[management, proxy] Management-owned LLM pricing: file-backed defaults + (#6965)

## Describe your changes
We are updating the contributing guide to require an issue to be opened
before PRs; this will allow discussing changes before code is shipped.

Update the rest of the file because of outdated information and align
the pull request template
## Issue ticket number and link

.github/dependabot.yml

@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ updates:
   - package-ecosystem: "github-actions"
     directory: "/"
     schedule:
-      interval: "daily"
-    open-pull-requests-limit: 15
+      interval: "weekly"
+    open-pull-requests-limit: 3
     groups:
       actions:
         patterns:
@@ -22,9 +22,12 @@ updates:
     directories:
       - "/"
     schedule:
-      interval: "daily"
+      interval: "weekly"
     open-pull-requests-limit: 15
     groups:
+      golang-x-packages:
+        patterns:
+          - "golang.org/x/*"
       aws-sdk:
         patterns:
           - "github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/*"

.github/pull_request_template.md

@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 ## Issue ticket number and link
 
+<!--
+Required for anything that changes behavior. Link the issue (or the validated
+discussion it came from) that the NetBird team already agreed on. See
+https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#ticket-first-pr-second
+-->
+
 ## Stack
 
 <!-- branch-stack -->
@@ -12,7 +18,9 @@
 - [ ] Is a feature enhancement
 - [ ] It is a refactor
 - [ ] Created tests that fail without the change (if possible)
-- [ ] This change does **not** modify the public API, gRPC protocols, functionality behavior, CLI / service flags, or introduce a new feature — **OR** I have discussed it with the NetBird team beforehand (link the issue / Slack thread in the description). See [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#discuss-changes-with-the-netbird-team-first).
+- [ ] I ran and tested this change locally — I did not rely on CI to find out whether it works
+- [ ] This PR has a single purpose (not a fix + refactor + feature in one)
+- [ ] This change is a trivial fix, **OR** it links an issue the NetBird team agreed on beforehand. Changes to the public API, gRPC protocols, functionality behavior, CLI / service flags, or new features always need that agreement first. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#ticket-first-pr-second).
 
 > By submitting this pull request, you confirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the [Contributor License Agreement](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTOR_LICENSE_AGREEMENT.md).
 

.github/workflows/agent-network-e2e.yml

@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ on:
   schedule:
     - cron: "0 3 * * *"
   workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      bedrock_model:
+        description: >-
+          Bedrock inference-profile id to drive the matrix with, exactly as
+          AWS issues it. Leave empty for the Sonnet 4.6 default.
+        required: false
+        default: ""
 
 concurrency:
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
@@ -62,6 +69,8 @@ jobs:
           CLOUDFLARE_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.E2E_CLOUDFLARE_TOKEN }}
           AWS_BEARER_TOKEN_BEDROCK: ${{ secrets.E2E_AWS_BEARER_TOKEN_BEDROCK }}
           AWS_REGION: ${{ secrets.E2E_AWS_REGION }}
+          # Bedrock model override: dispatch input wins, then the repo variable, else the test default.
+          AWS_BEDROCK_MODEL: ${{ inputs.bedrock_model || vars.E2E_AWS_BEDROCK_MODEL }}
           # Vertex (Anthropic-on-Vertex): SA + project required; region defaults
           # to "global", model to a pinned claude snapshot.
           GOOGLE_VERTEX_SA_BASE64: ${{ secrets.E2E_GOOGLE_VERTEX_SA_BASE64 }}

.github/workflows/test-infrastructure-files.yml

@@ -249,78 +249,35 @@ jobs:
           docker compose exec management ls -l /var/lib/netbird/ | grep -i GeoLite2-City_[0-9]*.mmdb
           docker compose exec management ls -l /var/lib/netbird/ | grep -i geonames_[0-9]*.db
 
-  test-getting-started-script:
+  test-legacy-getting-started-scripts:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: Install jq
-        run: sudo apt-get install -y jq
-
       - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           persist-credentials: false
 
-      - name: run script with Zitadel PostgreSQL
-        run: NETBIRD_DOMAIN=use-ip bash -x infrastructure_files/getting-started-with-zitadel.sh
-
-      - name: test Caddy file gen postgres
-        run: test -f Caddyfile
-
-      - name: test docker-compose file gen postgres
-        run: test -f docker-compose.yml
-
-      - name: test management.json file gen postgres
-        run: test -f management.json
-
-      - name: test turnserver.conf file gen postgres
+      - name: Verify Dex retirement notice
         run: |
-          set -x
-          test -f turnserver.conf
-          grep external-ip turnserver.conf
+          if infrastructure_files/getting-started-with-dex.sh >stdout.txt 2>stderr.txt; then
+            echo "Expected the retired Dex installer to fail"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          test ! -s stdout.txt
+          grep -Fq "Dex support is not deprecated." stderr.txt
+          grep -Fq "https://docs.netbird.io/selfhosted/selfhosted-quickstart" stderr.txt
+          grep -Fq "https://docs.netbird.io/selfhosted/identity-providers/local" stderr.txt
+          grep -Fq "removed in NetBird v0.80" stderr.txt
 
-      - name: test zitadel.env file gen postgres
-        run: test -f zitadel.env
-
-      - name: test dashboard.env file gen postgres
-        run: test -f dashboard.env
-
-      - name: test relay.env file gen postgres
-        run: test -f relay.env
-
-      - name: test zdb.env file gen postgres
-        run: test -f zdb.env
-
-      - name: Postgres run cleanup
+      - name: Verify Zitadel retirement notice
         run: |
-          docker compose down --volumes --rmi all
-          rm -rf docker-compose.yml Caddyfile zitadel.env dashboard.env machinekey/zitadel-admin-sa.token turnserver.conf management.json zdb.env
-
-      - name: run script with Zitadel CockroachDB
-        run: bash -x infrastructure_files/getting-started-with-zitadel.sh
-        env:
-          NETBIRD_DOMAIN: use-ip
-          ZITADEL_DATABASE: cockroach
-
-      - name: test Caddy file gen CockroachDB
-        run: test -f Caddyfile
-
-      - name: test docker-compose file gen CockroachDB
-        run: test -f docker-compose.yml
-
-      - name: test management.json file gen CockroachDB
-        run: test -f management.json
-
-      - name: test turnserver.conf file gen CockroachDB
-        run: |
-          set -x
-          test -f turnserver.conf
-          grep external-ip turnserver.conf
-
-      - name: test zitadel.env file gen CockroachDB
-        run: test -f zitadel.env
-
-      - name: test dashboard.env file gen CockroachDB
-        run: test -f dashboard.env
-
-      - name: test relay.env file gen CockroachDB
-        run: test -f relay.env
+          if bash infrastructure_files/getting-started-with-zitadel.sh >stdout.txt 2>stderr.txt; then
+            echo "Expected the retired Zitadel installer to fail"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          test ! -s stdout.txt
+          grep -Fq "Zitadel support and existing Zitadel deployments are not deprecated." stderr.txt
+          grep -Fq "https://docs.netbird.io/selfhosted/selfhosted-quickstart" stderr.txt
+          grep -Fq "https://docs.netbird.io/selfhosted/identity-providers/zitadel" stderr.txt
+          grep -Fq "https://docs.netbird.io/selfhosted/selfhosted-guide" stderr.txt
+          grep -Fq "removed in NetBird v0.80" stderr.txt

.goreleaser.yaml

@@ -273,8 +273,8 @@ dockers_v2:
        - netbirdio/netbird
        - ghcr.io/netbirdio/netbird
      tags:
-       - "v{{ .Version }}-rootless"
-       - "{{ if eq .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH \"false\" }}latest{{ end }}"
+       - "{{ .Version }}-rootless"
+       - "{{ if eq .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH \"false\" }}rootless-latest{{ end }}"
      dockerfile: client/Dockerfile-rootless
      extra_files:
        - client/netbird-entrypoint.sh

.goreleaser_ui.yaml

@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ builds:
     ldflags:
       - -s -w -X github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version.version={{.Version}} -X main.commit={{.Commit}} -X main.date={{.CommitDate}} -X main.builtBy=goreleaser
     mod_timestamp: "{{ .CommitTimestamp }}"
+    tags:
+      - production
 
   - id: netbird-ui-windows-amd64
     dir: client/ui
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ builds:
       - -s -w -X github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version.version={{.Version}} -X main.commit={{.Commit}} -X main.date={{.CommitDate}} -X main.builtBy=goreleaser
       - -H windowsgui
     mod_timestamp: "{{ .CommitTimestamp }}"
+    tags:
+      - production
 
   - id: netbird-ui-windows-arm64
     dir: client/ui
@@ -55,6 +59,8 @@ builds:
       - -s -w -X github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version.version={{.Version}} -X main.commit={{.Commit}} -X main.date={{.CommitDate}} -X main.builtBy=goreleaser
       - -H windowsgui
     mod_timestamp: "{{ .CommitTimestamp }}"
+    tags:
+      - production
 
 archives:
   - id: linux-arch

.goreleaser_ui_darwin.yaml

@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ builds:
     ldflags:
       - -s -w -X github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version.version={{.Version}} -X main.commit={{.Commit}} -X main.date={{.CommitDate}} -X main.builtBy=goreleaser
     mod_timestamp: "{{ .CommitTimestamp }}"
+    tags:
+      - production
 
 universal_binaries:
   - id: netbird-ui-darwin

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Contributing to NetBird
 
-Thanks for your interest in contributing to NetBird. 
+Thanks for your interest in contributing to NetBird.
 
 There are many ways that you can contribute:
 - Reporting issues
@@ -10,12 +10,69 @@ There are many ways that you can contribute:
 
 If you haven't already, join our slack workspace [here](https://docs.netbird.io/slack-url), we would love to discuss topics that need community contribution and enhancements to existing features.
 
+## Ticket first, PR second
+
+**Open a ticket and wait for feedback before you open a pull request.** Every PR
+that changes behavior must link to an issue the NetBird team has agreed on. A PR
+that arrives without one may be closed and redirected to a discussion, no matter
+how good the code is.
+
+Issues in this repository are maintainer-curated work items, so the flow starts
+in [Discussions](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions):
+
+1. **Open a discussion.** Use
+   [Issue Triage](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions/new?category=issue-triage)
+   for a bug, regression, or unexpected behavior, and
+   [Ideas & Feature Requests](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions/new?category=ideas-feature-requests)
+   for a feature, enhancement, or integration idea. Setup and usage questions
+   belong in
+   [Q&A / Support](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions/new?category=q-a-support).
+   Never report a security vulnerability in public — follow the
+   [security policy](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/security/policy)
+   instead.
+2. **Wait for feedback.** DevRel validates and reproduces the report, and a
+   maintainer confirms the direction. We may ask for more detail or propose a
+   different approach. Validated discussions become issues.
+3. **Then write the code**, following the approach agreed in the issue, and open
+   the PR linking that issue.
+
+Trivial fixes — a typo, a broken link, a documentation correction, or a one-line
+fix that already has an issue — can go straight to a PR. Everything else starts
+with a ticket. When in doubt, ask in the discussion or on
+[Slack](https://docs.netbird.io/slack-url); an hour of conversation up front
+regularly saves a week of rework.
+
+### High-risk areas
+
+These always need the design discussed and agreed in the issue **before** you
+write code:
+
+- **Public API** — REST / management API, OpenAPI schema, dashboard-facing contracts
+- **gRPC protocols** — management, signal, relay, and client daemon protos
+- **Functionality behavior** — anything existing deployments would experience differently after an upgrade
+- **Peer connectivity** — ICE and NAT traversal, relay selection, WireGuard® and Rosenpass key handling
+- **Client system integration** — routing, firewall, DNS, and interface management
+- **Authentication and authorization** — IdP integration, tokens, permissions, cryptography
+- **CLI / service flags**, configuration file format, and daemon IPC
+- **Store and database schema** — models and migrations
+- **New features**
+
+These surfaces are NetBird's contract with operators, self-hosters, and
+downstream integrators, and changes to them have compatibility, security, and
+release-planning implications. Agreeing on the direction early lets the PR
+review focus on implementation rather than design.
+
+Typical bug fixes, internal refactors, documentation updates, and tests do not
+need a design discussion, but should still be tied to an issue so the work is
+visible and nobody duplicates it.
+
 ## Contents
 
 - [Contributing to NetBird](#contributing-to-netbird)
+    - [Ticket first, PR second](#ticket-first-pr-second)
+        - [High-risk areas](#high-risk-areas)
     - [Contents](#contents)
     - [Code of conduct](#code-of-conduct)
-    - [Discuss changes with the NetBird team first](#discuss-changes-with-the-netbird-team-first)
     - [Directory structure](#directory-structure)
     - [Development setup](#development-setup)
         - [Requirements](#requirements)
@@ -24,6 +81,7 @@ If you haven't already, join our slack workspace [here](https://docs.netbird.io/
         - [Build and start](#build-and-start)
         - [Test suite](#test-suite)
     - [Checklist before submitting a PR](#checklist-before-submitting-a-pr)
+    - [When we close a PR](#when-we-close-a-pr)
     - [Other project repositories](#other-project-repositories)
     - [Contributor License Agreement](#contributor-license-agreement)
 
@@ -34,42 +92,66 @@ Conduct which can be found in the file [CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md).
 By participating, you are expected to uphold this code. Please report
 unacceptable behavior to community@netbird.io.
 
-## Discuss changes with the NetBird team first
-
-Changes to the **public API**, **gRPC protocols**, **functionality behavior**, **CLI / service flags**, or **new features** should be discussed with the NetBird team before you start the work. These surfaces are part of NetBird's contract with operators, self-hosters, and downstream integrators, and changes to them have compatibility, security, and release-planning implications that benefit from an early conversation.
-
-Open an issue or reach out on [Slack](https://docs.netbird.io/slack-url) to talk through what you have in mind. We'll help shape the change, flag any constraints we know about, and confirm the direction so the PR review can focus on implementation rather than design.
-
-Typical bug fixes, internal refactors, documentation updates, and tests do not need pre-discussion — open the PR directly.
-
 ## Directory structure
 
-The NetBird project monorepo is organized to maintain most of its individual dependencies code within their directories, except for a few auxiliary or shared packages.
+The NetBird project monorepo keeps most of each component's code within its own
+directory, except for a few auxiliary or shared packages. Protocol definitions
+and the client-side service clients live under [/shared](/shared), because both
+the agent and the services import them.
 
-The most important directories are:
+**Agent**
 
-- [/.github](/.github) - Github actions workflow files and issue templates
 - [/client](/client) - NetBird agent code
-- [/client/cmd](/client/cmd) - NetBird agent cli code
+- [/client/cmd](/client/cmd) - NetBird agent CLI code
 - [/client/internal](/client/internal) - NetBird agent business logic code
-- [/client/proto](/client/proto) - NetBird agent daemon GRPC proto files
 - [/client/server](/client/server) - NetBird agent daemon code for background execution
-- [/client/ui](/client/ui) - NetBird agent UI code
-- [/encryption](/encryption) - Contain main encryption code for agent communication
-- [/iface](/iface) - Wireguard® interface code
-- [/infrastructure_files](/infrastructure_files) - Getting started files containing docker and template scripts
+- [/client/proto](/client/proto) - NetBird agent daemon gRPC proto files
+- [/client/iface](/client/iface) - WireGuard® interface code
+- [/client/firewall](/client/firewall) - Platform firewall backends (nftables, iptables, pf, WFP, userspace)
+- [/client/ssh](/client/ssh) - Built-in SSH server and client
+- [/client/ui](/client/ui) - NetBird agent UI code (Wails v3 + React)
+- [/client/android](/client/android), [/client/ios](/client/ios) - Mobile platform bindings
+- [/client/wasm](/client/wasm) - WebAssembly build of the agent
+- [/client/mdm](/client/mdm) - MDM-delivered policy handling
+- [/client/system](/client/system) - Host and system information collection
+
+**Control plane services**
+
 - [/management](/management) - Management service code
-- [/management/client](/management/client) - Management service client code which is imported by the agent code
-- [/management/proto](/management/proto) - Management service GRPC proto files
 - [/management/server](/management/server) - Management service server code
 - [/management/server/http](/management/server/http) - Management service REST API code
+- [/management/server/store](/management/server/store) - Persistence layer and migrations
 - [/management/server/idp](/management/server/idp) - Management service IDP management code
-- [/release_files](/release_files) - Files that goes into release packages
+- [/management/server/peer](/management/server/peer), [/management/server/groups](/management/server/groups), [/management/server/networks](/management/server/networks), [/management/server/posture](/management/server/posture), [/management/server/permissions](/management/server/permissions) - Core domain packages
 - [/signal](/signal) - Signal service code
-- [/signal/client](/signal/client) - Signal service client code which is imported by the agent code
 - [/signal/peer](/signal/peer) - Signal service peer message logic
-- [/signal/proto](/signal/proto) - Signal service GRPC proto files
 - [/signal/server](/signal/server) - Signal service server code
+- [/relay](/relay) - Relay service code
+- [/relay/protocol](/relay/protocol) - Relay wire protocol
+- [/proxy](/proxy) - Identity-aware proxy used by Agent Network (LLM routing, ACME, access logs)
+- [/agent-network](/agent-network) - Agent Network overview and documentation
+- [/upload-server](/upload-server) - Debug bundle upload service
+
+**Shared code**
+
+- [/shared/management/proto](/shared/management/proto) - Management service gRPC proto files
+- [/shared/management/client](/shared/management/client) - Management service client code which is imported by the agent code
+- [/shared/management/http/api](/shared/management/http/api) - OpenAPI specification and generated REST API types
+- [/shared/signal/proto](/shared/signal/proto) - Signal service gRPC proto files
+- [/shared/signal/client](/shared/signal/client) - Signal service client code which is imported by the agent code
+- [/shared/relay](/shared/relay) - Relay client and shared relay types
+- [/shared/auth](/shared/auth), [/shared/sshauth](/shared/sshauth) - Shared authentication primitives
+- [/encryption](/encryption) - Contain main encryption code for agent communication
+- [/dns](/dns), [/route](/route), [/stun](/stun), [/sharedsock](/sharedsock), [/util](/util) - Shared networking and utility primitives
+- [/flow](/flow) - Flow event protocol shared by the agent and Management
+
+**Build, test, and packaging**
+
+- [/.github](/.github) - Github actions workflow files, issue templates, and the pull request template
+- [/e2e](/e2e) - End-to-end test suites and harness
+- [/infrastructure_files](/infrastructure_files) - Getting started files containing docker and template scripts
+- [/release_files](/release_files) - Files that goes into release packages
+- [/tools](/tools) - Development and maintenance tooling
 
 
 ## Development setup
@@ -234,12 +316,22 @@ cd client/ui
 task dev
 ```
 
-Pass daemon flags after `--`:
+Pass daemon flags after `--`, pointing the UI at the socket the daemon serves:
 
 ```
-task dev -- --daemon-addr=tcp://127.0.0.1:41731
+task dev -- --daemon-addr=unix:///var/run/netbird.sock   # Linux, macOS
+task dev -- --daemon-addr=npipe://netbird                # Windows
 ```
 
+On Windows the daemon serves a named pipe (`npipe://netbird`). Which path that
+ends up being depends on what the daemon may create: as a service or elevated it
+serves `\\.\pipe\ProtectedPrefix\Administrators\netbird`, which no unprivileged
+process can take from it, and otherwise it falls back to `\\.\pipe\netbird`.
+Clients try both and check who owns the pipe before using the plain one. Avoid
+`tcp://127.0.0.1:41731`: loopback TCP carries no caller identity, so the daemon
+refuses the operations that require an administrator and you will not exercise
+those paths.
+
 Production build (frontend assets embedded into the binary, output in `client/ui/bin/`):
 
 ```
@@ -324,23 +416,172 @@ The installer `netbird-installer.exe` will be created in root directory.
 
 ### Test suite
 
-The tests can be started via:
+The host-safe unit tests run as a normal user and leave host networking
+untouched:
 
 ```
-cd netbird
-go test -exec sudo ./...
+make test-unit
 ```
+
+Tests that need root and mutate host networking (firewall, routing, interface
+management) carry the `privileged` build tag and run inside a
+`--privileged --cap-add=NET_ADMIN` Docker container:
+
+```
+make test-privileged
+```
+
+Narrow a privileged run with environment variables:
+
+```
+PRIV_RUN=TestNftablesManager PRIV_PKGS=./client/firewall/nftables/... make test-privileged
+```
+
+Single packages can be run directly, adding `-race` when the change touches
+shared state:
+
+```
+go test -race ./client/internal/dns/...
+```
+
 > On Windows use a powershell with administrator privileges
 
 ## Checklist before submitting a PR
-As a critical network service and open-source project, we must enforce a few things before submitting the pull-requests:
+
+As a critical network service and open-source project, we must enforce a few
+things before submitting a pull request. The
+[pull request template](/.github/pull_request_template.md) mirrors this list —
+fill it in rather than deleting it.
+
+### Link the issue
+
+The PR description must link the agreed issue (or the validated discussion it
+came from). See [Ticket first, PR second](#ticket-first-pr-second).
+
+### Run it locally
+
+**If you can't run it, you can't submit it.** Build the affected components and
+exercise the change on a real setup — see [Build and start](#build-and-start).
+"CI will tell me" is not acceptable for a VPN agent that runs as root on other
+people's machines.
+
+### Green CI, and answer the bots
+
+We do not start reviewing while CI is red. Get the pipeline green first — a
+failing build, lint, or test means the PR is not ready for review.
+
+Alongside the test workflows, your PR is reviewed by CodeRabbit and scanned by
+SonarCloud, Snyk, and Codecov. Read what they report and either fix it or reply
+with why it does not apply; please do not resolve the threads without a
+response. They are not always right — this codebase has privileged,
+platform-specific, and concurrency-heavy paths that static analysis reads poorly
+— so push back when a finding is wrong rather than changing correct code to
+silence it. Security and dependency findings are the exception: treat those as
+real until shown otherwise. Do not edit workflows, thresholds, or scanner
+configuration to make a check pass.
+
+### One PR, one purpose
+
+Bug fix, refactor, feature: separate PRs. Mixed PRs are slow to review, hard to
+revert, and may be closed with a request to split them.
+
+### Keep it small
+
+Size is the strongest predictor of how long a PR waits for review. Aim for under
+roughly 400 changed lines across under 20 files. Past about 1000 lines or 50
+files, expect to be asked to split the change — and large PRs from outside the
+core team may be blocked until the scope has been agreed in a ticket. This is
+not only about reviewer time: NetBird's agent runs as root on other people's
+machines, and a sprawling diff cannot be reviewed with the care that deserves.
+
+Measure by hand-written code, excluding generated output, `go.sum`, and
+fixtures. If a change genuinely cannot be small — a protocol migration, a
+cross-component rename — agree the split in the issue before you start, and land
+it as a series of PRs that each build and make sense on their own.
+
+### Avoid force-pushing during review
+
+Once a PR is open, push new commits instead of rewriting history. A force-push
+detaches existing review comments from their lines, throws away the
+"changes since your last review" diff, and loses the CI history that showed
+which commit broke what. Since we squash on merge, there is nothing to gain from
+a tidy branch history.
+
+Force-pushing is sometimes unavoidable — rebasing to clear a real conflict, or
+removing a secret or large binary committed by mistake. When that happens, leave
+a comment on the PR so reviewers know their anchors moved.
+
+### Quality checks
+
+Run these from the repository root before pushing:
+
+```shell
+go fmt ./...
+make lint        # golangci-lint on files changed against origin/main
+make lint-all    # full-repository lint, matches CI
+make test-unit   # host-safe unit tests
+```
+
+`make setup-hooks` wires `make lint` into a pre-push hook so the fast lint runs
+automatically. If your change touches privileged paths (firewall, routing,
+interface management), also run `make test-privileged`, which executes the
+`privileged`-tagged suite inside a Docker container with `NET_ADMIN`.
+
+### Code standards
+
 - Keep functions as simple as possible, with a single purpose
 - Use private functions and constants where possible
 - Comment on any new public functions
 - Add unit tests for any new public function
+- Comment the **why**, not the **what** — explain non-obvious decisions, invariants, and constraints, not the line below
+- Keep comments within 90 characters per line and roughly 250 characters per comment; when a block needs more explanation than that, extract a named function instead of writing a longer comment (see [AGENTS.md](AGENTS.md#length-budget))
+
+### PR title and commits
+
+PR titles must start with a bracketed tag, enforced by
+[pr-title-check.yml](/.github/workflows/pr-title-check.yml):
+
+```text
+[client] Authorize daemon IPC callers by their local identity
+[management,client] Add MDM policy support
+```
+
+Use a comma-separated list inside a single pair of brackets when a change spans
+components. The `allowedTags` array in
+[pr-title-check.yml](/.github/workflows/pr-title-check.yml) is the source of
+truth — at the time of writing it accepts `management`, `client`, `signal`,
+`proxy`, `relay`, `misc`, `infrastructure`, `self-hosted`, and `doc`.
+
+Commit subjects follow the same convention — keep them short and put the
+reasoning in the body, why before what, with no bullet list of files changed.
+
+Keep the PR description itself under 1000 words on top of the template text.
+Reviewers read the diff; the description explains what the diff cannot.
 
 > When pushing fixes to the PR comments, please push as separate commits; we will squash the PR before merging, so there is no need to squash it before pushing it, and we are more than okay with 10-100 commits in a single PR. This helps review the fixes to the requested changes.
 
+### Documentation
+
+User-facing changes need a matching PR in
+[netbirdio/docs](https://github.com/netbirdio/docs); link it in the PR
+description, or state why documentation is not needed.
+
+## When we close a PR
+
+We would rather redirect early than let a PR sit. We may close one if:
+
+- It changes behavior with no linked issue, or the approach was never agreed with a maintainer
+- The change was clearly never run or tested locally
+- CI has been red without a response
+- It mixes unrelated purposes, or the purpose is not clear
+- It is far too large to review and the scope was never agreed in a ticket
+- The author cannot answer questions about their own change — including PRs that read as unreviewed model output, where review turns into a relay between the maintainer and an LLM. Tooling is fine; unreviewed output is not, you are responsible for the code you sign your name to
+- There has been no activity for 14 days after we requested changes
+
+A closed PR is not a rejected idea. Take it back to the
+[discussion](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions), settle the
+approach, and reopen the work from there.
+
 ## Other project repositories
 
 NetBird project is composed of 3 main repositories:

SECURITY.md

@@ -1,12 +1,70 @@
 # Security Policy
 
-NetBird's goal is to provide a secure network. If you find a vulnerability or bug, please report it by opening an issue [here](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/new?assignees=&labels=&template=bug-issue-report.md&title=) or by contacting us by email.
-
-There has yet to be an official bug bounty program for the NetBird project.
-
-## Supported Versions
-- We currently support only the latest version
+NetBird's goal is to provide a secure network. The client runs as a privileged service on every machine it is installed on,
+so we take reports about it seriously and we publish what we fix.
 
 ## Reporting a Vulnerability
 
-Please report security issues to `security@netbird.io`
+**Please do not open a public issue for a security vulnerability.** Public issues are visible to everyone, including before
+a fix is available.
+
+Report security issues one of these two ways:
+
+- **GitHub private vulnerability reporting** — [open a private report](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/security/advisories/new)
+  on this repository. This is the preferred route: it keeps the discussion, the draft advisory, and the credit in one place.
+- **Email** — `security@netbird.io`.
+
+If the finding affects NetBird Cloud or our hosted infrastructure rather than the open-source code, email us rather than
+filing a repository report.
+
+### What to include
+
+A report is easier to act on when it contains:
+
+- The affected component (client, management, signal, relay, dashboard) and the version or commit you tested
+- The platform and configuration, where relevant — operating system, self-hosted or NetBird Cloud, container or host install
+- What an attacker needs before they can exploit it: network position, an account, local access, a specific privilege level
+- Steps to reproduce, and a proof of concept if you have one
+- The impact you believe it has
+
+Partial reports are still welcome. If you are unsure whether something is a security issue, send it to `security@netbird.io`
+and let us make that call.
+
+## What to expect from us
+
+- **We acknowledge your report** and tell you whether we can reproduce it.
+- **We work with you on severity and scope.** If we assess it differently than you do, we will explain why rather than
+  silently downgrade it.
+- **We fix and release**, then publish a [GitHub Security Advisory](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/security/advisories)
+  naming the affected version range and the patched version.
+- **We credit reporters who want to be credited.** Tell us the name or handle you would like used, or that you would rather
+  stay anonymous.
+- **We keep you in the loop** until the advisory is published.
+
+We ask that you give us a reasonable opportunity to ship a fix before disclosing the issue publicly, and that you avoid
+accessing, modifying, or exfiltrating data belonging to other people while testing. Testing against your own installation
+or your own account is always fine.
+
+## Supported Versions
+
+We support the latest release. Security fixes ship in the next version rather than as backports to older releases, so
+upgrading to the current release is how you get them.
+
+Release notifications are available by watching [releases](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases).
+
+## Published advisories
+
+Every vulnerability we fix is published as a GitHub Security Advisory on the
+[advisories page](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/security/advisories), including the affected version range, the
+patched version, and the reporter's credit. Advisories for the Go module are also distributed through the Go vulnerability
+database, so `govulncheck` will report them against your dependencies.
+
+## Bug bounty
+
+There is no official bug bounty program for the NetBird project. We credit reporters in advisories, and we are grateful for
+the work, but we cannot currently offer payment for reports.
+
+## Non-security bugs
+
+For bugs that are not security issues, please use the
+[issue tracker](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions/new/choose).

client/android/client.go

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"slices"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -75,6 +76,24 @@ type Client struct {
 	connectClient *internal.ConnectClient
 	config        *profilemanager.Config
 	cacheDir      string
+
+	stateChangeMu    sync.Mutex
+	stateChangeSubID string
+	eventSub         *peer.EventSubscription
+	// Closed to stop the watch goroutines from delivering buffered items to a
+	// listener that has been removed or replaced. See stopStateChangeWatchLocked.
+	stateChangeDone chan struct{}
+
+	// Latched "the server wants an interactive login": survives the engine
+	// restarts that replace the run loop's context state. See Client.Status.
+	// Guarded by loginRequiredMu together with loginCleared, which counts
+	// clears so a stale observation cannot re-latch over one.
+	loginRequiredMu sync.Mutex
+	loginRequired   bool
+	loginCleared    uint64
+
+	extendMu     sync.Mutex
+	extendCancel context.CancelFunc
 }
 
 func (c *Client) setState(cfg *profilemanager.Config, cacheDir string, cc *internal.ConnectClient) {
@@ -148,11 +167,16 @@ func (c *Client) Run(platformFiles PlatformFiles, urlOpener URLOpener, isAndroid
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
 	// todo do not throw error in case of cancelled context
 	ctx = internal.CtxInitState(ctx)
 	connectClient := internal.NewConnectClient(ctx, cfg, c.recorder)
 	c.setState(cfg, cacheDir, connectClient)
+	// This path runs the interactive SSO flow, so reaching here means the peer
+	// is authenticated again — release the latch Status() reports from. Clear
+	// only once the fresh connect client is installed: until then Status()
+	// still reads the previous run's context state, which holds the NeedsLogin
+	// that prompted this login, and would re-latch what was just cleared.
+	c.clearLoginRequired()
 	return connectClient.RunOnAndroid(c.tunAdapter, c.iFaceDiscover, c.networkChangeListener, slices.Clone(dns.items), dnsReadyListener, stateFile, cacheDir)
 }
 
@@ -277,7 +301,7 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(platformFiles PlatformFiles, anonymize bool) (strin
 	uploadCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Minute)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(uploadCtx, types.DefaultBundleURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String(), path)
+	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(uploadCtx, types.DefaultBundleURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String(), path, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("upload debug bundle: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -299,6 +323,13 @@ func (c *Client) SetInfoLogLevel() {
 // PeersList return with the list of the PeerInfos
 func (c *Client) PeersList() *PeerInfoArray {
 
+	// The recorder only caches transfer counters and handshake times; nothing
+	// refreshes them on its own, so without this they read as zero. The desktop
+	// daemon does the same before serving a full peer status.
+	if err := c.recorder.RefreshWireGuardStats(); err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("failed to refresh WireGuard stats: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	fullStatus := c.recorder.GetFullStatus()
 
 	peerInfos := make([]PeerInfo, len(fullStatus.Peers))
@@ -309,6 +340,20 @@ func (c *Client) PeersList() *PeerInfoArray {
 			FQDN:       p.FQDN,
 			ConnStatus: int(p.ConnStatus),
 			Routes:     PeerRoutes{routes: maps.Keys(p.GetRoutes())},
+
+			PubKey:                     p.PubKey,
+			Latency:                    formatDuration(p.Latency),
+			LatencyMs:                  p.Latency.Milliseconds(),
+			BytesRx:                    p.BytesRx,
+			BytesTx:                    p.BytesTx,
+			ConnStatusUpdate:           formatTime(p.ConnStatusUpdate),
+			Relayed:                    p.Relayed,
+			RosenpassEnabled:           p.RosenpassEnabled,
+			LastWireguardHandshake:     formatTime(p.LastWireguardHandshake),
+			LocalIceCandidateType:      p.LocalIceCandidateType,
+			RemoteIceCandidateType:     p.RemoteIceCandidateType,
+			LocalIceCandidateEndpoint:  p.LocalIceCandidateEndpoint,
+			RemoteIceCandidateEndpoint: p.RemoteIceCandidateEndpoint,
 		}
 		peerInfos[n] = pi
 	}
@@ -439,10 +484,6 @@ func (c *Client) RemoveConnectionListener() {
 	c.recorder.RemoveConnectionListener()
 }
 
