diff --git a/.github/workflows/qf-s-benchmark.lock.yml b/.github/workflows/qf-s-benchmark.lock.yml
index 8470aa0a4..1067565c1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/qf-s-benchmark.lock.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/qf-s-benchmark.lock.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-# gh-aw-metadata: {"schema_version":"v3","frontmatter_hash":"e5e5c332eb206c2bde9e7e5cb0bb1babe7b1c50e0437a00b4093ddb8b5ab80cf","compiler_version":"v0.67.4","strict":true,"agent_id":"copilot"}
-# gh-aw-manifest: {"version":1,"secrets":["COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN","GH_AW_GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN","GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN","GITHUB_TOKEN"],"actions":[{"repo":"actions/checkout","sha":"de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd","version":"v6.0.2"},{"repo":"actions/download-artifact","sha":"3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c","version":"v8.0.1"},{"repo":"actions/github-script","sha":"ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd","version":"v8"},{"repo":"actions/upload-artifact","sha":"bbbca2ddaa5d8feaa63e36b76fdaad77386f024f","version":"v7"},{"repo":"github/gh-aw-actions/setup","sha":"v0.67.4","version":"v0.67.4"}]}
+# gh-aw-metadata: {"schema_version":"v3","frontmatter_hash":"d49708d2a52ea8ed02a11700663bca11b8d1a61414630351523fef60d589ae56","compiler_version":"v0.68.1","strict":true,"agent_id":"copilot"}
+# gh-aw-manifest: {"version":1,"secrets":["COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN","GH_AW_GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN","GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN","GITHUB_TOKEN"],"actions":[{"repo":"actions/checkout","sha":"de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd","version":"v6.0.2"},{"repo":"actions/download-artifact","sha":"3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c","version":"v8.0.1"},{"repo":"actions/github-script","sha":"3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3","version":"v9"},{"repo":"actions/upload-artifact","sha":"bbbca2ddaa5d8feaa63e36b76fdaad77386f024f","version":"v7"},{"repo":"github/gh-aw-actions/setup","sha":"v0.68.1","version":"v0.68.1"}]}
 #    ___                   _   _      
 #   / _ \                 | | (_)     
 #  | |_| | __ _  ___ _ __ | |_ _  ___ 
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # \  /\  / (_) | | | | ( | | | | (_) \ V  V /\__ \
 #  \/  \/ \___/|_| |_|\_\|_| |_|\___/ \_/\_/ |___/
 #
-# This file was automatically generated by gh-aw (v0.67.4). DO NOT EDIT.
+# This file was automatically generated by gh-aw (v0.68.1). DO NOT EDIT.
 #
 # To update this file, edit the corresponding .md file and run:
 #   gh aw compile
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@
 # Custom actions used:
 #   - actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
 #   - actions/download-artifact@3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c # v8.0.1
-#   - actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+#   - actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
 #   - actions/upload-artifact@bbbca2ddaa5d8feaa63e36b76fdaad77386f024f # v7
-#   - github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.67.4
+#   - github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.68.1
 
