add header auth cache to proxy

[client] Do not misroute WireGuard packets to the STUN handler (#7059 )
[client] Fix credentials for the gtk3 package uploads (#7125 )
2026-08-10 17:51:29 +02:00 · 2026-08-10 16:47:01 +02:00 · 2026-08-10 13:41:09 +02:00 · 2026-08-10 12:58:50 +02:00 · 2026-08-10 11:28:15 +02:00 · 2026-08-10 11:27:20 +02:00
55 changed files with 13524 additions and 1357 deletions
--- a/.goreleaser_ui.yaml
+++ b/.goreleaser_ui.yaml
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ nfpms:
      - netbird (>= 0.75.0)
      - libgtk-4-1 (>= 4.14)
      - libwebkitgtk-6.0-4
+      - xdg-utils

  - maintainer: Netbird <dev@netbird.io>
    description: Netbird client UI.
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ nfpms:
      - netbird >= 0.75.0
      - (gtk4 >= 4.14 or libgtk-4-1 >= 4.14)
      - (webkitgtk6.0 or libwebkitgtk-6_0-4)
+      - xdg-utils

    rpm:
      signature:
--- a/.goreleaser_ui_gtk3.yaml
+++ b/.goreleaser_ui_gtk3.yaml
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ nfpms:
      - netbird (>= 0.75.0)
      - libgtk-3-0
      - libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0
+      - xdg-utils

  - maintainer: Netbird <dev@netbird.io>
    description: Netbird client UI.
@@ -95,6 +96,7 @@ nfpms:
      - netbird >= 0.75.0
      - (gtk3 or libgtk-3-0)
      - (webkit2gtk4.1 or libwebkit2gtk-4_1-0)
+      - xdg-utils

    rpm:
      signature:
@@ -112,6 +114,13 @@ uploads:
  # The gtk3 packages reuse the netbird-ui package name, so they live in
  # dedicated repo paths (deb distribution `gtk3`, yum path `yum-gtk3`) that
  # legacy distros point their repo config at.
+  #
+  # GoReleaser derives the credential env var from the upload name, so these
+  # would look for UPLOAD_DEBIAN-GTK3_SECRET / UPLOAD_YUM-GTK3_SECRET. The
+  # release workflow only exports UPLOAD_DEBIAN_SECRET / UPLOAD_YUM_SECRET, and
+  # a missing secret is a silent skip rather than a failure -- the packages
+  # reached the GitHub release but never the package repositories. Point
+  # `password` at the exported vars so both uploads authenticate.
  - name: debian-gtk3
    skip: "{{ .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH }}"
    ids:
@@ -119,6 +128,7 @@ uploads:
    mode: archive
    target: https://pkgs.wiretrustee.com/debian/pool/{{ .ArtifactName }};deb.distribution=gtk3;deb.component=main;deb.architecture={{ if .Arm }}armhf{{ else }}{{ .Arch }}{{ end }};deb.package=
    username: dev@wiretrustee.com
+    password: "{{ .Env.UPLOAD_DEBIAN_SECRET }}"
    method: PUT

  - name: yum-gtk3
@@ -128,4 +138,5 @@ uploads:
    mode: archive
    target: https://pkgs.wiretrustee.com/yum-gtk3/{{ .Arch }}{{ if .Arm }}{{ .Arm }}{{ end }}
    username: dev@wiretrustee.com
+    password: "{{ .Env.UPLOAD_YUM_SECRET }}"
    method: PUT
--- a/client/android/client.go
+++ b/client/android/client.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (

 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"

+	nbAnonymize "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/anonymize"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/device"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/debug"
@@ -32,6 +33,13 @@ import (
 	types "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/upload-server/types"
 )

+// AnonymizeLevelDefault and AnonymizeLevelStrict are the accepted
+// anonymizeLevel values for DebugBundle.
+const (
+	AnonymizeLevelDefault = nbAnonymize.LevelDefaultString
+	AnonymizeLevelStrict  = nbAnonymize.LevelStrictString
+)
+
 // ConnectionListener export internal Listener for mobile
 type ConnectionListener interface {
 	peer.Listener
@@ -278,8 +286,10 @@ func (c *Client) GetTunSettings() (*TunSettings, error) {
 }

 // DebugBundle generates a debug bundle, uploads it, and returns the upload key.
-// It works both with and without a running engine.
-func (c *Client) DebugBundle(platformFiles PlatformFiles, anonymize bool) (string, error) {
+// It works both with and without a running engine. anonymizeLevel is "default"
+// or "strict"; strict also anonymizes internal IP ranges, peer names, and
+// WireGuard public keys, and implies anonymize.
+func (c *Client) DebugBundle(platformFiles PlatformFiles, anonymize bool, anonymizeLevel string) (string, error) {
 	cfg, cacheDir, cc := c.stateSnapshot()

 	// If the engine hasn't been started, load config from disk
@@ -298,6 +308,7 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(platformFiles PlatformFiles, anonymize bool) (strin
 		InternalConfig: cfg,
 		StatusRecorder: c.recorder,
 		TempDir:        cacheDir,
+		StatePath:      platformFiles.StateFilePath(),
 	}

 	if cc != nil {
@@ -321,6 +332,7 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(platformFiles PlatformFiles, anonymize bool) (strin
 		deps,
 		debug.BundleConfig{
 			Anonymize:         anonymize,
+			AnonymizeLevel:    nbAnonymize.ParseLevel(anonymizeLevel),
 			IncludeSystemInfo: true,
 		},
 	)
--- a/client/anonymize/anonymize.go
+++ b/client/anonymize/anonymize.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package anonymize

 import (
 	"crypto/rand"
+	"encoding/base64"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 	"net"
@@ -15,13 +16,88 @@ import (

 const anonTLD = ".domain"

+// Level selects how much the anonymizer redacts. Levels are ordered: a higher
+// level redacts strictly more. On the wire (protos, flags) levels travel as
+// their string form.
+type Level int
+
+const (
+	// LevelDefault anonymizes public IP addresses, IPv6 ULA, domains, and MAC
+	// addresses. Internal IPv4 ranges (RFC 1918, CGNAT, link-local) are
+	// preserved so support can reason about the real topology.
+	LevelDefault Level = iota
+	// LevelStrict additionally anonymizes internal IP ranges, peer names, and
+	// WireGuard public keys.
+	LevelStrict
+)
+
+// LevelDefaultString and LevelStrictString are the wire forms of the levels,
+// for boundaries that pass levels as strings (flags, protos, mobile bindings).
+const (
+	LevelDefaultString = "default"
+	LevelStrictString  = "strict"
+)
+
+// ParseLevel maps s to a Level. Empty means LevelDefault; anything
+// unrecognized maps to LevelStrict so an unknown request never yields less
+// anonymization than intended.
+func ParseLevel(s string) Level {
+	switch strings.ToLower(s) {
+	case "", LevelDefaultString:
+		return LevelDefault
+	default:
+		return LevelStrict
+	}
+}
+
+// String returns the wire form of the level: "default" or "strict".
+func (l Level) String() string {
+	if l >= LevelStrict {
+		return LevelStrictString
+	}
+	return LevelDefaultString
+}
+
+// protectedDomains are NetBird-operated suffixes that stay recognizable in an
+// anonymized bundle. At LevelStrict the labels in front of them (the peer
+// name) are still replaced, except under netbird.io, which only hosts
+// NetBird infrastructure (api, signal, flow), never peer names.
+var protectedDomains = []string{"netbird.io", "netbird.selfhosted", "netbird.cloud", "netbird.stage"}
+
+const infraDomain = "netbird.io"
+
+var (
+	macColonRegex = regexp.MustCompile(`\b[0-9a-fA-F]{2}(?::[0-9a-fA-F]{2}){5}\b`)
+	macDashRegex  = regexp.MustCompile(`\b[0-9a-fA-F]{2}(?:-[0-9a-fA-F]{2}){5}\b`)
+	wgKeyRegex    = regexp.MustCompile(`\b[A-Za-z0-9+/]{43}=`)
+)
+
 type Anonymizer struct {
 	ipAnonymizer     map[netip.Addr]netip.Addr
 	domainAnonymizer map[string]string
-	currentAnonIPv4  netip.Addr
-	currentAnonIPv6  netip.Addr
-	startAnonIPv4    netip.Addr
-	startAnonIPv6    netip.Addr
+	// domainOrder caches the keys of domainAnonymizer sorted longest-first
+	// for AnonymizeString; it is rebuilt when the map gains entries.
+	domainOrder     []string
+	labelAnonymizer map[string]string
+	labelAnonymized map[string]struct{}
+	labelCounter    uint32
+	macAnonymizer   map[string]string
+	macCounter      uint32
+	wgKeyAnonymizer map[string]string
+	wgKeyAnonymized map[string]struct{}
+	currentAnonIPv4 netip.Addr
+	currentAnonIPv6 netip.Addr
+	startAnonIPv4   netip.Addr
+	startAnonIPv6   netip.Addr
+
+	// LevelStrict also anonymizes internal ranges (RFC 1918, CGNAT,
+	// link-local), replacing them from the dedicated internal pools below so
+	// a reader can still tell an internal address from a public one.
+	level                   Level
+	currentAnonInternalIPv4 netip.Addr
+	currentAnonInternalIPv6 netip.Addr
+	startAnonInternalIPv4   netip.Addr
+	startAnonInternalIPv6   netip.Addr

 	domainKeyRegex *regexp.Regexp
 }
@@ -32,25 +108,50 @@ func DefaultAddresses() (netip.Addr, netip.Addr) {
 	return netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{198, 51, 100, 0}), netip.MustParseAddr("2001:db8:ffff::")
 }

+// InternalAddresses returns the pool starts used in strict mode for internal
+// ranges. Both are reserved ranges that cannot collide with real addressing:
+// 198.18.0.0 (RFC 2544 benchmarking), 2001:db8:1:: (RFC 3849 documentation).
+func InternalAddresses() (netip.Addr, netip.Addr) {
+	return netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{198, 18, 0, 0}), netip.MustParseAddr("2001:db8:1::")
+}
+
 func NewAnonymizer(startIPv4, startIPv6 netip.Addr) *Anonymizer {
+	internalIPv4, internalIPv6 := InternalAddresses()
 	return &Anonymizer{
 		ipAnonymizer:     map[netip.Addr]netip.Addr{},
 		domainAnonymizer: map[string]string{},
+		labelAnonymizer:  map[string]string{},
+		labelAnonymized:  map[string]struct{}{},
+		macAnonymizer:    map[string]string{},
+		wgKeyAnonymizer:  map[string]string{},
+		wgKeyAnonymized:  map[string]struct{}{},
 		currentAnonIPv4:  startIPv4,
 		currentAnonIPv6:  startIPv6,
 		startAnonIPv4:    startIPv4,
 		startAnonIPv6:    startIPv6,

+		level:                   LevelDefault,
+		currentAnonInternalIPv4: internalIPv4,
+		currentAnonInternalIPv6: internalIPv6,
+		startAnonInternalIPv4:   internalIPv4,
+		startAnonInternalIPv6:   internalIPv6,
+
 		domainKeyRegex: regexp.MustCompile(`\bdomain=([^\s,:"]+)`),
 	}
 }

+// SetLevel selects the anonymization level. The zero value of a new
+// Anonymizer is LevelDefault.
+func (a *Anonymizer) SetLevel(level Level) {
+	a.level = level
+}
+
 func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeIP(ip netip.Addr) netip.Addr {
+	// Normalize 4-in-6 addresses so ::ffff:192.168.1.1 classifies and maps
+	// like 192.168.1.1.
+	ip = ip.Unmap()
+
 	if ip.IsLoopback() ||
-		ip.IsLinkLocalUnicast() ||
-		ip.IsLinkLocalMulticast() ||
-		ip.IsInterfaceLocalMulticast() ||
-		(ip.Is4() && ip.IsPrivate()) ||
 		ip.IsUnspecified() ||
 		ip.IsMulticast() ||
 		isWellKnown(ip) ||
@@ -59,18 +160,100 @@ func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeIP(ip netip.Addr) netip.Addr {
 		return ip
 	}

+	if isInternal(ip) && a.level < LevelStrict {
+		return ip
+	}
+
 	if _, ok := a.ipAnonymizer[ip]; !ok {
-		if ip.Is4() {
-			a.ipAnonymizer[ip] = a.currentAnonIPv4
-			a.currentAnonIPv4 = a.currentAnonIPv4.Next()
-		} else {
-			a.ipAnonymizer[ip] = a.currentAnonIPv6
-			a.currentAnonIPv6 = a.currentAnonIPv6.Next()
-		}
+		a.ipAnonymizer[ip] = a.nextAnonIP(ip)
 	}
 	return a.ipAnonymizer[ip]
 }

+func (a *Anonymizer) nextAnonIP(ip netip.Addr) netip.Addr {
+	// At the strict level, internal addresses (including IPv6 ULA, matched
+	// by IsPrivate) come from the internal pools so they remain recognizable
+	// as internal without disclosing the real values.
+	if a.level >= LevelStrict && (isInternal(ip) || ip.IsPrivate()) {
+		if ip.Is4() {
+			anon := a.currentAnonInternalIPv4
+			a.currentAnonInternalIPv4 = a.currentAnonInternalIPv4.Next()
+			return anon
+		}
+		anon := a.currentAnonInternalIPv6
+		a.currentAnonInternalIPv6 = a.currentAnonInternalIPv6.Next()
+		return anon
+	}
+
+	if ip.Is4() {
+		anon := a.currentAnonIPv4
+		a.currentAnonIPv4 = a.currentAnonIPv4.Next()
+		return anon
+	}
+	anon := a.currentAnonIPv6
+	a.currentAnonIPv6 = a.currentAnonIPv6.Next()
+	return anon
+}
+
+// AnonymizeMAC replaces a MAC address with a consistent placeholder from the
+// locally administered range starting at 02:00:00:00:00:01, at every
+// anonymization level. Broadcast, multicast, all-zero, and already assigned
+// placeholder addresses are preserved. The colon and dash spellings of the
+// same address share one placeholder; the output keeps the input's separator.
+func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeMAC(mac string) string {
+	hw, err := net.ParseMAC(mac)
+	if err != nil || len(hw) != 6 {
+		return mac
+	}
+
+	if isWellKnownMAC(hw) || a.isAnonymizedMAC(hw) {
+		return mac
+	}
+
+	key := hw.String()
+	anon, ok := a.macAnonymizer[key]
+	if !ok {
+		a.macCounter++
+		anon = fmt.Sprintf("02:00:00:%02x:%02x:%02x", byte(a.macCounter>>16), byte(a.macCounter>>8), byte(a.macCounter))
+		a.macAnonymizer[key] = anon
+	}
+
+	if strings.Contains(mac, "-") {
+		anon = strings.ReplaceAll(anon, ":", "-")
+	}
+	return anon
+}
+
+// isAnonymizedMAC reports whether hw is a placeholder this anonymizer already
+// handed out, so a second pass over anonymized output leaves it unchanged.
+func (a *Anonymizer) isAnonymizedMAC(hw net.HardwareAddr) bool {
+	if hw[0] != 0x02 || hw[1] != 0 || hw[2] != 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	value := uint32(hw[3])<<16 | uint32(hw[4])<<8 | uint32(hw[5])
+	return value <= a.macCounter
+}
+
+// AnonymizeWGKey replaces a WireGuard public key with a consistent random
+// placeholder of the same shape. Keys are only anonymized at LevelStrict;
+// placeholders already handed out pass through unchanged.
+func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeWGKey(key string) string {
+	if a.level < LevelStrict || !looksLikeWGKey(key) {
+		return key
+	}
+	if _, ok := a.wgKeyAnonymized[key]; ok {
+		return key
+	}
+
+	anon, ok := a.wgKeyAnonymizer[key]
+	if !ok {
+		anon = generateAnonymousKey()
+		a.wgKeyAnonymizer[key] = anon
+		a.wgKeyAnonymized[anon] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	return anon
+}
+
 func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeUDPAddr(addr net.UDPAddr) net.UDPAddr {
 	// Convert IP to netip.Addr
 	ip, ok := netip.AddrFromSlice(addr.IP)
@@ -89,12 +272,12 @@ func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeUDPAddr(addr net.UDPAddr) net.UDPAddr {

 // isInAnonymizedRange checks if an IP is within the range of already assigned anonymized IPs
 func (a *Anonymizer) isInAnonymizedRange(ip netip.Addr) bool {
-	if ip.Is4() && ip.Compare(a.startAnonIPv4) >= 0 && ip.Compare(a.currentAnonIPv4) <= 0 {
-		return true
-	} else if !ip.Is4() && ip.Compare(a.startAnonIPv6) >= 0 && ip.Compare(a.currentAnonIPv6) <= 0 {
-		return true
+	if ip.Is4() {
+		return inPoolRange(ip, a.startAnonIPv4, a.currentAnonIPv4) ||
+			inPoolRange(ip, a.startAnonInternalIPv4, a.currentAnonInternalIPv4)
 	}
-	return false
+	return inPoolRange(ip, a.startAnonIPv6, a.currentAnonIPv6) ||
+		inPoolRange(ip, a.startAnonInternalIPv6, a.currentAnonInternalIPv6)
 }

 func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeIPString(ip string) string {
@@ -118,14 +301,17 @@ func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeDomain(domain string) string {
 		baseDomain = domain[:len(domain)-1]
 	}

-	if strings.HasSuffix(baseDomain, "netbird.io") ||
-		strings.HasSuffix(baseDomain, "netbird.selfhosted") ||
-		strings.HasSuffix(baseDomain, "netbird.cloud") ||
-		strings.HasSuffix(baseDomain, "netbird.stage") ||
-		strings.HasSuffix(baseDomain, anonTLD) {
+	if strings.HasSuffix(baseDomain, anonTLD) {
 		return domain
 	}

+	if suffix := protectedSuffix(baseDomain); suffix != "" {
+		if a.level < LevelStrict || baseDomain == suffix || suffix == infraDomain {
+			return domain
+		}
+		return withTrailingDot(a.anonymizePeerName(baseDomain, suffix), hasDot)
+	}
+
 	parts := strings.Split(baseDomain, ".")
 	if len(parts) < 2 {
 		return domain
@@ -141,12 +327,53 @@ func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeDomain(domain string) string {
 	}

 	result := strings.Replace(baseDomain, baseForLookup, anonymized, 1)
-	if hasDot {
-		result += "."
+	if a.level >= LevelStrict && len(parts) > 2 {
+		prefix := strings.TrimSuffix(baseDomain, "."+baseForLookup)
+		result = a.anonymizeLabels(prefix, "host") + "." + anonymized
+		// The full mapping feeds AnonymizeString so seeded FQDNs are caught
+		// in log lines as a whole, labels included.
+		a.domainAnonymizer[baseDomain] = result
+	}
+	return withTrailingDot(result, hasDot)
+}
+
+// anonymizePeerName replaces the labels in front of a protected suffix with
+// numbered peer placeholders, keeping the suffix, and records the full
+// mapping for string replacement in logs. The numbering keeps a peer
+// recognizable across the whole bundle without disclosing its name.
+func (a *Anonymizer) anonymizePeerName(baseDomain, suffix string) string {
+	prefix := strings.TrimSuffix(baseDomain, "."+suffix)
+	result := a.anonymizeLabels(prefix, "peer") + "." + suffix
+	if result != baseDomain {
+		a.domainAnonymizer[baseDomain] = result
 	}
 	return result
 }

+// anonymizeLabels replaces each dot-separated label with a consistent
+// numbered placeholder ("<placeholder>-<n>"). Wildcard labels and
+// placeholders already handed out pass through unchanged.
+func (a *Anonymizer) anonymizeLabels(prefix, placeholder string) string {
+	labels := strings.Split(prefix, ".")
+	for i, label := range labels {
+		if label == "*" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, ok := a.labelAnonymized[label]; ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		anon, ok := a.labelAnonymizer[label]
+		if !ok {
+			a.labelCounter++
+			anon = fmt.Sprintf("%s-%d", placeholder, a.labelCounter)
+			a.labelAnonymizer[label] = anon
+			a.labelAnonymized[anon] = struct{}{}
+		}
+		labels[i] = anon
+	}
+	return strings.Join(labels, ".")
+}
+
 func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeURI(uri string) string {
 	u, err := url.Parse(uri)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -181,16 +408,70 @@ func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeString(str string) string {
 	str = ipv4Regex.ReplaceAllStringFunc(str, a.AnonymizeIPString)
 	str = ipv6Regex.ReplaceAllStringFunc(str, a.AnonymizeIPString)

-	for domain, anonDomain := range a.domainAnonymizer {
-		str = strings.ReplaceAll(str, domain, anonDomain)
+	for _, domain := range a.sortedDomains() {
+		str = strings.ReplaceAll(str, domain, a.domainAnonymizer[domain])
 	}

 	str = a.AnonymizeSchemeURI(str)
 	str = a.AnonymizeDNSLogLine(str)

+	// MAC handling runs after the IP passes so preserved IPv6 addresses are
+	// already out of the way; the separator guard skips matches embedded in a
+	// longer colon- or dash-separated sequence (such as an IPv6 tail).
+	str = a.anonymizeMACsInString(str, macColonRegex, ':')
+	str = a.anonymizeMACsInString(str, macDashRegex, '-')
+
+	if a.level >= LevelStrict {
+		str = wgKeyRegex.ReplaceAllStringFunc(str, a.AnonymizeWGKey)
+	}
+
 	return str
 }

+// sortedDomains returns the domain mappings longest-first, so a full-FQDN
+// mapping (strict level) is applied before the base-domain mapping it
+// contains. The order is rebuilt only when domainAnonymizer has grown.
+func (a *Anonymizer) sortedDomains() []string {
+	if len(a.domainOrder) == len(a.domainAnonymizer) {
+		return a.domainOrder
+	}
+
+	a.domainOrder = a.domainOrder[:0]
+	for domain := range a.domainAnonymizer {
+		a.domainOrder = append(a.domainOrder, domain)
+	}
+	slices.SortFunc(a.domainOrder, func(x, y string) int {
+		if d := len(y) - len(x); d != 0 {
+			return d
+		}
+		return strings.Compare(x, y)
+	})
+	return a.domainOrder
+}
+
+// anonymizeMACsInString replaces MAC addresses matched by re, skipping
+// matches that directly adjoin another sep so a six-group run inside a longer
+// separated sequence is left alone.
+func (a *Anonymizer) anonymizeMACsInString(str string, re *regexp.Regexp, sep byte) string {
+	matches := re.FindAllStringIndex(str, -1)
+	if len(matches) == 0 {
+		return str
+	}
+
+	var b strings.Builder
+	last := 0
+	for _, m := range matches {
+		if (m[0] > 0 && str[m[0]-1] == sep) || (m[1] < len(str) && str[m[1]] == sep) {
+			continue
+		}
+		b.WriteString(str[last:m[0]])
+		b.WriteString(a.AnonymizeMAC(str[m[0]:m[1]]))
+		last = m[1]
+	}
+	b.WriteString(str[last:])
+	return b.String()
+}
+
 // AnonymizeSchemeURI finds and anonymizes URIs with ws, wss, rel, rels, stun, stuns, turn, and turns schemes.
 func (a *Anonymizer) AnonymizeSchemeURI(text string) string {
 	re := regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)\b(wss?://|rels?://|stuns?:|turns?:|https?://)\S+\b`)
@@ -239,10 +520,79 @@ func isWellKnown(addr netip.Addr) bool {
 		"128.0.0.0", "8000::", // 2nd split subnet for default routes
 	}

-	if slices.Contains(wellKnown, addr.String()) {
+	return slices.Contains(wellKnown, addr.String())
+}
+
+// isInternal reports whether ip identifies a host only within the local
+// network: IPv4 private (RFC 1918), CGNAT (RFC 6598), and link-local (v4 and
+// v6). These are preserved at the default level so support can reason about
+// the real topology, and replaced from the internal pools at the strict
+// level. IPv6 ULA is deliberately not internal: its random global ID uniquely
+// fingerprints the network, so it is anonymized at every level.
+func isInternal(ip netip.Addr) bool {
+	return (ip.Is4() && ip.IsPrivate()) ||
+		ip.IsLinkLocalUnicast() ||
+		isCGNAT(ip)
+}
+
+func inPoolRange(ip, start, current netip.Addr) bool {
+	return ip.Compare(start) >= 0 && ip.Compare(current) <= 0
+}
+
+// isWellKnownMAC reports whether hw carries no stable host identity: all-zero
+// or a group address (broadcast and multicast).
+func isWellKnownMAC(hw net.HardwareAddr) bool {
+	if hw[0]&1 == 1 {
 		return true
 	}
+	for _, b := range hw {
+		if b != 0 {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}

+// looksLikeWGKey reports whether s has the shape of a WireGuard key:
+// 44 base64 characters decoding to 32 bytes.
+func looksLikeWGKey(s string) bool {
+	if len(s) != 44 || s[43] != '=' {
+		return false
+	}
+	decoded, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(s)
+	return err == nil && len(decoded) == 32
+}
+
+func generateAnonymousKey() string {
+	buf := make([]byte, 32)
+	if _, err := rand.Read(buf); err != nil {
+		return strings.Repeat("A", 43) + "="
+	}
+	return base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(buf)
+}
+
+// protectedSuffix returns the protected NetBird suffix baseDomain ends with,
+// or empty. The match is label-anchored so an unrelated domain that merely
+// ends in the same characters is not preserved.
+func protectedSuffix(baseDomain string) string {
+	for _, d := range protectedDomains {
+		if baseDomain == d || strings.HasSuffix(baseDomain, "."+d) {
+			return d
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func withTrailingDot(domain string, hasDot bool) string {
+	if hasDot {
+		return domain + "."
+	}
+	return domain
+}
+
+// isCGNAT reports whether addr is in 100.64.0.0/10 (RFC 6598), the range
+// NetBird assigns overlay peer addresses from.
+func isCGNAT(addr netip.Addr) bool {
 	cgnatRangeStart := netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{100, 64, 0, 0})
 	cgnatRange := netip.PrefixFrom(cgnatRangeStart, 10)

--- a/client/anonymize/anonymize_test.go
+++ b/client/anonymize/anonymize_test.go
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 package anonymize_test

 import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/base64"
 	"net/netip"
 	"regexp"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"

 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -44,6 +47,301 @@ func TestAnonymizeIP(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

