fix(security): CmTraceLogParser parses in linear time (first open / last parseable trailer, timeout-backed trailer regex) instead of a greedy .* regex that backtracked quadratically on hostile lines without a timeout; agent multiline buffer gains a 1 MB char cap next to the 100-line cap, both logged at Warning, and the tail of a dropped entry is skipped instead of raw-matched

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.github/workflows/combine-rules.yml

@@ -54,6 +54,12 @@ jobs:
             ajv validate -s rules/schema/ime-log-pattern.schema.json -d "$f" --spec=draft2020 -c ajv-formats
           done
 
+      # guardrails.json values are baked verbatim into generated TypeScript that is
+      # auto-committed to main and shipped to the portal - the schema forbids control
+      # and line-terminator characters so a "data" PR can never become code.
+      - name: Validate Guardrails
+        run: ajv validate -s rules/schema/guardrails.schema.json -d rules/guardrails.json --spec=draft2020 -c ajv-formats
+
       - name: Combine rules into dist/
         run: node rules/scripts/combine.js
 

docs/agent/cmtrace-time-resolution.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ title: CMTrace Time Resolution — Per-Line Self-Anchoring
 description: How the agent converts bias-less CMTrace local times to UTC without trusting any process's timezone belief — each provably fresh line anchors its own offset against the agent clock on the 15-minute grid; everything not provably fresh falls back uniformly and says so.
 resource: src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Enrollment/Ime
 tags: [agent, ime, cmtrace, timestamps, timezone, calibration, provenance]
-timestamp: 2026-08-20
+timestamp: 2026-08-30
 ---
 
 # Problem
@@ -86,6 +86,40 @@ with the process zone).
 * Mixed pairs remain possible across a restart (start resolved from backlog fallback,
   completion line-anchored) and are recognizable via provenance.
 
+# Line parsing (bounded cost)
+
+`CmTraceLogParser.TryParseLine` (Shared) is the single CMTrace line parser for the agent
+(`ImeLogTracker`, `LogParserCollector`, `StallProbeCollector`) and the backend
+(`TestLogPatternFunction`). Both feed it input an outsider influences: tenant-supplied
+sample lines (200 x 8 KB per request) on the backend, and on the agent every tailed log
+file, including entries that IME assembles from installer or script output. It is
+therefore not one regex. The former shape — a greedy `(?<message>.*)` in front of the
+`]LOG]!><time="` literal, unanchored, no match timeout — re-tried every `<![LOG[`
+occurrence as a fresh start and backtracked the message group across every later character
+for each: quadratic in line length (an 8 KB line of repeated prefixes and `]` filler cost
+~7 million engine steps; a 1 MB assembled entry would have spun the SYSTEM agent for
+hours and blacked out IME tracking for the rest of the enrollment).
+
+The parser reproduces exactly what that regex returned, in linear time: the message begins
+after the first `<![LOG[` (a later start could only match when the first one does, since
+`.*` spans the difference) and ends at the last `]LOG]!><time="` occurrence whose trailer
+parses — earlier occurrences are tried in turn, which is the order greedy backtracking
+visited them. The trailer is checked with a `\G`-anchored regex that has no ambiguous
+quantifier and a 1-second match timeout as a backstop; a timeout means "not a CMTrace
+line" (callers already have that path: raw-text matching in the tracker, `parse_failed`
+on the backend), never an exception. `CmTraceLogParserTests` pins the equivalence against
+the legacy regex over the shapes that matter (multiline messages, bias suffix, trailer
+literal inside the message, a last trailer that fails to parse, BOM prefix) and the
+reported worst case at 200 lines.
+
+On the agent, `ImeLogTracker` additionally caps an assembled multiline entry at 100 raw
+lines **and** 1 MB of characters (`MaxMultiLineBufferChars`). A capped entry is dropped
+and logged at **Warning** — visible at the default `Info` level, so a real IME entry that
+large shows up in the client log and can be acted on. The remaining physical lines of a
+dropped entry are skipped until it closes or a new `<![LOG[` entry begins; previously they
+fell through to raw-text pattern matching, so fragments of a discarded entry could fire
+patterns without CMTrace context.
+
 # Backend regression tripwire
 
 The backend watches for the failure mode this design eliminates. On every terminal ingest
@@ -129,3 +163,6 @@ precisely so an anchoring regression can never surface as a customer finding.
 * `tasks/todo.md` (2026-08-20) — full evidence trail: field measurements, the revert,
   the two-writer-era fixture, and the disproven foreign-binary hypothesis (the SHA
   mismatch was the known release race against the 5-minute AdminConfiguration cache).
+* `CmTraceLogParser.TryParseLine` + `CmTraceLogParserTests` — the linear parser and its
+  legacy-regex equivalence oracle; `ImeLogTracker.LogProcessing.cs` multiline buffering
+  (`MaxMultiLineBufferLines` / `MaxMultiLineBufferChars`, `skippingDroppedEntry`).

docs/agent/diagnostics-package.md

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 ---
 type: concept
 title: Diagnostics Package
-description: What the agent's diagnostics ZIP contains and why — the built-in section catalog shared with the portal, the RealmJoin and Device Preparation collection gates, the configured-path guards, caps, and the package manifest.
+description: What the agent's diagnostics ZIP contains and why — the built-in section catalog shared with the portal, the RealmJoin and Device Preparation collection gates, the configured-path guards, the handle-validated reads that close the enumerate-then-open junction race, caps, and the package manifest.
 resource: agent
-tags: [diagnostics, realmjoin, device-preparation, guardrails, portal]
-timestamp: 2026-08-23
+tags: [diagnostics, realmjoin, device-preparation, guardrails, portal, security]
+timestamp: 2026-08-30
 ---
 
 # Schema
@@ -90,10 +90,50 @@ validates **admin-typed** paths: allowlisted prefixes, wildcard only in the last
 `C:\Users` blocked except the token's `AppData\Local|Roaming`. The catalog is reviewed code,
 exactly like the five sections that never went through the guard before — and
 `%ProgramData%\RealmJoin` is not on the allowlist at all. What does apply to every section:
-the reparse-point skip (files and directories), the `.evtx` channel export, and the caps
+the handle-validated read (next section), the `.evtx` channel export, and the caps
 (100 MB per file, 500 MB total, 5000 files) tracked globally across sections by
 `BudgetTracker`, with every skip recorded in the manifest and `_TRUNCATED.txt`.
 
+## Reads are validated on the handle, not the path
+
+Every guard above judges a path string. Reading the bytes from that string later —
+`File.GetAttributes` on the candidate, then a `FileStream` open after earlier files have been
+compressed — leaves a window: under any folder a local user can write to (the user-profile
+token paths, `ProgramData` subtrees, `C:\Install\Log`) that user can turn a subdirectory into
+a junction in between. An attribute check on the file resolves through a junction in a
+*parent* component, and SYSTEM would copy the junction target into the package.
+`PinnedSourceFolder` (`Monitoring/Runtime/PinnedSourceFolder.cs`, Win32 declarations in
+`Monitoring/Interop/FileNativeMethods.cs`) closes the window by deciding on the handle that
+is read:
+
+* `AddLogFiles` pins the section folder once. It is opened with
+  `FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT | FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS`, must not be a reparse point
+  itself, and its `GetFinalPathNameByHandle` result — every reparse point resolved — must
+  equal the validated lexical path (8.3 names expanded through `GetLongPathName`, so a
+  `%TEMP%`-style short name is not mistaken for a junction). Anything else skips the section
+  with `FOLDER REJECTED (<reason>)`; a missing folder stays `FOLDER MISSING`. The handle is
+  held, with `FILE_LIST_DIRECTORY` access and no delete share, until the section is done:
+  NTFS refuses to rename or delete a directory while it or anything beneath it is open, so
+  the validated chain cannot be swapped underneath the build either.
+* Every candidate file is opened by `PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpenFile` with
+  `FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT` — a symlink at the final component is opened as itself and
+  refused (`SKIPPED (reparse point)`) — and the handle's final path must be exactly
+  `<canonical folder>\<relative path>`. A subdirectory that became a junction after
+  enumeration resolves elsewhere: `SKIPPED (resolved outside validated folder)`, naming only
+  the requested path in the manifest, never the resolved one. The length charged against the
+  caps and the stream copied into the archive come from that same handle; any other open
+  failure is `FAILED (open): <path>: <reason>`.
+* `CollectFilesNoReparseDirs` still skips reparse-point directories while enumerating — as a
+  candidate filter and to keep the walk out of junction loops — but nothing it decides is
+  trusted at copy time.
+* The `.evtx` channel export is the agent's own file under an unguessable name in SYSTEM's
+  temp folder and is streamed as-is. Hard links are out of scope: Windows refuses to create
+  one to a file the caller cannot write.
+
+The race itself is pinned by `DiagnosticsPackageServiceTests`: the `BeforeSourceFileOpen`
+seam swaps a subdirectory for a junction after enumeration and before the open, and the
+archive must not carry the file.
+
 ## Configured paths: global ∪ tenant
 
 `GetAgentConfigFunction.MergeDiagnosticsLogPaths` sends global paths (Global Admin,
@@ -120,6 +160,8 @@ same-named folder share one ZIP folder.
   catalog ids; `sectionFolderOverrides` covers any other section; `devicePreparationProbe`
   replaces the registry read (seam callers default to "not WDP", so existing rigs never touch
   the registry). `UserProfileResolver.SetForTesting(path|null)` / `Reset()` drive the token.
+  `BeforeSourceFileOpen` fires with each candidate path after enumeration and before its open
+  — the point at which the junction-race test swaps the directory.
 * Catalog invariants live in the backend test project (`DiagnosticsBuiltInSectionsTests`),
   because Shared has no test project.
 
@@ -139,9 +181,11 @@ entry is removed.
 # Citations
 
 * `src/Shared/AutopilotMonitor.Shared/Models/Diagnostics/DiagnosticsBuiltInSections.cs` — the catalog
-* `src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Runtime/DiagnosticsPackageService.cs` — `BuildArchiveBytes`, `AddBuiltInSection`, `IsSectionActive`, caps, evtx export
+* `src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Runtime/DiagnosticsPackageService.cs` — `BuildArchiveBytes`, `AddBuiltInSection`, `IsSectionActive`, `AddLogFiles` / `AddLogFile` / `OpenSource`, caps, evtx export
+* `src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Runtime/PinnedSourceFolder.cs` — pinned folder handle, `TryOpenFile`, `SourceFile`
+* `src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Interop/FileNativeMethods.cs` — `CreateFileW`, `GetFileInformationByHandle`, `GetFinalPathNameByHandleW`, `GetLongPathNameW`
 * `src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Configuration/RemoteConfigMerger.cs` — `EnableRealmJoinWatcher` mirror
 * `src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/Functions/Diagnostics/GetDiagnosticsPathsFunction.cs` — `GET diagnostics/paths`
 * `src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/Functions/Config/GetAgentConfigFunction.cs` — `MergeDiagnosticsLogPaths`
 * `src/Web/autopilot-monitor-web/components/diagnostics/` — `DiagnosticsPathRow`, `BuiltInSectionsList`, `builtInSectionDisplay`
-* Tests: `DiagnosticsPackageServiceTests` (RealmJoin on/off, no user session, bootstrapper evtx, probe failure), `DiagnosticsBuiltInSectionsTests`, `GetDiagnosticsPathsPayloadTests`, `GetAgentConfigFunctionTests.MergeDiagnosticsLogPaths_*`
+* Tests: `DiagnosticsPackageServiceTests` (RealmJoin on/off, no user session, bootstrapper evtx, probe failure, junction swapped in after enumeration, junction as section folder), `PinnedSourceFolderTests` (final-path equality, short names, junction in the chain, symlink at the final component, rename refused while pinned), `DiagnosticsBuiltInSectionsTests`, `GetDiagnosticsPathsPayloadTests`, `GetAgentConfigFunctionTests.MergeDiagnosticsLogPaths_*`

docs/backend/tenant-activation-welcome-mail.md

@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ same table) — the only reliable address: it is typed by the user on the activa
 page (`PUT /api/preview/notification-email`). The signup admin UPN may have no mailbox and
 `ContactEmail` is merely seeded from the notification email.
 
+The PUT is `AuthenticatedUserWithRole`, not a member tier, because the signup user is still
+roleless until approval auto-promotes them to Admin. The function re-gates on the resolved
+role (`PreviewWhitelistFunction.MayWriteNotificationEmailAsync`): a member role or platform
+scope always may write; a roleless caller may write only while the tenant has **no enabled
+member** at all. Once any member exists the window is closed for good — the address feeds the
+welcome and farewell mails and is shown to operators as the tenant contact, so an ordinary
+employee with a JWT but no product role must not be able to redirect or clear it (403).
+
 That makes activation and address entry concurrent writers. With auto-approve, activation
 usually wins (observed in production: approve at T+64 s, address saved at T+69 s → the
 approval path found no address and the mail was silently skipped).

docs/index.md

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ https://docs.autopilotmonitor.com (separate repository).
 
