diff --git a/codex-rs/network-proxy/README.md b/codex-rs/network-proxy/README.md
index 6fb689490a0..0347e6ddf25 100644
--- a/codex-rs/network-proxy/README.md
+++ b/codex-rs/network-proxy/README.md
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ mitm = false
 
 # Hosts must match the allowlist (unless denied).
 # Use exact hosts or scoped wildcards like `*.openai.com` or `**.openai.com`.
-# The global `*` wildcard is rejected.
+# The global `*` wildcard is allowed in `allowed_domains` to delegate public-host filtering to
+# `denied_domains`.
 # If `allowed_domains` is empty, the proxy blocks requests until an allowlist is configured.
 allowed_domains = ["*.openai.com", "localhost", "127.0.0.1", "::1"]
 denied_domains = ["evil.example"]
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ This section documents the protections implemented by `codex-network-proxy`, and
 what it can reasonably guarantee.
 
 - Allowlist-first policy: if `allowed_domains` is empty, requests are blocked until an allowlist is configured.
-- Domain patterns: exact hosts plus scoped wildcards (`*.example.com`, `**.example.com`) are supported; the global `*` wildcard is rejected.
+- Domain patterns: exact hosts plus scoped wildcards (`*.example.com`, `**.example.com`) are supported. A global `*` wildcard is allowed in `allowed_domains` to permit all public hosts by default, while `denied_domains` remains field-specific and still rejects global `*`.
 - Deny wins: entries in `denied_domains` always override the allowlist.
 - Local/private network protection: when `allow_local_binding = false`, the proxy blocks loopback
   and common private/link-local ranges. Explicit allowlisting of local IP literals (or `localhost`)
diff --git a/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/policy.rs b/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/policy.rs
index 17927767f9f..c586ee9c11e 100644
--- a/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/policy.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/policy.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 use crate::config::NetworkMode;
 use anyhow::Context;
 use anyhow::Result;
+use anyhow::bail;
 use anyhow::ensure;
 use globset::GlobBuilder;
 use globset::GlobSet;
@@ -151,19 +152,38 @@ pub(crate) fn is_global_wildcard_domain_pattern(pattern: &str) -> bool {
         .any(|candidate| candidate == "*")
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn compile_globset(patterns: &[String]) -> Result<GlobSet> {
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum GlobalWildcard {
+    Allow,
+    Reject,
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn compile_allowlist_globset(patterns: &[String]) -> Result<GlobSet> {
+    compile_globset_with_policy(patterns, GlobalWildcard::Allow)
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn compile_denylist_globset(patterns: &[String]) -> Result<GlobSet> {
+    compile_globset_with_policy(patterns, GlobalWildcard::Reject)
+}
+
+fn compile_globset_with_policy(
+    patterns: &[String],
+    global_wildcard: GlobalWildcard,
+) -> Result<GlobSet> {
     let mut builder = GlobSetBuilder::new();
     let mut seen = HashSet::new();
     for pattern in patterns {
-        ensure!(
-            !is_global_wildcard_domain_pattern(pattern),
-            "unsupported global wildcard domain pattern \"*\"; use exact hosts or scoped wildcards like *.example.com or **.example.com"
-        );
+        if global_wildcard == GlobalWildcard::Reject && is_global_wildcard_domain_pattern(pattern) {
+            bail!(
+                "unsupported global wildcard domain pattern \"*\"; use exact hosts or scoped wildcards like *.example.com or **.example.com"
+            );
+        }
         let pattern = normalize_pattern(pattern);
         // Supported domain patterns:
         // - "example.com": match the exact host
         // - "*.example.com": match any subdomain (not the apex)
         // - "**.example.com": match the apex and any subdomain
+        // - "*": match every host when explicitly enabled for allowlist compilation
         for candidate in expand_domain_pattern(&pattern) {
             if !seen.insert(candidate.clone()) {
                 continue;
@@ -333,7 +353,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_normalizes_trailing_dots() {
-        let set = compile_globset(&["Example.COM.".to_string()]).unwrap();
+        let set = compile_denylist_globset(&["Example.COM.".to_string()]).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(true, set.is_match("example.com"));
         assert_eq!(false, set.is_match("api.example.com"));
@@ -341,7 +361,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_normalizes_wildcards() {
-        let set = compile_globset(&["*.Example.COM.".to_string()]).unwrap();
+        let set = compile_denylist_globset(&["*.Example.COM.".to_string()]).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(true, set.is_match("api.example.com"));
         assert_eq!(false, set.is_match("example.com"));
@@ -349,7 +369,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_normalizes_apex_and_subdomains() {
-        let set = compile_globset(&["**.Example.COM.".to_string()]).unwrap();
+        let set = compile_denylist_globset(&["**.Example.COM.".to_string()]).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(true, set.is_match("example.com"));
         assert_eq!(true, set.is_match("api.example.com"));
@@ -357,7 +377,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_normalizes_bracketed_ipv6_literals() {
-        let set = compile_globset(&["[::1]".to_string()]).unwrap();
+        let set = compile_denylist_globset(&["[::1]".to_string()]).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(true, set.is_match("::1"));
     }
diff --git a/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/runtime.rs b/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/runtime.rs
index b634a8630e3..9381fab7f42 100644
--- a/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/runtime.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/runtime.rs
@@ -819,7 +819,8 @@ mod tests {
 