+func TestParseLevel(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		input  string
+		expect anonymize.Level
+	}{
+		{"", anonymize.LevelDefault},
+		{"default", anonymize.LevelDefault},
+		{"DEFAULT", anonymize.LevelDefault},
+		{"strict", anonymize.LevelStrict},
+		{"STRICT", anonymize.LevelStrict},
+		// Unknown values must never yield less anonymization than requested.
+		{"garbage", anonymize.LevelStrict},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run("input="+tc.input, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.expect, anonymize.ParseLevel(tc.input), "parsed level should match")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAnonymizeIP_DefaultLevelInternalRanges(t *testing.T) {
+	anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		ip     string
+		expect string
+	}{
+		{"RFC1918 10/8", "10.1.2.3", "10.1.2.3"},
+		{"RFC1918 172.16/12", "172.16.5.5", "172.16.5.5"},
+		{"RFC1918 192.168/16", "192.168.1.1", "192.168.1.1"},
+		{"CGNAT", "100.64.0.5", "100.64.0.5"},
+		{"IPv4 link-local", "169.254.1.1", "169.254.1.1"},
+		{"IPv6 link-local", "fe80::1", "fe80::1"},
+		// ULA is anonymized even at the default level: its random global ID
+		// uniquely fingerprints the network, unlike shared RFC 1918 space.
+		{"IPv6 ULA", "fd12:3456:789a::1", "2001:db8:ffff::"},
+		// 4-in-6 addresses classify like their unmapped IPv4 form.
+		{"4-in-6 RFC1918", "::ffff:192.168.1.1", "192.168.1.1"},
+		{"4-in-6 CGNAT", "::ffff:100.64.0.5", "100.64.0.5"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			result := anonymizer.AnonymizeIP(netip.MustParseAddr(tc.ip))
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.expect, result.String(), "default level should preserve internal ranges except ULA")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAnonymizeIP_StrictLevel(t *testing.T) {
+	anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+	anonymizer.SetLevel(anonymize.LevelStrict)
+
+	// Order matters: internal pool addresses are assigned sequentially.
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		ip     string
+		expect string
+	}{
+		{"RFC1918 192.168/16", "192.168.1.1", "198.18.0.0"},
+		{"Second RFC1918", "192.168.1.2", "198.18.0.1"},
+		{"Repeated RFC1918", "192.168.1.1", "198.18.0.0"},
+		{"RFC1918 10/8", "10.1.2.3", "198.18.0.2"},
+		{"RFC1918 172.16/12", "172.16.5.5", "198.18.0.3"},
+		{"CGNAT", "100.64.0.5", "198.18.0.4"},
+		{"IPv4 link-local", "169.254.1.1", "198.18.0.5"},
+		{"Public IPv4 uses public pool", "1.2.3.4", "198.51.100.0"},
+		{"IPv6 link-local", "fe80::1", "2001:db8:1::"},
+		{"IPv6 ULA", "fd12:3456:789a::1", "2001:db8:1::1"},
+		{"Public IPv6 uses public pool", "2607:f8b0:4005:805::200e", "2001:db8:ffff::"},
+		{"Loopback IPv4", "127.0.0.1", "127.0.0.1"},
+		{"Loopback IPv6", "::1", "::1"},
+		{"Unspecified", "0.0.0.0", "0.0.0.0"},
+		{"Multicast", "224.0.0.251", "224.0.0.251"},
+		{"Well known resolver", "8.8.8.8", "8.8.8.8"},
+		{"Well known split marker", "128.0.0.0", "128.0.0.0"},
+		{"In internal pool range", "198.18.0.3", "198.18.0.3"},
+		{"In public pool range", "198.51.100.0", "198.51.100.0"},
+		{"4-in-6 repeated RFC1918", "::ffff:192.168.1.1", "198.18.0.0"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			result := anonymizer.AnonymizeIP(netip.MustParseAddr(tc.ip))
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.expect, result.String(), "strict level should replace internal ranges from the internal pools")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAnonymizeString_StrictInternalIPs(t *testing.T) {
+	anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+	anonymizer.SetLevel(anonymize.LevelStrict)
+
+	input := "route 10.20.30.0/24 via 192.168.1.1 dev eth0 src 100.64.0.7"
+	firstPass := anonymizer.AnonymizeString(input)
+	secondPass := anonymizer.AnonymizeString(firstPass)
+
+	assert.NotContains(t, firstPass, "10.20.30.0", "private network address should be anonymized")
+	assert.NotContains(t, firstPass, "192.168.1.1", "private gateway should be anonymized")
+	assert.NotContains(t, firstPass, "100.64.0.7", "CGNAT address should be anonymized")
+	assert.Contains(t, firstPass, "/24", "prefix length should be preserved")
+	assert.Equal(t, firstPass, secondPass, "second pass should not further anonymize the string")
+}
+
+func TestAnonymizeMAC(t *testing.T) {
+	anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+
+	first := anonymizer.AnonymizeMAC("aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:0f")
+	assert.Equal(t, "02:00:00:00:00:01", first, "first MAC should get the first placeholder")
+	assert.Equal(t, first, anonymizer.AnonymizeMAC("aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:0f"), "repeated MAC should map to the same placeholder")
+	assert.Equal(t, first, anonymizer.AnonymizeMAC("AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:0F"), "case should not affect the mapping")
+	assert.Equal(t, "02-00-00-00-00-01", anonymizer.AnonymizeMAC("AA-BB-CC-DD-EE-0F"), "dash form should keep its separator but share the mapping")
+
+	second := anonymizer.AnonymizeMAC("10:22:33:44:55:66")
+	assert.Equal(t, "02:00:00:00:00:02", second, "second distinct MAC should get the next placeholder")
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		mac  string
+	}{
+		{"Broadcast", "ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff"},
+		{"IPv4 multicast", "01:00:5e:00:00:fb"},
+		{"IPv6 multicast", "33:33:00:00:00:01"},
+		{"All zero", "00:00:00:00:00:00"},
+		{"Assigned placeholder", "02:00:00:00:00:01"},
+		{"Invalid", "not-a-mac"},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.mac, anonymizer.AnonymizeMAC(tc.mac), "should be preserved")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAnonymizeString_MACAddresses(t *testing.T) {
+	anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		input  string
+		expect string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:   "nftables ether rule",
+			input:  "ether saddr aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff drop",
+			expect: "ether saddr 02:00:00:00:00:01 drop",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "Windows dash form",
+			input:  "Physical Address : AA-BB-CC-DD-EE-FF",
+			expect: "Physical Address : 02-00-00-00-00-01",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "IPv6 address tail is not treated as MAC",
+			input:  "addr fe80:0:11:22:33:44:55:66 scope link",
+			expect: "addr fe80:0:11:22:33:44:55:66 scope link",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "broadcast MAC preserved",
+			input:  "dst ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff type ARP",
+			expect: "dst ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff type ARP",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			result := anonymizer.AnonymizeString(tc.input)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.expect, result, "MAC addresses should be anonymized at every level")
+			assert.Equal(t, result, anonymizer.AnonymizeString(result), "second pass should not change the result")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAnonymizeWGKey(t *testing.T) {
+	key := base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(bytes.Repeat([]byte{0x42}, 32))
+
+	t.Run("default level preserves keys", func(t *testing.T) {
+		anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+		assert.Equal(t, key, anonymizer.AnonymizeWGKey(key), "default level should not touch WireGuard keys")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("strict level replaces keys", func(t *testing.T) {
+		anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+		anonymizer.SetLevel(anonymize.LevelStrict)
+
+		anon := anonymizer.AnonymizeWGKey(key)
+		assert.NotEqual(t, key, anon, "strict level should replace the key")
+		assert.Regexp(t, `^[A-Za-z0-9+/]{43}=$`, anon, "placeholder should keep the WireGuard key shape")
+		assert.Equal(t, anon, anonymizer.AnonymizeWGKey(key), "repeated key should map to the same placeholder")
+		assert.Equal(t, anon, anonymizer.AnonymizeWGKey(anon), "an assigned placeholder should pass through unchanged")
+
+		assert.Equal(t, "not-a-key", anonymizer.AnonymizeWGKey("not-a-key"), "non-key values should be preserved")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestAnonymizeString_WGKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	key := base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(bytes.Repeat([]byte{0x42}, 32))
+	input := "peer " + key + " handshake completed"
+
+	t.Run("default level preserves keys", func(t *testing.T) {
+		anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+		assert.Equal(t, input, anonymizer.AnonymizeString(input), "default level should not touch WireGuard keys in strings")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("strict level replaces keys", func(t *testing.T) {
+		anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+		anonymizer.SetLevel(anonymize.LevelStrict)
+
+		firstPass := anonymizer.AnonymizeString(input)
+		assert.NotContains(t, firstPass, key, "the key should not survive strict anonymization")
+		assert.Equal(t, anonymizer.AnonymizeWGKey(key), extractKey(t, firstPass), "string replacement should be consistent with AnonymizeWGKey")
+		assert.Equal(t, firstPass, anonymizer.AnonymizeString(firstPass), "second pass should not change the result")
+	})
+}
+
+func extractKey(t *testing.T, logLine string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	fields := strings.Fields(logLine)
+	require.Len(t, fields, 4, "log line should keep its structure")
+	return fields[1]
+}
+
+func TestAnonymizeDomain_StrictLevel(t *testing.T) {
+	anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+	anonymizer.SetLevel(anonymize.LevelStrict)
+
+	t.Run("netbird peer name", func(t *testing.T) {
+		result := anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("my-laptop.netbird.cloud")
+		assert.Regexp(t, `^peer-\d+\.netbird\.cloud$`, result, "peer name should be anonymized, suffix kept")
+		assert.NotContains(t, result, "my-laptop", "the peer name should not survive")
+		assert.Equal(t, result, anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("my-laptop.netbird.cloud"), "repeated domain should map consistently")
+		assert.Equal(t, result, anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain(result), "an anonymized domain should pass through unchanged")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("bare netbird domain", func(t *testing.T) {
+		assert.Equal(t, "netbird.cloud", anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("netbird.cloud"), "the bare protected suffix should be preserved")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("netbird infrastructure preserved", func(t *testing.T) {
+		assert.Equal(t, "api.netbird.io", anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("api.netbird.io"),
+			"netbird.io hosts infrastructure, not peer names, and should stay readable")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("leading labels of other domains", func(t *testing.T) {
+		result := anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("host1.corp.example.com")
+		assert.Regexp(t, `^host-\d+\.host-\d+\.anon-[a-zA-Z0-9]+\.domain$`, result, "every label should be anonymized")
+		for _, label := range []string{"host1", "corp", "example"} {
+			assert.NotContains(t, result, label, "no original label should survive")
+		}
+		assert.Equal(t, result, anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("host1.corp.example.com"), "repeated domain should map consistently")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("same label maps consistently across domains", func(t *testing.T) {
+		first := anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("shared.one.com")
+		second := anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("shared.two.com")
+		assert.Equal(t, strings.Split(first, ".")[0], strings.Split(second, ".")[0], "the shared host label should get one placeholder")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("wildcard label preserved", func(t *testing.T) {
+		result := anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("*.example.com")
+		assert.Regexp(t, `^\*\.anon-[a-zA-Z0-9]+\.domain$`, result, "the wildcard label should stay a wildcard")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestAnonymizeDomain_DefaultLevelKeepsPeerNames(t *testing.T) {
+	anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "my-laptop.netbird.cloud", anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("my-laptop.netbird.cloud"),
+		"default level should preserve netbird FQDNs including the peer name")
+	assert.Regexp(t, `^sub\.anon-[a-zA-Z0-9]+\.domain$`, anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("sub.example.com"),
+		"default level should keep subdomain labels")
+}
+
+func TestAnonymizeString_StrictPeerNames(t *testing.T) {
+	anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+	anonymizer.SetLevel(anonymize.LevelStrict)
+
+	// Seed like the bundle generator does from the status: base first, then
+	// the full FQDN, so replacement must prefer the longer mapping.
+	anonBase := anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("example.com")
+	anonPeer := anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("peer1.netbird.cloud")
+	anonHost := anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain("host1.example.com")
+
+	logLine := "connected to peer1.netbird.cloud via host1.example.com endpoint"
+	firstPass := anonymizer.AnonymizeString(logLine)
+	assert.NotContains(t, firstPass, "peer1", "the peer name should not survive in logs")
+	assert.NotContains(t, firstPass, "host1", "the host label should not survive in logs")
+	assert.Contains(t, firstPass, anonPeer, "the seeded peer mapping should be applied")
+	assert.Contains(t, firstPass, anonHost, "the seeded host mapping should be applied, not just the base mapping")
+	assert.NotContains(t, firstPass, "host1."+anonBase, "the base mapping must not preempt the longer FQDN mapping")
+	assert.Equal(t, firstPass, anonymizer.AnonymizeString(firstPass), "second pass should not change the result")
+}
+
 func TestAnonymizeDNSLogLine(t *testing.T) {
 	anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(netip.Addr{}, netip.Addr{})
 	tests := []struct {
--- a/client/cmd/debug.go
+++ b/client/cmd/debug.go
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ import (
 const errCloseConnection = "Failed to close connection: %v"

 var (
-	logFileCount        uint32
-	systemInfoFlag      bool
+	logFileCount             uint32
+	systemInfoFlag           bool
 	uploadBundleFlag         bool
 	uploadBundleURLFlag      string
 	uploadBundleInsecureFlag bool
@@ -156,6 +156,11 @@ func debugConfigDump(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 // request. Returns an error if the RPC fails or if the daemon reports
 // an upload failure reason.
 func debugBundle(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
+	anonymizeEnabled, anonymizeLevel, err := effectiveAnonymize()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	conn, err := getClient(cmd)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -168,10 +173,11 @@ func debugBundle(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {

 	client := proto.NewDaemonServiceClient(conn)
 	request := &proto.DebugBundleRequest{
-		Anonymize:    anonymizeFlag,
-		SystemInfo:   systemInfoFlag,
-		LogFileCount: logFileCount,
-		CliVersion:   version.NetbirdVersion(),
+		Anonymize:      anonymizeEnabled,
+		AnonymizeLevel: anonymizeLevel.String(),
+		SystemInfo:     systemInfoFlag,
+		LogFileCount:   logFileCount,
+		CliVersion:     version.NetbirdVersion(),
 	}
 	if uploadBundleFlag {
 		request.UploadURL = uploadBundleURLFlag
@@ -229,6 +235,11 @@ func runForDuration(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid duration format: %v", err)
 	}

+	anonymizeEnabled, anonymizeLevel, err := effectiveAnonymize()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	conn, err := getClient(cmd)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -368,10 +379,11 @@ func runForDuration(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	cmd.Println("Creating debug bundle...")

 	request := &proto.DebugBundleRequest{
-		Anonymize:    anonymizeFlag,
-		SystemInfo:   systemInfoFlag,
-		LogFileCount: logFileCount,
-		CliVersion:   version.NetbirdVersion(),
+		Anonymize:      anonymizeEnabled,
+		AnonymizeLevel: anonymizeLevel.String(),
+		SystemInfo:     systemInfoFlag,
+		LogFileCount:   logFileCount,
+		CliVersion:     version.NetbirdVersion(),
 	}
 	if uploadBundleFlag {
 		request.UploadURL = uploadBundleURLFlag
--- a/client/cmd/root.go
+++ b/client/cmd/root.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"

+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/anonymize"
 	daddr "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/daemonaddr"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
 )
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ var (
 	autoConnectDisabled     bool
 	extraIFaceBlackList     []string
 	anonymizeFlag           bool
+	anonymizeLevelFlag      string
 	dnsRouteInterval        time.Duration
 	// lazyConnEnabled is the parse target for the deprecated --enable-lazy-connection
 	// flag. The flag is inert; the value is no longer read (use NB_LAZY_CONN instead).
@@ -156,7 +158,8 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.MarkFlagsMutuallyExclusive("setup-key", "setup-key-file")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&preSharedKey, preSharedKeyFlag, "", "Sets WireGuard PreSharedKey property. If set, then only peers that have the same key can communicate.")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&hostName, "hostname", "n", "", "Sets a custom hostname for the device")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&anonymizeFlag, "anonymize", "A", false, "anonymize IP addresses and non-netbird.io domains in logs and status output")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&anonymizeFlag, "anonymize", "A", false, "anonymize public IP addresses, MAC addresses, and non-netbird.io domains in logs and status output; private, CGNAT, and link-local IP ranges are kept (see --anonymize-level strict)")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&anonymizeLevelFlag, "anonymize-level", "", "anonymization level: \"default\" or \"strict\"; strict also anonymizes private, CGNAT, and link-local IP ranges, peer names, and WireGuard public keys. Setting this flag implies --anonymize")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&configPath, "config", "c", profilemanager.DefaultConfigPath, "Overrides the default profile file location")

 	rootCmd.AddCommand(upCmd)
@@ -293,6 +296,19 @@ var CLIBackOffSettings = &backoff.ExponentialBackOff{
 	Clock:               backoff.SystemClock,
 }

+// effectiveAnonymize resolves the --anonymize and --anonymize-level flags:
+// setting a level implies anonymization, and an invalid level is rejected.
+func effectiveAnonymize() (bool, anonymize.Level, error) {
+	if anonymizeLevelFlag == "" {
+		return anonymizeFlag, anonymize.LevelDefault, nil
+	}
+	level := anonymize.ParseLevel(anonymizeLevelFlag)
+	if !strings.EqualFold(anonymizeLevelFlag, level.String()) {
+		return false, anonymize.LevelDefault, fmt.Errorf("invalid anonymize level %q: use %q or %q", anonymizeLevelFlag, anonymize.LevelDefault.String(), anonymize.LevelStrict.String())
+	}
+	return true, level, nil
+}
+
 func getSetupKey() (string, error) {
 	if setupKeyPath != "" && setupKey == "" {
 		return getSetupKeyFromFile(setupKeyPath)
--- a/client/cmd/status.go
+++ b/client/cmd/status.go
@@ -121,8 +121,14 @@ func statusFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		sessionExpiresAt = ts.AsTime().UTC()
 	}

+	anonymizeEnabled, anonymizeLevel, err := effectiveAnonymize()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	var outputInformationHolder = nbstatus.ConvertToStatusOutputOverview(resp.GetFullStatus(), nbstatus.ConvertOptions{
-		Anonymize:            anonymizeFlag,
+		Anonymize:            anonymizeEnabled,
+		AnonymizeLevel:       anonymizeLevel,
 		DaemonVersion:        resp.GetDaemonVersion(),
 		DaemonStatus:         nbstatus.ParseDaemonStatus(status),
 		StatusFilter:         statusFilter,
--- a/client/iface/bind/ice_bind.go
+++ b/client/iface/bind/ice_bind.go
@@ -22,6 +22,16 @@ import (
 	nbnet "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
 )

+const (
+	// wgMsgTypeHandshakeInitiation is the lowest WireGuard message type.
+	wgMsgTypeHandshakeInitiation uint32 = 1
+	// wgMsgTypeTransport is the highest WireGuard message type.
+	wgMsgTypeTransport uint32 = 4
+	// wgMinMsgSize is the smallest WireGuard message: transport data with an empty
+	// payload, which is what a keepalive is.
+	wgMinMsgSize = 32
+)
+
 type receiverCreator struct {
 	iceBind *ICEBind
 }
@@ -216,8 +226,15 @@ func (s *ICEBind) createReceiverFn(pc wgConn.BatchReader, conn *net.UDPConn, rxO
 		for i := 0; i < numMsgs; i++ {
 			msg := &(*msgs)[i]

-			// todo: handle err
-			if ok, _ := s.filterOutStunMessages(msg.Buffers, msg.N, msg.Addr); ok {
+			if ok, err := s.filterOutStunMessages(msg.Buffers, msg.N, msg.Addr); ok {
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Debugf("failed to handle STUN packet from %s: %v", msg.Addr, err)
+				}
+				// WireGuard reuses sizes and eps across reads and only skips a slot
+				// whose size is below the minimum message size. Leaving a consumed
+				// slot untouched makes it process this buffer again under the
+				// previous packet's length and endpoint.
+				sizes[i] = 0
 				continue
 			}
 			sizes[i] = msg.N
@@ -271,11 +288,16 @@ func (s *ICEBind) createOrUpdateMux() {

 func (s *ICEBind) filterOutStunMessages(buffers [][]byte, n int, addr net.Addr) (bool, error) {
 	for i := range buffers {
-		if !stun.IsMessage(buffers[i]) {
+		if n > len(buffers[i]) {
+			continue
+		}
+		pkt := buffers[i][:n]
+
+		if isWireGuardMsg(pkt) || !stun.IsMessage(pkt) {
 			continue
 		}

-		msg, err := s.parseSTUNMessage(buffers[i][:n])
+		msg, err := s.parseSTUNMessage(pkt)
 		if err != nil {
 			buffers[i] = []byte{}
 			return true, err
@@ -347,18 +369,34 @@ func putMessages(msgs *[]ipv6.Message, msgsPool *sync.Pool) {
 	msgsPool.Put(msgs)
 }

-func isTransportPkg(buffers [][]byte, n int) bool {
-	// The first buffer should contain at least 4 bytes for type
-	if len(buffers[0]) < 4 {
-		return true
+// isWireGuardMsg reports whether the packet carries a WireGuard message header: a
+// little-endian uint32 message type in the range 1..4, which leaves the three bytes
+// after the type byte zero, in a packet long enough to hold any WireGuard message.
+//
+// A well formed STUN message cannot take that shape. Its length field sits in the two
+// bytes the type must leave zero, and for a message of at least wgMinMsgSize bytes that
+// field holds at least 12, so the two framings do not overlap. The test has to be this
+// tight because stun.IsMessage only looks at the magic cookie, which in a WireGuard
+// message overlaps the receiver index: a session whose index happens to equal the cookie
+// would otherwise have all of its inbound data misrouted to the STUN handler until the
+// next rekey.
+func isWireGuardMsg(pkt []byte) bool {
+	if len(pkt) < wgMinMsgSize {
+		return false
 	}

-	// WireGuard packet type is a little-endian uint32 at start
-	packetType := binary.LittleEndian.Uint32(buffers[0][:4])
-
-	// Check if packetType matches known WireGuard message types
-	if packetType == 4 && n > 32 {
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
+	msgType := binary.LittleEndian.Uint32(pkt[:4])
+	return msgType >= wgMsgTypeHandshakeInitiation && msgType <= wgMsgTypeTransport
+}
+
+// isTransportPkg reports whether the packet is WireGuard transport data carrying a
+// payload, which is what counts as peer activity. A keepalive holds no payload and is
+// exactly wgMinMsgSize bytes.
+func isTransportPkg(buffers [][]byte, n int) bool {
+	if n < 4 || n > len(buffers[0]) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	msgType := binary.LittleEndian.Uint32(buffers[0][:4])
+	return msgType == wgMsgTypeTransport && n > wgMinMsgSize
 }
--- a/client/iface/bind/stun_filter_test.go
+++ b/client/iface/bind/stun_filter_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,215 @@
+//go:build !js
+
+package bind
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"net"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/pion/stun/v3"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.org/x/net/ipv4"
+	wgConn "golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/conn"
+)
+
+// magicCookieBytes is the STUN magic cookie as it appears on the wire. In a
+// WireGuard message the same offset holds the receiver (or sender) index, which is
+// a random uint32, so a session can draw exactly this value.
+var magicCookieBytes = []byte{0x21, 0x12, 0xA4, 0x42}
+
+const testBufSize = 1500
+
+// wgMsg builds a WireGuard message of the given type and size, with the index field
+// at bytes 4:8 set to index.
+func wgMsg(msgType uint32, size int, index []byte) []byte {
+	pkt := make([]byte, size)
+	binary.LittleEndian.PutUint32(pkt[:4], msgType)
+	copy(pkt[4:8], index)
+	return pkt
+}
+
+// intoBuffer copies pkt into a full-size receive buffer, the way the kernel read
+// does, so tests see the same buffer/length split as the hot path.
+func intoBuffer(pkt []byte) [][]byte {
+	buf := make([]byte, testBufSize)
+	copy(buf, pkt)
+	return [][]byte{buf}
+}
+
+func TestFilterOutStunMessages_PassesWireGuardWithCookieShapedIndex(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		msgType uint32
+		size    int
+	}{
+		{"transport data", wgMsgTypeTransport, 128},
+		{"keepalive", wgMsgTypeTransport, wgMinMsgSize},
+		{"handshake initiation", wgMsgTypeHandshakeInitiation, 148},
+		{"handshake response", 2, 92},
+		{"cookie reply", 3, 64},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			pkt := wgMsg(tc.msgType, tc.size, magicCookieBytes)
+			require.True(t, stun.IsMessage(pkt), "precondition: pion sees this as STUN")
+
+			buffers := intoBuffer(pkt)
+			bind := &ICEBind{}
+
+			filtered, err := bind.filterOutStunMessages(buffers, tc.size, &net.UDPAddr{})
+			assert.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.False(t, filtered, "WireGuard message must be handed to WireGuard, not the STUN handler")
+			assert.Len(t, buffers[0], testBufSize, "buffer must be left intact for WireGuard")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFilterOutStunMessages_FiltersRealSTUNMessage(t *testing.T) {
+	msg, err := stun.Build(stun.BindingRequest, stun.TransactionID, stun.Fingerprint)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	buffers := intoBuffer(msg.Raw)
+	bind := &ICEBind{}
+
+	filtered, err := bind.filterOutStunMessages(buffers, len(msg.Raw), &net.UDPAddr{})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, filtered, "STUN message must be consumed by the STUN handler")
+	assert.Empty(t, buffers[0], "consumed buffer must be emptied so WireGuard does not see it")
+}
+
+// TestIsWireGuardMsg_DisjointFromSTUN locks the invariant the filter relies on: a
+// well formed STUN message long enough to be a WireGuard message always has a
+// non-zero length field, so it cannot be mistaken for a WireGuard header.
+func TestIsWireGuardMsg_DisjointFromSTUN(t *testing.T) {
+	types := []stun.MessageType{
+		stun.BindingRequest,
+		stun.BindingSuccess,
+		stun.BindingError,
+		{Method: stun.MethodBinding, Class: stun.ClassIndication},
+	}
+
+	for _, msgType := range types {
+		// Long enough that the length guard is not what makes this pass.
+		msg, err := stun.Build(msgType, stun.TransactionID,
+			stun.NewUsername("remoteUfrag:localUfrag"), stun.Fingerprint)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.GreaterOrEqual(t, len(msg.Raw), wgMinMsgSize, "precondition: %s", msgType)
+		assert.False(t, isWireGuardMsg(msg.Raw),
+			"%s must not look like a WireGuard message", msgType)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIsWireGuardMsg(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		pkt  []byte
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{"transport data", wgMsg(wgMsgTypeTransport, 128, nil), true},
+		{"handshake initiation", wgMsg(wgMsgTypeHandshakeInitiation, 148, nil), true},
+		{"unknown type 5", wgMsg(5, 128, nil), false},
+		{"type 0", wgMsg(0, 128, nil), false},
+		{"non-zero reserved byte", []byte{0x04, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00}, false},
+		{"too short", []byte{0x04, 0x00, 0x00}, false},
+		{"empty", nil, false},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, isWireGuardMsg(tc.pkt), "wrong classification for %s", tc.name)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestFilterOutStunMessages_IgnoresBytesBeyondPacket guards against classifying on
+// buffer contents left over from an earlier, longer packet.
+func TestFilterOutStunMessages_IgnoresBytesBeyondPacket(t *testing.T) {
+	buf := make([]byte, testBufSize)
+	copy(buf[4:8], magicCookieBytes)
+	buffers := [][]byte{buf}
+	bind := &ICEBind{}
+
+	filtered, err := bind.filterOutStunMessages(buffers, 2, &net.UDPAddr{})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, filtered, "a 2 byte packet must not be classified from stale buffer bytes")
+}
+
+// TestReceiveFn_ClearsSizeOfConsumedPacket covers the accounting WireGuard relies
+// on: sizes is reused across reads, so a slot whose packet was consumed as STUN must
+// be reported as empty. Otherwise WireGuard reprocesses the same buffer under the
+// previous packet's length, which for a WireGuard-shaped packet means it is handled
+// twice.
+func TestReceiveFn_ClearsSizeOfConsumedPacket(t *testing.T) {
+	conn := listenUDP(t, "udp4", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	defer conn.Close()
+
+	recvFn := receiverCreator{setupICEBind(t)}.CreateReceiverFn(
+		ipv4.NewPacketConn(conn), conn, false, createMsgPool(),
+	)
+
+	msg, err := stun.Build(stun.BindingRequest, stun.TransactionID, stun.Fingerprint)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	sender := listenUDP(t, "udp4", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	defer sender.Close()
+	_, err = sender.WriteTo(msg.Raw, conn.LocalAddr())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.NoError(t, conn.SetReadDeadline(time.Now().Add(3*time.Second)))
+
+	bufs := [][]byte{make([]byte, 1500)}
+	// A leftover size from an earlier read, which is what makes the missing reset
+	// observable.
+	sizes := []int{148}
+	eps := make([]wgConn.Endpoint, 1)
+
+	n, err := recvFn(bufs, sizes, eps)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, n)
+	assert.Zero(t, sizes[0], "consumed STUN packet must not leave a size behind for WireGuard")
+}
+
+func TestIsTransportPkg(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		pkt  []byte
+		n    int
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{"transport data with payload", wgMsg(wgMsgTypeTransport, 128, nil), 128, true},
+		{"keepalive", wgMsg(wgMsgTypeTransport, wgMinMsgSize, nil), wgMinMsgSize, false},
+		{"handshake initiation", wgMsg(wgMsgTypeHandshakeInitiation, 148, nil), 148, false},
+		{"stale type bytes beyond packet", wgMsg(wgMsgTypeTransport, 128, nil), 2, false},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, isTransportPkg(intoBuffer(tc.pkt), tc.n),
+				"wrong activity classification for %s", tc.name)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestFilterOutStunMessages_ConsumesSTUNWithWireGuardShapedType covers the one STUN
+// encoding whose leading bytes collide with a WireGuard message type: method 0x080 as a
+// request encodes to 0x0200, so the type byte reads as a handshake response and the byte
+// after it is zero. Only the length check keeps such a message out of WireGuard's hands.
+// pion implements no method in that range, so this is a synthetic worst case rather than
+// traffic ICE produces.
+func TestFilterOutStunMessages_ConsumesSTUNWithWireGuardShapedType(t *testing.T) {
+	msg, err := stun.Build(stun.NewType(stun.Method(0x080), stun.ClassRequest), stun.TransactionID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, []byte{0x02, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00}, msg.Raw[:4],
+		"precondition: the leading bytes read as a WireGuard message type")
+
+	buffers := intoBuffer(msg.Raw)
+	bind := &ICEBind{}
+
+	filtered, err := bind.filterOutStunMessages(buffers, len(msg.Raw), &net.UDPAddr{})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, filtered, "STUN message must be consumed despite its WireGuard-shaped type")
+}
--- a/client/internal/debug/debug.go
+++ b/client/internal/debug/debug.go
@@ -34,9 +34,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/netiputil"
 )

