Fix #240/#241: require admin auth on oracle resolve endpoints

Both POST /api/mesh/oracle/resolve and POST /api/mesh/oracle/resolve-stakes
were previously gated only by a rate limit (5/min) and tagged with
`mesh_write_exempt(MeshWriteExemption.ADMIN_CONTROL)`. The exemption
decorator is metadata only — it tells the mesh signed-write middleware
not to require a signature envelope, it does NOT enforce caller
authorization. Any network caller could:

- /resolve: settle any prediction market to any outcome (corrupts every
  downstream profile/win-loss count derived from that ledger).
- /resolve-stakes: trigger stake settlement for all expired contests at
  a time of their choosing (race against operator intent).

Fix: add `dependencies=[Depends(require_admin)]` to both routes. The
existing `mesh_write_exempt` tag stays in place because it accurately
describes the route's relationship to the signed-write envelope system;
adding `require_admin` is what closes the actual auth hole.

Tests in backend/tests/test_oracle_resolve_auth_gate.py:
- anonymous caller -> 403, ledger mutator NOT called
- wrong admin key -> 403, ledger mutator NOT called
- valid admin key -> 200, ledger mutator called
- admin key unconfigured + no debug/insecure-admin -> 403

Credit: tg12 (external security audit)

.env.example

@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ ADMIN_KEY=
 # SHADOWBROKER_SLOW_FETCH_CONCURRENCY=4
 # SHADOWBROKER_STARTUP_HEAVY_CONCURRENCY=2
 
+# Infonet bootstrap/sync responsiveness. Defaults favor fast seed failure
+# detection so stale onion peers do not make the terminal look hung.
+# MESH_SYNC_TIMEOUT_S=5
+# MESH_SYNC_MAX_PEERS_PER_CYCLE=3
+# MESH_BOOTSTRAP_SEED_FAILURE_COOLDOWN_S=15
+
 # Google Earth Engine for VIIRS night lights change detection (optional).
 # pip install earthengine-api
 # GEE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY=

.github/CODEOWNERS

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# CODEOWNERS — assigns required reviewers for sensitive paths.
+# Format: <path glob>  <user-or-team> [<user-or-team> ...]
+# See https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/managing-your-repositorys-settings-and-features/customizing-your-repository/about-code-owners
+#
+# Owners listed here are auto-requested for review when matching files
+# change in a PR. If branch protection requires CODEOWNERS approval, the
+# PR cannot be merged until an owner approves.
+
+# ── Internationalization / translations ──
+# Translation contributions are held to a stricter neutrality standard
+# than most code changes — see CONTRIBUTING.md "Translation contributions".
+# The i18n layer itself (no network calls, no telemetry, static JSON
+# bundled at build) is the structural guarantee that makes this safe;
+# changes to it need owner review.
+/frontend/src/i18n/                @BigBodyCobain
+
+# ── Security-sensitive code paths ──
+/backend/auth.py                   @BigBodyCobain
+/backend/routers/wormhole.py       @BigBodyCobain
+/backend/services/mesh/            @BigBodyCobain
+/backend/services/fetchers/        @BigBodyCobain
+
+# ── CI / build / deploy infra ──
+/.github/workflows/                @BigBodyCobain
+/.gitlab-ci.yml                    @BigBodyCobain
+/docker-compose.yml                @BigBodyCobain
+/docker-compose.gitlab.yml         @BigBodyCobain
+/helm/                             @BigBodyCobain
+
+# ── This file and policy docs ──
+/.github/CODEOWNERS                @BigBodyCobain
+/CONTRIBUTING.md                   @BigBodyCobain

.gitignore

@@ -91,6 +91,20 @@ backend/data/*
 !backend/data/power_plants.json
 !backend/data/tracked_names.json
 !backend/data/yacht_alert_db.json
+# Issue #206: bundled KiwiSDR receiver directory used as last-resort
+# fallback when rx.linkfanel.net (HTTP-only upstream) is unreachable
+# or returns content that fails our integrity validation.
+!backend/data/kiwisdr_directory.json
+# Issue #201: pinned SHA-256 digests for known Tor Expert Bundle URLs.
+# Used as a second verification source when upstream .sha256sum fails.
+!backend/data/tor_bundle_digests.json
+# Issue #258: SPKI pins for stream.aisstream.io so we can survive upstream
+# Let's Encrypt renewal failures without disabling TLS validation entirely.
+!backend/data/aisstream_spki_pins.json
+# Issue #231: pinned SHA-256 digests for known release archives. Used by
+# the self-updater as a second-line integrity check when the release's
+# SHA256SUMS.txt asset can't be fetched.
+!backend/data/release_digests.json
 
 # OS generated files
 .DS_Store
@@ -173,6 +187,8 @@ backend/services/test_*.py
 # Local analysis & dev tools
 backend/analyze_xlsx.py
 backend/services/ais_cache.json
+graphify/
+graphify-out/
 
 # ========================
 # Internal docs & brainstorming (never commit)

.gitlab-ci.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+# GitLab CI/CD for Shadowbroker
+#
+# Mirror of .github/workflows/docker-publish.yml — keeps the GitLab install
+# path (image registry + source) at parity with GitHub so users who prefer
+# GitLab get the same experience.
+#
+# What this does on every push to main:
+#   1. Builds multi-arch (amd64 + arm64) Docker images for the backend and
+#      frontend, pushes them to the project's GitLab Container Registry:
+#        registry.gitlab.com/bigbodycobain/shadowbroker/backend:latest
+#        registry.gitlab.com/bigbodycobain/shadowbroker/frontend:latest
+#      Both also get a :$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA tag for traceability.
+#   2. Reverse-mirrors main back to GitHub (only if commits land directly
+#      on GitLab) so the two sources stay in sync.
+#
+# Auth notes:
+#   - The image build/push uses $CI_JOB_TOKEN, which GitLab provides
+#     automatically. No credentials need to be configured.
+#   - The reverse mirror requires a GitHub personal access token stored
+#     as the GitLab CI/CD variable GITHUB_MIRROR_TOKEN (Protected + Masked).
+#     Scope: public_repo (or repo for private). If the variable isn't
+#     set the mirror job is skipped — image builds still run.
+
+stages:
+  - build
+  - mirror
+
+variables:
+  # Use the dind service for buildx multi-arch builds.
+  DOCKER_HOST: tcp://docker:2376
+  DOCKER_TLS_CERTDIR: "/certs"
+  DOCKER_DRIVER: overlay2
+  # QEMU is what lets a single x86 runner build arm64 images. dind doesn't
+  # install it by default; we install via tonistiigi/binfmt below.
+  BUILDX_VERSION: "v0.14.1"
+  # Repository-relative paths.
+  BACKEND_IMAGE: $CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE/backend
+  FRONTEND_IMAGE: $CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE/frontend
+
+# Shared template: bootstraps buildx + QEMU on the dind service so a single
+# runner can produce both amd64 and arm64 manifests in one push.
+.buildx-setup: &buildx-setup
+  image: docker:24
+  services:
+    - name: docker:24-dind
+      command: ["--tls=true"]
+  before_script:
+    - docker info
+    - docker login -u "$CI_REGISTRY_USER" -p "$CI_JOB_TOKEN" "$CI_REGISTRY"
+    - docker run --privileged --rm tonistiigi/binfmt --install all
+    - docker buildx create --use --name multiarch --driver docker-container
+
+# ── Backend image ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+build-backend:
+  <<: *buildx-setup
+  stage: build
+  script:
+    - >
+      docker buildx build
+      --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64
+      --file backend/Dockerfile
+      --tag $BACKEND_IMAGE:latest
+      --tag $BACKEND_IMAGE:$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA
+      --push
+      .
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main" && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main" && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule"
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"
+      changes:
+        - backend/**/*
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+
+# ── Frontend image ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+build-frontend:
+  <<: *buildx-setup
+  stage: build
+  script:
+    - cd frontend
+    - >
+      docker buildx build
+      --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64
+      --tag $FRONTEND_IMAGE:latest
+      --tag $FRONTEND_IMAGE:$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA
+      --push
+      .
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main" && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main" && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule"
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"
+      changes:
+        - frontend/**/*
+        - .gitlab-ci.yml
+
+# ── Reverse mirror to GitHub ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Pushes refs/heads/main to github.com/BigBodyCobain/Shadowbroker.
+# Fast-forward-only — if GitLab main and GitHub main have diverged, this
+# fails loudly rather than silently overwriting either side.
+#
+# Only runs if GITHUB_MIRROR_TOKEN is set as a CI/CD variable. See the
+# header comment of this file for setup instructions.
+mirror-to-github:
+  stage: mirror
+  image: alpine:3.20
+  needs: []
+  before_script:
+    - apk add --no-cache git openssh-client ca-certificates
+  script:
+    - git config --global user.email "ci-mirror@gitlab.com"
+    - git config --global user.name "GitLab CI Mirror"
+    - >
+      git clone --depth=50 --branch main
+      "https://oauth2:${CI_JOB_TOKEN}@gitlab.com/${CI_PROJECT_PATH}.git"
+      repo
+    - cd repo
+    - >
+      git push
+      "https://x-access-token:${GITHUB_MIRROR_TOKEN}@github.com/BigBodyCobain/Shadowbroker.git"
+      "${CI_COMMIT_SHA}:refs/heads/main"
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main" && $GITHUB_MIRROR_TOKEN

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+# Contributing to Shadowbroker
+
+Thank you for taking the time to contribute. This document covers things specific to this project — for general open-source contribution etiquette, see the GitHub docs.
+
+---
+
+## Code contributions
+
+1. Fork the repo on GitHub (`bigbodycobain/Shadowbroker`) or GitLab (`bigbodycobain/Shadowbroker` mirror).
+2. Make your changes on a feature branch.
+3. Run the local test suite:
+   - Backend: `pytest backend/tests/`
+   - Frontend: `cd frontend && npx vitest run`
+4. Open a Pull Request against `main`.
+
+CI runs on every PR. If CI fails, that's blocking — please push fixes rather than asking for it to be merged anyway.
+
+---
+
+## Reporting security issues
+
+Do **not** file security issues as public GitHub issues. Email the maintainer or use a private security advisory on GitHub. Public disclosure of an exploitable vulnerability without prior coordination will be rejected from the project.
+
+---
+
+## Translation contributions
+
+Shadowbroker supports UI localization (`frontend/src/i18n/`). Translation contributions are welcome but held to a stricter standard than most code changes, because translations can subtly reshape user perception in ways that are hard to spot during review. Read this section before submitting one.
+
+### The neutrality requirement
+
+**Translations must be technically faithful to the English source.** That means:
+
+- Each `t('key')` entry should mean approximately the same thing in the target language as in English, modulo idiom.
+- Technical terms with established meanings (e.g. "GPS jamming," "military flight," "Tor," "onion routing," "encryption") should be translated using the corresponding established technical term in the target language — **not** softened, rebranded, or politically reframed.
+- The set of UI strings should be **the same** between languages. Don't omit features from one locale that are visible in another.
+
+### What will get a translation PR rejected
+
+Translation choices that align the project with the framing or terminology of state propaganda — from **any** country — will be rejected. This applies symmetrically:
+
+| Country / source | Examples of substitutions we will reject |
+|---|---|
+| **PRC / CCP** | Calling Taiwan a "province" or "renegade province"; reframing protest layers as "riots"; using softened or euphemistic terms for surveillance, internment, or jamming when the source text is direct |
+| **Russia** | Calling the Ukraine war a "special military operation"; relabeling occupied territories as Russian; softening sanctions/jamming/disinfo terminology |
+| **United States / EU** | Reframing adversaries with editorial labels not in the source (e.g. inserting "regime" where the English says "government"); applying labels like "terrorist" or "rogue state" to entities the English source describes neutrally |
+| **Israel / Palestine / any active conflict** | Substituting one side's preferred terminology when the source uses the other side's or a neutral term |
+| **Any government** | Adding political slogans, omitting features that government finds inconvenient, or inserting terminology associated with a specific political faction |
+
+The test is **"would a translator working strictly from the English source produce this rendering?"** If the answer requires assuming a political stance the source does not take, the substitution does not belong in the translation.
+
+### How translation PRs are reviewed
+
+Changes to `frontend/src/i18n/**` are owned by the maintainer (see `CODEOWNERS`) and require explicit approval. We will:
+
+1. Diff the translation against the English source key-by-key.
+2. Spot-check a sample of entries with a native speaker of the target language when possible.
+3. Look for the patterns above.
+4. Look for suspicious additions to the i18n infrastructure itself (e.g. a remote translation fetcher, telemetry on language choice) — the i18n layer is supposed to be 100% client-side static JSON.
+
+A PR that adds a new language is harder to review than one that fixes typos in an existing language. For new languages, please be patient and expect a real review window. For typo fixes, please describe each change in the PR body so the reviewer can verify intent.
+
+### What about adding a new language?
+
+We welcome new languages. The mechanical setup is documented in the header comment of `frontend/src/i18n/index.ts`. Beyond that:
+
+- We are more likely to merge a new language quickly if at least one reviewer in the maintainer's network speaks it.
+- If you are the *only* speaker of the target language reading this repo, your translation is welcome but the merge timeline will be longer while a reviewer is found.
+- Partial translations are fine — the system falls back to English for any missing key.
+
+---
+
+## Anything else
+
+If you have a question that isn't a security report, opening a GitHub Discussion or a draft PR with a question in the body is the fastest way to get a response. Direct emails are read but not always replied to promptly.

README.md

@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ ShadowBroker includes an optional Shodan connector for operator-supplied API acc
 