 # Agent
 
-* [V2 Agent](agent/index.md) - How the on-device agent works: [runtime overview](agent/overview.md), [decision engine](agent/decision-engine.md) (reducer, signals, completion arms), [logs & persistence](agent/logs-and-persistence.md) (signal log, snapshot, crash recovery), [diagnostics package](agent/diagnostics-package.md) (built-in section catalog shared with the portal, RealmJoin/Device Preparation collection gates, caps, manifest), [Hello wizard un-skip](agent/hello-wizard-unskip.md) (why a single "WHfB disabled" read never decides completion), [Autopilot ZTD diagnostics](agent/autopilot-ztd-diagnostics.md) (event IDs, diagnostic registry, endpoints, error-code map).
+* [V2 Agent](agent/index.md) - How the on-device agent works: [runtime overview](agent/overview.md), [decision engine](agent/decision-engine.md) (reducer, signals, completion arms), [logs & persistence](agent/logs-and-persistence.md) (signal log, snapshot, crash recovery), [diagnostics package](agent/diagnostics-package.md) (built-in section catalog shared with the portal, RealmJoin/Device Preparation collection gates, handle-validated reads against the junction race, caps, manifest), [Hello wizard un-skip](agent/hello-wizard-unskip.md) (why a single "WHfB disabled" read never decides completion), [Autopilot ZTD diagnostics](agent/autopilot-ztd-diagnostics.md) (event IDs, diagnostic registry, endpoints, error-code map).
 * [Build Counter Blob](agent/build-counter-blob.md) - How agent build numbers are minted: shared counter blob with ETag-CAS so local and CI builds never collide; CI additionally attests build provenance (Sigstore).
 * [Agent Endpoint Migration](agent/endpoint-migration.md) - How the backend re-homes agents to a new API base URL via the config channel (backend move or per-tenant region move): live-fetch-only, allowlist-validated on both sides, one hop, kill wins.
 * [Gather Rule Debug Log](agent/gather-rule-debug-log.md) - EnableGatherRuleDebugLog (ConfigVersion 36): the per-tenant local trace file that explains every gather-rule evaluation decision — scope skips, on_change suppression, empty collector results, logparser position/parse-mode outcomes — for rules that produce no timeline events.
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ https://docs.autopilotmonitor.com (separate repository).
 * [Zero User-Targeted Apps — the starved user-phase completion gate](agent/zero-user-apps-completion-gate.md) - Why a device with no user-targeted Intune apps could never satisfy the IME user-session gate — IME skips its "Completed user session" line entirely in the zero-app branch — turning the 30-minute completion backstop into `esp_exit_without_completion_evidence` on a third of one tenant's enrollments, with the user at the desktop and RealmJoin still installing. The two fixes: read the line IME does write (IME-USER-SESSION-ZERO-APPS), and never fail a session while a completion gate with its own armed deadline is deliberately holding it.
 * [Secure Boot CA-2023 Detection](agent/secureboot-ca2023-detection.md) - Why ANALYZE-SEC-001 v3 reads the UEFI db/KEK variables directly instead of trusting the SecureBoot\Servicing registry, and how the one-sided uefiCa2023FirmwareConfirmed marker plus a not_exists precondition give absence-tolerant suppression across old and new agents.
 * [Continue-Anyway Observation Mode](agent/continue-anyway-observation.md) - EnableEspContinueAnywayObservation (ConfigVersion 37, operator-set): Device-phase ESP terminal failures on Continue-Anyway profiles get a bounded 60-min observation instead of an immediate hard fail; the DAD-validated real-user desktop + Hello gate detect the true end, the session completes Succeeded + EspSoftFailure (amber "with issues" badge), expiry un-defangs to the original esp_terminal_failure.
-* [CMTrace Time Resolution](agent/cmtrace-time-resolution.md) - Converting bias-less CMTrace local times to UTC without trusting any process's timezone belief: per-line self-anchoring on the 15-minute offset grid for provably fresh lines, uniform marked reader-zone fallback for backlog, and the provenance vocabulary (bias / line-anchored / reader-zone-fallback) that keeps every event re-derivable.
+* [CMTrace Time Resolution](agent/cmtrace-time-resolution.md) - Converting bias-less CMTrace local times to UTC without trusting any process's timezone belief: per-line self-anchoring on the 15-minute offset grid for provably fresh lines, uniform marked reader-zone fallback for backlog, and the provenance vocabulary (bias / line-anchored / reader-zone-fallback) that keeps every event re-derivable; plus the linear-cost CMTrace line parser (first open / last parseable trailer, timeout-backed) and the agent multiline caps.
 * [Registry App-State Second Pillar](agent/registry-app-state-pillar.md) - IME's authoritative per-app state read straight from the registry (Win32Apps EnforcementStateMessage, EspTrackingWin32Apps, StatusServiceReports) via a snapshot-and-diff watcher; registry/log reconciliation doubles as the built-in IME log-pattern drift alarm.
 * [WDP Scenario Gates & Completion Backstop](agent/wdp-scenario-gates.md) - How the agent gates Autopilot/ESP-only machinery off on Windows Device Preparation sessions (deterministic ExecutionContext marker, fail-toward-Classic), which noise it suppresses (ZTD probe, esp_config unknown, ModernDeployment 100/417/418/1005, starved sweep), and the WDP completion model: High-confidence seed, desktop-based arm D, and the 30-min device_prep_completion backstop.
 * [Power-State Watcher](agent/power-state-watcher.md) - Live AC↔battery transitions and 50/30/15% downward battery-threshold crossings during enrollment via a WMI Win32_PowerManagementEvent push subscription (zero polling, never armed on battery-less devices): the power_state_change event (transition field, per-level lifetime latch, 5s debounce, emission cap) and the analyze rules ANALYZE-DEV-009 (battery <15%, high) / ANALYZE-DEV-010 (AC→battery, warning) with on_event interim triggers.

docs/log.md

@@ -1,5 +1,21 @@
 # Log
 
+## 2026-08-30 (2)
+
+* **Update**: `agent/cmtrace-time-resolution.md` — new "Line parsing (bounded cost)" section: `CmTraceLogParser.TryParseLine` is no longer one greedy-`.*` regex (quadratic on hostile lines, no timeout) but a linear first-open / last-parseable-trailer search with a `\G`-anchored, timeout-backed trailer regex that returns exactly what the old regex did; the agent's multiline buffer gains a 1 MB char cap next to the 100-line cap, both logged at Warning, and the tail of a dropped entry is skipped instead of raw-matched.
+
+## 2026-08-30 (1)
+
+* **Update**: `agent/diagnostics-package.md` — reads are validated on the handle, not the path: `PinnedSourceFolder` pins each section folder (its final path must equal the validated path; held open so the chain cannot be renamed) and opens every file with `FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT`, requiring the handle's final path to be `<canonical folder>\<relative path>`. A subdirectory swapped for a junction between enumeration and open is skipped (`SKIPPED (resolved outside validated folder)`) instead of copied into the package.
+
+## 2026-08-29 (12)
+
+* **Update**: `backend/tenant-activation-welcome-mail.md` — `PUT preview/notification-email` moved to `AuthenticatedUserWithRole`; roleless callers may write the address only while the tenant has no enabled member (signup window), afterwards a member role is required.
+
+## 2026-08-29 (11)
+
+* **Update**: `rules/gather-rule-phase-scoping.md` — `on_event` feedback-loop guard: `TimelineEventStream` publishes the event source and `GatherRuleExecutorHost` never dispatches `on_event` for gather-emitted events (a rule triggering on its own output type looped for the whole session); per-rule on_event execution cap (100/session); backend rejects `on_event` rules whose trigger equals their output type or `gather_result`.
+
 ## 2026-08-29 (10)
 
 * **Update**: `backend/tenant-activation-welcome-mail.md` — welcome/farewell mails HTML-encode the domain at substitution; `DomainName` is frozen on the full-model config PUT (was persisted verbatim) and the first-login seed only accepts a strict DNS host name.

docs/rules/gather-rule-phase-scoping.md

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ tags:
   - backend
   - gather-rules
   - config
-timestamp: 2026-08-04T00:00:00+02:00
+timestamp: 2026-08-29T00:00:00+02:00
 ---
 
 # Problem
@@ -89,6 +89,18 @@ Consequences of the emitted-event feed:
   the raw signal stream — the documented "On Event with `enrollment_complete`" end-of-enrollment
   pattern only works because of this. This restores V1 semantics (V1 fired triggers from every
   emitted `EnrollmentEvent`).
+* **Feedback-loop guard** (2026-08-29): gather output travels the same post → ingress →
+  reducer → emitter → stream path, so the stream would hand the executor's own events straight
+  back to `OnEvent`. A rule with `triggerEventType == outputEventType` (or two rules chained
+  A→B→A) then executed and emitted without bound for the whole session — `emitMode:
+  on_change` does not help when the collected result varies. `TimelineEventStream` therefore
+  publishes the event **source**, and `GatherRuleExecutorHost` never dispatches `on_event` for
+  `Source == GatherRuleExecutor.SourceName` (phase declarations on such events are still
+  honoured). Second layer: `GatherRuleExecutor.MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule` (100 per rule and
+  session) bounds any cycle that reaches the executor through a non-gather event; the boundary
+  is logged once (agent log Warning + debug-trace `trigger` line). Backend validation rejects
+  `on_event` rules whose trigger equals their own output type or `gather_result` — such a rule
+  could never fire.
 * Other hosts (`DeviceInfoHost`, `UserEspKeepAwakeHost`, `ProvisioningPackageHost`) still key
   off the raw signal stream deliberately — their collections are about OS state at the raw
   boundary (ESP exit, keep-awake), not about timeline agreement.
@@ -103,7 +115,8 @@ Consequences of the emitted-event feed:
     `_startupRulesExecuted` dedup; it is not part of the `WaitForStartupRules` latch).
   * `phase_change` — evaluated against the **new** phase; the scope gate runs before the
     per-(rule, phase) dedup so an out-of-scope pass does not consume the execution slot.
-  * `on_event` — gated by the current phase.
+  * `on_event` — gated by the current phase; never fires on gather output; capped at
+    `MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule` per rule and session.
 * **Before the first phase signal** of a session (`_currentPhase == Unknown`) scoped rules are
   inactive. Sessions that never produce phase signals never run them (documented behavior).
 * **From-phase latch**: activates when `phase != Unknown && phase != Failed && (int)phase >=
@@ -164,4 +177,4 @@ Consequences of the emitted-event feed:
 * `src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/Functions/Rules/GatherRulesFunction.cs` — `ValidateScopeAndEmitMode`
 * `src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/Services/GatherRuleService.cs` — partial-PUT merge, `ContentEquivalent`
 * `src/Shared/AutopilotMonitor.Shared/Models/Rules/GatherRule.cs` — field contracts
-* Tests: `GatherRuleExecutorPhaseScopeTests`, `GatherRuleExecutorEmitModeTests`, `GatherRuleExecutorHostTimelineFeedTests` (agent); `GatherRuleUpdatePartialMergeTests`, `GatherRuleScopeFieldsTests` (backend)
+* Tests: `GatherRuleExecutorPhaseScopeTests`, `GatherRuleExecutorEmitModeTests`, `GatherRuleExecutorHostTimelineFeedTests`, `GatherRuleExecutorOnEventCapTests` (agent); `GatherRuleUpdatePartialMergeTests`, `GatherRuleScopeFieldsTests` (backend)

rules/schema/guardrails.schema.json

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+  "$id": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/OliverKieselbach/Autopilot-Monitor/main/rules/schema/guardrails.schema.json",
+  "title": "Autopilot Monitor Gather-Rule Guardrails",
+  "description": "Agent-side collection allowlists/blocklists. Every string is emitted verbatim into generated TypeScript (web + MCP), so values are single-line and must not contain control characters or the U+2028/U+2029 line terminators.",
+  "type": "object",
+  "properties": {
+    "$schema": { "type": "string" },
+    "registryPrefixes": { "$ref": "#/$defs/categorizedList" },
+    "filePrefixes": { "$ref": "#/$defs/stringList" },
+    "wmiQueryPrefixes": { "$ref": "#/$defs/stringList" },
+    "eventLogChannels": { "$ref": "#/$defs/categorizedList" },
+    "blockedEventLogChannels": { "$ref": "#/$defs/stringList" },
+    "allowedCommands": { "$ref": "#/$defs/categorizedList" },
+    "diagnosticsPathPrefixes": { "$ref": "#/$defs/stringList" },
+    "blockedFilePrefixes": { "$ref": "#/$defs/stringList" },
+    "blockedCommandPatterns": { "$ref": "#/$defs/stringList" },
+    "blockedInterimTriggerEventTypes": { "$ref": "#/$defs/stringList" },
+    "maxCommandLength": { "type": "integer", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 100000 }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "registryPrefixes",
+    "filePrefixes",
+    "wmiQueryPrefixes",
+    "eventLogChannels",
+    "blockedEventLogChannels",
+    "allowedCommands",
+    "diagnosticsPathPrefixes",
+    "blockedFilePrefixes",
+    "blockedCommandPatterns",
+    "maxCommandLength"
+  ],
+  "additionalProperties": false,
+  "$defs": {
+    "safeString": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "minLength": 1,
+      "maxLength": 2000,
+      "pattern": "^[^\\u0000-\\u001F\\u007F\\u2028\\u2029]+$"
+    },
+    "stringList": {
+      "type": "array",
+      "items": { "$ref": "#/$defs/safeString" }
+    },
+    "categorizedList": {
+      "type": "array",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "object",
+        "properties": {
+          "category": { "$ref": "#/$defs/safeString" },
+          "prefixes": { "$ref": "#/$defs/stringList" },
+          "channels": { "$ref": "#/$defs/stringList" },
+          "commands": { "$ref": "#/$defs/stringList" }
+        },
+        "required": ["category"],
+        "minProperties": 2,
+        "maxProperties": 2,
+        "additionalProperties": false
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}

rules/scripts/combine.js

@@ -97,18 +97,71 @@ const guardrailsOutput = path.resolve(
 if (fs.existsSync(guardrailsPath)) {
   const guardrails = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(guardrailsPath, 'utf8'));
 