-func (c *Client) toggleRoute(command routeCommand) error {
-	return command.toggleRoute()
-}
-
 func (c *Client) getRouteManager() (routemanager.Manager, error) {
 	client := c.getConnectClient()
 	if client == nil {
@@ -462,22 +503,22 @@ func (c *Client) getRouteManager() (routemanager.Manager, error) {
 	return manager, nil
 }
 
-func (c *Client) SelectRoute(route string) error {
+func (c *Client) SelectRoute(id string) error {
 	manager, err := c.getRouteManager()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return c.toggleRoute(selectRouteCommand{route: route, manager: manager})
+	return manager.SelectRoutes([]route.NetID{route.NetID(id)}, true)
 }
 
-func (c *Client) DeselectRoute(route string) error {
+func (c *Client) DeselectRoute(id string) error {
 	manager, err := c.getRouteManager()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return c.toggleRoute(deselectRouteCommand{route: route, manager: manager})
+	return manager.DeselectRoutes([]route.NetID{route.NetID(id)})
 }
 
 // getNetworkDomainsFromRoute extracts domains from a route and enriches each domain
@@ -512,3 +553,28 @@ func exportEnvList(list *EnvList) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// formatDuration renders a duration for display, trimming the fractional part
+// to two digits so latencies read as "12.34ms" rather than "12.345678ms".
+func formatDuration(d time.Duration) string {
+	ds := d.String()
+	dotIndex := strings.Index(ds, ".")
+	if dotIndex == -1 {
+		return ds
+	}
+
+	endIndex := min(dotIndex+3, len(ds))
+
+	// Skip the remaining digits so only the unit suffix is appended back.
+	unitStart := endIndex
+	for unitStart < len(ds) && ds[unitStart] >= '0' && ds[unitStart] <= '9' {
+		unitStart++
+	}
+	return ds[:endIndex] + ds[unitStart:]
+}
+
+// formatTime renders a timestamp in UTC using a fixed layout. The zero time is
+// passed through as-is so the UI can recognise it and show "never" instead.
+func formatTime(t time.Time) string {
+	return t.UTC().Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05")
+}

client/android/peer_notifier.go

@@ -12,12 +12,30 @@ const (
 )
 
 // PeerInfo describe information about the peers. It designed for the UI usage
+//
+// The fields below ConnStatus back the peer detail screen. Durations and times
+// are pre-formatted into strings so the UI does not have to know Go's layouts;
+// Latency is additionally exposed as LatencyMs for colour coding.
 type PeerInfo struct {
 	IP         string
 	IPv6       string
 	FQDN       string
 	ConnStatus int
 	Routes     PeerRoutes
+
+	PubKey                     string
+	Latency                    string
+	LatencyMs                  int64
+	BytesRx                    int64
+	BytesTx                    int64
+	ConnStatusUpdate           string
+	Relayed                    bool
+	RosenpassEnabled           bool
+	LastWireguardHandshake     string
+	LocalIceCandidateType      string
+	RemoteIceCandidateType     string
+	LocalIceCandidateEndpoint  string
+	RemoteIceCandidateEndpoint string
 }
 
 func (p *PeerInfo) GetPeerRoutes() *PeerRoutes {

client/android/profile_manager.go

@@ -189,6 +189,19 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) LogoutProfile(id string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// RenameProfile changes a profile's display name. The profile ID, and therefore
+// its on-disk filename, is left untouched: only the "name" field of the config
+// is rewritten. This works for the default profile too, whose config lives in
+// netbird.cfg rather than under profiles/.
+func (pm *ProfileManager) RenameProfile(id string, newName string) error {
+	if err := pm.serviceMgr.RenameProfile(profilemanager.ID(id), androidUsername, newName); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to rename profile: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	log.Infof("renamed profile %s to: %s", id, newName)
+	return nil
+}
+
 // RemoveProfile deletes a profile
 func (pm *ProfileManager) RemoveProfile(id string) error {
 	// Use ServiceManager (removes profile from profiles/ directory)

client/android/route_command.go

@@ -1,70 +0,0 @@
-//go:build android
-
-package android
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-
-	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
-	"golang.org/x/exp/maps"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/routemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
-)
-
-func executeRouteToggle(id string, manager routemanager.Manager,
-	operationName string,
-	routeOperation func(routes []route.NetID, allRoutes []route.NetID) error) error {
-	netID := route.NetID(id)
-	routes := []route.NetID{netID}
-
-	routesMap := manager.GetClientRoutesWithNetID()
-	routes = route.ExpandV6ExitPairs(routes, routesMap)
-
-	log.Debugf("%s with ids: %v", operationName, routes)
-
-	if err := routeOperation(routes, maps.Keys(routesMap)); err != nil {
-		log.Debugf("error when %s: %s", operationName, err)
-		return fmt.Errorf("error %s: %w", operationName, err)
-	}
-
-	manager.TriggerSelection(manager.GetClientRoutes())
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-type routeCommand interface {
-	toggleRoute() error
-}
-
-type selectRouteCommand struct {
-	route   string
-	manager routemanager.Manager
-}
-
-func (s selectRouteCommand) toggleRoute() error {
-	routeSelector := s.manager.GetRouteSelector()
-	if routeSelector == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("no route selector available")
-	}
-
-	routeOperation := func(routes []route.NetID, allRoutes []route.NetID) error {
-		return routeSelector.SelectRoutes(routes, true, allRoutes)
-	}
-
-	return executeRouteToggle(s.route, s.manager, "selecting route", routeOperation)
-}
-
-type deselectRouteCommand struct {
-	route   string
-	manager routemanager.Manager
-}
-
-func (d deselectRouteCommand) toggleRoute() error {
-	routeSelector := d.manager.GetRouteSelector()
-	if routeSelector == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("no route selector available")
-	}
-
-	return executeRouteToggle(d.route, d.manager, "deselecting route", routeSelector.DeselectRoutes)
-}

client/android/session.go

@@ -0,0 +1,309 @@
+//go:build android
+
+package android
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/auth"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/auth/sessionwatch"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
+	cProto "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
+)
+
+// StateChangeListener receives client state notifications.
+//
+// OnStateChanged is a payload-free wake-up whenever the state snapshot
+// changed: connection state, the run-loop status label (e.g. NeedsLogin) or
+// the session deadline. It mirrors the daemon's SubscribeStatus stream
+// trigger — on each signal the consumer pulls the fresh values via
+// Status() / SessionExpiresAtUnix().
+//
+// OnSessionExpiring forwards the engine's session-expiry warnings, fired at
+// sessionwatch.WarningLead before the deadline and again at FinalWarningLead
+// (finalWarning true). The second one is suppressed when the user dismissed
+// the first via DismissSessionWarning. The daemon turns the same events into
+// its tray notification.
+type StateChangeListener interface {
+	OnStateChanged()
+	OnSessionExpiring(expiresAtUnix int64, leadMinutes int64, finalWarning bool)
+}
+
+// Status returns the connect run-loop's status label — the same value the
+// desktop daemon serves in StatusResponse.Status. "NeedsLogin" means the
+// management server rejected the peer and an interactive login is required.
+//
+// The label is latched: the run loop keeps its status in a per-run context
+// state, which a restart replaces with a fresh Idle one, so an engine restart
+// (network change, always-on) would otherwise erase the fact that the peer
+// still needs to log in. Only a successful interactive login or extend clears
+// it — see clearLoginRequired.
+func (c *Client) Status() string {
+	latched, generation := c.loginRequiredState()
+	if latched {
+		return string(internal.StatusNeedsLogin)
+	}
+	cc := c.getConnectClient()
+	if cc == nil {
+		return string(internal.StatusIdle)
+	}
+	status := cc.Status()
+	if status == internal.StatusNeedsLogin {
+		c.latchLoginRequired(generation)
+	}
+	return string(status)
+}
+
+func (c *Client) loginRequiredState() (bool, uint64) {
+	c.loginRequiredMu.Lock()
+	defer c.loginRequiredMu.Unlock()
+	return c.loginRequired, c.loginCleared
+}
+
+// latchLoginRequired records a NeedsLogin observation, unless a clear landed
+// while the caller was reading the run loop's status: cc.Status() is read
+// outside the lock, so a login or extend completing in that window would
+// otherwise be undone by this stale observation, stranding the UI on
+// "login required" over a healthy session.
+func (c *Client) latchLoginRequired(observedGeneration uint64) {
+	c.loginRequiredMu.Lock()
+	defer c.loginRequiredMu.Unlock()
+	if c.loginCleared != observedGeneration {
+		return
+	}
+	c.loginRequired = true
+}
+
+// clearLoginRequired releases the latch after a successful interactive login
+// or session extend, and invalidates any observation already in flight.
+func (c *Client) clearLoginRequired() {
+	c.loginRequiredMu.Lock()
+	defer c.loginRequiredMu.Unlock()
+	c.loginRequired = false
+	c.loginCleared++
+}
+
+// SessionExpiresAtUnix returns the SSO session deadline as unix seconds, or 0
+// when no deadline is known (not SSO-registered, expiry disabled, or the
+// engine has not received one yet). A past value means the session expired.
+// Mirror of StatusResponse.sessionExpiresAt on the desktop daemon.
+func (c *Client) SessionExpiresAtUnix() int64 {
+	deadline := c.recorder.GetSessionExpiresAt()
+	if deadline.IsZero() {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return deadline.Unix()
+}
+
+// SetStateChangeListener registers the state notification listener.
+// Replaces any previously registered listener; remove it with
+// RemoveStateChangeListener.
+func (c *Client) SetStateChangeListener(listener StateChangeListener) {
+	c.stateChangeMu.Lock()
+	defer c.stateChangeMu.Unlock()
+	c.stopStateChangeWatchLocked()
+	if listener == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Both subscriptions are buffered (one pending tick, ten pending events),
+	// so unsubscribing is not enough to stop callbacks: the loops would drain
+	// what is already queued and deliver it to a listener the caller has
+	// already removed or replaced. Gate every callback on this registration's
+	// own signal, which is closed before unsubscribing.
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	c.stateChangeDone = done
+
+	id, ch := c.recorder.SubscribeToStateChanges()
+	c.stateChangeSubID = id
+	// The channel is closed by UnsubscribeFromStateChanges, which ends the
+	// goroutine. Ticks are coalesced (buffer of one), so a burst of changes
+	// wakes the listener once.
+	go func() {
+		for range ch {
+			select {
+			case <-done:
+				return
+			default:
+			}
+			listener.OnStateChanged()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	c.eventSub = c.recorder.SubscribeToEvents()
+	go watchSessionWarnings(c.eventSub, listener, done)
+}
+
+// RemoveStateChangeListener unregisters the state notification listener.
+func (c *Client) RemoveStateChangeListener() {
+	c.stateChangeMu.Lock()
+	defer c.stateChangeMu.Unlock()
+	c.stopStateChangeWatchLocked()
+}
+
+// DismissSessionWarning records the user's "Dismiss" on the first expiry
+// warning and suppresses the final one for the current deadline. A refreshed
+// deadline re-arms both. No-op while the engine is not running.
+func (c *Client) DismissSessionWarning() {
+	cc := c.getConnectClient()
+	if cc == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	engine := cc.Engine()
+	if engine == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	engine.DismissSessionWarning()
+}
+
+// ExtendAuthSession runs the interactive SSO flow to obtain a fresh JWT and
+// asks the management server to extend the session deadline. The tunnel is
+// untouched: no resync, no reconnect. Async; the result arrives on the
+// listener. Mirror of the daemon's RequestExtendAuthSession /
+// WaitExtendAuthSession RPC pair, with URLOpener playing the "UI opens the
+// browser" role.
+//
+// Only one flow may be in flight: the PKCE step binds a fixed loopback port,
+// so a second concurrent flow would fail on that bind. Call
+// CancelExtendAuthSession when the user abandons the browser.
+func (c *Client) ExtendAuthSession(urlOpener URLOpener, isAndroidTV bool, resultListener ErrListener) {
+	ctx, err := c.beginExtend()
+	if err != nil {
+		resultListener.OnError(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	go func() {
+		defer c.endExtend()
+		if err := c.extendAuthSession(ctx, urlOpener, isAndroidTV); err != nil {
+			resultListener.OnError(err)
+			return
+		}
+		resultListener.OnSuccess()
+	}()
+}
+
+// CancelExtendAuthSession aborts an in-flight ExtendAuthSession. The tunnel is
+// left alone — unlike the login flow, which cancels the whole client context
+// by stopping the engine. Without this the abandoned PKCE wait keeps its
+// loopback port for the full flow timeout and blocks every later attempt.
+// No-op when no flow is running.
+func (c *Client) CancelExtendAuthSession() {
+	c.extendMu.Lock()
+	defer c.extendMu.Unlock()
+	if c.extendCancel != nil {
+		c.extendCancel()
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *Client) stopStateChangeWatchLocked() {
+	// Signal first, unsubscribe second: closing the channels only stops new
+	// items, and the loops would still hand whatever is buffered to a listener
+	// that is no longer registered.
+	if c.stateChangeDone != nil {
+		close(c.stateChangeDone)
+		c.stateChangeDone = nil
+	}
+	if c.stateChangeSubID != "" {
+		c.recorder.UnsubscribeFromStateChanges(c.stateChangeSubID)
+		c.stateChangeSubID = ""
+	}
+	if c.eventSub != nil {
+		// Closes the channel, which ends watchSessionWarnings.
+		c.recorder.UnsubscribeFromEvents(c.eventSub)
+		c.eventSub = nil
+	}
+}
+
+// watchSessionWarnings forwards the engine's session-expiry warnings to the
+// listener. The event stream also carries unrelated traffic — network-map
+// updates on every sync, DNS and route errors — so everything but an
+// AUTHENTICATION event carrying the session-warning marker is dropped. Exits
+// when the subscription is closed by UnsubscribeFromEvents, or earlier when
+// done is closed — the stream buffers up to ten events, and a deregistered
+// listener must not receive the ones already queued.
+func watchSessionWarnings(sub *peer.EventSubscription, listener StateChangeListener, done <-chan struct{}) {
+	for ev := range sub.Events() {
+		select {
+		case <-done:
+			return
+		default:
+		}
+		if ev.GetCategory() != cProto.SystemEvent_AUTHENTICATION {
+			continue
+		}
+		meta := ev.GetMetadata()
+		if meta[sessionwatch.MetaSessionWarning] != "true" {
+			// Other AUTHENTICATION events exist (e.g. a deadline rejected as
+			// out of range); they carry no warning marker.
+			continue
+		}
+		deadline, err := sessionwatch.ParseExpiresAt(meta[sessionwatch.MetaSessionExpiresAt])
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Warnf("session warning event with unparsable deadline: %v", err)
+			continue
+		}
+		lead, err := sessionwatch.ParseLeadMinutes(meta[sessionwatch.MetaSessionLeadMinutes])
+		if err != nil {
+			// Informational only — the deadline above is what drives the UI.
+			lead = 0
+		}
+		listener.OnSessionExpiring(deadline.Unix(), int64(lead),
+			meta[sessionwatch.MetaSessionFinal] == "true")
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *Client) beginExtend() (context.Context, error) {
+	c.extendMu.Lock()
+	defer c.extendMu.Unlock()
+	if c.extendCancel != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("session extend already in progress")
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	c.extendCancel = cancel
+	return ctx, nil
+}
+
+func (c *Client) endExtend() {
+	c.extendMu.Lock()
+	defer c.extendMu.Unlock()
+	if c.extendCancel != nil {
+		c.extendCancel()
+		c.extendCancel = nil
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *Client) extendAuthSession(ctx context.Context, urlOpener URLOpener, isAndroidTV bool) error {
+	cfg, _, cc := c.stateSnapshot()
+	if cfg == nil || cc == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("engine is not running")
+	}
+	engine := cc.Engine()
+	if engine == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("engine is not initialized")
+	}
+
+	authClient, err := auth.NewAuth(ctx, cfg.PrivateKey, cfg.ManagementURL, cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create auth client: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer authClient.Close()
+
+	a := &Auth{ctx: ctx, config: cfg}
+	tokenInfo, err := a.foregroundGetTokenInfo(authClient, urlOpener, isAndroidTV)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("interactive sso login failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := engine.ExtendAuthSession(ctx, tokenInfo.GetTokenToUse()); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	c.clearLoginRequired()
+
+	go urlOpener.OnLoginSuccess()
+	return nil
+}

client/cmd/daemon_error.go

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"google.golang.org/genproto/googleapis/rpc/errdetails"
+	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+)
+
+// daemonCallError prepares a daemon error for display. A refusal the daemon
+// raised because the operation needs root/administrator is already guidance
+// written for the user, so it is surfaced on its own instead of buried under the
+// gRPC envelope and the name of the RPC that hit it. Anything else is wrapped
+// with context as usual.
+func daemonCallError(context string, err error) error {
+	if guidance, ok := privilegeGuidance(err); ok {
+		return errors.New(guidance)
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", context, err)
+}
+
+// privilegeGuidance renders the daemon's privilege refusal as a summary and the
+// command that performs the operation with the privileges it needs. It reports
+// false for any other error.
+func privilegeGuidance(err error) (string, bool) {
+	info, ok := privilegeErrorInfo(err)
+	if !ok {
+		return "", false
+	}
+
+	summary := info.GetMetadata()[ipcauth.ErrorMetaSummary]
+	command := info.GetMetadata()[ipcauth.ErrorMetaCommand]
+	if summary == "" {
+		// Detail without a summary: fall back to the status message, which
+		// carries the same text.
+		summary = strings.TrimSpace(gstatus.Convert(err).Message())
+	}
+	if command == "" {
+		return summary, true
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s\n\n    %s\n", summary, command), true
+}
+
+// privilegeErrorInfo returns the daemon's privilege-refusal detail, if the error
+// carries one.
+func privilegeErrorInfo(err error) (*errdetails.ErrorInfo, bool) {
+	if err == nil {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+
+	for _, detail := range gstatus.Convert(err).Details() {
+		info, ok := detail.(*errdetails.ErrorInfo)
+		if !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		if info.GetReason() == ipcauth.ErrorReasonPrivilegeRequired && info.GetDomain() == ipcauth.ErrorDomain {
+			return info, true
+		}
+	}
+	return nil, false
+}

client/cmd/debug.go

@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ const errCloseConnection = "Failed to close connection: %v"
 var (
 	logFileCount        uint32
 	systemInfoFlag      bool
-	uploadBundleFlag    bool
-	uploadBundleURLFlag string
+	uploadBundleFlag         bool
+	uploadBundleURLFlag      string
+	uploadBundleInsecureFlag bool
 )
 
 var debugCmd = &cobra.Command{
@@ -174,10 +175,11 @@ func debugBundle(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 	}
 	if uploadBundleFlag {
 		request.UploadURL = uploadBundleURLFlag
+		request.UploadInsecure = uploadBundleInsecureFlag
 	}
 	resp, err := client.DebugBundle(cmd.Context(), request)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to bundle debug: %v", status.Convert(err).Message())
+		return daemonCallError("bundle debug", err)
 	}
 	cmd.Printf("Local file:\n%s\n", resp.GetPath())
 
@@ -373,10 +375,11 @@ func runForDuration(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	}
 	if uploadBundleFlag {
 		request.UploadURL = uploadBundleURLFlag
+		request.UploadInsecure = uploadBundleInsecureFlag
 	}
 	resp, err := client.DebugBundle(cmd.Context(), request)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to bundle debug: %v", status.Convert(err).Message())
+		return daemonCallError("bundle debug", err)
 	}
 
 	if needsRestoreUp {
@@ -524,10 +527,12 @@ func init() {
 	debugBundleCmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&systemInfoFlag, "system-info", "S", true, "Adds system information to the debug bundle")
 	debugBundleCmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&uploadBundleFlag, "upload-bundle", "U", false, "Uploads the debug bundle to a server")
 	debugBundleCmd.Flags().StringVar(&uploadBundleURLFlag, "upload-bundle-url", types.DefaultBundleURL, "Service URL to get an URL to upload the debug bundle")
+	debugBundleCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&uploadBundleInsecureFlag, "upload-bundle-insecure", false, "Allow uploading to an http or untrusted-TLS upload server (self-hosted); requires root")
 
 	forCmd.Flags().Uint32VarP(&logFileCount, "log-file-count", "C", 1, "Number of rotated log files to include in debug bundle")
 	forCmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&systemInfoFlag, "system-info", "S", true, "Adds system information to the debug bundle")
 	forCmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&uploadBundleFlag, "upload-bundle", "U", false, "Uploads the debug bundle to a server")
 	forCmd.Flags().StringVar(&uploadBundleURLFlag, "upload-bundle-url", types.DefaultBundleURL, "Service URL to get an URL to upload the debug bundle")
+	forCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&uploadBundleInsecureFlag, "upload-bundle-insecure", false, "Allow uploading to an http or untrusted-TLS upload server (self-hosted); requires root")
 	forCmd.Flags().Bool("capture", false, "Capture packets during the debug duration and include in bundle")
 }

client/cmd/logout.go

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ var logoutCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		}
 
 		if _, err := daemonClient.Logout(ctx, req); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("deregister: %v", err)
+			return daemonCallError("deregister", err)
 		}
 
 		cmd.Println("Deregistered successfully")

client/cmd/root.go

@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
-	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials/insecure"
 
 	daddr "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/daemonaddr"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
@@ -91,6 +90,7 @@ var (
 			// Don't resolve for service commands — they create the socket, not connect to it.
 			if !isServiceCmd(cmd) {
 				daemonAddr = daddr.ResolveUnixDaemonAddr(daemonAddr)
+				daemonAddr = daddr.ResolveDaemonAddr(daemonAddr)
 			}
 			return nil
 		},
@@ -143,10 +143,10 @@ func init() {
 
 	defaultDaemonAddr := "unix:///var/run/netbird.sock"
 	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
-		defaultDaemonAddr = "tcp://127.0.0.1:41731"
+		defaultDaemonAddr = daddr.WindowsPipeAddr
 	}
 
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&daemonAddr, "daemon-addr", defaultDaemonAddr, "Daemon service address to serve CLI requests [unix|tcp]://[path|host:port]")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&daemonAddr, "daemon-addr", defaultDaemonAddr, "Daemon service address to serve CLI requests [unix|tcp|npipe]://[path|host:port|name]")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&managementURL, "management-url", "m", "", fmt.Sprintf("Management Service URL [http|https]://[host]:[port] (default \"%s\")", profilemanager.DefaultManagementURL))
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&adminURL, "admin-url", "", fmt.Sprintf("Admin Panel URL [http|https]://[host]:[port] (default \"%s\")", profilemanager.DefaultAdminURL))
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&logLevel, "log-level", "l", "info", "sets NetBird log level")
@@ -269,12 +269,10 @@ func DialClientGRPCServer(ctx context.Context, addr string) (*grpc.ClientConn, e
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, time.Second*10)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	return grpc.DialContext(
-		ctx,
-		strings.TrimPrefix(addr, "tcp://"),
-		grpc.WithTransportCredentials(insecure.NewCredentials()),
-		grpc.WithBlock(),
-	)
+	target, opts := daddr.DialTarget(addr)
+	opts = append(opts, grpc.WithBlock())
+
+	return grpc.DialContext(ctx, target, opts...)
 }
 
 // WithBackOff execute function in backoff cycle.

client/cmd/service.go

@@ -33,10 +33,15 @@ var (
 )
 
 type program struct {
-	ctx              context.Context
-	cancel           context.CancelFunc
-	serv             *grpc.Server
-	jsonServ         *http.Server
+	ctx      context.Context
+	cancel   context.CancelFunc
+	serv     *grpc.Server
+	jsonServ *http.Server
+	// jsonClient is the gateway's own connection to the daemon. It is held so
+	// shutting the gateway down also closes it: nothing else references it once
+	// the handlers are registered, so its transport goroutines would otherwise
+	// outlive the server.
+	jsonClient       *grpc.ClientConn
 	jsonServMu       sync.Mutex
 	serverInstance   *server.Server
 	serverInstanceMu sync.Mutex

client/cmd/service_controller.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"runtime"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/kardianos/service"
@@ -13,6 +14,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/daemonaddr"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/server"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/system"
@@ -26,6 +29,31 @@ func validateJSONSocketFlags() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// daemonServerOptions installs the transport credentials that expose each
+// caller's kernel-authenticated identity to the handlers, which is what lets
+// the daemon require root/administrator for privileged operations.
+//
+// The handshake exchanges no bytes, so older CLI and UI binaries still
+// interoperate. Callers on a TCP socket carry no identity at all: the daemon
+// keeps serving them, and the privileged operations deny them, so a warning is
+// logged to make the loss of functionality visible.
+func daemonServerOptions(network string) []grpc.ServerOption {
+	if network == "tcp" {
+		log.Warnf("daemon is listening on TCP (%s): callers carry no verifiable identity over TCP, "+
+			"so privileged operations (SSH root login, SSH auth, enabling the SSH server, management URL changes, "+
+			"deregistration) will be denied. Use a unix socket, or npipe:// on Windows", daemonAddr)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	creds := ipcauth.NewTransportCredentials()
+	if creds == nil {
+		log.Warnf("daemon IPC has no peer-identity primitive on %s: privileged operations will be denied", runtime.GOOS)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return []grpc.ServerOption{grpc.Creds(creds)}
+}
+
 func (p *program) Start(svc service.Service) error {
 	// Start should not block. Do the actual work async.
 	log.Info("starting NetBird service") //nolint
@@ -37,68 +65,106 @@ func (p *program) Start(svc service.Service) error {
 	// Collect static system and platform information
 	system.UpdateStaticInfoAsync()
 
-	// in any case, even if configuration does not exists we run daemon to serve CLI gRPC API.
-	p.serv = grpc.NewServer()
-
-	daemonListener, err := listenOnAddress(daemonAddr)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("listen daemon interface: %w", err)
+	// A daemon installed before named-pipe support has the loopback TCP address
+	// persisted. Move it to the named pipe so an upgraded daemon can identify
+	// its callers instead of silently serving an unauthenticated socket.
+	if migrated, ok := daemonaddr.MigrateLegacy(daemonAddr); ok {
+		log.Infof("daemon address %q predates named-pipe support, listening on %q so callers can be identified", daemonAddr, migrated)
+		daemonAddr = migrated
 	}
 
-	var jsonListener *socketListener
-	if enableJSONSocket {
-		jsonListener, err = listenOnAddress(jsonSocket)
-		if err != nil {
-			_ = daemonListener.Close()
-			return fmt.Errorf("listen daemon JSON interface: %w", err)
-		}
-	} else {
-		removeStaleUnixSocketForAddress(jsonSocket)
+	network, _, err := parseListenAddress(daemonAddr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("parse daemon address: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// in any case, even if configuration does not exists we run daemon to serve CLI gRPC API.
+	p.serv = grpc.NewServer(daemonServerOptions(network)...)
+
+	daemonListener, jsonListener, err := listenDaemonSockets()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
 	go func() {
-		defer daemonListener.Close()
-		if jsonListener != nil {
-			defer jsonListener.Close()
-		}
-
-		if err := daemonListener.chmodUnixSocket("daemon"); err != nil {
-			log.Error(err)
-			return
-		}
-		if jsonListener != nil {
-			if err := jsonListener.chmodUnixSocket("daemon JSON"); err != nil {
-				log.Error(err)
-				return
-			}
-		}
-
-		serverInstance := server.New(p.ctx, util.FindFirstLogPath(logFiles), configPath, profilesDisabled, updateSettingsDisabled, captureEnabled, networksDisabled)
-		if err := serverInstance.Start(); err != nil {
-			log.Fatalf("failed to start daemon: %v", err)
-		}
-		proto.RegisterDaemonServiceServer(p.serv, serverInstance)
-
-		p.serverInstanceMu.Lock()
-		p.serverInstance = serverInstance
-		p.serverInstanceMu.Unlock()
-
-		if jsonListener != nil {
-			if err := p.startJSONGateway(jsonListener, daemonAddr); err != nil {
-				log.Fatalf("failed to start daemon JSON server: %v", err)
-			}
-		} else {
-			log.Debug("daemon JSON socket disabled")
-		}
-
-		log.Printf("started daemon server: %v", daemonListener.address)
-		if err := p.serv.Serve(daemonListener.Listener); err != nil {
-			log.Errorf("failed to serve daemon requests: %v", err)
+		// Fatal here rather than inside serve, so serve's deferred listener
+		// closes run before the process exits.
+		if err := p.serve(daemonListener, jsonListener); err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("failed to %v", err)
 		}
 	}()
 	return nil
 }
 
+// listenDaemonSockets opens the daemon control socket and, when it is enabled, the
+// JSON gateway socket. The control socket is closed again if the second one fails,
+// so a failed start leaves nothing listening. The returned JSON listener is nil
+// when the socket is disabled.
+func listenDaemonSockets() (*socketListener, *socketListener, error) {
+	daemonListener, err := listenOnAddress(daemonAddr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("listen daemon interface: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if !enableJSONSocket {
+		removeStaleUnixSocketForAddress(jsonSocket)
+		return daemonListener, nil, nil
+	}
+
+	jsonListener, err := listenOnAddress(jsonSocket)
+	if err != nil {
+		if cerr := daemonListener.Close(); cerr != nil {
+			log.Debugf("close daemon listener: %v", cerr)
+		}
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("listen daemon JSON interface: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return daemonListener, jsonListener, nil
+}
+
+// serve brings up the daemon server on an already-open control socket and blocks
+// until it stops. jsonListener is nil when the JSON socket is disabled. A returned
+// error means the daemon cannot run at all and the caller is expected to exit; the
+// failures it recovers from on its own are logged here.
+func (p *program) serve(daemonListener, jsonListener *socketListener) error {
+	defer daemonListener.Close()
+	if jsonListener != nil {
+		defer jsonListener.Close()
+	}
+
+	// chmodUnixSocket is a no-op for a nil listener and for a non-unix one.
+	if err := daemonListener.chmodUnixSocket("daemon"); err != nil {
+		log.Error(err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err := jsonListener.chmodUnixSocket("daemon JSON"); err != nil {
+		log.Error(err)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	serverInstance := server.New(p.ctx, util.FindFirstLogPath(logFiles), configPath, profilesDisabled, updateSettingsDisabled, captureEnabled, networksDisabled)
+	if err := serverInstance.Start(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("start daemon: %w", err)
+	}
+	proto.RegisterDaemonServiceServer(p.serv, serverInstance)
+
+	p.serverInstanceMu.Lock()
+	p.serverInstance = serverInstance
+	p.serverInstanceMu.Unlock()
+
+	if jsonListener == nil {
+		log.Debug("daemon JSON socket disabled")
+	} else if err := p.startJSONGateway(jsonListener, daemonAddr); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("start daemon JSON server: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	log.Printf("started daemon server: %v", daemonListener.address)
+	if err := p.serv.Serve(daemonListener.Listener); err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to serve daemon requests: %v", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (p *program) Stop(srv service.Service) error {
 	p.serverInstanceMu.Lock()
 	if p.serverInstance != nil {
@@ -113,8 +179,13 @@ func (p *program) Stop(srv service.Service) error {
 	p.cancel()
 
 	p.jsonServMu.Lock()
-	jsonServ := p.jsonServ
+	jsonServ, jsonClient := p.jsonServ, p.jsonClient
 	p.jsonServMu.Unlock()
+	if jsonClient != nil {
+		if err := jsonClient.Close(); err != nil {
+			log.Debugf("close daemon JSON gateway client: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
 	if jsonServ != nil {
 		shutdownCtx, shutdownCancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Second)
 		if err := jsonServ.Shutdown(shutdownCtx); err != nil {

client/cmd/service_json_gateway.go

@@ -5,27 +5,123 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
-	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/v2/runtime"
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
-	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials/insecure"
 
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/daemonaddr"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 )
 