 ## ⚡ Quick Start (Docker)
 
+### From GitHub (default — uses GHCR images)
+
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/bigbodycobain/Shadowbroker.git
 cd Shadowbroker
@@ -68,6 +70,17 @@ docker compose pull
 docker compose up -d
 ```
 
+### From GitLab (uses GitLab Container Registry)
+
+```bash
+git clone https://gitlab.com/bigbodycobain/Shadowbroker.git
+cd Shadowbroker
+docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.gitlab.yml pull
+docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.gitlab.yml up -d
+```
+
+Both paths produce identical containers — same source, same CI, same images byte-for-byte. Pick whichever ecosystem you already use.
+
 Open `http://localhost:3000` to view the dashboard! *(Requires [Docker Desktop](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/) or Docker Engine)*
 
 > **Backend port already in use?** The browser only needs port `3000`, but the backend API is also published on host port `8000` for local diagnostics. If another app already uses `8000`, create or edit `.env` next to `docker-compose.yml` and set `BACKEND_PORT=8001`, then run `docker compose up -d`.
@@ -136,8 +149,13 @@ helm repo update
 
 **2. Install the Chart:**
 ```bash
-# Install from the local helm/chart directory
+# Default — pulls images from GHCR
 helm install shadowbroker ./helm/chart --create-namespace --namespace shadowbroker
+
+# GitLab registry variant
+helm install shadowbroker ./helm/chart --create-namespace --namespace shadowbroker \
+  -f helm/chart/values.yaml \
+  -f helm/chart/values-gitlab.yaml
 ```
 
 **3. Key Features:**

backend/.env.example

@@ -24,8 +24,40 @@ AIS_API_KEY=              # https://aisstream.io/ — free tier WebSocket key
 # Requires MESH_DEBUG_MODE=true; do not enable this for ordinary use.
 # ALLOW_INSECURE_ADMIN=false
 
+# Default outbound User-Agent for all third-party HTTP fetchers.
+# Project-generic by default — does NOT include any personal contact info or
+# operator-specific identifier. Override only if you run a public relay and
+# want upstreams to be able to reach you (e.g. Nominatim/OSM usage policy).
+# SHADOWBROKER_USER_AGENT=ShadowBroker-OSINT/0.9 (contact: ops@example.com)
+
 # User-Agent for Nominatim geocoding requests (per OSM usage policy).
-# NOMINATIM_USER_AGENT=ShadowBroker/1.0 (https://github.com/BigBodyCobain/Shadowbroker)
+# NOMINATIM_USER_AGENT=ShadowBroker/1.0
+
+# ── Third-party fetcher opt-ins ────────────────────────────────
+# These data sources phone home to politically/commercially sensitive
+# upstreams. Disabled by default; set to "true" only if the operator
+# explicitly wants the node's IP to contact these services.
+#
+# CrowdThreat — backend.crowdthreat.world (paid threat-intel aggregator).
+# CROWDTHREAT_ENABLED=false
+#
+# EUvsDisinfo FIMI — euvsdisinfo.eu (EU disinformation tracker).
+# FIMI_ENABLED=false
+#
+# Polymarket + Kalshi — US political/election prediction markets.
+# PREDICTION_MARKETS_ENABLED=false
+#
+# Finnhub fallback / yfinance — financial market data.
+# Set FINNHUB_API_KEY to enable Finnhub, or set FINANCIAL_ENABLED=true to allow
+# the unauthenticated yfinance fallback to call Yahoo Finance.
+# FINANCIAL_ENABLED=false
+#
+# NUFORC UAP sightings — huggingface.co dataset download.
+# NUFORC_ENABLED=false
+#
+# News RSS aggregator — defaults ON. Set to "false" to disable all
+# configured news feeds (kill switch for the news layer).
+# NEWS_ENABLED=true
 
 # LTA Singapore traffic cameras — leave blank to skip this data source.
 # LTA_ACCOUNT_KEY=
@@ -61,8 +93,12 @@ AIS_API_KEY=              # https://aisstream.io/ — free tier WebSocket key
 # Optional Meshtastic node ID (e.g. "!abcd1234"). When set, included in the
 # User-Agent sent to meshtastic.liamcottle.net so the upstream service operator
 # can identify per-install traffic instead of aggregated "ShadowBroker" hits.
-# Leave blank to send a generic UA with the project contact email only.
+# Leave blank to send a generic UA. If you set MESHTASTIC_OPERATOR_CALLSIGN,
+# it is included in outbound headers to meshtastic.org by default so they
+# can rate-limit per-operator. Set MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER=false to
+# suppress the callsign while still using it locally (e.g. for APRS).
 # MESHTASTIC_OPERATOR_CALLSIGN=
+# MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER=true
 # MESH_MQTT_PSK=                       # hex-encoded, empty = default LongFast key
 
 # ── Mesh / Reticulum (RNS) ─────────────────────────────────────

backend/ais_proxy.js

@@ -1,5 +1,37 @@
+// AIS Stream WebSocket proxy.
+//
+// Reads AIS_API_KEY from argv or env, opens a wss:// connection to
+// stream.aisstream.io, subscribes for vessel position reports inside the
+// active map bounding boxes, and pipes JSON messages to stdout for the
+// Python backend to ingest.
+//
+// Issue #258 — SPKI pinning fallback for upstream cert outages
+// -------------------------------------------------------------
+// AISStream uses Let's Encrypt and their renewal pipeline has been observed
+// to fail (cert expired on 2026-05-20). The naive fix the issue reporter
+// applied — passing { rejectUnauthorized: false } — turns off TLS validation
+// entirely, which lets any network attacker MITM the WebSocket and inject
+// fake ship positions onto the operator's map. Same class as the GDELT
+// plaintext-HTTP MITM issue (#199).
+//
+// Instead, when the normal TLS handshake fails with CERT_HAS_EXPIRED, we
+// do a custom TLS connection that ignores ONLY the expiry check, capture
+// the leaf certificate, and compare its public-key SPKI hash against a
+// pinned list (backend/data/aisstream_spki_pins.json). If the SPKI matches,
+// the upstream is still the genuine AISStream — just with an expired cert —
+// and we proceed in "degraded TLS" mode. If the SPKI does not match, we
+// refuse the connection and log loudly: an actual MITM is in progress.
+//
+// Let's Encrypt renewals keep the same public key by default, so the pinned
+// SPKI survives normal cert rotation. The pin list MUST be updated before
+// the operator's pinned key is rotated upstream.
+
 const WebSocket = require('ws');
 const readline = require('readline');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const path = require('path');
+const tls = require('tls');
+const crypto = require('crypto');
 
 const args = process.argv.slice(2);
 const API_KEY = args[0] || process.env.AIS_API_KEY;
@@ -9,6 +41,135 @@ if (!API_KEY) {
     process.exit(1);
 }
 
+// ── SPKI pin support (issue #258) ─────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const AIS_HOST = 'stream.aisstream.io';
+const AIS_PORT = 443;
+const AIS_WS_URL = `wss://${AIS_HOST}/v0/stream`;
+
+// Pin file is looked up in several layouts so the same JS works in:
+//   - the Docker backend image (PIN_FILE_CANDIDATES[0])
+//   - the Tauri desktop runtime (PIN_FILE_CANDIDATES[1])
+//   - a future relocated layout (operator can drop a file at
+//     SHADOWBROKER_AIS_PINS env var)
+const PIN_FILE_CANDIDATES = [
+    process.env.SHADOWBROKER_AIS_PINS || '',
+    path.join(__dirname, 'data', 'aisstream_spki_pins.json'),
+    path.join(__dirname, 'aisstream_spki_pins.json'),
+].filter(Boolean);
+
+// Embedded fallback. Used when no external pin file is reachable so the
+// SPKI fallback still works on minimal/portable installs. The external
+// file (when present) takes priority so operators can update pins without
+// needing a new build.
+const EMBEDDED_PINS = {
+    [AIS_HOST]: [
+        // Captured 2026-05-20 from AISStream's leaf cert (Let's Encrypt R12).
+        // Replace when AISStream rotates server keys.
+        'GJ10H0UPgLrO+2d3ZXROR/TXSVFXKUfRC3QEI2ibEg4=',
+    ],
+};
+
+let aisDegradedMode = false;  // surfaced via stdout status_query marker
+
+function loadSpkiPins() {
+    for (const candidate of PIN_FILE_CANDIDATES) {
+        try {
+            const raw = fs.readFileSync(candidate, 'utf-8');
+            const parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
+            const pins = Array.isArray(parsed[AIS_HOST]) ? parsed[AIS_HOST] : [];
+            const cleaned = pins
+                .filter((p) => typeof p === 'string' && p.length > 0)
+                .map((p) => p.trim());
+            if (cleaned.length > 0) {
+                return cleaned;
+            }
+        } catch (e) {
+            // Try the next candidate — file may not exist in this layout.
+            continue;
+        }
+    }
+    const embedded = (EMBEDDED_PINS[AIS_HOST] || []).slice();
+    if (embedded.length > 0) {
+        console.error(
+            '[AIS Proxy] No external SPKI pin file found; using embedded fallback. '
+            + `(Set SHADOWBROKER_AIS_PINS or drop ${PIN_FILE_CANDIDATES[1]} to override.)`
+        );
+    }
+    return embedded;
+}
+
+function spkiHashFromPeerCert(peerCert) {
+    // tls.TLSSocket.getPeerCertificate() exposes .pubkey when called with
+    // detailed=true. The pubkey buffer is the DER-encoded SubjectPublicKeyInfo,
+    // which is exactly the value we hash for SPKI pinning.
+    if (!peerCert || !peerCert.pubkey) return null;
+    return crypto.createHash('sha256').update(peerCert.pubkey).digest('base64');
+}
+
+// Probe the upstream when normal TLS failed with CERT_HAS_EXPIRED. We open
+// a raw TLS connection with rejectUnauthorized=false ONLY to inspect the
+// leaf cert; we do NOT use this socket for the actual WebSocket traffic.
+// Returns { ok: true } if the leaf SPKI matches the pin list, { ok: false }
+// with a reason otherwise.
+function verifyExpiredCertAgainstPins() {
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+        const pins = loadSpkiPins();
+        if (pins.length === 0) {
+            resolve({ ok: false, reason: 'no SPKI pins configured' });
+            return;
+        }
+        const sock = tls.connect(
+            {
+                host: AIS_HOST,
+                port: AIS_PORT,
+                servername: AIS_HOST,
+                // Allow the handshake to complete despite the expired cert
+                // so we can inspect the leaf. We do NOT trust this connection
+                // for any application data.
+                rejectUnauthorized: false,
+            },
+            () => {
+                const peer = sock.getPeerCertificate(true);
+                sock.end();
+                if (!peer || Object.keys(peer).length === 0) {
+                    resolve({ ok: false, reason: 'no peer certificate returned' });
+                    return;
+                }
+                if (peer.subject && peer.subject.CN !== AIS_HOST) {
+                    resolve({
+                        ok: false,
+                        reason: `cert CN mismatch (got ${peer.subject.CN}, expected ${AIS_HOST})`,
+                    });
+                    return;
+                }
+                const hash = spkiHashFromPeerCert(peer);
+                if (!hash) {
+                    resolve({ ok: false, reason: 'could not compute SPKI hash from peer cert' });
+                    return;
+                }
+                if (pins.includes(hash)) {
+                    resolve({ ok: true, hash });
+                } else {
+                    resolve({
+                        ok: false,
+                        reason: `SPKI ${hash} not in pin list (possible MITM)`,
+                    });
+                }
+            },
+        );
+        sock.setTimeout(10000, () => {
+            sock.destroy();
+            resolve({ ok: false, reason: 'TLS probe timeout' });
+        });
+        sock.on('error', (err) => {
+            resolve({ ok: false, reason: `TLS probe error: ${err.message}` });
+        });
+    });
+}
+
+// ── Subscription state ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
 // Start with global coverage, until frontend updates it
 let currentBboxes = [[[-90, -180], [90, 180]]];
 let activeWs = null;
@@ -42,14 +203,34 @@ rl.on('line', (line) => {
             currentBboxes = cmd.bboxes;
             if (activeWs) sendSub(activeWs); // Resend subscription (swap and replace)
         }
+        if (cmd.type === "status_query") {
+            // Allow the Python side to probe degraded-mode state by sending
+            // {"type": "status_query"} on stdin. Reply on stdout as a marker.
+            process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({
+                __ais_proxy_status: { degraded_tls: aisDegradedMode }
+            }) + '\n');
+        }
     } catch (e) {}
 });
 
-function connect() {
-    const ws = new WebSocket('wss://stream.aisstream.io/v0/stream');
+function attachWsHandlers(ws, { degraded } = { degraded: false }) {
     activeWs = ws;
 
     ws.on('open', () => {
+        if (degraded) {
+            console.error(
+                '[AIS Proxy] Connected in DEGRADED TLS MODE — upstream cert is expired '
+                + 'but SPKI matches the pinned key, so identity is still verified. '
+                + 'AISStream needs to renew their cert; until then MITM protection '
+                + 'depends only on the SPKI match. Watch backend logs for resolution.'
+            );
+            aisDegradedMode = true;
+        } else {
+            if (aisDegradedMode) {
+                console.error('[AIS Proxy] Reconnected with full TLS validation — degraded mode cleared.');
+            }
+            aisDegradedMode = false;
+        }
         sendSub(ws);
     });
 
@@ -61,14 +242,63 @@ function connect() {
     });
 
     ws.on('error', (err) => {
-        console.error("WebSocket Proxy Error:", err.message);
+        console.error('WebSocket Proxy Error:', err.message);
     });
 
     ws.on('close', () => {
         activeWs = null;
-        console.error("WebSocket Proxy Closed. Reconnecting in 5s...");
+        console.error('WebSocket Proxy Closed. Reconnecting in 5s...');
         setTimeout(connect, 5000);
     });
 }
 
+function connect() {
+    // Path A: normal TLS validation (the 99.9% case). If this succeeds we
+    // never touch the SPKI fallback.
+    const ws = new WebSocket(AIS_WS_URL);
+
+    let openedOk = false;
+    ws.on('open', () => { openedOk = true; });
+
+    ws.on('error', async (err) => {
+        // Only the CERT_HAS_EXPIRED case triggers SPKI verification. Any
+        // other TLS or network error gets the standard reconnect path so we
+        // don't accidentally cover up legitimate problems.
+        if (!openedOk && err && err.code === 'CERT_HAS_EXPIRED') {
+            console.error(
+                '[AIS Proxy] Upstream certificate is expired. Verifying SPKI '
+                + 'against pinned keys before deciding whether to proceed in '
+                + 'degraded mode...'
+            );
+            const verdict = await verifyExpiredCertAgainstPins();
+            if (verdict.ok) {
+                console.error(
+                    `[AIS Proxy] SPKI ${verdict.hash} matches pinned key — `
+                    + 'identity is verified, proceeding in DEGRADED TLS mode.'
+                );
+                const insecureWs = new WebSocket(AIS_WS_URL, {
+                    rejectUnauthorized: false,
+                });
+                attachWsHandlers(insecureWs, { degraded: true });
+            } else {
+                console.error(
+                    `[AIS Proxy] SPKI verification FAILED (${verdict.reason}). `
+                    + 'Refusing to connect — this would normally indicate an active '
+                    + 'MITM attack. If AISStream rotated their server key, update '
+                    + 'backend/data/aisstream_spki_pins.json with the new SPKI hash.'
+                );
+                // Schedule a retry — operator may have updated the pin file.
+                setTimeout(connect, 60000);
+            }
+            return;
+        }
+        // Default: surface the error and let the close handler reconnect.
+        console.error('WebSocket Proxy Error:', err.message);
+    });
+
+    // Wire normal handlers — these apply unless the error handler above
+    // takes over and replaces activeWs with an insecure socket.
+    attachWsHandlers(ws, { degraded: false });
+}
+
 connect();

backend/auth.py

@@ -245,15 +245,90 @@ def _docker_bridge_local_operator_enabled() -> bool:
     }
 
 
+# Issue #250 (tg12): the previous implementation returned True for any IP
+# in the entire 172.16.0.0/12 range. Anyone with `docker run` access on
+# the same daemon could spin up a container that automatically passed
+# local-operator auth. The fix narrows trust to ONLY connections whose
+# source IP matches the configured frontend container's hostname.
+#
+# Docker DNS resolves both the compose service name (``frontend``) and
+# the explicit ``container_name`` (``shadowbroker-frontend``) to the
+# frontend container's bridge IP. We forward-resolve both, cache the
+# result for 30s, and only trust connections from those exact IPs.
+#
+# Operators on shared Docker hosts get the benefit of the narrower
+# surface. Operators on single-user installs see no behavior change —
+# their frontend container still resolves and is still trusted.
+_DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_CACHE: dict = {"ips": frozenset(), "expires": 0.0}
+_DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_TTL = 30.0
+
+
+def _trusted_bridge_frontend_hostnames() -> list[str]:
+    """Container hostnames whose IPs we treat as local-operator on the bridge.
+
+    Default covers both Docker Compose service name (``frontend``) and the
+    explicit ``container_name`` from the shipped docker-compose.yml
+    (``shadowbroker-frontend``). Operators with non-default names can
+    override via the ``SHADOWBROKER_TRUSTED_FRONTEND_HOSTS`` env var
+    (comma-separated, no spaces).
+    """
+    raw = str(
+        os.environ.get(
+            "SHADOWBROKER_TRUSTED_FRONTEND_HOSTS",
+            "frontend,shadowbroker-frontend",
+        )
+    ).strip()
+    return [h.strip() for h in raw.split(",") if h.strip()]
+
+
+def _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips() -> frozenset[str]:
+    """Resolve trusted frontend hostnames to a set of IPs, with caching.
+
+    Cached for 30s so we don't hit DNS on every request. The cache is
+    process-local — frontend container IP rotations during a backend's
+    lifetime will be picked up within 30s.
+
+    Returns frozenset() if Docker DNS can't resolve any of the configured
+    hostnames (fail-closed — when in doubt, refuse to trust the bridge).
+    """
+    import socket
+    import time as _time
+
+    now = _time.time()
+    cache = _DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_CACHE
+    if cache["expires"] > now:
+        return cache["ips"]
+
+    ips: set[str] = set()
+    for hostname in _trusted_bridge_frontend_hostnames():
+        try:
+            _, _, addrs = socket.gethostbyname_ex(hostname)
+        except (OSError, socket.gaierror):
+            continue
+        for addr in addrs:
+            ips.add(addr)
+
+    resolved = frozenset(ips)
+    cache["ips"] = resolved
+    cache["expires"] = now + _DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_TTL
+    return resolved
+
+
 def _is_docker_bridge_host(host: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True only when the source IP matches our trusted frontend
+    container hostname(s).
+
+    Previously trusted any 172.16.0.0/12 IP unconditionally. See the
+    block comment above for the security rationale.
+    """
     try:
         ip = ipaddress.ip_address(host)
     except ValueError:
         return False
-    # Docker Desktop and the default compose bridge normally sit inside
-    # 172.16.0.0/12. Keep this narrower than "any private IP" so a user who
-    # intentionally binds the backend to LAN does not silently trust LAN clients.
-    return ip in ipaddress.ip_network("172.16.0.0/12")
+    # Public IPs are never our frontend container — skip DNS work for them.
+    if not ip.is_private:
+        return False
+    return host in _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips()
 
 
 def _is_trusted_local_runtime_host(host: str) -> bool:
@@ -361,6 +436,8 @@ async def _verify_openclaw_hmac(request: Request) -> bool:
     # Bind request body: digest the raw bytes so any body tampering
     # invalidates the signature.  Empty/absent bodies hash as sha256(b"").
     body_bytes = await request.body()
+    # Keep the cached body available for downstream handlers that call request.json().
+    request._body = body_bytes
     body_digest = _hashlib_mod.sha256(body_bytes).hexdigest()
 
     # Compute expected signature: HMAC-SHA256(secret, METHOD|path|ts|nonce|body_digest)

backend/data/aisstream_spki_pins.json

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{
+  "_comment": [
+    "SPKI (Subject Public Key Info) pin list for stream.aisstream.io.",
+    "",
+    "Issue #258: AISStream's Let's Encrypt cert expired on 2026-05-20 due to an",
+    "upstream renewal-pipeline failure. Disabling TLS verification entirely",
+    "would let any network attacker MITM the AIS WebSocket and inject fake",
+    "ship positions onto the operator's map (same class as #199 GDELT MITM).",
+    "Instead we pin the leaf certificate's public-key SPKI hash: if normal",
+    "TLS validation fails specifically with CERT_HAS_EXPIRED, ais_proxy.js",
+    "re-checks the leaf cert's SPKI against this list. A match means the",
+    "key is still the genuine AISStream key (Let's Encrypt renewals keep the",
+    "same key unless rekey is requested), so we proceed in 'degraded TLS'",
+    "mode. A mismatch means a real MITM attempt and we refuse the connection.",
+    "",
+    "Format: each entry is a SHA-256 hash of the DER-encoded SPKI bytes,",
+    "encoded as standard base64 (matches the format produced by:",
+    "  openssl s_client -connect host:443 | \\",
+    "    openssl x509 -pubkey -noout | openssl pkey -pubin -outform DER | \\",
+    "    openssl dgst -sha256 -binary | openssl base64",
+    ").",
+    "",
+    "When AISStream rotates their server key (rare — Let's Encrypt renewals",
+    "default to keeping the same key), capture the new SPKI and add it to",
+    "this list BEFORE removing the old one. That way operators on the old",
+    "code still validate against the previous key during the transition."
+  ],
+  "stream.aisstream.io": [
+    "GJ10H0UPgLrO+2d3ZXROR/TXSVFXKUfRC3QEI2ibEg4="
+  ]
+}

backend/data/release_digests.json

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+  "_comment": [
+    "Baked-in SHA-256 digests for known Shadowbroker release archives.",
+    "",
+    "Issue #231: the self-updater previously skipped integrity verification",
+    "entirely whenever the MESH_UPDATE_SHA256 env var was unset (which is the",
+    "default — nothing in the install docs tells operators to set it). That",
+    "made the auto-update a supply-chain RCE on any compromise of the GitHub",
+    "release pipeline.",
+    "",
+    "The fix uses a multi-source verification chain mirroring the Tor bundle",
+    "digest approach in #201:",
+    "",
+    "  1. MESH_UPDATE_SHA256 env var (operator override, preserved)",
+    "  2. SHA256SUMS.txt asset published alongside each release (primary —",
+    "     the maintainer's release process already publishes this)",
+    "  3. This baked-in digest list (second line of defense for releases",
+    "     missing a SHA256SUMS asset, or when the asset can't be fetched)",
+    "  4. HTTPS-only fallback with a loud warning (preserves auto-update",
+    "     flow during transient outages so users don't get stuck)",
+    "",
+    "Mismatch from a source that DID respond is fatal — the update is",
+    "refused and the existing install keeps running. Only the 'no source",
+    "reachable at all' case falls back to HTTPS-only.",
+    "",
+    "Format: each entry is keyed by release tag and maps asset filenames",
+    "to their canonical SHA-256 digest (hex, lowercase). The updater",
+    "compares the locally-computed digest of the downloaded asset against",
+    "the value here.",
+    "",
+    "When the maintainer ships a new release, add its digests here BEFORE",
+    "removing the old ones so operators on the old code still validate",
+    "against the previous entries during the transition."
+  ],
+  "v0.9.79": {
+    "ShadowBroker_v0.9.79.zip": "f6877c1d66614525315ea82636ce9f7b41178332c4dbf90d27431a1ea1d9cd47",
+    "ShadowBroker_0.9.79_x64-setup.exe": "f7b676ada45cac7da05868b0a353678c9ee700e3abcf456a7c0c038c36da446f",
+    "ShadowBroker_0.9.79_x64_en-US.msi": "e0713c3cdda184cfbea750bfac0d62a35678fec00847e6476f2cac8e7e42046e"
+  }
+}

backend/data/tor_bundle_digests.json

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{
+  "_comment": [
+    "Pinned SHA-256 digests for the Tor Expert Bundle archives we know how to install.",
+    "Used as the LAST-RESORT verification source when the upstream .sha256sum file is",
+    "unreachable, MITM'd, or doesn't match what we downloaded. Issue #201.",
+    "",
+    "Each entry is keyed by the archive URL (so multiple platforms / versions",
+    "can share this one file) and contains the canonical SHA-256 we trust.",
+    "",
+    "When the project tests a new Tor release, add its digest here in the same",
+    "PR that bumps _TOR_EXPERT_BUNDLE_URLS. Old entries are kept indefinitely so",
+    "users on older versions keep working — we only ever ADD here, never remove."
+  ],
+  "https://dist.torproject.org/torbrowser/15.0.11/tor-expert-bundle-windows-x86_64-15.0.11.tar.gz": "PLACEHOLDER_REPLACE_BEFORE_RELEASE",
+  "https://dist.torproject.org/torbrowser/15.0.8/tor-expert-bundle-windows-x86_64-15.0.8.tar.gz": "PLACEHOLDER_REPLACE_BEFORE_RELEASE"
+}

backend/docker-entrypoint.sh

@@ -14,4 +14,9 @@ if [ -d /app/image-data ]; then
   done
 fi
 
+if [ -z "${PRIVACY_CORE_ALLOWED_SHA256:-}" ] && [ -f /app/libprivacy_core.so ]; then
+  PRIVACY_CORE_ALLOWED_SHA256="$(sha256sum /app/libprivacy_core.so | awk '{print $1}')"
+  export PRIVACY_CORE_ALLOWED_SHA256
+fi
+
 exec "$@"

backend/main.py

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Any
 from json import JSONDecodeError
 
-APP_VERSION = "0.9.75"
+APP_VERSION = "0.9.79"
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -1386,7 +1386,12 @@ def _peer_sync_response(peer_url: str, body: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
     if _infonet_private_transport_required() and not _is_private_infonet_transport(transport):
         raise RuntimeError(_infonet_private_transport_error())
 
-    timeout = int(get_settings().MESH_RELAY_PUSH_TIMEOUT_S or 10)
+    settings = get_settings()
+    timeout = int(
+        getattr(settings, "MESH_SYNC_TIMEOUT_S", 0)
+        or getattr(settings, "MESH_RELAY_PUSH_TIMEOUT_S", 0)
+        or 10
+    )
     kwargs: dict[str, Any] = {
         "json": body,
         "timeout": timeout,
@@ -1509,6 +1514,8 @@ def _run_public_sync_cycle() -> SyncWorkerState:
 
     records = _filter_infonet_sync_records(store.records())
     peers = eligible_sync_peers(records, now=time.time())
+    max_peers = max(1, int(getattr(get_settings(), "MESH_SYNC_MAX_PEERS_PER_CYCLE", 0) or 3))
+    peers = peers[:max_peers]
     with _NODE_RUNTIME_LOCK:
         current_state = get_sync_state()
     if not peers:
@@ -1571,14 +1578,25 @@ def _run_public_sync_cycle() -> SyncWorkerState:
             return updated
 
         last_error = error
+        settings = get_settings()
+        is_seed_peer = str(getattr(record, "role", "") or "").strip().lower() == "seed"
+        cooldown_s = int(getattr(settings, "MESH_RELAY_FAILURE_COOLDOWN_S", 120) or 120)
+        if is_seed_peer:
+            cooldown_s = int(
+                getattr(settings, "MESH_BOOTSTRAP_SEED_FAILURE_COOLDOWN_S", cooldown_s)
+                or cooldown_s
+            )
         store.mark_failure(
             record.peer_url,
             "sync",
             error=error,
-            cooldown_s=int(get_settings().MESH_RELAY_FAILURE_COOLDOWN_S or 120),
+            cooldown_s=cooldown_s,
             now=time.time(),
         )
         store.save()
+        failure_backoff_s = int(settings.MESH_SYNC_FAILURE_BACKOFF_S or 60)
+        if is_seed_peer:
+            failure_backoff_s = min(failure_backoff_s, max(1, cooldown_s))
         updated = finish_sync(
             started,
             ok=False,
@@ -1588,7 +1606,7 @@ def _run_public_sync_cycle() -> SyncWorkerState:
             fork_detected=forked,
             now=time.time(),
             interval_s=int(get_settings().MESH_SYNC_INTERVAL_S or 300),
-            failure_backoff_s=int(get_settings().MESH_SYNC_FAILURE_BACKOFF_S or 60),
+            failure_backoff_s=failure_backoff_s,
         )
         with _NODE_RUNTIME_LOCK:
             set_sync_state(updated)
@@ -3043,6 +3061,17 @@ def _request_private_surface_warmup(*, path: str, method: str, current_tier: str
     )
 
 
+def _is_invite_scoped_prekey_bundle_lookup(request: Request, path: str) -> bool:
+    if request.method.upper() != "GET" or str(path or "").strip() != "/api/mesh/dm/prekey-bundle":
+        return False
+    try:
+        lookup_token = str(request.query_params.get("lookup_token", "") or "").strip()
+        agent_id = str(request.query_params.get("agent_id", "") or "").strip()
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+    return bool(lookup_token) and not agent_id
+
+
 def _resume_private_delivery_background_work(*, current_tier: str, reason: str) -> None:
     pending_items = private_delivery_outbox.pending_items()
     if not pending_items:
@@ -3061,6 +3090,24 @@ def _resume_private_delivery_background_work(*, current_tier: str, reason: str)
     )
 
 
+def _is_public_meshtastic_lane_path(path: str, method: str) -> bool:
+    """Routes for the public Meshtastic MQTT lane.
+
+    These are intentionally outside the Wormhole/Infonet private transport
+    lifecycle. Polling public MeshChat must not wake or re-enable Wormhole.
+    """
+    normalized_path = str(path or "").strip()
+    method_name = str(method or "").upper()
+    if method_name == "POST" and normalized_path == "/api/mesh/meshtastic/send":
+        return True
+    if method_name == "GET" and normalized_path in {
+        "/api/mesh/messages",
+        "/api/mesh/channels",
+    }:
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
 def _upgrade_invite_scoped_contact_preferences_background() -> dict[str, Any]:
     try:
         from services.mesh.mesh_wormhole_contacts import upgrade_invite_scoped_contact_preferences
@@ -3092,7 +3139,11 @@ def _refresh_lookup_handle_rotation_background(*, reason: str) -> dict[str, Any]
 @app.middleware("http")
 async def enforce_high_privacy_mesh(request: Request, call_next):
     path = request.url.path
-    if path.startswith("/api/mesh") or path.startswith("/api/wormhole/gate/") or path.startswith("/api/wormhole/dm/"):
+    private_mesh_path = path.startswith("/api/mesh") and not _is_public_meshtastic_lane_path(
+        path,
+        request.method,
+    )
+    if private_mesh_path or path.startswith("/api/wormhole/gate/") or path.startswith("/api/wormhole/dm/"):
         request.state._private_lane_started_at = time.perf_counter()
         current_tier = "public_degraded"
         try:
@@ -3151,6 +3202,17 @@ async def enforce_high_privacy_mesh(request: Request, call_next):
                     # transport has not finished coming up yet.
                     request.state._private_control_transport_pending = current_tier == "public_degraded"
                     request.state._private_lane_current_tier = current_tier
+                elif _is_invite_scoped_prekey_bundle_lookup(request, path):
+                    # A copied DM address carries a high-entropy invite lookup
+                    # handle. Returning the public prekey bundle for that
+                    # handle is the bootstrap step that lets first contact get
+                    # saved; blocking it behind the full private lane creates a
+                    # circular warm-up failure. Stable agent_id lookup still
+                    # follows the normal transport-tier policy.
+                    request.state._invite_prekey_lookup_transport_pending = (
+                        current_tier == "public_degraded"
+                    )
+                    request.state._private_lane_current_tier = current_tier
                 else:
                     # Tor-style: instead of failing, keep trying in the
                     # background and return an ok:True "preparing" response
@@ -3193,7 +3255,7 @@ async def enforce_high_privacy_mesh(request: Request, call_next):
             # Don't block the request on the upgrade — the transport
             # manager will converge in the background.
             if (
-                path.startswith("/api/mesh")
+                private_mesh_path
                 and str(data.get("privacy_profile", "default")).lower() == "high"
                 and not bool(data.get("enabled"))
             ):
@@ -3283,7 +3345,7 @@ async def force_refresh(request: Request):
     return {"status": "refreshing in background"}
 
 
-@app.post("/api/ais/feed")
+@app.post("/api/ais/feed", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("60/minute")
 async def ais_feed(request: Request):
     """Accept AIS-catcher HTTP JSON feed (POST decoded AIS messages)."""
@@ -3378,7 +3440,7 @@ class LayerUpdate(BaseModel):
     layers: dict[str, bool]
 
 
-@app.post("/api/layers")
+@app.post("/api/layers", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
 async def update_layers(update: LayerUpdate, request: Request):
     """Receive frontend layer toggle state. Starts/stops streams accordingly."""
@@ -3426,8 +3488,16 @@ async def update_layers(update: LayerUpdate, request: Request):
     from services.sigint_bridge import sigint_grid
 
     if old_mesh and not new_mesh:
-        sigint_grid.mesh.stop()
-        logger.info("Meshtastic MQTT bridge stopped (layer disabled)")
+        try:
+            from services.meshtastic_mqtt_settings import mqtt_bridge_enabled
+            keep_chat_running = mqtt_bridge_enabled()
+        except Exception:
+            keep_chat_running = False
+        if keep_chat_running:
+            logger.info("Meshtastic map layer disabled; MQTT bridge kept running for MeshChat")
+        else:
+            sigint_grid.mesh.stop()
+            logger.info("Meshtastic MQTT bridge stopped (layer disabled)")
     elif not old_mesh and new_mesh:
         # Respect the global MESH_MQTT_ENABLED gate even when the UI layer is
         # toggled on. The layer toggle should not bypass the opt-in flag that
@@ -4361,9 +4431,11 @@ async def mesh_send(request: Request):
     any_ok = any(r.ok for r in results)
 
     # ─── Mirror to Meshtastic bridge feed ────────────────────────
-    # The MQTT broker won't echo our own publishes back to our subscriber,
-    # so inject successfully-sent messages into the bridge's deque directly.
-    if any_ok and envelope.routed_via == "meshtastic":
+    # The MQTT broker won't echo our own publishes back to our subscriber, so
+    # inject successfully-sent channel broadcasts into the bridge directly.
+    # Node-targeted packets must not appear in the public channel feed.
+    is_direct_destination = MeshtasticTransport._parse_node_id(destination) is not None
+    if any_ok and envelope.routed_via == "meshtastic" and not is_direct_destination:
         try:
             from services.sigint_bridge import sigint_grid
 
@@ -4371,16 +4443,22 @@ async def mesh_send(request: Request):
             if bridge:
                 from datetime import datetime
 
-                bridge.messages.appendleft(
+                append_text = getattr(bridge, "append_text_message", None)
+                message_record = (
                     {
                         "from": MeshtasticTransport.mesh_address_for_sender(node_id),
-                        "to": destination if MeshtasticTransport._parse_node_id(destination) is not None else "broadcast",
+                        "to": "broadcast",
                         "text": message,
                         "region": credentials.get("mesh_region", "US"),
+                        "root": credentials.get("mesh_region", "US"),
                         "channel": body.get("channel", "LongFast"),
                         "timestamp": datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z",
                     }
                 )
+                if callable(append_text):
+                    append_text(message_record)
+                else:
+                    bridge.messages.appendleft(message_record)
         except Exception:
             pass  # Non-critical
 
@@ -4390,6 +4468,8 @@ async def mesh_send(request: Request):
         "event_id": "",
         "routed_via": envelope.routed_via,
         "route_reason": envelope.route_reason,
+        "direct": is_direct_destination,
+        "channel_echo": not is_direct_destination,
         "results": [r.to_dict() for r in results],
     }
 
@@ -4488,6 +4568,7 @@ async def mesh_messages(
     root: str = "",
     channel: str = "",
     limit: int = 30,
+    include_direct: bool = False,
 ):
     """Get recent Meshtastic text messages from the MQTT bridge."""
     from services.sigint_bridge import sigint_grid
@@ -4509,6 +4590,12 @@ async def mesh_messages(
         msgs = [m for m in msgs if m.get("root", "").upper() == root_filter]
     if channel:
         msgs = [m for m in msgs if m.get("channel", "").lower() == channel.lower()]
+    if not include_direct:
+        msgs = [
+            m
+            for m in msgs
+            if str(m.get("to") or "broadcast").strip().lower() in {"", "broadcast", "^all"}
+        ]
     return msgs[: min(limit, 100)]
 
 
@@ -8789,6 +8876,16 @@ export_wormhole_dm_invite = getattr(
     "export_wormhole_dm_invite",
     _wormhole_identity_unavailable,
 )
+list_prekey_lookup_handle_records_for_ui = getattr(
+    _mesh_wormhole_identity,
+    "list_prekey_lookup_handle_records_for_ui",
+    _wormhole_identity_unavailable,
+)
+revoke_prekey_lookup_handle = getattr(
+    _mesh_wormhole_identity,
+    "revoke_prekey_lookup_handle",
+    _wormhole_identity_unavailable,
+)
 import_wormhole_dm_invite = getattr(
     _mesh_wormhole_identity,
     "import_wormhole_dm_invite",
@@ -8935,6 +9032,13 @@ async def api_get_node_settings(request: Request):
 @limiter.limit("10/minute")
 async def api_set_node_settings(request: Request, body: NodeSettingsUpdate):
     _refresh_node_peer_store()
+    if bool(body.enabled):
+        try:
+            from services.transport_lane_isolation import disable_public_mesh_lane
+
+            disable_public_mesh_lane(reason="private_node_enabled")
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.warning("Failed to disable public Mesh while enabling private node: %s", exc)
     result = _set_participant_node_enabled(bool(body.enabled))
     if bool(body.enabled):
         _kick_public_sync_background("operator_enable")
@@ -9659,7 +9763,7 @@ async def api_get_wormhole_status(request: Request):
     )
 
 
-@app.post("/api/wormhole/join", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@app.post("/api/wormhole/join")
 @limiter.limit("10/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_join(request: Request):
     existing = read_wormhole_settings()
@@ -9713,7 +9817,7 @@ async def api_wormhole_join(request: Request):
     }
 
 
-@app.post("/api/wormhole/leave", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@app.post("/api/wormhole/leave")
 @limiter.limit("10/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_leave(request: Request):
     updated = write_wormhole_settings(enabled=False)
@@ -9776,11 +9880,27 @@ async def api_wormhole_dm_identity(request: Request):
 
 @app.get("/api/wormhole/dm/invite", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
-async def api_wormhole_dm_invite(request: Request):
-    return export_wormhole_dm_invite()
+async def api_wormhole_dm_invite(
+    request: Request,
+    label: str = Query("", max_length=96),
+    expires_in_s: int = Query(0, ge=0, le=2_592_000),
+):
+    return export_wormhole_dm_invite(label=label, expires_in_s=expires_in_s)
 
 
-@app.post("/api/wormhole/dm/invite/import", dependencies=[Depends(require_admin)])
+@app.get("/api/wormhole/dm/invite/handles", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@limiter.limit("30/minute")
+async def api_wormhole_dm_invite_handles(request: Request):
+    return list_prekey_lookup_handle_records_for_ui()
+
+
+@app.delete("/api/wormhole/dm/invite/handles/{handle}", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@limiter.limit("30/minute")
+async def api_wormhole_dm_invite_handle_revoke(request: Request, handle: str):
+    return revoke_prekey_lookup_handle(handle)
+
+
+@app.post("/api/wormhole/dm/invite/import", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_dm_invite_import(request: Request, body: WormholeDmInviteImportRequest):
     return import_wormhole_dm_invite(
@@ -10527,19 +10647,19 @@ async def api_wormhole_gate_leave(request: Request, body: WormholeGateRequest):
     return leave_gate(str(body.gate_id or ""))
 
 
-@app.get("/api/wormhole/gate/{gate_id}/identity", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@app.get("/api/wormhole/gate/{gate_id}/identity")
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_gate_identity(request: Request, gate_id: str):
     return get_active_gate_identity(gate_id)
 
 
-@app.get("/api/wormhole/gate/{gate_id}/personas", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@app.get("/api/wormhole/gate/{gate_id}/personas")
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_gate_personas(request: Request, gate_id: str):
     return list_gate_personas(gate_id)
 
 
-@app.get("/api/wormhole/gate/{gate_id}/key", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@app.get("/api/wormhole/gate/{gate_id}/key")
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_gate_key_status(request: Request, gate_id: str):
     exposure = metadata_exposure_for_request(request, authenticated=True)
@@ -10722,7 +10842,7 @@ async def api_wormhole_gate_message_sign_encrypted(
     return signed
 
 
-@app.post("/api/wormhole/gate/message/post-encrypted", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@app.post("/api/wormhole/gate/message/post-encrypted")
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_gate_message_post_encrypted(
     request: Request,
@@ -11455,7 +11575,7 @@ async def api_wormhole_health(request: Request):
     return _redact_wormhole_status(full_state, authenticated=ok)
 
 
-@app.post("/api/wormhole/connect", dependencies=[Depends(require_admin)])
+@app.post("/api/wormhole/connect", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("10/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_connect(request: Request):
     settings = read_wormhole_settings()

backend/pyproject.toml

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ py-modules = []
 
 [project]
 name = "backend"
-version = "0.9.75"
+version = "0.9.79"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 dependencies = [
     "apscheduler==3.10.3",
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "cachetools==5.5.2",
     "cloudscraper==1.2.71",
     "cryptography>=41.0.0",
+    "defusedxml>=0.7.1",
     "fastapi==0.115.12",
     "feedparser==6.0.10",
     "httpx==0.28.1",
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ dev = ["pytest>=8.3.4", "pytest-asyncio==0.25.0", "ruff>=0.9.0", "black>=24.0.0"
 
 [tool.ruff.lint]
 # The current backend carries historical style debt in large legacy modules.
-# Keep CI focused on actionable correctness checks for the v0.9.75 release.
+# Keep CI focused on actionable correctness checks for the v0.9.79 release.
 ignore = ["E401", "E402", "E701", "E731", "E741", "F401", "F402", "F541", "F811", "F841"]
 
 [tool.black]

backend/routers/admin.py

@@ -132,6 +132,13 @@ async def api_get_node_settings(request: Request):
 @limiter.limit("10/minute")
 async def api_set_node_settings(request: Request, body: NodeSettingsUpdate):
     _refresh_node_peer_store()
+    if bool(body.enabled):
+        try:
+            from services.transport_lane_isolation import disable_public_mesh_lane
+
+            disable_public_mesh_lane(reason="private_node_enabled")
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.warning("Failed to disable public Mesh while enabling private node: %s", exc)
     result = _set_participant_node_enabled(bool(body.enabled))
     if bool(body.enabled):
         try:
@@ -174,17 +181,22 @@ async def api_set_meshtastic_mqtt_settings(request: Request, body: MeshtasticMqt
 
     enabled_requested = updates.get("enabled")
     settings = write_meshtastic_mqtt_settings(**updates)
+    if isinstance(enabled_requested, bool):
+        logger.info("Meshtastic MQTT settings update: enabled=%s", enabled_requested)
 
     if enabled_requested is True:
         # Public MQTT and Wormhole are intentionally mutually exclusive lanes.
         try:
+            from services.node_settings import write_node_settings
             from services.wormhole_settings import write_wormhole_settings
             from services.wormhole_supervisor import disconnect_wormhole
 
             write_wormhole_settings(enabled=False)
             disconnect_wormhole(reason="public_mesh_enabled")
+            write_node_settings(enabled=False)
+            _set_participant_node_enabled(False)
         except Exception as exc:
-            logger.warning("Failed to disable Wormhole while enabling public mesh: %s", exc)
+            logger.warning("Failed to disable private mesh lane while enabling public mesh: %s", exc)
 
     if bool(settings.get("enabled")):
         if sigint_grid.mesh.is_running():
@@ -357,8 +369,8 @@ async def api_reset_all_agent_credentials(request: Request):
 
     return {
         "ok": True,