-const readmeContent = `Netbird debug bundle
-This debug bundle contains the following files.
-If the --anonymize flag is set, the files are anonymized to protect sensitive information.
+const readmeContent = `This debug bundle contains the following files.
+If anonymization is enabled (--anonymize / --anonymize-level), the files are anonymized to protect sensitive information.

 status.txt: Anonymized status information of the NetBird client.
 client.log: Most recent, anonymized client log file of the NetBird client.
@@ -70,21 +69,34 @@ capture.pcap: Packet capture in pcap format. Only present when capture was runni


 Anonymization Process
-The files in this bundle have been anonymized to protect sensitive information. Here's how the anonymization was applied:
+The files in this bundle have been anonymized to protect sensitive information. The level applied to this bundle is recorded at the top of this file. Here's how the anonymization was applied:

 IP Addresses

-IPv4 addresses are replaced with addresses starting from 198.51.100.0
-IPv6 addresses are replaced with addresses starting from 100::
+Default level:
+- Public IPv4 addresses are replaced with addresses starting from 198.51.100.0
+- Public IPv6 addresses are replaced with addresses starting from 2001:db8:ffff::
+- IPv6 unique local addresses (fc00::/7) are anonymized as well: their random global ID uniquely identifies the network.
+- IP addresses from internal IPv4 ranges and well-known addresses are not anonymized (e.g. 8.8.8.8, 100.64.0.0/10, addresses starting with 192.168., 172.16., 10., 169.254., fe80::).
+
+Strict level (--anonymize-level strict), in addition to the default level:
+- Private (RFC 1918), CGNAT (100.64.0.0/10), and link-local (169.254.0.0/16, fe80::/10) addresses are anonymized too.
+- Internal IPv4 addresses are replaced with addresses starting from 198.18.0.0 and internal IPv6 addresses with addresses starting from 2001:db8:1::, so internal addresses remain distinguishable from public ones.
+- Addresses are mapped in order of first appearance: subnet structure, allocation scheme, and gateway conventions are not preserved. Prefix lengths of networks are preserved.
+- Peer names in front of NetBird domains are replaced with numbered placeholders (e.g. peer-1.netbird.cloud), and subdomain labels of other domains with host-N placeholders.
+- WireGuard public keys are replaced with consistent placeholder keys.

-IP addresses from non public ranges and well known addresses are not anonymized (e.g. 8.8.8.8, 100.64.0.0/10, addresses starting with 192.168., 172.16., 10., etc.).
 Reoccuring IP addresses are replaced with the same anonymized address.

 Note: The anonymized IP addresses in the status file do not match those in the log and routes files. However, the anonymized IP addresses are consistent within the status file and across the routes and log files.

+MAC Addresses
+MAC addresses are replaced at every anonymization level with consistent placeholders counting up from 02:00:00:00:00:01. Broadcast, multicast, and all-zero addresses are kept. At the default level a preserved IPv6 link-local address may still embed a MAC address (EUI-64); the strict level anonymizes those addresses.
+
 Domains
 All domain names (except for the netbird domains) are replaced with randomly generated strings ending in ".domain". Anonymized domains are consistent across all files in the bundle.
 Reoccuring domain names are replaced with the same anonymized domain.
+At the strict level, the peer name labels in front of netbird domains are anonymized as well.

 Sync Response
 The network_map.json file contains the following anonymized information:
@@ -281,6 +293,7 @@ type BundleGenerator struct {
 	cliVersion     string

 	anonymize         bool
+	anonymizeLevel    anonymize.Level
 	includeSystemInfo bool
 	logFileCount      uint32

@@ -288,7 +301,10 @@ type BundleGenerator struct {
 }

 type BundleConfig struct {
-	Anonymize         bool
+	Anonymize bool
+	// AnonymizeLevel selects how much the anonymizer redacts.
+	// anonymize.LevelStrict implies Anonymize.
+	AnonymizeLevel    anonymize.Level
 	IncludeSystemInfo bool
 	LogFileCount      uint32
 }
@@ -327,8 +343,11 @@ func NewBundleGenerator(deps GeneratorDependencies, cfg BundleConfig) *BundleGen
 		uiLogOpener = openLogFile
 	}

+	anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+	anonymizer.SetLevel(cfg.AnonymizeLevel)
+
 	return &BundleGenerator{
-		anonymizer: anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses()),
+		anonymizer: anonymizer,

 		internalConfig: deps.InternalConfig,
 		statusRecorder: deps.StatusRecorder,
@@ -345,7 +364,8 @@ func NewBundleGenerator(deps GeneratorDependencies, cfg BundleConfig) *BundleGen
 		daemonVersion:  deps.DaemonVersion,
 		cliVersion:     deps.CliVersion,

-		anonymize:         cfg.Anonymize,
+		anonymize:         cfg.Anonymize || cfg.AnonymizeLevel >= anonymize.LevelStrict,
+		anonymizeLevel:    cfg.AnonymizeLevel,
 		includeSystemInfo: cfg.IncludeSystemInfo,
 		logFileCount:      logFileCount,
 	}
@@ -485,7 +505,13 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addSystemInfo() {
 }

 func (g *BundleGenerator) addReadme() error {
-	readmeReader := strings.NewReader(readmeContent)
+	level := "none (anonymization disabled)"
+	if g.anonymize {
+		level = g.anonymizeLevel.String()
+	}
+	header := fmt.Sprintf("Netbird debug bundle\nAnonymization level applied to this bundle: %s\n", level)
+
+	readmeReader := strings.NewReader(header + readmeContent)
 	if err := g.addFileToZip(readmeReader, "README.txt"); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("add README file to zip: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -507,9 +533,10 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addStatus() error {
 		fullStatus := g.statusRecorder.GetFullStatus()
 		protoFullStatus := nbstatus.ToProtoFullStatus(fullStatus)
 		overview := nbstatus.ConvertToStatusOutputOverview(protoFullStatus, nbstatus.ConvertOptions{
-			Anonymize:     g.anonymize,
-			ProfileName:   profName,
-			DaemonVersion: g.daemonVersion,
+			Anonymize:      g.anonymize,
+			AnonymizeLevel: g.anonymizeLevel,
+			ProfileName:    profName,
+			DaemonVersion:  g.daemonVersion,
 		})
 		overview.CliVersion = g.cliVersion
 		statusOutput := overview.FullDetailSummary()
@@ -662,7 +689,7 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addCommonConfigFields(configContent *strings.Builder)
 	configContent.WriteString("NetBird Client Configuration:\n\n")

 	if key, err := wgtypes.ParseKey(g.internalConfig.PrivateKey); err == nil {
-		configContent.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("PublicKey: %s\n", key.PublicKey().String()))
+		configContent.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("PublicKey: %s\n", g.anonymizer.AnonymizeWGKey(key.PublicKey().String())))
 	}
 	configContent.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("WgIface: %s\n", g.internalConfig.WgIface))
 	configContent.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("WgPort: %d\n", g.internalConfig.WgPort))
@@ -952,6 +979,11 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addUpdateLogs() error {
 		}

 		baseName := filepath.Base(logFile)
+		data, err = g.anonymizeBytes(data)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Warnf("skipping update log file %s: %v", baseName, err)
+			continue
+		}
 		if err := g.addFileToZip(bytes.NewReader(data), filepath.Join("update-logs", baseName)); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("add update log file %s to zip: %w", baseName, err)
 		}
@@ -979,6 +1011,13 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addCorruptedStateFiles() error {
 		}

 		fileName := filepath.Base(match)
+		// Corrupted state files usually fail structured JSON anonymization,
+		// so run them through the string anonymizer instead.
+		data, err = g.anonymizeBytes(data)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Warnf("skipping corrupted state file %s: %v", fileName, err)
+			continue
+		}
 		if err := g.addFileToZip(bytes.NewReader(data), "corrupted_states/"+fileName); err != nil {
 			log.Warnf("Failed to add corrupted state file %s to zip: %v", fileName, err)
 			continue
@@ -990,6 +1029,27 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) addCorruptedStateFiles() error {
 	return nil
 }

+// anonymizeBytes runs raw file content through the string anonymizer line by
+// line when anonymization is enabled. It errors instead of returning partial
+// content, so a caller never adds an unanonymized fallback to the bundle.
+func (g *BundleGenerator) anonymizeBytes(data []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	if !g.anonymize {
+		return data, nil
+	}
+
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(bytes.NewReader(data))
+	scanner.Buffer(make([]byte, 1024*1024), 1024*1024)
+	for scanner.Scan() {
+		buf.WriteString(g.anonymizer.AnonymizeString(scanner.Text()))
+		buf.WriteByte('\n')
+	}
+	if err := scanner.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("anonymize content: %w", err)
+	}
+	return buf.Bytes(), nil
+}
+
 func (g *BundleGenerator) addMetrics() error {
 	if g.clientMetrics == nil {
 		log.Debugf("skipping metrics in debug bundle: no metrics collector")
@@ -1462,6 +1522,7 @@ func anonymizeRemotePeer(peer *mgmProto.RemotePeerConfig, anonymizer *anonymize.
 	}

 	peer.Fqdn = anonymizer.AnonymizeDomain(peer.Fqdn)
+	peer.WgPubKey = anonymizer.AnonymizeWGKey(peer.WgPubKey)

 	anonymizeSSHConfig(peer.SshConfig)
 }
--- a/client/internal/debug/wgshow.go
+++ b/client/internal/debug/wgshow.go
@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) toWGShowFormat(s *configurer.Stats) string {
 	var sb strings.Builder

 	sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("interface: %s\n", s.DeviceName))
-	sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  public key: %s\n", s.PublicKey))
+	sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  public key: %s\n", g.anonymizer.AnonymizeWGKey(s.PublicKey)))
 	sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  listen port: %d\n", s.ListenPort))
 	if s.FWMark != 0 {
 		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  fwmark: %#x\n", s.FWMark))
 	}

 	for _, peer := range s.Peers {
-		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("\npeer: %s\n", peer.PublicKey))
+		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("\npeer: %s\n", g.anonymizer.AnonymizeWGKey(peer.PublicKey)))
 		if peer.Endpoint.IP != nil {
 			if g.anonymize {
 				anonEndpoint := g.anonymizer.AnonymizeUDPAddr(peer.Endpoint)
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@ func (g *BundleGenerator) toWGShowFormat(s *configurer.Stats) string {
 		if len(peer.AllowedIPs) > 0 {
 			var ipStrings []string
 			for _, ipnet := range peer.AllowedIPs {
-				ipStrings = append(ipStrings, ipnet.String())
+				ipStr := ipnet.String()
+				if g.anonymize {
+					ipStr = g.anonymizer.AnonymizeIPString(ipStr)
+				}
+				ipStrings = append(ipStrings, ipStr)
 			}
 			sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  allowed ips: %s\n", strings.Join(ipStrings, ", ")))
 		}
--- a/client/internal/engine.go
+++ b/client/internal/engine.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/tun/netstack"
 	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/wgctrl/wgtypes"

+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/anonymize"
 	nberrors "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/errors"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/firewall"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/firewall/firewalld"
@@ -1385,6 +1386,7 @@ func (e *Engine) handleBundle(params *mgmProto.BundleParameters) (*mgmProto.JobR

 	bundleJobParams := debug.BundleConfig{
 		Anonymize:         params.Anonymize,
+		AnonymizeLevel:    anonymize.ParseLevel(params.AnonymizeLevel),
 		IncludeSystemInfo: true,
 		LogFileCount:      uint32(params.LogFileCount),
 	}
--- a/client/internal/metrics/connection_type.go
+++ b/client/internal/metrics/connection_type.go
@@ -4,11 +4,17 @@ package metrics
 type ConnectionType string

 const (
-	// ConnectionTypeICE represents a direct peer-to-peer connection using ICE
-	ConnectionTypeICE ConnectionType = "ice"
+	// ConnectionTypeICEP2P represents a direct peer-to-peer connection using ICE
+	ConnectionTypeICEP2P ConnectionType = "ice_p2p"
+
+	// ConnectionTypeICETurn represents an ICE connection through a TURN server
+	ConnectionTypeICETurn ConnectionType = "ice_turn"

 	// ConnectionTypeRelay represents a relayed connection
 	ConnectionTypeRelay ConnectionType = "relay"
+
+	// ConnectionTypeUnknown represents a connection with no active transport. It is not pushed.
+	ConnectionTypeUnknown ConnectionType = "unknown"
 )

 // String returns the string representation of the connection type
--- a/client/internal/metrics/influxdb_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/metrics/influxdb_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func TestInfluxDBMetrics_RecordAndExport(t *testing.T) {
 		WgHandshakeSuccess: time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Second),
 	}

-	m.RecordConnectionStages(context.Background(), agentInfo, "pair123", ConnectionTypeICE, false, ts)
+	m.RecordConnectionStages(context.Background(), agentInfo, "pair123", ConnectionTypeICEP2P, false, ts)

 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 	err := m.Export(&buf)
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func TestInfluxDBMetrics_ExportDeterministicFieldOrder(t *testing.T) {

 	// Record multiple times and verify consistent field order
 	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
-		m.RecordConnectionStages(context.Background(), agentInfo, "pair123", ConnectionTypeICE, false, ts)
+		m.RecordConnectionStages(context.Background(), agentInfo, "pair123", ConnectionTypeICEP2P, false, ts)
 	}

 	var buf bytes.Buffer
--- a/client/internal/metrics/infra/README.md
+++ b/client/internal/metrics/infra/README.md
@@ -56,14 +56,33 @@ Measurement: `netbird_peer_connection`

 Tags:
 - `deployment_type`: "cloud" | "selfhosted" | "unknown"
- `connection_type`: "ice" | "relay"
+- `connection_type`: "ice_p2p" | "ice_turn" | "relay" (see below)
 - `attempt_type`: "initial" | "reconnection"
 - `version`: NetBird version string
 - `os`: Operating system (linux, darwin, windows, android, ios, etc.)
 - `arch`: CPU architecture (amd64, arm64, etc.)
+- `peer_id`: anonymised peer identifier (truncated SHA-256 of the WireGuard public key)
+- `connection_pair_id`: deterministic identifier for the peer pair, identical on both sides

 **Note:** `SignalingReceived` is set when the first offer or answer arrives from the remote peer (in both initial and reconnection paths). It excludes the potentially unbounded wait for the remote peer to come online.

+#### `connection_type` values
+
+Derived from the connection priority (`conntype.ConnPriority`) by `metricsConnType` in `client/internal/peer/conn.go`:
+
+| Value | Priority | Traffic is |
+|-------|----------|------------|
+| `ice_p2p` | `ICEP2P` | direct peer-to-peer |
+| `ice_turn` | `ICETurn` | relayed, through a TURN server |
+| `relay` | `Relay` | relayed, through a NetBird relay |
+| `unknown` | `None` or unrecognised | no active transport — **the sample is not pushed** |
+
+**Direct traffic is `ice_p2p` only.** `ice_turn` is relayed despite being negotiated by ICE, matching `Conn.isRelayed`.
+
+`None` means no transport is active: not established yet, or reset after a relay drop or a peer-state reset. Such a sample cannot be attributed to a transport, so `recordConnectionMetrics` drops it instead of pushing it — `unknown` therefore never appears in the bucket. Connection counts are counts of connections whose transport was known at sampling time.
+
+**Samples recorded before 0.77 used a single `ice` value** which covered `ICEP2P`, `ICETurn` *and* `None`, so historical `ice` samples overstate direct connections by an unknown amount and must not be compared with `ice_p2p`.
+
 ### Sync Duration

 Measurement: `netbird_sync`
--- a/client/internal/peer/conn.go
+++ b/client/internal/peer/conn.go
@@ -307,6 +307,8 @@ func (conn *Conn) Close(signalToRemote bool) {

 	if conn.wgWatcherCancel != nil {
 		conn.wgWatcherCancel()
+		conn.wgWatcher = nil
+		conn.wgWatcherCancel = nil
 	}
 	conn.workerRelay.CloseConn()
 	if conn.workerICE != nil {
@@ -959,12 +961,9 @@ func (conn *Conn) recordConnectionMetrics() {
 	priority := conn.currentConnPriority
 	conn.mu.Unlock()

-	var connType metrics.ConnectionType
-	switch priority {
-	case conntype.Relay:
-		connType = metrics.ConnectionTypeRelay
-	default:
-		connType = metrics.ConnectionTypeICE
+	connType := metricsConnType(priority)
+	if connType == metrics.ConnectionTypeUnknown {
+		return
 	}

 	// Record metrics with timestamps - duration calculation happens in metrics package
@@ -1065,3 +1064,16 @@ func boolToConnStatus(connected bool) guard.ConnStatus {
 	}
 	return guard.ConnStatusDisconnected
 }
+
+func metricsConnType(priority conntype.ConnPriority) metrics.ConnectionType {
+	switch priority {
+	case conntype.Relay:
+		return metrics.ConnectionTypeRelay
+	case conntype.ICETurn:
+		return metrics.ConnectionTypeICETurn
+	case conntype.ICEP2P:
+		return metrics.ConnectionTypeICEP2P
+	default:
+		return metrics.ConnectionTypeUnknown
+	}
+}
--- a/client/internal/peer/conn_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/peer/conn_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"

 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/metrics"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer/conntype"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer/dispatcher"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer/guard"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer/ice"
@@ -386,3 +388,33 @@ func TestConn_onWGDisconnected_NoEscalationWithoutRosenpass(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	assert.Empty(t, disconnected, "escalation must be limited to rosenpass connections")
 }
+
+func TestMetricsConnType(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		priority conntype.ConnPriority
+		expected metrics.ConnectionType
+	}{
+		{"relay", conntype.Relay, metrics.ConnectionTypeRelay},
+		{"ice over turn is relayed, not p2p", conntype.ICETurn, metrics.ConnectionTypeICETurn},
+		{"direct p2p", conntype.ICEP2P, metrics.ConnectionTypeICEP2P},
+		{"unset priority is unknown, not p2p", conntype.None, metrics.ConnectionTypeUnknown},
+		{"unrecognised priority is unknown", conntype.ConnPriority(99), metrics.ConnectionTypeUnknown},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.expected, metricsConnType(tc.priority))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMetricsConnType_RelayedMatchesIsRelayed(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, priority := range []conntype.ConnPriority{conntype.None, conntype.Relay, conntype.ICETurn, conntype.ICEP2P} {
+		conn := &Conn{currentConnPriority: priority}
+		tag := metricsConnType(priority)
+		relayedTag := tag == metrics.ConnectionTypeRelay || tag == metrics.ConnectionTypeICETurn
+		assert.Equal(t, conn.isRelayed(), relayedTag,
+			"priority %s: isRelayed and the %q metric tag must agree", priority, tag)
+	}
+}
--- a/client/ios/NetBirdSDK/client.go
+++ b/client/ios/NetBirdSDK/client.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (

 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"

+	nbAnonymize "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/anonymize"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/auth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/debug"
@@ -28,6 +29,13 @@ import (
 	types "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/upload-server/types"
 )

+// AnonymizeLevelDefault and AnonymizeLevelStrict are the accepted
+// anonymizeLevel values for DebugBundle.
+const (
+	AnonymizeLevelDefault = nbAnonymize.LevelDefaultString
+	AnonymizeLevelStrict  = nbAnonymize.LevelStrictString
+)
+
 // ConnectionListener export internal Listener for mobile
 type ConnectionListener interface {
 	peer.Listener
@@ -200,8 +208,10 @@ func (c *Client) Stop() {
 // DebugBundle generates a debug bundle, uploads it and returns the upload key.
 // It works with or without a running engine: when the engine is up it reuses
 // the live config, sync response and client metrics; otherwise it loads the
-// config from disk (or the preloaded tvOS config).
-func (c *Client) DebugBundle(anonymize bool) (string, error) {
+// config from disk (or the preloaded tvOS config). anonymizeLevel is "default"
+// or "strict"; strict also anonymizes internal IP ranges, peer names, and
+// WireGuard public keys, and implies anonymize.
+func (c *Client) DebugBundle(anonymize bool, anonymizeLevel string) (string, error) {
 	cfg, cc := c.stateSnapshot()

 	// If the engine hasn't been started, load config so we can reach management.
@@ -251,6 +261,7 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(anonymize bool) (string, error) {
 		deps,
 		debug.BundleConfig{
 			Anonymize:         anonymize,
+			AnonymizeLevel:    nbAnonymize.ParseLevel(anonymizeLevel),
 			IncludeSystemInfo: true,
 		},
 	)
--- a/client/proto/daemon.pb.go
+++ b/client/proto/daemon.pb.go
@@ -2781,6 +2781,11 @@ type DebugBundleRequest struct {
 	// untrusted TLS certificate. Restricted to privileged callers; for
 	// self-hosted upload servers.
 	UploadInsecure bool `protobuf:"varint,7,opt,name=uploadInsecure,proto3" json:"uploadInsecure,omitempty"`
+	// anonymizeLevel selects how much the anonymizer redacts: "default"
+	// (or empty) keeps internal IP ranges, "strict" also anonymizes them.
+	// Unknown values are treated as "strict". Only meaningful with anonymize;
+	// "strict" implies it.
+	AnonymizeLevel string `protobuf:"bytes,8,opt,name=anonymizeLevel,proto3" json:"anonymizeLevel,omitempty"`
 	unknownFields  protoimpl.UnknownFields
 	sizeCache      protoimpl.SizeCache
 }
@@ -2857,6 +2862,13 @@ func (x *DebugBundleRequest) GetUploadInsecure() bool {
 	return false
 }

+func (x *DebugBundleRequest) GetAnonymizeLevel() string {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.AnonymizeLevel
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 type DebugBundleResponse struct {
 	state               protoimpl.MessageState `protogen:"open.v1"`
 	Path                string                 `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=path,proto3" json:"path,omitempty"`
@@ -7253,7 +7265,7 @@ 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\"\xdc\x01\n" +
+	"\x05rules\x18\x01 \x03(\v2\x16.daemon.ForwardingRuleR\x05rules\"\x84\x02\n" +
 	"\x12DebugBundleRequest\x12\x1c\n" +
 	"\tanonymize\x18\x01 \x01(\bR\tanonymize\x12\x1e\n" +
 	"\n" +
@@ -7264,7 +7276,8 @@ const file_daemon_proto_rawDesc = "" +
 	"\n" +
 	"cliVersion\x18\x06 \x01(\tR\n" +
 	"cliVersion\x12&\n" +
-	"\x0euploadInsecure\x18\a \x01(\bR\x0euploadInsecure\"}\n" +
+	"\x0euploadInsecure\x18\a \x01(\bR\x0euploadInsecure\x12&\n" +
+	"\x0eanonymizeLevel\x18\b \x01(\tR\x0eanonymizeLevel\"}\n" +
 	"\x13DebugBundleResponse\x12\x12\n" +
 	"\x04path\x18\x01 \x01(\tR\x04path\x12 \n" +
 	"\vuploadedKey\x18\x02 \x01(\tR\vuploadedKey\x120\n" +
--- a/client/proto/daemon.proto
+++ b/client/proto/daemon.proto
@@ -540,6 +540,11 @@ message DebugBundleRequest {
  // untrusted TLS certificate. Restricted to privileged callers; for
  // self-hosted upload servers.
  bool uploadInsecure = 7;
+  // anonymizeLevel selects how much the anonymizer redacts: "default"
+  // (or empty) keeps internal IP ranges, "strict" also anonymizes them.
+  // Unknown values are treated as "strict". Only meaningful with anonymize;
+  // "strict" implies it.
+  string anonymizeLevel = 8;
 }

 message DebugBundleResponse {
--- a/client/server/debug.go
+++ b/client/server/debug.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
 	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"

+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/anonymize"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
@@ -122,6 +123,7 @@ func (s *Server) generateDebugBundle(req *proto.DebugBundleRequest, uiOpener deb
 		},
 		debug.BundleConfig{
 			Anonymize:         req.GetAnonymize(),
+			AnonymizeLevel:    anonymize.ParseLevel(req.GetAnonymizeLevel()),
 			IncludeSystemInfo: req.GetSystemInfo(),
 			LogFileCount:      req.GetLogFileCount(),
 		},
--- a/client/status/status.go
+++ b/client/status/status.go
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ func ParseDaemonStatus(s string) DaemonStatus {

 // ConvertOptions holds parameters for ConvertToStatusOutputOverview.
 type ConvertOptions struct {
-	Anonymize            bool
+	Anonymize bool
+	// AnonymizeLevel selects how much the anonymizer redacts. Only
+	// meaningful when Anonymize is set.
+	AnonymizeLevel       anonymize.Level
 	DaemonVersion        string
 	DaemonStatus         DaemonStatus
 	StatusFilter         string
@@ -217,6 +220,7 @@ func ConvertToStatusOutputOverview(pbFullStatus *proto.FullStatus, opts ConvertO

 	if opts.Anonymize {
 		anonymizer := anonymize.NewAnonymizer(anonymize.DefaultAddresses())
+		anonymizer.SetLevel(opts.AnonymizeLevel)
 		anonymizeOverview(anonymizer, &overview)
 	}