-func grpcGatewayEndpoint(addr string) string {
-	return strings.TrimPrefix(addr, "tcp://")
+// jsonPeerIdentity is the context key under which the connecting HTTP client's
+// identity is stashed for the lifetime of its connection.
+type jsonPeerIdentity struct{}
+
+// jsonPeerIdentityValue pairs the identity with whether it could be read at
+// all, so an unreadable identity is forwarded as "unknown" rather than omitted.
+type jsonPeerIdentityValue struct {
+	id    ipcauth.Identity
+	known bool
+}
+
+// jsonConnContext reads the identity of the client connecting to the JSON
+// socket and stashes it on the connection's context. The gateway re-dials the
+// daemon in-process, so the daemon would otherwise see every JSON request as
+// coming from the daemon itself.
+func jsonConnContext(ctx context.Context, c net.Conn) context.Context {
+	value := jsonPeerIdentityValue{}
+	id, err := ipcauth.ConnIdentity(c)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("json gateway: cannot read HTTP client identity, privileged operations will be denied for this connection: %v", err)
+	} else {
+		value.id = id
+		value.known = true
+	}
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, jsonPeerIdentity{}, value)
+}
+
+// forwardIdentity stamps the HTTP client's identity onto every call the gateway
+// makes to the daemon.
+//
+// It is an interceptor on the gateway's client connection rather than a
+// runtime.WithMetadata annotator because grpc-gateway skips annotators when no
+// request header maps to metadata, which an HTTP/1.0 request with no Host header
+// over a unix socket achieves. The daemon would then receive no marker, see its own
+// identity as the transport peer, and authorize the request as the daemon itself.
+// An interceptor runs for every RPC whatever the request looked like.
+func forwardIdentity(ctx context.Context) context.Context {
+	value, ok := ctx.Value(jsonPeerIdentity{}).(jsonPeerIdentityValue)
+	if !ok {
+		// No ConnContext ran for this request, so forward an unknown identity:
+		// the daemon must not mistake its own identity for the client's.
+		return ipcauth.WithForwardedIdentity(ctx, ipcauth.Identity{}, false)
+	}
+	return ipcauth.WithForwardedIdentity(ctx, value.id, value.known)
+}
+
+func forwardIdentityUnary(ctx context.Context, method string, req, reply any, cc *grpc.ClientConn, invoker grpc.UnaryInvoker, opts ...grpc.CallOption) error {
+	return invoker(forwardIdentity(ctx), method, req, reply, cc, opts...)
+}
+
+func forwardIdentityStream(ctx context.Context, desc *grpc.StreamDesc, cc *grpc.ClientConn, method string, streamer grpc.Streamer, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (grpc.ClientStream, error) {
+	return streamer(forwardIdentity(ctx), desc, cc, method, opts...)
+}
+
+// reservedHeaderWarning limits the dropped-header warning to the first occurrence.
+var reservedHeaderWarning sync.Once
+
+// jsonIncomingHeaderMatcher keeps an HTTP client from supplying the metadata the
+// gateway uses to forward its identity. grpc-gateway turns "Grpc-Metadata-<key>"
+// headers into gRPC metadata and joins them ahead of what its annotators add, so
+// without this filter a JSON client could send its own x-netbird-fwd-uid and the
+// daemon would authorize that instead of the client's real identity.
+func jsonIncomingHeaderMatcher(key string) (string, bool) {
+	mapped, ok := runtime.DefaultHeaderMatcher(key)
+	if !ok {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	if ipcauth.IsReservedForwardKey(mapped) {
+		// Warn once: any client can send these on every request, so warning each
+		// time hands it a way to fill the log. The rest are debug-level.
+		reservedHeaderWarning.Do(func() {
+			log.Warnf("json gateway: dropping reserved header %q from a request: only the gateway may set the caller's identity", key)
+		})
+		log.Debugf("json gateway: dropping reserved header %q", key)
+		return "", false
+	}
+	return mapped, true
 }
 
 func (p *program) startJSONGateway(jsonListener *socketListener, daemonEndpoint string) error {
-	mux := runtime.NewServeMux()
-	opts := []grpc.DialOption{grpc.WithTransportCredentials(insecure.NewCredentials())}
-	if err := proto.RegisterDaemonServiceHandlerFromEndpoint(p.ctx, mux, grpcGatewayEndpoint(daemonEndpoint), opts); err != nil {
+	if jsonListener.network == "tcp" {
+		log.Warnf("daemon JSON socket is listening on TCP (%s): callers carry no verifiable identity over TCP, "+
+			"so privileged operations will be denied for JSON clients", jsonListener.address)
+	}
+
+	mux := runtime.NewServeMux(runtime.WithIncomingHeaderMatcher(jsonIncomingHeaderMatcher))
+
+	// grpc.NewClient does not connect until the first request, so registering
+	// the handler here cannot block daemon startup.
+	target, opts := daemonaddr.DialTarget(daemonEndpoint)
+	opts = append(opts,
+		grpc.WithChainUnaryInterceptor(forwardIdentityUnary),
+		grpc.WithChainStreamInterceptor(forwardIdentityStream),
+	)
+	conn, err := grpc.NewClient(target, opts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create daemon client for JSON gateway: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := proto.RegisterDaemonServiceHandler(p.ctx, mux, conn); err != nil {
+		if cerr := conn.Close(); cerr != nil {
+			log.Debugf("close daemon client after failed JSON gateway registration: %v", cerr)
+		}
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -35,10 +131,12 @@ func (p *program) startJSONGateway(jsonListener *socketListener, daemonEndpoint
 		BaseContext: func(net.Listener) context.Context {
 			return p.ctx
 		},
+		ConnContext: jsonConnContext,
 	}
 
 	p.jsonServMu.Lock()
 	p.jsonServ = jsonServer
+	p.jsonClient = conn
 	p.jsonServMu.Unlock()
 
 	go func() {

client/cmd/service_json_gateway_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,261 @@
+//go:build !windows && !ios && !android
+
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/v2/runtime"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/metadata"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/peer"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+)
+
+// The JSON gateway runs inside the daemon and re-dials it locally, so every JSON
+// request reaches a handler with the daemon's own identity as the transport peer.
+// The gateway therefore forwards its HTTP client's identity as metadata, and the
+// daemon authorizes that instead of itself. These tests drive the real wiring
+// (jsonConnContext, forwardIdentity, jsonIncomingHeaderMatcher) and check the
+// identity a handler would end up authorizing.
+
+// daemonSideCtx is what a handler sees for a gateway-relayed call. The transport
+// peer must be this process's own identity: the gateway is the daemon, so the two
+// cannot differ, and hardcoding root here instead would describe a state that
+// never occurs.
+func daemonSideCtx(t *testing.T, md metadata.MD) context.Context {
+	t.Helper()
+	self, err := ipcauth.CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Skipf("cannot read this process's identity: %v", err)
+	}
+	ctx := peer.NewContext(context.Background(), &peer.Peer{
+		AuthInfo: ipcauth.AuthInfo{
+			CommonAuthInfo: credentials.CommonAuthInfo{SecurityLevel: credentials.NoSecurity},
+			Identity:       self,
+		},
+	})
+	return metadata.NewIncomingContext(ctx, md)
+}
+
+// gatewayMetadata reproduces what the daemon receives for a JSON request: the
+// mux annotates the context from the request's headers, then the interceptor on the
+// gateway's client connection stamps the caller's identity. The order matters,
+// since the interceptor must win over anything a header put there.
+func gatewayMetadata(t *testing.T, req *http.Request, ctx context.Context) metadata.MD {
+	t.Helper()
+	mux := runtime.NewServeMux(runtime.WithIncomingHeaderMatcher(jsonIncomingHeaderMatcher))
+	annotated, err := runtime.AnnotateContext(ctx, mux, req,
+		"/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig",
+		runtime.WithHTTPPathPattern("/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("annotate: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	md, ok := metadata.FromOutgoingContext(forwardIdentity(annotated))
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("the interceptor produced no metadata")
+	}
+	return md
+}
+
+// clientCtx is the connection context jsonConnContext would have produced for an
+// HTTP client whose identity the gateway could read.
+func clientCtx(id ipcauth.Identity, known bool) context.Context {
+	return context.WithValue(context.Background(), jsonPeerIdentity{},
+		jsonPeerIdentityValue{id: id, known: known})
+}
+
+// An HTTP client must not be able to name its own identity. grpc-gateway turns
+// Grpc-Metadata-<key> headers into gRPC metadata, so without the header filter and
+// the interceptor overwriting the reserved keys, this request would authorize as
+// uid 0.
+func TestJSONGateway_ForgedIdentityHeaderIsDropped(t *testing.T) {
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "http://localhost/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("Grpc-Metadata-X-Netbird-Fwd-Uid", "0")
+	req.Header.Set("Grpc-Metadata-X-Netbird-Fwd-Gid", "0")
+	req.Header.Set("Grpc-Metadata-X-Netbird-Fwd", "1")
+	req.Header.Set("Grpc-Metadata-X-Netbird-Fwd-Sid", "S-1-5-18")
+
+	caller := ipcauth.Identity{UID: 31000, GID: 31000}
+	md := gatewayMetadata(t, req, clientCtx(caller, true))
+
+	id, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(daemonSideCtx(t, md))
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("the forwarded identity should be usable")
+	}
+	if id.IsPrivileged() {
+		t.Errorf("forged header was believed: authorized as %v", id)
+	}
+	if id.UID != caller.UID {
+		t.Errorf("authorized as uid %d, want the real client %d", id.UID, caller.UID)
+	}
+}
+
+// A request with no headers at all (HTTP/1.0 needs no Host, and a unix socket
+// yields no host:port) makes grpc-gateway produce no metadata whatsoever and skip
+// its annotators: "if len(pairs) == 0 { return ctx, nil, nil }" in
+// runtime/context.go. That is why the identity is stamped by an interceptor
+// instead. This is the case that previously reached the gate as the daemon itself.
+func TestJSONGateway_HeaderlessRequestIsStillMarkedForwarded(t *testing.T) {
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "http://localhost/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	req.Header = http.Header{}
+	req.Host = ""
+
+	caller := ipcauth.Identity{UID: 31000, GID: 31000}
+	ctx := clientCtx(caller, true)
+
+	// Pin the skip path itself: if grpc-gateway ever produced a pair here, this
+	// test would still pass below while no longer covering what it was written for.
+	mux := runtime.NewServeMux(runtime.WithIncomingHeaderMatcher(jsonIncomingHeaderMatcher))
+	annotated, err := runtime.AnnotateContext(ctx, mux, req,
+		"/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig",
+		runtime.WithHTTPPathPattern("/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("annotate: %v", err)
+	}
+	if md, ok := metadata.FromOutgoingContext(annotated); ok {
+		t.Fatalf("grpc-gateway produced metadata %v for a headerless request; "+
+			"this test no longer covers the annotator-skip path", md)
+	}
+
+	md := gatewayMetadata(t, req, ctx)
+
+	id, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(daemonSideCtx(t, md))
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("the forwarded identity should be usable")
+	}
+	if id.UID != caller.UID || id.IsPrivileged() {
+		t.Errorf("authorized as %v, want the real client uid %d", id, caller.UID)
+	}
+}
+
+// When the gateway cannot read its client's identity (a TCP JSON socket, say) it
+// forwards the marker alone. The daemon must then report "unidentified" so the
+// privileged operations refuse, rather than falling back to the gateway's own
+// identity.
+func TestJSONGateway_UnreadableClientIdentityIsUnidentified(t *testing.T) {
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "http://localhost/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	md := gatewayMetadata(t, req, clientCtx(ipcauth.Identity{}, false))
+
+	if id, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(daemonSideCtx(t, md)); ok {
+		t.Errorf("a request with no client identity was authorized as %v", id)
+	}
+}
+
+// A request that never passed through jsonConnContext (no stashed identity) must
+// also come out unidentified rather than as the daemon.
+func TestJSONGateway_MissingConnContextIsUnidentified(t *testing.T) {
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "http://localhost/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	md := gatewayMetadata(t, req, context.Background())
+
+	if id, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(daemonSideCtx(t, md)); ok {
+		t.Errorf("a request with no connection context was authorized as %v", id)
+	}
+}
+
+// End to end over a real unix socket: the gateway reads the connecting client's
+// identity from the socket itself, so a client cannot present anything else.
+func TestJSONGateway_IdentityComesFromTheSocket(t *testing.T) {
+	mux := runtime.NewServeMux(runtime.WithIncomingHeaderMatcher(jsonIncomingHeaderMatcher))
+
+	type observed struct {
+		md metadata.MD
+	}
+	seen := make(chan observed, 1)
+
+	srv := &http.Server{
+		Handler: http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+			ctx, err := runtime.AnnotateContext(r.Context(), mux, r,
+				"/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig",
+				runtime.WithHTTPPathPattern("/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig"))
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("annotate: %v", err)
+				return
+			}
+			md, _ := metadata.FromOutgoingContext(forwardIdentity(ctx))
+			seen <- observed{md: md}
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		}),
+		ReadHeaderTimeout: 5 * time.Second,
+		ConnContext:       jsonConnContext,
+	}
+
+	sock := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "http.sock")
+	ln, err := net.Listen("unix", sock)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		if err := srv.Close(); err != nil {
+			t.Logf("close server: %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+	go func() {
+		if err := srv.Serve(ln); err != nil && err != http.ErrServerClosed {
+			t.Logf("serve: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	conn, err := net.Dial("unix", sock)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		if err := conn.Close(); err != nil {
+			t.Logf("close conn: %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	// Forge the identity headers on the wire as well.
+	request := "POST /daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig HTTP/1.1\r\n" +
+		"Host: localhost\r\n" +
+		"Grpc-Metadata-X-Netbird-Fwd: 1\r\n" +
+		"Grpc-Metadata-X-Netbird-Fwd-Uid: 0\r\n" +
+		"Content-Length: 0\r\n\r\n"
+	if _, err := conn.Write([]byte(request)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case got := <-seen:
+		self, err := ipcauth.CurrentProcessIdentity()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Skipf("cannot read this process's identity: %v", err)
+		}
+		// The socket peer is this test process, so that is the identity the
+		// gateway must forward, not the uid 0 the request asked for.
+		if uids := got.md.Get("x-netbird-fwd-uid"); len(uids) != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("x-netbird-fwd-uid = %v, want exactly the gateway's own value", uids)
+		}
+		id, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(daemonSideCtx(t, got.md))
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatal("the forwarded identity should be usable")
+		}
+		if id.UID != self.UID {
+			t.Errorf("authorized as uid %d, want the socket peer %d", id.UID, self.UID)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("the gateway never handled the request")
+	}
+}

client/cmd/service_params.go

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/configs"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/daemonaddr"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/util"
 )
 
@@ -125,6 +126,13 @@ func applyServiceParams(cmd *cobra.Command, params *serviceParams) {
 
 	if !rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Changed("daemon-addr") && params.DaemonAddr != "" {
 		daemonAddr = params.DaemonAddr
+		// An install that predates named-pipe support has the loopback TCP
+		// address saved. Callers carry no identity over TCP, so move it to the
+		// pipe instead of restoring a socket the daemon cannot authorize on.
+		if migrated, ok := daemonaddr.MigrateLegacy(daemonAddr); ok {
+			cmd.Printf("Moving the saved daemon address from %s to %s so the daemon can identify its callers\n", daemonAddr, migrated)
+			daemonAddr = migrated
+		}
 	}
 
 	if !serviceCmd.PersistentFlags().Changed("json-socket") && params.JSONSocket != "" {

client/cmd/service_pipe_other.go

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+)
+
+// listenNamedPipe is Windows-only: no other platform serves the daemon on a
+// named pipe.
+func listenNamedPipe(string) (net.Listener, string, error) {
+	return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("named pipes are only supported on Windows")
+}

client/cmd/service_pipe_windows.go

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+
+	"github.com/Microsoft/go-winio"
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/daemonaddr"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+)
+
+// listenNamedPipe creates the daemon control pipe and reports the path it ended
+// up on. The security descriptor lets any local caller connect, as a Unix socket
+// at 0666 does, and the privileged operations are authorized separately from the
+// caller's token.
+//
+// The protected name comes first so that an unprivileged process cannot take the
+// name before the service does. Creating it requires being an administrator or
+// LocalSystem, so a daemon an ordinary user runs themselves, as in netstack mode,
+// falls back to the plain name; clients try both and check who serves them.
+func listenNamedPipe(name string) (net.Listener, string, error) {
+	var errs []error
+	for _, path := range daemonaddr.PipePaths(name) {
+		listener, err := winio.ListenPipe(path, &winio.PipeConfig{
+			SecurityDescriptor: ipcauth.DefaultPipeSDDL(),
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Debugf("not serving the daemon on %s: %v", path, err)
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", path, err))
+			continue
+		}
+		return listener, path, nil
+	}
+
+	return nil, "", errors.Join(errs...)
+}

client/cmd/service_socket.go

@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ func listenOnAddress(addr string) (*socketListener, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	if network == "npipe" {
+		listener, path, err := listenNamedPipe(address)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return &socketListener{Listener: listener, network: network, address: path}, nil
+	}
+
 	if network == "unix" {
 		removeStaleUnixSocket(address)
 	}
@@ -41,11 +49,11 @@ func listenOnAddress(addr string) (*socketListener, error) {
 func parseListenAddress(addr string) (string, string, error) {
 	network, address, ok := strings.Cut(addr, "://")
 	if !ok || network == "" || address == "" {
-		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("address must be in [unix|tcp]://[path|host:port] format: %q", addr)
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("address must be in [unix|tcp|npipe]://[path|host:port|name] format: %q", addr)
 	}
 
 	switch network {
-	case "unix", "tcp":
+	case "unix", "tcp", "npipe":
 		return network, address, nil
 	default:
 		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("unsupported daemon address protocol: %v", network)

client/cmd/up.go

@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func runInDaemonMode(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, pm *profilemanager
 		if st, ok := gstatus.FromError(err); ok && st.Code() == codes.Unavailable {
 			log.Warnf("setConfig method is not available in the daemon: %s", st.Message())
 		} else {
-			return fmt.Errorf("call service setConfig method: %v", err)
+			return daemonCallError("call service setConfig method", err)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ func doDaemonUp(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, client proto.DaemonServ
 	}
 
 	if loginErr != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("login failed: %v", loginErr)
+		return daemonCallError("login failed", loginErr)
 	}
 
 	if loginResp.NeedsSSOLogin {
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ func doDaemonUp(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, client proto.DaemonServ
 		ProfileName: &profileID,
 		Username:    &username,
 	}); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("call service up method: %v", err)
+		return daemonCallError("call service up method", err)
 	}
 
 	return nil

client/configs/configs.go

@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ import (
 	"runtime"
 )
 
+// UILogFile is the file name the desktop UI writes its log to. It is defined
+// here so the UI (writer), the daemon's RegisterUILog validation, and the debug
+// bundle collector all share one definition.
+const UILogFile = "gui-client.log"
+
 var StateDir string
 
 func init() {

client/firewall/nftables/legacy_rule_linux_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package nftables
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/nftables/expr"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestBuildLegacyRouteRuleExpressions(t *testing.T) {
+	sourcePayload := &expr.Payload{}
+	sourceCmp := &expr.Cmp{}
+	destinationPayload := &expr.Payload{}
+	destinationCmp := &expr.Cmp{}
+	nilSourceDestination := &expr.Payload{}
+	nilDestinationSource := &expr.Cmp{}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		source      []expr.Any
+		destination []expr.Any
+		matches     []expr.Any
+	}{
+		{
+			name:        "both non-empty",
+			source:      []expr.Any{sourcePayload, sourceCmp},
+			destination: []expr.Any{destinationPayload, destinationCmp},
+			matches:     []expr.Any{sourcePayload, sourceCmp, destinationPayload, destinationCmp},
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "nil source",
+			destination: []expr.Any{nilSourceDestination},
+			matches:     []expr.Any{nilSourceDestination},
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "nil destination",
+			source:  []expr.Any{nilDestinationSource},
+			matches: []expr.Any{nilDestinationSource},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "both nil",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := buildLegacyRouteRuleExpressions(tt.source, tt.destination)
+
+			require.Len(t, got, len(tt.matches)+2)
+			for i, match := range tt.matches {
+				require.Same(t, match, got[i])
+			}
+
+			require.IsType(t, &expr.Counter{}, got[len(tt.matches)])
+			verdict, ok := got[len(tt.matches)+1].(*expr.Verdict)
+			require.True(t, ok)
+			require.Equal(t, expr.VerdictAccept, verdict.Kind)
+		})
+	}
+}

client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go

@@ -953,6 +953,17 @@ func (r *router) addMSSClampingRules() error {
 	return r.conn.Flush()
 }
 
+func buildLegacyRouteRuleExpressions(sourceExp, destExp []expr.Any) []expr.Any {
+	exprs := make([]expr.Any, 0, len(sourceExp)+len(destExp)+2)
+	exprs = append(exprs, sourceExp...)
+	exprs = append(exprs, destExp...)
+	exprs = append(exprs,
+		&expr.Counter{},
+		&expr.Verdict{Kind: expr.VerdictAccept},
+	)
+	return exprs
+}
+
 // addLegacyRouteRule adds a legacy routing rule for mgmt servers pre route acls
 func (r *router) addLegacyRouteRule(pair firewall.RouterPair) error {
 	sourceExp, err := r.applyNetwork(pair.Source, nil, true)
@@ -965,15 +976,7 @@ func (r *router) addLegacyRouteRule(pair firewall.RouterPair) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("apply destination: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	exprs := []expr.Any{
-		&expr.Counter{},
-		&expr.Verdict{
-			Kind: expr.VerdictAccept,
-		},
-	}
-
-	exprs = append(exprs, sourceExp...)
-	exprs = append(exprs, destExp...)
+	exprs := buildLegacyRouteRuleExpressions(sourceExp, destExp)
 
 	ruleKey := firewall.GenKey(firewall.ForwardingFormat, pair)
 

client/internal/conn_mgr.go

@@ -385,11 +385,20 @@ func inactivityThresholdEnv() *time.Duration {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	parsedMinutes, err := strconv.Atoi(envValue)
-	if err != nil || parsedMinutes <= 0 {
-		return nil
+	// Documented format: a Go duration such as "30m" or "1h".
+	if d, err := time.ParseDuration(envValue); err == nil {
+		if d <= 0 {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return &d
 	}
 
-	d := time.Duration(parsedMinutes) * time.Minute
-	return &d
+	// Backwards compatibility: a bare integer used to be interpreted as minutes.
+	if parsedMinutes, err := strconv.Atoi(envValue); err == nil && parsedMinutes > 0 {
+		d := time.Duration(parsedMinutes) * time.Minute
+		return &d
+	}
+
+	log.Warnf("invalid %s value %q: expected a Go duration such as 30m or 1h", lazyconn.EnvInactivityThreshold, envValue)
+	return nil
 }

client/internal/conn_mgr_test.go

@@ -104,3 +104,38 @@ func TestConnMgr_ActivatePeerConcurrentWithLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
 	close(done)
 	wg.Wait()
 }
+
+func TestInactivityThresholdEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		val  string
+		want *time.Duration
+	}{
+		{name: "unset", val: "", want: nil},
+		{name: "go duration minutes", val: "30m", want: durPtr(30 * time.Minute)},
+		{name: "go duration hours", val: "1h", want: durPtr(time.Hour)},
+		{name: "go duration seconds", val: "90s", want: durPtr(90 * time.Second)},
+		{name: "bare integer is minutes (backwards compat)", val: "5", want: durPtr(5 * time.Minute)},
+		{name: "zero duration", val: "0s", want: nil},
+		{name: "zero integer", val: "0", want: nil},
+		{name: "negative duration", val: "-5m", want: nil},
+		{name: "garbage", val: "abc", want: nil},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Setenv(lazyconn.EnvInactivityThreshold, tc.val)
+			got := inactivityThresholdEnv()
+			switch {
+			case tc.want == nil && got != nil:
+				t.Fatalf("want nil, got %v", *got)
+			case tc.want != nil && got == nil:
+				t.Fatalf("want %v, got nil", *tc.want)
+			case tc.want != nil && *got != *tc.want:
+				t.Fatalf("want %v, got %v", *tc.want, *got)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func durPtr(d time.Duration) *time.Duration { return &d }

client/internal/connect.go

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/statemanager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/stdnet"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/tunnelnotifier"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/updater"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/updater/installer"
 	nbnet "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
@@ -136,10 +137,13 @@ func (c *ConnectClient) RunOniOS(
 	// Set GC percent to 5% to reduce memory usage as iOS only allows 50MB of memory for the extension.
 	debug.SetGCPercent(5)
 
+	notifier := tunnelnotifier.New(networkChangeListener, dnsManager)
+	defer notifier.Close()
+
 	mobileDependency := MobileDependency{
 		FileDescriptor:        fileDescriptor,
-		NetworkChangeListener: networkChangeListener,
-		DnsManager:            dnsManager,
+		NetworkChangeListener: notifier,
+		DnsManager:            notifier,
 		StateFilePath:         stateFilePath,
 		TempDir:               cacheDir,
 	}

client/internal/daemonaddr/owner.go

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package daemonaddr
+
+// DaemonRunsAsSelf reports whether the daemon listening at addr runs as this very
+// user. That is what makes an unprivileged daemon authorize this process for the
+// changes it otherwise restricts to root or an administrator, so a client can tell
+// up front whether those controls are usable instead of letting a save fail.
+//
+// It is answered from the ownership of the socket or pipe the daemon created, so it
+// costs no round trip and needs no cooperation from the daemon. Ownership that
+// cannot be read is reported as false, including for a TCP address, so a caller
+// reading this as "the daemon would allow it" fails closed. The daemon remains the
+// only thing that authorizes anything: this only decides what a client offers.
+func DaemonRunsAsSelf(addr string) bool {
+	return daemonRunsAsSelf(addr)
+}

client/internal/daemonaddr/owner_unix.go

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package daemonaddr
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"syscall"
+
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+)
+
+// daemonRunsAsSelf compares the owner of the daemon's Unix socket with this
+// process's uid. Root is not treated specially here: a root caller is privileged
+// on its own merits, and a root-owned socket says nothing about the caller.
+func daemonRunsAsSelf(addr string) bool {
+	path, ok := strings.CutPrefix(addr, "unix://")
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	info, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("stat daemon socket %s: %v", path, err)
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// Only a socket says anything about a daemon. A directory or a leftover
+	// regular file at that path is not one, and reading it as "the daemon runs as
+	// us" would offer controls the daemon then refuses.
+	if info.Mode()&os.ModeSocket == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	stat, ok := info.Sys().(*syscall.Stat_t)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	return stat.Uid == uint32(os.Getuid())
+}

client/internal/daemonaddr/owner_unix_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package daemonaddr
+
+import (
+	"net"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// A socket this user created means the daemon runs as this user, which is the
+// rootless case where the daemon delegates its authority to its own identity.
+func TestDaemonRunsAsSelf_OwnSocket(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "netbird.sock")
+	ln, err := net.Listen("unix", path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("listen: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		if err := ln.Close(); err != nil {
+			t.Logf("close listener: %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	if !DaemonRunsAsSelf("unix://" + path) {
+		t.Error("a socket owned by this user must count as the daemon running as us")
+	}
+}
+
+// Everything that is not a readable socket of ours has to answer false, because
+// the caller reads a true as "the daemon would authorize me".
+func TestDaemonRunsAsSelf_FailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+
+	// A socket owned by another user, which is what a root-run daemon looks like
+	// to an unprivileged client. Only assertable when we are not root ourselves.
+	rootOwned := "unix:///var/run/netbird.sock"
+	if _, err := os.Stat("/var/run/netbird.sock"); err == nil && os.Getuid() != 0 {
+		if DaemonRunsAsSelf(rootOwned) {
+			t.Error("a socket owned by another user must not count as ours")
+		}
+	}
+
+	for name, addr := range map[string]string{
+		"missing socket":  "unix://" + filepath.Join(dir, "absent.sock"),
+		"tcp address":     "tcp://127.0.0.1:41731",
+		"named pipe":      "npipe://netbird",
+		"empty":           "",
+		"no scheme":       filepath.Join(dir, "absent.sock"),
+		"directory":       "unix://" + dir,
+		"unknown scheme":  "http://localhost:8080",
+		"scheme only":     "unix://",
+		"relative socket": "unix://netbird.sock",
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if DaemonRunsAsSelf(addr) {
+				t.Errorf("%q must not count as a daemon running as us", addr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

client/internal/daemonaddr/owner_windows.go

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package daemonaddr
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+)
+
+// daemonRunsAsSelf reads the owner of the daemon's pipe. A daemon running as the
+// service account owns its pipe as LocalSystem, and an elevated one as
+// BUILTIN\Administrators, so only a daemon the user started themselves matches.
+func daemonRunsAsSelf(addr string) bool {
+	name, ok := strings.CutPrefix(addr, pipeScheme)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	for _, path := range PipePaths(name) {
+		// Bounded: this runs on the UI's path for deciding which controls to
+		// offer, so a pipe that does not answer promptly must not stall it. A
+		// timeout leaves the caller unprivileged, which only disables controls.
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), probeTimeout)
+		conn, err := dialPipe(ctx, path)
+		cancel()
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		owned := ipcauth.PipeOwnedBySelf(conn)
+		if cerr := conn.Close(); cerr != nil {
+			log.Debugf("close daemon pipe %s after ownership check: %v", path, cerr)
+		}
+		return owned
+	}
+
+	return false
+}

client/internal/daemonaddr/pipe.go

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+package daemonaddr
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials/insecure"
+)
+
+const (
+	// WindowsPipeAddr is the default daemon address on Windows. A named pipe
+	// carries the connecting process's token, which loopback TCP does not, so
+	// it is the only Windows transport on which the daemon can tell who is
+	// calling it.
+	WindowsPipeAddr = "npipe://netbird"
+
+	// legacyWindowsAddr is the loopback-TCP address the Windows daemon used
+	// before named-pipe support.
+	legacyWindowsAddr = "tcp://127.0.0.1:41731"
+
+	pipeScheme = "npipe://"
+
+	// protectedPrefix is the NPFS namespace in which only LocalSystem and
+	// members of BUILTIN\Administrators may create a pipe. A daemon running as
+	// the service account creates its pipe there so that an unprivileged process
+	// cannot pre-create the name, which would keep the daemon from starting and
+	// leave callers talking to the squatter. Opening such a pipe needs no
+	// privilege, so unprivileged clients still reach the daemon.
+	protectedPrefix = `ProtectedPrefix\Administrators\`
+)
+
+// DialTarget returns the gRPC dial target and transport options for a daemon
+// address. The npipe scheme needs a context dialer because gRPC has no
+// named-pipe resolver; unix and tcp are handled by gRPC itself.
+func DialTarget(addr string) (string, []grpc.DialOption) {
+	opts := []grpc.DialOption{grpc.WithTransportCredentials(insecure.NewCredentials())}
+
+	if name, ok := strings.CutPrefix(addr, pipeScheme); ok {
+		paths := PipePaths(name)
+		opts = append(opts, grpc.WithContextDialer(func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (net.Conn, error) {
+			return dialPipePaths(ctx, paths)
+		}))
+		return "passthrough:///netbird-daemon-pipe", opts
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimPrefix(addr, "tcp://"), opts
+}
+
+// PipePath maps an npipe address name ("netbird", from "npipe://netbird") to a
+// Windows named-pipe path (\\.\pipe\netbird). A fully qualified path is left as
+// is.
+func PipePath(name string) string {
+	if strings.HasPrefix(name, `\\`) {
+		return name
+	}
+	return `\\.\pipe\` + name
+}
+
+// PipePaths returns the paths a daemon control pipe may live at for an npipe
+// address name, in the order both sides must try them: the protected name first,
+// then the plain one.
+//
+// The daemon serves the first it can create, which is the protected name when it
+// runs as the service account and the plain one when it runs as an ordinary user,
+// as it does in netstack mode. Clients therefore have to try both, and because a
+// client cannot tell from the name alone who created the pipe, the plain name is
+// only usable once the server's identity has been checked: see
+// verifyPipeServer.
+//
+// A fully qualified path is what the operator asked for and is used as is.
+func PipePaths(name string) []string {
+	if strings.HasPrefix(name, `\\`) {
+		return []string{name}
+	}
+	return []string{PipePath(protectedPrefix + name), PipePath(name)}
+}
+
+// IsProtectedPipePath reports whether a pipe path is in the namespace only an
+// administrator or LocalSystem can create in, which is what lets a client trust
+// such a pipe from its name alone.
+func IsProtectedPipePath(path string) bool {
+	return strings.HasPrefix(path, `\\.\pipe\`+protectedPrefix)
+}
+
+// MigrateLegacy upgrades the pre-named-pipe Windows daemon address to the named
+// pipe, reporting whether it rewrote the address. Existing installs persist the
+// daemon address, so without this an upgraded daemon would keep listening on
+// loopback TCP, where callers carry no identity and privileged operations would
+// have to be refused for everyone. Only the exact legacy default is rewritten:
+// a deliberately chosen custom address is left alone.
+func MigrateLegacy(addr string) (string, bool) {
+	return migrateLegacyForOS(runtime.GOOS, addr)
+}
+
+func migrateLegacyForOS(goos, addr string) (string, bool) {
+	if goos == "windows" && addr == legacyWindowsAddr {
+		return WindowsPipeAddr, true
+	}
+	return addr, false
+}

client/internal/daemonaddr/pipe_other.go

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package daemonaddr
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+)
+
+// dialPipePaths is Windows-only: no other platform serves the daemon on a named
+// pipe.
+func dialPipePaths(context.Context, []string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("named pipes are only supported on Windows")
+}

client/internal/daemonaddr/pipe_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package daemonaddr
+
+import (
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// The protected name must be tried before the plain one on both sides: it is the
+// one an unprivileged process cannot create, so preferring it is what keeps a
+// squatter from owning the name the service daemon would otherwise use.
+func TestPipePaths_PrefersTheProtectedName(t *testing.T) {
+	got := PipePaths("netbird")
+	want := []string{
+		`\\.\pipe\ProtectedPrefix\Administrators\netbird`,
+		`\\.\pipe\netbird`,
+	}
+	if !slices.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("PipePaths = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+// An operator who passes a full path chose exactly one pipe, so neither side may
+// look anywhere else.
+func TestPipePaths_QualifiedPathIsUsedAsIs(t *testing.T) {
+	path := `\\.\pipe\custom-netbird`
+	got := PipePaths(path)
+	if !slices.Equal(got, []string{path}) {
+		t.Errorf("PipePaths = %q, want just %q", got, path)
+	}
+}

client/internal/daemonaddr/pipe_windows.go

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package daemonaddr
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+
+	"github.com/Microsoft/go-winio"
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+)
+
+// dialPipePaths connects to the first path that answers with a pipe server this
+// client may trust, and returns the last error when none does.
+func dialPipePaths(ctx context.Context, paths []string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	var lastErr error
+	for _, path := range paths {
+		conn, err := dialPipe(ctx, path)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Debugf("dial daemon pipe %s: %v", path, err)
+			lastErr = err
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// A pipe in the protected namespace could only have been created by an
+		// administrator or LocalSystem, so its name is the guarantee. Any other
+		// name has to be checked, because any local user can create one.
+		if !IsProtectedPipePath(path) {
+			if err := ipcauth.PipeServerTrusted(conn); err != nil {
+				if closeErr := conn.Close(); closeErr != nil {
+					log.Debugf("close untrusted pipe %s: %v", path, closeErr)
+				}
+				lastErr = fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", path, err)
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+
+		return conn, nil
+	}
+
+	if lastErr == nil {
+		lastErr = errors.New("no daemon pipe to connect to")
+	}
+	return nil, lastErr
+}
+
+// dialPipe connects to the daemon control pipe at SECURITY_IDENTIFICATION.
+// winio's plain DialPipe connects at SECURITY_ANONYMOUS, under which the daemon
+// cannot read the caller's token at all. Identification lets the daemon read the
+// caller's SID and groups without granting it the ability to act as the caller.
+func dialPipe(ctx context.Context, path string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	access := uint32(windows.GENERIC_READ | windows.GENERIC_WRITE)
+	return winio.DialPipeAccessImpLevel(ctx, path, access, winio.PipeImpLevelIdentification)
+}

client/internal/daemonaddr/resolve_pipe_other.go

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package daemonaddr
+
+// ResolveDaemonAddr is a no-op off Windows, where there is no named-pipe
+// default to fall back from.
+func ResolveDaemonAddr(addr string) string {
+	return addr
+}

client/internal/daemonaddr/resolve_pipe_windows.go

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package daemonaddr
+
+import (
+	"net"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/Microsoft/go-winio"
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+)
+
+// probeTimeout bounds each transport probe. Both are local, so a daemon that is
+// listening answers immediately and one that is not fails immediately.
+const probeTimeout = 300 * time.Millisecond
+
+// ResolveDaemonAddr keeps a client on the named pipe and never silently moves it
+// off. When the pipe does not answer it checks the legacy loopback TCP address, so
+// a client meeting a daemon that has not restarted since the upgrade can say what
+// is wrong, but it does not connect there.
+//
+// Using that address automatically would be a downgrade the user never asked for:
+// any local process can bind 127.0.0.1 while the daemon is not listening, and the
+// transport carries no caller identity, so a client that accepted whatever answered
+// would hand a setup key, a pre-shared key or an SSO prompt to a local impostor. An
+// operator who needs the legacy address during the upgrade window can still pass
+// --daemon-addr explicitly, which is a deliberate choice and still refuses the
+// privileged operations.
+//
+// Only the pipe address is resolved. A custom address is left alone, though passing
+// --daemon-addr npipe://netbird explicitly is indistinguishable from the default
+// here, so it is treated the same way.
+func ResolveDaemonAddr(addr string) string {
+	if addr != WindowsPipeAddr {
+		return addr
+	}
+
+	for _, path := range PipePaths("netbird") {
+		if pipeAvailable(path) {
+			return addr
+		}
+	}
+
+	if tcpAvailable(legacyWindowsAddr) {
+		log.Warnf("the daemon is not serving %s, but something is listening on the legacy %s. "+
+			"Restart the NetBird service so it serves the pipe. That address is not used automatically: "+
+			"any local user can bind it and it carries no caller identity, so pass --daemon-addr %s "+
+			"explicitly if you accept that",
+			WindowsPipeAddr, legacyWindowsAddr, legacyWindowsAddr)
+	}
+
+	return addr
+}
+
+func pipeAvailable(path string) bool {
+	timeout := probeTimeout
+	conn, err := winio.DialPipe(path, &timeout)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if err := conn.Close(); err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("close daemon pipe probe: %v", err)
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+func tcpAvailable(addr string) bool {
+	host := addr
+	if _, after, ok := strings.Cut(addr, "://"); ok {
+		host = after
+	}
+
+	conn, err := net.DialTimeout("tcp", host, probeTimeout)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if err := conn.Close(); err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("close daemon TCP probe: %v", err)
+	}
+	return true
+}

client/internal/debug/debug.go

@@ -229,7 +229,6 @@ scutil_dns.txt (macOS only):
 
 const (
 	clientLogFile = "client.log"
-	uiLogFile     = "gui-client.log"
 	errorLogFile  = "netbird.err"
 	stdoutLogFile = "netbird.out"
 