-  /** Escape a string for use inside a TS string literal (double-quoted). */
-  const esc = (s) => s.replace(/\\/g, '\\\\').replace(/"/g, '\\"');
+  // Every value below is emitted into a TypeScript module that ships in the
+  // portal bundle (and is auto-committed + auto-deployed from main). A string
+  // containing a raw newline / CR / U+2028 / U+2029 inside a naive "..." literal
+  // would terminate the literal and turn the remainder of the value into CODE.
+  // Two independent defences: (1) reject any control/line-terminator character
+  // outright — no legitimate prefix, command or channel name contains one —
+  // and (2) render every literal through a complete encoder (JSON.stringify),
+  // so even a value that slipped past (1) stays an inert string constant.
+  // rules/schema/guardrails.schema.json enforces the same constraints in CI
+  // before this script runs; this in-process check keeps local runs honest.
+  const UNSAFE_CHAR = /[\u0000-\u001F\u007F\u2028\u2029]/;
+  const fail = (msg) => {
+    console.error(`ERROR: guardrails.json ${msg}`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  };
+  const assertSafeString = (value, where) => {
+    if (typeof value !== 'string' || value.length === 0) {
+      fail(`${where}: expected a non-empty string, got ${JSON.stringify(value)}`);
+    }
+    if (UNSAFE_CHAR.test(value)) {
+      fail(`${where}: control or line-terminator character in ${JSON.stringify(value)}`);
+    }
+  };
+  const assertStringList = (list, where) => {
+    if (!Array.isArray(list)) fail(`${where}: expected an array`);
+    list.forEach((s, i) => assertSafeString(s, `${where}[${i}]`));
+  };
+  const assertCategorized = (groups, itemsKey, where) => {
+    if (!Array.isArray(groups)) fail(`${where}: expected an array`);
+    groups.forEach((g, i) => {
+      assertSafeString(g && g.category, `${where}[${i}].category`);
+      assertStringList(g[itemsKey], `${where}[${i}].${itemsKey}`);
+    });
+  };
+
+  assertCategorized(guardrails.registryPrefixes, 'prefixes', 'registryPrefixes');
+  assertCategorized(guardrails.allowedCommands, 'commands', 'allowedCommands');
+  assertCategorized(guardrails.eventLogChannels, 'channels', 'eventLogChannels');
+  for (const key of [
+    'filePrefixes', 'wmiQueryPrefixes', 'diagnosticsPathPrefixes', 'blockedFilePrefixes',
+    'blockedEventLogChannels', 'blockedCommandPatterns'
+  ]) {
+    assertStringList(guardrails[key], key);
+  }
+  assertStringList(guardrails.blockedInterimTriggerEventTypes ?? [], 'blockedInterimTriggerEventTypes');
+  if (!Number.isInteger(guardrails.maxCommandLength) || guardrails.maxCommandLength < 1) {
+    fail(`maxCommandLength: expected a positive integer, got ${JSON.stringify(guardrails.maxCommandLength)}`);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Render a string as a complete, self-contained TS double-quoted literal.
+   * JSON.stringify escapes backslash, quote and every C0 control character;
+   * U+2028/U+2029 are escaped on top because JSON does not require it.
+   */
+  const lit = (s) => JSON.stringify(s).replace(/\u2028/g, '\\u2028').replace(/\u2029/g, '\\u2029');
 
   /** Render an array of strings as a TS readonly array. */
   const flatArray = (items) =>
-    items.map((s) => `  "${esc(s)}",`).join('\n');
+    items.map((s) => `  ${lit(s)},`).join('\n');
 
   /** Render a categorized list as a TS readonly array of { category, items }. */
   const categorizedArray = (groups, itemsKey) =>
     groups.map((g) => {
-      const items = g[itemsKey].map((s) => `      "${esc(s)}",`).join('\n');
-      return `  {\n    category: "${esc(g.category)}",\n    items: [\n${items}\n    ],\n  },`;
+      const items = g[itemsKey].map((s) => `      ${lit(s)},`).join('\n');
+      return `  {\n    category: ${lit(g.category)},\n    items: [\n${items}\n    ],\n  },`;
     }).join('\n');
 
   // Flatten categorized lists for validation

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests/Harness/NtfsLinks.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+using System;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.IO;
+
+namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Harness
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates NTFS reparse points for guard tests through <c>cmd.exe /c mklink</c> — the stock
+    /// System32 binary started as-is, nothing copied or renamed (EDR-neutral). Directory
+    /// junctions need no privilege; file symlinks need SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege or
+    /// Developer Mode, so that helper reports failure instead of throwing.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal static class NtfsLinks
+    {
+        public static void CreateJunction(string link, string target)
+        {
+            var output = RunMklink($"/J \"{link}\" \"{target}\"");
+            if (!Directory.Exists(link) || (File.GetAttributes(link) & FileAttributes.ReparsePoint) == 0)
+                throw new InvalidOperationException($"mklink /J failed for '{link}' -> '{target}': {output}");
+        }
+
+        public static bool TryCreateFileSymlink(string link, string target)
+        {
+            RunMklink($"\"{link}\" \"{target}\"");
+            return File.Exists(link) && (File.GetAttributes(link) & FileAttributes.ReparsePoint) != 0;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Removes a junction or symlink itself, never the target's content.</summary>
+        public static void RemoveLink(string link)
+        {
+            if (Directory.Exists(link)) Directory.Delete(link, recursive: false);
+            else if (File.Exists(link)) File.Delete(link);
+        }
+
+        private static string RunMklink(string arguments)
+        {
+            var psi = new ProcessStartInfo
+            {
+                FileName = Path.Combine(Environment.SystemDirectory, "cmd.exe"),
+                Arguments = "/c mklink " + arguments,
+                UseShellExecute = false,
+                CreateNoWindow = true,
+                RedirectStandardOutput = true,
+                RedirectStandardError = true,
+            };
+            using var process = Process.Start(psi);
+            if (process == null) throw new InvalidOperationException("cmd.exe did not start");
+            var stdout = process.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
+            var stderr = process.StandardError.ReadToEnd();
+            process.WaitForExit(15000);
+            return (stdout + stderr).Trim();
+        }
+    }
+}

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests/Monitoring/Gather/GatherRuleExecutorOnEventCapTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Threading;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Logging;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Harness;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Shared.Models;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Monitoring.Gather
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// on_event has no once-per-(rule, phase) dedup like the phase triggers. The per-rule
+    /// execution cap (<see cref="GatherRuleExecutor.MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule"/>) bounds any
+    /// trigger cycle that survives the host's source guard (e.g. two rules chained through an
+    /// intermediate non-gather event) so a mis-authored rule can never spin for a whole session.
+    /// Executions are observed through the emitted events; the rule uses a registry path that
+    /// exists on every Windows box so each execution emits exactly one event.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Collection("SerialThreading")] // rules execute on the shared ThreadPool
+    public sealed class GatherRuleExecutorOnEventCapTests : IDisposable
+    {
+        private readonly TempDirectory _tmp = new TempDirectory();
+        private readonly List<EnrollmentEvent> _events = new List<EnrollmentEvent>();
+        private readonly object _gate = new object();
+        private readonly GatherRuleExecutor _executor;
+
+        public GatherRuleExecutorOnEventCapTests()
+        {
+            var logger = new AgentLogger(_tmp.Path, AgentLogLevel.Info);
+            _executor = new GatherRuleExecutor("sess", "tenant",
+                evt => { lock (_gate) _events.Add(evt); }, logger)
+            {
+                UnrestrictedMode = true
+            };
+        }
+
+        public void Dispose()
+        {
+            _executor.Dispose();
+            _tmp.Dispose();
+        }
+
+        private int EventCount { get { lock (_gate) return _events.Count; } }
+
+        private bool WaitForEventCount(int count, int timeoutMs = 20000)
+        {
+            var sw = Stopwatch.StartNew();
+            while (sw.ElapsedMilliseconds < timeoutMs)
+            {
+                if (EventCount >= count) return true;
+                Thread.Sleep(25);
+            }
+            return EventCount >= count;
+        }
+
+        private static GatherRule OnEventRule(string id, string triggerEventType) => new GatherRule
+        {
+            RuleId = id,
+            Title = id,
+            CollectorType = "registry",
+            Target = "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion",
+            Trigger = "on_event",
+            TriggerEventType = triggerEventType,
+            OutputEventType = "gather_cap_test",
+            Enabled = true,
+        };
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void OnEvent_ExecutesAtMostMaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule_PerSession()
+        {
+            _executor.UpdateRules(new List<GatherRule> { OnEventRule("GATHER-CAP-001", "ext_event") });
+
+            var cap = GatherRuleExecutor.MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule;
+            for (var i = 0; i < cap + 25; i++)
+                _executor.OnEvent("ext_event");
+
+            Assert.True(WaitForEventCount(cap), $"expected {cap} executions, got {EventCount}");
+            Thread.Sleep(500);
+            Assert.Equal(cap, EventCount);
+
+            // Further triggers stay ignored for the rest of the session.
+            _executor.OnEvent("ext_event");
+            Thread.Sleep(300);
+            Assert.Equal(cap, EventCount);
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void OnEventCap_IsPerRule_NotGlobal()
+        {
+            _executor.UpdateRules(new List<GatherRule>
+            {
+                OnEventRule("GATHER-CAP-002", "ext_event"),
+                OnEventRule("GATHER-CAP-003", "ext_event"),
+            });
+
+            var cap = GatherRuleExecutor.MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule;
+            for (var i = 0; i < cap + 5; i++)
+                _executor.OnEvent("ext_event");
+
+            Assert.True(WaitForEventCount(2 * cap), $"expected {2 * cap} executions, got {EventCount}");
+            Thread.Sleep(500);
+            Assert.Equal(2 * cap, EventCount);
+        }
+    }
+}

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests/Monitoring/Ime/CmTraceLogParserTests.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
 using AutopilotMonitor.Shared.Logging;
 using Xunit;
 