 name: "QF_S String Solver Benchmark"
 "on":
@@ -69,10 +69,11 @@ jobs:
       model: ${{ steps.generate_aw_info.outputs.model }}
       secret_verification_result: ${{ steps.validate-secret.outputs.verification_result }}
       setup-trace-id: ${{ steps.setup.outputs.trace-id }}
+      stale_lock_file_failed: ${{ steps.check-lock-file.outputs.stale_lock_file_failed == 'true' }}
     steps:
       - name: Setup Scripts
         id: setup
-        uses: github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.67.4
+        uses: github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.68.1
         with:
           destination: ${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions
           job-name: ${{ github.job }}
@@ -82,9 +83,9 @@ jobs:
           GH_AW_INFO_ENGINE_ID: "copilot"
           GH_AW_INFO_ENGINE_NAME: "GitHub Copilot CLI"
           GH_AW_INFO_MODEL: ${{ vars.GH_AW_MODEL_AGENT_COPILOT || 'auto' }}
-          GH_AW_INFO_VERSION: "1.0.20"
-          GH_AW_INFO_AGENT_VERSION: "1.0.20"
-          GH_AW_INFO_CLI_VERSION: "v0.67.4"
+          GH_AW_INFO_VERSION: "1.0.21"
+          GH_AW_INFO_AGENT_VERSION: "1.0.21"
+          GH_AW_INFO_CLI_VERSION: "v0.68.1"
           GH_AW_INFO_WORKFLOW_NAME: "QF_S String Solver Benchmark"
           GH_AW_INFO_EXPERIMENTAL: "false"
           GH_AW_INFO_SUPPORTS_TOOLS_ALLOWLIST: "true"
@@ -95,11 +96,11 @@ jobs:
           GH_AW_INFO_AWMG_VERSION: ""
           GH_AW_INFO_FIREWALL_TYPE: "squid"
           GH_AW_COMPILED_STRICT: "true"
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/generate_aw_info.cjs');
             await main(core, context);
       - name: Validate COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN secret
@@ -117,24 +118,25 @@ jobs:
           sparse-checkout-cone-mode: true
           fetch-depth: 1
       - name: Check workflow lock file
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        id: check-lock-file
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_WORKFLOW_FILE: "qf-s-benchmark.lock.yml"
           GH_AW_CONTEXT_WORKFLOW_REF: "${{ github.workflow_ref }}"
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/check_workflow_timestamp_api.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Check compile-agentic version
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
-          GH_AW_COMPILED_VERSION: "v0.67.4"
+          GH_AW_COMPILED_VERSION: "v0.68.1"
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/check_version_updates.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Create prompt with built-in context
@@ -154,14 +156,14 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           bash "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/create_prompt_first.sh"
           {
-          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_c25676ba2ab40d85_EOF'
+          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_78ca018fd0ee9e53_EOF'
           <system>
-          GH_AW_PROMPT_c25676ba2ab40d85_EOF
+          GH_AW_PROMPT_78ca018fd0ee9e53_EOF
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/xpia.md"
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/temp_folder_prompt.md"
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/markdown.md"
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/safe_outputs_prompt.md"
-          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_c25676ba2ab40d85_EOF'
+          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_78ca018fd0ee9e53_EOF'
           <safe-output-tools>
           Tools: create_discussion, missing_tool, missing_data, noop
           </safe-output-tools>
@@ -193,15 +195,15 @@ jobs:
           {{/if}}
           </github-context>
           
-          GH_AW_PROMPT_c25676ba2ab40d85_EOF
+          GH_AW_PROMPT_78ca018fd0ee9e53_EOF
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/github_mcp_tools_with_safeoutputs_prompt.md"
-          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_c25676ba2ab40d85_EOF'
+          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_78ca018fd0ee9e53_EOF'
           </system>
           {{#runtime-import .github/workflows/qf-s-benchmark.md}}
-          GH_AW_PROMPT_c25676ba2ab40d85_EOF
+          GH_AW_PROMPT_78ca018fd0ee9e53_EOF
           } > "$GH_AW_PROMPT"
       - name: Interpolate variables and render templates
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_PROMPT: /tmp/gh-aw/aw-prompts/prompt.txt
           GH_AW_GITHUB_REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
@@ -210,11 +212,11 @@ jobs:
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/interpolate_prompt.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Substitute placeholders
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_PROMPT: /tmp/gh-aw/aw-prompts/prompt.txt
           GH_AW_GITHUB_ACTOR: ${{ github.actor }}
@@ -229,7 +231,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             
             const substitutePlaceholders = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/substitute_placeholders.cjs');
             