     use crate::config::NetworkProxyConfig;
     use crate::config::NetworkProxySettings;
-    use crate::policy::compile_globset;
+    use crate::policy::compile_allowlist_globset;
+    use crate::policy::compile_denylist_globset;
     use crate::state::NetworkProxyConstraints;
     use crate::state::build_config_state;
     use crate::state::validate_policy_against_constraints;
@@ -894,6 +895,29 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn add_denied_domain_forces_block_with_global_wildcard_allowlist() {
+        let state = network_proxy_state_for_policy(NetworkProxySettings {
+            allowed_domains: vec!["*".to_string()],
+            ..NetworkProxySettings::default()
+        });
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            state.host_blocked("evil.example", 80).await.unwrap(),
+            HostBlockDecision::Allowed
+        );
+
+        state.add_denied_domain("evil.example").await.unwrap();
+
+        let (allowed, denied) = state.current_patterns().await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(allowed, vec!["*".to_string()]);
+        assert_eq!(denied, vec!["evil.example".to_string()]);
+        assert_eq!(
+            state.host_blocked("evil.example", 80).await.unwrap(),
+            HostBlockDecision::Blocked(HostBlockReason::Denied)
+        );
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn add_allowed_domain_succeeds_when_managed_baseline_allows_expansion() {
         let config = NetworkProxyConfig {
@@ -1089,6 +1113,28 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn host_blocked_global_wildcard_allowlist_allows_public_hosts_except_denylist() {
+        let state = network_proxy_state_for_policy(NetworkProxySettings {
+            allowed_domains: vec!["*".to_string()],
+            denied_domains: vec!["evil.example".to_string()],
+            ..NetworkProxySettings::default()
+        });
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            state.host_blocked("example.com", 80).await.unwrap(),
+            HostBlockDecision::Allowed
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            state.host_blocked("api.openai.com", 443).await.unwrap(),
+            HostBlockDecision::Allowed
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            state.host_blocked("evil.example", 80).await.unwrap(),
+            HostBlockDecision::Blocked(HostBlockReason::Denied)
+        );
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn host_blocked_rejects_loopback_when_local_binding_disabled() {
         let state = network_proxy_state_for_policy(NetworkProxySettings {
@@ -1484,7 +1530,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_is_case_insensitive() {
         let patterns = vec!["ExAmPle.CoM".to_string()];
-        let set = compile_globset(&patterns).unwrap();
+        let set = compile_denylist_globset(&patterns).unwrap();
         assert!(set.is_match("example.com"));
         assert!(set.is_match("EXAMPLE.COM"));
     }
@@ -1492,7 +1538,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_excludes_apex_for_subdomain_patterns() {
         let patterns = vec!["*.openai.com".to_string()];
-        let set = compile_globset(&patterns).unwrap();
+        let set = compile_denylist_globset(&patterns).unwrap();
         assert!(set.is_match("api.openai.com"));
         assert!(!set.is_match("openai.com"));
         assert!(!set.is_match("evilopenai.com"));
@@ -1501,7 +1547,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_includes_apex_for_double_wildcard_patterns() {
         let patterns = vec!["**.openai.com".to_string()];
-        let set = compile_globset(&patterns).unwrap();
+        let set = compile_denylist_globset(&patterns).unwrap();
         assert!(set.is_match("openai.com"));
         assert!(set.is_match("api.openai.com"));
         assert!(!set.is_match("evilopenai.com"));
@@ -1510,25 +1556,34 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_rejects_global_wildcard() {
         let patterns = vec!["*".to_string()];
-        assert!(compile_globset(&patterns).is_err());
+        assert!(compile_denylist_globset(&patterns).is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn compile_globset_allows_global_wildcard_when_enabled() {
+        let patterns = vec!["*".to_string()];
+        let set = compile_allowlist_globset(&patterns).unwrap();
+        assert!(set.is_match("example.com"));
+        assert!(set.is_match("api.openai.com"));
+        assert!(set.is_match("localhost"));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_rejects_bracketed_global_wildcard() {
         let patterns = vec!["[*]".to_string()];
-        assert!(compile_globset(&patterns).is_err());
+        assert!(compile_denylist_globset(&patterns).is_err());
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_rejects_double_wildcard_bracketed_global_wildcard() {
         let patterns = vec!["**.[*]".to_string()];
-        assert!(compile_globset(&patterns).is_err());
+        assert!(compile_denylist_globset(&patterns).is_err());
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_dedupes_patterns_without_changing_behavior() {
         let patterns = vec!["example.com".to_string(), "example.com".to_string()];
-        let set = compile_globset(&patterns).unwrap();
+        let set = compile_denylist_globset(&patterns).unwrap();
         assert!(set.is_match("example.com"));
         assert!(set.is_match("EXAMPLE.COM"));
         assert!(!set.is_match("not-example.com"));
@@ -1537,11 +1592,11 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn compile_globset_rejects_invalid_patterns() {
         let patterns = vec!["[".to_string()];
-        assert!(compile_globset(&patterns).is_err());
+        assert!(compile_denylist_globset(&patterns).is_err());
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn build_config_state_rejects_global_wildcard_allowed_domains() {
+    fn build_config_state_allows_global_wildcard_allowed_domains() {
         let config = NetworkProxyConfig {
             network: NetworkProxySettings {
                 enabled: true,
@@ -1550,11 +1605,11 @@ mod tests {
             },
         };
 