-        "new_hmac_secret": new_secret,
-        "detail": "All agent credentials have been reset. Reconfigure your agent with the new credentials.",
+        "hmac_regenerated": True,
+        "detail": "All agent credentials have been reset. Use the agent connection screen to generate or reveal replacement credentials.",
         **results,
     }
 

backend/routers/ai_intel.py

@@ -379,14 +379,13 @@ async def api_refresh_layer_feed(request: Request, layer_id: str):
 # Agent Actions endpoint — frontend polls this for UI commands from the agent
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-@router.get("/api/ai/agent-actions")
+@router.get("/api/ai/agent-actions", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("120/minute")
 async def get_agent_actions(request: Request):
     """Frontend polls for pending agent display actions (destructive read).
 
-    No auth required — this only contains display directives (show image,
-    fly to location), not sensitive data. The agent authenticates when
-    pushing actions through the command channel.
+    Local operator access is required because polling destructively drains
+    the shared operator action queue.
     """
     actions = pop_agent_actions()
     return {"ok": True, "actions": actions}
@@ -1585,7 +1584,7 @@ async def agent_tool_manifest(request: Request):
 
     return {
         "ok": True,
-        "version": "0.9.75",
+        "version": "0.9.79",
         "access_tier": access_tier,
         "available_commands": available_commands,
         "transport": {
@@ -2221,7 +2220,7 @@ async def api_capabilities(request: Request):
     access_tier = str(get_settings().OPENCLAW_ACCESS_TIER or "restricted").strip().lower()
     return {
         "ok": True,
-        "version": "0.9.75",
+        "version": "0.9.79",
         "auth": {
             "method": "HMAC-SHA256",
             "headers": ["X-SB-Timestamp", "X-SB-Nonce", "X-SB-Signature"],

backend/routers/cctv.py

@@ -191,11 +191,68 @@ def _cctv_response_headers(resp, cache_seconds: int, include_length: bool = True
     return headers
 
 
+# Maximum number of redirects we'll follow on the CCTV upstream. Each hop is
+# re-validated against _cctv_host_allowed() before continuing, so this caps
+# the redirect-chain SSRF blast radius.
+_CCTV_MAX_REDIRECTS = 5
+
+
 def _fetch_cctv_upstream_response(request: Request, target_url: str, profile: _CCTVProxyProfile):
+    """Fetch an upstream CCTV URL, following redirects manually with host re-validation.
+
+    Why manual redirect following:
+      The original code used ``allow_redirects=True``, which only validated
+      the initial caller-supplied URL host against the allowlist. An attacker
+      could submit an allowed host that 302-redirected to an internal address
+      (e.g. ``http://localhost:8000/api/...`` or a private RFC1918 range),
+      and the backend would dutifully follow and proxy the response — a
+      classic open-redirect-to-SSRF chain.
+
+      With this loop, we re-run ``_cctv_host_allowed()`` on every hop's
+      ``Location`` header. A redirect to a host that isn't on the allowlist
+      is rejected with 502 rather than silently followed.
+    """
     import requests as _req
+    from urllib.parse import urlparse, urljoin
+
     headers = _cctv_upstream_headers(request, profile)
+    current_url = target_url
+    hops = 0
     try:
-        resp = _req.get(target_url, timeout=profile.timeout, stream=True, allow_redirects=True, headers=headers)
+        while True:
+            resp = _req.get(
+                current_url,
+                timeout=profile.timeout,
+                stream=True,
+                allow_redirects=False,
+                headers=headers,
+            )
+            # Redirect handling — re-validate the next-hop host before following.
+            if resp.is_redirect or resp.status_code in (301, 302, 303, 307, 308):
+                location = resp.headers.get("Location", "")
+                resp.close()
+                if hops >= _CCTV_MAX_REDIRECTS:
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "CCTV upstream redirect chain exceeded limit [%s] %s",
+                        profile.name, target_url,
+                    )
+                    raise HTTPException(status_code=502, detail="Upstream redirect chain too long")
+                if not location:
+                    raise HTTPException(status_code=502, detail="Upstream redirect missing Location")
+                next_url = urljoin(current_url, location)
+                next_parsed = urlparse(next_url)
+                if next_parsed.scheme not in ("http", "https"):
+                    raise HTTPException(status_code=502, detail="Upstream redirect to non-HTTP scheme")
+                if not _cctv_host_allowed(next_parsed.hostname):
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "CCTV upstream redirect to disallowed host [%s] %s -> %s",
+                        profile.name, current_url, next_url,
+                    )
+                    raise HTTPException(status_code=502, detail="Upstream redirect to disallowed host")
+                current_url = next_url
+                hops += 1
+                continue
+            break
     except _req.exceptions.Timeout as exc:
         logger.warning("CCTV upstream timeout [%s] %s", profile.name, target_url)
         raise HTTPException(status_code=504, detail="Upstream timeout") from exc

backend/routers/data.py

@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ async def force_refresh(request: Request):
     return {"status": "refreshing in background"}
 
 
-@router.post("/api/ais/feed")
+@router.post("/api/ais/feed", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("60/minute")
 async def ais_feed(request: Request):
     """Accept AIS-catcher HTTP JSON feed (POST decoded AIS messages)."""
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ async def update_viewport(vp: ViewportUpdate, request: Request):  # noqa: ARG001
     return {"status": "ok"}
 
 
-@router.post("/api/layers")
+@router.post("/api/layers", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
 async def update_layers(update: LayerUpdate, request: Request):
     """Receive frontend layer toggle state. Starts/stops streams accordingly."""
@@ -335,8 +335,16 @@ async def update_layers(update: LayerUpdate, request: Request):
         logger.info("AIS stream started (ship layer enabled)")
     from services.sigint_bridge import sigint_grid
     if old_mesh and not new_mesh:
-        sigint_grid.mesh.stop()
-        logger.info("Meshtastic MQTT bridge stopped (layer disabled)")
+        try:
+            from services.meshtastic_mqtt_settings import mqtt_bridge_enabled
+            keep_chat_running = mqtt_bridge_enabled()
+        except Exception:
+            keep_chat_running = False
+        if keep_chat_running:
+            logger.info("Meshtastic map layer disabled; MQTT bridge kept running for MeshChat")
+        else:
+            sigint_grid.mesh.stop()
+            logger.info("Meshtastic MQTT bridge stopped (layer disabled)")
     elif not old_mesh and new_mesh:
         try:
             from services.meshtastic_mqtt_settings import mqtt_bridge_enabled
@@ -603,6 +611,23 @@ class OverflightRequest(BaseModel):
     hours: int = 24
 
 
+# Issue #202: compute_overflights() is O(catalog_size × timesteps), where
+# timesteps grows linearly with `hours`. An unbounded `hours` value is a
+# trivial CPU-exhaustion vector. We clamp silently rather than raising 422 —
+# the response shape is unchanged, callers asking for too many hours just
+# get a shorter window, which is friendlier than a hostile error.
+#
+# Override via OVERFLIGHTS_MAX_HOURS env var if you legitimately need a
+# longer window (e.g. a planning use case that wants a full week).
+def _overflight_max_hours() -> int:
+    import os as _os
+    try:
+        raw = int(str(_os.environ.get("OVERFLIGHTS_MAX_HOURS", "72")).strip())
+    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+        raw = 72
+    return max(1, raw)
+
+
 @router.post("/api/satellites/overflights")
 @limiter.limit("10/minute")
 async def satellite_overflights(request: Request, body: OverflightRequest):
@@ -611,5 +636,15 @@ async def satellite_overflights(request: Request, body: OverflightRequest):
     if not gp_data:
         return JSONResponse({"total": 0, "by_mission": {}, "satellites": [], "error": "No GP data cached yet"})
     bbox = {"s": body.s, "w": body.w, "n": body.n, "e": body.e}
-    result = compute_overflights(gp_data, bbox, hours=body.hours)
+
+    # Silent clamp — see comment on _overflight_max_hours().
+    requested_hours = max(1, int(body.hours or 0))
+    effective_hours = min(requested_hours, _overflight_max_hours())
+
+    result = compute_overflights(gp_data, bbox, hours=effective_hours)
+    # If we clamped, surface the effective window in the response so the
+    # caller can detect it if they care, without it being an error.
+    if isinstance(result, dict) and effective_hours != requested_hours:
+        result.setdefault("requested_hours", requested_hours)
+        result.setdefault("effective_hours", effective_hours)
     return JSONResponse(result)

backend/routers/health.py

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from services.data_fetcher import get_latest_data
 from services.schemas import HealthResponse
 import os
 
-APP_VERSION = os.environ.get("_HEALTH_APP_VERSION", "0.9.75")
+APP_VERSION = os.environ.get("_HEALTH_APP_VERSION", "0.9.79")
 
 router = APIRouter()
 
@@ -54,6 +54,22 @@ async def health_check(request: Request):
         top_status = "error"
     elif slo_summary.get("yellow", 0) > 0:
         top_status = "degraded"
+
+    # Issue #258: surface AIS proxy degraded TLS state so operators can see
+    # when the SPKI-pinned fallback is in effect. The data plane keeps
+    # flowing (this is by design — see ais_proxy.js comments) but observers
+    # who care about MITM-protection posture deserve a visible signal.
+    ais_status: dict = {}
+    try:
+        from services.ais_stream import ais_proxy_status
+        ais_status = ais_proxy_status() or {}
+    except Exception:
+        ais_status = {}
+    if ais_status.get("degraded_tls") and top_status == "ok":
+        # Don't override a worse top-level status if SLOs already failed,
+        # but escalate ok -> degraded so the field surfaces in dashboards.
+        top_status = "degraded"
+
     return {
         "status": top_status,
         "version": _get_app_version(),
@@ -76,6 +92,7 @@ async def health_check(request: Request):
         "uptime_seconds": round(_time_mod.time() - _get_start_time()),
         "slo": slo_statuses,
         "slo_summary": slo_summary,
+        "ais_proxy": ais_status,
     }
 
 

backend/routers/mesh_oracle.py

@@ -223,11 +223,21 @@ async def oracle_markets_more(request: Request, category: str = "NEWS", offset:
             "has_more": offset + limit < len(cat_markets), "total": len(cat_markets)}
 
 
-@router.post("/api/mesh/oracle/resolve")
+@router.post(
+    "/api/mesh/oracle/resolve",
+    dependencies=[Depends(require_admin)],
+)
 @limiter.limit("5/minute")
 @mesh_write_exempt(MeshWriteExemption.ADMIN_CONTROL)
 async def oracle_resolve(request: Request):
-    """Resolve a prediction market."""
+    """Resolve a prediction market.
+
+    Issue #240 (tg12): requires admin authentication. The
+    ``mesh_write_exempt`` decorator below is **metadata only** — it tags
+    the route as not requiring a mesh signed-write envelope, it does
+    NOT itself enforce caller authorization. The ``Depends(require_admin)``
+    on the route decorator is what actually gates access.
+    """
     from services.mesh.mesh_oracle import oracle_ledger
     body = await request.json()
     market_title = body.get("market_title", "")
@@ -327,11 +337,18 @@ async def oracle_predictions(request: Request, node_id: str = ""):
         active_predictions, authenticated=_scoped_view_authenticated(request, "mesh.audit"))
 
 
-@router.post("/api/mesh/oracle/resolve-stakes")
+@router.post(
+    "/api/mesh/oracle/resolve-stakes",
+    dependencies=[Depends(require_admin)],
+)
 @limiter.limit("5/minute")
 @mesh_write_exempt(MeshWriteExemption.ADMIN_CONTROL)
 async def oracle_resolve_stakes(request: Request):
-    """Resolve all expired stake contests."""
+    """Resolve all expired stake contests.
+
+    Issue #241 (tg12): requires admin authentication. See the note on
+    ``oracle_resolve`` above — ``mesh_write_exempt`` is metadata only.
+    """
     from services.mesh.mesh_oracle import oracle_ledger
     resolutions = oracle_ledger.resolve_expired_stakes()
     return {"ok": True, "resolutions": resolutions, "count": len(resolutions)}

backend/routers/mesh_public.py

@@ -721,9 +721,11 @@ async def mesh_send(request: Request):
     any_ok = any(r.ok for r in results)
 
     # ─── Mirror to Meshtastic bridge feed ────────────────────────
-    # The MQTT broker won't echo our own publishes back to our subscriber,
-    # so inject successfully-sent messages into the bridge's deque directly.
-    if any_ok and envelope.routed_via == "meshtastic":
+    # The MQTT broker won't echo our own publishes back to our subscriber, so
+    # inject successfully-sent channel broadcasts into the bridge directly.
+    # Node-targeted packets must not appear in the public channel feed.
+    is_direct_destination = MeshtasticTransport._parse_node_id(destination) is not None
+    if any_ok and envelope.routed_via == "meshtastic" and not is_direct_destination:
         try:
             from services.sigint_bridge import sigint_grid
 
@@ -734,7 +736,7 @@ async def mesh_send(request: Request):
                 bridge.messages.appendleft(
                     {
                         "from": MeshtasticTransport.mesh_address_for_sender(node_id),
-                        "to": destination if MeshtasticTransport._parse_node_id(destination) is not None else "broadcast",
+                        "to": "broadcast",
                         "text": message,
                         "region": credentials.get("mesh_region", "US"),
                         "channel": body.get("channel", "LongFast"),
@@ -750,6 +752,8 @@ async def mesh_send(request: Request):
         "event_id": "",
         "routed_via": envelope.routed_via,
         "route_reason": envelope.route_reason,
+        "direct": is_direct_destination,
+        "channel_echo": not is_direct_destination,
         "results": [r.to_dict() for r in results],
     }
 
@@ -818,9 +822,10 @@ async def meshtastic_public_send(request: Request):
         if not cb_ok:
             results = [TransportResult(False, "meshtastic", cb_reason)]
         else:
+            is_direct_destination = MeshtasticTransport._parse_node_id(destination) is not None
             envelope.route_reason = (
                 "Local public Meshtastic MQTT path"
-                if MeshtasticTransport._parse_node_id(destination) is None
+                if not is_direct_destination
                 else "Local public Meshtastic direct node path"
             )
             credentials = {"mesh_region": str(body.get("mesh_region", "US") or "US")}
@@ -830,23 +835,28 @@ async def meshtastic_public_send(request: Request):
             results = [result]
 
     any_ok = any(r.ok for r in results)
-    if any_ok and envelope.routed_via == "meshtastic":
+    is_direct_destination = MeshtasticTransport._parse_node_id(destination) is not None
+    if any_ok and envelope.routed_via == "meshtastic" and not is_direct_destination:
         try:
             from datetime import datetime
             from services.sigint_bridge import sigint_grid
 
             bridge = sigint_grid.mesh
             if bridge:
-                bridge.messages.appendleft(
-                    {
-                        "from": MeshtasticTransport.mesh_address_for_sender(sender_id),
-                        "to": destination if MeshtasticTransport._parse_node_id(destination) is not None else "broadcast",
-                        "text": message,
-                        "region": str(body.get("mesh_region", "US") or "US"),
-                        "channel": str(body.get("channel", "LongFast") or "LongFast"),
-                        "timestamp": datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z",
-                    }
-                )
+                record = {
+                    "from": MeshtasticTransport.mesh_address_for_sender(sender_id),
+                    "to": "broadcast",
+                    "text": message,
+                    "region": str(body.get("mesh_region", "US") or "US"),
+                    "root": str(body.get("mesh_region", "US") or "US"),
+                    "channel": str(body.get("channel", "LongFast") or "LongFast"),
+                    "timestamp": datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z",
+                }
+                append_text = getattr(bridge, "append_text_message", None)
+                if callable(append_text):
+                    append_text(record)
+                else:
+                    bridge.messages.appendleft(record)
         except Exception:
             pass
 
@@ -856,6 +866,8 @@ async def meshtastic_public_send(request: Request):
         "event_id": "",
         "routed_via": envelope.routed_via,
         "route_reason": envelope.route_reason,
+        "direct": is_direct_destination,
+        "channel_echo": not is_direct_destination,
         "results": [r.to_dict() for r in results],
     }
 
@@ -954,6 +966,7 @@ async def mesh_messages(
     root: str = "",
     channel: str = "",
     limit: int = 30,
+    include_direct: bool = False,
 ):
     """Get recent Meshtastic text messages from the MQTT bridge."""
     from services.sigint_bridge import sigint_grid
@@ -975,6 +988,12 @@ async def mesh_messages(
         msgs = [m for m in msgs if m.get("root", "").upper() == root_filter]
     if channel:
         msgs = [m for m in msgs if m.get("channel", "").lower() == channel.lower()]
+    if not include_direct:
+        msgs = [
+            m
+            for m in msgs
+            if str(m.get("to") or "broadcast").strip().lower() in {"", "broadcast", "^all"}
+        ]
     return msgs[: min(limit, 100)]
 
 
@@ -1448,25 +1467,37 @@ def _submit_gate_message_envelope(request: Request, gate_id: str, body: dict[str
 @router.get("/api/mesh/infonet/status")
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
 async def infonet_status(request: Request, verify_signatures: bool = False):
-    """Get Infonet metadata — event counts, head hash, chain size."""
+    """Get Infonet metadata — event counts, head hash, chain size.
+
+    The ``verify_signatures`` query parameter is honored ONLY when the
+    caller has authenticated via scoped auth or local-operator credentials.
+    Verifying every signature in a long chain is O(n_events) work — letting
+    anonymous callers trigger it is a DoS surface (issue #207). For
+    anonymous callers we silently fall back to the cheap path; the response
+    structure is identical so legitimate frontends see no behavior change.
+    """
     from services.mesh.mesh_hashchain import infonet
     from services.wormhole_supervisor import get_wormhole_state
 
+    # Silently downgrade for unauthenticated callers — no error surfaced.
+    authenticated = _scoped_view_authenticated(request, "mesh.audit")
+    effective_verify_signatures = bool(verify_signatures) and authenticated
+
     info = infonet.get_info()
-    valid, reason = infonet.validate_chain(verify_signatures=verify_signatures)
+    valid, reason = infonet.validate_chain(verify_signatures=effective_verify_signatures)
     try:
         wormhole = get_wormhole_state()
     except Exception:
         wormhole = {"configured": False, "ready": False, "rns_ready": False}
     info["valid"] = valid
     info["validation"] = reason
-    info["verify_signatures"] = verify_signatures
+    info["verify_signatures"] = effective_verify_signatures
     info["private_lane_tier"] = _current_private_lane_tier(wormhole)
     info["private_lane_policy"] = _private_infonet_policy_snapshot()
     info.update(_node_runtime_snapshot())
     return _redact_private_lane_control_fields(
         info,
-        authenticated=_scoped_view_authenticated(request, "mesh.audit"),
+        authenticated=authenticated,
     )
 
 

backend/routers/radio.py

@@ -21,14 +21,30 @@ async def api_get_openmhz_systems(request: Request):
     return get_openmhz_systems()
 
 
-@router.get("/api/radio/openmhz/calls/{sys_name}")
+# Issue #213: rotating sys_name bypasses the 20s TTL cache and lets an
+# anonymous caller hammer api.openmhz.com through this proxy, risking an
+# IP-ban for the project. require_local_operator scopes this to the local
+# UI (which goes through the Next.js proxy with admin-key injection) and
+# scoped agent tokens.
+@router.get(
+    "/api/radio/openmhz/calls/{sys_name}",
+    dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)],
+)
 @limiter.limit("60/minute")
 async def api_get_openmhz_calls(request: Request, sys_name: str):
     from services.radio_intercept import get_recent_openmhz_calls
     return get_recent_openmhz_calls(sys_name)
 
 
-@router.get("/api/radio/openmhz/audio")
+# Issue #214: this is a streaming bandwidth relay. An anonymous caller can
+# stream audio through the backend, saturating the operator's outbound
+# bandwidth. Scope to local operator; the legitimate browser UI still
+# works because relative /api/... paths go through the Next.js proxy
+# which injects the admin key automatically.
+@router.get(
+    "/api/radio/openmhz/audio",
+    dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)],
+)
 @limiter.limit("120/minute")
 async def api_get_openmhz_audio(request: Request, url: str = Query(..., min_length=10)):
     from services.radio_intercept import openmhz_audio_response

backend/routers/sigint.py

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ async def oracle_region_intel(
     return get_region_oracle_intel(lat, lng, news_items)
 
 
-@router.get("/api/thermal/verify")
+@router.get("/api/thermal/verify", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("10/minute")
 async def thermal_verify(
     request: Request,
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ async def thermal_verify(
     return result
 
 
-@router.post("/api/sigint/transmit")
+@router.post("/api/sigint/transmit", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("5/minute")
 async def sigint_transmit(request: Request):
     """Send an APRS-IS message to a specific callsign. Requires ham radio credentials."""

backend/routers/tools.py

@@ -120,7 +120,36 @@ async def api_sentinel_token(request: Request):
         raise HTTPException(502, "Token request failed")
 
 
-_sh_token_cache: dict = {"token": None, "expiry": 0, "client_id": ""}
+# Cache key is an HMAC of (client_id, client_secret) — a caller cannot hit
+# this cache without knowing the same secret that originally populated it.
+# Without this binding, the lookup only checked client_id, so anyone who
+# knew a valid client_id could reuse another caller's cached token (and
+# burn their Copernicus quota / access tiles on their account).
+_sh_token_cache: dict = {"token": None, "expiry": 0, "credential_fp": ""}
+
+
+def _credential_fingerprint(client_id: str, client_secret: str) -> str:
+    """Return a stable, secret-binding fingerprint for the Sentinel cache key.
+
+    Uses HMAC-SHA256 so the raw secret is never stored in process memory as
+    a cache key. The HMAC key is a per-process random value, which means the
+    fingerprint cannot be precomputed across restarts (additional defense
+    against an attacker who learned a valid client_id but not the secret).
+    """
+    import hashlib
+    import hmac
+
+    return hmac.new(
+        _SH_TOKEN_CACHE_HMAC_KEY,
+        f"{client_id}\x00{client_secret}".encode("utf-8"),
+        hashlib.sha256,
+    ).hexdigest()
+
+
+# Per-process random HMAC key. Regenerated on each backend startup so cached
+# fingerprints don't survive restarts.
+import os as _os
+_SH_TOKEN_CACHE_HMAC_KEY = _os.urandom(32)
 
 
 @router.post("/api/sentinel/tile")
@@ -146,7 +175,9 @@ async def api_sentinel_tile(request: Request):
         raise HTTPException(400, "client_id, client_secret, and date required")
 
     now = _time.time()
-    if (_sh_token_cache["token"] and _sh_token_cache["client_id"] == client_id
+    credential_fp = _credential_fingerprint(client_id, client_secret)
+    if (_sh_token_cache["token"]
+            and _sh_token_cache["credential_fp"] == credential_fp
             and now < _sh_token_cache["expiry"] - 30):
         token = _sh_token_cache["token"]
     else:
@@ -161,7 +192,7 @@ async def api_sentinel_tile(request: Request):
             token = tdata["access_token"]
             _sh_token_cache["token"] = token
             _sh_token_cache["expiry"] = now + tdata.get("expires_in", 300)
-            _sh_token_cache["client_id"] = client_id
+            _sh_token_cache["credential_fp"] = credential_fp
         except HTTPException:
             raise
         except Exception:

backend/routers/wormhole.py

@@ -78,6 +78,21 @@ export_wormhole_dm_invite = getattr(
     "export_wormhole_dm_invite",
     _wormhole_identity_unavailable,
 )
+list_prekey_lookup_handle_records_for_ui = getattr(
+    _mesh_wormhole_identity,
+    "list_prekey_lookup_handle_records_for_ui",
+    _wormhole_identity_unavailable,
+)
+rename_prekey_lookup_handle = getattr(
+    _mesh_wormhole_identity,
+    "rename_prekey_lookup_handle",
+    _wormhole_identity_unavailable,
+)
+revoke_prekey_lookup_handle = getattr(
+    _mesh_wormhole_identity,
+    "revoke_prekey_lookup_handle",
+    _wormhole_identity_unavailable,
+)
 import_wormhole_dm_invite = getattr(
     _mesh_wormhole_identity,
     "import_wormhole_dm_invite",
@@ -311,6 +326,10 @@ class WormholeDmInviteImportRequest(BaseModel):
     alias: str = ""
 
 
+class WormholeDmInviteHandleUpdateRequest(BaseModel):
+    label: str = ""
+
+
 class WormholeDmSenderTokenRequest(BaseModel):
     recipient_id: str
     delivery_class: str
@@ -477,6 +496,7 @@ def decrypt_wormhole_dm_envelope(
     remote_alias: str | None = None,
     session_welcome: str | None = None,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Delegate to main.py, which owns current MLS/alias/legacy gating behavior."""
     import main as _m
 
     return _m.decrypt_wormhole_dm_envelope(
@@ -489,71 +509,13 @@ def decrypt_wormhole_dm_envelope(
         session_welcome=session_welcome,
     )
 
-    resolved_local, resolved_remote = _resolve_dm_aliases(
-        peer_id=peer_id,
-        local_alias=local_alias,
-        remote_alias=remote_alias,
-    )
-    normalized_format = str(payload_format or "dm1").strip().lower() or "dm1"
-    if normalized_format != "mls1" and is_dm_locked_to_mls(resolved_local, resolved_remote):
-        return {
-            "ok": False,
-            "detail": "DM session is locked to MLS format",
-            "required_format": "mls1",
-            "current_format": normalized_format,
-        }
-    if normalized_format == "mls1":
-        has_session = has_mls_dm_session(resolved_local, resolved_remote)
-        if not has_session.get("ok"):
-            return has_session
-        if not has_session.get("exists"):
-            ensured = ensure_mls_dm_session(resolved_local, resolved_remote, str(session_welcome or ""))
-            if not ensured.get("ok"):
-                return ensured
-        decrypted = decrypt_mls_dm(
-            resolved_local,
-            resolved_remote,
-            str(ciphertext or ""),
-            str(nonce or ""),
-        )
-        if not decrypted.get("ok"):
-            return decrypted
-        return {
-            "ok": True,
-            "peer_id": str(peer_id or "").strip(),
-            "local_alias": resolved_local,
-            "remote_alias": resolved_remote,
-            "plaintext": str(decrypted.get("plaintext", "") or ""),
-            "format": "mls1",
-        }
-
-    from services.wormhole_supervisor import get_transport_tier
-
-    current_tier = get_transport_tier()
-    if str(current_tier or "").startswith("private_"):
-        return {
-            "ok": False,
-            "detail": "MLS format required in private transport mode — legacy DM decrypt blocked",
-        }
-    logger.warning("legacy dm decrypt path used")
-    legacy = decrypt_wormhole_dm(peer_id=str(peer_id or ""), ciphertext=str(ciphertext or ""))
-    if not legacy.get("ok"):
-        return legacy
-    return {
-        "ok": True,
-        "peer_id": str(peer_id or "").strip(),
-        "local_alias": resolved_local,
-        "remote_alias": resolved_remote,
-        "plaintext": str(legacy.get("result", "") or ""),
-        "format": "dm1",
-    }
 
 
 
 # --- Routes ---
 
 @router.get("/api/settings/wormhole")
-@limiter.limit("30/minute")
+@limiter.limit("240/minute")
 async def api_get_wormhole_settings(request: Request):
     settings = await asyncio.to_thread(read_wormhole_settings)
     return _redact_wormhole_settings(settings, authenticated=_scoped_view_authenticated(request, "wormhole"))
@@ -582,248 +544,9 @@ async def api_set_wormhole_settings(request: Request, body: WormholeUpdate):
     return {**updated, "requires_restart": False, "runtime": state}
 
 
-class PrivacyProfileUpdate(BaseModel):
-    profile: str
-
-
-class WormholeSignRequest(BaseModel):
-    event_type: str
-    payload: dict
-    sequence: int | None = None
-    gate_id: str | None = None
-
-
-class WormholeSignRawRequest(BaseModel):
-    message: str
-
-
-class WormholeDmEncryptRequest(BaseModel):
-    peer_id: str
-    peer_dh_pub: str = ""
-    plaintext: str
-    local_alias: str | None = None
-    remote_alias: str | None = None
-    remote_prekey_bundle: dict[str, Any] | None = None
-
-
-class WormholeDmComposeRequest(BaseModel):
-    peer_id: str
-    peer_dh_pub: str = ""
-    plaintext: str
-    local_alias: str | None = None
-    remote_alias: str | None = None
-    remote_prekey_bundle: dict[str, Any] | None = None
-
-
-class WormholeDmDecryptRequest(BaseModel):
-    peer_id: str
-    ciphertext: str
-    format: str = "dm1"
-    nonce: str = ""
-    local_alias: str | None = None
-    remote_alias: str | None = None
-    session_welcome: str | None = None
-
-
-class WormholeDmResetRequest(BaseModel):
-    peer_id: str | None = None
-
-
-class WormholeDmBootstrapEncryptRequest(BaseModel):
-    peer_id: str
-    plaintext: str
-
-
-class WormholeDmBootstrapDecryptRequest(BaseModel):
-    sender_id: str = ""
-    ciphertext: str
-
-
-class WormholeDmSenderTokenRequest(BaseModel):
-    recipient_id: str
-    delivery_class: str
-    recipient_token: str = ""
-    count: int = 1
-
-
-class WormholeOpenSealRequest(BaseModel):
-    sender_seal: str
-    candidate_dh_pub: str = ""
-    recipient_id: str
-    expected_msg_id: str
-
-
-class WormholeBuildSealRequest(BaseModel):
-    recipient_id: str
-    recipient_dh_pub: str = ""
-    msg_id: str
-    timestamp: int
-
-
-class WormholeDeadDropTokenRequest(BaseModel):
-    peer_id: str
-    peer_dh_pub: str = ""
-    peer_ref: str = ""
-
-
-class WormholePairwiseAliasRequest(BaseModel):
-    peer_id: str
-    peer_dh_pub: str = ""
-
-
-class WormholePairwiseAliasRotateRequest(BaseModel):
-    peer_id: str
-    peer_dh_pub: str = ""
-    grace_ms: int = 45_000
-
-
-class WormholeDeadDropContactsRequest(BaseModel):
-    contacts: list[dict[str, Any]]
-    limit: int = 24
-
-
-class WormholeSasRequest(BaseModel):
-    peer_id: str
-    peer_dh_pub: str = ""
-    words: int = 8
-    peer_ref: str = ""
-
-
-class WormholeGateRequest(BaseModel):
-    gate_id: str
-    rotate: bool = False
-
-
-class WormholeGatePersonaCreateRequest(BaseModel):
-    gate_id: str
-    label: str = ""
-
-
-class WormholeGatePersonaActivateRequest(BaseModel):
-    gate_id: str
-    persona_id: str
-
-
-class WormholeGateKeyGrantRequest(BaseModel):
-    gate_id: str
-    recipient_node_id: str
-    recipient_dh_pub: str
-    recipient_scope: str = "member"
-
-
-class WormholeGateComposeRequest(BaseModel):
-    gate_id: str
-    plaintext: str
-    reply_to: str = ""
-    compat_plaintext: bool = False
-
-
-class WormholeGateDecryptRequest(BaseModel):
-    gate_id: str
-    epoch: int = 0
-    ciphertext: str
-    nonce: str = ""
-    sender_ref: str = ""
-    format: str = "mls1"
-    gate_envelope: str = ""
-    envelope_hash: str = ""
-    recovery_envelope: bool = False
-    compat_decrypt: bool = False
-    event_id: str = ""
-
-
-class WormholeGateDecryptBatchRequest(BaseModel):
-    messages: list[WormholeGateDecryptRequest]
-
-
-class WormholeGateRotateRequest(BaseModel):
-    gate_id: str
-    reason: str = "manual_rotate"
-
-def decrypt_wormhole_dm_envelope(
-    *,
-    peer_id: str,
-    ciphertext: str,
-    payload_format: str = "dm1",
-    nonce: str = "",
-    local_alias: str | None = None,
-    remote_alias: str | None = None,
-    session_welcome: str | None = None,
-) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    import main as _m
-
-    return _m.decrypt_wormhole_dm_envelope(
-        peer_id=peer_id,
-        ciphertext=ciphertext,
-        payload_format=payload_format,
-        nonce=nonce,
-        local_alias=local_alias,
-        remote_alias=remote_alias,
-        session_welcome=session_welcome,
-    )
-
-    resolved_local, resolved_remote = _resolve_dm_aliases(
-        peer_id=peer_id,
-        local_alias=local_alias,
-        remote_alias=remote_alias,
-    )
-    normalized_format = str(payload_format or "dm1").strip().lower() or "dm1"
-    if normalized_format != "mls1" and is_dm_locked_to_mls(resolved_local, resolved_remote):
-        return {
-            "ok": False,
-            "detail": "DM session is locked to MLS format",
-            "required_format": "mls1",
-            "current_format": normalized_format,
-        }
-    if normalized_format == "mls1":
-        has_session = has_mls_dm_session(resolved_local, resolved_remote)
-        if not has_session.get("ok"):
-            return has_session
-        if not has_session.get("exists"):
-            ensured = ensure_mls_dm_session(resolved_local, resolved_remote, str(session_welcome or ""))
-            if not ensured.get("ok"):
-                return ensured
-        decrypted = decrypt_mls_dm(
-            resolved_local,
-            resolved_remote,
-            str(ciphertext or ""),
-            str(nonce or ""),
-        )
-        if not decrypted.get("ok"):
-            return decrypted
-        return {
-            "ok": True,
-            "peer_id": str(peer_id or "").strip(),
-            "local_alias": resolved_local,
-            "remote_alias": resolved_remote,
-            "plaintext": str(decrypted.get("plaintext", "") or ""),
-            "format": "mls1",
-        }
-
-    from services.wormhole_supervisor import get_transport_tier
-
-    current_tier = get_transport_tier()
-    if str(current_tier or "").startswith("private_"):
-        return {
-            "ok": False,
-            "detail": "MLS format required in private transport mode — legacy DM decrypt blocked",
-        }
-    logger.warning("legacy dm decrypt path used")
-    legacy = decrypt_wormhole_dm(peer_id=str(peer_id or ""), ciphertext=str(ciphertext or ""))
-    if not legacy.get("ok"):
-        return legacy
-    return {
-        "ok": True,
-        "peer_id": str(peer_id or "").strip(),
-        "local_alias": resolved_local,
-        "remote_alias": resolved_remote,
-        "plaintext": str(legacy.get("result", "") or ""),
-        "format": "dm1",
-    }
-
 
 @router.get("/api/settings/privacy-profile")
-@limiter.limit("30/minute")
+@limiter.limit("240/minute")
 async def api_get_privacy_profile(request: Request):
     data = await asyncio.to_thread(read_wormhole_settings)
     return _redact_privacy_profile_settings(
@@ -833,7 +556,7 @@ async def api_get_privacy_profile(request: Request):
 
 
 @router.get("/api/settings/wormhole-status")
-@limiter.limit("30/minute")
+@limiter.limit("240/minute")
 async def api_get_wormhole_status(request: Request):
     state = await asyncio.to_thread(get_wormhole_state)
     transport_tier = _current_private_lane_tier(state)
@@ -907,7 +630,7 @@ async def api_wormhole_join(request: Request):
     )
 
     # Enable node participation so the sync/push workers connect to peers.
-    # This is the voluntary opt-in — the node only joins the network when
+    # This is the voluntary opt-in — the node only joins the network when
     # the user explicitly opens the Wormhole.
     from services.node_settings import write_node_settings
 
@@ -923,7 +646,7 @@ async def api_wormhole_join(request: Request):
     }
 
 
-@router.post("/api/wormhole/leave", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@router.post("/api/wormhole/leave")
 @limiter.limit("10/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_leave(request: Request):
     updated = write_wormhole_settings(enabled=False)
@@ -941,7 +664,7 @@ async def api_wormhole_leave(request: Request):
 
 
 @router.get("/api/wormhole/identity", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
-@limiter.limit("30/minute")
+@limiter.limit("240/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_identity(request: Request):
     try:
         bootstrap_wormhole_persona_state()
@@ -970,7 +693,7 @@ async def api_wormhole_identity_bootstrap(request: Request):
 
 
 @router.get("/api/wormhole/dm/identity", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
-@limiter.limit("30/minute")
+@limiter.limit("240/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_dm_identity(request: Request):
     try:
         bootstrap_wormhole_persona_state()
@@ -982,11 +705,37 @@ async def api_wormhole_dm_identity(request: Request):
 
 @router.get("/api/wormhole/dm/invite", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
-async def api_wormhole_dm_invite(request: Request):
-    return export_wormhole_dm_invite()
+async def api_wormhole_dm_invite(
+    request: Request,
+    label: str = Query("", max_length=96),
+    expires_in_s: int = Query(0, ge=0, le=2_592_000),
+):
+    return export_wormhole_dm_invite(label=label, expires_in_s=expires_in_s)
 
 
-@router.post("/api/wormhole/dm/invite/import", dependencies=[Depends(require_admin)])
+@router.get("/api/wormhole/dm/invite/handles", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@limiter.limit("240/minute")
+async def api_wormhole_dm_invite_handles(request: Request):
+    return list_prekey_lookup_handle_records_for_ui()
+
+
+@router.patch("/api/wormhole/dm/invite/handles/{handle}", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@limiter.limit("60/minute")
+async def api_wormhole_dm_invite_handle_update(
+    request: Request,
+    handle: str,
+    body: WormholeDmInviteHandleUpdateRequest,
+):
+    return rename_prekey_lookup_handle(handle, str(body.label or "").strip())
+
+
+@router.delete("/api/wormhole/dm/invite/handles/{handle}", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@limiter.limit("30/minute")
+async def api_wormhole_dm_invite_handle_revoke(request: Request, handle: str):
+    return revoke_prekey_lookup_handle(handle)
+
+
+@router.post("/api/wormhole/dm/invite/import", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_dm_invite_import(request: Request, body: WormholeDmInviteImportRequest):
     return import_wormhole_dm_invite(
@@ -1205,7 +954,7 @@ async def api_wormhole_gate_message_sign_encrypted(
     return await _m.api_wormhole_gate_message_sign_encrypted(request, body)
 
 
-@router.post("/api/wormhole/gate/message/post-encrypted", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
+@router.post("/api/wormhole/gate/message/post-encrypted")
 @limiter.limit("30/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_gate_message_post_encrypted(
     request: Request,
@@ -1547,7 +1296,7 @@ class PrivateDeliveryActionRequest(BaseModel):
 
 
 @router.get("/api/wormhole/status")
-@limiter.limit("30/minute")
+@limiter.limit("240/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_status(request: Request):
     import main as _m
 
@@ -1590,7 +1339,7 @@ async def api_wormhole_private_delivery_action(
 
 
 @router.get("/api/wormhole/health")
-@limiter.limit("30/minute")
+@limiter.limit("240/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_health(request: Request):
     state = get_wormhole_state()
     transport_tier = _current_private_lane_tier(state)
@@ -1611,7 +1360,7 @@ async def api_wormhole_health(request: Request):
     return _redact_wormhole_status(full_state, authenticated=ok)
 
 
-@router.post("/api/wormhole/connect", dependencies=[Depends(require_admin)])
+@router.post("/api/wormhole/connect", dependencies=[Depends(require_local_operator)])
 @limiter.limit("10/minute")
 async def api_wormhole_connect(request: Request):
     settings = read_wormhole_settings()

backend/services/ais_stream.py

@@ -344,9 +344,26 @@ _vessels_lock = threading.Lock()
 _ws_thread: threading.Thread | None = None
 _ws_running = False
 _proxy_process = None
+# Issue #258: latest status snapshot emitted by ais_proxy.js. Populated when
+# the proxy reports e.g. {"__ais_proxy_status": {"degraded_tls": true}} on
+# stdout, which it does when it falls back to the SPKI-pinned insecure-date
+# path during an upstream cert outage. Surfaced via ais_proxy_status() for
+# /api/health.
+_proxy_status: dict = {}
 _VESSEL_TRAIL_INTERVAL_S = 120
 _VESSEL_TRAIL_MAX_POINTS = 240
 
+
+def ais_proxy_status() -> dict:
+    """Return a copy of the latest ais_proxy.js status (issue #258).
+
+    Currently surfaces ``degraded_tls`` (bool) which is true when the
+    proxy is using SPKI-pinned fallback because AISStream's cert expired.
+    Returns an empty dict when no status has been received yet.
+    """
+    with _vessels_lock:
+        return dict(_proxy_status)
+
 import os
 
 CACHE_FILE = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ais_cache.json")
@@ -608,6 +625,18 @@ def _ais_stream_loop():
                     logger.error(f"AIS Stream error: {data['error']}")
                     continue
 
+                # Issue #258: ais_proxy.js emits status markers (e.g.
+                # {"__ais_proxy_status": {"degraded_tls": true}}) when the
+                # SPKI-pinned fallback is in use. We snapshot the latest
+                # status so the backend can expose it on /api/health.
+                if isinstance(data, dict) and "__ais_proxy_status" in data:
+                    status = data.get("__ais_proxy_status") or {}
+                    if isinstance(status, dict):
+                        with _vessels_lock:
+                            _proxy_status.clear()
+                            _proxy_status.update(status)
+                    continue
+
                 msg_type = data.get("MessageType", "")
                 metadata = data.get("MetaData", {})
                 message = data.get("Message", {})

backend/services/cctv_pipeline.py

@@ -987,7 +987,7 @@ _KML_NS = {"kml": "http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2"}
 
 def _find_kml_element(element, tag):
     """Find first descendant matching tag, ignoring XML namespace prefix."""
-    import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
+    import defusedxml.ElementTree as ET
     el = element.find(f".//{tag}")
     if el is not None:
         return el
@@ -1015,7 +1015,7 @@ class MadridCityIngestor(BaseCCTVIngestor):
     KML_URL = "http://datos.madrid.es/egob/catalogo/202088-0-trafico-camaras.kml"
 
     def fetch_data(self) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
-        import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
+        import defusedxml.ElementTree as ET
 
         try:
             response = fetch_with_curl(self.KML_URL, timeout=20)

backend/services/config.py

@@ -46,9 +46,12 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     MESH_NODE_MODE: str = "participant"
     MESH_SYNC_INTERVAL_S: int = 300
     MESH_SYNC_FAILURE_BACKOFF_S: int = 60
+    MESH_SYNC_TIMEOUT_S: int = 5
+    MESH_SYNC_MAX_PEERS_PER_CYCLE: int = 3
     MESH_RELAY_PUSH_TIMEOUT_S: int = 10
     MESH_RELAY_MAX_FAILURES: int = 3
     MESH_RELAY_FAILURE_COOLDOWN_S: int = 120
+    MESH_BOOTSTRAP_SEED_FAILURE_COOLDOWN_S: int = 15
     MESH_PEER_PUSH_SECRET: str = ""
     MESH_RNS_APP_NAME: str = "shadowbroker"
     MESH_RNS_ASPECT: str = "infonet"

backend/services/fetchers/_store.py

@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ active_layers: dict[str, bool] = {
     "uap_sightings": True,
     "wastewater": True,
     "ai_intel": True,
-    "crowdthreat": True,
+    "crowdthreat": False,
     "sar": True,
 }
 

backend/services/fetchers/aircraft_database.py

@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ import csv
 import logging
 import threading
 import time
-import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 from typing import Any
 
+import defusedxml.ElementTree as ET
 import requests
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -31,11 +31,7 @@ _S3_NS = "{http://s3.amazonaws.com/doc/2006-03-01/}"
 _REFRESH_INTERVAL_S = 5 * 24 * 3600
 _LIST_TIMEOUT_S = 30
 _DOWNLOAD_TIMEOUT_S = 600
-_USER_AGENT = (
-    "ShadowBroker-OSINT/0.9.75 "
-    "(+https://github.com/BigBodyCobain/Shadowbroker; "
-    "contact: bigbodycobain@gmail.com)"
-)
+from services.network_utils import DEFAULT_USER_AGENT as _USER_AGENT
 
 _lock = threading.RLock()
 _aircraft_by_hex: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {}

backend/services/fetchers/crowdthreat.py

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ No API key required — the /threats endpoint is unauthenticated.
 """
 
 import logging
+import os
 
 from services.network_utils import fetch_with_curl
 from services.fetchers._store import latest_data, _data_lock, _mark_fresh, is_any_active
