Restrict debug bundle log path and upload destinations

## Describe your changes

Adds the session surface the Android client was missing: read the status
label and session deadline, receive the engine's expiry warnings, extend
the session via SSO without dropping the tunnel (cancellable), and
dismiss a warning.

Status() latches NeedsLogin so an engine restart doesn't erase it.

## Issue ticket number and link

## Stack

<!-- branch-stack -->

### Checklist
- [ ] Is it a bug fix
- [ ] Is a typo/documentation fix
- [x] Is a feature enhancement
- [ ] It is a refactor
- [ ] Created tests that fail without the change (if possible)
- [ ] This change does **not** modify the public API, gRPC protocols,
functionality behavior, CLI / service flags, or introduce a new feature
— **OR** I have discussed it with the NetBird team beforehand (link the
issue / Slack thread in the description). See
[CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#discuss-changes-with-the-netbird-team-first).

> By submitting this pull request, you confirm that you have read and
agree to the terms of the [Contributor License
Agreement](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTOR_LICENSE_AGREEMENT.md).

## Documentation
Select exactly one:

- [ ] I added/updated documentation for this change
- [x] Documentation is **not needed** for this change (explain why)

### Docs PR URL (required if "docs added" is checked)
Paste the PR link from https://github.com/netbirdio/docs here:

https://github.com/netbirdio/docs/pull/__

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<!-- This is an auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai
-->
## Summary by CodeRabbit

* **New Features**
  * Added Android session status and session expiration details.
* Added listener support for wake-state changes and session-expiry
warnings.
* Added interactive authentication session extension with async
login-success handling, error reporting, warning dismissal, and
cancellation of an in-progress extension.
* **Bug Fixes**
* Improved “login required” state handling after successful sign-in to
prevent stale login-needed prompts.
<!-- end of auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai -->

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

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

.goreleaser_ui.yaml

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

.goreleaser_ui_darwin.yaml

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

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -234,12 +234,22 @@ cd client/ui
 task dev
 ```
 
-Pass daemon flags after `--`:
+Pass daemon flags after `--`, pointing the UI at the socket the daemon serves:
 
 ```
-task dev -- --daemon-addr=tcp://127.0.0.1:41731
+task dev -- --daemon-addr=unix:///var/run/netbird.sock   # Linux, macOS
+task dev -- --daemon-addr=npipe://netbird                # Windows
 ```
 
+On Windows the daemon serves a named pipe (`npipe://netbird`). Which path that
+ends up being depends on what the daemon may create: as a service or elevated it
+serves `\\.\pipe\ProtectedPrefix\Administrators\netbird`, which no unprivileged
+process can take from it, and otherwise it falls back to `\\.\pipe\netbird`.
+Clients try both and check who owns the pipe before using the plain one. Avoid
+`tcp://127.0.0.1:41731`: loopback TCP carries no caller identity, so the daemon
+refuses the operations that require an administrator and you will not exercise
+those paths.
+
 Production build (frontend assets embedded into the binary, output in `client/ui/bin/`):
 
 ```

client/android/client.go

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"slices"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -23,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/routemanager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/stdnet"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/system"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/formatter"
@@ -77,12 +77,23 @@ type Client struct {
 	config        *profilemanager.Config
 	cacheDir      string
 
-	// mdmLoader holds the per-Client MDM policy source. Set by
-	// SetMDMPolicyFetcher (called from the Kotlin side). Each Run
-	// passes this loader to the resolved Config so applyMDMPolicy
-	// picks up the active overlay. Nil means "MDM enforcement off
-	// for this Client".
-	mdmLoader *mdm.Loader
+	stateChangeMu    sync.Mutex
+	stateChangeSubID string
+	eventSub         *peer.EventSubscription
+	// Closed to stop the watch goroutines from delivering buffered items to a
+	// listener that has been removed or replaced. See stopStateChangeWatchLocked.
+	stateChangeDone chan struct{}
+
+	// Latched "the server wants an interactive login": survives the engine
+	// restarts that replace the run loop's context state. See Client.Status.
+	// Guarded by loginRequiredMu together with loginCleared, which counts
+	// clears so a stale observation cannot re-latch over one.
+	loginRequiredMu sync.Mutex
+	loginRequired   bool
+	loginCleared    uint64
+
+	extendMu     sync.Mutex
+	extendCancel context.CancelFunc
 }
 
 func (c *Client) setState(cfg *profilemanager.Config, cacheDir string, cc *internal.ConnectClient) {
@@ -137,7 +148,6 @@ func (c *Client) Run(platformFiles PlatformFiles, urlOpener URLOpener, isAndroid
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 	c.recorder.UpdateManagementAddress(cfg.ManagementURL.String())
 	c.recorder.UpdateRosenpass(cfg.RosenpassEnabled, cfg.RosenpassPermissive)
 
@@ -157,11 +167,16 @@ func (c *Client) Run(platformFiles PlatformFiles, urlOpener URLOpener, isAndroid
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
 	// todo do not throw error in case of cancelled context
 	ctx = internal.CtxInitState(ctx)
 	connectClient := internal.NewConnectClient(ctx, cfg, c.recorder)
 	c.setState(cfg, cacheDir, connectClient)
+	// This path runs the interactive SSO flow, so reaching here means the peer
+	// is authenticated again — release the latch Status() reports from. Clear
+	// only once the fresh connect client is installed: until then Status()
+	// still reads the previous run's context state, which holds the NeedsLogin
+	// that prompted this login, and would re-latch what was just cleared.
+	c.clearLoginRequired()
 	return connectClient.RunOnAndroid(c.tunAdapter, c.iFaceDiscover, c.networkChangeListener, slices.Clone(dns.items), dnsReadyListener, stateFile, cacheDir)
 }
 
@@ -182,7 +197,6 @@ func (c *Client) RunWithoutLogin(platformFiles PlatformFiles, dns *DNSList, dnsR
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 	c.recorder.UpdateManagementAddress(cfg.ManagementURL.String())
 	c.recorder.UpdateRosenpass(cfg.RosenpassEnabled, cfg.RosenpassPermissive)
 
@@ -240,7 +254,6 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(platformFiles PlatformFiles, anonymize bool) (strin
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf("load config: %w", err)
 		}
-		c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 		cacheDir = platformFiles.CacheDir()
 	}
 
@@ -288,7 +301,7 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(platformFiles PlatformFiles, anonymize bool) (strin
 	uploadCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Minute)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(uploadCtx, types.DefaultBundleURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String(), path)
+	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(uploadCtx, types.DefaultBundleURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String(), path, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("upload debug bundle: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -310,6 +323,13 @@ func (c *Client) SetInfoLogLevel() {
 // PeersList return with the list of the PeerInfos
 func (c *Client) PeersList() *PeerInfoArray {
 
+	// The recorder only caches transfer counters and handshake times; nothing
+	// refreshes them on its own, so without this they read as zero. The desktop
+	// daemon does the same before serving a full peer status.
+	if err := c.recorder.RefreshWireGuardStats(); err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("failed to refresh WireGuard stats: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	fullStatus := c.recorder.GetFullStatus()
 
 	peerInfos := make([]PeerInfo, len(fullStatus.Peers))
@@ -320,6 +340,20 @@ func (c *Client) PeersList() *PeerInfoArray {
 			FQDN:       p.FQDN,
 			ConnStatus: int(p.ConnStatus),
 			Routes:     PeerRoutes{routes: maps.Keys(p.GetRoutes())},
+
+			PubKey:                     p.PubKey,
+			Latency:                    formatDuration(p.Latency),
+			LatencyMs:                  p.Latency.Milliseconds(),
+			BytesRx:                    p.BytesRx,
+			BytesTx:                    p.BytesTx,
+			ConnStatusUpdate:           formatTime(p.ConnStatusUpdate),
+			Relayed:                    p.Relayed,
+			RosenpassEnabled:           p.RosenpassEnabled,
+			LastWireguardHandshake:     formatTime(p.LastWireguardHandshake),
+			LocalIceCandidateType:      p.LocalIceCandidateType,
+			RemoteIceCandidateType:     p.RemoteIceCandidateType,
+			LocalIceCandidateEndpoint:  p.LocalIceCandidateEndpoint,
+			RemoteIceCandidateEndpoint: p.RemoteIceCandidateEndpoint,
 		}
 		peerInfos[n] = pi
 	}
@@ -450,10 +484,6 @@ func (c *Client) RemoveConnectionListener() {
 	c.recorder.RemoveConnectionListener()
 }
 
-func (c *Client) toggleRoute(command routeCommand) error {
-	return command.toggleRoute()
-}
-
 func (c *Client) getRouteManager() (routemanager.Manager, error) {
 	client := c.getConnectClient()
 	if client == nil {
@@ -473,22 +503,22 @@ func (c *Client) getRouteManager() (routemanager.Manager, error) {
 	return manager, nil
 }
 
-func (c *Client) SelectRoute(route string) error {
+func (c *Client) SelectRoute(id string) error {
 	manager, err := c.getRouteManager()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return c.toggleRoute(selectRouteCommand{route: route, manager: manager})
+	return manager.SelectRoutes([]route.NetID{route.NetID(id)}, true)
 }
 
-func (c *Client) DeselectRoute(route string) error {
+func (c *Client) DeselectRoute(id string) error {
 	manager, err := c.getRouteManager()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return c.toggleRoute(deselectRouteCommand{route: route, manager: manager})
+	return manager.DeselectRoutes([]route.NetID{route.NetID(id)})
 }
 
 // getNetworkDomainsFromRoute extracts domains from a route and enriches each domain
@@ -523,3 +553,28 @@ func exportEnvList(list *EnvList) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// formatDuration renders a duration for display, trimming the fractional part
+// to two digits so latencies read as "12.34ms" rather than "12.345678ms".
+func formatDuration(d time.Duration) string {
+	ds := d.String()
+	dotIndex := strings.Index(ds, ".")
+	if dotIndex == -1 {
+		return ds
+	}
+
+	endIndex := min(dotIndex+3, len(ds))
+
+	// Skip the remaining digits so only the unit suffix is appended back.
+	unitStart := endIndex
+	for unitStart < len(ds) && ds[unitStart] >= '0' && ds[unitStart] <= '9' {
+		unitStart++
+	}
+	return ds[:endIndex] + ds[unitStart:]
+}
+
+// formatTime renders a timestamp in UTC using a fixed layout. The zero time is
+// passed through as-is so the UI can recognise it and show "never" instead.
+func formatTime(t time.Time) string {
+	return t.UTC().Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05")
+}

client/android/mdm.go

@@ -1,80 +0,0 @@
-//go:build android
-
-package android
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-
-	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
-)
-
-// PolicyFetcher is the mobile-side bridge for the MDM managed-config
-// snapshot. The native layer (Kotlin) implements this and registers
-// the instance per Client via Client.SetMDMPolicyFetcher. Every
-// invocation of fetchJSON must read the current RestrictionsManager
-// state and return the result as a JSON-encoded map[string]any string.
-//
-// JSON is used because gomobile does not support map[string]any
-// crossing the JNI boundary — the adapter on the Go side parses the
-// string back into the map[string]any expected by mdm.Loader.
-//
-// Return value contract:
-//   - "" (empty)         : interpreted as "no MDM source / no managed keys"
-//   - "{}"               : managed config explicitly empty
-//   - "{...}"            : JSON object with key/value pairs
-//   - malformed JSON     : logged and treated as empty
-type PolicyFetcher interface {
-	FetchJSON() string
-}
-
-// jsonFetcherAdapter wraps a gomobile-exposed PolicyFetcher into the
-// internal mdm.PolicyFetcher interface, taking care of JSON decoding
-// on every Fetch.
-type jsonFetcherAdapter struct {
-	inner PolicyFetcher
-}
-
-func (a *jsonFetcherAdapter) Fetch() map[string]any {
-	raw := a.inner.FetchJSON()
-	if raw == "" {
-		return nil
-	}
-	var out map[string]any
-	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(raw), &out); err != nil {
-		log.Warnf("MDM mobile fetcher: invalid JSON payload from native: %v", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
-// SetMDMPolicyFetcher registers the native-provided MDM policy fetcher
-// on this Client. Call once from the gomobile-init code (Kotlin
-// Application.onCreate or Service onCreate) before invoking Run /
-// RunWithoutLogin. Passing nil disables MDM enforcement on this
-// Client.
-//
-// The fetcher is held as a *mdm.Loader instance on the Client (no
-// package-level state) — multiple Clients in the same process get
-// independent Loaders, and tests can inject fakes per Client.
-func (c *Client) SetMDMPolicyFetcher(p PolicyFetcher) {
-	if p == nil {
-		c.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(nil)
-		return
-	}
-	c.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(&jsonFetcherAdapter{inner: p})
-}
-
-// applyMDMOverlay applies the Client-held MDM Loader's current policy
-// on top of the just-read Config. Called immediately after every
-// UpdateOrCreateConfig — profilemanager's apply() initialises the
-// policy to empty and leaves overlay responsibility to the lifecycle
-// owner. No-op when no fetcher was registered.
-func (c *Client) applyMDMOverlay(cfg *profilemanager.Config) {
-	if cfg == nil || c.mdmLoader == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	cfg.ApplyMDMPolicy(c.mdmLoader.Load())
-}

client/android/peer_notifier.go

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

client/android/profile_manager.go

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

client/android/route_command.go

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

client/android/session.go

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

client/cmd/daemon_error.go

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

client/cmd/debug.go

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

client/cmd/login.go

@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/auth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	nbnet "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/server"
@@ -333,11 +332,6 @@ func doForegroundLogin(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, setupKey string,
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("read config file %s: %v", configFilePath, err)
 	}
-	// CLI standalone login: profilemanager no longer auto-applies MDM,
-	// so layer in the OS-native policy here. Desktop builds construct
-	// a Loader with no fetcher — the build-tagged loadPlatform reads
-	// the registry/plist directly.
-	config.ApplyMDMPolicy(mdm.NewLoader(nil).Load())
 