@@ -295,7 +297,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Setup Scripts
         id: setup
-        uses: github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.67.4
+        uses: github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.68.1
         with:
           destination: ${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions
           job-name: ${{ github.job }}
@@ -336,25 +338,25 @@ jobs:
         id: checkout-pr
         if: |
           github.event.pull_request || github.event.issue.pull_request
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN || secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         with:
           github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN || secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/checkout_pr_branch.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Install GitHub Copilot CLI
-        run: bash "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/install_copilot_cli.sh" 1.0.20
+        run: bash "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/install_copilot_cli.sh" 1.0.21
         env:
           GH_HOST: github.com
       - name: Install AWF binary
         run: bash "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/install_awf_binary.sh" v0.25.18
       - name: Determine automatic lockdown mode for GitHub MCP Server
         id: determine-automatic-lockdown
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           GH_AW_GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN }}
@@ -369,9 +371,9 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/safeoutputs"
           mkdir -p /tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs
           mkdir -p /tmp/gh-aw/mcp-logs/safeoutputs
-          cat > "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/safeoutputs/config.json" << 'GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_ef274886e4650c6c_EOF'
+          cat > "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/safeoutputs/config.json" << 'GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_7b004ca92a18e849_EOF'
           {"create_discussion":{"category":"agentic workflows","close_older_discussions":true,"expires":168,"fallback_to_issue":true,"max":1,"title_prefix":"[QF_S Benchmark] "},"create_report_incomplete_issue":{},"missing_data":{},"missing_tool":{},"noop":{"max":1,"report-as-issue":"false"},"report_incomplete":{}}
-          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_ef274886e4650c6c_EOF
+          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_7b004ca92a18e849_EOF
       - name: Write Safe Outputs Tools
         env:
           GH_AW_TOOLS_META_JSON: |
@@ -484,11 +486,11 @@ jobs:
                 }
               }
             }
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/generate_safe_outputs_tools.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Generate Safe Outputs MCP Server Config
@@ -559,7 +561,7 @@ jobs:
           export MCP_GATEWAY_DOCKER_COMMAND='docker run -i --rm --network host -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock -e MCP_GATEWAY_PORT -e MCP_GATEWAY_DOMAIN -e MCP_GATEWAY_API_KEY -e MCP_GATEWAY_PAYLOAD_DIR -e MCP_GATEWAY_PAYLOAD_SIZE_THRESHOLD -e DEBUG -e MCP_GATEWAY_LOG_DIR -e GH_AW_MCP_LOG_DIR -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_PATH -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_TOOLS_PATH -e GH_AW_ASSETS_BRANCH -e GH_AW_ASSETS_MAX_SIZE_KB -e GH_AW_ASSETS_ALLOWED_EXTS -e DEFAULT_BRANCH -e GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN -e GITHUB_MCP_GUARD_MIN_INTEGRITY -e GITHUB_MCP_GUARD_REPOS -e GITHUB_REPOSITORY -e GITHUB_SERVER_URL -e GITHUB_SHA -e GITHUB_WORKSPACE -e GITHUB_TOKEN -e GITHUB_RUN_ID -e GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER -e GITHUB_RUN_ATTEMPT -e GITHUB_JOB -e GITHUB_ACTION -e GITHUB_EVENT_NAME -e GITHUB_EVENT_PATH -e GITHUB_ACTOR -e GITHUB_ACTOR_ID -e GITHUB_TRIGGERING_ACTOR -e GITHUB_WORKFLOW -e GITHUB_WORKFLOW_REF -e GITHUB_WORKFLOW_SHA -e GITHUB_REF -e GITHUB_REF_NAME -e GITHUB_REF_TYPE -e GITHUB_HEAD_REF -e GITHUB_BASE_REF -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_PORT -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_API_KEY -v /tmp/gh-aw/mcp-payloads:/tmp/gh-aw/mcp-payloads:rw -v /opt:/opt:ro -v /tmp:/tmp:rw -v '"${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}"':'"${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}"':rw ghcr.io/github/gh-aw-mcpg:v0.2.17'
           