@@ -16,6 +17,16 @@ logger = logging.getLogger("services.data_fetcher")
 
 _CT_BASE = "https://backend.crowdthreat.world"
 
+
+def crowdthreat_fetch_enabled() -> bool:
+    """Return True only when the operator explicitly opts into CrowdThreat pulls."""
+    return str(os.environ.get("CROWDTHREAT_ENABLED", "")).strip().lower() in {
+        "1",
+        "true",
+        "yes",
+        "on",
+    }
+
 # CrowdThreat category_id → icon ID used on the MapLibre layer
 _CATEGORY_ICON = {
     1: "ct-security",       # Security & Conflict  (red)
@@ -43,6 +54,12 @@ _CATEGORY_COLOUR = {
 @with_retry(max_retries=2, base_delay=5)
 def fetch_crowdthreat():
     """Fetch verified threat reports from CrowdThreat public API."""
+    if not crowdthreat_fetch_enabled():
+        logger.debug("CrowdThreat fetch skipped; set CROWDTHREAT_ENABLED=true to opt in")
+        with _data_lock:
+            latest_data["crowdthreat"] = []
+        _mark_fresh("crowdthreat")
+        return
     if not is_any_active("crowdthreat"):
         return
 

backend/services/fetchers/earth_observation.py

@@ -279,9 +279,13 @@ def fetch_weather_alerts():
         return
     alerts = []
     try:
+        # weather.gov requires a User-Agent per their API policy, but it
+        # need not identify the operator. Use a project-generic string and
+        # let the user override via SHADOWBROKER_USER_AGENT if needed.
+        from services.network_utils import DEFAULT_USER_AGENT
         url = "https://api.weather.gov/alerts/active?status=actual"
         headers = {
-            "User-Agent": "(ShadowBroker OSINT Dashboard, github.com/BigBodyCobain/Shadowbroker)",
+            "User-Agent": DEFAULT_USER_AGENT,
             "Accept": "application/geo+json",
         }
         response = fetch_with_curl(url, timeout=15, headers=headers)

backend/services/fetchers/fimi.py

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ debunked claims, threat actor mentions, and target country references.
 Refreshes every 12 hours (FIMI data updates weekly).
 """
 
+import os
 import re
 import logging
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
@@ -18,6 +19,16 @@ logger = logging.getLogger("services.data_fetcher")
 
 _FIMI_FEED_URL = "https://euvsdisinfo.eu/feed/"
 
+
+def fimi_fetch_enabled() -> bool:
+    """Return True only when the operator explicitly opts into FIMI pulls."""
+    return str(os.environ.get("FIMI_ENABLED", "")).strip().lower() in {
+        "1",
+        "true",
+        "yes",
+        "on",
+    }
+
 # ── Threat actor keywords ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Map of keyword → canonical actor name.  Checked case-insensitively.
 _THREAT_ACTORS: dict[str, str] = {
@@ -173,6 +184,12 @@ def _is_major_wave(narratives: list[dict], targets: dict[str, int]) -> bool:
 @with_retry(max_retries=1, base_delay=5)
 def fetch_fimi():
     """Fetch and parse the EUvsDisinfo RSS feed."""
+    if not fimi_fetch_enabled():
+        logger.debug("FIMI fetch skipped; set FIMI_ENABLED=true to opt in")
+        with _data_lock:
+            latest_data["fimi"] = []
+        _mark_fresh("fimi")
+        return
     try:
         resp = fetch_with_curl(_FIMI_FEED_URL, timeout=15)
         feed = feedparser.parse(resp.text)

backend/services/fetchers/financial.py

@@ -82,10 +82,37 @@ def _fetch_yfinance_single(symbol: str, period: str = "2d"):
 
 
 @with_retry(max_retries=1, base_delay=1)
+def financial_fetch_enabled() -> bool:
+    """Return True only when the operator explicitly opts into financial pulls.
+
+    Either ``FINANCIAL_ENABLED=true`` or the presence of ``FINNHUB_API_KEY``
+    counts as an explicit opt-in. Without either, the default yfinance path
+    is disabled to avoid silent outbound calls to finance.yahoo.com.
+    """
+    if os.getenv("FINNHUB_API_KEY", "").strip():
+        return True
+    return str(os.environ.get("FINANCIAL_ENABLED", "")).strip().lower() in {
+        "1",
+        "true",
+        "yes",
+        "on",
+    }
+
+
 def fetch_financial_markets():
     """Fetches full market list with smart throttling (3s for Finnhub, 60s for yfinance)."""
     global _last_fetch_time, _last_fetch_results, _rotating_index
-    
+
+    if not financial_fetch_enabled():
+        logger.debug(
+            "Financial fetch skipped; set FINANCIAL_ENABLED=true or supply "
+            "FINNHUB_API_KEY to opt in"
+        )
+        with _data_lock:
+            latest_data["financial"] = {}
+        _mark_fresh("financial")
+        return
+
     finnhub_key = os.getenv("FINNHUB_API_KEY", "").strip()
     use_finnhub = bool(finnhub_key)
     

backend/services/fetchers/meshtastic_map.py

@@ -174,16 +174,29 @@ def fetch_meshtastic_nodes():
     except Exception as e:
         logger.debug(f"Meshtastic cache freshness check failed: {e}")
 
-    # Build a polite User-Agent. Include the operator callsign when set so
-    # the upstream service can correlate per-install traffic if needed.
+    # Build a polite User-Agent. Historically this included the operator
+    # callsign so meshtastic.org could rate-limit per-install; that's still
+    # the default behavior for backward compatibility. Operators who want
+    # stricter outbound privacy can suppress the callsign by setting
+    # MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER=false. Issue #203.
+    import os as _os
     try:
         from services.config import get_settings
 
         callsign = str(getattr(get_settings(), "MESHTASTIC_OPERATOR_CALLSIGN", "") or "").strip()
     except Exception:
         callsign = ""
-    ua_base = "ShadowBroker-OSINT/0.9.75 (+https://github.com/BigBodyCobain/Shadowbroker; contact: bigbodycobain@gmail.com; 24h polling)"
-    user_agent = f"{ua_base}; node={callsign}" if callsign else ua_base
+
+    send_callsign_header = str(
+        _os.environ.get("MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER", "true")
+    ).strip().lower() not in {"0", "false", "no", "off", ""}
+
+    from services.network_utils import DEFAULT_USER_AGENT
+    ua_base = f"{DEFAULT_USER_AGENT}; 24h polling"
+    if callsign and send_callsign_header:
+        user_agent = f"{ua_base}; node={callsign}"
+    else:
+        user_agent = ua_base
 
     try:
         logger.info("Fetching Meshtastic map nodes from API...")

backend/services/fetchers/news.py

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """News fetching, geocoding, clustering, and risk assessment."""
+import os
 import re
 import time
 import logging
@@ -11,6 +12,22 @@ from services.fetchers._store import latest_data, _data_lock, _mark_fresh
 from services.fetchers.retry import with_retry
 from services.oracle_service import enrich_news_items, compute_global_threat_level, detect_breaking_events
 
+
+def news_fetch_enabled() -> bool:
+    """Return True only when the operator explicitly opts into news RSS pulls.
+
+    Defaults to **on** for backward compatibility (this is the only fetcher
+    where opting out is the new behavior, not the old one). Set
+    ``NEWS_ENABLED=false`` to disable all outbound RSS feed traffic.
+    """
+    return str(os.environ.get("NEWS_ENABLED", "true")).strip().lower() not in {
+        "0",
+        "false",
+        "no",
+        "off",
+        "",
+    }
+
 logger = logging.getLogger("services.data_fetcher")
 
 # Maximum article age in seconds.  Anything older than this is dropped
@@ -160,6 +177,12 @@ def _resolve_coords(text: str) -> tuple[float, float] | None:
 
 @with_retry(max_retries=1, base_delay=2)
 def fetch_news():
+    if not news_fetch_enabled():
+        logger.debug("News fetch skipped; unset NEWS_ENABLED=false to re-enable")
+        with _data_lock:
+            latest_data["news"] = []
+        _mark_fresh("news")
+        return
     from services.news_feed_config import get_feeds
     feed_config = get_feeds()
     feeds = {f["name"]: f["url"] for f in feed_config}

backend/services/fetchers/nuforc_enrichment.py

@@ -49,6 +49,16 @@ _HF_CSV_URL = (
     "https://huggingface.co/datasets/kcimc/NUFORC/resolve/main/nuforc_str.csv"
 )
 
+
+def nuforc_fetch_enabled() -> bool:
+    """Return True only when the operator explicitly opts into NUFORC pulls."""
+    return str(os.environ.get("NUFORC_ENABLED", "")).strip().lower() in {
+        "1",
+        "true",
+        "yes",
+        "on",
+    }
+
 # Only keep sightings from the last N years for the enrichment index
 _KEEP_YEARS = 5
 
@@ -160,6 +170,12 @@ def _download_and_build() -> dict | None:
 
     Returns the index dict or None on failure.
     """
+    if not nuforc_fetch_enabled():
+        logger.debug(
+            "NUFORC enrichment skipped; set NUFORC_ENABLED=true to opt in"
+        )
+        return None
+
     cutoff = datetime.utcnow() - timedelta(days=_KEEP_YEARS * 365)
     cutoff_str = cutoff.strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
 

backend/services/fetchers/prediction_markets.py

@@ -25,6 +25,16 @@ _provider_pace_lock = threading.Lock()
 _provider_last_request_at: dict[str, float] = {}
 
 
+def prediction_markets_fetch_enabled() -> bool:
+    """Return True only when the operator explicitly opts into Polymarket/Kalshi pulls."""
+    return str(os.environ.get("PREDICTION_MARKETS_ENABLED", "")).strip().lower() in {
+        "1",
+        "true",
+        "yes",
+        "on",
+    }
+
+
 def _pace_provider(provider: str, min_interval_s: float) -> None:
     if min_interval_s <= 0:
         return
@@ -755,6 +765,16 @@ def fetch_prediction_markets():
     from services.fetchers._store import latest_data, _data_lock, _mark_fresh
     global _prev_probabilities
 
+    if not prediction_markets_fetch_enabled():
+        logger.debug(
+            "Prediction markets fetch skipped; set "
+            "PREDICTION_MARKETS_ENABLED=true to opt in"
+        )
+        with _data_lock:
+            latest_data["prediction_markets"] = []
+        _mark_fresh("prediction_markets")
+        return
+
     markets = fetch_prediction_markets_raw()
 
     # Compute probability deltas vs previous fetch

backend/services/fetchers/route_database.py

@@ -24,11 +24,7 @@ _AIRPORTS_URL = "https://vrs-standing-data.adsb.lol/airports.csv.gz"
 _REFRESH_INTERVAL_S = 5 * 24 * 3600
 _HTTP_TIMEOUT_S = 60
 
-_USER_AGENT = (
-    "ShadowBroker-OSINT/0.9.75 "
-    "(+https://github.com/BigBodyCobain/Shadowbroker; "
-    "contact: bigbodycobain@gmail.com)"
-)
+from services.network_utils import DEFAULT_USER_AGENT as _USER_AGENT
 
 _lock = threading.RLock()
 _routes_by_callsign: dict[str, dict[str, Any]] = {}

backend/services/geopolitics.py

@@ -616,9 +616,12 @@ def fetch_global_military_incidents():
     try:
         logger.info("Fetching GDELT events via export CDN (multi-file)...")
 
-        # Get the latest export URL to determine current timestamp
+        # Get the latest export URL to determine current timestamp.
+        # HTTPS is used to prevent passive network observers from injecting
+        # poisoned export records into the global incident map via MITM.
+        # GDELT serves the same content over HTTPS as HTTP.
         index_res = fetch_with_curl(
-            "http://data.gdeltproject.org/gdeltv2/lastupdate.txt", timeout=10
+            "https://data.gdeltproject.org/gdeltv2/lastupdate.txt", timeout=10
         )
         if index_res.status_code != 200:
             logger.error(f"GDELT lastupdate failed: {index_res.status_code}")
@@ -636,7 +639,9 @@ def fetch_global_military_incidents():
             logger.error("Could not find GDELT export URL")
             return []
 
-        # Extract timestamp from URL like: http://data.gdeltproject.org/gdeltv2/20260301120000.export.CSV.zip
+        # Extract timestamp from URL like: https://data.gdeltproject.org/gdeltv2/20260301120000.export.CSV.zip
+        # (GDELT's lastupdate.txt may still list URLs with http:// — we ignore
+        # the scheme there and reconstruct each download URL as https:// below.)
         import re
 
         ts_match = re.search(r"(\d{14})\.export\.CSV\.zip", latest_url)
@@ -652,7 +657,7 @@ def fetch_global_military_incidents():
         for i in range(NUM_FILES):
             ts = latest_ts - timedelta(minutes=15 * i)
             fname = ts.strftime("%Y%m%d%H%M%S") + ".export.CSV.zip"
-            url = f"http://data.gdeltproject.org/gdeltv2/{fname}"
+            url = f"https://data.gdeltproject.org/gdeltv2/{fname}"
             urls.append(url)
 
         logger.info(f"Downloading {len(urls)} GDELT export files...")

backend/services/kiwisdr_fetcher.py

@@ -34,6 +34,20 @@ kiwisdr_cache: TTLCache = TTLCache(maxsize=1, ttl=_REFRESH_SECONDS)
 
 _SOURCE_URL = "http://rx.linkfanel.net/kiwisdr_com.js"
 _CACHE_FILE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "data" / "kiwisdr_cache.json"
+# Bundled fallback — shipped with the codebase so the KiwiSDR layer always
+# has something to render even when the upstream is unreachable, returns
+# garbage, or appears to have been tampered with. Issue #206: the upstream
+# only speaks HTTP, so we can't rely on TLS for integrity — instead we
+# validate the response's shape and fall back to this bundle if it doesn't
+# look right.
+_BUNDLED_FALLBACK = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "data" / "kiwisdr_directory.json"
+
+# Minimum number of receivers we expect from a healthy upstream response.
+# The KiwiSDR public network has consistently sat well above this threshold
+# for years. If we see fewer than this many parsed receivers, treat the
+# response as suspect and fall back. Tune via env if the upstream shrinks
+# legitimately.
+_MIN_HEALTHY_RECEIVER_COUNT = 50
 _LINE_COMMENT_RE = re.compile(r"^\s*//.*$", re.MULTILINE)
 _VAR_PREFIX_RE = re.compile(r"^\s*var\s+kiwisdr_com\s*=\s*", re.MULTILINE)
 _TRAILING_COMMA_RE = re.compile(r",(\s*[\]}])")
@@ -135,12 +149,72 @@ def _parse_mirror_payload(body: str) -> list[dict]:
     return nodes
 
 
+def _validate_fetched_nodes(nodes: list[dict]) -> bool:
+    """Sanity-check freshly-fetched receiver data before trusting it.
+
+    The upstream (rx.linkfanel.net) speaks only HTTP — there is no TLS to
+    authenticate the response. A passive MITM could inject doctored
+    receiver positions (false pins on the map) or strip the response down
+    to a tiny subset. We can't prevent the modification at the transport
+    layer, but we can refuse to commit to obviously-bad responses.
+
+    Returns True if the parsed list looks reasonable. False means we
+    should fall back to a previously-cached or bundled directory.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(nodes, list):
+        return False
+    if len(nodes) < _MIN_HEALTHY_RECEIVER_COUNT:
+        # Either upstream is degraded or someone is feeding us a stripped
+        # response. Either way, the bundled fallback is more useful.
+        return False
+
+    # Spot-check: every entry should have a name, a parsed lat/lon, and a
+    # URL field. If more than 5% of entries are missing core fields, the
+    # parse went sideways.
+    missing_core = 0
+    for entry in nodes:
+        if not isinstance(entry, dict):
+            missing_core += 1
+            continue
+        if not entry.get("name") or not isinstance(entry.get("lat"), (int, float)):
+            missing_core += 1
+    if missing_core > max(5, len(nodes) // 20):
+        return False
+
+    return True
+
+
+def _load_bundled_fallback() -> list[dict]:
+    """Last-resort directory shipped with the codebase. Always returns a
+    list (may be empty if the bundle is missing in older deployments)."""
+    if not _BUNDLED_FALLBACK.exists():
+        return []
+    try:
+        data = json.loads(_BUNDLED_FALLBACK.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        if isinstance(data, list):
+            return data
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning(f"KiwiSDR bundled fallback unreadable: {e}")
+    return []
+
+
 @cached(kiwisdr_cache)
 def fetch_kiwisdr_nodes() -> list[dict]:
     """Return the KiwiSDR receiver list, refreshed at most once per day.
 
-    Order of preference: in-memory cache (handled by @cached) → on-disk cache
-    if <24h old → network fetch from rx.linkfanel.net.
+    Layered fallback (issue #206 — upstream is HTTP-only, so we defend with
+    content validation + bundled static directory rather than trying to
+    upgrade the transport):
+
+      1. In-memory cache (handled by @cached on this function)
+      2. On-disk cache if <24h old
+      3. Fresh network fetch from rx.linkfanel.net → validated → committed
+      4. Stale on-disk cache (>24h) if validation fails
+      5. Bundled static directory at backend/data/kiwisdr_directory.json
+
+    The KiwiSDR map layer renders something useful in every case. A
+    tampered upstream returning garbage is caught by _validate_fetched_nodes()
+    and falls through to whatever previously-trusted snapshot we have.
     """
     from services.network_utils import fetch_with_curl
 
@@ -153,34 +227,57 @@ def fetch_kiwisdr_nodes() -> list[dict]:
         return cached_nodes
 
     # 2. Cache cold or stale — fetch from network.
+    fresh_nodes: list[dict] = []
+    fetch_succeeded = False
     try:
         res = fetch_with_curl(_SOURCE_URL, timeout=20)
-        if not res or res.status_code != 200:
-            logger.error(
-                f"KiwiSDR fetch failed: HTTP {res.status_code if res else 'no response'}"
+        if res and res.status_code == 200:
+            fresh_nodes = _parse_mirror_payload(res.text)
+            fetch_succeeded = True
+        else:
+            logger.warning(
+                f"KiwiSDR fetch returned HTTP {res.status_code if res else 'no response'}"
             )
-            return []
-
-        nodes = _parse_mirror_payload(res.text)
-        if nodes:
-            _save_disk_cache(nodes)
-            logger.info(
-                f"KiwiSDR: refreshed {len(nodes)} receivers from rx.linkfanel.net "
-                "(next refresh in 24h)"
-            )
-        return nodes
-
     except (requests.RequestException, ConnectionError, TimeoutError, ValueError, KeyError) as e:
-        logger.error(f"KiwiSDR fetch exception: {e}")
-        # Fall back to a stale disk cache if one exists, even if >24h old.
-        if _CACHE_FILE.exists():
-            try:
-                stale = json.loads(_CACHE_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
-                if isinstance(stale, list):
-                    logger.info(
-                        f"KiwiSDR: serving {len(stale)} stale receivers from disk after fetch failure"
-                    )
-                    return stale
-            except Exception:
-                pass
-        return []
+        logger.warning(f"KiwiSDR fetch exception: {e}")
+
+    # 3. Validate before committing. If the response looks healthy, save
+    # it as the new cache and return.
+    if fetch_succeeded and _validate_fetched_nodes(fresh_nodes):
+        _save_disk_cache(fresh_nodes)
+        logger.info(
+            f"KiwiSDR: refreshed {len(fresh_nodes)} receivers from rx.linkfanel.net "
+            "(next refresh in 24h)"
+        )
+        return fresh_nodes
+
+    if fetch_succeeded:
+        # Network came back, but the payload didn't pass validation —
+        # either upstream is degraded or a MITM is at work. Fall through
+        # to a trusted snapshot rather than committing garbage to disk.
+        logger.warning(
+            "KiwiSDR: upstream response failed validation (%d entries) — "
+            "falling back to trusted snapshot",
+            len(fresh_nodes),
+        )
+
+    # 4. Stale on-disk cache, if any.
+    if _CACHE_FILE.exists():
+        try:
+            stale = json.loads(_CACHE_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+            if isinstance(stale, list) and stale:
+                logger.info(
+                    f"KiwiSDR: serving {len(stale)} stale receivers from disk"
+                )
+                return stale
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+    # 5. Bundled static directory — last resort, always works.
+    bundled = _load_bundled_fallback()
+    if bundled:
+        logger.info(
+            f"KiwiSDR: serving {len(bundled)} receivers from bundled fallback "
+            "(no fresh fetch + no disk cache available)"
+        )
+    return bundled

backend/services/mesh/mesh_dm_relay.py

@@ -1264,6 +1264,21 @@ class DMRelay:
                 )
             self._save()
 
+    def unregister_prekey_lookup_alias(self, alias: str) -> bool:
+        """Remove an invite-scoped lookup alias from the local relay."""
+        handle = str(alias or "").strip()
+        if not handle:
+            return False
+        removed = False
+        with self._lock:
+            self._refresh_from_shared_relay()
+            if handle in self._prekey_lookup_aliases:
+                del self._prekey_lookup_aliases[handle]
+                removed = True
+        if removed:
+            self._save()
+        return removed
+
     def consume_one_time_prekey(self, agent_id: str) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
         """Atomically claim the next published one-time prekey for a peer bundle."""
         claimed: dict[str, Any] | None = None

backend/services/mesh/mesh_hashchain.py

@@ -1438,14 +1438,57 @@ class Infonet:
         # Running counters — avoid O(N) scans in get_info()
         self._type_counts: dict[str, int] = {}
         self._active_count: int = 0
+        self._registered_nodes: set[str] = set()
         self._chain_bytes: int = 2  # Start with "[]" empty JSON array
         self._dirty = False
         self._save_lock = threading.Lock()
         self._save_timer: threading.Timer | None = None
         self._SAVE_INTERVAL = 5.0  # seconds — coalesce writes
+        # Issue #208: Merkle levels cache so get_merkle_proofs() doesn't
+        # rebuild O(n) levels on every public call. Invalidated whenever
+        # self.events mutates. Computed lazily on first read after an
+        # invalidation.
+        self._merkle_levels_cache: list[list[str]] | None = None
+        self._merkle_levels_for_event_count: int = -1
         atexit.register(self._flush)
         self._load()
 
+    def _invalidate_merkle_cache(self) -> None:
+        """Clear the precomputed Merkle levels.
+
+        Called whenever ``self.events`` may have mutated (append, rebuild,
+        cleanup, fork resolution). The next call to ``get_merkle_root()``
+        or ``get_merkle_proofs()`` will recompute and re-cache.
+        """
+        self._merkle_levels_cache = None
+        self._merkle_levels_for_event_count = -1
+
+    def _get_merkle_levels(self) -> list[list[str]]:
+        """Return Merkle levels for the current chain, recomputing if
+        the cache is invalid or out of date.
+
+        Issue #208: a public endpoint (``/api/mesh/infonet/sync?include_proofs=true``)
+        used to rebuild Merkle levels on every request, which is O(n) in
+        chain length and trivially abusable for CPU exhaustion. By caching
+        the levels and invalidating on mutation, repeated proof requests
+        become O(1) per proof; the rebuild only happens after a genuine
+        append/rebuild/cleanup.
+        """
+        from services.mesh.mesh_merkle import build_merkle_levels
+
+        current_count = len(self.events)
+        if (
+            self._merkle_levels_cache is not None
+            and self._merkle_levels_for_event_count == current_count
+        ):
+            return self._merkle_levels_cache
+
+        leaves = [e["event_id"] for e in self.events]
+        levels = build_merkle_levels(leaves)
+        self._merkle_levels_cache = levels
+        self._merkle_levels_for_event_count = current_count
+        return levels
+
     # ─── Persistence ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
     def _load(self):
@@ -1518,6 +1561,7 @@ class Infonet:
         self._last_validated_index = 0
         self._type_counts = {}
         self._active_count = 0
+        self._registered_nodes = set()
         self._chain_bytes = 2
 
     def _rebuild_state(self) -> None:
@@ -1566,10 +1610,15 @@ class Infonet:
         now = time.time()
         self._type_counts = {}
         self._active_count = 0
+        self._registered_nodes = set()
         self._chain_bytes = 2  # "[]"
         for evt in self.events:
             t = evt.get("event_type", "unknown")
             self._type_counts[t] = self._type_counts.get(t, 0) + 1
+            if t == "node_register":
+                node_id = str(evt.get("node_id", "") or "")
+                if node_id:
+                    self._registered_nodes.add(node_id)
             is_eph = evt.get("payload", {}).get("ephemeral") or evt.get("payload", {}).get("_ephemeral")
             if not is_eph or (now - evt.get("timestamp", 0)) < EPHEMERAL_TTL:
                 self._active_count += 1
@@ -1579,6 +1628,10 @@ class Infonet:
         """Incrementally update counters when a new event is appended."""
         t = evt.get("event_type", "unknown")
         self._type_counts[t] = self._type_counts.get(t, 0) + 1
+        if t == "node_register":
+            node_id = str(evt.get("node_id", "") or "")
+            if node_id:
+                self._registered_nodes.add(node_id)
         self._active_count += 1
         self._chain_bytes += len(json.dumps(evt)) + 2
 
@@ -1972,6 +2025,8 @@ class Infonet:
         self.head_hash = event.event_id
         self.node_sequences[node_id] = sequence
         self._replay_filter.add(event.event_id)
+        # Issue #208: chain advanced, cached Merkle levels are stale.
+        self._invalidate_merkle_cache()
         self._update_counters_for_event(event_dict)
 
         if event_type == "key_revoke":
@@ -2247,6 +2302,7 @@ class Infonet:
             self.event_index[event_id] = len(self.events) - 1
             self.head_hash = event_id
             self.node_sequences[node_id] = sequence
+            self._update_counters_for_event(evt)
             accepted += 1
             expected_prev = event_id
             self._replay_filter.add(event_id)
@@ -2254,6 +2310,9 @@ class Infonet:
                 self._apply_revocation(evt)
 
         if accepted:
+            # Issue #208: any accepted event invalidates the cached Merkle
+            # levels. One invalidation per batch, not per event.
+            self._invalidate_merkle_cache()
             self._save()
         return {"accepted": accepted, "duplicates": duplicates, "rejected": rejected}
 
@@ -2552,6 +2611,10 @@ class Infonet:
         # Apply fork
         self.events = prefix + ordered
         self._rebuild_state()
+        self._rebuild_revocations()
+        self._rebuild_counters()
+        # Issue #208: chain replaced, cached Merkle levels are stale.
+        self._invalidate_merkle_cache()
         self._save()
         try:
             from services.mesh.mesh_metrics import increment as metrics_inc
@@ -2681,6 +2744,8 @@ class Infonet:
             "head_hash_full": self.head_hash,
             "chain_lock": self.chain_lock(),
             "known_nodes": len(self.node_sequences),
+            "author_nodes": len(self.node_sequences),
+            "registered_nodes": len(self._registered_nodes),
             "event_types": dict(self._type_counts),
             "chain_size_kb": round(self._chain_bytes / 1024, 1),
             "unsigned_events": 0,
@@ -2716,8 +2781,11 @@ class Infonet:
 
         if len(new_events) != before:
             self.events = new_events
-            # Rebuild index
-            self.event_index = {e["event_id"]: i for i, e in enumerate(self.events)}
+            self._rebuild_state()
+            self._rebuild_revocations()
+            self._rebuild_counters()
+            # Issue #208: cleanup may have dropped expired events.
+            self._invalidate_merkle_cache()
             self._save()
             logger.info(f"Infonet cleanup: removed {before - len(new_events)} expired events")
 
@@ -2726,30 +2794,37 @@ class Infonet:
     def get_merkle_root(self) -> str:
         """Compute a Merkle root hash of the Infonet for sync comparison.
 
-        Two nodes with the same Merkle root have identical chains.
+        Two nodes with the same Merkle root have identical chains. Reads
+        from the cached Merkle levels (issue #208) — O(1) when the chain
+        hasn't changed since the last computation.
         """
         if not self.events:
             return GENESIS_HASH
 
-        from services.mesh.mesh_merkle import merkle_root
-
-        leaves = [e["event_id"] for e in self.events]
-        root = merkle_root(leaves)
-        return root or GENESIS_HASH
+        levels = self._get_merkle_levels()
+        if not levels or not levels[-1]:
+            return GENESIS_HASH
+        return levels[-1][0] or GENESIS_HASH
 
     def get_merkle_proofs(self, start_index: int, count: int) -> dict:
-        """Return merkle proofs for a contiguous range of events."""
-        leaves = [e["event_id"] for e in self.events]
-        total = len(leaves)
+        """Return merkle proofs for a contiguous range of events.
+
+        Issue #208: uses the cached Merkle levels so this is O(count *
+        log n) per request, not O(n + count * log n). Anonymous peers
+        hitting ``/api/mesh/infonet/sync?include_proofs=true`` no longer
+        force a rebuild on every call.
+        """
+        total = len(self.events)
         if total == 0:
             return {"root": GENESIS_HASH, "total": 0, "start": 0, "proofs": []}
 
-        from services.mesh.mesh_merkle import build_merkle_levels, merkle_proof_from_levels
+        from services.mesh.mesh_merkle import merkle_proof_from_levels
 
+        leaves = [e["event_id"] for e in self.events]
         start = max(0, start_index)
         end = min(total, start + max(0, count))
-        levels = build_merkle_levels(leaves)
-        root = levels[-1][0] if levels else GENESIS_HASH
+        levels = self._get_merkle_levels()
+        root = levels[-1][0] if levels and levels[-1] else GENESIS_HASH
 
         proofs = []
         for idx in range(start, end):

backend/services/mesh/mesh_infonet_sync_support.py

@@ -30,10 +30,19 @@ def eligible_sync_peers(records: list[PeerRecord], *, now: float | None = None)
         for record in records
         if record.bucket == "sync" and record.enabled and int(record.cooldown_until or 0) <= current_time
     ]
+
+    def _seed_priority(record: PeerRecord) -> int:
+        role = str(record.role or "").strip().lower()
+        source = str(record.source or "").strip().lower()
+        if role == "seed" and source in {"bundle", "bootstrap_promoted"}:
+            return 0
+        return 1
+
     return sorted(
         candidates,
         key=lambda record: (
             -int(record.last_sync_ok_at or 0),
+            _seed_priority(record),
             int(record.failure_count or 0),
             int(record.added_at or 0),
             record.peer_url,

backend/services/mesh/mesh_peer_store.py

@@ -258,6 +258,12 @@ class PeerStore:
             self._records[record.record_key()] = record
             return record
 
+        explicit_seed_refresh = (
+            record.bucket == "sync"
+            and record.role == "seed"
+            and record.source in {"bundle", "bootstrap_promoted"}
+        )
+
         merged = PeerRecord(
             bucket=record.bucket,
             source=record.source,
@@ -272,9 +278,9 @@ class PeerStore:
             last_seen_at=max(existing.last_seen_at, record.last_seen_at),
             last_sync_ok_at=max(existing.last_sync_ok_at, record.last_sync_ok_at),
             last_push_ok_at=max(existing.last_push_ok_at, record.last_push_ok_at),
-            last_error=record.last_error or existing.last_error,
-            failure_count=max(existing.failure_count, record.failure_count),
-            cooldown_until=max(existing.cooldown_until, record.cooldown_until),
+            last_error="" if explicit_seed_refresh else record.last_error or existing.last_error,
+            failure_count=0 if explicit_seed_refresh else max(existing.failure_count, record.failure_count),
+            cooldown_until=0 if explicit_seed_refresh else max(existing.cooldown_until, record.cooldown_until),
             metadata={**existing.metadata, **record.metadata},
         )
         self._records[record.record_key()] = merged

backend/services/mesh/mesh_router.py

@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ class MeshtasticTransport:
 
             def _on_connect(client, userdata, flags, rc):
                 if rc == 0:
-                    info = client.publish(topic, payload, qos=0)
+                    info = client.publish(topic, payload, qos=1)
                     info.wait_for_publish(timeout=5)
                     published[0] = True
                     client.disconnect()
@@ -550,9 +550,9 @@ class MeshtasticTransport:
                 True,
                 self.NAME,
                 (
-                    f"Published direct to !{to_node:08x} via {region}/{channel}"
+                    f"Broker accepted direct publish to !{to_node:08x} via {region}/{channel}"
                     if direct_node is not None
-                    else f"Published to {region}/{channel} ({len(payload)}B protobuf)"
+                    else f"Broker accepted channel publish to {region}/{channel} ({len(payload)}B protobuf)"
                 ),
             )
         except Exception as e:

backend/services/mesh/mesh_wormhole_identity.py

@@ -11,12 +11,13 @@ import base64
 import hmac
 import hashlib
 import json
+import logging
 import secrets
 import time
 from typing import Any
 
 from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import serialization
-from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import ed25519
+from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import ed25519, x25519
 
 from services.mesh.mesh_crypto import (
     build_signature_payload,
@@ -51,6 +52,8 @@ PREKEY_LOOKUP_ROTATE_BEFORE_REMAINING_USES = 8
 PREKEY_LOOKUP_ROTATION_OVERLAP_S = 12 * 60 * 60
 PREKEY_LOOKUP_ROTATION_ACTIVE_CAP = 4
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def _safe_int(val, default=0) -> int:
     try:
@@ -107,6 +110,7 @@ def _default_identity() -> dict[str, Any]:
 def _prekey_lookup_handle_record(
     handle: str,
     *,
+    label: str = "",
     issued_at: int = 0,
     expires_at: int = 0,
     max_uses: int = 0,
@@ -125,6 +129,7 @@ def _prekey_lookup_handle_record(
     bounded_max_uses = max(1, _safe_int(max_uses or PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES, PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES))
     return {
         "handle": str(handle or "").strip(),
+        "label": str(label or "").strip()[:96],
         "issued_at": issued,
         "expires_at": bounded_expires_at,
         "max_uses": bounded_max_uses,
@@ -152,8 +157,10 @@ def _coerce_prekey_lookup_handle_record(
         max_uses = _safe_int(value.get("max_uses", PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES) or PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES)
         use_count = _safe_int(value.get("use_count", value.get("uses", 0)) or 0, 0)
         last_used_at = _safe_int(value.get("last_used_at", value.get("last_used", 0)) or 0, 0)
+        label = str(value.get("label", "") or "").strip()
         return _prekey_lookup_handle_record(
             handle,
+            label=label,
             issued_at=issued_at,
             expires_at=expires_at,
             max_uses=max_uses,
@@ -228,6 +235,23 @@ def _fresh_prekey_lookup_handle_record(*, now: int | None = None) -> dict[str, A
     )
 
 
+def _prekey_registration_failure_blocks_dm_invite(detail: str) -> bool:
+    """Only trust-root failures block address export; transport warm-up can finish later."""
+    lowered = str(detail or "").lower()
+    critical_markers = (
+        "root transparency",
+        "external root witness",
+        "stable root",
+        "witness threshold",
+        "witness finality",
+        "root manifest",
+        "root witness",
+        "manifest_fingerprint",
+        "policy fingerprint",
+    )
+    return any(marker in lowered for marker in critical_markers)
+
+
 def _bounded_lookup_handle_records(
     records: list[dict[str, Any]],
     *,
@@ -440,6 +464,37 @@ def _bundle_fingerprint(data: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
     return hashlib.sha256(raw.encode("utf-8")).hexdigest()
 
 
+def _ensure_dm_dh_material(data: dict[str, Any]) -> tuple[dict[str, Any], bool]:
+    """Repair legacy/corrupt DM identities that kept signing keys but lost DH material."""
+    if str(data.get("dh_pub_key", "") or "").strip() and str(data.get("dh_private_key", "") or "").strip():
+        return data, False
+
+    dh_priv = x25519.X25519PrivateKey.generate()
+    dh_priv_raw = dh_priv.private_bytes(
+        encoding=serialization.Encoding.Raw,
+        format=serialization.PrivateFormat.Raw,
+        encryption_algorithm=serialization.NoEncryption(),
+    )
+    dh_pub_raw = dh_priv.public_key().public_bytes(
+        encoding=serialization.Encoding.Raw,
+        format=serialization.PublicFormat.Raw,
+    )
+    repaired = {
+        **dict(data or {}),
+        "dh_pub_key": base64.b64encode(dh_pub_raw).decode("ascii"),
+        "dh_algo": "X25519",
+        "dh_private_key": base64.b64encode(dh_priv_raw).decode("ascii"),
+        "last_dh_timestamp": int(time.time()),
+        "bundle_fingerprint": "",
+        "bundle_sequence": 0,
+        "bundle_registered_at": 0,
+        "prekey_bundle_registered_at": 0,
+        "prekey_transparency_head": "",
+        "prekey_transparency_size": 0,
+    }
+    return _write_identity(repaired), True
+
+
 def trust_fingerprint_for_identity_material(
     *,
     agent_id: str,
@@ -806,10 +861,11 @@ def _sign_dm_invite_payload(
 
 def register_wormhole_dm_key(force: bool = False) -> dict[str, Any]:
     data = read_wormhole_identity()
+    data, repaired_dh = _ensure_dm_dh_material(data)
 
     timestamp = int(time.time())
     fingerprint = _bundle_fingerprint(data)
-    if not force and fingerprint and fingerprint == data.get("bundle_fingerprint"):
+    if not force and not repaired_dh and fingerprint and fingerprint == data.get("bundle_fingerprint"):
         return {
             "ok": True,
             **_public_view(data),
@@ -884,6 +940,7 @@ def export_wormhole_dm_invite(*, label: str = "", expires_in_s: int = 0) -> dict
     existing_handles.append(
         _prekey_lookup_handle_record(
             lookup_handle,
+            label=str(label or "").strip(),
             issued_at=issued_at,
             expires_at=expires_at,
         )
@@ -920,14 +977,25 @@ def export_wormhole_dm_invite(*, label: str = "", expires_in_s: int = 0) -> dict
     except Exception:
         pass
 
+    prekey_registration: dict[str, Any] = {"ok": False, "detail": "prekey bundle publish not attempted"}
     try:
         from services.mesh.mesh_wormhole_prekey import register_wormhole_prekey_bundle
 
-        registered = register_wormhole_prekey_bundle()
-        if not registered.get("ok"):
-            return {"ok": False, "detail": str(registered.get("detail", "") or "prekey bundle registration failed")}
+        prekey_registration = register_wormhole_prekey_bundle()
+        if not prekey_registration.get("ok"):
+            detail = str(prekey_registration.get("detail", "") or "prekey bundle registration failed")
+            if _prekey_registration_failure_blocks_dm_invite(detail):
+                return {"ok": False, "detail": detail}
+            logger.warning(
+                "DM invite prekey publish pending: %s",
+                detail,
+            )
     except Exception as exc:
-        return {"ok": False, "detail": str(exc) or "prekey bundle registration failed"}
+        prekey_registration = {"ok": False, "detail": str(exc) or "prekey bundle registration failed"}
+        detail = str(prekey_registration.get("detail", "") or "")
+        if _prekey_registration_failure_blocks_dm_invite(detail):
+            return {"ok": False, "detail": detail}
+        logger.warning("DM invite prekey publish pending: %s", prekey_registration["detail"])
 
     invite_node_id, invite_public_key, invite_private_key = _generate_invite_signing_identity()
     payload = _attach_dm_invite_root_distribution(payload)
@@ -958,6 +1026,8 @@ def export_wormhole_dm_invite(*, label: str = "", expires_in_s: int = 0) -> dict
         "peer_id": str(invite_node_id or ""),
         "trust_fingerprint": str(payload.get("identity_commitment", "") or ""),
         "invite": invite,
+        "prekey_publish_pending": not bool(prekey_registration.get("ok")),
+        "prekey_registration": prekey_registration,
     }
 
 
@@ -980,6 +1050,140 @@ def get_prekey_lookup_handle_records() -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     ]
 
 
+def list_prekey_lookup_handle_records_for_ui(*, now: int | None = None) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Return shareable DM address records without exposing local identity secrets."""
+    current_time = _safe_int(now or time.time(), int(time.time()))
+    addresses: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for record in get_prekey_lookup_handle_records():
+        handle = str(record.get("handle", "") or "").strip()
+        if not handle:
+            continue
+        expires_at = _effective_prekey_lookup_handle_expires_at(record)
+        max_uses = max(
+            1,
+            _safe_int(
+                record.get("max_uses", PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES) or PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES,
+                PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES,
+            ),
+        )
+        use_count = max(0, _safe_int(record.get("use_count", 0) or 0, 0))
+        addresses.append(
+            {
+                "handle": handle,
+                "label": str(record.get("label", "") or "").strip(),
+                "issued_at": _safe_int(record.get("issued_at", 0) or 0, 0),
+                "expires_at": expires_at,
+                "max_uses": max_uses,
+                "use_count": use_count,
+                "remaining_uses": max(0, max_uses - use_count),
+                "last_used_at": _safe_int(record.get("last_used_at", 0) or 0, 0),
+                "expired": bool(expires_at > 0 and current_time >= expires_at),
+                "exhausted": bool(use_count >= max_uses),
+            }
+        )
+    addresses.sort(key=lambda item: _safe_int(item.get("issued_at", 0) or 0, 0), reverse=True)
+    return {"ok": True, "addresses": addresses}
+
+
+def rename_prekey_lookup_handle(handle: str, label: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Rename an active invite-scoped DM lookup handle without changing the handle."""
+    lookup_handle = str(handle or "").strip()
+    next_label = str(label or "").strip()[:96]
+    if not lookup_handle:
+        return {"ok": False, "detail": "missing_lookup_handle"}
+
+    current_time = int(time.time())
+    data = read_wormhole_identity()
+    existing, _ = _normalize_prekey_lookup_handles(
+        data.get("prekey_lookup_handles", []),
+        fallback_issued_at=current_time,
+        now=current_time,
+    )
+    updated = False
+    next_records: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for record in existing:
+        current = dict(record)
+        if str(current.get("handle", "") or "").strip() == lookup_handle:
+            current["label"] = next_label
+            updated = True
+        next_records.append(current)
+
+    if not updated:
+        return {
+            "ok": False,
+            "handle": lookup_handle,
+            "label": next_label,
+            "updated": False,
+            "detail": "lookup_handle_not_found",
+        }
+
+    normalized_records, _ = _normalize_prekey_lookup_handles(
+        next_records,
+        fallback_issued_at=current_time,
+        now=current_time,
+    )
+    _write_identity({"prekey_lookup_handles": normalized_records})
+    return {
+        "ok": True,
+        "handle": lookup_handle,
+        "label": next_label,
+        "updated": True,
+    }
+
+
+def revoke_prekey_lookup_handle(handle: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Revoke an invite-scoped DM lookup handle for future first-contact attempts."""
+    lookup_handle = str(handle or "").strip()
+    if not lookup_handle:
+        return {"ok": False, "detail": "missing_lookup_handle"}
+    current_time = int(time.time())
+    data = read_wormhole_identity()
+    existing, _ = _normalize_prekey_lookup_handles(
+        data.get("prekey_lookup_handles", []),
+        fallback_issued_at=current_time,
+        now=current_time,
+    )
+    next_records = [
+        dict(record)
+        for record in existing
+        if str(record.get("handle", "") or "").strip() != lookup_handle
+    ]
+    identity_removed = len(next_records) != len(existing)
+    if identity_removed:
+        _write_identity({"prekey_lookup_handles": next_records})
+
+    relay_removed = False
+    try:
+        from services.mesh.mesh_dm_relay import dm_relay
+
+        relay_removed = bool(dm_relay.unregister_prekey_lookup_alias(lookup_handle))
+    except Exception:
+        relay_removed = False
+
+    republished = False
+    detail = ""
+    if identity_removed:
+        try:
+            from services.mesh.mesh_wormhole_prekey import register_wormhole_prekey_bundle
+
+            registered = register_wormhole_prekey_bundle()
+            republished = bool(registered.get("ok"))
+            if not republished:
+                detail = str(registered.get("detail", "") or "prekey bundle republish failed")
+        except Exception as exc:
+            detail = str(exc) or "prekey bundle republish failed"
+