 	// Mirror runInForegroundMode: recover residual state (DNS, firewall,
 	// ssh config, legacy routing) from a previous unclean shutdown and

client/cmd/logout.go

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

client/cmd/root.go

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

client/cmd/service.go

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

client/cmd/service_controller.go

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

client/cmd/service_json_gateway.go

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

client/cmd/service_json_gateway_test.go

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

client/cmd/service_params.go

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

client/cmd/service_pipe_other.go

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

client/cmd/service_pipe_windows.go

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

client/cmd/service_socket.go

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

client/cmd/up.go

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 	nbnet "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/server"
@@ -229,10 +228,6 @@ func runInForegroundMode(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, activeProf *pr
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("get config file: %v", err)
 	}
-	// CLI foreground path runs without the daemon Server: layer in the
-	// active MDM policy explicitly so a forced ManagementURL / PSK /
-	// other managed key actually takes effect on this run.
-	config.ApplyMDMPolicy(mdm.NewLoader(nil).Load())
 
 	_, _ = profilemanager.UpdateOldManagementURL(ctx, config, configFilePath)
 
@@ -330,7 +325,7 @@ func runInDaemonMode(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, pm *profilemanager
 		if st, ok := gstatus.FromError(err); ok && st.Code() == codes.Unavailable {
 			log.Warnf("setConfig method is not available in the daemon: %s", st.Message())
 		} else {
-			return fmt.Errorf("call service setConfig method: %v", err)
+			return daemonCallError("call service setConfig method", err)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -384,7 +379,7 @@ func doDaemonUp(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, client proto.DaemonServ
 	}
 
 	if loginErr != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("login failed: %v", loginErr)
+		return daemonCallError("login failed", loginErr)
 	}
 
 	if loginResp.NeedsSSOLogin {
@@ -397,7 +392,7 @@ func doDaemonUp(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, client proto.DaemonServ
 		ProfileName: &profileID,
 		Username:    &username,
 	}); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("call service up method: %v", err)
+		return daemonCallError("call service up method", err)
 	}
 
 	return nil

client/embed/embed.go

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/auth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	sshcommon "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/system"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/domain"
@@ -216,10 +215,6 @@ func New(opts Options) (*Client, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("create config: %w", err)
 	}
-	// Embedded path runs without the daemon Server: apply the active
-	// MDM policy explicitly so a forced ManagementURL / PSK / other
-	// managed key takes effect on this embedded engine instance.
-	config.ApplyMDMPolicy(mdm.NewLoader(nil).Load())
 
 	if opts.PrivateKey != "" {
 		config.PrivateKey = opts.PrivateKey

client/internal/conn_mgr.go

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

client/internal/conn_mgr_test.go

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

client/internal/connect.go

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

client/internal/daemonaddr/owner.go

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

client/internal/daemonaddr/owner_unix.go

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

client/internal/daemonaddr/owner_unix_test.go

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

client/internal/daemonaddr/owner_windows.go

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

client/internal/daemonaddr/pipe.go

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

client/internal/daemonaddr/pipe_other.go

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

client/internal/daemonaddr/pipe_test.go

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

client/internal/daemonaddr/pipe_windows.go

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

client/internal/daemonaddr/resolve_pipe_other.go

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

client/internal/daemonaddr/resolve_pipe_windows.go

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

client/internal/debug/debug.go

@@ -229,7 +229,9 @@ scutil_dns.txt (macOS only):
 
 const (
 	clientLogFile = "client.log"
-	uiLogFile     = "gui-client.log"
+	// UILogFile is the desktop UI's log file name, exported so the daemon's
+	// RegisterUILog validation shares this single definition.
+	UILogFile     = "gui-client.log"
 	errorLogFile  = "netbird.err"
 	stdoutLogFile = "netbird.out"
 
@@ -248,6 +250,20 @@ type MetricsExporter interface {
 	Export(w io.Writer) error
 }
 
+// LogOpener opens a log file for inclusion in the bundle. It exists so that log
+// files whose path was supplied by an IPC caller can be opened under a check
+// the daemon defines, instead of being opened with the daemon's privileges
+// unconditionally.
+type LogOpener func(path string) (*os.File, error)
+
+func openLogFile(path string) (*os.File, error) {
+	f, err := os.Open(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("open %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return f, nil
+}
+
 type BundleGenerator struct {
 	anonymizer *anonymize.Anonymizer
 
@@ -257,6 +273,7 @@ type BundleGenerator struct {
 	syncResponse   *mgmProto.SyncResponse
 	logPath        string
 	uiLogPath      string
+	uiLogOpener    LogOpener
 	tempDir        string
 	statePath      string
 	cpuProfile     []byte
@@ -285,14 +302,20 @@ type GeneratorDependencies struct {
 	SyncResponse   *mgmProto.SyncResponse
 	LogPath        string
 	UILogPath      string // Absolute path to the desktop UI's gui-client.log, reported via RegisterUILog. Empty if no UI registered one.
-	TempDir        string // Directory for temporary bundle zip files. If empty, os.TempDir() is used.
-	StatePath      string // Path to the state file. If empty, the ServiceManager default path is used.
-	CPUProfile     []byte
-	CapturePath    string
-	RefreshStatus  func()
-	ClientMetrics  MetricsExporter
-	DaemonVersion  string
-	CliVersion     string
+	// UILogOpener opens the UI log and its rotated siblings. The path comes from
+	// a local IPC caller, so the daemon must not open it with plain os.Open: the
+	// opener is where the caller's right to that file is enforced. Defaults to
+	// os.Open, which is only correct where the path is not caller-supplied
+	// (mobile).
+	UILogOpener   LogOpener
+	TempDir       string // Directory for temporary bundle zip files. If empty, os.TempDir() is used.
+	StatePath     string // Path to the state file. If empty, the ServiceManager default path is used.
+	CPUProfile    []byte
+	CapturePath   string
+	RefreshStatus func()
+	ClientMetrics MetricsExporter
+	DaemonVersion string
+	CliVersion    string
 }
 
 func NewBundleGenerator(deps GeneratorDependencies, cfg BundleConfig) *BundleGenerator {
@@ -302,6 +325,11 @@ func NewBundleGenerator(deps GeneratorDependencies, cfg BundleConfig) *BundleGen
 		logFileCount = 1
 	}
 
+	uiLogOpener := deps.UILogOpener
+	if uiLogOpener == nil {
+		uiLogOpener = openLogFile
+	}
+
 	return &BundleGenerator{
 		anonymizer: anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses()),
 
@@ -310,6 +338,7 @@ func NewBundleGenerator(deps GeneratorDependencies, cfg BundleConfig) *BundleGen
 		syncResponse:   deps.SyncResponse,
 		logPath:        deps.LogPath,
 		uiLogPath:      deps.UILogPath,
+		uiLogOpener:    uiLogOpener,
 		tempDir:        deps.TempDir,
 		statePath:      deps.StatePath,
 		cpuProfile:     deps.CPUProfile,
@@ -996,11 +1025,11 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addLogfile() error {
 
 	logDir := filepath.Dir(g.logPath)
 
-	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(g.logPath, clientLogFile); err != nil {
+	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(openLogFile, g.logPath, clientLogFile); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("add client log file to zip: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	g.addRotatedLogFiles(logDir, clientLogPrefix)
+	g.addRotatedLogFiles(openLogFile, logDir, clientLogPrefix)
 
 	stdErrLogPath := filepath.Join(logDir, errorLogFile)
 	stdoutLogPath := filepath.Join(logDir, stdoutLogFile)
@@ -1009,11 +1038,11 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addLogfile() error {
 		stdoutLogPath = darwinStdoutLogPath
 	}
 
-	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(stdErrLogPath, errorLogFile); err != nil {
+	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(openLogFile, stdErrLogPath, errorLogFile); err != nil {
 		log.Warnf("Failed to add %s to zip: %v", errorLogFile, err)
 	}
 
-	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(stdoutLogPath, stdoutLogFile); err != nil {
+	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(openLogFile, stdoutLogPath, stdoutLogFile); err != nil {
 		log.Warnf("Failed to add %s to zip: %v", stdoutLogFile, err)
 	}
 
@@ -1030,18 +1059,18 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addUILog() error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(g.uiLogPath, uiLogFile); err != nil {
+	if err := g.addSingleLogfile(g.uiLogOpener, g.uiLogPath, UILogFile); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("add UI log file to zip: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	g.addRotatedLogFiles(filepath.Dir(g.uiLogPath), uiLogPrefix)
+	g.addRotatedLogFiles(g.uiLogOpener, filepath.Dir(g.uiLogPath), uiLogPrefix)
 
 	return nil
 }
 
 // addSingleLogfile adds a single log file to the archive
-func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogfile(logPath, targetName string) error {
-	logFile, err := os.Open(logPath)
+func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogfile(open LogOpener, logPath, targetName string) error {
+	logFile, err := open(logPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("open log file %s: %w", targetName, err)
 	}
@@ -1066,8 +1095,8 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogfile(logPath, targetName string) error {
 }
 
 // addSingleLogFileGz adds a single gzipped log file to the archive
-func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogFileGz(logPath, targetName string) error {
-	f, err := os.Open(logPath)
+func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogFileGz(open LogOpener, logPath, targetName string) error {
+	f, err := open(logPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("open gz log file %s: %w", targetName, err)
 	}
@@ -1114,7 +1143,7 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addSingleLogFileGz(logPath, targetName string) error {
 // addRotatedLogFiles adds rotated log files to the bundle based on logFileCount.
 // prefix is the base log name without extension (e.g. "client", "gui-client");
 // the glob matches both files rotated by us and by logrotate on linux.
-func (g *BundleGenerator) addRotatedLogFiles(logDir, prefix string) {
+func (g *BundleGenerator) addRotatedLogFiles(open LogOpener, logDir, prefix string) {
 	if g.logFileCount == 0 {
 		return
 	}
@@ -1154,9 +1183,9 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addRotatedLogFiles(logDir, prefix string) {
 	for i := 0; i < maxFiles; i++ {
 		name := filepath.Base(files[i])
 		if strings.HasSuffix(name, ".gz") {
-			err = g.addSingleLogFileGz(files[i], name)
+			err = g.addSingleLogFileGz(open, files[i], name)
 		} else {
-			err = g.addSingleLogfile(files[i], name)
+			err = g.addSingleLogfile(open, files[i], name)
 		}
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Warnf("failed to add rotated log %s: %v", name, err)

client/internal/debug/debug_ios.go

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

client/internal/debug/debug_logfiles_test.go

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

client/internal/debug/uilog_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package debug
+
+import (
+	"archive/zip"
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// bundleEntries generates a bundle with the given generator and returns the
+// set of entry names in the resulting archive.
+func bundleEntries(t *testing.T, g *BundleGenerator) map[string]struct{} {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	path, err := g.Generate()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Remove(path) })
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	zr, err := zip.NewReader(bytes.NewReader(data), int64(len(data)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	names := make(map[string]struct{}, len(zr.File))
+	for _, f := range zr.File {
+		names[f.Name] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	return names
+}
+
+func TestBundleIncludesUILogWhenOpenerAllows(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), UILogFile)
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("gui log"), 0600))
+
+	g := NewBundleGenerator(GeneratorDependencies{
+		UILogPath:   path,
+		UILogOpener: openLogFile,
+	}, BundleConfig{})
+
+	require.Contains(t, bundleEntries(t, g), UILogFile)
+}
+
+// A UILogOpener that refuses (as the ownership check does for a foreign file)
+// keeps the UI log out of the bundle without failing bundle generation.
+func TestBundleExcludesUILogWhenOpenerRefuses(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), UILogFile)
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("secret"), 0600))
+
+	g := NewBundleGenerator(GeneratorDependencies{
+		UILogPath: path,
+		UILogOpener: func(string) (*os.File, error) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("not owned by the caller")
+		},
+	}, BundleConfig{})
+
+	require.NotContains(t, bundleEntries(t, g), UILogFile)
+}

client/internal/debug/upload.go

@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@ package debug
 import (
 	"context"
 	"crypto/sha256"
+	"crypto/tls"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
+	neturl "net/url"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/upload-server/types"
@@ -14,20 +16,80 @@ import (
 
 const maxBundleUploadSize = 50 * 1024 * 1024
 
-func UploadDebugBundle(ctx context.Context, url, managementURL, filePath string) (key string, err error) {
-	response, err := getUploadURL(ctx, url, managementURL)
+// requireHTTPS refuses any URL the daemon would fetch or upload to that is not
+// https. The daemon runs as root and the bundle carries its logs and state, so a
+// plaintext hop is a place to intercept the bundle or the presigned redirect.
+// The server-side gate already enforces this for the desktop path; this also
+// covers the mobile and job-runner callers that reach this package directly.
+// Skipped when the caller opted into an insecure upload (self-hosted server).
+func requireHTTPS(what, rawURL string) error {
+	parsed, err := neturl.Parse(rawURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("parse %s: %w", what, err)
+	}
+	if parsed.Scheme != "https" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s must use https, got scheme %q", what, parsed.Scheme)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// uploadClient returns the HTTP client for the upload requests. The default
+// client verifies TLS and refuses a redirect that would downgrade to a non-https
+// hop, so a bundle can never leave over http after an https start. The insecure
+// variant accepts http and untrusted certificates, and is only reachable for a
+// privileged caller that passed --upload-bundle-insecure (see
+// requirePrivilegeForUploadURL).
+func uploadClient(insecure bool) *http.Client {
+	if !insecure {
+		return &http.Client{CheckRedirect: rejectInsecureRedirect}
+	}
+	return &http.Client{
+		Transport: &http.Transport{
+			//nolint:gosec // opt-in, privileged, self-hosted upload servers
+			TLSClientConfig: &tls.Config{InsecureSkipVerify: true, MinVersion: tls.VersionTLS12},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+// rejectInsecureRedirect refuses a redirect to a non-https target and keeps the
+// standard library's 10-hop limit that a custom CheckRedirect would otherwise
+// disable.
+func rejectInsecureRedirect(req *http.Request, via []*http.Request) error {
+	if req.URL.Scheme != "https" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("refusing redirect to non-https URL %s", req.URL.Redacted())
+	}
+	if len(via) >= 10 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("stopped after 10 redirects")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func UploadDebugBundle(ctx context.Context, url, managementURL, filePath string, insecure bool) (key string, err error) {
+	if !insecure {
+		if err := requireHTTPS("upload service URL", url); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+	}
+
+	response, err := getUploadURL(ctx, url, managementURL, insecure)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	err = upload(ctx, filePath, response)
+	if !insecure {
+		if err := requireHTTPS("upload URL from service", response.URL); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+	}
+
+	err = upload(ctx, filePath, response, insecure)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 	return response.Key, nil
 }
 