@@ -248,6 +247,20 @@ type MetricsExporter interface {
 	Export(w io.Writer) error
 }
 
+// LogOpener opens a log file for inclusion in the bundle. It exists so that log
+// files whose path was supplied by an IPC caller can be opened under a check
+// the daemon defines, instead of being opened with the daemon's privileges
+// unconditionally.
+type LogOpener func(path string) (*os.File, error)
+
+func openLogFile(path string) (*os.File, error) {
+	f, err := os.Open(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("open %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return f, nil
+}
+
 type BundleGenerator struct {
 	anonymizer *anonymize.Anonymizer
 
@@ -257,6 +270,7 @@ type BundleGenerator struct {
 	syncResponse   *mgmProto.SyncResponse
 	logPath        string
 	uiLogPath      string
+	uiLogOpener    LogOpener
 	tempDir        string
 	statePath      string
 	cpuProfile     []byte
@@ -285,14 +299,20 @@ type GeneratorDependencies struct {
 	SyncResponse   *mgmProto.SyncResponse
 	LogPath        string
 	UILogPath      string // Absolute path to the desktop UI's gui-client.log, reported via RegisterUILog. Empty if no UI registered one.
-	TempDir        string // Directory for temporary bundle zip files. If empty, os.TempDir() is used.
-	StatePath      string // Path to the state file. If empty, the ServiceManager default path is used.
-	CPUProfile     []byte
-	CapturePath    string
-	RefreshStatus  func()
-	ClientMetrics  MetricsExporter
-	DaemonVersion  string
-	CliVersion     string
+	// UILogOpener opens the UI log and its rotated siblings. The path comes from
+	// a local IPC caller, so the daemon must not open it with plain os.Open: the
+	// opener is where the caller's right to that file is enforced. Defaults to
+	// os.Open, which is only correct where the path is not caller-supplied
+	// (mobile).
+	UILogOpener   LogOpener
+	TempDir       string // Directory for temporary bundle zip files. If empty, os.TempDir() is used.
+	StatePath     string // Path to the state file. If empty, the ServiceManager default path is used.
+	CPUProfile    []byte
+	CapturePath   string
+	RefreshStatus func()
+	ClientMetrics MetricsExporter
+	DaemonVersion string
+	CliVersion    string
 }
 
 func NewBundleGenerator(deps GeneratorDependencies, cfg BundleConfig) *BundleGenerator {
@@ -302,6 +322,11 @@ func NewBundleGenerator(deps GeneratorDependencies, cfg BundleConfig) *BundleGen
 		logFileCount = 1
 	}
 
+	uiLogOpener := deps.UILogOpener
+	if uiLogOpener == nil {
+		uiLogOpener = openLogFile
+	}
+
 	return &BundleGenerator{
 		anonymizer: anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses()),
 
@@ -310,6 +335,7 @@ func NewBundleGenerator(deps GeneratorDependencies, cfg BundleConfig) *BundleGen
 		syncResponse:   deps.SyncResponse,
 		logPath:        deps.LogPath,
 		uiLogPath:      deps.UILogPath,
+		uiLogOpener:    uiLogOpener,
 		tempDir:        deps.TempDir,
 		statePath:      deps.StatePath,
 		cpuProfile:     deps.CPUProfile,
@@ -996,11 +1022,11 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addLogfile() error {
 
 	logDir := filepath.Dir(g.logPath)
 
-	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(g.logPath, clientLogFile); err != nil {
+	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(openLogFile, g.logPath, clientLogFile); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("add client log file to zip: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	g.addRotatedLogFiles(logDir, clientLogPrefix)
+	g.addRotatedLogFiles(openLogFile, logDir, clientLogPrefix)
 
 	stdErrLogPath := filepath.Join(logDir, errorLogFile)
 	stdoutLogPath := filepath.Join(logDir, stdoutLogFile)
@@ -1009,11 +1035,11 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addLogfile() error {
 		stdoutLogPath = darwinStdoutLogPath
 	}
 
-	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(stdErrLogPath, errorLogFile); err != nil {
+	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(openLogFile, stdErrLogPath, errorLogFile); err != nil {
 		log.Warnf("Failed to add %s to zip: %v", errorLogFile, err)
 	}
 
-	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(stdoutLogPath, stdoutLogFile); err != nil {
+	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(openLogFile, stdoutLogPath, stdoutLogFile); err != nil {
 		log.Warnf("Failed to add %s to zip: %v", stdoutLogFile, err)
 	}
 
@@ -1030,18 +1056,18 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addUILog() error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(g.uiLogPath, uiLogFile); err != nil {
+	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(g.uiLogOpener, g.uiLogPath, configs.UILogFile); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("add UI log file to zip: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	g.addRotatedLogFiles(filepath.Dir(g.uiLogPath), uiLogPrefix)
+	g.addRotatedLogFiles(g.uiLogOpener, filepath.Dir(g.uiLogPath), uiLogPrefix)
 
 	return nil
 }
 
 // addSingleLogfile adds a single log file to the archive
-func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogfile(logPath, targetName string) error {
-	logFile, err := os.Open(logPath)
+func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogfile(open LogOpener, logPath, targetName string) error {
+	logFile, err := open(logPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("open log file %s: %w", targetName, err)
 	}
@@ -1066,8 +1092,8 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogfile(logPath, targetName string) error {
 }
 
 // addSingleLogFileGz adds a single gzipped log file to the archive
-func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogFileGz(logPath, targetName string) error {
-	f, err := os.Open(logPath)
+func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogFileGz(open LogOpener, logPath, targetName string) error {
+	f, err := open(logPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("open gz log file %s: %w", targetName, err)
 	}
@@ -1114,7 +1140,7 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogFileGz(logPath, targetName string) error {
 // addRotatedLogFiles adds rotated log files to the bundle based on logFileCount.
 // prefix is the base log name without extension (e.g. "client", "gui-client");
 // the glob matches both files rotated by us and by logrotate on linux.
-func (g *BundleGenerator) addRotatedLogFiles(logDir, prefix string) {
+func (g *BundleGenerator) addRotatedLogFiles(open LogOpener, logDir, prefix string) {
 	if g.logFileCount == 0 {
 		return
 	}
@@ -1154,9 +1180,9 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addRotatedLogFiles(logDir, prefix string) {
 	for i := 0; i < maxFiles; i++ {
 		name := filepath.Base(files[i])
 		if strings.HasSuffix(name, ".gz") {
-			err = g.addSingleLogFileGz(files[i], name)
+			err = g.addSingleLogFileGz(open, files[i], name)
 		} else {
-			err = g.addSingleLogfile(files[i], name)
+			err = g.addSingleLogfile(open, files[i], name)
 		}
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Warnf("failed to add rotated log %s: %v", name, err)

client/internal/debug/debug_ios.go

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addPlatformLog() error {
 	}
 
 	swiftLogPath := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(g.logPath), swiftLogFile)
-	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(swiftLogPath, swiftLogFile); err != nil {
+	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(openLogFile, swiftLogPath, swiftLogFile); err != nil {
 		// The Swift log is best-effort: the app may not have written it yet.
 		log.Warnf("failed to add %s to debug bundle: %v", swiftLogFile, err)
 	}

client/internal/debug/debug_logfiles_test.go

@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func runAddRotatedLogFilesPrefix(t *testing.T, dir, prefix string, logFileCount
 		archive:      zip.NewWriter(&buf),
 		logFileCount: logFileCount,
 	}
-	g.addRotatedLogFiles(dir, prefix)
+	g.addRotatedLogFiles(openLogFile, dir, prefix)
 	require.NoError(t, g.archive.Close())
 
 	zr, err := zip.NewReader(bytes.NewReader(buf.Bytes()), int64(buf.Len()))

client/internal/debug/uilog_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+package debug
+
+import (
+	"archive/zip"
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/configs"
+)
+
+// bundleEntries generates a bundle with the given generator and returns the
+// set of entry names in the resulting archive.
+func bundleEntries(t *testing.T, g *BundleGenerator) map[string]struct{} {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	path, err := g.Generate()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Remove(path) })
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	zr, err := zip.NewReader(bytes.NewReader(data), int64(len(data)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	names := make(map[string]struct{}, len(zr.File))
+	for _, f := range zr.File {
+		names[f.Name] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	return names
+}
+
+func TestBundleIncludesUILogWhenOpenerAllows(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), configs.UILogFile)
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("gui log"), 0600))
+
+	g := NewBundleGenerator(GeneratorDependencies{
+		UILogPath:   path,
+		UILogOpener: openLogFile,
+	}, BundleConfig{})
+
+	require.Contains(t, bundleEntries(t, g), configs.UILogFile)
+}
+
+// A UILogOpener that refuses (as the ownership check does for a foreign file)
+// keeps the UI log out of the bundle without failing bundle generation.
+func TestBundleExcludesUILogWhenOpenerRefuses(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), configs.UILogFile)
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("secret"), 0600))
+
+	g := NewBundleGenerator(GeneratorDependencies{
+		UILogPath: path,
+		UILogOpener: func(string) (*os.File, error) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("not owned by the caller")
+		},
+	}, BundleConfig{})
+
+	require.NotContains(t, bundleEntries(t, g), configs.UILogFile)
+}

client/internal/debug/upload.go

@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@ package debug
 import (
 	"context"
 	"crypto/sha256"
+	"crypto/tls"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
+	neturl "net/url"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/upload-server/types"
@@ -14,20 +16,80 @@ import (
 
 const maxBundleUploadSize = 50 * 1024 * 1024
 
-func UploadDebugBundle(ctx context.Context, url, managementURL, filePath string) (key string, err error) {
-	response, err := getUploadURL(ctx, url, managementURL)
+// requireHTTPS refuses any URL the daemon would fetch or upload to that is not
+// https. The daemon runs as root and the bundle carries its logs and state, so a
+// plaintext hop is a place to intercept the bundle or the presigned redirect.
+// The server-side gate already enforces this for the desktop path; this also
+// covers the mobile and job-runner callers that reach this package directly.
+// Skipped when the caller opted into an insecure upload (self-hosted server).
+func requireHTTPS(what, rawURL string) error {
+	parsed, err := neturl.Parse(rawURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("parse %s: %w", what, err)
+	}
+	if parsed.Scheme != "https" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s must use https, got scheme %q", what, parsed.Scheme)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// uploadClient returns the HTTP client for the upload requests. The default
+// client verifies TLS and refuses a redirect that would downgrade to a non-https
+// hop, so a bundle can never leave over http after an https start. The insecure
+// variant accepts http and untrusted certificates, and is only reachable for a
+// privileged caller that passed --upload-bundle-insecure (see
+// requirePrivilegeForUploadURL).
+func uploadClient(insecure bool) *http.Client {
+	if !insecure {
+		return &http.Client{CheckRedirect: rejectInsecureRedirect}
+	}
+	return &http.Client{
+		Transport: &http.Transport{
+			//nolint:gosec // opt-in, privileged, self-hosted upload servers
+			TLSClientConfig: &tls.Config{InsecureSkipVerify: true, MinVersion: tls.VersionTLS12},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+// rejectInsecureRedirect refuses a redirect to a non-https target and keeps the
+// standard library's 10-hop limit that a custom CheckRedirect would otherwise
+// disable.
+func rejectInsecureRedirect(req *http.Request, via []*http.Request) error {
+	if req.URL.Scheme != "https" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("refusing redirect to non-https URL %s", req.URL.Redacted())
+	}
+	if len(via) >= 10 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("stopped after 10 redirects")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func UploadDebugBundle(ctx context.Context, url, managementURL, filePath string, insecure bool) (key string, err error) {
+	if !insecure {
+		if err := requireHTTPS("upload service URL", url); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+	}
+
+	response, err := getUploadURL(ctx, url, managementURL, insecure)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	err = upload(ctx, filePath, response)
+	if !insecure {
+		if err := requireHTTPS("upload URL from service", response.URL); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+	}
+
+	err = upload(ctx, filePath, response, insecure)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 	return response.Key, nil
 }
 
-func upload(ctx context.Context, filePath string, response *types.GetURLResponse) error {
+func upload(ctx context.Context, filePath string, response *types.GetURLResponse, insecure bool) error {
 	fileData, err := os.Open(filePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("open file: %w", err)
@@ -52,7 +114,7 @@ func upload(ctx context.Context, filePath string, response *types.GetURLResponse
 	req.ContentLength = stat.Size()
 	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 
-	putResp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	putResp, err := uploadClient(insecure).Do(req)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("upload failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -65,16 +127,23 @@ func upload(ctx context.Context, filePath string, response *types.GetURLResponse
 	return nil
 }
 
-func getUploadURL(ctx context.Context, url string, managementURL string) (*types.GetURLResponse, error) {
-	id := getURLHash(managementURL)
-	getReq, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "GET", url+"?id="+id, nil)
+func getUploadURL(ctx context.Context, serviceURL string, managementURL string, insecure bool) (*types.GetURLResponse, error) {
+	parsed, err := neturl.Parse(serviceURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parse upload service URL: %w", err)
+	}
+	q := parsed.Query()
+	q.Set("id", getURLHash(managementURL))
+	parsed.RawQuery = q.Encode()
+
+	getReq, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "GET", parsed.String(), nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("create GET request: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	getReq.Header.Set(types.ClientHeader, types.ClientHeaderValue)
 
-	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(getReq)
+	resp, err := uploadClient(insecure).Do(getReq)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get presigned URL: %w", err)
 	}

client/internal/debug/upload_test.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ func TestUpload(t *testing.T) {
 	fileContent := []byte("test file content")
 	err := os.WriteFile(file, fileContent, 0640)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	key, err := UploadDebugBundle(context.Background(), testURL+types.GetURLPath, testURL, file)
+	key, err := UploadDebugBundle(context.Background(), testURL+types.GetURLPath, testURL, file, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	id := getURLHash(testURL)
 	require.Contains(t, key, id+"/")
@@ -79,3 +80,47 @@ func waitForServer(t *testing.T, addr string) {
 	}
 	t.Fatalf("server did not start listening on %s in time", addr)
 }
+
+func TestRequireHTTPS(t *testing.T) {
+	require.NoError(t, requireHTTPS("upload URL", "https://upload.example/path"))
+	require.Error(t, requireHTTPS("upload URL", "http://upload.example/path"))
+	require.Error(t, requireHTTPS("upload URL", "ftp://upload.example/path"))
+	require.Error(t, requireHTTPS("upload URL", "://malformed"))
+}
+
+func TestRejectInsecureRedirect(t *testing.T) {
+	httpsReq, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "https://a.example/", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, rejectInsecureRedirect(httpsReq, nil), "https redirect target must be allowed")
+
+	httpReq, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "http://a.example/", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Error(t, rejectInsecureRedirect(httpReq, nil), "http redirect target must be refused")
+
+	require.Error(t, rejectInsecureRedirect(httpsReq, make([]*http.Request, 10)), "the 10-redirect limit must be enforced")
+}
+
+// The secure client refuses to follow an https response that redirects to http,
+// so a bundle can't be downgraded onto plaintext mid-flight.
+func TestUploadClientRefusesHTTPSToHTTPRedirect(t *testing.T) {
+	plain := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(plain.Close)
+
+	secure := httptest.NewTLSServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		http.Redirect(w, r, plain.URL, http.StatusFound)
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(secure.Close)
+
+	client := uploadClient(false)
+	// Trust the test server's cert without disabling verification globally.
+	client.Transport = secure.Client().Transport
+
+	resp, err := client.Get(secure.URL)
+	if resp != nil {
+		_ = resp.Body.Close()
+	}
+	require.Error(t, err, "redirect from https to http must be refused")
+	require.Contains(t, err.Error(), "non-https")
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/creds_stub.go

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+//go:build !linux && !darwin && !freebsd && !windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"net"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials"
+)
+
+// errUnsupported is returned on platforms with no local peer-identity
+// primitive, so consumers fail closed instead of guessing an identity.
+var errUnsupported = errors.New("peer identity is not available on this platform")
+
+// NewTransportCredentials returns nil: without a peer-identity primitive the
+// daemon cannot authenticate local callers, and the caller must treat that as
+// "authorization cannot be enforced".
+func NewTransportCredentials() credentials.TransportCredentials {
+	return nil
+}
+
+// PeerIdentity always fails on this platform.
+func PeerIdentity(net.Conn) (Identity, error) {
+	return Identity{}, errUnsupported
+}
+
+// ConnIdentity always fails on this platform.
+func ConnIdentity(net.Conn) (Identity, error) {
+	return Identity{}, errUnsupported
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/creds_unix.go

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+//go:build linux || darwin || freebsd
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials"
+)
+
+// NewTransportCredentials returns gRPC transport credentials that expose the
+// caller's kernel-authenticated identity via IdentityFromContext. It returns
+// nil on platforms that have no peer-identity primitive, which the caller must
+// treat as "authorization cannot be enforced".
+//
+// The handshake exchanges no bytes on the wire, so a client dialing with
+// insecure credentials interoperates with a server using these. That keeps
+// older CLI and UI binaries working against an upgraded daemon.
+func NewTransportCredentials() credentials.TransportCredentials {
+	return unixCreds{}
+}
+
+// ConnIdentity extracts the caller's identity from an accepted local IPC
+// connection. It is shared by the gRPC transport credentials and by the JSON
+// gateway, which reads the identity of its own HTTP clients.
+func ConnIdentity(conn net.Conn) (Identity, error) {
+	return PeerIdentity(conn)
+}
+
+type unixCreds struct{}
+
+func (unixCreds) ClientHandshake(_ context.Context, _ string, conn net.Conn) (net.Conn, credentials.AuthInfo, error) {
+	return conn, AuthInfo{}, nil
+}
+
+// ServerHandshake extracts the peer identity and fails closed when it cannot
+// be read, so a connection whose caller is unknown never reaches a handler.
+func (unixCreds) ServerHandshake(conn net.Conn) (net.Conn, credentials.AuthInfo, error) {
+	id, err := ConnIdentity(conn)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	return conn, AuthInfo{
+		CommonAuthInfo: credentials.CommonAuthInfo{SecurityLevel: credentials.NoSecurity},
+		Identity:       id,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func (unixCreds) Info() credentials.ProtocolInfo {
+	return credentials.ProtocolInfo{SecurityProtocol: AuthInfo{}.AuthType()}
+}
+
+func (unixCreds) Clone() credentials.TransportCredentials { return unixCreds{} }
+
+func (unixCreds) OverrideServerName(string) error { return nil }

client/internal/ipcauth/creds_windows.go

@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"runtime"
+
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials"
+)
+
+var (
+	modadvapi32                    = windows.NewLazySystemDLL("advapi32.dll")
+	procImpersonateNamedPipeClient = modadvapi32.NewProc("ImpersonateNamedPipeClient")
+)
+
+// DefaultPipeSDDL is the security descriptor for the daemon control pipe.
+//
+//	D:P          protected DACL, no inheritance
+//	(A;;GA;;;SY) allow GENERIC_ALL to LocalSystem (the daemon's service account)
+//	(A;;GA;;;WD) allow GENERIC_ALL to Everyone
+//
+// Any local caller may connect, as with a Unix socket at 0666; what a caller may
+// actually do is decided from its token, not from the DACL. Remote callers are not
+// a concern here: winio.ListenPipe creates the pipe with
+// FILE_PIPE_REJECT_REMOTE_CLIENTS, so NPFS rejects connections from other machines
+// before the descriptor is consulted.
+//
+// A deny ACE on the NETWORK SID would not add anything and would break callers:
+// that SID is present in any network-logon token, which includes OpenSSH and WinRM
+// sessions, so it denies administrators driving the CLI over SSH and denies the
+// daemon itself when started from such a session.
+func DefaultPipeSDDL() string {
+	return "D:P(A;;GA;;;SY)(A;;GA;;;WD)"
+}
+
+// NewTransportCredentials returns gRPC transport credentials that derive the
+// caller's identity from the named-pipe client token.
+//
+// The client must connect at SECURITY_IDENTIFICATION for the daemon to be able
+// to read its token, which is what DialNamedPipe does.
+func NewTransportCredentials() credentials.TransportCredentials {
+	return winpipeCreds{}
+}
+
+// ConnIdentity extracts the caller's identity from an accepted named-pipe
+// connection by impersonating the pipe client and reading its token. It is
+// shared by the gRPC transport credentials and by the JSON gateway, which
+// reads the identity of its own HTTP clients.
+func ConnIdentity(conn net.Conn) (Identity, error) {
+	// go-winio's pipe connection embeds *win32File, which exposes Fd().
+	fdConn, ok := conn.(interface{ Fd() uintptr })
+	if !ok {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("connection %T does not expose a pipe handle", conn)
+	}
+	return pipeClientIdentity(windows.Handle(fdConn.Fd()))
+}
+
+type winpipeCreds struct{}
+
+func (winpipeCreds) ClientHandshake(_ context.Context, _ string, conn net.Conn) (net.Conn, credentials.AuthInfo, error) {
+	return conn, AuthInfo{}, nil
+}
+
+// ServerHandshake extracts the connecting client's identity and fails closed
+// when the handle or token cannot be read, so a connection whose caller is
+// unknown never reaches a handler.
+func (winpipeCreds) ServerHandshake(conn net.Conn) (net.Conn, credentials.AuthInfo, error) {
+	id, err := ConnIdentity(conn)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	return conn, AuthInfo{
+		CommonAuthInfo: credentials.CommonAuthInfo{SecurityLevel: credentials.NoSecurity},
+		Identity:       id,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func (winpipeCreds) Info() credentials.ProtocolInfo {
+	return credentials.ProtocolInfo{SecurityProtocol: AuthInfo{}.AuthType()}
+}
+
+func (winpipeCreds) Clone() credentials.TransportCredentials { return winpipeCreds{} }
+
+func (winpipeCreds) OverrideServerName(string) error { return nil }
+
+// pipeClientIdentity reads the connecting client's user SID, usable group
+// SIDs, and elevation state by impersonating the pipe client on this thread
+// and reading the resulting impersonation token.
+func pipeClientIdentity(handle windows.Handle) (id Identity, err error) {
+	// Impersonation is per-thread, so the goroutine must stay on this thread
+	// until RevertToSelf, otherwise an unrelated goroutine could inherit the
+	// impersonated context.
+	runtime.LockOSThread()
+
+	// The thread only goes back to the runtime's pool once it is provably no
+	// longer impersonating the client. If the revert fails, leaving it locked
+	// makes Go terminate it when this goroutine exits, which costs one thread
+	// and keeps a thread running as the client from ever being reused.
+	clean := false
+	defer func() {
+		if clean {
+			runtime.UnlockOSThread()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err = impersonateNamedPipeClient(handle); err != nil {
+		clean = true
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("impersonate named pipe client: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		// Surface the revert failure only when nothing else failed: leaving
+		// the thread impersonated is worse than the original error.
+		revErr := windows.RevertToSelf()
+		if revErr != nil {
+			if err == nil {
+				err = fmt.Errorf("revert impersonation: %w", revErr)
+			}
+			return
+		}
+		clean = true
+	}()
+
+	// openAsSelf=true opens the token with the daemon's own process context
+	// rather than the impersonated client's, so the open cannot fail because
+	// the client lacks access to its own token.
+	var token windows.Token
+	if err = windows.OpenThreadToken(windows.CurrentThread(), windows.TOKEN_QUERY, true, &token); err != nil {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("open thread token: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if cerr := token.Close(); cerr != nil {
+			log.Debugf("close client token: %v", cerr)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return identityFromToken(token)
+}
+
+// identityFromToken reads the user SID, usable group SIDs and elevation state
+// out of a Windows token.
+func identityFromToken(token windows.Token) (Identity, error) {
+	user, err := token.GetTokenUser()
+	if err != nil {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("read token user: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	groups, err := tokenGroupSIDs(token)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Identity{}, err
+	}
+
+	return Identity{
+		SID:      user.User.Sid.String(),
+		Groups:   groups,
+		Elevated: token.IsElevated(),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// tokenGroupSIDs returns the SIDs of the groups the token can actually
+// exercise. Groups that are disabled or marked deny-only are skipped: a
+// UAC-filtered administrator carries BUILTIN\Administrators as deny-only, and
+// treating that as membership would hand every admin account privilege it
+// cannot currently use.
+func tokenGroupSIDs(token windows.Token) ([]string, error) {
+	tg, err := token.GetTokenGroups()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read token groups: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var sids []string
+	for _, g := range tg.AllGroups() {
+		if g.Attributes&windows.SE_GROUP_ENABLED == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		if g.Attributes&windows.SE_GROUP_USE_FOR_DENY_ONLY != 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		sids = append(sids, g.Sid.String())
+	}
+	return sids, nil
+}
+
+func impersonateNamedPipeClient(h windows.Handle) error {
+	r, _, e := procImpersonateNamedPipeClient.Call(uintptr(h))
+	if r == 0 {
+		return e
+	}
+	return nil
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/forward.go