+    return {
+        "ok": True,
+        "handle": lookup_handle,
+        "revoked": bool(identity_removed or relay_removed),
+        "identity_removed": identity_removed,
+        "relay_removed": relay_removed,
+        "republished": republished,
+        "detail": detail,
+    }
+
+
 def record_prekey_lookup_handle_use(handle: str, *, now: int | None = None) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
     lookup_handle = str(handle or "").strip()
     if not lookup_handle:
@@ -999,6 +1203,7 @@ def record_prekey_lookup_handle_use(handle: str, *, now: int | None = None) -> d
         if str(current.get("handle", "") or "").strip() == lookup_handle:
             current = _prekey_lookup_handle_record(
                 lookup_handle,
+                label=str(current.get("label", "") or "").strip(),
                 issued_at=_safe_int(current.get("issued_at", 0) or 0, current_time),
                 expires_at=_safe_int(current.get("expires_at", 0) or 0, 0),
                 max_uses=_safe_int(current.get("max_uses", PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES) or PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES),
@@ -1129,6 +1334,7 @@ def maybe_rotate_prekey_lookup_handles(*, now: int | None = None) -> dict[str, A
         candidate_records.append(
             _prekey_lookup_handle_record(
                 old_handle,
+                label=str(record.get("label", "") or "").strip(),
                 issued_at=_safe_int(record.get("issued_at", 0) or 0, current_time),
                 expires_at=overlap_expires_at,
                 max_uses=_safe_int(record.get("max_uses", PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES) or PREKEY_LOOKUP_HANDLE_MAX_USES),
@@ -1351,11 +1557,101 @@ def import_wormhole_dm_invite(invite: dict[str, Any], *, alias: str = "") -> dic
             "detail": "compat dm invite import disabled; ask the sender to re-export a current signed invite",
         }
 
+    def _prekey_missing_or_pending(detail: str) -> bool:
+        lower = str(detail or "").strip().lower()
+        return any(
+            phrase in lower
+            for phrase in (
+                "prekey bundle not found",
+                "invite prekey bundle not found",
+                "peer prekey lookup unavailable",
+                "peer prekey lookup still preparing",
+                "transport tier insufficient",
+                "preparing_private_lane",
+            )
+        )
+
+    def _pin_pending_invite_prekey(detail: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        if invite_version < DM_INVITE_VERSION:
+            return {"ok": False, "detail": detail or "invite prekey bundle not found"}
+        invite_root_distribution = _verify_dm_invite_root_distribution(payload)
+        if not invite_root_distribution.get("ok"):
+            return invite_root_distribution
+        attested = _verify_dm_invite_identity_attestation(
+            envelope=envelope,
+            payload=payload,
+            resolved_root_node_id=str(invite_root_distribution.get("root_node_id", "") or ""),
+            resolved_root_public_key=str(invite_root_distribution.get("root_public_key", "") or ""),
+            resolved_root_public_key_algo=str(
+                invite_root_distribution.get("root_public_key_algo", "Ed25519") or "Ed25519"
+            ),
+            resolved_root_manifest_fingerprint=str(
+                invite_root_distribution.get("root_manifest_fingerprint", "") or ""
+            ).strip().lower(),
+        )
+        if not attested.get("ok"):
+            return attested
+        pending_peer_id = str(verified.get("peer_id", "") or "").strip()
+        trust_fingerprint = str(verified.get("trust_fingerprint", "") or "").strip().lower()
+        contact = pin_wormhole_dm_invite(
+            pending_peer_id,
+            invite_payload={
+                "trust_fingerprint": trust_fingerprint,
+                "public_key": "",
+                "public_key_algo": "Ed25519",
+                "identity_dh_pub_key": "",
+                "dh_algo": "X25519",
+                "prekey_lookup_handle": lookup_handle,
+                "issued_at": int(payload.get("issued_at", 0) or 0),
+                "expires_at": int(payload.get("expires_at", 0) or 0),
+                "label": str(payload.get("label", "") or ""),
+                "root_node_id": str(attested.get("root_node_id", "") or ""),
+                "root_public_key": str(attested.get("root_public_key", "") or ""),
+                "root_public_key_algo": str(attested.get("root_public_key_algo", "Ed25519") or "Ed25519"),
+                "root_fingerprint": str(attested.get("root_fingerprint", "") or ""),
+                "root_manifest_fingerprint": str(invite_root_distribution.get("root_manifest_fingerprint", "") or ""),
+                "root_witness_policy_fingerprint": str(
+                    invite_root_distribution.get("root_witness_policy_fingerprint", "") or ""
+                ),
+                "root_witness_threshold": _safe_int(
+                    invite_root_distribution.get("root_witness_threshold", 0) or 0,
+                    0,
+                ),
+                "root_witness_count": _safe_int(invite_root_distribution.get("root_witness_count", 0) or 0, 0),
+                "root_witness_domain_count": _safe_int(
+                    invite_root_distribution.get("root_witness_domain_count", 0) or 0,
+                    0,
+                ),
+                "root_manifest_generation": _safe_int(
+                    invite_root_distribution.get("root_manifest_generation", 0) or 0,
+                    0,
+                ),
+                "root_rotation_proven": bool(invite_root_distribution.get("root_rotation_proven")),
+            },
+            alias=resolved_alias,
+            attested=True,
+        )
+        return {
+            "ok": True,
+            "peer_id": pending_peer_id,
+            "invite_peer_id": pending_peer_id,
+            "trust_fingerprint": trust_fingerprint,
+            "trust_level": str(contact.get("trust_level", "") or ""),
+            "detail": "Contact saved.",
+            "invite_attested": True,
+            "pending_prekey": True,
+            "prekey_detail": detail or "invite prekey bundle not found",
+            "contact": contact,
+        }
+
     from services.mesh.mesh_wormhole_prekey import fetch_dm_prekey_bundle
 
     fetched = fetch_dm_prekey_bundle(lookup_token=lookup_handle)
     if not fetched.get("ok"):
-        return {"ok": False, "detail": str(fetched.get("detail", "") or "invite prekey bundle not found")}
+        fetch_detail = str(fetched.get("detail", "") or "invite prekey bundle not found")
+        if _prekey_missing_or_pending(fetch_detail):
+            return _pin_pending_invite_prekey(fetch_detail)
+        return {"ok": False, "detail": fetch_detail}
 
     resolved_peer_id = str(fetched.get("agent_id", "") or "").strip()
     if not resolved_peer_id:

backend/services/mesh/mesh_wormhole_prekey.py

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import os
 import random
 import time
 import urllib.error
+import urllib.parse
 import urllib.request
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -150,6 +151,122 @@ def _fetch_dm_prekey_bundle_from_peer_lookup(lookup_token: str) -> dict[str, Any
     return {"ok": False, "detail": last_detail or "Prekey bundle not found"}
 
 
+def _configured_public_lookup_peer_urls() -> list[str]:
+    try:
+        from services.config import get_settings
+        from services.mesh.mesh_router import active_sync_peer_urls, parse_configured_relay_peers
+
+        settings = get_settings()
+        candidates: list[str] = []
+        for raw in (
+            getattr(settings, "MESH_BOOTSTRAP_SEED_PEERS", ""),
+            getattr(settings, "MESH_DEFAULT_SYNC_PEERS", ""),
+        ):
+            candidates.extend(parse_configured_relay_peers(str(raw or "")))
+        candidates.extend(active_sync_peer_urls())
+    except Exception:
+        return []
+
+    seen: set[str] = set()
+    peers: list[str] = []
+    for candidate in candidates:
+        peer = str(candidate or "").strip().rstrip("/")
+        if not peer or peer in seen:
+            continue
+        seen.add(peer)
+        peers.append(peer)
+    return peers
+
+
+def _normalize_remote_lookup_bundle(payload: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    data = dict(payload or {})
+    bundle = dict(data.get("bundle") or {})
+    public_key = str(data.get("public_key", "") or bundle.get("public_key", "") or "").strip()
+    if not public_key:
+        return {"ok": False, "detail": "Prekey bundle missing signing key"}
+    agent_id = str(data.get("agent_id", "") or "").strip() or derive_node_id(public_key)
+    if not agent_id:
+        return {"ok": False, "detail": "Prekey bundle public key binding mismatch"}
+    data["agent_id"] = agent_id
+    data["public_key"] = public_key
+    data["public_key_algo"] = str(data.get("public_key_algo", "") or bundle.get("public_key_algo", "Ed25519") or "Ed25519")
+    data["protocol_version"] = str(data.get("protocol_version", "") or bundle.get("protocol_version", PROTOCOL_VERSION) or PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+    data["bundle"] = bundle
+    ok, reason = _validate_bundle_record(data)
+    if not ok:
+        return {"ok": False, "detail": reason}
+    data["ok"] = True
+    data["lookup_mode"] = "invite_lookup_handle"
+    data["public_lookup"] = True
+    return data
+
+
+def _fetch_dm_prekey_bundle_from_public_lookup(lookup_token: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Fetch an invite-scoped prekey bundle from bootstrap/sync peers.
+
+    The token is high-entropy and invite-scoped. This path does not expose a
+    stable agent_id to the peer; if the ordinary peer response omits agent_id,
+    derive it from the signed identity public key and validate the bundle before
+    accepting it.
+    """
+    token = str(lookup_token or "").strip()
+    if not token:
+        return {"ok": False, "detail": "lookup token required"}
+    peers = _configured_public_lookup_peer_urls()
+    if not peers:
+        return {"ok": False, "detail": "peer prekey lookup unavailable"}
+    try:
+        from services.config import get_settings
+
+        timeout = max(1, _safe_int(getattr(get_settings(), "MESH_SYNC_TIMEOUT_S", 5) or 5, 5))
+    except Exception:
+        timeout = 5
+
+    encoded = urllib.parse.urlencode({"lookup_token": token})
+    last_detail = ""
+    for peer_url in peers:
+        normalized_peer_url = str(peer_url or "").strip().rstrip("/")
+        if not normalized_peer_url:
+            continue
+        # Generic UA: any peer-facing crypto request should not carry a
+        # fork-specific identifier — that turns prekey lookups into a
+        # software-fingerprinting beacon.
+        from services.network_utils import DEFAULT_USER_AGENT
+        request = urllib.request.Request(
+            f"{normalized_peer_url}/api/mesh/dm/prekey-bundle?{encoded}",
+            headers={
+                "Accept": "application/json",
+                "User-Agent": DEFAULT_USER_AGENT,
+            },
+            method="GET",
+        )
+        try:
+            with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=timeout) as response:
+                raw = response.read(256 * 1024)
+            payload = json.loads(raw.decode("utf-8"))
+        except (urllib.error.URLError, TimeoutError, json.JSONDecodeError, OSError) as exc:
+            logger.debug("public prekey lookup failed for %s: %s", normalized_peer_url, type(exc).__name__)
+            last_detail = "peer prekey lookup unavailable"
+            continue
+        if not isinstance(payload, dict):
+            last_detail = "invalid peer response"
+            continue
+        if payload.get("pending") or str(payload.get("status", "") or "") == "preparing_private_lane":
+            last_detail = "peer prekey lookup still preparing"
+            continue
+        if not payload.get("ok"):
+            last_detail = str(payload.get("detail", "") or last_detail or "Prekey bundle not found")
+            continue
+        if not isinstance(payload.get("bundle"), dict):
+            last_detail = "Prekey bundle not found"
+            continue
+        normalized = _normalize_remote_lookup_bundle(payload)
+        if normalized.get("ok"):
+            return normalized
+        last_detail = str(normalized.get("detail", "") or last_detail)
+    return {"ok": False, "detail": last_detail or "Prekey bundle not found"}
+
+
 def _b64(data: bytes) -> str:
     return base64.b64encode(data).decode("ascii")
 
@@ -926,6 +1043,11 @@ def fetch_dm_prekey_bundle(
             peer_found = _fetch_dm_prekey_bundle_from_peer_lookup(resolved_lookup)
             if peer_found.get("ok"):
                 return peer_found
+            public_found = _fetch_dm_prekey_bundle_from_public_lookup(resolved_lookup)
+            if public_found.get("ok"):
+                return public_found
+            if str(public_found.get("detail", "") or "").strip():
+                return {"ok": False, "detail": str(public_found.get("detail", "") or "Prekey bundle not found")}
             return {"ok": False, "detail": str(peer_found.get("detail", "") or "Prekey bundle not found")}
         else:
             return {"ok": False, "detail": "Prekey bundle not found"}

backend/services/mesh/mesh_wormhole_root_manifest.py

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import base64
 import hashlib
 import json
+import logging
 import time
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import ed25519
 
 from services.mesh.mesh_crypto import build_signature_payload, derive_node_id, verify_node_binding, verify_signature
 from services.mesh.mesh_protocol import PROTOCOL_VERSION
-from services.mesh.mesh_secure_storage import read_domain_json, write_domain_json
+from services.mesh.mesh_secure_storage import SecureStorageError, read_domain_json, write_domain_json
 from services.mesh.mesh_wormhole_identity import root_identity_fingerprint_for_material
 from services.mesh.mesh_wormhole_persona import (
     bootstrap_wormhole_persona_state,
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ DEFAULT_ROOT_WITNESS_THRESHOLD = 2
 DEFAULT_ROOT_WITNESS_MANAGEMENT_SCOPE = "local"
 DEFAULT_ROOT_WITNESS_INDEPENDENCE_GROUP = "local_system"
 DEFAULT_ROOT_EXTERNAL_WITNESS_MAX_AGE_S = 3600
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def _safe_int(val: Any, default: int = 0) -> int:
@@ -461,12 +463,22 @@ def witness_policy_fingerprint(policy: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
 
 
 def read_root_distribution_state() -> dict[str, Any]:
-    raw = read_domain_json(
-        ROOT_DISTRIBUTION_DOMAIN,
-        ROOT_DISTRIBUTION_FILE,
-        _default_state,
-        base_dir=DATA_DIR,
-    )
+    try:
+        raw = read_domain_json(
+            ROOT_DISTRIBUTION_DOMAIN,
+            ROOT_DISTRIBUTION_FILE,
+            _default_state,
+            base_dir=DATA_DIR,
+        )
+    except SecureStorageError as exc:
+        detail = str(exc)
+        if "Failed to decrypt domain JSON" not in detail:
+            raise
+        logger.warning(
+            "Root distribution state could not decrypt; regenerating local witness distribution: %s",
+            detail,
+        )
+        raw = _default_state()
     state = {**_default_state(), **dict(raw or {})}
     state["witness_identity"] = {**_empty_witness_identity(), **dict(state.get("witness_identity") or {})}
     witness_identities, witness_changed = _normalize_witness_identities(

backend/services/mesh/meshtastic_topics.py

@@ -108,8 +108,18 @@ def normalize_topic_filter(value: str) -> str | None:
     return "/".join(parts)
 
 
-def _default_topic_for_root(root: str) -> str:
-    return f"msh/{root}/2/e/{DEFAULT_CHANNEL}/#"
+def _default_topics_for_root(root: str) -> list[str]:
+    """Return the default LongFast subscriptions for a region root.
+
+    The public broker carries protobuf/encrypted traffic under ``/e/`` and
+    companion decoded JSON traffic under ``/json/``. Positions often arrive on
+    the protobuf path, while public text is commonly easiest to observe on the
+    JSON path.
+    """
+    return [
+        f"msh/{root}/2/e/{DEFAULT_CHANNEL}/#",
+        f"msh/{root}/2/json/{DEFAULT_CHANNEL}/#",
+    ]
 
 
 def build_subscription_topics(
@@ -124,7 +134,11 @@ def build_subscription_topics(
         # via MESH_MQTT_EXTRA_ROOTS to avoid flooding the public broker.
     roots.extend(root for root in (normalize_root(item) for item in _split_config_values(extra_roots)) if root)
 
-    topics = [_default_topic_for_root(root) for root in _dedupe(roots)]
+    topics = [
+        topic
+        for root in _dedupe(roots)
+        for topic in _default_topics_for_root(root)
+    ]
     topics.extend(
         topic
         for topic in (

backend/services/network_utils.py

@@ -19,6 +19,17 @@ _retry = Retry(total=1, backoff_factor=0.3, status_forcelist=[502, 503, 504])
 _session.mount("https://", HTTPAdapter(max_retries=_retry, pool_maxsize=20))
 _session.mount("http://", HTTPAdapter(max_retries=_retry, pool_maxsize=10))
 
+
+# Default outbound User-Agent. Generic by design — does NOT include any
+# personal contact info or a fork-specific repo URL. Operators who run a
+# public-facing relay and want to identify themselves to upstreams (e.g.
+# for Nominatim / weather.gov usage-policy compliance) can override this
+# via the SHADOWBROKER_USER_AGENT env var.
+DEFAULT_USER_AGENT = os.environ.get(
+    "SHADOWBROKER_USER_AGENT",
+    "ShadowBroker-OSINT/0.9",
+)
+
 # Find bash for curl fallback — Git bash's curl has the TLS features
 # needed to pass CDN fingerprint checks (brotli, zstd, libpsl)
 
@@ -73,7 +84,7 @@ def fetch_with_curl(url, method="GET", json_data=None, timeout=15, headers=None,
     both Python requests and the barebones Windows system curl.
     """
     default_headers = {
-        "User-Agent": "ShadowBroker-OSINT/0.9.75 (+https://github.com/BigBodyCobain/Shadowbroker; contact: bigbodycobain@gmail.com)",
+        "User-Agent": DEFAULT_USER_AGENT,
     }
     if headers:
         default_headers.update(headers)

backend/services/psk_reporter_fetcher.py

@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ Docs: https://pskreporter.info/pskdev.html
 """
 
 import logging
-import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 
+import defusedxml.ElementTree as ET
 import requests
 from cachetools import TTLCache, cached
 

backend/services/radio_intercept.py

@@ -131,27 +131,61 @@ def get_recent_openmhz_calls(sys_name: str):
         return []
 
 
+_OPENMHZ_MAX_REDIRECTS = 5
+
+
 def openmhz_audio_response(target_url: str):
-    """Fetch an OpenMHz audio object through the backend with browser-safe headers."""
+    """Fetch an OpenMHz audio object through the backend with browser-safe headers.
+
+    Redirects are followed manually so each hop's host can be re-validated
+    against ``_OPENMHZ_AUDIO_HOSTS``. Without this, the upstream could
+    302-redirect to an internal address (e.g. ``http://127.0.0.1:8000/...``
+    or an RFC1918 range), and the backend would dutifully fetch and stream
+    that response back to the browser — a classic open-redirect-to-SSRF
+    chain. Same-host redirects (CDN edge selection) still work normally.
+    """
     from fastapi import HTTPException
     from fastapi.responses import StreamingResponse
+    from urllib.parse import urljoin
 
     parsed = urlparse(str(target_url or ""))
     host = (parsed.hostname or "").lower()
     if parsed.scheme != "https" or host not in _OPENMHZ_AUDIO_HOSTS:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Unsupported OpenMHz audio URL")
 
+    current_url = target_url
+    hops = 0
     try:
-        upstream = requests.get(
-            target_url,
-            stream=True,
-            timeout=(5, 20),
-            headers={
-                "User-Agent": "Mozilla/5.0",
-                "Accept": "audio/mpeg,audio/*,*/*;q=0.8",
-                "Referer": "https://openmhz.com/",
-            },
-        )
+        while True:
+            upstream = requests.get(
+                current_url,
+                stream=True,
+                timeout=(5, 20),
+                allow_redirects=False,
+                headers={
+                    "User-Agent": "Mozilla/5.0",
+                    "Accept": "audio/mpeg,audio/*,*/*;q=0.8",
+                    "Referer": "https://openmhz.com/",
+                },
+            )
+            if upstream.is_redirect or upstream.status_code in (301, 302, 303, 307, 308):
+                location = upstream.headers.get("Location", "")
+                upstream.close()
+                if hops >= _OPENMHZ_MAX_REDIRECTS or not location:
+                    raise HTTPException(status_code=502, detail="OpenMHz redirect rejected")
+                next_url = urljoin(current_url, location)
+                next_parsed = urlparse(next_url)
+                next_host = (next_parsed.hostname or "").lower()
+                # Re-validate the next hop against the same allowlist used for
+                # the original URL. Cross-host redirects to disallowed hosts
+                # are rejected silently; the browser audio element handles
+                # the resulting 502 gracefully and moves on.
+                if next_parsed.scheme != "https" or next_host not in _OPENMHZ_AUDIO_HOSTS:
+                    raise HTTPException(status_code=502, detail="OpenMHz redirect rejected")
+                current_url = next_url
+                hops += 1
+                continue
+            break
     except requests.RequestException as exc:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=502, detail="OpenMHz audio fetch failed") from exc
 

backend/services/schemas.py

@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ class HealthResponse(BaseModel):
     # ({status, age_s, row_count, slo, stale, empty, description}).
     slo: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
     slo_summary: Optional[Dict[str, int]] = None
+    # Issue #258: AIS proxy status — currently exposes ``degraded_tls``
+    # (bool), true when ais_proxy.js fell back to the SPKI-pinned
+    # insecure-date path because the upstream Let's Encrypt cert is
+    # expired. Empty dict / null means no status reported yet.
+    ais_proxy: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
 
 
 class RefreshResponse(BaseModel):

backend/services/shodan_connector.py

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ from cachetools import TTLCache
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 _SHODAN_BASE = "https://api.shodan.io"
-_USER_AGENT = "ShadowBroker/0.9.75 local Shodan connector"
+_USER_AGENT = "ShadowBroker/0.9.79 local Shodan connector"
 _REQUEST_TIMEOUT = 15
 _MIN_INTERVAL_SECONDS = 1.05  # Shodan docs say API plans are rate limited to ~1 req/sec.
 _DEFAULT_SEARCH_PAGES = 1

backend/services/sigint_bridge.py

@@ -545,6 +545,198 @@ class MeshtasticBridge:
         self._message_dedupe[key] = now
         return False
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _message_dedupe_key(message: dict) -> str:
+        sender = str(message.get("from") or "???").strip().lower()
+        recipient = str(message.get("to") or "broadcast").strip().lower()
+        text = str(message.get("text") or "").strip()
+        channel = str(message.get("channel") or "LongFast").strip().lower()
+        root = str(message.get("root") or message.get("region") or "").strip().lower()
+        if root == "us":
+            root = "us"
+        return f"{sender}:{recipient}:{root}:{channel}:{text}"
+
+    def append_text_message(self, message: dict, *, dedupe_window_s: float = 5.0) -> bool:
+        """Append a Meshtastic text message unless it is a near-immediate echo."""
+        if not str(message.get("text") or "").strip():
+            return False
+        now = time.time()
+        cutoff = now - max(1.0, dedupe_window_s)
+        next_message = dict(message)
+        next_message.setdefault("to", "broadcast")
+        next_message.setdefault("channel", "LongFast")
+        next_message.setdefault("timestamp", datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z")
+        key = self._message_dedupe_key(next_message)
+        for existing in list(self.messages)[:40]:
+            if self._message_dedupe_key(existing) != key:
+                continue
+            try:
+                existing_ts_raw = existing.get("timestamp")
+                existing_ts = (
+                    datetime.fromisoformat(str(existing_ts_raw).replace("Z", "+00:00")).timestamp()
+                    if existing_ts_raw
+                    else now
+                )
+            except Exception:
+                existing_ts = now
+            if existing_ts >= cutoff:
+                if not existing.get("root") and next_message.get("root"):
+                    existing["root"] = next_message.get("root")
+                if not existing.get("region") and next_message.get("region"):
+                    existing["region"] = next_message.get("region")
+                return False
+        self.messages.appendleft(next_message)
+        return True
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _coerce_node_ref(value) -> str:
+        """Normalize Meshtastic node identifiers into the public !xxxxxxxx form."""
+        if value is None:
+            return ""
+        if isinstance(value, int):
+            return f"!{value & 0xFFFFFFFF:08x}"
+        raw = str(value).strip()
+        if not raw:
+            return ""
+        if raw.startswith("!"):
+            return raw
+        lowered = raw.lower()
+        if lowered.startswith("0x"):
+            try:
+                return f"!{int(lowered, 16) & 0xFFFFFFFF:08x}"
+            except ValueError:
+                return raw
+        if raw.isdigit():
+            try:
+                return f"!{int(raw) & 0xFFFFFFFF:08x}"
+            except ValueError:
+                return raw
+        if len(raw) == 8 and all(ch in "0123456789abcdefABCDEF" for ch in raw):
+            return f"!{raw.lower()}"
+        return raw
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _first_text_value(*values) -> str:
+        for value in values:
+            if isinstance(value, bytes):
+                value = value.decode("utf-8", errors="replace")
+            if isinstance(value, str):
+                text = value.strip()
+                if text:
+                    return MeshtasticBridge._repair_text_mojibake(text)
+        return ""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _repair_text_mojibake(text: str) -> str:
+        """Repair common UTF-8-as-Latin-1 mojibake from MQTT JSON bridges."""
+        if not text or not any(marker in text for marker in ("Ã", "Ð", "Ñ")):
+            return text
+        try:
+            repaired = text.encode("latin-1").decode("utf-8").strip()
+        except UnicodeError:
+            return text
+        if repaired and repaired != text:
+            return repaired
+        return text
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _first_present(*values):
+        for value in values:
+            if value is not None and value != "":
+                return value
+        return None
+
+    def _extract_json_text_message(self, data: dict, topic: str) -> dict | None:
+        """Extract a public Meshtastic text event from decoded MQTT JSON.
+
+        Meshtastic JSON brokers are not perfectly uniform. Some packets expose
+        text at the top level, some under ``decoded`` or ``payload``. Keep this
+        permissive for receive, but only return messages with non-empty text.
+        """
+        if not isinstance(data, dict):
+            return None
+        topic_meta = parse_topic_metadata(topic)
+        packet = data.get("packet") if isinstance(data.get("packet"), dict) else {}
+        decoded = data.get("decoded") if isinstance(data.get("decoded"), dict) else {}
+        payload_obj = data.get("payload")
+        payload = payload_obj if isinstance(payload_obj, dict) else {}
+        decoded_payload_obj = decoded.get("payload") if decoded else None
+        decoded_payload = decoded_payload_obj if isinstance(decoded_payload_obj, dict) else {}
+
+        text = self._first_text_value(
+            data.get("text"),
+            data.get("message"),
+            data.get("msg"),
+            payload_obj if isinstance(payload_obj, str) else "",
+            payload.get("text"),
+            payload.get("message"),
+            payload.get("msg"),
+            payload.get("payload") if isinstance(payload.get("payload"), str) else "",
+            decoded.get("text"),
+            decoded.get("message"),
+            decoded.get("payload") if isinstance(decoded.get("payload"), str) else "",
+            decoded_payload.get("text"),
+            decoded_payload.get("message"),
+            decoded_payload.get("msg"),
+        )
+        if not text:
+            return None
+
+        sender = self._coerce_node_ref(
+            self._first_present(
+                data.get("from"),
+                data.get("fromId"),
+                data.get("from_id"),
+                data.get("sender"),
+                data.get("senderId"),
+                data.get("sender_id"),
+                packet.get("from"),
+                packet.get("fromId"),
+                packet.get("from_id"),
+                decoded.get("from"),
+            )
+        )
+        recipient = self._coerce_node_ref(
+            self._first_present(
+                data.get("to"),
+                data.get("toId"),
+                data.get("to_id"),
+                data.get("recipient"),
+                data.get("recipientId"),
+                data.get("recipient_id"),
+                packet.get("to"),
+                packet.get("toId"),
+                packet.get("to_id"),
+                decoded.get("to"),
+            )
+        )
+        if not recipient or recipient in {"!ffffffff", "broadcast"}:
+            recipient = "broadcast"
+
+        timestamp = datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z"
+        rx_time = self._first_present(
+            data.get("rxTime"),
+            data.get("rx_time"),
+            data.get("timestamp"),
+            packet.get("rxTime"),
+            packet.get("timestamp"),
+        )
+        if isinstance(rx_time, (int, float)) and rx_time > 0:
+            try:
+                timestamp = datetime.fromtimestamp(float(rx_time), tz=timezone.utc).isoformat()
+            except (OSError, ValueError):
+                pass
+
+        return {
+            "from": sender or topic.split("/")[-1],
+            "to": recipient,
+            "text": text[:500],
+            "region": topic_meta["region"],
+            "root": topic_meta["root"],
+            "channel": topic_meta["channel"],
+            "timestamp": timestamp,
+        }
+
     def start(self):
         if self._thread and self._thread.is_alive():
             if not self._stop.is_set():
@@ -693,6 +885,9 @@ class MeshtasticBridge:
             if "/json/" in topic:
                 try:
                     data = json.loads(payload)
+                    text_message = self._extract_json_text_message(data, topic)
+                    if text_message:
+                        self.append_text_message(text_message, dedupe_window_s=30.0)
                     if self._rate_limited():
                         return
                     self._ingest_data(data, topic)
@@ -715,7 +910,7 @@ class MeshtasticBridge:
                         topic_meta["root"],
                     ):
                         return
-                    self.messages.appendleft(
+                    self.append_text_message(
                         {
                             "from": data.get("from", "???"),
                             "to": recipient,

backend/services/tor_hidden_service.py

@@ -64,6 +64,203 @@ def _find_tor_binary() -> str | None:
     return None
 
 
+# Baked-in expected digest list. Loaded lazily; populated by maintainers
+# when a new Tor Expert Bundle URL is added to _TOR_EXPERT_BUNDLE_URLS.
+# See issue #201 for rationale.
+_TOR_DIGEST_FILE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "data" / "tor_bundle_digests.json"
+_DIGEST_PLACEHOLDER = "PLACEHOLDER_REPLACE_BEFORE_RELEASE"
+
+
+def _load_baked_in_digests() -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Return {url: expected_sha256_lower} for URLs we ship a known digest for.
+
+    Entries whose value is the placeholder sentinel are filtered out — they
+    represent versions the maintainer has not yet pinned, and we don't
+    want to trust them via this layer.
+    """
+    if not _TOR_DIGEST_FILE.exists():
+        return {}
+    try:
+        import json as _json
+        raw = _json.loads(_TOR_DIGEST_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.warning("Tor bundle digests file unreadable: %s", exc)
+        return {}
+    result: dict[str, str] = {}
+    for k, v in raw.items():
+        if not isinstance(k, str) or k.startswith("_"):
+            continue
+        if not isinstance(v, str) or v == _DIGEST_PLACEHOLDER:
+            continue
+        result[k] = v.strip().lower()
+    return result
+
+
+def _verify_tor_bundle(archive_path: Path, bundle_url: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Verify the downloaded Tor bundle against any source we trust.
+
+    Returns (verified, reason). The bundle is considered verified if EITHER:
+
+      * The upstream ``.sha256sum`` file is reachable AND its digest matches
+        what we just downloaded, OR
+      * Our baked-in digest list (``backend/data/tor_bundle_digests.json``)
+        contains this URL AND that digest matches.
+
+    If both sources are unavailable (e.g. fresh checkout before the
+    maintainer has populated the digest file AND the upstream
+    ``.sha256sum`` is unreachable), we **fall back to HTTPS-only trust**
+    with a warning so first-run onboarding does not break. As soon as the
+    digest file is populated for a shipped Tor version, the secure path
+    activates automatically — no operator action required.
+
+    Issue #201.
+    """
+    import hashlib
+
+    actual_hash = hashlib.sha256(archive_path.read_bytes()).hexdigest().lower()
+
+    # Source 1: upstream .sha256sum
+    upstream_hash: str | None = None
+    sha256_url = bundle_url + ".sha256sum"
+    sha256_file = TOR_INSTALL_DIR / "sha256sum.txt"
+    try:
+        urlretrieve(sha256_url, str(sha256_file))
+        upstream_hash = sha256_file.read_text().strip().split()[0].lower()
+        sha256_file.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+    except Exception as hash_err:
+        logger.info("Tor bundle upstream .sha256sum unreachable: %s", hash_err)
+        sha256_file.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
+    if upstream_hash and upstream_hash == actual_hash:
+        return True, f"verified via upstream .sha256sum ({actual_hash[:16]}...)"
+
+    # Source 2: baked-in digest list
+    baked = _load_baked_in_digests()
+    baked_hash = baked.get(bundle_url)
+    if baked_hash and baked_hash == actual_hash:
+        return True, f"verified via baked-in digest list ({actual_hash[:16]}...)"
+
+    # If we got an upstream digest AND a baked-in digest AND neither
+    # matched, the bundle is genuinely suspect — refuse it.
+    if upstream_hash and baked_hash:
+        return False, (
+            f"SHA-256 mismatch: archive={actual_hash[:16]}..., "
+            f"upstream={upstream_hash[:16]}..., baked={baked_hash[:16]}..."
+        )
+    if upstream_hash and upstream_hash != actual_hash:
+        return False, (
+            f"SHA-256 mismatch vs upstream: archive={actual_hash[:16]}..., "
+            f"upstream={upstream_hash[:16]}..."
+        )
+    if baked_hash and baked_hash != actual_hash:
+        return False, (
+            f"SHA-256 mismatch vs baked-in digest: archive={actual_hash[:16]}..., "
+            f"expected={baked_hash[:16]}..."
+        )
+
+    # Neither verification source available. This is the fallback path for
+    # the case where the upstream .sha256sum is temporarily unreachable
+    # AND the maintainer hasn't yet pinned this Tor version. Trust HTTPS
+    # only (current behavior pre-#201) with a clear warning. Onboarding
+    # works; once we populate the digest file, the secure path activates.
+    logger.warning(
+        "Tor bundle integrity check fell back to HTTPS-only trust "
+        "(upstream .sha256sum unreachable AND no baked-in digest for %s). "
+        "Add this URL's SHA-256 to backend/data/tor_bundle_digests.json "
+        "to enable the secure path.",
+        bundle_url,
+    )
+    return True, f"https-only (no digest source reachable, archive={actual_hash[:16]}...)"
+
+
+def _extract_tor_bundle_safely(archive_path: Path, install_dir: Path) -> bool:
+    """Extract a Tor Expert Bundle tar.gz safely.
+
+    Issue #251: the previous extractor checked tarinfo.name against path
+    traversal but never inspected tarinfo.linkname for symlink/hardlink
+    members. Python 3.11's tarfile honors symlinks during extractall(),
+    so a malicious archive could ship a member like::
+
+        name     = "innocent.txt"          # passes the path check
+        type     = SYMTYPE
+        linkname = "C:\\Windows\\System32\\config\\system"
+
+    and extractall() would then create that symlink. Subsequent reads
+    of innocent.txt deference to a sensitive system file; subsequent
+    writes corrupt one. Tor bundles never legitimately contain symlinks
+    or hardlinks, so we refuse all link members categorically rather
+    than trying to validate linkname targets (which has its own pitfalls
+    around relative path resolution).
+
+    Also refuses non-regular-non-directory members (devices, FIFOs,
+    character/block special files) for completeness — none of those
+    belong in a Tor Expert Bundle and accepting them is a category of
+    bug we don't need to debug later.
+
+    Returns True on success, False on rejection (and logs the reason).
+    The caller is responsible for cleaning up the archive file.
+    """
+    import tarfile
+
+    install_resolved = install_dir.resolve()
+
+    try:
+        with tarfile.open(str(archive_path), "r:gz") as tar:
+            for member in tar.getmembers():
+                # Reject anything that isn't a regular file or directory.
+                # Symlinks (SYMTYPE) and hardlinks (LNKTYPE) are the
+                # path-traversal vectors; the others (CHRTYPE, BLKTYPE,
+                # FIFOTYPE, CONTTYPE) have no legitimate use in a Tor
+                # Expert Bundle.
+                if member.issym() or member.islnk():
+                    logger.error(
+                        "Tor bundle extraction blocked: link member %s -> %s "
+                        "(symlinks/hardlinks are not allowed in Tor bundles; "
+                        "this archive is malformed or hostile)",
+                        member.name,
+                        member.linkname,
+                    )
+                    return False
+                if not (member.isfile() or member.isdir()):
+                    logger.error(
+                        "Tor bundle extraction blocked: unexpected member type "
+                        "for %s (only regular files and directories are allowed)",
+                        member.name,
+                    )
+                    return False
+
+                # Path traversal check (preserves the original guard).
+                try:
+                    member_path = (install_dir / member.name).resolve()
+                except OSError as exc:
+                    logger.error(
+                        "Tor bundle extraction blocked: cannot resolve member "
+                        "path %s: %s",
+                        member.name,
+                        exc,
+                    )
+                    return False
+                try:
+                    member_path.relative_to(install_resolved)
+                except ValueError:
+                    logger.error(
+                        "Tor bundle extraction blocked: path traversal on %s "
+                        "(resolves to %s, outside install dir %s)",
+                        member.name,
+                        member_path,
+                        install_resolved,
+                    )
+                    return False
+
+            # All members validated — extract.
+            tar.extractall(path=str(install_dir))
+    except tarfile.TarError as exc:
+        logger.error("Tor bundle extraction failed: malformed tar (%s)", exc)
+        return False
+
+    return True
+
+
 def _auto_install_tor() -> str | None:
     """Install or download Tor when it is safe to do so."""
     if os.name != "nt":
@@ -79,37 +276,24 @@ def _auto_install_tor() -> str | None:
             logger.info("Downloading Tor Expert Bundle over HTTPS from %s...", bundle_url)
             urlretrieve(bundle_url, str(archive_path))
 
-            sha256_url = bundle_url + ".sha256sum"
-            sha256_file = TOR_INSTALL_DIR / "sha256sum.txt"
-            try:
-                urlretrieve(sha256_url, str(sha256_file))
-                expected_hash = sha256_file.read_text().strip().split()[0].lower()
-                import hashlib
-
-                actual_hash = hashlib.sha256(archive_path.read_bytes()).hexdigest().lower()
-                sha256_file.unlink(missing_ok=True)
-                if actual_hash != expected_hash:
-                    logger.error("SHA-256 mismatch for Tor download. Expected %s, got %s", expected_hash, actual_hash)
-                    archive_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
-                    continue
-                logger.info("SHA-256 verified: %s", actual_hash[:16] + "...")
-            except Exception as hash_err:
-                logger.warning(
-                    "Could not verify SHA-256 (hash file unavailable): %s; proceeding with HTTPS-only verification",
-                    hash_err,
-                )
+            # Issue #201: multi-source verification. If neither upstream
+            # .sha256sum nor a baked-in digest matches, we refuse this URL
+            # and try the next one in _TOR_EXPERT_BUNDLE_URLS. If neither
+            # source is reachable at all, we fall back to HTTPS-only trust
+            # (current behavior) rather than blocking onboarding.
+            verified, reason = _verify_tor_bundle(archive_path, bundle_url)
+            if not verified:
+                logger.error("Tor bundle verification failed for %s: %s", bundle_url, reason)
+                archive_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+                continue
+            logger.info("Tor bundle %s", reason)
 
             logger.info("Download complete, extracting...")
             import tarfile
 
-            with tarfile.open(str(archive_path), "r:gz") as tar:
-                for member in tar.getmembers():
-                    member_path = (TOR_INSTALL_DIR / member.name).resolve()
-                    if not str(member_path).startswith(str(TOR_INSTALL_DIR.resolve())):
-                        logger.error("Tar path traversal blocked: %s", member.name)
-                        archive_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
-                        return None
-                tar.extractall(path=str(TOR_INSTALL_DIR))
+            if not _extract_tor_bundle_safely(archive_path, TOR_INSTALL_DIR):
+                archive_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+                return None
 
             archive_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
 

backend/services/transport_lane_isolation.py

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+from typing import Any
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def disable_public_mesh_lane(*, reason: str = "private_lane_enabled") -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Disable public Meshtastic MQTT before private Wormhole/Infonet starts."""
+    result: dict[str, Any] = {
+        "ok": True,
+        "reason": reason,
+        "settings_disabled": False,
+        "runtime_stopped": False,
+    }
+
+    # Scheduled Wormhole prewarm must not mutate the user's explicit public
+    # MeshChat session. Only a deliberate private-lane activation should sever
+    # the public MQTT lane.
+    normalized_reason = str(reason or "").strip().lower()
+    if normalized_reason == "wormhole_scheduled_prewarm" or normalized_reason.endswith(":scheduled_prewarm"):
+        try:
+            from services.meshtastic_mqtt_settings import mqtt_bridge_enabled
+
+            if mqtt_bridge_enabled():
+                logger.info("Keeping public Mesh lane active during Wormhole prewarm: %s", reason)
+                result["skipped"] = True
+                result["skip_reason"] = "public_mesh_user_enabled"
+                return result
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.debug("Could not inspect public Mesh state during %s: %s", reason, exc)
+
+    logger.info("Disabling public Mesh lane: %s", reason)
+
+    try:
+        from services.meshtastic_mqtt_settings import write_meshtastic_mqtt_settings
+
+        settings = write_meshtastic_mqtt_settings(enabled=False)
+        result["settings_disabled"] = not bool(settings.get("enabled"))
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.warning("Failed to disable public Mesh settings during %s: %s", reason, exc)
+        result["ok"] = False
+        result["settings_error"] = str(exc)
+
+    try:
+        from services.sigint_bridge import sigint_grid
+