           mkdir -p /home/runner/.copilot
-          cat << GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_c990404fbee0ddc5_EOF | bash "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/start_mcp_gateway.sh"
+          cat << GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_dd4b678d464df877_EOF | bash "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/start_mcp_gateway.sh"
           {
             "mcpServers": {
               "github": {
@@ -600,7 +602,7 @@ jobs:
               "payloadDir": "${MCP_GATEWAY_PAYLOAD_DIR}"
             }
           }
-          GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_c990404fbee0ddc5_EOF
+          GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_dd4b678d464df877_EOF
       - name: Download activation artifact
         uses: actions/download-artifact@3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c # v8.0.1
         with:
@@ -612,10 +614,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Execute GitHub Copilot CLI
         id: agentic_execution
         # Copilot CLI tool arguments (sorted):
-        timeout-minutes: 90
+        timeout-minutes: 120
         run: |
           set -o pipefail
           touch /tmp/gh-aw/agent-step-summary.md
+          (umask 177 && touch /tmp/gh-aw/agent-stdio.log)
           # shellcheck disable=SC1003
           sudo -E awf --container-workdir "${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}" --mount "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw:${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw:ro" --mount "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw:/host${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw:ro" --env-all --exclude-env COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN --exclude-env GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN --exclude-env MCP_GATEWAY_API_KEY --allow-domains api.business.githubcopilot.com,api.enterprise.githubcopilot.com,api.github.com,api.githubcopilot.com,api.individual.githubcopilot.com,api.snapcraft.io,archive.ubuntu.com,azure.archive.ubuntu.com,crl.geotrust.com,crl.globalsign.com,crl.identrust.com,crl.sectigo.com,crl.thawte.com,crl.usertrust.com,crl.verisign.com,crl3.digicert.com,crl4.digicert.com,crls.ssl.com,github.com,host.docker.internal,json-schema.org,json.schemastore.org,keyserver.ubuntu.com,ocsp.digicert.com,ocsp.geotrust.com,ocsp.globalsign.com,ocsp.identrust.com,ocsp.sectigo.com,ocsp.ssl.com,ocsp.thawte.com,ocsp.usertrust.com,ocsp.verisign.com,packagecloud.io,packages.cloud.google.com,packages.microsoft.com,ppa.launchpad.net,raw.githubusercontent.com,registry.npmjs.org,s.symcb.com,s.symcd.com,security.ubuntu.com,telemetry.enterprise.githubcopilot.com,ts-crl.ws.symantec.com,ts-ocsp.ws.symantec.com,www.googleapis.com --log-level info --proxy-logs-dir /tmp/gh-aw/sandbox/firewall/logs --audit-dir /tmp/gh-aw/sandbox/firewall/audit --enable-host-access --image-tag 0.25.18 --skip-pull --enable-api-proxy \
             -- /bin/bash -c 'node ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/copilot_driver.cjs /usr/local/bin/copilot --add-dir /tmp/gh-aw/ --log-level all --log-dir /tmp/gh-aw/sandbox/agent/logs/ --disable-builtin-mcps --allow-all-tools --allow-all-paths --add-dir "${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}" --prompt "$(cat /tmp/gh-aw/aw-prompts/prompt.txt)"' 2>&1 | tee -a /tmp/gh-aw/agent-stdio.log
@@ -627,10 +630,9 @@ jobs:
           GH_AW_PHASE: agent
           GH_AW_PROMPT: /tmp/gh-aw/aw-prompts/prompt.txt
           GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS: ${{ steps.set-runtime-paths.outputs.GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS }}
-          GH_AW_VERSION: v0.67.4
+          GH_AW_VERSION: v0.68.1
           GITHUB_API_URL: ${{ github.api_url }}
           GITHUB_AW: true
-          GITHUB_COPILOT_INTEGRATION_ID: agentic-workflows
           GITHUB_HEAD_REF: ${{ github.head_ref }}
           GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN || secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           GITHUB_REF_NAME: ${{ github.ref_name }}
@@ -675,11 +677,11 @@ jobs:
           bash "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/stop_mcp_gateway.sh" "$GATEWAY_PID"
       - name: Redact secrets in logs
         if: always()
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/redact_secrets.cjs');
             await main();
         env:
@@ -701,7 +703,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Ingest agent output
         id: collect_output
         if: always()
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS: ${{ steps.set-runtime-paths.outputs.GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS }}
           GH_AW_ALLOWED_DOMAINS: "api.business.githubcopilot.com,api.enterprise.githubcopilot.com,api.github.com,api.githubcopilot.com,api.individual.githubcopilot.com,api.snapcraft.io,archive.ubuntu.com,azure.archive.ubuntu.com,crl.geotrust.com,crl.globalsign.com,crl.identrust.com,crl.sectigo.com,crl.thawte.com,crl.usertrust.com,crl.verisign.com,crl3.digicert.com,crl4.digicert.com,crls.ssl.com,github.com,host.docker.internal,json-schema.org,json.schemastore.org,keyserver.ubuntu.com,ocsp.digicert.com,ocsp.geotrust.com,ocsp.globalsign.com,ocsp.identrust.com,ocsp.sectigo.com,ocsp.ssl.com,ocsp.thawte.com,ocsp.usertrust.com,ocsp.verisign.com,packagecloud.io,packages.cloud.google.com,packages.microsoft.com,ppa.launchpad.net,raw.githubusercontent.com,registry.npmjs.org,s.symcb.com,s.symcd.com,security.ubuntu.com,telemetry.enterprise.githubcopilot.com,ts-crl.ws.symantec.com,ts-ocsp.ws.symantec.com,www.googleapis.com"
@@ -710,28 +712,28 @@ jobs:
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/collect_ndjson_output.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Parse agent logs for step summary
         if: always()
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT: /tmp/gh-aw/sandbox/agent/logs/
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/parse_copilot_log.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Parse MCP Gateway logs for step summary
         if: always()
         id: parse-mcp-gateway
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/parse_mcp_gateway_log.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Print firewall logs
@@ -752,11 +754,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Parse token usage for step summary
         if: always()
         continue-on-error: true
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/parse_token_usage.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Write agent output placeholder if missing
@@ -802,7 +804,9 @@ jobs:
       - agent
       - detection
       - safe_outputs
-    if: always() && (needs.agent.result != 'skipped' || needs.activation.outputs.lockdown_check_failed == 'true')
+    if: >
+      always() && (needs.agent.result != 'skipped' || needs.activation.outputs.lockdown_check_failed == 'true' ||
+      needs.activation.outputs.stale_lock_file_failed == 'true')
     runs-on: ubuntu-slim
     permissions:
       contents: read
@@ -819,7 +823,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Setup Scripts
         id: setup
-        uses: github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.67.4
+        uses: github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.68.1
         with:
           destination: ${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions
           job-name: ${{ github.job }}
@@ -840,7 +844,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT=/tmp/gh-aw/agent_output.json" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
       - name: Process No-Op Messages
         id: noop
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT: ${{ steps.setup-agent-output-env.outputs.GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT }}
           GH_AW_NOOP_MAX: "1"
@@ -852,12 +856,12 @@ jobs:
           github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/handle_noop_message.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Record missing tool
         id: missing_tool
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT: ${{ steps.setup-agent-output-env.outputs.GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT }}
           GH_AW_MISSING_TOOL_CREATE_ISSUE: "true"
@@ -867,12 +871,12 @@ jobs:
           github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/missing_tool.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Record incomplete
         id: report_incomplete
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT: ${{ steps.setup-agent-output-env.outputs.GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT }}
           GH_AW_REPORT_INCOMPLETE_CREATE_ISSUE: "true"
@@ -881,13 +885,13 @@ jobs:
           github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/report_incomplete_handler.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Handle agent failure
         id: handle_agent_failure
         if: always()
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT: ${{ steps.setup-agent-output-env.outputs.GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT }}
           GH_AW_WORKFLOW_NAME: "QF_S String Solver Benchmark"
@@ -901,14 +905,15 @@ jobs:
           GH_AW_CREATE_DISCUSSION_ERRORS: ${{ needs.safe_outputs.outputs.create_discussion_errors }}
           GH_AW_CREATE_DISCUSSION_ERROR_COUNT: ${{ needs.safe_outputs.outputs.create_discussion_error_count }}
           GH_AW_LOCKDOWN_CHECK_FAILED: ${{ needs.activation.outputs.lockdown_check_failed }}
+          GH_AW_STALE_LOCK_FILE_FAILED: ${{ needs.activation.outputs.stale_lock_file_failed }}
           GH_AW_GROUP_REPORTS: "false"
           GH_AW_FAILURE_REPORT_AS_ISSUE: "true"
-          GH_AW_TIMEOUT_MINUTES: "90"
+          GH_AW_TIMEOUT_MINUTES: "120"
         with:
           github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/handle_agent_failure.cjs');
             await main();
 
