Merge pull request #182 from Gitlawb/release-please--branches--main--components--gitlawb-node

chore(main): release 0.6.0

.env.example

@@ -21,6 +21,23 @@ GITLAWB_REPOS_DIR=/data/repos
 # When using the bundled docker-compose, this is wired automatically.
 DATABASE_URL=postgresql://gitlawb:changeme@localhost:5432/gitlawb
 
+# ── Database pool & startup resilience ────────────────────────────────────
+# Maximum connections in the PostgreSQL pool. A cap, not a floor —
+# connections open lazily. Size against the DB server's max_connections,
+# remembering admin tooling opens its own pool.
+GITLAWB_DB_MAX_CONNECTIONS=20
+# Seconds a request waits for a pool connection before failing with 503.
+GITLAWB_DB_ACQUIRE_TIMEOUT_SECS=5
+# Upper bound on each startup connect+migrate attempt, in seconds. Keep it
+# generous enough for a peer instance to finish migrating (the migration
+# advisory lock is held across a deploy); on expiry the attempt is retried.
+GITLAWB_DB_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_SECS=60
+# Startup retry backoff while the database is unavailable: first delay and
+# ceiling, in seconds. The node stays up serving 503s (with a truthful
+# /ready) instead of crash-looping.
+GITLAWB_DB_RETRY_INITIAL_SECS=5
+GITLAWB_DB_RETRY_MAX_SECS=60
+
 # ── IPFS pinning (Pinata) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Get a JWT at https://app.pinata.cloud/developers/api-keys
 GITLAWB_PINATA_JWT=
@@ -90,11 +107,36 @@ GITLAWB_PUBLIC_READ=true
 # Maximum git smart-HTTP pack request size, in bytes.
 GITLAWB_MAX_PACK_BYTES=2147483648
 
+# Max seconds a served git upload-pack / receive-pack (clone / push) may run
+# before it is aborted with a 504. Bounds a hung git that would otherwise pin a
+# worker and, on push, the repo write lock. Does NOT cover the info/refs
+# advertisement or the withheld-blob path, which remain unbounded. Default 600.
+GITLAWB_GIT_SERVICE_TIMEOUT_SECS=600
+
 # ── Push rate limiting (git-receive-pack flood brake) ─────────────────────
 # Max receive-pack requests (info/refs advertisement + push POST) per client
 # IP per hour. 0 disables. Default 600.
 GITLAWB_PUSH_RATE_LIMIT=600
 
+# ── Creation rate limiting (repo/agent/issue/PR flood brake) ──────────────
+# Max creation requests (POST /api/v1/repos, /api/register, fork, issues,
+# pulls) per client IP per hour, in addition to the per-DID limit. The per-DID
+# limit alone is bypassed by a did:key farm (one throwaway identity per repo),
+# which is how spam-repo floods slip past it and the iCaptcha gate; the per-IP
+# brake caps a single-source flood. Uses GITLAWB_TRUSTED_PROXY below to resolve
+# the client IP. 0 disables. Default 120.
+GITLAWB_CREATE_RATE_LIMIT=120
+
+# ── Peer-sync rate limiting (per client IP, uses GITLAWB_TRUSTED_PROXY below) ─
+# /api/v1/peers/announce and /api/v1/sync/notify accept unsigned requests from
+# known peers and run at higher frequency, so a generous bucket. Separate from
+# the trigger bucket so an unsigned notify flood can't drain trigger's quota.
+# 0 disables. Default 600.
+GITLAWB_PEER_WRITE_RATE_LIMIT=600
+# /api/v1/sync/trigger requires a signature and fans out to every peer per call,
+# so it gets a tight bucket. 0 disables. Default 60.
+GITLAWB_SYNC_TRIGGER_RATE_LIMIT=60
+
 # Which forwarded header the edge is trusted to set, used to resolve the real
 # client IP for the push limiter. One of:
 #   (unset) — no trusted proxy: key on the socket peer address, ignore headers.

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -116,10 +116,14 @@ jobs:
         include:
           - target: x86_64-unknown-linux-musl
             os: ubuntu-latest
+          # Native arm64 runner: cross-compiling this target with the glibc
+          # toolchain broke aws-lc-sys, and native lets the smoke test run.
           - target: aarch64-unknown-linux-musl
-            os: ubuntu-latest
+            os: ubuntu-24.04-arm
+          # macos-13 (the last plain Intel image) is retired and queues forever;
+          # macos-15-intel is GitHub's supported Intel label.
           - target: x86_64-apple-darwin
-            os: macos-13
+            os: macos-15-intel
           - target: aarch64-apple-darwin
             os: macos-14
           - target: x86_64-pc-windows-msvc
@@ -137,16 +141,13 @@ jobs:
           toolchain: stable
           targets: ${{ matrix.target }}
 
+      # Both musl targets build natively on a matching-arch runner, so the stock
+      # musl-gcc wrapper is all that's needed (no cross toolchain).
       - name: Install musl tools (linux)
         if: contains(matrix.target, 'linux-musl')
         run: |
           sudo apt-get update
           sudo apt-get install -y musl-tools
-          if [ "${{ matrix.target }}" = "aarch64-unknown-linux-musl" ]; then
-            sudo apt-get install -y gcc-aarch64-linux-gnu
-            echo "CARGO_TARGET_AARCH64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_MUSL_LINKER=aarch64-linux-gnu-gcc" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
-            echo "CC_aarch64_unknown_linux_musl=aarch64-linux-gnu-gcc" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
-          fi
 
       - name: Cache cargo
         uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@98c8021b550208e191a6a3145459bfc9fb29c4c0 # v2.8.0
@@ -171,10 +172,9 @@ jobs:
           cargo build --release --target ${{ matrix.target }} $args
 
       # Run each packaged binary's --version so a broken release artifact fails the
-      # build instead of shipping. Skipped for cross-compiled targets that can't run
-      # on the host runner (aarch64 linux on an x86_64 runner).
+      # build instead of shipping. Every target builds on a matching-arch runner,
+      # so all of them can execute here.
       - name: Smoke test binaries
-        if: ${{ matrix.target != 'aarch64-unknown-linux-musl' }}
         shell: bash
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail

.release-please-manifest.json

@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "0.5.0"
+  ".": "0.6.0"
 }

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,35 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [0.6.0](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/compare/v0.5.1...v0.6.0) (2026-07-22)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* **icaptcha-client:** solve the iCaptcha proof-of-work on answer ([#181](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/181)) ([c98b503](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/c98b503f90cade54ce9c588bd2373a4e3486f2fc))
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **core:** honor wildcard capabilities in Ucan::can, matching is_attenuated_by ([#200](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/200)) ([b6877a6](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/b6877a65981dbf41c4a7838971eb5c826c7fcaf2))
+* **gl:** point doctor's version check at Gitlawb/node, not the frozen Gitlawb/releases repo ([#198](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/198)) ([98d728c](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/98d728c325f68f0ee4a62e473dc484b7dd627504))
+* **node:** carry full owner DID on ref-update wire event ([#144](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/144)) ([#145](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/145)) ([69a62e5](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/69a62e51c2d2f090f9cae88f4d8ce3b9017b7149))
+* **node:** gate /hooks and sibling read surfaces leaking private repo metadata ([#94](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/94)) ([#113](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/113)) ([ee8d7c0](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/ee8d7c03b26a0b678cc90b8801aa340fe81da700))
+* strip Cf bidi/format controls in terminal-bound error sanitizers ([#183](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/183)) ([#188](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/188)) ([b07d41e](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/b07d41ea97569d79d3f545ae5d43c373cd6f0f33))
+
+## [0.5.1](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/compare/v0.5.0...v0.5.1) (2026-07-10)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **bounties:** add tests for claim_bounty repo-read gate ([#160](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/160)) ([#169](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/169)) ([6bafaa6](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/6bafaa6dc5f05c0dcd61c708397afddbcf8c2e3f))
+* **deps:** bump crossbeam-epoch to 0.9.20 for RUSTSEC-2026-0204 ([#162](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/162)) ([#163](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/163)) ([67ad2b8](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/67ad2b876c8d9a336219d1016968de7a88fc4e75))
+* **node,git:** bound a hung served git with a total-duration timeout ([#62](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/62)) ([#165](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/165)) ([cd67718](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/cd67718f49ec38726a40f6bcf36f539ccdb42969))
+* **node:** bound list_ref_certificates with LIMIT and add upsert to prevent unbounded growth ([#147](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/147)) ([#149](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/149)) ([6b5e5bc](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/6b5e5bc7aee00a2d03295d3620df1ee4d8c024a2))
+* **node:** gate POST /api/v1/sync/trigger and rate-limit the peer-sync routes ([#82](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/82)) ([#161](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/161)) ([d00d89a](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/d00d89ae5be992d1f63e95b714ae1bd3735e8457))
+* **node:** rate-limit repo/agent creation per client IP to stop DID-farm spam floods ([#180](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/180)) ([dfcaa22](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/dfcaa22b23ec91be4c75926956aa994ca89de8d5))
+* **release:** build aarch64-musl natively on arm64 runners, replace retired macos-13 ([#155](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/155)) ([6cff528](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/6cff5286b436fdee44ad881999e2a5f4bdba18f9))
+* **visibility:** gate repo-scoped read surfaces on visibility ([#120](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/120)) ([#157](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/issues/157)) ([26bc3f6](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/commit/26bc3f69870aa77e43c0d92115a5aa59555b7d88))
+
 ## [0.5.0](https://github.com/Gitlawb/node/compare/v0.4.0...v0.5.0) (2026-07-05)
 
 

Cargo.lock

@@ -2293,9 +2293,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "crossbeam-epoch"
-version = "0.9.18"
+version = "0.9.20"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "5b82ac4a3c2ca9c3460964f020e1402edd5753411d7737aa39c3714ad1b5420e"
+checksum = "2d6914041f254d6e9176c01941b21115dcfb7089e55135a35411081bd106ef3f"
 dependencies = [
  "crossbeam-utils",
 ]
@@ -3300,7 +3300,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "git-remote-gitlawb"
-version = "0.4.0"
+version = "0.5.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "gitlawb-core",
@@ -3312,7 +3312,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "gitlawb-attest"
-version = "0.4.0"
+version = "0.5.1"
 dependencies = [
  "base64",
  "ed25519-dalek",
@@ -3329,7 +3329,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "gitlawb-core"
-version = "0.4.0"
+version = "0.5.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
@@ -3356,7 +3356,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "gitlawb-node"
-version = "0.4.0"
+version = "0.5.1"
 dependencies = [
  "alloy",
  "anyhow",
@@ -3412,7 +3412,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "gl"
-version = "0.4.0"
+version = "0.5.1"
 dependencies = [
  "alloy",
  "anyhow",
@@ -3821,9 +3821,11 @@ version = "0.4.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "gitlawb-core",
+ "mockito",
  "reqwest",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
+ "sha2",
  "thiserror 2.0.18",
  "tracing",
 ]

README.md

@@ -302,20 +302,21 @@ POST /api/v1/bounties/{id}/...
 POST /{owner}/{repo}/git-receive-pack
 ```
 
-Peer write routes support staged rollout:
+These peer write routes support staged rollout:
 
 ```txt
 POST /api/v1/peers/announce
 POST /api/v1/sync/notify
-POST /api/v1/sync/trigger
 ```
 
-When `GITLAWB_REQUIRE_SIGNED_PEER_WRITES=false`, unsigned legacy peers are accepted, but signed requests are verified when signature headers are present. Once all live peers upgrade, operators can set:
+When `GITLAWB_REQUIRE_SIGNED_PEER_WRITES=false`, unsigned legacy peers are accepted on those two routes, but signed requests are verified when signature headers are present. Once all live peers upgrade, operators can set:
 