@@ -137,5 +142,107 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Monitoring.Ime
             Assert.NotNull(entry);
             Assert.Equal(hugeMessage.Length, entry.Message.Length);
         }
+
+        // ── Hostile input: cost must be linear, never quadratic ───────────────
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The legacy single-regex parser (greedy <c>.*</c> message group before the trailer
+        /// literal, unanchored, Singleline, no timeout). Kept here ONLY as the semantic oracle:
+        /// the linear parser must return exactly what this regex returned for every line that
+        /// matches, and false for every line it rejected.
+        /// </summary>
+        private static readonly Regex LegacyRegex = new Regex(
+            @"<!\[LOG\[(?<message>.*)\]LOG\]!><time=""(?<time>[\d:.]+)(?<bias>[+-]\d{1,4})?""\s+date=""(?<date>[\d-]+)""\s+component=""(?<component>[^""]*)""\s+context=""[^""]*""\s+type=""(?<type>\d+)""\s+thread=""(?<thread>\d+)""\s+file=""[^""]*"">",
+            RegexOptions.Singleline);
+
+        public static IEnumerable<object[]> EquivalenceLines()
+        {
+            const string trailer = "]LOG]!><time=\"06:08:04.8834397\" date=\"2-8-2026\" component=\"C\" context=\"\" type=\"2\" thread=\"7\" file=\"\">";
+            const string badTrailer = "]LOG]!><time=\"06:08:04\" date=\"2-8-2026\" component=\"C\" context=\"\" type=\"x\" thread=\"7\" file=\"\">";
+            yield return new object[] { CmTraceLine("plain", "06:08:04.8834397", "2-8-2026") };
+            yield return new object[] { CmTraceLine("multi\nline\r\nmessage", "06:08:04.8834397", "2-8-2026") };
+            yield return new object[] { CmTraceLine("bias", "11:46:19.0226610+480", "7-29-2026") };
+            yield return new object[] { CmTraceLine("", "06:08:04.8834397", "2-8-2026") };
+            // The trailer literal INSIDE the message: greedy .* takes the LAST parseable trailer.
+            yield return new object[] { "<![LOG[inner " + trailer + " outer" + trailer };
+            // Last trailer occurrence does not parse (type="x") → the earlier one wins, and the
+            // failing trailer text is part of the message.
+            yield return new object[] { "<![LOG[first" + trailer + " second" + badTrailer };
+            // Only a broken trailer → false.
+            yield return new object[] { "<![LOG[msg" + badTrailer };
+            // A nested "<![LOG[" inside the message: the FIRST open wins (message keeps the inner one).
+            yield return new object[] { "<![LOG[outer <![LOG[inner" + trailer };
+            // Whitespace variants the old regex tolerated (\s+ between attributes).
+            yield return new object[] { "<![LOG[ws]LOG]!><time=\"06:08:04.8834397\"   date=\"2-8-2026\"\tcomponent=\"C\" context=\"\" type=\"1\" thread=\"1\" file=\"x.cpp:12\">" };
+            // BOM-prefixed first line of a fresh log.
+            yield return new object[] { "\uFEFF" + CmTraceLine("bom", "06:08:04.8834397", "2-8-2026") };
+            // Trailer text without its leading ']' → false on both.
+            yield return new object[] { "<![LOG[" + trailer.Substring(1) };
+            yield return new object[] { "<![LOG[truncated" };
+        }
+
+        [Theory]
+        [MemberData(nameof(EquivalenceLines))]
+        public void TryParseLine_is_semantically_identical_to_the_legacy_greedy_regex(string line)
+        {
+            var legacy = LegacyRegex.Match(line);
+            var ok = CmTraceLogParser.TryParseLine(line, out var entry);
+
+            Assert.Equal(legacy.Success, ok);
+            if (!legacy.Success) return;
+
+            Assert.NotNull(entry);
+            Assert.Equal(legacy.Groups["message"].Value, entry.Message);
+            Assert.Equal(legacy.Groups["component"].Value, entry.Component);
+            Assert.Equal(int.Parse(legacy.Groups["type"].Value), entry.Type);
+            Assert.Equal(legacy.Groups["thread"].Value, entry.Thread);
+            var expectedBias = legacy.Groups["bias"].Success ? int.Parse(legacy.Groups["bias"].Value) : (int?)null;
+            Assert.Equal(expectedBias, entry.BiasMinutes);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The reported worst case: 585 x "&lt;![LOG[" (4095 chars) + 4097 x "]" — passes the StartsWith
+        /// gate, never matches, and drove ~7 million backtracking steps through the legacy regex
+        /// (k prefix restarts x m filler positions). The linear parser has no trailer literal to
+        /// find and returns false in a handful of string searches.
+        /// </summary>
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryParseLine_rejects_reported_worst_case_in_bounded_time()
+        {
+            var line = string.Concat(Enumerable.Repeat("<![LOG[", 585)) + new string(']', 4097);
+            Assert.Equal(8192, line.Length);
+
+            var sw = Stopwatch.StartNew();
+            for (var i = 0; i < 200; i++)
+            {
+                Assert.False(CmTraceLogParser.TryParseLine(line, out _));
+            }
+            sw.Stop();
+
+            // 200 lines = one maximal backend request. Generous bound for a slow CI box; the
+            // legacy regex needed seconds here.
+            Assert.True(sw.ElapsedMilliseconds < 500, $"200 worst-case lines took {sw.ElapsedMilliseconds} ms");
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The agent variant: a multi-megabyte assembled entry stuffed with prefixes, trailer
+        /// literals whose attributes never parse, and filler — every occurrence is tried once,
+        /// each trailer probe fails at its first attribute, total work stays linear.
+        /// </summary>
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryParseLine_rejects_multi_megabyte_hostile_entry_in_bounded_time()
+        {
+            var sb = new StringBuilder(2 * 1024 * 1024);
+            sb.Append("<![LOG[");
+            while (sb.Length < 1024 * 1024)
+                sb.Append("<![LOG[").Append("]LOG]!><time=\"x\" ").Append(new string(']', 40)).Append('\n');
+            var line = sb.ToString();
+
+            var sw = Stopwatch.StartNew();
+            Assert.False(CmTraceLogParser.TryParseLine(line, out _));
+            sw.Stop();
+
+            Assert.True(sw.ElapsedMilliseconds < 1000, $"1 MB hostile entry took {sw.ElapsedMilliseconds} ms");
+        }
     }
 }

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests/Monitoring/Ime/ImeLogTrackerLineAnchoringTests.cs

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Logging;
@@ -437,5 +438,43 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Monitoring.Ime
         }
 
         private DateTime? _expectedForCurrentEntry;
+
+        // ── Multiline buffer caps ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// 100 raw lines of unbounded length could still assemble a multi-megabyte entry. The
+        /// char cap drops such an entry (its marker never fires) and says so at Warning, which
+        /// is visible at the default Info level — a capped real entry would be news worth
+        /// reacting to. A same-shaped entry under the cap still assembles and matches.
+        /// </summary>
+        [Theory]
+        [InlineData(2 * 1024 * 1024, false)]   // over cap → dropped, warned
+        [InlineData(64 * 1024, true)]          // under cap → assembled, matched
+        public async Task MultilineEntry_IsDroppedAndWarned_WhenItExceedsTheCharCap(int fillerChars, bool expectMatch)
+        {
+            using var h = new Harness();
+            h.Append("AgentExecutor.log", Line("marker 0", h.Now, TimeSpan.Zero));
+            await h.Pass();
+
+            var matched = new List<string>();
+            h.Tracker.OnPatternMatched += id => matched.Add(id);
+
+            // One entry spanning 3 physical lines; the closing trailer sits on the last line.
+            var filler = new string('x', fillerChars / 2);
+            h.Append("AgentExecutor.log", "<![LOG[write output done. output = " + filler);
+            h.Append("AgentExecutor.log", filler);
+            h.Append("AgentExecutor.log", Line("marker 7", h.Now, TimeSpan.Zero).Substring("<![LOG[".Length));
+            h.Now = T0.AddSeconds(10);
+            await h.Pass();
+
+            Assert.Equal(expectMatch ? 1 : 0, matched.Count);
+            var agentLog = string.Concat(Directory.GetFiles(h.PathOf(""), "*.log")
+                .Where(f => !Path.GetFileName(f).Equals("AgentExecutor.log", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                .Select(File.ReadAllText));
+            if (expectMatch)
+                Assert.DoesNotContain("discarding multiline CMTrace buffer", agentLog);
+            else
+                Assert.Contains("discarding multiline CMTrace buffer in AgentExecutor.log", agentLog);
+        }
     }
 }

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests/Monitoring/Runtime/DiagnosticsPackageServiceTests.cs

@@ -811,5 +811,97 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Monitoring.Runtime
             Assert.False(DiagnosticsPackageService.IsReparsePoint(FileAttributes.ReadOnly | FileAttributes.Hidden));
             Assert.False(DiagnosticsPackageService.IsReparsePoint(FileAttributes.Archive));
         }
+
+        // ========================================== handle-validated reads (TOCTOU) ====
+        // Every guard up to here inspects a PATH: the config guard, the enumeration's reparse
+        // skip, the per-file attribute check. A local user who can write under a recursive
+        // source folder swaps a subdirectory for a junction between enumeration and open, and
+        // the bytes would come from the junction target. The read is validated on the handle
+        // that is actually copied, so the swapped file is skipped and the manifest says why.
+
+        private static string AllZipEntryTexts(byte[] zipBytes)
+        {
+            using var ms = new MemoryStream(zipBytes);
+            using var archive = new ZipArchive(ms, ZipArchiveMode.Read);
+            var sb = new StringBuilder();
+            foreach (var entry in archive.Entries)
+            {
+                using var reader = new StreamReader(entry.Open(), Encoding.UTF8);
+                sb.AppendLine(reader.ReadToEnd());
+            }
+            return sb.ToString();
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void BuildArchiveBytes_skips_file_whose_parent_became_a_junction_after_enumeration()
+        {
+            using var rig = new Rig();
+            using var outside = new TempDirectory();
+            var sub1 = Path.Combine(rig.StateFolder, "sub1");
+            var sub2 = Path.Combine(rig.StateFolder, "sub2");
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(sub1);
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(sub2);
+            File.WriteAllText(Path.Combine(sub1, "decoy.txt"), "decoy");
+            File.WriteAllText(Path.Combine(sub2, "x.txt"), "harmless");
+            File.WriteAllText(Path.Combine(outside.Path, "x.txt"), "OUTSIDE-THE-VALIDATED-FOLDER");
+
+            var svc = rig.Build();
+            var swapped = false;
+            svc.BeforeSourceFileOpen = candidate =>
+            {
+                if (swapped || !candidate.EndsWith(Path.Combine("sub2", "x.txt"), System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                    return;
+                // Enumeration is done and sub2 passed its reparse check — now it becomes a junction.
+                Directory.Delete(sub2, recursive: true);
+                NtfsLinks.CreateJunction(sub2, outside.Path);
+                swapped = true;
+            };
+
+            try
+            {
+                var bytes = svc.BuildArchiveBytes(enrollmentSucceeded: true);
+
+                Assert.True(swapped, "race seam never fired for sub2/x.txt");
+                var entries = ZipEntryNames(bytes);
+                Assert.Contains("AgentState/sub1/decoy.txt", entries);
+                Assert.DoesNotContain("AgentState/sub2/x.txt", entries);
+                Assert.DoesNotContain("OUTSIDE-THE-VALIDATED-FOLDER", AllZipEntryTexts(bytes));
+
+                var manifest = ReadZipEntryText(bytes, "package-manifest.txt");
+                Assert.NotNull(manifest);
+                Assert.Contains("SKIPPED (resolved outside validated folder)", manifest!);
+                Assert.Contains("ADDED: AgentState/sub1/decoy.txt", manifest!);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                NtfsLinks.RemoveLink(sub2);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void BuildArchiveBytes_rejects_source_folder_that_is_a_junction()
+        {
+            using var rig = new Rig();
+            using var outside = new TempDirectory();
+            File.WriteAllText(Path.Combine(outside.Path, "snapshot.json"), "{\"leak\":true}");
+            var link = Path.Combine(rig.Tmp.Path, "StateLink");
+            NtfsLinks.CreateJunction(link, outside.Path);
+
+            try
+            {
+                var bytes = rig.Build(sectionFolderOverrides: new Dictionary<string, string> { ["AgentState"] = link })
+                    .BuildArchiveBytes(enrollmentSucceeded: true);
+
+                var entries = ZipEntryNames(bytes);
+                Assert.DoesNotContain(entries, e => e.StartsWith("AgentState/"));
+                var manifest = ReadZipEntryText(bytes, "package-manifest.txt");
+                Assert.NotNull(manifest);
+                Assert.Contains("FOLDER REJECTED (reparse point)", manifest!);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                NtfsLinks.RemoveLink(link);
+            }
+        }
     }
 }

