[management] Add context to the new proxy access assertions

Comparison assertions carry a failure message, and a denied tunnel peer is
asserted to receive no session token so the missing-owner case cannot pass
on the denied reason alone.

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -475,6 +475,132 @@ jobs:
           path: dist/
           retention-days: 3
 
+  release_ui_gtk3:
+    # Legacy GTK3/WebKit2GTK 4.1 UI build for distros without WebKitGTK 6.0
+    # (Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12, RHEL 9, Fedora <=39). Runs on ubuntu-22.04 so
+    # the binary links against the oldest supported glibc.
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    outputs:
+      release_ui_gtk3_artifact_url: ${{ steps.upload_release_ui_gtk3.outputs.artifact-url }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0 # It is required for GoReleaser to work properly
+          persist-credentials: false
+
+      - name: Parse semver string
+        id: semver_parser
+        uses: netbirdio/shared-actions/actions/parse-semver@be5df6047383da2236e02243cceb857d8567c27e # v0.0.2
+
+      - name: Set snapshot flag
+        if: ${{ !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v') }}
+        run: |
+          echo "flags=--snapshot" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Set build vars
+        if: ${{ startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v') }}
+        run: |
+          if [[ "x-${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.prerelease }}" == "x-" && "x-${{ github.repository }}" == "x-netbirdio/netbird" ]]; then
+            echo "x-${{ github.repository }}"
+            echo "x-${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.prerelease }}"
+            echo "SKIP_PUBLISH=false" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          else
+            echo "x-${{ github.repository }}"
+            echo "x-${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.prerelease }}"
+          fi
+
+      - name: Set up Go
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
+        with:
+          go-version-file: "go.mod"
+          cache: false
+      - name: Cache Go modules
+        # Restore-only from the release_ui cache written by trusted runs; the
+        # module cache is identical (same go.sum) and stale build-cache
+        # entries just miss.
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@2c8a9bd7457de244a408f35966fab2fb45fda9c8 # v6.0.0
+        with:
+          path: |
+            ~/go/pkg/mod
+            ~/.cache/go-build
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-ui-go-releaser-${{ hashFiles('**/go.sum') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            ${{ runner.os }}-ui-go-releaser-
+
+      - name: Install modules
+        run: go mod tidy
+
+      - name: check git status
+        run: git --no-pager diff --exit-code
+
+      - name: Set up Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@49933ea5288caeca8642d1e84afbd3f7d6820020 # v4
+        with:
+          node-version: '22'
+
+      - name: Set up pnpm
+        uses: pnpm/action-setup@a3252b78c470c02df07e9d59298aecedc3ccdd6d # v3.0.0
+        with:
+          version: 11
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y -q libgtk-3-dev libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev
+
+      - name: Decode GPG signing key
+        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name == github.repository
+        env:
+          GPG_RPM_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.GPG_RPM_PRIVATE_KEY }}
+        run: |
+          echo "$GPG_RPM_PRIVATE_KEY" | base64 -d > /tmp/gpg-rpm-signing-key.asc
+          echo "GPG_RPM_KEY_FILE=/tmp/gpg-rpm-signing-key.asc" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Install wails3 CLI
+        # Version derived from go.mod so the binding generator always matches
+        # the wails runtime the binary links against.
+        # -tags gtk3: the CLI links the wails runtime's cgo packages, and the
+        # default tags request gtk4/webkitgtk-6.0 pkg-config entries that do
+        # not exist on ubuntu-22.04.
+        run: |
+          WAILS_VERSION=$(go list -m -f '{{.Version}}' github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3)
+          go install -tags gtk3 github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3/cmd/wails3@$WAILS_VERSION
+
+      - name: Run GoReleaser
+        uses: goreleaser/goreleaser-action@5daf1e915a5f0af01ddbcd89a43b8061ff4f1a89 # v7.2.2
+        with:
+          version: ${{ env.GORELEASER_VER }}
+          args: release --config .goreleaser_ui_gtk3.yaml --clean ${{ env.flags }}
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          UPLOAD_DEBIAN_SECRET: ${{ secrets.PKG_UPLOAD_SECRET }}
+          UPLOAD_YUM_SECRET: ${{ secrets.PKG_UPLOAD_SECRET }}
+          GPG_RPM_KEY_FILE: ${{ env.GPG_RPM_KEY_FILE }}
+          NFPM_NETBIRD_UI_RPM_GTK3_PASSPHRASE: ${{ secrets.GPG_RPM_PASSPHRASE }}
+          SKIP_PUBLISH: ${{ env.SKIP_PUBLISH }}
+      - name: Verify RPM signatures
+        run: |
+          docker run --rm -v $(pwd)/dist:/dist fedora:41 bash -c '
+            dnf install -y -q rpm-sign curl >/dev/null 2>&1
+            curl -sSL https://pkgs.netbird.io/yum/repodata/repomd.xml.key -o /tmp/rpm-pub.key
+            rpm --import /tmp/rpm-pub.key
+            echo "=== Verifying RPM signatures ==="
+            for rpm_file in /dist/*.rpm; do
+              [ -f "$rpm_file" ] || continue
+              echo "--- $(basename $rpm_file) ---"
+              rpm -K "$rpm_file"
+            done
+          '
+      - name: Clean up GPG key
+        if: always()
+        run: rm -f /tmp/gpg-rpm-signing-key.asc
+      - name: upload non tags for debug purposes
+        id: upload_release_ui_gtk3
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a #v7.0.1
+        with:
+          name: release-ui-gtk3
+          path: dist/
+          retention-days: 3
+
   release_ui_darwin:
     runs-on: macos-latest
     outputs:
@@ -688,7 +814,7 @@ jobs:
   comment_release_artifacts:
     name: Comment release artifacts
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: [release, release_ui, release_ui_darwin]
+    needs: [release, release_ui, release_ui_gtk3, release_ui_darwin]
     if: ${{ always() && github.event_name == 'pull_request' && github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name == github.repository }}
     permissions:
       contents: read
@@ -700,12 +826,14 @@ jobs:
         env:
           RELEASE_RESULT: ${{ needs.release.result }}
           RELEASE_UI_RESULT: ${{ needs.release_ui.result }}
+          RELEASE_UI_GTK3_RESULT: ${{ needs.release_ui_gtk3.result }}
           RELEASE_UI_DARWIN_RESULT: ${{ needs.release_ui_darwin.result }}
           RELEASE_ARTIFACT_URL: ${{ needs.release.outputs.release_artifact_url }}
           LINUX_PACKAGES_ARTIFACT_URL: ${{ needs.release.outputs.linux_packages_artifact_url }}
           WINDOWS_PACKAGES_ARTIFACT_URL: ${{ needs.release.outputs.windows_packages_artifact_url }}
           MACOS_PACKAGES_ARTIFACT_URL: ${{ needs.release.outputs.macos_packages_artifact_url }}
           RELEASE_UI_ARTIFACT_URL: ${{ needs.release_ui.outputs.release_ui_artifact_url }}
+          RELEASE_UI_GTK3_ARTIFACT_URL: ${{ needs.release_ui_gtk3.outputs.release_ui_gtk3_artifact_url }}
           RELEASE_UI_DARWIN_ARTIFACT_URL: ${{ needs.release_ui_darwin.outputs.release_ui_darwin_artifact_url }}
           GHCR_IMAGES_MARKDOWN: ${{ needs.release.outputs.ghcr_images }}
         with:
@@ -728,6 +856,7 @@ jobs:
               ['Windows packages', process.env.WINDOWS_PACKAGES_ARTIFACT_URL, process.env.RELEASE_RESULT],
               ['macOS packages', process.env.MACOS_PACKAGES_ARTIFACT_URL, process.env.RELEASE_RESULT],
               ['UI artifacts', process.env.RELEASE_UI_ARTIFACT_URL, process.env.RELEASE_UI_RESULT],
+              ['UI GTK3 artifacts', process.env.RELEASE_UI_GTK3_ARTIFACT_URL, process.env.RELEASE_UI_GTK3_RESULT],
               ['UI macOS artifacts', process.env.RELEASE_UI_DARWIN_ARTIFACT_URL, process.env.RELEASE_UI_DARWIN_RESULT],
             ];
 
@@ -784,7 +913,7 @@ jobs:
 
   trigger_signer:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: [release, release_ui, release_ui_darwin, test_windows_installer]
+    needs: [release, release_ui, release_ui_gtk3, release_ui_darwin, test_windows_installer]
     if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
     steps:
       - name: Trigger binaries sign pipelines

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

@@ -257,6 +257,15 @@ jobs:
         with:
           persist-credentials: false
 
+      - name: Verify fresh-install session cookie key hardening
+        run: |
+          grep -Fxq '  SESSION_COOKIE_ENCRYPTION_KEY=$(openssl rand -base64 32)' infrastructure_files/getting-started.sh
+          grep -Fxq '    sessionCookieEncryptionKey: "$SESSION_COOKIE_ENCRYPTION_KEY"' infrastructure_files/getting-started.sh
+          grep -Fxq '  install -m 600 /dev/null config.yaml' infrastructure_files/getting-started.sh
+          grep -Fxq '  openssl rand -base64 32' infrastructure_files/getting-started-enterprise.sh
+          grep -Fxq '  NETBIRD_SESSION_COOKIE_ENCRYPTION_KEY=$(rand_b64_key)' infrastructure_files/getting-started-enterprise.sh
+          grep -Fxq '    sessionCookieEncryptionKey: "${NETBIRD_SESSION_COOKIE_ENCRYPTION_KEY}"' infrastructure_files/getting-started-enterprise.sh
+
       - name: Verify Dex retirement notice
         run: |
           if infrastructure_files/getting-started-with-dex.sh >stdout.txt 2>stderr.txt; then

.goreleaser_ui_gtk3.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+version: 2
+env:
+  - SKIP_PUBLISH={{ if index .Env "SKIP_PUBLISH" }}{{ .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH }}{{ else }}true{{ end }}
+project_name: netbird-ui
+
+before:
+  hooks:
+    # Bindings are gitignored; regenerate before the frontend build so
+    # the @wailsio/runtime Vite plugin can resolve them (vite refuses to
+    # build without them).
+    # -f '-tags gtk3': the generator type-checks client/ui, whose cgo imports
+    # would otherwise resolve gtk4/webkitgtk-6.0 pkg-config entries that do
+    # not exist on ubuntu-22.04.
+    - sh -c 'cd client/ui && wails3 generate bindings -clean=true -ts -f "-tags gtk3"'
+    - sh -c 'cd client/ui/frontend && pnpm install --frozen-lockfile && pnpm build'
+
+builds:
+  # Legacy GTK3 / WebKit2GTK 4.1 build for distros without WebKitGTK 6.0
+  # (Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12, RHEL 9, Fedora <=39). The gtk3 tag flips the
+  # Wails Linux backend to the GTK3 stack and swaps our GTK4-only XEmbed
+  # tray host for the pure-Go stub (client/ui/xembed_host_gtk3_linux.go).
+  # Must be built on the oldest supported glibc (ubuntu-22.04 runner).
+  - id: netbird-ui-gtk3
+    dir: client/ui
+    binary: netbird-ui
+    env:
+      - CGO_ENABLED=1
+    goos:
+      - linux
+    goarch:
+      - amd64
+    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
+      - gtk3
+
+archives:
+  - id: linux-gtk3-arch
+    name_template: "{{ .ProjectName }}-linux-gtk3_{{ .Version }}_{{ .Os }}_{{ .Arch }}"
+    builds:
+      - netbird-ui-gtk3
+
+nfpms:
+  # Same package_name as the GTK4 packages -- the two are mutually-exclusive
+  # alternatives served from separate repo paths (see uploads below); a given
+  # distro points at exactly one of them. The file names must still differ:
+  # the Debian pool is shared storage keyed by file name, so a default-named
+  # gtk3 .deb would overwrite the stable one.
+  - maintainer: Netbird <dev@netbird.io>
+    description: Netbird client UI.
+    homepage: https://netbird.io/
+    license: BSD-3-Clause
+    vendor: NetBird
+    id: netbird_ui_deb_gtk3
+    package_name: netbird-ui
+    file_name_template: "{{ .PackageName }}-gtk3_{{ .Version }}_{{ .Os }}_{{ .Arch }}"
+    builds:
+      - netbird-ui-gtk3
+    formats:
+      - deb
+    scripts:
+      postinstall: "release_files/ui-post-install.sh"
+    contents:
+      - src: client/ui/build/linux/netbird.desktop
+        dst: /usr/share/applications/org.wails.netbird.desktop
+      - src: client/ui/build/appicon.png
+        dst: /usr/share/pixmaps/netbird.png
+    dependencies:
+      - netbird (>= 0.75.0)
+      - libgtk-3-0
+      - libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0
+
+  - maintainer: Netbird <dev@netbird.io>
+    description: Netbird client UI.
+    homepage: https://netbird.io/
+    license: BSD-3-Clause
+    vendor: NetBird
+    id: netbird_ui_rpm_gtk3
+    package_name: netbird-ui
+    file_name_template: "{{ .PackageName }}-gtk3_{{ .Version }}_{{ .Os }}_{{ .Arch }}"
+    builds:
+      - netbird-ui-gtk3
+    formats:
+      - rpm
+    scripts:
+      postinstall: "release_files/ui-post-install.sh"
+    contents:
+      - src: client/ui/build/linux/netbird.desktop
+        dst: /usr/share/applications/org.wails.netbird.desktop
+      - src: client/ui/build/appicon.png
+        dst: /usr/share/pixmaps/netbird.png
+    dependencies:
+      - netbird >= 0.75.0
+      - (gtk3 or libgtk-3-0)
+      - (webkit2gtk4.1 or libwebkit2gtk-4_1-0)
+
+    rpm:
+      signature:
+        key_file: '{{ if index .Env "GPG_RPM_KEY_FILE" }}{{ .Env.GPG_RPM_KEY_FILE }}{{ end }}'
+
+# The GTK4 UI job shares project_name, so the default checksum file name would
+# collide with it on the shared GitHub release.
+checksum:
+  name_template: "{{ .ProjectName }}_gtk3_checksums.txt"
+
+changelog:
+  disable: true
+
+uploads:
+  # The gtk3 packages reuse the netbird-ui package name, so they live in
+  # dedicated repo paths (deb distribution `gtk3`, yum path `yum-gtk3`) that
+  # legacy distros point their repo config at.
+  - name: debian-gtk3
+    skip: "{{ .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH }}"
+    ids:
+      - netbird_ui_deb_gtk3
+    mode: archive
+    target: https://pkgs.wiretrustee.com/debian/pool/{{ .ArtifactName }};deb.distribution=gtk3;deb.component=main;deb.architecture={{ if .Arm }}armhf{{ else }}{{ .Arch }}{{ end }};deb.package=
+    username: dev@wiretrustee.com
+    method: PUT
+
+  - name: yum-gtk3
+    skip: "{{ .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH }}"
+    ids:
+      - netbird_ui_rpm_gtk3
+    mode: archive
+    target: https://pkgs.wiretrustee.com/yum-gtk3/{{ .Arch }}{{ if .Arm }}{{ .Arm }}{{ end }}
+    username: dev@wiretrustee.com
+    method: PUT

AGENTS.md

@@ -14,20 +14,22 @@ in this file, not duplicated there.
 
 ## Contents
 
-- [NetBird Agent Guidelines](#netbird-agent-guidelines)
-  - [Contents](#contents)
-  - [STOP and ask the user before](#stop-and-ask-the-user-before)
-  - [Quick reference](#quick-reference)
-  - [Structure](#structure)
-  - [Where to look](#where-to-look)
-  - [Repo-wide principles](#repo-wide-principles)
-  - [Error handling](#error-handling)
-  - [Comments](#comments)
-  - [Testing](#testing)
-  - [Pitfalls](#pitfalls)
-  - [Commits, PRs, releases](#commits-prs-releases)
-  - [After you push: CI and review bots](#after-you-push-ci-and-review-bots)
-  - [Discussion and support](#discussion-and-support)
+- [STOP and ask the user before](#stop-and-ask-the-user-before)
+- [Quick reference](#quick-reference)
+- [Structure](#structure)
+- [Where to look](#where-to-look)
+- [Security](#security)
+- [Agent conventions](#agent-conventions)
+- [Repo-wide principles](#repo-wide-principles)
+- [Type safety](#type-safety)
+- [Concurrency and lifecycle](#concurrency-and-lifecycle)
+- [Error handling](#error-handling)
+- [Comments](#comments)
+- [Testing](#testing)
+- [Pitfalls](#pitfalls)
+- [Commits, PRs, releases](#commits-prs-releases)
+- [After you push: CI and review bots](#after-you-push-ci-and-review-bots)
+- [Discussion and support](#discussion-and-support)
 
 ## STOP and ask the user before
 
@@ -157,11 +159,125 @@ netbird/
 | LLM routing / Agent Network | `proxy/internal/llm/`, `agent-network/`                      |
 | End-to-end tests            | `e2e/`                                                       |
 
+## Security
+
+### Never fail open
+
+When a security check — access control, an IP restriction, an auth decision —
+hits an error such as an unparseable value, an unavailable lookup, or a state it
+does not recognize, it must **deny**. Never skip the check or allow the request
+through because the check itself failed, and make the `default` and unknown cases
+of a security-related `switch` deny rather than fall through.
+
+### Daemon RPC input is untrusted
+
+The agent runs as root (LocalSystem on Windows), so a daemon RPC crosses a
+privilege boundary: treat every field as untrusted input rather than as something
+the UI or CLI validated on the way in.
+
+When you add or change an RPC, ask what the handler does with caller input while
+running as root. If the answer touches a filesystem path, a URL or host, or a
+privileged state change, it needs a gate **in the handler** — a check in the client
+that normally calls it is not a check at all.
+
+- **A caller-supplied path the daemon opens.** Never `os.Open` it as root.
+  Constrain it, then open it *as the caller* with `ipcauth.OpenOwnedFile`, which
+  opens `O_NOFOLLOW`, requires a regular file, and refuses a file the caller does
+  not own — so a symlink or hardlink aimed at a root-only file is rejected.
+- **A caller-supplied URL or host the daemon fetches.** Restrict the scheme and
+  allow only known hosts for unprivileged callers. Prefer a lexical host
+  allowlist plus TLS verification over "resolve the host, then reject private
+  IPs": the resolve-then-trust pattern has a DNS-rebinding race (public IP at
+  check time, attacker IP at connect time), while a name allowlist has no IP
+  check to race. Never accept `http://` where `https://` is expected.
+- **A privileged state change** (SSH root login, management URL, deregistration)
+  gates on the caller identity from `ipcauth.CallerIdentity(ctx)`.
+
+Caller identity comes from the kernel — `SO_PEERCRED`, `LOCAL_PEERCRED`, or the
+named-pipe client token — and never from an RPC field. When
+`ipcauth.CallerIdentity` reports that it could not determine an identity, **deny**;
+do not fall back to treating the caller as the transport peer.
+
+## Agent conventions
+
+### Three networking modes
+
+Where packets actually flow depends on the mode the agent is running in. The
+three are not interchangeable, so establish which one a change applies to — and
+what it should do in the other two — before you write it.
+
+- **kernel mode** (Linux only): in-kernel WireGuard®. The kernel handles both
+  peer-to-peer and routed traffic, and ACLs are iptables or nftables rules. The
+  client programs kernel facilities but never sees the traffic itself.
+- **userspace mode** (wireguard-go with a TUN): wireguard-go runs in-process. The
+  kernel handles peer-to-peer traffic once it leaves the TUN, while routed traffic
+  — exit nodes and network routes — goes through the userspace forwarder, which
+  terminates the connection and re-establishes it over OS sockets. Used on
+  platforms without kernel WireGuard® or when the user opts out.
+- **netstack mode**: wireguard-go in-process with no TUN and no kernel
+  networking. The forwarder does all routing by stitching userspace sockets, and
+  listeners such as the embedded SSH and DNS servers bind on a gVisor netstack.
+  Used where the process cannot create a TUN device, such as the embedded client
+  (`client/embed/`) and the WASM build.
+
+### The overlay interface is not "WireGuard"
+
+Do not put "WireGuard" in identifiers or comments unless the code is genuinely
+coupled to WireGuard® specifically — a wireguard-go call, a handshake field, a
+kernel WireGuard® netlink attribute. For the interface, the host, peers, or
+traffic in general, say "the NetBird interface", "the interface", or "the overlay".
+Most firewall, routing, and DNS code is transport-agnostic, so a WireGuard®
+reference there is simply inaccurate and rots as the transports change.
+
+### IPv6 is a soft feature
+
+The IPv6 overlay is opt-in dual-stack, and capability can change at runtime. Treat
+it as soft rather than a requirement:
+
+- Gate local v6 paths on the interface accessor (`wgIface.Address().HasIPv6()`),
+  not on raw state fields, and skip the v6 path when the host has no v6 rather
+  than returning an error.
+- Treat an empty or unparseable peer v6 address as "no v6 for that peer" and skip
+  it, keeping the v4 path working.
+- Never let a missing v6 break v4. Fail-closed is for security checks; a
+  capability mismatch skips the v6 work and carries on.
+
+### Environment variables
+
+Name the variable in a constant and parse booleans with `strconv.ParseBool` rather
+than comparing strings inline, so an unexpected value is logged instead of
+silently meaning false:
+
+```go
+const EnvDisableFeature = "NB_DISABLE_FEATURE"
+
+func isDisabledByEnv() bool {
+    val := os.Getenv(EnvDisableFeature)
+    if val == "" {
+        return false
+    }
+    disabled, err := strconv.ParseBool(val)
+    if err != nil {
+        log.Warnf("failed to parse %s: %v", EnvDisableFeature, err)
+        return false
+    }
+    return disabled
+}
+```
+
+### Validating against protocol specs
+
+When a change depends on what a protocol actually mandates, read the specification
+text from the [IETF datatracker](https://datatracker.ietf.org/) rather than a
+summary, and check that you have the current RFC — the widely cited one for a
+protocol is often superseded. Cite the section, not just the document, so a
+reviewer can jump straight to the rule.
+
 ## Repo-wide principles
 
 1. **Run `go fmt` on every modified Go file.** Formatting is not optional.
-2. **Zero unaddressed diagnostics.** Fix IDE and linter warnings on code you
-   touch, and delete imports, helpers, and parameters your refactor orphaned.
+2. **Zero unaddressed linter warnings.** Fix what `golangci-lint` reports on code
+   you touch, and delete imports, helpers, and parameters your refactor orphaned.
    Exception: unused parameters in shared code may be consumed by builds outside
    this repository — do not remove them, ask instead.
 3. **Function comments are mandatory for exported functions**, written as full
@@ -175,9 +291,12 @@ netbird/
 7. **Avoid LLM-slop tells:** em dashes, hedging narration, restating the diff in
    prose, trailing summaries. Defaults, not absolute bans. Applies to code,
    comments, commit messages, and PR descriptions alike.
-8. **Concurrency: do a two-pass race analysis after every change** that adds
-   shared state. Guard maps and slices with a mutex, keep critical sections
-   short, and run `go test -race` on the touched packages.
+8. **Concurrency: do a two-pass race analysis after every change** that touches
+   shared state, including reads of existing maps and slices. Guard them with a
+   mutex (or an atomic or channel where that fits better), keep critical
+   sections short, and run `go test -race` on the touched packages. See
+   [Concurrency and lifecycle](#concurrency-and-lifecycle) for the failure modes
+   to check for.
 9. **Cross-platform builds must keep working.** The agent targets Linux, macOS,
    Windows, FreeBSD, Android, and iOS. When you add a platform-specific file,
    add the counterpart or a build-tagged fallback for the others.
@@ -185,6 +304,93 @@ netbird/
 11. **Never log secrets** — private keys, setup keys, tokens, PAT values — and
     keep peer IPs and hostnames out of logs above debug level.
 
+## Type safety
+
+**No bare primitives for domain concepts.** A `string` parameter for an account
+ID next to a `string` parameter for a peer ID is two bugs waiting to happen,
+because the compiler cannot catch the swap. Declare the type once and use it
+throughout, converting only at the boundaries where data enters or leaves —
+protobuf, gRPC, HTTP, an external library.
+
+```go
+type ServiceID string
+type AccountID string
+
+// Internal: typed all the way through
+func (r *Router) RemoveRoute(host SNIHost, svcID ServiceID) { ... }
+
+// Proto boundary: convert once, on the way in and on the way out
+svcID := ServiceID(mapping.GetId())
+req.ServiceId = string(svcID)
+```
+
+- **IP addresses are `netip.Addr`**, not `string` and not `net.IP`. Parse at the
+  boundary and pass the typed value inward.
+- **Always `Unmap()`** after parsing an address, after converting from `net.IP`,
+  and after extracting one from `RemoteAddr()`. This normalizes a v4-mapped v6
+  address (`::ffff:10.1.2.3`) to plain v4 so IPv4 rules match it. A stored or
+  compared mapped address silently fails to match those rules.
+- **Ports are `uint16`** internally; use `int` only where a library forces it and
+  convert immediately.
+- **Enums are a typed string with constants**, so the valid set is discoverable
+  and a typo fails to compile.
+- **Map keys follow the same rule**, and must be a real type (`type ServiceID
+  string`) rather than an alias (`type serviceID = string`) — an alias silently
+  accepts bare strings.
+
+## Concurrency and lifecycle
+
+Beyond the mutex hygiene in the principles above, check for these failure
+modes.
+
+- **Never read a struct field inside a goroutine** when another goroutine may nil
+  or reassign it. Pass the value as a parameter, or capture it into a local before
+  launching. This matters most when `Stop()` nils a field without waiting for the
+  goroutine to finish.
+
+  ```go
+  go func(ifaceName string) {   // good: passed in, cannot be nilled underneath
+      m.Start(ctx, ifaceName)
+  }(iface.Name())
+  ```
+
+- **Never wait on a channel while holding a lock the sender needs.** Copy what you
+  need out from under the lock, release it, then wait.
+
+  ```go
+  func (m *Manager) Stop() {
+      m.mu.Lock()
+      cancel, done := m.cancel, m.done
+      m.mu.Unlock()
+      if cancel != nil {
+          cancel()
+          <-done
+      }
+  }
+  ```
+
+- **`Stop`/`Close` must be idempotent** — guard on an already-stopped flag or a
+  nil cancel — and must release the state they guarded. Clear maps and caches;
+  a cancelled goroutine holding a live map still pins that memory. Note that a
+  nil map only panics on writes; reads and iteration behave like an empty map,
+  so where post-close use must be rejected, check the stopped flag explicitly.
+- **Publish coupled state only after every fallible step succeeds.** When several
+  fields form an invariant, build them into locals and assign them to the receiver
+  at the end. Assigning as you go leaves the object half-initialized when a later
+  step fails, so a readiness predicate reports ready while a coupled field is nil.
+  If an earlier step already had an external side effect — a created chain, an
+  opened handle, an inserted rule — roll it back before returning the error.
+- **Clean up what you own on constructor error paths.** Once a constructor has
+  started something, every later error path must undo it: cancel a goroutine and
+  wait for it to exit, stop a ticker, close a watcher. The object is never
+  returned, so its `Close` will never run.
+- **A failed `Start` must undo everything it started.** When a component brings up
+  several subsystems in sequence — connection manager, watchers, routing, DNS,
+  flow, persisted state — a failure partway through has to tear down the ones
+  already running, not just close the handle the error came from. Put the
+  already-started guard *before* that teardown path, so a rejected second `Start`
+  cannot dismantle the one that is running.
+
 ## Error handling
 
 Use single-assignment form when the error is only needed inside the `if`:
@@ -248,6 +454,45 @@ Log the errors you choose not to act on:
 - Close errors may be ignored for read-only operations; log them at debug for
   writes.
 
+**Do not log and return the same error.** It gets reported twice, from two places,
+and the second reader cannot tell whether it happened once or twice. Return it and
+let the caller decide. The exception is an API handler that has already written a
+response. Internal helpers return errors rather than logging and swallowing them.
+
+**Never return a typed nil as an error.** A nil `*MyError` stored in an `error`
+interface is not nil, so `err != nil` is true and callers take the failure path on
+success. Return the error only where it is actually set:
+
+```go
+if _, err := conn.Write(buf); err != nil {   // good
+    return err
+}
+return nil
+```
+
+**Accumulate with `multierror` when an operation should continue past individual
+failures** — teardown, cleanup, or setup where partial success is acceptable.
+`client/errors.FormatErrorOrNil` returns nil for an empty accumulator, so callers
+still see a plain nil on full success:
+
+```go
+func (m *Manager) Cleanup() error {
+    var merr *multierror.Error
+    for _, r := range m.resources {
+        if err := r.Close(); err != nil {
+            merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("close %s: %w", r.Name, err))
+        }
+    }
+    return nberrors.FormatErrorOrNil(merr)
+}
+```
+
+| Scenario              | Approach              | Why                                       |
+| --------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
+| Cleanup / teardown    | Accumulate            | Clean up as much as possible              |
+| Setup with rollback   | Abort on first error  | Partial state is invalid; undo what stuck |
+| Setup with partial OK | Accumulate            | Degraded operation is still useful        |
+
 ## Comments
 
 Comment the **why**, never the **what**. Default to no comment, and add one only
@@ -269,10 +514,14 @@ checksum = updateChecksum(checksum, oldPort, newPort)
 
 ### Length budget
 
-- **90 characters per line.** Wrap the comment, do not run past it.
-- **250 characters per comment**, roughly three wrapped lines. Doc comments on
-  exported identifiers may exceed it when the API genuinely needs the
-  explanation; inline comments inside a function body may not.
+Neither of these is linter-enforced, so they are conventions the surrounding code
+mostly follows rather than hard limits:
+
+- **Around 90 characters per line.** Wrap the comment rather than running well past
+  it.
+- **Roughly 250 characters per comment**, about three wrapped lines. Doc comments
+  on exported identifiers may exceed it when the API genuinely needs the
+  explanation; inline comments inside a function body rarely should.
 
 The budget is a smell detector, not a rule to game. Do not compress a needed
 explanation into cryptic shorthand to fit — if a block of code needs more than
@@ -329,6 +578,19 @@ up, and the 250-character budget does not apply to them.
   otherwise.
 - **Message guidance:** optional for `NoError`/`Error`; always give context for
   comparison, boolean, and collection assertions.
+- **Reproduce a bug before fixing it.** Write the test, watch it fail *for the
+  reason you expect* — a test that fails for an unrelated reason proves nothing —
+  then apply the fix and confirm it passes. Add the thin surrounding cases while
+  you are there.
+- **Use `t.Setenv`** rather than `os.Setenv` so the previous value is restored on
+  cleanup. To test the unset case, call `t.Setenv` first to register the restore,
+  then `os.Unsetenv`.
+- **Prefer `t.Cleanup` over `defer`** in any test with parallel subtests: the
+  parent function returns, running its `defer`s, while parallel subtests are
+  still suspended. Sequential subtests finish inside `t.Run`, so `defer` is safe
+  there, but `t.Cleanup` works in both cases.
+- **Explanatory comments in tests are welcome.** Describe the scenario being set
+  up; the comment budget below does not apply to them.
 
 ```go
 server, err := StartTestServer()
@@ -380,7 +642,8 @@ assert.Equal(t, expectedResult, result, "Result should match expected")
   than replacing it with your own summary: describe the change, link the issue,
   tick the checklist honestly (including "ran locally" and "single purpose"),
   and complete the documentation section. Do not tick a box you have not
-  verified, and do not delete rows that do not apply.
+  verified, and do not delete rows that do not apply — the docs gate in CI reads
+  that section and fails when it is missing.
 
 - **Keep the PR description short.** Under 1000 words on top of the template's
   own text, and usually far less — a few paragraphs. Reviewers read the diff;
@@ -439,6 +702,12 @@ assert.Equal(t, expectedResult, result, "Result should match expected")
   on their own. Propose that split to the user rather than opening one large PR
   and hoping.
 
+  Prefer GitHub's stacked pull requests for such a sequence, rather than
+  hand-managing base branches: open each PR against the branch below it instead of
+  `main`, so every PR's diff shows only its own change. Merging a layer retargets
+  the PRs above it, and branch protections and required checks on the base branch
+  still apply to each one.
+
 - **User-facing changes need a docs PR** in
   [netbirdio/docs](https://github.com/netbirdio/docs), linked from the PR
   description.

client/firewall/firewalld/firewalld.go

@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 // its wg interface into firewalld's "trusted" zone. This is required because
 // firewalld's nftables chains are created with NFT_CHAIN_OWNER on recent
 // versions, which returns EPERM to any other process that tries to insert
-// rules into them. The workaround mirrors what Tailscale does: let firewalld
-// itself add the accept rules to its own chains by trusting the interface.
+// rules into them. Trusting the interface makes firewalld itself add the
+// accept rules to its own chains instead.
 package firewalld
 
 // TrustedZone is the firewalld zone name used for interfaces whose traffic

client/internal/metrics/connection_type.go

@@ -4,11 +4,17 @@ package metrics
 type ConnectionType string
 
 const (
-	// ConnectionTypeICE represents a direct peer-to-peer connection using ICE
-	ConnectionTypeICE ConnectionType = "ice"
+	// ConnectionTypeICEP2P represents a direct peer-to-peer connection using ICE
+	ConnectionTypeICEP2P ConnectionType = "ice_p2p"
+
+	// ConnectionTypeICETurn represents an ICE connection through a TURN server
+	ConnectionTypeICETurn ConnectionType = "ice_turn"
 
 	// ConnectionTypeRelay represents a relayed connection
 	ConnectionTypeRelay ConnectionType = "relay"
+
+	// ConnectionTypeUnknown represents a connection with no active transport. It is not pushed.
+	ConnectionTypeUnknown ConnectionType = "unknown"
 )
 
 // String returns the string representation of the connection type

client/internal/metrics/influxdb_test.go

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func TestInfluxDBMetrics_RecordAndExport(t *testing.T) {
 		WgHandshakeSuccess: time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Second),
 	}
 
-	m.RecordConnectionStages(context.Background(), agentInfo, "pair123", ConnectionTypeICE, false, ts)
+	m.RecordConnectionStages(context.Background(), agentInfo, "pair123", ConnectionTypeICEP2P, false, ts)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 	err := m.Export(&buf)
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func TestInfluxDBMetrics_ExportDeterministicFieldOrder(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Record multiple times and verify consistent field order
 	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
-		m.RecordConnectionStages(context.Background(), agentInfo, "pair123", ConnectionTypeICE, false, ts)
+		m.RecordConnectionStages(context.Background(), agentInfo, "pair123", ConnectionTypeICEP2P, false, ts)
 	}
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer

client/internal/metrics/infra/README.md

@@ -56,14 +56,33 @@ Measurement: `netbird_peer_connection`
 
 Tags:
 - `deployment_type`: "cloud" | "selfhosted" | "unknown"
-- `connection_type`: "ice" | "relay"
+- `connection_type`: "ice_p2p" | "ice_turn" | "relay" (see below)
 - `attempt_type`: "initial" | "reconnection"
 - `version`: NetBird version string
 - `os`: Operating system (linux, darwin, windows, android, ios, etc.)
 - `arch`: CPU architecture (amd64, arm64, etc.)
+- `peer_id`: anonymised peer identifier (truncated SHA-256 of the WireGuard public key)
+- `connection_pair_id`: deterministic identifier for the peer pair, identical on both sides
 
 **Note:** `SignalingReceived` is set when the first offer or answer arrives from the remote peer (in both initial and reconnection paths). It excludes the potentially unbounded wait for the remote peer to come online.
 
+#### `connection_type` values
+
+Derived from the connection priority (`conntype.ConnPriority`) by `metricsConnType` in `client/internal/peer/conn.go`:
+
+| Value | Priority | Traffic is |
+|-------|----------|------------|
+| `ice_p2p` | `ICEP2P` | direct peer-to-peer |
+| `ice_turn` | `ICETurn` | relayed, through a TURN server |
+| `relay` | `Relay` | relayed, through a NetBird relay |
+| `unknown` | `None` or unrecognised | no active transport — **the sample is not pushed** |
+
+**Direct traffic is `ice_p2p` only.** `ice_turn` is relayed despite being negotiated by ICE, matching `Conn.isRelayed`.
+
+`None` means no transport is active: not established yet, or reset after a relay drop or a peer-state reset. Such a sample cannot be attributed to a transport, so `recordConnectionMetrics` drops it instead of pushing it — `unknown` therefore never appears in the bucket. Connection counts are counts of connections whose transport was known at sampling time.
+
+**Samples recorded before 0.77 used a single `ice` value** which covered `ICEP2P`, `ICETurn` *and* `None`, so historical `ice` samples overstate direct connections by an unknown amount and must not be compared with `ice_p2p`.
+
 ### Sync Duration
 
 Measurement: `netbird_sync`

client/internal/peer/conn.go

@@ -307,6 +307,8 @@ func (conn *Conn) Close(signalToRemote bool) {
 
 	if conn.wgWatcherCancel != nil {
 		conn.wgWatcherCancel()
+		conn.wgWatcher = nil
+		conn.wgWatcherCancel = nil
 	}
 	conn.workerRelay.CloseConn()
 	if conn.workerICE != nil {
@@ -959,12 +961,9 @@ func (conn *Conn) recordConnectionMetrics() {
 	priority := conn.currentConnPriority
 	conn.mu.Unlock()
 
-	var connType metrics.ConnectionType
-	switch priority {
-	case conntype.Relay:
-		connType = metrics.ConnectionTypeRelay
-	default:
-		connType = metrics.ConnectionTypeICE
+	connType := metricsConnType(priority)
+	if connType == metrics.ConnectionTypeUnknown {
+		return
 	}
 
 	// Record metrics with timestamps - duration calculation happens in metrics package
@@ -1065,3 +1064,16 @@ func boolToConnStatus(connected bool) guard.ConnStatus {
 	}
 	return guard.ConnStatusDisconnected
 }
+
+func metricsConnType(priority conntype.ConnPriority) metrics.ConnectionType {
+	switch priority {
+	case conntype.Relay:
+		return metrics.ConnectionTypeRelay
+	case conntype.ICETurn:
+		return metrics.ConnectionTypeICETurn
+	case conntype.ICEP2P:
+		return metrics.ConnectionTypeICEP2P
+	default:
+		return metrics.ConnectionTypeUnknown
+	}
+}

client/internal/peer/conn_test.go

@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/metrics"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer/conntype"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer/dispatcher"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer/guard"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer/ice"
@@ -386,3 +388,33 @@ func TestConn_onWGDisconnected_NoEscalationWithoutRosenpass(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	assert.Empty(t, disconnected, "escalation must be limited to rosenpass connections")
 }
+
+func TestMetricsConnType(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		priority conntype.ConnPriority
+		expected metrics.ConnectionType
+	}{
+		{"relay", conntype.Relay, metrics.ConnectionTypeRelay},
+		{"ice over turn is relayed, not p2p", conntype.ICETurn, metrics.ConnectionTypeICETurn},
+		{"direct p2p", conntype.ICEP2P, metrics.ConnectionTypeICEP2P},
+		{"unset priority is unknown, not p2p", conntype.None, metrics.ConnectionTypeUnknown},
+		{"unrecognised priority is unknown", conntype.ConnPriority(99), metrics.ConnectionTypeUnknown},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.expected, metricsConnType(tc.priority))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMetricsConnType_RelayedMatchesIsRelayed(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, priority := range []conntype.ConnPriority{conntype.None, conntype.Relay, conntype.ICETurn, conntype.ICEP2P} {
+		conn := &Conn{currentConnPriority: priority}
+		tag := metricsConnType(priority)
+		relayedTag := tag == metrics.ConnectionTypeRelay || tag == metrics.ConnectionTypeICETurn
+		assert.Equal(t, conn.isRelayed(), relayedTag,
+			"priority %s: isRelayed and the %q metric tag must agree", priority, tag)
+	}
+}

client/ui/frontend/src/hooks/useKeepConnectedOnQuit.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import { Preferences } from "@bindings/services";
+
+export const useKeepConnectedOnQuit = () => {
+    const [keepConnected, setKeepConnected] = useState<boolean | null>(null);
+
+    useEffect(() => {
+        let cancelled = false;
+        Preferences.Get()
+            .then((prefs) => {
+                if (cancelled) return;
+                setKeepConnected(prefs?.keepConnectedOnQuit ?? false);
+            })
+            .catch((err: unknown) => {
+                if (cancelled) return;
+                console.warn("[useKeepConnectedOnQuit] load preferences failed", err);
+                setKeepConnected(false);
+            });
+        return () => {
+            cancelled = true;
+        };
+    }, []);
+
+    const setKeepConnectedOnQuit = useCallback(async (keep: boolean) => {
+        setKeepConnected(keep);
+        try {
+            await Preferences.SetKeepConnectedOnQuit(keep);
+        } catch (err: unknown) {
+            setKeepConnected(!keep);
+            console.error("[useKeepConnectedOnQuit] SetKeepConnectedOnQuit failed", err);
+        }
+    }, []);
+
+    return { keepConnected, setKeepConnectedOnQuit };
+};

client/ui/frontend/src/modules/settings/SettingsGeneral.tsx

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { ManagementServerSwitch } from "@/components/ManagementServerSwitch.tsx"
 import { ManagementMode, useManagementUrl } from "@/hooks/useManagementUrl.ts";
 import { LanguagePicker } from "@/components/LanguagePicker.tsx";
 import { useRestrictions } from "@/contexts/RestrictionsContext.tsx";
+import { useKeepConnectedOnQuit } from "@/hooks/useKeepConnectedOnQuit.ts";
 
 export function SettingsGeneral() {
     const { t } = useTranslation();
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ export function SettingsGeneral() {
     const { mode, setMode, setUrl, displayUrl, showError, canSave, save, checking, unreachable } =
         useManagementUrl();
     const { mdm, features } = useRestrictions();
+    const { keepConnected, setKeepConnectedOnQuit } = useKeepConnectedOnQuit();
 
     const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
     const managementUrlId = useId();
@@ -57,6 +59,15 @@ export function SettingsGeneral() {
                         helpText={t("settings.general.autostart.help")}
                     />
                 )}
+                <FancyToggleSwitch
+                    value={keepConnected ?? false}
+                    onChange={(v) => {
+                        void setKeepConnectedOnQuit(v);
+                    }}
+                    loading={keepConnected === null}
+                    label={t("settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label")}
+                    helpText={t("settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help")}
+                />
             </SectionGroup>
 
             {!mdm.managementURL && !features.disableUpdateSettings && (

client/ui/i18n/locales/de/common.json

@@ -551,6 +551,14 @@
     "settings.general.autostart.errorTitle": {
         "message": "Ändern des Autostarts fehlgeschlagen"
     },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label": {
+        "message": "Nach dem Beenden verbunden bleiben",
+        "description": "Toggle label: keep the VPN connection up after quitting the UI."
+    },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help": {
+        "message": "Die Verbindung bleibt im Hintergrund bestehen, nachdem Sie NetBird schließen. Sie endet erst, wenn Sie sie selbst trennen.",
+        "description": "Helper text for the stay-connected-after-quitting toggle."
+    },
     "settings.general.language.label": {
         "message": "Anzeigesprache"
     },

client/ui/i18n/locales/en/common.json

@@ -735,6 +735,14 @@
         "message": "Autostart Change Failed",
         "description": "Error-dialog title when changing the autostart setting fails."
     },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label": {
+        "message": "Stay Connected After Quitting",
+        "description": "Toggle label: keep the VPN connection up after quitting the UI."
+    },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help": {
+        "message": "The connection stays up in the background after you close NetBird. It only stops when you disconnect it yourself.",
+        "description": "Helper text for the stay-connected-after-quitting toggle."
+    },
     "settings.general.language.label": {
         "message": "Display Language",
         "description": "Label for the display-language picker."

client/ui/i18n/locales/es/common.json

@@ -551,6 +551,14 @@
     "settings.general.autostart.errorTitle": {
         "message": "Error al cambiar el inicio automático"
     },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label": {
+        "message": "Permanecer conectado al salir",
+        "description": "Toggle label: keep the VPN connection up after quitting the UI."
+    },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help": {
+        "message": "La conexión sigue activa en segundo plano después de cerrar NetBird. Solo se detiene cuando la desconectas tú.",
+        "description": "Helper text for the stay-connected-after-quitting toggle."
+    },
     "settings.general.language.label": {
         "message": "Idioma de la interfaz"
     },

client/ui/i18n/locales/fr/common.json

@@ -551,6 +551,14 @@
     "settings.general.autostart.errorTitle": {
         "message": "Échec de la modification du démarrage automatique"
     },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label": {
+        "message": "Rester connecté après la fermeture",
+        "description": "Toggle label: keep the VPN connection up after quitting the UI."
+    },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help": {
+        "message": "La connexion reste active en arrière-plan après la fermeture de NetBird. Elle ne s'arrête que si vous la coupez vous-même.",
+        "description": "Helper text for the stay-connected-after-quitting toggle."
+    },
     "settings.general.language.label": {
         "message": "Langue d’affichage"
     },

client/ui/i18n/locales/hu/common.json

@@ -551,6 +551,14 @@
     "settings.general.autostart.errorTitle": {
         "message": "Az automatikus indítás módosítása sikertelen"
     },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label": {
+        "message": "Kapcsolat megtartása kilépéskor",
+        "description": "Toggle label: keep the VPN connection up after quitting the UI."
+    },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help": {
+        "message": "A kapcsolat a háttérben megmarad, miután bezárod a NetBirdöt. Csak akkor szakad meg, ha te magad bontod.",
+        "description": "Helper text for the stay-connected-after-quitting toggle."
+    },
     "settings.general.language.label": {
         "message": "Megjelenítési nyelv"
     },

client/ui/i18n/locales/it/common.json

@@ -551,6 +551,14 @@
     "settings.general.autostart.errorTitle": {
         "message": "Modifica avvio automatico non riuscita"
     },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label": {
+        "message": "Resta connesso dopo la chiusura",
+        "description": "Toggle label: keep the VPN connection up after quitting the UI."
+    },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help": {
+        "message": "La connessione resta attiva in background dopo la chiusura di NetBird. Si interrompe solo quando la disconnetti tu.",
+        "description": "Helper text for the stay-connected-after-quitting toggle."
+    },
     "settings.general.language.label": {
         "message": "Lingua dell'interfaccia"
     },

client/ui/i18n/locales/ja/common.json

@@ -551,6 +551,14 @@
     "settings.general.autostart.errorTitle": {
         "message": "自動起動の変更に失敗しました"
     },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label": {
+        "message": "終了後も接続を維持",
+        "description": "Toggle label: keep the VPN connection up after quitting the UI."
+    },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help": {
+        "message": "NetBird を閉じたあとも接続はバックグラウンドで維持されます。自分で切断したときにだけ停止します。",
+        "description": "Helper text for the stay-connected-after-quitting toggle."
+    },
     "settings.general.language.label": {
         "message": "表示言語"
     },

client/ui/i18n/locales/pt/common.json

@@ -551,6 +551,14 @@
     "settings.general.autostart.errorTitle": {
         "message": "Falha ao alterar o início automático"
     },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label": {
+        "message": "Permanecer conectado ao sair",
+        "description": "Toggle label: keep the VPN connection up after quitting the UI."
+    },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help": {
+        "message": "A conexão continua ativa em segundo plano depois de fechar o NetBird. Ela só para quando você mesmo a desconecta.",
+        "description": "Helper text for the stay-connected-after-quitting toggle."
+    },
     "settings.general.language.label": {
         "message": "Idioma de exibição"
     },

client/ui/i18n/locales/ru/common.json

@@ -551,6 +551,14 @@
     "settings.general.autostart.errorTitle": {
         "message": "Не удалось изменить автозапуск"
     },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label": {
+        "message": "Оставаться подключённым после выхода",
+        "description": "Toggle label: keep the VPN connection up after quitting the UI."
+    },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help": {
+        "message": "Соединение остаётся активным в фоне после закрытия NetBird. Оно прервётся, только когда вы отключите его сами.",
+        "description": "Helper text for the stay-connected-after-quitting toggle."
+    },
     "settings.general.language.label": {
         "message": "Язык интерфейса"
     },

client/ui/i18n/locales/zh-CN/common.json

@@ -551,6 +551,14 @@
     "settings.general.autostart.errorTitle": {
         "message": "更改自启动设置失败"
     },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.label": {
+        "message": "退出后保持连接",
+        "description": "Toggle label: keep the VPN connection up after quitting the UI."
+    },
+    "settings.general.keepConnectedOnQuit.help": {
+        "message": "关闭 NetBird 后，连接会在后台保持。只有你自己断开时才会停止。",
+        "description": "Helper text for the stay-connected-after-quitting toggle."
+    },
     "settings.general.language.label": {
         "message": "显示语言"
     },

client/ui/main.go

@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ func main() {
 		WindowManager:   windowManager,
 		Session:         authSession,
 		Localizer:       localizer,
+		Preferences:     prefStore,
 	})
 	listenForShowSignal(context.Background(), tray)
 

client/ui/preferences/store.go

@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ type UIPreferences struct {
 	// decision has run for this OS user. It only ever transitions to true
 	// and is never reset, so the default-on flow runs at most once, ever.
 	AutostartInitialized bool `json:"autostartInitialized"`
+	// KeepConnectedOnQuit leaves the daemon connected when the GUI quits.
+	// Its false zero value preserves the historical disconnect-on-quit
+	// behaviour for preference files written before the field existed.
+	KeepConnectedOnQuit bool `json:"keepConnectedOnQuit"`
 }
 
 // LanguageValidator rejects SetLanguage inputs with no shipped bundle.
@@ -183,6 +187,26 @@ func (s *Store) SetAutostartInitialized(done bool) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// SetKeepConnectedOnQuit persists the disconnect-on-quit opt-out. No-op if unchanged.
+func (s *Store) SetKeepConnectedOnQuit(keep bool) error {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	if s.current.KeepConnectedOnQuit == keep {
+		s.mu.Unlock()
+		return nil
+	}
+	next := s.current
+	next.KeepConnectedOnQuit = keep
+	if err := s.persistLocked(next); err != nil {
+		s.mu.Unlock()
+		return fmt.Errorf("persist preferences: %w", err)
+	}
+	s.current = next
+	s.mu.Unlock()
+
+	s.broadcast(next)
+	return nil
+}
+
 // SetLanguage validates, persists, and broadcasts. No-op if unchanged.
 func (s *Store) SetLanguage(lang i18n.LanguageCode) error {
 	if lang == "" {

client/ui/preferences/store_test.go

@@ -238,6 +238,42 @@ func TestStore_SetAutostartInitializedPersistsAcrossReload(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.True(t, reloaded.Get().AutostartInitialized, "marker must survive a reload from disk")
 }
 
+func TestStore_SetKeepConnectedOnQuitPersistsAcrossReload(t *testing.T) {
+	withTempConfigDir(t)
+	emitter := &recordingEmitter{}
+	s, err := NewStore(nil, emitter)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.False(t, s.Get().KeepConnectedOnQuit, "quitting must disconnect by default")
+
+	require.NoError(t, s.SetKeepConnectedOnQuit(true))
+	assert.True(t, s.Get().KeepConnectedOnQuit, "Get should reflect the persisted opt-out")
+	require.Len(t, emitter.calledWith(EventPreferencesChanged), 1, "first write should broadcast")
+
+	require.NoError(t, s.SetKeepConnectedOnQuit(true))
+	assert.Len(t, emitter.calledWith(EventPreferencesChanged), 1, "idempotent write should not broadcast again")
+
+	reloaded, err := NewStore(nil, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, reloaded.Get().KeepConnectedOnQuit, "opt-out must survive a reload from disk")
+}
+
+func TestStore_KeepConnectedOnQuitDefaultsFalseForPreExistingFile(t *testing.T) {
+	withTempConfigDir(t)
+
+	// A preferences file written before the field existed must keep the
+	// historical disconnect-on-quit behaviour rather than silently opting out.
+	path, err := preferencesPath()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte(`{"language":"en","viewMode":"default"}`), 0o600))
+
+	s, err := NewStore(nil, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, s.Get().KeepConnectedOnQuit, "a file predating the field must not opt out of disconnect-on-quit")
+	assert.True(t, s.ExistedAtLoad(), "the pre-existing file must be seen on disk")
+}
+
 func TestStore_ExistedAtLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	withTempConfigDir(t)
 

client/ui/services/cursor_linux.go

@@ -49,5 +49,11 @@ func getCursorPosition(app *application.App) (application.Point, bool) {
 	if app == nil || app.Screen == nil {
 		return p, true
 	}
+	// The wails GTK3 backend caches screens from the active window; a tray app
+	// has none at startup, so the cache is empty and PhysicalToDipPoint would
+	// dereference a nil nearest screen. Raw pixels are correct there anyway.
+	if app.Screen.ScreenNearestPhysicalPoint(p) == nil {
+		return p, true
+	}
 	return app.Screen.PhysicalToDipPoint(p), true
 }

client/ui/services/preferences.go

@@ -34,3 +34,7 @@ func (s *Preferences) SetViewMode(_ context.Context, mode preferences.ViewMode)
 func (s *Preferences) SetOnboardingCompleted(_ context.Context, done bool) error {
 	return s.store.SetOnboardingCompleted(done)
 }
+
+func (s *Preferences) SetKeepConnectedOnQuit(_ context.Context, keep bool) error {
+	return s.store.SetKeepConnectedOnQuit(keep)
+}

client/ui/tray.go

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ui/authsession"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ui/i18n"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ui/preferences"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ui/services"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version"
 )
@@ -50,8 +51,9 @@ type TrayServices struct {
 	WindowManager   *services.WindowManager
 	// Session is bound to authsession directly because the services wrapper
 	// only re-exposes the React subset.
-	Session   *authsession.Session
-	Localizer *Localizer
+	Session     *authsession.Session
+	Localizer   *Localizer
+	Preferences *preferences.Store
 }
 
 type Tray struct {
@@ -461,10 +463,12 @@ func (t *Tray) handleQuit() {
 	t.profileMu.Unlock()
 	t.svc.DaemonFeed.CancelProfileSwitch()
 
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), quitDownTimeout)
-	defer cancel()
-	if err := t.svc.Connection.Down(ctx); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("disconnect on quit: %v", err)
+	if t.svc.Preferences == nil || !t.svc.Preferences.Get().KeepConnectedOnQuit {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), quitDownTimeout)
+		defer cancel()
+		if err := t.svc.Connection.Down(ctx); err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("disconnect on quit: %v", err)
+		}
 	}
 	t.app.Quit()
 }

client/ui/xembed_host_gtk3_linux.go

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+//go:build linux && gtk3 && !(linux && 386)
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+
+	"github.com/godbus/dbus/v5"
+)
+
+// The legacy GTK3 / WebKit2GTK 4.1 build (-tags gtk3) drops the in-process
+// XEmbed StatusNotifierWatcher entirely. The real implementation
+// (xembed_host_linux.go + xembed_tray_linux.c) links GTK4 and uses GTK4-only
+// popup-menu APIs that have no drop-in GTK3 equivalent, so rather than port the
+// C layer we stub the host out on gtk3 builds. The tray still works on every
+// desktop that ships its own StatusNotifierWatcher (KDE, GNOME+AppIndicator,
+// Cinnamon/xapp, XFCE, …); only the minimal-WM fallback (Fluxbox/OpenBox/i3/
+// dwm/vanilla GNOME) is unavailable on gtk3 packages. See LINUX-TRAY.md.
+
+// xembedHost is a placeholder so the package compiles on gtk3 builds; the real
+// type (with X11/GTK4 state) lives in xembed_host_linux.go. It is never
+// instantiated here because xembedTrayAvailable always reports false.
+type xembedHost struct{}
+
+// run satisfies the call in tray_watcher_linux.go; unreachable on gtk3 because
+// newXembedHost never returns a non-nil host.
+func (*xembedHost) run() {}
+
+// xembedTrayAvailable always reports false on gtk3 builds, so the watcher probe
+// loop in startStatusNotifierWatcher exits immediately and newXembedHost is
+// never reached. recenter_linux.go's predicate becomes a harmless no-op too.
+func xembedTrayAvailable() bool {
+	return false
+}
+
+// newXembedHost exists only to satisfy the reference in tray_watcher_linux.go;
+// it is unreachable because xembedTrayAvailable returns false on gtk3.
+func newXembedHost(conn *dbus.Conn, busName string, objPath dbus.ObjectPath) (*xembedHost, error) {
+	return nil, errors.New("xembed host unsupported on gtk3 build")
+}

client/ui/xembed_host_linux.go

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//go:build linux && !(linux && 386)
+//go:build linux && !gtk3 && !(linux && 386)
 
 package main
 

client/ui/xembed_tray_linux.c

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build linux && !gtk3 && !(linux && 386)
+
 #include "xembed_tray_linux.h"
 
 #include <X11/Xatom.h>

go.mod

@@ -340,4 +340,4 @@ replace github.com/dexidp/dex/api/v2 => github.com/netbirdio/dex/api/v2 v2.0.0-2
 
 replace github.com/mailru/easyjson => github.com/netbirdio/easyjson v0.9.0
 
-replace github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3 => github.com/netbirdio/wails/v3 v3.0.0-beta.3.0.20260803205919-ad21e92381f4
+replace github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3 => github.com/netbirdio/wails/v3 v3.0.0-beta.3.0.20260807055527-fc03f984d701

go.sum

@@ -490,8 +490,8 @@ github.com/netbirdio/service v0.0.0-20240911161631-f62744f42502 h1:3tHlFmhTdX9ax
 github.com/netbirdio/service v0.0.0-20240911161631-f62744f42502/go.mod h1:CIMRFEJVL+0DS1a3Nx06NaMn4Dz63Ng6O7dl0qH0zVM=
 github.com/netbirdio/signal-dispatcher/dispatcher v0.0.0-20250805121659-6b4ac470ca45 h1:ujgviVYmx243Ksy7NdSwrdGPSRNE3pb8kEDSpH0QuAQ=
 github.com/netbirdio/signal-dispatcher/dispatcher v0.0.0-20250805121659-6b4ac470ca45/go.mod h1:5/sjFmLb8O96B5737VCqhHyGRzNFIaN/Bu7ZodXc3qQ=
-github.com/netbirdio/wails/v3 v3.0.0-beta.3.0.20260803205919-ad21e92381f4 h1:UKztc3QjWvzU5DZk+uYaOWN0x62NSe/pkxuPvzqZIy4=
-github.com/netbirdio/wails/v3 v3.0.0-beta.3.0.20260803205919-ad21e92381f4/go.mod h1:BzATbK71VFikMMMCo434wAi0QcaI03P+xeaWgDvQvjw=
+github.com/netbirdio/wails/v3 v3.0.0-beta.3.0.20260807055527-fc03f984d701 h1:QL9nupfRom0L9jcY7N9l/Bc6QK2PtC6pHzC+ftpTqpw=
+github.com/netbirdio/wails/v3 v3.0.0-beta.3.0.20260807055527-fc03f984d701/go.mod h1:BzATbK71VFikMMMCo434wAi0QcaI03P+xeaWgDvQvjw=
 github.com/netbirdio/wireguard-go v0.0.0-20260628102922-2834bebf6c1a h1:3CWK+yTvRKOcC0Q8VCTGy4l60TEb27CQVS7LkMxwjmw=
 github.com/netbirdio/wireguard-go v0.0.0-20260628102922-2834bebf6c1a/go.mod h1:rpwXGsirqLqN2L0JDJQlwOboGHmptD5ZD6T2VmcqhTw=
 github.com/nxadm/tail v1.4.4/go.mod h1:kenIhsEOeOJmVchQTgglprH7qJGnHDVpk1VPCcaMI8A=

infrastructure_files/getting-started-enterprise.sh

@@ -262,6 +262,7 @@ init_environment() {
   POSTGRES_DB="netbird"
   POSTGRES_PASSWORD=$(rand_secret)
   NETBIRD_ENCRYPTION_KEY=$(rand_b64_key)
+  NETBIRD_SESSION_COOKIE_ENCRYPTION_KEY=$(rand_b64_key)
   NETBIRD_RELAY_AUTH_SECRET=$(rand_secret)
 
   POSTGRES_DSN="host=postgres user=${POSTGRES_USER} password=${POSTGRES_PASSWORD} dbname=${POSTGRES_DB} port=5432 sslmode=disable TimeZone=UTC"
@@ -696,6 +697,7 @@ server:
     issuer: "https://${NETBIRD_DOMAIN}/oauth2"
     localAuthDisabled: false
     signKeyRefreshEnabled: false
+    sessionCookieEncryptionKey: "${NETBIRD_SESSION_COOKIE_ENCRYPTION_KEY}"
     dashboardRedirectURIs:
       - "https://${NETBIRD_DOMAIN}/nb-auth"
       - "https://${NETBIRD_DOMAIN}/nb-silent-auth"

infrastructure_files/getting-started.sh

@@ -348,6 +348,7 @@ initialize_default_values() {
   NETBIRD_RELAY_AUTH_SECRET=$(openssl rand -base64 32 | sed "$SED_STRIP_PADDING")
   # Note: DataStoreEncryptionKey must keep base64 padding (=) for Go's base64.StdEncoding
   DATASTORE_ENCRYPTION_KEY=$(openssl rand -base64 32)
+  SESSION_COOKIE_ENCRYPTION_KEY=$(openssl rand -base64 32)
   NETBIRD_STUN_PORT=3478
 
   # Docker images
@@ -527,7 +528,8 @@ generate_configuration_files() {
 
   # Common files for all configurations
   render_dashboard_env > dashboard.env
-  render_combined_yaml > config.yaml
+  install -m 600 /dev/null config.yaml
+  render_combined_yaml >> config.yaml
   return 0
 }
 
@@ -911,6 +913,7 @@ server:
   auth:
     issuer: "$NETBIRD_HTTP_PROTOCOL://$NETBIRD_DOMAIN/oauth2"
     signKeyRefreshEnabled: true
+    sessionCookieEncryptionKey: "$SESSION_COOKIE_ENCRYPTION_KEY"
     dashboardRedirectURIs:
       - "$NETBIRD_HTTP_PROTOCOL://$NETBIRD_DOMAIN/nb-auth"
       - "$NETBIRD_HTTP_PROTOCOL://$NETBIRD_DOMAIN/nb-silent-auth"

infrastructure_files/migrate-to-enterprise.sh

@@ -173,11 +173,11 @@ EOF
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 detect_combined_service() {
-  yq eval '.services | to_entries | map(select(.value.image | test("^netbirdio/netbird-server"))) | .[0].key // ""' "$COMPOSE_FILE"
+  yq eval '.services | to_entries | map(select(.value.image | test("^(ghcr\\.io/)?netbirdio/netbird-server([:@]|$)"))) | .[0].key // ""' "$COMPOSE_FILE"
 }
 
 detect_dashboard_service() {
-  yq eval '.services | to_entries | map(select(.value.image | test("^netbirdio/dashboard"))) | .[0].key // ""' "$COMPOSE_FILE"
+  yq eval '.services | to_entries | map(select(.value.image | test("^(ghcr\\.io/)?netbirdio/dashboard([:@]|$)"))) | .[0].key // ""' "$COMPOSE_FILE"
 }
 
 detect_config_yaml_host_path() {
@@ -661,12 +661,12 @@ init_migration() {
   COMPOSE_NETWORK=$(detect_compose_network)
 
   if [[ -z "$COMBINED_SERVICE" ]]; then
-    echo "Could not find a service running netbirdio/netbird-server* in $COMPOSE_FILE." > /dev/stderr
+    echo "Could not find a service running netbirdio/netbird-server or ghcr.io/netbirdio/netbird-server in $COMPOSE_FILE." > /dev/stderr
     echo "This script targets the community combined-server deployment." > /dev/stderr
     exit 1
   fi
   if [[ -z "$DASHBOARD_SERVICE" ]]; then
-    echo "Could not find a service running netbirdio/dashboard* in $COMPOSE_FILE." > /dev/stderr
+    echo "Could not find a service running netbirdio/dashboard or ghcr.io/netbirdio/dashboard in $COMPOSE_FILE." > /dev/stderr
     exit 1
   fi
   if [[ -z "$CONFIG_YAML_HOST" ]]; then

management/internals/controllers/network_map/controller/controller.go

@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ func (c *Controller) sendUpdateAccountPeers(ctx context.Context, accountID strin
 	semaphore := make(chan struct{}, 10)
 
 	c.injectAllProxyPolicies(ctx, account)
+	account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
 	dnsCache := &cache.DNSConfigCache{}
 	dnsDomain := c.GetDNSDomain(account.Settings)
 	peersCustomZone := account.GetPeersCustomZone(ctx, dnsDomain)
@@ -357,6 +358,7 @@ func (c *Controller) sendUpdateForAffectedPeers(ctx context.Context, accountID s
 	// network map that omitted the synth DNS zone, and the agent kept
 	// resolving against the stale or absent record.
 	c.injectAllProxyPolicies(ctx, account)
+	account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
 	dnsCache := &cache.DNSConfigCache{}
 	dnsDomain := c.GetDNSDomain(account.Settings)
 	peersCustomZone := account.GetPeersCustomZone(ctx, dnsDomain)

management/internals/shared/grpc/proxy.go

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/domain"
 
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/agentnetwork"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/peers"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/accesslogs"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/proxy"
@@ -36,7 +37,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/sessionkey"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/idp"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/peer"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/agentnetwork"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/types"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/users"
 	proxyauth "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/proxy/auth"
@@ -1579,9 +1579,55 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateState(state string) (verifier, redirectURL
 	return verifier, redirectURL, nil
 }
 
+// Denied reasons reported to the proxy when access is refused because of the
+// account status of the user behind the request.
+const (
+	deniedReasonPendingApproval = "pending_approval"
+	deniedReasonUserBlocked     = "user_blocked"
+	deniedReasonUserNotFound    = "user_not_found"
+)
+
+var (
+	// ErrUserPendingApproval reports a user whose account still awaits approval
+	// by an administrator and may therefore not hold a proxy session.
+	ErrUserPendingApproval = errors.New("user pending approval")
+
+	// ErrUserBlocked reports a blocked user, who may not hold a proxy session.
+	ErrUserBlocked = errors.New("user blocked")
+
+	errUserUnresolved = errors.New("user could not be resolved")
+)
+
+// checkUserStatus reports whether the user's account status permits reverse
+// proxy access, returning the denied reason for the proxy access log together
+// with the sentinel error callers match on. A user awaiting approval is stored
+// as both pending and blocked, so the pending state is reported first: it is
+// the one an administrator can act on.
+func checkUserStatus(user *types.User) (string, error) {
+	switch {
+	case user == nil:
+		return deniedReasonUserNotFound, errUserUnresolved
+	case user.PendingApproval:
+		return deniedReasonPendingApproval, ErrUserPendingApproval
+	case user.IsBlocked():
+		return deniedReasonUserBlocked, ErrUserBlocked
+	default:
+		return "", nil
+	}
+}
+
+// userStatusDeniedReason returns the denied reason for callers that report a
+// decision rather than an error, and an empty string when the user may proceed.
+func userStatusDeniedReason(user *types.User) string {
+	reason, _ := checkUserStatus(user)
+	return reason
+}
+
 // GenerateSessionToken creates a signed session JWT for the given domain and
 // user. The user's group memberships are embedded in the token so policy-aware
 // middlewares on the proxy can authorise without an extra management round-trip.
+// A user the store cannot resolve, or whose account is pending approval or
+// blocked, gets no token at all, so the browser never receives a session cookie.
 func (s *ProxyServiceServer) GenerateSessionToken(ctx context.Context, domain, userID string, method proxyauth.Method) (string, error) {
 	service, err := s.getServiceByDomain(ctx, domain)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1592,25 +1638,25 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) GenerateSessionToken(ctx context.Context, domain, u
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("no session key configured for domain: %s", domain)
 	}
 
-	var (
-		email      string
-		groupIDs   []string
-		groupNames []string
-	)
-	if s.usersManager != nil {
-		user, userGroups, uerr := s.usersManager.GetUserWithGroups(ctx, userID)
-		if uerr != nil {
-			log.WithContext(ctx).Debugf("session token mint: lookup user %s: %v", userID, uerr)
-		} else if user != nil {
-			email = user.Email
-			groupIDs, groupNames = pairGroupIDsAndNames(userGroups)
-		}
+	if s.usersManager == nil {
+		return "", errors.New("users manager not configured")
 	}
 
+	user, userGroups, err := s.usersManager.GetUserWithGroups(ctx, userID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("get user %s: %w", userID, err)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := checkUserStatus(user); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("session token for user %s: %w", userID, err)
+	}
+
+	groupIDs, groupNames := pairGroupIDsAndNames(userGroups)
+
 	return sessionkey.SignToken(
 		service.SessionPrivateKey,
 		userID,
-		email,
+		user.Email,
 		domain,
 		method,
 		groupIDs,
@@ -1628,6 +1674,10 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateUserGroupAccess(ctx context.Context, domain
 		return fmt.Errorf("user not found: %s", userID)
 	}
 
+	if _, err := checkUserStatus(user); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("user %s denied access to domain %s: %w", userID, domain, err)
+	}
+
 	service, err := s.getAccountServiceByDomain(ctx, user.AccountID, domain)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -1682,10 +1732,7 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateSession(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Val
 	sessionToken := req.GetSessionToken()
 
 	if domain == "" || sessionToken == "" {
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "missing domain or session_token",
-		}, nil
+		return deniedSessionResponse("missing domain or session_token"), nil
 	}
 
 	service, err := s.getServiceByDomain(ctx, domain)
@@ -1695,56 +1742,31 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateSession(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Val
 			"error":  err.Error(),
 		}).Debug("ValidateSession: service not found")
 		//nolint:nilerr
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "service_not_found",
-		}, nil
+		return deniedSessionResponse("service_not_found"), nil
 	}
 
 	if err := enforceAccountScope(ctx, service.AccountID); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	pubKeyBytes, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(service.SessionPublicKey)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
-			"domain": domain,
-			"error":  err.Error(),
-		}).Error("ValidateSession: decode public key")
-		//nolint:nilerr
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "invalid_service_config",
-		}, nil
-	}
-
-	userID, _, _, _, _, err := proxyauth.ValidateSessionJWT(sessionToken, domain, pubKeyBytes)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
-			"domain": domain,
-			"error":  err.Error(),
-		}).Debug("ValidateSession: invalid session token")
-		//nolint:nilerr
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "invalid_token",
-		}, nil
+	userID, reason := sessionTokenSubject(domain, service, sessionToken)
+	if reason != "" {
+		return deniedSessionResponse(reason), nil
 	}
 
 	user, userGroups, err := s.usersManager.GetUserWithGroups(ctx, userID)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err != nil || user == nil {
 		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
 			"domain":  domain,
 			"user_id": userID,
-			"error":   err.Error(),
+			"error":   err,
 		}).Debug("ValidateSession: user not found")
 		//nolint:nilerr
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "user_not_found",
-		}, nil
+		return deniedSessionResponse(deniedReasonUserNotFound), nil
 	}
 
+	// A user from another account gets a bare response: none of their identity
+	// belongs in an answer to a proxy serving a different account.
 	if user.AccountID != service.AccountID {
 		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
 			"domain":          domain,
@@ -1752,26 +1774,17 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateSession(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Val
 			"user_account":    user.AccountID,
 			"service_account": service.AccountID,
 		}).Debug("ValidateSession: user account mismatch")
-		//nolint:nilerr
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "account_mismatch",
-		}, nil
+		return deniedSessionResponse("account_mismatch"), nil
 	}
 
-	if err := s.checkGroupAccess(service, user); err != nil {
-		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
-			"domain":  domain,
-			"user_id": userID,
-			"error":   err.Error(),
-		}).Debug("ValidateSession: access denied")
-		groupIDs, groupNames := pairGroupIDsAndNames(userGroups)
-		//nolint:nilerr
+	groupIDs, groupNames := pairGroupIDsAndNames(userGroups)
+
+	if reason := s.accountUserDeniedReason(domain, service, user); reason != "" {
 		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
 			Valid:          false,
 			UserId:         user.Id,
 			UserEmail:      user.Email,
-			DeniedReason:   "not_in_group",
+			DeniedReason:   reason,
 			PeerGroupIds:   groupIDs,
 			PeerGroupNames: groupNames,
 		}, nil
@@ -1783,7 +1796,6 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateSession(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Val
 		"email":   user.Email,
 	}).Debug("ValidateSession: access granted")
 
-	groupIDs, groupNames := pairGroupIDsAndNames(userGroups)
 	return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
 		Valid:          true,
 		UserId:         user.Id,
@@ -1793,6 +1805,66 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateSession(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Val
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// deniedSessionResponse builds a denial that carries no identity, for the
+// checks that run before a user of this service's account is resolved.
+func deniedSessionResponse(reason string) *proto.ValidateSessionResponse {
+	return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
+		Valid:        false,
+		DeniedReason: reason,
+	}
+}
+
+// sessionTokenSubject verifies the session token against the service's session
+// key and returns the user it was minted for, or the reason it cannot be
+// trusted.
+func sessionTokenSubject(domain string, service *rpservice.Service, sessionToken string) (userID, deniedReason string) {
+	pubKeyBytes, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(service.SessionPublicKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			"domain": domain,
+			"error":  err.Error(),
+		}).Error("ValidateSession: decode public key")
+		return "", "invalid_service_config"
+	}
+
+	userID, _, _, _, _, err = proxyauth.ValidateSessionJWT(sessionToken, domain, pubKeyBytes)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			"domain": domain,
+			"error":  err.Error(),
+		}).Debug("ValidateSession: invalid session token")
+		return "", "invalid_token"
+	}
+
+	return userID, ""
+}
+
+// accountUserDeniedReason gates a user of the service's own account, returning
+// an empty string when access is granted. Account status comes before group
+// membership: a user awaiting approval or blocked has no access regardless of
+// the groups they were auto-assigned.
+func (s *ProxyServiceServer) accountUserDeniedReason(domain string, service *rpservice.Service, user *types.User) string {
+	if reason := userStatusDeniedReason(user); reason != "" {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			"domain":  domain,
+			"user_id": user.Id,
+			"reason":  reason,
+		}).Debug("ValidateSession: user status denies access")
+		return reason
+	}
+
+	if err := s.checkGroupAccess(service, user); err != nil {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			"domain":  domain,
+			"user_id": user.Id,
+			"error":   err.Error(),
+		}).Debug("ValidateSession: access denied")
+		return "not_in_group"
+	}
+
+	return ""
+}
+
 func (s *ProxyServiceServer) getServiceByDomain(ctx context.Context, domain string) (*rpservice.Service, error) {
 	service, err := s.serviceManager.GetServiceByDomain(ctx, domain)
 	if err == nil {
@@ -1909,6 +1981,18 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateTunnelPeer(ctx context.Context, req *proto.
 	groupIDs, groupNames := pairGroupIDsAndNames(peerGroups)
 	principalID, displayIdentity := s.getTunnelPeerInfo(ctx, domain, service, peer)
 
+	if reason := s.peerOwnerDeniedReason(ctx, peer); reason != "" {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{"domain": domain, "peer_id": peer.ID, "user_id": peer.UserID, "reason": reason}).Debug("ValidateTunnelPeer: owner status denies access")
+		return &proto.ValidateTunnelPeerResponse{
+			Valid:          false,
+			UserId:         principalID,
+			UserEmail:      displayIdentity,
+			DeniedReason:   reason,
+			PeerGroupIds:   groupIDs,
+			PeerGroupNames: groupNames,
+		}, nil
+	}
+
 	if err := checkPeerGroupAccess(service, groupIDs); err != nil {
 		log.WithFields(log.Fields{"domain": domain, "peer_id": peer.ID, "error": err.Error()}).Debug("ValidateTunnelPeer: access denied")
 		//nolint:nilerr
@@ -1944,6 +2028,25 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateTunnelPeer(ctx context.Context, req *proto.
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// peerOwnerDeniedReason gates the mesh fast-path on the account status of the
+// peer's owning user, so a user blocked after registering a peer loses
+// mesh-origin access too. Unlinked peers (machine agents) have no owner to gate
+// on and stay first-class callers. An owner the store cannot resolve denies:
+// an unavailable lookup must not grant access.
+func (s *ProxyServiceServer) peerOwnerDeniedReason(ctx context.Context, peer *peer.Peer) string {
+	if peer.UserID == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	user, err := s.usersManager.GetUser(ctx, peer.UserID)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.WithContext(ctx).Debugf("ValidateTunnelPeer: look up owner %s of peer %s: %v", peer.UserID, peer.ID, err)
+		return deniedReasonUserNotFound
+	}
+
+	return userStatusDeniedReason(user)
+}
+
 // getTunnelPeerInfo returns the principal ID and display name for a peer, e.g. a
 // user or peer ID, and peer name or user email.
 func (s *ProxyServiceServer) getTunnelPeerInfo(ctx context.Context, domain string, service *rpservice.Service, peer *peer.Peer) (string, string) {

management/internals/shared/grpc/proxy_group_access_test.go

@@ -350,6 +350,64 @@ func TestValidateUserGroupAccess(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expectErr: false,
 		},
+		{
+			name:   "user pending approval denied despite group membership",
+			domain: "app.example.com",
+			userID: "user1",
+			proxiesByAccount: map[string][]*service.Service{
+				"account1": {{
+					Domain:    "app.example.com",
+					AccountID: "account1",
+					Auth: service.AuthConfig{
+						BearerAuth: &service.BearerAuthConfig{
+							Enabled:            true,
+							DistributionGroups: []string{"group1"},
+						},
+					},
+				}},
+			},
+			users: map[string]*types.User{
+				// The approval flow stores a pending user as blocked as well.
+				"user1": {Id: "user1", AccountID: "account1", AutoGroups: []string{"group1"}, Blocked: true, PendingApproval: true},
+			},
+			expectErr:    true,
+			expectErrMsg: "user pending approval",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "blocked user denied despite group membership",
+			domain: "app.example.com",
+			userID: "user1",
+			proxiesByAccount: map[string][]*service.Service{
+				"account1": {{
+					Domain:    "app.example.com",
+					AccountID: "account1",
+					Auth: service.AuthConfig{
+						BearerAuth: &service.BearerAuthConfig{
+							Enabled:            true,
+							DistributionGroups: []string{"group1"},
+						},
+					},
+				}},
+			},
+			users: map[string]*types.User{
+				"user1": {Id: "user1", AccountID: "account1", AutoGroups: []string{"group1"}, Blocked: true},
+			},
+			expectErr:    true,
+			expectErrMsg: "user blocked",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "blocked user denied on a service with no auth configured",
+			domain: "app.example.com",
+			userID: "user1",
+			proxiesByAccount: map[string][]*service.Service{
+				"account1": {{Domain: "app.example.com", AccountID: "account1", Auth: service.AuthConfig{}}},
+			},
+			users: map[string]*types.User{
+				"user1": {Id: "user1", AccountID: "account1", Blocked: true},
+			},
+			expectErr:    true,
+			expectErrMsg: "user blocked",
+		},
 		{
 			name:             "proxy manager error",
 			domain:           "app.example.com",
@@ -421,17 +479,18 @@ func TestValidateTunnelPeerUserEmailEnrichment(t *testing.T) {
 	storedUserNoEmail := map[string]*types.User{userID: {Id: userID, AccountID: accountID, Email: ""}}
 
 	tests := []struct {
-		name         string
-		peerUserID   string
-		storedUsers  map[string]*types.User
-		storedErr    error
-		noIdP        bool
-		idpEmail     string
-		idpHasData   bool
-		idpErr       error
-		expectEmail  string
-		expectUserID string
-		expectIdPHit bool
+		name               string
+		peerUserID         string
+		storedUsers        map[string]*types.User
+		storedErr          error
+		noIdP              bool
+		idpEmail           string
+		idpHasData         bool
+		idpErr             error
+		expectEmail        string
+		expectUserID       string
+		expectIdPHit       bool
+		expectDeniedReason string
 	}{
 		{
 			name:         "idp email wins over stored email",
@@ -490,14 +549,17 @@ func TestValidateTunnelPeerUserEmailEnrichment(t *testing.T) {
 			expectIdPHit: true,
 		},
 		{
-			name:         "idp email when stored user missing keeps peer.UserID as principal",
-			peerUserID:   userID,
-			storedUsers:  map[string]*types.User{},
-			idpEmail:     "idp@example.com",
-			idpHasData:   true,
-			expectEmail:  "idp@example.com",
-			expectUserID: userID,
-			expectIdPHit: true,
+			// The identity still resolves from the IdP, but an owner the store
+			// cannot resolve denies the fast-path rather than granting it.
+			name:               "idp email when stored user missing keeps peer.UserID as principal",
+			peerUserID:         userID,
+			storedUsers:        map[string]*types.User{},
+			idpEmail:           "idp@example.com",
+			idpHasData:         true,
+			expectEmail:        "idp@example.com",
+			expectUserID:       userID,
+			expectIdPHit:       true,
+			expectDeniedReason: deniedReasonUserNotFound,
 		},
 		{
 			name:         "unlinked peer uses peer name and never consults idp",
@@ -545,9 +607,13 @@ func TestValidateTunnelPeerUserEmailEnrichment(t *testing.T) {
 
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			require.NotNil(t, resp)
-			assert.True(t, resp.GetValid(), "expected access granted")
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectDeniedReason == "", resp.GetValid(), "unexpected access decision")
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectDeniedReason, resp.GetDeniedReason(), "unexpected denied reason")
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectEmail, resp.GetUserEmail())
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectUserID, resp.GetUserId())
+			if tt.expectDeniedReason != "" {
+				assert.Empty(t, resp.GetSessionToken(), "a denied peer must not receive a session token")
+			}
 
 			if idpMock != nil {
 				if tt.expectIdPHit {
@@ -562,6 +628,87 @@ func TestValidateTunnelPeerUserEmailEnrichment(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestDeniedReasonValues pins the wire values of the account status denied
+// reasons. The proxy logs them and operators filter access logs on them, so a
+// rename is a breaking change rather than an internal detail.
+func TestDeniedReasonValues(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Equal(t, "pending_approval", deniedReasonPendingApproval, "pending approval denied reason wire value")
+	assert.Equal(t, "user_blocked", deniedReasonUserBlocked, "blocked user denied reason wire value")
+	assert.Equal(t, "user_not_found", deniedReasonUserNotFound, "unresolved user denied reason wire value")
+}
+
+// TestValidateTunnelPeerOwnerStatus verifies that the mesh fast-path gates on
+// the account status of the peer's owning user. A peer whose owner was blocked
+// after the peer registered must lose access, while an unlinked machine peer
+// keeps it.
+func TestValidateTunnelPeerOwnerStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		domain    = "app.example.com"
+		accountID = "account1"
+		peerID    = "peer1"
+		peerName  = "peer-display-name"
+		userID    = "user1"
+	)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name               string
+		peerUserID         string
+		owner              *types.User
+		expectDeniedReason string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:       "active owner allowed",
+			peerUserID: userID,
+			owner:      &types.User{Id: userID, AccountID: accountID, Email: "user@example.com"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:               "owner pending approval denied",
+			peerUserID:         userID,
+			owner:              &types.User{Id: userID, AccountID: accountID, Email: "user@example.com", Blocked: true, PendingApproval: true},
+			expectDeniedReason: deniedReasonPendingApproval,
+		},
+		{
+			name:               "owner blocked after registering the peer denied",
+			peerUserID:         userID,
+			owner:              &types.User{Id: userID, AccountID: accountID, Email: "user@example.com", Blocked: true},
+			expectDeniedReason: deniedReasonUserBlocked,
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "unlinked machine peer stays allowed",
+			peerUserID: "",
+			owner:      &types.User{Id: userID, AccountID: accountID, Blocked: true},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			svc := &service.Service{Domain: domain, AccountID: accountID}
+			server := &ProxyServiceServer{
+				serviceManager: &mockReverseProxyManager{
+					proxiesByAccount: map[string][]*service.Service{accountID: {svc}},
+				},
+				peersManager: &mockTunnelPeersManager{
+					peer: &peer.Peer{ID: peerID, Name: peerName, UserID: tt.peerUserID},
+				},
+				usersManager: &mockUsersManager{users: map[string]*types.User{userID: tt.owner}},
+			}
+
+			resp, err := server.ValidateTunnelPeer(context.Background(), &proto.ValidateTunnelPeerRequest{
+				Domain:   domain,
+				TunnelIp: "100.64.0.1",
+			})
+
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.NotNil(t, resp)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectDeniedReason, resp.GetDeniedReason(), "unexpected denied reason")
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectDeniedReason == "", resp.GetValid(), "unexpected access decision")
+			if tt.expectDeniedReason != "" {
+				assert.Empty(t, resp.GetSessionToken(), "a denied peer must not receive a session token")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestGetAccountProxyByDomain(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name             string

management/internals/shared/grpc/validate_session_test.go

@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ func setupValidateSessionTest(t *testing.T) *validateSessionTestSetup {
 	proxyService.SetServiceManager(serviceManager)
 
 	createTestProxies(t, ctx, testStore)
+	createStatusTestUsers(t, ctx, testStore)
 
 	return &validateSessionTestSetup{
 		proxyService: proxyService,
@@ -91,6 +92,82 @@ func createTestProxies(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, testStore store.Store)
 		},
 	}
 	require.NoError(t, testStore.CreateService(ctx, restrictedProxy))
+
+	// Distributed to the account's "All" group, the configuration that hands a
+	// service to every user in the account.
+	allUsersProxy := &service.Service{
+		ID:                "allUsersProxyId",
+		AccountID:         "testAccountId",
+		Name:              "All Users Proxy",
+		Domain:            "all-users-proxy.example.com",
+		Enabled:           true,
+		SessionPrivateKey: privKey,
+		SessionPublicKey:  pubKey,
+		Auth: service.AuthConfig{
+			BearerAuth: &service.BearerAuthConfig{
+				Enabled:            true,
+				DistributionGroups: []string{allUsersGroupID},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, testStore.CreateService(ctx, allUsersProxy))
+}
+
+const (
+	allUsersGroupID   = "allUsersGroupId"
+	pendingUserID     = "pendingUserId"
+	blockedUserID     = "blockedUserId"
+	pendingAllUsersID = "pendingAllUsersUserId"
+)
+
+// createStatusTestUsers adds the users whose account status must keep them out
+// of a proxy session. A user awaiting approval is persisted as both blocked and
+// pending approval, the way the approval flow stores one.
+func createStatusTestUsers(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, testStore store.Store) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	require.NoError(t, testStore.CreateGroup(ctx, &types.Group{
+		ID:        allUsersGroupID,
+		AccountID: "testAccountId",
+		Name:      "All",
+		Issued:    types.GroupIssuedAPI,
+	}))
+
+	users := []*types.User{
+		{
+			Id:              pendingUserID,
+			AccountID:       "testAccountId",
+			Role:            types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups:      []string{"allowedGroupId"},
+			Blocked:         true,
+			PendingApproval: true,
+			Issued:          "api",
+			CreatedAt:       time.Now(),
+		},
+		{
+			Id:              pendingAllUsersID,
+			AccountID:       "testAccountId",
+			Role:            types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups:      []string{allUsersGroupID},
+			Blocked:         true,
