRF checks respect the allow_private_urls setting.
+"""Tests that browser_navigate SSRF checks respect local-backend mode and
+the allow_private_urls setting.
 
-When ``browser.allow_private_urls`` is ``False`` (default), private/internal
-addresses are blocked.  When set to ``True``, they are allowed — useful for
-local development, LAN access, and Hermes self-testing.
+Local backends (Camofox, headless Chromium without a cloud provider) skip
+SSRF checks entirely — the agent already has full local-network access via
+the terminal tool.
+
+Cloud backends (Browserbase, BrowserUse) enforce SSRF by default.  Users
+can opt out for cloud mode via ``browser.allow_private_urls: true``.
 """
 
 import json
@@ -47,8 +51,11 @@ class TestPreNavigationSsrf:
             lambda *a, **kw: _make_browser_result(),
         )
 
-    def test_blocks_private_url_by_default(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
-        """SSRF protection is on when allow_private_urls is not set (False)."""
+    # -- Cloud mode: SSRF active -----------------------------------------------
+
+    def test_cloud_blocks_private_url_by_default(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
+        """SSRF protection blocks private URLs in cloud mode."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_local_backend", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_allow_private_urls", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_safe_url", lambda url: False)
 
@@ -57,27 +64,19 @@ class TestPreNavigationSsrf:
         assert result["success"] is False
         assert "private or internal address" in result["error"]
 
-    def test_blocks_private_url_when_setting_false(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
-        """SSRF protection is on when allow_private_urls is explicitly False."""
-        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_allow_private_urls", lambda: False)
-        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_safe_url", lambda url: False)
-
-        result = json.loads(browser_tool.browser_navigate(self.PRIVATE_URL))
-
-        assert result["success"] is False
-
-    def test_allows_private_url_when_setting_true(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
-        """Private URLs are allowed when allow_private_urls is True."""
+    def test_cloud_allows_private_url_when_setting_true(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
+        """Private URLs pass in cloud mode when allow_private_urls is True."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_local_backend", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_allow_private_urls", lambda: True)
-        # _is_safe_url would block this, but the setting overrides it
         monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_safe_url", lambda url: False)
 
         result = json.loads(browser_tool.browser_navigate(self.PRIVATE_URL))
 
         assert result["success"] is True
 
-    def test_allows_public_url_regardless_of_setting(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
-        """Public URLs always pass regardless of the allow_private_urls setting."""
+    def test_cloud_allows_public_url(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
+        """Public URLs always pass in cloud mode."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_local_backend", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_allow_private_urls", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_safe_url", lambda url: True)
 
@@ -85,6 +84,56 @@ class TestPreNavigationSsrf:
 
         assert result["success"] is True
 
+    # -- Local mode: SSRF skipped ----------------------------------------------
+
+    def test_local_allows_private_url(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
+        """Local backends skip SSRF — private URLs are always allowed."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_local_backend", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_allow_private_urls", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_safe_url", lambda url: False)
+
+        result = json.loads(browser_tool.browser_navigate(self.PRIVATE_URL))
+
+        assert result["success"] is True
+
+    def test_local_allows_public_url(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
+        """Local backends pass public URLs too (sanity check)."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_local_backend", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_allow_private_urls", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_safe_url", lambda url: True)
+
+        result = json.loads(browser_tool.browser_navigate("https://example.com"))
+
+        assert result["success"] is True
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# _is_local_backend() unit tests
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestIsLocalBackend:
+    def test_camofox_is_local(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Camofox mode counts as a local backend."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_camofox_mode", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_get_cloud_provider", lambda: "anything")
+
+        assert browser_tool._is_local_backend() is True
+
+    def test_no_cloud_provider_is_local(self, monkeypatch):
+        """No cloud provider configured → local backend."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_camofox_mode", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_get_cloud_provider", lambda: None)
+
+        assert browser_tool._is_local_backend() is True
+
+    def test_cloud_provider_is_not_local(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Cloud provider configured and not Camofox → NOT local."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_camofox_mode", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_get_cloud_provider", lambda: "bb")
+
+        assert browser_tool._is_local_backend() is False
+
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Post-redirect SSRF check
@@ -112,8 +161,11 @@ class TestPostRedirectSsrf:
             },
         )
 