@@ -927,7 +932,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Setup Scripts
         id: setup
-        uses: github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.67.4
+        uses: github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.68.1
         with:
           destination: ${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions
           job-name: ${{ github.job }}
@@ -990,7 +995,7 @@ jobs:
           ls -la /tmp/gh-aw/threat-detection/ 2>/dev/null || true
       - name: Setup threat detection
         if: always() && steps.detection_guard.outputs.run_detection == 'true'
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           WORKFLOW_NAME: "QF_S String Solver Benchmark"
           WORKFLOW_DESCRIPTION: "Benchmark Z3 seq vs nseq string solvers on QF_S test suite from the c3 branch and post results as a GitHub discussion"
@@ -998,7 +1003,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_threat_detection.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Ensure threat-detection directory and log
@@ -1007,7 +1012,7 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p /tmp/gh-aw/threat-detection
           touch /tmp/gh-aw/threat-detection/detection.log
       - name: Install GitHub Copilot CLI
-        run: bash "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/install_copilot_cli.sh" 1.0.20
+        run: bash "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/install_copilot_cli.sh" 1.0.21
         env:
           GH_HOST: github.com
       - name: Install AWF binary
@@ -1020,6 +1025,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           set -o pipefail
           touch /tmp/gh-aw/agent-step-summary.md
+          (umask 177 && touch /tmp/gh-aw/threat-detection/detection.log)
           # shellcheck disable=SC1003
           sudo -E awf --container-workdir "${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}" --mount "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw:${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw:ro" --mount "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw:/host${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw:ro" --env-all --exclude-env COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN --allow-domains api.business.githubcopilot.com,api.enterprise.githubcopilot.com,api.github.com,api.githubcopilot.com,api.individual.githubcopilot.com,github.com,host.docker.internal,telemetry.enterprise.githubcopilot.com --log-level info --proxy-logs-dir /tmp/gh-aw/sandbox/firewall/logs --audit-dir /tmp/gh-aw/sandbox/firewall/audit --enable-host-access --image-tag 0.25.18 --skip-pull --enable-api-proxy \
             -- /bin/bash -c 'node ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/copilot_driver.cjs /usr/local/bin/copilot --add-dir /tmp/gh-aw/ --log-level all --log-dir /tmp/gh-aw/sandbox/agent/logs/ --disable-builtin-mcps --allow-all-tools --add-dir "${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}" --prompt "$(cat /tmp/gh-aw/aw-prompts/prompt.txt)"' 2>&1 | tee -a /tmp/gh-aw/threat-detection/detection.log
@@ -1029,10 +1035,9 @@ jobs:
           COPILOT_MODEL: ${{ vars.GH_AW_MODEL_DETECTION_COPILOT || '' }}
           GH_AW_PHASE: detection
           GH_AW_PROMPT: /tmp/gh-aw/aw-prompts/prompt.txt
-          GH_AW_VERSION: v0.67.4
+          GH_AW_VERSION: v0.68.1
           GITHUB_API_URL: ${{ github.api_url }}
           GITHUB_AW: true
-          GITHUB_COPILOT_INTEGRATION_ID: agentic-workflows
           GITHUB_HEAD_REF: ${{ github.head_ref }}
           GITHUB_REF_NAME: ${{ github.ref_name }}
           GITHUB_SERVER_URL: ${{ github.server_url }}
@@ -1053,13 +1058,13 @@ jobs:
       - name: Parse and conclude threat detection
         id: detection_conclusion
         if: always()
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           RUN_DETECTION: ${{ steps.detection_guard.outputs.run_detection }}
         with:
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/parse_threat_detection_results.cjs');
             await main();
 