+			PendingApproval: true,
+			Issued:          "api",
+			CreatedAt:       time.Now(),
+		},
+		{
+			Id:              blockedUserID,
+			AccountID:       "testAccountId",
+			Role:            types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups:      []string{"allowedGroupId"},
+			Blocked:         true,
+			PendingApproval: false,
+			Issued:          "api",
+			CreatedAt:       time.Now(),
+		},
+	}
+	for _, user := range users {
+		require.NoError(t, testStore.SaveUser(ctx, user))
+	}
 }
 
 func generateSessionKeyPair(t *testing.T) (string, string) {
@@ -149,6 +226,114 @@ func TestValidateSession_UserNotInAllowedGroup(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Empty(t, resp.GetPeerGroupIds(), "PeerGroupIds must mirror the resolved user's actual (empty) memberships on denial")
 }
 
+// TestValidateSession_PendingApprovalUserDenied covers a user who is a member of
+// the service's distribution group but is still waiting for an administrator to
+// approve the account. Group membership alone must not open the service.
+func TestValidateSession_PendingApprovalUserDenied(t *testing.T) {
+	setup := setupValidateSessionTest(t)
+	defer setup.cleanup()
+
+	proxy, err := setup.store.GetServiceByID(context.Background(), store.LockingStrengthNone, "testAccountId", "restrictedProxyId")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	token := createSessionToken(t, proxy.SessionPrivateKey, pendingUserID, "restricted-proxy.example.com")
+
+	resp, err := setup.proxyService.ValidateSession(context.Background(), &proto.ValidateSessionRequest{
+		Domain:       "restricted-proxy.example.com",
+		SessionToken: token,
+	})
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, resp.Valid, "User pending approval should be denied")
+	assert.Equal(t, deniedReasonPendingApproval, resp.DeniedReason, "Denied reason should name the pending approval state")
+	assert.Equal(t, pendingUserID, resp.UserId, "Denial should identify the user it applies to")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"allowedGroupId"}, resp.GetPeerGroupIds(), "PeerGroupIds must mirror the resolved user's group memberships on denial")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"Allowed Group"}, resp.GetPeerGroupNames(), "PeerGroupNames must pair with PeerGroupIds on denial")
+}
+
+// TestValidateSession_PendingApprovalUserInAllUsersGroupDenied covers the same
+// user against a service distributed to the account's "All" group, where every
+// user of the account is a member by default.
+func TestValidateSession_PendingApprovalUserInAllUsersGroupDenied(t *testing.T) {
+	setup := setupValidateSessionTest(t)
+	defer setup.cleanup()
+
+	proxy, err := setup.store.GetServiceByID(context.Background(), store.LockingStrengthNone, "testAccountId", "allUsersProxyId")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	token := createSessionToken(t, proxy.SessionPrivateKey, pendingAllUsersID, "all-users-proxy.example.com")
+
+	resp, err := setup.proxyService.ValidateSession(context.Background(), &proto.ValidateSessionRequest{
+		Domain:       "all-users-proxy.example.com",
+		SessionToken: token,
+	})
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, resp.Valid, "User pending approval should be denied even in the All Users group")
+	assert.Equal(t, deniedReasonPendingApproval, resp.DeniedReason, "Denied reason should name the pending approval state")
+	assert.Equal(t, pendingAllUsersID, resp.UserId, "Denial should identify the user it applies to")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{allUsersGroupID}, resp.GetPeerGroupIds(), "PeerGroupIds must mirror the resolved user's group memberships on denial")
+}
+
+// TestValidateSession_BlockedUserDenied covers a user blocked after having been
+// approved, so PendingApproval is false and only the blocked flag is set.
+func TestValidateSession_BlockedUserDenied(t *testing.T) {
+	setup := setupValidateSessionTest(t)
+	defer setup.cleanup()
+
+	proxy, err := setup.store.GetServiceByID(context.Background(), store.LockingStrengthNone, "testAccountId", "restrictedProxyId")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	token := createSessionToken(t, proxy.SessionPrivateKey, blockedUserID, "restricted-proxy.example.com")
+
+	resp, err := setup.proxyService.ValidateSession(context.Background(), &proto.ValidateSessionRequest{
+		Domain:       "restricted-proxy.example.com",
+		SessionToken: token,
+	})
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, resp.Valid, "Blocked user should be denied")
+	assert.Equal(t, deniedReasonUserBlocked, resp.DeniedReason, "Denied reason should name the blocked state")
+	assert.Equal(t, blockedUserID, resp.UserId, "Denial should identify the user it applies to")
+}
+
+// TestValidateSession_UserAllowedAfterApproval walks the same session token
+// through the approval transition: denied while pending, allowed once an
+// administrator clears both flags.
+func TestValidateSession_UserAllowedAfterApproval(t *testing.T) {
+	setup := setupValidateSessionTest(t)
+	defer setup.cleanup()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	proxy, err := setup.store.GetServiceByID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, "testAccountId", "restrictedProxyId")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	token := createSessionToken(t, proxy.SessionPrivateKey, pendingUserID, "restricted-proxy.example.com")
+	req := &proto.ValidateSessionRequest{
+		Domain:       "restricted-proxy.example.com",
+		SessionToken: token,
+	}
+
+	resp, err := setup.proxyService.ValidateSession(ctx, req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.False(t, resp.Valid, "User pending approval should be denied before approval")
+	assert.Equal(t, deniedReasonPendingApproval, resp.DeniedReason, "Denied reason should name the pending approval state")
+
+	user, err := setup.store.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, pendingUserID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	user.PendingApproval = false
+	user.Blocked = false
+	require.NoError(t, setup.store.SaveUser(ctx, user))
+
+	resp, err = setup.proxyService.ValidateSession(ctx, req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, resp.Valid, "Approved user should be allowed access")
+	assert.Empty(t, resp.DeniedReason)
+	assert.Equal(t, pendingUserID, resp.UserId, "Approved user should be identified in the response")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"allowedGroupId"}, resp.GetPeerGroupIds(), "PeerGroupIds must mirror the approved user's group memberships")
+}
+
 func TestValidateSession_UserInDifferentAccount(t *testing.T) {
 	setup := setupValidateSessionTest(t)
 	defer setup.cleanup()

management/server/account.go

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import (
 	nbconfig "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/server/config"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/account"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/activity"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/affectedpeers"
 	nbcache "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/cache"
 	nbcontext "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/context"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/geolocation"
@@ -1626,6 +1627,8 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx context.Context, userAuth
 	var removeOldGroups []string
 	var hasChanges bool
 	var user *types.User
+	var change affectedpeers.Change
+	var snap *affectedpeers.Snapshot
 	err = am.Store.ExecuteInTransaction(ctx, func(transaction store.Store) error {
 		user, err = transaction.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, userAuth.UserId)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -1664,14 +1667,25 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx context.Context, userAuth
 			return fmt.Errorf("error saving user: %w", err)
 		}
 
+		allGroupChanges := slices.Concat(addNewGroups, removeOldGroups)
+		// The user's auto-groups changed, so the SSH rules authorizing them ship a new
+		// group -> user mapping even when no peer moves between groups.
+		change.UserGroupIDs = allGroupChanges
+
+		// The user's peers are the changed entity in every scenario the sync can
+		// produce — group membership, IPv6 assignment, SSH mappings — so they refresh
+		// together with every peer they can connect to, like on a regular peer update.
+		userPeers, err := transaction.GetUserPeers(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, userAuth.AccountId, userAuth.UserId)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("error getting user peers: %w", err)
+		}
+		for _, peer := range userPeers {
+			change.ChangedPeerIDs = append(change.ChangedPeerIDs, peer.ID)
+		}
+
 		// Propagate changes to peers if group propagation is enabled
 		if settings.GroupsPropagationEnabled {
-			peers, err := transaction.GetUserPeers(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, userAuth.AccountId, userAuth.UserId)
-			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("error getting user peers: %w", err)
-			}
-
-			for _, peer := range peers {
+			for _, peer := range userPeers {
 				for _, g := range addNewGroups {
 					if err := transaction.AddPeerToGroup(ctx, userAuth.AccountId, peer.ID, g); err != nil {
 						return fmt.Errorf("error adding peer %s to group %s: %w", peer.ID, g, err)
@@ -1684,7 +1698,8 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx context.Context, userAuth
 				}
 			}
 
-			allGroupChanges := slices.Concat(addNewGroups, removeOldGroups)
+			change.LinkGroups = allGroupChanges
+
 			if err = am.reconcileIPv6ForGroupChanges(ctx, transaction, userAuth.AccountId, allGroupChanges); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("reconcile IPv6 for group changes: %w", err)
 			}
@@ -1694,6 +1709,10 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx context.Context, userAuth
 			}
 		}
 
+		if snap, err = affectedpeers.Load(ctx, transaction, userAuth.AccountId, change); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
 		return nil
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1730,20 +1749,17 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx context.Context, userAuth
 		}
 	}
 
-	removedGroupAffectsPeers, err := areGroupChangesAffectPeers(ctx, am.Store, userAuth.AccountId, removeOldGroups)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	newGroupsAffectsPeers, err := areGroupChangesAffectPeers(ctx, am.Store, userAuth.AccountId, addNewGroups)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if removedGroupAffectsPeers || newGroupsAffectsPeers {
-		log.WithContext(ctx).Tracef("user %s: JWT group membership changed, updating account peers", userAuth.UserId)
-		am.BufferUpdateAccountPeers(ctx, userAuth.AccountId, types.UpdateReason{Resource: types.UpdateResourceUser, Operation: types.UpdateOperationUpdate})
-	}
+	log.WithContext(ctx).Tracef("user %s: JWT group membership changed, updating affected peers", userAuth.UserId)
+	bgCtx := context.WithoutCancel(ctx)
+	go func() {
+		affectedPeerIDs := snap.Expand(bgCtx, userAuth.AccountId, change)
+		if len(affectedPeerIDs) == 0 {
+			return
+		}
+		if err := am.networkMapController.BufferUpdateAffectedPeers(bgCtx, userAuth.AccountId, affectedPeerIDs, types.UpdateReason{Resource: types.UpdateResourceUser, Operation: types.UpdateOperationUpdate}); err != nil {
+			log.WithContext(bgCtx).Errorf("failed to update affected peers after JWT group sync for account %s: %v", userAuth.AccountId, err)
+		}
+	}()
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -2426,30 +2442,24 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) reconcileIPv6ForGroupChanges(ctx context.Contex
 		return fmt.Errorf("get account settings: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	if len(settings.IPv6EnabledGroups) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	enabledSet := make(map[string]struct{}, len(settings.IPv6EnabledGroups))
-	for _, gid := range settings.IPv6EnabledGroups {
-		enabledSet[gid] = struct{}{}
-	}
-
-	affected := false
-	for _, gid := range groupIDs {
-		if _, ok := enabledSet[gid]; ok {
-			affected = true
-			break
-		}
-	}
-
-	if !affected {
+	if !ipv6ReconcileNeeded(settings, groupIDs) {
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	return am.updatePeerIPv6Addresses(ctx, transaction, accountID, settings)
 }
 
+// ipv6ReconcileNeeded reports whether changes to the given groups trigger an IPv6
+// reconciliation.
+func ipv6ReconcileNeeded(settings *types.Settings, groupIDs []string) bool {
+	for _, groupID := range groupIDs {
+		if slices.Contains(settings.IPv6EnabledGroups, groupID) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 func (am *DefaultAccountManager) ensureIPv6Subnet(ctx context.Context, transaction store.Store, accountID string, settings *types.Settings, network *types.Network) error {
 	if settings.NetworkRangeV6.IsValid() {
 		network.NetV6 = net.IPNet{

management/server/account_test.go

@@ -1757,6 +1757,7 @@ func TestAccount_Copy(t *testing.T) {
 				AccountID: "account1",
 			},
 		},
+		PostureValidation: map[string]map[string]bool{"1": {"1": true}},
 	}
 	err := hasNilField(account)
 	if err != nil {

management/server/affected_peers_jwt_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/wgctrl/wgtypes"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/affectedpeers"
+	nbpeer "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/peer"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/store"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/types"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/auth"
+)
+
+// A user's auto-group change refreshes the destinations of the SSH rules authorizing
+// that group — they carry the group -> user mapping — even though no peer moved
+// between groups.
+func TestAffectedPeers_UserGroupChange_RefreshesSSHAuthorizedDestinations(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, s, accountID, peerIDs, groupIDs := setupAffectedPeersTest(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	_, err := manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+		Enabled: true,
+		Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{
+			{
+				Enabled:          true,
+				Sources:          []string{groupIDs[0]},
+				Destinations:     []string{groupIDs[1]},
+				Protocol:         types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH,
+				Action:           types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+				AuthorizedGroups: map[string][]string{groupIDs[3]: {"root"}},
+			},
+		},
+	}, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	result := resolveAffected(t, s, accountID, affectedpeers.Change{UserGroupIDs: []string{groupIDs[3]}})
+	assert.ElementsMatch(t, []string{peerIDs[1]}, result,
+		"only the SSH rule's destination peers carry the changed group -> user mapping")
+
+	result = resolveAffected(t, s, accountID, affectedpeers.Change{UserGroupIDs: []string{groupIDs[4]}})
+	assert.Empty(t, result, "a group no SSH rule authorizes affects nobody")
+}
+
+// Creating, blocking or unblocking a user changes the account's allowed-user set, which
+// reaches only the destinations of the SSH rules that ship it.
+func TestAffectedPeers_AllowedUsersChange_RefreshesSSHDestinations(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, s, accountID, peerIDs, groupIDs := setupAffectedPeersTest(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Ships the allowed-user set: an SSH rule naming no groups and no user.
+	_, err := manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+		Enabled: true,
+		Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{{
+			Enabled:      true,
+			Sources:      []string{groupIDs[0]},
+			Destinations: []string{groupIDs[1]},
+			Protocol:     types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH,
+			Action:       types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+		}},
+	}, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Does not ship it: an SSH rule that authorizes a specific group.
+	_, err = manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+		Enabled: true,
+		Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{{
+			Enabled:          true,
+			Sources:          []string{groupIDs[2]},
+			Destinations:     []string{groupIDs[3]},
+			Protocol:         types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH,
+			Action:           types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+			AuthorizedGroups: map[string][]string{groupIDs[0]: {"root"}},
+		}},
+	}, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	result := resolveAffected(t, s, accountID, affectedpeers.Change{AllowedUsersChanged: true})
+	assert.ElementsMatch(t, []string{peerIDs[1]}, result,
+		"only the destinations of the rule shipping the allowed-user set refresh")
+}
+
+// TestAffectedPeers_SyncUserJWTGroups_OnlyAffectedPeersUpdated verifies that a JWT
+// auto-group change updates only the user's peers and the peers linked to the changed
+// group through policies, instead of fanning out to the whole account.
+func TestAffectedPeers_SyncUserJWTGroups_OnlyAffectedPeersUpdated(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, updateManager, account, _, peer2, peer3 := setupNetworkMapTest(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	accountID := account.Id
+
+	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	userPeer, _, _, _, err := manager.AddPeer(ctx, accountID, "", userID, &nbpeer.Peer{
+		Key:  key.PublicKey().String(),
+		Meta: nbpeer.PeerSystemMeta{Hostname: "user-peer"},
+	}, false)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	policies, err := manager.Store.GetAccountPolicies(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, accountID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	for _, p := range policies {
+		require.NoError(t, manager.Store.DeletePolicy(ctx, accountID, p.ID))
+	}
+
+	account, err = manager.Store.GetAccount(ctx, accountID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	account.Settings.JWTGroupsEnabled = true
+	account.Settings.JWTGroupsClaimName = "groups"
+	account.Settings.GroupsPropagationEnabled = true
+	require.NoError(t, manager.Store.SaveAccount(ctx, account))
+
+	require.NoError(t, manager.CreateGroup(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Group{ID: "jwt-grp", Name: "jwt-linked", Issued: types.GroupIssuedJWT, Peers: []string{}}))
+	require.NoError(t, manager.CreateGroup(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Group{ID: "jwt-dest", Name: "jwt-dest", Peers: []string{peer2.ID}}))
+
+	_, err = manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+		Enabled: true,
+		Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{
+			{
+				Enabled:       true,
+				Sources:       []string{"jwt-grp"},
+				Destinations:  []string{"jwt-dest"},
+				Bidirectional: true,
+				Action:        types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+			},
+		},
+	}, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	updUser := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, userPeer.ID)
+	upd2 := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, peer2.ID)
+	upd3 := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, peer3.ID)
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, userPeer.ID)
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, peer2.ID)
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, peer3.ID)
+	})
+
+	userAuth := auth.UserAuth{
+		AccountId: accountID,
+		UserId:    userID,
+		Groups:    []string{"jwt-linked"},
+	}
+
+	t.Run("adding JWT group updates only linked peers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		drainPeerUpdates(updUser)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		require.NoError(t, manager.SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx, userAuth))
+
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, updUser)
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+
+		user, err := manager.Store.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, userID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, user.AutoGroups, "jwt-grp")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("removing JWT group updates only linked peers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		drainPeerUpdates(updUser)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		userAuth.Groups = nil