@@ -0,0 +1,272 @@
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"crypto/subtle"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
+	"slices"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/metadata"
+)
+
+// Metadata keys the local JSON gateway uses to forward the identity of its own
+// HTTP client to the daemon. The gateway runs inside the daemon process and
+// re-dials the daemon over the control socket, so without forwarding every
+// JSON request would appear to come from the daemon itself.
+const (
+	// mdFwd marks a request as forwarded by the JSON gateway. It is always
+	// set, even when the gateway could not read its client's identity, so the
+	// daemon can tell "no identity available" apart from "not forwarded".
+	mdFwd         = "x-netbird-fwd"
+	mdFwdUID      = "x-netbird-fwd-uid"      // Unix user ID
+	mdFwdGID      = "x-netbird-fwd-gid"      // Unix primary group ID
+	mdFwdSID      = "x-netbird-fwd-sid"      // Windows user SID
+	mdFwdGroup    = "x-netbird-fwd-group"    // Windows group SID, repeated
+	mdFwdElevated = "x-netbird-fwd-elevated" // Windows, "1" when elevated
+
+	// mdFwdProof proves the forwarded identity was stamped by this process. The
+	// gateway runs inside the daemon, so a secret held in memory is available to
+	// the only legitimate producer and to nothing else.
+	mdFwdProof = "x-netbird-fwd-proof"
+)
+
+// forwardKeys is every metadata key the gateway sets. An HTTP client must never
+// be able to supply one itself: see IsReservedForwardKey.
+var forwardKeys = []string{mdFwd, mdFwdUID, mdFwdGID, mdFwdSID, mdFwdGroup, mdFwdElevated, mdFwdProof}
+
+// forwardProof authenticates the gateway's forwarding metadata. It is generated
+// once per daemon process and never leaves it: it is not written to disk, not
+// logged, and not sent anywhere except over the daemon's own control socket to
+// itself.
+//
+// Without it, trusting a forwarded identity rests on every layer in front of it
+// stripping incoming forwarding keys, and on each key's value shape being
+// distinguishable from an injected one. A single injected group SID or an
+// injected "elevated" flag has the same shape as a legitimate one, so no
+// cardinality rule can catch it. Requiring the proof means metadata that did not
+// come from this process is refused whatever it contains.
+var forwardProof = mustForwardProof()
+
+func mustForwardProof() string {
+	var buf [32]byte
+	if _, err := rand.Read(buf[:]); err != nil {
+		// Continuing would leave the forwarded path authenticated by a
+		// predictable value, which is worse than not starting.
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("generate identity forwarding proof: %v", err))
+	}
+	return hex.EncodeToString(buf[:])
+}
+
+// IsReservedForwardKey reports whether a gRPC metadata key belongs to the
+// gateway's identity forwarding, and therefore must be dropped when it arrives
+// from outside.
+//
+// grpc-gateway maps "Grpc-Metadata-<key>" request headers into gRPC metadata and
+// joins them ahead of the values its own annotators add. Without dropping these,
+// an HTTP client could hand the daemon "x-netbird-fwd-uid: 0" and be believed,
+// because the daemon trusts forwarded metadata when the transport peer is the
+// (privileged) gateway.
+func IsReservedForwardKey(key string) bool {
+	key = strings.ToLower(key)
+	return slices.Contains(forwardKeys, key)
+}
+
+// ForwardIdentityMetadata encodes an HTTP client's identity for the JSON
+// gateway to forward to the daemon. When known is false only the marker is
+// set, which makes the daemon treat the caller as unidentified rather than as
+// the daemon itself.
+func ForwardIdentityMetadata(id Identity, known bool) metadata.MD {
+	md := metadata.MD{}
+	md.Set(mdFwd, "1")
+	md.Set(mdFwdProof, forwardProof)
+	if !known {
+		return md
+	}
+
+	if id.IsWindows() {
+		md.Set(mdFwdSID, id.SID)
+		if len(id.Groups) > 0 {
+			md.Set(mdFwdGroup, id.Groups...)
+		}
+		if id.Elevated {
+			md.Set(mdFwdElevated, "1")
+		}
+		return md
+	}
+
+	md.Set(mdFwdUID, strconv.FormatUint(uint64(id.UID), 10))
+	md.Set(mdFwdGID, strconv.FormatUint(uint64(id.GID), 10))
+	return md
+}
+
+// CallerIdentity returns the identity to authorize a request against. For a
+// direct connection that is the transport peer's kernel identity. For a
+// request relayed by the local JSON gateway it is the identity the gateway
+// forwarded, since the transport peer is then the daemon itself.
+//
+// A forwarded identity is only honoured when the transport peer is the daemon's
+// own identity and the metadata carries this process's forwarding proof, so
+// forged forwarding metadata gains a caller nothing. A forwarded request that
+// carries no identity is reported as unidentified, never as the daemon.
+//
+// The second return value is false when no identity could be established, and
+// callers MUST fail closed in that case.
+func CallerIdentity(ctx context.Context) (Identity, bool) {
+	id, ok := IdentityFromContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return Identity{}, false
+	}
+
+	// A forwarding key that arrives more than once did not come from the gateway
+	// alone, so nothing about the request can be trusted to describe its caller.
+	// Refusing outright matters because the alternative reading, "not forwarded",
+	// would authorize the request as the transport peer, which on the gateway's
+	// connection is the daemon itself.
+	if duplicatedForwardKey(ctx) {
+		return Identity{}, false
+	}
+
+	forwarded := isForwarded(ctx)
+
+	// Our own process on the other end of the socket is the JSON gateway, the only
+	// thing that dials the daemon from inside it. Such a call must carry a
+	// forwarded identity; without one there is no caller to authorize, and
+	// treating it as the daemon would authorize whatever reached the JSON socket.
+	// Only Linux reports the peer PID, so this is a belt on top of the gateway's
+	// interceptor rather than the sole guarantee.
+	if id.PID != 0 && int(id.PID) == selfPID && !forwarded {
+		return Identity{}, false
+	}
+
+	// Only the gateway's own connection may speak for someone else. Being
+	// privileged is not enough and not the point: the gateway runs inside the
+	// daemon, so it dials as the daemon's identity whatever user that is, which
+	// also covers a rootless container.
+	if !forwarded || !IsDaemonSelf(id) {
+		return id, true
+	}
+
+	// Speaking for someone else additionally requires the proof only this process
+	// holds. Refusing is the only safe reading: the transport peer here is the
+	// daemon itself, so falling back to it would authorize the request as the
+	// daemon. This is also what makes the forwarded values trustworthy once
+	// accepted, so they need no shape checks of their own.
+	if !authenticForward(ctx) {
+		return Identity{}, false
+	}
+
+	return forwardedIdentity(ctx)
+}
+
+// duplicatedForwardKey reports whether any forwarding key carries more than one
+// value. The gateway's interceptor sets each key exactly once and replaces what
+// was already there, so a repeat means a second source supplied it.
+func duplicatedForwardKey(ctx context.Context) bool {
+	md, ok := metadata.FromIncomingContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, key := range forwardKeys {
+		// Group SIDs are legitimately repeated; the rest identify the caller.
+		if key == mdFwdGroup {
+			continue
+		}
+		if len(md.Get(key)) > 1 {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// authenticForward reports whether the request carries this process's forwarding
+// proof, which only the in-process JSON gateway can supply.
+func authenticForward(ctx context.Context) bool {
+	md, ok := metadata.FromIncomingContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	got := mdSingle(md, mdFwdProof)
+	return subtle.ConstantTimeCompare([]byte(got), []byte(forwardProof)) == 1
+}
+
+// isForwarded reports whether the request carries the JSON gateway marker.
+func isForwarded(ctx context.Context) bool {
+	md, ok := metadata.FromIncomingContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	return mdSingle(md, mdFwd) != ""
+}
+
+// forwardedIdentity decodes the identity the JSON gateway attached.
+func forwardedIdentity(ctx context.Context) (Identity, bool) {
+	md, ok := metadata.FromIncomingContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return Identity{}, false
+	}
+
+	if sid := mdSingle(md, mdFwdSID); sid != "" {
+		return Identity{
+			SID: sid,
+			// Repeated by design, one value per group, and only reachable once
+			// the forwarding proof has been verified.
+			Groups:   md.Get(mdFwdGroup),
+			Elevated: mdSingle(md, mdFwdElevated) == "1",
+		}, true
+	}
+
+	uid, err := strconv.ParseUint(mdSingle(md, mdFwdUID), 10, 32)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Identity{}, false
+	}
+
+	id := Identity{UID: uint32(uid)}
+	if gid, err := strconv.ParseUint(mdSingle(md, mdFwdGID), 10, 32); err == nil {
+		id.GID = uint32(gid)
+	}
+	return id, true
+}
+
+// mdSingle returns the value of a forwarded key only when exactly one was
+// supplied. The gateway's interceptor sets each key exactly once, so more than one
+// value means something else also supplied it, and the whole identity is treated as
+// unknown rather than picking a winner. Defence in depth behind the gateway's
+// header filter.
+func mdSingle(md metadata.MD, key string) string {
+	if v := md.Get(key); len(v) == 1 {
+		return v[0]
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+// WithForwardedIdentity stamps id onto a context's outgoing metadata for the JSON
+// gateway's call to the daemon, replacing any forwarding keys already present so
+// values supplied from outside cannot survive alongside it.
+//
+// This is deliberately not done with runtime.WithMetadata: grpc-gateway skips its
+// annotators entirely when no request header maps to metadata ("if len(pairs) == 0
+// { return ctx, nil, nil }", runtime/context.go), which an HTTP/1.0 request with no
+// Host header over a unix socket achieves. The daemon would then see an unmarked
+// call whose transport peer is the daemon's own identity, and authorize it as the
+// daemon. A client interceptor runs for every RPC regardless of headers.
+func WithForwardedIdentity(ctx context.Context, id Identity, known bool) context.Context {
+	md, ok := metadata.FromOutgoingContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		md = metadata.MD{}
+	} else {
+		md = md.Copy()
+	}
+
+	for _, key := range forwardKeys {
+		delete(md, key)
+	}
+	for key, values := range ForwardIdentityMetadata(id, known) {
+		md[key] = values
+	}
+
+	return metadata.NewOutgoingContext(ctx, md)
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/forward_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/metadata"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/peer"
+)
+
+// transportCtx builds a request context as the daemon's transport credentials
+// would: the identity of whoever opened the socket, plus whatever metadata the
+// request carried.
+func transportCtx(id Identity, md metadata.MD) context.Context {
+	ctx := peer.NewContext(context.Background(), &peer.Peer{
+		AuthInfo: AuthInfo{
+			CommonAuthInfo: credentials.CommonAuthInfo{SecurityLevel: credentials.NoSecurity},
+			Identity:       id,
+		},
+	})
+	if md != nil {
+		ctx = metadata.NewIncomingContext(ctx, md)
+	}
+	return ctx
+}
+
+var (
+	root       = Identity{UID: 0}
+	unprivUser = Identity{UID: 1000, GID: 1000}
+)
+
+// asDaemon pins which identity counts as this process for the duration of a test.
+// Without it the test binary's own uid decides, which silently changes what
+// "the gateway" means.
+func asDaemon(t *testing.T, id Identity) {
+	t.Helper()
+	prevID, prevKnown, prevDelegate := selfIdentity, selfKnown, selfMayDelegate
+	t.Cleanup(func() { selfIdentity, selfKnown, selfMayDelegate = prevID, prevKnown, prevDelegate })
+	selfIdentity, selfKnown = id, true
+	selfMayDelegate = !id.IsPrivileged()
+}
+
+func TestCallerIdentity_DirectConnections(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("no transport credentials is not an identity", func(t *testing.T) {
+		if _, ok := CallerIdentity(context.Background()); ok {
+			t.Fatal("a caller with no credentials must not be identified")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("a direct caller is its transport identity", func(t *testing.T) {
+		id, ok := CallerIdentity(transportCtx(unprivUser, nil))
+		if !ok || id.UID != 1000 {
+			t.Fatalf("got %v ok=%t, want uid 1000", id, ok)
+		}
+	})
+
+	// The whole point of honouring forwarded metadata only from a privileged
+	// transport peer: an unprivileged caller can set any metadata it likes on its
+	// own connection to the daemon socket.
+	t.Run("an unprivileged caller cannot forge an identity", func(t *testing.T) {
+		asDaemon(t, root)
+		forged := metadata.Pairs(mdFwd, "1", mdFwdUID, "0", mdFwdGID, "0")
+		id, ok := CallerIdentity(transportCtx(unprivUser, forged))
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatal("caller should still be identified, as itself")
+		}
+		if id.IsPrivileged() || id.UID != 1000 {
+			t.Fatalf("forged metadata was believed: got %v", id)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestCallerIdentity_GatewayForwarding(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("the gateway's client identity is used, not the gateway's own", func(t *testing.T) {
+		asDaemon(t, root)
+		md := ForwardIdentityMetadata(unprivUser, true)
+		id, ok := CallerIdentity(transportCtx(root, md))
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatal("forwarded identity should be usable")
+		}
+		if id.IsPrivileged() || id.UID != 1000 {
+			t.Fatalf("got %v, want the forwarded uid 1000 and not privileged", id)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("a privileged gateway client stays privileged", func(t *testing.T) {
+		asDaemon(t, root)
+		md := ForwardIdentityMetadata(root, true)
+		id, ok := CallerIdentity(transportCtx(root, md))
+		if !ok || !id.IsPrivileged() {
+			t.Fatalf("got %v ok=%t, want a privileged identity", id, ok)
+		}
+	})
+
+	// A JSON socket the gateway cannot read peer credentials from (a TCP socket,
+	// say) must not make every request look like the daemon itself.
+	t.Run("an unreadable client identity is unknown, not the daemon", func(t *testing.T) {
+		asDaemon(t, root)
+		md := ForwardIdentityMetadata(Identity{}, false)
+		if _, ok := CallerIdentity(transportCtx(root, md)); ok {
+			t.Fatal("a forwarded request with no identity must not be identified")
+		}
+	})
+
+	// grpc-gateway turns Grpc-Metadata-<key> headers into gRPC metadata and joins
+	// them ahead of its annotators' values. If an HTTP client's header survived
+	// that, this is the shape the daemon would see: the attacker's uid 0 first,
+	// the real uid second. The gateway filters those headers out, and reading a
+	// duplicated key as unknown makes the daemon safe even if it did not.
+	t.Run("a duplicated key from an injected header is not believed", func(t *testing.T) {
+		asDaemon(t, root)
+		md := metadata.MD{}
+		md.Append(mdFwd, "1")
+		md.Append(mdFwdUID, "0")    // injected by the HTTP client
+		md.Append(mdFwdUID, "1000") // appended by the gateway's annotator
+		if id, ok := CallerIdentity(transportCtx(root, md)); ok {
+			t.Fatalf("injected uid was accepted: got %v", id)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("a duplicated marker is not believed either", func(t *testing.T) {
+		asDaemon(t, root)
+		md := metadata.MD{}
+		md.Append(mdFwd, "1")
+		md.Append(mdFwd, "1")
+		md.Append(mdFwdUID, "1000")
+		// A repeated marker must not be read as "not forwarded": that would
+		// authorize the request as the transport peer, which on the gateway's
+		// connection is the daemon itself.
+		if id, ok := CallerIdentity(transportCtx(root, md)); ok {
+			t.Fatalf("a duplicated marker was believed: got %v", id)
+		}
+	})
+
+	// The layers in front of this (the gateway's header matcher, and its
+	// interceptor replacing every forwarding key) are what keep outside metadata
+	// from arriving at all. The proof is what the daemon can check for itself, and
+	// it is the only defence that works for a value whose legitimate shape is
+	// indistinguishable from an injected one: a lone group SID, or "elevated".
+	t.Run("forwarding metadata without this process's proof is refused", func(t *testing.T) {
+		asDaemon(t, root)
+		for name, md := range map[string]metadata.MD{
+			"no proof":    metadata.Pairs(mdFwd, "1", mdFwdUID, "0"),
+			"wrong proof": metadata.Pairs(mdFwd, "1", mdFwdUID, "0", mdFwdProof, "deadbeef"),
+			"windows identity without a proof": metadata.Pairs(mdFwd, "1",
+				mdFwdSID, "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-1001", mdFwdGroup, sidAdministrators, mdFwdElevated, "1"),
+		} {
+			t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+				if id, ok := CallerIdentity(transportCtx(root, md)); ok {
+					t.Fatalf("unstamped forwarding metadata was believed: got %v", id)
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	})
+
+	// A caller that reaches the gateway cannot see the proof, so it cannot append
+	// a group of its own to a genuine forwarded identity: doing so would have to
+	// go through the interceptor, which replaces the whole set.
+	t.Run("a group appended to a stamped identity does not survive the interceptor", func(t *testing.T) {
+		asDaemon(t, root)
+		injected := metadata.MD{}
+		injected.Append(mdFwdGroup, sidAdministrators)
+
+		ctx := WithForwardedIdentity(metadata.NewOutgoingContext(context.Background(), injected),
+			Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-1001"}, true)
+		out, ok := metadata.FromOutgoingContext(ctx)
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatal("no outgoing metadata")
+		}
+		if groups := out.Get(mdFwdGroup); len(groups) != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("injected group survived: %v", groups)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestIsReservedForwardKey(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, key := range forwardKeys {
+		if !IsReservedForwardKey(key) {
+			t.Errorf("%q must be reserved", key)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// grpc-gateway canonicalises header names, so the check has to be
+	// case-insensitive.
+	if !IsReservedForwardKey("X-Netbird-Fwd-Uid") {
+		t.Error("the check must be case-insensitive")
+	}
+
+	for _, key := range []string{"authorization", "x-netbird", "x-netbird-fwd-uid-extra", ""} {
+		if IsReservedForwardKey(key) {
+			t.Errorf("%q must not be reserved", key)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestForwardIdentityMetadata_AlwaysMarksForwarded(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name  string
+		id    Identity
+		known bool
+	}{
+		{"known unix identity", unprivUser, true},
+		{"unknown identity", Identity{}, false},
+		{"windows identity", Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-1001", Elevated: true}, true},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			md := ForwardIdentityMetadata(tc.id, tc.known)
+			if got := md.Get(mdFwd); len(got) != 1 || got[0] != "1" {
+				t.Fatalf("marker = %v, want exactly one \"1\"", got)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/identity.go

@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+// Package ipcauth provides the kernel-authenticated identity of a local IPC
+// (gRPC) caller and the transport credentials that surface it into the gRPC
+// context, so the daemon can authorize individual RPCs by caller identity.
+//
+// On Unix the identity is read from the kernel via SO_PEERCRED (Linux) or
+// LOCAL_PEERCRED (Darwin/FreeBSD). On Windows it is derived from the
+// named-pipe client token. Platforms without a peer-identity primitive get no
+// credentials, and every consumer must fail closed when no identity is
+// available.
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"slices"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/peer"
+)
+
+// Well-known Windows SIDs that identify a fully privileged principal.
+const (
+	sidLocalSystem    = "S-1-5-18"     // NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
+	sidLocalService   = "S-1-5-19"     // NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
+	sidNetworkService = "S-1-5-20"     // NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
+	sidAdministrators = "S-1-5-32-544" // BUILTIN\Administrators
+)
+
+// Identity is the kernel-authenticated identity of a local IPC caller. The
+// zero value is not a valid identity: consumers must only use one obtained
+// with a true ok/nil error return.
+type Identity struct {
+	// UID and GID are the caller's Unix user ID and primary group ID. Both are
+	// zero on Windows, where SID is authoritative instead.
+	UID uint32
+	GID uint32
+
+	// SID is the caller's Windows security identifier, empty on Unix.
+	SID string
+
+	// Groups holds the caller's Windows group SIDs, captured from the client
+	// token at handshake time. Only groups that are enabled and not
+	// deny-only are captured, so a group listed here is one the caller can
+	// actually exercise. Empty on Unix.
+	Groups []string
+
+	// Elevated reports whether the Windows client token is elevated (running
+	// as administrator, or an administrator with UAC turned off). Always false
+	// on Unix, where privilege is uid 0.
+	Elevated bool
+
+	// PID is the caller's process ID where the platform reports it (Linux's
+	// SO_PEERCRED), and 0 where it does not. It identifies the daemon's own
+	// process dialling itself, which is what the JSON gateway does, and is never
+	// used to grant anything.
+	PID int32
+}
+
+// IsWindows reports whether this identity is a Windows principal (SID-based)
+// rather than a Unix uid/gid principal.
+func (i Identity) IsWindows() bool {
+	return i.SID != ""
+}
+
+// IsPrivileged reports whether the caller is the platform's administrative
+// principal, which is what the daemon requires for changes that cross the
+// user-to-root boundary.
+//
+// On Windows the decision comes from the caller's token rather than from
+// account names or group RIDs: an elevated token, one of the service accounts
+// the daemon itself may run as, or a token with BUILTIN\Administrators
+// enabled. A UAC-filtered administrator has that group marked deny-only, and
+// deny-only groups are dropped when the identity is captured, so such a
+// caller is correctly reported as unprivileged. Domain group memberships
+// (Domain Admins and friends) are deliberately not consulted: they say
+// nothing about what this token may do on this machine.
+func (i Identity) IsPrivileged() bool {
+	if !i.IsWindows() {
+		return i.UID == 0
+	}
+
+	if i.Elevated {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	switch i.SID {
+	case sidLocalSystem, sidLocalService, sidNetworkService:
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return slices.Contains(i.Groups, sidAdministrators)
+}
+
+// String renders the identity for audit logs and denial messages.
+func (i Identity) String() string {
+	if i.IsWindows() {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("sid=%s elevated=%t", i.SID, i.Elevated)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("uid=%d gid=%d", i.UID, i.GID)
+}
+
+// AuthInfo carries the peer Identity as a gRPC credentials.AuthInfo so
+// handlers can retrieve it from the request context via IdentityFromContext.
+type AuthInfo struct {
+	credentials.CommonAuthInfo
+	Identity Identity
+}
+
+// AuthType identifies the authentication scheme.
+func (AuthInfo) AuthType() string { return "netbird-ipc-peercred" }
+
+// IdentityFromContext extracts the caller's kernel-authenticated identity from
+// the gRPC peer context. The second return value is false when no IPC
+// transport credentials were negotiated, which happens on a TCP daemon socket
+// and on platforms without a peer-identity primitive. Callers MUST fail closed
+// in that case.
+func IdentityFromContext(ctx context.Context) (Identity, bool) {
+	p, ok := peer.FromContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return Identity{}, false
+	}
+	info, ok := p.AuthInfo.(AuthInfo)
+	if !ok {
+		return Identity{}, false
+	}
+	return info.Identity, true
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile.go

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+)
+
+// OpenOwnedFile opens path for reading on behalf of the IPC caller identified by
+// id, and fails unless the opened file is a regular file that id owns.
+//
+// It exists for the paths a local caller hands to the daemon over the IPC. The
+// daemon runs as root, so opening such a path unchecked lets any local user read
+// any file through it. Ownership is the invariant that keeps the daemon from
+// reading, with its own privileges, a file the caller could not read itself: a
+// symlink or hard link planted at the path resolves to a file someone else owns
+// and is refused.
+//
+// The check is made against the open descriptor rather than the path, so
+// swapping the path between the check and the read cannot change the answer.
+//
+// A privileged caller is exempt: it can read the file directly, so refusing it
+// here would protect nothing. The regular-file requirement still applies to
+// everyone, since a fifo or device planted at the path is never a log file.
+func OpenOwnedFile(id Identity, path string) (*os.File, error) {
+	f, err := openForRead(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if err := checkOwnership(id, f); err != nil {
+		if cerr := f.Close(); cerr != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w (close: %v)", err, cerr)
+		}
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return f, nil
+}
+
+func checkOwnership(id Identity, f *os.File) error {
+	info, err := f.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("stat %s: %w", f.Name(), err)
+	}
+
+	if !info.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s is not a regular file", f.Name())
+	}
+
+	if IsPrivilegedCaller(id) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	owned, err := fileOwnedBy(id, f)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("read owner of %s: %w", f.Name(), err)
+	}
+	if !owned {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s is not owned by the caller (%s)", f.Name(), id)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// otherIdentity is an unprivileged caller that owns nothing the test creates.
+func otherIdentity(t *testing.T) Identity {
+	t.Helper()
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		return Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-1001"}
+	}
+	return Identity{UID: uint32(os.Geteuid() + 1), GID: uint32(os.Getegid() + 1)}
+}
+
+func TestOpenOwnedFileReadsFileOwnedByCaller(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "gui-client.log")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("hello"), 0600))
+
+	id, err := CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	f, err := OpenOwnedFile(id, path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = f.Close() })
+
+	content, err := io.ReadAll(f)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, "hello", string(content))
+}
+
+func TestOpenOwnedFileRefusesFileOwnedByAnother(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "gui-client.log")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("secret"), 0600))
+
+	_, err := OpenOwnedFile(otherIdentity(t), path)
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "not owned by the caller")
+}
+
+func TestOpenOwnedFileRefusesNonRegularFile(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+
+	// The caller owns the directory, so this is the regular-file requirement
+	// talking, not the ownership check.
+	id, err := CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = OpenOwnedFile(id, dir)
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "not a regular file")
+}
+
+func TestOpenOwnedFileRefusesMissingFile(t *testing.T) {
+	id, err := CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = OpenOwnedFile(id, filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "absent.log"))
+	require.Error(t, err)
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile_unix.go

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"syscall"
+)
+
+// openForRead opens a caller-supplied path without following a symlink at its
+// final component and without blocking: a fifo planted at the path would
+// otherwise stall the open until a writer appears, and the daemon holds a lock
+// while it collects the file.
+func openForRead(path string) (*os.File, error) {
+	f, err := os.OpenFile(path, os.O_RDONLY|syscall.O_NOFOLLOW|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("open %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return f, nil
+}
+
+func fileOwnedBy(id Identity, f *os.File) (bool, error) {
+	info, err := f.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	stat, ok := info.Sys().(*syscall.Stat_t)
+	if !ok {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("no owner information in %T", info.Sys())
+	}
+
+	return stat.Uid == id.UID, nil
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile_unix_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// A symlink is the shape the arbitrary-read attempt takes: the caller owns the
+// link, the file it points at belongs to someone else.
+func TestOpenOwnedFileRefusesSymlink(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	target := filepath.Join(dir, "target.log")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(target, []byte("secret"), 0600))
+
+	link := filepath.Join(dir, "gui-client.log")
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(target, link))
+
+	id, err := CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = OpenOwnedFile(id, link)
+	// O_NOFOLLOW on a symlink reports ELOOP on Linux/Darwin and EMLINK on FreeBSD.
+	if !errors.Is(err, syscall.ELOOP) && !errors.Is(err, syscall.EMLINK) {
+		t.Fatalf("symlink open: got %v, want ELOOP or EMLINK", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// A fifo would block the open until a writer showed up, stalling the daemon
+// while it holds its lock.
+func TestOpenOwnedFileRefusesFifoWithoutBlocking(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "gui-client.log")
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(path, 0600))
+
+	id, err := CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	done := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		_, err := OpenOwnedFile(id, path)
+		done <- err
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case err := <-done:
+		require.ErrorContains(t, err, "not a regular file")
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("opening a fifo blocked")
+	}
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile_windows.go

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+// openForRead opens a caller-supplied path without following a reparse point at
+// it. FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT is the Windows analogue of O_NOFOLLOW: it
+// opens a symlink/junction itself rather than its target, so the regular-file
+// check in checkOwnership refuses a link the caller planted to redirect the
+// read. FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS lets a directory open too (as os.Open does),
+// so a directory planted at the path is refused as non-regular rather than
+// erroring here. The share mode matches os.Open so a log being written stays
+// openable.
+func openForRead(path string) (*os.File, error) {
+	p, err := windows.UTF16PtrFromString(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("convert path %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+
+	handle, err := windows.CreateFile(
+		p,
+		windows.GENERIC_READ,
+		windows.FILE_SHARE_READ|windows.FILE_SHARE_WRITE|windows.FILE_SHARE_DELETE,
+		nil,
+		windows.OPEN_EXISTING,
+		windows.FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT|windows.FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS,
+		0,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("open %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+
+	return os.NewFile(uintptr(handle), path), nil
+}
+
+// fileOwnedBy compares the file's owner SID with the caller's. Files an elevated
+// process creates are owned by BUILTIN\Administrators rather than by the user,
+// but such a caller is privileged and never reaches this check.
+func fileOwnedBy(id Identity, f *os.File) (bool, error) {
+	// x/sys/windows GetSecurityInfo frees the OS buffer itself and returns a
+	// Go-heap copy, so there is nothing to LocalFree here.
+	sd, err := windows.GetSecurityInfo(windows.Handle(f.Fd()), windows.SE_FILE_OBJECT, windows.OWNER_SECURITY_INFORMATION)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("read security info: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	owner, _, err := sd.Owner()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("read owner: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return id.SID != "" && owner.String() == id.SID, nil
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile_windows_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+// fileOwnerSID reads the owner SID of path the same way OpenOwnedFile does, so
+// the test can construct an Identity that matches (or deliberately does not).
+func fileOwnerSID(t *testing.T, path string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	f, err := os.Open(path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = f.Close() })
+
+	sd, err := windows.GetSecurityInfo(windows.Handle(f.Fd()), windows.SE_FILE_OBJECT, windows.OWNER_SECURITY_INFORMATION)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	owner, _, err := sd.Owner()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return owner.String()
+}
+
+// The allow branch of fileOwnedBy is the SID-equality path the legitimate GUI
+// flow depends on. Running elevated, a created file is owned by
+// BUILTIN\Administrators; an Identity carrying that SID with Elevated=false and
+// no groups is unprivileged by IsPrivileged (which reads the token, not the
+// SID's RID), so this exercises the real GetSecurityInfo equality rather than
+// the privileged-caller shortcut.
+func TestOpenOwnedFileWindowsOwnerMatchAllows(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "gui-client.log")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("hello"), 0600))
+
+	ownerSID := fileOwnerSID(t, path)
+	id := Identity{SID: ownerSID}
+	require.False(t, id.IsPrivileged(), "identity built from the owner SID must be unprivileged for this to test the match path")
+
+	f, err := OpenOwnedFile(id, path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	_ = f.Close()
+}
+
+func TestOpenOwnedFileWindowsOwnerMismatchRefuses(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "gui-client.log")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("secret"), 0600))
+
+	other := Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-9-9-9-9999"}
+	require.False(t, other.IsPrivileged())
+
+	_, err := OpenOwnedFile(other, path)
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "not owned by the caller")
+}
+
+// FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT must make OpenOwnedFile refuse a symlink the same
+// way O_NOFOLLOW does on Unix, so a planted link can't redirect the read to
+// another file. Creating a symlink needs a privilege the runner may lack, so the
+// test skips rather than fails when it can't.
+func TestOpenOwnedFileWindowsRefusesSymlink(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	target := filepath.Join(dir, "target.log")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(target, []byte("secret"), 0600))
+
+	link := filepath.Join(dir, "gui-client.log")
+	if err := os.Symlink(target, link); err != nil {
+		t.Skipf("cannot create symlink (privilege not held?): %v", err)
+	}
+
+	id, err := CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = OpenOwnedFile(id, link)
+	require.Error(t, err, "a symlink must be refused")
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/peercred_bsd.go

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+//go:build darwin || freebsd
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
+)
+
+// PeerIdentity reads the kernel-authenticated identity of the process on the
+// other end of a Unix socket via LOCAL_PEERCRED. The xucred is recorded by the
+// kernel at connect() time and carries the peer's uid and its group list, of
+// which the first entry is the primary group.
+func PeerIdentity(conn net.Conn) (Identity, error) {
+	uc, ok := conn.(*net.UnixConn)
+	if !ok {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("connection is not a unix socket: %T", conn)
+	}
+
+	raw, err := uc.SyscallConn()
+	if err != nil {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("raw conn: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var cred *unix.Xucred
+	var credErr error
+	if err := raw.Control(func(fd uintptr) {
+		cred, credErr = unix.GetsockoptXucred(int(fd), unix.SOL_LOCAL, unix.LOCAL_PEERCRED)
+	}); err != nil {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("control raw conn: %w", err)
+	}
+	if credErr != nil {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("read LOCAL_PEERCRED: %w", credErr)
+	}
+
+	id := Identity{UID: cred.Uid}
+	if cred.Ngroups > 0 {
+		id.GID = cred.Groups[0]
+	}
+	return id, nil
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/peercred_linux.go

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
+)
+
+// PeerIdentity reads the kernel-authenticated identity of the process on the
+// other end of a Unix socket via SO_PEERCRED. The credentials are recorded by
+// the kernel at connect() time and cannot be changed for the life of the
+// connection, so they are not spoofable by the caller.
+func PeerIdentity(conn net.Conn) (Identity, error) {
+	uc, ok := conn.(*net.UnixConn)
+	if !ok {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("connection is not a unix socket: %T", conn)
+	}
+
+	raw, err := uc.SyscallConn()
+	if err != nil {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("raw conn: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var cred *unix.Ucred
+	var credErr error
+	if err := raw.Control(func(fd uintptr) {
+		cred, credErr = unix.GetsockoptUcred(int(fd), unix.SOL_SOCKET, unix.SO_PEERCRED)
+	}); err != nil {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("control raw conn: %w", err)
+	}
+	if credErr != nil {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("read SO_PEERCRED: %w", credErr)
+	}
+
+	return Identity{UID: cred.Uid, GID: cred.Gid, PID: cred.Pid}, nil
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/pipeserver_windows.go

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+// PipeServerTrusted reports an error unless the pipe behind conn was created by a
+// principal this client may hand secrets to. Clients call it for a pipe whose name
+// carries no guarantee of its own, which is any name outside the
+// ProtectedPrefix\Administrators namespace: that namespace already restricts
+// creation to administrators and LocalSystem, while a plain name can be created by
+// any local user before the daemon gets there.
+//
+// The decision is made from the pipe object's owner, not from the serving process,
+// because a client cannot open a process running as another user at all, and the
+// legitimate case is precisely an unprivileged client talking to a privileged
+// daemon. Trusted owners are the service accounts, BUILTIN\Administrators, and
+// this client's own user, the last of which is the daemon a user runs themselves
+// as in netstack mode. A pipe owned by anyone else gets no setup key, pre-shared
+// key or SSO prompt out of this client.
+func PipeServerTrusted(conn net.Conn) error {
+	// go-winio's pipe connection embeds *win32File, which exposes Fd().
+	fdConn, ok := conn.(interface{ Fd() uintptr })
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("connection %T does not expose a pipe handle", conn)
+	}
+
+	owner, err := pipeOwnerSID(windows.Handle(fdConn.Fd()))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if !trustedPipeOwner(owner) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipe owned by %s, which is neither an administrator nor this user", owner)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// PipeOwnedBySelf reports whether the pipe behind conn was created by this very
+// user, which is how a client recognises a daemon running as itself. Ownership it
+// cannot read is reported as false.
+func PipeOwnedBySelf(conn net.Conn) bool {
+	fdConn, ok := conn.(interface{ Fd() uintptr })
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	owner, err := pipeOwnerSID(windows.Handle(fdConn.Fd()))
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("read daemon pipe owner: %v", err)
+		return false
+	}
+	return selfKnown && selfIdentity.SID != "" && owner == selfIdentity.SID
+}
+
+// pipeOwnerSID reads the owner of the pipe object a client is connected to. The
+// handle was opened with GENERIC_READ, which includes READ_CONTROL, so no extra
+// access is needed.
+func pipeOwnerSID(handle windows.Handle) (string, error) {
+	sd, err := windows.GetSecurityInfo(handle, windows.SE_KERNEL_OBJECT, windows.OWNER_SECURITY_INFORMATION)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("read pipe security info: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	owner, _, err := sd.Owner()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("read pipe owner: %w", err)
+	}
+	return owner.String(), nil
+}
+
+// trustedPipeOwner reports whether a pipe's owner is a principal a client may
+// speak to. An elevated process's objects are owned by BUILTIN\Administrators by
+// default, an unelevated one's by the user, which is why both forms appear here.
+func trustedPipeOwner(owner string) bool {
+	switch owner {
+	case sidLocalSystem, sidLocalService, sidNetworkService, sidAdministrators:
+		return true
+	}
+	return selfKnown && selfIdentity.SID != "" && owner == selfIdentity.SID
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/privileged.go