-        assert!(build_config_state(config, NetworkProxyConstraints::default()).is_err());
+        assert!(build_config_state(config, NetworkProxyConstraints::default()).is_ok());
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn build_config_state_rejects_bracketed_global_wildcard_allowed_domains() {
+    fn build_config_state_allows_bracketed_global_wildcard_allowed_domains() {
         let config = NetworkProxyConfig {
             network: NetworkProxySettings {
                 enabled: true,
@@ -1563,7 +1618,7 @@ mod tests {
             },
         };
 
-        assert!(build_config_state(config, NetworkProxyConstraints::default()).is_err());
+        assert!(build_config_state(config, NetworkProxyConstraints::default()).is_ok());
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/state.rs b/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/state.rs
index 612e6c5b5cf..435e5beab45 100644
--- a/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/state.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/network-proxy/src/state.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ use crate::config::NetworkMode;
 use crate::config::NetworkProxyConfig;
 use crate::mitm::MitmState;
 use crate::policy::DomainPattern;
-use crate::policy::compile_globset;
+use crate::policy::compile_allowlist_globset;
+use crate::policy::compile_denylist_globset;
 use crate::policy::is_global_wildcard_domain_pattern;
 use crate::runtime::ConfigState;
 use serde::Deserialize;
@@ -59,12 +60,10 @@ pub fn build_config_state(
     constraints: NetworkProxyConstraints,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<ConfigState> {
     crate::config::validate_unix_socket_allowlist_paths(&config)?;
-    validate_domain_patterns("network.allowed_domains", &config.network.allowed_domains)
+    validate_denylist_domain_patterns("network.denied_domains", &config.network.denied_domains)
         .map_err(NetworkProxyConstraintError::into_anyhow)?;
-    validate_domain_patterns("network.denied_domains", &config.network.denied_domains)
-        .map_err(NetworkProxyConstraintError::into_anyhow)?;
-    let deny_set = compile_globset(&config.network.denied_domains)?;
-    let allow_set = compile_globset(&config.network.allowed_domains)?;
+    let deny_set = compile_denylist_globset(&config.network.denied_domains)?;
+    let allow_set = compile_allowlist_globset(&config.network.allowed_domains)?;
     let mitm = if config.network.mitm {
         Some(Arc::new(MitmState::new(
             config.network.allow_upstream_proxy,
@@ -107,8 +106,7 @@ pub fn validate_policy_against_constraints(
     }
 
     let enabled = config.network.enabled;
-    validate_domain_patterns("network.allowed_domains", &config.network.allowed_domains)?;
-    validate_domain_patterns("network.denied_domains", &config.network.denied_domains)?;
+    validate_denylist_domain_patterns("network.denied_domains", &config.network.denied_domains)?;
     if let Some(max_enabled) = constraints.enabled {
         validate(enabled, move |candidate| {
             if *candidate && !max_enabled {
@@ -208,7 +206,6 @@ pub fn validate_policy_against_constraints(
     }
 
     if let Some(allowed_domains) = &constraints.allowed_domains {
-        validate_domain_patterns("network.allowed_domains", allowed_domains)?;
         match constraints.allowlist_expansion_enabled {
             Some(true) => {
                 let required_set: HashSet<String> = allowed_domains
@@ -288,7 +285,7 @@ pub fn validate_policy_against_constraints(
     }
 
     if let Some(denied_domains) = &constraints.denied_domains {
-        validate_domain_patterns("network.denied_domains", denied_domains)?;
+        validate_denylist_domain_patterns("network.denied_domains", denied_domains)?;
         let required_set: HashSet<String> = denied_domains
             .iter()
             .map(|s| s.to_ascii_lowercase())
@@ -364,7 +361,7 @@ pub fn validate_policy_against_constraints(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn validate_domain_patterns(
+fn validate_denylist_domain_patterns(
     field_name: &'static str,
     patterns: &[String],
 ) -> Result<(), NetworkProxyConstraintError> {