diff --git a/tests/tools/test_browser_ssrf_local.py b/tests/tools/test_browser_ssrf_local.py
index 27b6e3933b..b3b8bd2271 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_browser_ssrf_local.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_browser_ssrf_local.py
@@ -235,3 +235,21 @@ class TestPostRedirectSsrf:
 
         assert result["success"] is True
         assert result["url"] == final
+
+
+class TestAllowPrivateUrlsConfig:
+    @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+    def _reset_cache(self):
+        browser_tool._allow_private_urls_resolved = False
+        browser_tool._cached_allow_private_urls = None
+        yield
+        browser_tool._allow_private_urls_resolved = False
+        browser_tool._cached_allow_private_urls = None
+
+    def test_browser_config_string_false_stays_disabled(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            "hermes_cli.config.read_raw_config",
+            lambda: {"browser": {"allow_private_urls": "false"}},
+        )
+
+        assert browser_tool._allow_private_urls() is False
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_url_safety.py b/tests/tools/test_url_safety.py
index 9377fc40e0..12b5b92ac5 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_url_safety.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_url_safety.py
@@ -259,6 +259,20 @@ class TestGlobalAllowPrivateUrls:
         with patch("hermes_cli.config.read_raw_config", return_value=cfg):
             assert _global_allow_private_urls() is True
 
+    def test_config_security_string_false_stays_disabled(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Quoted false must not opt out of SSRF protection."""
+        monkeypatch.delenv("HERMES_ALLOW_PRIVATE_URLS", raising=False)
+        cfg = {"security": {"allow_private_urls": "false"}}
+        with patch("hermes_cli.config.read_raw_config", return_value=cfg):
+            assert _global_allow_private_urls() is False
+
+    def test_config_browser_string_false_stays_disabled(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Legacy browser.allow_private_urls also normalises quoted false."""
+        monkeypatch.delenv("HERMES_ALLOW_PRIVATE_URLS", raising=False)
+        cfg = {"browser": {"allow_private_urls": "false"}}
+        with patch("hermes_cli.config.read_raw_config", return_value=cfg):
+            assert _global_allow_private_urls() is False
+
     def test_config_security_takes_precedence_over_browser(self, monkeypatch):
         """security section is checked before browser section."""
         monkeypatch.delenv("HERMES_ALLOW_PRIVATE_URLS", raising=False)
diff --git a/tools/browser_tool.py b/tools/browser_tool.py
index aecb2ee7f6..3fde1dd9c6 100644
--- a/tools/browser_tool.py
+++ b/tools/browser_tool.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, List, Tuple
 from pathlib import Path
 from agent.auxiliary_client import call_llm
 from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home
+from utils import is_truthy_value
 
 try:
     from tools.website_policy import check_website_access
@@ -639,7 +640,11 @@ def _allow_private_urls() -> bool:
     try:
         from hermes_cli.config import read_raw_config
         cfg = read_raw_config()
-        _cached_allow_private_urls = bool(cfg.get("browser", {}).get("allow_private_urls"))
+        browser_cfg = cfg.get("browser", {})
+        if isinstance(browser_cfg, dict):
+            _cached_allow_private_urls = is_truthy_value(
+                browser_cfg.get("allow_private_urls"), default=False
+            )
     except Exception as e:
         logger.debug("Could not read allow_private_urls from config: %s", e)
     return _cached_allow_private_urls
diff --git a/tools/url_safety.py b/tools/url_safety.py
index 7ff09ebb50..860d4d9dfa 100644
--- a/tools/url_safety.py
+++ b/tools/url_safety.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ import os
 import socket
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
+from utils import is_truthy_value
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 # Hostnames that should always be blocked regardless of IP resolution
@@ -107,12 +109,16 @@ def _global_allow_private_urls() -> bool:
         cfg = read_raw_config()
         # security.allow_private_urls (preferred)
         sec = cfg.get("security", {})
-        if isinstance(sec, dict) and sec.get("allow_private_urls"):
+        if isinstance(sec, dict) and is_truthy_value(
+            sec.get("allow_private_urls"), default=False
+        ):
             _cached_allow_private = True
             return _cached_allow_private
         # browser.allow_private_urls (legacy fallback)
         browser = cfg.get("browser", {})
-        if isinstance(browser, dict) and browser.get("allow_private_urls"):
+        if isinstance(browser, dict) and is_truthy_value(
+            browser.get("allow_private_urls"), default=False
+        ):
             _cached_allow_private = True
             return _cached_allow_private
     except Exception: