diff --git a/src/core/tools/validateToolUse.ts b/src/core/tools/validateToolUse.ts
index 86fc69cec5..a9fe107495 100644
--- a/src/core/tools/validateToolUse.ts
+++ b/src/core/tools/validateToolUse.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,28 @@ function doesFileMatchRegex(filePath: string, pattern: string): boolean {
 	}
 }
 
+/**
+ * Extracts file paths from XML args format: <path>...</path>
+ * Used by both edit and read file regex validation.
+ */
+function extractPathsFromXmlArgs(args: string): string[] {
+	const paths: string[] = []
+	const filePathMatches = args.match(/<path>([^<]+)<\/path>/g)
+	if (filePathMatches) {
+		for (const match of filePathMatches) {
+			const pathMatch = match.match(/<path>([^<]+)<\/path>/)
+			if (pathMatch && pathMatch[1]) {
+				const extractedPath = pathMatch[1].trim()
+				// Validate that the path is not empty and doesn't contain invalid characters
+				if (extractedPath && !extractedPath.includes("<") && !extractedPath.includes(">")) {
+					paths.push(extractedPath)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return paths
+}
+
 function tryParseJson(value: string): unknown | undefined {
 	const trimmed = value.trim()
 	if (!trimmed) {
@@ -167,18 +189,7 @@ function extractReadFilePaths(toolParams: Record<string, unknown> | undefined):
 	// Legacy XML args read_file: { args: "<args><file><path>...</path>...</file></args>" }
 	const args = (toolParams as { args?: unknown }).args
 	if (typeof args === "string") {
-		const filePathMatches = args.match(/<path>([^<]+)<\/path>/g)
-		if (filePathMatches) {
-			for (const match of filePathMatches) {
-				const pathMatch = match.match(/<path>([^<]+)<\/path>/)
-				if (pathMatch && pathMatch[1]) {
-					const extractedPath = pathMatch[1].trim()
-					if (extractedPath && !extractedPath.includes("<") && !extractedPath.includes(">")) {
-						paths.push(extractedPath)
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
+		paths.push(...extractPathsFromXmlArgs(args))
 	}
 
 	return Array.from(new Set(paths))
@@ -271,40 +282,20 @@ export function isToolAllowedForMode(
 			}
 
 			// Handle XML args parameter (used by MULTI_FILE_APPLY_DIFF experiment)
-			if (toolParams?.args && typeof toolParams.args === "string") {
-				// Extract file paths from XML args with improved validation
-				try {
-					const filePathMatches = toolParams.args.match(/<path>([^<]+)<\/path>/g)
-					if (filePathMatches) {
-						for (const match of filePathMatches) {
-							// More robust path extraction with validation
-							const pathMatch = match.match(/<path>([^<]+)<\/path>/)
-							if (pathMatch && pathMatch[1]) {
-								const extractedPath = pathMatch[1].trim()
-								// Validate that the path is not empty and doesn't contain invalid characters
-								if (extractedPath && !extractedPath.includes("<") && !extractedPath.includes(">")) {
-									if (!doesFileMatchRegex(extractedPath, options.fileRegex)) {
-										throw new FileRestrictionError(
-											mode.name,
-											options.fileRegex,
-											options.description,
-											extractedPath,
-											tool,
-										)
-									}
-								}
-							}
+				if (toolParams?.args && typeof toolParams.args === "string") {
+					const xmlPaths = extractPathsFromXmlArgs(toolParams.args)
+					for (const extractedPath of xmlPaths) {
+						if (!doesFileMatchRegex(extractedPath, options.fileRegex)) {
+							throw new FileRestrictionError(
+								mode.name,
+								options.fileRegex,
+								options.description,
+								extractedPath,
+								tool,
+							)
 						}
 					}
-				} catch (error) {
-					// Re-throw FileRestrictionError as it's an expected validation error
-					if (error instanceof FileRestrictionError) {
-						throw error
-					}
-					// If XML parsing fails, log the error but don't block the operation
-					console.warn(`Failed to parse XML args for file restriction validation: ${error}`)
 				}
-			}
 		}
 
 		// For the read group, optionally restrict read_file paths if specified