@@ -976,6 +980,7 @@ func timeAgo(t time.Time) string {

 func anonymizePeerDetail(a *anonymize.Anonymizer, peer *PeerStateDetailOutput) {
 	peer.FQDN = a.AnonymizeDomain(peer.FQDN)
+	peer.PubKey = a.AnonymizeWGKey(peer.PubKey)
 	if localIP, port, err := net.SplitHostPort(peer.IceCandidateEndpoint.Local); err == nil {
 		peer.IceCandidateEndpoint.Local = fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", a.AnonymizeIPString(localIP), port)
 	}
@@ -1007,6 +1012,7 @@ func anonymizeOverview(a *anonymize.Anonymizer, overview *OutputOverview) {
 	overview.SignalState.URL = a.AnonymizeURI(overview.SignalState.URL)
 	overview.SignalState.Error = a.AnonymizeString(overview.SignalState.Error)

+	overview.PubKey = a.AnonymizeWGKey(overview.PubKey)
 	overview.IP = a.AnonymizeIPString(overview.IP)
 	overview.IPv6 = a.AnonymizeIPString(overview.IPv6)
 	for i, detail := range overview.Relays.Details {
--- a/client/ui/frontend/src/contexts/DebugBundleContext.tsx
+++ b/client/ui/frontend/src/contexts/DebugBundleContext.tsx
@@ -71,10 +71,12 @@ type BundleOptions = {
    hasWindow: boolean;
    totalSec: number;
    uploadUrl: string;
-    anonymize: boolean;
+    anonymizeLevel: AnonymizeLevel;
    systemInfo: boolean;
 };

+export type AnonymizeLevel = "none" | "default" | "strict";
+
 const startCaptureBestEffort = async (totalSec: number, pcap: CaptureState) => {
    try {
        // Mirror the CLI's safety margin: window + 30s, server caps at 10m.
@@ -187,7 +189,10 @@ const runBundleFlow = async (

    if (opts.uploadUrl) setStage({ kind: "uploading" });
    const result = await DebugSvc.Bundle({
-        anonymize: opts.anonymize,
+        anonymize: opts.anonymizeLevel !== "none",
+        // The daemon only knows "default" and "strict"; "none" is expressed
+        // through the anonymize flag being off.
+        anonymizeLevel: opts.anonymizeLevel === "strict" ? "strict" : "default",
        systemInfo: opts.systemInfo,
        uploadUrl: opts.uploadUrl,
        logFileCount,
@@ -198,7 +203,7 @@ const runBundleFlow = async (
 };

 const useDebugBundle = () => {
-    const [anonymize, setAnonymize] = useState(false);
+    const [anonymizeLevel, setAnonymizeLevel] = useState<AnonymizeLevel>("none");
    const [systemInfo, setSystemInfo] = useState(true);
    const [upload, setUpload] = useState(true);
    const [trace, setTrace] = useState(true);
@@ -240,7 +245,7 @@ const useDebugBundle = () => {
            hasWindow: capture && totalSec > 0,
            totalSec,
            uploadUrl: upload ? NETBIRD_UPLOAD_URL : "",
-            anonymize,
+            anonymizeLevel,
            systemInfo,
        };

@@ -272,8 +277,8 @@ const useDebugBundle = () => {
    };

    return {
-        anonymize,
-        setAnonymize,
+        anonymizeLevel,
+        setAnonymizeLevel,
        systemInfo,
        setSystemInfo,
        upload,
--- a/client/ui/frontend/src/modules/settings/SettingsTroubleshooting.tsx
+++ b/client/ui/frontend/src/modules/settings/SettingsTroubleshooting.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useId, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import { Trans, useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import { CircleCheckBig, FolderOpen, Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
+import { ChevronDown, CircleCheckBig, FolderOpen, Info, Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
 import { Browser } from "@wailsio/runtime";
 import { Debug as DebugSvc } from "@bindings/services";
 import type { DebugBundleResult } from "@bindings/services/models.js";
@@ -8,13 +8,22 @@ import { Button } from "@/components/buttons/Button";
 import { DialogActions } from "@/components/dialog/DialogActions";
 import { DialogDescription } from "@/components/dialog/DialogDescription";
 import { DialogHeading } from "@/components/dialog/DialogHeading";
+import {
+    DropdownMenu,
+    DropdownMenuContent,
+    DropdownMenuRadioGroup,
+    DropdownMenuRadioItem,
+    DropdownMenuTrigger,
+} from "@/components/DropdownMenu";
 import FancyToggleSwitch from "@/components/switches/FancyToggleSwitch";
 import HelpText from "@/components/typography/HelpText.tsx";
 import { Input } from "@/components/inputs/Input";
 import { Label } from "@/components/typography/Label";
 import { SquareIcon } from "@/components/SquareIcon";
+import { Tooltip } from "@/components/Tooltip";
+import { cn } from "@/lib/cn";
 import { formatRemaining } from "@/lib/formatters";
-import type { DebugStage } from "@/contexts/DebugBundleContext";
+import type { AnonymizeLevel, DebugStage } from "@/contexts/DebugBundleContext";
 import { useDebugBundleContext } from "@/contexts/DebugBundleContext";
 import { SectionGroup, SettingsBottomBar } from "@/modules/settings/SettingsSection.tsx";

@@ -24,8 +33,8 @@ export function SettingsTroubleshooting() {
    const { t } = useTranslation();
    const durationId = useId();
    const {
-        anonymize,
-        setAnonymize,
+        anonymizeLevel,
+        setAnonymizeLevel,
        systemInfo,
        setSystemInfo,
        upload,
@@ -55,12 +64,71 @@ export function SettingsTroubleshooting() {

    return (
        <SectionGroup title={t("settings.troubleshooting.section.title")}>
-            <FancyToggleSwitch
-                value={anonymize}
-                onChange={setAnonymize}
-                label={t("settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.label")}
-                helpText={t("settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.help")}
-            />
+            <div className={"flex items-center justify-between gap-6"}>
+                <div className={"max-w-md flex-1"}>
+                    <Label as={"div"}>
+                        <span className={"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5"}>
+                            {t("settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.label")}
+                            <Tooltip
+                                content={
+                                    <div className={"max-w-xs whitespace-normal leading-relaxed"}>
+                                        {t("settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.info")}
+                                    </div>
+                                }
+                            >
+                                <Info
+                                    size={14}
+                                    aria-label={t("settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.label")}
+                                    className={"shrink-0 cursor-default text-nb-gray-400"}
+                                />
+                            </Tooltip>
+                        </span>
+                    </Label>
+                    <HelpText margin={false}>
+                        {t("settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.help")}
+                    </HelpText>
+                </div>
+                <div className={"shrink-0"}>
+                    <DropdownMenu>
+                        <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
+                            <button
+                                type={"button"}
+                                aria-label={t("settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.label")}
+                                className={cn(
+                                    "inline-flex h-[40px] min-w-[160px] items-center justify-between gap-2 px-3",
+                                    "rounded-md border bg-white dark:bg-nb-gray-900",
+                                    "border-neutral-200 dark:border-nb-gray-700",
+                                    "cursor-default text-xs font-semibold text-nb-gray-100 outline-none",
+                                    "hover:border-nb-gray-600 data-[state=open]:border-nb-gray-600",
+                                )}
+                            >
+                                {t(`settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.${anonymizeLevel}`)}
+                                <ChevronDown
+                                    size={16}
+                                    aria-hidden={"true"}
+                                    className={"shrink-0 text-nb-gray-200"}
+                                />
+                            </button>
+                        </DropdownMenuTrigger>
+                        <DropdownMenuContent align={"end"} className={"min-w-[160px]"}>
+                            <DropdownMenuRadioGroup
+                                value={anonymizeLevel}
+                                onValueChange={(v) => setAnonymizeLevel(v as AnonymizeLevel)}
+                            >
+                                <DropdownMenuRadioItem value={"none"}>
+                                    {t("settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.none")}
+                                </DropdownMenuRadioItem>
+                                <DropdownMenuRadioItem value={"default"}>
+                                    {t("settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.default")}
+                                </DropdownMenuRadioItem>
+                                <DropdownMenuRadioItem value={"strict"}>
+                                    {t("settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.strict")}
+                                </DropdownMenuRadioItem>
+                            </DropdownMenuRadioGroup>
+                        </DropdownMenuContent>
+                    </DropdownMenu>
+                </div>
+            </div>
            <FancyToggleSwitch
                value={systemInfo}
                onChange={setSystemInfo}
--- a/client/ui/i18n/locales/en/common.json
+++ b/client/ui/i18n/locales/en/common.json
@@ -1013,11 +1013,27 @@
    },
    "settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.label": {
        "message": "Anonymize Sensitive Information",
-        "description": "Toggle label: anonymize sensitive information in the bundle."
+        "description": "Label for the anonymization level dropdown (None, Default, Strict)."
    },
    "settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.help": {
-        "message": "Hides public IP addresses and non-NetBird domains from logs.",
-        "description": "Helper text for anonymizing logs (hides public IPs and non-NetBird domains)."
+        "message": "Hides IP addresses, domains, and other sensitive values.",
+        "description": "Helper text under the anonymization dropdown. The level details live in the info tooltip."
+    },
+    "settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.info": {
+        "message": "Default keeps internal IPv4 addresses and peer names readable for support. Strict additionally anonymizes private (RFC 1918), CGNAT, and link-local IP addresses, peer names, and WireGuard public keys. Recurring values map to the same placeholder, so peers stay distinguishable. Use Strict when sharing the bundle outside your organization.",
+        "description": "Info tooltip explaining the anonymization levels. 'RFC 1918', 'CGNAT', 'link-local', and 'WireGuard' are technical terms — keep them."
+    },
+    "settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.none": {
+        "message": "None",
+        "description": "Dropdown option: no anonymization."
+    },
+    "settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.default": {
+        "message": "Default",
+        "description": "Dropdown option: default anonymization level."
+    },
+    "settings.troubleshooting.anonymize.strict": {
+        "message": "Strict",
+        "description": "Dropdown option: strict anonymization level."
    },
    "settings.troubleshooting.systemInfo.label": {
        "message": "Include System Information",
--- a/client/ui/services/debug.go
+++ b/client/ui/services/debug.go
@@ -15,10 +15,13 @@ import (
 )

 type DebugBundleParams struct {
-	Anonymize    bool   `json:"anonymize"`
-	SystemInfo   bool   `json:"systemInfo"`
-	UploadURL    string `json:"uploadUrl"`
-	LogFileCount uint32 `json:"logFileCount"`
+	Anonymize bool `json:"anonymize"`
+	// AnonymizeLevel is "default" or "strict"; strict also anonymizes
+	// private IP ranges, peer names, and WireGuard public keys.
+	AnonymizeLevel string `json:"anonymizeLevel"`
+	SystemInfo     bool   `json:"systemInfo"`
+	UploadURL      string `json:"uploadUrl"`
+	LogFileCount   uint32 `json:"logFileCount"`
 }

 // DebugBundleResult: Path is set for local-only bundles, UploadedKey on upload
@@ -48,11 +51,12 @@ func (s *Debug) Bundle(ctx context.Context, p DebugBundleParams) (DebugBundleRes
 		return DebugBundleResult{}, err
 	}
 	resp, err := cli.DebugBundle(ctx, &proto.DebugBundleRequest{
-		Anonymize:    p.Anonymize,
-		SystemInfo:   p.SystemInfo,
-		UploadURL:    p.UploadURL,
-		LogFileCount: p.LogFileCount,
-		CliVersion:   version.NetbirdVersion(),
+		Anonymize:      p.Anonymize,
+		AnonymizeLevel: p.AnonymizeLevel,
+		SystemInfo:     p.SystemInfo,
+		UploadURL:      p.UploadURL,
+		LogFileCount:   p.LogFileCount,
+		CliVersion:     version.NetbirdVersion(),
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return DebugBundleResult{}, err
--- a/infrastructure_files/migrate-to-enterprise.sh
+++ b/infrastructure_files/migrate-to-enterprise.sh
@@ -173,11 +173,11 @@ EOF
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 detect_combined_service() {
-  yq eval '.services | to_entries | map(select(.value.image | test("^netbirdio/netbird-server"))) | .[0].key // ""' "$COMPOSE_FILE"
+  yq eval '.services | to_entries | map(select(.value.image | test("^(ghcr\\.io/)?netbirdio/netbird-server([:@]|$)"))) | .[0].key // ""' "$COMPOSE_FILE"
 }

 detect_dashboard_service() {
-  yq eval '.services | to_entries | map(select(.value.image | test("^netbirdio/dashboard"))) | .[0].key // ""' "$COMPOSE_FILE"
+  yq eval '.services | to_entries | map(select(.value.image | test("^(ghcr\\.io/)?netbirdio/dashboard([:@]|$)"))) | .[0].key // ""' "$COMPOSE_FILE"
 }

 detect_config_yaml_host_path() {
@@ -661,12 +661,12 @@ init_migration() {
  COMPOSE_NETWORK=$(detect_compose_network)

  if [[ -z "$COMBINED_SERVICE" ]]; then
-    echo "Could not find a service running netbirdio/netbird-server* in $COMPOSE_FILE." > /dev/stderr
+    echo "Could not find a service running netbirdio/netbird-server or ghcr.io/netbirdio/netbird-server in $COMPOSE_FILE." > /dev/stderr
    echo "This script targets the community combined-server deployment." > /dev/stderr
    exit 1
  fi
  if [[ -z "$DASHBOARD_SERVICE" ]]; then
-    echo "Could not find a service running netbirdio/dashboard* in $COMPOSE_FILE." > /dev/stderr
+    echo "Could not find a service running netbirdio/dashboard or ghcr.io/netbirdio/dashboard in $COMPOSE_FILE." > /dev/stderr
    exit 1
  fi
  if [[ -z "$CONFIG_YAML_HOST" ]]; then
--- a/infrastructure_files/observability/grafana/dashboards/management-enterprise.json
+++ b/infrastructure_files/observability/grafana/dashboards/management-enterprise.json
--- a/management/internals/controllers/network_map/controller/controller.go
+++ b/management/internals/controllers/network_map/controller/controller.go
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ func (c *Controller) sendUpdateAccountPeers(ctx context.Context, accountID strin
 	semaphore := make(chan struct{}, 10)

 	c.injectAllProxyPolicies(ctx, account)
+	account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
 	dnsCache := &cache.DNSConfigCache{}
 	dnsDomain := c.GetDNSDomain(account.Settings)
 	peersCustomZone := account.GetPeersCustomZone(ctx, dnsDomain)
@@ -357,6 +358,7 @@ func (c *Controller) sendUpdateForAffectedPeers(ctx context.Context, accountID s
 	// network map that omitted the synth DNS zone, and the agent kept
 	// resolving against the stale or absent record.
 	c.injectAllProxyPolicies(ctx, account)
+	account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
 	dnsCache := &cache.DNSConfigCache{}
 	dnsDomain := c.GetDNSDomain(account.Settings)
 	peersCustomZone := account.GetPeersCustomZone(ctx, dnsDomain)
--- a/management/internals/shared/grpc/proxy.go
+++ b/management/internals/shared/grpc/proxy.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/netip"
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
@@ -25,10 +26,12 @@ import (
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"golang.org/x/oauth2"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/metadata"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/status"

 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/domain"

+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/agentnetwork"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/peers"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/accesslogs"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/proxy"
@@ -36,7 +39,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/sessionkey"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/idp"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/peer"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/agentnetwork"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/types"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/users"
 	proxyauth "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/proxy/auth"
@@ -134,6 +136,10 @@ type ProxyServiceServer struct {
 	// initial snapshot delivery. Configurable via NB_PROXY_SNAPSHOT_BATCH_SIZE.
 	snapshotBatchSize int

+	authAttemptLimiter *authFailureLimiter
+	authClientLimiter  *authFailureLimiter
+	authFailureMAC     []byte
+
 	cancel context.CancelFunc
 }

@@ -204,6 +210,10 @@ func NewProxyServiceServer(accessLogMgr accesslogs.Manager, tokenStore *OneTimeT
 		snapshotBatchSize: snapshotBatchSizeFromEnv(),
 		cancel:            cancel,
 	}
+	s.authAttemptLimiter = newAuthFailureLimiter()
+	s.authClientLimiter = newAuthClientLimiter()
+	s.authFailureMAC = make([]byte, sha256.Size)
+	_, _ = rand.Read(s.authFailureMAC)
 	go s.cleanupStaleProxies(ctx)
 	return s
 }
@@ -1172,6 +1182,18 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) Authenticate(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Authen
 		return nil, err
 	}

+	failureKey := s.authFailureKey(req)
+	limitFailures := failureKey != "" && s.authAttemptLimiter != nil && len(s.authFailureMAC) > 0
+	if limitFailures && s.authAttemptLimiter.isLimited(failureKey) {
+		return nil, status.Errorf(codes.ResourceExhausted, "too many failed authentication attempts for this credential, please try again later")
+	}
+
+	clientKey := s.authClientKey(ctx, req.GetId())
+	limitClient := clientKey != "" && s.authClientLimiter != nil
+	if limitClient && s.authClientLimiter.isLimited(clientKey) {
+		return nil, status.Errorf(codes.ResourceExhausted, "too many failed authentication attempts from this client, please try again later")
+	}
+
 	service, err := s.serviceManager.GetServiceByID(ctx, req.GetAccountId(), req.GetId())
 	if err != nil {
 		log.WithContext(ctx).Debugf("failed to get service from store: %v", err)
@@ -1179,6 +1201,14 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) Authenticate(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Authen
 	}

 	authenticated, userId, method := s.authenticateRequest(ctx, req, service)
+	if !authenticated {
+		if limitFailures {
+			s.authAttemptLimiter.recordFailure(failureKey)
+		}
+		if limitClient {
+			s.authClientLimiter.recordFailure(clientKey)
+		}
+	}

 	// Non-OIDC schemes (PIN/Password/Header) authenticate against per-service
 	// secrets and have no user-level group context, so groups stay nil. Email
@@ -1194,6 +1224,40 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) Authenticate(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Authen
 	}, nil
 }

+func (s *ProxyServiceServer) authClientKey(ctx context.Context, serviceID string) string {
+	md, ok := metadata.FromIncomingContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return ""
+	}
+	values := md.Get(proxyauth.ClientIPMetadataKey)
+	if len(values) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	addr, err := netip.ParseAddr(strings.TrimSpace(values[0]))
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return serviceID + "|" + addr.Unmap().String()
+}
+
+func (s *ProxyServiceServer) authFailureKey(req *proto.AuthenticateRequest) string {
+	var secret string
+	switch v := req.GetRequest().(type) {
+	case *proto.AuthenticateRequest_Pin:
+		secret = "pin|" + v.Pin.GetPin()
+	case *proto.AuthenticateRequest_Password:
+		secret = "password|" + v.Password.GetPassword()
+	case *proto.AuthenticateRequest_HeaderAuth:
+		secret = "header|" + v.HeaderAuth.GetHeaderName() + "|" + v.HeaderAuth.GetHeaderValue()
+	default:
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	mac := hmac.New(sha256.New, s.authFailureMAC)
+	mac.Write([]byte(secret))
+	return req.GetId() + "|" + hex.EncodeToString(mac.Sum(nil))
+}
+
 func (s *ProxyServiceServer) authenticateRequest(ctx context.Context, req *proto.AuthenticateRequest, service *rpservice.Service) (bool, string, proxyauth.Method) {
 	switch v := req.GetRequest().(type) {
 	case *proto.AuthenticateRequest_Pin:
@@ -1579,9 +1643,62 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateState(state string) (verifier, redirectURL
 	return verifier, redirectURL, nil
 }

+// Denied reasons reported to the proxy when access is refused because of the
+// account status of the user behind the request.
+const (
+	deniedReasonPendingApproval = "pending_approval"
+	deniedReasonUserBlocked     = "user_blocked"
+	deniedReasonUserNotFound    = "user_not_found"
+)
+
+var (
+	// ErrUserPendingApproval reports a user whose account still awaits approval
+	// by an administrator and may therefore not hold a proxy session.
+	ErrUserPendingApproval = errors.New("user pending approval")
+
+	// ErrUserBlocked reports a blocked user, who may not hold a proxy session.
+	ErrUserBlocked = errors.New("user blocked")
+
+	errUserUnresolved = errors.New("user could not be resolved")
+)
+
+// checkUserStatus reports whether the user's account status permits reverse
+// proxy access, returning the denied reason for the proxy access log together
+// with the sentinel error callers match on. A user awaiting approval is stored
+// as both pending and blocked, so the pending state is reported first: it is
+// the one an administrator can act on.
+func checkUserStatus(user *types.User) (string, error) {
+	switch {
+	case user == nil:
+		return deniedReasonUserNotFound, errUserUnresolved
+	case user.PendingApproval:
+		return deniedReasonPendingApproval, ErrUserPendingApproval
+	case user.IsBlocked():
+		return deniedReasonUserBlocked, ErrUserBlocked
+	default:
+		return "", nil
+	}
+}
+
+// userStatusDeniedReason returns the denied reason for callers that report a
+// decision rather than an error, and an empty string when the user may proceed.
+func userStatusDeniedReason(user *types.User) string {
+	reason, _ := checkUserStatus(user)
+	return reason
+}
+
+// sameAccount reports whether a user belongs to a service's account. An empty
+// identifier on either side never matches: two unset accounts must not compare
+// equal into a grant.
+func sameAccount(userAccountID, serviceAccountID string) bool {
+	return userAccountID != "" && serviceAccountID != "" && userAccountID == serviceAccountID
+}
+
 // GenerateSessionToken creates a signed session JWT for the given domain and
 // user. The user's group memberships are embedded in the token so policy-aware
 // middlewares on the proxy can authorise without an extra management round-trip.
+// A user the store cannot resolve, or whose account is pending approval or
+// blocked, gets no token at all, so the browser never receives a session cookie.
 func (s *ProxyServiceServer) GenerateSessionToken(ctx context.Context, domain, userID string, method proxyauth.Method) (string, error) {
 	service, err := s.getServiceByDomain(ctx, domain)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1592,25 +1709,37 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) GenerateSessionToken(ctx context.Context, domain, u
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("no session key configured for domain: %s", domain)
 	}

-	var (
-		email      string
-		groupIDs   []string
-		groupNames []string
-	)
-	if s.usersManager != nil {
-		user, userGroups, uerr := s.usersManager.GetUserWithGroups(ctx, userID)
-		if uerr != nil {
-			log.WithContext(ctx).Debugf("session token mint: lookup user %s: %v", userID, uerr)
-		} else if user != nil {
-			email = user.Email
-			groupIDs, groupNames = pairGroupIDsAndNames(userGroups)
-		}
+	if s.usersManager == nil {
+		return "", errors.New("users manager not configured")
 	}

+	user, userGroups, err := s.usersManager.GetUserWithGroups(ctx, userID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("get user %s: %w", userID, err)
+	}
+
+	if user == nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("get user %s: %w", userID, errUserUnresolved)
+	}
+
+	// Bind the OIDC identity to the service's account before signing anything
+	// with that service's session key. The proxy validates an installed cookie
+	// locally against the service public key, so a token minted for a user of
+	// another account would be honoured without a management round-trip.
+	if !sameAccount(user.AccountID, service.AccountID) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("user %s does not belong to the service account", userID)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := checkUserStatus(user); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("session token for user %s: %w", userID, err)
+	}
+
+	groupIDs, groupNames := pairGroupIDsAndNames(userGroups)
+
 	return sessionkey.SignToken(
 		service.SessionPrivateKey,
 		userID,
-		email,
+		user.Email,
 		domain,
 		method,
 		groupIDs,
@@ -1628,6 +1757,10 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateUserGroupAccess(ctx context.Context, domain
 		return fmt.Errorf("user not found: %s", userID)
 	}

+	if _, err := checkUserStatus(user); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("user %s denied access to domain %s: %w", userID, domain, err)
+	}
+
 	service, err := s.getAccountServiceByDomain(ctx, user.AccountID, domain)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -1682,10 +1815,7 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateSession(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Val
 	sessionToken := req.GetSessionToken()

 	if domain == "" || sessionToken == "" {
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "missing domain or session_token",
-		}, nil
+		return deniedSessionResponse("missing domain or session_token"), nil
 	}

 	service, err := s.getServiceByDomain(ctx, domain)
@@ -1695,83 +1825,49 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateSession(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Val
 			"error":  err.Error(),
 		}).Debug("ValidateSession: service not found")
 		//nolint:nilerr
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "service_not_found",
-		}, nil
+		return deniedSessionResponse("service_not_found"), nil
 	}

 	if err := enforceAccountScope(ctx, service.AccountID); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}

-	pubKeyBytes, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(service.SessionPublicKey)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
-			"domain": domain,
-			"error":  err.Error(),
-		}).Error("ValidateSession: decode public key")
-		//nolint:nilerr
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "invalid_service_config",
-		}, nil
-	}
-
-	userID, _, _, _, _, err := proxyauth.ValidateSessionJWT(sessionToken, domain, pubKeyBytes)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
-			"domain": domain,
-			"error":  err.Error(),
-		}).Debug("ValidateSession: invalid session token")
-		//nolint:nilerr
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "invalid_token",
-		}, nil
+	userID, reason := sessionTokenSubject(domain, service, sessionToken)
+	if reason != "" {
+		return deniedSessionResponse(reason), nil
 	}

 	user, userGroups, err := s.usersManager.GetUserWithGroups(ctx, userID)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err != nil || user == nil {
 		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
 			"domain":  domain,
 			"user_id": userID,
-			"error":   err.Error(),
+			"error":   err,
 		}).Debug("ValidateSession: user not found")
 		//nolint:nilerr
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "user_not_found",
-		}, nil
+		return deniedSessionResponse(deniedReasonUserNotFound), nil
 	}

-	if user.AccountID != service.AccountID {
+	// A user from another account gets a bare response: none of their identity
+	// belongs in an answer to a proxy serving a different account.
+	if !sameAccount(user.AccountID, service.AccountID) {
 		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
 			"domain":          domain,
 			"user_id":         userID,
 			"user_account":    user.AccountID,
 			"service_account": service.AccountID,
 		}).Debug("ValidateSession: user account mismatch")
-		//nolint:nilerr
-		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
-			Valid:        false,
-			DeniedReason: "account_mismatch",
-		}, nil
+		return deniedSessionResponse("account_mismatch"), nil
 	}

-	if err := s.checkGroupAccess(service, user); err != nil {
-		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
-			"domain":  domain,
-			"user_id": userID,
-			"error":   err.Error(),
-		}).Debug("ValidateSession: access denied")
-		groupIDs, groupNames := pairGroupIDsAndNames(userGroups)
-		//nolint:nilerr
+	groupIDs, groupNames := pairGroupIDsAndNames(userGroups)
+
+	if reason := s.accountUserDeniedReason(domain, service, user); reason != "" {
 		return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
 			Valid:          false,
 			UserId:         user.Id,
 			UserEmail:      user.Email,
-			DeniedReason:   "not_in_group",
+			DeniedReason:   reason,
 			PeerGroupIds:   groupIDs,
 			PeerGroupNames: groupNames,
 		}, nil
@@ -1783,7 +1879,6 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateSession(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Val
 		"email":   user.Email,
 	}).Debug("ValidateSession: access granted")

-	groupIDs, groupNames := pairGroupIDsAndNames(userGroups)
 	return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
 		Valid:          true,
 		UserId:         user.Id,
@@ -1793,6 +1888,66 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateSession(ctx context.Context, req *proto.Val
 	}, nil
 }