+		require.NoError(t, manager.SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx, userAuth))
+
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, updUser)
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+
+		user, err := manager.Store.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, userID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NotContains(t, user.AutoGroups, "jwt-grp")
+	})
+}

management/server/affected_peers_user_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/wgctrl/wgtypes"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/activity"
+	nbpeer "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/peer"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/store"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/types"
+)
+
+// A user update refreshes only the peers its auto-group change reaches, and a user
+// update that changes no group membership refreshes nobody.
+func TestAffectedPeers_SaveUser_OnlyAffectedPeersUpdated(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, updateManager, account, _, peer2, peer3 := setupNetworkMapTest(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	accountID := account.Id
+
+	const targetUserID = "target-user"
+	require.NoError(t, manager.Store.SaveUser(ctx, &types.User{
+		Id: targetUserID, AccountID: accountID, Role: types.UserRoleUser,
+	}))
+
+	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	targetPeer, _, _, _, err := manager.AddPeer(ctx, accountID, "", targetUserID, &nbpeer.Peer{
+		Key:  key.PublicKey().String(),
+		Meta: nbpeer.PeerSystemMeta{Hostname: "target-peer"},
+	}, false)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	policies, err := manager.Store.GetAccountPolicies(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, accountID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	for _, p := range policies {
+		require.NoError(t, manager.Store.DeletePolicy(ctx, accountID, p.ID))
+	}
+
+	account, err = manager.Store.GetAccount(ctx, accountID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	account.Settings.GroupsPropagationEnabled = true
+	require.NoError(t, manager.Store.SaveAccount(ctx, account))
+
+	require.NoError(t, manager.CreateGroup(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Group{ID: "ug-linked", Name: "ug-linked"}))
+	require.NoError(t, manager.CreateGroup(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Group{ID: "ug-dest", Name: "ug-dest", Peers: []string{peer2.ID}}))
+
+	_, err = manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+		Enabled: true,
+		Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{
+			{
+				Enabled:       true,
+				Sources:       []string{"ug-linked"},
+				Destinations:  []string{"ug-dest"},
+				Bidirectional: true,
+				Action:        types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+			},
+		},
+	}, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	updTarget := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, targetPeer.ID)
+	upd2 := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, peer2.ID)
+	upd3 := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, peer3.ID)
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, targetPeer.ID)
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, peer2.ID)
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, peer3.ID)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("auto group change updates only linked peers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		drainPeerUpdates(updTarget)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		_, err := manager.SaveUser(ctx, accountID, activity.SystemInitiator, &types.User{
+			Id: targetUserID, AccountID: accountID, Role: types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups: []string{"ug-linked"},
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, updTarget)
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("update without group changes refreshes nobody", func(t *testing.T) {
+		drainPeerUpdates(updTarget)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		_, err := manager.SaveUser(ctx, accountID, activity.SystemInitiator, &types.User{
+			Id: targetUserID, AccountID: accountID, Role: types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups: []string{"ug-linked"}, Name: "renamed",
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, updTarget)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+
+		user, err := manager.Store.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, targetUserID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "renamed", user.Name)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("auto group change reassigning IPv6 refreshes the changed peers and their observers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		account, err := manager.Store.GetAccount(ctx, accountID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		account.Settings.IPv6EnabledGroups = []string{"ug-v6"}
+		require.NoError(t, manager.Store.SaveAccount(ctx, account))
+		require.NoError(t, manager.CreateGroup(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Group{ID: "ug-v6", Name: "ug-v6"}))
+
+		drainPeerUpdates(updTarget)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		_, err = manager.SaveUser(ctx, accountID, activity.SystemInitiator, &types.User{
+			Id: targetUserID, AccountID: accountID, Role: types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups: []string{"ug-linked", "ug-v6"}, Name: "renamed",
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// The reassigned peer refreshes with everyone it can reach: peer2 via the
+		// policy, but not peer3, which shares no group or policy with it.
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, updTarget)
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("unblocking a user refreshes only the SSH rule destinations", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// An SSH rule that authorizes no group of its own ships the account's
+		// allowed-user set to its destinations, so those are the peers an unblock
+		// reaches — not the whole account.
+		_, err := manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+			Enabled: true,
+			Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{{
+				Enabled:      true,
+				Sources:      []string{"ug-linked"},
+				Destinations: []string{"ug-dest"},
+				Protocol:     types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH,
+				Action:       types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+			}},
+		}, true)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		blocked, err := manager.Store.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, targetUserID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		blocked.Blocked = true
+		require.NoError(t, manager.Store.SaveUser(ctx, blocked))
+
+		drainPeerUpdates(updTarget)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		// Same auto-groups as the previous subtest left them, so no group change and
+		// no IPv6 reconciliation interferes: the unblock alone drives the refresh.
+		_, err = manager.SaveUser(ctx, accountID, activity.SystemInitiator, &types.User{
+			Id: targetUserID, AccountID: accountID, Role: types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups: []string{"ug-linked", "ug-v6"}, Name: "renamed",
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+	})
+}

management/server/affectedpeers/resolver.go

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/maps"
 
 	nbdns "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/dns"
 	rpservice "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/service"
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ func (snap *Snapshot) loadCollections(ctx context.Context, s store.Store, accoun
 	hasGroupOrPeerChange := len(c.ChangedGroupIDs) > 0 || len(c.ChangedPeerIDs) > 0 || len(c.LinkGroups) > 0 || len(c.Resources) > 0
 	hasNetworkObject := len(c.Routers) > 0 || len(c.Resources) > 0 || len(c.Networks) > 0
 	// the resource<->router bridge can fire for any of these
-	needsRoutersResources := hasGroupOrPeerChange || len(c.PostureCheckIDs) > 0 || len(c.Policies) > 0 || hasNetworkObject
+	needsRoutersResources := hasGroupOrPeerChange || len(c.PostureCheckIDs) > 0 || len(c.Policies) > 0 || hasNetworkObject || len(c.UserGroupIDs) > 0 || c.AllowedUsersChanged
 
 	if needsRoutersResources {
 		if err := snap.loadPolicyRoutersResources(ctx, s, accountID); err != nil {
@@ -219,6 +220,18 @@ type Change struct {
 	// (correct when the peer's own attributes changed, e.g. IP/status).
 	OutputPeerIDs []string
 
+	// UserGroupIDs are groups whose USER membership changed (a user's auto-groups),
+	// as opposed to their peer membership. Peers ship the group -> user mapping only
+	// for the groups an SSH rule authorizes, so these refresh the destinations of the
+	// SSH rules authorizing them — independently of any peer moving between groups.
+	UserGroupIDs []string
+
+	// AllowedUsersChanged marks a change to the set of users allowed to open SSH
+	// sessions — a user was created, blocked or unblocked. That set is account-wide,
+	// and peers receive it through the SSH rules that name no group or user of their
+	// own, so those rules' destinations refresh.
+	AllowedUsersChanged bool
+
 	// LinkGroups are groups used ONLY to match policies/routes/routers and walk to the
 	// OPPOSITE side — they are never expanded to their own members. Use this when a
 	// peer's group membership changed: pass the peer in ChangedPeerIDs and its
@@ -240,6 +253,8 @@ func (c Change) isEmpty() bool {
 		len(c.Resources) == 0 &&
 		len(c.Networks) == 0 &&
 		len(c.PostureCheckIDs) == 0 &&
+		len(c.UserGroupIDs) == 0 &&
+		!c.AllowedUsersChanged &&
 		len(c.DistributionGroupIDs) == 0 &&
 		len(c.RemovedPeersByGroup) == 0 &&
 		len(c.LinkGroups) == 0 &&
@@ -359,6 +374,9 @@ func (r *resolver) walk() {
 		r.collectFromProxyServices()
 	}
 
+	r.collectFromSSHAuthorizedGroups()
+	r.collectFromAllowedUsers()
+
 	r.collectFromChangedRoutes(r.change.Routes)
 	r.collectFromChangedRouters(r.change.Routers)
 	r.collectFromChangedResources(r.change.Resources)
@@ -811,6 +829,59 @@ func (r *resolver) collectFromNameServers() {
 	}
 }
 
+// collectFromSSHAuthorizedGroups folds the destinations of the enabled SSH rules that
+// authorize a group whose user membership changed. Those destination peers carry the
+// group -> user mapping for the groups they authorize, so they refresh even when no
+// peer moved between groups.
+func (r *resolver) collectFromSSHAuthorizedGroups() {
+	if len(r.change.UserGroupIDs) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+
+	changed := toSet(r.change.UserGroupIDs)
+	for _, policy := range r.policies() {
+		for _, rule := range policy.Rules {
+			if !rule.Enabled || rule.Protocol != types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH {
+				continue
+			}
+			if !anyInSet(maps.Keys(rule.AuthorizedGroups), changed) {
+				continue
+			}
+			log.WithContext(r.ctx).Tracef("collectFromSSHAuthorizedGroups: rule %s authorizes a changed user group -> folding its destinations", rule.ID)
+			r.foldPolicySideForRule(policy, rule, sideDestination)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// collectFromAllowedUsers folds the destinations of the rules that make a peer carry
+// the account's allowed-user set, for a change to who is in that set.
+func (r *resolver) collectFromAllowedUsers() {
+	if !r.change.AllowedUsersChanged {
+		return
+	}
+
+	for _, policy := range r.policies() {
+		for _, rule := range policy.Rules {
+			if !rule.Enabled || !ruleShipsAllowedUsers(rule) {
+				continue
+			}
+			log.WithContext(r.ctx).Tracef("collectFromAllowedUsers: rule %s ships the allowed-user set -> folding its destinations", rule.ID)
+			r.foldPolicySideForRule(policy, rule, sideDestination)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// ruleShipsAllowedUsers reports whether a rule makes its destination peers carry the
+// account's allowed-user set. It mirrors the network map's SSH requirements except for
+// the destination peer's own SSH flag, which the snapshot does not hold — so it folds a
+// superset and never misses a peer.
+func ruleShipsAllowedUsers(rule *types.PolicyRule) bool {
+	if rule.Protocol == types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH {
+		return len(rule.AuthorizedGroups) == 0 && rule.AuthorizedUser == ""
+	}
+	return types.PolicyRuleImpliesLegacySSH(rule)
+}
+
 func (r *resolver) collectFromDNSSettings() {
 	if len(r.linkGroups) == 0 || r.snap.dnsSettings == nil {
 		return

management/server/affectedpeers/resolver_test.go

@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ func TestChangeIsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, Change{Resources: []*resourceTypes.NetworkResource{{ID: "r"}}}.isEmpty())
 	assert.False(t, Change{Networks: []*networkTypes.Network{{ID: "n"}}}.isEmpty())
 	assert.False(t, Change{PostureCheckIDs: []string{"pc"}}.isEmpty())
+	assert.False(t, Change{UserGroupIDs: []string{"g"}}.isEmpty())
+	assert.False(t, Change{AllowedUsersChanged: true}.isEmpty())
 }
 
 func TestPolicyReferencesPostureChecks(t *testing.T) {

management/server/http/handlers/proxy/auth.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package proxy
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/netip"
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ func (h *AuthCallbackHandler) handleCallback(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Requ
 		redirectURL.Scheme = "https"
 		query := redirectURL.Query()
 		query.Set("error", "access_denied")
-		query.Set("error_description", "Service configuration error")
+		query.Set("error_description", sessionTokenErrorDescription(err))
 		redirectURL.RawQuery = query.Encode()
 		http.Redirect(w, r, redirectURL.String(), http.StatusFound)
 		return
@@ -124,6 +125,20 @@ func (h *AuthCallbackHandler) handleCallback(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Requ
 	http.Redirect(w, r, redirectURL.String(), http.StatusFound)
 }
 
+// sessionTokenErrorDescription maps a session token failure to the text the
+// proxy renders on its access denied page. Account status denials get a message
+// the user can act on, while everything else stays generic so a lookup or
+// signing failure does not describe management internals to the browser.
+func sessionTokenErrorDescription(err error) string {
+	if errors.Is(err, nbgrpc.ErrUserPendingApproval) {
+		return "Your account is pending approval by an administrator"
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, nbgrpc.ErrUserBlocked) {
+		return "Your account is blocked"
+	}
+	return "Service configuration error"
+}
+
 func extractUserIDFromToken(ctx context.Context, provider *oidc.Provider, config nbgrpc.ProxyOIDCConfig, token *oauth2.Token) string {
 	rawIDToken, ok := token.Extra("id_token").(string)
 	if !ok {

management/server/http/handlers/proxy/auth_callback_integration_test.go

@@ -360,6 +360,31 @@ func createTestAccountsAndUsers(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, testStore sto
 		Issued:     "api",
 	}
 	require.NoError(t, testStore.SaveUser(ctx, allowedUser))
+
+	// A user awaiting approval is stored as blocked and pending approval, and
+	// carries the same group membership as the approved one.
+	pendingUser := &types.User{
+		Id:              "pendingUserId",
+		AccountID:       "testAccountId",
+		Role:            types.UserRoleUser,
+		AutoGroups:      []string{"allowedGroupId"},
+		Blocked:         true,
+		PendingApproval: true,
+		CreatedAt:       time.Now(),
+		Issued:          "api",
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, testStore.SaveUser(ctx, pendingUser))
+
+	blockedUser := &types.User{
+		Id:         "blockedUserId",
+		AccountID:  "testAccountId",
+		Role:       types.UserRoleUser,
+		AutoGroups: []string{"allowedGroupId"},
+		Blocked:    true,
+		CreatedAt:  time.Now(),
+		Issued:     "api",
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, testStore.SaveUser(ctx, blockedUser))
 }
 
 // testServiceManager is a minimal implementation for testing.
@@ -490,6 +515,58 @@ func TestAuthCallback_UserAllowedToLogin(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Empty(t, parsedLocation.Query().Get("error"), "Should not have error parameter")
 }
 
+// TestAuthCallback_UserDeniedByAccountStatus asserts that a user whose account
+// is pending approval or blocked never receives a session token from the OIDC
+// callback, and that the redirect carries a description the proxy can render.
+func TestAuthCallback_UserDeniedByAccountStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name            string
+		subject         string
+		expectErrorDesc string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:            "pending approval",
+			subject:         "pendingUserId",
+			expectErrorDesc: "Your account is pending approval by an administrator",
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "blocked",
+			subject:         "blockedUserId",
+			expectErrorDesc: "Your account is blocked",
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "unknown to management",
+			subject:         "userMissingFromStoreId",
+			expectErrorDesc: "Service configuration error",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			setup := setupAuthCallbackTest(t)
+			defer setup.cleanup()
+
+			setup.oidcServer.tokenSubject = tt.subject
+
+			state := createTestState(t, setup.proxyService, "https://test-proxy.example.com/dashboard")
+
+			req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/reverse-proxy/callback?code=test-auth-code&state="+url.QueryEscape(state), nil)
+			rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+			setup.router.ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+
+			require.Equal(t, http.StatusFound, rec.Code)
+
+			parsedLocation, err := url.Parse(rec.Header().Get("Location"))
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			require.Empty(t, parsedLocation.Query().Get("session_token"), "Denied user must not receive a session token")
+			require.Equal(t, "access_denied", parsedLocation.Query().Get("error"))
+			require.Equal(t, tt.expectErrorDesc, parsedLocation.Query().Get("error_description"))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAuthCallback_ProxyNotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	setup := setupAuthCallbackTest(t)
 	defer setup.cleanup()

management/server/types/account.go

@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ type Account struct {
 	Onboarding       AccountOnboarding                `gorm:"foreignKey:AccountID;references:id;constraint:OnDelete:CASCADE"`
 
 	ReverseProxyFreeDomainNonce string
+
+	PostureValidation map[string]map[string]bool `gorm:"-"`
 }
 
 // this class is used by gorm only
@@ -874,6 +876,7 @@ func (a *Account) Copy() *Account {
 		Services:               services,
 		Onboarding:             a.Onboarding,
 		Domains:                domains,
+		PostureValidation:      a.PostureValidation,
 	}
 }
 

management/server/types/account_components.go

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import (
 	nbdns "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/dns"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/zones"
 	routerTypes "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/networks/routers/types"
+	nbpeer "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/peer"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/posture"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/telemetry"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
 )
@@ -506,8 +508,8 @@ func (a *Account) getPeersGroupsPoliciesRoutes(
 func (a *Account) getPeersFromGroups(ctx context.Context, groups []string, peerID string, sourcePostureChecksIDs []string,
 	validatedPeersMap map[string]struct{}, postureFailedPeers *map[string]map[string]struct{}) ([]string, bool) {
 	peerInGroups := false
-	filteredPeerIDs := make([]string, 0, len(groups))
-	seenPeerIds := make(map[string]struct{}, len(groups))
+	var filteredPeerIDs []string
+	var seenPeerIds map[string]struct{}
 
 	for _, gid := range groups {