@@ -1092,7 +1097,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Setup Scripts
         id: setup
-        uses: github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.67.4
+        uses: github/gh-aw-actions/setup@v0.68.1
         with:
           destination: ${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions
           job-name: ${{ github.job }}
@@ -1122,7 +1127,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "GH_HOST=${GH_HOST}" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
       - name: Process Safe Outputs
         id: process_safe_outputs
-        uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
+        uses: actions/github-script@3a2844b7e9c422d3c10d287c895573f7108da1b3 # v9
         env:
           GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT: ${{ steps.setup-agent-output-env.outputs.GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT }}
           GH_AW_ALLOWED_DOMAINS: "api.business.githubcopilot.com,api.enterprise.githubcopilot.com,api.github.com,api.githubcopilot.com,api.individual.githubcopilot.com,api.snapcraft.io,archive.ubuntu.com,azure.archive.ubuntu.com,crl.geotrust.com,crl.globalsign.com,crl.identrust.com,crl.sectigo.com,crl.thawte.com,crl.usertrust.com,crl.verisign.com,crl3.digicert.com,crl4.digicert.com,crls.ssl.com,github.com,host.docker.internal,json-schema.org,json.schemastore.org,keyserver.ubuntu.com,ocsp.digicert.com,ocsp.geotrust.com,ocsp.globalsign.com,ocsp.identrust.com,ocsp.sectigo.com,ocsp.ssl.com,ocsp.thawte.com,ocsp.usertrust.com,ocsp.verisign.com,packagecloud.io,packages.cloud.google.com,packages.microsoft.com,ppa.launchpad.net,raw.githubusercontent.com,registry.npmjs.org,s.symcb.com,s.symcd.com,security.ubuntu.com,telemetry.enterprise.githubcopilot.com,ts-crl.ws.symantec.com,ts-ocsp.ws.symantec.com,www.googleapis.com"
@@ -1133,7 +1138,7 @@ jobs:
           github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
-            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
+            setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io, getOctokit);
             const { main } = require('${{ runner.temp }}/gh-aw/actions/safe_output_handler_manager.cjs');
             await main();
       - name: Upload Safe Outputs Items
diff --git a/.github/workflows/qf-s-benchmark.md b/.github/workflows/qf-s-benchmark.md
index fcd3050a6..8b6927071 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/qf-s-benchmark.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/qf-s-benchmark.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ safe-outputs:
   noop:
     report-as-issue: false
 