-func upload(ctx context.Context, filePath string, response *types.GetURLResponse) error {
+func upload(ctx context.Context, filePath string, response *types.GetURLResponse, insecure bool) error {
 	fileData, err := os.Open(filePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("open file: %w", err)
@@ -52,7 +114,7 @@ func upload(ctx context.Context, filePath string, response *types.GetURLResponse
 	req.ContentLength = stat.Size()
 	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 
-	putResp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	putResp, err := uploadClient(insecure).Do(req)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("upload failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -65,7 +127,7 @@ func upload(ctx context.Context, filePath string, response *types.GetURLResponse
 	return nil
 }
 
-func getUploadURL(ctx context.Context, url string, managementURL string) (*types.GetURLResponse, error) {
+func getUploadURL(ctx context.Context, url string, managementURL string, insecure bool) (*types.GetURLResponse, error) {
 	id := getURLHash(managementURL)
 	getReq, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "GET", url+"?id="+id, nil)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -74,7 +136,7 @@ func getUploadURL(ctx context.Context, url string, managementURL string) (*types
 
 	getReq.Header.Set(types.ClientHeader, types.ClientHeaderValue)
 
-	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(getReq)
+	resp, err := uploadClient(insecure).Do(getReq)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get presigned URL: %w", err)
 	}

client/internal/debug/upload_test.go

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestUpload(t *testing.T) {
 	fileContent := []byte("test file content")
 	err := os.WriteFile(file, fileContent, 0640)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	key, err := UploadDebugBundle(context.Background(), testURL+types.GetURLPath, testURL, file)
+	key, err := UploadDebugBundle(context.Background(), testURL+types.GetURLPath, testURL, file, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	id := getURLHash(testURL)
 	require.Contains(t, key, id+"/")

client/internal/ipcauth/creds_stub.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/creds_unix.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/creds_windows.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/forward.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/forward_test.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/identity.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile_test.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile_unix.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile_unix_test.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile_windows.go

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+func openForRead(path string) (*os.File, error) {
+	f, err := os.Open(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("open %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return f, nil
+}
+
+// fileOwnedBy compares the file's owner SID with the caller's. Files an elevated
+// process creates are owned by BUILTIN\Administrators rather than by the user,
+// but such a caller is privileged and never reaches this check.
+func fileOwnedBy(id Identity, f *os.File) (bool, error) {
+	// x/sys/windows GetSecurityInfo frees the OS buffer itself and returns a
+	// Go-heap copy, so there is nothing to LocalFree here.
+	sd, err := windows.GetSecurityInfo(windows.Handle(f.Fd()), windows.SE_FILE_OBJECT, windows.OWNER_SECURITY_INFORMATION)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("read security info: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	owner, _, err := sd.Owner()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("read owner: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return id.SID != "" && owner.String() == id.SID, nil
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/ownedfile_windows_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package ipcauth
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+// fileOwnerSID reads the owner SID of path the same way OpenOwnedFile does, so
+// the test can construct an Identity that matches (or deliberately does not).
+func fileOwnerSID(t *testing.T, path string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	f, err := os.Open(path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = f.Close() })
+
+	sd, err := windows.GetSecurityInfo(windows.Handle(f.Fd()), windows.SE_FILE_OBJECT, windows.OWNER_SECURITY_INFORMATION)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	owner, _, err := sd.Owner()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return owner.String()
+}
+
+// The allow branch of fileOwnedBy is the SID-equality path the legitimate GUI
+// flow depends on. Running elevated, a created file is owned by
+// BUILTIN\Administrators; an Identity carrying that SID with Elevated=false and
+// no groups is unprivileged by IsPrivileged (which reads the token, not the
+// SID's RID), so this exercises the real GetSecurityInfo equality rather than
+// the privileged-caller shortcut.
+func TestOpenOwnedFileWindowsOwnerMatchAllows(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "gui-client.log")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("hello"), 0600))
+
+	ownerSID := fileOwnerSID(t, path)
+	id := Identity{SID: ownerSID}
+	require.False(t, id.IsPrivileged(), "identity built from the owner SID must be unprivileged for this to test the match path")
+
+	f, err := OpenOwnedFile(id, path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	_ = f.Close()
+}
+
+func TestOpenOwnedFileWindowsOwnerMismatchRefuses(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "gui-client.log")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("secret"), 0600))
+
+	other := Identity{SID: "S-1-5-21-9-9-9-9999"}
+	require.False(t, other.IsPrivileged())
+
+	_, err := OpenOwnedFile(other, path)
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "not owned by the caller")
+}

client/internal/ipcauth/peercred_bsd.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/peercred_linux.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/pipeserver_windows.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/privileged.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/privileged_test.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/self_unix.go

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

client/internal/ipcauth/self_windows.go

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

client/internal/mobile_dependency.go

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

client/internal/profilemanager/config.go

@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ var DefaultInterfaceBlacklist = []string{
 	"Tailscale", "tailscale", "docker", "veth", "br-", "lo",
 }
 
+// loadMDMPolicy is the package-level indirection used by apply() to read the
+// active MDM policy. Tests override this to inject a fake policy.
+var loadMDMPolicy = mdm.LoadPolicy
+
 // ConfigInput carries configuration changes to the client
 type ConfigInput struct {
 	ManagementURL                 string
@@ -182,27 +186,14 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	MTU uint16
 
-	// policy is the MDM policy that produced the currently-set values
-	// for any MDM-enforced fields. Set by ApplyMDMPolicy on every
-	// invocation. Never persisted to disk. Callers query enforcement
-	// state via Policy() and the mdm.Policy API (HasKey, ManagedKeys,
-	// IsEmpty).
+	// policy is the MDM policy that produced the currently-set values for
+	// any MDM-enforced fields. Set by applyMDMPolicy at the tail of apply()
+	// and reset on every apply() invocation. Never persisted to disk.
+	// Callers query enforcement state via Policy() and the mdm.Policy API
+	// (HasKey, ManagedKeys, IsEmpty).
 	policy *mdm.Policy `json:"-"`
 }
 
-// ApplyMDMPolicy overlays the supplied MDM Policy on top of the
-// currently resolved Config values. Idempotent — pass an empty Policy
-// to clear any prior overlay. The lifecycle owner (Server.getConfig
-// on desktop, the Client.Run path on mobile) calls this with
-// loader.Load() once the per-process Loader is known; the Config
-// itself holds no reference to the Loader.
-func (config *Config) ApplyMDMPolicy(policy *mdm.Policy) {
-	if config == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	config.applyMDMPolicy(policy)
-}
-
 // Policy returns the MDM policy applied to this Config. Returns a non-nil
 // empty Policy when MDM enforcement is inactive; callers can always invoke
 // HasKey / ManagedKeys / IsEmpty without a nil check.
@@ -659,11 +650,9 @@ func (config *Config) apply(input ConfigInput) (updated bool, err error) {
 		updated = true
 	}
 
-	// Initialise the MDM overlay to "no enforcement" so Config.Policy()
-	// never returns a stale or nil policy on a freshly applied Config.
-	// Lifecycle owners that want to enforce a real MDM policy invoke
-	// Config.ApplyMDMPolicy(loader.Load()) after this returns.
-	config.applyMDMPolicy(mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+	// MDM is the last override layer: any key present in the policy
+	// supersedes defaults, on-disk config, env vars and CLI input.
+	config.applyMDMPolicy(loadMDMPolicy())
 
 	return updated, nil
 }
@@ -757,6 +746,13 @@ func (config *Config) applyMDMPolicy(policy *mdm.Policy) {
 // appended for https or ":80" for http. The serviceName parameter is
 // used to contextualise error messages. On success returns the parsed
 // *url.URL; on failure returns a non-nil error.
+// ParseServiceURL normalises a service URL exactly as the config layer does when
+// it stores one, so callers comparing a requested URL against a stored one do not
+// have to reimplement the scheme validation and default-port handling.
+func ParseServiceURL(serviceName, serviceURL string) (*url.URL, error) {
+	return parseURL(serviceName, serviceURL)
+}
+
 func parseURL(serviceName, serviceURL string) (*url.URL, error) {
 	parsedMgmtURL, err := url.ParseRequestURI(serviceURL)
 	if err != nil {

client/internal/profilemanager/config_mdm_test.go

@@ -10,58 +10,24 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 )
 
-// fakeFetcher implements mdm.PolicyFetcher returning a pre-set policy
-// map. Test helper used to construct a Loader without touching the OS
-// or any package-level state.
-type fakeFetcher struct{ values map[string]any }
-
-func (f *fakeFetcher) Fetch() map[string]any { return f.values }
-
-// loaderFor builds an mdm.Loader whose loadPlatform returns the
-// supplied Policy's underlying values.
-func loaderFor(policy *mdm.Policy) *mdm.Loader {
-	if policy == nil || policy.IsEmpty() {
-		return mdm.NewLoader(&fakeFetcher{values: nil})
-	}
-	values := make(map[string]any)
-	for _, k := range policy.ManagedKeys() {
-		if v, ok := policy.GetString(k); ok {
-			values[k] = v
-			continue
-		}
-		if v, ok := policy.GetBool(k); ok {
-			values[k] = v
-			continue
-		}
-		if v, ok := policy.GetInt(k); ok {
-			values[k] = v
-			continue
-		}
-		if v, ok := policy.GetStringSlice(k); ok {
-			values[k] = v
-		}
-	}
-	return mdm.NewLoader(&fakeFetcher{values: values})
-}
-
-// configWithMDM is the test convenience that builds a Config via
-// UpdateOrCreateConfig and overlays the supplied MDM policy on top —
-// mirrors the production pattern (Server.getConfig / Client.applyMDMOverlay)
-// where the Loader lives outside Config and the apply step is driven
-// by the lifecycle owner.
-func configWithMDM(t *testing.T, input ConfigInput, policy *mdm.Policy) *Config {
+// withMDMPolicy temporarily overrides the package-level loadMDMPolicy hook so
+// apply() observes the supplied Policy. The original loader is restored at
+// test cleanup.
+func withMDMPolicy(t *testing.T, policy *mdm.Policy) {
 	t.Helper()
-	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(input)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
-	cfg.ApplyMDMPolicy(loaderFor(policy).Load())
-	return cfg
+	prev := loadMDMPolicy
+	loadMDMPolicy = func() *mdm.Policy { return policy }
+	t.Cleanup(func() { loadMDMPolicy = prev })
 }
 
 func TestApply_MDMEmpty_NoEnforcement(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
 		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
 
 	assert.True(t, cfg.Policy().IsEmpty(), "no MDM source ⇒ empty Policy")
 	assert.False(t, cfg.Policy().HasKey(mdm.KeyManagementURL))
@@ -73,15 +39,18 @@ func TestApply_MDMEmpty_NoEnforcement(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestApply_MDMOnly_OverridesDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	const mdmURL = "https://corp.mdm.example.com:443"
-
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL:       mdmURL,
 		mdm.KeyDisableClientRoutes: true,
 		mdm.KeyBlockInbound:        true,
 	}))
 
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 	assert.Equal(t, mdmURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String())
 	assert.True(t, cfg.DisableClientRoutes)
 	assert.True(t, cfg.BlockInbound)
@@ -96,25 +65,33 @@ func TestApply_MDMBeatsCLIInput(t *testing.T) {
 	const mdmURL = "https://mdm.example.com:443"
 	const cliURL = "https://cli.example.com:443"
 
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-		ManagementURL: cliURL,
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL: mdmURL,
 	}))
 
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
+		ManagementURL: cliURL,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 	// MDM wins over CLI-supplied management URL.
 	assert.Equal(t, mdmURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String())
 	assert.True(t, cfg.Policy().HasKey(mdm.KeyManagementURL))
 }
 
 func TestApply_MDMInvalidURL_KeepsPreviousValue(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL: "not-a-url",
 	}))
 
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 	// Invalid MDM URL is logged and skipped: default URL stays in place
 	// to keep the client functional.
 	assert.Equal(t, DefaultManagementURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String())
@@ -129,20 +106,24 @@ func TestApply_MDMBoolKeysOverrideOnDiskValue(t *testing.T) {
 	tmp := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json")
 
 	// Seed without MDM.
-	configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+	_, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
 		ConfigPath:          tmp,
 		DisableClientRoutes: boolPtr(false),
 		RosenpassEnabled:    boolPtr(false),
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Now enable MDM enforcement for these keys.
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath: tmp,
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyDisableClientRoutes: true,
 		mdm.KeyRosenpassEnabled:    true,
 	}))
 