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests/Monitoring/Runtime/PinnedSourceFolderTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+#nullable enable
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Text;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Runtime;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Harness;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Monitoring.Runtime
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// PinnedSourceFolder is the diagnostics packager's answer to the enumerate-then-open race:
+    /// the folder and every file are judged on the handle that is read, never on the path
+    /// string. Junctions come from the stock mklink (no privilege needed); the file-symlink
+    /// case degrades to a no-op on hosts without the symlink privilege.
+    /// </summary>
+    public sealed class PinnedSourceFolderTests
+    {
+        [DllImport("kernel32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]
+        private static extern uint GetShortPathNameW(string lpszLongPath, StringBuilder lpszShortPath, uint cchBuffer);
+
+        private static string? ShortPathOf(string path)
+        {
+            var sb = new StringBuilder(1024);
+            var len = GetShortPathNameW(path, sb, (uint)sb.Capacity);
+            return len == 0 || len >= sb.Capacity ? null : sb.ToString();
+        }
+
+        private static string LongPathOf(string path) => PinnedSourceFolder.TryGetLongPath(path) ?? path;
+
+        private static bool SamePath(string a, string b) =>
+            string.Equals(a.TrimEnd('\\'), b.TrimEnd('\\'), StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryOpen_pins_a_real_folder_and_reports_where_it_points()
+        {
+            using var tmp = new TempDirectory();
+            var folder = Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "Logs");
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(folder);
+
+            using var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(folder + "\\", out var rejection);
+
+            Assert.Null(rejection);
+            Assert.NotNull(pinned);
+            Assert.Equal(folder, pinned!.LexicalPath);
+            Assert.True(SamePath(LongPathOf(folder), pinned.CanonicalPath), $"canonical '{pinned.CanonicalPath}' vs '{folder}'");
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryOpen_accepts_a_short_name_path_and_canonicalizes_it()
+        {
+            using var tmp = new TempDirectory();
+            var folder = Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "LongFolderNameForShortNames");
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(folder);
+            // 8.3 generation may be disabled on the volume; then the short form IS the long form
+            // and this degrades to the plain case (CI runners hand out C:\Users\RUNNER~1\...).
+            var shortForm = ShortPathOf(folder) ?? folder;
+
+            using var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(shortForm, out var rejection);
+
+            Assert.Null(rejection);
+            Assert.NotNull(pinned);
+            Assert.True(SamePath(LongPathOf(folder), pinned!.CanonicalPath), $"canonical '{pinned.CanonicalPath}' vs '{folder}' (opened as '{shortForm}')");
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryOpen_reports_a_missing_folder()
+        {
+            using var tmp = new TempDirectory();
+
+            var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "nope"), out var rejection);
+
+            Assert.Null(pinned);
+            Assert.Equal(PinnedSourceFolder.RejectMissing, rejection);
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryOpen_rejects_a_folder_that_is_a_junction()
+        {
+            using var tmp = new TempDirectory();
+            using var target = new TempDirectory();
+            var link = Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "link");
+            NtfsLinks.CreateJunction(link, target.Path);
+            try
+            {
+                var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(link, out var rejection);
+
+                Assert.Null(pinned);
+                Assert.Equal(PinnedSourceFolder.RejectReparsePoint, rejection);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                NtfsLinks.RemoveLink(link);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryOpen_rejects_a_folder_reached_through_a_junction()
+        {
+            using var tmp = new TempDirectory();
+            using var target = new TempDirectory();
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(Path.Combine(target.Path, "Logs"));
+            var link = Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "link");
+            NtfsLinks.CreateJunction(link, target.Path);
+            try
+            {
+                // link\Logs is a real directory reached THROUGH a junction: its own attributes are
+                // clean, only the handle's final path gives it away.
+                var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(Path.Combine(link, "Logs"), out var rejection);
+
+                Assert.Null(pinned);
+                Assert.Equal(PinnedSourceFolder.RejectResolvedElsewhere, rejection);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                NtfsLinks.RemoveLink(link);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryOpenFile_returns_the_bytes_of_a_real_file()
+        {
+            using var tmp = new TempDirectory();
+            var sub = Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "sub");
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(sub);
+            var file = Path.Combine(sub, "a.log");
+            File.WriteAllText(file, "hello");
+
+            using var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(tmp.Path, out _);
+            Assert.NotNull(pinned);
+            using var source = pinned!.TryOpenFile(file, out var rejection);
+
+            Assert.Null(rejection);
+            Assert.NotNull(source);
+            Assert.Equal(5, source!.Length);
+            using var reader = new StreamReader(source.Stream, Encoding.UTF8);
+            Assert.Equal("hello", reader.ReadToEnd());
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryOpenFile_rejects_a_file_reached_through_a_junction_created_after_the_pin()
+        {
+            using var tmp = new TempDirectory();
+            using var outside = new TempDirectory();
+            var sub = Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "sub");
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(sub);
+            var file = Path.Combine(sub, "x.log");
+            File.WriteAllText(file, "harmless");
+            File.WriteAllText(Path.Combine(outside.Path, "x.log"), "outside");
+
+            using var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(tmp.Path, out _);
+            Assert.NotNull(pinned);
+            // Enumeration would have listed sub\x.log by now — the attacker swaps sub for a junction.
+            Directory.Delete(sub, recursive: true);
+            NtfsLinks.CreateJunction(sub, outside.Path);
+            try
+            {
+                var source = pinned!.TryOpenFile(file, out var rejection);
+
+                Assert.Null(source);
+                Assert.Equal(PinnedSourceFolder.RejectResolvedElsewhere, rejection);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                NtfsLinks.RemoveLink(sub);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryOpenFile_rejects_a_symlink_at_the_final_component()
+        {
+            using var tmp = new TempDirectory();
+            using var outside = new TempDirectory();
+            var targetFile = Path.Combine(outside.Path, "secret.log");
+            File.WriteAllText(targetFile, "outside");
+            var link = Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "x.log");
+            if (!NtfsLinks.TryCreateFileSymlink(link, targetFile))
+                return; // no SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege / Developer Mode on this host — nothing to assert
+            try
+            {
+                using var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(tmp.Path, out _);
+                Assert.NotNull(pinned);
+
+                var source = pinned!.TryOpenFile(link, out var rejection);
+
+                Assert.Null(source);
+                Assert.Equal(PinnedSourceFolder.RejectReparsePoint, rejection);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                NtfsLinks.RemoveLink(link);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void TryOpenFile_refuses_a_candidate_outside_the_pinned_folder()
+        {
+            using var tmp = new TempDirectory();
+            using var other = new TempDirectory();
+            var elsewhere = Path.Combine(other.Path, "x.log");
+            File.WriteAllText(elsewhere, "x");
+
+            using var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(tmp.Path, out _);
+            Assert.NotNull(pinned);
+
+            var source = pinned!.TryOpenFile(elsewhere, out var rejection);
+
+            Assert.Null(source);
+            Assert.Equal(PinnedSourceFolder.RejectOutsideFolder, rejection);
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void Pinned_folder_and_its_ancestors_cannot_be_renamed_while_pinned()
+        {
+            using var tmp = new TempDirectory();
+            var parent = Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "parent");
+            var folder = Path.Combine(parent, "Logs");
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(folder);
+
+            using (var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(folder, out _))
+            {
+                Assert.NotNull(pinned);
+                Assert.ThrowsAny<Exception>(() => Directory.Move(folder, Path.Combine(parent, "Logs2")));
+                Assert.ThrowsAny<Exception>(() => Directory.Move(parent, Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "parent2")));
+                Assert.True(Directory.Exists(folder));
+            }
+
+            // Released: the same rename now succeeds.
+            Directory.Move(parent, Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "parent2"));
+            Assert.True(Directory.Exists(Path.Combine(tmp.Path, "parent2", "Logs")));
+        }
+    }
+}

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests/Orchestration/GatherRuleExecutorHostTimelineFeedTests.cs

@@ -122,13 +122,13 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Orchestration
             // The raw-world sequence of session 32312a32 as it reaches the emitted timeline:
             // esp_exiting and hello_wizard_started are emitted WITHOUT a phase declaration
             // (the engine holds FinalizingSetup back behind the RealmJoin gate) — no fire.
-            _stream.Publish("esp_exiting", EnrollmentPhase.Unknown);
-            _stream.Publish("hello_wizard_started", EnrollmentPhase.Unknown);
+            _stream.Publish("esp_exiting", EnrollmentPhase.Unknown, "Engine");
+            _stream.Publish("hello_wizard_started", EnrollmentPhase.Unknown, "Engine");
             Thread.Sleep(300);
             Assert.Equal(0, _sink.CountOf("gather_host_test"));
 
             // Only the engine's actual phase declaration fires the rule.
-            _stream.Publish("phase_transition", EnrollmentPhase.FinalizingSetup);
+            _stream.Publish("phase_transition", EnrollmentPhase.FinalizingSetup, "Engine");
             Assert.True(WaitForCount("gather_host_test", 1));
         }
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Orchestration
             // enrollment_complete" trigger was dead under the previous SignalPosted feed.
             BuildHost(Rule("GATHER-HOST-002", "on_event", triggerEventType: "enrollment_complete"));
 
-            _stream.Publish("enrollment_complete", EnrollmentPhase.Unknown);
+            _stream.Publish("enrollment_complete", EnrollmentPhase.Unknown, "Engine");
             Assert.True(WaitForCount("gather_host_test", 1));
         }
 
@@ -151,14 +151,14 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Orchestration
             // identical phase (e.g. duplicate esp_phase_changed) must not count as one.
             BuildHost(Rule("GATHER-HOST-003", "phase_change", triggerPhase: ""));
 
-            _stream.Publish("esp_phase_changed", EnrollmentPhase.DeviceSetup);
+            _stream.Publish("esp_phase_changed", EnrollmentPhase.DeviceSetup, "Engine");
             Assert.True(WaitForCount("gather_host_test", 1));
 
-            _stream.Publish("esp_phase_changed", EnrollmentPhase.DeviceSetup);
+            _stream.Publish("esp_phase_changed", EnrollmentPhase.DeviceSetup, "Engine");
             Thread.Sleep(300);
             Assert.Equal(1, _sink.CountOf("gather_host_test"));
 
-            _stream.Publish("esp_phase_changed", EnrollmentPhase.AccountSetup);
+            _stream.Publish("esp_phase_changed", EnrollmentPhase.AccountSetup, "Engine");
             Assert.True(WaitForCount("gather_host_test", 2));
         }
 
@@ -167,11 +167,44 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Orchestration
         {
             BuildHost(Rule("GATHER-HOST-004", "phase_exit", triggerPhase: "AccountSetup"));
 
-            _stream.Publish("esp_phase_changed", EnrollmentPhase.AccountSetup);
+            _stream.Publish("esp_phase_changed", EnrollmentPhase.AccountSetup, "Engine");
             Thread.Sleep(300);
             Assert.Equal(0, _sink.CountOf("gather_host_test"));
 
-            _stream.Publish("phase_transition", EnrollmentPhase.FinalizingSetup);
+            _stream.Publish("phase_transition", EnrollmentPhase.FinalizingSetup, "Engine");
+            Assert.True(WaitForCount("gather_host_test", 1));
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void OnEventRule_NeverFiresOnGatherExecutorOutput_BreaksSelfTriggerLoop()
+        {
+            // A rule whose TriggerEventType equals its own OutputEventType: the event it emits
+            // travels post → ingress → reducer → emitter → stream and comes back here with
+            // Source == GatherRuleExecutor. Without the source guard that re-enters OnEvent and
+            // the rule loops for the whole session (execute → emit → trigger → execute …).
+            BuildHost(Rule("GATHER-HOST-006", "on_event", triggerEventType: "gather_host_test"));
+
+            _stream.Publish("gather_host_test", EnrollmentPhase.Unknown,
+                Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather.GatherRuleExecutor.SourceName);
+            Thread.Sleep(300);
+            Assert.Equal(0, _sink.CountOf("gather_host_test"));
+
+            // The same event type from any other origin still triggers exactly once per event.
+            _stream.Publish("gather_host_test", EnrollmentPhase.Unknown, "Engine");
+            Assert.True(WaitForCount("gather_host_test", 1));
+            Thread.Sleep(300);
+            Assert.Equal(1, _sink.CountOf("gather_host_test"));
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void PhaseDeclarationOnGatherSourcedEvent_StillDrivesPhaseTriggers()
+        {
+            // The source guard only suppresses on_event dispatch; a phase declaration is a
+            // timeline fact regardless of which component carried it.
+            BuildHost(Rule("GATHER-HOST-007", "phase_change", triggerPhase: "DeviceSetup"));
+
+            _stream.Publish("gather_host_test", EnrollmentPhase.DeviceSetup,
+                Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather.GatherRuleExecutor.SourceName);
             Assert.True(WaitForCount("gather_host_test", 1));
         }
 
@@ -181,7 +214,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Orchestration
             BuildHost(Rule("GATHER-HOST-005", "on_event", triggerEventType: "enrollment_complete"));
 
             _host!.Stop();
-            _stream.Publish("enrollment_complete", EnrollmentPhase.Unknown);
+            _stream.Publish("enrollment_complete", EnrollmentPhase.Unknown, "Engine");
             Thread.Sleep(300);
             Assert.Equal(0, _sink.CountOf("gather_host_test"));
         }

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests/Telemetry/Events/EventTimelineEmitterTests.cs

@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Telemetry.Events
             using var r = new Rig();
             var stream = new AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Orchestration.TimelineEventStream();
             var published = new List<(string EventType, EnrollmentPhase Phase)>();
-            stream.EventEmitted += (eventType, phase) => published.Add((eventType, phase));
+            stream.EventEmitted += (eventType, phase, _) => published.Add((eventType, phase));
             var sut = new EventTimelineEmitter(r.Inner, stream);
 
             sut.Emit(
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Tests.Telemetry.Events
             using var r = new Rig();
             var stream = new AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Orchestration.TimelineEventStream();
             var secondSubscriberCalls = 0;
-            stream.EventEmitted += (_, _) => throw new InvalidOperationException("subscriber bug");
-            stream.EventEmitted += (_, _) => secondSubscriberCalls++;
+            stream.EventEmitted += (_, _, _) => throw new InvalidOperationException("subscriber bug");
+            stream.EventEmitted += (_, _, _) => secondSubscriberCalls++;
             var sut = new EventTimelineEmitter(r.Inner, stream);
 
             sut.Emit(

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Enrollment/Ime/ImeLogTracker.LogProcessing.cs

@@ -123,12 +123,23 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Enrollment.Ime
                             // "write output done. output = ..." spans many lines)
                             StringBuilder multiLineBuffer = null;
                             int multiLineCount = 0;
+                            // Set after a capped entry is dropped: its remaining physical lines
+                            // are skipped instead of being matched as raw text, until the entry
+                            // closes or a new entry begins (so no real entry is lost).
+                            bool skippingDroppedEntry = false;
 
                             string line;
                             while ((line = await reader.ReadLineAsync()) != null)
                             {
                                 if (token.IsCancellationRequested) break;
 
+                                if (skippingDroppedEntry)
+                                {
+                                    if (line.Contains("]LOG]!>")) { skippingDroppedEntry = false; continue; }
+                                    if (!line.StartsWith("<![LOG[")) continue;
+                                    skippingDroppedEntry = false;
+                                }
+
                                 // --- Multiline CMTrace buffering ---
                                 // CMTrace entries: <![LOG[message]LOG]!><time=...>
                                 // When message contains newlines, the entry spans multiple lines.
@@ -146,12 +157,15 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Enrollment.Ime
                                         multiLineBuffer = null;
                                         multiLineCount = 0;
                                     }
-                                    else if (multiLineCount >= MaxMultiLineBufferLines)
+                                    else if (multiLineCount >= MaxMultiLineBufferLines || multiLineBuffer.Length >= MaxMultiLineBufferChars)
                                     {
-                                        // Safety limit — discard to prevent unbounded memory usage
-                                        _logger.Debug($"ImeLogTracker: discarding multiline CMTrace buffer after {multiLineCount} lines (corrupt entry?)");
+                                        // Safety limit — discard to bound memory and parser work. Warning
+                                        // (not Debug) so a capped entry is visible in the client log at the
+                                        // default level: a real IME entry this large would be news.
+                                        _logger.Warning($"ImeLogTracker: discarding multiline CMTrace buffer in {Path.GetFileName(filePath)} after {multiLineCount} lines / {multiLineBuffer.Length} chars (cap {MaxMultiLineBufferLines} lines / {MaxMultiLineBufferChars} chars) — entry dropped");
                                         multiLineBuffer = null;
                                         multiLineCount = 0;
+                                        skippingDroppedEntry = true;
                                         continue;
                                     }
                                     else

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Enrollment/Ime/ImeLogTracker.cs

@@ -224,6 +224,11 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Enrollment.Ime
 
         private const int MaxScriptOutputLength = 2048;
         private const int MaxMultiLineBufferLines = 100;
+        // Companion byte cap: 100 raw lines of unbounded length could still assemble a
+        // multi-megabyte entry. Any process able to append to a tailed log can plant one; the
+        // parser is linear, but memory and the per-entry work must stay bounded regardless.
+        // Real IME entries (AgentExecutor script output is capped by IME itself) stay far below.
+        internal const int MaxMultiLineBufferChars = 1024 * 1024;
 
         // Counter for HS-NEW-RESULT JSON parse failures — visible to operators via tracker
         // metrics so we can detect IME log-format drift in production.