-timeout-minutes: 90
+timeout-minutes: 120
 
 steps:
   - name: Checkout c3 branch
@@ -62,19 +62,19 @@ ninja --version
 python3 --version
 ```
 
-## Phase 2: Build Z3 in Debug Mode with Seq Tracing
+## Phase 2: Build Z3 in Release Mode
 
-Build Z3 with debug symbols so that tracing and timing data are meaningful.
+Build Z3 in Release mode for accurate benchmark performance numbers and lower memory usage. Running `ninja` in the background with `&` is not allowed — concurrent C++ compilation and LLM inference can exhaust available RAM and kill the agent process.
 
 ```bash
 mkdir -p /tmp/z3-build
 cd /tmp/z3-build
 cmake "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE" \
   -G Ninja \
-  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug \
+  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
   -DZ3_BUILD_TEST_EXECUTABLES=OFF \
   2>&1 | tee /tmp/z3-cmake.log
-ninja z3 2>&1 | tee /tmp/z3-build.log
+ninja -j2 z3 2>&1 | tee /tmp/z3-build.log
 ```
 
 Verify the binary was built:
@@ -133,12 +133,12 @@ echo "Running benchmarks on $SAMPLE files"
 
 ## Phase 4: Run Benchmarks — seq vs nseq
 
-Run each benchmark with both solvers. Use a per-file timeout of 10 seconds. Set Z3's internal timeout to 9 seconds so it exits cleanly before the shell timeout fires.
+Run each benchmark with both solvers. Use a per-file timeout of 5 seconds. Set Z3's internal timeout to 4 seconds so it exits cleanly before the shell timeout fires.
 
 ```bash
 Z3=/tmp/z3-build/z3
-TIMEOUT_SEC=10
-Z3_TIMEOUT_SEC=9
+TIMEOUT_SEC=5
+Z3_TIMEOUT_SEC=4
 RESULTS=/tmp/benchmark-results.csv
 
 echo "file,seq_result,seq_time_ms,nseq_result,nseq_time_ms" > "$RESULTS"
@@ -208,10 +208,7 @@ done
 
 ## Phase 6: Analyze Results
 
-Compute summary statistics from the CSV:
-
-```bash
-Save the analysis script to a file and run it:
+Compute summary statistics from the CSV. Save the analysis script to a file and run it:
 
 ```bash
 cat > /tmp/analyze_benchmark.py << 'PYEOF'
@@ -397,7 +394,8 @@ These are benchmarks where `nseq` shows a performance advantage.
 ## Important Notes
 
 - **DO NOT** modify any source files or create pull requests.
-- **DO NOT** run benchmarks for longer than 80 minutes total (leave buffer for posting).
+- **DO NOT** run `ninja` or any build command in the background with `&` — concurrent C++ compilation and LLM inference can exhaust available RAM and kill the agent process. Always wait for build commands to complete before proceeding.
+- **DO NOT** run benchmarks for longer than 100 minutes total (leave buffer for posting).
 - **DO** always report the commit SHA so results can be correlated with specific code versions.
 - **DO** close older QF_S Benchmark discussions automatically (configured via `close-older-discussions: true`).
 - **DO** highlight disagreements prominently — these are potential correctness bugs.