@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"runtime"
+)
+
+// Fields of the ErrorInfo detail the daemon attaches to a PermissionDenied it
+// raises for an operation that requires root/administrator. Clients match on
+// Reason and Domain rather than on the message text, and render the summary and
+// command themselves so the user gets guidance instead of a gRPC error dump.
+const (
+	// ErrorReasonPrivilegeRequired identifies the detail.
+	ErrorReasonPrivilegeRequired = "PRIVILEGE_REQUIRED"
+	// ErrorDomain scopes the reason to the NetBird daemon.
+	ErrorDomain = "daemon.netbird.io"
+	// ErrorMetaSummary is the one-sentence explanation of what was refused.
+	ErrorMetaSummary = "summary"
+	// ErrorMetaCommand is the command that performs the same operation with the
+	// privileges it needs, ready to copy and run.
+	ErrorMetaCommand = "command"
+)
+
+// The identity of the process evaluating callers, captured once because it cannot
+// change. selfKnown is false when it could not be read, in which case nothing is
+// ever treated as this process. selfMayDelegate additionally requires this
+// process to be unprivileged: see IsPrivilegedCaller.
+var (
+	selfIdentity    Identity
+	selfKnown       bool
+	selfMayDelegate bool
+	// selfPID is this process's PID, used to recognise the daemon dialling itself.
+	selfPID = os.Getpid()
+)
+
+func init() {
+	id, err := CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	selfIdentity, selfKnown = id, true
+	// Only an unprivileged daemon delegates its authority to its own identity.
+	// When it is root or LocalSystem, sharing its identity does not mean sharing
+	// its power: on Windows a filtered and a full token carry the same SID, so
+	// matching there would let a non-elevated shell of an administrator account
+	// act as an administrator, which is the boundary the token check exists to
+	// keep.
+	selfMayDelegate = !id.IsPrivileged()
+}
+
+// IsDaemonSelf reports whether an identity is this very process. The JSON gateway
+// runs inside the daemon and re-dials it locally, so this is what distinguishes
+// the gateway from any other caller, whatever user the daemon runs as.
+func IsDaemonSelf(id Identity) bool {
+	if !selfKnown || id.IsWindows() != selfIdentity.IsWindows() {
+		return false
+	}
+	if id.IsWindows() {
+		return id.SID != "" && id.SID == selfIdentity.SID
+	}
+	return id.UID == selfIdentity.UID
+}
+
+// IsPrivilegedCaller reports whether an identity may make the changes the daemon
+// restricts to the platform administrator. This is the daemon's own rule and
+// cannot be evaluated by a client, which does not know what the daemon runs as.
+//
+// Beyond root/administrator it accepts a caller running as the daemon's own
+// identity when the daemon is itself unprivileged. That keeps a rootless container
+// working, where there is no uid 0 at all, and a Windows daemon in netstack mode,
+// which needs no administrator rights. In those setups a caller sharing the
+// daemon's identity can already rewrite the config files it reads and replace the
+// binary it runs, so refusing it a config change would protect nothing; and an
+// unprivileged daemon cannot hand out a root shell in the first place.
+func IsPrivilegedCaller(id Identity) bool {
+	if id.IsPrivileged() {
+		return true
+	}
+	return selfMayDelegate && IsDaemonSelf(id)
+}
+
+// SelfDelegatesTo returns the identity this process delegates its authority to,
+// and whether it delegates at all. Only an unprivileged daemon does: see
+// IsPrivilegedCaller. It exists so a refusal can name who may actually perform the
+// operation, because on such a host root is neither required nor necessarily
+// available.
+func SelfDelegatesTo() (Identity, bool) {
+	if !selfKnown || !selfMayDelegate {
+		return Identity{}, false
+	}
+	return selfIdentity, true
+}
+
+// PrivilegedActor names the principal a privileged operation requires, for use
+// in messages shown to the user.
+func PrivilegedActor() string {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		return "administrator privileges"
+	}
+	return "root"
+}
+
+// ElevatedCommand renders a command so that running it grants the privileges the
+// operation needs. Windows has no in-line equivalent of sudo, so the command is
+// returned unchanged and the user is expected to run it from an elevated
+// terminal.
+func ElevatedCommand(command string) string {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		return command
+	}
+	return "sudo " + command
+}
+
+// UpCommand renders an elevated `netbird up` with the given flags, preceded by a
+// `down`. The down is what makes the command work on a connected client: `netbird
+// up` prints "Already connected" and returns without applying any config flag, so
+// on its own the command would appear to do nothing. It is a no-op, exit 0, when
+// the client is not connected.
+//
+// ";" rather than "&&" so the line can be pasted into any of the shells a user
+// might have: PowerShell 5.1, still the default on Windows Server, rejects "&&"
+// as a syntax error.
+func UpCommand(flags string) string {
+	return ElevatedCommand("netbird down") + "; " + ElevatedCommand("netbird up "+flags)
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/privileged_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+package ipcauth
+
+import "testing"
+
+// The self rule is the one place privilege is granted to something other than the
+// platform administrator, so its two guards matter: it must apply only when the
+// daemon is itself unprivileged, and only to a caller with the daemon's identity.
+func TestIsPrivilegedCaller_SelfRule(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		// self stands in for the process the daemon runs as.
+		self      Identity
+		selfKnown bool
+		caller    Identity
+		want      bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:      "root is privileged whatever the daemon runs as",
+			self:      Identity{UID: 1000},
+			selfKnown: true,
+			caller:    Identity{UID: 0},
+			want:      true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "an unprivileged daemon delegates to its own user (rootless container)",
+			self:      Identity{UID: 1000},
+			selfKnown: true,
+			caller:    Identity{UID: 1000},
+			want:      true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "an unprivileged daemon delegates to nobody else",
+			self:      Identity{UID: 1000},
+			selfKnown: true,
+			caller:    Identity{UID: 1001},
+			want:      false,
+		},
+		{
+			// The daemon is root on a normal install, so sharing its identity is
+			// already covered by being root; nothing else may match.
+			name:      "a root daemon delegates to nobody",
+			self:      Identity{UID: 0},
+			selfKnown: true,
+			caller:    Identity{UID: 1000},
+			want:      false,
+		},
+		{
+			// Windows netstack mode: the daemon needs no administrator rights.
+			name:      "an unprivileged windows daemon delegates to its own SID",
+			self:      Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-1001"},
+			selfKnown: true,
+			caller:    Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-1001"},
+			want:      true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "an unprivileged windows daemon delegates to no other SID",
+			self:      Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-1001"},
+			selfKnown: true,
+			caller:    Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-1002"},
+			want:      false,
+		},
+		{
+			// The UAC boundary: a filtered and a full token of the same account
+			// carry the same SID but not the same power, so an elevated daemon must
+			// never delegate to its own SID.
+			name:      "an elevated windows daemon does not delegate to its own SID",
+			self:      Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-500", Elevated: true},
+			selfKnown: true,
+			caller:    Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-500"},
+			want:      false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "LocalSystem is privileged on its own merits, not by delegation",
+			self:      Identity{SID: sidLocalSystem},
+			selfKnown: true,
+			caller:    Identity{SID: sidLocalSystem},
+			want:      true, // LocalSystem is privileged on its own merits
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "identities of different kinds never match",
+			self:      Identity{UID: 1000},
+			selfKnown: true,
+			caller:    Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-1-2-3-1001"},
+			want:      false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "an unknown self identity delegates to nobody",
+			self:      Identity{},
+			selfKnown: false,
+			caller:    Identity{UID: 1000},
+			want:      false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			prevID, prevKnown, prevDelegate := selfIdentity, selfKnown, selfMayDelegate
+			t.Cleanup(func() { selfIdentity, selfKnown, selfMayDelegate = prevID, prevKnown, prevDelegate })
+
+			selfIdentity, selfKnown = tt.self, tt.selfKnown
+			selfMayDelegate = tt.selfKnown && !tt.self.IsPrivileged()
+
+			if got := IsPrivilegedCaller(tt.caller); got != tt.want {
+				t.Fatalf("IsPrivilegedCaller(%v) with daemon %v = %t, want %t",
+					tt.caller, tt.self, got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// The real process must never accidentally delegate: a test binary running as a
+// normal user is unprivileged, so it may match itself, but nothing else.
+func TestIsPrivilegedCaller_ThisProcess(t *testing.T) {
+	id, err := CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Skipf("cannot read this process's identity: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// This process is always allowed to act as itself: either it is privileged, or
+	// it is unprivileged and therefore delegates to its own identity.
+	if !IsPrivilegedCaller(id) {
+		t.Errorf("this process %v was refused its own identity", id)
+	}
+
+	// A caller that is neither root nor this process must be refused, whatever
+	// this process happens to be.
+	other := Identity{UID: id.UID + 1}
+	if id.IsWindows() {
+		other = Identity{SID: id.SID + "9"}
+	}
+	if IsPrivilegedCaller(other) {
+		t.Errorf("an unrelated identity %v was treated as privileged", other)
+	}
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/self_unix.go

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import "os"
+
+// CurrentProcessIdentity returns this process's identity as the daemon would
+// see it if this process connected to the local IPC. It lets a client (the UI)
+// decide up front whether a privileged operation can succeed, without a
+// round-trip and without duplicating the rules: the answer comes from the same
+// Identity.IsPrivileged the daemon applies.
+func CurrentProcessIdentity() (Identity, error) {
+	return Identity{
+		UID: uint32(os.Geteuid()),
+		GID: uint32(os.Getegid()),
+	}, nil
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/self_windows.go

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+// CurrentProcessIdentity returns this process's identity as the daemon would see
+// it if this process connected to the local IPC. It lets a client (the UI)
+// decide up front whether a privileged operation can succeed, without a
+// round-trip and without duplicating the rules: the answer comes from the same
+// Identity.IsPrivileged the daemon applies to the token it reads off the pipe.
+func CurrentProcessIdentity() (Identity, error) {
+	// A pseudo-token, so it must not be closed.
+	token := windows.GetCurrentProcessToken()
+
+	user, err := token.GetTokenUser()
+	if err != nil {
+		return Identity{}, fmt.Errorf("read token user: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	groups, err := tokenGroupSIDs(token)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Identity{}, err
+	}
+
+	return Identity{
+		SID:      user.User.Sid.String(),
+		Groups:   groups,
+		Elevated: token.IsElevated(),
+	}, nil
+}

client/internal/mobile_dependency.go

@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@ import (
 
 // MobileDependency collect all dependencies for mobile platform
 type MobileDependency struct {
-	// Android only
-	TunAdapter            device.TunAdapter
-	IFaceDiscover         stdnet.ExternalIFaceDiscover
+	// Android and iOS
 	NetworkChangeListener listener.NetworkChangeListener
-	HostDNSAddresses      []netip.AddrPort
-	DnsReadyListener      dns.ReadyListener
+
+	// Android only
+	TunAdapter       device.TunAdapter
+	IFaceDiscover    stdnet.ExternalIFaceDiscover
+	HostDNSAddresses []netip.AddrPort
+	DnsReadyListener dns.ReadyListener
 
 	//	iOS only
 	DnsManager     dns.IosDnsManager

client/internal/profilemanager/config.go

@@ -746,6 +746,13 @@ func (config *Config) applyMDMPolicy(policy *mdm.Policy) {
 // appended for https or ":80" for http. The serviceName parameter is
 // used to contextualise error messages. On success returns the parsed
 // *url.URL; on failure returns a non-nil error.
+// ParseServiceURL normalises a service URL exactly as the config layer does when
+// it stores one, so callers comparing a requested URL against a stored one do not
+// have to reimplement the scheme validation and default-port handling.
+func ParseServiceURL(serviceName, serviceURL string) (*url.URL, error) {
+	return parseURL(serviceName, serviceURL)
+}
+
 func parseURL(serviceName, serviceURL string) (*url.URL, error) {
 	parsedMgmtURL, err := url.ParseRequestURI(serviceURL)
 	if err != nil {

client/internal/routemanager/dnsinterceptor/handler.go

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func (d *DnsInterceptor) RemoveRoute() error {
 
 			// AllowedIPs should use real IPs
 			if d.currentPeerKey != "" {
-				if _, err := d.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(prefix); err != nil {
+				if _, err := d.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(prefix, d.currentPeerKey); err != nil {
 					merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("remove allowed IP %s: %v", prefix, err))
 				}
 			}
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func (d *DnsInterceptor) removeAllowedIP(realPrefix netip.Prefix) error {
 	}
 
 	// AllowedIPs use real IPs
-	if _, err := d.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(realPrefix); err != nil {
+	if _, err := d.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(realPrefix, d.currentPeerKey); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("remove allowed IP %s: %v", realPrefix, err)
 	}
 
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ func (d *DnsInterceptor) RemoveAllowedIPs() error {
 	for _, prefixes := range d.interceptedDomains {
 		for _, prefix := range prefixes {
 			// AllowedIPs use real IPs
-			if _, err := d.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(prefix); err != nil {
+			if _, err := d.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(prefix, d.currentPeerKey); err != nil {
 				merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("remove allowed IP %s: %v", prefix, err))
 			}
 		}

client/internal/routemanager/dynamic/route.go

@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func (r *Route) RemoveAllowedIPs() error {
 	var merr *multierror.Error
 	for _, domainPrefixes := range r.dynamicDomains {
 		for _, prefix := range domainPrefixes {
-			if _, err := r.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(prefix); err != nil {
+			if _, err := r.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(prefix, r.currentPeerKey); err != nil {
 				merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("remove allowed IP %s: %w", prefix, err))
 			}
 		}
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ func (r *Route) removeRoutes(prefixes []netip.Prefix) ([]netip.Prefix, error) {
 			merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("remove dynamic route for IP %s: %w", prefix, err))
 		}
 		if r.currentPeerKey != "" {
-			if _, err := r.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(prefix); err != nil {
+			if _, err := r.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(prefix, r.currentPeerKey); err != nil {
 				merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("remove allowed IP %s: %w", prefix, err))
 			}
 		}

client/internal/routemanager/manager.go

@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ type Manager interface {
 	UpdateRoutes(updateSerial uint64, serverRoutes map[route.ID]*route.Route, clientRoutes route.HAMap, useNewDNSRoute bool) error
 	ClassifyRoutes(newRoutes []*route.Route) (map[route.ID]*route.Route, route.HAMap)
 	TriggerSelection(route.HAMap)
+	SelectRoutes(ids []route.NetID, appendRoute bool) error
+	DeselectRoutes(ids []route.NetID) error
+	SelectAllRoutes()
+	DeselectAllRoutes()
 	GetRouteSelector() *routeselector.RouteSelector
 	GetClientRoutes() route.HAMap
 	GetSelectedClientRoutes() route.HAMap
@@ -216,7 +220,7 @@ func (m *DefaultManager) setupRefCounters(useNoop bool) {
 		)
 	}
 
-	m.allowedIPsRefCounter = refcounter.New(
+	m.allowedIPsRefCounter = refcounter.NewAllowedIPs(
 		func(prefix netip.Prefix, peerKey string) (string, error) {
 			// save peerKey to use it in the remove function
 			return peerKey, m.wgInterface.AddAllowedIP(peerKey, prefix)
@@ -800,7 +804,7 @@ func (m *DefaultManager) collectExitNodeInfo(clientRoutes route.HAMap) exitNodeI
 	var info exitNodeInfo
 
 	for haID, routes := range clientRoutes {
-		if !m.isExitNodeRoute(routes) {
+		if !isExitNodeRoutes(routes) {
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -820,13 +824,6 @@ func (m *DefaultManager) collectExitNodeInfo(clientRoutes route.HAMap) exitNodeI
 	return info
 }
 
-func (m *DefaultManager) isExitNodeRoute(routes []*route.Route) bool {
-	if len(routes) == 0 {
-		return false
-	}
-	return route.IsV4DefaultRoute(routes[0].Network) || route.IsV6DefaultRoute(routes[0].Network)
-}
-
 func (m *DefaultManager) categorizeUserSelection(netID route.NetID, info *exitNodeInfo) {
 	if m.routeSelector.IsSelected(netID) {
 		info.userSelected = append(info.userSelected, netID)

client/internal/routemanager/mock.go

@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ type MockManager struct {
 	ClassifyRoutesFunc           func(routes []*route.Route) (map[route.ID]*route.Route, route.HAMap)
 	UpdateRoutesFunc             func(updateSerial uint64, serverRoutes map[route.ID]*route.Route, clientRoutes route.HAMap, useNewDNSRoute bool) error
 	TriggerSelectionFunc         func(haMap route.HAMap)
+	SelectRoutesFunc             func(ids []route.NetID, appendRoute bool) error
+	DeselectRoutesFunc           func(ids []route.NetID) error
 	GetRouteSelectorFunc         func() *routeselector.RouteSelector
 	GetClientRoutesFunc          func() route.HAMap
 	GetSelectedClientRoutesFunc  func() route.HAMap
@@ -55,6 +57,30 @@ func (m *MockManager) TriggerSelection(networks route.HAMap) {
 	}
 }
 
+// SelectRoutes mock implementation of SelectRoutes from Manager interface
+func (m *MockManager) SelectRoutes(ids []route.NetID, appendRoute bool) error {
+	if m.SelectRoutesFunc != nil {
+		return m.SelectRoutesFunc(ids, appendRoute)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// DeselectRoutes mock implementation of DeselectRoutes from Manager interface
+func (m *MockManager) DeselectRoutes(ids []route.NetID) error {
+	if m.DeselectRoutesFunc != nil {
+		return m.DeselectRoutesFunc(ids)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// SelectAllRoutes mock implementation of SelectAllRoutes from Manager interface
+func (m *MockManager) SelectAllRoutes() {
+}
+
+// DeselectAllRoutes mock implementation of DeselectAllRoutes from Manager interface
+func (m *MockManager) DeselectAllRoutes() {
+}
+
 // GetRouteSelector mock implementation of GetRouteSelector from Manager interface
 func (m *MockManager) GetRouteSelector() *routeselector.RouteSelector {
 	if m.GetRouteSelectorFunc != nil {

client/internal/routemanager/notifier/notifier_ios.go

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 package notifier
 
 import (
-	"container/list"
 	"net/netip"
 	"slices"
 	"sort"
@@ -16,20 +15,12 @@ import (
 
 type Notifier struct {
 	mu              sync.Mutex
-	cond            *sync.Cond
 	currentPrefixes []string
 	listener        listener.NetworkChangeListener
-	queue           *list.List
-	closed          bool
 }
 
 func NewNotifier() *Notifier {
-	n := &Notifier{
-		queue: list.New(),
-	}
-	n.cond = sync.NewCond(&n.mu)
-	go n.deliverLoop()
-	return n
+	return &Notifier{}
 }
 
 func (n *Notifier) SetListener(listener listener.NetworkChangeListener) {
@@ -59,44 +50,19 @@ func (n *Notifier) OnNewPrefixes(prefixes []netip.Prefix) {
 	sort.Strings(newNets)
 
 	n.mu.Lock()
+	defer n.mu.Unlock()
 	if slices.Equal(n.currentPrefixes, newNets) {
-		n.mu.Unlock()
 		return
 	}
 	n.currentPrefixes = newNets
-	routes := strings.Join(n.currentPrefixes, ",")
-	n.queue.PushBack(routes)
-	n.cond.Signal()
-	n.mu.Unlock()
+	if n.listener != nil {
+		n.listener.OnNetworkChanged(strings.Join(n.currentPrefixes, ","))
+	}
 }
 
 func (n *Notifier) Close() {
-	n.mu.Lock()
-	n.closed = true
-	n.cond.Signal()
-	n.mu.Unlock()
 }
 
 func (n *Notifier) GetInitialRouteRanges() []string {
 	return nil
 }
-
-func (n *Notifier) deliverLoop() {
-	for {
-		n.mu.Lock()
-		for n.queue.Len() == 0 && !n.closed {
-			n.cond.Wait()
-		}
-		if n.closed && n.queue.Len() == 0 {
-			n.mu.Unlock()
-			return
-		}
-		routes := n.queue.Remove(n.queue.Front()).(string)
-		l := n.listener
-		n.mu.Unlock()
-
-		if l != nil {
-			l.OnNetworkChanged(routes)
-		}
-	}
-}

client/internal/routemanager/reconcile_test.go

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (m *reconcileWGMock) GetNet() *netstack.Net                      { return n
 func TestReconcilePeerAllowedIPs(t *testing.T) {
 	wg := &reconcileWGMock{}
 	m := &DefaultManager{wgInterface: wg}
-	m.allowedIPsRefCounter = refcounter.New[netip.Prefix, string, string](
+	m.allowedIPsRefCounter = refcounter.NewAllowedIPs(
 		func(_ netip.Prefix, peerKey string) (string, error) { return peerKey, nil },
 		func(netip.Prefix, string) error { return nil },
 	)

client/internal/routemanager/refcounter/allowedips.go

@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+package refcounter
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/netip"
+	"sort"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-multierror"
+
+	nberrors "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/errors"
+)
+
+// allowedIPsEntry holds the per-peer reference counts for a single prefix and which peer is
+// currently installed in WireGuard. WireGuard allows a prefix on exactly one peer, so at most
+// one peer is active at a time even when several peers reference the prefix.
+type allowedIPsEntry struct {
+	// peers maps a peerKey to the number of references holding the prefix for that peer.
+	peers map[string]int
+	// active is the peerKey currently installed in WireGuard for this prefix ("" if none).
+	active string
+	// total is the sum of all per-peer reference counts (kept in sync with peers).
+	total int
+}
+
+// AllowedIPsRefCounter is a peer-aware reference counter for WireGuard AllowedIPs.
+//
+// The generic Counter keys only by prefix and remembers a single Out value set by the first
+// caller, which it never changes. That is wrong for AllowedIPs: two independent watchers (or
+// multiple resolved domains) can reference the same prefix through different peers, and when the
+// peer currently installed in WireGuard releases its last reference the prefix must be handed over
+// to a surviving peer instead of being left pointing at the released one.
+//
+// It calls add/remove (which program WireGuard) only on the transitions that matter:
+//   - add on the first reference for a prefix, or when swapping the active peer;
+//   - remove on the last reference for a prefix, or on the old peer during a swap.
+type AllowedIPsRefCounter struct {
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	entries map[netip.Prefix]*allowedIPsEntry
+	add     AddFunc[netip.Prefix, string, string]
+	remove  RemoveFunc[netip.Prefix, string]
+}
+
+// NewAllowedIPs creates a new peer-aware AllowedIPs reference counter.
+// add programs a prefix on a peer in WireGuard and returns the peerKey to store as the active peer.
+// remove unprograms the prefix from the given peer.
+func NewAllowedIPs(add AddFunc[netip.Prefix, string, string], remove RemoveFunc[netip.Prefix, string]) *AllowedIPsRefCounter {
+	return &AllowedIPsRefCounter{
+		entries: map[netip.Prefix]*allowedIPsEntry{},
+		add:     add,
+		remove:  remove,
+	}
+}
+
+// Increment adds a reference to prefix for peerKey. WireGuard is programmed only for the first
+// reference to a prefix; while a different peer is already installed the prefix is left with it
+// (first peer wins, HA at the WireGuard layer is not possible) and only the reference count is kept.
+func (rm *AllowedIPsRefCounter) Increment(prefix netip.Prefix, peerKey string) (Ref[string], error) {
+	rm.mu.Lock()
+	defer rm.mu.Unlock()
+
+	e, ok := rm.entries[prefix]
+	if !ok {
+		e = &allowedIPsEntry{peers: map[string]int{}}
+		rm.entries[prefix] = e
+	}
+
+	logCallerF("Increasing allowed IP ref count for prefix %v peer %s [peer %d -> %d, total %d -> %d, active %q]",
+		prefix, peerKey, e.peers[peerKey], e.peers[peerKey]+1, e.total, e.total+1, e.active)
+
+	// Program WireGuard only when nothing is installed yet for this prefix.
+	if e.active == "" {
+		out, err := rm.add(prefix, peerKey)
+		if errors.Is(err, ErrIgnore) {
+			if e.total == 0 {
+				delete(rm.entries, prefix)
+			}
+			return Ref[string]{Count: e.total, Out: e.active}, nil
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			if e.total == 0 {
+				delete(rm.entries, prefix)
+			}
+			return Ref[string]{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to add allowed IP %v for peer %s: %w", prefix, peerKey, err)
+		}
+		e.active = out
+	}
+
+	e.peers[peerKey]++
+	e.total++
+
+	return Ref[string]{Count: e.total, Out: e.active}, nil
+}
+
+// Decrement removes a reference to prefix for peerKey. When the peer currently installed in
+// WireGuard releases its last reference, the prefix is swapped to a surviving peer if one exists,
+// otherwise it is removed from WireGuard.
+func (rm *AllowedIPsRefCounter) Decrement(prefix netip.Prefix, peerKey string) (Ref[string], error) {
+	rm.mu.Lock()
+	defer rm.mu.Unlock()
+
+	e, ok := rm.entries[prefix]
+	if !ok {
+		logCallerF("No allowed IP reference found for prefix %v", prefix)
+		return Ref[string]{}, nil
+	}
+
+	if e.peers[peerKey] > 0 {
+		logCallerF("Decreasing allowed IP ref count for prefix %v peer %s [peer %d -> %d, total %d -> %d, active %q]",
+			prefix, peerKey, e.peers[peerKey], e.peers[peerKey]-1, e.total, e.total-1, e.active)
+		e.peers[peerKey]--
+		e.total--
+		if e.peers[peerKey] == 0 {
+			delete(e.peers, peerKey)
+		}
+	} else {
+		logCallerF("No allowed IP reference found for prefix %v peer %s", prefix, peerKey)
+	}
+
+	// If the peer currently installed in WireGuard still holds references, nothing to reprogram.
+	// Keying the check on the active peer (not the one just released) makes this self-healing:
+	// a prior swap whose remove/add failed leaves e.active pointing at a peer with no references,
+	// and this retries the hand-off on the next Decrement instead of getting stuck.
+	if e.active != "" && e.peers[e.active] > 0 {
+		return Ref[string]{Count: e.total, Out: e.active}, nil
+	}
+
+	// Detach the stale/gone active peer from WireGuard before reprogramming.
+	if e.active != "" {
+		if err := rm.remove(prefix, e.active); err != nil {
+			return Ref[string]{Count: e.total, Out: e.active}, fmt.Errorf("remove allowed IP %v for peer %s: %w", prefix, e.active, err)
+		}
+		e.active = ""
+	}
+
+	// Hand the prefix over to a surviving peer, or drop the entry when none remain.
+	if survivor, ok := pickSurvivor(e.peers); ok {
+		out, err := rm.add(prefix, survivor)
+		if err != nil {
+			return Ref[string]{Count: e.total, Out: ""}, fmt.Errorf("swap allowed IP %v to peer %s: %w", prefix, survivor, err)
+		}
+		e.active = out
+		return Ref[string]{Count: e.total, Out: e.active}, nil
+	}
+
+	delete(rm.entries, prefix)
+	return Ref[string]{Count: 0, Out: ""}, nil
+}
+
+// Flush removes all prefixes from WireGuard and clears the counter.
+func (rm *AllowedIPsRefCounter) Flush() error {
+	rm.mu.Lock()
+	defer rm.mu.Unlock()
+
+	var merr *multierror.Error
+	for prefix, e := range rm.entries {
+		if e.active == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		logCallerF("Flushing allowed IP for prefix %v peer %s", prefix, e.active)
+		if err := rm.remove(prefix, e.active); err != nil {
+			merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("remove allowed IP %v for peer %s: %w", prefix, e.active, err))
+		}
+	}
+
+	clear(rm.entries)
+
+	return nberrors.FormatErrorOrNil(merr)
+}
+
+// ReapplyMatching calls apply for every prefix whose currently installed (active) peer satisfies
+// pred, holding the lock for the whole pass. It is used to re-push allowed IPs onto a peer whose
+// WireGuard entry was rebuilt (e.g. a lazy connection cycling idle->wake) without a matching
+// refcounter change, which would otherwise leave the prefix installed in the counter but missing
+// on the device. Only the active peer is considered — a prefix that lost its installed peer to a
+// failed swap is skipped here and reconciled by the next Increment/Decrement.
+func (rm *AllowedIPsRefCounter) ReapplyMatching(pred func(out string) bool, apply func(key netip.Prefix) error) error {
+	rm.mu.Lock()
+	defer rm.mu.Unlock()
+
+	var merr *multierror.Error
+	for prefix, e := range rm.entries {
+		if e.active != "" && pred(e.active) {
+			if err := apply(prefix); err != nil {
+				merr = multierror.Append(merr, err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nberrors.FormatErrorOrNil(merr)
+}
+
+// pickSurvivor deterministically selects a peer still referencing the prefix. WireGuard cannot do
+// multipath for a single prefix, so any surviving peer is a valid winner; the choice is made stable
+// (lowest peerKey) for predictable behavior and testability.
+func pickSurvivor(peers map[string]int) (string, bool) {
+	if len(peers) == 0 {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(peers))
+	for k := range peers {
+		keys = append(keys, k)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+	return keys[0], true
+}

client/internal/routemanager/refcounter/allowedips_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,241 @@
+package refcounter
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"net/netip"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// fakeWG models WireGuard's cryptokey routing: a prefix can be installed on exactly one peer.
+// failAdd/failRemove make the next add/remove fail once, to exercise the self-healing error paths.
+type fakeWG struct {
+	installed  map[netip.Prefix]string
+	adds       int
+	removes    int
+	failAdd    bool
+	failRemove bool
+}
+
+func newFakeWG() *fakeWG {
+	return &fakeWG{installed: map[netip.Prefix]string{}}
+}
+
+func (f *fakeWG) counter() *AllowedIPsRefCounter {
+	return NewAllowedIPs(
+		func(prefix netip.Prefix, peerKey string) (string, error) {
+			if f.failAdd {
+				f.failAdd = false
+				return "", errors.New("add failed")
+			}
+			f.adds++
+			f.installed[prefix] = peerKey
+			return peerKey, nil
+		},
+		func(prefix netip.Prefix, peerKey string) error {
+			if f.failRemove {
+				f.failRemove = false
+				return errors.New("remove failed")
+			}
+			f.removes++
+			// only clear if this peer is the one installed, mirroring wg semantics
+			if f.installed[prefix] == peerKey {
+				delete(f.installed, prefix)
+			}
+			return nil
+		},
+	)
+}
+
+func mustPrefix(t *testing.T, s string) netip.Prefix {
+	t.Helper()
+	p, err := netip.ParsePrefix(s)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parse prefix %q: %v", s, err)
+	}
+	return p
+}
+
+func mustIncrement(t *testing.T, c *AllowedIPsRefCounter, p netip.Prefix, peer string) Ref[string] {
+	t.Helper()
+	ref, err := c.Increment(p, peer)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Increment(%v, %s): %v", p, peer, err)
+	}
+	return ref
+}
+
+func mustDecrement(t *testing.T, c *AllowedIPsRefCounter, p netip.Prefix, peer string) Ref[string] {
+	t.Helper()
+	ref, err := c.Decrement(p, peer)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Decrement(%v, %s): %v", p, peer, err)
+	}
+	return ref
+}
+
+// TestAllowedIPs_SwapOnActivePeerRemoval reproduces the reported bug: two networks with the same
+// prefix routed by different peers. Removing the network whose peer is installed must hand the
+// prefix over to the surviving peer instead of leaving it on the removed one.
+func TestAllowedIPs_SwapOnActivePeerRemoval(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFakeWG()
+	c := f.counter()
+	p := mustPrefix(t, "10.44.8.0/24")
+
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerA")
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerB")
+	// First peer wins while both are present.
+	if got := f.installed[p]; got != "peerA" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected peerA installed, got %q", got)
+	}
+
+	// Remove the active peer's network -> must swap to peerB.
+	mustDecrement(t, c, p, "peerA")
+	if got := f.installed[p]; got != "peerB" {
+		t.Fatalf("BUG: prefix stuck on removed peer, want peerB got %q", got)
+	}
+
+	// Remove the last one -> prefix gone.
+	mustDecrement(t, c, p, "peerB")
+	if _, ok := f.installed[p]; ok {
+		t.Fatalf("expected prefix removed, still installed on %q", f.installed[p])
+	}
+}
+
+// TestAllowedIPs_RemoveNonActivePeer removing a non-installed peer must not touch WireGuard.
+func TestAllowedIPs_RemoveNonActivePeer(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFakeWG()
+	c := f.counter()
+	p := mustPrefix(t, "10.44.8.0/24")
+
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerA")
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerB")
+	removesBefore := f.removes
+
+	mustDecrement(t, c, p, "peerB")
+	if f.installed[p] != "peerA" {
+		t.Fatalf("active peer must stay peerA, got %q", f.installed[p])
+	}
+	if f.removes != removesBefore {
+		t.Fatalf("removing a non-active peer must not call wg remove")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestAllowedIPs_SamePeerMultipleRefs two references via the same peer must keep the prefix until
+// the last reference is released (the reason the per-peer count must be an int, not a set).
+func TestAllowedIPs_SamePeerMultipleRefs(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFakeWG()
+	c := f.counter()
+	p := mustPrefix(t, "10.44.8.0/24")
+
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerA")
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerA")
+	if f.adds != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected a single wg add for the same peer, got %d", f.adds)
+	}
+
+	mustDecrement(t, c, p, "peerA")
+	if f.installed[p] != "peerA" {
+		t.Fatalf("prefix must stay while a reference remains, got %q", f.installed[p])
+	}
+	if f.removes != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("no wg remove expected while a reference remains, got %d", f.removes)
+	}
+
+	mustDecrement(t, c, p, "peerA")
+	if _, ok := f.installed[p]; ok {
+		t.Fatalf("prefix must be removed after last reference")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestAllowedIPs_RefCountAndActive checks the Ref returned to callers (used for the HA-disabled log).
+func TestAllowedIPs_RefCountAndActive(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFakeWG()
+	c := f.counter()
+	p := mustPrefix(t, "10.44.8.0/24")
+
+	ref := mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerA")
+	if ref.Count != 1 || ref.Out != "peerA" {
+		t.Fatalf("want {1, peerA}, got {%d, %q}", ref.Count, ref.Out)
+	}
+	ref = mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerB")
+	if ref.Count != 2 || ref.Out != "peerA" {
+		t.Fatalf("want {2, peerA}, got {%d, %q}", ref.Count, ref.Out)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestAllowedIPs_Flush removes everything installed and clears the counter.
+func TestAllowedIPs_Flush(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFakeWG()
+	c := f.counter()
+	p1 := mustPrefix(t, "10.44.8.0/24")
+	p2 := mustPrefix(t, "10.44.9.0/24")
+
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p1, "peerA")
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p2, "peerB")
+
+	if err := c.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(f.installed) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected all prefixes removed, got %v", f.installed)
+	}
+	// After flush, a fresh increment must add again.
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p1, "peerC")
+	if f.installed[p1] != "peerC" {
+		t.Fatalf("counter not reset after flush")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestAllowedIPs_SelfHealAfterSwapAddError ensures a failed add during a swap does not permanently
+// strand the prefix: the next Decrement (or Increment) must retry and install a surviving peer.
+func TestAllowedIPs_SelfHealAfterSwapAddError(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFakeWG()
+	c := f.counter()
+	p := mustPrefix(t, "10.44.8.0/24")
+
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerA")
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerB")
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerC")
+
+	// Removing the active peerA triggers a swap to a survivor; make the add fail once.
+	f.failAdd = true
+	if _, err := c.Decrement(p, "peerA"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error from failed swap add")
+	}
+	if _, ok := f.installed[p]; ok {
+		t.Fatalf("nothing should be installed after a failed swap add, got %q", f.installed[p])
+	}
+
+	// A later Decrement of a non-active survivor must retry the hand-off (self-heal), not stay stuck.
+	ref := mustDecrement(t, c, p, "peerC")
+	if got := f.installed[p]; got == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("self-heal failed: prefix left unrouted after add recovered")
+	}
+	if ref.Out == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected an active peer after self-heal, got empty")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestAllowedIPs_SelfHealAfterRemoveError ensures a failed remove during a swap is retried instead
+// of leaving e.active stuck on a peer that no longer holds references.
+func TestAllowedIPs_SelfHealAfterRemoveError(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFakeWG()
+	c := f.counter()
+	p := mustPrefix(t, "10.44.8.0/24")
+
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerA")
+	mustIncrement(t, c, p, "peerB")
+
+	// Releasing active peerA must detach it (remove) then add peerB; fail the remove once.
+	f.failRemove = true
+	if _, err := c.Decrement(p, "peerA"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error from failed remove")
+	}
+
+	// Next Decrement of the non-active survivor retries: removes stale peerA, installs peerB.
+	mustDecrement(t, c, p, "peerB")
+	// peerB had only one ref, so after retry the prefix is fully released.
+	if _, ok := f.installed[p]; ok {
+		t.Fatalf("expected prefix released after self-heal, still on %q", f.installed[p])
+	}
+}

client/internal/routemanager/refcounter/types.go

@@ -5,5 +5,7 @@ import "net/netip"
 // RouteRefCounter is a Counter for Route, it doesn't take any input on Increment and doesn't use any output on Decrement
 type RouteRefCounter = Counter[netip.Prefix, struct{}, struct{}]
 