-    def test_blocks_redirect_to_private_by_default(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
-        """Redirects to private addresses are blocked when setting is False."""
+    # -- Cloud mode: redirect SSRF active --------------------------------------
+
+    def test_cloud_blocks_redirect_to_private(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
+        """Redirects to private addresses are blocked in cloud mode."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_local_backend", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_allow_private_urls", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(
             browser_tool, "_is_safe_url", lambda url: "192.168" not in url,
@@ -129,8 +181,9 @@ class TestPostRedirectSsrf:
         assert result["success"] is False
         assert "redirect landed on a private/internal address" in result["error"]
 
-    def test_allows_redirect_to_private_when_setting_true(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
-        """Redirects to private addresses are allowed when setting is True."""
+    def test_cloud_allows_redirect_to_private_when_setting_true(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
+        """Redirects to private addresses pass in cloud mode with allow_private_urls."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_local_backend", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_allow_private_urls", lambda: True)
         monkeypatch.setattr(
             browser_tool, "_is_safe_url", lambda url: "192.168" not in url,
@@ -146,9 +199,30 @@ class TestPostRedirectSsrf:
         assert result["success"] is True
         assert result["url"] == self.PRIVATE_FINAL_URL
 
-    def test_allows_redirect_to_public_regardless_of_setting(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
-        """Redirects to public addresses always pass."""
+    # -- Local mode: redirect SSRF skipped -------------------------------------
+
+    def test_local_allows_redirect_to_private(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
+        """Redirects to private addresses pass in local mode."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_local_backend", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_allow_private_urls", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            browser_tool, "_is_safe_url", lambda url: "192.168" not in url,
+        )
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            browser_tool,
+            "_run_browser_command",
+            lambda *a, **kw: _make_browser_result(url=self.PRIVATE_FINAL_URL),
+        )
+
+        result = json.loads(browser_tool.browser_navigate(self.PUBLIC_URL))
+
+        assert result["success"] is True
+        assert result["url"] == self.PRIVATE_FINAL_URL
+
+    def test_cloud_allows_redirect_to_public(self, monkeypatch, _common_patches):
+        """Redirects to public addresses always pass (cloud mode)."""
         final = "https://example.com/final"
+        monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_local_backend", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_allow_private_urls", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(browser_tool, "_is_safe_url", lambda url: True)
         monkeypatch.setattr(
diff --git a/tools/browser_tool.py b/tools/browser_tool.py
index 1861152e3..441dc21f6 100644
--- a/tools/browser_tool.py
+++ b/tools/browser_tool.py
@@ -267,6 +267,19 @@ def _get_cloud_provider() -> Optional[CloudBrowserProvider]:
     return _cached_cloud_provider
 
 
+def _is_local_backend() -> bool:
+    """Return True when the browser runs locally (no cloud provider).
+
+    SSRF protection is only meaningful for cloud backends (Browserbase,
+    BrowserUse) where the agent could reach internal resources on a remote
+    machine.  For local backends — Camofox, or the built-in headless
+    Chromium without a cloud provider — the user already has full terminal
+    and network access on the same machine, so the check adds no security
+    value.
+    """
+    return _is_camofox_mode() or _get_cloud_provider() is None
+
+
 def _allow_private_urls() -> bool:
     """Return whether the browser is allowed to navigate to private/internal addresses.
 
@@ -1066,9 +1079,11 @@ def browser_navigate(url: str, task_id: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
         JSON string with navigation result (includes stealth features info on first nav)
     """
     # SSRF protection — block private/internal addresses before navigating.
-    # Can be opted out via ``browser.allow_private_urls`` in config for local
-    # development or LAN access use cases.
-    if not _allow_private_urls() and not _is_safe_url(url):
+    # Skipped for local backends (Camofox, headless Chromium without a cloud
+    # provider) because the agent already has full local network access via
+    # the terminal tool.  Can also be opted out for cloud mode via
+    # ``browser.allow_private_urls`` in config.
+    if not _is_local_backend() and not _allow_private_urls() and not _is_safe_url(url):
         return json.dumps({
             "success": False,
             "error": "Blocked: URL targets a private or internal address",
@@ -1110,7 +1125,8 @@ def browser_navigate(url: str, task_id: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
         # Post-redirect SSRF check — if the browser followed a redirect to a
         # private/internal address, block the result so the model can't read
         # internal content via subsequent browser_snapshot calls.
-        if not _allow_private_urls() and final_url and final_url != url and not _is_safe_url(final_url):
+        # Skipped for local backends (same rationale as the pre-nav check).
+        if not _is_local_backend() and not _allow_private_urls() and final_url and final_url != url and not _is_safe_url(final_url):
             # Navigate away to a blank page to prevent snapshot leaks
             _run_browser_command(effective_task_id, "open", ["about:blank"], timeout=10)
             return json.dumps({