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Interop/FileNativeMethods.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+using System;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Text;
+using Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles;
+
+namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Interop
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Win32 file-handle declarations for <c>PinnedSourceFolder</c>: open a file or directory
+    /// without following a reparse point at its final component, and ask the handle where it
+    /// really points (<c>GetFinalPathNameByHandle</c>) instead of trusting the path string.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal static class FileNativeMethods
+    {
+        public const uint GENERIC_READ = 0x80000000;
+        public const uint FILE_LIST_DIRECTORY = 0x0001;
+        public const uint FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES = 0x0080;
+
+        public const uint FILE_SHARE_READ = 0x1;
+        public const uint FILE_SHARE_WRITE = 0x2;
+
+        public const uint OPEN_EXISTING = 3;
+
+        public const uint FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT = 0x00200000;
+        public const uint FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS = 0x02000000;
+        public const uint FILE_FLAG_SEQUENTIAL_SCAN = 0x08000000;
+
+        public const uint FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY = 0x10;
+        public const uint FILE_ATTRIBUTE_REPARSE_POINT = 0x400;
+
+        /// <summary>GetFinalPathNameByHandle flags: FILE_NAME_NORMALIZED | VOLUME_NAME_DOS (both zero).</summary>
+        public const uint FINAL_PATH_NORMALIZED_DOS = 0;
+
+        [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
+        public struct BY_HANDLE_FILE_INFORMATION
+        {
+            public uint FileAttributes;
+            public System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.FILETIME CreationTime;
+            public System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.FILETIME LastAccessTime;
+            public System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.FILETIME LastWriteTime;
+            public uint VolumeSerialNumber;
+            public uint FileSizeHigh;
+            public uint FileSizeLow;
+            public uint NumberOfLinks;
+            public uint FileIndexHigh;
+            public uint FileIndexLow;
+        }
+
+        [DllImport("kernel32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]
+        public static extern SafeFileHandle CreateFileW(
+            string lpFileName,
+            uint dwDesiredAccess,
+            uint dwShareMode,
+            IntPtr lpSecurityAttributes,
+            uint dwCreationDisposition,
+            uint dwFlagsAndAttributes,
+            IntPtr hTemplateFile);
+
+        [DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
+        [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
+        public static extern bool GetFileInformationByHandle(
+            SafeFileHandle hFile,
+            out BY_HANDLE_FILE_INFORMATION lpFileInformation);
+
+        [DllImport("kernel32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]
+        public static extern uint GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(
+            SafeFileHandle hFile,
+            StringBuilder lpszFilePath,
+            uint cchFilePath,
+            uint dwFlags);
+
+        [DllImport("kernel32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]
+        public static extern uint GetLongPathNameW(
+            string lpszShortPath,
+            StringBuilder lpszLongPath,
+            uint cchBuffer);
+    }
+}

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Runtime/DiagnosticsPackageService.cs

@@ -102,6 +102,11 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Runtime
         // hundreds of MB of fixture data. Production callers leave this at Default.
         internal DiagnosticsBudget Budget { get; set; } = DiagnosticsBudget.Default;
 
+        // Test seam: invoked with each candidate path right before it is opened, so a test can
+        // reproduce the enumerate-then-open race (a subdirectory swapped for a junction) at the
+        // exact point production is exposed. Null in production.
+        internal Action<string> BeforeSourceFileOpen { get; set; }
+
         // Tracks per-build inclusion totals + skip reasons. Threaded through every
         // AddLogFiles call so caps are global across all sections, not per section.
         private sealed class BudgetTracker
@@ -562,138 +567,162 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Runtime
         private void AddLogFiles(ZipArchive archive, string sourceFolder, string zipFolder, string searchPattern,
             BudgetTracker tracker, bool includeSubfolders = false)
         {
-            if (!Directory.Exists(sourceFolder))
+            // The folder stays pinned (open handle) for this whole section. The path guards and
+            // the enumeration below only ever judge path strings; every byte that reaches the
+            // archive comes from a handle that PinnedSourceFolder verified to point inside the
+            // validated location at the moment it was opened.
+            using (var pinned = PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpen(sourceFolder, out var folderRejection))
             {
-                _logger.Debug($"Log folder not found, skipping: {sourceFolder}");
-                ManifestLine($"FOLDER MISSING: {sourceFolder} (pattern '{searchPattern}')");
-                return;
-            }
+                if (pinned == null)
+                {
+                    if (folderRejection == PinnedSourceFolder.RejectMissing)
+                    {
+                        _logger.Debug($"Log folder not found, skipping: {sourceFolder}");
+                        ManifestLine($"FOLDER MISSING: {sourceFolder} (pattern '{searchPattern}')");
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        _logger.Warning($"Diagnostics source folder rejected ({folderRejection}): {sourceFolder}");
+                        ManifestLine($"FOLDER REJECTED ({folderRejection}): {sourceFolder} (pattern '{searchPattern}')");
+                    }
+                    return;
+                }
 
-            List<string> files;
-            try
-            {
-                files = EnumerateFilesNoReparseDirs(sourceFolder, searchPattern, includeSubfolders);
-            }
-            catch (Exception ex)
-            {
-                _logger.Warning($"Failed to enumerate log files in {sourceFolder}: {ex.Message}");
-                ManifestLine($"ENUMERATION FAILED: {sourceFolder} (pattern '{searchPattern}'): {ex.Message}");
-                return;
-            }
-
-            if (files.Count == 0)
-                ManifestLine($"NO MATCH: {sourceFolder} pattern '{searchPattern}'");
-
-            foreach (var file in files)
-            {
+                List<string> files;
                 try
                 {
-                    // Per-file reparse check: a top-level file in the folder may itself be a
-                    // symlink/junction even though its parent directory is real.
-                    FileAttributes attrs;
-                    try { attrs = File.GetAttributes(file); }
-                    catch (Exception ex)
-                    {
-                        _logger.Warning($"Failed to read attributes for {file}: {ex.Message}");
-                        continue;
-                    }
-                    if (IsReparsePoint(attrs))
-                    {
-                        _logger.Warning($"Skipping reparse-point file: {file}");
-                        tracker.RecordSkip(file, "reparse", 0);
-                        ManifestLine($"SKIPPED (reparse point): {file}");
-                        continue;
-                    }
-
-                    long length;
-                    try { length = new FileInfo(file).Length; }
-                    catch (Exception ex)
-                    {
-                        _logger.Warning($"Failed to stat {file}: {ex.Message}");
-                        continue;
-                    }
-
-                    // Active event-log channels hold their .evtx exclusively locked — a raw
-                    // FileStream open fails with a sharing violation. Export the channel via
-                    // wevtutil instead and stream the export (deleted below). Session a11102f4:
-                    // the tenant-configured BootstrapperAgent channel never made it into the ZIP.
-                    string streamSource = file;
-                    string tempExport = null;
-                    if (file.EndsWith(".evtx", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
-                    {
-                        tempExport = TryExportEventLogChannel(file);
-                        if (tempExport != null)
-                        {
-                            streamSource = tempExport;
-                            try { length = new FileInfo(tempExport).Length; }
-                            catch { /* keep original length estimate */ }
-                        }
-                        else
-                        {
-                            // Export failed (channel not resolvable / wevtutil error) — fall through
-                            // to the raw copy. Inactive or archived evtx files are not locked, so
-                            // the plain FileStream often still succeeds; if the channel IS active
-                            // and locked, the existing per-file catch logs the failure.
-                            _logger.Warning($"Event log export unavailable for {file} — attempting raw copy.");
-                            ManifestLine($"EVTX EXPORT FAILED (falling back to raw copy): {file}");
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    try
-                    {
-                        if (length > tracker.Budget.MaxSingleFileBytes)
-                        {
-                            _logger.Warning($"Skipping oversized file ({length} bytes > {tracker.Budget.MaxSingleFileBytes} cap): {file}");
-                            tracker.RecordSkip(file, "size", length);
-                            ManifestLine($"SKIPPED (single-file cap, {length} bytes): {file}");
-                            continue;
-                        }
-                        if (tracker.WouldExceedCount())
-                        {
-                            _logger.Warning($"Skipping file (file-count cap {tracker.Budget.MaxFileCount} reached): {file}");
-                            tracker.RecordSkip(file, "count", length);
-                            ManifestLine($"SKIPPED (file-count cap): {file}");
-                            continue;
-                        }
-                        if (tracker.WouldExceedTotal(length))
-                        {
-                            _logger.Warning($"Skipping file (total-bytes cap {tracker.Budget.MaxTotalUncompressedBytes} reached): {file}");
-                            tracker.RecordSkip(file, "total", length);
-                            ManifestLine($"SKIPPED (total-bytes cap): {file}");
-                            continue;
-                        }
-
-                        // Preserve subfolder structure in the ZIP when includeSubfolders is enabled
-                        var relativePath = file.Substring(sourceFolder.Length).TrimStart(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar);
-                        var entryName = $"{zipFolder}/{relativePath.Replace(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar, '/')}";
-
-                        var entry = archive.CreateEntry(entryName, CompressionLevel.Optimal);
-                        // Stream directly from disk into the entry — no per-file MemoryStream/byte[]
-                        // copy. FileShare.ReadWrite avoids locking conflicts with active log writers.
-                        using (var fs = new FileStream(streamSource, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.ReadWrite))
-                        using (var entryStream = entry.Open())
-                        {
-                            fs.CopyTo(entryStream);
-                        }
-
-                        tracker.RecordIncluded(length);
-                        _logger.Debug($"Added to diagnostics package: {entryName} ({length / 1024} KB)");
-                        ManifestLine($"ADDED: {entryName} ({length} bytes)");
-                    }
-                    finally
-                    {
-                        if (tempExport != null)
-                        {
-                            try { File.Delete(tempExport); } catch { }
-                        }
-                    }
+                    files = EnumerateFilesNoReparseDirs(pinned.LexicalPath, searchPattern, includeSubfolders);
                 }
                 catch (Exception ex)
                 {
-                    _logger.Warning($"Failed to add log file to diagnostics package: {file} - {ex.Message}");
-                    ManifestLine($"FAILED (copy): {file}: {ex.Message}");
+                    _logger.Warning($"Failed to enumerate log files in {sourceFolder}: {ex.Message}");
+                    ManifestLine($"ENUMERATION FAILED: {sourceFolder} (pattern '{searchPattern}'): {ex.Message}");
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                if (files.Count == 0)
+                    ManifestLine($"NO MATCH: {sourceFolder} pattern '{searchPattern}'");
+
+                foreach (var file in files)
+                    AddLogFile(archive, pinned, file, zipFolder, tracker);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void AddLogFile(ZipArchive archive, PinnedSourceFolder pinned, string file, string zipFolder, BudgetTracker tracker)
+        {
+            string tempExport = null;
+            try
+            {
+                // Active event-log channels hold their .evtx exclusively locked — a raw
+                // FileStream open fails with a sharing violation. Export the channel via
+                // wevtutil instead and stream the export (deleted below). Session a11102f4:
+                // the tenant-configured BootstrapperAgent channel never made it into the ZIP.
+                if (file.EndsWith(".evtx", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                {
+                    tempExport = TryExportEventLogChannel(file);
+                    if (tempExport == null)
+                    {
+                        // Export failed (channel not resolvable / wevtutil error) — fall through
+                        // to the raw copy. Inactive or archived evtx files are not locked, so
+                        // the validated open often still succeeds; if the channel IS active
+                        // and locked, the open failure is recorded below.
+                        _logger.Warning($"Event log export unavailable for {file} — attempting raw copy.");
+                        ManifestLine($"EVTX EXPORT FAILED (falling back to raw copy): {file}");
+                    }
+                }
+
+                BeforeSourceFileOpen?.Invoke(file);
+
+                using (var source = OpenSource(pinned, file, tempExport, tracker))
+                {
+                    if (source == null) return;
+
+                    var length = source.Length;
+                    if (length > tracker.Budget.MaxSingleFileBytes)
+                    {
+                        _logger.Warning($"Skipping oversized file ({length} bytes > {tracker.Budget.MaxSingleFileBytes} cap): {file}");
+                        tracker.RecordSkip(file, "size", length);
+                        ManifestLine($"SKIPPED (single-file cap, {length} bytes): {file}");
+                        return;
+                    }
+                    if (tracker.WouldExceedCount())
+                    {
+                        _logger.Warning($"Skipping file (file-count cap {tracker.Budget.MaxFileCount} reached): {file}");
+                        tracker.RecordSkip(file, "count", length);
+                        ManifestLine($"SKIPPED (file-count cap): {file}");
+                        return;
+                    }
+                    if (tracker.WouldExceedTotal(length))
+                    {
+                        _logger.Warning($"Skipping file (total-bytes cap {tracker.Budget.MaxTotalUncompressedBytes} reached): {file}");
+                        tracker.RecordSkip(file, "total", length);
+                        ManifestLine($"SKIPPED (total-bytes cap): {file}");
+                        return;
+                    }
+
+                    // Preserve subfolder structure in the ZIP when includeSubfolders is enabled
+                    var relativePath = file.Substring(pinned.LexicalPath.Length).TrimStart(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar);
+                    var entryName = $"{zipFolder}/{relativePath.Replace(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar, '/')}";
+
+                    var entry = archive.CreateEntry(entryName, CompressionLevel.Optimal);
+                    // Stream straight from the validated handle into the entry — no per-file
+                    // MemoryStream/byte[] copy.
+                    using (var entryStream = entry.Open())
+                    {
+                        source.Stream.CopyTo(entryStream);
+                    }
+
+                    tracker.RecordIncluded(length);
+                    _logger.Debug($"Added to diagnostics package: {entryName} ({length / 1024} KB)");
+                    ManifestLine($"ADDED: {entryName} ({length} bytes)");
                 }
             }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                _logger.Warning($"Failed to add log file to diagnostics package: {file} - {ex.Message}");
+                ManifestLine($"FAILED (copy): {file}: {ex.Message}");
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                if (tempExport != null)
+                {
+                    try { File.Delete(tempExport); } catch { }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // The readable source behind one candidate, or null once the skip has been recorded.
+        // An event-log export is the agent's own temp file and is streamed as-is; everything
+        // else must come back from the pinned folder's validated open.
+        private SourceFile OpenSource(PinnedSourceFolder pinned, string file, string tempExport, BudgetTracker tracker)
+        {
+            if (tempExport != null)
+                return SourceFile.OpenAgentOwned(tempExport);
+
+            var source = pinned.TryOpenFile(file, out var rejection);
+            if (source != null) return source;
+
+            switch (rejection)
+            {
+                case PinnedSourceFolder.RejectReparsePoint:
+                    _logger.Warning($"Skipping reparse-point file: {file}");
+                    tracker.RecordSkip(file, "reparse", 0);
+                    ManifestLine($"SKIPPED (reparse point): {file}");
+                    break;
+                case PinnedSourceFolder.RejectResolvedElsewhere:
+                    // The path was inside the folder when it was enumerated; the handle is not.
+                    // A directory in between became a junction or symlink — nothing from behind
+                    // it is copied, and the manifest names only the path we were asked for.
+                    _logger.Warning($"Skipping file that resolves outside its validated folder (reparse point introduced during packaging): {file}");
+                    tracker.RecordSkip(file, "resolved-outside-folder", 0);
+                    ManifestLine($"SKIPPED (resolved outside validated folder): {file}");
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    _logger.Warning($"Failed to open {file}: {rejection}");
+                    ManifestLine($"FAILED (open): {file}: {rejection}");
+                    break;
+            }
+            return null;
         }
 