 ```bash
 GITLAWB_REQUIRE_SIGNED_PEER_WRITES=true
 ```
 
+`POST /api/v1/sync/trigger` is not part of the staged rollout: it always requires a signature in both config modes and returns 401 without one, because each call drives an O(peers) outbound fan-out.
+
 ---
 
 ## Configuration
@@ -342,6 +343,7 @@ Important node settings:
 | `GITLAWB_REQUIRE_SIGNED_PEER_WRITES` | Require signed peer announce/sync writes. |
 | `GITLAWB_AUTO_SYNC` | Enable automatic sync from known peers. |
 | `GITLAWB_MAX_PACK_BYTES` | Max git pack body size for smart-HTTP routes. |
+| `GITLAWB_GIT_SERVICE_TIMEOUT_SECS` | Max seconds a served git upload-pack/receive-pack may run before it is aborted (504). Default 600. Does not bound `info/refs` or the withheld-blob path. |
 | `GITLAWB_TIGRIS_BUCKET` | Optional S3/Tigris shared repo storage bucket. |
 | `GITLAWB_PINATA_JWT` | Optional Pinata/IPFS warm-storage pinning. |
 | `GITLAWB_IRYS_URL` | Optional Irys/Arweave permanent anchoring. |

crates/git-remote-gitlawb/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "git-remote-gitlawb"
 description = "Git remote helper — enables 'git clone gitlawb://did:gitlawb:...'"
-version = "0.5.0" # x-release-please-version
+version = "0.6.0" # x-release-please-version
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 license.workspace = true

crates/git-remote-gitlawb/src/main.rs

@@ -570,6 +570,13 @@ fn safe_error_body_excerpt(body: &str) -> String {
             continue;
         }
 
+        if gitlawb_core::sanitize::is_bidi_format(ch) {
+            // Drop Cf bidi/format controls (INV-6, #183) without marking
+            // pending_space: unlike a newline/tab they are not whitespace, so
+            // "a\u{202e}c" collapses to "ac" with no phantom gap.
+            continue;
+        }
+
         if ch.is_whitespace() {
             pending_space = true;
             continue;
@@ -1159,6 +1166,55 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!message.contains('\n'));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn http_error_message_strips_bidi_format_controls() {
+        // Each Cf bidi class must be stripped (INV-6, #183), not just U+202E:
+        // override (RLO), embedding + pop (LRE/PDF), isolate (LRI/PDI), and marks
+        // (LRM/ALM). Asserted per code point so a partial predicate fails loudly.
+        // The visible words must survive and JOIN with no phantom space at the
+        // strip points: a bidi char is dropped like a control byte, but unlike a
+        // newline/tab it is not whitespace, so it must not set pending_space. The
+        // leading bidi char (index 0) also exercises the empty-excerpt path.
+        let body = "\u{202e}err\u{202a}\u{202c}\u{2066}\u{2069}\u{200e}\u{061c}ok";
+        let message = http_error_message(
+            "GET",
+            "/info/refs",
+            reqwest::StatusCode::BAD_GATEWAY,
+            body,
+            None,
+        );
+        for c in [
+            '\u{202e}', '\u{202a}', '\u{202c}', '\u{2066}', '\u{2069}', '\u{200e}', '\u{061c}',
+        ] {
+            assert!(
+                !message.contains(c),
+                "bidi U+{:04X} leaked: {message:?}",
+                c as u32
+            );
+        }
+        assert!(
+            message.contains("errok"),
+            "words should join with no phantom space: {message:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn http_error_message_preserves_legitimate_and_rtl_text() {
+        // Must not over-strip: plain text, a genuine RTL SCRIPT letter (Arabic
+        // U+0627, category Lo), and ZWJ (U+200D, a legitimate Cf char) survive.
+        let message = http_error_message(
+            "GET",
+            "/info/refs",
+            reqwest::StatusCode::BAD_GATEWAY,
+            "ok \u{0627}\u{200D}b",
+            None,
+        );
+        assert!(
+            message.ends_with("ok \u{0627}\u{200D}b"),
+            "legitimate text was altered: {message:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn http_error_message_truncates_long_response_body() {
         let body = "x".repeat(MAX_ERROR_BODY_CHARS + 100);
@@ -1194,6 +1250,33 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(requests.len(), 1);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn connect_error_strips_bidi_from_response_body() {
+        // Transport-path proof: a bidi override in the node's real HTTP error body
+        // must not reach the surfaced error text. Drives the full handle_connect
+        // error path, not just the safe_error_body_excerpt unit boundary (INV-6).
+        let (base_url, server) = serve_http(vec![TestResponse {
+            request_line: "GET /z6Mk/myrepo/info/refs?service=git-upload-pack HTTP/1.1",
+            status: "404 Not Found",
+            body: "not\u{202e}found",
+        }]);
+
+        let repo_base = format!("{base_url}/z6Mk/myrepo");
+        let mut stdin = std::io::Cursor::new(Vec::<u8>::new());
+        let err = handle_connect(&repo_base, "git-upload-pack", None, &mut stdin).unwrap_err();
+        let message = err.to_string();
+
+        assert!(
+            !message.contains('\u{202e}'),
+            "bidi override reached the terminal: {message:?}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            message.contains("notfound"),
+            "body should survive with the bidi char stripped: {message:?}"
+        );
+        let _ = server.join();
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn connect_post_error_includes_response_body() {
         let (base_url, server) = serve_http(vec![

crates/gitlawb-attest/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "gitlawb-attest"
 description = "External Attestation v1: pluggable provenance attachments for gitlawb ref-update certs"
-version = "0.5.0" # x-release-please-version
+version = "0.6.0" # x-release-please-version
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 license.workspace = true

crates/gitlawb-core/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "gitlawb-core"
 description = "Core cryptographic primitives for the gitlawb network: DIDs, CIDs, UCAN, HTTP Signatures, ref-update certificates"
-version = "0.5.0" # x-release-please-version
+version = "0.6.0" # x-release-please-version
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 license.workspace = true

crates/gitlawb-core/src/lib.rs

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ pub mod encrypt;
 pub mod error;
 pub mod http_sig;
 pub mod identity;
+pub mod sanitize;
 pub mod ucan;
 
 pub use error::Error;

crates/gitlawb-core/src/sanitize.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+//! Text sanitization predicates shared across the workspace.
+//!
+//! Untrusted peer/remote bytes that reach an operator's terminal (node error
+//! bodies, node-advertised strings) must be stripped of BOTH `Cc` control bytes
+//! (`char::is_control()`) AND `Cf` bidi/format controls before display: a
+//! right-to-left override or directional isolate can visually reorder the line
+//! and spoof the text (Trojan Source, CWE-451). This is INV-6.
+//!
+//! `is_bidi_format` is the single workspace definition of the second half of
+//! that obligation. It was split out of `gl`'s local copy so the two terminal
+//! sanitizers that shipped with only the `Cc` half (#183) — and any future
+//! sanitizer — reuse one audited predicate instead of re-deriving the set.
+
+/// True for the Unicode bidirectional/directional-isolate format characters
+/// (the reordering subset of category `Cf`) that can visually reorder a terminal
+/// line. These are NOT matched by [`char::is_control()`], which covers `Cc` only.
+///
+/// This is deliberately the reordering subset, not the whole `Cf` category:
+/// legitimate `Cf` characters such as ZWJ (`U+200D`, emoji sequences) and the
+/// soft hyphen (`U+00AD`) are NOT matched, so honest international text passes
+/// through unchanged. Widening this set is a behavior change for every consumer.
+///
+/// Pair it with `!c.is_control()` in a terminal-bound sanitizer (INV-6); see the
+/// wrappers in `gl`, `git-remote-gitlawb`, and `icaptcha-client`.
+pub fn is_bidi_format(c: char) -> bool {
+    matches!(c,
+        '\u{200E}' | '\u{200F}' | '\u{061C}'   // LRM, RLM, ALM
+        | '\u{202A}'..='\u{202E}'              // LRE, RLE, PDF, LRO, RLO
+        | '\u{2066}'..='\u{2069}'              // LRI, RLI, FSI, PDI
+    )
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn strips_every_reordering_code_point() {
+        // Asserted individually so a partial predicate (e.g. one that covers the
+        // marks but not the isolates) fails loudly rather than passing.
+        for c in [
+            '\u{200E}', '\u{200F}', '\u{061C}', // LRM, RLM, ALM
+            '\u{202A}', '\u{202B}', '\u{202C}', '\u{202D}',
+            '\u{202E}', // LRE, RLE, PDF, LRO, RLO
+            '\u{2066}', '\u{2067}', '\u{2068}', '\u{2069}', // LRI, RLI, FSI, PDI
+        ] {
+            assert!(
+                is_bidi_format(c),
+                "U+{:04X} must be a bidi-format char",
+                c as u32
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn passes_legitimate_and_control_chars() {
+        // Must NOT over-strip: plain text, a genuine RTL SCRIPT letter (Lo, not a
+        // format char), ZWJ (legitimate Cf), and soft hyphen (legitimate Cf) are
+        // not bidi-format. ESC is a Cc control char — owned by is_control(), not
+        // this predicate, which is bidi-only.
+        for c in ['a', '\u{0627}', '\u{200D}', '\u{00AD}', '\u{1b}'] {
+            assert!(
+                !is_bidi_format(c),
+                "U+{:04X} must NOT be a bidi-format char",
+                c as u32
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}

crates/gitlawb-core/src/ucan.rs

@@ -187,11 +187,17 @@ impl Ucan {
     }
 
     /// Check if this UCAN grants a specific capability on a resource.
+    ///
+    /// Mirrors `Capability::is_attenuated_by`'s wildcard semantics: a stored
+    /// capability of `with: "*"` or `can: "*"` / `"repo/admin"` covers any
+    /// requested resource/action, since a valid delegation chain can produce
+    /// exactly that capability (see `is_attenuated_by`).
     pub fn can(&self, resource: &str, action: &str) -> bool {
-        self.payload
-            .att
-            .iter()
-            .any(|cap| cap.with == resource && cap.can == action)
+        self.payload.att.iter().any(|cap| {
+            let resource_ok = cap.with == resource || cap.with == "*";
+            let action_ok = cap.can == action || cap.can == "*" || cap.can == caps::REPO_ADMIN;
+            resource_ok && action_ok
+        })
     }
 
     /// Encode to a compact JSON string (the wire format).
@@ -312,6 +318,63 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!ucan.can("gitlawb://repos/test/repo", caps::PR_MERGE));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn can_honors_resource_wildcard() {
+        let issuer = Keypair::generate();
+        let audience = Keypair::generate().did();
+
+        let ucan = Ucan::issue(
+            &issuer,
+            audience,
+            vec![Capability::new("*", caps::GIT_PUSH)],
+            None,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(ucan.can("gitlawb://repos/test/repo", caps::GIT_PUSH));
+        assert!(ucan.can("gitlawb://repos/other/repo", caps::GIT_PUSH));
+        assert!(!ucan.can("gitlawb://repos/test/repo", caps::PR_MERGE));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn can_honors_repo_admin_action_wildcard() {
+        let issuer = Keypair::generate();
+        let audience = Keypair::generate().did();
+
+        let ucan = Ucan::issue(
+            &issuer,
+            audience,
+            vec![Capability::new(
+                "gitlawb://repos/test/repo",
+                caps::REPO_ADMIN,
+            )],
+            None,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(ucan.can("gitlawb://repos/test/repo", caps::GIT_PUSH));
+        assert!(ucan.can("gitlawb://repos/test/repo", caps::PR_MERGE));
+        assert!(!ucan.can("gitlawb://repos/other/repo", caps::GIT_PUSH));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn can_honors_action_wildcard() {
+        let issuer = Keypair::generate();
+        let audience = Keypair::generate().did();
+
+        let ucan = Ucan::issue(
+            &issuer,
+            audience,
+            vec![Capability::new("gitlawb://repos/test/repo", "*")],
+            None,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(ucan.can("gitlawb://repos/test/repo", caps::GIT_PUSH));
+        assert!(ucan.can("gitlawb://repos/test/repo", caps::PR_MERGE));
+        assert!(!ucan.can("gitlawb://repos/other/repo", caps::GIT_PUSH));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn bootstrap_ucan() {
         let issuer = Keypair::generate();

crates/gitlawb-node/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "gitlawb-node"
 description = "The gitlawb node daemon — git hosting over HTTP with DID auth"
-version = "0.5.0" # x-release-please-version
+version = "0.6.0" # x-release-please-version
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 license.workspace = true

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/bounties.rs

@@ -110,19 +110,28 @@ pub async fn create_bounty(
     Ok((StatusCode::CREATED, Json(bounty)))
 }
 
+const MAX_BOUNTY_LIMIT: i64 = 200;
+
 /// GET /api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/bounties
 pub async fn list_repo_bounties(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, repo)): Path<(String, String)>,
     Query(q): Query<ListBountiesQuery>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &repo, caller, "/").await?;
+
+    let limit = q.limit.unwrap_or(50).clamp(1, MAX_BOUNTY_LIMIT);
     let bounties = state
         .db
         .list_bounties(
             Some(&owner),
             Some(&repo),
             q.status.as_deref(),
-            q.limit.unwrap_or(50),
+            limit,
+            None,
+            None,
         )
         .await?;
 
@@ -133,25 +142,92 @@ pub async fn list_repo_bounties(
 pub async fn list_all_bounties(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Query(q): Query<ListBountiesQuery>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let bounties = state
-        .db
-        .list_bounties(None, None, q.status.as_deref(), q.limit.unwrap_or(50))
-        .await?;
+    let raw_limit = q.limit.unwrap_or(50);
+    let limit = raw_limit.clamp(1, MAX_BOUNTY_LIMIT);
 
-    Ok(Json(serde_json::json!({ "bounties": bounties })))
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    let mut memo = std::collections::HashMap::new();
+    let mut allowed: Vec<BountyRecord> = Vec::new();
+    let page_size = (limit * 5).clamp(1, 200);
+    let max_scanned = 10_000i64;
+    let mut total_scanned: i64 = 0;
+    let mut cursor: Option<(String, String)> = None;
+
+    while (allowed.len() as i64) < limit {
+        let after = cursor.as_ref().map(|(ts, id)| (ts.as_str(), id.as_str()));
+        let bounties = state
+            .db
+            .list_bounties(
+                None,
+                None,
+                q.status.as_deref(),
+                page_size,
+                after.map(|(ts, _)| ts),
+                after.map(|(_, id)| id),
+            )
+            .await?;
+        if bounties.is_empty() {
+            break;
+        }
+
+        total_scanned += bounties.len() as i64;
+        if total_scanned > max_scanned {
+            return Err(AppError::Incomplete(
+                "too many rows scanned; refine your filters".into(),
+            ));
+        }
+
+        let last = bounties.last().unwrap();
+        for b in &bounties {
+            if (allowed.len() as i64) >= limit {
+                break;
+            }
+            let key = format!("{}/{}", b.repo_owner, b.repo_name);
+            let admitted = if let Some(&result) = memo.get(&key) {
+                result
+            } else {
+                let result = crate::api::authorize_repo_read(
+                    &state,
+                    &b.repo_owner,
+                    &b.repo_name,
+                    caller,
+                    "/",
+                )
+                .await
+                .is_ok();
+                memo.insert(key, result);
+                result
+            };
+            if admitted {
+                allowed.push(b.clone());
+            }
+        }
+        cursor = Some((last.created_at.clone(), last.id.clone()));
+    }
+
+    Ok(Json(serde_json::json!({ "bounties": allowed })))
 }
 
 /// GET /api/v1/bounties/{id}
 pub async fn get_bounty(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path(id): Path<String>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<BountyRecord>> {
-    let bounty = state
-        .db
-        .get_bounty(&id)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::NotFound(format!("bounty {id} not found")))?;
+    let not_found = || AppError::NotFound(format!("bounty {id} not found"));
+
+    let bounty = state.db.get_bounty(&id).await?.ok_or_else(not_found)?;
+
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    if crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &bounty.repo_owner, &bounty.repo_name, caller, "/")
+        .await
+        .is_err()
+    {
+        return Err(not_found());
+    }
+
     Ok(Json(bounty))
 }
 
@@ -162,11 +238,22 @@ pub async fn claim_bounty(
     Path(id): Path<String>,
     Json(req): Json<ClaimBountyRequest>,
 ) -> Result<Json<BountyRecord>> {
-    let bounty = state
-        .db
-        .get_bounty(&id)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::NotFound(format!("bounty {id} not found")))?;
+    let not_found = || AppError::NotFound(format!("bounty {id} not found"));
+
+    let bounty = state.db.get_bounty(&id).await?.ok_or_else(not_found)?;
+
+    if crate::api::authorize_repo_read(
+        &state,
+        &bounty.repo_owner,
+        &bounty.repo_name,
+        Some(auth.0.as_str()),
+        "/",
+    )
+    .await
+    .is_err()
+    {
+        return Err(not_found());
+    }
 
     if bounty.status != "open" {
         return Err(AppError::BadRequest(format!(

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/certs.rs

@@ -1,23 +1,44 @@
 //! API handlers for ref certificates.
 
-use axum::extract::{Path, State};
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+use axum::extract::{Extension, Path, Query, State};
 use axum::Json;
 
+use crate::auth::AuthenticatedDid;
 use crate::error::{AppError, Result};
 use crate::state::AppState;
 
-/// GET /api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/certs
+/// GET /api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/certs?limit=50
 pub async fn list_certs(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, name)): Path<(String, String)>,
+    Query(params): Query<HashMap<String, String>>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &name)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{name}")))?;
+    let limit = params
+        .get("limit")
+        .and_then(|v| v.parse::<i64>().ok())
+        .map(|v| v.max(1))
+        .unwrap_or(50)
+        .min(200);
 
-    let certs = state.db.list_ref_certificates(&record.id).await?;
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &name, caller, "/").await?;
+
+    // When a prefix is given (short-ID resolution from the CLI) use a
+    // generous limit and delegate to the prefix-matched query so the
+    // caller can resolve IDs regardless of how many certs exist.
+    let prefix = params.get("prefix").filter(|p| !p.is_empty());
+    let certs = if let Some(prefix) = prefix {
+        state
+            .db
+            .list_ref_certificates_by_prefix(&record.id, prefix, 200)
+            .await?
+    } else {
+        state.db.list_ref_certificates(&record.id, limit).await?
+    };
     let certs_json: Vec<serde_json::Value> = certs
         .iter()
         .map(|c| {
@@ -35,20 +56,21 @@ pub async fn list_certs(
         })
         .collect();
 
-    Ok(Json(serde_json::json!({ "certificates": certs_json })))
+    let count = certs_json.len();
+    Ok(Json(
+        serde_json::json!({ "certificates": certs_json, "count": count }),
+    ))
 }
 
 /// GET /api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/certs/{id}
 pub async fn get_cert(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, name, id)): Path<(String, String, String)>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    // Verify the repo exists
-    let _record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &name)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{name}")))?;
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &name, caller, "/").await?;
 
     let cert = state
         .db
@@ -56,6 +78,10 @@ pub async fn get_cert(
         .await?
         .ok_or_else(|| AppError::NotFound(format!("certificate {id}")))?;
 
+    if cert.repo_id != record.id {
+        return Err(AppError::NotFound(format!("certificate {id}")));
+    }
+
     Ok(Json(serde_json::json!({
         "id":         cert.id,
         "repo_id":    cert.repo_id,

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/events.rs

@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ pub async fn list_ref_updates(
     let limit = params
         .get("limit")
         .and_then(|v| v.parse::<i64>().ok())
+        .map(|v| v.max(0))
         .unwrap_or(50)
         .clamp(0, MAX_VISIBLE_REF_UPDATES);
 
@@ -137,9 +138,33 @@ pub async fn list_ref_updates(
     let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
     let updates = collect_visible_ref_updates(&state.db, None, limit, caller).await?;
 
+    // Resolve the trusted display owner_did per row. The stored wire value is
+    // untrusted (arrives over gossip / unsigned peer notify), so it is echoed
+    // only when it matches the canonical owner of the local repo the slug
+    // names (#P1); legacy None rows are attributed via an exact unique local
+    // match (#P3). Both surfaces share this resolver so they cannot drift.
+    // The batch resolver issues at most one query per distinct local repo
+    // rather than one per event row (#P2).
+    let raw_dids: Vec<Option<String>> = state
+        .db
+        .resolve_ref_update_owner_dids(
+            &updates
+                .iter()
+                .map(|u| (u.repo.as_str(), u.owner_did.as_deref()))
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+        )
+        .await?;
+
+    let owner_dids: Vec<serde_json::Value> = raw_dids
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|o| o.map_or(serde_json::Value::Null, |s| serde_json::json!(s)))
+        .collect();
+
     let events: Vec<serde_json::Value> = updates
         .iter()
-        .map(|u| {
+        .enumerate()
+        .map(|(i, u)| {
+            let owner_did = owner_dids[i].clone();
             serde_json::json!({
                 "id":          u.id,
                 "node_did":    u.node_did,
@@ -152,6 +177,7 @@ pub async fn list_ref_updates(
                 "cert_id":     u.cert_id,
                 "received_at": u.received_at,
                 "from_peer":   u.from_peer,
+                "owner_did":   owner_did,
             })
         })
         .collect();
@@ -177,6 +203,7 @@ pub async fn list_repo_events(
     let limit = params
         .get("limit")
         .and_then(|v| v.parse::<i64>().ok())
+        .map(|v| v.max(0))
         .unwrap_or(50)
         .clamp(0, MAX_VISIBLE_REF_UPDATES);
 
@@ -209,7 +236,7 @@ pub async fn list_repo_events(
     // into an empty 200, matching the gossip half below.
     let cert_events: Vec<serde_json::Value> = state
         .db
-        .list_ref_certificates(&record.id)
+        .list_ref_certificates(&record.id, limit)
         .await?
         .iter()
         .map(|c| {
@@ -223,6 +250,7 @@ pub async fn list_repo_events(
                 "pusher_did": c.pusher_did,
                 "node_did":   c.node_did,
                 "timestamp":  c.issued_at,
+                "owner_did":  record.owner_did,
                 "source":     "local",
             })
         })
@@ -238,28 +266,46 @@ pub async fn list_repo_events(
     // collect_visible_ref_updates drops any row whose slug matches a local repo the
     // caller cannot read (fail-closed), and propagates DB errors instead of swallowing
     // them.
-    let gossip_events: Vec<serde_json::Value> =
-        collect_visible_ref_updates(&state.db, Some(&repo_id_str), limit, caller)
-            .await?
-            .iter()
-            .map(|u| {
-                serde_json::json!({
-                    "type":        "gossipsub",
-                    "id":          u.id,
-                    "repo":        u.repo,
-                    "ref_name":    u.ref_name,
-                    "old_sha":     u.old_sha,
-                    "new_sha":     u.new_sha,
-                    "pusher_did":  u.pusher_did,
-                    "node_did":    u.node_did,
-                    "timestamp":   u.timestamp,
-                    "cert_id":     u.cert_id,
-                    "received_at": u.received_at,
-                    "from_peer":   u.from_peer,
-                    "source":      "gossipsub",
-                })
+    let gossip_updates =
+        collect_visible_ref_updates(&state.db, Some(&repo_id_str), limit, caller).await?;
+    let gossip_raw: Vec<Option<String>> = state
+        .db
+        .resolve_ref_update_owner_dids(
+            &gossip_updates
+                .iter()
+                .map(|u| (u.repo.as_str(), u.owner_did.as_deref()))
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+        )
+        .await?;
+
+    let gossip_owner_dids: Vec<serde_json::Value> = gossip_raw
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|o| o.map_or(serde_json::Value::Null, |s| serde_json::json!(s)))
+        .collect();
+
+    let gossip_events: Vec<serde_json::Value> = gossip_updates
+        .iter()
+        .enumerate()
+        .map(|(i, u)| {
+            let owner_did = gossip_owner_dids[i].clone();
+            serde_json::json!({
+                "type":        "gossipsub",
+                "id":          u.id,
+                "repo":        u.repo,
+                "ref_name":    u.ref_name,
+                "old_sha":     u.old_sha,
+                "new_sha":     u.new_sha,
+                "pusher_did":  u.pusher_did,
+                "node_did":    u.node_did,
+                "timestamp":   u.timestamp,
+                "cert_id":     u.cert_id,
+                "received_at": u.received_at,
+                "from_peer":   u.from_peer,
+                "owner_did":   owner_did,
+                "source":      "gossipsub",
             })
-            .collect();
+        })
+        .collect();
 
     // Merge both lists
     let mut all_events: Vec<serde_json::Value> = cert_events;
@@ -324,6 +370,7 @@ mod ref_updates_feed_tests {
             cert_id: None,
             received_at: Utc::now().to_rfc3339(),
             from_peer: "peer1".into(),
+            owner_did: None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -1103,7 +1150,14 @@ mod ref_updates_feed_tests {
             .await
             .unwrap();
         assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
-        assert_eq!(count(&body_json(resp).await), 2);
+        let body = body_json(resp).await;
+        assert_eq!(count(&body), 2);
+        for event in body["events"].as_array().unwrap() {
+            assert_eq!(
+                event["owner_did"], OWNER,
+                "each event must carry the local owner_did"
+            );
+        }
     }
 
     // Anon reads a quarantined mirror → 404 (withheld without disclosing existence

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/issues.rs

@@ -90,12 +90,11 @@ pub async fn create_issue(
 pub async fn list_issues(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, repo)): Path<(String, String)>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &repo)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{repo}")))?;
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &repo, caller, "/").await?;
 
     let disk_path = state
         .repo_store
@@ -120,12 +119,11 @@ pub async fn list_issues(
 pub async fn get_issue(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, repo, issue_id)): Path<(String, String, String)>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &repo)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{repo}")))?;
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &repo, caller, "/").await?;
 
     let disk_path = state
         .repo_store
@@ -191,14 +189,31 @@ pub async fn create_issue_comment(
 pub async fn list_issue_comments(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, repo, issue_id)): Path<(String, String, String)>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let _record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &repo)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{repo}")))?;
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &repo, caller, "/").await?;
 
-    let comments = state.db.list_issue_comments(&issue_id).await?;
+    let disk_path = state
+        .repo_store
+        .acquire(&record.owner_did, &record.name)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| AppError::Git(e.to_string()))?;
+    // Resolve the full issue ID (accepts 8-char prefix) so the DB fetch
+    // below uses the same canonical id as the git ref.
+    let full_id = match git_issues::resolve_issue_id(&disk_path, &issue_id)
+        .map_err(|e| AppError::Git(e.to_string()))?
+    {
+        Some(id) => id,
+        None => {
+            return Err(AppError::RepoNotFound(format!(
+                "issue {issue_id} not found"
+            )))
+        }
+    };
+
+    let comments = state.db.list_issue_comments(&full_id).await?;
     Ok(Json(serde_json::json!({ "comments": comments })))
 }
 

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/labels.rs

@@ -71,15 +71,18 @@ pub async fn remove_label(
 }
 
 /// GET /api/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/labels
+///
+/// Read-visibility-gated (INV-2 root listing): a public repo's labels stay
+/// anonymously listable; a private repo's label names are hidden (404) from
+/// anyone who cannot read it at the root.
 pub async fn list_labels(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, name)): Path<(String, String)>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &name)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{name}")))?;
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &name, caller, "/").await?;
 
     let labels = state.db.list_labels(&record.id).await?;
     Ok(Json(serde_json::json!({ "labels": labels })))

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/mod.rs

@@ -114,6 +114,12 @@ mod did_tests {
         assert!(!did_matches("did:key:zABC", "did:key:zXYZ"));
         assert!(!did_matches("zABC", "zXYZ"));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn empty_did_matches() {
+        assert!(did_matches("", ""));
+        assert!(did_matches("", "did:key:"));
+    }
 }
 
 /// Drift guard (plan 002 §Gate-type table, Step 5). Every in-scope mutation
@@ -166,6 +172,7 @@ mod authz_guard {
         let issues = include_str!("issues.rs");
         let bounties = include_str!("bounties.rs");
         let replicas = include_str!("replicas.rs");
+        let events = include_str!("events.rs");
         let tasks = include_str!("tasks.rs");
         let stars = include_str!("stars.rs");
         let protect = include_str!("protect.rs");
@@ -181,6 +188,13 @@ mod authz_guard {
             (pulls, "merge_pr", "require_repo_owner("),
             (webhooks, "create_webhook", "require_repo_owner("),
             (webhooks, "delete_webhook", "require_repo_owner("),
+            // Bucket A/B hybrid — list_webhooks is read-visibility THEN owner:
+            // authorize_repo_read 404s a non-reader of a private repo, then
+            // require_repo_owner 403s a non-owner of a public one. Both halves
+            // are pinned: the authorize_repo_read marker guards the read half
+            // (existence hiding) and require_repo_owner guards the owner half.
+            (webhooks, "list_webhooks", "authorize_repo_read("),
+            (webhooks, "list_webhooks", "require_repo_owner("),
             (labels, "add_label", "require_repo_owner("),
             (labels, "remove_label", "require_repo_owner("),
             // Bucket A' — owner OR author (did_matches against the author)
@@ -197,6 +211,12 @@ mod authz_guard {
             // get_by_cid gates each iterated repo row directly via visibility_check
             // (KTD2a: it must NOT route through authorize_repo_read's fuzzy re-resolve).
             (ipfs, "get_by_cid", "visibility_check("),
+            // #94 sibling read surfaces: gate private-repo metadata on read
+            // visibility (public repos stay anonymous; private repos 404).
+            (replicas, "list_replicas", "authorize_repo_read("),
+            (protect, "list_protected_branches", "authorize_repo_read("),
+            (labels, "list_labels", "authorize_repo_read("),
+            (events, "list_repo_events", "authorize_repo_read("),
             // Bucket C — signer-self: the acting DID is matched/bound to auth.0
             (tasks, "create_task", "did_matches("),
             (tasks, "claim_task", "did_matches("),
@@ -503,19 +523,7 @@ mod authz_guard {
 
         // Repo-scoped reads known to be ungated today, each tracked by an issue.
         // Remove an entry the moment its gate lands (the staleness assert enforces it).
-        let known_ungated: &[(&str, &str)] = &[
-            ("list_certs", "#120"),
-            ("get_cert", "#120"),
-            ("list_issues", "#120"),
-            ("get_issue", "#120"),
-            ("list_issue_comments", "#120"),
-            ("list_labels", "#120"),
-            ("list_repo_bounties", "#120"),
-            ("get_star_status", "#120"),
-            ("list_webhooks", "#94 (PR #113)"),
-            ("list_replicas", "PR #113"),
-            ("list_protected_branches", "PR #113"),
-        ];
+        let known_ungated: &[(&str, &str)] = &[];
         let is_known = |n: &str| known_ungated.iter().any(|(k, _)| *k == n);
         // Any one of these = the handler binds the caller to an authz decision: the
         // first two are read gates, the rest are the write/owner/self-binding forms.

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/peers.rs

@@ -347,6 +347,10 @@ pub struct NotifyRequest {
     pub timestamp: Option<String>,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub cert_id: Option<String>,
+    /// Full owner DID — added in #144 for DID-aware feed gating.
+    /// Optional for backward compat with older senders.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub owner_did: Option<String>,
 }
 
 pub async fn notify_sync(
@@ -391,6 +395,7 @@ pub async fn notify_sync(
         node_did: req.node_did.clone(),
         pusher_did: req.pusher_did.clone().unwrap_or_default(),
         repo: req.repo.clone(),
+        owner_did: req.owner_did.clone(),
         ref_name: req.ref_name.clone(),
         old_sha: req.old_sha.clone().unwrap_or_default(),
         new_sha: req.new_sha.clone(),
@@ -537,4 +542,458 @@ mod tests {
         // pins the `o[0] == 0` check against an off-by-one into 1.x.
         assert!(is_public_http_url("http://1.0.0.0/"));
     }
+
+    // ── #82: /sync/trigger signature gate + per-IP brake on the peer-sync routes ──
+    //
+    // These drive the FULL production router (crate::server::build_router) so the
+    // route wiring, layer order, and config-mode branching are all under test.
+    // The positive-path and DID-agnostic cases mount the handler directly because
+    // signed_request_as injects only an AuthenticatedDid extension (not a real
+    // RFC-9421 signature), which require_signature rejects on the full router.
+    use crate::rate_limit::{IpRateLimiter, RateLimiter, TrustedProxy};
+    use crate::state::AppState;
+    use crate::test_support::{signed_request_as, test_state};
+    use axum::body::Body;
+    use axum::extract::ConnectInfo;
+    use axum::http::{header, Method, Request, StatusCode};
+    use axum::routing::post;
+    use axum::{middleware, Extension, Router};
+    use gitlawb_core::http_sig::sign_request;
+    use gitlawb_core::identity::Keypair;
+    use sqlx::PgPool;
+    use std::net::SocketAddr;
+    use std::sync::Arc;
+    use std::time::Duration;
+    use tower::ServiceExt;
+
+    fn unsigned_post(uri: &str, body: &str, peer: &str) -> Request<Body> {
+        let mut req = Request::builder()
+            .method(Method::POST)
+            .uri(uri)
+            .header(header::CONTENT_TYPE, "application/json")
+            .body(Body::from(body.to_string()))
+            .unwrap();
+        req.extensions_mut()
+            .insert(ConnectInfo(peer.parse::<SocketAddr>().unwrap()));
+        req
+    }
+
+    fn require_signed_peer_writes(state: &mut AppState) {
+        let mut cfg = (*state.config).clone();
+        cfg.require_signed_peer_writes = true;
+        state.config = Arc::new(cfg);
+    }
+
+    const NOTIFY_BODY: &str = r#"{"repo":"demo","ref_name":"refs/heads/main","new_sha":"0000000000000000000000000000000000000000","node_did":"PEER_DID"}"#;
+
+    // ── trigger: mandatory signature ──────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_trigger_rejects_unsigned_in_default_mode(pool: PgPool) {
+        // The hole: with require_signed_peer_writes=false (default), an anonymous
+        // caller reaches the fan-out. Must be 401 regardless of the flag.
+        let state = test_state(pool).await;
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        let resp = router
+            .oneshot(unsigned_post(
+                "/api/v1/sync/trigger",
+                "{}",
+                "203.0.113.1:5000",
+            ))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED);
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_trigger_rejects_unsigned_in_signed_writes_mode(pool: PgPool) {
+        // The signature requirement must not depend on the flag.
+        let mut state = test_state(pool).await;
+        require_signed_peer_writes(&mut state);
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        let resp = router
+            .oneshot(unsigned_post(
+                "/api/v1/sync/trigger",
+                "{}",
+                "203.0.113.2:5000",
+            ))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED);
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_trigger_admits_signed_caller(pool: PgPool) {
+        // must-not-over-throttle: a signed caller reaches the handler and (with no
+        // peers seeded) gets 200, not 429. Direct-mount because a real signature
+        // cannot be forged through the full router in tests.
+        let state = test_state(pool).await;
+        let did = Keypair::generate().did().to_string();
+        let app = Router::new()
+            .route("/api/v1/sync/trigger", post(super::trigger_sync))
+            .layer(middleware::from_fn(crate::rate_limit::rate_limit_by_ip))
+            .layer(Extension(IpRateLimiter {
+                limiter: RateLimiter::new(60, Duration::from_secs(3600)),
+                trust: TrustedProxy::None,
+            }))
+            .with_state(state);
+        let mut req =
+            signed_request_as(&did, Method::POST, "/api/v1/sync/trigger", Body::from("{}"));