-// AllowedIPsRefCounter is a Counter for AllowedIPs, it takes a peer key on Increment and passes it back to Decrement
-type AllowedIPsRefCounter = Counter[netip.Prefix, string, string]
+// AllowedIPsRefCounter tracks WireGuard AllowedIPs per prefix. Unlike the generic Counter it is peer-aware:
+// a prefix can be claimed by several peers at once and WireGuard allows a given prefix on exactly one peer,
+// so the counter records the per-peer reference count and swaps the installed peer when the active one is released.
+// See allowedips.go.

client/internal/routemanager/selection.go

@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+package routemanager
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"slices"
+
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-multierror"
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/maps"
+
+	nberrors "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/errors"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
+)
+
+// SelectRoutes selects the routes with the given network IDs and applies the
+// new selection. V4/v6 exit-node pairs are expanded automatically. Exit nodes
+// are mutually exclusive: if the selection activates an exit node, every other
+// available exit node is deselected so two can't be active at once. With
+// appendRoute=false the previous selection is replaced instead of extended.
+func (m *DefaultManager) SelectRoutes(ids []route.NetID, appendRoute bool) error {
+	if err := m.selectRoutes(ids, appendRoute); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	m.TriggerSelection(m.GetClientRoutes())
+	return nil
+}
+
+// DeselectRoutes removes the routes with the given network IDs from the
+// selection and applies the change. V4/v6 exit-node pairs are expanded
+// automatically.
+func (m *DefaultManager) DeselectRoutes(ids []route.NetID) error {
+	if err := m.deselectRoutes(ids); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	m.TriggerSelection(m.GetClientRoutes())
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *DefaultManager) deselectRoutes(ids []route.NetID) error {
+	routesMap := m.GetClientRoutesWithNetID()
+	routes := route.ExpandV6ExitPairs(slices.Clone(ids), routesMap)
+
+	log.Debugf("deselecting routes with ids: %v", routes)
+
+	if err := m.routeSelector.DeselectRoutes(routes, maps.Keys(routesMap)); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("deselect routes: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// SelectAllRoutes selects every available route and applies the selection.
+// Exit nodes stay mutually exclusive: at most one remains active.
+func (m *DefaultManager) SelectAllRoutes() {
+	m.selectAllRoutes()
+	m.TriggerSelection(m.GetClientRoutes())
+}
+
+func (m *DefaultManager) selectAllRoutes() {
+	m.routeSelector.SelectAllRoutes()
+
+	// Select-all wipes every explicit selection, so exit nodes fall back to
+	// management's auto-apply flags — which may mark several at once.
+	// Reconcile immediately so at most one exit node stays active instead of
+	// waiting for the next network map to enforce it.
+	m.mux.Lock()
+	defer m.mux.Unlock()
+	m.updateRouteSelectorFromManagement(m.clientRoutes)
+}
+
+// DeselectAllRoutes deselects every route and applies the change.
+func (m *DefaultManager) DeselectAllRoutes() {
+	m.routeSelector.DeselectAllRoutes()
+	m.TriggerSelection(m.GetClientRoutes())
+}
+
+func (m *DefaultManager) selectRoutes(ids []route.NetID, appendRoute bool) error {
+	routesMap := m.GetClientRoutesWithNetID()
+	routes := route.ExpandV6ExitPairs(slices.Clone(ids), routesMap)
+	allIDs := maps.Keys(routesMap)
+
+	log.Debugf("selecting routes with ids: %v", routes)
+
+	// A partial failure (e.g. an unknown ID in the request) still selects the
+	// valid routes, so exclusivity below must run regardless of the error.
+	var merr *multierror.Error
+	if err := m.routeSelector.SelectRoutes(routes, appendRoute, allIDs); err != nil {
+		merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("select routes: %w", err))
+	}
+
+	// Exit nodes are mutually exclusive: if this selection activates an
+	// exit node, deselect every other available exit node so two can't be
+	// selected at once. Non-exit route selections are left untouched.
+	if requestActivatesExitNode(routes, routesMap) {
+		if others := otherExitNodeIDs(routesMap, routes); len(others) > 0 {
+			if err := m.routeSelector.DeselectRoutes(others, allIDs); err != nil {
+				merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("deselect sibling exit nodes: %w", err))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nberrors.FormatErrorOrNil(merr)
+}
+
+func isExitNodeRoutes(routes []*route.Route) bool {
+	return len(routes) > 0 && (route.IsV4DefaultRoute(routes[0].Network) || route.IsV6DefaultRoute(routes[0].Network))
+}
+
+// requestActivatesExitNode reports whether any requested NetID maps to an exit
+// node (default route) in the current route table.
+func requestActivatesExitNode(requested []route.NetID, routesMap map[route.NetID][]*route.Route) bool {
+	for _, id := range requested {
+		if isExitNodeRoutes(routesMap[id]) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// otherExitNodeIDs returns every available exit-node NetID that is not in the
+// requested set — the siblings to deselect so a single exit node stays active.
+func otherExitNodeIDs(routesMap map[route.NetID][]*route.Route, requested []route.NetID) []route.NetID {
+	keep := make(map[route.NetID]struct{}, len(requested))
+	for _, id := range requested {
+		keep[id] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	var others []route.NetID
+	for id, routes := range routesMap {
+		if !isExitNodeRoutes(routes) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, ok := keep[id]; ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		others = append(others, id)
+	}
+	return others
+}

client/internal/routemanager/selection_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+package routemanager
+
+import (
+	"net/netip"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/routeselector"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
+)
+
+func v6ExitRoute(netID, peer string) *route.Route {
+	return &route.Route{
+		NetID:   route.NetID(netID),
+		Network: netip.MustParsePrefix("::/0"),
+		Peer:    peer,
+	}
+}
+
+func newSelectionTestManager() *DefaultManager {
+	return &DefaultManager{
+		routeSelector: routeselector.NewRouteSelector(),
+		clientRoutes: route.HAMap{
+			"exitA|0.0.0.0/0":    {exitRoute("exitA", "p1", true)},
+			"exitA-v6|::/0":      {v6ExitRoute("exitA-v6", "p1")},
+			"exitB|0.0.0.0/0":    {exitRoute("exitB", "p2", true)},
+			"lan|192.168.1.0/24": {{NetID: "lan", Network: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"), Peer: "p3"}},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectRoutes_ExitNodeExclusivity(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSelectionTestManager()
+
+	// Selecting an exit node selects its v6 pair and deselects the sibling.
+	require.NoError(t, m.selectRoutes([]route.NetID{"exitA"}, true))
+	assert.True(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitA"), "exitA should be selected")
+	assert.True(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitA-v6"), "the v6 pair follows its v4 base")
+	assert.False(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitB"), "the sibling exit node must be deselected")
+
+	// Switching to the sibling deselects the previous exit node and its v6 pair.
+	require.NoError(t, m.selectRoutes([]route.NetID{"exitB"}, true))
+	assert.True(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitB"), "exitB should now be selected")
+	assert.False(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitA"), "the previous exit node must be deselected")
+	assert.False(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitA-v6"), "the previous exit node's v6 pair must be deselected")
+	assert.True(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("lan"), "non-exit route selection is untouched")
+
+	// Selecting a non-exit route leaves the active exit node alone.
+	require.NoError(t, m.selectRoutes([]route.NetID{"lan"}, true))
+	assert.True(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitB"), "selecting a non-exit route keeps the exit node")
+
+	// Deselecting the active exit node turns every exit node off.
+	require.NoError(t, m.deselectRoutes([]route.NetID{"exitB"}))
+	assert.False(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitB"), "exitB should be deselected")
+	assert.False(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitA"), "exitA stays deselected")
+	assert.True(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("lan"), "non-exit route selection is untouched")
+}
+
+func TestSelectRoutes_PartialErrorStillEnforcesExclusivity(t *testing.T) {
+	// The unknown ID must be reported, but the valid exit node in the same
+	// request is still selected — so its sibling must still be deselected.
+	// Both orderings are covered: processing must continue past the invalid
+	// ID wherever it sits in the request.
+	requests := map[string][]route.NetID{
+		"invalid id first": {"missing", "exitB"},
+		"invalid id last":  {"exitB", "missing"},
+	}
+
+	for name, ids := range requests {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			m := newSelectionTestManager()
+
+			require.NoError(t, m.selectRoutes([]route.NetID{"exitA"}, true))
+
+			err := m.selectRoutes(ids, true)
+			assert.Error(t, err, "unknown id must be reported")
+			assert.True(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitB"), "valid exit node from the request is selected")
+			assert.False(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitA"), "sibling exit node must be deselected despite the error")
+			assert.False(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitA-v6"), "sibling's v6 pair must be deselected too")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectAllRoutes_KeepsSingleExitNode(t *testing.T) {
+	// Both exit nodes are marked for auto-apply by management
+	// (SkipAutoApply=false), the state where select-all could turn on two at
+	// once without the immediate reconciliation.
+	m := &DefaultManager{
+		routeSelector: routeselector.NewRouteSelector(),
+		clientRoutes: route.HAMap{
+			"exitA|0.0.0.0/0":    {exitRoute("exitA", "p1", false)},
+			"exitB|0.0.0.0/0":    {exitRoute("exitB", "p2", false)},
+			"lan|192.168.1.0/24": {{NetID: "lan", Network: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"), Peer: "p3"}},
+		},
+	}
+
+	require.NoError(t, m.selectRoutes([]route.NetID{"exitB"}, true))
+
+	m.selectAllRoutes()
+
+	assert.True(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("lan"), "non-exit routes are all selected")
+	assert.True(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitA"), "the deterministic management pick stays active")
+	assert.False(t, m.routeSelector.IsSelected("exitB"), "select-all must not leave a second exit node active")
+}
+
+func TestSelectRoutes_UnknownRoute(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSelectionTestManager()
+
+	assert.Error(t, m.selectRoutes([]route.NetID{"missing"}, true), "selecting an unavailable route must fail")
+	assert.Error(t, m.deselectRoutes([]route.NetID{"missing"}), "deselecting an unavailable route must fail")
+}
+
+func TestExitNodeSelectionHelpers(t *testing.T) {
+	routesMap := map[route.NetID][]*route.Route{
+		"exitA": {{Network: netip.MustParsePrefix("0.0.0.0/0")}},
+		"exitB": {{Network: netip.MustParsePrefix("::/0")}},
+		"lan":   {{Network: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.0.0/16")}},
+	}
+
+	assert.True(t, requestActivatesExitNode([]route.NetID{"exitA"}, routesMap), "v4 default route is an exit node")
+	assert.True(t, requestActivatesExitNode([]route.NetID{"exitB"}, routesMap), "v6 default route is an exit node")
+	assert.False(t, requestActivatesExitNode([]route.NetID{"lan"}, routesMap), "lan route is not an exit node")
+	assert.False(t, requestActivatesExitNode([]route.NetID{"missing"}, routesMap), "unknown id is not an exit node")
+
+	others := otherExitNodeIDs(routesMap, []route.NetID{"exitB"})
+	assert.ElementsMatch(t, []route.NetID{"exitA"}, others, "only the other exit node is a sibling; the lan route is ignored")
+}

client/internal/routemanager/static/route.go

@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ type Route struct {
 	route                *route.Route
 	routeRefCounter      *refcounter.RouteRefCounter
 	allowedIPsRefcounter *refcounter.AllowedIPsRefCounter
+	// currentPeerKey is the routing peer this watcher currently has the prefix installed on
+	// (the HA winner elected by the watcher). It can differ from route.Peer and change on
+	// failover, so it is recorded on AddAllowedIPs and used on RemoveAllowedIPs to decrement
+	// the exact peer that was incremented.
+	currentPeerKey string
 }
 
 func NewRoute(params common.HandlerParams) *Route {
@@ -52,12 +57,15 @@ func (r *Route) AddAllowedIPs(peerKey string) error {
 			ref.Out,
 		)
 	}
+	r.currentPeerKey = peerKey
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (r *Route) RemoveAllowedIPs() error {
-	if _, err := r.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(r.route.Network); err != nil {
-		return err
+	var err error
+	if _, decErr := r.allowedIPsRefcounter.Decrement(r.route.Network, r.currentPeerKey); decErr != nil {
+		err = fmt.Errorf("remove allowed IP %s: %w", r.route.Network, decErr)
 	}
-	return nil
+	r.currentPeerKey = ""
+	return err
 }

client/internal/routemanager/sysctl/sysctl_linux.go

@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ const (
 	rpFilterPath          = "net.ipv4.conf.all.rp_filter"
 	rpFilterInterfacePath = "net.ipv4.conf.%s.rp_filter"
 	srcValidMarkPath      = "net.ipv4.conf.all.src_valid_mark"
+	percentEscape         = "%25"
+	dotEscape             = "%2E"
 )
 
 type iface interface {
@@ -56,7 +58,11 @@ func Setup(wgIface iface) (map[string]int, error) {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		i := fmt.Sprintf(rpFilterInterfacePath, intf.Name)
+		// Escape '%' and '.' so they survive the dot-to-slash conversion in Set()
+		safeName := strings.ReplaceAll(intf.Name, "%", percentEscape)
+		safeName = strings.ReplaceAll(safeName, ".", dotEscape)
+
+		i := fmt.Sprintf(rpFilterInterfacePath, safeName)
 		oldVal, err := Set(i, 2, true)
 		if err != nil {
 			result = multierror.Append(result, err)
@@ -70,7 +76,11 @@ func Setup(wgIface iface) (map[string]int, error) {
 
 // Set sets a sysctl configuration, if onlyIfOne is true it will only set the new value if it's set to 1
 func Set(key string, desiredValue int, onlyIfOne bool) (int, error) {
-	path := fmt.Sprintf("/proc/sys/%s", strings.ReplaceAll(key, ".", "/"))
+	path := strings.ReplaceAll(key, ".", "/")
+	// Unescape interface dots and percent signs
+	path = strings.ReplaceAll(path, dotEscape, ".")
+	path = strings.ReplaceAll(path, percentEscape, "%")
+	path = fmt.Sprintf("/proc/sys/%s", path)
 	currentValue, err := os.ReadFile(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return -1, fmt.Errorf("read sysctl %s: %w", key, err)

client/internal/tunnelnotifier/notifier.go

@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+package tunnelnotifier
+
+import (
+	"container/list"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/dns"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/listener"
+)
+
+type eventKind int
+
+const (
+	eventRoutes eventKind = iota
+	eventIfaceIP
+	eventIfaceIPv6
+	eventDNS
+)
+
+var (
+	_ listener.NetworkChangeListener = (*Notifier)(nil)
+	_ dns.IosDnsManager              = (*Notifier)(nil)
+)
+
+type event struct {
+	kind    eventKind
+	payload string
+}
+
+type Notifier struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	cond   *sync.Cond
+	queue  *list.List
+	closed bool
+	done   chan struct{}
+
+	listener   listener.NetworkChangeListener
+	dnsManager dns.IosDnsManager
+}
+
+func New(l listener.NetworkChangeListener, dm dns.IosDnsManager) *Notifier {
+	n := &Notifier{
+		queue:      list.New(),
+		done:       make(chan struct{}),
+		listener:   l,
+		dnsManager: dm,
+	}
+	n.cond = sync.NewCond(&n.mu)
+	go n.deliverLoop()
+	return n
+}
+
+func (n *Notifier) OnNetworkChanged(routes string) {
+	n.enqueue(event{kind: eventRoutes, payload: routes})
+}
+
+func (n *Notifier) SetInterfaceIP(ip string) {
+	n.enqueue(event{kind: eventIfaceIP, payload: ip})
+}
+
+func (n *Notifier) SetInterfaceIPv6(ip string) {
+	n.enqueue(event{kind: eventIfaceIPv6, payload: ip})
+}
+
+func (n *Notifier) ApplyDns(config string) {
+	n.enqueue(event{kind: eventDNS, payload: config})
+}
+
+// Close stops accepting new events and blocks until the delivery loop has
+// drained all queued events and exited.
+func (n *Notifier) Close() {
+	n.mu.Lock()
+	n.closed = true
+	n.cond.Signal()
+	n.mu.Unlock()
+	<-n.done
+}
+
+func (n *Notifier) enqueue(ev event) {
+	n.mu.Lock()
+	defer n.mu.Unlock()
+	if n.closed {
+		return
+	}
+	n.queue.PushBack(ev)
+	n.cond.Signal()
+}
+
+func (n *Notifier) deliverLoop() {
+	defer close(n.done)
+	for {
+		n.mu.Lock()
+		for n.queue.Len() == 0 && !n.closed {
+			n.cond.Wait()
+		}
+		if n.closed && n.queue.Len() == 0 {
+			n.mu.Unlock()
+			return
+		}
+		ev := n.queue.Remove(n.queue.Front()).(event)
+		l := n.listener
+		dm := n.dnsManager
+		n.mu.Unlock()
+
+		switch ev.kind {
+		case eventRoutes:
+			if l != nil {
+				l.OnNetworkChanged(ev.payload)
+			}
+		case eventIfaceIP:
+			if l != nil {
+				l.SetInterfaceIP(ev.payload)
+			}
+		case eventIfaceIPv6:
+			if l != nil {
+				l.SetInterfaceIPv6(ev.payload)
+			}
+		case eventDNS:
+			if dm != nil {
+				dm.ApplyDns(ev.payload)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}

client/internal/tunnelnotifier/notifier_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+package tunnelnotifier
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+type call struct {
+	kind    string
+	payload string
+}
+
+type recorder struct {
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	calls    []call
+	inFlight atomic.Int32
+	overlap  atomic.Bool
+	delay    time.Duration
+}
+
+func (r *recorder) record(kind, payload string) {
+	if r.inFlight.Add(1) != 1 {
+		r.overlap.Store(true)
+	}
+	if r.delay > 0 {
+		time.Sleep(r.delay)
+	}
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	r.calls = append(r.calls, call{kind: kind, payload: payload})
+	r.mu.Unlock()
+	r.inFlight.Add(-1)
+}
+
+func (r *recorder) count() int {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.mu.Unlock()
+	return len(r.calls)
+}
+
+func (r *recorder) snapshot() []call {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.mu.Unlock()
+	out := make([]call, len(r.calls))
+	copy(out, r.calls)
+	return out
+}
+
+type fakeListener struct {
+	rec *recorder
+}
+
+func (f *fakeListener) OnNetworkChanged(routes string) {
+	f.rec.record("routes", routes)
+}
+
+func (f *fakeListener) SetInterfaceIP(ip string) {
+	f.rec.record("ip", ip)
+}
+
+func (f *fakeListener) SetInterfaceIPv6(ip string) {
+	f.rec.record("ipv6", ip)
+}
+
+type fakeDNSManager struct {
+	rec *recorder
+}
+
+func (f *fakeDNSManager) ApplyDns(config string) {
+	f.rec.record("dns", config)
+}
+
+func TestFIFOOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	rec := &recorder{}
+	n := New(&fakeListener{rec: rec}, &fakeDNSManager{rec: rec})
+	defer n.Close()
+
+	n.SetInterfaceIP("10.0.0.1")
+	n.SetInterfaceIPv6("fd00::1")
+	n.ApplyDns(`{"domains":[]}`)
+	n.OnNetworkChanged("10.0.0.0/8,192.168.0.0/16")
+	n.ApplyDns(`{"domains":["example.com"]}`)
+
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return rec.count() == 5 }, time.Second, time.Millisecond)
+
+	expected := []call{
+		{kind: "ip", payload: "10.0.0.1"},
+		{kind: "ipv6", payload: "fd00::1"},
+		{kind: "dns", payload: `{"domains":[]}`},
+		{kind: "routes", payload: "10.0.0.0/8,192.168.0.0/16"},
+		{kind: "dns", payload: `{"domains":["example.com"]}`},
+	}
+	assert.Equal(t, expected, rec.snapshot())
+}
+
+func TestNoOverlappingCalls(t *testing.T) {
+	rec := &recorder{delay: 100 * time.Microsecond}
+	n := New(&fakeListener{rec: rec}, &fakeDNSManager{rec: rec})
+	defer n.Close()
+
+	const producers = 8
+	const perProducer = 25
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for i := 0; i < producers; i++ {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func(id int) {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			for j := 0; j < perProducer; j++ {
+				payload := fmt.Sprintf("%d-%d", id, j)
+				switch j % 4 {
+				case 0:
+					n.OnNetworkChanged(payload)
+				case 1:
+					n.SetInterfaceIP(payload)
+				case 2:
+					n.SetInterfaceIPv6(payload)
+				case 3:
+					n.ApplyDns(payload)
+				}
+			}
+		}(i)
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return rec.count() == producers*perProducer }, 5*time.Second, time.Millisecond)
+	assert.False(t, rec.overlap.Load())
+}
+
+func TestDNSAndRoutesInterleaved(t *testing.T) {
+	rec := &recorder{delay: 100 * time.Microsecond}
+	n := New(&fakeListener{rec: rec}, &fakeDNSManager{rec: rec})
+	defer n.Close()
+
+	const events = 50
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	wg.Add(2)
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		for i := 0; i < events; i++ {
+			n.ApplyDns(fmt.Sprintf("dns-%d", i))
+		}
+	}()
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		for i := 0; i < events; i++ {
+			n.OnNetworkChanged(fmt.Sprintf("routes-%d", i))
+		}
+	}()
+	wg.Wait()
+
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return rec.count() == 2*events }, 5*time.Second, time.Millisecond)
+	assert.False(t, rec.overlap.Load())
+
+	var dnsSeen, routesSeen int
+	for _, c := range rec.snapshot() {
+		switch c.kind {
+		case "dns":
+			assert.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("dns-%d", dnsSeen), c.payload)
+			dnsSeen++
+		case "routes":
+			assert.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("routes-%d", routesSeen), c.payload)
+			routesSeen++
+		}
+	}
+	assert.Equal(t, events, dnsSeen)
+	assert.Equal(t, events, routesSeen)
+}
+
+func TestCloseDrainsQueue(t *testing.T) {
+	rec := &recorder{delay: time.Millisecond}
+	n := New(&fakeListener{rec: rec}, &fakeDNSManager{rec: rec})
+
+	const events = 20
+	for i := 0; i < events; i++ {
+		n.OnNetworkChanged(fmt.Sprintf("routes-%d", i))
+	}
+	n.Close()
+
+	require.Equal(t, events, rec.count(), "Close must not return before all queued events are delivered")
+
+	n.OnNetworkChanged("after-close")
+	n.ApplyDns("after-close")
+	time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
+	assert.Equal(t, events, rec.count())
+}

client/ios/NetBirdSDK/client.go

@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
-	"golang.org/x/exp/maps"
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/auth"
@@ -263,7 +262,7 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(anonymize bool) (string, error) {
 	uploadCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Minute)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(uploadCtx, types.DefaultBundleURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String(), path)
+	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(uploadCtx, types.DefaultBundleURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String(), path, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("upload debug bundle: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -637,23 +636,18 @@ func (c *Client) SelectRoute(id string) error {
 	}
 
 	routeManager := engine.GetRouteManager()
-	routeSelector := routeManager.GetRouteSelector()
 	if id == "All" {
 		log.Debugf("select all routes")
-		routeSelector.SelectAllRoutes()
-	} else {
-		log.Debugf("select route with id: %s", id)
-		routes := toNetIDs([]string{id})
-		routesMap := routeManager.GetClientRoutesWithNetID()
-		routes = route.ExpandV6ExitPairs(routes, routesMap)
-		if err := routeSelector.SelectRoutes(routes, true, maps.Keys(routesMap)); err != nil {
-			log.Debugf("error when selecting routes: %s", err)
-			return fmt.Errorf("select routes: %w", err)
-		}
+		routeManager.SelectAllRoutes()
+		return nil
 	}
-	routeManager.TriggerSelection(routeManager.GetClientRoutes())
-	return nil
 
+	log.Debugf("select route with id: %s", id)
+	if err := routeManager.SelectRoutes(toNetIDs([]string{id}), true); err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("error when selecting routes: %s", err)
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (c *Client) DeselectRoute(id string) error {
@@ -667,21 +661,17 @@ func (c *Client) DeselectRoute(id string) error {
 	}
 
 	routeManager := engine.GetRouteManager()
-	routeSelector := routeManager.GetRouteSelector()
 	if id == "All" {
 		log.Debugf("deselect all routes")
-		routeSelector.DeselectAllRoutes()
-	} else {
-		log.Debugf("deselect route with id: %s", id)
-		routes := toNetIDs([]string{id})
-		routesMap := routeManager.GetClientRoutesWithNetID()
-		routes = route.ExpandV6ExitPairs(routes, routesMap)
-		if err := routeSelector.DeselectRoutes(routes, maps.Keys(routesMap)); err != nil {
-			log.Debugf("error when deselecting routes: %s", err)
-			return fmt.Errorf("deselect routes: %w", err)
-		}
+		routeManager.DeselectAllRoutes()
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	log.Debugf("deselect route with id: %s", id)
+	if err := routeManager.DeselectRoutes(toNetIDs([]string{id})); err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("error when deselecting routes: %s", err)
+		return err
 	}
-	routeManager.TriggerSelection(routeManager.GetClientRoutes())
 	return nil
 }
 

client/ios/NetBirdSDK/version.go

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+//go:build ios
+
+package NetBirdSDK
+
+import "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version"
+
+// GoClientVersion returns the NetBird Go client version that was baked into
+// the framework at compile time via
+// -ldflags "-X github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version.version=<version>".
+func GoClientVersion() string {
+	return version.NetbirdVersion()
+}

client/jobexec/executor.go

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (e *Executor) BundleJob(ctx context.Context, debugBundleDependencies debug.
 		}
 	}()
 
-	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(ctx, types.DefaultBundleURL, mgmURL, path)
+	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(ctx, types.DefaultBundleURL, mgmURL, path, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to upload debug bundle: %v", err)
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("upload debug bundle: %w", err)

client/proto/daemon.pb.go

@@ -2771,14 +2771,18 @@ func (x *ForwardingRulesResponse) GetRules() []*ForwardingRule {
 
 // DebugBundler
 type DebugBundleRequest struct {
-	state         protoimpl.MessageState `protogen:"open.v1"`
-	Anonymize     bool                   `protobuf:"varint,1,opt,name=anonymize,proto3" json:"anonymize,omitempty"`
-	SystemInfo    bool                   `protobuf:"varint,3,opt,name=systemInfo,proto3" json:"systemInfo,omitempty"`
-	UploadURL     string                 `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=uploadURL,proto3" json:"uploadURL,omitempty"`
-	LogFileCount  uint32                 `protobuf:"varint,5,opt,name=logFileCount,proto3" json:"logFileCount,omitempty"`
-	CliVersion    string                 `protobuf:"bytes,6,opt,name=cliVersion,proto3" json:"cliVersion,omitempty"`
-	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
-	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
+	state        protoimpl.MessageState `protogen:"open.v1"`
+	Anonymize    bool                   `protobuf:"varint,1,opt,name=anonymize,proto3" json:"anonymize,omitempty"`
+	SystemInfo   bool                   `protobuf:"varint,3,opt,name=systemInfo,proto3" json:"systemInfo,omitempty"`
+	UploadURL    string                 `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=uploadURL,proto3" json:"uploadURL,omitempty"`
+	LogFileCount uint32                 `protobuf:"varint,5,opt,name=logFileCount,proto3" json:"logFileCount,omitempty"`
+	CliVersion   string                 `protobuf:"bytes,6,opt,name=cliVersion,proto3" json:"cliVersion,omitempty"`
+	// uploadInsecure allows uploading to an http endpoint or one with an
+	// untrusted TLS certificate. Restricted to privileged callers; for
+	// self-hosted upload servers.
+	UploadInsecure bool `protobuf:"varint,7,opt,name=uploadInsecure,proto3" json:"uploadInsecure,omitempty"`
+	unknownFields  protoimpl.UnknownFields
+	sizeCache      protoimpl.SizeCache
 }
 
 func (x *DebugBundleRequest) Reset() {
@@ -2846,6 +2850,13 @@ func (x *DebugBundleRequest) GetCliVersion() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
+func (x *DebugBundleRequest) GetUploadInsecure() bool {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.UploadInsecure
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 type DebugBundleResponse struct {
 	state               protoimpl.MessageState `protogen:"open.v1"`
 	Path                string                 `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=path,proto3" json:"path,omitempty"`
@@ -7242,7 +7253,7 @@ const file_daemon_proto_rawDesc = "" +
 	"\x12translatedHostname\x18\x04 \x01(\tR\x12translatedHostname\x128\n" +
 	"\x0etranslatedPort\x18\x05 \x01(\v2\x10.daemon.PortInfoR\x0etranslatedPort\"G\n" +
 	"\x17ForwardingRulesResponse\x12,\n" +
-	"\x05rules\x18\x01 \x03(\v2\x16.daemon.ForwardingRuleR\x05rules\"\xb4\x01\n" +
+	"\x05rules\x18\x01 \x03(\v2\x16.daemon.ForwardingRuleR\x05rules\"\xdc\x01\n" +
 	"\x12DebugBundleRequest\x12\x1c\n" +
 	"\tanonymize\x18\x01 \x01(\bR\tanonymize\x12\x1e\n" +
 	"\n" +
@@ -7252,7 +7263,8 @@ const file_daemon_proto_rawDesc = "" +
 	"\flogFileCount\x18\x05 \x01(\rR\flogFileCount\x12\x1e\n" +
 	"\n" +
 	"cliVersion\x18\x06 \x01(\tR\n" +
-	"cliVersion\"}\n" +
+	"cliVersion\x12&\n" +
+	"\x0euploadInsecure\x18\a \x01(\bR\x0euploadInsecure\"}\n" +
 	"\x13DebugBundleResponse\x12\x12\n" +
 	"\x04path\x18\x01 \x01(\tR\x04path\x12 \n" +
 	"\vuploadedKey\x18\x02 \x01(\tR\vuploadedKey\x120\n" +

client/proto/daemon.proto

@@ -536,6 +536,10 @@ message DebugBundleRequest {
   string uploadURL = 4;
   uint32 logFileCount = 5;
   string cliVersion = 6;
+  // uploadInsecure allows uploading to an http endpoint or one with an
+  // untrusted TLS certificate. Restricted to privileged callers; for
+  // self-hosted upload servers.
+  bool uploadInsecure = 7;
 }
 
 message DebugBundleResponse {

client/server/debug.go

@@ -7,18 +7,62 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime/pprof"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/debug"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 	mgmProto "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/proto"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version"
 )
 
 // DebugBundle creates a debug bundle and returns the location.
-func (s *Server) DebugBundle(_ context.Context, req *proto.DebugBundleRequest) (resp *proto.DebugBundleResponse, err error) {
+func (s *Server) DebugBundle(callerCtx context.Context, req *proto.DebugBundleRequest) (resp *proto.DebugBundleResponse, err error) {
+	if err := requirePrivilegeForUploadURL(callerCtx, req.GetUploadURL(), req.GetUploadInsecure()); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// The UI log is opened as whoever asked for this bundle, so a caller only
+	// collects a log it owns (privileged callers excepted). ok is false on a
+	// socket that carries no identity, which skips the UI log.
+	callerID, callerIdentified := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(callerCtx)
+
+	path, managementURL, err := s.generateDebugBundle(req, uiLogOpener(callerID, callerIdentified))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if req.GetUploadURL() == "" {
+		return &proto.DebugBundleResponse{Path: path}, nil
+	}
+
+	// The upload runs without s.mutex held: it does network I/O to a possibly
+	// slow destination and must not block the other RPCs that take the lock. The
+	// bounded context is a backstop against a hung connection.
+	uploadCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Minute)
+	defer cancel()
+	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(uploadCtx, req.GetUploadURL(), managementURL, path, req.GetUploadInsecure())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to upload debug bundle to %s: %v", req.GetUploadURL(), err)
+		return &proto.DebugBundleResponse{Path: path, UploadFailureReason: err.Error()}, nil
+	}
+
+	log.Infof("debug bundle uploaded to %s with key %s", req.GetUploadURL(), key)
+
+	return &proto.DebugBundleResponse{Path: path, UploadedKey: key}, nil
+}
+
+// generateDebugBundle builds the bundle under s.mutex and returns its path plus
+// the management URL captured under the lock, so the caller can run the upload
+// without holding the lock.
+func (s *Server) generateDebugBundle(req *proto.DebugBundleRequest, uiOpener debug.LogOpener) (path string, managementURL string, err error) {
 	s.mutex.Lock()
 	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
 