 		group := a.GetGroup(gid)
@@ -547,6 +549,17 @@ func (a *Account) getPeersFromGroups(ctx context.Context, groups []string, peerI
 			return filteredPeerIDs, peerInGroups
 		}
 
+		if seenPeerIds == nil {
+			totalGroupPeers := 0
+			for _, g := range groups {
+				if grp := a.GetGroup(g); grp != nil {
+					totalGroupPeers += len(grp.Peers)
+				}
+			}
+			filteredPeerIDs = make([]string, 0, totalGroupPeers)
+			seenPeerIds = make(map[string]struct{}, totalGroupPeers)
+		}
+
 		for _, pid := range group.Peers {
 			if _, seen := seenPeerIds[pid]; seen {
 				continue
@@ -589,21 +602,109 @@ func (a *Account) validatePostureChecksOnPeerGetFailed(ctx context.Context, sour
 	}
 
 	for _, postureChecksID := range sourcePostureChecksID {
+		if valid, cached := a.cachedPostureCheckResult(postureChecksID, peerID); cached {
+			if !valid {
+				return false, postureChecksID
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
 		postureChecks := a.GetPostureChecks(postureChecksID)
 		if postureChecks == nil {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		for _, check := range postureChecks.GetChecks() {
-			isValid, _ := check.Check(ctx, *peer)
-			if !isValid {
-				return false, postureChecksID
-			}
+		if !peerPassesPostureChecks(ctx, postureChecks.GetChecks(), peer) {
+			return false, postureChecksID
 		}
 	}
 	return true, ""
 }
 
+// PrecomputePostureValidation evaluates every posture check referenced by an enabled
+// policy once against the peers of that policy's source groups and stores the results,
+// so the per-peer network map calculations that follow look them up instead of
+// re-evaluating checks for every peer pair. It must be called before the account is
+// shared across goroutines; lookups not covered by the precomputed results fall back
+// to direct evaluation.
+func (a *Account) PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx context.Context) {
+	if len(a.PostureChecks) == 0 {
+		a.PostureValidation = nil
+		return
+	}
+
+	checkPeerIDs := make(map[string]map[string]struct{})
+	for _, policy := range a.Policies {
+		if !policy.Enabled || len(policy.SourcePostureChecks) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		peerIDs := a.getUniquePeerIDsFromGroupsIDs(ctx, policy.SourceGroups())
+		for _, rule := range policy.Rules {
+			if rule.SourceResource.Type == ResourceTypePeer && rule.SourceResource.ID != "" {
+				peerIDs = append(peerIDs, rule.SourceResource.ID)
+			}
+		}
+
+		for _, postureChecksID := range policy.SourcePostureChecks {
+			set := checkPeerIDs[postureChecksID]
+			if set == nil {
+				set = make(map[string]struct{}, len(peerIDs))
+				checkPeerIDs[postureChecksID] = set
+			}
+			for _, pid := range peerIDs {
+				set[pid] = struct{}{}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	results := make(map[string]map[string]bool, len(checkPeerIDs))
+	for postureChecksID, peerIDs := range checkPeerIDs {
+		results[postureChecksID] = a.evaluatePostureChecksForPeers(ctx, postureChecksID, peerIDs)
+	}
+	a.PostureValidation = results
+}
+
+func (a *Account) evaluatePostureChecksForPeers(ctx context.Context, postureChecksID string, peerIDs map[string]struct{}) map[string]bool {
+	postureChecks := a.GetPostureChecks(postureChecksID)
+	if postureChecks == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	checks := postureChecks.GetChecks()
+	results := make(map[string]bool, len(peerIDs))
+	for peerID := range peerIDs {
+		peer, ok := a.Peers[peerID]
+		if !ok || peer == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		results[peerID] = peerPassesPostureChecks(ctx, checks, peer)
+	}
+	return results
+}
+
+func (a *Account) cachedPostureCheckResult(postureChecksID, peerID string) (bool, bool) {
+	results, ok := a.PostureValidation[postureChecksID]
+	if !ok {
+		return false, false
+	}
+	if results == nil {
+		return true, true
+	}
+	valid, found := results[peerID]
+	return valid, found
+}
+
+func peerPassesPostureChecks(ctx context.Context, checks []posture.Check, peer *nbpeer.Peer) bool {
+	for _, check := range checks {
+		isValid, _ := check.Check(ctx, *peer)
+		if !isValid {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 func (a *Account) getPostureValidPeersSaveFailed(inputPeers []string, postureChecksIDs []string, validatedPeersMap map[string]struct{}, postureFailedPeers *map[string]map[string]struct{}) []string {
 	var dest []string
 	for _, peerID := range inputPeers {

management/server/types/account_posture_validation_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+package types_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	nbdns "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/dns"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/posture"
+)
+
+func TestPrecomputePostureValidation_MatchesDirectEvaluation(t *testing.T) {
+	account, validatedPeers := scalableTestAccount(60, 5)
+
+	account.PostureChecks = append(account.PostureChecks, &posture.Checks{
+		ID: "posture-check-strict", Name: "Strict version",
+		Checks: posture.ChecksDefinition{
+			NBVersionCheck: &posture.NBVersionCheck{MinVersion: "0.50.0"},
+		},
+	})
+	account.Policies[0].SourcePostureChecks = []string{"posture-check-ver", "posture-check-unknown"}
+	account.Policies[1].SourcePostureChecks = []string{"posture-check-strict"}
+	account.Policies[2].SourcePostureChecks = []string{"posture-check-ver"}
+	account.Policies[2].Enabled = false
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	resourcePolicies := account.GetResourcePoliciesMap()
+	routers := account.GetResourceRoutersMap()
+
+	type result struct {
+		peers              map[string]struct{}
+		postureFailedPeers map[string]map[string]struct{}
+	}
+	snapshot := func() map[string]result {
+		results := make(map[string]result, len(account.Peers))
+		for peerID := range account.Peers {
+			components := account.GetPeerNetworkMapComponents(ctx, peerID, nbdns.CustomZone{}, nil, validatedPeers, resourcePolicies, routers, nil)
+			require.NotNil(t, components)
+			peerSet := make(map[string]struct{}, len(components.Peers))
+			for id := range components.Peers {
+				peerSet[id] = struct{}{}
+			}
+			results[peerID] = result{peers: peerSet, postureFailedPeers: components.PostureFailedPeers}
+		}
+		return results
+	}
+
+	direct := snapshot()
+	account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
+	memoized := snapshot()
+
+	require.Equal(t, len(direct), len(memoized))
+	for peerID, want := range direct {
+		got := memoized[peerID]
+		assert.Equal(t, want.peers, got.peers, "visible peers changed for %s", peerID)
+		assert.Equal(t, want.postureFailedPeers, got.postureFailedPeers, "posture failed peers changed for %s", peerID)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPrecomputePostureValidation_NoPostureChecks(t *testing.T) {
+	account, validatedPeers := scalableTestAccount(10, 2)
+	account.PostureChecks = nil
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
+
+	components := account.GetPeerNetworkMapComponents(ctx, "peer-0", nbdns.CustomZone{}, nil, validatedPeers, account.GetResourcePoliciesMap(), account.GetResourceRoutersMap(), nil)
+	require.NotNil(t, components)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, components.Peers)
+}

management/server/types/networkmap_benchmark_test.go

@@ -86,6 +86,43 @@ func BenchmarkNetworkMapGeneration_AllPeers(b *testing.B) {
 			b.ReportAllocs()
 			b.ResetTimer()
 			for range b.N {
+				account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
+				for _, peerID := range peerIDs {
+					_ = account.GetPeerNetworkMapFromComponents(ctx, peerID, nbdns.CustomZone{}, nil, validatedPeers, resourcePolicies, routers, nil, groupIDToUserIDs)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkNetworkMapGeneration_AllPeersPostureChecks benchmarks the UpdateAccountPeers
+// hot path with a posture check attached to the account-wide policy, so posture
+// validation runs for every source peer of every target peer's map.
+func BenchmarkNetworkMapGeneration_AllPeersPostureChecks(b *testing.B) {
+	skipCIBenchmark(b)
+	scales := []benchmarkScale{
+		{"500peers_20groups", 500, 20},
+		{"1000peers_50groups", 1000, 50},
+	}
+
+	for _, scale := range scales {
+		account, validatedPeers := scalableTestAccount(scale.peers, scale.groups)
+		account.Policies[0].SourcePostureChecks = []string{"posture-check-ver"}
+		ctx := context.Background()
+
+		peerIDs := make([]string, 0, len(account.Peers))
+		for peerID := range account.Peers {
+			peerIDs = append(peerIDs, peerID)
+		}
+
+		b.Run("components/"+scale.name, func(b *testing.B) {
+			resourcePolicies := account.GetResourcePoliciesMap()
+			routers := account.GetResourceRoutersMap()
+			groupIDToUserIDs := account.GetActiveGroupUsers()
+			b.ReportAllocs()
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for range b.N {
+				account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
 				for _, peerID := range peerIDs {
 					_ = account.GetPeerNetworkMapFromComponents(ctx, peerID, nbdns.CustomZone{}, nil, validatedPeers, resourcePolicies, routers, nil, groupIDToUserIDs)
 				}

management/server/user.go

@@ -593,7 +593,8 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SaveOrAddUsers(ctx context.Context, accountID,
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	var updateAccountPeers bool
+	var snaps []*affectedpeers.Snapshot
+	var changes []affectedpeers.Change
 	var peersToExpire []*nbpeer.Peer
 	var addUserEvents []func()
 	var usersToSave = make([]*types.User, 0, len(updates))
@@ -629,20 +630,25 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SaveOrAddUsers(ctx context.Context, accountID,
 		}
 
 		err = am.Store.ExecuteInTransaction(ctx, func(transaction store.Store) error {
-			_, updatedUser, userPeersToExpire, userEvents, err := am.processUserUpdate(
+			change, updatedUser, userPeersToExpire, userEvents, err := am.processUserUpdate(
 				ctx, transaction, groupsMap, accountID, initiatorUserID, initiatorUser, update, addIfNotExists, settings,
 			)
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("failed to process update for user %s: %w", update.Id, err)
 			}
 
-			updateAccountPeers = true
-
 			err = transaction.SaveUser(ctx, updatedUser)
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("failed to save updated user %s: %w", update.Id, err)
 			}
 
+			snap, err := affectedpeers.Load(ctx, transaction, accountID, change)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			snaps = append(snaps, snap)
+			changes = append(changes, change)
 			usersToSave = append(usersToSave, updatedUser)
 			addUserEvents = append(addUserEvents, userEvents...)
 			peersToExpire = append(peersToExpire, userPeersToExpire...)
@@ -683,11 +689,11 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SaveOrAddUsers(ctx context.Context, accountID,
 			log.WithContext(ctx).Errorf("failed update expired peers: %s", err)
 			return nil, err
 		}
-	} else if updateAccountPeers {
+	} else if len(usersToSave) > 0 {
 		if err = am.Store.IncrementNetworkSerial(ctx, accountID); err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to increment network serial: %w", err)
 		}
-		am.UpdateAccountPeers(ctx, accountID, types.UpdateReason{Resource: types.UpdateResourceUser, Operation: types.UpdateOperationUpdate})
+		go am.dispatchAffected(ctx, accountID, snaps, changes)
 	}
 
 	return updatedUsersInfo, globalErr
@@ -759,19 +765,21 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) prepareUserUpdateEvents(ctx context.Context, ac
 }
 
 func (am *DefaultAccountManager) processUserUpdate(ctx context.Context, transaction store.Store, groupsMap map[string]*types.Group,
-	accountID, initiatorUserId string, initiatorUser, update *types.User, addIfNotExists bool, settings *types.Settings) (bool, *types.User, []*nbpeer.Peer, []func(), error) {
+	accountID, initiatorUserId string, initiatorUser, update *types.User, addIfNotExists bool, settings *types.Settings) (affectedpeers.Change, *types.User, []*nbpeer.Peer, []func(), error) {
+
+	var change affectedpeers.Change
 
 	if update == nil {
-		return false, nil, nil, nil, status.Errorf(status.InvalidArgument, "provided user update is nil")
+		return change, nil, nil, nil, status.Errorf(status.InvalidArgument, "provided user update is nil")
 	}
 
 	oldUser, isNewUser, err := getUserOrCreateIfNotExists(ctx, transaction, accountID, update, addIfNotExists)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, nil, nil, nil, err
+		return change, nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 
 	if err := validateUserUpdate(groupsMap, initiatorUser, oldUser, update); err != nil {
-		return false, nil, nil, nil, err
+		return change, nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 
 	// only auto groups, revoked status, and integration reference can be updated for now
@@ -792,13 +800,13 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) processUserUpdate(ctx context.Context, transact
 	var transferredOwnerRole bool
 	result, err := handleOwnerRoleTransfer(ctx, transaction, initiatorUser, update)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, nil, nil, nil, err
+		return change, nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 	transferredOwnerRole = result
 
 	userPeers, err := transaction.GetUserPeers(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, updatedUser.AccountID, update.Id)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, nil, nil, nil, err
+		return change, nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 
 	var peersToExpire []*nbpeer.Peer
@@ -807,6 +815,32 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) processUserUpdate(ctx context.Context, transact
 		peersToExpire = userPeers
 	}
 
+	// A user reaches a peer's network map only through the SSH rules: as part of a
+	// group -> user mapping, and as part of the account's allowed-user set. Creating,
+	// blocking or unblocking a user adds it to or removes it from both, so every group
+	// it maps into changes — including the All group that holds every active user.
+	// Otherwise only the auto-groups it joined or left do.
+	if isNewUser || oldUser.IsBlocked() != updatedUser.IsBlocked() {
+		change.AllowedUsersChanged = true
+		change.UserGroupIDs = slices.Concat(oldUser.AutoGroups, updatedUser.AutoGroups, allGroupIDs(groupsMap))
+	} else {
+		change.UserGroupIDs = slices.Concat(
+			util.Difference(oldUser.AutoGroups, updatedUser.AutoGroups),
+			util.Difference(updatedUser.AutoGroups, oldUser.AutoGroups),
+		)
+	}
+
+	// The user's peers are the changed entity in every scenario the update can
+	// produce — group membership, IPv6 assignment, SSH mappings — so they refresh
+	// together with every peer they can connect to, like on a regular peer update.
+	// An update that changes neither the auto-groups nor the active-user set has no
+	// peer-visible effect and refreshes nobody.
+	if len(change.UserGroupIDs) > 0 || change.AllowedUsersChanged {
+		for _, peer := range userPeers {
+			change.ChangedPeerIDs = append(change.ChangedPeerIDs, peer.ID)
+		}
+	}
+
 	var removedGroups, addedGroups []string
 	if update.AutoGroups != nil && settings.GroupsPropagationEnabled {
 		removedGroups = util.Difference(oldUser.AutoGroups, update.AutoGroups)
@@ -814,26 +848,38 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) processUserUpdate(ctx context.Context, transact
 		for _, peer := range userPeers {
 			for _, groupID := range removedGroups {
 				if err := transaction.RemovePeerFromGroup(ctx, peer.ID, groupID); err != nil {
-					return false, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to remove peer %s from group %s: %w", peer.ID, groupID, err)
+					return change, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to remove peer %s from group %s: %w", peer.ID, groupID, err)
 				}
 			}
 			for _, groupID := range addedGroups {
 				if err := transaction.AddPeerToGroup(ctx, accountID, peer.ID, groupID); err != nil {
-					return false, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to add peer %s to group %s: %w", peer.ID, groupID, err)
+					return change, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to add peer %s to group %s: %w", peer.ID, groupID, err)
 				}
 			}
 		}
 
 		allGroupChanges := slices.Concat(removedGroups, addedGroups)
+		change.LinkGroups = allGroupChanges
+
 		if err := am.reconcileIPv6ForGroupChanges(ctx, transaction, accountID, allGroupChanges); err != nil {
-			return false, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("reconcile IPv6 for group changes: %w", err)
+			return change, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("reconcile IPv6 for group changes: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
 
-	updateAccountPeers := len(userPeers) > 0
 	userEventsToAdd := am.prepareUserUpdateEvents(ctx, updatedUser.AccountID, initiatorUserId, oldUser, updatedUser, transferredOwnerRole, isNewUser, removedGroups, addedGroups, transaction)
 
-	return updateAccountPeers, updatedUser, peersToExpire, userEventsToAdd, nil
+	return change, updatedUser, peersToExpire, userEventsToAdd, nil
+}
+
+// allGroupIDs returns the ID of the account's All group, which every active user maps
+// into, as a slice so callers can concatenate it.
+func allGroupIDs(groupsMap map[string]*types.Group) []string {
+	for _, group := range groupsMap {
+		if group.IsGroupAll() {
+			return []string{group.ID}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // getUserOrCreateIfNotExists retrieves the existing user or creates a new one if it doesn't exist.

release_files/darwin_pkg/preinstall

@@ -4,9 +4,67 @@ set -x
 
 LOG_FILE=/var/log/netbird/client_pre_install.log
 AGENT=/usr/local/bin/netbird
+UI_PROCESS=netbird-ui
 
 mkdir -p /var/log/netbird/
 
+# wait_for_ui_exit polls for up to $1 seconds, returning 0 as soon as no UI
+# process is left and 1 if one is still running when the time is up.
+wait_for_ui_exit() {
+    waited=0
+    while [ "$waited" -lt "$1" ]; do
+        pgrep -x "$UI_PROCESS" > /dev/null 2>&1 || return 0
+        sleep 1
+        waited=$((waited + 1))
+    done
+    return 1
+}
+
+# request_ui_quit asks the UI to quit from inside the console user's session and
+# reports whether the request could be sent at all. The installer runs as root
+# outside that session, so a quit Apple event sent straight from here always
+# fails with -600.
+request_ui_quit() {
+    console_user=$(stat -f%Su /dev/console 2>/dev/null)
+    case "$console_user" in
+        ""|root|loginwindow|_mbsetupuser)
+            echo "No active GUI user session (console user: '${console_user:-none}'); skipping the quit request."
+            return 1
+            ;;
+    esac
+
+    uid=$(id -u "$console_user" 2>/dev/null)
+    if [ -z "$uid" ]; then
+        echo "Could not resolve uid for console user '$console_user'; skipping the quit request."
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    echo "Asking the NetBird UI to quit as console user $console_user (uid $uid)."
+    launchctl asuser "$uid" sudo -u "$console_user" -H osascript -e 'quit app "NetBird"' || true
+}
+
+# quit_ui stops a running UI so the app bundle can be replaced underneath it. A
+# UI process that survives the install keeps serving the old binary until it is
+# quit by hand, so anything still running once the quit request is out of the
+# way is signalled. Waiting for a graceful exit only makes sense when a quit
+# request was actually sent.
+quit_ui() {
+    if request_ui_quit && wait_for_ui_exit 10; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    pgrep -x "$UI_PROCESS" > /dev/null 2>&1 || return 0
+
+    echo "NetBird UI still running; terminating it."
+    pkill -x "$UI_PROCESS" || true
+    if wait_for_ui_exit 3; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    echo "NetBird UI ignored SIGTERM; killing it."
+    pkill -KILL -x "$UI_PROCESS" || true
+}
+
 {
     # check if it was installed with brew
     brew list --formula | grep netbird
@@ -15,10 +73,9 @@ mkdir -p /var/log/netbird/
         echo "NetBird has been installed with Brew. Please use Brew to update the package."
         exit 1
     fi
-    osascript -e 'quit app "Netbird"' || true
+    quit_ui
     $AGENT service stop || true
 
     echo "Preinstall complete"
     exit 0 # all good
 } &> $LOG_FILE
-