+        req.extensions_mut().insert(ConnectInfo(
+            "203.0.113.3:5000".parse::<SocketAddr>().unwrap(),
+        ));
+        let resp = app.oneshot(req).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    }
+
+    // ── trigger: IP brake ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_trigger_ip_flood_is_throttled(pool: PgPool) {
+        // The brake is outermost, so an over-limit request 429s before it ever
+        // reaches require_signature — an unsigned request suffices to prove it.
+        let mut state = test_state(pool).await;
+        state.sync_trigger_rate_limiter = RateLimiter::new(1, Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        state.push_limiter_trust = TrustedProxy::None;
+        let peer = "203.0.113.4:5000";
+        // Exhaust the single-request budget up front.
+        assert!(
+            state
+                .sync_trigger_rate_limiter
+                .check(&peer.parse::<SocketAddr>().unwrap().ip().to_string())
+                .await
+        );
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        let resp = router
+            .oneshot(unsigned_post("/api/v1/sync/trigger", "{}", peer))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS);
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_trigger_brake_is_did_agnostic(pool: PgPool) {
+        // Why per-IP, not per-DID: a DID farm (fresh did:key per request) does not
+        // bypass an IP-keyed brake. Two DISTINCT DIDs from one IP, brake limit 1 →
+        // the second is 429. A per-DID limiter would give each DID its own bucket.
+        let state = test_state(pool).await;
+        let app = Router::new()
+            .route("/api/v1/sync/trigger", post(super::trigger_sync))
+            .layer(middleware::from_fn(crate::rate_limit::rate_limit_by_ip))
+            .layer(Extension(IpRateLimiter {
+                limiter: RateLimiter::new(1, Duration::from_secs(3600)),
+                trust: TrustedProxy::None,
+            }))
+            .with_state(state);
+        let peer = "203.0.113.5:5000".parse::<SocketAddr>().unwrap();
+        let mk = |did: &str| {
+            let mut r =
+                signed_request_as(did, Method::POST, "/api/v1/sync/trigger", Body::from("{}"));
+            r.extensions_mut().insert(ConnectInfo(peer));
+            r
+        };
+        let first = app
+            .clone()
+            .oneshot(mk(&Keypair::generate().did().to_string()))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(first.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+        let second = app
+            .oneshot(mk(&Keypair::generate().did().to_string()))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(second.status(), StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS);
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_trigger_forged_forwarded_header_cannot_bypass(pool: PgPool) {
+        // TrustedProxy::None keys on the socket peer, so rotating X-Forwarded-For
+        // from one socket peer does not refill the bucket. limit 1: first request
+        // consumes it (then 401 unsigned), second from the same socket → 429
+        // regardless of a different XFF value.
+        let mut state = test_state(pool).await;
+        state.sync_trigger_rate_limiter = RateLimiter::new(1, Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        state.push_limiter_trust = TrustedProxy::None;
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        let mut a = unsigned_post("/api/v1/sync/trigger", "{}", "203.0.113.6:5000");
+        a.headers_mut()
+            .insert("x-forwarded-for", "1.1.1.1".parse().unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(
+            router.clone().oneshot(a).await.unwrap().status(),
+            StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED
+        );
+        let mut b = unsigned_post("/api/v1/sync/trigger", "{}", "203.0.113.6:5000");
+        b.headers_mut()
+            .insert("x-forwarded-for", "2.2.2.2".parse().unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(
+            router.oneshot(b).await.unwrap().status(),
+            StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_trigger_rate_limit_zero_disables_but_signature_holds(pool: PgPool) {
+        // 0 disables the brake (RateLimiter::check early-returns), proving the two
+        // halves are independent: no 429 even under a flood, but the signature gate
+        // still 401s every unsigned request.
+        let mut state = test_state(pool).await;
+        state.sync_trigger_rate_limiter = RateLimiter::new(0, Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        state.push_limiter_trust = TrustedProxy::None;
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        for _ in 0..3 {
+            let resp = router
+                .clone()
+                .oneshot(unsigned_post(
+                    "/api/v1/sync/trigger",
+                    "{}",
+                    "203.0.113.7:5000",
+                ))
+                .await
+                .unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // ── notify: braked, but signature behavior unchanged ──────────────────────
+
+    async fn seed_peer(state: &AppState) -> String {
+        let did = Keypair::generate().did().to_string();
+        state
+            .db
+            .upsert_peer(&did, "https://peer.example.com")
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        did
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_notify_unsigned_flood_is_throttled(pool: PgPool) {
+        // notify still accepts an unsigned known-peer notification (rolling-upgrade
+        // compat), but a flood from one IP is now braked. brake limit 1: first
+        // enqueues (200), second from the same IP → 429.
+        let mut state = test_state(pool).await;
+        state.peer_write_rate_limiter = RateLimiter::new(1, Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        state.push_limiter_trust = TrustedProxy::None;
+        let peer_did = seed_peer(&state).await;
+        let body = NOTIFY_BODY.replace("PEER_DID", &peer_did);
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        let first = router
+            .clone()
+            .oneshot(unsigned_post(
+                "/api/v1/sync/notify",
+                &body,
+                "203.0.113.8:5000",
+            ))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(first.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+        let second = router
+            .oneshot(unsigned_post(
+                "/api/v1/sync/notify",
+                &body,
+                "203.0.113.8:5000",
+            ))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(second.status(), StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS);
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_notify_distinct_ips_are_not_collaterally_throttled(pool: PgPool) {
+        // must-not-over-throttle: per-IP keying means one peer's volume does not
+        // throttle another. brake limit 1, two DIFFERENT source IPs → both 200.
+        let mut state = test_state(pool).await;
+        state.peer_write_rate_limiter = RateLimiter::new(1, Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        state.push_limiter_trust = TrustedProxy::None;
+        let peer_did = seed_peer(&state).await;
+        let body = NOTIFY_BODY.replace("PEER_DID", &peer_did);
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        for ip in ["203.0.113.20:5000", "203.0.113.21:5000"] {
+            let resp = router
+                .clone()
+                .oneshot(unsigned_post("/api/v1/sync/notify", &body, ip))
+                .await
+                .unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(
+                resp.status(),
+                StatusCode::OK,
+                "distinct IP {ip} must not be throttled"
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn notify_flood_does_not_exhaust_trigger_bucket(pool: PgPool) {
+        // Separate buckets: draining peer_write via an unsigned notify flood must
+        // NOT throttle the signed trigger caller from the same IP. After the notify
+        // bucket is spent, an unsigned trigger from that IP hits its own (unspent)
+        // bucket and is rejected by the SIGNATURE gate (401), not the brake (429).
+        let mut state = test_state(pool).await;
+        state.peer_write_rate_limiter = RateLimiter::new(1, Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        state.sync_trigger_rate_limiter = RateLimiter::new(60, Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        state.push_limiter_trust = TrustedProxy::None;
+        let peer_did = seed_peer(&state).await;
+        let body = NOTIFY_BODY.replace("PEER_DID", &peer_did);
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        let ip = "203.0.113.9:5000";
+        assert_eq!(
+            router
+                .clone()
+                .oneshot(unsigned_post("/api/v1/sync/notify", &body, ip))
+                .await
+                .unwrap()
+                .status(),
+            StatusCode::OK
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            router
+                .clone()
+                .oneshot(unsigned_post("/api/v1/sync/notify", &body, ip))
+                .await
+                .unwrap()
+                .status(),
+            StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS,
+            "peer_write bucket should now be exhausted for this IP"
+        );
+        let trigger = router
+            .oneshot(unsigned_post("/api/v1/sync/trigger", "{}", ip))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            trigger.status(),
+            StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED,
+            "trigger must hit its own bucket (401 from the sig gate), not the drained peer_write bucket (429)"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn announce_still_accepts_unsigned_in_default_mode(pool: PgPool) {
+        // must-not-over-reach: adding the brake must not tighten announce's
+        // rolling-upgrade behavior — an unsigned announce with a public URL still
+        // succeeds (it only gains the brake, which a single request is under).
+        let state = test_state(pool).await;
+        let did = Keypair::generate().did().to_string();
+        let body = format!(r#"{{"did":"{did}","http_url":"https://peer.example.com"}}"#);
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        let resp = router
+            .oneshot(unsigned_post(
+                "/api/v1/peers/announce",
+                &body,
+                "203.0.113.10:5000",
+            ))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    }
+
+    // Build a request carrying a REAL RFC 9421 signature (not just an injected
+    // extension), so it passes require_signature on the full production router.
+    fn real_signed_trigger(peer: &str) -> Request<Body> {
+        let kp = Keypair::generate();
+        let body = b"{}";
+        let s = sign_request(&kp, "POST", "/api/v1/sync/trigger", body);
+        let mut req = Request::builder()
+            .method(Method::POST)
+            .uri("/api/v1/sync/trigger")
+            .header(header::CONTENT_TYPE, "application/json")
+            .header("content-digest", s.content_digest)
+            .header("signature-input", s.signature_input)
+            .header("signature", s.signature)
+            .body(Body::from(body.to_vec()))
+            .unwrap();
+        req.extensions_mut()
+            .insert(ConnectInfo(peer.parse::<SocketAddr>().unwrap()));
+        req
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_trigger_admits_real_signature_through_full_router(pool: PgPool) {
+        // The positive path through the REAL gate: a validly-signed trigger passes
+        // require_signature on the full router and reaches the handler (no peers
+        // seeded → 200), in BOTH config modes.
+        let state = test_state(pool.clone()).await;
+        let resp = crate::server::build_router(state)
+            .oneshot(real_signed_trigger("203.0.113.30:5000"))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            resp.status(),
+            StatusCode::OK,
+            "a real signature must reach the handler (default mode)"
+        );
+
+        let mut state = test_state(pool).await;
+        require_signed_peer_writes(&mut state);
+        let resp = crate::server::build_router(state)
+            .oneshot(real_signed_trigger("203.0.113.30:5001"))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            resp.status(),
+            StatusCode::OK,
+            "a real signature must reach the handler (signed-writes mode)"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn announce_flood_is_throttled(pool: PgPool) {
+        // The peer_write brake covers /peers/announce too (co-benefit): limit 1,
+        // first unsigned announce from an IP is 200, the second from that IP 429.
+        let mut state = test_state(pool).await;
+        state.peer_write_rate_limiter = RateLimiter::new(1, Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        state.push_limiter_trust = TrustedProxy::None;
+        let did = Keypair::generate().did().to_string();
+        let body = format!(r#"{{"did":"{did}","http_url":"https://peer.example.com"}}"#);
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        let ip = "203.0.113.31:5000";
+        assert_eq!(
+            router
+                .clone()
+                .oneshot(unsigned_post("/api/v1/peers/announce", &body, ip))
+                .await
+                .unwrap()
+                .status(),
+            StatusCode::OK
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            router
+                .oneshot(unsigned_post("/api/v1/peers/announce", &body, ip))
+                .await
+                .unwrap()
+                .status(),
+            StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS,
+            "announce must be braked by the peer_write limiter"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn sync_trigger_429_body_is_generic_not_push(pool: PgPool) {
+        // The shared 429 middleware now serves the sync routes, so its body must
+        // not claim "push" (RED before the message was genericized).
+        let mut state = test_state(pool).await;
+        state.sync_trigger_rate_limiter = RateLimiter::new(1, Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        state.push_limiter_trust = TrustedProxy::None;
+        let peer = "203.0.113.32:5000";
+        assert!(
+            state
+                .sync_trigger_rate_limiter
+                .check(&peer.parse::<SocketAddr>().unwrap().ip().to_string())
+                .await
+        );
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        let resp = router
+            .oneshot(unsigned_post("/api/v1/sync/trigger", "{}", peer))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS);
+        let bytes = axum::body::to_bytes(resp.into_body(), usize::MAX)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let s = String::from_utf8_lossy(&bytes);
+        assert!(s.contains("rate limit exceeded"), "429 body: {s:?}");
+        assert!(
+            !s.contains("push"),
+            "a 429 on a sync route must not say 'push': {s:?}"
+        );
+    }
 }

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/profiles.rs

@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ pub async fn set_profile(
                     &state.http_client,
                     &state.config.pinata_upload_url,
                     &state.config.pinata_jwt,
-                    &format!("profile-{}", &did),
+                    &format!("profile-{}", did),
                     &profile_json,
                 )
                 .await

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/protect.rs

@@ -79,12 +79,14 @@ pub async fn unprotect_branch(
 pub async fn list_protected_branches(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, repo)): Path<(String, String)>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &repo)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{repo}")))?;
+    // Read-visibility-gated (INV-2 root listing): a public repo's protected
+    // branches stay anonymously listable; a private repo's branch names are
+    // hidden (404) from anyone who cannot read it at the root.
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &repo, caller, "/").await?;
 
     let branches = state.db.list_protected_branches(&record.id).await?;
 

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/replicas.rs

@@ -113,16 +113,17 @@ pub async fn unregister_replica(
 }
 
 /// GET /api/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/replicas
-/// Public — returns the list of replicas (DID + URL + registration timestamp).
+/// Read-visibility-gated: a PUBLIC repo's replica list stays anonymously
+/// listable (mirror-discovery), but a PRIVATE repo's replica URLs are hidden
+/// (404) from anyone who cannot read the repo at its root.
 pub async fn list_replicas(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, repo)): Path<(String, String)>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &repo)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{repo}")))?;
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &repo, caller, "/").await?;
 
     let replicas = state.db.list_replicas(&record.id).await?;
 

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/repos.rs

@@ -487,6 +487,17 @@ pub async fn get_tree(
 
 // ── Git smart HTTP endpoints ──────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+fn smart_http_repo_name(repo: &str) -> Result<&str> {
+    // Strip at most one ".git" suffix: trim_end_matches strips repeatedly,
+    // which would misdirect a repo literally named "foo.git" (creatable via
+    // the peer mirror path, which skips API name validation) to repo "foo".
+    let name = repo.strip_suffix(".git").unwrap_or(repo);
+    if name.is_empty() {
+        return Err(AppError::BadRequest("missing repository name".into()));
+    }
+    Ok(name)
+}
+
 /// GET /:owner/:repo.git/info/refs?service=git-upload-pack|git-receive-pack
 pub async fn git_info_refs(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
@@ -496,7 +507,7 @@ pub async fn git_info_refs(
     headers: axum::http::HeaderMap,
     auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Response> {
-    let name = repo.trim_end_matches(".git");
+    let name = smart_http_repo_name(&repo)?;
     tracing::info!(owner = %owner, repo = %name, "info/refs request");
     let record = state
         .db
@@ -578,6 +589,26 @@ pub async fn git_info_refs(
         })
 }
 
+/// Map an error from a `smart_http` git service call to the right `AppError`:
+/// [`smart_http::GitServiceTimeout`] to 504, a malformed client request to 400,
+/// anything else to a 500 git error. Pure (no logging) so it is unit-testable;
+/// callers add their own tracing.
+fn git_service_app_error(err: &anyhow::Error) -> AppError {
+    if err
+        .downcast_ref::<smart_http::GitServiceTimeout>()
+        .is_some()
+    {
+        AppError::Timeout("git service timed out".into())
+    } else {
+        let msg = err.to_string();
+        if msg.contains("bad line length") || msg.contains("protocol error") {
+            AppError::BadRequest(msg)
+        } else {
+            AppError::Git(msg)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// POST /:owner/:repo.git/git-upload-pack
 pub async fn git_upload_pack(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
@@ -585,7 +616,7 @@ pub async fn git_upload_pack(
     auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
     body: Bytes,
 ) -> Result<Response> {
-    let name = repo.trim_end_matches(".git");
+    let name = smart_http_repo_name(&repo)?;
     let record = state
         .db
         .get_repo(&owner, name)
@@ -615,8 +646,9 @@ pub async fn git_upload_pack(
     // No path-scoped rule can withhold an individual blob, and the whole-repo
     // "/" gate above already enforced repo-level access. Skip the per-blob
     // withheld walk and serve the pack directly.
+    let git_timeout = std::time::Duration::from_secs(state.config.git_service_timeout_secs);
     let resp = if !visibility_pack::has_path_scoped_rule(&rules) {
-        smart_http::upload_pack(&disk_path, body).await
+        smart_http::upload_pack(&disk_path, body, git_timeout).await
     } else {
         // withheld_blob_oids walks every ref with blocking `git ls-tree`; keep
         // that off the async worker thread.
@@ -641,21 +673,22 @@ pub async fn git_upload_pack(
         };
 
         if withheld.is_empty() {
-            smart_http::upload_pack(&disk_path, body).await
+            smart_http::upload_pack(&disk_path, body, git_timeout).await
         } else {
             tracing::info!(repo = %name, caller = ?caller, withheld = withheld.len(), "serving filtered pack");
             smart_http::upload_pack_excluding(&disk_path, body, &withheld).await
         }
     }
     .map_err(|e| {
-        let msg = e.to_string();
-        if msg.contains("bad line length") || msg.contains("protocol error") {
-            tracing::warn!(repo = %name, err = %msg, "git-upload-pack: bad client request");
-            AppError::BadRequest(msg)
-        } else {
-            tracing::error!(repo = %name, err = %msg, "git-upload-pack failed");
-            AppError::Git(msg)
+        let app = git_service_app_error(&e);
+        match &app {
+            AppError::Timeout(_) => tracing::warn!(repo = %name, "git-upload-pack timed out"),
+            AppError::BadRequest(msg) => {
+                tracing::warn!(repo = %name, err = %msg, "git-upload-pack: bad client request")
+            }
+            _ => tracing::error!(repo = %name, err = %e, "git-upload-pack failed"),
         }
+        app
     })?;
     crate::metrics::record_fetch(&format!("{owner}/{name}"));
     crate::metrics::observe_pack_size(body_len as f64);
@@ -739,6 +772,7 @@ async fn notify_peer_of_ref(
     new_sha: &str,
     node_did: &str,
     pusher_did: &str,
+    owner_did: &str,
 ) {
     let body = serde_json::json!({
         "repo": repo_slug,
@@ -748,6 +782,7 @@ async fn notify_peer_of_ref(
         "pusher_did": pusher_did,
         "old_sha": old_sha,
         "timestamp": chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339(),
+        "owner_did": owner_did,
     });
     let body_bytes = match serde_json::to_vec(&body) {
         Ok(bytes) => bytes,
@@ -795,6 +830,7 @@ async fn notify_peer_of_refs(
     ref_updates: &[(String, String, String)],
     node_did: &str,
     pusher_did: &str,
+    owner_did: &str,
 ) {
     for (ref_name, old_sha, new_sha) in ref_updates {
         notify_peer_of_ref(
@@ -808,6 +844,7 @@ async fn notify_peer_of_refs(
             new_sha,
             node_did,
             pusher_did,
+            owner_did,
         )
         .await;
     }
@@ -820,7 +857,7 @@ pub async fn git_receive_pack(
     Extension(auth): Extension<AuthenticatedDid>,
     body: Bytes,
 ) -> Result<Response> {
-    let name = repo.trim_end_matches(".git");
+    let name = smart_http_repo_name(&repo)?;
     tracing::info!(owner = %owner, repo = %name, "receive-pack request");
     let record = state
         .db
@@ -902,7 +939,8 @@ pub async fn git_receive_pack(
     let disk_path = guard.path().to_path_buf();
     tracing::debug!(repo = %name, path = %disk_path.display(), "running git receive-pack");
     let body_len = body.len();
-    let receive_result = smart_http::receive_pack(&disk_path, body).await;
+    let git_timeout = std::time::Duration::from_secs(state.config.git_service_timeout_secs);
+    let receive_result = smart_http::receive_pack(&disk_path, body, git_timeout).await;
 
     // Always release the advisory lock — even on error — to prevent stale locks
     // from blocking subsequent pushes. Only upload to Tigris when the push
@@ -910,8 +948,15 @@ pub async fn git_receive_pack(
     guard.release(receive_result.is_ok()).await;
 
     let result = receive_result.map_err(|e| {
-        tracing::error!(repo = %name, err = %e, "git receive-pack failed");
-        AppError::Git(e.to_string())
+        let app = git_service_app_error(&e);
+        match &app {
+            AppError::Timeout(_) => tracing::warn!(repo = %name, "git receive-pack timed out"),
+            AppError::BadRequest(msg) => {
+                tracing::warn!(repo = %name, err = %msg, "git receive-pack: bad client request")
+            }
+            _ => tracing::error!(repo = %name, err = %e, "git receive-pack failed"),
+        }
+        app
     })?;
 
     // Update the repo's updated_at timestamp after a successful push
@@ -1220,6 +1265,7 @@ pub async fn git_receive_pack(
                             node_did: node_did_str.clone(),
                             pusher_did: pusher_did_clone.clone(),
                             repo: repo_slug.clone(),
+                            owner_did: Some(record.owner_did.clone()),
                             ref_name: ref_name.clone(),
                             old_sha: old_sha.clone(),
                             new_sha: new_sha.clone(),
@@ -1251,6 +1297,7 @@ pub async fn git_receive_pack(
                         pusher_did: pusher_did_clone.clone(),
                         node_did: node_did_str.clone(),
                         timestamp: now_ts.clone(),
+                        owner_did: record.owner_did.clone(),
                     });
                 }
             }
@@ -1321,6 +1368,7 @@ pub async fn git_receive_pack(
                             &ref_updates_clone,
                             &node_did_str,
                             &pusher_did_clone,
+                            &record.owner_did,
                         )
                         .await;
                     }
@@ -1795,6 +1843,32 @@ mod tests {
     const OWNER_SHORT: &str = "z6MkpTHR8VNsBxYAAWHut2Geadd9jSwuBV8xRoAnwWsdvktH";
     const STRANGER_DID: &str = "did:key:z6Mkffonly5tranger0000000000000000000000000000000";
 
+    #[test]
+    fn git_service_app_error_classifies_timeout_bad_request_and_git() {
+        // GitServiceTimeout carried through anyhow -> 504 Timeout.
+        let timeout_err: anyhow::Error = smart_http::GitServiceTimeout.into();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            git_service_app_error(&timeout_err),
+            AppError::Timeout(_)
+        ));
+        // A malformed client request -> 400.
+        let bad = anyhow::anyhow!("fatal: bad line length character: 0000");
+        assert!(matches!(
+            git_service_app_error(&bad),
+            AppError::BadRequest(_)
+        ));
+        // The `protocol error` marker (with no "bad line length" substring) also
+        // -> 400, exercising the second arm of the classifier independently.
+        let proto = anyhow::anyhow!("fatal: protocol error: unexpected flush packet");
+        assert!(matches!(
+            git_service_app_error(&proto),
+            AppError::BadRequest(_)
+        ));
+        // Anything else -> 500 git error.
+        let other = anyhow::anyhow!("some other git failure");
+        assert!(matches!(git_service_app_error(&other), AppError::Git(_)));
+    }
+
     fn repo_owned_by(owner_did: &str) -> crate::db::RepoRecord {
         let now = chrono::Utc::now();
         crate::db::RepoRecord {
@@ -1847,6 +1921,23 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn smart_http_repo_name_rejects_empty_after_git_suffix() {
+        assert_eq!(smart_http_repo_name("demo.git").unwrap(), "demo");
+        assert_eq!(smart_http_repo_name("demo").unwrap(), "demo");
+        // Only one suffix is stripped: a repo literally named "demo.git"
+        // stays addressable and never aliases to "demo".
+        assert_eq!(smart_http_repo_name("demo.git.git").unwrap(), "demo.git");
+        assert!(matches!(
+            smart_http_repo_name(".git"),
+            Err(AppError::BadRequest(_))
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            smart_http_repo_name(""),
+            Err(AppError::BadRequest(_))
+        ));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn enforced_allows_owner_full_did() {
         let repo = repo_owned_by(OWNER_DID);
@@ -2318,6 +2409,9 @@ mod tests {
                 mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(format!(r#"{{"ref_name":"{ref_a}"}}"#)),
                 mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(format!(r#"{{"old_sha":"{old_a}"}}"#)),
                 mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(format!(r#"{{"new_sha":"{new_a}"}}"#)),
+                mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(
+                    r#"{"owner_did":"did:key:zOwner"}"#.to_string(),
+                ),
             ]))
             .with_status(200)
             .expect(1)
@@ -2329,6 +2423,9 @@ mod tests {
                 mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(format!(r#"{{"ref_name":"{ref_b}"}}"#)),
                 mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(format!(r#"{{"old_sha":"{old_b}"}}"#)),
                 mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(format!(r#"{{"new_sha":"{new_b}"}}"#)),
+                mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(
+                    r#"{"owner_did":"did:key:zOwner"}"#.to_string(),
+                ),
             ]))
             .with_status(200)
             .expect(1)
@@ -2350,6 +2447,7 @@ mod tests {
             &ref_updates,
             "did:key:zNode",
             "did:key:zPusher",
+            "did:key:zOwner",
         )
         .await;
 
@@ -2372,6 +2470,9 @@ mod tests {
             .match_body(mockito::Matcher::AllOf(vec![
                 mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(format!(r#"{{"old_sha":"{zero}"}}"#)),
                 mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(format!(r#"{{"new_sha":"{new_sha}"}}"#)),
+                mockito::Matcher::PartialJsonString(
+                    r#"{"owner_did":"did:key:zOwner"}"#.to_string(),
+                ),
             ]))
             .with_status(200)
             .expect(1)
@@ -2394,6 +2495,7 @@ mod tests {
             &ref_updates,
             "did:key:zNode",
             "did:key:zPusher",
+            "did:key:zOwner",
         )
         .await;
 
@@ -2494,4 +2596,51 @@ mod tests {
             "receive-pack advertisement must be throttled before the Tigris acquire"
         );
     }
+
+    /// Repo creation must be throttled by the per-IP creation limiter BEFORE
+    /// signature verification — otherwise a DID farm (one throwaway did:key per
+    /// repo, each carrying a valid but machine-solved iCaptcha proof) walks past
+    /// the per-DID limiter and floods the network, as in the recurring spam-repo
+    /// incidents. A 429 (not a 401) on an unsigned request from an exhausted IP
+    /// proves the IP brake runs outermost, ahead of auth.
+    #[sqlx::test]
+    async fn repo_creation_is_rate_limited_by_ip(pool: sqlx::PgPool) {
+        use axum::body::Body;
+        use axum::extract::ConnectInfo;
+        use axum::http::{Method, Request, StatusCode};
+        use std::net::SocketAddr;
+        use std::time::Duration;
+        use tower::ServiceExt;
+
+        let mut state = crate::test_support::test_state(pool).await;
+        // Tiny limit, keyed on the socket peer (no trusted proxy).
+        state.create_ip_rate_limiter =
+            crate::rate_limit::RateLimiter::new(1, Duration::from_secs(60));
+        state.push_limiter_trust = crate::rate_limit::TrustedProxy::None;
+
+        let peer: SocketAddr = "203.0.113.77:7000".parse().unwrap();
+        // Exhaust this peer's single-request budget up front.
+        assert!(
+            state
+                .create_ip_rate_limiter
+                .check(&peer.ip().to_string())
+                .await
+        );
+
+        let router = crate::server::build_router(state);
+        let mut req = Request::builder()
+            .method(Method::POST)
+            .uri("/api/v1/repos")
+            .header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .body(Body::from(r#"{"name":"flood","is_public":true}"#))
+            .unwrap();
+        req.extensions_mut().insert(ConnectInfo(peer));
+
+        let status = router.oneshot(req).await.unwrap().status();
+        assert_eq!(
+            status,
+            StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS,
+            "repo creation must be IP-throttled before signature verification"
+        );
+    }
 }

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/stars.rs

@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
 //!
 //! Any authenticated agent can star or unstar a repo.
 //! One agent = one star per repo (enforced by UNIQUE constraint in repo_stars).
-//! Star count is public — no auth required on GET.
+//! Star count is gated on repo read access.
 
 use axum::extract::{Extension, Path, State};
 use axum::http::StatusCode;
 use axum::Json;
 
 use crate::auth::AuthenticatedDid;
-use crate::error::{AppError, Result};
+use crate::error::Result;
 use crate::state::AppState;
 
 /// PUT /api/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/star
@@ -19,11 +19,8 @@ pub async fn star_repo(
     Extension(auth): Extension<AuthenticatedDid>,
     Path((owner, repo)): Path<(String, String)>,
 ) -> Result<(StatusCode, Json<serde_json::Value>)> {
-    let record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &repo)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{repo}")))?;
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &repo, Some(auth.0.as_str()), "/").await?;
 
     let caller = &auth.0;
     let inserted = state.db.star_repo(&record.id, caller).await?;
@@ -54,11 +51,8 @@ pub async fn unstar_repo(
     Extension(auth): Extension<AuthenticatedDid>,
     Path((owner, repo)): Path<(String, String)>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &repo)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{repo}")))?;
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &repo, Some(auth.0.as_str()), "/").await?;
 
     let caller = &auth.0;
     state.db.unstar_repo(&record.id, caller).await?;
@@ -74,16 +68,15 @@ pub async fn unstar_repo(
 }
 
 /// GET /api/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/star
-/// Returns star count — unauthenticated.
+/// Returns star count for callers who can read the repo.
 pub async fn get_star_status(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, repo)): Path<(String, String)>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &repo)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{repo}")))?;
+    let caller = auth.as_ref().map(|e| e.0 .0.as_str());
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &repo, caller, "/").await?;
 
     let count = state.db.count_stars(&record.id).await?;
 

crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/webhooks.rs

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 //! Webhook CRUD API.
 //!
-//! POST   /api/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/hooks        — create (auth required)
-//! GET    /api/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/hooks        — list
-//! DELETE /api/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/hooks/:id   — delete (auth required)
+//! POST   /api/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/hooks        — create (owner only)
+//! GET    /api/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/hooks        — list (owner only; auth required)
+//! DELETE /api/v1/repos/:owner/:repo/hooks/:id   — delete (owner only)
 
 use axum::extract::{Extension, Path, State};
 use axum::http::StatusCode;
@@ -73,12 +73,26 @@ pub async fn create_webhook(
 pub async fn list_webhooks(
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path((owner, name)): Path<(String, String)>,
+    auth: Option<Extension<AuthenticatedDid>>,
 ) -> Result<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
-    let record = state
-        .db
-        .get_repo(&owner, &name)
-        .await?
-        .ok_or_else(|| AppError::RepoNotFound(format!("{owner}/{name}")))?;
+    // This route sits on `optional_signature`, so the DID is optional. Webhook
+    // callback URLs are owner-secret config and there is no anonymous form, so a
+    // headerless caller is rejected before any lookup (401, which fires for an
+    // existing-private and an absent repo alike, so it leaks no existence).
+    let Some(Extension(AuthenticatedDid(caller))) = auth else {
+        return Err(AppError::Unauthorized(
+            "listing webhooks requires authentication".into(),
+        ));
+    };
+
+    // Read-visibility first, then owner. authorize_repo_read returns 404 on a
+    // visibility deny, so a non-reader of a private repo cannot tell it exists
+    // (uniform with the sibling read surfaces); require_repo_owner then yields
+    // 403 only for a non-owner of a public/readable repo, where existence is not
+    // secret.
+    let (record, _rules) =
+        crate::api::authorize_repo_read(&state, &owner, &name, Some(&caller), "/").await?;
+    crate::api::require_repo_owner(&record, &caller)?;
 
     let hooks = state.db.list_webhooks(&record.id).await?;
     // Redact secrets in list response

crates/gitlawb-node/src/auth/mod.rs

@@ -514,8 +514,11 @@ mod tests {
             machine_id: None,
             repo_store: crate::git::repo_store::RepoStore::for_testing(PathBuf::from("/tmp"), pool),
             rate_limiter: RateLimiter::new(100, Duration::from_secs(60)),
+            create_ip_rate_limiter: RateLimiter::new(1000, Duration::from_secs(3600)),
             push_rate_limiter: RateLimiter::new(600, Duration::from_secs(3600)),
             push_limiter_trust: crate::rate_limit::TrustedProxy::None,
+            sync_trigger_rate_limiter: RateLimiter::new(60, Duration::from_secs(3600)),
+            peer_write_rate_limiter: RateLimiter::new(600, Duration::from_secs(3600)),
             shutdown_tx: tokio::sync::watch::channel(false).0,
         }
     }

crates/gitlawb-node/src/cert.rs

@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ pub async fn issue_ref_certificate(
         issued_at,
     };
 
-    state.db.insert_ref_certificate(&cert).await?;
-    Ok(cert)
+    // Persist and return the row as it exists in the database (on a
+    // conflict the existing row survives when it is newer).
+    state.db.insert_ref_certificate(&cert).await
 }

crates/gitlawb-node/src/config.rs

@@ -140,6 +140,20 @@ pub struct Config {
     #[arg(long, env = "GITLAWB_MAX_PACK_BYTES", default_value_t = 2_147_483_648)]
     pub max_pack_bytes: usize,
 
+    /// Per-client-IP rate limit for `POST /api/v1/sync/trigger`, in requests per
+    /// hour. `/sync/trigger` requires a signature and drives an O(peers) outbound
+    /// fan-out per call, so it gets a tight bucket. `0` disables. Default: 60.
+    #[arg(long, env = "GITLAWB_SYNC_TRIGGER_RATE_LIMIT", default_value_t = 60)]
+    pub sync_trigger_rate_limit: usize,
+
+    /// Per-client-IP rate limit for the peer-write routes (`/peers/announce`,
+    /// `/sync/notify`), in requests per hour. These accept unsigned requests from
+    /// known peers and run at higher frequency, so the bucket is generous. Keeping
+    /// it separate from the trigger bucket stops an unsigned notify flood from
+    /// draining the signed trigger caller's quota. `0` disables. Default: 600.