@@ -68,6 +112,7 @@ func (s *Server) DebugBundle(_ context.Context, req *proto.DebugBundleRequest) (
 			SyncResponse:   syncResponse,
 			LogPath:        s.logFile,
 			UILogPath:      s.uiLogPath,
+			UILogOpener:    uiOpener,
 			CPUProfile:     cpuProfileData,
 			CapturePath:    capturePath,
 			RefreshStatus:  refreshStatus,
@@ -82,23 +127,16 @@ func (s *Server) DebugBundle(_ context.Context, req *proto.DebugBundleRequest) (
 		},
 	)
 
-	path, err := bundleGenerator.Generate()
+	path, err = bundleGenerator.Generate()
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("generate debug bundle: %w", err)
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("generate debug bundle: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	if req.GetUploadURL() == "" {
-		return &proto.DebugBundleResponse{Path: path}, nil
-	}
-	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(context.Background(), req.GetUploadURL(), s.config.ManagementURL.String(), path)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to upload debug bundle to %s: %v", req.GetUploadURL(), err)
-		return &proto.DebugBundleResponse{Path: path, UploadFailureReason: err.Error()}, nil
+	if s.config != nil && s.config.ManagementURL != nil {
+		managementURL = s.config.ManagementURL.String()
 	}
 
-	log.Infof("debug bundle uploaded to %s with key %s", req.GetUploadURL(), key)
-
-	return &proto.DebugBundleResponse{Path: path, UploadedKey: key}, nil
+	return path, managementURL, nil
 }
 
 // GetLogLevel gets the current logging level for the server.
@@ -138,12 +176,34 @@ func (s *Server) SetLogLevel(_ context.Context, req *proto.SetLogLevelRequest) (
 // RegisterUILog records the desktop UI's absolute log path so DebugBundle can
 // collect the GUI log. The daemon runs as root and can't resolve the user's
 // config dir, so the UI reports it. Last-writer-wins (one UI per socket).
-func (s *Server) RegisterUILog(_ context.Context, req *proto.RegisterUILogRequest) (*proto.RegisterUILogResponse, error) {
+//
+// The path arrives over an IPC any local user can reach and is later opened by
+// a root daemon, so it is constrained to the file name the UI writes and to a
+// local absolute path. Authorization happens when DebugBundle opens it: the
+// bundle refuses a file its requester does not own. A caller the daemon cannot
+// identify cannot register a path at all.
+func (s *Server) RegisterUILog(callerCtx context.Context, req *proto.RegisterUILogRequest) (*proto.RegisterUILogResponse, error) {
+	if _, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(callerCtx); !ok {
+		return nil, gstatus.Error(codes.PermissionDenied,
+			"registering a UI log path requires a control channel that carries the caller's identity")
+	}
+
+	path := filepath.Clean(req.GetPath())
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(path) || filepath.Base(path) != uiLogFileName {
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "UI log path must be an absolute path ending in %s", uiLogFileName)
+	}
+	// filepath.IsAbs accepts a Windows UNC path (\\host\share\...) and a device
+	// path (\\.\, \\?\); opening one would make the root daemon reach a remote
+	// or device namespace. Require a plain local path.
+	if strings.HasPrefix(path, `\\`) {
+		return nil, gstatus.Error(codes.InvalidArgument, "UI log path must be a local path, not a UNC or device path")
+	}
+
 	s.mutex.Lock()
 	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	s.uiLogPath = req.GetPath()
-	log.Infof("registered UI log path: %s", s.uiLogPath)
+	s.uiLogPath = path
+	log.Infof("registered UI log path %s", s.uiLogPath)
 
 	return &proto.RegisterUILogResponse{}, nil
 }

client/server/debug_gate.go

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+//go:build !android && !ios
+
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/configs"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/debug"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/upload-server/types"
+)
+
+// uiLogFileName is the only file name the daemon accepts as a UI log path. The
+// UI (writer), this validation, and the bundle collector all read it from
+// configs so they cannot drift.
+const uiLogFileName = configs.UILogFile
+
+// uiLogOpener opens the registered UI log, and its rotated siblings, on behalf
+// of the caller requesting the bundle: OpenOwnedFile then collects the log only
+// when that caller owns it (or is privileged). identified is false on a socket
+// that carries no caller identity, in which case nothing is opened.
+func uiLogOpener(id ipcauth.Identity, identified bool) debug.LogOpener {
+	return func(path string) (*os.File, error) {
+		if !identified {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("bundle requester has no verified identity")
+		}
+		return ipcauth.OpenOwnedFile(id, path)
+	}
+}
+
+// requirePrivilegeForUploadURL restricts where the daemon may send a debug
+// bundle. The bundle holds the daemon's own logs and state, and the daemon
+// fetches the upload URL itself, so an unrestricted endpoint turns the daemon
+// into both an exfiltration channel and a request forwarder that reaches
+// services only it can talk to.
+//
+// The upload service NetBird publishes is open to any caller, since that is what
+// the CLI and the desktop UI use. Any other endpoint, self-hosted upload servers
+// included, requires a privileged caller. Plaintext is refused for everyone: the
+// daemon fetches the URL and then PUTs the bundle to whatever that fetch returns,
+// so an http hop is a place to intercept the bundle or the redirect.
+//
+// insecure relaxes transport security (http, or an untrusted TLS certificate)
+// for a self-hosted server. It weakens a root-privileged upload, so it is
+// refused for an unprivileged caller regardless of the host.
+func requirePrivilegeForUploadURL(ctx context.Context, rawURL string, insecure bool) error {
+	if rawURL == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	parsed, err := url.Parse(rawURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "parse upload URL: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// --insecure relaxes https to http or an untrusted certificate; it does not
+	// widen the URL to arbitrary schemes, so a host and http/https are required
+	// before the insecure branch takes over.
+	if parsed.Host == "" || (parsed.Scheme != "https" && parsed.Scheme != "http") {
+		return gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "upload URL must be http or https with a host")
+	}
+
+	if insecure {
+		return denyPrivileged(ctx,
+			"uploading a debug bundle without transport security (--upload-bundle-insecure)",
+			ipcauth.ElevatedCommand("netbird debug bundle -U --upload-bundle-insecure --upload-bundle-url <url>"))
+	}
+
+	if parsed.Scheme != "https" {
+		return gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "upload URL must use https, got scheme %q", parsed.Scheme)
+	}
+
+	if isDefaultUploadService(parsed) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return denyPrivileged(ctx,
+		"uploading a debug bundle to an upload service other than the default one",
+		ipcauth.ElevatedCommand("netbird debug bundle -U --upload-bundle-url <url>"))
+}
+
+// isDefaultUploadService reports whether the URL points at the upload service
+// NetBird runs. Only the host is compared: the service's path may differ between
+// releases, and the host is what decides who receives the bundle.
+func isDefaultUploadService(parsed *url.URL) bool {
+	defaultURL, err := url.Parse(types.DefaultBundleURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return parsed.Scheme == defaultURL.Scheme && strings.EqualFold(parsed.Host, defaultURL.Host)
+}

client/server/debug_gate_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+//go:build !android && !ios
+
+package server
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"testing"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/upload-server/types"
+)
+
+func TestRegisterUILogRefusesUnidentifiedCaller(t *testing.T) {
+	s := &Server{}
+
+	_, err := s.RegisterUILog(noIdentityCtx(), &proto.RegisterUILogRequest{
+		Path: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), uiLogFileName),
+	})
+
+	if gstatus.Code(err) != codes.PermissionDenied {
+		t.Fatalf("code = %v, want PermissionDenied", gstatus.Code(err))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRegisterUILogRefusesForeignPath(t *testing.T) {
+	secret := "/etc/shadow"
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		secret = `C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM`
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		path string
+	}{
+		{"empty", ""},
+		{"relative", filepath.Join("netbird", uiLogFileName)},
+		{"another file", secret},
+		{"directory of the log", t.TempDir()},
+		{"unc path", `\\attacker\share\` + uiLogFileName},
+		{"device path", `\\.\C:\` + uiLogFileName},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			s := &Server{}
+
+			_, err := s.RegisterUILog(userCtx(), &proto.RegisterUILogRequest{Path: tc.path})
+
+			if gstatus.Code(err) != codes.InvalidArgument {
+				t.Fatalf("code = %v, want InvalidArgument", gstatus.Code(err))
+			}
+			if s.uiLogPath != "" {
+				t.Fatalf("path %q was recorded despite the refusal", s.uiLogPath)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRegisterUILogRecordsPath(t *testing.T) {
+	s := &Server{}
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), uiLogFileName)
+
+	if _, err := s.RegisterUILog(userCtx(), &proto.RegisterUILogRequest{Path: path}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("register: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if s.uiLogPath != path {
+		t.Fatalf("path = %q, want %q", s.uiLogPath, path)
+	}
+}
+
+// The UI log is opened as the bundle requester, so a second local user cannot
+// collect a log they do not own, and an unidentified requester collects nothing.
+func TestUILogOpenerBindsToRequester(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), uiLogFileName)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte("log line"), 0600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write log: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// A different unprivileged user than the file's owner: refused.
+	if _, err := uiLogOpener(unprivilegedIdentity(), true)(path); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected a file the requester does not own to be refused")
+	}
+
+	// No verified identity: refused.
+	if _, err := uiLogOpener(ipcauth.Identity{}, false)(path); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected an unidentified requester to be refused")
+	}
+
+	// The requester that owns the file: allowed. The test process created it, so
+	// its own identity is the owner (and a privileged runner is exempt anyway).
+	owner, err := ipcauth.CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("current identity: %v", err)
+	}
+	f, err := uiLogOpener(owner, true)(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected the owning requester to be allowed, got %v", err)
+	}
+	_ = f.Close()
+}
+
+func TestRequirePrivilegeForUploadURL(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		url      string
+		insecure bool
+		unprivOK bool
+		invalid  bool
+		rootAlso bool
+	}{
+		{name: "no upload", url: "", unprivOK: true},
+		{name: "default service", url: types.DefaultBundleURL, unprivOK: true},
+		{name: "default service, other path", url: "https://upload.debug.netbird.io/other", unprivOK: true},
+		{name: "loopback exfiltration endpoint", url: "https://127.0.0.1:8080/upload-url", rootAlso: true},
+		{name: "custom upload service", url: "https://attacker.example/upload-url", rootAlso: true},
+		{name: "plaintext default host", url: "http://upload.debug.netbird.io/upload-url", invalid: true},
+		{name: "plaintext custom host", url: "http://attacker.example/upload-url", invalid: true},
+		{name: "unsupported scheme", url: "file:///etc/shadow", invalid: true},
+		// insecure relaxes transport security; privileged only, whatever the host.
+		{name: "insecure http custom", url: "http://selfhosted.local/upload-url", insecure: true, rootAlso: true},
+		{name: "insecure https custom", url: "https://selfhosted.local/upload-url", insecure: true, rootAlso: true},
+		{name: "insecure default host", url: types.DefaultBundleURL, insecure: true, rootAlso: true},
+		// --insecure must not widen the URL to non-http(s) schemes or a hostless URL.
+		{name: "insecure file scheme", url: "file:///etc/shadow", insecure: true, invalid: true},
+		{name: "insecure hostless", url: "https:///upload-url", insecure: true, invalid: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := requirePrivilegeForUploadURL(userCtx(), tc.url, tc.insecure)
+
+			switch {
+			case tc.invalid:
+				if gstatus.Code(err) != codes.InvalidArgument {
+					t.Fatalf("code = %v, want InvalidArgument", gstatus.Code(err))
+				}
+				return
+			case tc.unprivOK:
+				assertAllowed(t, err)
+				return
+			default:
+				assertDenied(t, err)
+			}
+
+			if tc.rootAlso {
+				assertAllowed(t, requirePrivilegeForUploadURL(rootCtx(), tc.url, tc.insecure))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

client/server/lock_order_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
+)
+
+// The daemon takes guardedConfigMu before s.mutex. authorizeAndPrepareLogin
+// takes s.mutex while holding guardedConfigMu, so a SetConfig that grabbed
+// s.mutex first and then waited for guardedConfigMu would deadlock the daemon
+// against a concurrent login: two unprivileged IPC calls are enough.
+//
+// The held guardedConfigMu below stands in for that login. While SetConfig waits
+// for it, s.mutex must stay free, otherwise the login waiting for s.mutex could
+// never release guardedConfigMu.
+func TestSetConfig_TakesGuardedConfigMuBeforeServerMutex(t *testing.T) {
+	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
+	s.guardedConfigMu.Lock()
+
+	done := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		_, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
+			ProfileName: profName,
+			Username:    username,
+		})
+		done <- err
+	}()
+
+	require.Never(t, func() bool {
+		if !s.mutex.TryLock() {
+			return true
+		}
+		s.mutex.Unlock()
+		return false
+	}, 500*time.Millisecond, 10*time.Millisecond,
+		"SetConfig held s.mutex while waiting for guardedConfigMu, which deadlocks against a concurrent login")
+
+	s.guardedConfigMu.Unlock()
+
+	select {
+	case err := <-done:
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("SetConfig did not finish after guardedConfigMu was released")
+	}
+}

client/server/login_gate_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
+)
+
+// A refused login must not leave the profile switched. Login can both switch
+// profiles and carry the guarded config fields, so the gate has to run before the
+// switch: otherwise a caller whose change is refused still gets the side effect of
+// activating whichever profile the request named.
+func TestLogin_RefusedChangeLeavesTheProfileAlone(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, activeProfile, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
+	// Login reads process state off the daemon's root context.
+	s.rootCtx = internal.CtxInitState(context.Background())
+
+	// A second profile that runs the SSH server, which is what makes repointing
+	// its management binding a privileged change.
+	target := "ssh-enabled"
+	_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath:       filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, target+".json"),
+		ManagementURL:    "https://api.netbird.io:443",
+		ServerSSHAllowed: boolPtr(true),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = s.Login(userCtx(), &proto.LoginRequest{
+		ProfileName:   &target,
+		Username:      &username,
+		ManagementUrl: "https://mgmt.attacker.example:443",
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err, "an unprivileged caller must not move the management URL of an SSH-enabled profile")
+	require.Equal(t, codes.PermissionDenied, gstatus.Code(err), "want a privilege refusal, got %v", err)
+
+	active, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, profilemanager.ID(activeProfile), active.ID,
+		"the refused login switched the active profile anyway")
+}
+
+// A caller whose change becomes privileged only after its first check must be
+// refused without having cancelled a login or switched profiles: the first check is
+// unsynchronized, so the SSH server can be enabled by a concurrent privileged
+// request in between, and the authoritative check happens before any side effect.
+func TestLogin_ChangeThatBecomesPrivilegedMidRequestHasNoSideEffects(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, activeProfile, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+	s.rootCtx = internal.CtxInitState(context.Background())
+
+	// The target profile has SSH off, so the first check lets the request through.
+	target := "ssh-later"
+	targetPath := filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, target+".json")
+	_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath:       targetPath,
+		ManagementURL:    "https://api.netbird.io:443",
+		ServerSSHAllowed: boolPtr(false),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	cancelled := false
+	s.actCancel = func() { cancelled = true }
+
+	// Stand in for a privileged SetConfig that enables the SSH server between the
+	// two checks, which is the interleaving the lock has to make safe.
+	afterLoginPreCheck = func() {
+		_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
+			ConfigPath:       targetPath,
+			ServerSSHAllowed: boolPtr(true),
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { afterLoginPreCheck = nil })
+
+	_, err = s.Login(userCtx(), &proto.LoginRequest{
+		ProfileName:   &target,
+		Username:      &username,
+		ManagementUrl: "https://mgmt.attacker.example:443",
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, codes.PermissionDenied, gstatus.Code(err), "want a privilege refusal, got %v", err)
+	require.False(t, cancelled, "the refused login cancelled the login already in progress")
+
+	active, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, profilemanager.ID(activeProfile), active.ID, "the refused login switched the active profile anyway")
+
+	stored, err := profilemanager.ReadConfig(targetPath)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, "https://api.netbird.io:443", stored.ManagementURL.String(), "the refused login moved the management URL")
+}
+
+// Login cancels whatever login is already in progress before starting its own. A
+// refused caller must not get that far, otherwise anyone able to reach the socket
+// can abort someone else's login by sending a request that is denied.
+func TestLogin_RefusedChangeLeavesAnInProgressLoginAlone(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, _, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+	s.rootCtx = internal.CtxInitState(context.Background())
+
+	target := "ssh-enabled"
+	_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath:       filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, target+".json"),
+		ManagementURL:    "https://api.netbird.io:443",
+		ServerSSHAllowed: boolPtr(true),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	cancelled := false
+	s.actCancel = func() { cancelled = true }
+
+	_, err = s.Login(userCtx(), &proto.LoginRequest{
+		ProfileName:   &target,
+		Username:      &username,
+		ManagementUrl: "https://mgmt.attacker.example:443",
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, codes.PermissionDenied, gstatus.Code(err), "want a privilege refusal, got %v", err)
+	require.False(t, cancelled, "the refused login cancelled the login already in progress")
+}

client/server/network.go

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
-	"golang.org/x/exp/maps"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
 	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
 
@@ -161,30 +160,11 @@ func (s *Server) SelectNetworks(_ context.Context, req *proto.SelectNetworksRequ
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no route manager")
 	}
 
-	routeSelector := routeManager.GetRouteSelector()
 	if req.GetAll() {
-		routeSelector.SelectAllRoutes()
-	} else {
-		routes := toNetIDs(req.GetNetworkIDs())
-		routesMap := routeManager.GetClientRoutesWithNetID()
-		routes = route.ExpandV6ExitPairs(routes, routesMap)
-		netIdRoutes := maps.Keys(routesMap)
-		if err := routeSelector.SelectRoutes(routes, req.GetAppend(), netIdRoutes); err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("select routes: %w", err)
-		}
-
-		// Exit nodes are mutually exclusive: if this selection activates an
-		// exit node, deselect every other available exit node so two can't be
-		// selected at once. Non-exit route selections are left untouched.
-		if requestActivatesExitNode(routes, routesMap) {
-			if others := otherExitNodeIDs(routesMap, routes); len(others) > 0 {
-				if err := routeSelector.DeselectRoutes(others, netIdRoutes); err != nil {
-					return nil, fmt.Errorf("deselect sibling exit nodes: %w", err)
-				}
-			}
-		}
+		routeManager.SelectAllRoutes()
+	} else if err := routeManager.SelectRoutes(toNetIDs(req.GetNetworkIDs()), req.GetAppend()); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	routeManager.TriggerSelection(routeManager.GetClientRoutes())
 
 	s.statusRecorder.PublishEvent(
 		proto.SystemEvent_INFO,
@@ -224,19 +204,11 @@ func (s *Server) DeselectNetworks(_ context.Context, req *proto.SelectNetworksRe
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no route manager")
 	}
 
-	routeSelector := routeManager.GetRouteSelector()
 	if req.GetAll() {
-		routeSelector.DeselectAllRoutes()
-	} else {
-		routes := toNetIDs(req.GetNetworkIDs())
-		routesMap := routeManager.GetClientRoutesWithNetID()
-		routes = route.ExpandV6ExitPairs(routes, routesMap)
-		netIdRoutes := maps.Keys(routesMap)
-		if err := routeSelector.DeselectRoutes(routes, netIdRoutes); err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("deselect routes: %w", err)
-		}
+		routeManager.DeselectAllRoutes()
+	} else if err := routeManager.DeselectRoutes(toNetIDs(req.GetNetworkIDs())); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	routeManager.TriggerSelection(routeManager.GetClientRoutes())
 
 	s.statusRecorder.PublishEvent(
 		proto.SystemEvent_INFO,
@@ -261,37 +233,3 @@ func toNetIDs(routes []string) []route.NetID {
 	return netIDs
 }
 
-func isExitNodeRoutes(routes []*route.Route) bool {
-	return len(routes) > 0 && (route.IsV4DefaultRoute(routes[0].Network) || route.IsV6DefaultRoute(routes[0].Network))
-}
-
-// requestActivatesExitNode reports whether any requested NetID maps to an exit
-// node (default route) in the current route table.
-func requestActivatesExitNode(requested []route.NetID, routesMap map[route.NetID][]*route.Route) bool {
-	for _, id := range requested {
-		if isExitNodeRoutes(routesMap[id]) {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-// otherExitNodeIDs returns every available exit-node NetID that is not in the
-// requested set — the siblings to deselect so a single exit node stays active.
-func otherExitNodeIDs(routesMap map[route.NetID][]*route.Route, requested []route.NetID) []route.NetID {
-	keep := make(map[route.NetID]struct{}, len(requested))
-	for _, id := range requested {
-		keep[id] = struct{}{}
-	}
-	var others []route.NetID
-	for id, routes := range routesMap {
-		if !isExitNodeRoutes(routes) {
-			continue
-		}
-		if _, ok := keep[id]; ok {
-			continue
-		}
-		others = append(others, id)
-	}
-	return others
-}

client/server/network_exitnode_test.go

@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-package server
-
-import (
-	"net/netip"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
-)
-
-func TestExitNodeSelectionHelpers(t *testing.T) {
-	routesMap := map[route.NetID][]*route.Route{
-		"exitA": {{Network: netip.MustParsePrefix("0.0.0.0/0")}},
-		"exitB": {{Network: netip.MustParsePrefix("::/0")}},
-		"lan":   {{Network: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.0.0/16")}},
-	}
-
-	assert.True(t, requestActivatesExitNode([]route.NetID{"exitA"}, routesMap), "v4 default route is an exit node")
-	assert.True(t, requestActivatesExitNode([]route.NetID{"exitB"}, routesMap), "v6 default route is an exit node")
-	assert.False(t, requestActivatesExitNode([]route.NetID{"lan"}, routesMap), "lan route is not an exit node")
-	assert.False(t, requestActivatesExitNode([]route.NetID{"missing"}, routesMap), "unknown id is not an exit node")
-
-	others := otherExitNodeIDs(routesMap, []route.NetID{"exitB"})
-	assert.ElementsMatch(t, []route.NetID{"exitA"}, others, "only the other exit node is a sibling; the lan route is ignored")
-}

client/server/server.go

@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ type Server struct {
 	// RegisterUILog. Guarded by mutex. Consumed by DebugBundle so the bundle
 	// can collect the GUI log even though the daemon runs as root and can't
 	// resolve the user's config dir. Last-writer-wins (one UI per socket).
+	// DebugBundle opens it on behalf of the bundle requester and refuses a file
+	// that caller does not own, so a local user cannot read another user's log
+	// or a root-only file through it.
 	uiLogPath string
 
 	oauthAuthFlow oauthAuthFlow
@@ -82,6 +85,12 @@ type Server struct {
 	// extend flow or vice versa.
 	extendAuthSessionFlow *auth.PendingFlow
 
+	// guardedConfigMu serializes a privilege check against the write it
+	// authorizes. Without it the two are separate steps over the same file, and a
+	// change that was allowed because the profile had the SSH server disabled
+	// could land after a concurrent privileged request enabled it.
+	guardedConfigMu sync.Mutex
+
 	mutex  sync.Mutex
 	config *profilemanager.Config
 	proto.UnimplementedDaemonServiceServer
@@ -387,6 +396,16 @@ func (s *Server) loginAttempt(ctx context.Context, setupKey, jwtToken string) (i
 
 // Login uses setup key to prepare configuration for the daemon.
 func (s *Server) SetConfig(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SetConfigRequest) (*proto.SetConfigResponse, error) {
+	// Privilege gate: refuse the parts of the request that would let a local
+	// user turn the root daemon into a root shell. Held across the write so the
+	// config cannot gain the SSH server between the decision and the update.
+	//
+	// Taken before s.mutex: authorizeAndPrepareLogin takes s.mutex while holding
+	// guardedConfigMu, so acquiring the two in the other order here would let a
+	// concurrent login deadlock the daemon.
+	s.guardedConfigMu.Lock()
+	defer s.guardedConfigMu.Unlock()
+
 	s.mutex.Lock()
 	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
 
@@ -411,6 +430,14 @@ func (s *Server) SetConfig(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SetConfigReques
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	stored, err := s.storedProfileConfig(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err := requirePrivilegeForConfigChange(callerCtx, stored, privilegedChangeFromSetConfig(msg)); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	config, err := s.setConfigInputFromRequest(msg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -537,22 +564,23 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 		}
 	}
 
-	s.mutex.Lock()
-	if s.actCancel != nil {
-		s.actCancel()
-	}
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(callerCtx)
-
-	md, ok := metadata.FromIncomingContext(callerCtx)
-	if ok {
-		ctx = metadata.NewOutgoingContext(ctx, md)
+	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %v", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	s.actCancel = cancel
-	s.mutex.Unlock()
-
-	if err := RestoreResidualState(s.rootCtx, s.profileManager.GetStatePath()); err != nil {
-		log.Warnf(errRestoreResidualState, err)
+	// Privilege gate: same restrictions as SetConfig, since LoginRequest can carry
+	// the same fields. It runs before anything here changes daemon state, so a
+	// refused login neither switches the profile nor cancels a login already in
+	// progress, and it reads the profile the request targets, which is the one the
+	// switch below would activate.
+	stored, err := s.storedLoginConfig(activeProf, msg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err := requirePrivilegeForConfigChange(callerCtx, stored, privilegedChangeFromLogin(msg)); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	state := internal.CtxGetState(s.rootCtx)
@@ -563,23 +591,16 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 		}
 	}()
 
-	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
+	ctx, activeProf, err := s.authorizeAndPrepareLogin(callerCtx, msg, activeProf)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %v", err)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if msg.ProfileName != nil {
-		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
-			log.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %v", err)
-			return nil, err
+		// The RPC boundary is where this gets recorded: nothing logs handler
+		// errors for us, and a caller that retries would otherwise leave no
+		// trace in the daemon log. A refusal is skipped because the gate has
+		// already logged the decision, with the caller's identity.
+		if gstatus.Code(err) != codes.PermissionDenied {
+			log.Errorf("failed to prepare login: %v", err)
 		}
-	}
-
-	activeProf, err = s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %v", err)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	log.Infof("active profile: %s for %s", activeProf.ID, activeProf.Username)
@@ -593,11 +614,6 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 
 	s.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	if err := persistLoginOverrides(activeProf, msg.ManagementUrl, msg.OptionalPreSharedKey); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to persist login overrides: %v", err)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("persist login overrides: %w", err)
-	}
-
 	config, _, err := s.getConfig(activeProf)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile config: %v", err)
@@ -980,6 +996,63 @@ func (s *Server) waitForUp(callerCtx context.Context) (*proto.UpResponse, error)
 	}
 }
 
+// storedProfileConfig loads the on-disk config of the profile a request
+// targets, so a privileged-change decision can be made against the values the
+// profile currently holds. A profile that has no config file yet yields nil,
+// which every caller must read as "nothing enabled yet".
+func (s *Server) storedProfileConfig(handle, username string) (*profilemanager.Config, error) {
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(handle, username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	path := resolved.Path
+	if path == "" {
+		path = profilemanager.DefaultConfigPath
+	}
+
+	return s.storedConfigAtPath(path)
+}
+
+// storedLoginConfig loads the on-disk config of the profile a login request
+// targets: the one it names, or the active one when it names none. Used to decide
+// a privileged change before the request is allowed to switch profiles.
+func (s *Server) storedLoginConfig(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*profilemanager.Config, error) {
+	if msg.ProfileName == nil {
+		cfgPath, err := activeProf.FilePath()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("active profile file path: %w", err)
+		}
+		return s.storedConfigAtPath(cfgPath)
+	}
+
+	// Mirrors switchProfileIfNeeded: the default profile resolves without a
+	// username, so this reads the same profile the switch would activate.
+	handle := *msg.ProfileName
+	username := ""
+	if handle != profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
+		username = msg.GetUsername()
+	}
+	return s.storedProfileConfig(handle, username)
+}
+
+// storedConfigAtPath reads a profile config file, yielding nil when it does not
+// exist yet.
+func (s *Server) storedConfigAtPath(path string) (*profilemanager.Config, error) {
+	if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil, nil //nolint:nilnil
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("stat profile config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	cfg, err := profilemanager.GetConfig(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read profile config: %w", err)
+	}
+	return cfg, nil
+}
+
 // resolveProfileHandle resolves a wire-level profile handle (display
 // name, ID, or unique ID prefix) to a concrete profile. Returns gRPC
 // status errors so handlers can return them directly.
@@ -1197,6 +1270,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleProfileLogout(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.LogoutReque
 
 	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, resolved); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to logout from profile %s: %v", resolved.ID, err)
+		// A refused deregistration is already a status error carrying the reason
+		// and the command to run; rewrapping it as Internal would flatten both
+		// into a gRPC dump for the user.
+		if _, isStatus := gstatus.FromError(err); isStatus {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Internal, "logout: %v", err)
 	}
 
@@ -1318,6 +1397,13 @@ func (s *Server) sendLogoutRequest(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (s *Server) sendLogoutRequestWithConfig(ctx context.Context, config *profilemanager.Config) error {
+	// Privilege gate: deregistering frees this machine's key to be registered
+	// against another management server, which is only restricted while the SSH
+	// server makes that a privilege handover.
+	if err := requirePrivilegeForDeregistration(ctx, config); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	key, err := wgtypes.ParseKey(config.PrivateKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("parse private key: %w", err)
@@ -2063,7 +2149,10 @@ func (s *Server) RemoveProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.RemoveProfileRequ
 	}
 
 	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, resolved); err != nil {
-		log.Warnf("failed to logout from profile %s before removal: %v", resolved.ID, err)
+		// Deregistration is best-effort here: the local profile is removed
+		// either way, so an unprivileged caller leaves the peer registered on
+		// the management server rather than being blocked from removing it.
+		log.Warnf("removing profile %s locally without deregistering it: %v", resolved.ID, err)
 	}
 
 	if err := s.profileManager.RemoveProfile(resolved.ID, msg.Username); err != nil {
@@ -2360,6 +2449,69 @@ func sendTerminalNotification() error {
 
 // persistLoginOverrides writes management URL and pre-shared key from a LoginRequest to the
 // active profile config so that subsequent reads pick them up. Empty/nil values are ignored.
+// afterLoginPreCheck is a seam for tests to run a concurrent config change
+// between Login's first privilege check and the authoritative one.
+var afterLoginPreCheck func()
+
+// authorizeAndPrepareLogin makes the authoritative privilege decision for a login
+// and, when it passes, carries out every state change that decision authorizes:
+// cancelling an login already in progress, switching to the requested profile, and
+// persisting the config overrides the request carries.
+//
+// All of it happens under guardedConfigMu, which SetConfig also holds across its
+// own check and write. Login's earlier check refuses the ordinary case before any
+// of this is reached; this one exists because that check is not synchronized
+// against a concurrent privileged request that enables the SSH server, and a
+// caller refused here must not have cancelled or switched anything either.
+func (s *Server) authorizeAndPrepareLogin(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest, activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState) (context.Context, *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, error) {
+	if afterLoginPreCheck != nil {
+		afterLoginPreCheck()
+	}
+
+	s.guardedConfigMu.Lock()
+	defer s.guardedConfigMu.Unlock()
+
+	stored, err := s.storedLoginConfig(activeProf, msg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	if err := requirePrivilegeForConfigChange(callerCtx, stored, privilegedChangeFromLogin(msg)); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	s.mutex.Lock()
+	if s.actCancel != nil {
+		s.actCancel()
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(callerCtx)
+	if md, ok := metadata.FromIncomingContext(callerCtx); ok {
+		ctx = metadata.NewOutgoingContext(ctx, md)
+	}
+	s.actCancel = cancel
+	s.mutex.Unlock()
+
+	if err := RestoreResidualState(s.rootCtx, s.profileManager.GetStatePath()); err != nil {
+		log.Warnf(errRestoreResidualState, err)
+	}
+
+	if msg.ProfileName != nil {
+		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("switch profile: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	activeProf, err = s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("active profile state: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := persistLoginOverrides(activeProf, msg.ManagementUrl, msg.OptionalPreSharedKey); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("persist login overrides: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return ctx, activeProf, nil
+}
+
 func persistLoginOverrides(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, managementURL string, preSharedKey *string) error {
 	if preSharedKey != nil && *preSharedKey == "" {
 		preSharedKey = nil

client/server/setconfig_mdm_test.go

@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ func setupServerWithProfile(t *testing.T) (s *Server, ctx context.Context, profN
 		Username: currUser.Username,
 	}))
 
-	ctx = context.Background()
+	// The privileged-change gate reads the caller's kernel identity from the
+	// context, which a real caller gets from the daemon's transport credentials.
+	// This test drives the handler directly, so it stands in for a root caller;
+	// without an identity the gate would (correctly) refuse the SSH fields.
+	ctx = privilegedTestCtx()
 	s = New(ctx, "console", "", false, false, false, false)
 	return s, ctx, profName, currUser.Username, cfgPath
 }

client/server/setconfig_test.go

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package server
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"os/user"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
@@ -52,7 +51,11 @@ func TestSetConfig_AllFieldsSaved(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	ctx := context.Background()
+	// The privileged-change gate reads the caller's kernel identity from the
+	// context, which a real caller gets from the daemon's transport credentials.
+	// This test drives the handler directly, so it stands in for a root caller;
+	// without an identity the gate would (correctly) refuse the SSH fields.
+	ctx := privilegedTestCtx()
 	s := New(ctx, "console", "", false, false, false, false)
 
 	rosenpassEnabled := true