+        if sigint_grid.mesh.is_running():
+            sigint_grid.mesh.stop()
+        result["runtime_stopped"] = not sigint_grid.mesh.is_running()
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.warning("Failed to stop public Mesh runtime during %s: %s", reason, exc)
+        result["ok"] = False
+        result["runtime_error"] = str(exc)
+
+    return result

backend/services/unusual_whales_connector.py

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from cachetools import TTLCache
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 _FINNHUB_BASE = "https://finnhub.io/api/v1"
-_USER_AGENT = "ShadowBroker/0.9.75 Finnhub connector"
+_USER_AGENT = "ShadowBroker/0.9.79 Finnhub connector"
 _REQUEST_TIMEOUT = 12
 _MIN_INTERVAL_SECONDS = 0.35  # Stay well under 60 calls/min
 

backend/services/updater.py

@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ Public API:
     schedule_restart(project_root)           (spawn detached start script, then exit)
 """
 
+import json
 import os
 import sys
 import logging
+import re
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 import tempfile
@@ -29,6 +31,19 @@ DOCKER_UPDATE_COMMANDS = (
     "docker compose pull && docker compose up -d"
 )
 
+# Issue #231: baked-in release digests. Loaded lazily, used as a fallback
+# verification source when the release's SHA256SUMS.txt asset can't be
+# fetched (e.g. transient network failure during update).
+_RELEASE_DIGESTS_FILE = (
+    Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "data" / "release_digests.json"
+)
+# Pattern for the maintainer's signed source-archive release asset. This
+# is the file we prefer over the auto-generated ``zipball_url`` because
+# the maintainer's build process publishes it with a matching entry in
+# SHA256SUMS.txt — the zipball does not have a signed digest.
+_SOURCE_ASSET_PATTERN = re.compile(r"^ShadowBroker_v\d", re.IGNORECASE)
+_SHA256SUMS_ASSET_NAME = "SHA256SUMS.txt"
+
 
 def _is_docker() -> bool:
     """Detect if we're running inside a Docker container."""
@@ -40,7 +55,6 @@ def _is_docker() -> bool:
     except (FileNotFoundError, PermissionError):
         pass
     return os.environ.get("container") == "docker"
-_EXPECTED_SHA256 = os.environ.get("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", "").strip().lower()
 _ALLOWED_UPDATE_HOSTS = {
     "api.github.com",
     "codeload.github.com",
@@ -119,7 +133,16 @@ def _validate_update_url(url: str, *, allow_release_page: bool = False) -> str:
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 def _download_release(temp_dir: str) -> tuple:
     """Fetch latest release info and download the source zip archive.
-    Returns (zip_path, version_tag, download_url, release_url).
+
+    Issue #231: prefer the maintainer's signed release asset (matching
+    ``ShadowBroker_v*.zip``) over the auto-generated ``zipball_url``,
+    because the maintainer's release process publishes a matching entry
+    in SHA256SUMS.txt for the named asset but NOT for the zipball.
+
+    Returns (zip_path, version_tag, download_url, release_url, asset_name,
+    sha256sums_url) — the last two are empty strings when the release
+    doesn't publish a signed asset, falling back to the legacy zipball
+    path.
     """
     logger.info("Fetching latest release info from GitHub...")
     _validate_update_url(GITHUB_RELEASES_URL)
@@ -131,9 +154,42 @@ def _download_release(temp_dir: str) -> tuple:
     tag = release.get("tag_name", "unknown")
     release_url = str(release.get("html_url") or GITHUB_RELEASES_PAGE_URL).strip()
     _validate_update_url(release_url, allow_release_page=True)
-    zip_url = str(release.get("zipball_url") or "").strip()
-    if not zip_url:
-        raise RuntimeError("Latest release is missing a source archive URL")
+
+    # Prefer the maintainer-signed release asset. Fall back to the
+    # auto-generated zipball if the release doesn't publish one.
+    assets = release.get("assets") or []
+    asset_name = ""
+    asset_url = ""
+    sha256sums_url = ""
+    for a in assets:
+        name = str(a.get("name") or "").strip()
+        download = str(a.get("browser_download_url") or "").strip()
+        if not name or not download:
+            continue
+        if _SOURCE_ASSET_PATTERN.match(name) and name.lower().endswith(".zip"):
+            asset_name = name
+            asset_url = download
+        elif name == _SHA256SUMS_ASSET_NAME:
+            sha256sums_url = download
+
+    if asset_url:
+        zip_url = asset_url
+        logger.info(
+            "Using signed release asset %s (sha256sums=%s)",
+            asset_name,
+            "yes" if sha256sums_url else "no",
+        )
+    else:
+        zip_url = str(release.get("zipball_url") or "").strip()
+        if not zip_url:
+            raise RuntimeError("Latest release is missing a source archive URL")
+        logger.warning(
+            "Release does not publish a signed ShadowBroker_v*.zip asset — "
+            "falling back to auto-generated zipball_url. Integrity will be "
+            "verified against the baked-in release_digests.json (if present) "
+            "or HTTPS-only otherwise."
+        )
+
     _validate_update_url(zip_url)
 
     logger.info(f"Downloading {zip_url} ...")
@@ -150,19 +206,174 @@ def _download_release(temp_dir: str) -> tuple:
 
     size_mb = os.path.getsize(zip_path) / (1024 * 1024)
     logger.info(f"Downloaded {size_mb:.1f} MB — ZIP validated OK")
-    return zip_path, tag, zip_url, release_url
+    return zip_path, tag, zip_url, release_url, asset_name, sha256sums_url
 
 
-def _validate_zip_hash(zip_path: str) -> None:
-    if not _EXPECTED_SHA256:
-        return
+def _compute_sha256(zip_path: str) -> str:
+    """Return the hex SHA-256 of the file at ``zip_path`` (lowercase)."""
     h = hashlib.sha256()
     with open(zip_path, "rb") as f:
         for chunk in iter(lambda: f.read(1024 * 128), b""):
             h.update(chunk)
-    digest = h.hexdigest().lower()
-    if digest != _EXPECTED_SHA256:
-        raise RuntimeError("Update SHA-256 mismatch")
+    return h.hexdigest().lower()
+
+
+def _load_baked_in_release_digests() -> dict:
+    """Return the ``release_digests.json`` mapping, or an empty dict.
+
+    Schema (issue #231):
+        {
+          "<release_tag>": {
+            "<asset_filename>": "<sha256_hex>",
+            ...
+          },
+          ...
+        }
+    """
+    try:
+        raw = _RELEASE_DIGESTS_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        parsed = json.loads(raw)
+    except (OSError, ValueError) as exc:
+        logger.debug("Release digest file unreadable: %s", exc)
+        return {}
+    if not isinstance(parsed, dict):
+        return {}
+    cleaned: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {}
+    for k, v in parsed.items():
+        if not isinstance(k, str) or k.startswith("_"):
+            continue
+        if isinstance(v, dict):
+            entries = {
+                fname: digest.strip().lower()
+                for fname, digest in v.items()
+                if isinstance(fname, str) and isinstance(digest, str)
+            }
+            if entries:
+                cleaned[k] = entries
+    return cleaned
+
+
+def _fetch_sha256sums(sha256sums_url: str) -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Download a SHA256SUMS.txt and return {filename: digest_hex_lower}.
+
+    Standard ``sha256sum`` format: ``<digest>  <filename>`` per line. The
+    leading ``*`` binary-mode marker (e.g. ``<digest> *<filename>``) is
+    handled.
+    """
+    try:
+        _validate_update_url(sha256sums_url)
+    except RuntimeError as exc:
+        logger.warning("SHA256SUMS URL rejected: %s", exc)
+        return {}
+    try:
+        resp = requests.get(sha256sums_url, timeout=15)
+        resp.raise_for_status()
+    except requests.RequestException as exc:
+        logger.info("SHA256SUMS fetch failed: %s", exc)
+        return {}
+    out: dict[str, str] = {}
+    for line in resp.text.splitlines():
+        line = line.strip()
+        if not line or line.startswith("#"):
+            continue
+        # Tolerant split: handle both `<digest>  <name>` and `<digest> *<name>`.
+        parts = line.split(None, 1)
+        if len(parts) != 2:
+            continue
+        digest, fname = parts
+        fname = fname.lstrip("*").strip()
+        digest = digest.strip().lower()
+        if len(digest) == 64 and all(c in "0123456789abcdef" for c in digest) and fname:
+            out[fname] = digest
+    return out
+
+
+def _validate_zip_hash(
+    zip_path: str,
+    *,
+    asset_name: str = "",
+    sha256sums_url: str = "",
+    release_tag: str = "",
+) -> str:
+    """Verify the downloaded archive against trusted digest sources.
+
+    Issue #231: previously this returned silently when ``MESH_UPDATE_SHA256``
+    was unset, which made the auto-updater a supply-chain RCE vector on any
+    compromise of the GitHub release pipeline. The chain now is:
+
+      1. ``MESH_UPDATE_SHA256`` env var (operator override — preserved for
+         power-users who want to pin an exact digest manually)
+      2. ``SHA256SUMS.txt`` release asset (primary — the maintainer's
+         release process already publishes this)
+      3. Baked-in ``backend/data/release_digests.json`` (second line of
+         defense for releases that lack the SHA256SUMS asset, or when the
+         asset can't be fetched at update time)
+      4. HTTPS-only fallback with a loud warning (preserves the auto-update
+         flow during transient outages — but never silently)
+
+    A mismatch from a source that DID respond is fatal: the update is
+    refused and the existing install keeps running. Only the "no source
+    reachable at all" case falls back to HTTPS-only.
+
+    Returns a short human-readable description of which source verified
+    the archive (used in the update-success message).
+    """
+    actual = _compute_sha256(zip_path)
+
+    # Source 1: explicit operator override.
+    override = os.environ.get("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", "").strip().lower()
+    if override:
+        if actual == override:
+            return f"verified via MESH_UPDATE_SHA256 ({actual[:16]}...)"
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"Update SHA-256 mismatch vs MESH_UPDATE_SHA256: archive={actual[:16]}..., "
+            f"expected={override[:16]}..."
+        )
+
+    # Source 2: SHA256SUMS.txt asset from the release.
+    sums_map: dict[str, str] = {}
+    if sha256sums_url and asset_name:
+        sums_map = _fetch_sha256sums(sha256sums_url)
+
+    sums_expected = sums_map.get(asset_name) if asset_name else None
+    if sums_expected:
+        if actual == sums_expected:
+            return f"verified via release SHA256SUMS.txt ({actual[:16]}...)"
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"Update SHA-256 mismatch vs release SHA256SUMS.txt: "
+            f"archive={actual[:16]}..., expected={sums_expected[:16]}..."
+        )
+
+    # Source 3: baked-in digest list.
+    baked = _load_baked_in_release_digests()
+    baked_expected = ""
+    if release_tag and asset_name:
+        baked_expected = baked.get(release_tag, {}).get(asset_name, "")
+    if baked_expected:
+        if actual == baked_expected:
+            return f"verified via baked-in digest list ({actual[:16]}...)"
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"Update SHA-256 mismatch vs baked-in digest list: "
+            f"archive={actual[:16]}..., expected={baked_expected[:16]}..."
+        )
+
+    # Source 4: HTTPS-only fallback. We keep onboarding/auto-update working
+    # during transient outages (no SHA256SUMS reachable AND no baked-in
+    # entry for this release), but surface the degraded posture loudly so
+    # the operator can see it in logs and the maintainer can populate the
+    # digest list on the next release bump.
+    logger.warning(
+        "Update integrity check fell back to HTTPS-only trust "
+        "(no SHA256SUMS.txt response and no baked-in digest for "
+        "release=%s asset=%s). The archive SHA-256 is %s. Once the "
+        "release ships a SHA256SUMS.txt asset OR backend/data/"
+        "release_digests.json is updated with this release, the secure "
+        "path will activate automatically.",
+        release_tag or "unknown",
+        asset_name or "unknown",
+        actual,
+    )
+    return f"https-only (no digest source reachable, archive={actual[:16]}...)"
 
 
 def _is_source_checkout(project_root: str) -> bool:
@@ -334,7 +545,7 @@ def perform_update(project_root: str) -> dict:
     temp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="sb_update_")
     manual_url = GITHUB_RELEASES_PAGE_URL
     try:
-        zip_path, version, url, release_url = _download_release(temp_dir)
+        zip_path, version, url, release_url, asset_name, sha256sums_url = _download_release(temp_dir)
         manual_url = release_url or manual_url
 
         if in_docker:
@@ -366,7 +577,13 @@ def perform_update(project_root: str) -> dict:
                 ),
             }
 
-        _validate_zip_hash(zip_path)
+        verification_note = _validate_zip_hash(
+            zip_path,
+            asset_name=asset_name,
+            sha256sums_url=sha256sums_url,
+            release_tag=version,
+        )
+        logger.info("Update archive %s", verification_note)
         backup_path = _backup_current(project_root, temp_dir)
         copied = _extract_and_copy(zip_path, project_root, temp_dir)
 
@@ -378,6 +595,7 @@ def perform_update(project_root: str) -> dict:
             "manual_url": manual_url,
             "release_url": release_url,
             "download_url": url,
+            "integrity": verification_note,
             "message": f"Updated to {version} — {copied} files replaced. Restarting...",
         }
     except Exception as e:

backend/services/wormhole_supervisor.py

@@ -243,6 +243,48 @@ def _pid_alive(pid: int) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
+def _find_wormhole_server_pid() -> int:
+    if os.name == "nt":
+        return 0
+    proc_dir = Path("/proc")
+    if not proc_dir.exists():
+        return 0
+    current_pid = os.getpid()
+    script_name = WORMHOLE_SCRIPT.name
+    script_path = str(WORMHOLE_SCRIPT)
+    for entry in proc_dir.iterdir():
+        if not entry.name.isdigit():
+            continue
+        pid = int(entry.name)
+        if pid == current_pid:
+            continue
+        try:
+            raw = (entry / "cmdline").read_bytes()
+        except OSError:
+            continue
+        cmdline = raw.replace(b"\x00", b" ").decode("utf-8", errors="replace")
+        if script_path in cmdline or script_name in cmdline:
+            return pid
+    return 0
+
+
+def _terminate_pid(pid: int, *, timeout_s: float = 5.0) -> None:
+    if os.name == "nt" or pid <= 0:
+        return
+    try:
+        os.kill(pid, signal.SIGTERM)
+    except Exception:
+        return
+    deadline = time.monotonic() + timeout_s
+    while time.monotonic() < deadline and _pid_alive(pid):
+        time.sleep(0.1)
+    if _pid_alive(pid):
+        try:
+            os.kill(pid, signal.SIGKILL)
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+
 def _probe_ready(timeout_s: float = 1.5) -> bool:
     try:
         with urlopen(f"http://{WORMHOLE_HOST}:{WORMHOLE_PORT}/api/health", timeout=timeout_s) as resp:
@@ -266,17 +308,32 @@ def _probe_json(path: str, timeout_s: float = 1.5) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
 def _current_runtime_state() -> dict[str, Any]:
     settings = read_wormhole_settings()
     status = read_wormhole_status()
+    configured = bool(settings.get("enabled"))
     running = False
+    ready = False
     pid = int(status.get("pid", 0) or 0)
-    if _PROCESS and _PROCESS.poll() is None:
+    if not configured:
+        # Disabled private transport must stay disabled even if a stale local
+        # wormhole process is still answering on the health port. Public
+        # MeshChat relies on this state to keep the MQTT and Wormhole lanes
+        # mutually exclusive.
+        pid = 0
+        ready = False
+    elif _PROCESS and _PROCESS.poll() is None:
         running = True
         pid = int(_PROCESS.pid or 0)
-    elif _pid_alive(pid):
-        running = True
-    elif _probe_ready(timeout_s=0.35):
-        running = True
-        pid = 0
-    ready = running and _probe_ready()
+    else:
+        if _pid_alive(pid):
+            running = True
+        else:
+            discovered_pid = _find_wormhole_server_pid()
+            if discovered_pid > 0:
+                running = True
+                pid = discovered_pid
+        if not running and _probe_ready(timeout_s=0.35):
+            running = True
+            pid = 0
+        ready = running and _probe_ready()
     if not running:
         pid = 0
     transport_active = status.get("transport_active", "") if ready else ""
@@ -319,13 +376,13 @@ def _current_runtime_state() -> dict[str, Any]:
     anonymous_mode = bool(settings.get("anonymous_mode"))
     anonymous_mode_ready = bool(
         anonymous_mode
-        and settings.get("enabled")
+        and configured
         and ready
         and effective_transport in {"tor", "tor_arti", "i2p", "mixnet"}
     )
     snapshot = {
         "installed": _installed(),
-        "configured": bool(settings.get("enabled")),
+        "configured": configured,
         "running": running,
         "ready": ready,
         "transport_configured": str(settings.get("transport", "direct") or "direct"),
@@ -395,6 +452,12 @@ def get_wormhole_state() -> dict[str, Any]:
 def connect_wormhole(*, reason: str = "connect") -> dict[str, Any]:
     with _LOCK:
         _invalidate_state_cache()
+        try:
+            from services.transport_lane_isolation import disable_public_mesh_lane
+
+            disable_public_mesh_lane(reason=f"wormhole_{reason}")
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.warning("Failed to enforce public/private lane isolation during %s: %s", reason, exc)
         settings = read_wormhole_settings()
         if not settings.get("enabled"):
             settings = settings.copy()
@@ -487,8 +550,8 @@ def connect_wormhole(*, reason: str = "connect") -> dict[str, Any]:
 def disconnect_wormhole(*, reason: str = "disconnect") -> dict[str, Any]:
     with _LOCK:
         _invalidate_state_cache()
-        current = _current_runtime_state()
-        pid = int(current.get("pid", 0) or 0)
+        status = read_wormhole_status()
+        pid = int(status.get("pid", 0) or 0)
         global _PROCESS
         if _PROCESS and _PROCESS.poll() is None:
             try:
@@ -499,14 +562,15 @@ def disconnect_wormhole(*, reason: str = "disconnect") -> dict[str, Any]:
                     _PROCESS.kill()
                 except Exception:
                     pass
-        elif os.name != "nt" and _pid_alive(pid):
-            try:
-                os.kill(pid, signal.SIGTERM)
-            except Exception:
-                pass
+        if os.name != "nt":
+            _terminate_pid(pid)
+            discovered_pid = _find_wormhole_server_pid()
+            if discovered_pid > 0 and discovered_pid != pid:
+                _terminate_pid(discovered_pid)
         _PROCESS = None
         write_wormhole_status(
             reason=reason,
+            configured=False,
             running=False,
             ready=False,
             pid=0,

backend/tests/mesh/test_mesh_anonymous_mode.py

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from starlette.requests import Request
 from starlette.responses import Response
 
 
-def _request(path: str, method: str = "POST") -> Request:
+def _request(path: str, method: str = "POST", query_string: bytes = b"") -> Request:
     return Request(
         {
             "type": "http",
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ def _request(path: str, method: str = "POST") -> Request:
             "client": ("test", 12345),
             "method": method,
             "path": path,
+            "query_string": query_string,
         }
     )
 
@@ -504,6 +505,61 @@ def test_private_infonet_gate_write_returns_preparing_state_when_wormhole_not_re
     get_settings.cache_clear()
 
 
+def test_invite_scoped_prekey_lookup_reaches_handler_while_lane_prepares(monkeypatch):
+    """Copied-address import must not be blocked by private-lane warmup."""
+    import main
+    import auth
+    from services.config import get_settings
+    from services import wormhole_supervisor
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_PRIVATE_CLEARNET_FALLBACK", "block")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_BLOCK_LEGACY_NODE_ID_COMPAT", "true")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_BLOCK_LEGACY_AGENT_ID_LOOKUP", "true")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_ALLOW_COMPAT_DM_INVITE_IMPORT", "false")
+    get_settings.cache_clear()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        auth,
+        "_anonymous_mode_state",
+        lambda: {
+            "enabled": False,
+            "wormhole_enabled": True,
+            "ready": False,
+            "effective_transport": "direct",
+        },
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        wormhole_supervisor,
+        "get_wormhole_state",
+        lambda: {
+            "configured": True,
+            "ready": False,
+            "rns_ready": False,
+            "arti_ready": False,
+        },
+    )
+
+    called = {"value": False}
+
+    async def call_next(_request: Request) -> Response:
+        called["value"] = True
+        return Response(status_code=200)
+
+    response = asyncio.run(
+        main.enforce_high_privacy_mesh(
+            _request(
+                "/api/mesh/dm/prekey-bundle",
+                method="GET",
+                query_string=b"lookup_token=invite-handle",
+            ),
+            call_next,
+        )
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert called["value"] is True
+    get_settings.cache_clear()
+
+
 def test_private_dm_send_blocks_at_transitional_tier(monkeypatch):
     import main
     import auth

backend/tests/mesh/test_mesh_infonet_ingest.py

@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ def test_infonet_ingest_accepts_valid_event(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
 
     assert result["accepted"] == 1
     assert inf.head_hash == evt.event_id
+    info = inf.get_info()
+    assert info["known_nodes"] == 1
+    assert info["author_nodes"] == 1
+    assert info["total_events"] == 1
+    assert info["event_types"]["message"] == 1
 
 
 def test_verify_node_binding_accepts_current_and_compat_ids_only(monkeypatch):
@@ -64,6 +69,8 @@ def test_verify_node_binding_accepts_current_and_compat_ids_only(monkeypatch):
         f"{current[len(mesh_crypto.NODE_ID_PREFIX):len(mesh_crypto.NODE_ID_PREFIX) + 8]}"
     )
 
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_DEV_ALLOW_LEGACY_COMPAT", "true")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_BLOCK_LEGACY_NODE_ID_COMPAT", "false")
     monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_ALLOW_LEGACY_NODE_ID_COMPAT_UNTIL", "2099-01-01")
     from services.config import get_settings
 
@@ -98,7 +105,7 @@ def test_infonet_append_rejects_missing_signature_fields(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
         assert "signature" in str(exc).lower()
 
 
-def test_infonet_load_fails_closed_on_hash_mismatch(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+def test_infonet_load_quarantines_and_resets_on_hash_mismatch(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(mesh_hashchain, "DATA_DIR", tmp_path)
     monkeypatch.setattr(mesh_hashchain, "CHAIN_FILE", tmp_path / "infonet.json")
 
@@ -135,8 +142,12 @@ def test_infonet_load_fails_closed_on_hash_mismatch(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
         encoding="utf-8",
     )
 
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Hash mismatch on event load"):
-        mesh_hashchain.Infonet()
+    inf = mesh_hashchain.Infonet()
+
+    assert inf.events == []
+    assert inf.head_hash == mesh_hashchain.GENESIS_HASH
+    assert not mesh_hashchain.CHAIN_FILE.exists()
+    assert list(tmp_path.glob("infonet.json.quarantine.*"))
 
 
 def test_validate_gate_message_payload_rejects_plaintext_shape():

backend/tests/mesh/test_mesh_infonet_sync_support.py

@@ -37,6 +37,30 @@ def test_eligible_sync_peers_filters_bucket_and_cooldown():
     assert [record.peer_url for record in candidates] == ["https://active.example"]
 
 
+def test_eligible_sync_peers_prioritizes_explicit_bootstrap_seed():
+    old_runtime = make_sync_peer_record(
+        peer_url="https://old-runtime.example",
+        transport="clearnet",
+        role="participant",
+        source="runtime",
+        now=100,
+    )
+    seed = make_sync_peer_record(
+        peer_url="https://node.shadowbroker.info",
+        transport="clearnet",
+        role="seed",
+        source="bundle",
+        now=200,
+    )
+
+    candidates = eligible_sync_peers([old_runtime, seed], now=300)
+
+    assert [record.peer_url for record in candidates] == [
+        "https://node.shadowbroker.info",
+        "https://old-runtime.example",
+    ]
+
+
 def test_finish_sync_success_updates_schedule():
     state = begin_sync(SyncWorkerState(), peer_url="https://seed.example", now=100)
     finished = finish_sync(

backend/tests/mesh/test_mesh_peer_store.py

@@ -96,3 +96,38 @@ def test_peer_store_failure_and_success_lifecycle(tmp_path):
     assert recovered.cooldown_until == 0
     assert recovered.last_error == ""
     assert recovered.last_sync_ok_at == 250
+
+
+def test_upsert_explicit_seed_clears_stale_cooldown(tmp_path):
+    store = PeerStore(tmp_path / "peer_store.json")
+    store.upsert(
+        make_sync_peer_record(
+            peer_url="https://node.shadowbroker.info",
+            transport="clearnet",
+            role="seed",
+            source="bundle",
+            now=100,
+        )
+    )
+    failed = store.mark_failure(
+        "https://node.shadowbroker.info",
+        "sync",
+        error="timed out",
+        cooldown_s=120,
+        now=110,
+    )
+    assert failed.cooldown_until == 230
+
+    refreshed = store.upsert(
+        make_sync_peer_record(
+            peer_url="https://node.shadowbroker.info",
+            transport="clearnet",
+            role="seed",
+            source="bundle",
+            now=120,
+        )
+    )
+
+    assert refreshed.failure_count == 0
+    assert refreshed.cooldown_until == 0
+    assert refreshed.last_error == ""

backend/tests/mesh/test_meshtastic_topics.py

@@ -2,15 +2,21 @@ from services.mesh.meshtastic_topics import build_subscription_topics, known_roo
 
 
 def test_default_subscription_is_longfast_only():
-    assert build_subscription_topics() == ["msh/US/2/e/LongFast/#"]
+    assert build_subscription_topics() == [
+        "msh/US/2/e/LongFast/#",
+        "msh/US/2/json/LongFast/#",
+    ]
     assert known_roots() == ["US"]
 
 
 def test_extra_roots_are_longfast_only():
     assert build_subscription_topics(extra_roots="EU_868,ANZ") == [
         "msh/US/2/e/LongFast/#",
+        "msh/US/2/json/LongFast/#",
         "msh/EU_868/2/e/LongFast/#",
+        "msh/EU_868/2/json/LongFast/#",
         "msh/ANZ/2/e/LongFast/#",
+        "msh/ANZ/2/json/LongFast/#",
     ]
 
 

backend/tests/mesh/test_prekey_lookup_correlation.py

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ Tests verify:
 """
 
 import hashlib
+import json
 import time
 
 from services.config import get_settings
@@ -611,6 +612,99 @@ class TestFetchPrekeyBundleByLookup:
             "peer prekey lookup unavailable",
         }
 
+    def test_fetch_lookup_token_uses_bootstrap_peer_without_agent_id(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        """Invite lookup can resolve through bootstrap peers without exposing agent_id."""
+        _isolated_relay(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
+        record = _valid_bundle_record("test-agent")
+        requested_urls: list[str] = []
+
+        monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_BOOTSTRAP_SEED_PEERS", "https://seed.example")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_DEFAULT_SYNC_PEERS", "")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_RELAY_PEERS", "")
+        get_settings.cache_clear()
+
+        class _Response:
+            def __enter__(self):
+                return self
+
+            def __exit__(self, *_args):
+                return False
+
+            def read(self, _limit: int = -1):
+                return json.dumps(
+                    {
+                        "ok": True,
+                        "identity_dh_pub_key": record["dh_pub_key"],
+                        "dh_algo": record["dh_algo"],
+                        "public_key": record["public_key"],
+                        "public_key_algo": record["public_key_algo"],
+                        "protocol_version": record["protocol_version"],
+                        "sequence": 1,
+                        "signed_at": int(record["bundle"].get("signed_at", 0) or 0),
+                        "bundle": record["bundle"],
+                    }
+                ).encode("utf-8")
+
+        def _urlopen(request, timeout=0):
+            requested_urls.append(str(getattr(request, "full_url", "")))
+            return _Response()
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("services.mesh.mesh_wormhole_prekey.urllib.request.urlopen", _urlopen)
+
+        from services.mesh.mesh_wormhole_prekey import fetch_dm_prekey_bundle
+
+        result = fetch_dm_prekey_bundle(agent_id="", lookup_token="bootstrap-handle")
+
+        assert result["ok"] is True
+        assert result["agent_id"] == record["agent_id"]
+        assert result["lookup_mode"] == "invite_lookup_handle"
+        assert result["public_lookup"] is True
+        assert requested_urls
+        assert "lookup_token=bootstrap-handle" in requested_urls[0]
+        assert "agent_id" not in requested_urls[0]
+
+    def test_fetch_lookup_token_does_not_parse_peer_pending_as_bundle(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        """A peer's private-lane pending response is not a malformed prekey bundle."""
+        _isolated_relay(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
+        requested_urls: list[str] = []
+
+        monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_BOOTSTRAP_SEED_PEERS", "https://seed.example")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_DEFAULT_SYNC_PEERS", "")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_RELAY_PEERS", "")
+        get_settings.cache_clear()
+
+        class _Response:
+            def __enter__(self):
+                return self
+
+            def __exit__(self, *_args):
+                return False
+
+            def read(self, _limit: int = -1):
+                return json.dumps(
+                    {
+                        "ok": True,
+                        "pending": True,
+                        "status": "preparing_private_lane",
+                        "detail": "transport tier insufficient",
+                    }
+                ).encode("utf-8")
+
+        def _urlopen(request, timeout=0):
+            requested_urls.append(str(getattr(request, "full_url", "")))
+            return _Response()
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("services.mesh.mesh_wormhole_prekey.urllib.request.urlopen", _urlopen)
+
+        from services.mesh.mesh_wormhole_prekey import fetch_dm_prekey_bundle
+
+        result = fetch_dm_prekey_bundle(agent_id="", lookup_token="bootstrap-handle")
+
+        assert requested_urls
+        assert result["ok"] is False
+        assert result["detail"] == "peer prekey lookup still preparing"
+        assert result["detail"] != "Prekey bundle missing signing key"
+
     def test_fetch_agent_id_uses_pinned_contact_lookup_handle(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
         """Pinned invite lookup handle is used before direct agent_id lookup."""
         relay = _isolated_relay(tmp_path, monkeypatch)

backend/tests/mesh/test_s16d_dm_invite_bootstrap.py

@@ -71,6 +71,38 @@ def _fresh_wormhole_state(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     return relay, mesh_wormhole_identity, mesh_wormhole_contacts, mesh_wormhole_prekey
 
 
+def test_register_wormhole_dm_key_repairs_missing_local_dh_material(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    relay, identity_mod, _contacts_mod, _prekey_mod = _fresh_wormhole_state(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
+    identity = identity_mod.read_wormhole_identity()
+    original_node_id = identity["node_id"]
+    original_public_key = identity["public_key"]
+    original_private_key = identity["private_key"]
+
+    identity_mod.write_dm_identity(
+        {
+            **identity,
+            "dh_pub_key": "",
+            "dh_private_key": "",
+            "bundle_fingerprint": "",
+            "bundle_sequence": 0,
+            "bundle_registered_at": 0,
+        }
+    )
+
+    registered = identity_mod.register_wormhole_dm_key()
+    repaired = identity_mod.read_wormhole_identity()
+
+    assert registered["ok"] is True
+    assert registered["dh_pub_key"]
+    assert registered["dh_algo"] == "X25519"
+    assert repaired["dh_pub_key"] == registered["dh_pub_key"]
+    assert repaired["dh_private_key"]
+    assert repaired["node_id"] == original_node_id
+    assert repaired["public_key"] == original_public_key
+    assert repaired["private_key"] == original_private_key
+    assert relay.get_dh_key(original_node_id)["dh_pub_key"] == registered["dh_pub_key"]
+
+
 def _export_verified_invite(identity_mod):
     exported = identity_mod.export_wormhole_dm_invite()
     assert exported["ok"] is True
@@ -460,6 +492,30 @@ def test_imported_dm_invite_pins_contact_as_invite_pinned(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
     assert contacts_mod.list_wormhole_dm_contacts()[imported["peer_id"]]["trust_level"] == "invite_pinned"
 
 
+def test_imported_dm_invite_saves_pending_contact_when_prekey_not_visible(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    _relay, identity_mod, contacts_mod, prekey_mod = _fresh_wormhole_state(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
+    exported, verified = _export_verified_invite(identity_mod)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        prekey_mod,
+        "fetch_dm_prekey_bundle",
+        lambda **_kw: {"ok": False, "detail": "Prekey bundle not found"},
+    )
+
+    imported = identity_mod.import_wormhole_dm_invite(exported["invite"], alias="alice")
+    contact = imported["contact"]
+
+    assert imported["ok"] is True
+    assert imported["pending_prekey"] is True
+    assert imported["peer_id"] == verified["peer_id"]
+    assert contact["alias"] == "alice"
+    assert contact["trust_level"] == "invite_pinned"
+    assert contact["invitePinnedPrekeyLookupHandle"] == exported["invite"]["payload"]["prekey_lookup_handle"]
+    assert contact["remotePrekeyLookupMode"] == "invite_lookup_handle"
+    assert contact["remotePrekeyFingerprint"] == verified["trust_fingerprint"]
+    assert contact["dhPubKey"] == ""
+    assert contacts_mod.list_wormhole_dm_contacts()[verified["peer_id"]]["trust_level"] == "invite_pinned"
+
+
 def test_imported_dm_invite_requires_root_attested_prekey_bundle(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     relay, identity_mod, _contacts_mod, _prekey_mod = _fresh_wormhole_state(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
 

backend/tests/test_ais_spki_pinning.py

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+"""Issue #258 — AIS proxy SPKI pinning.
+
+Most of the SPKI logic lives in ``backend/ais_proxy.js`` (Node) and can't
+be unit-tested from Python directly. These tests cover the Python-side
+glue: ``services.ais_stream.ais_proxy_status()`` (the snapshot the proxy
+populates via stdout markers) and ``routers/health.py`` surfacing the
+degraded TLS state.
+
+Additionally, the pin-file structure is validated: it must be parseable
+JSON, must contain an entry for ``stream.aisstream.io``, and each pin
+must look like a base64-encoded SHA-256 hash.
+"""
+import base64
+import json
+import re
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from services import ais_stream
+
+PIN_FILE = (
+    Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "data" / "aisstream_spki_pins.json"
+)
+
+
+def test_pin_file_exists_and_is_valid_json():
+    assert PIN_FILE.exists(), f"Expected pin file at {PIN_FILE}"
+    data = json.loads(PIN_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    assert isinstance(data, dict)
+
+
+def test_pin_file_has_aisstream_entry():
+    data = json.loads(PIN_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    pins = data.get("stream.aisstream.io")
+    assert isinstance(pins, list)
+    assert len(pins) >= 1
+
+
+def test_each_pin_looks_like_a_base64_sha256():
+    """SPKI pins must be 44-char base64-encoded SHA-256 digests."""
+    data = json.loads(PIN_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    pins = data["stream.aisstream.io"]
+    for pin in pins:
+        assert isinstance(pin, str), f"pin not a string: {pin!r}"
+        assert len(pin) == 44, f"pin {pin!r} not 44 chars (SHA-256 base64)"
+        # Must base64-decode to exactly 32 bytes (256 bits)
+        try:
+            raw = base64.b64decode(pin)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            pytest.fail(f"pin {pin!r} is not valid base64: {exc}")
+        assert len(raw) == 32, f"pin {pin!r} decodes to {len(raw)} bytes, expected 32"
+        # Should match the canonical base64 alphabet (no URL-safe variants)
+        assert re.match(r"^[A-Za-z0-9+/]+=*$", pin), f"pin {pin!r} contains non-base64 chars"
+
+
+def test_ais_proxy_status_starts_empty():
+    """Before the proxy emits any status marker, the snapshot is empty."""
+    # Clear any stale state from other tests
+    with ais_stream._vessels_lock:
+        ais_stream._proxy_status.clear()
+    status = ais_stream.ais_proxy_status()
+    assert status == {}
+
+
+def test_ais_proxy_status_returns_copy_not_reference():
+    """ais_proxy_status() must return a defensive copy.
+
+    Otherwise a caller could mutate the live dict and confuse later reads.
+    """
+    with ais_stream._vessels_lock:
+        ais_stream._proxy_status.clear()
+        ais_stream._proxy_status["degraded_tls"] = True
+
+    snapshot = ais_stream.ais_proxy_status()
+    assert snapshot == {"degraded_tls": True}
+    snapshot["degraded_tls"] = False  # mutate the returned copy
+
+    # Original should be untouched
+    re_snapshot = ais_stream.ais_proxy_status()
+    assert re_snapshot == {"degraded_tls": True}
+
+    # Cleanup so other tests start clean
+    with ais_stream._vessels_lock:
+        ais_stream._proxy_status.clear()
+
+
+def test_health_includes_ais_proxy_field(client):
+    """The /api/health response must include the ais_proxy block."""
+    # Inject a known degraded state
+    with ais_stream._vessels_lock:
+        ais_stream._proxy_status.clear()
+        ais_stream._proxy_status["degraded_tls"] = True
+
+    response = client.get("/api/health")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    payload = response.json()
+
+    assert "ais_proxy" in payload
+    assert payload["ais_proxy"] == {"degraded_tls": True}
+    # Top-level status should escalate from ok to degraded when AIS is
+    # in degraded-TLS mode (unless SLOs already report worse).
+    assert payload["status"] in {"degraded", "error"}
+
+    # Cleanup
+    with ais_stream._vessels_lock:
+        ais_stream._proxy_status.clear()
+
+
+def test_health_ais_proxy_field_when_no_status(client):
+    """When the proxy hasn't reported anything yet, ais_proxy is empty."""
+    with ais_stream._vessels_lock:
+        ais_stream._proxy_status.clear()
+
+    response = client.get("/api/health")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    payload = response.json()
+    assert payload.get("ais_proxy") == {}

backend/tests/test_cctv_redirect_ssrf.py

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+"""Issue #192 (tg12): CCTV proxy must re-validate the host on every redirect hop.
+
+Before this fix, the proxy validated only the initial caller-supplied URL
+host and then used ``requests.get(..., allow_redirects=True)``, which would
+silently follow a 302 to an arbitrary internal address — an open-redirect-
+to-SSRF chain.
+
+These tests assert that:
+
+1. A redirect to a disallowed host is rejected (502).
+2. A redirect to an allowed host is followed (200).
+3. The redirect chain length is bounded.
+"""
+import pytest
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from fastapi import HTTPException
+
+from routers.cctv import _fetch_cctv_upstream_response, _CCTV_MAX_REDIRECTS
+
+
+class _Resp:
+    """Minimal mock for requests.Response that mimics what _fetch needs."""
+
+    def __init__(self, status_code=200, headers=None, is_redirect=False):
+        self.status_code = status_code
+        self.headers = headers or {}
+        self.is_redirect = is_redirect
+        self.closed = False
+
+    def close(self):
+        self.closed = True
+
+
+def _profile():
+    """Build a tiny _CCTVProxyProfile-shaped mock the function expects."""
+    p = MagicMock()
+    p.name = "test"
+    p.timeout = 5
+    p.cache_seconds = 60
+    return p
+
+
+def _request():
+    """Build a tiny Request-shaped mock — only headers are read."""
+    req = MagicMock()
+    req.headers = {}
+    return req
+
+
+@patch("routers.cctv._cctv_upstream_headers", return_value={})
+@patch("routers.cctv._cctv_host_allowed", side_effect=lambda host: host == "allowed.example")
+@patch("routers.cctv._req" if False else "requests.get")  # patched below per-call
+def test_redirect_to_disallowed_host_is_rejected(mock_get, mock_allow, mock_headers):
+    """A 302 from allowed.example -> evil.example must be rejected with 502."""
+    # First call: 302 with Location: http://evil.example/path
+    mock_get.side_effect = [
+        _Resp(status_code=302, headers={"Location": "http://evil.example/path"}, is_redirect=True),
+    ]
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+        _fetch_cctv_upstream_response(_request(), "http://allowed.example/cam", _profile())
+    assert exc_info.value.status_code == 502
+    assert "disallowed host" in str(exc_info.value.detail).lower()
+
+
+@patch("routers.cctv._cctv_upstream_headers", return_value={})
+@patch("routers.cctv._cctv_host_allowed", side_effect=lambda host: host == "allowed.example")
+@patch("requests.get")
+def test_redirect_to_localhost_is_rejected(mock_get, mock_allow, mock_headers):
+    """A redirect to 127.0.0.1 (internal SSRF target) must be rejected."""
+    mock_get.side_effect = [
+        _Resp(status_code=302, headers={"Location": "http://127.0.0.1:8000/api/secret"}, is_redirect=True),
+    ]
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+        _fetch_cctv_upstream_response(_request(), "http://allowed.example/cam", _profile())
+    assert exc_info.value.status_code == 502
+
+
+@patch("routers.cctv._cctv_upstream_headers", return_value={})
+@patch("routers.cctv._cctv_host_allowed", side_effect=lambda host: host in {"allowed.example", "other-allowed.example"})
+@patch("requests.get")
+def test_redirect_to_another_allowed_host_is_followed(mock_get, mock_allow, mock_headers):
+    """A 302 from one allowed host to another allowed host should succeed."""
+    mock_get.side_effect = [
+        _Resp(status_code=302, headers={"Location": "http://other-allowed.example/cam"}, is_redirect=True),
+        _Resp(status_code=200, headers={"Content-Type": "image/jpeg"}),
+    ]
+    resp = _fetch_cctv_upstream_response(_request(), "http://allowed.example/cam", _profile())
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+
+
+@patch("routers.cctv._cctv_upstream_headers", return_value={})
+@patch("routers.cctv._cctv_host_allowed", return_value=True)
+@patch("requests.get")
+def test_redirect_chain_length_is_bounded(mock_get, mock_allow, mock_headers):
+    """A pathological redirect loop must terminate within _CCTV_MAX_REDIRECTS."""
+    # Generate enough 302s to exceed the cap.
+    mock_get.side_effect = [
+        _Resp(status_code=302, headers={"Location": f"http://allowed.example/{i}"}, is_redirect=True)
+        for i in range(_CCTV_MAX_REDIRECTS + 2)
+    ]
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+        _fetch_cctv_upstream_response(_request(), "http://allowed.example/cam", _profile())
+    assert exc_info.value.status_code == 502
+    assert "too long" in str(exc_info.value.detail).lower()
+
+
+@patch("routers.cctv._cctv_upstream_headers", return_value={})
+@patch("routers.cctv._cctv_host_allowed", return_value=True)
+@patch("requests.get")
+def test_redirect_to_non_http_scheme_is_rejected(mock_get, mock_allow, mock_headers):
+    """A 302 to ``file://`` or ``ftp://`` must be rejected even if the host parses cleanly."""
+    mock_get.side_effect = [
+        _Resp(status_code=302, headers={"Location": "file:///etc/passwd"}, is_redirect=True),
+    ]
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+        _fetch_cctv_upstream_response(_request(), "http://allowed.example/cam", _profile())
+    assert exc_info.value.status_code == 502
+    assert "non-http" in str(exc_info.value.detail).lower()

backend/tests/test_control_surface_auth.py

@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+"""Regression coverage for operator-only control surfaces."""
+
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("method", "path", "payload"),
+    [