+    #[arg(long, env = "GITLAWB_PEER_WRITE_RATE_LIMIT", default_value_t = 600)]
+    pub peer_write_rate_limit: usize,
+
     /// Optional address to bind a Prometheus `/metrics` exposition endpoint on.
     /// Example: `127.0.0.1:9091`. Leave empty (default) to disable.
     /// Bind to localhost or a private interface — the metrics endpoint is
@@ -152,6 +166,74 @@ pub struct Config {
     /// in flight and exits. Default: 30s.
     #[arg(long, env = "GITLAWB_SHUTDOWN_GRACE_SECS", default_value_t = 30)]
     pub shutdown_grace_secs: u64,
+
+    /// Maximum wall-clock time a single served git operation (upload-pack /
+    /// receive-pack through `run_git_service`) may run before it is aborted and
+    /// its process group torn down, in seconds. Bounds a git that neither
+    /// finishes nor disconnects. Must be positive; set it very large to
+    /// effectively disable the bound. Default: 600s (10 min), generous for large
+    /// clones. Does not cover the ref advertisement (`info/refs`) or the
+    /// withheld-blob fetch path (`upload_pack_excluding`, a blocking
+    /// `spawn_blocking` a tokio timeout cannot cancel); both remain unbounded.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "GITLAWB_GIT_SERVICE_TIMEOUT_SECS",
+        default_value_t = 600,
+        value_parser = clap::value_parser!(u64).range(1..)
+    )]
+    pub git_service_timeout_secs: u64,
+
+    /// Maximum connections in the PostgreSQL pool. This is a cap, not a floor
+    /// (connections open lazily). Size against the database server's
+    /// max_connections, remembering admin tooling opens its own pool.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "GITLAWB_DB_MAX_CONNECTIONS",
+        default_value_t = 20,
+        value_parser = clap::value_parser!(u32).range(1..)
+    )]
+    pub db_max_connections: u32,
+
+    /// Maximum time a request waits for a pool connection before failing with
+    /// 503, in seconds. Bounds queueing when the database is slow or down.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "GITLAWB_DB_ACQUIRE_TIMEOUT_SECS",
+        default_value_t = 5,
+        value_parser = clap::value_parser!(u64).range(1..)
+    )]
+    pub db_acquire_timeout_secs: u64,
+
+    /// Upper bound on each startup connect-and-migrate attempt, in seconds.
+    /// Migrations wait on a cross-instance advisory lock, so this must be
+    /// generous enough for a peer instance to finish migrating; on expiry the
+    /// attempt is retried (migrations are idempotent).
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "GITLAWB_DB_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_SECS",
+        default_value_t = 60,
+        value_parser = clap::value_parser!(u64).range(1..)
+    )]
+    pub db_connect_timeout_secs: u64,
+
+    /// First retry delay when the database is unavailable at startup, in
+    /// seconds. Doubles each attempt up to --db-retry-max-secs.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "GITLAWB_DB_RETRY_INITIAL_SECS",
+        default_value_t = 5,
+        value_parser = clap::value_parser!(u64).range(1..)
+    )]
+    pub db_retry_initial_secs: u64,
+
+    /// Ceiling on the startup retry delay, in seconds.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "GITLAWB_DB_RETRY_MAX_SECS",
+        default_value_t = 60,
+        value_parser = clap::value_parser!(u64).range(1..)
+    )]
+    pub db_retry_max_secs: u64,
 }
 
 impl Config {
@@ -169,3 +251,25 @@ impl Config {
         PathBuf::from(&self.key_path)
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn git_service_timeout_defaults_to_600_and_rejects_zero() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            Config::parse_from(["gitlawb-node"]).git_service_timeout_secs,
+            600
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            Config::parse_from(["gitlawb-node", "--git-service-timeout-secs", "30"])
+                .git_service_timeout_secs,
+            30
+        );
+        // 0 is a footgun (immediate-504 on every request); clap must reject it.
+        assert!(
+            Config::try_parse_from(["gitlawb-node", "--git-service-timeout-secs", "0"]).is_err()
+        );
+    }
+}

crates/gitlawb-node/src/error.rs

@@ -38,14 +38,51 @@ pub enum AppError {
     #[error("too many requests: {0}")]
     TooManyRequests(String),
 
+    #[error("incomplete: {0}")]
+    Incomplete(String),
+
     #[error("git error: {0}")]
     Git(String),
 
+    #[error("git service timed out: {0}")]
+    Timeout(String),
+
     #[error("database error: {0}")]
     Db(#[from] sqlx::Error),
 
     #[error("internal error: {0}")]
-    Internal(#[from] anyhow::Error),
+    Internal(anyhow::Error),
+}
+
+/// Shared error code/message for "the database is unreachable", also used by
+/// the degraded startup server (main.rs) and the readiness probe (server.rs)
+/// so clients see one vocabulary for the condition.
+pub const DB_UNAVAILABLE_CODE: &str = "db_unavailable";
+pub const DB_UNAVAILABLE_MESSAGE: &str = "database is temporarily unavailable";
+
+/// Connection-level sqlx failures that mean the database is unreachable right
+/// now (retryable, 503), as opposed to server-reported query errors.
+fn db_unavailable(e: &sqlx::Error) -> bool {
+    matches!(
+        e,
+        sqlx::Error::PoolTimedOut
+            | sqlx::Error::PoolClosed
+            | sqlx::Error::Io(_)
+            | sqlx::Error::Tls(_)
+    )
+}
+
+/// The db layer returns `anyhow::Result`, so sqlx errors reach handlers inside
+/// anyhow chains. Downcast them back out so the status mapping below can see
+/// them — without this, every database outage surfaces as a 500 instead of a
+/// 503. anyhow preserves downcastability through `.context()` layers.
+impl From<anyhow::Error> for AppError {
+    fn from(err: anyhow::Error) -> Self {
+        match err.downcast::<sqlx::Error>() {
+            Ok(sql) => AppError::Db(sql),
+            Err(err) => AppError::Internal(err),
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 impl IntoResponse for AppError {
@@ -98,7 +135,18 @@ impl IntoResponse for AppError {
             AppError::TooManyRequests(msg) => {
                 (StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS, "rate_limited", msg.clone())
             }
+            AppError::Incomplete(msg) => {
+                (StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY, "incomplete", msg.clone())
+            }
             AppError::Git(msg) => (StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, "git_error", msg.clone()),
+            // 504, distinct from the 500 git_error and from the read-gate's 404 /
+            // the auth 401, so the client can tell a deadline from a failure.
+            AppError::Timeout(msg) => (StatusCode::GATEWAY_TIMEOUT, "git_timeout", msg.clone()),
+            AppError::Db(e) if db_unavailable(e) => (
+                StatusCode::SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE,
+                DB_UNAVAILABLE_CODE,
+                DB_UNAVAILABLE_MESSAGE.into(),
+            ),
             AppError::Db(e) => (StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, "db_error", e.to_string()),
             AppError::Internal(e) => (
                 StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
@@ -117,3 +165,21 @@ impl IntoResponse for AppError {
 }
 
 pub type Result<T> = std::result::Result<T, AppError>;
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn timeout_maps_to_504_distinct_from_git_500() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            AppError::Timeout("x".into()).into_response().status(),
+            StatusCode::GATEWAY_TIMEOUT
+        );
+        // Guard against a swap with the generic git failure (500).
+        assert_eq!(
+            AppError::Git("x".into()).into_response().status(),
+            StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
+        );
+    }
+}

crates/gitlawb-node/src/git/smart_http.rs

@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ use bytes::Bytes;
 use std::collections::HashSet;
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::process::Stdio;
-use tokio::io::AsyncWriteExt;
+use std::time::Duration;
+use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt};
 use tokio::process::Command;
 
 /// Handle `GET /:owner/:repo/info/refs?service=git-upload-pack`
@@ -51,8 +52,13 @@ pub async fn info_refs(repo_path: &Path, service: &str) -> Result<Response> {
 ///
 /// Serves pack data for a clone or fetch. This is stateless — the entire
 /// negotiation happens in a single request/response.
-pub async fn upload_pack(repo_path: &Path, request_body: Bytes) -> Result<Response> {
-    let output = run_git_service("git", "git-upload-pack", repo_path, request_body).await?;
+pub async fn upload_pack(
+    repo_path: &Path,
+    request_body: Bytes,
+    timeout: Duration,
+) -> Result<Response> {
+    let output =
+        run_git_service("git", "git-upload-pack", repo_path, request_body, timeout).await?;
 
     Ok(Response::builder()
         .status(StatusCode::OK)
@@ -65,8 +71,13 @@ pub async fn upload_pack(repo_path: &Path, request_body: Bytes) -> Result<Respon
 ///
 /// Accepts a push. The caller MUST verify HTTP Signature auth before
 /// calling this function.
-pub async fn receive_pack(repo_path: &Path, request_body: Bytes) -> Result<Response> {
-    let output = run_git_service("git", "git-receive-pack", repo_path, request_body).await?;
+pub async fn receive_pack(
+    repo_path: &Path,
+    request_body: Bytes,
+    timeout: Duration,
+) -> Result<Response> {
+    let output =
+        run_git_service("git", "git-receive-pack", repo_path, request_body, timeout).await?;
 
     Ok(Response::builder()
         .status(StatusCode::OK)
@@ -112,17 +123,85 @@ impl Drop for KillGroupOnDrop {
     }
 }
 
+/// Error returned when [`run_git_service`] aborts a git op on its timeout.
+///
+/// Carried through the `anyhow` chain so the HTTP handler can `downcast_ref` it
+/// and map to 504 Gateway Timeout, distinct from the generic 500 git error.
+#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
+#[error("git service timed out")]
+pub struct GitServiceTimeout;
+
+/// On a served-git timeout, tear the process group down AND reap the leader
+/// before returning, so a caller that releases a write lock (receive-pack) can't
+/// race a still-live git touching the same repo. SIGTERM first (lets git remove
+/// its `.git/*.lock` files), escalate to SIGKILL if the leader lingers past a
+/// grace, then reap. Bounded, so a git that ignores SIGTERM can't block the
+/// response unboundedly.
+#[cfg(unix)]
+async fn reap_group_on_timeout(child: &mut tokio::process::Child) {
+    let Some(pid) = child.id() else {
+        // Never got a pid; nothing to signal, best-effort reap.
+        let _ = child.wait().await;
+        return;
+    };
+    let pgid = pid as i32;
+    // SAFETY: kill(2) takes only integers and borrows no Rust memory; ESRCH on an
+    // already-gone group is ignored.
+    unsafe {
+        libc::kill(-pgid, libc::SIGTERM);
+    }
+    // Wait for the WHOLE group to exit before returning — not just the leader but
+    // grandchildren (index-pack / pack-objects) that reparent to init and can
+    // still be touching the repo, so a caller releasing a write lock can't race
+    // them. Reap our direct child along the way (`try_wait`, else it lingers as a
+    // zombie) and poll the group's liveness with `kill(-pgid, 0)` (ESRCH once
+    // every member is gone). SIGTERM grace, then SIGKILL, then a hard cap so a
+    // stuck process can never block the response unboundedly.
+    for step in 0..400u32 {
+        let _ = child.try_wait();
+        if unsafe { libc::kill(-pgid, 0) } != 0 {
+            return; // ESRCH: every group member has exited
+        }
+        if step == 200 {
+            // ~2s SIGTERM grace elapsed; force the group down. `step == 200` fires
+            // exactly once in the 0..400 loop, so no re-entry guard is needed.
+            unsafe {
+                libc::kill(-pgid, libc::SIGKILL);
+            }
+        }
+        tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10)).await;
+    }
+    // ~4s hard cap. Only reached if a group member survives SIGKILL, which means
+    // it is wedged in uninterruptible (D-state) I/O — a fsync on stuck storage, a
+    // hung mount — that no signal interrupts until the kernel returns. Nothing in
+    // userspace can kill it; blocking here (or holding the write lock) would just
+    // re-create the "hung git pins the repo" problem this bounds. Reap best-effort
+    // (tokio's orphan reaper collects it once the syscall unblocks) and return;
+    // git-level quarantine/ref-locking still guards the brief window before the
+    // D-state process finishes.
+    tracing::warn!(
+        pid,
+        "served git survived SIGKILL past the teardown cap (uninterruptible I/O?); \
+         releasing without a confirmed group reap"
+    );
+    let _ = child.try_wait();
+}
+
 /// Run a stateless-rpc git service and return its stdout.
 ///
 /// `git_bin` is the git executable to spawn; production callers pass `"git"`
 /// (resolved via `PATH`). It is injectable purely so the process-group teardown
 /// wiring (`process_group(0)` + [`KillGroupOnDrop`]) can be driven end-to-end by
 /// a fake `git` in tests without mutating the process-global `PATH`.
+///
+/// `timeout` bounds the whole child interaction; on expiry the op is aborted with
+/// [`GitServiceTimeout`] and its process group is torn down.
 async fn run_git_service(
     git_bin: &str,
     service: &str,
     repo_path: &Path,
     input: Bytes,
+    timeout: Duration,
 ) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
     let mut command = Command::new(git_bin);
     command
@@ -142,33 +221,85 @@ async fn run_git_service(
 
     // Arm the group-kill guard for the lifetime of the request. With
     // process_group(0) the child is its own group leader, so pgid == its pid.
+    // This fires on a client disconnect (the whole future is dropped mid-request).
     #[cfg(unix)]
     let mut group_guard = KillGroupOnDrop {
         pgid: child.id().map(|id| id as i32),
     };
 
-    // Write the request body to git's stdin, but don't early-return on a write
-    // error: always reap the child first (below), so the guard only ever fires on
-    // an actual future-drop (client disconnect), never on a pid we just reaped.
-    let write_result: std::io::Result<()> = match child.stdin.take() {
-        Some(mut stdin) => stdin.write_all(&input).await,
-        None => Ok(()),
+    // Own the pipes so `child` stays reap-able after a timeout: wait_with_output
+    // would consume it, but on timeout we must actively reap the group before
+    // returning (see reap_group_on_timeout).
+    let mut stdin = child.stdin.take();
+    let mut stdout = child.stdout.take().context("git stdout was not piped")?;
+    let mut stderr = child.stderr.take().context("git stderr was not piped")?;
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    let mut err = Vec::new();
+
+    // Bound the whole child interaction: a git that neither finishes nor
+    // disconnects would otherwise pin the pid forever. Write stdin, drain stdout
+    // and stderr, and wait for the child all concurrently (draining while writing
+    // avoids a pipe deadlock on a large body), under one deadline.
+    let interact = async {
+        // Don't early-return on a write error: the join still waits on the child,
+        // so an error is surfaced only after the child has been waited on.
+        let write = async {
+            match stdin.take() {
+                Some(mut s) => s.write_all(&input).await,
+                None => Ok(()),
+            }
+        };
+        let (write_result, r_out, r_err, status) = tokio::join!(
+            write,
+            stdout.read_to_end(&mut out),
+            stderr.read_to_end(&mut err),
+            child.wait(),
+        );
+        r_out?;
+        r_err?;
+        Ok::<_, anyhow::Error>((write_result, status?))
     };
 
-    let output = child.wait_with_output().await?;
+    let timed = tokio::time::timeout(timeout, interact).await;
+    let (write_result, status) = match timed {
+        Ok(result) => {
+            // The join runs all arms to completion, so the child is reaped: disarm
+            // before surfacing any interaction error (a read/wait error), else the
+            // guard's drop would fire SIGTERM on the reaped, possibly-reused pgid.
+            #[cfg(unix)]
+            group_guard.disarm();
+            result?
+        }
+        Err(_elapsed) => {
+            // Timeout: tear the whole group down and reap it before returning so a
+            // caller releasing a write lock can't race a still-live git. Then disarm
+            // the (now redundant) guard so its drop can't hit a reused pgid.
+            #[cfg(unix)]
+            {
+                reap_group_on_timeout(&mut child).await;
+                group_guard.disarm();
+            }
+            #[cfg(not(unix))]
+            {
+                let _ = child.start_kill();
+                let _ = tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_secs(2), child.wait()).await;
+            }
+            return Err(GitServiceTimeout.into());
+        }
+    };
 
-    // Child reaped, so its group is gone: disarm before surfacing any error.
-    #[cfg(unix)]
-    group_guard.disarm();
-
-    write_result.context("failed to write to git stdin")?;
-
-    if !output.status.success() {
-        let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr);
+    // Surface git's own failure (its stderr, which the handler may classify as a
+    // 400) before any stdin-write error: when git rejects a malformed body it
+    // exits non-zero and closes stdin, so the write's EPIPE would otherwise mask
+    // the real cause.
+    if !status.success() {
+        let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&err);
         bail!("{service} failed: {stderr}");
     }
 
-    Ok(output.stdout)
+    write_result.context("failed to write to git stdin")?;
+
+    Ok(out)
 }
 
 fn service_to_command(service: &str) -> &str {
@@ -935,6 +1066,60 @@ mod tests {
         Some((leader, grandchild))
     }
 
+    /// Retry policy for the fake-git spawn race, shared by `fake_git_run_with_pids`
+    /// and the drop test's inline loop (which can't use the helper — it must keep
+    /// the winning future pending). `nth` retry waits `n * STEP_MS` ms.
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    const FAKE_GIT_RETRY_ATTEMPTS: u64 = 12;
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    const FAKE_GIT_BACKOFF_STEP_MS: u64 = 100;
+
+    /// Run a fake-git-based `run` under the parallel test runner, retrying if the
+    /// fake transiently fails to record its pids. Under `cargo test --workspace`
+    /// fork-storm load a freshly-written fake `git` can fail to exec (ETXTBSY: a
+    /// concurrent worker forked while its write fd was still open) or be killed by
+    /// the service timeout before it is scheduled to write its pidfile; both leave
+    /// no pids. These misses are *correlated* (bursty) under fork pressure, so each
+    /// retry backs off (growing) to let a spike subside rather than burning every
+    /// attempt inside one. `pidfile` is removed before each attempt. Returns the
+    /// successful attempt's outcome together with the recorded pids; a genuine
+    /// never-spawns bug still fails loudly after the cap. Retried attempts don't
+    /// leak in practice: a miss almost always means the fake never exec'd (nothing
+    /// to clean up), and a spawn that got far enough is reaped by the timeout/drop
+    /// path before this returns.
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    async fn fake_git_run_with_pids<R, F, Fut>(
+        pidfile: &std::path::Path,
+        mut run: F,
+    ) -> (R, (i32, i32))
+    where
+        F: FnMut() -> Fut,
+        Fut: std::future::Future<Output = R>,
+    {
+        for i in 0..FAKE_GIT_RETRY_ATTEMPTS {
+            let _ = std::fs::remove_file(pidfile);
+            let outcome = run().await;
+            // A successful run writes its pids before it returns, so a short poll
+            // catches them (allowing only for fs-visibility lag).
+            for _ in 0..50 {
+                if let Some(p) = read_two_pids(pidfile) {
+                    return (outcome, p);
+                }
+                tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(10)).await;
+            }
+            // Miss: back off before retrying so a bursty fork-pressure spike
+            // subsides (see the doc note on correlated ETXTBSY/EAGAIN failures).
+            tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(
+                FAKE_GIT_BACKOFF_STEP_MS * (i + 1),
+            ))
+            .await;
+        }
+        panic!(
+            "fake git failed to spawn and record its pids after {FAKE_GIT_RETRY_ATTEMPTS} \
+             attempts (persistent failure, not a transient parallel-runner miss)"
+        );
+    }
+
     // Dropping the request future mid-flight (client disconnect) must SIGTERM the
     // whole group so git AND its pack-objects grandchild die together. Goes RED
     // if `process_group(0)` or the guard-arming is removed: without its own
@@ -952,33 +1137,67 @@ mod tests {
         );
         let git_bin = write_fake_git(tmp.path(), &body);
 
-        let mut fut = Box::pin(run_git_service(
-            git_bin.to_str().unwrap(),
-            "git-upload-pack",
-            tmp.path(),
-            Bytes::new(),
-        ));
+        // Retry under fork-storm load: a freshly-written fake `git` can transiently
+        // fail to exec (ETXTBSY) or exit before recording its pids; both leave no
+        // pids and are independent per attempt (see fake_git_run_with_pids). The
+        // winning attempt's future is kept PENDING so the drop below exercises the
+        // client-disconnect teardown. Dropping a losing attempt's future makes its
+        // guard reap anything that spawned, so retries don't leak.
+        let (fut, grandchild) = {
+            let mut attempt = 0u64;
+            loop {
+                attempt += 1;
+                let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&pidfile);
+                let mut fut = Box::pin(run_git_service(
+                    git_bin.to_str().unwrap(),
+                    "git-upload-pack",
+                    tmp.path(),
+                    Bytes::new(),
+                    Duration::from_secs(60),
+                ));
 
-        // Advance the future until the fake has spawned its grandchild.
-        let mut pids = None;
-        for _ in 0..500 {
-            let _ = tokio::time::timeout(std::time::Duration::from_millis(10), &mut fut).await;
-            if let Some(p) = read_two_pids(&pidfile) {
-                pids = Some(p);
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-        // Dropping the future (below or on the None arm) makes tokio reap the
-        // fake leader itself, so only the grandchild needs panic-cleanup —
-        // carrying the already-reaped leader pid risks SIGKILLing a recycled pid
-        // under parallel test load.
-        let (_leader, grandchild) = match pids {
-            Some(p) => p,
-            // Drop the still-armed future first so its guard reaps the fake
-            // group, then fail — otherwise a spawn hiccup orphans the processes.
-            None => {
-                drop(fut);
-                panic!("fake git should spawn a grandchild and write its pids");
+                // Advance the future a slice at a time until the fake records its
+                // pids. `Ok(_)` means run_git_service returned before the pidfile
+                // appeared (spawn error / early exit); stop polling then, since
+                // re-polling a completed future panics with `async fn resumed after
+                // completion`. Read the pidfile first so a fake that wrote its pids
+                // and then exited is still captured.
+                let mut pids = None;
+                for _ in 0..500 {
+                    let finished =
+                        tokio::time::timeout(std::time::Duration::from_millis(10), &mut fut)
+                            .await
+                            .is_ok();
+                    if let Some(p) = read_two_pids(&pidfile) {
+                        pids = Some(p);
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    if finished {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+                // Only the grandchild needs panic-cleanup: dropping the future makes
+                // tokio reap the fake leader, and carrying the reaped leader pid
+                // risks SIGKILLing a recycled pid under parallel test load.
+                match pids {
+                    Some((_leader, g)) => break (fut, g),
+                    None => {
+                        // Transient spawn miss: drop the still-armed future so its
+                        // guard reaps anything that spawned, then back off (growing)
+                        // so a bursty fork-pressure spike subsides before retrying.
+                        drop(fut);
+                        assert!(
+                            attempt < FAKE_GIT_RETRY_ATTEMPTS,
+                            "fake git failed to spawn and record its pids after \
+                             {FAKE_GIT_RETRY_ATTEMPTS} attempts (persistent failure, \
+                             not a transient parallel-runner miss)"
+                        );
+                        tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(
+                            FAKE_GIT_BACKOFF_STEP_MS * attempt,
+                        ))
+                        .await;
+                    }
+                }
             }
         };
         let _cleanup = ReapOnPanic(vec![grandchild]);
@@ -1027,19 +1246,20 @@ mod tests {
         );
         let git_bin = write_fake_git(tmp.path(), &body);
 
-        let result = run_git_service(
-            git_bin.to_str().unwrap(),
-            "git-upload-pack",
-            tmp.path(),
-            Bytes::new(),
-        )
-        .await;
-
         // wait_with_output already reaped the fake leader, so only the grandchild
         // needs panic-cleanup — SIGKILLing the reaped leader pid could hit a
-        // recycled pid under parallel test load.
-        let (_leader, grandchild) =
-            read_two_pids(&pidfile).expect("fake git should have written its pids");
+        // recycled pid under parallel test load. Retry the run so a transient spawn
+        // miss under fork-storm load doesn't fail the test (see fake_git_run_with_pids).
+        let (result, (_leader, grandchild)) = fake_git_run_with_pids(&pidfile, || {
+            run_git_service(
+                git_bin.to_str().unwrap(),
+                "git-upload-pack",
+                tmp.path(),
+                Bytes::new(),
+                Duration::from_secs(60),
+            )
+        })
+        .await;
         let _cleanup = ReapOnPanic(vec![grandchild]);
 
         assert!(result.is_err(), "non-zero git exit must surface as Err");
@@ -1072,16 +1292,18 @@ mod tests {
         );
         let git_bin = write_fake_git(tmp.path(), &body);
 
-        let result = run_git_service(
-            git_bin.to_str().unwrap(),
-            "git-upload-pack",
-            tmp.path(),
-            Bytes::new(),
-        )
+        // Retry the run so a transient spawn miss under fork-storm load doesn't
+        // fail the test (see fake_git_run_with_pids).
+        let (result, (_leader, grandchild)) = fake_git_run_with_pids(&pidfile, || {
+            run_git_service(
+                git_bin.to_str().unwrap(),
+                "git-upload-pack",
+                tmp.path(),
+                Bytes::new(),
+                Duration::from_secs(60),
+            )
+        })
         .await;
-
-        let (_leader, grandchild) =
-            read_two_pids(&pidfile).expect("fake git should have written its pids");
         let _cleanup = ReapOnPanic(vec![grandchild]);
 
         assert!(result.is_ok(), "zero-exit git must surface as Ok");
@@ -1097,4 +1319,198 @@ mod tests {
             tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(10)).await;
         }
     }
+
+    // A git that hangs (never finishes, never disconnects) must be bounded: it
+    // returns GitServiceTimeout (the handler maps that to 504) and its process
+    // group is torn down. Goes RED if the timeout wrap is removed — the OUTER
+    // bound below then fires instead of run_git_service's own, so the test fails
+    // loudly rather than hanging CI.
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn run_git_service_times_out_and_tears_down_a_hung_git() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let pidfile = tmp.path().join("pids");
+        // Fork a grandchild, then hang forever.
+        let body = format!(
+            "#!/bin/sh\nsleep 300 &\nprintf '%s\\n%s\\n' \"$$\" \"$!\" > \"{}\"\nwait\n",
+            pidfile.display()
+        );
+        let git_bin = write_fake_git(tmp.path(), &body);
+
+        // Outer bound well above git_timeout: if run_git_service's own timeout is
+        // broken it hangs, and this fires instead so we assert-fail, not hang.
+        // fake_git_run_with_pids retries a transient spawn/schedule miss under
+        // fork-storm load and returns the pidfile the fake recorded.
+        let git_timeout = Duration::from_millis(1000);
+        let (outcome, (_leader, grandchild)) = fake_git_run_with_pids(&pidfile, || {
+            tokio::time::timeout(
+                Duration::from_secs(5),
+                run_git_service(
+                    git_bin.to_str().unwrap(),
+                    "git-upload-pack",
+                    tmp.path(),
+                    Bytes::new(),
+                    git_timeout,
+                ),
+            )
+        })
+        .await;
+
+        assert!(
+            outcome.is_ok(),
+            "run_git_service must return via its own timeout, not hang"
+        );
+        let err = outcome
+            .unwrap()
+            .expect_err("a hung git must surface as Err");
+        assert!(
+            err.downcast_ref::<GitServiceTimeout>().is_some(),
+            "the error must be GitServiceTimeout (maps to 504), got: {err:#}"
+        );
+
+        // The hung git's group must be torn down (the armed guard fires on the
+        // timeout return), not leaked.
+        let _cleanup = ReapOnPanic(vec![grandchild]);
+        let mut gone = false;
+        for _ in 0..500 {
+            if !alive(grandchild) {
+                gone = true;
+                break;
+            }
+            tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10)).await;
+        }
+        assert!(
+            gone,
+            "a timed-out git's process group must be torn down, not leaked"
+        );
+    }
+
+    // On timeout, run_git_service must REAP the group before returning, so a
+    // caller releasing a write lock (receive-pack) can't race a still-live git.
+    // The fake traps SIGTERM and lingers ~1s (git-cleanup stand-in): with the
+    // reap the call waits for it to exit, so the leader is dead by the time we
+    // return; without it, the call returns while the fake is still mid-trap.
+    // Goes RED if the timeout arm's reap is removed.
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn run_git_service_reaps_the_group_before_returning_on_timeout() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let pidfile = tmp.path().join("pids");
+        // Leader traps SIGTERM and exits after ~1s. The grandchild (a sub-shell)
+        // IGNORES SIGTERM entirely (`trap "" TERM`) and sleeps far past the ~4s reap
+        // cap, so nothing but the untrappable SIGKILL escalation can kill it within
+        // the cap. That makes the escalation load-bearing: neuter the SIGKILL and
+        // this test goes RED. (A grandchild that merely trapped-and-slept UNDER the
+        // cap would self-exit and hide a broken escalation.) "Wait for the whole
+        // group" (leader AND grandchild) is observable because both must be dead
+        // before run_git_service returns.
+        let body = format!(
+            "#!/bin/sh\ntrap 'sleep 1; exit 0' TERM\nsh -c 'trap \"\" TERM; sleep 300' >/dev/null 2>&1 &\nprintf '%s\\n%s\\n' \"$$\" \"$!\" > \"{}\"\nwait\n",
+            pidfile.display()
+        );
+        let git_bin = write_fake_git(tmp.path(), &body);
+
+        // fake_git_run_with_pids retries a transient spawn/schedule miss under
+        // fork-storm load and returns the pids the fake recorded; the outer 10s
+        // bound fires only if run_git_service's own timeout is broken (so we
+        // assert-fail rather than hang), well above the git_timeout plus the
+        // SIGKILL-escalation reap of the SIGTERM-ignoring grandchild.
+        let git_timeout = Duration::from_millis(300);
+        let (outcome, (leader, grandchild)) = fake_git_run_with_pids(&pidfile, || {
+            tokio::time::timeout(
+                Duration::from_secs(10),
+                run_git_service(
+                    git_bin.to_str().unwrap(),
+                    "git-upload-pack",
+                    tmp.path(),
+                    Bytes::new(),
+                    git_timeout,
+                ),
+            )
+        })
+        .await;
+        assert!(outcome.is_ok(), "must return via its own timeout, not hang");
+        assert!(outcome.unwrap().is_err(), "a hung git must surface as Err");
+
+        // The WHOLE group (leader AND the lingering grandchild) must be gone by the
+        // time we get here.
+        let _cleanup = ReapOnPanic(vec![grandchild]);
+        assert!(
+            !alive(leader) && !alive(grandchild),
+            "run_git_service must reap the whole git process group (leader AND \
+             grandchildren) before returning on a timeout, so a write-lock release \
+             can't race a still-live git"
+        );
+    }
+
+    // The timeout bounds git-receive-pack too, not just upload-pack: on the push
+    // path a hung git also holds the repo's write lock, so an unbounded receive-pack
+    // pins the repo until the process dies. run_git_service must return
+    // Err(GitServiceTimeout) for the receive-pack service exactly as it does for
+    // upload-pack. Goes RED if the internal timeout is removed (the fake never
+    // exits, so the outer bound trips and the outcome is not Ok).
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn run_git_service_times_out_a_hung_receive_pack() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let git_bin = write_fake_git(tmp.path(), "#!/bin/sh\nsleep 300\n");
+        let outcome = tokio::time::timeout(
+            Duration::from_secs(5),
+            run_git_service(
+                git_bin.to_str().unwrap(),
+                "git-receive-pack",
+                tmp.path(),
+                Bytes::new(),
+                Duration::from_millis(200),
+            ),
+        )
+        .await;
+        assert!(
+            outcome.is_ok(),
+            "receive-pack must return via its own timeout, not hang"
+        );
+        let err = outcome
+            .unwrap()
+            .expect_err("a hung receive-pack must surface as Err");
+        assert!(
+            err.downcast_ref::<GitServiceTimeout>().is_some(),
+            "a hung receive-pack must time out as GitServiceTimeout (maps to 504); \
+             got: {err:#}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    // A malformed request: git exits non-zero with a recognizable pkt-line error
+    // on stderr AND does not read stdin, so a body larger than the pipe buffer
+    // makes the write EPIPE. run_git_service must surface git's stderr (which the
+    // handler classifies as a 400), not the EPIPE write error (a generic 500).
+    // Goes RED if the stdin-write check runs before the exit-status check.
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn run_git_service_surfaces_git_stderr_over_a_stdin_epipe() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let git_bin = write_fake_git(
+            tmp.path(),
+            "#!/bin/sh\necho 'fatal: bad line length character: 0000' >&2\nexit 128\n",
+        );
+
+        // Larger than a pipe buffer (~64 KiB) so the write blocks then EPIPEs when
+        // the fake exits without draining stdin, exercising the ordering.
+        let big = Bytes::from(vec![0u8; 256 * 1024]);
+        let result = run_git_service(
+            git_bin.to_str().unwrap(),
+            "git-upload-pack",
+            tmp.path(),
+            big,
+            Duration::from_secs(60),
+        )
+        .await;
+
+        let err = result.expect_err("non-zero git must surface as Err");
+        let msg = format!("{err:#}");
+        assert!(
+            msg.contains("bad line length"),
+            "run_git_service must surface git's stderr (a classifiable 400), not the \
+             stdin-write EPIPE (a generic 500); got: {msg}"
+        );
+    }
 }

crates/gitlawb-node/src/graphql/query.rs

@@ -73,9 +73,25 @@ impl QueryRoot {
                 .await
                 .map_err(|e| async_graphql::Error::new(e.to_string()))?;
 
-        Ok(updates
+        // Resolve the trusted display owner_did per row, identical to the REST
+        // feed: the stored wire value is untrusted, so it is echoed only when it
+        // matches the canonical owner of the local repo the slug names (#P1);
+        // legacy None rows are attributed via an exact unique local match (#P3).
+        // The batch resolver issues at most one query per distinct local repo
+        // rather than one per event row (#P2).
+        let pairs: Vec<(&str, Option<&str>)> = updates
+            .iter()
+            .map(|u| (u.repo.as_str(), u.owner_did.as_deref()))
+            .collect();
+        let owner_dids = db
+            .resolve_ref_update_owner_dids(&pairs)
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e| async_graphql::Error::new(e.to_string()))?;
+
+        let resolved: Vec<RefUpdateType> = updates
             .into_iter()
-            .map(|u| RefUpdateType {
+            .zip(owner_dids)
+            .map(|(u, owner_did)| RefUpdateType {
                 repo: u.repo,
                 ref_name: u.ref_name,
                 old_sha: u.old_sha,
@@ -83,8 +99,10 @@ impl QueryRoot {
                 pusher_did: u.pusher_did,
                 node_did: u.node_did,
                 timestamp: u.timestamp,
+                owner_did,
             })
-            .collect())
+            .collect();
+        Ok(resolved)
     }
 
     async fn tasks(
@@ -162,6 +180,7 @@ mod tests {
             cert_id: None,
             received_at: Utc::now().to_rfc3339(),
             from_peer: "peer1".into(),
+            owner_did: None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -245,10 +264,10 @@ mod tests {
             .await
             .unwrap();
         let schema = schema(db);
-        let q = r#"{ refUpdates { repo refName } }"#;
+        let q = r#"{ refUpdates { repo refName ownerDid } }"#;
         let resp = anon(&schema, q).await;
         assert_eq!(count(&resp), 1);
-        // The one row returned must be the public repo's.
+        // The one row returned must be the public repo's with owner_did echoed.