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{ConfigPath: tmp})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 	assert.True(t, cfg.DisableClientRoutes, "MDM override should flip on-disk false to true")
 	assert.True(t, cfg.RosenpassEnabled)
 	assert.True(t, cfg.Policy().HasKey(mdm.KeyDisableClientRoutes))
@@ -183,12 +164,16 @@ func TestApply_MDMLazyConnection(t *testing.T) {
 func TestApply_MDMPreSharedKeyRedactionSentinelRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	const maskSentinel = "**********"
 
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyPreSharedKey: maskSentinel,
 	}))
 
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 	// Mask sentinel must not be persisted as the actual PSK.
 	assert.NotEqual(t, maskSentinel, cfg.PreSharedKey)
 	// Key still marked managed so user writes are still rejected.

client/internal/routemanager/manager.go

@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ type Manager interface {
 	UpdateRoutes(updateSerial uint64, serverRoutes map[route.ID]*route.Route, clientRoutes route.HAMap, useNewDNSRoute bool) error
 	ClassifyRoutes(newRoutes []*route.Route) (map[route.ID]*route.Route, route.HAMap)
 	TriggerSelection(route.HAMap)
+	SelectRoutes(ids []route.NetID, appendRoute bool) error
+	DeselectRoutes(ids []route.NetID) error
+	SelectAllRoutes()
+	DeselectAllRoutes()
 	GetRouteSelector() *routeselector.RouteSelector
 	GetClientRoutes() route.HAMap
 	GetSelectedClientRoutes() route.HAMap
@@ -800,7 +804,7 @@ func (m *DefaultManager) collectExitNodeInfo(clientRoutes route.HAMap) exitNodeI
 	var info exitNodeInfo
 
 	for haID, routes := range clientRoutes {
-		if !m.isExitNodeRoute(routes) {
+		if !isExitNodeRoutes(routes) {
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -820,13 +824,6 @@ func (m *DefaultManager) collectExitNodeInfo(clientRoutes route.HAMap) exitNodeI
 	return info
 }
 
-func (m *DefaultManager) isExitNodeRoute(routes []*route.Route) bool {
-	if len(routes) == 0 {
-		return false
-	}
-	return route.IsV4DefaultRoute(routes[0].Network) || route.IsV6DefaultRoute(routes[0].Network)
-}
-
 func (m *DefaultManager) categorizeUserSelection(netID route.NetID, info *exitNodeInfo) {
 	if m.routeSelector.IsSelected(netID) {
 		info.userSelected = append(info.userSelected, netID)

client/internal/routemanager/mock.go

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

client/internal/routemanager/notifier/notifier_ios.go

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

client/internal/routemanager/reconcile_test.go

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

client/internal/routemanager/refcounter/allowedips.go

@@ -169,6 +169,27 @@ func (rm *AllowedIPsRefCounter) Flush() error {
 	return nberrors.FormatErrorOrNil(merr)
 }
 
+// ReapplyMatching calls apply for every prefix whose currently installed (active) peer satisfies
+// pred, holding the lock for the whole pass. It is used to re-push allowed IPs onto a peer whose
+// WireGuard entry was rebuilt (e.g. a lazy connection cycling idle->wake) without a matching
+// refcounter change, which would otherwise leave the prefix installed in the counter but missing
+// on the device. Only the active peer is considered — a prefix that lost its installed peer to a
+// failed swap is skipped here and reconciled by the next Increment/Decrement.
+func (rm *AllowedIPsRefCounter) ReapplyMatching(pred func(out string) bool, apply func(key netip.Prefix) error) error {
+	rm.mu.Lock()
+	defer rm.mu.Unlock()
+
+	var merr *multierror.Error
+	for prefix, e := range rm.entries {
+		if e.active != "" && pred(e.active) {
+			if err := apply(prefix); err != nil {
+				merr = multierror.Append(merr, err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nberrors.FormatErrorOrNil(merr)
+}
+
 // pickSurvivor deterministically selects a peer still referencing the prefix. WireGuard cannot do
 // multipath for a single prefix, so any surviving peer is a valid winner; the choice is made stable
 // (lowest peerKey) for predictable behavior and testability.

client/internal/routemanager/selection.go

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

client/internal/routemanager/selection_test.go

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

client/internal/routemanager/sysctl/sysctl_linux.go

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

client/internal/tunnelnotifier/notifier.go

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

client/internal/tunnelnotifier/notifier_test.go

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

client/ios/NetBirdSDK/client.go

@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
-	"golang.org/x/exp/maps"
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/auth"
@@ -22,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/listener"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/system"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/formatter"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
@@ -84,13 +82,6 @@ type Client struct {
 	// preloadedConfig holds config loaded from JSON (used on tvOS where file writes are blocked)
 	preloadedConfig *profilemanager.Config
 
-	// mdmLoader holds the per-Client MDM policy source. Set by
-	// SetMDMPolicyFetcher (called from the Swift side at extension
-	// init). Each Run passes this loader to the resolved Config so
-	// applyMDMPolicy picks up the active overlay. Nil means "MDM
-	// enforcement off for this Client".
-	mdmLoader *mdm.Loader
-
 	stateMu       sync.RWMutex
 	connectClient *internal.ConnectClient
 	config        *profilemanager.Config
@@ -151,7 +142,6 @@ func (c *Client) Run(fd int32, interfaceName string, envList *EnvList) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 	}
 	c.recorder.UpdateManagementAddress(cfg.ManagementURL.String())
 	c.recorder.UpdateRosenpass(cfg.RosenpassEnabled, cfg.RosenpassPermissive)
@@ -224,7 +214,6 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(anonymize bool) (string, error) {
 				return "", fmt.Errorf("load config: %w", err)
 			}
 		}
-		c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 	}
 
 	deps := debug.GeneratorDependencies{
@@ -273,7 +262,7 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(anonymize bool) (string, error) {
 	uploadCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Minute)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(uploadCtx, types.DefaultBundleURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String(), path)
+	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(uploadCtx, types.DefaultBundleURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String(), path, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("upload debug bundle: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -374,7 +363,6 @@ func (c *Client) IsLoginRequired() bool {
 			// If we can't load config, assume login is required
 			return true
 		}
-		c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 	}
 
 	if cfg == nil {
@@ -423,7 +411,6 @@ func (c *Client) LoginForMobile() string {
 		log.Errorf("LoginForMobile: failed to load config: %v", err)
 		return fmt.Sprintf("failed to load config: %v", err)
 	}
-	c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 
 	oAuthFlow, err := auth.NewOAuthFlow(ctx, cfg, false, false, "")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -649,23 +636,18 @@ func (c *Client) SelectRoute(id string) error {
 	}
 
 	routeManager := engine.GetRouteManager()
-	routeSelector := routeManager.GetRouteSelector()
 	if id == "All" {
 		log.Debugf("select all routes")
-		routeSelector.SelectAllRoutes()
-	} else {
-		log.Debugf("select route with id: %s", id)
-		routes := toNetIDs([]string{id})
-		routesMap := routeManager.GetClientRoutesWithNetID()
-		routes = route.ExpandV6ExitPairs(routes, routesMap)
-		if err := routeSelector.SelectRoutes(routes, true, maps.Keys(routesMap)); err != nil {
-			log.Debugf("error when selecting routes: %s", err)
-			return fmt.Errorf("select routes: %w", err)
-		}
+		routeManager.SelectAllRoutes()
+		return nil
 	}
-	routeManager.TriggerSelection(routeManager.GetClientRoutes())
-	return nil
 
+	log.Debugf("select route with id: %s", id)
+	if err := routeManager.SelectRoutes(toNetIDs([]string{id}), true); err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("error when selecting routes: %s", err)
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (c *Client) DeselectRoute(id string) error {
@@ -679,21 +661,17 @@ func (c *Client) DeselectRoute(id string) error {
 	}
 
 	routeManager := engine.GetRouteManager()
-	routeSelector := routeManager.GetRouteSelector()
 	if id == "All" {
 		log.Debugf("deselect all routes")
-		routeSelector.DeselectAllRoutes()
-	} else {
-		log.Debugf("deselect route with id: %s", id)
-		routes := toNetIDs([]string{id})
-		routesMap := routeManager.GetClientRoutesWithNetID()
-		routes = route.ExpandV6ExitPairs(routes, routesMap)
-		if err := routeSelector.DeselectRoutes(routes, maps.Keys(routesMap)); err != nil {
-			log.Debugf("error when deselecting routes: %s", err)
-			return fmt.Errorf("deselect routes: %w", err)
-		}
+		routeManager.DeselectAllRoutes()
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	log.Debugf("deselect route with id: %s", id)
+	if err := routeManager.DeselectRoutes(toNetIDs([]string{id})); err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("error when deselecting routes: %s", err)
+		return err
 	}
-	routeManager.TriggerSelection(routeManager.GetClientRoutes())
 	return nil
 }
 

client/ios/NetBirdSDK/mdm.go

@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
-//go:build ios
-
-package NetBirdSDK
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-
-	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
-)
-
-// PolicyFetcher is the mobile-side bridge for the MDM managed-config
-// snapshot. The native layer (Swift) implements this and registers
-// the instance per Client via Client.SetMDMPolicyFetcher. Every
-// invocation of fetchJSON must read the current
-// UserDefaults.standard.dictionary(forKey: "com.apple.configuration.managed")
-// and return the result as a JSON-encoded map[string]any string.
-//
-// JSON is used because gomobile does not support map[string]any
-// crossing the Objective-C boundary — the adapter on the Go side
-// parses the string back into the map[string]any expected by
-// mdm.Loader.
-//
-// Return value contract:
-//   - "" (empty)         : interpreted as "no MDM source / no managed keys"
-//   - "{}"               : managed config explicitly empty
-//   - "{...}"            : JSON object with key/value pairs
-//   - malformed JSON     : logged and treated as empty
-type PolicyFetcher interface {
-	FetchJSON() string
-}
-
-// jsonFetcherAdapter wraps a gomobile-exposed PolicyFetcher into the
-// internal mdm.PolicyFetcher interface, taking care of JSON decoding
-// on every Fetch.
-type jsonFetcherAdapter struct {
-	inner PolicyFetcher
-}
-
-func (a *jsonFetcherAdapter) Fetch() map[string]any {
-	raw := a.inner.FetchJSON()
-	if raw == "" {
-		return nil
-	}
-	var out map[string]any
-	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(raw), &out); err != nil {
-		log.Warnf("MDM mobile fetcher: invalid JSON payload from native: %v", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
-// SetMDMPolicyFetcher registers the native-provided MDM policy fetcher
-// on this Client. Call once from the gomobile-init code (Swift
-// AppDelegate / PacketTunnelProvider.startTunnel) before invoking Run.
-// Passing nil disables MDM enforcement on this Client.
-//
-// The fetcher is held as a *mdm.Loader instance on the Client (no
-// package-level state) — multiple Clients in the same process get
-// independent Loaders, and tests can inject fakes per Client.
-func (c *Client) SetMDMPolicyFetcher(p PolicyFetcher) {
-	if p == nil {
-		c.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(nil)
-		return
-	}
-	c.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(&jsonFetcherAdapter{inner: p})
-}
-
-// applyMDMOverlay applies the Client-held MDM Loader's current policy
-// on top of the just-read Config. Called immediately after every
-// UpdateOrCreateConfig / DirectUpdateOrCreateConfig — profilemanager's
-// apply() initialises the policy to empty and leaves overlay
-// responsibility to the lifecycle owner. No-op when no fetcher was
-// registered.
-func (c *Client) applyMDMOverlay(cfg *profilemanager.Config) {
-	if cfg == nil || c.mdmLoader == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	cfg.ApplyMDMPolicy(c.mdmLoader.Load())
-}

client/jobexec/executor.go

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

client/mdm/policy.go

@@ -104,48 +104,16 @@ func NewPolicy(values map[string]any) *Policy {
 	return &Policy{values: values}
 }
 
-// PolicyFetcher is implemented by mobile platforms (Android / iOS) that
-// push the OS-managed configuration into the Go runtime instead of
-// having Go read an on-disk source directly. Desktop platforms ignore
-// this interface — Loader.loadPlatform on windows/darwin reads the
-// registry / plist on its own. A Loader constructed with a non-nil
-// fetcher delegates to it on mobile; passing nil disables MDM
-// enforcement (loadPlatform returns nil values).
-type PolicyFetcher interface {
-	Fetch() map[string]any
-}
-
-// Loader is the DI-friendly entry point for reading the active MDM
-// policy. Construct one at the daemon's lifecycle owner (Server on
-// desktop, gomobile-exposed bridge on mobile) and pass it to anything
-// that needs to read MDM state (the reload ticker, profilemanager's
-// Config). Each callsite has the Loader handed in instead of looking
-// up package-level state.
-type Loader struct {
-	fetcher PolicyFetcher
-}
-
-// NewLoader constructs a Loader. The fetcher is consulted only on
-// mobile builds (ios || android); on desktop it is unused but accepted
-// to keep a single constructor signature across platforms — pass nil
-// on desktop.
-func NewLoader(f PolicyFetcher) *Loader {
-	return &Loader{fetcher: f}
-}
-
-// Load reads the platform-native MDM configuration and returns a
-// Policy. Returns an empty (but non-nil) Policy when no source is
-// present, the source is empty, or the platform is unsupported.
+// LoadPolicy reads the platform-native MDM configuration. Returns an
+// empty (but non-nil) Policy when no source is present, the source is
+// empty, or the platform is unsupported.
 //
 // Diagnostic logging differentiates the three states:
 //   - source absent / unsupported platform: trace log only
 //   - source present, zero keys:             info "MDM enrolled (no managed keys)"
 //   - source present, N keys:                info "MDM enrolled with N managed keys: [...]"
-func (l *Loader) Load() *Policy {
-	if l == nil {
-		return &Policy{values: map[string]any{}}
-	}
-	values, err := l.loadPlatform()
+func LoadPolicy() *Policy {
+	values, err := loadPlatformPolicy()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Tracef("MDM policy load: %v", err)
 		return &Policy{values: map[string]any{}}

client/mdm/policy_darwin.go

@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ import (
 // writable plist, as a defense against tampered installs.
 const policyPlistPath = "/Library/Managed Preferences/io.netbird.client.plist"
 
-// loadPlatform reads the MDM-managed configuration from the macOS
-// managed-preferences plist at policyPlistPath. The Loader's fetcher
-// field is unused on this platform — the plist is the authoritative
-// source. Returns:
+// loadPlatformPolicy reads the MDM-managed configuration from the macOS
+// managed-preferences plist at policyPlistPath. Returns:
 //   - (nil, nil)  when the plist is absent (device not MDM-enrolled for
 //     NetBird, or admin has not yet pushed a payload)
 //   - (map, nil)  with N entries when N managed values are present
@@ -41,13 +39,7 @@ const policyPlistPath = "/Library/Managed Preferences/io.netbird.client.plist"
 // skipped so a stray entry in the payload does not block startup.
 // Native plist value types map naturally onto the Policy accessor
 // expectations (GetString / GetBool / GetInt / GetStringSlice).
-func (l *Loader) loadPlatform() (map[string]any, error) {
-	// Honour the injected fetcher when present so tests (and any
-	// future non-macOS MDM channel) can short-circuit the plist read
-	// with a scripted policy.
-	if l != nil && l.fetcher != nil {
-		return l.fetcher.Fetch(), nil
-	}
+func loadPlatformPolicy() (map[string]any, error) {
 	f, err := os.Open(policyPlistPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {

client/mdm/policy_mobile.go

@@ -2,14 +2,13 @@
 
 package mdm
 
-// loadPlatform reads the OS-managed configuration via the native
-// PolicyFetcher injected at Loader construction. Returns
-// (nil, nil) — the platform-absent sentinel that Loader.Load treats as
-// "no MDM source present" — when no fetcher was provided.
-func (l *Loader) loadPlatform() (map[string]any, error) {
-	if l == nil || l.fetcher == nil {
-		//nolint:nilnil // (nil, nil) is the documented platform-absent sentinel; see Loader.Load.
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-	return l.fetcher.Fetch(), nil
+// loadPlatformPolicy is unused on mobile: the native layer (Swift on iOS,
+// Kotlin/Java on Android) reads the OS managed-config store and pushes the
+// resulting dictionary in-process via a gomobile entry point that lands in
+// Phase 5 / Phase 6. The stub keeps the package compilable for mobile
+// builds and returns (nil, nil) — the platform-absent sentinel that
+// LoadPolicy in policy.go treats as "no MDM source present".
+func loadPlatformPolicy() (map[string]any, error) {
+	//nolint:nilnil // (nil, nil) is the documented platform-absent sentinel; see LoadPolicy.
+	return nil, nil
 }

client/mdm/policy_other.go

@@ -2,17 +2,13 @@
 
 package mdm
 
-// loadPlatform reads the MDM policy on platforms without a native MDM
-// channel (Linux, FreeBSD). When no fetcher was injected the policy is
-// (nil, nil) — the platform-absent sentinel that Loader.Load treats as
-// "MDM enforcement disabled". A non-nil fetcher takes precedence: it
-// is the test-seam used by unit tests to inject a scripted policy
-// without touching the OS, and the same hook supports any future
-// non-mobile OS that grows an out-of-band MDM channel.
-func (l *Loader) loadPlatform() (map[string]any, error) {
-	if l != nil && l.fetcher != nil {
-		return l.fetcher.Fetch(), nil
-	}
-	//nolint:nilnil // (nil, nil) is the documented platform-absent sentinel; see Loader.Load.
+// loadPlatformPolicy returns no policy on platforms without an MDM channel
+// (Linux, FreeBSD). MDM enforcement is off and the client behaves as if
+// the feature did not exist. Returns (nil, nil) — the platform-absent
+// sentinel the caller (LoadPolicy in policy.go) treats as "no MDM
+// source present"; an error here would just translate to the same
+// outcome with an extra log line.
+func loadPlatformPolicy() (map[string]any, error) {
+	//nolint:nilnil // (nil, nil) is the documented platform-absent sentinel; see LoadPolicy.
 	return nil, nil
 }

client/mdm/policy_test.go

@@ -155,12 +155,10 @@ func TestPolicy_GetStringSlice(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-func TestLoader_NilFetcherReturnsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
-	// Loader.Load with no fetcher (desktop construction) must degrade
-	// gracefully and never return nil; on linux loadPlatform is a stub
-	// returning (nil, nil), and Load is expected to translate that
-	// into a non-nil empty Policy.
-	p := NewLoader(nil).Load()
+func TestLoadPolicy_PlatformStubReturnsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	// loadPlatformPolicy is a stub on every OS for Phase 1. LoadPolicy must
+	// degrade gracefully and never return nil.
+	p := LoadPolicy()
 	require.NotNil(t, p)
 	assert.True(t, p.IsEmpty())
 	assert.Empty(t, p.ManagedKeys())

client/mdm/policy_windows.go

@@ -61,10 +61,8 @@ func readRegistryValue(k registry.Key, name, canonical string, out map[string]an
 	}
 }
 
-// loadPlatform reads the MDM-managed configuration from the Windows
-// registry under HKLM\Software\Policies\NetBird. The Loader's fetcher
-// field is unused on this platform — the registry is the
-// authoritative source. Returns:
+// loadPlatformPolicy reads the MDM-managed configuration from the
+// Windows registry under HKLM\Software\Policies\NetBird. Returns:
 //   - (nil, nil)  when the key is absent (device not MDM-enrolled for NetBird)
 //   - (map, nil)  with N entries when N managed values are set (N may be 0)
 //   - (nil, err)  on open / enumerate registry errors
@@ -72,13 +70,7 @@ func readRegistryValue(k registry.Key, name, canonical string, out map[string]an
 // Per-value type coercion + skip-on-error is delegated to
 // readRegistryValue. Unknown value names are logged and skipped so a
 // malformed deployment does not block startup.
-func (l *Loader) loadPlatform() (map[string]any, error) {
-	// Honour the injected fetcher when present so tests (and any
-	// future non-Windows MDM channel) can short-circuit the registry
-	// read with a scripted policy.
-	if l != nil && l.fetcher != nil {
-		return l.fetcher.Fetch(), nil
-	}
+func loadPlatformPolicy() (map[string]any, error) {
 	k, err := registry.OpenKey(registry.LOCAL_MACHINE, policyRegistryPath, registry.QUERY_VALUE)
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, registry.ErrNotExist) {

client/mdm/ticker.go

@@ -15,33 +15,33 @@ import (
 // instead, hence anticipating the ticker mechanism entirely.
 const DefaultReloadInterval = 1 * time.Minute
 
-// Ticker periodically re-reads the OS-native MDM policy via the
-// injected Loader and invokes the onChange callback (supplied to Run)
-// whenever the observed Policy diverges from the last observation
-// (added / removed / changed keys). Launch with Run from a goroutine;
-// cancel the supplied context to stop.
+// policyLoader is the indirection through which the ticker reads the
+// OS-native policy, both for the initial observation and on every tick.
+// Production points it at LoadPolicy; tests in this package override it to
+// feed a scripted sequence of policies without touching the real OS store.
+var policyLoader = LoadPolicy
+
+// Ticker periodically re-reads the OS-native MDM policy via LoadPolicy and
+// invokes the onChange callback (supplied to Run) whenever the observed
+// Policy diverges from the last observation (added / removed / changed
+// keys). Launch with Run from a goroutine; cancel the supplied context
+// to stop.
 type Ticker struct {
 	interval time.Duration
-	loader   *Loader
 	prev     *Policy
 }
 
 // NewTicker constructs a Ticker that will re-read the OS-native policy
-// every reloadInterval once Run is called. The Loader is injected so
-// the ticker doesn't depend on any package-level state — production
-// passes the daemon-owned Loader, tests pass a fake Loader (built with
-// a fake PolicyFetcher).
-//
-// The initial snapshot is populated by calling loader.Load() at
+// every reloadInterval once Run is called.
+// The initial snapshot is populated by calling policyLoader at
 // construction time so the first tick only fires
 // onChange when the policy actually changed since boot — without
 // this baseline the first tick would report every currently-managed
 // key as "added" and trigger a spurious engine restart.
-func NewTicker(reloadInterval time.Duration, loader *Loader) *Ticker {
+func NewTicker(reloadInterval time.Duration) *Ticker {
 	return &Ticker{
 		interval: reloadInterval,
-		loader:   loader,
-		prev:     loader.Load(),
+		prev:     policyLoader(),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func (t *Ticker) Run(ctx context.Context, onChange func(prev, curr *Policy) erro
 			log.Info("MDM policy reload ticker stopped")
 			return
 		case <-tk.C:
-			curr := t.loader.Load()
+			curr := policyLoader()
 			if policiesEqual(t.prev, curr) {
 				continue
 			}

client/mdm/ticker_test.go

@@ -13,40 +13,28 @@ import (
 // testReloadInterval for speeding up the ticker cadence under `go test`
 const testReloadInterval = 1 * time.Second
 
-// fakePolicyFetcher implements PolicyFetcher returning a scripted
-// policy map. Goroutine-safe so the test can mutate the script while
-// the ticker is observing it.
-type fakePolicyFetcher struct {
-	mu     sync.Mutex
-	values map[string]any
-}
-
-func (f *fakePolicyFetcher) Fetch() map[string]any {
-	f.mu.Lock()
-	defer f.mu.Unlock()
-	if f.values == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	out := make(map[string]any, len(f.values))
-	for k, v := range f.values {
-		out[k] = v
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
-func (f *fakePolicyFetcher) set(values map[string]any) {
-	f.mu.Lock()
-	defer f.mu.Unlock()
-	f.values = values
+// withPolicyLoader overrides the package-level policyLoader for the duration
+// of the test so the ticker observes a scripted policy instead of the real
+// OS-native store. The original loader is restored on cleanup.
+func withPolicyLoader(t *testing.T, fn func() *Policy) {
+	t.Helper()
+	prev := policyLoader
+	policyLoader = fn
+	t.Cleanup(func() { policyLoader = prev })
 }
 
 func TestTicker_FiresOnChangeWithDelta(t *testing.T) {
-	fetcher := &fakePolicyFetcher{} // initial observation: empty (no enforcement)
-	loader := NewLoader(fetcher)
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	current := NewPolicy(nil) // initial observation: empty (no enforcement)
+	withPolicyLoader(t, func() *Policy {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		return current
+	})
 
 	type change struct{ prev, curr *Policy }
 	changes := make(chan change, 1)
-	tk := NewTicker(testReloadInterval, loader)
+	tk := NewTicker(testReloadInterval)
 	require.Equal(t, testReloadInterval, tk.interval)
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
@@ -61,13 +49,15 @@ func TestTicker_FiresOnChangeWithDelta(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 		close(done)
 	}()
-	// Stop Run and wait for it to exit before returning, so the test
-	// goroutine doesn't race the still-running ticker.
+	// Stop Run and wait for it to exit before returning, so the policyLoader
+	// restore in t.Cleanup can't race the ticker goroutine still reading it.
 	defer func() { cancel(); <-done }()
 
-	// Flip the OS-observed policy from empty to one managed key. The
-	// next tick must detect the diff and invoke onChange.
-	fetcher.set(map[string]any{KeyManagementURL: "https://mdm.example.com:443"})
+	// Flip the OS-observed policy from empty to one managed key. The next
+	// tick must detect the diff and invoke onChange.
+	mu.Lock()
+	current = NewPolicy(map[string]any{KeyManagementURL: "https://mdm.example.com:443"})
+	mu.Unlock()
 
 	select {
 	case c := <-changes:
@@ -79,11 +69,12 @@ func TestTicker_FiresOnChangeWithDelta(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestTicker_NoCallbackWhenPolicyUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
-	fetcher := &fakePolicyFetcher{values: map[string]any{KeyBlockInbound: true}}
-	loader := NewLoader(fetcher)
+	withPolicyLoader(t, func() *Policy {
+		return NewPolicy(map[string]any{KeyBlockInbound: true})
+	})
 
 	fired := make(chan struct{}, 1)
-	tk := NewTicker(testReloadInterval, loader)
+	tk := NewTicker(testReloadInterval)
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	done := make(chan struct{})
@@ -99,8 +90,8 @@ func TestTicker_NoCallbackWhenPolicyUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
 	}()
 	defer func() { cancel(); <-done }()
 
-	// Over ~2 ticks at the 1s test cadence the policy never changes,
-	// so the diff guard must suppress the callback entirely.
+	// Over ~2 ticks at the 1s test cadence the policy never changes, so the
+	// diff guard must suppress the callback entirely.
 	select {
 	case <-fired:
 		t.Fatal("onChange fired despite an unchanged policy")

client/proto/daemon.pb.go

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

client/proto/daemon.proto

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

client/server/debug.go

@@ -7,18 +7,33 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime/pprof"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/debug"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 	mgmProto "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/proto"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version"
 )
 