+        ("get", "/api/wormhole/identity", None),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/identity/bootstrap", {}),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/gate/enter", {"gate_id": "general-talk"}),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/gate/leave", {"gate_id": "general-talk"}),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/sign", {"event_type": "gate_event", "payload": {"ok": True}}),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/gate/key/rotate", {"gate_id": "general-talk", "reason": "test"}),
+        (
+            "post",
+            "/api/wormhole/gate/key/grant",
+            {
+                "gate_id": "general-talk",
+                "recipient_node_id": "node-test",
+                "recipient_dh_pub": "dh-test",
+            },
+        ),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/gate/persona/create", {"gate_id": "general-talk", "label": "test"}),
+        (
+            "post",
+            "/api/wormhole/gate/persona/activate",
+            {"gate_id": "general-talk", "persona_id": "persona-test"},
+        ),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/gate/persona/clear", {"gate_id": "general-talk"}),
+        (
+            "post",
+            "/api/wormhole/gate/persona/retire",
+            {"gate_id": "general-talk", "persona_id": "persona-test"},
+        ),
+        (
+            "post",
+            "/api/wormhole/gate/message/sign-encrypted",
+            {
+                "gate_id": "general-talk",
+                "epoch": 1,
+                "ciphertext": "ciphertext",
+                "nonce": "nonce",
+                "format": "mls1",
+                "envelope_hash": "hash",
+            },
+        ),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/gate/message/compose", {"gate_id": "general-talk", "plaintext": "hello"}),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/sign-raw", {"message": "raw"}),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/gate/state/export", {"gate_id": "general-talk"}),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/gate/proof", {"gate_id": "general-talk"}),
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/connect", {}),
+        ("post", "/api/layers", {"layers": {"viirs_nightlights": True}}),
+        ("post", "/api/ais/feed", {"msgs": []}),
+        # Added in post-#227 gap audit:
+        # /api/wormhole/join also calls bootstrap_wormhole_identity() — same
+        # identity-takeover surface as /identity/bootstrap. PR #227 hardened
+        # the latter but missed the former.
+        ("post", "/api/wormhole/join", {}),
+        # /api/sigint/transmit relays APRS-IS packets over radio using
+        # operator-supplied credentials. Any caller who reaches this endpoint
+        # could transmit on the operator's authority. Must be local-only.
+        (
+            "post",
+            "/api/sigint/transmit",
+            {
+                "callsign": "N0CALL",
+                "passcode": "12345",
+                "target": "NOCALL",
+                "message": "test",
+            },
+        ),
+        # Issue #198 (tg12, May 17): three gate introspection GETs leak the
+        # operator's active persona, persona inventory, and key status for
+        # any gate_id an anonymous caller knows. Defeats the unlinkability
+        # property documented in the privacy threat model.
+        ("get", "/api/wormhole/gate/general-talk/identity", None),
+        ("get", "/api/wormhole/gate/general-talk/personas", None),
+        ("get", "/api/wormhole/gate/general-talk/key", None),
+        # Issue #211 (tg12): /api/thermal/verify fans out into an expensive
+        # STAC search + remote SWIR raster reads. Unauthenticated abuse
+        # could burn Sentinel-Hub quota and outbound bandwidth.
+        ("get", "/api/thermal/verify?lat=0&lng=0&radius_km=10", None),
+        # Issue #213 (tg12): /api/radio/openmhz/calls/{sys_name} — rotating
+        # sys_name bypasses the 20s cache and hammers OpenMHZ. Risks an
+        # IP-ban for the project.
+        ("get", "/api/radio/openmhz/calls/abc", None),
+        # Issue #214 (tg12): /api/radio/openmhz/audio — anonymous bandwidth
+        # relay through the backend. 60/minute rate limit is not enough on
+        # a streaming endpoint.
+        ("get", "/api/radio/openmhz/audio?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.openmhz.com%2Faudio%2Fabc.mp3", None),
+    ],
+)
+def test_remote_control_surface_rejects_without_local_operator_or_admin(
+    remote_client, method, path, payload
+):
+    request = getattr(remote_client, method)
+    response = request(path, json=payload) if payload is not None else request(path)
+
+    assert response.status_code == 403
+
+
+def test_remote_agent_actions_poll_rejects_without_local_operator_or_admin(remote_client):
+    response = remote_client.get("/api/ai/agent-actions")
+
+    assert response.status_code == 403

backend/tests/test_crowdthreat_opt_in.py

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+"""CrowdThreat ingestion is operator opt-in only."""
+
+
+class _CrowdThreatResponse:
+    status_code = 200
+
+    def json(self):
+        return {
+            "data": {
+                "threats": [
+                    {
+                        "id": "ct-1",
+                        "title": "Example report",
+                        "location": {
+                            "lng_lat": [12.5, 41.9],
+                            "name": "Example place",
+                            "country": {"name": "Italy"},
+                        },
+                        "category": {"id": 1, "name": "Security"},
+                    }
+                ]
+            }
+        }
+
+
+def test_crowdthreat_disabled_by_default_does_not_call_upstream(monkeypatch):
+    from services.fetchers import _store, crowdthreat
+
+    monkeypatch.delenv("CROWDTHREAT_ENABLED", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setitem(_store.latest_data, "crowdthreat", [{"id": "old"}])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        crowdthreat,
+        "fetch_with_curl",
+        lambda *args, **kwargs: (_ for _ in ()).throw(AssertionError("upstream called")),
+    )
+
+    crowdthreat.fetch_crowdthreat()
+
+    assert _store.latest_data["crowdthreat"] == []
+
+
+def test_crowdthreat_opt_in_fetches_when_layer_is_enabled(monkeypatch):
+    from services.fetchers import _store, crowdthreat
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("CROWDTHREAT_ENABLED", "true")
+    monkeypatch.setitem(_store.active_layers, "crowdthreat", True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(crowdthreat, "fetch_with_curl", lambda *args, **kwargs: _CrowdThreatResponse())
+
+    crowdthreat.fetch_crowdthreat()
+
+    assert _store.latest_data["crowdthreat"][0]["id"] == "ct-1"
+    assert _store.latest_data["crowdthreat"][0]["source"] == "CrowdThreat"

backend/tests/test_docker_bridge_hostname_trust.py

@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+"""Issue #250 (tg12): Docker bridge local-operator trust must be bound to
+the frontend container's hostname, not the entire 172.16.0.0/12 range.
+
+Previous behavior trusted ANY private-RFC1918 source IP on the bridge
+when ``SHADOWBROKER_TRUST_DOCKER_BRIDGE_LOCAL_OPERATOR=1``. On a shared
+Docker host this granted local-operator privileges to any other
+container that could route to the backend's bridge — far broader than
+intended.
+
+The fix narrows trust to source IPs that forward-resolve from one of the
+configured frontend container hostnames (default: the compose service
+name ``frontend`` plus the explicit ``container_name``
+``shadowbroker-frontend``). Operators with renamed containers can list
+the new names in ``SHADOWBROKER_TRUSTED_FRONTEND_HOSTS``.
+
+These tests exercise the resolution helpers directly so that we don't
+need a live Docker daemon to validate the contract.
+"""
+import socket
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# _trusted_bridge_frontend_hostnames — env parsing
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestTrustedHostnameParsing:
+    def _fn(self):
+        from auth import _trusted_bridge_frontend_hostnames
+        return _trusted_bridge_frontend_hostnames
+
+    def test_default_covers_compose_service_and_container_name(self):
+        with patch.dict("os.environ", {}, clear=False):
+            # Make sure the env var is not set so we exercise the default.
+            import os
+            os.environ.pop("SHADOWBROKER_TRUSTED_FRONTEND_HOSTS", None)
+            assert self._fn()() == ["frontend", "shadowbroker-frontend"]
+
+    def test_custom_list_via_env(self):
+        with patch.dict(
+            "os.environ",
+            {"SHADOWBROKER_TRUSTED_FRONTEND_HOSTS": "my-ui,alt-frontend"},
+        ):
+            assert self._fn()() == ["my-ui", "alt-frontend"]
+
+    def test_whitespace_trimmed(self):
+        with patch.dict(
+            "os.environ",
+            {"SHADOWBROKER_TRUSTED_FRONTEND_HOSTS": "  my-ui , alt-frontend  "},
+        ):
+            assert self._fn()() == ["my-ui", "alt-frontend"]
+
+    def test_empty_env_falls_back_to_default(self):
+        # An empty string still falls back to the bundled defaults so a
+        # misconfigured env var doesn't silently dismantle bridge trust.
+        with patch.dict(
+            "os.environ",
+            {"SHADOWBROKER_TRUSTED_FRONTEND_HOSTS": ""},
+        ):
+            # Per docs: empty string sets the env var to "" so os.environ.get
+            # returns "" — that string is parsed and yields []. We assert
+            # that empty parse yields [] (caller fail-closes from there).
+            assert self._fn()() == []
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips — DNS resolution with cache + fail-closed
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestResolveTrustedBridgeIps:
+    def setup_method(self):
+        # Reset the module-level cache before each test so prior tests
+        # don't bleed state across cases.
+        from auth import _DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_CACHE
+        _DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_CACHE["ips"] = frozenset()
+        _DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_CACHE["expires"] = 0.0
+
+    def test_resolves_configured_hostnames(self):
+        from auth import _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips
+
+        def fake_gethostbyname_ex(host):
+            mapping = {
+                "frontend": ("frontend", [], ["172.18.0.3"]),
+                "shadowbroker-frontend": ("shadowbroker-frontend", [], ["172.18.0.3", "172.18.0.4"]),
+            }
+            if host not in mapping:
+                raise socket.gaierror("no such host")
+            return mapping[host]
+
+        with patch("socket.gethostbyname_ex", side_effect=fake_gethostbyname_ex):
+            ips = _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips()
+        assert ips == frozenset({"172.18.0.3", "172.18.0.4"})
+
+    def test_fail_closed_when_dns_returns_nothing(self):
+        from auth import _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips
+
+        def always_fail(host):
+            raise socket.gaierror("no resolver")
+
+        with patch("socket.gethostbyname_ex", side_effect=always_fail):
+            ips = _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips()
+        assert ips == frozenset()
+
+    def test_partial_resolution_is_kept(self):
+        """If one hostname resolves and another fails, we keep the
+        successful one rather than discarding the whole set."""
+        from auth import _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips
+
+        def partial(host):
+            if host == "frontend":
+                return ("frontend", [], ["172.18.0.3"])
+            raise socket.gaierror("missing")
+
+        with patch("socket.gethostbyname_ex", side_effect=partial):
+            ips = _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips()
+        assert ips == frozenset({"172.18.0.3"})
+
+    def test_cache_short_circuits_repeated_dns_calls(self):
+        from auth import _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips
+
+        call_count = {"n": 0}
+
+        def counting(host):
+            call_count["n"] += 1
+            return ("frontend", [], ["172.18.0.3"])
+
+        with patch("socket.gethostbyname_ex", side_effect=counting):
+            _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips()
+            calls_after_first = call_count["n"]
+            _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips()
+            _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips()
+        # Second + third calls hit the cache, not the DNS stub.
+        assert call_count["n"] == calls_after_first
+
+    def test_cache_expires(self):
+        from auth import _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips, _DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_CACHE
+
+        with patch("socket.gethostbyname_ex", return_value=("frontend", [], ["172.18.0.3"])):
+            _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips()
+        # Force expiry.
+        _DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_CACHE["expires"] = 0.0
+        with patch("socket.gethostbyname_ex", return_value=("frontend", [], ["172.18.0.9"])) as stub:
+            ips = _resolve_trusted_bridge_ips()
+            assert stub.called
+        assert "172.18.0.9" in ips
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# _is_docker_bridge_host — composite of the helpers above
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestIsDockerBridgeHost:
+    def setup_method(self):
+        from auth import _DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_CACHE
+        _DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_CACHE["ips"] = frozenset()
+        _DOCKER_BRIDGE_TRUST_CACHE["expires"] = 0.0
+
+    def test_trusts_resolved_frontend_ip(self):
+        from auth import _is_docker_bridge_host
+
+        with patch("auth._resolve_trusted_bridge_ips", return_value=frozenset({"172.18.0.3"})):
+            assert _is_docker_bridge_host("172.18.0.3") is True
+
+    def test_rejects_arbitrary_bridge_ip(self):
+        """A rogue container on the same bridge but at a different IP
+        must NOT be trusted, even though it falls in 172.16.0.0/12."""
+        from auth import _is_docker_bridge_host
+
+        with patch("auth._resolve_trusted_bridge_ips", return_value=frozenset({"172.18.0.3"})):
+            assert _is_docker_bridge_host("172.18.0.99") is False
+
+    def test_rejects_public_ip_without_dns_work(self):
+        """Public IPs skip DNS resolution entirely (perf + safety)."""
+        from auth import _is_docker_bridge_host
+
+        with patch("auth._resolve_trusted_bridge_ips") as stub:
+            assert _is_docker_bridge_host("8.8.8.8") is False
+            stub.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_rejects_non_ip_input(self):
+        from auth import _is_docker_bridge_host
+
+        assert _is_docker_bridge_host("") is False
+        assert _is_docker_bridge_host("not-an-ip") is False
+        assert _is_docker_bridge_host("frontend") is False
+
+    def test_fails_closed_when_dns_returns_empty(self):
+        """If Docker DNS can't resolve any frontend hostname, the bridge
+        is not trusted — even for IPs that would have been trusted under
+        the old 172.16.0.0/12 blanket policy."""
+        from auth import _is_docker_bridge_host
+
+        with patch("auth._resolve_trusted_bridge_ips", return_value=frozenset()):
+            assert _is_docker_bridge_host("172.18.0.3") is False

backend/tests/test_gdelt_https.py

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""Issue #199 (tg12): GDELT military incident ingestion must use HTTPS.
+
+The previous code fetched ``http://data.gdeltproject.org/gdeltv2/lastupdate.txt``
+and ~48 export archives over plaintext HTTP, which let a passive observer
+identify Shadowbroker nodes by their fetch pattern and let an active MITM
+inject doctored export records into the global incident map.
+
+These tests assert the URL constants and outbound URL constructor in
+``services/geopolitics.py`` only use HTTPS.
+"""
+import re
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+_GEOPOLITICS_SRC = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "services" / "geopolitics.py"
+
+
+def _read_source() -> str:
+    return _GEOPOLITICS_SRC.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def test_geopolitics_does_not_use_plaintext_http_for_gdelt():
+    """No string literal in geopolitics.py should fetch GDELT over plaintext HTTP."""
+    src = _read_source()
+    # Strings that would issue an HTTP request — comments are excluded because
+    # comments include "http://" in example URLs even after the fix.
+    code_lines = [
+        ln for ln in src.split("\n")
+        if "http://data.gdeltproject.org" in ln and not ln.lstrip().startswith("#")
+    ]
+    assert code_lines == [], (
+        "Found plaintext http://data.gdeltproject.org usage in geopolitics.py:\n"
+        + "\n".join(code_lines)
+    )
+
+
+def test_geopolitics_uses_https_for_gdelt():
+    """The HTTPS URLs we expect must be present."""
+    src = _read_source()
+    assert "https://data.gdeltproject.org/gdeltv2/lastupdate.txt" in src
+    # The download URL is constructed via f-string with {fname}
+    assert re.search(
+        r'https://data\.gdeltproject\.org/gdeltv2/\{fname\}', src
+    ), "expected https URL template for individual GDELT export downloads"

backend/tests/test_infonet_status_verify_gate.py

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+"""Issue #207 (tg12): /api/mesh/infonet/status accepted
+?verify_signatures=true from anonymous callers, triggering O(n_events)
+signature verification across the entire chain. Trivial DoS.
+
+The fix silently downgrades the parameter to False for unauthenticated
+callers — no error surfaced, response structure unchanged, the
+expensive path runs only when the caller has authenticated.
+
+These tests focus on the source-level contract because a full
+FastAPI test client doesn't have an easy hook into the ``_scoped_view_authenticated``
+helper. They lock in the key invariant: the ``effective_verify_signatures``
+value seen by ``validate_chain()`` is the AND of the request param and
+the auth check.
+"""
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+_ROUTER_PATH = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "routers" / "mesh_public.py"
+
+
+def _read_router_source() -> str:
+    return _ROUTER_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def test_infonet_status_gates_verify_signatures():
+    """The infonet_status route must AND verify_signatures with auth."""
+    src = _read_router_source()
+    # The fix introduces an `effective_verify_signatures` variable.
+    assert "effective_verify_signatures" in src
+
+    # It must be computed as the AND of the request param and the
+    # authenticated check.
+    assert "bool(verify_signatures) and authenticated" in src
+
+    # validate_chain() must be called with the effective value, NOT the
+    # raw request param.
+    assert "validate_chain(verify_signatures=effective_verify_signatures)" in src
+
+
+def test_no_http_error_path_for_anonymous_callers():
+    """No HTTPException is raised for unauthenticated verify_signatures=true.
+
+    The endpoint should silently downgrade — not return 403 — so existing
+    frontends that happen to pass the param see no behavior change.
+    """
+    src = _read_router_source()
+    # Within the infonet_status function body, there should be no
+    # HTTPException(403) raised because of the verify_signatures param.
+    # Find the function definition and inspect the body.
+    import re
+    m = re.search(
+        r"async def infonet_status\(.*?\):(.+?)(?=\n@router|\nasync def |\ndef |\Z)",
+        src,
+        re.DOTALL,
+    )
+    assert m, "infonet_status function not found in source"
+    body = m.group(1)
+    # No explicit 403 around the verify_signatures handling.
+    assert "HTTPException(status_code=403" not in body
+    assert "raise HTTPException(403" not in body

backend/tests/test_kiwisdr_fallback.py

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+"""Issue #206 (tg12): KiwiSDR upstream is HTTP-only and cannot be upgraded
+to TLS. We defend with content validation + a bundled static directory
+so the layer always renders something useful and a MITM injecting
+garbage can't corrupt the map.
+"""
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from services import kiwisdr_fetcher
+from services.kiwisdr_fetcher import (
+    _MIN_HEALTHY_RECEIVER_COUNT,
+    _load_bundled_fallback,
+    _validate_fetched_nodes,
+)
+
+
+def test_bundled_fallback_file_exists_and_is_nonempty():
+    """The codebase ships a static snapshot for last-resort use."""
+    bundle = _load_bundled_fallback()
+    assert isinstance(bundle, list)
+    assert len(bundle) >= _MIN_HEALTHY_RECEIVER_COUNT
+
+
+def test_validation_rejects_too_few_entries():
+    too_short = [{"name": "x", "lat": 0.0, "lon": 0.0, "url": ""}] * (_MIN_HEALTHY_RECEIVER_COUNT - 1)
+    assert _validate_fetched_nodes(too_short) is False
+
+
+def test_validation_accepts_healthy_response():
+    healthy = [
+        {"name": f"Receiver {i}", "lat": 50.0, "lon": -1.0, "url": "http://example"}
+        for i in range(_MIN_HEALTHY_RECEIVER_COUNT)
+    ]
+    assert _validate_fetched_nodes(healthy) is True
+
+
+def test_validation_rejects_non_list():
+    assert _validate_fetched_nodes(None) is False  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+    assert _validate_fetched_nodes("a string") is False  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+    assert _validate_fetched_nodes({}) is False  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+
+
+def test_validation_rejects_too_many_malformed_entries():
+    """If more than 5% of entries lack a name or numeric lat, reject."""
+    nodes = []
+    # 100 entries, 20 of them malformed — well over the 5% threshold.
+    for i in range(_MIN_HEALTHY_RECEIVER_COUNT + 50):
+        if i % 5 == 0:
+            nodes.append({})  # missing name + lat
+        else:
+            nodes.append({"name": f"R{i}", "lat": 50.0, "lon": -1.0, "url": ""})
+    assert _validate_fetched_nodes(nodes) is False
+
+
+def test_fallback_used_when_validation_fails(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    """If a fetch returns garbage, the fallback chain reaches the bundle."""
+    # Force disk cache miss
+    fake_cache = tmp_path / "kiwisdr_cache.json"
+    monkeypatch.setattr(kiwisdr_fetcher, "_CACHE_FILE", fake_cache)
+
+    # Make fetch_with_curl return a parseable but UNHEALTHY response
+    # (only 3 entries — well below the validation threshold).
+    class _GarbageResp:
+        status_code = 200
+        text = "var kiwisdr_com = [{\"name\":\"x\",\"gps\":\"(0,0)\"}];"
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "services.network_utils.fetch_with_curl", lambda *a, **kw: _GarbageResp()
+    )
+
+    # Bypass the @cached decorator
+    kiwisdr_fetcher.kiwisdr_cache.clear()
+
+    result = kiwisdr_fetcher.fetch_kiwisdr_nodes()
+    # Should be the bundled fallback (798 entries), not the garbage (1 entry)
+    assert isinstance(result, list)
+    assert len(result) >= _MIN_HEALTHY_RECEIVER_COUNT

backend/tests/test_merkle_cache.py

@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+"""Issue #208 (tg12): Merkle proofs were rebuilt from scratch on every
+public ``/api/mesh/infonet/sync?include_proofs=true`` request. The
+endpoint is part of the federation protocol so we can't add auth — the
+fix is to cache the levels at append time so retrieval is O(1) per
+proof, eliminating the DoS surface without breaking peer sync.
+
+These tests verify:
+
+* A fresh Infonet has no cache (lazy state).
+* After ``append()``, the cache is invalidated.
+* Two consecutive ``get_merkle_proofs()`` calls without an append return
+  identical results and don't rebuild — we assert this by reaching into
+  the cache attributes directly.
+"""
+import os
+import tempfile
+
+import pytest
+
+from services.mesh.mesh_hashchain import Infonet
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def fresh_infonet(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    """Build a clean Infonet rooted at a temp directory."""
+    # Redirect persistence to the temp dir so we don't pollute real state.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "services.mesh.mesh_hashchain.CHAIN_FILE",
+        tmp_path / "infonet_chain.json",
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "services.mesh.mesh_hashchain.WAL_PATH",
+        tmp_path / "infonet_chain.wal",
+        raising=False,
+    )
+    inst = Infonet()
+    inst.events = []  # ensure empty
+    inst._invalidate_merkle_cache()
+    return inst
+
+
+def test_cache_starts_empty(fresh_infonet):
+    """The cache fields exist and start in their lazy state."""
+    assert hasattr(fresh_infonet, "_merkle_levels_cache")
+    assert fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_cache is None
+    assert fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_for_event_count == -1
+
+
+def test_get_merkle_root_populates_cache(fresh_infonet):
+    """First call computes and caches the levels."""
+    # Add a synthetic event so there's something to hash
+    fresh_infonet.events = [{"event_id": "a" * 64}, {"event_id": "b" * 64}]
+    _ = fresh_infonet.get_merkle_root()
+    assert fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_cache is not None
+    assert fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_for_event_count == 2
+
+
+def test_repeated_root_calls_reuse_cache(fresh_infonet):
+    """The cache survives multiple reads when no events were appended."""
+    fresh_infonet.events = [{"event_id": "a" * 64}, {"event_id": "b" * 64}]
+    _ = fresh_infonet.get_merkle_root()
+    cached_levels = fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_cache
+    cached_count = fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_for_event_count
+
+    _ = fresh_infonet.get_merkle_root()
+    # Same object — no rebuild.
+    assert fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_cache is cached_levels
+    assert fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_for_event_count == cached_count
+
+
+def test_append_invalidates_cache(fresh_infonet):
+    """After events change, the cache_for_count diverges from len(events).
+
+    The next read recomputes; that's the architectural point.
+    """
+    fresh_infonet.events = [{"event_id": "a" * 64}]
+    _ = fresh_infonet.get_merkle_root()
+    assert fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_for_event_count == 1
+
+    # Simulate an append's side effect (the real append() also calls
+    # _invalidate_merkle_cache() — we test that integration in the
+    # in-tree append-flow test, not here).
+    fresh_infonet.events.append({"event_id": "b" * 64})
+    fresh_infonet._invalidate_merkle_cache()
+
+    _ = fresh_infonet.get_merkle_root()
+    assert fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_for_event_count == 2
+
+
+def test_proofs_use_cache(fresh_infonet):
+    """get_merkle_proofs() reads from the same cache get_merkle_root() does."""
+    fresh_infonet.events = [
+        {"event_id": (str(i) * 64)[:64]} for i in range(8)
+    ]
+    _ = fresh_infonet.get_merkle_root()
+    cached_levels = fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_cache
+
+    proofs = fresh_infonet.get_merkle_proofs(0, 8)
+    assert proofs["total"] == 8
+    assert len(proofs["proofs"]) == 8
+    # Cache wasn't rebuilt — same object as before the proof call.
+    assert fresh_infonet._merkle_levels_cache is cached_levels
+
+
+def test_empty_chain_returns_genesis(fresh_infonet):
+    """An empty chain should serve GENESIS_HASH without computing levels."""
+    from services.mesh.mesh_hashchain import GENESIS_HASH
+
+    root = fresh_infonet.get_merkle_root()
+    assert root == GENESIS_HASH
+
+    proofs = fresh_infonet.get_merkle_proofs(0, 0)
+    assert proofs["total"] == 0
+    assert proofs["root"] == GENESIS_HASH

backend/tests/test_meshtastic_callsign_optout.py

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+"""Issue #203 (tg12): meshtastic_map.py was unconditionally including
+``MESHTASTIC_OPERATOR_CALLSIGN`` in the outbound User-Agent header,
+which contradicted the README's "no user data transmitted" claim.
+
+The fix preserves the existing default behavior (callsign sent — that's
+what operators who configured the variable expected) but adds an
+opt-out env var ``MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER=false`` for
+privacy-conscious operators.
+"""
+import importlib
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
+
+def _reload_meshtastic_module():
+    """Reload meshtastic_map so settings are re-read on demand."""
+    if "services.fetchers.meshtastic_map" in sys.modules:
+        del sys.modules["services.fetchers.meshtastic_map"]
+    return importlib.import_module("services.fetchers.meshtastic_map")
+
+
+def test_default_behavior_includes_callsign(monkeypatch):
+    """Operators who set the callsign and don't change anything else
+    keep their existing behavior (callsign sent in UA)."""
+    # We test the UA construction logic by exercising the same branches
+    # the fetcher uses. Direct fetch isn't run because it makes a real
+    # network call — we just verify the env-var-driven decision.
+    import os
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESHTASTIC_OPERATOR_CALLSIGN", "N0CALL")
+    monkeypatch.delenv("MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER", raising=False)
+
+    raw = str(os.environ.get("MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER", "true")).strip().lower()
+    send_callsign_header = raw not in {"0", "false", "no", "off", ""}
+    assert send_callsign_header is True
+
+
+def test_opt_out_suppresses_callsign(monkeypatch):
+    """Setting MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER=false suppresses the header."""
+    import os
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESHTASTIC_OPERATOR_CALLSIGN", "N0CALL")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER", "false")
+
+    raw = str(os.environ.get("MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER", "true")).strip().lower()
+    send_callsign_header = raw not in {"0", "false", "no", "off", ""}
+    assert send_callsign_header is False
+
+
+def test_various_falsy_values_all_opt_out(monkeypatch):
+    """Common falsy strings should all suppress the callsign header."""
+    import os
+    for falsy in ("0", "false", "FALSE", "no", "off"):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER", falsy)
+        raw = str(os.environ.get("MESHTASTIC_SEND_CALLSIGN_HEADER", "true")).strip().lower()
+        send_callsign_header = raw not in {"0", "false", "no", "off", ""}
+        assert send_callsign_header is False, f"value {falsy!r} did not opt out"

backend/tests/test_openmhz_redirect_ssrf.py

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+"""Issue #205 (tg12): the OpenMHZ audio proxy must re-validate the host on
+every redirect hop, not just the first one.
+
+Before this fix, ``openmhz_audio_response()`` called
+``requests.get(..., stream=True, timeout=...)`` with the default
+``allow_redirects=True``. The initial URL host was validated against
+``_OPENMHZ_AUDIO_HOSTS``, but any subsequent redirect was silently
+followed — even to ``http://127.0.0.1:8000`` or RFC1918 internal ranges.
+Classic open-redirect-to-SSRF.
+
+After the fix, redirects are followed manually with per-hop host
+re-validation. Same-host redirects (CDN edge selection) still work,
+so legitimate audio playback is unaffected.
+"""
+import pytest
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from fastapi import HTTPException
+
+from services.radio_intercept import _OPENMHZ_MAX_REDIRECTS, openmhz_audio_response
+
+
+class _Resp:
+    """Minimal mock for requests.Response."""
+
+    def __init__(self, status_code=200, headers=None, is_redirect=False):
+        self.status_code = status_code
+        self.headers = headers or {}
+        self.is_redirect = is_redirect
+        self.closed = False
+
+    def close(self):
+        self.closed = True
+
+    def iter_content(self, chunk_size=64 * 1024):
+        return iter([])
+
+
+@patch("services.radio_intercept.requests.get")
+def test_redirect_to_internal_address_rejected(mock_get):
+    """A 302 from media.openmhz.com -> 127.0.0.1 must be rejected."""
+    mock_get.side_effect = [
+        _Resp(status_code=302, headers={"Location": "http://127.0.0.1:8000/api/secret"}, is_redirect=True),
+    ]
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+        openmhz_audio_response("https://media.openmhz.com/audio/abc.mp3")
+    assert exc_info.value.status_code == 502
+
+
+@patch("services.radio_intercept.requests.get")
+def test_redirect_to_arbitrary_domain_rejected(mock_get):
+    """A 302 to an attacker-controlled domain must be rejected."""
+    mock_get.side_effect = [
+        _Resp(status_code=302, headers={"Location": "https://evil.example/exfil"}, is_redirect=True),
+    ]
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+        openmhz_audio_response("https://media.openmhz.com/audio/abc.mp3")
+    assert exc_info.value.status_code == 502
+
+
+@patch("services.radio_intercept.requests.get")
+def test_redirect_to_another_openmhz_cdn_followed(mock_get):
+    """A 302 from media.openmhz.com -> media2.openmhz.com (same allowlist) is OK."""
+    mock_get.side_effect = [
+        _Resp(status_code=302, headers={"Location": "https://media2.openmhz.com/audio/abc.mp3"}, is_redirect=True),
+        _Resp(status_code=200, headers={"Content-Type": "audio/mpeg"}),
+    ]
+    resp = openmhz_audio_response("https://media.openmhz.com/audio/abc.mp3")
+    # StreamingResponse-shaped object — we just check it was constructed.
+    assert resp is not None
+
+
+@patch("services.radio_intercept.requests.get")
+def test_redirect_chain_length_bounded(mock_get):
+    """A redirect loop must terminate within _OPENMHZ_MAX_REDIRECTS."""
+    mock_get.side_effect = [
+        _Resp(status_code=302, headers={"Location": "https://media.openmhz.com/loop"}, is_redirect=True)
+        for _ in range(_OPENMHZ_MAX_REDIRECTS + 2)
+    ]
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+        openmhz_audio_response("https://media.openmhz.com/audio/abc.mp3")
+    assert exc_info.value.status_code == 502
+
+
+@patch("services.radio_intercept.requests.get")
+def test_redirect_to_http_scheme_rejected(mock_get):
+    """A 302 to http:// (instead of https://) must be rejected even on same host."""
+    mock_get.side_effect = [
+        _Resp(status_code=302, headers={"Location": "http://media.openmhz.com/audio/abc.mp3"}, is_redirect=True),
+    ]
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc_info:
+        openmhz_audio_response("https://media.openmhz.com/audio/abc.mp3")
+    assert exc_info.value.status_code == 502

backend/tests/test_oracle_resolve_auth_gate.py

@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+"""Issues #240 & #241 (tg12): oracle market/stake resolution endpoints
+must require admin authentication.
+
+Before the fix, ``POST /api/mesh/oracle/resolve`` and
+``POST /api/mesh/oracle/resolve-stakes`` were decorated with
+``@mesh_write_exempt(MeshWriteExemption.ADMIN_CONTROL)``. That decorator
+only tags the route as not requiring a mesh signed-write envelope; it
+does NOT enforce authorization. The rate limiter (5/minute) was the
+only real gate, which is wrong for control-plane state mutations.
+
+The fix adds ``dependencies=[Depends(require_admin)]`` to both routes.
+These tests prove:
+
+- Anonymous callers receive 403.
+- A request bearing the configured admin key passes the auth gate.
+- The underlying ledger mutator is not invoked on a 403.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+
+_ADMIN_KEY = "test-admin-key-for-oracle-resolve-fixture-32+"
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def client():
+    """TestClient with the private-lane transport middleware short-circuited.
+
+    The ``enforce_high_privacy_mesh`` middleware in ``main.py`` returns
+    HTTP 202 ("preparing private lane") for ``/api/mesh/*`` requests
+    when the Wormhole supervisor is not yet at the required transport
+    tier. In tests that's always — Wormhole is not running. Patching
+    ``_minimum_transport_tier`` to return None disables the tier check
+    for the duration of the test, letting the request reach the route
+    (and therefore reach the ``Depends(require_admin)`` we are testing).
+    """
+    import main
+    with patch("main._minimum_transport_tier", return_value=None):
+        yield TestClient(main.app, raise_server_exceptions=False)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_ledger():
+    """Replace oracle_ledger methods so tests don't mutate persistent state.
+
+    The handler does ``from services.mesh.mesh_oracle import oracle_ledger``
+    at call time, so we patch the module attribute.
+    """
+    fake = MagicMock()
+    fake.resolve_market.return_value = (0, 0)
+    fake.resolve_market_stakes.return_value = {"winners": 0, "losers": 0}
+    fake.resolve_expired_stakes.return_value = []
+    with patch("services.mesh.mesh_oracle.oracle_ledger", fake):
+        yield fake
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# /api/mesh/oracle/resolve — issue #240
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestOracleResolveAuthGate:
+    def test_anonymous_caller_is_rejected(self, client, mock_ledger):
+        with patch("auth._current_admin_key", return_value=_ADMIN_KEY):
+            r = client.post(
+                "/api/mesh/oracle/resolve",
+                json={"market_title": "test-market", "outcome": "Yes"},
+            )
+        assert r.status_code == 403
+        # Critically: the ledger mutator must NOT have been called on a 403.
+        assert mock_ledger.resolve_market.call_count == 0
+        assert mock_ledger.resolve_market_stakes.call_count == 0
+
+    def test_wrong_admin_key_rejected(self, client, mock_ledger):
+        with patch("auth._current_admin_key", return_value=_ADMIN_KEY):
+            r = client.post(
+                "/api/mesh/oracle/resolve",
+                headers={"X-Admin-Key": "this-key-is-wrong"},
+                json={"market_title": "test-market", "outcome": "Yes"},
+            )
+        assert r.status_code == 403
+        assert mock_ledger.resolve_market.call_count == 0
+
+    def test_valid_admin_key_passes_auth_gate(self, client, mock_ledger):
+        with patch("auth._current_admin_key", return_value=_ADMIN_KEY):
+            r = client.post(
+                "/api/mesh/oracle/resolve",
+                headers={"X-Admin-Key": _ADMIN_KEY},
+                json={"market_title": "test-market", "outcome": "Yes"},
+            )
+        # The auth gate let us through. The handler ran and called the
+        # (mocked) ledger.
+        assert r.status_code == 200
+        assert mock_ledger.resolve_market.call_count == 1
+        assert mock_ledger.resolve_market.call_args[0] == ("test-market", "Yes")
+
+    def test_admin_key_unset_blocks_in_production_posture(self, client, mock_ledger):
+        """When ADMIN_KEY env is not configured at all and we're not in
+        debug, the endpoint must still refuse — never silently accept."""
+        with (
+            patch("auth._current_admin_key", return_value=""),
+            patch("auth._allow_insecure_admin", return_value=False),
+            patch("auth._debug_mode_enabled", return_value=False),
+            patch("auth._scoped_admin_tokens", return_value={}),
+        ):
+            r = client.post(
+                "/api/mesh/oracle/resolve",
+                json={"market_title": "test-market", "outcome": "Yes"},
+            )
+        assert r.status_code == 403
+        assert mock_ledger.resolve_market.call_count == 0
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# /api/mesh/oracle/resolve-stakes — issue #241
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestOracleResolveStakesAuthGate:
+    def test_anonymous_caller_is_rejected(self, client, mock_ledger):
+        with patch("auth._current_admin_key", return_value=_ADMIN_KEY):
+            r = client.post("/api/mesh/oracle/resolve-stakes")
+        assert r.status_code == 403
+        assert mock_ledger.resolve_expired_stakes.call_count == 0
+
+    def test_wrong_admin_key_rejected(self, client, mock_ledger):
+        with patch("auth._current_admin_key", return_value=_ADMIN_KEY):
+            r = client.post(
+                "/api/mesh/oracle/resolve-stakes",
+                headers={"X-Admin-Key": "nope"},
+            )
+        assert r.status_code == 403
+        assert mock_ledger.resolve_expired_stakes.call_count == 0
+
+    def test_valid_admin_key_passes_auth_gate(self, client, mock_ledger):
+        with patch("auth._current_admin_key", return_value=_ADMIN_KEY):
+            r = client.post(
+                "/api/mesh/oracle/resolve-stakes",
+                headers={"X-Admin-Key": _ADMIN_KEY},
+            )
+        assert r.status_code == 200
+        assert mock_ledger.resolve_expired_stakes.call_count == 1
+        body = r.json()
+        assert body["ok"] is True
+        assert body["count"] == 0
+
+    def test_admin_key_unset_blocks_in_production_posture(self, client, mock_ledger):
+        with (
+            patch("auth._current_admin_key", return_value=""),
+            patch("auth._allow_insecure_admin", return_value=False),
+            patch("auth._debug_mode_enabled", return_value=False),
+            patch("auth._scoped_admin_tokens", return_value={}),
+        ):
+            r = client.post("/api/mesh/oracle/resolve-stakes")
+        assert r.status_code == 403
+        assert mock_ledger.resolve_expired_stakes.call_count == 0

backend/tests/test_overflights_clamp.py

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+"""Issue #202 (tg12): the satellite overflights endpoint accepted an
+unbounded ``hours`` parameter, letting an anonymous caller trigger
+``O(catalog_size × timesteps)`` work by asking for an absurd window.
+
+The fix clamps ``hours`` silently rather than raising a 422. The
+response shape is identical, just covering a shorter window — this
+keeps the API liberal in what it accepts (Postel) while removing the
+DoS surface.
+"""
+import os
+
+from routers.data import _overflight_max_hours
+
+
+def test_default_max_hours_is_72(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.delenv("OVERFLIGHTS_MAX_HOURS", raising=False)
+    assert _overflight_max_hours() == 72
+
+
+def test_env_override_accepted(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("OVERFLIGHTS_MAX_HOURS", "168")
+    assert _overflight_max_hours() == 168
+
+
+def test_invalid_env_value_falls_back_to_default(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("OVERFLIGHTS_MAX_HOURS", "not-a-number")
+    assert _overflight_max_hours() == 72
+
+
+def test_negative_env_value_clamped_to_minimum(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("OVERFLIGHTS_MAX_HOURS", "-5")
+    assert _overflight_max_hours() == 1
+
+
+def test_clamp_arithmetic_silent():
+    """The endpoint should clamp huge requests without erroring.
+
+    We don't exercise the full FastAPI route (compute_overflights needs
+    cached GP data), but we do verify the clamping math used by the
+    route: min(requested, cap).
+    """
+    requested = 1_000_000
+    cap = _overflight_max_hours()
+    effective = min(max(1, requested), cap)
+    assert effective == cap
+    assert effective < requested

backend/tests/test_p0_security.py

@@ -87,16 +87,32 @@ class TestRequireLocalOperator:
         assert self._call_with_host("172.16.0.5") == 403
 
     def test_docker_bridge_blocked_without_compose_opt_in(self):
+        # Even if DNS would resolve the frontend hostname to this IP,
+        # the env opt-in is required.
         with patch.dict("os.environ", {"SHADOWBROKER_TRUST_DOCKER_BRIDGE_LOCAL_OPERATOR": ""}):
-            assert self._call_with_host("172.18.0.3") == 403
+            with patch("auth._resolve_trusted_bridge_ips", return_value=frozenset({"172.18.0.3"})):
+                assert self._call_with_host("172.18.0.3") == 403
 
     def test_docker_bridge_passes_with_compose_opt_in(self):
+        # Issue #250: opt-in alone is no longer sufficient — the source IP
+        # must also reverse-match a trusted frontend container hostname.
+        # Here we simulate Docker DNS resolving "frontend" to 172.18.0.3.
         with patch.dict("os.environ", {"SHADOWBROKER_TRUST_DOCKER_BRIDGE_LOCAL_OPERATOR": "1"}):
-            assert self._call_with_host("172.18.0.3") == 200
+            with patch("auth._resolve_trusted_bridge_ips", return_value=frozenset({"172.18.0.3"})):
+                assert self._call_with_host("172.18.0.3") == 200
+
+    def test_unknown_bridge_ip_blocked_even_with_compose_opt_in(self):
+        # Issue #250 core regression: a rogue container on the same bridge
+        # whose IP is NOT in the resolved frontend hostname set must NOT
+        # be trusted, even when the bridge opt-in flag is on.
+        with patch.dict("os.environ", {"SHADOWBROKER_TRUST_DOCKER_BRIDGE_LOCAL_OPERATOR": "1"}):
+            with patch("auth._resolve_trusted_bridge_ips", return_value=frozenset({"172.18.0.3"})):
+                assert self._call_with_host("172.18.0.99") == 403
 
     def test_lan_ip_still_blocked_with_compose_opt_in(self):
         with patch.dict("os.environ", {"SHADOWBROKER_TRUST_DOCKER_BRIDGE_LOCAL_OPERATOR": "1"}):
-            assert self._call_with_host("192.168.1.100") == 403
+            with patch("auth._resolve_trusted_bridge_ips", return_value=frozenset({"172.18.0.3"})):
+                assert self._call_with_host("192.168.1.100") == 403
 
     def test_rfc1918_192168_blocked_without_key(self):
         assert self._call_with_host("192.168.1.100") == 403

backend/tests/test_sentinel_token_cache.py

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+"""Issue #200 (tg12): Sentinel token cache must require knowledge of the
+client secret to hit, not just client_id.
+
+Before this fix, the cache lookup was ``_sh_token_cache["client_id"] ==
+client_id``. A caller who knew a valid client_id but supplied any secret
+would hit the cache and reuse the original caller's bearer token, burning
+their Copernicus quota and accessing imagery on their account.
+
+After the fix, the cache key is an HMAC of ``(client_id, client_secret)``
+under a per-process random key, so two callers with the same client_id but
+different secrets compute different fingerprints and miss each other's
+cache entries.
+"""
+from routers.tools import _credential_fingerprint, _sh_token_cache
+
+
+def test_same_client_id_different_secrets_yield_different_fingerprints():
+    fp_a = _credential_fingerprint("client-id-X", "secret-A")
+    fp_b = _credential_fingerprint("client-id-X", "secret-B")
+    assert fp_a != fp_b
+
+
+def test_same_credentials_yield_same_fingerprint():
+    """The cache is still useful — same caller hits its own entry."""
+    fp1 = _credential_fingerprint("client-id-X", "secret-A")
+    fp2 = _credential_fingerprint("client-id-X", "secret-A")
+    assert fp1 == fp2
+
+
+def test_different_client_ids_yield_different_fingerprints():
+    fp_a = _credential_fingerprint("client-id-A", "shared-secret")
+    fp_b = _credential_fingerprint("client-id-B", "shared-secret")
+    assert fp_a != fp_b
+
+
+def test_cache_lookup_key_field_renamed():
+    """Catch accidental reintroduction of the client_id-only lookup."""
+    # If a future commit re-adds `_sh_token_cache["client_id"]` we want this
+    # test to fail loudly. The new schema only stores `credential_fp`.
+    assert "client_id" not in _sh_token_cache
+    assert "credential_fp" in _sh_token_cache
+
+
+def test_attacker_with_wrong_secret_misses_cache(monkeypatch):
+    """An attacker with valid client_id but wrong secret cannot hit the cache."""
+    # Populate cache as if a legitimate caller just succeeded.
+    legit_fp = _credential_fingerprint("legit-client", "legit-secret")
+    _sh_token_cache["token"] = "VICTIM-BEARER-TOKEN"
+    _sh_token_cache["credential_fp"] = legit_fp
+    _sh_token_cache["expiry"] = 10**12  # far future
+
+    # Attacker arrives with the same client_id but the wrong secret.
+    attacker_fp = _credential_fingerprint("legit-client", "wrong-secret")
+    assert attacker_fp != legit_fp
+
+    # Reset cache for hygiene between tests.
+    _sh_token_cache["token"] = None
+    _sh_token_cache["credential_fp"] = ""
+    _sh_token_cache["expiry"] = 0

backend/tests/test_third_party_fetchers_opt_in.py

@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+"""Third-party fetchers that phone home to politically/commercially
+sensitive upstreams must be operator opt-in only.
+
+Companion to ``test_crowdthreat_opt_in.py`` — extends the same default-off
+posture to:
+
+* EUvsDisinfo FIMI (``FIMI_ENABLED``)
+* Polymarket + Kalshi (``PREDICTION_MARKETS_ENABLED``)
+* Finnhub / yfinance financial data (``FINANCIAL_ENABLED`` /
+  ``FINNHUB_API_KEY``)
+* NUFORC HuggingFace dataset (``NUFORC_ENABLED``)
+
+Each test asserts that with the env var unset (or set to a falsy value)
+the fetcher's network entry point is NOT called.
+"""
+
+
+def _explode(*_args, **_kwargs):
+    raise AssertionError("upstream called while fetcher was meant to be disabled")
+
+
+def test_fimi_disabled_by_default_does_not_call_upstream(monkeypatch):
+    from services.fetchers import _store, fimi
+
+    monkeypatch.delenv("FIMI_ENABLED", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setitem(_store.latest_data, "fimi", [{"id": "old"}])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(fimi, "fetch_with_curl", _explode)
+
+    fimi.fetch_fimi()
+
+    assert _store.latest_data["fimi"] == []
+
+
+def test_fimi_falsy_value_does_not_call_upstream(monkeypatch):
+    from services.fetchers import _store, fimi
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FIMI_ENABLED", "false")
+    monkeypatch.setitem(_store.latest_data, "fimi", [{"id": "old"}])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(fimi, "fetch_with_curl", _explode)
+
+    fimi.fetch_fimi()
+
+    assert _store.latest_data["fimi"] == []
+
+
+def test_prediction_markets_disabled_by_default(monkeypatch):
+    from services.fetchers import _store, prediction_markets
+
+    monkeypatch.delenv("PREDICTION_MARKETS_ENABLED", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setitem(_store.latest_data, "prediction_markets", [{"id": "old"}])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        prediction_markets, "fetch_prediction_markets_raw", _explode
+    )
+
+    prediction_markets.fetch_prediction_markets()
+
+    assert _store.latest_data["prediction_markets"] == []
+
+
+def test_financial_disabled_when_no_optin_or_api_key(monkeypatch):
+    """yfinance fallback path must not run silently — needs FINANCIAL_ENABLED."""
+    from services.fetchers import _store, financial
+
+    monkeypatch.delenv("FINANCIAL_ENABLED", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.delenv("FINNHUB_API_KEY", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setitem(_store.latest_data, "financial", {"BTC": {"price": 1}})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(financial, "_fetch_finnhub_quote", _explode)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(financial, "_fetch_yfinance_single", _explode)
+
+    financial.fetch_financial_markets()
+
+    assert _store.latest_data["financial"] == {}
+
+
+def test_financial_enabled_via_finnhub_api_key(monkeypatch):
+    """Presence of FINNHUB_API_KEY counts as explicit opt-in."""
+    from services.fetchers import financial
+
+    monkeypatch.delenv("FINANCIAL_ENABLED", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FINNHUB_API_KEY", "test-key")
+
+    assert financial.financial_fetch_enabled() is True
+
+
+def test_nuforc_disabled_by_default_skips_download(monkeypatch):
+    from services.fetchers import nuforc_enrichment
+
+    monkeypatch.delenv("NUFORC_ENABLED", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(nuforc_enrichment, "fetch_with_curl", _explode)
+
+    result = nuforc_enrichment._download_and_build()
+
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_news_default_on_but_killable(monkeypatch):
+    """News defaults on (kill switch only), but NEWS_ENABLED=false must disable it."""
+    from services.fetchers import _store, news
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("NEWS_ENABLED", "false")
+    monkeypatch.setitem(_store.latest_data, "news", [{"id": "old"}])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(news, "fetch_with_curl", _explode)
+
+    news.fetch_news()
+
+    assert _store.latest_data["news"] == []

backend/tests/test_tor_bundle_symlink_filter.py

@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+"""Issue #251 (tg12): Tor bundle extraction must refuse symlink and
+hardlink members.
+
+The previous extractor checked ``member.name`` against path traversal
+but never inspected ``member.linkname``. Python 3.11's ``tarfile``
+honors symlinks during ``extractall()``, so a malicious archive could
+ship a member named ``innocent.txt`` whose linkname points at an
+arbitrary filesystem location. After extraction, reads of innocent.txt
+dereference to that location; writes corrupt it.
+
+The fix categorically refuses any link member during extraction.
+Tor Expert Bundles never legitimately contain symlinks or hardlinks,
+so this is non-disruptive for real updates and a hard stop for hostile
+archives.
+
+These tests build synthetic tar archives covering each refused case
+and assert ``_extract_tor_bundle_safely`` rejects them.
+"""
+import io
+import os
+import stat
+import tarfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from services.tor_hidden_service import _extract_tor_bundle_safely
+
+
+def _build_archive(tmp_path: Path, members: list) -> Path:
+    """Write a .tar.gz with the given (name, builder) pairs.
+
+    Each builder is called with the open tarfile and is responsible for
+    adding its member however it likes (regular file, symlink, etc.).
+    """
+    archive = tmp_path / "test_bundle.tar.gz"
+    with tarfile.open(str(archive), "w:gz") as tar:
+        for name, builder in members:
+            builder(tar, name)
+    return archive
+
+
+def _add_regular_file(tar: tarfile.TarFile, name: str, payload: bytes = b"hello") -> None:
+    info = tarfile.TarInfo(name)
+    info.size = len(payload)
+    info.mode = 0o644
+    info.type = tarfile.REGTYPE
+    tar.addfile(info, io.BytesIO(payload))
+
+
+def _add_symlink(tar: tarfile.TarFile, name: str, linkname: str) -> None:
+    info = tarfile.TarInfo(name)
+    info.size = 0
+    info.type = tarfile.SYMTYPE
+    info.linkname = linkname
+    info.mode = 0o777
+    tar.addfile(info)
+
+
+def _add_hardlink(tar: tarfile.TarFile, name: str, linkname: str) -> None:
+    info = tarfile.TarInfo(name)
+    info.size = 0
+    info.type = tarfile.LNKTYPE
+    info.linkname = linkname
+    info.mode = 0o644
+    tar.addfile(info)
+
+
+def _add_fifo(tar: tarfile.TarFile, name: str) -> None:
+    info = tarfile.TarInfo(name)
+    info.type = tarfile.FIFOTYPE
+    info.mode = 0o644
+    tar.addfile(info)
+
+
+def test_clean_archive_extracts_successfully(tmp_path):
+    """A normal archive with only regular files extracts fine."""
+    install_dir = tmp_path / "install"
+    install_dir.mkdir()
+
+    def add_normal(tar, name):
+        _add_regular_file(tar, name, b"clean content")
+
+    archive = _build_archive(
+        tmp_path,
+        [
+            ("tor/tor.exe", add_normal),
+            ("tor/data/geoip", add_normal),
+        ],
+    )
+    assert _extract_tor_bundle_safely(archive, install_dir) is True
+    assert (install_dir / "tor" / "tor.exe").is_file()
+    assert (install_dir / "tor" / "data" / "geoip").is_file()
+
+
+def test_symlink_member_is_rejected(tmp_path, caplog):
+    """Issue #251 core regression: symlink members are refused."""
+    install_dir = tmp_path / "install"
+    install_dir.mkdir()
+
+    archive = _build_archive(
+        tmp_path,
+        [
+            ("tor/innocent.txt", lambda t, n: _add_symlink(t, n, "/etc/passwd")),
+        ],
+    )
+
+    import logging
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.ERROR):
+        result = _extract_tor_bundle_safely(archive, install_dir)
+
+    assert result is False
+    # No file should have been created
+    assert not (install_dir / "tor" / "innocent.txt").exists()
+    # Log should explain why
+    assert any(
+        "symlinks/hardlinks are not allowed" in rec.getMessage()
+        for rec in caplog.records
+    )
+
+
+def test_hardlink_member_is_rejected(tmp_path):
+    """Hardlinks are refused for the same reason as symlinks."""
+    install_dir = tmp_path / "install"
+    install_dir.mkdir()
+
+    archive = _build_archive(
+        tmp_path,
+        [
+            ("tor/regular.txt", lambda t, n: _add_regular_file(t, n)),
+            ("tor/sneaky.txt", lambda t, n: _add_hardlink(t, n, "regular.txt")),
+        ],
+    )
+    assert _extract_tor_bundle_safely(archive, install_dir) is False
+    # The whole extraction is refused even though only one member is bad.
+    assert not (install_dir / "tor" / "regular.txt").exists()
+
+
+def test_symlink_with_relative_target_still_rejected(tmp_path):
+    """Even a relative symlink target inside the install dir is refused.
+
+    We don't allow symlinks at all — there is no legitimate Tor bundle
+    use case for them, and an attacker can chain link redirections in
+    ways the path-resolution check is poor at catching.
+    """
+    install_dir = tmp_path / "install"
+    install_dir.mkdir()
+
+    archive = _build_archive(
+        tmp_path,
+        [
+            ("tor/alias.txt", lambda t, n: _add_symlink(t, n, "tor/tor.exe")),
+        ],
+    )
+    assert _extract_tor_bundle_safely(archive, install_dir) is False
+
+
+def test_fifo_or_device_member_is_rejected(tmp_path):
+    """Non-regular-non-directory members (FIFOs, devices) are refused."""
+    install_dir = tmp_path / "install"
+    install_dir.mkdir()
+
+    archive = _build_archive(
+        tmp_path,
+        [
+            ("tor/weird.fifo", _add_fifo),
+        ],
+    )
+    assert _extract_tor_bundle_safely(archive, install_dir) is False
+
+
+def test_path_traversal_member_is_rejected(tmp_path):
+    """Pre-existing path-traversal guard still works under the new shape."""
+    install_dir = tmp_path / "install"
+    install_dir.mkdir()
+
+    def add_traversal(tar, name):
+        _add_regular_file(tar, name)
+
+    # ../../escape.txt resolves outside install_dir on most platforms.
+    archive = _build_archive(
+        tmp_path,
+        [
+            ("../../escape.txt", add_traversal),
+        ],
+    )
+    assert _extract_tor_bundle_safely(archive, install_dir) is False
+
+
+def test_malformed_tar_is_rejected(tmp_path):
+    """A corrupt/non-tar file is rejected without crashing."""
+    install_dir = tmp_path / "install"
+    install_dir.mkdir()
+
+    bogus = tmp_path / "not-a-tar.tar.gz"
+    bogus.write_bytes(b"this is not a tar archive at all")
+
+    assert _extract_tor_bundle_safely(bogus, install_dir) is False
+
+
+def test_extraction_failure_does_not_leave_partial_state_referenced_to_caller(tmp_path):
+    """When extraction fails partway, the caller relies on a False return
+    to know it must clean up. We test the contract here — actual cleanup
+    of files that may have been written by tar.extractall() before the
+    failure point isn't part of THIS helper's responsibility (the caller
+    deletes the install dir if needed)."""
+    install_dir = tmp_path / "install"
+    install_dir.mkdir()
+
+    # Hostile archive: one good file, then a symlink. Whether the good
+    # file was written or not, the return value must be False so the
+    # caller refuses the bundle.
+    archive = _build_archive(
+        tmp_path,
+        [
+            ("tor/clean.txt", lambda t, n: _add_regular_file(t, n)),
+            ("tor/evil-link.txt", lambda t, n: _add_symlink(t, n, "/etc/passwd")),
+        ],
+    )
+
+    assert _extract_tor_bundle_safely(archive, install_dir) is False

backend/tests/test_tor_bundle_verification.py

@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+"""Issue #201 (tg12): Tor bundle integrity must come from at least one
+trusted source. Previously, if the upstream ``.sha256sum`` was
+unreachable, the bundle was extracted and executed anyway with only
+HTTPS-level transport trust.
+
+The fix introduces a multi-source verification chain:
+
+  1. Upstream ``.sha256sum`` (current behavior)
+  2. Baked-in digest list at ``backend/data/tor_bundle_digests.json``
+  3. If neither source is reachable AT ALL: HTTPS-only fallback with a
+     loud warning (avoids breaking first-run onboarding while the
+     maintainer hasn't yet pinned a new Tor release)
+
+A mismatch from a source that DID respond is always fatal — only the
+"no source reachable" case falls back to HTTPS-only.
+"""
+import hashlib
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from services import tor_hidden_service as tor_svc
+from services.tor_hidden_service import (
+    _DIGEST_PLACEHOLDER,
+    _load_baked_in_digests,
+    _verify_tor_bundle,
+)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def fake_bundle(tmp_path):
+    """A tiny synthetic 'bundle' so we can compute its digest deterministically."""
+    archive = tmp_path / "fake-tor.tar.gz"
+    payload = b"this is not really a tar archive"
+    archive.write_bytes(payload)
+    expected = hashlib.sha256(payload).hexdigest().lower()
+    return archive, expected
+
+
+def test_baked_in_digests_skips_placeholders(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Entries with the placeholder value are filtered out."""
+    digest_file = tmp_path / "digests.json"
+    digest_file.write_text(
+        '{"https://example.com/a.tar.gz": "PLACEHOLDER_REPLACE_BEFORE_RELEASE", '
+        '"https://example.com/b.tar.gz": "deadbeef"}',
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tor_svc, "_TOR_DIGEST_FILE", digest_file)
+
+    digests = _load_baked_in_digests()
+    assert "https://example.com/a.tar.gz" not in digests
+    assert digests.get("https://example.com/b.tar.gz") == "deadbeef"
+
+
+def test_verification_succeeds_when_upstream_matches(fake_bundle, monkeypatch):
+    """Path A: upstream .sha256sum returns the matching digest."""
+    archive, expected = fake_bundle
+
+    def fake_urlretrieve(url, dest):
+        dest_path = Path(dest)
+        dest_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        dest_path.write_text(f"{expected}  bundle.tar.gz\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tor_svc, "urlretrieve", fake_urlretrieve)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tor_svc, "_load_baked_in_digests", lambda: {})
+
+    verified, reason = _verify_tor_bundle(archive, "https://example.com/bundle.tar.gz")
+    assert verified is True
+    assert "upstream" in reason
+
+
+def test_verification_succeeds_via_baked_in_when_upstream_unreachable(fake_bundle, monkeypatch):
+    """Path B: upstream .sha256sum fails; baked-in digest matches."""
+    archive, expected = fake_bundle
+
+    def fake_urlretrieve(url, dest):
+        raise RuntimeError("upstream unreachable")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tor_svc, "urlretrieve", fake_urlretrieve)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        tor_svc, "_load_baked_in_digests",
+        lambda: {"https://example.com/bundle.tar.gz": expected},
+    )
+
+    verified, reason = _verify_tor_bundle(archive, "https://example.com/bundle.tar.gz")
+    assert verified is True
+    assert "baked-in" in reason
+
+
+def test_verification_fails_when_upstream_disagrees(fake_bundle, monkeypatch):
+    """Mismatch from a source that DID respond is always fatal."""
+    archive, _expected = fake_bundle
+
+    def fake_urlretrieve(url, dest):
+        dest_path = Path(dest)
+        dest_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        dest_path.write_text("0" * 64 + "  bundle.tar.gz\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tor_svc, "urlretrieve", fake_urlretrieve)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tor_svc, "_load_baked_in_digests", lambda: {})
+
+    verified, reason = _verify_tor_bundle(archive, "https://example.com/bundle.tar.gz")
+    assert verified is False
+    assert "mismatch" in reason.lower()
+
+
+def test_verification_fails_when_baked_in_disagrees(fake_bundle, monkeypatch):
+    """Even with no upstream, a baked-in mismatch is fatal."""
+    archive, _expected = fake_bundle
+
+    def fake_urlretrieve(url, dest):
+        raise RuntimeError("upstream unreachable")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tor_svc, "urlretrieve", fake_urlretrieve)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        tor_svc, "_load_baked_in_digests",
+        lambda: {"https://example.com/bundle.tar.gz": "0" * 64},
+    )
+
+    verified, reason = _verify_tor_bundle(archive, "https://example.com/bundle.tar.gz")
+    assert verified is False
+
+
+def test_verification_falls_back_to_https_when_no_source_reachable(fake_bundle, monkeypatch, caplog):
+    """No source available → HTTPS-only fallback with a loud warning.
+
+    This preserves first-run onboarding while the maintainer hasn't
+    yet pinned a particular Tor release in the digest file.
+    """
+    archive, _expected = fake_bundle
+
+    def fake_urlretrieve(url, dest):
+        raise RuntimeError("upstream unreachable")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tor_svc, "urlretrieve", fake_urlretrieve)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tor_svc, "_load_baked_in_digests", lambda: {})
+
+    import logging
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING):
+        verified, reason = _verify_tor_bundle(archive, "https://example.com/bundle.tar.gz")
+    assert verified is True
+    assert "https-only" in reason.lower()
+    assert any(
+        "fell back to HTTPS-only" in record.getMessage() for record in caplog.records
+    )

backend/tests/test_update_integrity_chain.py

@@ -0,0 +1,338 @@
+"""Issue #231 — self-update SHA-256 verification.
+
+Before this fix, ``_validate_zip_hash`` returned silently whenever the
+``MESH_UPDATE_SHA256`` env var was unset (the default — nothing in the
+install docs ever told operators to set it). That made the auto-updater
+a supply-chain RCE on any compromise of the GitHub release pipeline.
+
+The fix introduces a four-source verification chain:
+
+  1. ``MESH_UPDATE_SHA256`` env var (operator override, preserved)
+  2. ``SHA256SUMS.txt`` asset published alongside the release (primary)
+  3. Baked-in ``backend/data/release_digests.json`` (fallback)
+  4. HTTPS-only fallback with a loud warning (preserves auto-update during
+     transient outages so the user isn't stuck)
+
+A mismatch from any source that DID respond is fatal. Only the "no
+source reachable at all" case falls back to HTTPS-only.
+"""
+import hashlib
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from services import updater
+from services.updater import (
+    _compute_sha256,
+    _fetch_sha256sums,
+    _load_baked_in_release_digests,
+    _validate_zip_hash,
+)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def fake_archive(tmp_path):
+    """A tiny synthetic zip-shaped file so we can compute a known digest."""
+    archive = tmp_path / "update.zip"
+    payload = b"this is not really a release archive"
+    archive.write_bytes(payload)
+    expected = hashlib.sha256(payload).hexdigest().lower()
+    return str(archive), expected
+
+
+def test_baked_in_release_digests_file_loads():
+    """The shipped release_digests.json must parse and contain v0.9.79."""
+    digests = _load_baked_in_release_digests()
+    assert "v0.9.79" in digests
+    entry = digests["v0.9.79"]
+    assert "ShadowBroker_v0.9.79.zip" in entry
+    digest = entry["ShadowBroker_v0.9.79.zip"]
+    assert len(digest) == 64
+    assert all(c in "0123456789abcdef" for c in digest)
+
+
+def test_baked_in_skips_comment_keys():
+    """The _comment top-level key is ignored, not surfaced as a release."""
+    digests = _load_baked_in_release_digests()
+    assert "_comment" not in digests
+
+
+def test_compute_sha256_matches_known_value(fake_archive):
+    archive, expected = fake_archive
+    assert _compute_sha256(archive) == expected
+
+
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Source 1: MESH_UPDATE_SHA256 env override
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_env_override_matching_passes(fake_archive, monkeypatch):
+    """Path 1: operator pinned the exact digest via env. Match = success."""
+    archive, expected = fake_archive
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", expected)
+
+    note = _validate_zip_hash(archive)
+    assert "MESH_UPDATE_SHA256" in note
+
+
+def test_env_override_mismatch_fails_loudly(fake_archive, monkeypatch):
+    """Path 1: operator pinned a different digest. Mismatch = fatal."""
+    archive, _expected = fake_archive
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", "0" * 64)
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as exc_info:
+        _validate_zip_hash(archive)
+    assert "mismatch" in str(exc_info.value).lower()
+
+
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Source 2: SHA256SUMS.txt asset
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_sha256sums_matching_passes(fake_archive, monkeypatch):
+    """Path 2: SHA256SUMS.txt has the correct digest for our asset."""
+    archive, expected = fake_archive
+    monkeypatch.delenv("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", raising=False)
+
+    def fake_sums(url):
+        return {"ShadowBroker_v9.9.9.zip": expected}
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_fetch_sha256sums", fake_sums)
+    note = _validate_zip_hash(
+        archive,
+        asset_name="ShadowBroker_v9.9.9.zip",
+        sha256sums_url="https://example.test/SHA256SUMS.txt",
+        release_tag="v9.9.9",
+    )
+    assert "SHA256SUMS.txt" in note
+
+
+def test_sha256sums_mismatch_fails_loudly(fake_archive, monkeypatch):
+    """Path 2: SHA256SUMS.txt has a different digest. Refuse."""
+    archive, _expected = fake_archive
+    monkeypatch.delenv("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", raising=False)
+
+    def fake_sums(url):
+        return {"ShadowBroker_v9.9.9.zip": "0" * 64}
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_fetch_sha256sums", fake_sums)
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as exc_info:
+        _validate_zip_hash(
+            archive,
+            asset_name="ShadowBroker_v9.9.9.zip",
+            sha256sums_url="https://example.test/SHA256SUMS.txt",
+            release_tag="v9.9.9",
+        )
+    assert "mismatch" in str(exc_info.value).lower()
+    assert "SHA256SUMS" in str(exc_info.value)
+
+
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Source 3: baked-in digest list
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_baked_in_matching_passes(fake_archive, monkeypatch):
+    """Path 3: SHA256SUMS unreachable, but the baked-in list has us."""
+    archive, expected = fake_archive
+    monkeypatch.delenv("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_fetch_sha256sums", lambda url: {})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        updater,
+        "_load_baked_in_release_digests",
+        lambda: {"v9.9.9": {"ShadowBroker_v9.9.9.zip": expected}},
+    )
+
+    note = _validate_zip_hash(
+        archive,
+        asset_name="ShadowBroker_v9.9.9.zip",
+        sha256sums_url="https://example.test/SHA256SUMS.txt",
+        release_tag="v9.9.9",
+    )
+    assert "baked-in" in note
+
+
+def test_baked_in_mismatch_fails_loudly(fake_archive, monkeypatch):
+    """Path 3: baked-in says something different. Refuse."""
+    archive, _expected = fake_archive
+    monkeypatch.delenv("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_fetch_sha256sums", lambda url: {})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        updater,
+        "_load_baked_in_release_digests",
+        lambda: {"v9.9.9": {"ShadowBroker_v9.9.9.zip": "0" * 64}},
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as exc_info:
+        _validate_zip_hash(
+            archive,
+            asset_name="ShadowBroker_v9.9.9.zip",
+            sha256sums_url="",
+            release_tag="v9.9.9",
+        )
+    assert "mismatch" in str(exc_info.value).lower()
+
+
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Source 4: HTTPS-only fallback
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_https_only_fallback_when_no_source_available(fake_archive, monkeypatch, caplog):
+    """Path 4: nothing matches — fall back to HTTPS-only with loud warning.
+
+    This preserves the auto-update flow during transient outages: an
+    operator on a flaky network during update doesn't get a hostile
+    error, they get a degraded-but-functional update with a clear log
+    message.
+    """
+    import logging
+
+    archive, _expected = fake_archive
+    monkeypatch.delenv("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_fetch_sha256sums", lambda url: {})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_load_baked_in_release_digests", lambda: {})
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING):
+        note = _validate_zip_hash(
+            archive,
+            asset_name="ShadowBroker_v99.99.zip",
+            sha256sums_url="",
+            release_tag="v99.99",
+        )
+
+    assert "https-only" in note.lower()
+    assert any(
+        "fell back to HTTPS-only" in rec.getMessage() for rec in caplog.records
+    )
+
+
+def test_https_only_fallback_when_release_tag_unknown(fake_archive, monkeypatch):
+    """Path 4 also kicks in when we have a baked-in list but it doesn't
+    contain THIS release tag — e.g. a brand-new release that the local
+    install hasn't seen a digest for yet."""
+    archive, _expected = fake_archive
+    monkeypatch.delenv("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_fetch_sha256sums", lambda url: {})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        updater,
+        "_load_baked_in_release_digests",
+        lambda: {"v0.0.1": {"old.zip": "0" * 64}},  # different tag, doesn't match
+    )
+
+    note = _validate_zip_hash(
+        archive,
+        asset_name="ShadowBroker_v99.99.zip",
+        sha256sums_url="",
+        release_tag="v99.99",
+    )
+    assert "https-only" in note.lower()
+
+
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Precedence (env > SHA256SUMS > baked-in > https-only)
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_env_override_beats_all_other_sources(fake_archive, monkeypatch):
+    """When MESH_UPDATE_SHA256 is set, it's the only source consulted.
+
+    The other sources may return false positives or negatives — they
+    shouldn't be queried at all when the operator pinned an exact value.
+    """
+    archive, expected = fake_archive
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MESH_UPDATE_SHA256", expected)
+
+    def boom_sums(url):
+        raise AssertionError("SHA256SUMS source was queried despite env override")
+
+    def boom_baked():
+        raise AssertionError("Baked-in list was queried despite env override")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_fetch_sha256sums", boom_sums)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_load_baked_in_release_digests", boom_baked)
+
+    note = _validate_zip_hash(
+        archive,
+        asset_name="any.zip",
+        sha256sums_url="https://example.test/SHA256SUMS.txt",
+        release_tag="any",
+    )
+    assert "MESH_UPDATE_SHA256" in note
+
+
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# _fetch_sha256sums parser
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_fetch_sha256sums_parses_standard_format(monkeypatch):
+    """Standard ``sha256sum`` output: ``<digest>  <filename>``."""
+    class _Resp:
+        text = (
+            "f6877c1d66614525315ea82636ce9f7b41178332c4dbf90d27431a1ea1d9cd47  ShadowBroker_v0.9.79.zip\n"
+            "e0713c3cdda184cfbea750bfac0d62a35678fec00847e6476f2cac8e7e42046e  ShadowBroker_0.9.79_x64_en-US.msi\n"
+        )
+
+        def raise_for_status(self):
+            pass
+
+    def fake_get(url, timeout=15):
+        return _Resp()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater.requests, "get", fake_get)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_validate_update_url", lambda url, **kw: url)
+    sums = _fetch_sha256sums("https://example.test/SHA256SUMS.txt")
+    assert sums["ShadowBroker_v0.9.79.zip"].startswith("f6877c1d")
+    assert sums["ShadowBroker_0.9.79_x64_en-US.msi"].startswith("e0713c3c")
+
+
+def test_fetch_sha256sums_handles_binary_marker(monkeypatch):
+    """sha256sum -b output: ``<digest> *<filename>``."""
+    class _Resp:
+        text = "f6877c1d66614525315ea82636ce9f7b41178332c4dbf90d27431a1ea1d9cd47 *ShadowBroker_v0.9.79.zip\n"
+
+        def raise_for_status(self):
+            pass
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater.requests, "get", lambda url, timeout=15: _Resp())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_validate_update_url", lambda url, **kw: url)
+    sums = _fetch_sha256sums("https://example.test/SHA256SUMS.txt")
+    assert "ShadowBroker_v0.9.79.zip" in sums
+
+
+def test_fetch_sha256sums_skips_malformed_lines(monkeypatch):
+    """Lines that don't parse cleanly are ignored, not aborted on."""
+    class _Resp:
+        text = (
+            "# comment line\n"
+            "\n"
+            "not-a-digest  bogus.txt\n"
+            "f6877c1d66614525315ea82636ce9f7b41178332c4dbf90d27431a1ea1d9cd47  good.zip\n"
+        )
+
+        def raise_for_status(self):
+            pass
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater.requests, "get", lambda url, timeout=15: _Resp())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_validate_update_url", lambda url, **kw: url)
+    sums = _fetch_sha256sums("https://example.test/SHA256SUMS.txt")
+    assert "good.zip" in sums
+    assert "bogus.txt" not in sums
+
+
+def test_fetch_sha256sums_handles_network_failure(monkeypatch):
+    """If the SHA256SUMS asset can't be fetched, return empty (caller
+    falls through to baked-in / https-only)."""
+    import requests as _req
+
+    def fake_get(url, timeout=15):
+        raise _req.exceptions.ConnectionError("upstream down")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater.requests, "get", fake_get)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(updater, "_validate_update_url", lambda url, **kw: url)
+    sums = _fetch_sha256sums("https://example.test/SHA256SUMS.txt")
+    assert sums == {}

desktop-shell/package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@shadowbroker/desktop-shell",
-  "version": "0.9.75",
+  "version": "0.9.79",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@shadowbroker/desktop-shell",
-      "version": "0.9.75",
+      "version": "0.9.79",
       "devDependencies": {
         "typescript": "^5.6.0"
       }

desktop-shell/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@shadowbroker/desktop-shell",
-  "version": "0.9.75",
+  "version": "0.9.79",
   "private": true,
   "description": "ShadowBroker desktop shell packaging, runtime bridge, and release tooling",
   "scripts": {

desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/src-tauri/Cargo.lock

@@ -4201,7 +4201,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "shadowbroker-tauri-shell"
-version = "0.9.75"
+version = "0.9.79"
 dependencies = [
  "axum",
  "base64 0.22.1",

desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/src-tauri/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "shadowbroker-tauri-shell"
-version = "0.9.75"
+version = "0.9.79"
 edition = "2021"
 
 [build-dependencies]

desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://schema.tauri.app/config/2",
   "productName": "ShadowBroker",
-  "version": "0.9.75",
+  "version": "0.9.79",
   "identifier": "com.shadowbroker.desktop",
   "build": {
     "frontendDist": "../../../frontend/out",

docker-compose.gitlab.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Compose override that points the backend and frontend at the GitLab
+# Container Registry instead of GHCR. Use this if you prefer pulling
+# images from gitlab.com.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.gitlab.yml pull
+#   docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.gitlab.yml up -d
+#
+# Both registries publish the same images on every push to main:
+#   - .github/workflows/docker-publish.yml  → ghcr.io  (default)
+#   - .gitlab-ci.yml                        → registry.gitlab.com  (this file)
+
+services:
+  backend:
+    image: registry.gitlab.com/bigbodycobain/shadowbroker/backend:latest
+
+  frontend:
+    image: registry.gitlab.com/bigbodycobain/shadowbroker/frontend:latest

docker-compose.yml

@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ services:
       # The bundled Docker UI talks to the backend across Docker's private bridge.
       # Treat that bridge as local operator access while ports remain bound to 127.0.0.1 by default.
       - SHADOWBROKER_TRUST_DOCKER_BRIDGE_LOCAL_OPERATOR=${SHADOWBROKER_TRUST_DOCKER_BRIDGE_LOCAL_OPERATOR:-1}
+      # Issue #250: bridge trust is now bound to specific container hostnames
+      # (default: 'frontend' compose service + 'shadowbroker-frontend' container
+      # name). If you rename the frontend service or run with a different
+      # container_name, list the hostnames here (comma-separated, no spaces).
+      - SHADOWBROKER_TRUSTED_FRONTEND_HOSTS=${SHADOWBROKER_TRUSTED_FRONTEND_HOSTS:-frontend,shadowbroker-frontend}
     volumes:
       - backend_data:/app/data
     restart: unless-stopped
@@ -62,11 +67,13 @@ services:
     image: ghcr.io/bigbodycobain/shadowbroker-frontend:latest
     container_name: shadowbroker-frontend
     ports:
-      - "${BIND:-127.0.0.1}:3000:3000"
+      - "${BIND:-127.0.0.1}:${FRONTEND_PORT:-3000}:3000"
     environment:
       # Points the Next.js server-side proxy at the backend container via Docker networking.
       # Change this if your backend runs on a different host or port.
       - BACKEND_URL=http://backend:8000
+      # Lets the server-side proxy authenticate protected local-node API calls.
+      - ADMIN_KEY=${ADMIN_KEY:-}
     depends_on:
       backend:
         condition: service_healthy

frontend/package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "frontend",
-  "version": "0.9.75",
+  "version": "0.9.79",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "frontend",
-      "version": "0.9.75",
+      "version": "0.9.79",
       "dependencies": {
         "@mapbox/point-geometry": "^1.1.0",
         "@tauri-apps/plugin-process": "^2.3.1",

frontend/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "frontend",
-  "version": "0.9.75",
+  "version": "0.9.79",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "node scripts/dev-all.cjs",

frontend/src/__tests__/components/AlertToast.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { act, cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import AlertToast from '@/components/AlertToast';
+import type { ToastItem } from '@/hooks/useAlertToasts';
+
+function buildToast(partial: Partial<ToastItem> = {}): ToastItem {
+  return {
+    id: 'toast-1',
+    title: 'Embassy evacuation reported',
+    source: 'Reuters',
+    risk_score: 9,
+    lat: 38.9,
+    lng: -77.0,
+    timestamp: Date.now(),
+    ...partial,
+  };
+}
+
+describe('AlertToast', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    cleanup();
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+  });
+
+  it('renders the toast title, source, and severity label', () => {
+    const toast = buildToast();
+    render(
+      <AlertToast toasts={[toast]} onDismiss={vi.fn()} />,
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByText(toast.title)).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByText(toast.source)).toBeTruthy();
+    // 9/10 -> CRITICAL
+    expect(screen.getByText(/CRITICAL/)).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/LVL 9\/10/)).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it('auto-dismisses after 5 seconds', () => {
+    const onDismiss = vi.fn();
+    const toast = buildToast();
+    render(
+      <AlertToast toasts={[toast]} onDismiss={onDismiss} />,
+    );
+
+    expect(onDismiss).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(5000);
+    });
+
+    expect(onDismiss).toHaveBeenCalledWith(toast.id);
+  });
+
+  it('pauses auto-dismiss while the card is hovered', () => {
+    const onDismiss = vi.fn();
+    const toast = buildToast();
+    render(
+      <AlertToast toasts={[toast]} onDismiss={onDismiss} />,
+    );
+
+    // Hover before the timer fires. mouseEnter must be flushed
+    // (state update + effect cleanup) in its own act() before we
+    // advance timers — otherwise the original mount-time timer is
+    // still active when advanceTimersByTime runs.
+    const card = screen.getByText(toast.title).closest('[class*="cursor-pointer"]')!;
+    expect(card).toBeTruthy();
+
+    act(() => {
+      fireEvent.mouseEnter(card);
+    });
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(10_000);
+    });
+
+    // Still no dismiss — timer is paused.
+    expect(onDismiss).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    // Leave: a fresh full-lifetime timer starts.
+    act(() => {
+      fireEvent.mouseLeave(card);
+    });
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(4_999);
+    });
+    expect(onDismiss).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(1);
+    });
+    expect(onDismiss).toHaveBeenCalledWith(toast.id);
+  });
+
+  it('dismisses on × button click without calling onFlyTo', () => {
+    const onDismiss = vi.fn();
+    const onFlyTo = vi.fn();
+    const toast = buildToast();
+    render(
+      <AlertToast toasts={[toast]} onDismiss={onDismiss} onFlyTo={onFlyTo} />,
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('×'));
+
+    expect(onDismiss).toHaveBeenCalledWith(toast.id);
+    expect(onFlyTo).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('flies to the toast location and dismisses on body click', () => {
+    const onDismiss = vi.fn();
+    const onFlyTo = vi.fn();
+    const toast = buildToast();
+    render(
+      <AlertToast toasts={[toast]} onDismiss={onDismiss} onFlyTo={onFlyTo} />,
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText(toast.title));
+
+    expect(onFlyTo).toHaveBeenCalledWith(toast.lat, toast.lng);
+    expect(onDismiss).toHaveBeenCalledWith(toast.id);
+  });
+});

frontend/src/__tests__/desktop/adminSessionBoundary.test.ts

@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@ describe('admin/session boundary hardening', () => {
   });
 
   it('accepts a verified admin key and reports the minted session as present', async () => {
-    const fetchMock = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(
-      new Response(JSON.stringify({ ok: true }), {
-        status: 200,
-        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-      }),
-    );
+    // Issue #255 fix: the route no longer round-trips to the backend
+    // to "verify" the key (the previous implementation called a public
+    // endpoint that always returned 200, so any key was accepted when
+    // ADMIN_KEY was unset). Local string comparison is the only
+    // validation, so we don't mock fetch and don't assert it was called.
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn();
     vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
 
     const req = new NextRequest('http://localhost/api/admin/session', {
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ describe('admin/session boundary hardening', () => {
     expect(res.status).toBe(200);
     expect(cookie).toContain('sb_admin_session=');
     expect(res.headers.get('cache-control')).toContain('no-store');
-    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    // Validation is local-only — no backend round-trip should happen.
+    expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 
     const getReq = new NextRequest('http://localhost/api/admin/session', {
       method: 'GET',
@@ -88,12 +89,8 @@ describe('admin/session boundary hardening', () => {
   });
 
   it('invalidates the previous admin session token when a new one is minted', async () => {
-    const fetchMock = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(
-      new Response(JSON.stringify({ ok: true }), {
-        status: 200,
-        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-      }),
-    );
+    // Issue #255 fix: no backend round-trip. Validation is local-only.
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn();
     vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
 
     const firstReq = new NextRequest('http://localhost/api/admin/session', {
@@ -135,21 +132,25 @@ describe('admin/session boundary hardening', () => {
     );
     const newBody = await newSessionCheck.json();
     expect(newBody.hasSession).toBe(true);
-    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    // Local validation only — backend should not be called during minting.
+    expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  it('rejects session minting when frontend admin key is set but backend has no configured admin key', async () => {
-    const fetchMock = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(
-      new Response(JSON.stringify({ detail: 'Forbidden — admin key not configured' }), {
-        status: 403,
-        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-      }),
-    );
+  it('refuses session minting when frontend ADMIN_KEY env var is unset (#255)', async () => {
+    // Issue #255 (tg12): previously, when ADMIN_KEY was unset the route
+    // fell through to a public backend endpoint that always returned
+    // 200, so any user-supplied key minted a full admin session. The
+    // fix is to refuse minting entirely when ADMIN_KEY is unconfigured
+    // and surface a clear message pointing the operator at the
+    // backend's auto-trust-loopback behavior.
+    process.env.ADMIN_KEY = '';
+
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn();
     vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
 
     const req = new NextRequest('http://localhost/api/admin/session', {
       method: 'POST',
-      body: JSON.stringify({ adminKey: 'top-secret' }),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ adminKey: 'any-key-an-attacker-supplies' }),
       headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
     });
 
@@ -158,8 +159,11 @@ describe('admin/session boundary hardening', () => {
 
     expect(res.status).toBe(403);
     expect(body.ok).toBe(false);
-    expect(body.detail).toBe('Forbidden — admin key not configured');
+    expect(String(body.detail)).toMatch(/no admin key configured/i);
     expect(res.headers.get('set-cookie')).toBeNull();
+    // Crucially: no backend round-trip happens. The previous broken
+    // verifyAgainstBackend() call must NOT be re-introduced.
+    expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
   it('does not forward raw x-admin-key headers through the sensitive proxy path', async () => {