+// deniedSessionResponse builds a denial that carries no identity, for the
+// checks that run before a user of this service's account is resolved.
+func deniedSessionResponse(reason string) *proto.ValidateSessionResponse {
+	return &proto.ValidateSessionResponse{
+		Valid:        false,
+		DeniedReason: reason,
+	}
+}
+
+// sessionTokenSubject verifies the session token against the service's session
+// key and returns the user it was minted for, or the reason it cannot be
+// trusted.
+func sessionTokenSubject(domain string, service *rpservice.Service, sessionToken string) (userID, deniedReason string) {
+	pubKeyBytes, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(service.SessionPublicKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			"domain": domain,
+			"error":  err.Error(),
+		}).Error("ValidateSession: decode public key")
+		return "", "invalid_service_config"
+	}
+
+	userID, _, _, _, _, err = proxyauth.ValidateSessionJWT(sessionToken, domain, pubKeyBytes)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			"domain": domain,
+			"error":  err.Error(),
+		}).Debug("ValidateSession: invalid session token")
+		return "", "invalid_token"
+	}
+
+	return userID, ""
+}
+
+// accountUserDeniedReason gates a user of the service's own account, returning
+// an empty string when access is granted. Account status comes before group
+// membership: a user awaiting approval or blocked has no access regardless of
+// the groups they were auto-assigned.
+func (s *ProxyServiceServer) accountUserDeniedReason(domain string, service *rpservice.Service, user *types.User) string {
+	if reason := userStatusDeniedReason(user); reason != "" {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			"domain":  domain,
+			"user_id": user.Id,
+			"reason":  reason,
+		}).Debug("ValidateSession: user status denies access")
+		return reason
+	}
+
+	if err := s.checkGroupAccess(service, user); err != nil {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			"domain":  domain,
+			"user_id": user.Id,
+			"error":   err.Error(),
+		}).Debug("ValidateSession: access denied")
+		return "not_in_group"
+	}
+
+	return ""
+}
+
 func (s *ProxyServiceServer) getServiceByDomain(ctx context.Context, domain string) (*rpservice.Service, error) {
 	service, err := s.serviceManager.GetServiceByDomain(ctx, domain)
 	if err == nil {
@@ -1907,7 +2062,20 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateTunnelPeer(ctx context.Context, req *proto.
 	}

 	groupIDs, groupNames := pairGroupIDsAndNames(peerGroups)
-	principalID, displayIdentity := s.getTunnelPeerInfo(ctx, domain, service, peer)
+	owner := s.resolvePeerOwner(ctx, peer, service.AccountID)
+	principalID, displayIdentity := s.getTunnelPeerInfo(ctx, domain, service, peer, owner)
+
+	if reason := peerOwnerDeniedReason(peer, owner); reason != "" {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{"domain": domain, "peer_id": peer.ID, "user_id": peer.UserID, "reason": reason}).Debug("ValidateTunnelPeer: owner status denies access")
+		return &proto.ValidateTunnelPeerResponse{
+			Valid:          false,
+			UserId:         principalID,
+			UserEmail:      displayIdentity,
+			DeniedReason:   reason,
+			PeerGroupIds:   groupIDs,
+			PeerGroupNames: groupNames,
+		}, nil
+	}

 	if err := checkPeerGroupAccess(service, groupIDs); err != nil {
 		log.WithFields(log.Fields{"domain": domain, "peer_id": peer.ID, "error": err.Error()}).Debug("ValidateTunnelPeer: access denied")
@@ -1944,9 +2112,55 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) ValidateTunnelPeer(ctx context.Context, req *proto.
 	}, nil
 }

+// resolvePeerOwner returns the user a peer is linked to, once per request so
+// the status gate and the identity resolution below share a single lookup.
+// Unlinked peers (machine agents) have no owner. A lookup that fails returns
+// nil rather than an error: both callers treat an unresolved owner the same
+// way, and neither may trust one it could not read.
+func (s *ProxyServiceServer) resolvePeerOwner(ctx context.Context, peer *peer.Peer, accountID string) *types.User {
+	if peer.UserID == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	user, err := s.usersManager.GetUser(ctx, peer.UserID)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.WithContext(ctx).Debugf("ValidateTunnelPeer: look up owner %s of peer %s: %v", peer.UserID, peer.ID, err)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// The lookup is by user ID alone, so a peer row pointing outside the
+	// service's account would otherwise resolve a foreign user. Leave the owner
+	// unresolved instead: the gate denies it, and neither the response nor the
+	// minted token carries an identity from another account.
+	if !sameAccount(user.AccountID, accountID) {
+		log.WithContext(ctx).Debugf("ValidateTunnelPeer: owner %s of peer %s belongs to another account", peer.UserID, peer.ID)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return user
+}
+
+// peerOwnerDeniedReason gates the mesh fast-path on the account status of the
+// peer's owning user, so a user blocked after registering a peer loses
+// mesh-origin access too. Unlinked peers (machine agents) have no owner to gate
+// on and stay first-class callers. An owner the store cannot resolve denies:
+// an unavailable lookup must not grant access.
+func peerOwnerDeniedReason(peer *peer.Peer, owner *types.User) string {
+	if peer.UserID == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	if owner == nil {
+		return deniedReasonUserNotFound
+	}
+
+	return userStatusDeniedReason(owner)
+}
+
 // getTunnelPeerInfo returns the principal ID and display name for a peer, e.g. a
-// user or peer ID, and peer name or user email.
-func (s *ProxyServiceServer) getTunnelPeerInfo(ctx context.Context, domain string, service *rpservice.Service, peer *peer.Peer) (string, string) {
+// user or peer ID, and peer name or user email. owner is the already-resolved
+// user the peer is linked to, or nil.
+func (s *ProxyServiceServer) getTunnelPeerInfo(ctx context.Context, domain string, service *rpservice.Service, peer *peer.Peer, owner *types.User) (string, string) {
 	// Resolve the principal: when the peer is linked to a user, the human is the
 	// principal so multiple peers owned by the same user share a single
 	// identity. Unlinked peers (machine agents) are their own principal keyed on
@@ -1963,10 +2177,10 @@ func (s *ProxyServiceServer) getTunnelPeerInfo(ctx context.Context, domain strin
 	principalID := peer.UserID
 	displayIdentity := peer.Name
 	// Stored column first (cheap, but often empty for OIDC-provisioned users).
-	if user, uerr := s.usersManager.GetUser(ctx, peer.UserID); uerr == nil && user != nil {
-		principalID = user.Id
-		if user.Email != "" {
-			displayIdentity = user.Email
+	if owner != nil {
+		principalID = owner.Id
+		if owner.Email != "" {
+			displayIdentity = owner.Email
 		}
 	}
 	// IdP enrichment wins when available — the stored email column is a
--- a/management/internals/shared/grpc/proxy_auth_attempts_test.go
+++ b/management/internals/shared/grpc/proxy_auth_attempts_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+package grpc
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.org/x/time/rate"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/metadata"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/status"
+
+	rpservice "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/service"
+	proxyauth "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/proxy/auth"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/hash/argon2id"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/proto"
+)
+
+const authAttemptsHeaderName = "X-API-Key"
+
+func newAuthAttemptsTestServer(t *testing.T) *ProxyServiceServer {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	firstHash, err := argon2id.Hash("first-key")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	secondHash, err := argon2id.Hash("second-key")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	svc := &rpservice.Service{
+		ID:     "svc1",
+		Domain: "example.com",
+		Auth: rpservice.AuthConfig{
+			HeaderAuths: []*rpservice.HeaderAuthConfig{
+				{Enabled: true, Header: authAttemptsHeaderName, Value: firstHash},
+				{Enabled: true, Header: authAttemptsHeaderName, Value: secondHash},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
+	mgr := rpservice.NewMockManager(ctrl)
+	mgr.EXPECT().GetServiceByID(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).Return(svc, nil).AnyTimes()
+
+	limiter := newAuthFailureLimiter()
+	t.Cleanup(limiter.stop)
+	clientLimiter := newAuthClientLimiter()
+	t.Cleanup(clientLimiter.stop)
+
+	mac := make([]byte, sha256.Size)
+	_, err = rand.Read(mac)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	return &ProxyServiceServer{
+		serviceManager:     mgr,
+		authAttemptLimiter: limiter,
+		authClientLimiter:  clientLimiter,
+		authFailureMAC:     mac,
+	}
+}
+
+func clientIPContext(ip string) context.Context {
+	return metadata.NewIncomingContext(context.Background(), metadata.Pairs(proxyauth.ClientIPMetadataKey, ip))
+}
+
+func authAttemptsRequest(credential string) *proto.AuthenticateRequest {
+	return &proto.AuthenticateRequest{
+		Id:        "svc1",
+		AccountId: "acc1",
+		Request: &proto.AuthenticateRequest_HeaderAuth{
+			HeaderAuth: &proto.HeaderAuthRequest{
+				HeaderName:  authAttemptsHeaderName,
+				HeaderValue: credential,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAuthenticate_ValidCredentialIsNeverRateLimited(t *testing.T) {
+	s := newAuthAttemptsTestServer(t)
+
+	for i := 0; i < proxyAuthFailureBurst*2; i++ {
+		resp, err := s.Authenticate(context.Background(), authAttemptsRequest("first-key"))
+		require.NoError(t, err, "a valid credential must never be throttled (attempt %d)", i)
+		require.True(t, resp.GetSuccess())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAuthenticate_FailedCredentialIsRateLimited(t *testing.T) {
+	s := newAuthAttemptsTestServer(t)
+
+	for i := 0; i < proxyAuthFailureBurst; i++ {
+		resp, err := s.Authenticate(context.Background(), authAttemptsRequest("wrong-key"))
+		require.NoError(t, err, "attempt %d should be within the failure budget", i)
+		require.False(t, resp.GetSuccess())
+	}
+
+	_, err := s.Authenticate(context.Background(), authAttemptsRequest("wrong-key"))
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, codes.ResourceExhausted, status.Code(err))
+}
+
+func TestAuthenticate_ThrottledCredentialDoesNotAffectOthers(t *testing.T) {
+	s := newAuthAttemptsTestServer(t)
+
+	for i := 0; i < proxyAuthFailureBurst+2; i++ {
+		_, _ = s.Authenticate(context.Background(), authAttemptsRequest("wrong-key"))
+	}
+
+	resp, err := s.Authenticate(context.Background(), authAttemptsRequest("first-key"))
+	require.NoError(t, err, "one throttled credential must not block a valid one")
+	assert.True(t, resp.GetSuccess())
+
+	resp, err = s.Authenticate(context.Background(), authAttemptsRequest("second-key"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, resp.GetSuccess())
+
+	_, err = s.Authenticate(context.Background(), authAttemptsRequest("another-wrong-key"))
+	require.NoError(t, err, "a different failing credential has its own budget")
+}
+
+func TestAuthenticate_DistinctCredentialsThrottledPerClient(t *testing.T) {
+	const budget = 3
+
+	s := newAuthAttemptsTestServer(t)
+	s.authClientLimiter.stop()
+	s.authClientLimiter = newAuthLimiter(rate.Every(time.Hour), budget)
+	t.Cleanup(s.authClientLimiter.stop)
+
+	ctx := clientIPContext("198.51.100.7")
+
+	for i := 0; i < budget; i++ {
+		resp, err := s.Authenticate(ctx, authAttemptsRequest(fmt.Sprintf("garbage-%d", i)))
+		require.NoError(t, err, "attempt %d should be within the client budget", i)
+		require.False(t, resp.GetSuccess())
+	}
+
+	_, err := s.Authenticate(ctx, authAttemptsRequest("garbage-final"))
+	require.Error(t, err, "a client rotating distinct credentials must be throttled")
+	assert.Equal(t, codes.ResourceExhausted, status.Code(err))
+
+	other := clientIPContext("198.51.100.8")
+	resp, err := s.Authenticate(other, authAttemptsRequest("first-key"))
+	require.NoError(t, err, "a different client must be unaffected")
+	assert.True(t, resp.GetSuccess())
+}
+
+func TestAuthenticate_OneStaleCredentialDoesNotExhaustSharedClientBudget(t *testing.T) {
+	s := newAuthAttemptsTestServer(t)
+	ctx := clientIPContext("198.51.100.9")
+
+	for i := 0; i < proxyAuthFailureBurst*4; i++ {
+		_, _ = s.Authenticate(ctx, authAttemptsRequest("stale-key"))
+	}
+
+	resp, err := s.Authenticate(ctx, authAttemptsRequest("first-key"))
+	require.NoError(t, err, "one client stuck on a stale key must not block others behind the same NAT")
+	assert.True(t, resp.GetSuccess())
+}
+
+func TestAuthenticate_ProxyWithoutClientIPIsNotClientLimited(t *testing.T) {
+	s := newAuthAttemptsTestServer(t)
+
+	for i := 0; i < proxyAuthFailureBurst*2; i++ {
+		_, _ = s.Authenticate(context.Background(), authAttemptsRequest(fmt.Sprintf("garbage-%d", i)))
+	}
+
+	resp, err := s.Authenticate(context.Background(), authAttemptsRequest("first-key"))
+	require.NoError(t, err, "an old proxy must not have its clients share one budget")
+	assert.True(t, resp.GetSuccess())
+}
+
+func TestAuthenticate_MalformedClientIPIsIgnored(t *testing.T) {
+	s := newAuthAttemptsTestServer(t)
+	ctx := clientIPContext("not-an-ip")
+
+	for i := 0; i < proxyAuthFailureBurst*2; i++ {
+		_, _ = s.Authenticate(ctx, authAttemptsRequest(fmt.Sprintf("garbage-%d", i)))
+	}
+
+	resp, err := s.Authenticate(ctx, authAttemptsRequest("first-key"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, resp.GetSuccess())
+}
--- a/management/internals/shared/grpc/proxy_auth_ratelimit.go
+++ b/management/internals/shared/grpc/proxy_auth_ratelimit.go
@@ -18,12 +18,16 @@ const (
 	proxyAuthLimiterCleanup = 5 * time.Minute
 	// proxyAuthLimiterTTL is how long a limiter is kept after the last failure.
 	proxyAuthLimiterTTL = 15 * time.Minute
+
+	proxyAuthClientBurst = 30
 )

 // defaultProxyAuthFailureRate is the token replenishment rate for failed auth attempts.
 // One token every 12 seconds = 5 per minute.
 var defaultProxyAuthFailureRate = rate.Every(12 * time.Second)

+var defaultProxyAuthClientRate = rate.Limit(1)
+
 // clientIP identifies a client by its IP address for rate limiting purposes.
 type clientIP = string

@@ -37,6 +41,7 @@ type authFailureLimiter struct {
 	mu          sync.Mutex
 	limiters    map[clientIP]*limiterEntry
 	failureRate rate.Limit
+	burst       int
 	cancel      context.CancelFunc
 }

@@ -45,10 +50,19 @@ func newAuthFailureLimiter() *authFailureLimiter {
 }

 func newAuthFailureLimiterWithRate(failureRate rate.Limit) *authFailureLimiter {
+	return newAuthLimiter(failureRate, proxyAuthFailureBurst)
+}
+
+func newAuthClientLimiter() *authFailureLimiter {
+	return newAuthLimiter(defaultProxyAuthClientRate, proxyAuthClientBurst)
+}
+
+func newAuthLimiter(failureRate rate.Limit, burst int) *authFailureLimiter {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	l := &authFailureLimiter{
 		limiters:    make(map[clientIP]*limiterEntry),
 		failureRate: failureRate,
+		burst:       burst,
 		cancel:      cancel,
 	}
 	go l.cleanupLoop(ctx)
@@ -77,7 +91,7 @@ func (l *authFailureLimiter) recordFailure(ip clientIP) {
 	entry, exists := l.limiters[ip]
 	if !exists {
 		entry = &limiterEntry{
-			limiter: rate.NewLimiter(l.failureRate, proxyAuthFailureBurst),
+			limiter: rate.NewLimiter(l.failureRate, l.burst),
 		}
 		l.limiters[ip] = entry
 	}
--- a/management/internals/shared/grpc/proxy_group_access_test.go
+++ b/management/internals/shared/grpc/proxy_group_access_test.go
@@ -119,11 +119,13 @@ func (m *mockReverseProxyManager) GetClusters(_ context.Context, _, _ string) ([
 }

 type mockUsersManager struct {
-	users map[string]*types.User
-	err   error
+	users        map[string]*types.User
+	err          error
+	getUserCalls int
 }

 func (m *mockUsersManager) GetUser(ctx context.Context, userID string) (*types.User, error) {
+	m.getUserCalls++
 	if m.err != nil {
 		return nil, m.err
 	}
@@ -350,6 +352,64 @@ func TestValidateUserGroupAccess(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expectErr: false,
 		},
+		{
+			name:   "user pending approval denied despite group membership",
+			domain: "app.example.com",
+			userID: "user1",
+			proxiesByAccount: map[string][]*service.Service{
+				"account1": {{
+					Domain:    "app.example.com",
+					AccountID: "account1",
+					Auth: service.AuthConfig{
+						BearerAuth: &service.BearerAuthConfig{
+							Enabled:            true,
+							DistributionGroups: []string{"group1"},
+						},
+					},
+				}},
+			},
+			users: map[string]*types.User{
+				// The approval flow stores a pending user as blocked as well.
+				"user1": {Id: "user1", AccountID: "account1", AutoGroups: []string{"group1"}, Blocked: true, PendingApproval: true},
+			},
+			expectErr:    true,
+			expectErrMsg: "user pending approval",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "blocked user denied despite group membership",
+			domain: "app.example.com",
+			userID: "user1",
+			proxiesByAccount: map[string][]*service.Service{
+				"account1": {{
+					Domain:    "app.example.com",
+					AccountID: "account1",
+					Auth: service.AuthConfig{
+						BearerAuth: &service.BearerAuthConfig{
+							Enabled:            true,
+							DistributionGroups: []string{"group1"},
+						},
+					},
+				}},
+			},
+			users: map[string]*types.User{
+				"user1": {Id: "user1", AccountID: "account1", AutoGroups: []string{"group1"}, Blocked: true},
+			},
+			expectErr:    true,
+			expectErrMsg: "user blocked",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "blocked user denied on a service with no auth configured",
+			domain: "app.example.com",
+			userID: "user1",
+			proxiesByAccount: map[string][]*service.Service{
+				"account1": {{Domain: "app.example.com", AccountID: "account1", Auth: service.AuthConfig{}}},
+			},
+			users: map[string]*types.User{
+				"user1": {Id: "user1", AccountID: "account1", Blocked: true},
+			},
+			expectErr:    true,
+			expectErrMsg: "user blocked",
+		},
 		{
 			name:             "proxy manager error",
 			domain:           "app.example.com",
@@ -421,17 +481,18 @@ func TestValidateTunnelPeerUserEmailEnrichment(t *testing.T) {
 	storedUserNoEmail := map[string]*types.User{userID: {Id: userID, AccountID: accountID, Email: ""}}

 	tests := []struct {
-		name         string
-		peerUserID   string
-		storedUsers  map[string]*types.User
-		storedErr    error
-		noIdP        bool
-		idpEmail     string
-		idpHasData   bool
-		idpErr       error
-		expectEmail  string
-		expectUserID string
-		expectIdPHit bool
+		name               string
+		peerUserID         string
+		storedUsers        map[string]*types.User
+		storedErr          error
+		noIdP              bool
+		idpEmail           string
+		idpHasData         bool
+		idpErr             error
+		expectEmail        string
+		expectUserID       string
+		expectIdPHit       bool
+		expectDeniedReason string
 	}{
 		{
 			name:         "idp email wins over stored email",
@@ -490,14 +551,17 @@ func TestValidateTunnelPeerUserEmailEnrichment(t *testing.T) {
 			expectIdPHit: true,
 		},
 		{
-			name:         "idp email when stored user missing keeps peer.UserID as principal",
-			peerUserID:   userID,
-			storedUsers:  map[string]*types.User{},
-			idpEmail:     "idp@example.com",
-			idpHasData:   true,
-			expectEmail:  "idp@example.com",
-			expectUserID: userID,
-			expectIdPHit: true,
+			// The identity still resolves from the IdP, but an owner the store
+			// cannot resolve denies the fast-path rather than granting it.
+			name:               "idp email when stored user missing keeps peer.UserID as principal",
+			peerUserID:         userID,
+			storedUsers:        map[string]*types.User{},
+			idpEmail:           "idp@example.com",
+			idpHasData:         true,
+			expectEmail:        "idp@example.com",
+			expectUserID:       userID,
+			expectIdPHit:       true,
+			expectDeniedReason: deniedReasonUserNotFound,
 		},
 		{
 			name:         "unlinked peer uses peer name and never consults idp",
@@ -545,9 +609,13 @@ func TestValidateTunnelPeerUserEmailEnrichment(t *testing.T) {

 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			require.NotNil(t, resp)
-			assert.True(t, resp.GetValid(), "expected access granted")
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectDeniedReason == "", resp.GetValid(), "unexpected access decision")
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectDeniedReason, resp.GetDeniedReason(), "unexpected denied reason")
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectEmail, resp.GetUserEmail())
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectUserID, resp.GetUserId())
+			if tt.expectDeniedReason != "" {
+				assert.Empty(t, resp.GetSessionToken(), "a denied peer must not receive a session token")
+			}

 			if idpMock != nil {
 				if tt.expectIdPHit {
@@ -562,6 +630,121 @@ func TestValidateTunnelPeerUserEmailEnrichment(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

+// TestDeniedReasonValues pins the wire values of the account status denied
+// reasons. The proxy logs them and operators filter access logs on them, so a
+// rename is a breaking change rather than an internal detail.
+// TestSameAccount pins the fail-closed behaviour of the account binding: an
+// unset account on either side must never compare equal into a grant.
+func TestSameAccount(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.True(t, sameAccount("account1", "account1"), "matching accounts should bind")
+	assert.False(t, sameAccount("account1", "account2"), "different accounts must not bind")
+	assert.False(t, sameAccount("", ""), "two unset accounts must not bind")
+	assert.False(t, sameAccount("account1", ""), "an unset service account must not bind")
+	assert.False(t, sameAccount("", "account1"), "an unset user account must not bind")
+}
+
+func TestDeniedReasonValues(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Equal(t, "pending_approval", deniedReasonPendingApproval, "pending approval denied reason wire value")
+	assert.Equal(t, "user_blocked", deniedReasonUserBlocked, "blocked user denied reason wire value")
+	assert.Equal(t, "user_not_found", deniedReasonUserNotFound, "unresolved user denied reason wire value")
+}
+
+// TestValidateTunnelPeerOwnerStatus verifies that the mesh fast-path gates on
+// the account status of the peer's owning user. A peer whose owner was blocked
+// after the peer registered must lose access, while an unlinked machine peer
+// keeps it.
+func TestValidateTunnelPeerOwnerStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		domain    = "app.example.com"
+		accountID = "account1"
+		peerID    = "peer1"
+		peerName  = "peer-display-name"
+		userID    = "user1"
+	)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name               string
+		peerUserID         string
+		owner              *types.User
+		expectDeniedReason string
+		expectEmail        string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:       "active owner allowed",
+			peerUserID: userID,
+			owner:      &types.User{Id: userID, AccountID: accountID, Email: "user@example.com"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:               "owner pending approval denied",
+			peerUserID:         userID,
+			owner:              &types.User{Id: userID, AccountID: accountID, Email: "user@example.com", Blocked: true, PendingApproval: true},
+			expectDeniedReason: deniedReasonPendingApproval,
+		},
+		{
+			name:               "owner blocked after registering the peer denied",
+			peerUserID:         userID,
+			owner:              &types.User{Id: userID, AccountID: accountID, Email: "user@example.com", Blocked: true},
+			expectDeniedReason: deniedReasonUserBlocked,
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "unlinked machine peer stays allowed",
+			peerUserID: "",
+			owner:      &types.User{Id: userID, AccountID: accountID, Blocked: true},
+		},
+		{
+			// The user lookup is not account-scoped, so a peer row pointing at
+			// another account's user must not resolve into an owner: the peer is
+			// denied and the foreign email never reaches the response.
+			name:               "owner in another account denied and not disclosed",
+			peerUserID:         userID,
+			owner:              &types.User{Id: userID, AccountID: "otherAccount", Email: "foreign@example.com"},
+			expectDeniedReason: deniedReasonUserNotFound,
+			expectEmail:        peerName,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			svc := &service.Service{Domain: domain, AccountID: accountID}
+			usersManager := &mockUsersManager{users: map[string]*types.User{userID: tt.owner}}
+			server := &ProxyServiceServer{
+				serviceManager: &mockReverseProxyManager{
+					proxiesByAccount: map[string][]*service.Service{accountID: {svc}},
+				},
+				peersManager: &mockTunnelPeersManager{
+					peer: &peer.Peer{ID: peerID, Name: peerName, UserID: tt.peerUserID},
+				},
+				usersManager: usersManager,
+			}
+
+			resp, err := server.ValidateTunnelPeer(context.Background(), &proto.ValidateTunnelPeerRequest{
+				Domain:   domain,
+				TunnelIp: "100.64.0.1",
+			})
+
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.NotNil(t, resp)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectDeniedReason, resp.GetDeniedReason(), "unexpected denied reason")
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectDeniedReason == "", resp.GetValid(), "unexpected access decision")
+			if tt.expectDeniedReason != "" {
+				assert.Empty(t, resp.GetSessionToken(), "a denied peer must not receive a session token")
+			}
+
+			if tt.expectEmail != "" {
+				assert.Equal(t, tt.expectEmail, resp.GetUserEmail(), "unexpected identity on the response")
+			}
+
+			// The status gate and the identity resolution share one lookup;
+			// an unlinked peer has no owner to look up at all.
+			wantLookups := 1
+			if tt.peerUserID == "" {
+				wantLookups = 0
+			}
+			assert.Equal(t, wantLookups, usersManager.getUserCalls, "owner must be resolved exactly once per request")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestGetAccountProxyByDomain(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name             string
--- a/management/internals/shared/grpc/validate_session_test.go
+++ b/management/internals/shared/grpc/validate_session_test.go
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ func setupValidateSessionTest(t *testing.T) *validateSessionTestSetup {
 	proxyService.SetServiceManager(serviceManager)

 	createTestProxies(t, ctx, testStore)
+	createStatusTestUsers(t, ctx, testStore)

 	return &validateSessionTestSetup{
 		proxyService: proxyService,
@@ -91,6 +92,82 @@ func createTestProxies(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, testStore store.Store)
 		},
 	}
 	require.NoError(t, testStore.CreateService(ctx, restrictedProxy))
+
+	// Distributed to the account's "All" group, the configuration that hands a
+	// service to every user in the account.
+	allUsersProxy := &service.Service{
+		ID:                "allUsersProxyId",
+		AccountID:         "testAccountId",
+		Name:              "All Users Proxy",
+		Domain:            "all-users-proxy.example.com",
+		Enabled:           true,
+		SessionPrivateKey: privKey,
+		SessionPublicKey:  pubKey,
+		Auth: service.AuthConfig{
+			BearerAuth: &service.BearerAuthConfig{
+				Enabled:            true,
+				DistributionGroups: []string{allUsersGroupID},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, testStore.CreateService(ctx, allUsersProxy))
+}
+
+const (
+	allUsersGroupID   = "allUsersGroupId"
+	pendingUserID     = "pendingUserId"
+	blockedUserID     = "blockedUserId"
+	pendingAllUsersID = "pendingAllUsersUserId"
+)
+
+// createStatusTestUsers adds the users whose account status must keep them out
+// of a proxy session. A user awaiting approval is persisted as both blocked and
+// pending approval, the way the approval flow stores one.
+func createStatusTestUsers(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, testStore store.Store) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	require.NoError(t, testStore.CreateGroup(ctx, &types.Group{
+		ID:        allUsersGroupID,
+		AccountID: "testAccountId",
+		Name:      "All",
+		Issued:    types.GroupIssuedAPI,
+	}))
+
+	users := []*types.User{
+		{
+			Id:              pendingUserID,
+			AccountID:       "testAccountId",
+			Role:            types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups:      []string{"allowedGroupId"},
+			Blocked:         true,
+			PendingApproval: true,
+			Issued:          "api",
+			CreatedAt:       time.Now(),
+		},
+		{
+			Id:              pendingAllUsersID,
+			AccountID:       "testAccountId",
+			Role:            types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups:      []string{allUsersGroupID},
+			Blocked:         true,
+			PendingApproval: true,
+			Issued:          "api",
+			CreatedAt:       time.Now(),
+		},
+		{
+			Id:              blockedUserID,
+			AccountID:       "testAccountId",
+			Role:            types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups:      []string{"allowedGroupId"},
+			Blocked:         true,
+			PendingApproval: false,
+			Issued:          "api",
+			CreatedAt:       time.Now(),
+		},
+	}
+	for _, user := range users {
+		require.NoError(t, testStore.SaveUser(ctx, user))
+	}
 }

 func generateSessionKeyPair(t *testing.T) (string, string) {
@@ -149,6 +226,114 @@ func TestValidateSession_UserNotInAllowedGroup(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Empty(t, resp.GetPeerGroupIds(), "PeerGroupIds must mirror the resolved user's actual (empty) memberships on denial")
 }