 // DebugBundle creates a debug bundle and returns the location.
-func (s *Server) DebugBundle(_ context.Context, req *proto.DebugBundleRequest) (resp *proto.DebugBundleResponse, err error) {
+func (s *Server) DebugBundle(callerCtx context.Context, req *proto.DebugBundleRequest) (resp *proto.DebugBundleResponse, err error) {
+	if err := requirePrivilegeForUploadURL(callerCtx, req.GetUploadURL(), req.GetUploadInsecure()); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// The UI log is opened as whoever asked for this bundle, so a caller only
+	// collects a log it owns (privileged callers excepted). ok is false on a
+	// socket that carries no identity, which skips the UI log.
+	callerID, callerIdentified := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(callerCtx)
+
 	s.mutex.Lock()
 	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
 
@@ -68,6 +83,7 @@ func (s *Server) DebugBundle(_ context.Context, req *proto.DebugBundleRequest) (
 			SyncResponse:   syncResponse,
 			LogPath:        s.logFile,
 			UILogPath:      s.uiLogPath,
+			UILogOpener:    uiLogOpener(callerID, callerIdentified),
 			CPUProfile:     cpuProfileData,
 			CapturePath:    capturePath,
 			RefreshStatus:  refreshStatus,
@@ -90,7 +106,12 @@ func (s *Server) DebugBundle(_ context.Context, req *proto.DebugBundleRequest) (
 	if req.GetUploadURL() == "" {
 		return &proto.DebugBundleResponse{Path: path}, nil
 	}
-	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(context.Background(), req.GetUploadURL(), s.config.ManagementURL.String(), path)
+	// Bound the upload: it runs while s.mutex is held, so an unresponsive
+	// destination must not block other RPCs indefinitely. Matches the mobile
+	// callers' timeout.
+	uploadCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Minute)
+	defer cancel()
+	key, err := debug.UploadDebugBundle(uploadCtx, req.GetUploadURL(), s.config.ManagementURL.String(), path, req.GetUploadInsecure())
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to upload debug bundle to %s: %v", req.GetUploadURL(), err)
 		return &proto.DebugBundleResponse{Path: path, UploadFailureReason: err.Error()}, nil
@@ -138,12 +159,34 @@ func (s *Server) SetLogLevel(_ context.Context, req *proto.SetLogLevelRequest) (
 // RegisterUILog records the desktop UI's absolute log path so DebugBundle can
 // collect the GUI log. The daemon runs as root and can't resolve the user's
 // config dir, so the UI reports it. Last-writer-wins (one UI per socket).
-func (s *Server) RegisterUILog(_ context.Context, req *proto.RegisterUILogRequest) (*proto.RegisterUILogResponse, error) {
+//
+// The path arrives over an IPC any local user can reach and is later opened by
+// a root daemon, so it is constrained to the file name the UI writes and to a
+// local absolute path. Authorization happens when DebugBundle opens it: the
+// bundle refuses a file its requester does not own. A caller the daemon cannot
+// identify cannot register a path at all.
+func (s *Server) RegisterUILog(callerCtx context.Context, req *proto.RegisterUILogRequest) (*proto.RegisterUILogResponse, error) {
+	if _, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(callerCtx); !ok {
+		return nil, gstatus.Error(codes.PermissionDenied,
+			"registering a UI log path requires a control channel that carries the caller's identity")
+	}
+
+	path := filepath.Clean(req.GetPath())
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(path) || filepath.Base(path) != uiLogFileName {
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "UI log path must be an absolute path ending in %s", uiLogFileName)
+	}
+	// filepath.IsAbs accepts a Windows UNC path (\\host\share\...) and a device
+	// path (\\.\, \\?\); opening one would make the root daemon reach a remote
+	// or device namespace. Require a plain local path.
+	if strings.HasPrefix(path, `\\`) {
+		return nil, gstatus.Error(codes.InvalidArgument, "UI log path must be a local path, not a UNC or device path")
+	}
+
 	s.mutex.Lock()
 	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	s.uiLogPath = req.GetPath()
-	log.Infof("registered UI log path: %s", s.uiLogPath)
+	s.uiLogPath = path
+	log.Infof("registered UI log path %s", s.uiLogPath)
 
 	return &proto.RegisterUILogResponse{}, nil
 }

client/server/debug_gate.go

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+//go:build !android && !ios
+
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/debug"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/upload-server/types"
+)
+
+// uiLogFileName is the only file name the daemon accepts as a UI log path,
+// shared with the bundle collector so the two cannot drift. It must also stay in
+// sync with the name the desktop UI writes (client/ui/uilogpath.go).
+const uiLogFileName = debug.UILogFile
+
+// uiLogOpener opens the registered UI log, and its rotated siblings, on behalf
+// of the caller requesting the bundle: OpenOwnedFile then collects the log only
+// when that caller owns it (or is privileged). identified is false on a socket
+// that carries no caller identity, in which case nothing is opened.
+func uiLogOpener(id ipcauth.Identity, identified bool) debug.LogOpener {
+	return func(path string) (*os.File, error) {
+		if !identified {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("bundle requester has no verified identity")
+		}
+		return ipcauth.OpenOwnedFile(id, path)
+	}
+}
+
+// requirePrivilegeForUploadURL restricts where the daemon may send a debug
+// bundle. The bundle holds the daemon's own logs and state, and the daemon
+// fetches the upload URL itself, so an unrestricted endpoint turns the daemon
+// into both an exfiltration channel and a request forwarder that reaches
+// services only it can talk to.
+//
+// The upload service NetBird publishes is open to any caller, since that is what
+// the CLI and the desktop UI use. Any other endpoint, self-hosted upload servers
+// included, requires a privileged caller. Plaintext is refused for everyone: the
+// daemon fetches the URL and then PUTs the bundle to whatever that fetch returns,
+// so an http hop is a place to intercept the bundle or the redirect.
+//
+// insecure relaxes transport security (http, or an untrusted TLS certificate)
+// for a self-hosted server. It weakens a root-privileged upload, so it is
+// refused for an unprivileged caller regardless of the host.
+func requirePrivilegeForUploadURL(ctx context.Context, rawURL string, insecure bool) error {
+	if rawURL == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	parsed, err := url.Parse(rawURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "parse upload URL: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// --insecure relaxes https to http or an untrusted certificate; it does not
+	// widen the URL to arbitrary schemes, so a host and http/https are required
+	// before the insecure branch takes over.
+	if parsed.Host == "" || (parsed.Scheme != "https" && parsed.Scheme != "http") {
+		return gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "upload URL must be http or https with a host")
+	}
+
+	if insecure {
+		return denyPrivileged(ctx,
+			"uploading a debug bundle without transport security (--upload-bundle-insecure)",
+			ipcauth.ElevatedCommand("netbird debug bundle -U --upload-bundle-insecure --upload-bundle-url <url>"))
+	}
+
+	if parsed.Scheme != "https" {
+		return gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "upload URL must use https, got scheme %q", parsed.Scheme)
+	}
+
+	if isDefaultUploadService(parsed) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return denyPrivileged(ctx,
+		"uploading a debug bundle to an upload service other than the default one",
+		ipcauth.ElevatedCommand("netbird debug bundle -U --upload-bundle-url <url>"))
+}
+
+// isDefaultUploadService reports whether the URL points at the upload service
+// NetBird runs. Only the host is compared: the service's path may differ between
+// releases, and the host is what decides who receives the bundle.
+func isDefaultUploadService(parsed *url.URL) bool {
+	defaultURL, err := url.Parse(types.DefaultBundleURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return parsed.Scheme == defaultURL.Scheme && strings.EqualFold(parsed.Host, defaultURL.Host)
+}

client/server/debug_gate_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+//go:build !android && !ios
+
+package server
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"testing"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/upload-server/types"
+)
+
+func TestRegisterUILogRefusesUnidentifiedCaller(t *testing.T) {
+	s := &Server{}
+
+	_, err := s.RegisterUILog(noIdentityCtx(), &proto.RegisterUILogRequest{
+		Path: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), uiLogFileName),
+	})
+
+	if gstatus.Code(err) != codes.PermissionDenied {
+		t.Fatalf("code = %v, want PermissionDenied", gstatus.Code(err))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRegisterUILogRefusesForeignPath(t *testing.T) {
+	secret := "/etc/shadow"
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		secret = `C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM`
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		path string
+	}{
+		{"empty", ""},
+		{"relative", filepath.Join("netbird", uiLogFileName)},
+		{"another file", secret},
+		{"traversal onto another file", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "..", "..", secret)},
+		{"directory of the log", t.TempDir()},
+		{"unc path", `\\attacker\share\` + uiLogFileName},
+		{"device path", `\\.\C:\` + uiLogFileName},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			s := &Server{}
+
+			_, err := s.RegisterUILog(userCtx(), &proto.RegisterUILogRequest{Path: tc.path})
+
+			if gstatus.Code(err) != codes.InvalidArgument {
+				t.Fatalf("code = %v, want InvalidArgument", gstatus.Code(err))
+			}
+			if s.uiLogPath != "" {
+				t.Fatalf("path %q was recorded despite the refusal", s.uiLogPath)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRegisterUILogRecordsPath(t *testing.T) {
+	s := &Server{}
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), uiLogFileName)
+
+	if _, err := s.RegisterUILog(userCtx(), &proto.RegisterUILogRequest{Path: path}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("register: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if s.uiLogPath != path {
+		t.Fatalf("path = %q, want %q", s.uiLogPath, path)
+	}
+}
+
+// The UI log is opened as the bundle requester, so a second local user cannot
+// collect a log they do not own, and an unidentified requester collects nothing.
+func TestUILogOpenerBindsToRequester(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), uiLogFileName)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte("log line"), 0600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write log: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// A different unprivileged user than the file's owner: refused.
+	if _, err := uiLogOpener(unprivilegedIdentity(), true)(path); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected a file the requester does not own to be refused")
+	}
+
+	// No verified identity: refused.
+	if _, err := uiLogOpener(ipcauth.Identity{}, false)(path); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected an unidentified requester to be refused")
+	}
+
+	// The requester that owns the file: allowed. The test process created it, so
+	// its own identity is the owner (and a privileged runner is exempt anyway).
+	owner, err := ipcauth.CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("current identity: %v", err)
+	}
+	f, err := uiLogOpener(owner, true)(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected the owning requester to be allowed, got %v", err)
+	}
+	_ = f.Close()
+}
+
+func TestRequirePrivilegeForUploadURL(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		url      string
+		insecure bool
+		unprivOK bool
+		invalid  bool
+		rootAlso bool
+	}{
+		{name: "no upload", url: "", unprivOK: true},
+		{name: "default service", url: types.DefaultBundleURL, unprivOK: true},
+		{name: "default service, other path", url: "https://upload.debug.netbird.io/other", unprivOK: true},
+		{name: "loopback exfiltration endpoint", url: "https://127.0.0.1:8080/upload-url", rootAlso: true},
+		{name: "custom upload service", url: "https://attacker.example/upload-url", rootAlso: true},
+		{name: "plaintext default host", url: "http://upload.debug.netbird.io/upload-url", invalid: true},
+		{name: "plaintext custom host", url: "http://attacker.example/upload-url", invalid: true},
+		{name: "unsupported scheme", url: "file:///etc/shadow", invalid: true},
+		// insecure relaxes transport security; privileged only, whatever the host.
+		{name: "insecure http custom", url: "http://selfhosted.local/upload-url", insecure: true, rootAlso: true},
+		{name: "insecure https custom", url: "https://selfhosted.local/upload-url", insecure: true, rootAlso: true},
+		{name: "insecure default host", url: types.DefaultBundleURL, insecure: true, rootAlso: true},
+		// --insecure must not widen the URL to non-http(s) schemes or a hostless URL.
+		{name: "insecure file scheme", url: "file:///etc/shadow", insecure: true, invalid: true},
+		{name: "insecure hostless", url: "https:///upload-url", insecure: true, invalid: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := requirePrivilegeForUploadURL(userCtx(), tc.url, tc.insecure)
+
+			switch {
+			case tc.invalid:
+				if gstatus.Code(err) != codes.InvalidArgument {
+					t.Fatalf("code = %v, want InvalidArgument", gstatus.Code(err))
+				}
+				return
+			case tc.unprivOK:
+				assertAllowed(t, err)
+				return
+			default:
+				assertDenied(t, err)
+			}
+
+			if tc.rootAlso {
+				assertAllowed(t, requirePrivilegeForUploadURL(rootCtx(), tc.url, tc.insecure))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

client/server/login_gate_test.go

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

client/server/mdm.go

@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ import (
 // a no-op echo, never as a conflict with the policy.
 const preSharedKeyRedactedSentinel = "**********"
 
+// loadMDMPolicy is the indirection used by server handlers to read the
+// active MDM policy. Tests override this to inject a fake policy.
+var loadMDMPolicy = mdm.LoadPolicy
+
 // conflictCheck is a value-aware comparison between a single field in
 // the incoming request and the corresponding MDM-enforced value. It
 // runs only when the field was actually set in the request (presence

client/server/network.go

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

client/server/network_exitnode_test.go

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

client/server/server.go

@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ type Server struct {
 	// RegisterUILog. Guarded by mutex. Consumed by DebugBundle so the bundle
 	// can collect the GUI log even though the daemon runs as root and can't
 	// resolve the user's config dir. Last-writer-wins (one UI per socket).
+	// DebugBundle opens it on behalf of the bundle requester and refuses a file
+	// that caller does not own, so a local user cannot read another user's log
+	// or a root-only file through it.
 	uiLogPath string
 
 	oauthAuthFlow oauthAuthFlow
@@ -82,6 +85,12 @@ type Server struct {
 	// extend flow or vice versa.
 	extendAuthSessionFlow *auth.PendingFlow
 
+	// guardedConfigMu serializes a privilege check against the write it
+	// authorizes. Without it the two are separate steps over the same file, and a
+	// change that was allowed because the profile had the SSH server disabled
+	// could land after a concurrent privileged request enabled it.
+	guardedConfigMu sync.Mutex
+
 	mutex  sync.Mutex
 	config *profilemanager.Config
 	proto.UnimplementedDaemonServiceServer
@@ -123,15 +132,6 @@ type Server struct {
 	// stopped by the rootCtx cancellation.
 	mdmTicker *mdm.Ticker
 