         let async_graphql::Value::Object(obj) = &resp.data else {
             unreachable!()
         };
@@ -262,6 +281,11 @@ mod tests {
             row.get("repo").unwrap(),
             &async_graphql::Value::from("z6MkOwner/openrepo")
         );
+        assert_eq!(
+            row.get("ownerDid").unwrap(),
+            &async_graphql::Value::from(OWNER),
+            "ownerDid must fall back to the local record's owner for legacy rows"
+        );
     }
 
     // Scenario 4 — alias fail-closed: private repo's row stored full-DID form.

crates/gitlawb-node/src/graphql/subscription.rs

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ impl SubscriptionRoot {
                     pusher_did: ev.pusher_did,
                     node_did: ev.node_did,
                     timestamp: ev.timestamp,
+                    owner_did: Some(ev.owner_did),
                 }),
                 _ => None,
             }

crates/gitlawb-node/src/graphql/types.rs

@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ pub struct RefUpdateType {
     pub pusher_did: String,
     pub node_did: String,
     pub timestamp: String,
+    pub owner_did: Option<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(SimpleObject, Clone)]

crates/gitlawb-node/src/main.rs

@@ -24,8 +24,14 @@ mod test_support;
 mod visibility;
 mod webhooks;
 
-use anyhow::{Context, Result};
+use anyhow::{anyhow, Context, Result};
+use axum::extract::State;
+use axum::http::StatusCode;
+use axum::response::IntoResponse;
+use axum::routing::get;
+use axum::{Json, Router};
 use clap::Parser;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use tokio::net::TcpListener;
 use tokio::sync::watch;
@@ -38,6 +44,20 @@ use config::Config;
 use db::Db;
 use state::AppState;
 
+#[derive(Clone)]
+struct DegradedState {
+    node_did: String,
+    db_startup: Arc<DbStartupStatus>,
+}
+
+/// Two independent counters with no cross-field invariant — atomics, not a
+/// lock, so the retry loop and the degraded handlers never contend.
+#[derive(Default)]
+struct DbStartupStatus {
+    attempts: AtomicU64,
+    next_retry_secs: AtomicU64,
+}
+
 #[tokio::main]
 async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     tracing_subscriber::fmt()
@@ -76,21 +96,101 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION")
     );
     info!("╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝");
-    info!(did = %node_did, "node identity");
-    info!(addr = %config.bind_addr(), "listening");
-
     // Process-wide shutdown signal. One sender lives in AppState (cloned
     // into every handler); main() keeps a clone and flips it on SIGINT
     // or SIGTERM. Tasks that hold a watch::Receiver get notified at
     // their next await point.
     let (shutdown_tx, _shutdown_rx_for_main) = watch::channel(false);
+    spawn_shutdown_signal(shutdown_tx.clone());
 
-    // Connect to PostgreSQL database
-    let db = Arc::new(
-        Db::connect(&config.database_url)
-            .await
-            .context("failed to connect to database")?,
-    );
+    info!(did = %node_did, "node identity");
+    info!(addr = %config.bind_addr(), "binding HTTP listener");
+
+    // Bind HTTP once, before dependency initialization, and keep this socket
+    // for the life of the process. The degraded server accepts on a dup of the
+    // same socket, so the degraded→full handoff never closes the port: while
+    // the full server initializes, connections queue in the shared backlog
+    // instead of being refused.
+    let listener = TcpListener::bind(config.bind_addr())
+        .await
+        .with_context(|| format!("failed to bind to {}", config.bind_addr()))?;
+    let full_std_listener = listener.into_std()?;
+    let degraded_listener = TcpListener::from_std(
+        full_std_listener
+            .try_clone()
+            .context("failed to clone HTTP listener for degraded server")?,
+    )?;
+
+    // Metrics must stay observable during a database outage — the degraded
+    // window is exactly when dashboards need data — so this listener starts
+    // before the DB connects.
+    let metrics_handle = if !config.metrics_addr.is_empty() {
+        match spawn_metrics_server(&config.metrics_addr, shutdown_tx.subscribe()).await {
+            Ok(handle) => {
+                info!(addr = %config.metrics_addr, "metrics endpoint listening");
+                Some(handle)
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                warn!(err = %e, addr = %config.metrics_addr, "failed to start metrics endpoint — continuing without");
+                None
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        info!("metrics endpoint disabled (GITLAWB_METRICS_ADDR not set)");
+        None
+    };
+
+    let db_startup = Arc::new(DbStartupStatus::default());
+    let (db_ready_tx, db_ready_rx) = watch::channel(false);
+    let mut degraded_handle = tokio::spawn(run_degraded_server(
+        degraded_listener,
+        node_did.to_string(),
+        Arc::clone(&db_startup),
+        db_ready_rx,
+        shutdown_tx.subscribe(),
+    ));
+
+    // Connect to PostgreSQL database. A transient outage or bad secret should
+    // not crash-loop the process and hammer the database provider; permanent
+    // misconfiguration surfaces through error-level logs and the /ready check.
+    let db = tokio::select! {
+        db = connect_db_with_retry(&config, Arc::clone(&db_startup), shutdown_tx.subscribe()) => {
+            match db {
+                Some(db) => db,
+                None => {
+                    // Shutdown requested while waiting for the database. The
+                    // degraded server only serves one-shot 503s — abort it
+                    // rather than drain, so a slow client can't stall exit.
+                    degraded_handle.abort();
+                    return Ok(());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        degraded = &mut degraded_handle => {
+            if *shutdown_tx.borrow() {
+                return Ok(());
+            }
+            return match degraded {
+                Ok(Ok(())) => Err(anyhow!("degraded HTTP server stopped before database became ready")),
+                Ok(Err(err)) => Err(err.context("degraded HTTP server failed")),
+                Err(err) => Err(anyhow!("degraded HTTP server task failed: {err}")),
+            };
+        }
+    };
+
+    // Flip the degraded server into graceful shutdown, but do NOT await the
+    // drain: one slow in-flight request must not delay the full server, and
+    // the shared socket means there is no port gap to cover. The drain
+    // finishes (and logs) in the background.
+    db_ready_tx.send(true).ok();
+    tokio::spawn(async move {
+        match degraded_handle.await {
+            Ok(Ok(())) => {}
+            Ok(Err(err)) => warn!(err = %err, "degraded HTTP server exited with error"),
+            Err(err) => warn!(err = %err, "degraded HTTP server task failed"),
+        }
+    });
+    info!(addr = %config.bind_addr(), "database ready; starting full HTTP server");
 
     // Prune peer rows that point back at this node (stale self-loop entries)
     if let Some(public_url) = config.public_url.as_deref() {
@@ -187,6 +287,26 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     let rate_limiter =
         rate_limit::RateLimiter::new_bounded(10, std::time::Duration::from_secs(3600), 200_000);
 
+    // Per-client-IP flood brake for the creation endpoints. The per-DID limiter
+    // above is bypassed by a DID farm (one throwaway did:key per repo), which is
+    // exactly how the recurring spam-repo floods get past both it and the
+    // iCaptcha gate. Keyed on the resolved client IP so a single-source flood is
+    // capped regardless of how many identities it mints. Sized well above any
+    // legitimate per-IP creation rate; GITLAWB_CREATE_RATE_LIMIT overrides, 0
+    // disables. Bounded key set — the key is a client-influenced IP.
+    let create_limit = std::env::var("GITLAWB_CREATE_RATE_LIMIT")
+        .ok()
+        .and_then(|v| v.trim().parse::<usize>().ok())
+        .unwrap_or(120);
+    let create_ip_rate_limiter = rate_limit::RateLimiter::new_bounded(
+        create_limit,
+        std::time::Duration::from_secs(3600),
+        200_000,
+    );
+    if create_limit == 0 {
+        tracing::warn!("GITLAWB_CREATE_RATE_LIMIT=0 — per-IP creation rate limiting disabled");
+    }
+
     // Push-path flood brake: max git-receive-pack requests per client IP per
     // hour (counts both the info/refs advertisement and the push POST). Sized
     // for heavy agent automation while still stopping flood traffic (the June
@@ -213,6 +333,29 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     );
     tracing::info!(trust = ?push_limiter_trust, push_limit, "push rate limiter configured");
 
+    // Peer-sync flood brakes, keyed on the resolved client IP (per-DID is useless
+    // here — a did:key farm self-registers). Two buckets so an unsigned notify
+    // flood can't drain the signed trigger caller's quota (#82). Bounded key sets
+    // (the key is a client-influenced IP); 0 disables each.
+    let sync_trigger_rate_limiter = rate_limit::RateLimiter::new_bounded(
+        config.sync_trigger_rate_limit,
+        std::time::Duration::from_secs(3600),
+        200_000,
+    );
+    let peer_write_rate_limiter = rate_limit::RateLimiter::new_bounded(
+        config.peer_write_rate_limit,
+        std::time::Duration::from_secs(3600),
+        200_000,
+    );
+    if config.sync_trigger_rate_limit == 0 {
+        tracing::warn!(
+            "GITLAWB_SYNC_TRIGGER_RATE_LIMIT=0 — /sync/trigger IP rate limiting disabled"
+        );
+    }
+    if config.peer_write_rate_limit == 0 {
+        tracing::warn!("GITLAWB_PEER_WRITE_RATE_LIMIT=0 — peer-write IP rate limiting disabled");
+    }
+
     // Initialize the iCaptcha proof gate (inert unless ICAPTCHA_MODE is set).
     icaptcha::init().await;
 
@@ -229,8 +372,11 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         machine_id,
         repo_store,
         rate_limiter,
+        create_ip_rate_limiter,
         push_rate_limiter,
         push_limiter_trust,
+        sync_trigger_rate_limiter,
+        peer_write_rate_limiter,
         shutdown_tx: shutdown_tx.clone(),
     };
 
@@ -260,38 +406,13 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         });
     }
 
-    // Spawn a task that flips the shutdown signal on SIGINT or SIGTERM.
-    // On Unix, both signals are handled. On Windows, only Ctrl-C is
-    // supported by tokio::signal::ctrl_c.
-    {
-        let tx = shutdown_tx.clone();
-        tokio::spawn(async move {
-            #[cfg(unix)]
-            {
-                use tokio::signal::unix::{signal as unix_signal, SignalKind};
-                let mut sigterm =
-                    unix_signal(SignalKind::terminate()).expect("install SIGTERM handler");
-                let mut sigint =
-                    unix_signal(SignalKind::interrupt()).expect("install SIGINT handler");
-                tokio::select! {
-                    _ = sigterm.recv() => info!("SIGTERM received, shutting down"),
-                    _ = sigint.recv()  => info!("SIGINT received, shutting down"),
-                }
-            }
-            #[cfg(not(unix))]
-            {
-                use tokio::signal;
-                let _ = signal::ctrl_c().await;
-                info!("Ctrl-C received, shutting down");
-            }
-            tx.send(true).ok();
-        });
-    }
-
     // Periodic cleanup of expired rate limit entries + consumed-proof ledger
     {
         let rl = state.rate_limiter.clone();
+        let create_ip_rl = state.create_ip_rate_limiter.clone();
         let push_rl = state.push_rate_limiter.clone();
+        let sync_trigger_rl = state.sync_trigger_rate_limiter.clone();
+        let peer_write_rl = state.peer_write_rate_limiter.clone();
         let db = state.db.clone();
         let mut shutdown_rx = state.subscribe_shutdown();
         tokio::spawn(async move {
@@ -299,7 +420,10 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
                 tokio::select! {
                     _ = tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(300)) => {
                         rl.cleanup().await;
+                        create_ip_rl.cleanup().await;
                         push_rl.cleanup().await;
+                        sync_trigger_rl.cleanup().await;
+                        peer_write_rl.cleanup().await;
                         let now = std::time::SystemTime::now()
                             .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
                             .map(|d| d.as_secs() as i64)
@@ -319,9 +443,10 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     }
 
     let router = server::build_router(state.clone());
-    let listener = TcpListener::bind(config.bind_addr())
-        .await
-        .with_context(|| format!("failed to bind to {}", config.bind_addr()))?;
+    // Re-register the socket bound at startup — same fd, so there was never a
+    // moment with the port closed between the degraded and full servers.
+    let listener = TcpListener::from_std(full_std_listener)
+        .context("failed to re-register HTTP listener with the runtime")?;
 
     info!("✓ node started — did:{}", node_did);
     info!("  repos dir: {}", config.repos_dir.display());
@@ -330,23 +455,6 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         &config.database_url.split('@').next_back().unwrap_or("?")
     );
 
-    // Optional Prometheus metrics listener on a separate port.
-    let metrics_handle = if !config.metrics_addr.is_empty() {
-        match spawn_metrics_server(&config.metrics_addr, state.clone()).await {
-            Ok(handle) => {
-                info!(addr = %config.metrics_addr, "metrics endpoint listening");
-                Some(handle)
-            }
-            Err(e) => {
-                warn!(err = %e, addr = %config.metrics_addr, "failed to start metrics endpoint — continuing without");
-                None
-            }
-        }
-    } else {
-        info!("metrics endpoint disabled (GITLAWB_METRICS_ADDR not set)");
-        None
-    };
-
     // Publish our DID record to the Kademlia DHT shortly after startup
     if let Some(p2p) = &state.p2p {
         let did_record = p2p::DidRecord {
@@ -456,12 +564,224 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn spawn_shutdown_signal(tx: watch::Sender<bool>) {
+    tokio::spawn(async move {
+        #[cfg(unix)]
+        {
+            use tokio::signal::unix::{signal as unix_signal, SignalKind};
+            let mut sigterm =
+                unix_signal(SignalKind::terminate()).expect("install SIGTERM handler");
+            let mut sigint = unix_signal(SignalKind::interrupt()).expect("install SIGINT handler");
+            tokio::select! {
+                _ = sigterm.recv() => info!("SIGTERM received, shutting down"),
+                _ = sigint.recv()  => info!("SIGINT received, shutting down"),
+            }
+        }
+        #[cfg(not(unix))]
+        {
+            use tokio::signal;
+            let _ = signal::ctrl_c().await;
+            info!("Ctrl-C received, shutting down");
+        }
+        tx.send(true).ok();
+    });
+}
+
+async fn connect_db_with_retry(
+    config: &Config,
+    db_startup: Arc<DbStartupStatus>,
+    mut shutdown_rx: watch::Receiver<bool>,
+) -> Option<Arc<Db>> {
+    let initial_retry_secs = config.db_retry_initial_secs;
+    let max_retry_secs = config.db_retry_max_secs.max(initial_retry_secs);
+    let acquire_timeout = std::time::Duration::from_secs(config.db_acquire_timeout_secs);
+    let attempt_timeout = std::time::Duration::from_secs(config.db_connect_timeout_secs);
+    let mut attempts = 0_u64;
+
+    loop {
+        if *shutdown_rx.borrow() {
+            return None;
+        }
+
+        attempts = attempts.saturating_add(1);
+        db_startup.attempts.store(attempts, Ordering::Relaxed);
+
+        // Bound the whole attempt, not just the pool connect: migrations
+        // block on a cross-instance advisory lock, and an unbounded wait
+        // there would wedge this loop — no retries, no logs, no recovery.
+        // Timing out and retrying is safe; migrations are idempotent.
+        let attempt = match tokio::time::timeout(
+            attempt_timeout,
+            Db::connect(
+                &config.database_url,
+                config.db_max_connections,
+                acquire_timeout,
+            ),
+        )
+        .await
+        {
+            Ok(result) => result,
+            Err(_) => Err(anyhow!(
+                "connect + migrate attempt exceeded {}s (GITLAWB_DB_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_SECS); \
+                 is another instance holding the migration lock?",
+                attempt_timeout.as_secs()
+            )),
+        };
+
+        match attempt {
+            Ok(db) => {
+                info!(attempts, "database connection established");
+                return Some(Arc::new(db));
+            }
+            Err(err) => {
+                // A bad DATABASE_URL or rejected credentials won't heal on
+                // their own. Still retry (exiting would crash-loop and hammer
+                // the provider — and take liveness down with it), but log at
+                // error level and skip straight to the maximum backoff; the
+                // /ready health check is what surfaces this to deploys.
+                let permanent = is_likely_permanent_db_error(&err);
+                let retry_secs = if permanent {
+                    max_retry_secs
+                } else {
+                    database_retry_delay_secs(initial_retry_secs, max_retry_secs, attempts)
+                };
+                db_startup
+                    .next_retry_secs
+                    .store(retry_secs, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                if permanent {
+                    tracing::error!(
+                        attempts,
+                        retry_secs,
+                        err = %err,
+                        "database rejected our configuration (bad DATABASE_URL or credentials?) — retrying, but operator action is likely required"
+                    );
+                } else {
+                    warn!(
+                        attempts,
+                        retry_secs,
+                        err = %err,
+                        "database unavailable during startup; retrying"
+                    );
+                }
+
+                tokio::select! {
+                    _ = tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(retry_secs)) => {}
+                    changed = shutdown_rx.changed() => {
+                        if changed.is_err() || *shutdown_rx.borrow() {
+                            return None;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Errors that indicate misconfiguration rather than a transient outage: a
+/// malformed DATABASE_URL, or a server that answered and rejected us —
+/// Postgres error class 28xxx (invalid authorization) or 3D000 (database
+/// does not exist). Best-effort: an error that anyhow can't downcast back to
+/// sqlx just counts as transient.
+fn is_likely_permanent_db_error(err: &anyhow::Error) -> bool {
+    match err.downcast_ref::<sqlx::Error>() {
+        Some(sqlx::Error::Configuration(_)) => true,
+        Some(sqlx::Error::Database(db)) => db
+            .code()
+            .map(|c| c.starts_with("28") || c.starts_with("3D"))
+            .unwrap_or(false),
+        _ => false,
+    }
+}
+
+fn database_retry_delay_secs(initial_secs: u64, max_secs: u64, attempts: u64) -> u64 {
+    // The exponent bound only keeps the u32 cast safe — max_secs is the real
+    // (operator-configurable) cap, and saturating math handles overflow.
+    let exponent = attempts.saturating_sub(1).min(63) as u32;
+    initial_secs
+        .saturating_mul(2_u64.saturating_pow(exponent))
+        .min(max_secs)
+}
+
+async fn run_degraded_server(
+    listener: TcpListener,
+    node_did: String,
+    db_startup: Arc<DbStartupStatus>,
+    mut db_ready_rx: watch::Receiver<bool>,
+    mut shutdown_rx: watch::Receiver<bool>,
+) -> Result<()> {
+    let addr = listener.local_addr().ok();
+    let router = build_degraded_router(node_did, db_startup);
+    info!(?addr, "degraded HTTP server ready");
+
+    axum::serve(listener, router)
+        .with_graceful_shutdown(async move {
+            // wait_for resolves on predicate-true or sender-drop; either way
+            // this phase is over.
+            tokio::select! {
+                _ = db_ready_rx.wait_for(|ready| *ready) => {}
+                _ = shutdown_rx.wait_for(|stop| *stop) => {}
+            }
+        })
+        .await?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn build_degraded_router(node_did: String, db_startup: Arc<DbStartupStatus>) -> Router {
+    let state = DegradedState {
+        node_did,
+        db_startup,
+    };
+    // Everything answers 503 with the same body — including /health and
+    // /ready, so peer pings (which treat any 2xx /health as alive) and
+    // uptime monitors correctly see a node that cannot serve traffic.
+    // `/` additionally carries the node identity for probing peers.
+    Router::new()
+        .route("/", get(degraded_node_info))
+        .fallback(degraded_unavailable)
+        .with_state(state)
+}
+
+/// One source of truth for the degraded 503 body, sharing the error
+/// vocabulary with error.rs so clients see the same code/message for
+/// "database unavailable" regardless of which phase produced it.
+fn degraded_body(db_startup: &DbStartupStatus) -> serde_json::Value {
+    serde_json::json!({
+        "status": "degraded",
+        "database": "initializing",
+        "error": error::DB_UNAVAILABLE_CODE,
+        "message": error::DB_UNAVAILABLE_MESSAGE,
+        "db_attempts": db_startup.attempts.load(Ordering::Relaxed),
+        "db_next_retry_secs": db_startup.next_retry_secs.load(Ordering::Relaxed),
+    })
+}
+
+async fn degraded_node_info(State(state): State<DegradedState>) -> impl IntoResponse {
+    let mut body = degraded_body(&state.db_startup);
+    if let Some(obj) = body.as_object_mut() {
+        obj.insert("name".into(), "gitlawb-node".into());
+        obj.insert("version".into(), env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION").into());
+        obj.insert("did".into(), state.node_did.clone().into());
+    }
+    (StatusCode::SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE, Json(body))
+}
+
+async fn degraded_unavailable(State(state): State<DegradedState>) -> impl IntoResponse {
+    (
+        StatusCode::SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE,
+        Json(degraded_body(&state.db_startup)),
+    )
+}
+
 /// Spawn a small axum router that exposes only `GET /metrics` on its own
 /// listener. Returns the JoinHandle so `main()` can abort it on shutdown.
 /// This is deliberately separate from the main router so the metrics port
 /// can be firewalled differently from the API port — bind to localhost
 /// or a private interface only.
-async fn spawn_metrics_server(addr: &str, state: AppState) -> Result<tokio::task::JoinHandle<()>> {
+async fn spawn_metrics_server(
+    addr: &str,
+    mut shutdown_rx: watch::Receiver<bool>,
+) -> Result<tokio::task::JoinHandle<()>> {
     use axum::{response::IntoResponse, routing::get, Router};
 
     async fn metrics_handler() -> impl IntoResponse {
@@ -485,7 +805,6 @@ async fn spawn_metrics_server(addr: &str, state: AppState) -> Result<tokio::task
         }
     }
 
-    let mut shutdown_rx = state.subscribe_shutdown();
     let listener = TcpListener::bind(addr)
         .await
         .with_context(|| format!("failed to bind metrics listener to {addr}"))?;

crates/gitlawb-node/src/p2p/mod.rs

@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ pub struct RefUpdateEvent {
     pub pusher_did: String,
     /// Repository identifier (owner/name)
     pub repo: String,
+    /// Full owner DID — added in #144 for display and storage; not yet
+    /// wired into the feed gate matcher. Optional for backward compat with
+    /// older peers that don't include it.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub owner_did: Option<String>,
     /// Git ref that changed (e.g., "refs/heads/main")
     pub ref_name: String,
     /// SHA before the push (all-zeros for new ref)
@@ -307,6 +312,7 @@ pub async fn start(
                                     node_did: event.node_did.clone(),
                                     pusher_did: event.pusher_did.clone(),
                                     repo: event.repo.clone(),
+                                    owner_did: event.owner_did.clone(),
                                     ref_name: event.ref_name.clone(),
                                     old_sha: event.old_sha.clone(),
                                     new_sha: event.new_sha.clone(),
@@ -432,3 +438,67 @@ pub async fn start(
 
     Ok(handle)
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ref_update_event_round_trip_with_owner_did() {
+        let event = RefUpdateEvent {
+            node_did: "did:key:zNode".into(),
+            pusher_did: "did:key:zPusher".into(),
+            repo: "zOwner/myrepo".into(),
+            owner_did: Some("did:key:zOwner".into()),
+            ref_name: "refs/heads/main".into(),
+            old_sha: "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000".into(),
+            new_sha: "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa".into(),
+            timestamp: "2026-07-02T12:00:00Z".into(),
+            cert_id: None,
+            cid: None,
+        };
+        let json = serde_json::to_value(&event).unwrap();
+        // owner_did must be present in the serialized output
+        assert_eq!(json["owner_did"], "did:key:zOwner");
+        assert_eq!(json["repo"], "zOwner/myrepo");
+
+        let deserialized: RefUpdateEvent = serde_json::from_value(json).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(deserialized.owner_did, Some("did:key:zOwner".into()));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ref_update_event_backward_compat_no_owner_did() {
+        let old_json = serde_json::json!({
+            "node_did": "did:key:zNode",
+            "pusher_did": "did:key:zPusher",
+            "repo": "zOwner/myrepo",
+            "ref_name": "refs/heads/main",
+            "old_sha": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
+            "new_sha": "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+            "timestamp": "2026-07-02T12:00:00Z",
+            "cert_id": null,
+            "cid": null
+        });
+        let deserialized: RefUpdateEvent = serde_json::from_value(old_json).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(deserialized.owner_did, None);
+        assert_eq!(deserialized.repo, "zOwner/myrepo");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ref_update_event_backward_compat_null_owner_did() {
+        let with_null = serde_json::json!({
+            "node_did": "did:key:zNode",
+            "pusher_did": "did:key:zPusher",
+            "repo": "zOwner/myrepo",
+            "owner_did": null,
+            "ref_name": "refs/heads/main",
+            "old_sha": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
+            "new_sha": "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+            "timestamp": "2026-07-02T12:00:00Z",
+            "cert_id": null,
+            "cid": null
+        });
+        let deserialized: RefUpdateEvent = serde_json::from_value(with_null).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(deserialized.owner_did, None);
+    }
+}

crates/gitlawb-node/src/rate_limit.rs

@@ -250,12 +250,14 @@ impl<S: Send + Sync> axum::extract::FromRequestParts<S> for PeerAddr {
     }
 }
 
-/// The shared 429 response for the push flood brake.
+/// The shared 429 response for the per-IP flood brakes. Route-agnostic: this
+/// middleware now serves the push path AND the peer-sync routes, so the message
+/// stays generic (the offending path is recorded in the warn log below).
 pub fn too_many_requests() -> Response {
     (
         StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS,
         [("retry-after", "60")],
-        "push rate limit exceeded — try again later",
+        "rate limit exceeded — try again later",
     )
         .into_response()
 }
@@ -273,7 +275,7 @@ pub async fn rate_limit_by_ip(request: Request, next: Next) -> Response {
     if let Some(limiter) = limiter {
         if let Some(key) = client_key(request.headers(), peer, limiter.trust) {
             if !limiter.limiter.check(&key).await {
-                tracing::warn!(key = %key, path = %request.uri().path(), "push rate limit exceeded");
+                tracing::warn!(key = %key, path = %request.uri().path(), "per-IP rate limit exceeded");
                 return too_many_requests();
             }
         }
@@ -541,4 +543,66 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(post_from(&router, b).await, StatusCode::OK); // independent bucket
         assert_eq!(post_from(&router, a).await, StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS);
     }
+
+    // ── creation-route layering: IP brake runs BEFORE auth ──────────────
+
+    /// A minimal stand-in for the creation route group: an inner "auth" layer
+    /// that rejects every request with 401 (as signature verification would for
+    /// an unsigned caller), wrapped by the per-IP creation limiter as the
+    /// outermost layer — exactly the ordering `server::build_router` applies to
+    /// `/api/v1/repos` et al. Lets us assert the security-relevant property
+    /// (flood traffic is braked before auth burns CPU) without a database, which
+    /// the full `#[sqlx::test]` route test in `api::repos` cannot cover in the
+    /// plain unit-test pass.
+    fn ip_limited_over_auth_router(limiter: IpRateLimiter) -> axum::Router {
+        async fn always_unauthorized(_req: Request, _next: Next) -> Response {
+            StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED.into_response()
+        }
+        axum::Router::new()
+            .route(
+                "/api/v1/repos",
+                axum::routing::post(|| async { StatusCode::CREATED }),
+            )
+            .layer(axum::middleware::from_fn(always_unauthorized))
+            .layer(axum::middleware::from_fn(rate_limit_by_ip))
+            .layer(axum::Extension(limiter))
+    }
+
+    async fn post_repos_from(router: &axum::Router, peer: SocketAddr) -> StatusCode {
+        use tower::ServiceExt;
+        let mut req = axum::http::Request::builder()
+            .method(axum::http::Method::POST)
+            .uri("/api/v1/repos")
+            .body(axum::body::Body::empty())
+            .unwrap();
+        req.extensions_mut().insert(ConnectInfo(peer));
+        router.clone().oneshot(req).await.unwrap().status()
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn creation_ip_brake_rejects_before_auth() {
+        // A DID farm mints a fresh signature per repo, so the per-DID limiter
+        // never trips; the per-IP brake is what stops the flood. It must run
+        // outermost, ahead of auth, so a flood is rejected with 429 before
+        // signature verification — otherwise every request would reach (and pay
+        // for) auth and merely 401.
+        let router = ip_limited_over_auth_router(IpRateLimiter {
+            limiter: RateLimiter::new(1, Duration::from_secs(60)),
+            trust: TrustedProxy::None,
+        });
+        let peer: SocketAddr = "203.0.113.42:7000".parse().unwrap();
+
+        // First request passes the IP brake and reaches the (failing) auth layer.
+        assert_eq!(
+            post_repos_from(&router, peer).await,
+            StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED
+        );
+        // Budget now exhausted: the IP brake short-circuits with 429 *before*
+        // auth — proving the limiter is the outermost layer.
+        assert_eq!(
+            post_repos_from(&router, peer).await,
+            StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS,
+            "an exhausted IP must be braked with 429 before auth runs, not leak to 401"
+        );
+    }
 }

crates/gitlawb-node/src/server.rs

@@ -81,8 +81,19 @@ pub fn build_router(state: AppState) -> Router {
         .route("/api/v1/tasks", get(tasks::list_tasks))
         .route("/api/v1/tasks/{id}", get(tasks::get_task));
 
-    // ── Rate-limited creation routes — require HTTP Signature + per-DID throttle
+    // ── Rate-limited creation routes — require HTTP Signature, plus a per-DID
+    // throttle AND a per-IP flood brake. The per-DID limiter (inner) caps a
+    // single identity; the per-IP limiter (outer) caps a DID farm that mints a
+    // fresh throwaway did:key per repo to slip past both the per-DID limit and
+    // the iCaptcha gate — the mechanism behind the recurring spam-repo floods.
+    // The per-IP layer wraps the auth layer (outermost = runs first) so flood
+    // traffic is rejected before signature verification burns CPU, matching the
+    // push path.
     let limiter = state.rate_limiter.clone();
+    let create_ip_limiter = rate_limit::IpRateLimiter {
+        limiter: state.create_ip_rate_limiter.clone(),
+        trust: state.push_limiter_trust,
+    };
     let creation_routes = add_auth_layers(
         Router::new()
             .route("/api/v1/repos", post(repos::create_repo))
@@ -96,7 +107,9 @@ pub fn build_router(state: AppState) -> Router {
             .layer(middleware::from_fn(rate_limit::rate_limit_by_did))
             .layer(axum::Extension(limiter)),
         state.clone(),
-    );
+    )
+    .layer(middleware::from_fn(rate_limit::rate_limit_by_ip))
+    .layer(axum::Extension(create_ip_limiter));
 
     // ── Write routes — require HTTP Signature (no rate limit) ─────────────
     let write_routes = add_auth_layers(
@@ -248,7 +261,8 @@ pub fn build_router(state: AppState) -> Router {
         .route(
             "/api/v1/agents/{did}/bounties",
             get(bounties::agent_bounty_stats),
-        );
+        )
+        .layer(middleware::from_fn(auth::optional_signature));
 
     // ── Profile routes (write — require HTTP Signature) ─────────────────
     let profile_write_routes = add_auth_layers(
@@ -277,15 +291,41 @@ pub fn build_router(state: AppState) -> Router {
         .route("/api/v1/peers", get(peers::list_peers))
         .route("/api/v1/peers/{did}/ping", get(peers::ping_peer));
 
+    // /sync/trigger drives an O(peers) outbound fan-out + per-repo enqueue, so it
+    // ALWAYS requires a signature (both config modes) and carries a tight per-IP
+    // brake. A signature alone does not cap cost — a did:key farm self-registers
+    // (INV-10) — so the IP brake is a separate, load-bearing half. The brake is
+    // outermost (runs before signature verification burns CPU) and is keyed on the
+    // client IP before any DID is read, so DID rotation cannot bypass it.
+    let sync_trigger_routes = add_auth_layers(
+        Router::new().route("/api/v1/sync/trigger", post(peers::trigger_sync)),
+        state.clone(),
+    )
+    .layer(middleware::from_fn(rate_limit::rate_limit_by_ip))
+    .layer(axum::Extension(rate_limit::IpRateLimiter {
+        limiter: state.sync_trigger_rate_limiter.clone(),
+        trust: state.push_limiter_trust,
+    }));
+
+    // announce + notify keep their rolling-upgrade signature behavior (unsigned
+    // accepted until all peers upgrade), but both reach peer-write side effects —
+    // notify hits the same enqueue_sync sink as trigger — so they carry a per-IP
+    // brake too, on a SEPARATE bucket from trigger's, so an unsigned notify flood
+    // cannot drain the signed trigger caller's quota.
     let mut peer_write_routes = Router::new()
         .route("/api/v1/peers/announce", post(peers::announce))
-        .route("/api/v1/sync/trigger", post(peers::trigger_sync))
         .route("/api/v1/sync/notify", post(peers::notify_sync));
     peer_write_routes = if state.config.require_signed_peer_writes {
         add_auth_layers(peer_write_routes, state.clone())
     } else {
         peer_write_routes.layer(middleware::from_fn(auth::optional_signature))
     };
+    let peer_write_routes = peer_write_routes
+        .layer(middleware::from_fn(rate_limit::rate_limit_by_ip))
+        .layer(axum::Extension(rate_limit::IpRateLimiter {
+            limiter: state.peer_write_rate_limiter.clone(),
+            trust: state.push_limiter_trust,
+        }));
 
     // ── Read routes — open for public repos ───────────────────────────────
     let read_routes = Router::new()
@@ -415,6 +455,7 @@ pub fn build_router(state: AppState) -> Router {
     let meta_routes = Router::new()
         .route("/", get(node_info))
         .route("/health", get(health))
+        .route("/ready", get(ready))
         .route("/api/v1/p2p/info", get(p2p_info))
         .route("/api/v1/stats", get(stats))
         .route("/api/v1/contracts", get(contracts_info));
@@ -434,6 +475,7 @@ pub fn build_router(state: AppState) -> Router {
         .merge(read_routes)
         .merge(peer_read_routes)
         .merge(peer_write_routes)
+        .merge(sync_trigger_routes)
         .merge(ipfs_routes)
         .merge(arweave_routes)
         .merge(meta_routes)
@@ -456,6 +498,26 @@ async fn health() -> Json<serde_json::Value> {
     Json(json!({ "status": "ok" }))
 }
 
+/// Readiness = "this node can serve real traffic", and every real endpoint
+/// depends on the database, so probe it rather than reporting a constant.
+/// The probe gets its own short bound so a wedged pool can't hang the health
+/// check for the full acquire timeout.
+async fn ready(State(state): State<AppState>) -> axum::response::Response {
+    let probe = tokio::time::timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(2), state.db.ping()).await;
+    match probe {
+        Ok(Ok(())) => Json(json!({ "status": "ready" })).into_response(),
+        _ => (
+            axum::http::StatusCode::SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE,
+            Json(json!({
+                "status": "degraded",
+                "error": crate::error::DB_UNAVAILABLE_CODE,
+                "message": crate::error::DB_UNAVAILABLE_MESSAGE,
+            })),
+        )
+            .into_response(),
+    }
+}
+
 async fn node_info(State(state): State<AppState>) -> Json<serde_json::Value> {
     let p2p_peer_id = state.p2p.as_ref().map(|h| h.local_peer_id.to_string());
     Json(json!({

crates/gitlawb-node/src/state.rs

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ pub struct RefUpdateBroadcast {
     pub pusher_did: String,
     pub node_did: String,
     pub timestamp: String,
+    pub owner_did: String,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
@@ -51,13 +52,35 @@ pub struct AppState {
     pub repo_store: RepoStore,
     /// Per-DID rate limiter for creation endpoints (repos, issues, PRs)
     pub rate_limiter: RateLimiter,
+    /// Per-client-IP rate limiter for the same creation endpoints. The per-DID
+    /// limiter above cannot brake a creation flood from a DID farm — one
+    /// throwaway `did:key` per repo means each DID makes a single create call