+// TestValidateSession_PendingApprovalUserDenied covers a user who is a member of
+// the service's distribution group but is still waiting for an administrator to
+// approve the account. Group membership alone must not open the service.
+func TestValidateSession_PendingApprovalUserDenied(t *testing.T) {
+	setup := setupValidateSessionTest(t)
+	defer setup.cleanup()
+
+	proxy, err := setup.store.GetServiceByID(context.Background(), store.LockingStrengthNone, "testAccountId", "restrictedProxyId")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	token := createSessionToken(t, proxy.SessionPrivateKey, pendingUserID, "restricted-proxy.example.com")
+
+	resp, err := setup.proxyService.ValidateSession(context.Background(), &proto.ValidateSessionRequest{
+		Domain:       "restricted-proxy.example.com",
+		SessionToken: token,
+	})
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, resp.Valid, "User pending approval should be denied")
+	assert.Equal(t, deniedReasonPendingApproval, resp.DeniedReason, "Denied reason should name the pending approval state")
+	assert.Equal(t, pendingUserID, resp.UserId, "Denial should identify the user it applies to")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"allowedGroupId"}, resp.GetPeerGroupIds(), "PeerGroupIds must mirror the resolved user's group memberships on denial")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"Allowed Group"}, resp.GetPeerGroupNames(), "PeerGroupNames must pair with PeerGroupIds on denial")
+}
+
+// TestValidateSession_PendingApprovalUserInAllUsersGroupDenied covers the same
+// user against a service distributed to the account's "All" group, where every
+// user of the account is a member by default.
+func TestValidateSession_PendingApprovalUserInAllUsersGroupDenied(t *testing.T) {
+	setup := setupValidateSessionTest(t)
+	defer setup.cleanup()
+
+	proxy, err := setup.store.GetServiceByID(context.Background(), store.LockingStrengthNone, "testAccountId", "allUsersProxyId")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	token := createSessionToken(t, proxy.SessionPrivateKey, pendingAllUsersID, "all-users-proxy.example.com")
+
+	resp, err := setup.proxyService.ValidateSession(context.Background(), &proto.ValidateSessionRequest{
+		Domain:       "all-users-proxy.example.com",
+		SessionToken: token,
+	})
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, resp.Valid, "User pending approval should be denied even in the All Users group")
+	assert.Equal(t, deniedReasonPendingApproval, resp.DeniedReason, "Denied reason should name the pending approval state")
+	assert.Equal(t, pendingAllUsersID, resp.UserId, "Denial should identify the user it applies to")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{allUsersGroupID}, resp.GetPeerGroupIds(), "PeerGroupIds must mirror the resolved user's group memberships on denial")
+}
+
+// TestValidateSession_BlockedUserDenied covers a user blocked after having been
+// approved, so PendingApproval is false and only the blocked flag is set.
+func TestValidateSession_BlockedUserDenied(t *testing.T) {
+	setup := setupValidateSessionTest(t)
+	defer setup.cleanup()
+
+	proxy, err := setup.store.GetServiceByID(context.Background(), store.LockingStrengthNone, "testAccountId", "restrictedProxyId")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	token := createSessionToken(t, proxy.SessionPrivateKey, blockedUserID, "restricted-proxy.example.com")
+
+	resp, err := setup.proxyService.ValidateSession(context.Background(), &proto.ValidateSessionRequest{
+		Domain:       "restricted-proxy.example.com",
+		SessionToken: token,
+	})
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, resp.Valid, "Blocked user should be denied")
+	assert.Equal(t, deniedReasonUserBlocked, resp.DeniedReason, "Denied reason should name the blocked state")
+	assert.Equal(t, blockedUserID, resp.UserId, "Denial should identify the user it applies to")
+}
+
+// TestValidateSession_UserAllowedAfterApproval walks the same session token
+// through the approval transition: denied while pending, allowed once an
+// administrator clears both flags.
+func TestValidateSession_UserAllowedAfterApproval(t *testing.T) {
+	setup := setupValidateSessionTest(t)
+	defer setup.cleanup()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	proxy, err := setup.store.GetServiceByID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, "testAccountId", "restrictedProxyId")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	token := createSessionToken(t, proxy.SessionPrivateKey, pendingUserID, "restricted-proxy.example.com")
+	req := &proto.ValidateSessionRequest{
+		Domain:       "restricted-proxy.example.com",
+		SessionToken: token,
+	}
+
+	resp, err := setup.proxyService.ValidateSession(ctx, req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.False(t, resp.Valid, "User pending approval should be denied before approval")
+	assert.Equal(t, deniedReasonPendingApproval, resp.DeniedReason, "Denied reason should name the pending approval state")
+
+	user, err := setup.store.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, pendingUserID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	user.PendingApproval = false
+	user.Blocked = false
+	require.NoError(t, setup.store.SaveUser(ctx, user))
+
+	resp, err = setup.proxyService.ValidateSession(ctx, req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, resp.Valid, "Approved user should be allowed access")
+	assert.Empty(t, resp.DeniedReason)
+	assert.Equal(t, pendingUserID, resp.UserId, "Approved user should be identified in the response")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"allowedGroupId"}, resp.GetPeerGroupIds(), "PeerGroupIds must mirror the approved user's group memberships")
+}
+
 func TestValidateSession_UserInDifferentAccount(t *testing.T) {
 	setup := setupValidateSessionTest(t)
 	defer setup.cleanup()
--- a/management/server/account.go
+++ b/management/server/account.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import (
 	nbconfig "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/server/config"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/account"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/activity"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/affectedpeers"
 	nbcache "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/cache"
 	nbcontext "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/context"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/geolocation"
@@ -1626,6 +1627,8 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx context.Context, userAuth
 	var removeOldGroups []string
 	var hasChanges bool
 	var user *types.User
+	var change affectedpeers.Change
+	var snap *affectedpeers.Snapshot
 	err = am.Store.ExecuteInTransaction(ctx, func(transaction store.Store) error {
 		user, err = transaction.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, userAuth.UserId)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -1664,14 +1667,25 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx context.Context, userAuth
 			return fmt.Errorf("error saving user: %w", err)
 		}

+		allGroupChanges := slices.Concat(addNewGroups, removeOldGroups)
+		// The user's auto-groups changed, so the SSH rules authorizing them ship a new
+		// group -> user mapping even when no peer moves between groups.
+		change.UserGroupIDs = allGroupChanges
+
+		// The user's peers are the changed entity in every scenario the sync can
+		// produce — group membership, IPv6 assignment, SSH mappings — so they refresh
+		// together with every peer they can connect to, like on a regular peer update.
+		userPeers, err := transaction.GetUserPeers(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, userAuth.AccountId, userAuth.UserId)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("error getting user peers: %w", err)
+		}
+		for _, peer := range userPeers {
+			change.ChangedPeerIDs = append(change.ChangedPeerIDs, peer.ID)
+		}
+
 		// Propagate changes to peers if group propagation is enabled
 		if settings.GroupsPropagationEnabled {
-			peers, err := transaction.GetUserPeers(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, userAuth.AccountId, userAuth.UserId)
-			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("error getting user peers: %w", err)
-			}
-
-			for _, peer := range peers {
+			for _, peer := range userPeers {
 				for _, g := range addNewGroups {
 					if err := transaction.AddPeerToGroup(ctx, userAuth.AccountId, peer.ID, g); err != nil {
 						return fmt.Errorf("error adding peer %s to group %s: %w", peer.ID, g, err)
@@ -1684,7 +1698,8 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx context.Context, userAuth
 				}
 			}

-			allGroupChanges := slices.Concat(addNewGroups, removeOldGroups)
+			change.LinkGroups = allGroupChanges
+
 			if err = am.reconcileIPv6ForGroupChanges(ctx, transaction, userAuth.AccountId, allGroupChanges); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("reconcile IPv6 for group changes: %w", err)
 			}
@@ -1694,6 +1709,10 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx context.Context, userAuth
 			}
 		}

+		if snap, err = affectedpeers.Load(ctx, transaction, userAuth.AccountId, change); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
 		return nil
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1730,20 +1749,17 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx context.Context, userAuth
 		}
 	}

-	removedGroupAffectsPeers, err := areGroupChangesAffectPeers(ctx, am.Store, userAuth.AccountId, removeOldGroups)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	newGroupsAffectsPeers, err := areGroupChangesAffectPeers(ctx, am.Store, userAuth.AccountId, addNewGroups)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if removedGroupAffectsPeers || newGroupsAffectsPeers {
-		log.WithContext(ctx).Tracef("user %s: JWT group membership changed, updating account peers", userAuth.UserId)
-		am.BufferUpdateAccountPeers(ctx, userAuth.AccountId, types.UpdateReason{Resource: types.UpdateResourceUser, Operation: types.UpdateOperationUpdate})
-	}
+	log.WithContext(ctx).Tracef("user %s: JWT group membership changed, updating affected peers", userAuth.UserId)
+	bgCtx := context.WithoutCancel(ctx)
+	go func() {
+		affectedPeerIDs := snap.Expand(bgCtx, userAuth.AccountId, change)
+		if len(affectedPeerIDs) == 0 {
+			return
+		}
+		if err := am.networkMapController.BufferUpdateAffectedPeers(bgCtx, userAuth.AccountId, affectedPeerIDs, types.UpdateReason{Resource: types.UpdateResourceUser, Operation: types.UpdateOperationUpdate}); err != nil {
+			log.WithContext(bgCtx).Errorf("failed to update affected peers after JWT group sync for account %s: %v", userAuth.AccountId, err)
+		}
+	}()

 	return nil
 }
@@ -2426,30 +2442,24 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) reconcileIPv6ForGroupChanges(ctx context.Contex
 		return fmt.Errorf("get account settings: %w", err)
 	}

-	if len(settings.IPv6EnabledGroups) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	enabledSet := make(map[string]struct{}, len(settings.IPv6EnabledGroups))
-	for _, gid := range settings.IPv6EnabledGroups {
-		enabledSet[gid] = struct{}{}
-	}
-
-	affected := false
-	for _, gid := range groupIDs {
-		if _, ok := enabledSet[gid]; ok {
-			affected = true
-			break
-		}
-	}
-
-	if !affected {
+	if !ipv6ReconcileNeeded(settings, groupIDs) {
 		return nil
 	}

 	return am.updatePeerIPv6Addresses(ctx, transaction, accountID, settings)
 }

+// ipv6ReconcileNeeded reports whether changes to the given groups trigger an IPv6
+// reconciliation.
+func ipv6ReconcileNeeded(settings *types.Settings, groupIDs []string) bool {
+	for _, groupID := range groupIDs {
+		if slices.Contains(settings.IPv6EnabledGroups, groupID) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 func (am *DefaultAccountManager) ensureIPv6Subnet(ctx context.Context, transaction store.Store, accountID string, settings *types.Settings, network *types.Network) error {
 	if settings.NetworkRangeV6.IsValid() {
 		network.NetV6 = net.IPNet{
--- a/management/server/account_test.go
+++ b/management/server/account_test.go
@@ -1757,6 +1757,7 @@ func TestAccount_Copy(t *testing.T) {
 				AccountID: "account1",
 			},
 		},
+		PostureValidation: map[string]map[string]bool{"1": {"1": true}},
 	}
 	err := hasNilField(account)
 	if err != nil {
--- a/management/server/affected_peers_jwt_test.go
+++ b/management/server/affected_peers_jwt_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/wgctrl/wgtypes"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/affectedpeers"
+	nbpeer "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/peer"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/store"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/types"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/auth"
+)
+
+// A user's auto-group change refreshes the destinations of the SSH rules authorizing
+// that group — they carry the group -> user mapping — even though no peer moved
+// between groups.
+func TestAffectedPeers_UserGroupChange_RefreshesSSHAuthorizedDestinations(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, s, accountID, peerIDs, groupIDs := setupAffectedPeersTest(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	_, err := manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+		Enabled: true,
+		Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{
+			{
+				Enabled:          true,
+				Sources:          []string{groupIDs[0]},
+				Destinations:     []string{groupIDs[1]},
+				Protocol:         types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH,
+				Action:           types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+				AuthorizedGroups: map[string][]string{groupIDs[3]: {"root"}},
+			},
+		},
+	}, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	result := resolveAffected(t, s, accountID, affectedpeers.Change{UserGroupIDs: []string{groupIDs[3]}})
+	assert.ElementsMatch(t, []string{peerIDs[1]}, result,
+		"only the SSH rule's destination peers carry the changed group -> user mapping")
+
+	result = resolveAffected(t, s, accountID, affectedpeers.Change{UserGroupIDs: []string{groupIDs[4]}})
+	assert.Empty(t, result, "a group no SSH rule authorizes affects nobody")
+}
+
+// Creating, blocking or unblocking a user changes the account's allowed-user set, which
+// reaches only the destinations of the SSH rules that ship it.
+func TestAffectedPeers_AllowedUsersChange_RefreshesSSHDestinations(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, s, accountID, peerIDs, groupIDs := setupAffectedPeersTest(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Ships the allowed-user set: an SSH rule naming no groups and no user.
+	_, err := manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+		Enabled: true,
+		Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{{
+			Enabled:      true,
+			Sources:      []string{groupIDs[0]},
+			Destinations: []string{groupIDs[1]},
+			Protocol:     types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH,
+			Action:       types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+		}},
+	}, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Does not ship it: an SSH rule that authorizes a specific group.
+	_, err = manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+		Enabled: true,
+		Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{{
+			Enabled:          true,
+			Sources:          []string{groupIDs[2]},
+			Destinations:     []string{groupIDs[3]},
+			Protocol:         types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH,
+			Action:           types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+			AuthorizedGroups: map[string][]string{groupIDs[0]: {"root"}},
+		}},
+	}, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	result := resolveAffected(t, s, accountID, affectedpeers.Change{AllowedUsersChanged: true})
+	assert.ElementsMatch(t, []string{peerIDs[1]}, result,
+		"only the destinations of the rule shipping the allowed-user set refresh")
+}
+
+// TestAffectedPeers_SyncUserJWTGroups_OnlyAffectedPeersUpdated verifies that a JWT
+// auto-group change updates only the user's peers and the peers linked to the changed
+// group through policies, instead of fanning out to the whole account.
+func TestAffectedPeers_SyncUserJWTGroups_OnlyAffectedPeersUpdated(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, updateManager, account, _, peer2, peer3 := setupNetworkMapTest(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	accountID := account.Id
+
+	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	userPeer, _, _, _, err := manager.AddPeer(ctx, accountID, "", userID, &nbpeer.Peer{
+		Key:  key.PublicKey().String(),
+		Meta: nbpeer.PeerSystemMeta{Hostname: "user-peer"},
+	}, false)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	policies, err := manager.Store.GetAccountPolicies(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, accountID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	for _, p := range policies {
+		require.NoError(t, manager.Store.DeletePolicy(ctx, accountID, p.ID))
+	}
+
+	account, err = manager.Store.GetAccount(ctx, accountID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	account.Settings.JWTGroupsEnabled = true
+	account.Settings.JWTGroupsClaimName = "groups"
+	account.Settings.GroupsPropagationEnabled = true
+	require.NoError(t, manager.Store.SaveAccount(ctx, account))
+
+	require.NoError(t, manager.CreateGroup(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Group{ID: "jwt-grp", Name: "jwt-linked", Issued: types.GroupIssuedJWT, Peers: []string{}}))
+	require.NoError(t, manager.CreateGroup(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Group{ID: "jwt-dest", Name: "jwt-dest", Peers: []string{peer2.ID}}))
+
+	_, err = manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+		Enabled: true,
+		Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{
+			{
+				Enabled:       true,
+				Sources:       []string{"jwt-grp"},
+				Destinations:  []string{"jwt-dest"},
+				Bidirectional: true,
+				Action:        types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+			},
+		},
+	}, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	updUser := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, userPeer.ID)
+	upd2 := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, peer2.ID)
+	upd3 := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, peer3.ID)
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, userPeer.ID)
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, peer2.ID)
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, peer3.ID)
+	})
+
+	userAuth := auth.UserAuth{
+		AccountId: accountID,
+		UserId:    userID,
+		Groups:    []string{"jwt-linked"},
+	}
+
+	t.Run("adding JWT group updates only linked peers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		drainPeerUpdates(updUser)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		require.NoError(t, manager.SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx, userAuth))
+
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, updUser)
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+
+		user, err := manager.Store.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, userID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, user.AutoGroups, "jwt-grp")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("removing JWT group updates only linked peers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		drainPeerUpdates(updUser)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		userAuth.Groups = nil
+		require.NoError(t, manager.SyncUserJWTGroups(ctx, userAuth))
+
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, updUser)
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+
+		user, err := manager.Store.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, userID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NotContains(t, user.AutoGroups, "jwt-grp")
+	})
+}
--- a/management/server/affected_peers_user_test.go
+++ b/management/server/affected_peers_user_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/wgctrl/wgtypes"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/activity"
+	nbpeer "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/peer"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/store"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/types"
+)
+
+// A user update refreshes only the peers its auto-group change reaches, and a user
+// update that changes no group membership refreshes nobody.
+func TestAffectedPeers_SaveUser_OnlyAffectedPeersUpdated(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, updateManager, account, _, peer2, peer3 := setupNetworkMapTest(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	accountID := account.Id
+
+	const targetUserID = "target-user"
+	require.NoError(t, manager.Store.SaveUser(ctx, &types.User{
+		Id: targetUserID, AccountID: accountID, Role: types.UserRoleUser,
+	}))
+
+	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	targetPeer, _, _, _, err := manager.AddPeer(ctx, accountID, "", targetUserID, &nbpeer.Peer{
+		Key:  key.PublicKey().String(),
+		Meta: nbpeer.PeerSystemMeta{Hostname: "target-peer"},
+	}, false)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	policies, err := manager.Store.GetAccountPolicies(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, accountID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	for _, p := range policies {
+		require.NoError(t, manager.Store.DeletePolicy(ctx, accountID, p.ID))
+	}
+
+	account, err = manager.Store.GetAccount(ctx, accountID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	account.Settings.GroupsPropagationEnabled = true
+	require.NoError(t, manager.Store.SaveAccount(ctx, account))
+
+	require.NoError(t, manager.CreateGroup(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Group{ID: "ug-linked", Name: "ug-linked"}))
+	require.NoError(t, manager.CreateGroup(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Group{ID: "ug-dest", Name: "ug-dest", Peers: []string{peer2.ID}}))
+
+	_, err = manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+		Enabled: true,
+		Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{
+			{
+				Enabled:       true,
+				Sources:       []string{"ug-linked"},
+				Destinations:  []string{"ug-dest"},
+				Bidirectional: true,
+				Action:        types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+			},
+		},
+	}, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	updTarget := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, targetPeer.ID)
+	upd2 := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, peer2.ID)
+	upd3 := updateManager.CreateChannel(ctx, peer3.ID)
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, targetPeer.ID)
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, peer2.ID)
+		updateManager.CloseChannel(ctx, peer3.ID)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("auto group change updates only linked peers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		drainPeerUpdates(updTarget)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		_, err := manager.SaveUser(ctx, accountID, activity.SystemInitiator, &types.User{
+			Id: targetUserID, AccountID: accountID, Role: types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups: []string{"ug-linked"},
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, updTarget)
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("update without group changes refreshes nobody", func(t *testing.T) {
+		drainPeerUpdates(updTarget)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		_, err := manager.SaveUser(ctx, accountID, activity.SystemInitiator, &types.User{
+			Id: targetUserID, AccountID: accountID, Role: types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups: []string{"ug-linked"}, Name: "renamed",
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, updTarget)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+
+		user, err := manager.Store.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, targetUserID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "renamed", user.Name)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("auto group change reassigning IPv6 refreshes the changed peers and their observers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		account, err := manager.Store.GetAccount(ctx, accountID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		account.Settings.IPv6EnabledGroups = []string{"ug-v6"}
+		require.NoError(t, manager.Store.SaveAccount(ctx, account))
+		require.NoError(t, manager.CreateGroup(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Group{ID: "ug-v6", Name: "ug-v6"}))
+
+		drainPeerUpdates(updTarget)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		_, err = manager.SaveUser(ctx, accountID, activity.SystemInitiator, &types.User{
+			Id: targetUserID, AccountID: accountID, Role: types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups: []string{"ug-linked", "ug-v6"}, Name: "renamed",
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// The reassigned peer refreshes with everyone it can reach: peer2 via the
+		// policy, but not peer3, which shares no group or policy with it.
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, updTarget)
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("unblocking a user refreshes only the SSH rule destinations", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// An SSH rule that authorizes no group of its own ships the account's
+		// allowed-user set to its destinations, so those are the peers an unblock
+		// reaches — not the whole account.
+		_, err := manager.SavePolicy(ctx, accountID, userID, &types.Policy{
+			Enabled: true,
+			Rules: []*types.PolicyRule{{
+				Enabled:      true,
+				Sources:      []string{"ug-linked"},
+				Destinations: []string{"ug-dest"},
+				Protocol:     types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH,
+				Action:       types.PolicyTrafficActionAccept,
+			}},
+		}, true)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		blocked, err := manager.Store.GetUserByUserID(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, targetUserID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		blocked.Blocked = true
+		require.NoError(t, manager.Store.SaveUser(ctx, blocked))
+
+		drainPeerUpdates(updTarget)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd2)
+		drainPeerUpdates(upd3)
+
+		// Same auto-groups as the previous subtest left them, so no group change and
+		// no IPv6 reconciliation interferes: the unblock alone drives the refresh.
+		_, err = manager.SaveUser(ctx, accountID, activity.SystemInitiator, &types.User{
+			Id: targetUserID, AccountID: accountID, Role: types.UserRoleUser,
+			AutoGroups: []string{"ug-linked", "ug-v6"}, Name: "renamed",
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		peerShouldReceiveUpdate(t, upd2)
+		peerShouldNotReceiveUpdate(t, upd3)
+	})
+}
--- a/management/server/affectedpeers/resolver.go
+++ b/management/server/affectedpeers/resolver.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"context"

 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/maps"

 	nbdns "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/dns"
 	rpservice "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/service"
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ func (snap *Snapshot) loadCollections(ctx context.Context, s store.Store, accoun
 	hasGroupOrPeerChange := len(c.ChangedGroupIDs) > 0 || len(c.ChangedPeerIDs) > 0 || len(c.LinkGroups) > 0 || len(c.Resources) > 0
 	hasNetworkObject := len(c.Routers) > 0 || len(c.Resources) > 0 || len(c.Networks) > 0
 	// the resource<->router bridge can fire for any of these
-	needsRoutersResources := hasGroupOrPeerChange || len(c.PostureCheckIDs) > 0 || len(c.Policies) > 0 || hasNetworkObject
+	needsRoutersResources := hasGroupOrPeerChange || len(c.PostureCheckIDs) > 0 || len(c.Policies) > 0 || hasNetworkObject || len(c.UserGroupIDs) > 0 || c.AllowedUsersChanged

 	if needsRoutersResources {
 		if err := snap.loadPolicyRoutersResources(ctx, s, accountID); err != nil {
@@ -219,6 +220,18 @@ type Change struct {
 	// (correct when the peer's own attributes changed, e.g. IP/status).
 	OutputPeerIDs []string

+	// UserGroupIDs are groups whose USER membership changed (a user's auto-groups),
+	// as opposed to their peer membership. Peers ship the group -> user mapping only
+	// for the groups an SSH rule authorizes, so these refresh the destinations of the
+	// SSH rules authorizing them — independently of any peer moving between groups.
+	UserGroupIDs []string
+
+	// AllowedUsersChanged marks a change to the set of users allowed to open SSH
+	// sessions — a user was created, blocked or unblocked. That set is account-wide,
+	// and peers receive it through the SSH rules that name no group or user of their
+	// own, so those rules' destinations refresh.
+	AllowedUsersChanged bool
+
 	// LinkGroups are groups used ONLY to match policies/routes/routers and walk to the
 	// OPPOSITE side — they are never expanded to their own members. Use this when a
 	// peer's group membership changed: pass the peer in ChangedPeerIDs and its
@@ -240,6 +253,8 @@ func (c Change) isEmpty() bool {
 		len(c.Resources) == 0 &&
 		len(c.Networks) == 0 &&
 		len(c.PostureCheckIDs) == 0 &&
+		len(c.UserGroupIDs) == 0 &&
+		!c.AllowedUsersChanged &&
 		len(c.DistributionGroupIDs) == 0 &&
 		len(c.RemovedPeersByGroup) == 0 &&
 		len(c.LinkGroups) == 0 &&
@@ -359,6 +374,9 @@ func (r *resolver) walk() {
 		r.collectFromProxyServices()
 	}

+	r.collectFromSSHAuthorizedGroups()
+	r.collectFromAllowedUsers()
+
 	r.collectFromChangedRoutes(r.change.Routes)
 	r.collectFromChangedRouters(r.change.Routers)
 	r.collectFromChangedResources(r.change.Resources)
@@ -811,6 +829,59 @@ func (r *resolver) collectFromNameServers() {
 	}
 }

