[BUG][Cowork] Escape on the Settings window auto-denies the pending tool permission dialog behind it

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Environment

• Claude Desktop app, Cowork session (cloud)
• OS: macOS 26.6 (25G72)
• App version: Claude 1.28929.0 (d1a6bc), built 2026-08-11

Steps to reproduce

1. Start a Cowork task that triggers a tool permission request (here: an MCP tool call

requiring approval).

1. While the permission dialog is pending, open the Settings window.
2. Press Escape to dismiss Settings.

Actual behavior

Settings closes, and the pending permission request behind it is denied at the same time,
with no intentional answer from me. The agent receives a denial and has to re-request.
Reproduced twice in a row in the same session.

Expected behavior

Escape should only dismiss the frontmost window (Settings). A pending permission dialog
should stay open and keep waiting for user input, independent of any other window's lifecycle.

Related

Same root cause as #63597 ([Cowork] computer-use cu-esc handler kills session with pending
permission dialog), which is closed and locked — but the Settings window path still
reproduces on 1.28929.0. Also related: #72527 (Escape denies a confirmation while the
/status window is open) in the CLI TUI, still open.

This looks like a general pattern: a global Escape handler resolves the pending permission
as deny instead of being scoped to the focused window.

What Should Happen?

Escape should only dismiss the frontmost window (Settings). A pending permission dialog
should stay open and keep waiting for user input, independent of any other window's lifecycle.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Start a Cowork task that triggers a tool permission request (here: an MCP tool call

requiring approval).

1. While the permission dialog is pending, open the Settings window.
2. Press Escape to dismiss Settings.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude 1.28929.0 (d1a6bc) 2026-08-11T18:58:06.000Z

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_