-	// mdmLoader is the daemon-owned source of the active MDM policy.
-	// Constructed once during Server.Start (with a nil PolicyFetcher on
-	// desktop — the build-tagged Loader.loadPlatform reads the OS
-	// registry / plist directly) and injected into every consumer:
-	// mdmTicker for its periodic reload, the SetConfig / Login MDM
-	// gates for conflict detection, and every Config produced via
-	// getConfig() so its apply() picks up the same overlay.
-	mdmLoader *mdm.Loader
-
 	updateManager *updater.Manager
 
 	jwtCache *jwtCache
@@ -206,14 +206,8 @@ func (s *Server) Start() error {
 	// Runs re-resolves Config (re-running profilemanager.Config.apply which
 	// applies the freshly-read MDM policy as the last layer) and brings
 	// the engine back with the new values.
-	if s.mdmLoader == nil {
-		// Desktop builds pass a nil PolicyFetcher: the Loader's
-		// build-tagged loadPlatform reads the OS source directly
-		// (registry on Windows, plist on macOS, no-op elsewhere).
-		s.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(nil)
-	}
 	if s.mdmTicker == nil {
-		s.mdmTicker = mdm.NewTicker(mdm.DefaultReloadInterval, s.mdmLoader)
+		s.mdmTicker = mdm.NewTicker(mdm.DefaultReloadInterval)
 		go s.mdmTicker.Run(s.rootCtx, s.onMDMPolicyChange)
 	}
 
@@ -421,11 +415,25 @@ func (s *Server) SetConfig(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SetConfigReques
 	// by the active MDM policy. The error carries an MDMManagedFields-
 	// Violation detail listing the offending key names. Non-conflicting
 	// fields in the same request are not applied either.
-	policy := s.mdmLoader.Load()
+	policy := loadMDMPolicy()
 	if err := rejectMDMManagedFieldConflicts(mdmManagedFieldConflicts(msg, policy)); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	// Privilege gate: refuse the parts of the request that would let a local
+	// user turn the root daemon into a root shell. Held across the write so the
+	// config cannot gain the SSH server between the decision and the update.
+	s.guardedConfigMu.Lock()
+	defer s.guardedConfigMu.Unlock()
+
+	stored, err := s.storedProfileConfig(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err := requirePrivilegeForConfigChange(callerCtx, stored, privilegedChangeFromSetConfig(msg)); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	config, err := s.setConfigInputFromRequest(msg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -546,28 +554,29 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 		if s.checkUpdateSettingsDisabled() {
 			return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errUpdateSettingsDisabled)
 		}
-		policy := s.mdmLoader.Load()
+		policy := loadMDMPolicy()
 		if err := rejectMDMManagedFieldConflicts(loginRequestMDMConflicts(msg, policy)); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
 
-	s.mutex.Lock()
-	if s.actCancel != nil {
-		s.actCancel()
-	}
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(callerCtx)
-
-	md, ok := metadata.FromIncomingContext(callerCtx)
-	if ok {
-		ctx = metadata.NewOutgoingContext(ctx, md)
+	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %v", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	s.actCancel = cancel
-	s.mutex.Unlock()
-
-	if err := RestoreResidualState(s.rootCtx, s.profileManager.GetStatePath()); err != nil {
-		log.Warnf(errRestoreResidualState, err)
+	// Privilege gate: same restrictions as SetConfig, since LoginRequest can carry
+	// the same fields. It runs before anything here changes daemon state, so a
+	// refused login neither switches the profile nor cancels a login already in
+	// progress, and it reads the profile the request targets, which is the one the
+	// switch below would activate.
+	stored, err := s.storedLoginConfig(activeProf, msg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err := requirePrivilegeForConfigChange(callerCtx, stored, privilegedChangeFromLogin(msg)); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	state := internal.CtxGetState(s.rootCtx)
@@ -578,23 +587,16 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 		}
 	}()
 
-	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
+	ctx, activeProf, err := s.authorizeAndPrepareLogin(callerCtx, msg, activeProf)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %v", err)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if msg.ProfileName != nil {
-		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
-			log.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %v", err)
-			return nil, err
+		// The RPC boundary is where this gets recorded: nothing logs handler
+		// errors for us, and a caller that retries would otherwise leave no
+		// trace in the daemon log. A refusal is skipped because the gate has
+		// already logged the decision, with the caller's identity.
+		if gstatus.Code(err) != codes.PermissionDenied {
+			log.Errorf("failed to prepare login: %v", err)
 		}
-	}
-
-	activeProf, err = s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %v", err)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	log.Infof("active profile: %s for %s", activeProf.ID, activeProf.Username)
@@ -608,11 +610,6 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 
 	s.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	if err := persistLoginOverrides(activeProf, msg.ManagementUrl, msg.OptionalPreSharedKey); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to persist login overrides: %v", err)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("persist login overrides: %w", err)
-	}
-
 	config, _, err := s.getConfig(activeProf)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile config: %v", err)
@@ -995,6 +992,63 @@ func (s *Server) waitForUp(callerCtx context.Context) (*proto.UpResponse, error)
 	}
 }
 
+// storedProfileConfig loads the on-disk config of the profile a request
+// targets, so a privileged-change decision can be made against the values the
+// profile currently holds. A profile that has no config file yet yields nil,
+// which every caller must read as "nothing enabled yet".
+func (s *Server) storedProfileConfig(handle, username string) (*profilemanager.Config, error) {
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(handle, username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	path := resolved.Path
+	if path == "" {
+		path = profilemanager.DefaultConfigPath
+	}
+
+	return s.storedConfigAtPath(path)
+}
+
+// storedLoginConfig loads the on-disk config of the profile a login request
+// targets: the one it names, or the active one when it names none. Used to decide
+// a privileged change before the request is allowed to switch profiles.
+func (s *Server) storedLoginConfig(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*profilemanager.Config, error) {
+	if msg.ProfileName == nil {
+		cfgPath, err := activeProf.FilePath()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("active profile file path: %w", err)
+		}
+		return s.storedConfigAtPath(cfgPath)
+	}
+
+	// Mirrors switchProfileIfNeeded: the default profile resolves without a
+	// username, so this reads the same profile the switch would activate.
+	handle := *msg.ProfileName
+	username := ""
+	if handle != profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
+		username = msg.GetUsername()
+	}
+	return s.storedProfileConfig(handle, username)
+}
+
+// storedConfigAtPath reads a profile config file, yielding nil when it does not
+// exist yet.
+func (s *Server) storedConfigAtPath(path string) (*profilemanager.Config, error) {
+	if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil, nil //nolint:nilnil
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("stat profile config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	cfg, err := profilemanager.GetConfig(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read profile config: %w", err)
+	}
+	return cfg, nil
+}
+
 // resolveProfileHandle resolves a wire-level profile handle (display
 // name, ID, or unique ID prefix) to a concrete profile. Returns gRPC
 // status errors so handlers can return them directly.
@@ -1212,6 +1266,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleProfileLogout(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.LogoutReque
 
 	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, resolved); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to logout from profile %s: %v", resolved.ID, err)
+		// A refused deregistration is already a status error carrying the reason
+		// and the command to run; rewrapping it as Internal would flatten both
+		// into a gRPC dump for the user.
+		if _, isStatus := gstatus.FromError(err); isStatus {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Internal, "logout: %v", err)
 	}
 
@@ -1275,12 +1335,6 @@ func (s *Server) getConfig(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState) (*prof
 		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("failed to get config: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Apply the daemon-owned MDM policy on top of the just-resolved
-	// Config. profilemanager's apply() initialises the policy to
-	// empty — the Loader lives outside Config, so this overlay step
-	// is driven externally here.
-	config.ApplyMDMPolicy(s.mdmLoader.Load())
-
 	return config, configExisted, nil
 }
 
@@ -1330,9 +1384,6 @@ func (s *Server) logoutFromProfile(ctx context.Context, profile *profilemanager.
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("profile '%s' not found", profile.ID)
 	}
-	// Honour any MDM-enforced ManagementURL when issuing the logout
-	// RPC: the user-stored value may have been overridden by policy.
-	config.ApplyMDMPolicy(s.mdmLoader.Load())
 
 	return s.sendLogoutRequestWithConfig(ctx, config)
 }
@@ -1342,6 +1393,13 @@ func (s *Server) sendLogoutRequest(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (s *Server) sendLogoutRequestWithConfig(ctx context.Context, config *profilemanager.Config) error {
+	// Privilege gate: deregistering frees this machine's key to be registered
+	// against another management server, which is only restricted while the SSH
+	// server makes that a privilege handover.
+	if err := requirePrivilegeForDeregistration(ctx, config); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	key, err := wgtypes.ParseKey(config.PrivateKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("parse private key: %w", err)
@@ -1933,11 +1991,6 @@ func (s *Server) GetConfig(ctx context.Context, req *proto.GetConfigRequest) (*p
 		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile config: %v", err)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile config: %w", err)
 	}
-	// Overlay the active MDM policy so the response's MDMManagedFields
-	// list reflects what the GUI / CLI must render as read-only.
-	// profilemanager.GetConfig itself returns a Config without the
-	// overlay (Loader lives outside profilemanager).
-	cfg.ApplyMDMPolicy(s.mdmLoader.Load())
 	managementURL := cfg.ManagementURL
 	adminURL := cfg.AdminURL
 
@@ -2092,7 +2145,10 @@ func (s *Server) RemoveProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.RemoveProfileRequ
 	}
 
 	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, resolved); err != nil {
-		log.Warnf("failed to logout from profile %s before removal: %v", resolved.ID, err)
+		// Deregistration is best-effort here: the local profile is removed
+		// either way, so an unprivileged caller leaves the peer registered on
+		// the management server rather than being blocked from removing it.
+		log.Warnf("removing profile %s locally without deregistering it: %v", resolved.ID, err)
 	}
 
 	if err := s.profileManager.RemoveProfile(resolved.ID, msg.Username); err != nil {
@@ -2389,6 +2445,69 @@ func sendTerminalNotification() error {
 
 // persistLoginOverrides writes management URL and pre-shared key from a LoginRequest to the
 // active profile config so that subsequent reads pick them up. Empty/nil values are ignored.
+// afterLoginPreCheck is a seam for tests to run a concurrent config change
+// between Login's first privilege check and the authoritative one.
+var afterLoginPreCheck func()
+
+// authorizeAndPrepareLogin makes the authoritative privilege decision for a login
+// and, when it passes, carries out every state change that decision authorizes:
+// cancelling an login already in progress, switching to the requested profile, and
+// persisting the config overrides the request carries.
+//
+// All of it happens under guardedConfigMu, which SetConfig also holds across its
+// own check and write. Login's earlier check refuses the ordinary case before any
+// of this is reached; this one exists because that check is not synchronized
+// against a concurrent privileged request that enables the SSH server, and a
+// caller refused here must not have cancelled or switched anything either.
+func (s *Server) authorizeAndPrepareLogin(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest, activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState) (context.Context, *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, error) {
+	if afterLoginPreCheck != nil {
+		afterLoginPreCheck()
+	}
+
+	s.guardedConfigMu.Lock()
+	defer s.guardedConfigMu.Unlock()
+
+	stored, err := s.storedLoginConfig(activeProf, msg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	if err := requirePrivilegeForConfigChange(callerCtx, stored, privilegedChangeFromLogin(msg)); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	s.mutex.Lock()
+	if s.actCancel != nil {
+		s.actCancel()
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(callerCtx)
+	if md, ok := metadata.FromIncomingContext(callerCtx); ok {
+		ctx = metadata.NewOutgoingContext(ctx, md)
+	}
+	s.actCancel = cancel
+	s.mutex.Unlock()
+
+	if err := RestoreResidualState(s.rootCtx, s.profileManager.GetStatePath()); err != nil {
+		log.Warnf(errRestoreResidualState, err)
+	}
+
+	if msg.ProfileName != nil {
+		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("switch profile: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	activeProf, err = s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("active profile state: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := persistLoginOverrides(activeProf, msg.ManagementUrl, msg.OptionalPreSharedKey); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("persist login overrides: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return ctx, activeProf, nil
+}
+
 func persistLoginOverrides(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, managementURL string, preSharedKey *string) error {
 	if preSharedKey != nil && *preSharedKey == "" {
 		preSharedKey = nil

client/server/setconfig_mdm_test.go

@@ -16,40 +16,14 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 )
 
-// fakeMDMFetcher implements mdm.PolicyFetcher returning a pre-set
-// policy map. Tests build one per Server instance to inject a
-// scripted MDM overlay via a Loader rather than via package-level state.
-type fakeMDMFetcher struct{ values map[string]any }
-
-func (f *fakeMDMFetcher) Fetch() map[string]any { return f.values }
-
-// withMDMPolicy installs an mdm.Loader on the given Server whose
-// loadPlatform returns the supplied Policy's underlying values. Use
-// after setupServerWithProfile to inject the scripted policy the
-// SetConfig / Login MDM gates will observe.
-func withMDMPolicy(t *testing.T, s *Server, policy *mdm.Policy) {
+// withMDMPolicy temporarily overrides the server-package loadMDMPolicy hook
+// so SetConfig observes the supplied Policy. Restores the original loader
+// at test cleanup.
+func withMDMPolicy(t *testing.T, policy *mdm.Policy) {
 	t.Helper()
-	values := map[string]any{}
-	if policy != nil {
-		for _, k := range policy.ManagedKeys() {
-			if v, ok := policy.GetString(k); ok {
-				values[k] = v
-				continue
-			}
-			if v, ok := policy.GetBool(k); ok {
-				values[k] = v
-				continue
-			}
-			if v, ok := policy.GetInt(k); ok {
-				values[k] = v
-				continue
-			}
-			if v, ok := policy.GetStringSlice(k); ok {
-				values[k] = v
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	s.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(&fakeMDMFetcher{values: values})
+	prev := loadMDMPolicy
+	loadMDMPolicy = func() *mdm.Policy { return policy }
+	t.Cleanup(func() { loadMDMPolicy = prev })
 }
 