+// collectFromSSHAuthorizedGroups folds the destinations of the enabled SSH rules that
+// authorize a group whose user membership changed. Those destination peers carry the
+// group -> user mapping for the groups they authorize, so they refresh even when no
+// peer moved between groups.
+func (r *resolver) collectFromSSHAuthorizedGroups() {
+	if len(r.change.UserGroupIDs) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+
+	changed := toSet(r.change.UserGroupIDs)
+	for _, policy := range r.policies() {
+		for _, rule := range policy.Rules {
+			if !rule.Enabled || rule.Protocol != types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH {
+				continue
+			}
+			if !anyInSet(maps.Keys(rule.AuthorizedGroups), changed) {
+				continue
+			}
+			log.WithContext(r.ctx).Tracef("collectFromSSHAuthorizedGroups: rule %s authorizes a changed user group -> folding its destinations", rule.ID)
+			r.foldPolicySideForRule(policy, rule, sideDestination)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// collectFromAllowedUsers folds the destinations of the rules that make a peer carry
+// the account's allowed-user set, for a change to who is in that set.
+func (r *resolver) collectFromAllowedUsers() {
+	if !r.change.AllowedUsersChanged {
+		return
+	}
+
+	for _, policy := range r.policies() {
+		for _, rule := range policy.Rules {
+			if !rule.Enabled || !ruleShipsAllowedUsers(rule) {
+				continue
+			}
+			log.WithContext(r.ctx).Tracef("collectFromAllowedUsers: rule %s ships the allowed-user set -> folding its destinations", rule.ID)
+			r.foldPolicySideForRule(policy, rule, sideDestination)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// ruleShipsAllowedUsers reports whether a rule makes its destination peers carry the
+// account's allowed-user set. It mirrors the network map's SSH requirements except for
+// the destination peer's own SSH flag, which the snapshot does not hold — so it folds a
+// superset and never misses a peer.
+func ruleShipsAllowedUsers(rule *types.PolicyRule) bool {
+	if rule.Protocol == types.PolicyRuleProtocolNetbirdSSH {
+		return len(rule.AuthorizedGroups) == 0 && rule.AuthorizedUser == ""
+	}
+	return types.PolicyRuleImpliesLegacySSH(rule)
+}
+
 func (r *resolver) collectFromDNSSettings() {
 	if len(r.linkGroups) == 0 || r.snap.dnsSettings == nil {
 		return
--- a/management/server/affectedpeers/resolver_test.go
+++ b/management/server/affectedpeers/resolver_test.go
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ func TestChangeIsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, Change{Resources: []*resourceTypes.NetworkResource{{ID: "r"}}}.isEmpty())
 	assert.False(t, Change{Networks: []*networkTypes.Network{{ID: "n"}}}.isEmpty())
 	assert.False(t, Change{PostureCheckIDs: []string{"pc"}}.isEmpty())
+	assert.False(t, Change{UserGroupIDs: []string{"g"}}.isEmpty())
+	assert.False(t, Change{AllowedUsersChanged: true}.isEmpty())
 }

 func TestPolicyReferencesPostureChecks(t *testing.T) {
--- a/management/server/http/handlers/proxy/auth.go
+++ b/management/server/http/handlers/proxy/auth.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package proxy

 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/netip"
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ func (h *AuthCallbackHandler) handleCallback(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Requ
 		redirectURL.Scheme = "https"
 		query := redirectURL.Query()
 		query.Set("error", "access_denied")
-		query.Set("error_description", "Service configuration error")
+		query.Set("error_description", sessionTokenErrorDescription(err))
 		redirectURL.RawQuery = query.Encode()
 		http.Redirect(w, r, redirectURL.String(), http.StatusFound)
 		return
@@ -124,6 +125,20 @@ func (h *AuthCallbackHandler) handleCallback(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Requ
 	http.Redirect(w, r, redirectURL.String(), http.StatusFound)
 }

+// sessionTokenErrorDescription maps a session token failure to the text the
+// proxy renders on its access denied page. Account status denials get a message
+// the user can act on, while everything else stays generic so a lookup or
+// signing failure does not describe management internals to the browser.
+func sessionTokenErrorDescription(err error) string {
+	if errors.Is(err, nbgrpc.ErrUserPendingApproval) {
+		return "Your account is pending approval by an administrator"
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, nbgrpc.ErrUserBlocked) {
+		return "Your account is blocked"
+	}
+	return "Service configuration error"
+}
+
 func extractUserIDFromToken(ctx context.Context, provider *oidc.Provider, config nbgrpc.ProxyOIDCConfig, token *oauth2.Token) string {
 	rawIDToken, ok := token.Extra("id_token").(string)
 	if !ok {
--- a/management/server/http/handlers/proxy/auth_callback_integration_test.go
+++ b/management/server/http/handlers/proxy/auth_callback_integration_test.go
@@ -360,6 +360,51 @@ func createTestAccountsAndUsers(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, testStore sto
 		Issued:     "api",
 	}
 	require.NoError(t, testStore.SaveUser(ctx, allowedUser))
+
+	// A second tenant, whose users must never be issued a token signed with
+	// the first tenant's service session key.
+	otherAccount := &types.Account{
+		Id:                     "otherAccountId",
+		Domain:                 "other.com",
+		DomainCategory:         "private",
+		IsDomainPrimaryAccount: true,
+		CreatedAt:              time.Now(),
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, testStore.SaveAccount(ctx, otherAccount))
+
+	otherAccountUser := &types.User{
+		Id:        "otherAccountUserId",
+		AccountID: "otherAccountId",
+		Role:      types.UserRoleUser,
+		CreatedAt: time.Now(),
+		Issued:    "api",
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, testStore.SaveUser(ctx, otherAccountUser))
+
+	// A user awaiting approval is stored as blocked and pending approval, and
+	// carries the same group membership as the approved one.
+	pendingUser := &types.User{
+		Id:              "pendingUserId",
+		AccountID:       "testAccountId",
+		Role:            types.UserRoleUser,
+		AutoGroups:      []string{"allowedGroupId"},
+		Blocked:         true,
+		PendingApproval: true,
+		CreatedAt:       time.Now(),
+		Issued:          "api",
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, testStore.SaveUser(ctx, pendingUser))
+
+	blockedUser := &types.User{
+		Id:         "blockedUserId",
+		AccountID:  "testAccountId",
+		Role:       types.UserRoleUser,
+		AutoGroups: []string{"allowedGroupId"},
+		Blocked:    true,
+		CreatedAt:  time.Now(),
+		Issued:     "api",
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, testStore.SaveUser(ctx, blockedUser))
 }

 // testServiceManager is a minimal implementation for testing.
@@ -490,6 +535,64 @@ func TestAuthCallback_UserAllowedToLogin(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Empty(t, parsedLocation.Query().Get("error"), "Should not have error parameter")
 }

+// TestAuthCallback_UserDeniedByAccountStatus asserts that a user whose account
+// is pending approval or blocked never receives a session token from the OIDC
+// callback, and that the redirect carries a description the proxy can render.
+func TestAuthCallback_UserDeniedByAccountStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name            string
+		subject         string
+		expectErrorDesc string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:            "pending approval",
+			subject:         "pendingUserId",
+			expectErrorDesc: "Your account is pending approval by an administrator",
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "blocked",
+			subject:         "blockedUserId",
+			expectErrorDesc: "Your account is blocked",
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "unknown to management",
+			subject:         "userMissingFromStoreId",
+			expectErrorDesc: "Service configuration error",
+		},
+		{
+			// The account topology stays out of the browser-visible message.
+			name:            "belongs to another account",
+			subject:         "otherAccountUserId",
+			expectErrorDesc: "Service configuration error",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			setup := setupAuthCallbackTest(t)
+			defer setup.cleanup()
+
+			setup.oidcServer.tokenSubject = tt.subject
+
+			state := createTestState(t, setup.proxyService, "https://test-proxy.example.com/dashboard")
+
+			req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/reverse-proxy/callback?code=test-auth-code&state="+url.QueryEscape(state), nil)
+			rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+			setup.router.ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+
+			require.Equal(t, http.StatusFound, rec.Code)
+
+			parsedLocation, err := url.Parse(rec.Header().Get("Location"))
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			require.Empty(t, parsedLocation.Query().Get("session_token"), "Denied user must not receive a session token")
+			require.Equal(t, "access_denied", parsedLocation.Query().Get("error"))
+			require.Equal(t, tt.expectErrorDesc, parsedLocation.Query().Get("error_description"))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAuthCallback_ProxyNotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	setup := setupAuthCallbackTest(t)
 	defer setup.cleanup()
--- a/management/server/types/account.go
+++ b/management/server/types/account.go
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ type Account struct {
 	Onboarding       AccountOnboarding                `gorm:"foreignKey:AccountID;references:id;constraint:OnDelete:CASCADE"`

 	ReverseProxyFreeDomainNonce string
+
+	PostureValidation map[string]map[string]bool `gorm:"-"`
 }

 // this class is used by gorm only
@@ -874,6 +876,7 @@ func (a *Account) Copy() *Account {
 		Services:               services,
 		Onboarding:             a.Onboarding,
 		Domains:                domains,
+		PostureValidation:      a.PostureValidation,
 	}
 }

--- a/management/server/types/account_components.go
+++ b/management/server/types/account_components.go
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import (
 	nbdns "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/dns"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/zones"
 	routerTypes "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/networks/routers/types"
+	nbpeer "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/peer"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/posture"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/telemetry"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
 )
@@ -506,8 +508,8 @@ func (a *Account) getPeersGroupsPoliciesRoutes(
 func (a *Account) getPeersFromGroups(ctx context.Context, groups []string, peerID string, sourcePostureChecksIDs []string,
 	validatedPeersMap map[string]struct{}, postureFailedPeers *map[string]map[string]struct{}) ([]string, bool) {
 	peerInGroups := false
-	filteredPeerIDs := make([]string, 0, len(groups))
-	seenPeerIds := make(map[string]struct{}, len(groups))
+	var filteredPeerIDs []string
+	var seenPeerIds map[string]struct{}

 	for _, gid := range groups {
 		group := a.GetGroup(gid)
@@ -547,6 +549,17 @@ func (a *Account) getPeersFromGroups(ctx context.Context, groups []string, peerI
 			return filteredPeerIDs, peerInGroups
 		}

+		if seenPeerIds == nil {
+			totalGroupPeers := 0
+			for _, g := range groups {
+				if grp := a.GetGroup(g); grp != nil {
+					totalGroupPeers += len(grp.Peers)
+				}
+			}
+			filteredPeerIDs = make([]string, 0, totalGroupPeers)
+			seenPeerIds = make(map[string]struct{}, totalGroupPeers)
+		}
+
 		for _, pid := range group.Peers {
 			if _, seen := seenPeerIds[pid]; seen {
 				continue
@@ -589,21 +602,109 @@ func (a *Account) validatePostureChecksOnPeerGetFailed(ctx context.Context, sour
 	}

 	for _, postureChecksID := range sourcePostureChecksID {
+		if valid, cached := a.cachedPostureCheckResult(postureChecksID, peerID); cached {
+			if !valid {
+				return false, postureChecksID
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
 		postureChecks := a.GetPostureChecks(postureChecksID)
 		if postureChecks == nil {
 			continue
 		}

-		for _, check := range postureChecks.GetChecks() {
-			isValid, _ := check.Check(ctx, *peer)
-			if !isValid {
-				return false, postureChecksID
-			}
+		if !peerPassesPostureChecks(ctx, postureChecks.GetChecks(), peer) {
+			return false, postureChecksID
 		}
 	}
 	return true, ""
 }

+// PrecomputePostureValidation evaluates every posture check referenced by an enabled
+// policy once against the peers of that policy's source groups and stores the results,
+// so the per-peer network map calculations that follow look them up instead of
+// re-evaluating checks for every peer pair. It must be called before the account is
+// shared across goroutines; lookups not covered by the precomputed results fall back
+// to direct evaluation.
+func (a *Account) PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx context.Context) {
+	if len(a.PostureChecks) == 0 {
+		a.PostureValidation = nil
+		return
+	}
+
+	checkPeerIDs := make(map[string]map[string]struct{})
+	for _, policy := range a.Policies {
+		if !policy.Enabled || len(policy.SourcePostureChecks) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		peerIDs := a.getUniquePeerIDsFromGroupsIDs(ctx, policy.SourceGroups())
+		for _, rule := range policy.Rules {
+			if rule.SourceResource.Type == ResourceTypePeer && rule.SourceResource.ID != "" {
+				peerIDs = append(peerIDs, rule.SourceResource.ID)
+			}
+		}
+
+		for _, postureChecksID := range policy.SourcePostureChecks {
+			set := checkPeerIDs[postureChecksID]
+			if set == nil {
+				set = make(map[string]struct{}, len(peerIDs))
+				checkPeerIDs[postureChecksID] = set
+			}
+			for _, pid := range peerIDs {
+				set[pid] = struct{}{}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	results := make(map[string]map[string]bool, len(checkPeerIDs))
+	for postureChecksID, peerIDs := range checkPeerIDs {
+		results[postureChecksID] = a.evaluatePostureChecksForPeers(ctx, postureChecksID, peerIDs)
+	}
+	a.PostureValidation = results
+}
+
+func (a *Account) evaluatePostureChecksForPeers(ctx context.Context, postureChecksID string, peerIDs map[string]struct{}) map[string]bool {
+	postureChecks := a.GetPostureChecks(postureChecksID)
+	if postureChecks == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	checks := postureChecks.GetChecks()
+	results := make(map[string]bool, len(peerIDs))
+	for peerID := range peerIDs {
+		peer, ok := a.Peers[peerID]
+		if !ok || peer == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		results[peerID] = peerPassesPostureChecks(ctx, checks, peer)
+	}
+	return results
+}
+
+func (a *Account) cachedPostureCheckResult(postureChecksID, peerID string) (bool, bool) {
+	results, ok := a.PostureValidation[postureChecksID]
+	if !ok {
+		return false, false
+	}
+	if results == nil {
+		return true, true
+	}
+	valid, found := results[peerID]
+	return valid, found
+}
+
+func peerPassesPostureChecks(ctx context.Context, checks []posture.Check, peer *nbpeer.Peer) bool {
+	for _, check := range checks {
+		isValid, _ := check.Check(ctx, *peer)
+		if !isValid {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 func (a *Account) getPostureValidPeersSaveFailed(inputPeers []string, postureChecksIDs []string, validatedPeersMap map[string]struct{}, postureFailedPeers *map[string]map[string]struct{}) []string {
 	var dest []string
 	for _, peerID := range inputPeers {
--- a/management/server/types/account_posture_validation_test.go
+++ b/management/server/types/account_posture_validation_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+package types_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	nbdns "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/dns"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/posture"
+)
+
+func TestPrecomputePostureValidation_MatchesDirectEvaluation(t *testing.T) {
+	account, validatedPeers := scalableTestAccount(60, 5)
+
+	account.PostureChecks = append(account.PostureChecks, &posture.Checks{
+		ID: "posture-check-strict", Name: "Strict version",
+		Checks: posture.ChecksDefinition{
+			NBVersionCheck: &posture.NBVersionCheck{MinVersion: "0.50.0"},
+		},
+	})
+	account.Policies[0].SourcePostureChecks = []string{"posture-check-ver", "posture-check-unknown"}
+	account.Policies[1].SourcePostureChecks = []string{"posture-check-strict"}
+	account.Policies[2].SourcePostureChecks = []string{"posture-check-ver"}
+	account.Policies[2].Enabled = false
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	resourcePolicies := account.GetResourcePoliciesMap()
+	routers := account.GetResourceRoutersMap()
+
+	type result struct {
+		peers              map[string]struct{}
+		postureFailedPeers map[string]map[string]struct{}
+	}
+	snapshot := func() map[string]result {
+		results := make(map[string]result, len(account.Peers))
+		for peerID := range account.Peers {
+			components := account.GetPeerNetworkMapComponents(ctx, peerID, nbdns.CustomZone{}, nil, validatedPeers, resourcePolicies, routers, nil)
+			require.NotNil(t, components)
+			peerSet := make(map[string]struct{}, len(components.Peers))
+			for id := range components.Peers {
+				peerSet[id] = struct{}{}
+			}
+			results[peerID] = result{peers: peerSet, postureFailedPeers: components.PostureFailedPeers}
+		}
+		return results
+	}
+
+	direct := snapshot()
+	account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
+	memoized := snapshot()
+
+	require.Equal(t, len(direct), len(memoized))
+	for peerID, want := range direct {
+		got := memoized[peerID]
+		assert.Equal(t, want.peers, got.peers, "visible peers changed for %s", peerID)
+		assert.Equal(t, want.postureFailedPeers, got.postureFailedPeers, "posture failed peers changed for %s", peerID)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPrecomputePostureValidation_NoPostureChecks(t *testing.T) {
+	account, validatedPeers := scalableTestAccount(10, 2)
+	account.PostureChecks = nil
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
+
+	components := account.GetPeerNetworkMapComponents(ctx, "peer-0", nbdns.CustomZone{}, nil, validatedPeers, account.GetResourcePoliciesMap(), account.GetResourceRoutersMap(), nil)
+	require.NotNil(t, components)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, components.Peers)
+}
--- a/management/server/types/networkmap_benchmark_test.go
+++ b/management/server/types/networkmap_benchmark_test.go
@@ -86,6 +86,43 @@ func BenchmarkNetworkMapGeneration_AllPeers(b *testing.B) {
 			b.ReportAllocs()
 			b.ResetTimer()
 			for range b.N {
+				account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
+				for _, peerID := range peerIDs {
+					_ = account.GetPeerNetworkMapFromComponents(ctx, peerID, nbdns.CustomZone{}, nil, validatedPeers, resourcePolicies, routers, nil, groupIDToUserIDs)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkNetworkMapGeneration_AllPeersPostureChecks benchmarks the UpdateAccountPeers
+// hot path with a posture check attached to the account-wide policy, so posture
+// validation runs for every source peer of every target peer's map.
+func BenchmarkNetworkMapGeneration_AllPeersPostureChecks(b *testing.B) {
+	skipCIBenchmark(b)
+	scales := []benchmarkScale{
+		{"500peers_20groups", 500, 20},
+		{"1000peers_50groups", 1000, 50},
+	}
+
+	for _, scale := range scales {
+		account, validatedPeers := scalableTestAccount(scale.peers, scale.groups)
+		account.Policies[0].SourcePostureChecks = []string{"posture-check-ver"}
+		ctx := context.Background()
+
+		peerIDs := make([]string, 0, len(account.Peers))
+		for peerID := range account.Peers {
+			peerIDs = append(peerIDs, peerID)
+		}
+
+		b.Run("components/"+scale.name, func(b *testing.B) {
+			resourcePolicies := account.GetResourcePoliciesMap()
+			routers := account.GetResourceRoutersMap()
+			groupIDToUserIDs := account.GetActiveGroupUsers()
+			b.ReportAllocs()
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for range b.N {
+				account.PrecomputePostureValidation(ctx)
 				for _, peerID := range peerIDs {
 					_ = account.GetPeerNetworkMapFromComponents(ctx, peerID, nbdns.CustomZone{}, nil, validatedPeers, resourcePolicies, routers, nil, groupIDToUserIDs)
 				}
--- a/management/server/user.go
+++ b/management/server/user.go
@@ -593,7 +593,8 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SaveOrAddUsers(ctx context.Context, accountID,
 		return nil, err
 	}

-	var updateAccountPeers bool
+	var snaps []*affectedpeers.Snapshot
+	var changes []affectedpeers.Change
 	var peersToExpire []*nbpeer.Peer
 	var addUserEvents []func()
 	var usersToSave = make([]*types.User, 0, len(updates))
@@ -629,20 +630,25 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SaveOrAddUsers(ctx context.Context, accountID,
 		}

 		err = am.Store.ExecuteInTransaction(ctx, func(transaction store.Store) error {
-			_, updatedUser, userPeersToExpire, userEvents, err := am.processUserUpdate(
+			change, updatedUser, userPeersToExpire, userEvents, err := am.processUserUpdate(
 				ctx, transaction, groupsMap, accountID, initiatorUserID, initiatorUser, update, addIfNotExists, settings,
 			)
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("failed to process update for user %s: %w", update.Id, err)
 			}

-			updateAccountPeers = true
-
 			err = transaction.SaveUser(ctx, updatedUser)
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("failed to save updated user %s: %w", update.Id, err)
 			}

+			snap, err := affectedpeers.Load(ctx, transaction, accountID, change)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			snaps = append(snaps, snap)
+			changes = append(changes, change)
 			usersToSave = append(usersToSave, updatedUser)
 			addUserEvents = append(addUserEvents, userEvents...)
 			peersToExpire = append(peersToExpire, userPeersToExpire...)
@@ -683,11 +689,11 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) SaveOrAddUsers(ctx context.Context, accountID,
 			log.WithContext(ctx).Errorf("failed update expired peers: %s", err)
 			return nil, err
 		}
-	} else if updateAccountPeers {
+	} else if len(usersToSave) > 0 {
 		if err = am.Store.IncrementNetworkSerial(ctx, accountID); err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to increment network serial: %w", err)
 		}
-		am.UpdateAccountPeers(ctx, accountID, types.UpdateReason{Resource: types.UpdateResourceUser, Operation: types.UpdateOperationUpdate})
+		go am.dispatchAffected(ctx, accountID, snaps, changes)
 	}

 	return updatedUsersInfo, globalErr
@@ -759,19 +765,21 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) prepareUserUpdateEvents(ctx context.Context, ac
 }

 func (am *DefaultAccountManager) processUserUpdate(ctx context.Context, transaction store.Store, groupsMap map[string]*types.Group,
-	accountID, initiatorUserId string, initiatorUser, update *types.User, addIfNotExists bool, settings *types.Settings) (bool, *types.User, []*nbpeer.Peer, []func(), error) {
+	accountID, initiatorUserId string, initiatorUser, update *types.User, addIfNotExists bool, settings *types.Settings) (affectedpeers.Change, *types.User, []*nbpeer.Peer, []func(), error) {
+
+	var change affectedpeers.Change

 	if update == nil {
-		return false, nil, nil, nil, status.Errorf(status.InvalidArgument, "provided user update is nil")
+		return change, nil, nil, nil, status.Errorf(status.InvalidArgument, "provided user update is nil")
 	}

 	oldUser, isNewUser, err := getUserOrCreateIfNotExists(ctx, transaction, accountID, update, addIfNotExists)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, nil, nil, nil, err
+		return change, nil, nil, nil, err
 	}

 	if err := validateUserUpdate(groupsMap, initiatorUser, oldUser, update); err != nil {
-		return false, nil, nil, nil, err
+		return change, nil, nil, nil, err
 	}

 	// only auto groups, revoked status, and integration reference can be updated for now
@@ -792,13 +800,13 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) processUserUpdate(ctx context.Context, transact
 	var transferredOwnerRole bool
 	result, err := handleOwnerRoleTransfer(ctx, transaction, initiatorUser, update)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, nil, nil, nil, err
+		return change, nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 	transferredOwnerRole = result

 	userPeers, err := transaction.GetUserPeers(ctx, store.LockingStrengthNone, updatedUser.AccountID, update.Id)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, nil, nil, nil, err
+		return change, nil, nil, nil, err
 	}

 	var peersToExpire []*nbpeer.Peer
@@ -807,6 +815,32 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) processUserUpdate(ctx context.Context, transact
 		peersToExpire = userPeers
 	}

+	// A user reaches a peer's network map only through the SSH rules: as part of a
+	// group -> user mapping, and as part of the account's allowed-user set. Creating,
+	// blocking or unblocking a user adds it to or removes it from both, so every group
+	// it maps into changes — including the All group that holds every active user.
+	// Otherwise only the auto-groups it joined or left do.
+	if isNewUser || oldUser.IsBlocked() != updatedUser.IsBlocked() {
+		change.AllowedUsersChanged = true
+		change.UserGroupIDs = slices.Concat(oldUser.AutoGroups, updatedUser.AutoGroups, allGroupIDs(groupsMap))
+	} else {
+		change.UserGroupIDs = slices.Concat(
+			util.Difference(oldUser.AutoGroups, updatedUser.AutoGroups),
+			util.Difference(updatedUser.AutoGroups, oldUser.AutoGroups),
+		)
+	}
+
+	// The user's peers are the changed entity in every scenario the update can
+	// produce — group membership, IPv6 assignment, SSH mappings — so they refresh
+	// together with every peer they can connect to, like on a regular peer update.
+	// An update that changes neither the auto-groups nor the active-user set has no
+	// peer-visible effect and refreshes nobody.
+	if len(change.UserGroupIDs) > 0 || change.AllowedUsersChanged {
+		for _, peer := range userPeers {
+			change.ChangedPeerIDs = append(change.ChangedPeerIDs, peer.ID)
+		}
+	}
+
 	var removedGroups, addedGroups []string
 	if update.AutoGroups != nil && settings.GroupsPropagationEnabled {
 		removedGroups = util.Difference(oldUser.AutoGroups, update.AutoGroups)
@@ -814,26 +848,38 @@ func (am *DefaultAccountManager) processUserUpdate(ctx context.Context, transact
 		for _, peer := range userPeers {
 			for _, groupID := range removedGroups {
 				if err := transaction.RemovePeerFromGroup(ctx, peer.ID, groupID); err != nil {
-					return false, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to remove peer %s from group %s: %w", peer.ID, groupID, err)
+					return change, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to remove peer %s from group %s: %w", peer.ID, groupID, err)
 				}
 			}
 			for _, groupID := range addedGroups {
 				if err := transaction.AddPeerToGroup(ctx, accountID, peer.ID, groupID); err != nil {
-					return false, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to add peer %s to group %s: %w", peer.ID, groupID, err)
+					return change, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to add peer %s to group %s: %w", peer.ID, groupID, err)
 				}
 			}
 		}

 		allGroupChanges := slices.Concat(removedGroups, addedGroups)
+		change.LinkGroups = allGroupChanges
+
 		if err := am.reconcileIPv6ForGroupChanges(ctx, transaction, accountID, allGroupChanges); err != nil {
-			return false, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("reconcile IPv6 for group changes: %w", err)
+			return change, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("reconcile IPv6 for group changes: %w", err)
 		}
 	}

-	updateAccountPeers := len(userPeers) > 0
 	userEventsToAdd := am.prepareUserUpdateEvents(ctx, updatedUser.AccountID, initiatorUserId, oldUser, updatedUser, transferredOwnerRole, isNewUser, removedGroups, addedGroups, transaction)

-	return updateAccountPeers, updatedUser, peersToExpire, userEventsToAdd, nil
+	return change, updatedUser, peersToExpire, userEventsToAdd, nil
+}
+
+// allGroupIDs returns the ID of the account's All group, which every active user maps
+// into, as a slice so callers can concatenate it.
+func allGroupIDs(groupsMap map[string]*types.Group) []string {
+	for _, group := range groupsMap {
+		if group.IsGroupAll() {
+			return []string{group.ID}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
 }

 // getUserOrCreateIfNotExists retrieves the existing user or creates a new one if it doesn't exist.
--- a/proxy/auth/auth.go
+++ b/proxy/auth/auth.go
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ const (
 	SessionJWTIssuer     = "netbird-management"
 )