+    /// and never trips its own bucket. A valid iCaptcha proof does not cap this
+    /// either: the enforced level draws only machine-solvable deterministic
+    /// challenges (and the caller can pin the easy type), so a bot mints a fresh
+    /// DID, solves a proof, and creates a repo unthrottled. Braking on the
+    /// resolved client IP is what actually stops a single-source flood (same
+    /// rationale as `push_rate_limiter`). Keyed by `push_limiter_trust`.
+    pub create_ip_rate_limiter: RateLimiter,
     /// Per-client-IP rate limiter for git-receive-pack. Per-DID limits cannot
     /// brake a push flood from a DID farm (one throwaway DID per repo), so the
     /// push path throttles on the resolved client IP instead.
     pub push_rate_limiter: RateLimiter,
     /// Which forwarded header (if any) the edge is trusted to set, for
     /// resolving the push limiter's client-IP key. See `GITLAWB_TRUSTED_PROXY`.
+    /// Node-wide; also keys the two peer-sync limiters below.
     pub push_limiter_trust: crate::rate_limit::TrustedProxy,
+    /// Per-client-IP limiter for `POST /api/v1/sync/trigger` (tight). The route
+    /// requires a signature, but a signature does not cap cost (a did:key farm
+    /// self-registers), and its per-call cost is an O(peers) fan-out, so the IP
+    /// brake is a separate, load-bearing half. Its own bucket so an unsigned
+    /// `/sync/notify` flood cannot drain the signed trigger caller's quota.
+    pub sync_trigger_rate_limiter: RateLimiter,
+    /// Per-client-IP limiter for the peer-write routes (`/peers/announce`,
+    /// `/sync/notify`) (generous). `/sync/notify` reaches the same `enqueue_sync`
+    /// sink as trigger and accepts unsigned requests from known peers, so it is
+    /// braked too; each peer's distinct IP gets its own bucket.
+    pub peer_write_rate_limiter: RateLimiter,
     /// Process-wide graceful-shutdown signal. Sending `true` causes every
     /// task that holds a `watch::Receiver` to exit at its next await point.
     /// Used by:

crates/gitlawb-node/src/visibility.rs

@@ -25,15 +25,12 @@ fn nfc(s: &str) -> String {
     s.nfc().collect()
 }
 
-/// True if `caller` is the repo owner. Matches exactly or against the
-/// did:key short form — a non-key DID (did:gitlawb:/did:web:) in `owner_did`
-/// never matches a bare short segment, and a non-key DID in `caller` never
-/// matches a did:key owner's short form. Uses `normalize_owner_key` (not
-/// `did_matches`) so the did:key-only rule is stricter: cross-method matching
-/// would let a non-key canonical row bypass the #124 visibility gate.
+/// True if `caller` is the repo owner. Uses [`crate::api::did_matches`] so the
+/// owner check is representation-agnostic within `did:key` (full `did:key:z...`
+/// matches bare `z...` stored by mirror rows) while still denying cross-method
+/// collisions (`did:gitlawb:z...` vs bare `z...`).
 fn is_owner(owner_did: &str, caller: &str) -> bool {
-    let owner_short = crate::db::normalize_owner_key(owner_did);
-    caller == owner_did || caller == owner_short
+    crate::api::did_matches(owner_did, caller)
 }
 
 /// The match prefix for a glob: "/" stays "/", "/secret/**" becomes "/secret".
@@ -428,6 +425,35 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    // #153 forward guard: is_owner must match across bare-key / full-did:key
+    // representations should someone revert to single-side normalize_owner_key.
+    #[test]
+    fn bare_owner_full_caller_allows_owner() {
+        let rules = [rule("/", VisibilityMode::A, &[])];
+        assert_eq!(
+            visibility_check(&rules, false, "z6MkOwner", Some("did:key:z6MkOwner"), "/"),
+            Decision::Allow,
+            "bare owner + full did:key caller must match (guard against single-side revert)"
+        );
+    }
+
+    // #153 regression: cross-method DID must still be denied even when the
+    // trailing segment collides with a bare owner key.
+    #[test]
+    fn cross_method_did_denied_with_bare_owner() {
+        let rules = [rule("/", VisibilityMode::A, &[])];
+        assert_eq!(
+            visibility_check(&rules, false, "z6MkFoo", Some("did:gitlawb:z6MkFoo"), "/"),
+            Decision::Deny,
+            "cross-method DID must not match a bare did:key owner"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            visibility_check(&rules, false, "z6MkFoo", Some("did:web:z6MkFoo"), "/"),
+            Decision::Deny,
+            "did:web must not match a bare did:key owner"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn root_rule_allows_listed_reader() {
         let rules = [rule("/", VisibilityMode::A, &["did:key:z6MkFriend"])];

crates/gl/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "gl"
 description = "The gitlawb CLI — identity management, node control, MCP server"
-version = "0.5.0" # x-release-please-version
+version = "0.6.0" # x-release-please-version
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 license.workspace = true

crates/gl/src/bounty.rs

@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ use std::path::PathBuf;
 use crate::http::NodeClient;
 use crate::identity::load_keypair_from_dir;
 
+fn signed_client(node: &str, dir: Option<&std::path::Path>) -> NodeClient {
+    NodeClient::new(node, load_keypair_from_dir(dir).ok())
+}
+
 #[derive(Args)]
 pub struct BountyArgs {
     #[command(subcommand)]
@@ -49,6 +53,8 @@ pub enum BountyCmd {
         status: Option<String>,
         #[arg(long, default_value = "https://node.gitlawb.com", env = "GITLAWB_NODE")]
         node: String,
+        #[arg(long)]
+        dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     },
     /// Show details of a specific bounty
     Show {
@@ -56,6 +62,8 @@ pub enum BountyCmd {
         id: String,
         #[arg(long, default_value = "https://node.gitlawb.com", env = "GITLAWB_NODE")]
         node: String,
+        #[arg(long)]
+        dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     },
     /// Claim an open bounty
     Claim {
@@ -121,8 +129,13 @@ pub async fn run(args: BountyArgs) -> Result<()> {
             node,
             dir,
         } => cmd_create(repo, title, amount, issue, tx_hash, deadline, node, dir).await,
-        BountyCmd::List { repo, status, node } => cmd_list(repo, status, node).await,
-        BountyCmd::Show { id, node } => cmd_show(id, node).await,
+        BountyCmd::List {
+            repo,
+            status,
+            node,
+            dir,
+        } => cmd_list(repo, status, node, dir).await,
+        BountyCmd::Show { id, node, dir } => cmd_show(id, node, dir).await,
         BountyCmd::Claim {
             id,
             wallet,
@@ -192,8 +205,13 @@ async fn cmd_create(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn cmd_list(repo: Option<String>, status: Option<String>, node: String) -> Result<()> {
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+async fn cmd_list(
+    repo: Option<String>,
+    status: Option<String>,
+    node: String,
+    dir: Option<PathBuf>,
+) -> Result<()> {
+    let client = signed_client(&node, dir.as_deref());
 
     let url = if let Some(ref repo) = repo {
         let (owner, name) = repo
@@ -214,7 +232,7 @@ async fn cmd_list(repo: Option<String>, status: Option<String>, node: String) ->
     };
 
     let resp = client
-        .get(&url)
+        .get_authed(&url)
         .await
         .context("failed to connect to node")?;
     let body: Value = resp.json().await.unwrap_or_default();
@@ -237,9 +255,9 @@ async fn cmd_list(repo: Option<String>, status: Option<String>, node: String) ->
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn cmd_show(id: String, node: String) -> Result<()> {
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
-    let resp = client.get(&format!("/api/v1/bounties/{id}")).await?;
+async fn cmd_show(id: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
+    let client = signed_client(&node, dir.as_deref());
+    let resp = client.get_authed(&format!("/api/v1/bounties/{id}")).await?;
 
     let status = resp.status();
     let body: Value = resp.json().await.unwrap_or_default();
@@ -462,7 +480,7 @@ mod tests {
             .create_async()
             .await;
 
-        cmd_list(None, None, server.url()).await.unwrap();
+        cmd_list(None, None, server.url(), None).await.unwrap();
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
@@ -506,7 +524,7 @@ mod tests {
             .create_async()
             .await;
 
-        let err = cmd_show("nonexistent".to_string(), server.url())
+        let err = cmd_show("nonexistent".to_string(), server.url(), None)
             .await
             .unwrap_err();
         assert!(err.to_string().contains("not found"));

crates/gl/src/cert.rs

@@ -5,10 +5,15 @@
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use clap::{Args, Subcommand};
 use serde_json::Value;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 use crate::http::NodeClient;
 use crate::identity::load_keypair_from_dir;
 
+fn signed_client(node: &str, dir: Option<&std::path::Path>) -> NodeClient {
+    NodeClient::new(node, load_keypair_from_dir(dir).ok())
+}
+
 #[derive(Args)]
 pub struct CertArgs {
     #[command(subcommand)]
@@ -23,6 +28,8 @@ pub enum CertCmd {
         repo: String,
         #[arg(long, default_value = "https://node.gitlawb.com", env = "GITLAWB_NODE")]
         node: String,
+        #[arg(long)]
+        dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     },
     /// Show a specific ref certificate and verify its signature
     Show {
@@ -32,28 +39,39 @@ pub enum CertCmd {
         id: String,
         #[arg(long, default_value = "https://node.gitlawb.com", env = "GITLAWB_NODE")]
         node: String,
+        #[arg(long)]
+        dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     },
 }
 
 pub async fn run(args: CertArgs) -> Result<()> {
     match args.cmd {
-        CertCmd::List { repo, node } => cmd_list(repo, node).await,
-        CertCmd::Show { repo, id, node } => cmd_show(repo, id, node).await,
+        CertCmd::List { repo, node, dir } => cmd_list(repo, node, dir).await,
+        CertCmd::Show {
+            repo,
+            id,
+            node,
+            dir,
+        } => cmd_show(repo, id, node, dir).await,
     }
 }
 
 /// Resolve "repo" into (owner, name) using the caller's DID when no slash is given.
-async fn resolve_repo(repo: &str, node: &str) -> Result<(String, String)> {
+async fn resolve_repo(
+    repo: &str,
+    node: &str,
+    dir: Option<&std::path::Path>,
+) -> Result<(String, String)> {
     if let Some((owner, name)) = repo.split_once('/') {
         Ok((owner.to_string(), name.to_string()))
     } else {
-        let short = if let Ok(kp) = load_keypair_from_dir(None) {
+        let short = if let Ok(kp) = load_keypair_from_dir(dir) {
             let did = kp.did().to_string();
             did.split(':').next_back().unwrap_or(&did).to_string()
         } else {
-            let client = NodeClient::new(node, None);
+            let client = signed_client(node, dir);
             let info: Value = client
-                .get("/")
+                .get_authed("/")
                 .await?
                 .json()
                 .await
@@ -65,13 +83,13 @@ async fn resolve_repo(repo: &str, node: &str) -> Result<(String, String)> {
     }
 }
 
-async fn cmd_list(repo: String, node: String) -> Result<()> {
-    let (owner, name) = resolve_repo(&repo, &node).await?;
+async fn cmd_list(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
+    let (owner, name) = resolve_repo(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
 
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    let client = signed_client(&node, dir.as_deref());
     let path = format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/certs");
     let resp: Value = client
-        .get(&path)
+        .get_authed(&path)
         .await?
         .json()
         .await
@@ -96,16 +114,16 @@ async fn cmd_list(repo: String, node: String) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn cmd_show(repo: String, id: String, node: String) -> Result<()> {
-    let (owner, name) = resolve_repo(&repo, &node).await?;
+async fn cmd_show(repo: String, id: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
+    let (owner, name) = resolve_repo(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
 
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    let client = signed_client(&node, dir.as_deref());
     let id = resolve_cert_id(&client, &owner, &name, &id).await?;
 
     // Fetch the certificate
     let path = format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/certs/{id}");
     let resp = client
-        .get(&path)
+        .get_authed(&path)
         .await?
         .error_for_status()
         .context("certificate not found")?;
@@ -168,9 +186,9 @@ async fn resolve_cert_id(client: &NodeClient, owner: &str, name: &str, id: &str)
         return Ok(id.to_string());
     }
 
-    let path = format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/certs");
+    let path = format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/certs?prefix={id}");
     let resp: Value = client
-        .get(&path)
+        .get_authed(&path)
         .await?
         .error_for_status()
         .context("failed to list certificates")?
@@ -182,7 +200,6 @@ async fn resolve_cert_id(client: &NodeClient, owner: &str, name: &str, id: &str)
     let matches: Vec<String> = certs
         .iter()
         .filter_map(|cert| cert["id"].as_str())
-        .filter(|cert_id| cert_id.starts_with(id))
         .map(ToString::to_string)
         .collect();
 

crates/gl/src/doctor.rs

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use std::path::PathBuf;
 use crate::http::NodeClient;
 
 const PUBLIC_NODE: &str = "https://node.gitlawb.com";
+const GITHUB_API_BASE: &str = "https://api.github.com";
 
 #[derive(Args)]
 pub struct DoctorArgs {
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ pub async fn run(args: DoctorArgs) -> Result<()> {
 
     // ── 7. Version up to date ─────────────────────────────────────────────
     let current = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
-    checks.push(check_version(current).await);
+    checks.push(check_version(current, GITHUB_API_BASE).await);
 
     // ── Render ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     for check in &checks {
@@ -319,8 +320,9 @@ fn which_in_path(name: &str) -> bool {
         .unwrap_or(false)
 }
 
-/// Fetch the latest release tag from gitlawb/releases and compare to current version.
-async fn check_version(current: &'static str) -> Check {
+/// Fetch the latest release tag from Gitlawb/node (the actual release repo — see install.sh's
+/// `GITLAWB_RELEASE_REPO` default) and compare to current version.
+async fn check_version(current: &'static str, github_api_base: &str) -> Check {
     let client = match reqwest::Client::builder()
         .user_agent(format!("gl/{current}"))
         .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5))
@@ -331,7 +333,9 @@ async fn check_version(current: &'static str) -> Check {
     };
 
     let resp = match client
-        .get("https://api.github.com/repos/gitlawb/releases/releases/latest")
+        .get(format!(
+            "{github_api_base}/repos/Gitlawb/node/releases/latest"
+        ))
         .send()
         .await
     {
@@ -339,6 +343,13 @@ async fn check_version(current: &'static str) -> Check {
         Err(_) => return Check::pass("version", format!("v{current} (offline — could not check)")),
     };
 
+    if !resp.status().is_success() {
+        return Check::pass(
+            "version",
+            format!("v{current} (GitHub API returned HTTP {})", resp.status()),
+        );
+    }
+
     let body: serde_json::Value = match resp.json().await {
         Ok(v) => v,
         Err(_) => return Check::pass("version", format!("v{current} (invalid response)")),
@@ -417,4 +428,50 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_which_in_path_missing_binary() {
         assert!(!which_in_path("this-binary-does-not-exist-gl-test-12345"));
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_check_version_queries_gitlawb_node_releases() {
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", "/repos/Gitlawb/node/releases/latest")
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"tag_name":"v9.9.9"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let check = check_version("0.1.0", &server.url()).await;
+        assert!(matches!(check.state, CheckState::Warn));
+        assert!(check.detail.contains("v9.9.9"));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_check_version_up_to_date() {
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", "/repos/Gitlawb/node/releases/latest")
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"tag_name":"v0.1.0"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let check = check_version("0.1.0", &server.url()).await;
+        assert!(matches!(check.state, CheckState::Ok));
+        assert!(check.detail.contains("up to date"));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_check_version_http_error() {
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", "/repos/Gitlawb/node/releases/latest")
+            .with_status(403)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let check = check_version("0.1.0", &server.url()).await;
+        assert!(matches!(check.state, CheckState::Ok));
+        assert!(check.detail.contains("GitHub API returned HTTP 403"));
+    }
 }

crates/gl/src/http.rs

@@ -45,6 +45,15 @@ impl NodeClient {
             .with_context(|| format!("GET {url}"))
     }
 
+    /// GET that signs when a keypair is available; falls back to unsigned for public repos.
+    pub async fn get_authed(&self, path: &str) -> Result<reqwest::Response> {
+        if self.keypair.is_some() {
+            self.get_signed(path).await
+        } else {
+            self.get(path).await
+        }
+    }
+
     /// GET with RFC 9421 HTTP Signature auth, for owner-only read endpoints.
     /// Signs over the empty body (same shape the node verifies for signed reads).
     pub async fn get_signed(&self, path: &str) -> Result<reqwest::Response> {
@@ -63,6 +72,23 @@ impl NodeClient {
         req.send().await.with_context(|| format!("GET {url}"))
     }
 
+    /// GET that signs when an identity keypair is present and falls back to an
+    /// anonymous GET otherwise — for read-visibility endpoints, where a public
+    /// repo is readable anonymously but a private repo requires the owner/reader
+    /// to be authenticated. Mirrors the conditional signing of post/put/delete.
+    pub async fn get_maybe_signed(&self, path: &str) -> Result<reqwest::Response> {
+        let url = format!("{}{}", self.node_url, path);
+        let mut req = self.inner.get(&url);
+        if let Some(kp) = &self.keypair {
+            let signed = sign_request(kp, "GET", path, b"");
+            req = req
+                .header("Content-Digest", signed.content_digest)
+                .header("Signature-Input", signed.signature_input)
+                .header("Signature", signed.signature);
+        }
+        req.send().await.with_context(|| format!("GET {url}"))
+    }
+
     /// POST with JSON body + RFC 9421 signing + transparent iCaptcha solve/retry.
     pub async fn post(&self, path: &str, body: &[u8]) -> Result<reqwest::Response> {
         self.send_signed("POST", path, body).await
@@ -176,3 +202,389 @@ async fn obtain_proof(cfg: IcaptchaCfg) -> Result<String> {
         .await
         .context("iCaptcha solver task panicked")?
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use gitlawb_core::identity::Keypair;
+    use mockito::Server;
+    use std::ffi::OsString;
+    use std::sync::{Mutex, MutexGuard};
+
+    /// Serializes the two integration tests that touch the process-global
+    /// `GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_URL` / `GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE` env vars so they
+    /// never race.
+    static ICAPTCHA_ENV_LOCK: Mutex<()> = Mutex::new(());
+
+    fn test_keypair() -> Keypair {
+        Keypair::generate()
+    }
+
+    fn headers_from_pairs(pairs: &[(&str, &str)]) -> reqwest::header::HeaderMap {
+        let mut h = reqwest::header::HeaderMap::new();
+        for (k, v) in pairs {
+            h.insert(
+                k.parse::<reqwest::header::HeaderName>().unwrap(),
+                v.parse::<reqwest::header::HeaderValue>().unwrap(),
+            );
+        }
+        h
+    }
+
+    // ── icaptcha_cfg ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    #[test]
+    fn icaptcha_cfg_returns_some_when_both_headers_present() {
+        let kp = test_keypair();
+        let client = NodeClient::new("http://localhost", Some(kp.clone()));
+        let headers = headers_from_pairs(&[
+            ("x-icaptcha-url", "https://icaptcha.gitlawb.com"),
+            ("x-icaptcha-level", "3"),
+        ]);
+        let cfg = client.icaptcha_cfg(&headers).unwrap().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cfg.did, kp.did().to_string());
+        assert_eq!(cfg.level, 3);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn icaptcha_cfg_defaults_level_when_only_url_present() {
+        let kp = test_keypair();
+        let client = NodeClient::new("http://localhost", Some(kp));
+        let headers = headers_from_pairs(&[("x-icaptcha-url", "https://icaptcha.gitlawb.com")]);
+        let cfg = client.icaptcha_cfg(&headers).unwrap().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cfg.level, icaptcha_client::DEFAULT_LEVEL);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn icaptcha_cfg_defaults_url_when_only_level_present() {
+        let kp = test_keypair();
+        let client = NodeClient::new("http://localhost", Some(kp));
+        let headers = headers_from_pairs(&[("x-icaptcha-level", "5")]);
+        let cfg = client.icaptcha_cfg(&headers).unwrap().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cfg.level, 5);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn icaptcha_cfg_returns_none_without_icaptcha_headers() {
+        let client = NodeClient::new("http://localhost", Some(test_keypair()));
+        let headers = reqwest::header::HeaderMap::new();
+        assert!(client.icaptcha_cfg(&headers).unwrap().is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn icaptcha_cfg_returns_none_with_unrelated_headers() {
+        let client = NodeClient::new("http://localhost", Some(test_keypair()));
+        let headers = headers_from_pairs(&[("content-type", "application/json")]);
+        assert!(client.icaptcha_cfg(&headers).unwrap().is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn icaptcha_cfg_errors_when_no_keypair() {
+        let client = NodeClient::new("http://localhost", None);
+        let headers = headers_from_pairs(&[("x-icaptcha-level", "3")]);
+        let err = client.icaptcha_cfg(&headers).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(err.to_string().contains("identity keypair"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn icaptcha_cfg_ignores_unparseable_level() {
+        let client = NodeClient::new("http://localhost", Some(test_keypair()));
+        let headers = headers_from_pairs(&[
+            ("x-icaptcha-url", "https://icaptcha.gitlawb.com"),
+            ("x-icaptcha-level", "not-a-number"),
+        ]);
+        let cfg = client.icaptcha_cfg(&headers).unwrap().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cfg.level, icaptcha_client::DEFAULT_LEVEL);
+    }
+
+    // ── send_once ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn send_once_attaches_proof_header_when_provided() {
+        let mut server = Server::new_async().await;
+        let m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/test")
+            .match_header("x-icaptcha-proof", "test.proof.token")
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_body("ok")
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let client = NodeClient::new(server.url(), None);
+        let resp = client
+            .send_once("POST", "/api/test", b"{}", Some("test.proof.token"))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 200);
+        m.assert();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn send_once_omits_proof_header_when_not_provided() {
+        let mut server = Server::new_async().await;
+        let m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/test")
+            .match_header("x-icaptcha-proof", mockito::Matcher::Missing)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_body("ok")
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let client = NodeClient::new(server.url(), None);
+        let resp = client
+            .send_once("POST", "/api/test", b"{}", None)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 200);
+        m.assert();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn send_once_signs_request_when_keypair_present() {
+        let mut server = Server::new_async().await;
+        let m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/test")
+            .match_header("Signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("Signature-Input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("Content-Digest", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_body("ok")
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let client = NodeClient::new(server.url(), Some(test_keypair()));
+        let resp = client
+            .send_once("POST", "/api/test", b"{}", None)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 200);
+        m.assert();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn send_once_does_not_sign_when_no_keypair() {
+        let mut server = Server::new_async().await;
+        let m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/test")
+            .match_header("Signature", mockito::Matcher::Missing)
+            .match_header("Signature-Input", mockito::Matcher::Missing)
+            .match_header("Content-Digest", mockito::Matcher::Missing)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_body("ok")
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let client = NodeClient::new(server.url(), None);
+        let resp = client
+            .send_once("POST", "/api/test", b"{}", None)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 200);
+        m.assert();
+    }
+
+    // ── send_signed ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn send_signed_returns_non_icaptcha_403_without_retry() {
+        let mut server = Server::new_async().await;
+        let m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/register")
+            .with_status(403)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"error":"forbidden"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let client = NodeClient::new(server.url(), Some(test_keypair()));
+        let resp = client
+            .send_signed("POST", "/api/register", b"{}")
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 403);
+        m.assert();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn send_signed_returns_first_response_on_success() {
+        let mut server = Server::new_async().await;
+        let m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/register")
+            .with_status(201)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"status":"created"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let client = NodeClient::new(server.url(), Some(test_keypair()));
+        let resp = client
+            .send_signed("POST", "/api/register", b"{}")
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 201);
+        m.assert();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn send_signed_handles_405_not_icaptcha() {
+        let mut server = Server::new_async().await;
+        let m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/register")
+            .with_status(405)
+            .with_body(r#"{"error":"method not allowed"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let client = NodeClient::new(server.url(), Some(test_keypair()));
+        let resp = client
+            .send_signed("POST", "/api/register", b"{}")
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 405);
+        m.assert();
+    }
+
+    // ── send_signed iCaptcha retry (full integration) ────────────────────
+
+    /// Set GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_URL and GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE so the iCaptcha
+    /// client trusts a local mockito HTTP server, restoring any prior values on
+    /// drop so a test run launched with those variables keeps working.
+    /// Holds [`ICAPTCHA_ENV_LOCK`] for its lifetime so concurrent tests don't
+    /// race on the process-global env vars.
+    struct IcaptchaEnv {
+        _lock: MutexGuard<'static, ()>,
+        prev_url: Option<OsString>,
+        prev_insecure: Option<OsString>,
+    }
+
+    impl IcaptchaEnv {
+        fn new(url: &str) -> Self {
+            let lock = ICAPTCHA_ENV_LOCK.lock().unwrap();
+            let prev_url = std::env::var_os("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_URL");
+            let prev_insecure = std::env::var_os("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE");
+            std::env::set_var("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_URL", url);
+            std::env::set_var("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE", "1");
+            IcaptchaEnv {
+                _lock: lock,
+                prev_url,
+                prev_insecure,
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl Drop for IcaptchaEnv {
+        fn drop(&mut self) {
+            match self.prev_url.take() {
+                Some(v) => std::env::set_var("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_URL", v),
+                None => std::env::remove_var("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_URL"),
+            }
+            match self.prev_insecure.take() {
+                Some(v) => std::env::set_var("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE", v),
+                None => std::env::remove_var("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE"),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Set up a mock iCaptcha server that responds to challenge + answer.
+    /// `hits` sets the expected call count for both endpoints so the test can
+    /// verify the solve loop was entered the correct number of times.
+    struct MockIcaptcha {
+        challenge: mockito::Mock,
+        answer: mockito::Mock,
+        _guard: IcaptchaEnv,
+        url: String,
+    }
+
+    impl MockIcaptcha {
+        async fn new(server: &mut mockito::ServerGuard, hits: usize) -> Self {
+            let url = server.url();
+            let guard = IcaptchaEnv::new(&url);
+            let challenge = server
+                .mock("POST", "/v1/challenge")
+                .with_status(200)
+                .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+                .with_body(
+                    r#"{"challengeId":"c1","type":"arithmetic","difficulty":1,"prompt":"What is 1 + 1?","token":"tk1"}"#,
+                )
+                .expect(hits)
+                .create_async()
+                .await;
+            let answer = server
+                .mock("POST", "/v1/answer")
+                .with_status(200)
+                .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+                .with_body(r#"{"status":"passed","proof":"mock.proof"}"#)
+                .expect(hits)
+                .create_async()
+                .await;
+            Self {
+                challenge,
+                answer,
+                _guard: guard,
+                url,
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn send_signed_solves_icaptcha_and_retries_to_success() {
+        let mut node = Server::new_async().await;
+        let mut icaptcha = Server::new_async().await;
+        let ic = MockIcaptcha::new(&mut icaptcha, 1).await;
+
+        let n1 = node
+            .mock("POST", "/api/register")
+            .with_status(403)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_header("x-icaptcha-url", &ic.url)
+            .with_header("x-icaptcha-level", "3")
+            .with_body(r#"{"error":"icaptcha_proof_required"}"#)
+            .expect(1)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let n2 = node
+            .mock("POST", "/api/register")
+            .match_header("x-icaptcha-proof", "mock.proof")
+            .with_status(201)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"status":"created"}"#)
+            .expect(1)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let client = NodeClient::new(node.url(), Some(test_keypair()));
+        let resp = client
+            .send_signed("POST", "/api/register", b"{}")
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 201);
+        n1.assert();
+        n2.assert();
+        ic.challenge.assert();
+        ic.answer.assert();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn send_signed_returns_403_after_icaptcha_retries_exhausted() {
+        let mut node = Server::new_async().await;
+        let mut icaptcha = Server::new_async().await;
+        // MAX_ICAPTCHA_RETRIES = 2, so with every call returning 403 with
+        // iCaptcha headers the solve loop runs twice (2 challenge + 2 answer).
+        let ic = MockIcaptcha::new(&mut icaptcha, 2).await;
+
+        // The original + 2 retries = 3 node calls before the loop gives up.
+        let n = node
+            .mock("POST", "/api/register")
+            .with_status(403)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_header("x-icaptcha-url", &ic.url)
+            .with_header("x-icaptcha-level", "3")
+            .with_body(r#"{"error":"icaptcha_proof_required"}"#)
+            .expect(3)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let client = NodeClient::new(node.url(), Some(test_keypair()));
+        let resp = client
+            .send_signed("POST", "/api/register", b"{}")
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 403);
+        n.assert();
+        ic.challenge.assert();
+        ic.answer.assert();
+    }
+}

crates/gl/src/issue.rs

@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ use uuid::Uuid;
 use crate::http::NodeClient;
 use crate::identity::load_keypair_from_dir;
 
+fn signed_client(node: &str, dir: Option<&std::path::Path>) -> NodeClient {
+    NodeClient::new(node, load_keypair_from_dir(dir).ok())
+}
+
 #[derive(Args)]
 pub struct IssueArgs {
     #[command(subcommand)]
@@ -215,10 +219,10 @@ async fn cmd_create(
 async fn cmd_list(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
     let (owner, name) = resolve_repo(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
 
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    let client = signed_client(&node, dir.as_deref());
     let path = format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/issues");
     let resp: Value = client
-        .get(&path)
+        .get_authed(&path)
         .await?
         .json()
         .await
@@ -254,10 +258,10 @@ async fn cmd_list(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()
 async fn cmd_show(repo: String, id: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
     let (owner, name) = resolve_repo(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
 
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    let client = signed_client(&node, dir.as_deref());
     let path = format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/issues/{id}");
     let resp = client
-        .get(&path)
+        .get_authed(&path)
         .await
         .context("failed to connect to node")?;
     let status = resp.status();
@@ -347,10 +351,10 @@ async fn cmd_issue_comments(
     dir: Option<PathBuf>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let (owner, name) = resolve_repo(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    let client = signed_client(&node, dir.as_deref());
 
     let resp: Value = client
-        .get(&format!(
+        .get_authed(&format!(
             "/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/issues/{id}/comments"
         ))
         .await?

crates/gl/src/mcp.rs

@@ -932,13 +932,33 @@ async fn call_tool(
 
         "webhook_list" => {
             let repo = args["repo"].as_str().context("missing 'repo'")?;
-            let owner = resolve_owner(&args, &client).await?;
-            let resp: Value = client
-                .get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/hooks"))
-                .await?
-                .json()
+            // Owner-gated route: an explicit `owner` arg wins, otherwise default to
+            // the signing keypair's short DID (NOT the node DID). The request is
+            // signed by this keypair, so the path owner must match it or the node
+            // returns 403/404.
+            let owner = if let Some(o) = args.get("owner").and_then(|v| v.as_str()) {
+                o.to_string()
+            } else {
+                let kp = keypair
+                    .as_ref()
+                    .context("no identity found — run `gl identity new` first")?;
+                let did = kp.did().to_string();
+                did.split(':').next_back().unwrap_or(&did).to_string()
+            };
+            // Owner-gated route: must be signed (get_signed), not a plain get().
+            let resp = client
+                .get_signed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/hooks"))
                 .await?;
-            Ok(serde_json::to_string_pretty(&resp)?)
+            // Check the HTTP status before deserializing: a 401/403/404 JSON error
+            // body (missing identity, wrong owner, private/deleted repo) must fail
+            // the tool call, not be returned as a successful result.
+            let status = resp.status();
+            let body: Value = resp.json().await?;
+            if !status.is_success() {
+                let msg = body["message"].as_str().unwrap_or("unknown error");
+                anyhow::bail!("webhook_list failed ({status}): {msg}");
+            }
+            Ok(serde_json::to_string_pretty(&body)?)
         }
 
         "webhook_delete" => {
@@ -970,14 +990,14 @@ async fn call_tool(
                 }
                 u
             };
-            let resp: Value = client.get(&url).await?.json().await?;
+            let resp: Value = client.get_authed(&url).await?.json().await?;
             Ok(serde_json::to_string_pretty(&resp)?)
         }
 
         "bounty_show" => {
             let id = args["id"].as_str().context("missing 'id'")?;
             let resp: Value = client
-                .get(&format!("/api/v1/bounties/{id}"))
+                .get_authed(&format!("/api/v1/bounties/{id}"))
                 .await?
                 .json()
                 .await?;
@@ -1165,7 +1185,7 @@ async fn call_tool(
                 (owner, repo.to_string())
             };
             let resp: Value = client
-                .get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/issues"))
+                .get_authed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/issues"))
                 .await?
                 .json()
                 .await?;
@@ -1825,6 +1845,187 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(parsed["body"], "looks good");
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_webhook_list_via_mcp_signs_the_request() {