         /// <summary>

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Runtime/PinnedSourceFolder.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,352 @@
+using System;
+using System.ComponentModel;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Text;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Interop;
+using Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles;
+
+namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Runtime
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// A diagnostics source folder held open for one section build, and the only way the
+    /// package reads bytes out of it.
+    ///
+    /// The path guards (<see cref="Telemetry.Gather.DiagnosticsPathGuards"/>) and the
+    /// enumeration's reparse-point skip are check-then-act: they judge a path string, and the
+    /// bytes are read from that string later. Under any folder a local user can write to, a
+    /// subdirectory can become a junction between the check and the read, and the copy would
+    /// follow it into whatever SYSTEM can read. This class puts both decisions on the handle
+    /// that is actually read:
+    ///
+    /// <list type="bullet">
+    ///   <item>
+    ///     <see cref="TryOpen"/> opens the folder once. The handle's final path
+    ///     (<c>GetFinalPathNameByHandle</c> — every reparse point resolved) must equal the
+    ///     validated lexical path, otherwise a junction or symlink sits somewhere in the chain
+    ///     and the whole folder is rejected. The handle stays open, without a delete share,
+    ///     until <see cref="Dispose"/>: NTFS refuses to rename or delete a directory while it
+    ///     or anything beneath it is open, so the validated chain cannot be swapped underneath
+    ///     the build either.
+    ///   </item>
+    ///   <item>
+    ///     <see cref="TryOpenFile"/> opens each candidate with <c>FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT</c>
+    ///     (a symlink at the final component is opened as itself and refused) and requires the
+    ///     handle's final path to be exactly <c>&lt;canonical folder&gt;\&lt;relative path&gt;</c>.
+    ///     A subdirectory that became a junction after enumeration resolves elsewhere and the
+    ///     file is skipped. The stream handed back wraps that same validated handle.
+    ///   </item>
+    /// </list>
+    ///
+    /// Neither fact is re-derived from a path once the handle exists, so there is no window
+    /// between validation and use. Hard links are out of scope: Windows refuses to create one
+    /// to a file the caller cannot write.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal sealed class PinnedSourceFolder : IDisposable
+    {
+        public const string RejectMissing = "folder missing";
+        public const string RejectNotDirectory = "not a directory";
+        public const string RejectNotFile = "not a file";
+        public const string RejectReparsePoint = "reparse point";
+        public const string RejectResolvedElsewhere = "resolved outside validated folder";
+        public const string RejectOutsideFolder = "outside pinned folder";
+
+        private readonly SafeFileHandle _handle;
+
+        /// <summary>Full lexical path the caller validated, without a trailing separator.</summary>
+        public string LexicalPath { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Where the pinned handle really points; equal to <see cref="LexicalPath"/> up to
+        /// case and 8.3 expansion, as verified by <see cref="TryOpen"/>.
+        /// </summary>
+        public string CanonicalPath { get; }
+
+        private PinnedSourceFolder(SafeFileHandle handle, string lexicalPath, string canonicalPath)
+        {
+            _handle = handle;
+            LexicalPath = lexicalPath;
+            CanonicalPath = canonicalPath;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Pins <paramref name="folder"/>. Returns null with a rejection reason (one of the
+        /// <c>Reject*</c> constants or an open/query error) when the folder is missing, is not
+        /// a directory, is a reparse point itself, or is reached through one.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static PinnedSourceFolder TryOpen(string folder, out string rejection)
+        {
+            string lexical;
+            try
+            {
+                lexical = TrimSeparators(Path.GetFullPath(folder));
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                rejection = $"invalid path: {ex.Message}";
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            if (!Directory.Exists(lexical))
+            {
+                rejection = File.Exists(lexical) ? RejectNotDirectory : RejectMissing;
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            SafeFileHandle handle = null;
+            try
+            {
+                // FILE_LIST_DIRECTORY (a data access) is what makes this handle count for share
+                // tracking: an attribute-only open would neither block nor be blocked, and a
+                // rename could slip past the missing delete share.
+                handle = FileNativeMethods.CreateFileW(
+                    lexical,
+                    FileNativeMethods.FILE_LIST_DIRECTORY | FileNativeMethods.FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES,
+                    FileNativeMethods.FILE_SHARE_READ | FileNativeMethods.FILE_SHARE_WRITE,
+                    IntPtr.Zero,
+                    FileNativeMethods.OPEN_EXISTING,
+                    FileNativeMethods.FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS | FileNativeMethods.FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT,
+                    IntPtr.Zero);
+                if (handle.IsInvalid)
+                {
+                    rejection = "open failed: " + DescribeLastError();
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                if (!FileNativeMethods.GetFileInformationByHandle(handle, out var info))
+                {
+                    rejection = "attributes unavailable: " + DescribeLastError();
+                    return null;
+                }
+                if ((info.FileAttributes & FileNativeMethods.FILE_ATTRIBUTE_REPARSE_POINT) != 0)
+                {
+                    rejection = RejectReparsePoint;
+                    return null;
+                }
+                if ((info.FileAttributes & FileNativeMethods.FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY) == 0)
+                {
+                    rejection = RejectNotDirectory;
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                var canonical = TryGetFinalPath(handle, out var finalPathError);
+                if (canonical == null)
+                {
+                    rejection = "final path unavailable: " + finalPathError;
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                // The lexical path may carry 8.3 components (%TEMP%-style expansions); a final
+                // path never does. Expand before comparing so a short name is not mistaken for
+                // a reparse point — a failed expansion keeps the raw string and fails closed.
+                var expected = TryGetLongPath(lexical) ?? lexical;
+                if (!PathEquals(canonical, expected))
+                {
+                    rejection = RejectResolvedElsewhere;
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                var pinned = new PinnedSourceFolder(handle, lexical, canonical);
+                handle = null; // owned by the instance from here on
+                rejection = null;
+                return pinned;
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                rejection = "open failed: " + ex.Message;
+                return null;
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                handle?.Dispose();
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Opens <paramref name="candidatePath"/> (a lexical descendant of the pinned folder, as
+        /// produced by enumeration) for reading. Returns null with a rejection reason when the
+        /// candidate lies outside the folder, is a reparse point, is not a file, or — the race
+        /// this class exists for — its handle resolves anywhere other than
+        /// <c>&lt;canonical folder&gt;\&lt;relative path&gt;</c>.
+        /// </summary>
+        public SourceFile TryOpenFile(string candidatePath, out string rejection)
+        {
+            if (!TryGetRelativePath(candidatePath, out var relative))
+            {
+                rejection = RejectOutsideFolder;
+                return null;
+            }
+            var expected = CanonicalPath + Path.DirectorySeparatorChar + relative;
+
+            SafeFileHandle handle = null;
+            try
+            {
+                handle = FileNativeMethods.CreateFileW(
+                    candidatePath,
+                    FileNativeMethods.GENERIC_READ,
+                    FileNativeMethods.FILE_SHARE_READ | FileNativeMethods.FILE_SHARE_WRITE,
+                    IntPtr.Zero,
+                    FileNativeMethods.OPEN_EXISTING,
+                    FileNativeMethods.FILE_FLAG_OPEN_REPARSE_POINT | FileNativeMethods.FILE_FLAG_SEQUENTIAL_SCAN,
+                    IntPtr.Zero);
+                if (handle.IsInvalid)
+                {
+                    rejection = "open failed: " + DescribeLastError();
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                if (!FileNativeMethods.GetFileInformationByHandle(handle, out var info))
+                {
+                    rejection = "attributes unavailable: " + DescribeLastError();
+                    return null;
+                }
+                if ((info.FileAttributes & FileNativeMethods.FILE_ATTRIBUTE_REPARSE_POINT) != 0)
+                {
+                    rejection = RejectReparsePoint;
+                    return null;
+                }
+                if ((info.FileAttributes & FileNativeMethods.FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY) != 0)
+                {
+                    rejection = RejectNotFile;
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                var finalPath = TryGetFinalPath(handle, out var finalPathError);
+                if (finalPath == null)
+                {
+                    rejection = "final path unavailable: " + finalPathError;
+                    return null;
+                }
+                if (!PathEquals(finalPath, expected))
+                {
+                    rejection = RejectResolvedElsewhere;
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                var length = ((long)info.FileSizeHigh << 32) | info.FileSizeLow;
+                var stream = new FileStream(handle, FileAccess.Read, 81920);
+                handle = null; // owned by the stream from here on
+                rejection = null;
+                return new SourceFile(stream, length);
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                rejection = "open failed: " + ex.Message;
+                return null;
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                handle?.Dispose();
+            }
+        }
+
+        public void Dispose() => _handle.Dispose();
+
+        private bool TryGetRelativePath(string candidatePath, out string relative)
+        {
+            relative = null;
+            string full;
+            try
+            {
+                full = Path.GetFullPath(candidatePath);
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            if (full.Length <= LexicalPath.Length + 1) return false;
+            if (!full.StartsWith(LexicalPath, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)) return false;
+            if (full[LexicalPath.Length] != Path.DirectorySeparatorChar) return false;
+
+            relative = full.Substring(LexicalPath.Length + 1);
+            return relative.Length > 0 && relative[relative.Length - 1] != Path.DirectorySeparatorChar;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Final (reparse-free, long-name) DOS path of an open handle, or null with the Win32 error.</summary>
+        private static string TryGetFinalPath(SafeFileHandle handle, out string error)
+        {
+            var buffer = new StringBuilder(512);
+            for (var attempt = 0; attempt < 2; attempt++)
+            {
+                var length = FileNativeMethods.GetFinalPathNameByHandleW(
+                    handle, buffer, (uint)buffer.Capacity, FileNativeMethods.FINAL_PATH_NORMALIZED_DOS);
+                if (length == 0)
+                {
+                    error = DescribeLastError();
+                    return null;
+                }
+                if (length < buffer.Capacity)
+                {
+                    error = null;
+                    return StripExtendedPrefix(buffer.ToString());
+                }
+                buffer.EnsureCapacity((int)length + 1);
+            }
+            error = "path longer than the retry buffer";
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Long-name form of a path (8.3 components expanded), or null when Windows cannot resolve it.</summary>
+        internal static string TryGetLongPath(string path)
+        {
+            var buffer = new StringBuilder(512);
+            for (var attempt = 0; attempt < 2; attempt++)
+            {
+                var length = FileNativeMethods.GetLongPathNameW(path, buffer, (uint)buffer.Capacity);
+                if (length == 0) return null;
+                if (length < buffer.Capacity) return buffer.ToString();
+                buffer.EnsureCapacity((int)length + 1);
+            }
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        private static string StripExtendedPrefix(string path)
+        {
+            if (path.StartsWith(@"\\?\UNC\", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)) return @"\\" + path.Substring(8);
+            if (path.StartsWith(@"\\?\", StringComparison.Ordinal)) return path.Substring(4);
+            return path;
+        }
+
+        private static string TrimSeparators(string path) =>
+            path.TrimEnd(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar, Path.AltDirectorySeparatorChar);
+
+        private static bool PathEquals(string a, string b) =>
+            string.Equals(TrimSeparators(a), TrimSeparators(b), StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+
+        private static string DescribeLastError()
+        {
+            var code = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();
+            return $"{new Win32Exception(code).Message} (win32 {code})";
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// A readable source for one archive entry: the stream and the length the caps are charged
+    /// with. From <see cref="PinnedSourceFolder.TryOpenFile"/> the stream is the validated
+    /// handle itself.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal sealed class SourceFile : IDisposable
+    {
+        public Stream Stream { get; }
+        public long Length { get; }
+
+        public SourceFile(Stream stream, long length)
+        {
+            Stream = stream;
+            Length = length;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// A file the agent wrote itself — an event-log export under an unguessable name in
+        /// SYSTEM's temp folder — never a tenant-configured location, so a plain open is enough.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static SourceFile OpenAgentOwned(string path)
+        {
+            var stream = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.ReadWrite);
+            return new SourceFile(stream, stream.Length);
+        }
+
+        public void Dispose() => Stream.Dispose();
+    }
+}