 // setupServerWithProfile mirrors the boilerplate of TestSetConfig_AllFieldsSaved:
@@ -92,7 +66,11 @@ func setupServerWithProfile(t *testing.T) (s *Server, ctx context.Context, profN
 		Username: currUser.Username,
 	}))
 
-	ctx = context.Background()
+	// The privileged-change gate reads the caller's kernel identity from the
+	// context, which a real caller gets from the daemon's transport credentials.
+	// This test drives the handler directly, so it stands in for a root caller;
+	// without an identity the gate would (correctly) refuse the SSH fields.
+	ctx = privilegedTestCtx()
 	s = New(ctx, "console", "", false, false, false, false)
 	return s, ctx, profName, currUser.Username, cfgPath
 }
@@ -115,11 +93,12 @@ func extractViolation(t *testing.T, err error) *proto.MDMManagedFieldsViolation
 }
 
 func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_SingleField(t *testing.T) {
-	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-	withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL: "https://mdm.example.com:443",
 	}))
 
+	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
 	_, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
 		ProfileName:   profName,
 		Username:      username,
@@ -131,13 +110,14 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_SingleField(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_MultipleFields(t *testing.T) {
-	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-	withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL:    "https://mdm.example.com:443",
 		mdm.KeyBlockInbound:     true,
 		mdm.KeyRosenpassEnabled: true,
 	}))
 
+	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
 	blockInbound := false
 	rosenpassEnabled := false
 	_, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
@@ -161,11 +141,12 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_AllOrNothing(t *testing.T) {
 	// enforced field AND a non-enforced field (RosenpassEnabled).
 	// The whole request must be rejected — non-conflicting fields are not
 	// applied either.
-	s, ctx, profName, username, cfgPath := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-	withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL: "https://mdm.example.com:443",
 	}))
 
+	s, ctx, profName, username, cfgPath := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
 	rosenpassEnabled := true
 	_, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
 		ProfileName:      profName,
@@ -187,11 +168,12 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_AllOrNothing(t *testing.T) {
 func TestSetConfig_MDMAllow_NonManagedFields(t *testing.T) {
 	// MDM enforces ManagementURL but the user only writes RosenpassEnabled.
 	// Request must succeed.
-	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-	withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL: "https://mdm.example.com:443",
 	}))
 
+	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
 	rosenpassEnabled := true
 	resp, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
 		ProfileName:      profName,
@@ -220,11 +202,12 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMAllow_ManagementURLPortNormalized(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-			withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+			withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 				mdm.KeyManagementURL: tc.mdmURL,
 			}))
 
+			s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
 			rosenpassEnabled := true
 			resp, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
 				ProfileName:      profName,
@@ -241,8 +224,9 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMAllow_ManagementURLPortNormalized(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestSetConfig_MDMEmpty_NoEnforcement(t *testing.T) {
 	// No MDM policy active: any field can be written.
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+
 	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-	withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
 
 	resp, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
 		ProfileName:   profName,

client/server/setconfig_test.go

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

client/server/ssh_gate.go

@@ -0,0 +1,282 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"google.golang.org/genproto/googleapis/rpc/errdetails"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/daemonaddr"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/util"
+)
+
+// The daemon runs as root/LocalSystem, so a handful of config changes cross the
+// user-to-root boundary and are restricted to privileged callers:
+//
+//   - Enabling SSH root login, or disabling SSH authentication, turns the
+//     daemon's SSH server into a root (or unauthenticated) shell.
+//   - Enabling the SSH server at all is what makes the above reachable, and a
+//     profile the caller owns is not a privilege they hold.
+//   - While the SSH server is enabled, repointing the profile at another
+//     management identity hands SSH authorization decisions, including which
+//     keys and users are accepted, to whoever controls that identity. Changing
+//     the management URL and deregistering the peer are both ways to do that.
+//
+// Everything else stays unauthenticated, so this is not an authorization model:
+// it only refuses the changes that would let a local user become root. A caller
+// whose identity cannot be established is refused as well.
+
+// privilegedConfigChange is the subset of a config request that crosses the
+// user-to-root boundary. Fields are nil or empty when the request leaves them
+// untouched.
+type privilegedConfigChange struct {
+	managementURL    string
+	serverSSHAllowed *bool
+	enableSSHRoot    *bool
+	disableSSHAuth   *bool
+}
+
+func privilegedChangeFromSetConfig(msg *proto.SetConfigRequest) privilegedConfigChange {
+	return privilegedConfigChange{
+		managementURL:    msg.GetManagementUrl(),
+		serverSSHAllowed: msg.ServerSSHAllowed,
+		enableSSHRoot:    msg.EnableSSHRoot,
+		disableSSHAuth:   msg.DisableSSHAuth,
+	}
+}
+
+func privilegedChangeFromLogin(msg *proto.LoginRequest) privilegedConfigChange {
+	return privilegedConfigChange{
+		managementURL:    msg.GetManagementUrl(),
+		serverSSHAllowed: msg.ServerSSHAllowed,
+		enableSSHRoot:    msg.EnableSSHRoot,
+		disableSSHAuth:   msg.DisableSSHAuth,
+	}
+}
+
+// requirePrivilegeForConfigChange refuses the privileged parts of a config
+// change when the caller is not root/administrator. stored is the profile's
+// current config, or nil when it has none yet.
+//
+// Each check compares against the stored value so that a request restating a
+// value it does not change is never refused: a UI that submits the whole
+// settings form must not start failing once an administrator has enabled SSH.
+func requirePrivilegeForConfigChange(ctx context.Context, stored *profilemanager.Config, change privilegedConfigChange) error {
+	if enables(storedFlag(stored, func(c *profilemanager.Config) *bool { return c.EnableSSHRoot }), change.enableSSHRoot) {
+		return denyPrivileged(ctx, "enabling SSH root login", ipcauth.UpCommand("--enable-ssh-root"))
+	}
+
+	if enables(storedFlag(stored, func(c *profilemanager.Config) *bool { return c.DisableSSHAuth }), change.disableSSHAuth) {
+		return denyPrivileged(ctx, "disabling SSH authentication", ipcauth.UpCommand("--disable-ssh-auth"))
+	}
+
+	if enables(sshServerCurrentlyAllowed(stored), change.serverSSHAllowed) {
+		return denyPrivileged(ctx, "enabling the NetBird SSH server", ipcauth.UpCommand("--allow-server-ssh"))
+	}
+
+	// Only guard the management binding while the SSH server is enabled: that is
+	// when the management identity decides who may open a shell here.
+	if !sshServerEnabled(stored) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if change.managementURL != "" && !sameManagementURL(stored.ManagementURL, change.managementURL) {
+		return denyPrivileged(ctx,
+			"changing the management URL while the NetBird SSH server is enabled",
+			ipcauth.UpCommand("-m "+change.managementURL))
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// requirePrivilegeForDeregistration refuses to deregister the peer from the
+// management server when the caller is not privileged and the profile has the
+// SSH server enabled. Deregistering frees the peer's key to be registered
+// against another management identity, which is the same handover the
+// management URL check refuses.
+//
+// Callers that treat deregistration as best-effort (profile removal) continue
+// without it; callers that were asked to deregister surface the error.
+func requirePrivilegeForDeregistration(ctx context.Context, cfg *profilemanager.Config) error {
+	if !sshServerEnabled(cfg) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return denyPrivileged(ctx,
+		"deregistering this peer while the NetBird SSH server is enabled",
+		ipcauth.ElevatedCommand("netbird logout"))
+}
+
+// denyPrivileged returns nil when the caller is privileged, and otherwise a
+// PermissionDenied whose message names the action and the command that performs
+// it with the privileges it needs. The same summary and command ride along as an
+// ErrorInfo detail so the CLI and the UI can present them without parsing text.
+//
+// action reads as the subject of a sentence ("enabling SSH root login"), and
+// command is the equivalent command, already elevated for the platform.
+func denyPrivileged(ctx context.Context, action, command string) error {
+	id, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		log.Warnf("denying %s: the caller's identity cannot be verified on this control channel", action)
+		return privilegeError(unidentifiedSummary(action), reinstallCommand())
+	}
+
+	if ipcauth.IsPrivilegedCaller(id) {
+		log.Infof("allowing %s for privileged caller %s", action, id)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	log.Warnf("denying %s for unprivileged caller %s", action, id)
+	actor, command := requiredActor(command)
+	return privilegeError(privilegeSummary(action, actor), command)
+}
+
+// requiredActor names who may perform the operation and adjusts the command to
+// match. A daemon that is not itself privileged delegates to its own identity, so
+// telling that host's user to become root is wrong twice over: root is not what the
+// daemon checks for, and a rootless container has neither root nor sudo.
+func requiredActor(command string) (string, string) {
+	self, delegates := ipcauth.SelfDelegatesTo()
+	if !delegates {
+		return ipcauth.PrivilegedActor(), command
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("the user the daemon runs as (%s)", self), strings.ReplaceAll(command, "sudo ", "")
+}
+
+// privilegeError builds the PermissionDenied carrying summary and command.
+func privilegeError(summary, command string) error {
+	st := gstatus.New(codes.PermissionDenied, fmt.Sprintf("%s\n\n%s", summary, command))
+
+	detailed, err := st.WithDetails(&errdetails.ErrorInfo{
+		Reason: ipcauth.ErrorReasonPrivilegeRequired,
+		Domain: ipcauth.ErrorDomain,
+		Metadata: map[string]string{
+			ipcauth.ErrorMetaSummary: summary,
+			ipcauth.ErrorMetaCommand: command,
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("attach privilege error detail: %v", err)
+		return st.Err()
+	}
+	return detailed.Err()
+}
+
+// privilegeSummary states what is refused and what it needs, in one sentence
+// that reads the same in a dialog and in a terminal.
+func privilegeSummary(action, actor string) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s requires %s.", capitalize(action), actor)
+}
+
+// unidentifiedSummary covers a control channel that carries no caller identity.
+// Elevating does not help there, so it points at the daemon's socket instead.
+func unidentifiedSummary(action string) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s requires %s, and the daemon cannot verify who is calling over its current socket. "+
+		"Reinstall the service on a socket that carries the caller's identity.", capitalize(action), ipcauth.PrivilegedActor())
+}
+
+// reinstallCommand is the command that moves the daemon onto a socket whose
+// callers can be identified.
+func reinstallCommand() string {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("netbird service install --daemon-addr %s", daemonaddr.WindowsPipeAddr)
+	}
+	return "sudo netbird service install --daemon-addr unix:///var/run/netbird.sock"
+}
+
+func capitalize(s string) string {
+	if s == "" {
+		return s
+	}
+	return strings.ToUpper(s[:1]) + s[1:]
+}
+
+// enables reports whether requested turns a flag on that is currently off. A
+// request that restates the stored value, or turns the flag off, is not a
+// privileged change.
+func enables(stored, requested *bool) bool {
+	if requested == nil || !*requested {
+		return false
+	}
+	return stored == nil || !*stored
+}
+
+// storedFlag reads a flag from the stored config, tolerating a config that does
+// not exist yet.
+func storedFlag(cfg *profilemanager.Config, get func(*profilemanager.Config) *bool) *bool {
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return get(cfg)
+}
+
+// sshServerEnabled reports whether the profile currently runs the SSH server.
+//
+// A nil flag means ON, matching what the engine does with the same config
+// (util.ReturnBoolWithDefaultTrue in internal/connect.go, kept for configs written
+// before the flag existed). Reading it as OFF here would open the management-URL
+// and deregistration guards on exactly those legacy hosts, whose SSH server is
+// running. Configs loaded through profilemanager have already been materialised by
+// apply(), so this is the same answer by a route that does not depend on that.
+func sshServerEnabled(cfg *profilemanager.Config) bool {
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return util.ReturnBoolWithDefaultTrue(cfg.ServerSSHAllowed)
+}
+
+// sshServerCurrentlyAllowed is the value an enable request is compared against. It
+// shares sshServerEnabled's nil-means-on default, so restating "on" for a legacy
+// config is correctly seen as no change.
+func sshServerCurrentlyAllowed(cfg *profilemanager.Config) *bool {
+	enabled := sshServerEnabled(cfg)
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &enabled
+}
+
+// sameManagementURL reports whether requested addresses the same management
+// server as stored, comparing scheme, host and effective port so that an
+// equivalent spelling ("https://api.netbird.io" for a stored
+// "https://api.netbird.io:443") is not treated as a change. It fails closed:
+// anything unparseable counts as a change and therefore needs privilege.
+func sameManagementURL(stored *url.URL, requested string) bool {
+	if stored == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// Normalise the requested URL through the config layer's own parser, so the
+	// comparison cannot drift from how the value would actually be stored.
+	parsed, err := profilemanager.ParseServiceURL("Management URL", requested)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	return stored.Scheme == parsed.Scheme &&
+		stored.Hostname() == parsed.Hostname() &&
+		effectivePort(stored) == effectivePort(parsed)
+}
+
+func effectivePort(u *url.URL) string {
+	if port := u.Port(); port != "" {
+		return port
+	}
+	switch u.Scheme {
+	case "https":
+		return "443"
+	case "http":
+		return "80"
+	default:
+		return ""
+	}
+}