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let dir = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let kp = gitlawb_core::identity::Keypair::generate();
+        std::fs::write(
+            dir.path().join("identity.pem"),
+            kp.to_pem().unwrap().as_bytes(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        // /hooks is owner-gated, so the MCP webhook_list tool must send a SIGNED
+        // request (get_signed). Requiring the header catches a regression to get().
+        // Passing `owner` in args makes resolve_owner skip the node-root lookup.
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/hooks$".to_string()))
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"webhooks":[],"count":0}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let result = call_tool(
+            "webhook_list",
+            json!({"owner": "alice", "repo": "myrepo"}),
+            &server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+        assert!(result.contains("webhooks"), "got: {result}");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_webhook_list_default_owner_is_keypair_not_node_did() {
+        // When `owner` is omitted, the owner segment must come from the signing
+        // keypair's short DID, NOT the node root DID. The "/" mock returns a
+        // different DID; the /hooks mock only matches the keypair's short DID,
+        // so a regression to the node DID would leave the request unmatched.
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let dir = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let kp = gitlawb_core::identity::Keypair::generate();
+        std::fs::write(
+            dir.path().join("identity.pem"),
+            kp.to_pem().unwrap().as_bytes(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        let _root = server
+            .mock("GET", "/")
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"did":"did:key:z6MkNodeRootDid"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let did = kp.did().to_string();
+        let short = did.split(':').next_back().unwrap_or(&did).to_string();
+
+        let _m = server
+            .mock(
+                "GET",
+                mockito::Matcher::Regex(format!(r"/api/v1/repos/{short}/myrepo/hooks$")),
+            )
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"webhooks":[],"count":0}"#)
+            .expect(1)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let result = call_tool(
+            "webhook_list",
+            json!({"repo": "myrepo"}),
+            &server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+        assert!(result.contains("webhooks"), "got: {result}");
+        _m.assert_async().await;
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_webhook_list_explicit_owner_overrides_keypair() {
+        // An explicit `owner` arg must win over the keypair default and the node
+        // DID. The path must use the supplied owner; "/" must not even be hit.
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let dir = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let kp = gitlawb_core::identity::Keypair::generate();
+        std::fs::write(
+            dir.path().join("identity.pem"),
+            kp.to_pem().unwrap().as_bytes(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        let _m = server
+            .mock(
+                "GET",
+                mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/api/v1/repos/someoneelse/myrepo/hooks$".to_string()),
+            )
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"webhooks":[],"count":0}"#)
+            .expect(1)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let result = call_tool(
+            "webhook_list",
+            json!({"repo": "myrepo", "owner": "someoneelse"}),
+            &server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+        assert!(result.contains("webhooks"), "got: {result}");
+        _m.assert_async().await;
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_webhook_list_non_success_status_errors() {
+        // A 403 (or any non-2xx) JSON error body for a missing identity, wrong
+        // owner, or private/deleted repo must fail the tool call, NOT be returned
+        // as a successful result. Mirrors the `gl webhook list` status check.
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let dir = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let kp = gitlawb_core::identity::Keypair::generate();
+        std::fs::write(
+            dir.path().join("identity.pem"),
+            kp.to_pem().unwrap().as_bytes(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/hooks$".to_string()))
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .with_status(403)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"message":"only the repo owner can perform this action"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let err = call_tool(
+            "webhook_list",
+            json!({"owner": "alice", "repo": "myrepo"}),
+            &server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .expect_err("non-2xx must error, not return the error body as success");
+        let msg = err.to_string();
+        assert!(msg.contains("webhook_list failed (403"), "got: {msg}");
+        assert!(
+            msg.contains("only the repo owner"),
+            "must surface the node message, got: {msg}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_webhook_list_without_keypair_errors() {
+        // No identity loaded and no explicit owner → the tool must error rather
+        // than fall back to the node DID and issue an unsigned, mis-scoped GET.
+        let server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let dir = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap(); // empty: no identity.pem
+
+        let err = call_tool(
+            "webhook_list",
+            json!({"repo": "myrepo"}),
+            &server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .expect_err("must error without an identity");
+        assert!(err.to_string().contains("no identity found"), "got: {err}");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_tool_count_is_42() {
         let tools = tool_definitions();

crates/gl/src/protect.rs

@@ -154,10 +154,12 @@ async fn cmd_remove(
 
 async fn cmd_list(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
     let (owner, name) = resolve_owner_repo(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    // Read-visibility-gated on the node: public repos list anonymously, private
+    // repos need the owner's signature. Sign when an identity is available.
+    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, load_keypair_from_dir(dir.as_deref()).ok());
 
     let resp = client
-        .get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/branches/protected"))
+        .get_maybe_signed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/branches/protected"))
         .await
         .context("failed to connect to node")?;
 
@@ -307,6 +309,9 @@ mod tests {
                 "GET",
                 mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"branches/protected".to_string()),
             )
+            // An identity is supplied, so get_maybe_signed must sign the request.
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
             .with_status(200)
             .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
             .with_body(r#"{"protected_branches":[],"count":0}"#)
@@ -338,6 +343,8 @@ mod tests {
                 "GET",
                 mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"branches/protected".to_string()),
             )
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
             .with_status(200)
             .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
             .with_body(r#"{"protected_branches":["main","release"],"count":2}"#)

crates/gl/src/repo.rs

@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ pub enum RepoCmd {
         repo: String,
         #[arg(long, default_value = "https://node.gitlawb.com", env = "GITLAWB_NODE")]
         node: String,
+        #[arg(long)]
+        dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     },
 }
 
@@ -203,7 +205,7 @@ pub async fn run(args: RepoArgs) -> Result<()> {
         RepoCmd::ReplicaUnregister { repo, node, dir } => {
             cmd_replica_unregister(repo, node, dir).await
         }
-        RepoCmd::Replicas { repo, node } => cmd_replicas(repo, node).await,
+        RepoCmd::Replicas { repo, node, dir } => cmd_replicas(repo, node, dir).await,
     }
 }
 
@@ -329,7 +331,10 @@ async fn cmd_clone(name: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<(
 }
 
 async fn cmd_info(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    // Sign when an identity is available so the read-visibility-gated replica
+    // sub-fetch below resolves for a private repo's owner (public repos still
+    // work anonymously).
+    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, load_keypair_from_dir(dir.as_deref()).ok());
 
     let (owner, name) = if repo.contains('/') {
         let (o, n) = repo.split_once('/').unwrap();
@@ -339,7 +344,10 @@ async fn cmd_info(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()
         (short, repo)
     };
 
-    let resp = client.get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}")).await?;
+    let resp = client
+        .get_maybe_signed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}"))
+        .await
+        .context("failed to connect to node")?;
     // A non-existent (or unreadable/quarantined) repo is a real 404 from the
     // node — surface it plainly instead of printing a stub card with `?` fields
     // and a placeholder owner DID.
@@ -379,7 +387,7 @@ async fn cmd_info(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()
 
     // Replica count — failure to fetch is non-fatal (older nodes don't expose this).
     if let Ok(resp) = client
-        .get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/replicas"))
+        .get_maybe_signed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/replicas"))
         .await
     {
         if resp.status().is_success() {
@@ -459,15 +467,17 @@ async fn cmd_replica_unregister(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn cmd_replicas(repo: String, node: String) -> Result<()> {
+async fn cmd_replicas(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
     let (owner, name) = repo
         .split_once('/')
         .map(|(o, n)| (o.to_string(), n.to_string()))
         .context("use owner/repo format")?;
 
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    // Read-visibility-gated: public repos list anonymously, private repos need
+    // the owner's signature. Sign when an identity is available.
+    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, load_keypair_from_dir(dir.as_deref()).ok());
     let resp = client
-        .get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/replicas"))
+        .get_maybe_signed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/replicas"))
         .await
         .context("failed to connect to node")?;
     let status = resp.status();
@@ -585,7 +595,7 @@ async fn cmd_fork(
 }
 
 /// Returns (owner, repo_name) — if repo contains '/', splits on it; otherwise uses caller's DID.
-async fn resolve_owner_repo_pair(
+pub(crate) async fn resolve_owner_repo_pair(
     repo: &str,
     node: &str,
     dir: Option<&std::path::Path>,
@@ -658,16 +668,23 @@ async fn cmd_label_remove(
 
 async fn cmd_label_list(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
     let (owner, name) = resolve_owner_repo_pair(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    // Read-visibility-gated like the sibling read surfaces (replicas, protected
+    // branches): sign when an identity is available so a private-repo owner can
+    // read their own labels, while public repos stay anonymously listable.
+    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, load_keypair_from_dir(dir.as_deref()).ok());
 
-    let resp: Value = client
-        .get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/labels"))
-        .await?
-        .json()
+    let resp = client
+        .get_maybe_signed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/labels"))
         .await
-        .context("invalid JSON")?;
+        .context("failed to connect to node")?;
+    let status = resp.status();
+    let body: Value = resp.json().await.unwrap_or_default();
+    if !status.is_success() {
+        let msg = body["message"].as_str().unwrap_or("unknown error");
+        anyhow::bail!("list labels failed ({status}): {msg}");
+    }
 
-    let labels = resp["labels"].as_array().cloned().unwrap_or_default();
+    let labels = body["labels"].as_array().cloned().unwrap_or_default();
     if labels.is_empty() {
         println!("No labels on {owner}/{name}");
     } else {
@@ -679,17 +696,39 @@ async fn cmd_label_list(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Res
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Parse the protected-branch list from the node's `GET /branches/protected`
+/// response. The endpoint returns `{"protected_branches": [...], "count": N}`
+/// (see `crates/gitlawb-node/src/api/protect.rs`); each entry may be a plain
+/// branch-name string or an object carrying a `name` field.
+fn parse_protected_branches(val: &Value) -> Vec<String> {
+    val["protected_branches"]
+        .as_array()
+        .map(|arr| {
+            arr.iter()
+                .filter_map(|b| {
+                    b.as_str()
+                        .map(String::from)
+                        .or_else(|| b["name"].as_str().map(String::from))
+                })
+                .collect()
+        })
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+}
+
 async fn cmd_owner(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>, json_out: bool) -> Result<()> {
     let keypair = load_keypair_from_dir(dir.as_deref())?;
     let my_did = keypair.did().to_string();
     let my_short = my_did.split(':').next_back().unwrap_or(&my_did).to_string();
 
     let (owner, name) = resolve_owner_repo_pair(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    // Sign with the loaded identity so the read-visibility-gated protected-branch
+    // fetch below works on the owner's own private repos.
+    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, Some(keypair));
 
-    // Fetch repo info
+    // Fetch repo info (get_repo is read-visibility-gated; sign so the owner can
+    // inspect their own private repo).
     let resp = client
-        .get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}"))
+        .get_maybe_signed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}"))
         .await
         .context("failed to connect to node")?;
     if !resp.status().is_success() {
@@ -704,25 +743,14 @@ async fn cmd_owner(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>, json_out: b
         .to_string();
     let is_owner = my_did == owner_did || my_short == owner_short;
 
-    // Fetch protected branches
+    // Fetch protected branches (read-visibility-gated; signed via the client).
     let protected: Vec<String> = match client
-        .get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/branches/protected"))
+        .get_maybe_signed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/branches/protected"))
         .await
     {
         Ok(resp) if resp.status().is_success() => {
             let val: Value = resp.json().await.unwrap_or_default();
-            val.as_array()
-                .or_else(|| val["branches"].as_array())
-                .map(|arr| {
-                    arr.iter()
-                        .filter_map(|b| {
-                            b.as_str()
-                                .map(String::from)
-                                .or_else(|| b["name"].as_str().map(String::from))
-                        })
-                        .collect()
-                })
-                .unwrap_or_default()
+            parse_protected_branches(&val)
         }
         _ => Vec::new(),
     };
@@ -760,6 +788,20 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use tempfile::TempDir;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_protected_branches_reads_node_shape() {
+        use serde_json::json;
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_protected_branches(&json!({"protected_branches":["main","release"],"count":2})),
+            vec!["main".to_string(), "release".to_string()]
+        );
+        assert!(parse_protected_branches(&json!({"count":0})).is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_protected_branches(&json!({"protected_branches":[{"name":"main"}]})),
+            vec!["main".to_string()]
+        );
+    }
+
     fn write_identity(dir: &TempDir) {
         let kp = gitlawb_core::identity::Keypair::generate();
         let pem = kp.to_pem().unwrap();
@@ -1097,6 +1139,10 @@ mod tests {
                 "GET",
                 mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"^/api/v1/repos/[^/]+/myrepo/labels$".to_string()),
             )
+            // Identity is loaded, so get_maybe_signed must sign — requiring the
+            // header guards against a regression back to bare get().
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
             .with_status(200)
             .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
             .with_body(r#"{"labels":[]}"#)
@@ -1123,6 +1169,10 @@ mod tests {
                 "GET",
                 mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"^/api/v1/repos/[^/]+/myrepo/labels$".to_string()),
             )
+            // Identity is loaded, so get_maybe_signed must sign — requiring the
+            // header guards against a regression back to bare get().
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
             .with_status(200)
             .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
             .with_body(r#"{"labels":["language:rust","topic:defi"]}"#)
@@ -1138,6 +1188,97 @@ mod tests {
         .unwrap();
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_cmd_label_list_anonymous_when_no_identity() {
+        // Empty dir → no identity → get_maybe_signed must fall back to an
+        // anonymous GET (the public-repo path). Assert NO signature header.
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/labels$".to_string()))
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Missing)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"labels":[]}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        cmd_label_list(
+            "owner/pubrepo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_cmd_label_list_404_errors() {
+        // A non-reader of a private repo gets 404 from the now-gated endpoint.
+        // The client must surface that as an error, not print "No labels" and
+        // exit 0 (the error body has no `labels` key).
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        write_identity(&dir);
+
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock(
+                "GET",
+                mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"^/api/v1/repos/[^/]+/myrepo/labels$".to_string()),
+            )
+            .with_status(404)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"message":"repo not found"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let err = cmd_label_list(
+            "myrepo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().contains("list labels failed (404")
+                && err.to_string().contains("repo not found"),
+            "got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_cmd_label_list_non_json_error_surfaces_status() {
+        // A non-2xx response with a non-JSON body (e.g. a proxy 502) must still
+        // surface the HTTP status, not collapse to a bare JSON-parse error.
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        write_identity(&dir);
+
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock(
+                "GET",
+                mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"^/api/v1/repos/[^/]+/myrepo/labels$".to_string()),
+            )
+            .with_status(502)
+            .with_header("content-type", "text/html")
+            .with_body("<html>502 Bad Gateway</html>")
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let err = cmd_label_list(
+            "myrepo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().contains("list labels failed (502"),
+            "got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_cmd_owner_is_owner() {
         let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
@@ -1148,11 +1289,15 @@ mod tests {
         let short = did.split(':').next_back().unwrap().to_string();
 
         let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        // Both fetches are read-visibility-gated; with an identity loaded they
+        // must be signed. Requiring the header guards a regression to get().
         let _repo = server
             .mock(
                 "GET",
                 mockito::Matcher::Regex(format!(r"^/api/v1/repos/{short}/myrepo$")),
             )
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
             .with_status(200)
             .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
             .with_body(format!(
@@ -1167,9 +1312,11 @@ mod tests {
                     r"^/api/v1/repos/{short}/myrepo/branches/protected$"
                 )),
             )
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
             .with_status(200)
             .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
-            .with_body(r#"["main"]"#)
+            .with_body(r#"{"protected_branches":["main"],"count":1}"#)
             .create_async()
             .await;
 
@@ -1210,7 +1357,7 @@ mod tests {
             )
             .with_status(200)
             .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
-            .with_body(r#"["main","release"]"#)
+            .with_body(r#"{"protected_branches":["main","release"],"count":2}"#)
             .create_async()
             .await;
 
@@ -1251,7 +1398,7 @@ mod tests {
             )
             .with_status(200)
             .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
-            .with_body(r#"["main"]"#)
+            .with_body(r#"{"protected_branches":["main"],"count":1}"#)
             .create_async()
             .await;
 
@@ -1292,4 +1439,254 @@ mod tests {
         .unwrap_err();
         assert!(err.to_string().contains("not found"), "got: {err}");
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_cmd_replicas_signs_when_identity_present() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        write_identity(&dir);
+
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        // Read-visibility-gated: with an identity the request must be signed.
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/replicas$".to_string()))
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"repo":"owner/myrepo","replica_count":0,"replicas":[]}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        cmd_replicas(
+            "owner/myrepo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_cmd_replicas_anonymous_when_no_identity() {
+        // Empty dir → no identity → get_maybe_signed must fall back to an
+        // anonymous GET (the public-repo path). Assert NO signature header.
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/replicas$".to_string()))
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Missing)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"repo":"owner/pubrepo","replica_count":0,"replicas":[]}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        cmd_replicas(
+            "owner/pubrepo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_cmd_info_signs_repo_and_replica_fetches() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        write_identity(&dir);
+
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        // Both the primary repo fetch and the replica sub-fetch are
+        // read-visibility-gated; with an identity loaded both must be signed.
+        let _repo = server
+            .mock(
+                "GET",
+                mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"^/api/v1/repos/owner/myrepo$".to_string()),
+            )
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(
+                r#"{"id":"r1","name":"myrepo","owner_did":"did:key:zOwner","is_public":false,"default_branch":"main"}"#,
+            )
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let _replicas = server
+            .mock("GET", mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/replicas$".to_string()))
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"replica_count":0,"replicas":[]}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        cmd_info(
+            "owner/myrepo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_cmd_info_404_surfaces_error_not_fake_repo() {
+        // A non-reader of a private repo gets a JSON 404 from the now-gated
+        // GET /api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}. The command must surface that as an
+        // error, not parse the error body and print a fabricated repo summary
+        // (owner / "?" / public=true / main) before exiting 0.
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        write_identity(&dir);
+
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _repo = server
+            .mock(
+                "GET",
+                mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"^/api/v1/repos/owner/myrepo$".to_string()),
+            )
+            .with_status(404)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"message":"repo not found"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let err = cmd_info(
+            "owner/myrepo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap_err();
+        // The merged cmd_info maps a 404 to a generic "not found" (it does not
+        // echo the server's message body on 404), which still surfaces the error
+        // rather than fabricating a repo card, and avoids leaking any
+        // server-provided detail on a private-repo denial.
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string()
+                .contains("repository 'owner/myrepo' not found"),
+            "got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_cmd_info_non_json_error_surfaces_status() {
+        // A non-2xx response with a non-JSON body (e.g. a proxy 502) must still
+        // surface the HTTP status, not collapse to a bare JSON-parse error.
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        write_identity(&dir);
+
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _repo = server
+            .mock(
+                "GET",
+                mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"^/api/v1/repos/owner/myrepo$".to_string()),
+            )
+            .with_status(502)
+            .with_header("content-type", "text/html")
+            .with_body("<html>502 Bad Gateway</html>")
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let err = cmd_info(
+            "owner/myrepo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().contains("repo info failed (502"),
+            "got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+// Drives the three deny/negative arms that the merge reconciliation changed but
+// that no existing test executed (they were only reasoned): resolve_owner_did
+// with no identity, cmd_info on an authenticated-but-denied 403, and
+// get_maybe_signed with no keypair. Each asserts the must-not case.
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod vet_merge_deny_arms {
+    use super::*;
+    use tempfile::TempDir;
+
+    fn write_identity(dir: &TempDir) {
+        let kp = gitlawb_core::identity::Keypair::generate();
+        let pem = kp.to_pem().unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(dir.path().join("identity.pem"), pem.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+    }
+
+    // No local identity must hard-error, never fall back to the node's own DID.
+    // (Load-bearing: #113's pre-merge resolve_owner_did returned Ok via a node
+    // fetch here; a reintroduced fallback makes this go red.)
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn resolve_owner_did_no_identity_errors_not_fallback() {
+        let empty = TempDir::new().unwrap(); // no identity.pem written
+        let err = resolve_owner_did("http://unused.invalid", Some(empty.path()))
+            .await
+            .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string()
+                .contains("no local identity to resolve the repo owner"),
+            "got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    // An authenticated caller DENIED with a 403 must surface an error, never
+    // render a repo card (deny-as-success is the INV-8 client-contract break).
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn cmd_info_403_denied_surfaces_error_not_card() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        write_identity(&dir);
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock(
+                "GET",
+                mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"^/api/v1/repos/owner/myrepo$".to_string()),
+            )
+            .with_status(403)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"message":"forbidden"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let err = cmd_info(
+            "owner/myrepo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().contains("repo info failed (403"),
+            "got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    // No keypair must send an unsigned GET; the mock only matches when the
+    // Signature header is absent, so a wrongly-signed request fails to match.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn get_maybe_signed_no_keypair_sends_unsigned() {
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", "/api/v1/repos/owner/pub")
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Missing)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body("{}")
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let client = NodeClient::new(server.url(), None);
+        let resp = client
+            .get_maybe_signed("/api/v1/repos/owner/pub")
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            resp.status().is_success(),
+            "unsigned GET should match the Missing-signature mock; got {}",
+            resp.status()
+        );
+    }
 }

crates/gl/src/star.rs

@@ -34,12 +34,14 @@ pub enum StarCmd {
         #[arg(long)]
         dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     },
-    /// Show star count for a repository (no auth required)
+    /// Show star count for a repository
     Count {
         /// Repository in owner/repo format
         repo: String,
         #[arg(long, default_value = "https://node.gitlawb.com", env = "GITLAWB_NODE")]
         node: String,
+        #[arg(long)]
+        dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     },
 }
 
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@ pub async fn run(args: StarArgs) -> Result<()> {
     match args.cmd {
         StarCmd::Add { repo, node, dir } => cmd_add(repo, node, dir).await,
         StarCmd::Remove { repo, node, dir } => cmd_remove(repo, node, dir).await,
-        StarCmd::Count { repo, node } => cmd_count(repo, node).await,
+        StarCmd::Count { repo, node, dir } => cmd_count(repo, node, dir).await,
     }
 }
 
@@ -110,15 +112,15 @@ async fn cmd_remove(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn cmd_count(repo: String, node: String) -> Result<()> {
+async fn cmd_count(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
     let (owner, name) = repo
         .split_once('/')
         .map(|(o, n)| (o.to_string(), n.to_string()))
         .context("use owner/repo format for count (e.g. alice/myrepo)")?;
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
+    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, load_keypair_from_dir(dir.as_deref()).ok());
 
     let resp = client
-        .get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/star"))
+        .get_authed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/star"))
         .await
         .context("failed to connect to node")?;
 
@@ -310,16 +312,20 @@ mod tests {
             .create_async()
             .await;
 
-        cmd_count("alice/myrepo".to_string(), server.url())
+        cmd_count("alice/myrepo".to_string(), server.url(), None)
             .await
             .unwrap();
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_cmd_count_requires_slash() {
-        let err = cmd_count("noslash".to_string(), "http://127.0.0.1:1".to_string())
-            .await
-            .unwrap_err();
+        let err = cmd_count(
+            "noslash".to_string(),
+            "http://127.0.0.1:1".to_string(),
+            None,
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap_err();
         assert!(err.to_string().contains("owner/repo format"));
     }
 

crates/gl/src/sync.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use anyhow::Result;
+use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use clap::{Args, Subcommand};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
@@ -30,15 +30,39 @@ pub enum SyncCmd {
 pub async fn run(args: SyncArgs) -> Result<()> {
     match args.cmd {
         SyncCmd::Trigger => {
-            let keypair = load_keypair_from_dir(args.dir.as_deref()).ok();
-            let client = NodeClient::new(&args.node, keypair);
-            let resp: serde_json::Value = client
-                .post("/api/v1/sync/trigger", b"{}")
-                .await?
-                .json()
-                .await?;
-            let peers = resp["peers_reached"].as_u64().unwrap_or(0);
-            let enqueued = resp["repos_enqueued"].as_u64().unwrap_or(0);
+            // /api/v1/sync/trigger always requires a signature, so a missing or
+            // unreadable identity must fail here, locally, rather than sending an
+            // unsigned request that can only 401 remotely (matches the other
+            // signed CLI writes).
+            let keypair = load_keypair_from_dir(args.dir.as_deref())
+                .context("identity not found — run `gl identity new` first")?;
+            let client = NodeClient::new(&args.node, Some(keypair));
+            let resp = client.post("/api/v1/sync/trigger", b"{}").await?;
+            // The node now requires a signature on this route and rate-limits it,
+            // so a denial (401/429/…) is expected. Check the status BEFORE parsing:
+            // otherwise a JSON-ish error body deserializes into a zero-count struct
+            // and prints a fabricated "✓ sync triggered / 0 peers" success.
+            let status = resp.status();
+            if !status.is_success() {
+                // Bound the read: a hostile or broken node must not force an
+                // unbounded allocation just to surface a denial (INV-6, read half).
+                let raw = read_body_capped(resp, 8 * 1024).await;
+                let msg = serde_json::from_str::<serde_json::Value>(&raw)
+                    .ok()
+                    .and_then(|v| {
+                        v.get("message")
+                            .or_else(|| v.get("error"))
+                            .and_then(|m| m.as_str())
+                            .map(str::to_string)
+                    })
+                    .unwrap_or(raw);
+                anyhow::bail!(
+                    "sync trigger failed ({status}): {}",
+                    sanitize_node_msg(&msg)
+                );
+            }
+            let resp: serde_json::Value = resp.json().await?;
+            let (peers, enqueued) = trigger_counts(&resp);
             println!("✓ sync triggered");
             println!("  peers reached:   {peers}");
             println!("  repos enqueued:  {enqueued}");
@@ -69,3 +93,252 @@ pub async fn run(args: SyncArgs) -> Result<()> {
     }
     Ok(())
 }
+
+/// Extract `(peers_reached, repos_enqueued)` from a successful sync-trigger
+/// response. Split out so the extraction is unit-testable (missing or malformed
+/// fields default to 0 rather than panicking).
+fn trigger_counts(resp: &serde_json::Value) -> (u64, u64) {
+    (
+        resp["peers_reached"].as_u64().unwrap_or(0),
+        resp["repos_enqueued"].as_u64().unwrap_or(0),
+    )
+}
+
+/// Read at most `cap` bytes of a response body. Bounds the allocation from a
+/// hostile or broken node returning a huge error body — the display is capped
+/// separately, but the read itself must not be unbounded (INV-6, read half).
+async fn read_body_capped(mut resp: reqwest::Response, cap: usize) -> String {
+    let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
+    while buf.len() < cap {
+        match resp.chunk().await {
+            Ok(Some(chunk)) => {
+                let take = (cap - buf.len()).min(chunk.len());
+                buf.extend_from_slice(&chunk[..take]);
+                if take < chunk.len() {
+                    break; // hit the cap mid-chunk
+                }
+            }
+            _ => break, // end of body or read error — return what we have
+        }
+    }
+    String::from_utf8_lossy(&buf).into_owned()
+}
+
+/// Strip terminal-dangerous characters from (and cap the length of) a
+/// node-supplied error string before surfacing it. The node a caller talks to
+/// could be hostile and embed escape sequences in its error body; those must not
+/// reach the terminal verbatim (INV-6). We drop the C0/C1 control bytes (which
+/// defangs ANSI/OSC escapes) AND the Unicode bidi/format controls (which
+/// `char::is_control` does not cover — they can reorder the displayed line).
+fn sanitize_node_msg(s: &str) -> String {
+    s.chars()
+        .filter(|c| !c.is_control() && !gitlawb_core::sanitize::is_bidi_format(*c))
+        .take(200)
+        .collect()
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn trigger_args(node: String) -> (SyncArgs, tempfile::TempDir) {
+        // Seed a real identity so `run` gets past the mandatory-keypair check and
+        // reaches the status-handling path. The mocks below return a fixed status
+        // regardless of the signature, so these tests exercise the client's
+        // status-check-before-parse, not signature verification (that is proved
+        // server-side). Return the TempDir so the caller keeps it alive.
+        let dir = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let kp = gitlawb_core::identity::Keypair::generate();
+        std::fs::write(
+            dir.path().join("identity.pem"),
+            kp.to_pem().unwrap().as_bytes(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let args = SyncArgs {
+            cmd: SyncCmd::Trigger,
+            node,
+            dir: Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        };
+        (args, dir)
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn trigger_requires_identity_fails_before_request() {
+        // Empty identity dir → no keypair. `sync trigger` must fail locally with
+        // a clear identity error BEFORE issuing any request. The node URL points
+        // at an unreachable port, so a request attempt would surface a different