+const ClientIPMetadataKey = "nb-client-ip"
+
 // ResolveProto determines the protocol scheme based on the forwarded proto
 // configuration. When set to "http" or "https" the value is used directly.
 // Otherwise TLS state is used: if conn is non-nil "https" is returned, else "http".
--- a/proxy/internal/auth/header_cache.go
+++ b/proxy/internal/auth/header_cache.go
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+package auth
+
+import (
+	"crypto/hmac"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"golang.org/x/sync/singleflight"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/proxy/internal/types"
+)
+
+const headerAuthCacheTTL = 60 * time.Second
+
+const envHeaderAuthCacheTTL = "NB_PROXY_HEADER_AUTH_CACHE_TTL"
+
+const headerAuthCachePerService = 1024
+
+const headerAuthCacheSkew = 30 * time.Second
+
+const headerAuthRPCTimeout = 10 * time.Second
+
+type headerCacheKey struct {
+	serviceID  types.ServiceID
+	headerName string
+	credential [sha256.Size]byte
+}
+
+type headerCacheEntry struct {
+	token     string
+	expiresAt time.Time
+}
+
+type headerAuthCache struct {
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	entries map[types.ServiceID]*headerServiceBucket
+	flight  singleflight.Group
+	ttl     time.Duration
+	maxSize int
+	macKey  []byte
+	now     func() time.Time
+}
+
+type headerServiceBucket struct {
+	items map[headerCacheKey]headerCacheEntry
+	order []headerCacheKey
+}
+
+func newHeaderAuthCache() *headerAuthCache {
+	macKey := make([]byte, sha256.Size)
+	_, _ = rand.Read(macKey)
+
+	return &headerAuthCache{
+		entries: make(map[types.ServiceID]*headerServiceBucket),
+		ttl:     headerAuthCacheTTLFromEnv(),
+		maxSize: headerAuthCachePerService,
+		macKey:  macKey,
+		now:     time.Now,
+	}
+}
+
+func headerAuthCacheTTLFromEnv() time.Duration {
+	raw := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(envHeaderAuthCacheTTL))
+	if raw == "" {
+		return headerAuthCacheTTL
+	}
+	d, err := time.ParseDuration(raw)
+	if err != nil || d <= 0 {
+		log.Warnf("ignoring invalid %s=%q (want a positive Go duration like 30s or 2m); using default %s",
+			envHeaderAuthCacheTTL, raw, headerAuthCacheTTL)
+		return headerAuthCacheTTL
+	}
+	return d
+}
+
+func (c *headerAuthCache) key(serviceID types.ServiceID, headerName, credential string) headerCacheKey {
+	mac := hmac.New(sha256.New, c.macKey)
+	mac.Write([]byte(credential))
+
+	key := headerCacheKey{serviceID: serviceID, headerName: headerName}
+	copy(key.credential[:], mac.Sum(nil))
+	return key
+}
+
+func (c *headerAuthCache) get(key headerCacheKey) string {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+
+	bucket, ok := c.entries[key.serviceID]
+	if !ok {
+		return ""
+	}
+	entry, ok := bucket.items[key]
+	if !ok {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if !c.now().Before(entry.expiresAt) {
+		delete(bucket.items, key)
+		bucket.order = removeKey(bucket.order, key)
+		return ""
+	}
+	return entry.token
+}
+
+func (c *headerAuthCache) put(key headerCacheKey, token string, sessionExpiration time.Duration) {
+	lifetime := c.ttl
+	if sessionExpiration > 0 && sessionExpiration-headerAuthCacheSkew < lifetime {
+		lifetime = sessionExpiration - headerAuthCacheSkew
+	}
+	if lifetime <= 0 {
+		return
+	}
+
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+
+	bucket, ok := c.entries[key.serviceID]
+	if !ok {
+		bucket = &headerServiceBucket{items: make(map[headerCacheKey]headerCacheEntry)}
+		c.entries[key.serviceID] = bucket
+	}
+	if _, exists := bucket.items[key]; !exists {
+		bucket.order = append(bucket.order, key)
+	}
+	bucket.items[key] = headerCacheEntry{token: token, expiresAt: c.now().Add(lifetime)}
+
+	for len(bucket.order) > c.maxSize {
+		oldest := bucket.order[0]
+		bucket.order = bucket.order[1:]
+		delete(bucket.items, oldest)
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *headerAuthCache) invalidate(key headerCacheKey) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+
+	bucket, ok := c.entries[key.serviceID]
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	delete(bucket.items, key)
+	bucket.order = removeKey(bucket.order, key)
+}
+
+func (c *headerAuthCache) invalidateService(serviceID types.ServiceID) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+
+	delete(c.entries, serviceID)
+}
+
+type authenticateHeaderFn func() (string, error)
+
+func (c *headerAuthCache) fetch(key headerCacheKey, sessionExpiration time.Duration, authenticate authenticateHeaderFn) (string, bool, error) {
+	if token := c.get(key); token != "" {
+		return token, true, nil
+	}
+
+	res, err, _ := c.flight.Do(headerFlightKey(key), func() (any, error) {
+		if token := c.get(key); token != "" {
+			return token, nil
+		}
+		token, err := authenticate()
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		if token != "" {
+			c.put(key, token, sessionExpiration)
+		}
+		return token, nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", false, err
+	}
+
+	token, _ := res.(string)
+	return token, false, nil
+}
+
+func headerFlightKey(key headerCacheKey) string {
+	return string(key.serviceID) + "|" + key.headerName + "|" + string(key.credential[:])
+}
--- a/proxy/internal/auth/header_cache_test.go
+++ b/proxy/internal/auth/header_cache_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,244 @@
+package auth
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/sessionkey"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/proxy/auth"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/proxy/internal/proxy"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/proto"
+)
+
+func newCountingHeaderScheme(t *testing.T, kp *sessionkey.KeyPair, headerName, expectedValue string, calls *atomic.Int32) Header {
+	t.Helper()
+	token, err := sessionkey.SignToken(kp.PrivateKey, "header-user", "", "example.com", auth.MethodHeader, nil, nil, time.Hour)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	mock := &mockAuthenticator{fn: func(_ context.Context, req *proto.AuthenticateRequest) (*proto.AuthenticateResponse, error) {
+		calls.Add(1)
+		ha := req.GetHeaderAuth()
+		if ha != nil && ha.GetHeaderValue() == expectedValue {
+			return &proto.AuthenticateResponse{Success: true, SessionToken: token}, nil
+		}
+		return &proto.AuthenticateResponse{Success: false}, nil
+	}}
+	return NewHeader(mock, "svc1", "acc1", headerName)
+}
+
+func doHeaderRequest(t *testing.T, mw *Middleware, credential string) *httptest.ResponseRecorder {
+	t.Helper()
+	handler := mw.Protect(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+	}))
+
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "http://example.com/path", nil)
+	req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", credential)
+	req = req.WithContext(proxy.WithCapturedData(req.Context(), proxy.NewCapturedData("")))
+
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	handler.ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	return rec
+}
+
+func TestProtect_HeaderAuth_ReusesSessionTokenAcrossRequests(t *testing.T) {
+	var calls atomic.Int32
+	mw := NewMiddleware(log.StandardLogger(), nil, nil)
+	kp := generateTestKeyPair(t)
+	hdr := newCountingHeaderScheme(t, kp, "X-API-Key", "secret-key", &calls)
+	require.NoError(t, mw.AddDomain("example.com", []Scheme{hdr}, kp.PublicKey, time.Hour, "acc1", "svc1", nil, false))
+
+	for i := 0; i < 25; i++ {
+		rec := doHeaderRequest(t, mw, "secret-key")
+		require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, rec.Code)
+	}
+
+	assert.Equal(t, int32(1), calls.Load(), "a repeated credential must be verified once")
+}
+
+func TestProtect_HeaderAuth_DoesNotCacheFailures(t *testing.T) {
+	var calls atomic.Int32
+	mw := NewMiddleware(log.StandardLogger(), nil, nil)
+	kp := generateTestKeyPair(t)
+	hdr := newCountingHeaderScheme(t, kp, "X-API-Key", "secret-key", &calls)
+	require.NoError(t, mw.AddDomain("example.com", []Scheme{hdr}, kp.PublicKey, time.Hour, "acc1", "svc1", nil, false))
+
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		rec := doHeaderRequest(t, mw, "wrong-key")
+		require.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, rec.Code)
+	}
+
+	assert.Equal(t, int32(3), calls.Load(), "rejected credentials must not be cached")
+}
+
+func TestProtect_HeaderAuth_MissingHeaderSkipsRPC(t *testing.T) {
+	var calls atomic.Int32
+	mw := NewMiddleware(log.StandardLogger(), nil, nil)
+	kp := generateTestKeyPair(t)
+	hdr := newCountingHeaderScheme(t, kp, "X-API-Key", "secret-key", &calls)
+	require.NoError(t, mw.AddDomain("example.com", []Scheme{hdr}, kp.PublicKey, time.Hour, "acc1", "svc1", nil, false))
+
+	rec := doHeaderRequest(t, mw, "")
+	assert.NotEqual(t, http.StatusOK, rec.Code)
+	assert.Zero(t, calls.Load(), "an absent header must not reach management")
+}
+
+func TestHeaderAuthCache_EvictsExpiredEntries(t *testing.T) {
+	c := newHeaderAuthCache()
+	now := time.Now()
+	c.now = func() time.Time { return now }
+
+	key := c.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", "secret")
+	c.put(key, "token", time.Hour)
+	require.Equal(t, "token", c.get(key))
+
+	now = now.Add(c.ttl + time.Second)
+	assert.Empty(t, c.get(key))
+}
+
+func TestHeaderAuthCache_SkipsCacheWhenSessionExpiresWithinSkew(t *testing.T) {
+	c := newHeaderAuthCache()
+
+	key := c.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", "secret")
+	c.put(key, "token", headerAuthCacheSkew)
+
+	assert.Empty(t, c.get(key), "a token must never outlive the session it was minted for")
+}
+
+func TestHeaderAuthCache_SessionExpirationShortensTTL(t *testing.T) {
+	c := newHeaderAuthCache()
+	now := time.Now()
+	c.now = func() time.Time { return now }
+
+	key := c.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", "secret")
+	c.put(key, "token", headerAuthCacheSkew+10*time.Second)
+	require.Equal(t, "token", c.get(key))
+
+	now = now.Add(11 * time.Second)
+	assert.Empty(t, c.get(key))
+}
+
+func TestHeaderAuthCache_BoundsEntriesPerService(t *testing.T) {
+	c := newHeaderAuthCache()
+	c.maxSize = 4
+
+	var first headerCacheKey
+	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
+		key := c.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", fmt.Sprintf("secret-%d", i))
+		if i == 0 {
+			first = key
+		}
+		c.put(key, "token", time.Hour)
+	}
+
+	assert.Len(t, c.entries["svc1"].items, 4)
+	assert.Empty(t, c.get(first), "the oldest entry must be evicted")
+}
+
+func TestHeaderAuthCache_DistinguishesCredentials(t *testing.T) {
+	c := newHeaderAuthCache()
+
+	good := c.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", "good")
+	other := c.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", "other")
+	c.put(good, "token", time.Hour)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "token", c.get(good))
+	assert.Empty(t, c.get(other))
+}
+
+func TestProtect_HeaderAuth_MappingUpdateInvalidatesCache(t *testing.T) {
+	var calls atomic.Int32
+	mw := NewMiddleware(log.StandardLogger(), nil, nil)
+	kp := generateTestKeyPair(t)
+	hdr := newCountingHeaderScheme(t, kp, "X-API-Key", "secret-key", &calls)
+	require.NoError(t, mw.AddDomain("example.com", []Scheme{hdr}, kp.PublicKey, time.Hour, "acc1", "svc1", nil, false))
+
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, doHeaderRequest(t, mw, "secret-key").Code)
+	require.Equal(t, int32(1), calls.Load())
+
+	require.NoError(t, mw.AddDomain("example.com", []Scheme{hdr}, kp.PublicKey, time.Hour, "acc1", "svc1", nil, false))
+
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, doHeaderRequest(t, mw, "secret-key").Code)
+	assert.Equal(t, int32(2), calls.Load(), "a mapping update must drop the service's cached credentials")
+}
+
+func TestHeaderAuthCache_InvalidateService(t *testing.T) {
+	c := newHeaderAuthCache()
+
+	key := c.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", "secret")
+	other := c.key("svc2", "X-API-Key", "secret")
+	c.put(key, "token", time.Hour)
+	c.put(other, "token", time.Hour)
+
+	c.invalidateService("svc1")
+
+	assert.Empty(t, c.get(key))
+	assert.Equal(t, "token", c.get(other), "other services must be untouched")
+}
+
+func TestHeaderAuthCache_Invalidate(t *testing.T) {
+	c := newHeaderAuthCache()
+
+	key := c.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", "secret")
+	other := c.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", "second")
+	c.put(key, "token", time.Hour)
+	c.put(other, "token", time.Hour)
+
+	c.invalidate(key)
+
+	assert.Empty(t, c.get(key))
+	assert.Equal(t, "token", c.get(other))
+}
+
+func TestProtect_HeaderAuth_RevalidatesWhenCachedTokenRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	var calls atomic.Int32
+	mw := NewMiddleware(log.StandardLogger(), nil, nil)
+	kp := generateTestKeyPair(t)
+	hdr := newCountingHeaderScheme(t, kp, "X-API-Key", "secret-key", &calls)
+	require.NoError(t, mw.AddDomain("example.com", []Scheme{hdr}, kp.PublicKey, time.Hour, "acc1", "svc1", nil, false))
+
+	key := mw.headerCache.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", "secret-key")
+	mw.headerCache.put(key, "not-a-valid-token", time.Hour)
+
+	rec := doHeaderRequest(t, mw, "secret-key")
+
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, rec.Code, "an unusable cached token must not fail the request")
+	assert.Equal(t, int32(1), calls.Load(), "the credential must be re-verified once")
+}
+
+func TestHeaderAuthCache_CollapsesConcurrentMisses(t *testing.T) {
+	c := newHeaderAuthCache()
+	key := c.key("svc1", "X-API-Key", "secret")
+
+	var calls atomic.Int32
+	release := make(chan struct{})
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+
+	for i := 0; i < 20; i++ {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			_, _, _ = c.fetch(key, time.Hour, func() (string, error) {
+				calls.Add(1)
+				<-release
+				return "token", nil
+			})
+		}()
+	}
+
+	time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
+	close(release)
+	wg.Wait()
+
+	assert.Equal(t, int32(1), calls.Load(), "a burst of cold requests must collapse into one RPC")
+}
--- a/proxy/internal/auth/middleware.go
+++ b/proxy/internal/auth/middleware.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (

 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/metadata"

 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/proxy/auth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/proxy/internal/proxy"
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ type Middleware struct {
 	sessionValidator SessionValidator
 	geo              restrict.GeoResolver
 	tunnelCache      *tunnelValidationCache
+	headerCache      *headerAuthCache
 }

 // NewMiddleware creates a new authentication middleware. The sessionValidator is
@@ -96,6 +98,7 @@ func NewMiddleware(logger *log.Logger, sessionValidator SessionValidator, geo re
 		sessionValidator: sessionValidator,
 		geo:              geo,
 		tunnelCache:      newTunnelValidationCache(),
+		headerCache:      newHeaderAuthCache(),
 	}
 }

@@ -452,7 +455,23 @@ func (mw *Middleware) forwardWithHeaderAuth(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Reque
 }

 func (mw *Middleware) tryHeaderScheme(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, host string, config DomainConfig, hdr Header, next http.Handler) bool {
-	token, _, err := hdr.Authenticate(r)
+	credential := r.Header.Get(hdr.headerName)
+	if credential == "" {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	key := mw.headerCache.key(hdr.id, hdr.headerName, credential)
+	authenticate := func() (string, error) {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(r.Context()), headerAuthRPCTimeout)
+		defer cancel()
+		if clientIP := mw.resolveClientIP(r); clientIP.IsValid() {
+			ctx = metadata.AppendToOutgoingContext(ctx, auth.ClientIPMetadataKey, clientIP.String())
+		}
+		token, _, err := hdr.Authenticate(r.WithContext(ctx))
+		return token, err
+	}
+
+	token, cached, err := mw.headerCache.fetch(key, config.SessionExpiration, authenticate)
 	if err != nil {
 		return mw.handleHeaderAuthError(w, r, err)
 	}
@@ -461,6 +480,17 @@ func (mw *Middleware) tryHeaderScheme(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, ho
 	}

 	result, err := mw.validateSessionToken(r.Context(), host, token, config.SessionPublicKey, auth.MethodHeader)
+	if err != nil && cached {
+		mw.headerCache.invalidate(key)
+		if token, err = authenticate(); err != nil {
+			return mw.handleHeaderAuthError(w, r, err)
+		}
+		if token == "" {
+			return false
+		}
+		mw.headerCache.put(key, token, config.SessionExpiration)
+		result, err = mw.validateSessionToken(r.Context(), host, token, config.SessionPublicKey, auth.MethodHeader)
+	}
 	if err != nil {
 		setHeaderCapturedData(r.Context(), "", "", nil, nil)
 		status := http.StatusBadRequest
@@ -645,6 +675,8 @@ func wasCredentialSubmitted(r *http.Request, method auth.Method) bool {
 // AddDomain registers authentication schemes for the given domain. With schemes a valid session public key is required.
 // private=true forces ValidateTunnelPeer enforcement (403 on failure) regardless of the schemes list.
 func (mw *Middleware) AddDomain(domain string, schemes []Scheme, publicKeyB64 string, expiration time.Duration, accountID types.AccountID, serviceID types.ServiceID, ipRestrictions *restrict.Filter, private bool) error {
+	mw.headerCache.invalidateService(serviceID)
+
 	if len(schemes) == 0 {
 		mw.domainsMux.Lock()
 		defer mw.domainsMux.Unlock()
@@ -681,6 +713,10 @@ func (mw *Middleware) AddDomain(domain string, schemes []Scheme, publicKeyB64 st

 // RemoveDomain unregisters authentication for the given domain.
 func (mw *Middleware) RemoveDomain(domain string) {
+	if config, exists := mw.getDomainConfig(domain); exists {
+		mw.headerCache.invalidateService(config.ServiceID)
+	}
+
 	mw.domainsMux.Lock()
 	defer mw.domainsMux.Unlock()
 	delete(mw.domains, domain)
--- a/proxy/internal/auth/tunnel_cache.go
+++ b/proxy/internal/auth/tunnel_cache.go
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ func (c *tunnelValidationCache) put(key tunnelCacheKey, resp *proto.ValidateTunn

 // removeKey drops the first occurrence of needle from order. The cache
 // uses small slices so a linear scan is cheaper than a map+slice combo.
-func removeKey(order []tunnelCacheKey, needle tunnelCacheKey) []tunnelCacheKey {
+func removeKey[T comparable](order []T, needle T) []T {
 	for i, k := range order {
 		if k == needle {
 			return append(order[:i], order[i+1:]...)
--- a/shared/management/proto/management.pb.go
+++ b/shared/management/proto/management.pb.go
--- a/shared/management/proto/management.proto
+++ b/shared/management/proto/management.proto
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ message BundleParameters {
  int64  bundle_for_time  = 2;
  int32  log_file_count   = 3;
  bool   anonymize        = 4;
+  // anonymize_level selects how much the anonymizer redacts: "default"
+  // (or empty) keeps internal IP ranges, "strict" also anonymizes them.
+  // Unknown values are treated as "strict".
+  string anonymize_level  = 5;
 }

 message BundleResult {
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
pascal	ca6a71a0c8	add header auth cache to proxy	2026-08-10 16:47:01 +02:00
Viktor Liu	f9abe2727f	[client] Do not misroute WireGuard packets to the STUN handler (#7059 )	2026-08-10 13:41:09 +02:00
Zoltan Papp	664a3d026c	[client] Fix credentials for the gtk3 package uploads (#7125 )	2026-08-10 12:58:50 +02:00
Zoltan Papp	d2c961f67c	[client] Declare the xdg-utils dependency for the netbird-ui packages (#7126 ) ## Describe your changes The UI shells out to xdg-open to launch the external browser for the SSO verification page, which the embedded webview cannot open inline, and to reveal the debug bundle in the file manager. client/ui/build/linux/nfpm/nfpm.yaml lists xdg-utils for every package format, but the released packages are built from the goreleaser configs, where it was missing: the GTK and WebKitGTK dependencies carried over and xdg-utils did not. Add it to all four nfpm dependency lists. ## Issue ticket number and link <!-- Required for anything that changes behavior. Link the issue (or the validated discussion it came from) that the NetBird team already agreed on. See https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#ticket-first-pr-second --> ## Stack <!-- branch-stack --> ### Checklist - [x] Is it a bug fix - [ ] Is a typo/documentation fix - [ ] Is a feature enhancement - [ ] It is a refactor - [ ] Created tests that fail without the change (if possible) - [ ] I ran and tested this change locally — I did not rely on CI to find out whether it works - [ ] This PR has a single purpose (not a fix + refactor + feature in one) - [ ] This change is a trivial fix, OR it links an issue the NetBird team agreed on beforehand. Changes to the public API, gRPC protocols, functionality behavior, CLI / service flags, or new features always need that agreement first. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#ticket-first-pr-second). > By submitting this pull request, you confirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the [Contributor License Agreement](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTOR_LICENSE_AGREEMENT.md). ## 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/__ <!-- This is an auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai --> ## Summary by CodeRabbit * Bug Fixes * Added required desktop integration support to Debian and RPM packages. * Ensured GTK3 packages include the same runtime support for opening links and files through the system. <!-- end of auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai -->	2026-08-10 11:28:15 +02:00
Viktor Liu	5584f8ef0a	[client] Add strict anonymization level and MAC anonymization to debug bundles (#7102 )	2026-08-10 11:27:20 +02:00
Maycon Santos	f65f7b347e	[management] Deny reverse proxy access to pending and blocked users (#7105 ) A user in the Pending Approval state could complete SSO and reach any SSO-protected reverse proxy service distributed to a group they belong to, including the All Users group. The reverse proxy authorization path checked the session token signature, that the user exists, that the user's account matches the service's account, and group membership — never the user's account status. The REST API (`permissions/manager.go`) and peer registration both gate on that state, but the proxy gRPC service does not go through the permissions manager, so neither gate applied. A pending user is persisted as blocked and pending approval, so blocked users reached those services the same way. `ValidateSession` now denies on account status, reporting `pending_approval` or `user_blocked` so the proxy access log and the denied page carry the cause rather than a generic refusal. `GenerateSessionToken` refuses to mint a token for such a user at all, so the browser never receives a session cookie and the OIDC callback can tell the user why instead of showing "Service configuration error". `ValidateUserGroupAccess` and `ValidateTunnelPeer` close the same gap; for the tunnel path this covers a user blocked after their peer was registered, since peer group membership alone kept mesh-origin access open. A single helper produces both the denied reason for the RPC responses and the sentinel error for the error-returning callers, so the four entry points cannot drift apart. A user the store cannot resolve is denied rather than passed through. One thing deliberately left out: session cookies are validated locally by the proxy against the service public key with no management round-trip, so a cookie issued before a user is blocked stays valid until it expires (24h by default). That is a revocation-propagation problem rather than this authorization gap, and every option for it (per-request validation with a cache, short-lived tokens with refresh, push-based revocation) changes the proxy hot path or the proxy/management protocol. Worth its own ticket.	2026-08-08 20:48:34 +09:00
Maycon Santos	179e8f6e13	[infrastructure] add grafana dashboard for licensed management (#7095 )	2026-08-08 15:04:06 +09:00
Pascal Fischer	2ee21d2b5c	[management] Affected peers for user updates (#7099 )	2026-08-07 18:07:53 +02:00
Riccardo Manfrin	eb619fc7e3	[client] disambiguate the connection_type metric tag (#7043 ) ## Describe your changes `recordConnectionMetrics` mapped only `conntype.Relay` to `relay` and let a `default` branch record everything else as `ice`. That silently included `ICETurn` — an ICE connection through a TURN server, which [`conn.isRelayed`](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/client/internal/peer/conn.go#L788-L795) itself counts as relayed — and `None`, the transient state set when the relay drops ([conn.go:632](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/client/internal/peer/conn.go#L632)) or the peer state is reset ([conn.go:757](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/client/internal/peer/conn.go#L757)). Both were reported as direct peer-to-peer, so the `ice` share overstated direct connections on every platform. The mapping now lists every priority explicitly and emits `ice_p2p`, `ice_turn`, `relay` or `unknown`. The new values deliberately do not reuse `ice` to avoid ambuguity. ## Issue ticket number and link No public issue. Found while reviewing the first production sample of client metrics: 38% of iOS connection events were tagged `ice` on a platform that forces relay by default, which traced back to the `default` branch at [client/internal/peer/conn.go#L963-L968](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/client/internal/peer/conn.go#L963-L968). ## Stack <!-- branch-stack --> ### Checklist - [x] Is it a bug fix - [ ] Is a typo/documentation fix - [ ] Is a feature enhancement - [ ] It is a refactor - [x] Created tests that fail without the change (if possible) > 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) Internal metrics documentation only, in `client/internal/metrics/infra/README.md`: the four `connection_type` values with their derivation, and a note that pre-fix `ice` samples are not comparable with `ice_p2p`. No public API, CLI or configuration change, so no netbirdio/docs PR. ### Docs PR URL (required if "docs added" is checked) Paste the PR link from https://github.com/netbirdio/docs here: N/A <!-- This is an auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai --> ## Summary by CodeRabbit ## Summary by CodeRabbit * New Features * Connection metrics now distinguish direct peer-to-peer, TURN-assisted, relay, and unknown connection types. * Metrics include clearer connection and peer identification details. * Documentation * Updated connection timing metric values, traffic semantics, priority behavior, and historical data guidance. * Bug Fixes * Unset or unrecognized connection priorities are no longer incorrectly classified as peer-to-peer. * Unknown-transport metrics are skipped to prevent misleading connection data. <!-- end of auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai -->	2026-08-07 17:11:05 +02:00
Nicolas Frati	8632a0d215	[infrastructure] Detect community GHCR images during enterprise migration (#7101 ) The migration wizard detected the community deployment only by the Docker Hub image prefix (netbirdio/netbird-server), so deployments installed from the ghcr.io mirror failed with "Could not find a service running netbirdio/netbird-server*". This broadens the server and dashboard detection to also accept ghcr.io/netbirdio/... images. The regexes are anchored at the tag/digest separator so Enterprise images (netbird-server-cloud, dashboard-cloud) are still rejected, an already-migrated deployment must not be detected as a community one. Error messages updated to mention both forms.	2026-08-07 17:04:58 +02:00
Riccardo Manfrin	f63fd21e0c	[client] peer: re-arm the WireGuard watcher after a lazy wake (#7091 ) ## Describe your changes The Conn struct is reused across lazy-connection deactivate/activate. Close cancels the WireGuard watcher (via wgWatcherCancel, and ctxCancel also tears down its context) but left conn.wgWatcher pointing at the stopped instance. enableWgWatcherIfNeeded skips while conn.wgWatcher is non-nil, so the next Open never started a fresh watcher: once a lazy connection had idled and woken, the peer ran with no watcher at all — no WireGuard handshake-timeout detection and none of the escalation that depends on it. Clear conn.wgWatcher and conn.wgWatcherCancel in Close so the next Open re-arms a fresh watcher. ## Issue ticket number and link <!-- Required for anything that changes behavior. Link the issue (or the validated discussion it came from) that the NetBird team already agreed on. See https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#ticket-first-pr-second --> ## Stack <!-- branch-stack --> ### Checklist - [X] Is it a bug fix - [ ] Is a typo/documentation fix - [ ] Is a feature enhancement - [ ] It is a refactor - [ ] Created tests that fail without the change (if possible) - [ ] I ran and tested this change locally — I did not rely on CI to find out whether it works - [ ] This PR has a single purpose (not a fix + refactor + feature in one) - [ ] This change is a trivial fix, OR it links an issue the NetBird team agreed on beforehand. Changes to the public API, gRPC protocols, functionality behavior, CLI / service flags, or new features always need that agreement first. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#ticket-first-pr-second). > By submitting this pull request, you confirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the [Contributor License Agreement](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTOR_LICENSE_AGREEMENT.md). ## 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/__ <!-- This is an auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai --> ## Summary by CodeRabbit * Bug Fixes * Improved connection cleanup by fully releasing WireGuard watcher resources when a connection closes. <!-- end of auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai -->	2026-08-07 17:01:08 +02:00
Pascal Fischer	524b8b9718	[management] prewarm a posture check cache on network map generation (#7093 )	2026-08-07 15:03:40 +02:00