+        // (connection) error; getting the identity error proves we never dialed.
+        let dir = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let args = SyncArgs {
+            cmd: SyncCmd::Trigger,
+            node: "http://127.0.0.1:1".to_string(),
+            dir: Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        };
+        let err = run(args).await.unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().contains("identity not found"),
+            "expected a local identity error before any request, got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn trigger_surfaces_401_as_error_not_fake_success() {
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/v1/sync/trigger")
+            .with_status(401)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            // Valid JSON: the parse-without-status-check bug deserializes this
+            // into a zero-count success struct and prints "✓ sync triggered".
+            .with_body(r#"{"message":"unauthorized"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let (args, _dir) = trigger_args(server.url());
+        let err = run(args).await.unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().contains("401"),
+            "expected 401 surfaced, got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn trigger_surfaces_429_as_error() {
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/v1/sync/trigger")
+            .with_status(429)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"message":"slow down"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let (args, _dir) = trigger_args(server.url());
+        let err = run(args).await.unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().contains("429"),
+            "expected 429 surfaced, got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn trigger_sanitizes_control_chars_in_node_error() {
+        // A hostile node embeds an ANSI color escape (ESC) and a bell (BEL) in
+        // the JSON message field. The surfaced error must contain neither raw
+        // control byte, while keeping the printable text.
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/v1/sync/trigger")
+            .with_status(401)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            // Valid JSON whose message carries JSON-escaped ESC (\u001b) and
+            // BEL (\u0007); serde decodes them to real control bytes a naive
+            // client would print. (The status-check bug fake-successes here.)
+            .with_body("{\"message\":\"pwned\\u001b[31m\\u0007bad\"}")
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let (args, _dir) = trigger_args(server.url());
+        let err = run(args).await.unwrap_err();
+        let s = err.to_string();
+        assert!(!s.contains('\u{1b}'), "ESC leaked to terminal: {s:?}");
+        assert!(!s.contains('\u{07}'), "BEL leaked to terminal: {s:?}");
+        assert!(
+            s.contains("pwned") && s.contains("bad"),
+            "message text dropped: {s:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn trigger_ok_prints_counts() {
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/v1/sync/trigger")
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"peers_reached":2,"repos_enqueued":5}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let (args, _dir) = trigger_args(server.url());
+        run(args).await.unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn sanitize_strips_controls_bidi_and_caps_length() {
+        // C0 (ESC/BEL) and the Cf bidi override (U+202E) are both removed; the
+        // printable text survives. (Note: a stripped ESC leaves any following
+        // "[31m" as inert literal text — that is the point, so the input here
+        // avoids that residue to keep the expectation unambiguous.)
+        let out = sanitize_node_msg("a\u{1b}\u{07}b\u{202e}c");
+        assert!(
+            !out.chars().any(|c| c.is_control()),
+            "control char leaked: {out:?}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !out.contains('\u{202e}'),
+            "RLO bidi override leaked: {out:?}"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(out, "abc");
+        // Length is capped at 200 chars regardless of input size.
+        let long = "x".repeat(250);
+        assert_eq!(sanitize_node_msg(&long).chars().count(), 200);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn sanitize_preserves_legitimate_and_rtl_text() {
+        // Must not over-strip: a plain word, a genuine RTL SCRIPT letter (Arabic
+        // U+0627, category Lo — NOT a format char), and ZWJ (U+200D, a legitimate
+        // Cf char, e.g. emoji sequences) all survive. Guards the shared predicate
+        // against being widened into a blanket Cf stripper.
+        let out = sanitize_node_msg("ok \u{0627}\u{200D}b");
+        assert_eq!(out, "ok \u{0627}\u{200D}b");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn trigger_handles_oversized_error_body_without_unbounded_output() {
+        // A hostile/broken node returns a 2 MB error body. The command must still
+        // surface the denial with a bounded message, not hang or dump the body.
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("POST", "/api/v1/sync/trigger")
+            .with_status(401)
+            .with_body("A".repeat(2_000_000))
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let (args, _dir) = trigger_args(server.url());
+        let err = run(args).await.unwrap_err();
+        let s = err.to_string();
+        assert!(s.contains("401"), "denial not surfaced: {s:.80?}");
+        assert!(
+            s.len() < 500,
+            "error message not bounded: {} chars",
+            s.len()
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn read_body_capped_bounds_the_read() {
+        // The read must stop at the cap — a 2 MB body yields at most `cap` bytes,
+        // not the whole thing (which resp.text() would return).
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", "/big")
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_body("A".repeat(2_000_000))
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+        let resp = reqwest::get(format!("{}/big", server.url())).await.unwrap();
+        let out = read_body_capped(resp, 8192).await;
+        assert!(out.len() <= 8192, "read not bounded: {} bytes", out.len());
+        assert!(!out.is_empty(), "expected some body");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn trigger_counts_extracts_both_values() {
+        let v = serde_json::json!({"peers_reached": 2, "repos_enqueued": 5});
+        assert_eq!(trigger_counts(&v), (2, 5));
+        // Missing/malformed fields default to 0, never panic.
+        assert_eq!(trigger_counts(&serde_json::json!({})), (0, 0));
+        assert_eq!(
+            trigger_counts(&serde_json::json!({"peers_reached": "x"})),
+            (0, 0)
+        );
+    }
+}

crates/gl/src/webhook.rs

@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ pub enum WebhookCmd {
         repo: String,
         #[arg(long, default_value = "https://node.gitlawb.com", env = "GITLAWB_NODE")]
         node: String,
+        #[arg(long)]
+        dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     },
     /// Delete a webhook
     Delete {
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ pub async fn run(args: WebhookArgs) -> Result<()> {
             node,
             dir,
         } => cmd_create(repo, url, events, secret, node, dir).await,
-        WebhookCmd::List { repo, node } => cmd_list(repo, node).await,
+        WebhookCmd::List { repo, node, dir } => cmd_list(repo, node, dir).await,
         WebhookCmd::Delete {
             repo,
             id,
@@ -76,15 +78,6 @@ pub async fn run(args: WebhookArgs) -> Result<()> {
     }
 }
 
-async fn resolve_owner(client: &NodeClient) -> Result<String> {
-    let info: Value = client.get("/").await?.json().await?;
-    let did = info["did"]
-        .as_str()
-        .context("node missing DID")?
-        .to_string();
-    Ok(did.split(':').next_back().unwrap_or(&did).to_string())
-}
-
 async fn cmd_create(
     repo: String,
     url: String,
@@ -94,8 +87,8 @@ async fn cmd_create(
     dir: Option<PathBuf>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let keypair = load_keypair_from_dir(dir.as_deref())?;
+    let (owner, name) = crate::repo::resolve_owner_repo_pair(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
     let client = NodeClient::new(&node, Some(keypair));
-    let owner = resolve_owner(&client).await?;
 
     let event_list: Vec<&str> = events.split(',').map(str::trim).collect();
 
@@ -106,7 +99,7 @@ async fn cmd_create(
     }))?;
 
     let resp = client
-        .post(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/hooks"), &payload)
+        .post(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/hooks"), &payload)
         .await
         .context("failed to connect to node")?;
     let status = resp.status();
@@ -143,18 +136,31 @@ async fn cmd_create(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn cmd_list(repo: String, node: String) -> Result<()> {
-    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, None);
-    let owner = resolve_owner(&client).await?;
+async fn cmd_list(repo: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
+    // The node owner-gates GET /hooks (callback URLs are owner-secret), so the
+    // list request must be signed — anonymous callers get 401.
+    let keypair = load_keypair_from_dir(dir.as_deref())?;
+    let (owner, name) = crate::repo::resolve_owner_repo_pair(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
+    let client = NodeClient::new(&node, Some(keypair));
 
-    let resp: Value = client
-        .get(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/hooks"))
-        .await?
-        .json()
-        .await
-        .context("invalid JSON")?;
+    // get_signed (not get) attaches the RFC 9421 signature — plain get() never
+    // signs, and the node owner-gates this route, so an unsigned GET 401s.
+    let resp = client
+        .get_signed(&format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/hooks"))
+        .await?;
+    let status = resp.status();
+    let body: Value = resp.json().await.context("invalid JSON")?;
 
-    let hooks = resp["webhooks"].as_array().cloned().unwrap_or_default();
+    if !status.is_success() {
+        let msg = body["message"].as_str().unwrap_or("unknown error");
+        anyhow::bail!("list webhooks failed ({status}): {msg}");
+    }
+
+    let hooks = body
+        .get("webhooks")
+        .and_then(Value::as_array)
+        .cloned()
+        .context("node response missing webhooks array")?;
     if hooks.is_empty() {
         println!("No webhooks for {repo}");
         return Ok(());
@@ -185,13 +191,13 @@ async fn cmd_list(repo: String, node: String) -> Result<()> {
 
 async fn cmd_delete(repo: String, id: String, node: String, dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<()> {
     let keypair = load_keypair_from_dir(dir.as_deref())?;
+    let (owner, name) = crate::repo::resolve_owner_repo_pair(&repo, &node, dir.as_deref()).await?;
     let client = NodeClient::new(&node, Some(keypair));
-    let owner = resolve_owner(&client).await?;
 
     let payload = serde_json::to_vec(&serde_json::json!({}))?;
     let resp = client
         .delete(
-            &format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/hooks/{id}"),
+            &format!("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{name}/hooks/{id}"),
             &payload,
         )
         .await
@@ -337,33 +343,170 @@ mod tests {
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_list_webhooks_empty() {
         let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let (dir, _kp) = tmp_identity();
         let _root = mock_root(&mut server).await;
 
         let _m = server
             .mock("GET", mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/hooks$".to_string()))
+            // The route is owner-gated, so the list request must be signed.
+            // Requiring the header here is what catches a regression to plain get().
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
             .with_status(200)
             .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
             .with_body(r#"{"webhooks":[]}"#)
             .create_async()
             .await;
 
-        cmd_list("my-repo".to_string(), server.url()).await.unwrap();
+        cmd_list(
+            "my-repo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_list_webhooks_with_items() {
         let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let (dir, _kp) = tmp_identity();
         let _root = mock_root(&mut server).await;
 
         let _m = server
             .mock("GET", mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/hooks$".to_string()))
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
             .with_status(200)
             .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
             .with_body(r#"{"webhooks":[{"id":"h1","url":"https://a.com","events":["push"],"active":true},{"id":"h2","url":"https://b.com","events":["*"],"active":false}]}"#)
             .create_async()
             .await;
 
-        cmd_list("my-repo".to_string(), server.url()).await.unwrap();
+        cmd_list(
+            "my-repo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_list_owner_comes_from_keypair_not_node_did() {
+        // The owner segment must be derived from the caller's keypair (loaded
+        // from --dir), NOT the node root DID. mock_root returns a different DID;
+        // if the code regressed to using it, this path mock would not match.
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let (dir, kp) = tmp_identity();
+        let _root = mock_root(&mut server).await;
+
+        let did = kp.did().to_string();
+        let short = did.split(':').next_back().unwrap_or(&did).to_string();
+
+        let _m = server
+            .mock(
+                "GET",
+                mockito::Matcher::Regex(format!(r"/api/v1/repos/{short}/my-repo/hooks$")),
+            )
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"webhooks":[]}"#)
+            .expect(1)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        cmd_list(
+            "my-repo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+        _m.assert_async().await;
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_list_honors_owner_repo_arg() {
+        // An explicit `owner/repo` argument is split and used verbatim.
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let (dir, _kp) = tmp_identity();
+        let _root = mock_root(&mut server).await;
+
+        let _m = server
+            .mock(
+                "GET",
+                mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/api/v1/repos/someoneelse/their-repo/hooks$".to_string()),
+            )
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"webhooks":[]}"#)
+            .expect(1)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        cmd_list(
+            "someoneelse/their-repo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+        _m.assert_async().await;
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_list_webhooks_non_success_status_errors() {
+        // A 403 (or any non-2xx) JSON body has no `webhooks` field; cmd_list must
+        // surface the failure, not print "No webhooks" and exit 0.
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let (dir, _kp) = tmp_identity();
+        let _root = mock_root(&mut server).await;
+
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/hooks$".to_string()))
+            .with_status(403)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"message":"not the owner"}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let err = cmd_list(
+            "my-repo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(err.to_string().contains("not the owner"));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_list_webhooks_2xx_missing_array_errors() {
+        // A 2xx body without a `webhooks` array signals a node/API contract
+        // regression. cmd_list must error rather than print "No webhooks".
+        let mut server = mockito::Server::new_async().await;
+        let (dir, _kp) = tmp_identity();
+        let _root = mock_root(&mut server).await;
+
+        let _m = server
+            .mock("GET", mockito::Matcher::Regex(r"/hooks$".to_string()))
+            .match_header("signature", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .match_header("signature-input", mockito::Matcher::Any)
+            .with_status(200)
+            .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .with_body(r#"{"ok":true}"#)
+            .create_async()
+            .await;
+
+        let err = cmd_list(
+            "my-repo".to_string(),
+            server.url(),
+            Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(err.to_string().contains("missing webhooks array"));
     }
 
     // ── delete ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────

crates/icaptcha-client/Cargo.toml

@@ -15,3 +15,7 @@ serde_json = { workspace = true }
 anyhow = { workspace = true }
 thiserror = { workspace = true }
 tracing = { workspace = true }
+sha2 = { workspace = true }
+
+[dev-dependencies]
+mockito = "1"

crates/icaptcha-client/src/lib.rs

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use serde_json::json;
 
+pub mod pow;
 pub mod solvers;
 
 /// Default iCaptcha service base URL (used when the node doesn't advertise one).
@@ -63,6 +64,12 @@ fn sanitize_excerpt(s: &str) -> String {
             }
             continue;
         }
+        if gitlawb_core::sanitize::is_bidi_format(ch) {
+            // Drop Cf bidi/format controls (INV-6, #183) without setting
+            // pending_space: they are not whitespace, so stripping leaves no
+            // phantom gap.
+            continue;
+        }
         if ch.is_whitespace() {
             pending_space = true;
             continue;
@@ -81,18 +88,42 @@ fn sanitize_excerpt(s: &str) -> String {
     out
 }
 
-/// Whether `u` parses as an `https` URL.
+/// Whether `u` parses as a trusted URL.
+///
+/// Production trusts only `https`.  When `GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE` is set (a
+/// runtime escape hatch for integration tests) the function also trusts
+/// `http://127.0.0.1` and `http://localhost` so the full iCaptcha retry path
+/// can be exercised against a local mockito server.
 fn is_https(u: &str) -> bool {
-    reqwest::Url::parse(u)
-        .map(|p| p.scheme() == "https")
-        .unwrap_or(false)
+    let Ok(parsed) = reqwest::Url::parse(u) else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    if parsed.scheme() == "https" {
+        return true;
+    }
+    if std::env::var_os("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE").is_some()
+        && parsed.scheme() == "http"
+        && matches!(parsed.host_str(), Some("127.0.0.1" | "localhost"))
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+    false
 }
 
-/// Lowercased host of a URL, if it parses and has one.
-fn host_of(u: &str) -> Option<String> {
-    reqwest::Url::parse(u)
-        .ok()
-        .and_then(|p| p.host_str().map(|h| h.to_ascii_lowercase()))
+/// Lowercased origin string (`scheme://host[:port]`) of a URL.
+///
+/// Includes the effective port so that `http://localhost:3000` and
+/// `http://localhost:9000` are treated as distinct origins — a hostile node
+/// cannot redirect the iCaptcha solve to a different loopback port.
+fn origin_key(u: &str) -> Option<String> {
+    let parsed = reqwest::Url::parse(u).ok()?;
+    let scheme = parsed.scheme();
+    let host = parsed.host_str()?.to_ascii_lowercase();
+    let port = parsed
+        .port_or_known_default()
+        .map(|p| format!(":{p}"))
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+    Some(format!("{scheme}://{host}{port}"))
 }
 
 /// Decide which iCaptcha origin to actually talk to, and whether it is trusted
@@ -109,12 +140,13 @@ fn host_of(u: &str) -> Option<String> {
 /// exfiltrated to an origin the operator did not choose.
 fn resolve_solver_url(advertised: Option<&str>, operator: Option<&str>) -> (String, bool) {
     let operator = operator.filter(|u| is_https(u));
-    let operator_host = operator.and_then(host_of);
-    let default_host = host_of(DEFAULT_URL);
+    let operator_origin = operator.as_ref().and_then(|u| origin_key(u));
+    let default_origin = origin_key(DEFAULT_URL);
 
-    let allowed = |host: &Option<String>| -> bool {
-        host.as_ref()
-            .map(|h| Some(h) == default_host.as_ref() || Some(h) == operator_host.as_ref())
+    let allowed = |origin: &Option<String>| -> bool {
+        origin
+            .as_ref()
+            .map(|o| Some(o) == default_origin.as_ref() || Some(o) == operator_origin.as_ref())
             .unwrap_or(false)
     };
 
@@ -125,7 +157,7 @@ fn resolve_solver_url(advertised: Option<&str>, operator: Option<&str>) -> (Stri
     };
 
     let chosen = match advertised {
-        Some(a) if is_https(a) && allowed(&host_of(a)) => a.to_string(),
+        Some(a) if is_https(a) && allowed(&origin_key(a)) => a.to_string(),
         Some(a) => {
             tracing::warn!(
                 advertised = %a,
@@ -137,7 +169,7 @@ fn resolve_solver_url(advertised: Option<&str>, operator: Option<&str>) -> (Stri
     };
 
     // Key goes only to the operator's own configured origin.
-    let key_trusted = operator_host.is_some() && host_of(&chosen) == operator_host;
+    let key_trusted = operator_origin.is_some() && origin_key(&chosen) == operator_origin;
     (chosen, key_trusted)
 }
 
@@ -201,6 +233,10 @@ pub struct Challenge {
     pub difficulty: u32,
     pub prompt: String,
     pub token: String,
+    /// Proof-of-work to solve and echo back as `powNonce` on the answer. Present
+    /// only when the service has PoW enabled; absent/None means no PoW required.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub pow: Option<pow::PowChallenge>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
@@ -237,7 +273,28 @@ pub fn obtain_proof(cfg: &IcaptchaCfg, solver: Option<&Solver>) -> Result<String
                 )
             })?;
 
-        match submit_answer(&client, cfg, &challenge.token, &answer)? {
+        // Solve the proof-of-work bound to this challenge, if the service
+        // requires one. A required-but-unsolvable PoW (unknown algorithm or a
+        // difficulty above our cap) is a hard error — submitting without it
+        // would just be rejected.
+        let pow_nonce = match &challenge.pow {
+            Some(p) => Some(pow::solve(p).ok_or_else(|| {
+                anyhow!(
+                    "cannot solve iCaptcha proof-of-work (algorithm '{}', difficulty {})",
+                    p.algorithm,
+                    p.difficulty
+                )
+            })?),
+            None => None,
+        };
+
+        match submit_answer(
+            &client,
+            cfg,
+            &challenge.token,
+            &answer,
+            pow_nonce.as_deref(),
+        )? {
             AnswerResult::Passed { proof } => return Ok(proof),
             AnswerResult::Continue { challenge: next } => challenge = next,
             AnswerResult::Failed { reason } => {
@@ -273,11 +330,14 @@ fn submit_answer(
     cfg: &IcaptchaCfg,
     token: &str,
     answer: &str,
+    pow_nonce: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<AnswerResult> {
     let url = format!("{}/v1/answer", cfg.url.trim_end_matches('/'));
-    let mut req = client
-        .post(&url)
-        .json(&json!({ "token": token, "answer": answer }));
+    let mut body = json!({ "token": token, "answer": answer });
+    if let Some(nonce) = pow_nonce {
+        body["powNonce"] = json!(nonce);
+    }
+    let mut req = client.post(&url).json(&body);
     if let Some(key) = &cfg.api_key {
         req = req.bearer_auth(key);
     }
@@ -320,6 +380,37 @@ fn interactive_prompt(challenge: &Challenge) -> Option<String> {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
+    use std::ffi::OsString;
+    use std::sync::{Mutex, MutexGuard};
+
+    /// Serializes tests that touch the process-global
+    /// `GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE` env var so they never race.
+    static ICAPTCHA_ENV_LOCK: Mutex<()> = Mutex::new(());
+
+    /// Set `GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE` for the test lifetime, restoring any
+    /// prior value on drop.
+    struct InsecureEnv {
+        _lock: MutexGuard<'static, ()>,
+        prev: Option<OsString>,
+    }
+
+    impl InsecureEnv {
+        fn new() -> Self {
+            let lock = ICAPTCHA_ENV_LOCK.lock().unwrap();
+            let prev = std::env::var_os("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE");
+            std::env::set_var("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE", "1");
+            InsecureEnv { _lock: lock, prev }
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl Drop for InsecureEnv {
+        fn drop(&mut self) {
+            match self.prev.take() {
+                Some(v) => std::env::set_var("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE", v),
+                None => std::env::remove_var("GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE"),
+            }
+        }
+    }
 
     // ── P1: hostile error bodies must not reach the terminal raw ──────────
 
@@ -336,6 +427,34 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(clean.contains("owned") && clean.contains("done"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn sanitize_strips_bidi_format_controls() {
+        // The Cc-only test above is vacuous for Cf: it passes whether or not bidi
+        // controls survive, which is why this gap shipped (#183). Here every Cf
+        // bidi class is stripped — override (RLO), embedding + pop (LRE/PDF),
+        // isolate (LRI/PDI), marks (LRM/ALM) — asserted per code point, and the
+        // visible words JOIN with no phantom space (a bidi char is dropped like a
+        // control byte, but unlike a newline/tab it is not whitespace). The leading
+        // bidi char (index 0) also exercises the empty-out path.
+        let out = sanitize_excerpt("\u{202e}err\u{202a}\u{202c}\u{2066}\u{2069}\u{200e}\u{061c}ok");
+        for c in [
+            '\u{202e}', '\u{202a}', '\u{202c}', '\u{2066}', '\u{2069}', '\u{200e}', '\u{061c}',
+        ] {
+            assert!(!out.contains(c), "bidi U+{:04X} leaked: {out:?}", c as u32);
+        }
+        assert_eq!(out, "errok");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn sanitize_preserves_legitimate_and_rtl_text() {
+        // Must not over-strip: plain text, a genuine RTL SCRIPT letter (Arabic
+        // U+0627, category Lo), and ZWJ (U+200D, a legitimate Cf char) survive.
+        assert_eq!(
+            sanitize_excerpt("ok \u{0627}\u{200D}b"),
+            "ok \u{0627}\u{200D}b"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn sanitize_collapses_whitespace_and_caps_length() {
         let collapsed = sanitize_excerpt("a\n\n\t  b");
@@ -344,6 +463,18 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(sanitize_excerpt(&long).chars().count(), MAX_ERR_CHARS);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn sanitize_bidi_chars_do_not_consume_the_length_cap() {
+        // A dropped bidi char must not count toward MAX_ERR_CHARS: it is dropped
+        // before `kept` increments, so interleaving bidi controls cannot truncate
+        // the visible output early. MAX_ERR_CHARS + 100 visible 'x', each trailed by
+        // a bidi override, must still yield exactly MAX_ERR_CHARS visible 'x' with
+        // no phantom spaces. (Would regress to fewer 'x' if bidi consumed budget, or
+        // to spaces if the drop branch wrongly set pending_space.)
+        let body = "x\u{202e}".repeat(MAX_ERR_CHARS + 100);
+        assert_eq!(sanitize_excerpt(&body), "x".repeat(MAX_ERR_CHARS));
+    }
+
     // ── P2: never talk to (or hand a key to) an untrusted node-chosen URL ──
 
     #[test]
@@ -403,4 +534,20 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(url, DEFAULT_URL);
         assert!(!key_trusted);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_insecure_advertised_url_on_different_port() {
+        // With GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_INSECURE=1, two loopback URLs on different
+        // ports must be treated as distinct origins so a hostile node cannot
+        // redirect the bearer key to a different listener on localhost.
+        let _env = InsecureEnv::new();
+
+        let op = "http://localhost:3000";
+        let (url, key_trusted) = resolve_solver_url(Some("http://localhost:9000"), Some(op));
+        assert_eq!(
+            url, op,
+            "must fall back to operator origin, not use different port"
+        );
+        assert!(key_trusted, "key stays trusted with operator origin");
+    }
 }

crates/icaptcha-client/src/pow.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+//! Proof-of-work solver for the iCaptcha answer step.
+//!
+//! iCaptcha requires a small proof-of-work with each answer so that minting a
+//! proof costs CPU — a per-proof cost a distributed abuser cannot dodge by
+//! rotating IPs. The work is bound to the per-challenge id: find a `nonce` such
+//! that `sha256("{challenge}:{nonce}")` has at least `difficulty` leading zero
+//! bits. This mirrors `icaptcha/src/pow.ts`.
+//!
+//! At the service default (~20 bits) this is well under a second for a single
+//! solve; we still cap the search so a hostile/misconfigured difficulty can
+//! never hang the client.
+
+use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
+
+/// PoW parameters advertised by the service in a challenge (mirrors the
+/// service's `PowChallenge`).
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Deserialize)]
+pub struct PowChallenge {
+    /// Only `sha256-leading-zero-bits` is understood; other algorithms are
+    /// rejected by [`solve`] rather than silently mis-solved.
+    pub algorithm: String,
+    /// The string to hash against (the per-challenge id).
+    pub challenge: String,
+    /// Required leading zero bits.
+    pub difficulty: u32,
+}
+
+/// Hard cap on nonce search iterations. 2^26 ≈ 67M keeps a ~20-bit target (~1M
+/// expected hashes) comfortably solvable while bounding worst-case work if the
+/// service ever advertises an unexpectedly high difficulty.
+const MAX_ITERS: u64 = 1 << 26;
+
+const ALGORITHM: &str = "sha256-leading-zero-bits";
+
+/// Leading zero bits of a byte slice.
+fn leading_zero_bits(bytes: &[u8]) -> u32 {
+    let mut bits = 0;
+    for &b in bytes {
+        if b == 0 {
+            bits += 8;
+        } else {
+            bits += b.leading_zeros();
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    bits
+}
+
+/// sha256(`{challenge}:{nonce}`).
+fn pow_hash(challenge: &str, nonce: &str) -> [u8; 32] {
+    let mut hasher = Sha256::new();
+    hasher.update(challenge.as_bytes());
+    hasher.update(b":");
+    hasher.update(nonce.as_bytes());
+    hasher.finalize().into()
+}
+
+/// Solve the PoW, returning a nonce whose hash meets the difficulty. Returns
+/// `None` for an unknown algorithm or if no nonce is found within the cap (a
+/// difficulty far above what the service uses in practice).
+pub fn solve(pow: &PowChallenge) -> Option<String> {
+    if pow.algorithm != ALGORITHM {
+        tracing::warn!(algorithm = %pow.algorithm, "unknown iCaptcha PoW algorithm; cannot solve");
+        return None;
+    }
+    if pow.difficulty == 0 {
+        return Some("0".to_string());
+    }
+    for i in 0..MAX_ITERS {
+        let nonce = format!("{i:x}");
+        if leading_zero_bits(&pow_hash(&pow.challenge, &nonce)) >= pow.difficulty {
+            return Some(nonce);
+        }
+    }
+    tracing::warn!(
+        difficulty = pow.difficulty,
+        max_iters = MAX_ITERS,
+        "iCaptcha PoW not solved within iteration cap"
+    );
+    None
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn pow(challenge: &str, difficulty: u32) -> PowChallenge {
+        PowChallenge {
+            algorithm: ALGORITHM.to_string(),
+            challenge: challenge.to_string(),
+            difficulty,
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn leading_zero_bits_counts_across_bytes() {
+        assert_eq!(leading_zero_bits(&[0xff]), 0);
+        assert_eq!(leading_zero_bits(&[0x7f]), 1);
+        assert_eq!(leading_zero_bits(&[0x01]), 7);
+        assert_eq!(leading_zero_bits(&[0x00, 0xff]), 8);
+        assert_eq!(leading_zero_bits(&[0x00, 0x01]), 15);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn solves_and_the_solution_verifies() {
+        let p = pow("challenge-abc", 12);
+        let nonce = solve(&p).expect("should solve a 12-bit target");
+        assert!(leading_zero_bits(&pow_hash(&p.challenge, &nonce)) >= 12);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn solution_is_bound_to_the_challenge() {
+        // A nonce solving one challenge should (overwhelmingly) not solve another
+        // at the same difficulty — the work is challenge-specific.
+        let nonce = solve(&pow("challenge-A", 12)).unwrap();
+        assert!(leading_zero_bits(&pow_hash("challenge-B", &nonce)) < 12);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_unknown_algorithm() {
+        let mut p = pow("c", 8);
+        p.algorithm = "scrypt".to_string();
+        assert!(solve(&p).is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn zero_difficulty_is_trivially_solved() {
+        assert_eq!(solve(&pow("c", 0)).as_deref(), Some("0"));
+    }
+}

crates/icaptcha-client/tests/icaptcha_mock_consumed.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+//! INV-19 guard: the icaptcha flow must actually call the service (consume the
+//! mock), not short-circuit or make a live call. If a future change let
+//! `obtain_proof` skip the network (e.g. a stray `cfg(test)` relaxation, which
+//! INV-19/INV-20 warn is inert across crates), the `.assert()` calls below go
+//! RED because the mocked endpoints were never hit.
+//!
+//! The mock-consumed assertions alone only prove the mock was hit; they cannot
+//! see a request that ALSO leaks the DID / answer / API key to `DEFAULT_URL` or
+//! any other origin (a different host the mock never observes). To make the
+//! "no live call" half of the guard load-bearing, the test blackholes every
+//! non-loopback destination: `NO_PROXY` lets the loopback mock through while a
+//! closed proxy port routes any other host nowhere, so the client contacting
+//! anything but the injected mock fails the request instead of silently
+//! succeeding. Point `cfg.url` at `DEFAULT_URL` and this test goes RED.
+//!
+//! `ALL_PROXY` alone is NOT enough: reqwest honors the scheme-specific
+//! `HTTPS_PROXY` / `https_proxy` (and the http equivalents) OVER `ALL_PROXY`, so
+//! a runner with a working `HTTPS_PROXY` in its environment would route an https
+//! leak to `DEFAULT_URL` (which is https) through that proxy while the loopback
+//! mock is still consumed and this test stayed green. So we blackhole the
+//! scheme-specific variables too. No restore is needed: this file has a single
+//! `#[test]`, so it runs in its own process and the override never races a
+//! sibling test.
+
+use icaptcha_client::{obtain_proof, Challenge, IcaptchaCfg};
+
+#[test]
+fn obtain_proof_consumes_the_mocked_service_and_makes_no_live_call() {
+    // Blackhole every non-loopback origin: the loopback mock bypasses the proxy
+    // (NO_PROXY); any other host is forced through a closed port and fails.
+    // reqwest reads these at client-build time, and obtain_proof builds its
+    // client fresh, so this bounds the transport for the whole flow.
+    //
+    // Set the scheme-specific vars too (both cases), not just ALL_PROXY: reqwest
+    // gives HTTPS_PROXY/https_proxy precedence over ALL_PROXY for https URLs, so
+    // an ALL_PROXY-only blackhole leaves an https leak to DEFAULT_URL open on a
+    // runner whose environment already has a working HTTPS_PROXY.
+    let blackhole = "http://127.0.0.1:1";
+    std::env::set_var("NO_PROXY", "127.0.0.1,localhost");
+    std::env::set_var("no_proxy", "127.0.0.1,localhost");
+    for var in [
+        "ALL_PROXY",
+        "all_proxy",
+        "HTTPS_PROXY",
+        "https_proxy",
+        "HTTP_PROXY",
+        "http_proxy",
+    ] {
+        std::env::set_var(var, blackhole);
+    }
+
+    let mut server = mockito::Server::new();
+
+    // The two endpoints the flow hits, each expected exactly once.
+    let challenge = server
+        .mock("POST", "/v1/challenge")
+        .with_status(200)
+        .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+        .with_body(
+            r#"{"challengeId":"c1","type":"anagram","difficulty":1,"prompt":"listen","token":"tok-1"}"#,
+        )
+        .expect(1)
+        .create();
+
+    let answer = server
+        .mock("POST", "/v1/answer")
+        .with_status(200)
+        .with_header("content-type", "application/json")
+        .with_body(r#"{"status":"passed","proof":"PROOF-XYZ"}"#)
+        .expect(1)
+        .create();
+
+    let cfg = IcaptchaCfg {
+        url: server.url(),
+        did: "did:key:zTEST".to_string(),
+        level: 1,
+        api_key: None,
+    };
+
+    // "anagram" is not a built-in solvable type, so the flow consults this
+    // solver callback. The answer body itself does not matter: the mocked
+    // /v1/answer returns "passed" regardless of what is submitted.
+    let solve = |_c: &Challenge| Some("silent".to_string());
+    let solver: &dyn Fn(&Challenge) -> Option<String> = &solve;
+
+    let proof = obtain_proof(&cfg, Some(solver))
+        .expect("obtain_proof should complete against the mocked service");
+    assert_eq!(proof, "PROOF-XYZ");
+
+    // INV-19: prove the client actually called the mocked endpoints. Had it made
+    // a live call or skipped the network, these would fail (mock never hit).
+    challenge.assert();
+    answer.assert();
+}

docs/OSS-READINESS-AUDIT.md

@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ Positive:
 Risks:
 
 - Many commands default to the public node; `git-remote-gitlawb` defaults to localhost. This split should be called out in README examples.
-- `gl sync trigger` signs the request when a local identity is available and falls back to the legacy unsigned request for live compatibility.
+- `gl sync trigger` requires a local identity and always sends a signed request; the `/api/v1/sync/trigger` route rejects unsigned calls, so the command fails locally when no identity is configured.
 - Several CLI commands parse dynamic JSON responses permissively; good for compatibility, but error messages can hide response-shape regressions.
 
 ## CI and release readiness

infra/fly/fly.toml

@@ -38,6 +38,16 @@ primary_region = "iad"
     # slots (hard_limit) — root factor in the 2026-06-12 prod outage
     idle_timeout = 120
 
+  [[http_service.checks]]
+    # Gate routing (and deploys) on real readiness: /ready probes the DB, so a
+    # node stuck retrying a dead or misconfigured database is never routed to,
+    # and a deploy with a bad DATABASE_URL fails visibly instead of going green.
+    interval = "15s"
+    timeout = "5s"
+    grace_period = "75s"
+    method = "GET"
+    path = "/ready"
+
 [[services]]
   protocol = "udp"
   internal_port = 7546