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Telemetry/Gather/Collectors/CommandCollector.cs

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather.Collectors
                     Timestamp = DateTime.UtcNow,
                     EventType = Constants.EventTypes.SecurityWarning,
                     Severity = EventSeverity.Warning,
-                    Source = "GatherRuleExecutor",
+                    Source = GatherRuleExecutor.SourceName,
                     Message = $"Blocked command not on allowlist: {command} (Rule: {rule.RuleId})",
                     Data = data
                 });

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Telemetry/Gather/Collectors/LogParserCollector.cs

@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather.Collectors
                                     Timestamp = DateTime.UtcNow,
                                     EventType = eventType,
                                     Severity = severity,
-                                    Source = "GatherRuleExecutor",
+                                    Source = GatherRuleExecutor.SourceName,
                                     Message = $"Gather: {rule.Title}",
                                     Data = data
                                 });
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather.Collectors
                                     Timestamp = entryUtc,
                                     EventType = eventType,
                                     Severity = severity,
-                                    Source = "GatherRuleExecutor",
+                                    Source = GatherRuleExecutor.SourceName,
                                     Message = $"Gather: {rule.Title}",
                                     Data = data
                                 });

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Telemetry/Gather/GatherRuleContext.cs

@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather
                 Timestamp = DateTime.UtcNow,
                 EventType = Constants.EventTypes.SecurityWarning,
                 Severity = EventSeverity.Warning,
-                Source = "GatherRuleExecutor",
+                Source = GatherRuleExecutor.SourceName,
                 Message = $"Blocked {collectorType} target not on allowlist: {target} (Rule: {rule.RuleId})",
                 Data = data
             });

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Monitoring/Telemetry/Gather/GatherRuleExecutor.cs

@@ -21,6 +21,21 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather
     /// </summary>
     public class GatherRuleExecutor : IDisposable
     {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// <see cref="EnrollmentEvent.Source"/> label stamped on every event the gather pipeline
+        /// emits (executor, context guard events, collectors). The timeline feed uses it to keep
+        /// gather output from re-triggering on_event rules.
+        /// </summary>
+        public const string SourceName = "GatherRuleExecutor";
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Upper bound on on_event executions per rule and session. on_event has no natural
+        /// once-per-(rule, phase) dedup like the phase triggers; this cap bounds any remaining
+        /// cycle (e.g. two rules chained through an intermediate non-gather event) and any
+        /// pathological trigger type that fires on every timeline entry.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal const int MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule = 100;
+
         private readonly AgentLogger _logger;
         private readonly GatherRuleDebugLog _debug;   // null unless EnableGatherRuleDebugLog / --gather-debug-log
         private readonly GatherRuleContext _context;
@@ -30,6 +45,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather
         private readonly Dictionary<string, Timer> _intervalTimers = new Dictionary<string, Timer>();
         private readonly HashSet<string> _startupRulesExecuted = new HashSet<string>();
         private readonly HashSet<string> _phaseRulesExecuted = new HashSet<string>();
+        private readonly Dictionary<string, int> _onEventExecutions = new Dictionary<string, int>();
         private CountdownEvent _startupRulesLatch;   // non-null only while startup rules are pending
 
         // Phase-scope + emit-mode state (ActivePhases / ActiveFromPhase / EmitMode on GatherRule).
@@ -394,6 +410,27 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather
                         continue;
                     }
 
+                    // Per-rule execution cap (see MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule). The counter is
+                    // bumped once past the cap so the boundary is logged exactly once.
+                    int executions;
+                    lock (_scopeLock)
+                    {
+                        _onEventExecutions.TryGetValue(rule.RuleId, out executions);
+                        if (executions <= MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule)
+                            _onEventExecutions[rule.RuleId] = executions + 1;
+                    }
+
+                    if (executions >= MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule)
+                    {
+                        if (executions == MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule)
+                        {
+                            _logger.Warning($"Gather rule {rule.RuleId} reached the on_event execution cap ({MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule}) for this session — further {eventType} triggers are ignored");
+                            DebugLog(rule.RuleId, GatherRuleDebugLog.StageTrigger,
+                                $"on_event {eventType} ignored: per-rule execution cap ({MaxOnEventExecutionsPerRule}) reached for this session");
+                        }
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
                     _logger.Info($"Event triggered rule {rule.RuleId} (event: {eventType})");
                     DebugLog(rule.RuleId, GatherRuleDebugLog.StageTrigger, $"on_event {eventType} fired");
                     ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(_ => ExecuteRule(rule));
@@ -482,7 +519,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather
                         Timestamp = DateTime.UtcNow,
                         EventType = eventType,
                         Severity = severity,
-                        Source = "GatherRuleExecutor",
+                        Source = SourceName,
                         Message = $"Gather: {rule.Title}",
                         Data = result
                     });

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Orchestration/Hosts/GatherRuleExecutorHost.cs

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Orchestration
         // the enrollment reaches this phase"). Null on test fakes / standalone configurations —
         // then phase/event triggers degrade off (startup + interval rules still run).
         private readonly TimelineEventStream? _timelineEvents;
-        private Action<string, EnrollmentPhase>? _timelineHandler;
+        private Action<string, EnrollmentPhase, string>? _timelineHandler;
         private readonly object _sync = new object();
         private EnrollmentPhase _lastPhase = EnrollmentPhase.Unknown;
 
@@ -101,8 +101,17 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Orchestration
         /// realmjoin_resolved, …) that never existed on the raw signal stream. The executor
         /// dispatches rule execution on the ThreadPool, so this stays off the ingress worker's
         /// effect path; it also dedups phase rules per (rule, phase).
+        /// <para>
+        /// Feedback-loop guard: events the gather executor emitted itself (Source ==
+        /// <see cref="Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather.GatherRuleExecutor.SourceName"/>) travel the
+        /// same post → ingress → reducer → emitter → stream path and would otherwise re-enter
+        /// <c>OnEvent</c>. A rule whose TriggerEventType equals its own OutputEventType (or two
+        /// rules chained A→B→A) then executes and emits without bound for the whole session.
+        /// Gather output therefore never dispatches on_event rules; phase declarations are still
+        /// honoured (gather events carry Phase=Unknown, so this is a no-op in practice).
+        /// </para>
         /// </summary>
-        private void OnTimelineEventEmitted(string eventType, EnrollmentPhase phase)
+        private void OnTimelineEventEmitted(string eventType, EnrollmentPhase phase, string source)
         {
             try
             {
@@ -114,7 +123,8 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Orchestration
                         _executor.OnPhaseChanged(phase);
                     }
 
-                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(eventType))
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(eventType)
+                        && !string.Equals(source, Monitoring.Telemetry.Gather.GatherRuleExecutor.SourceName, StringComparison.Ordinal))
                     {
                         _executor.OnEvent(eventType);
                     }

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Orchestration/TimelineEventStream.cs

@@ -33,18 +33,21 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Orchestration
         /// Raised once per emitted timeline event with its <see cref="EnrollmentEvent.EventType"/>
         /// and parsed <see cref="EnrollmentEvent.Phase"/> (<see cref="EnrollmentPhase.Unknown"/>
         /// for the vast majority of events — only phase-declaration events carry a real phase,
-        /// which is exactly the set the UI timeline groups on).
+        /// which is exactly the set the UI timeline groups on), plus the originating
+        /// <see cref="EnrollmentEvent.Source"/> component label. The source lets subscribers that
+        /// themselves emit timeline events (the gather-rule executor) recognise their own output
+        /// and not re-trigger on it — see <see cref="GatherRuleExecutorHost"/>.
         /// </summary>
-        public event Action<string, EnrollmentPhase>? EventEmitted;
+        public event Action<string, EnrollmentPhase, string>? EventEmitted;
 
-        internal void Publish(string eventType, EnrollmentPhase phase)
+        internal void Publish(string eventType, EnrollmentPhase phase, string source)
         {
             var handler = EventEmitted;
             if (handler == null) return;
 
-            foreach (Action<string, EnrollmentPhase> subscriber in handler.GetInvocationList())
+            foreach (Action<string, EnrollmentPhase, string> subscriber in handler.GetInvocationList())
             {
-                try { subscriber(eventType, phase); }
+                try { subscriber(eventType, phase, source); }
                 catch
                 {
                     // Subscriber isolation — see class doc: the emit path must never throw.

src/Agent/AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core/Telemetry/Events/EventTimelineEmitter.cs

@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Agent.V2.Core.Telemetry.Events
             // Post-reduce observer surface: published AFTER the transport enqueue so subscribers
             // (gather-rule phase/event triggers) see exactly the ordering that reaches the wire.
             // Publish never throws (subscriber isolation inside the stream).
-            _timelineEvents?.Publish(evt.EventType, evt.Phase);
+            _timelineEvents?.Publish(evt.EventType, evt.Phase, evt.Source);
         }
 
         /// <summary>

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Tests/GatherRuleScopeFieldsTests.cs

@@ -240,6 +240,45 @@ public class GatherRuleScopeFieldsTests
             ValidationRule(activePhases: new List<string> { "" })));
     }
 
+    private static GatherRule OnEventRule(string triggerEventType, string? outputEventType)
+        => new GatherRule
+        {
+            RuleId = "GATHER-VAL-EVT",
+            CollectorType = "registry",
+            Target = "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Contoso",
+            Trigger = "on_event",
+            TriggerEventType = triggerEventType,
+            OutputEventType = outputEventType!,
+        };
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData("gather_proxy", "gather_proxy")]   // self-cycle
+    [InlineData("GATHER_PROXY", "gather_proxy")]   // case-insensitive (agent matches OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+    [InlineData("gather_result", null)]            // self-cycle through the default output type
+    [InlineData("gather_result", "")]
+    [InlineData("gather_result", "gather_other")]  // gather output namespace never triggers
+    public void Validate_RejectsOnEventRuleTriggeringOnGatherOutput(string trigger, string? output)
+    {
+        Assert.NotNull(GatherRulesFunction.ValidateScopeAndEmitMode(OnEventRule(trigger, output)));
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData("enrollment_complete", "gather_proxy")]
+    [InlineData("app_install_failed", null)]
+    [InlineData("", "gather_proxy")]               // partial/toggle payload passes through
+    public void Validate_AcceptsOnEventRuleOnNonGatherEvents(string trigger, string? output)
+    {
+        Assert.Null(GatherRulesFunction.ValidateScopeAndEmitMode(OnEventRule(trigger, output)));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Validate_OutputEqualsTrigger_IsOnlyCheckedForOnEventTrigger()
+    {
+        var rule = OnEventRule("gather_same", "gather_same");
+        rule.Trigger = "startup";
+        Assert.Null(GatherRulesFunction.ValidateScopeAndEmitMode(rule));
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void Validate_RejectsBothScopeFieldsSet()
     {

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Tests/PreviewNotificationEmailWriteGateTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Functions.Rules;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Helpers;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Security;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Services;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Shared;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Shared.DataAccess;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using Moq;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Tests;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// PUT /api/preview/notification-email writes tenant-shared state that feeds the welcome and
+/// farewell mails. The route must admit roleless callers (first-touch signup) but only while the
+/// tenant has no member yet — afterwards a member role is required, so an ordinary employee with a
+/// valid JWT and no product role can no longer redirect or suppress the tenant's correspondence.
+/// </summary>
+public class PreviewNotificationEmailWriteGateTests
+{
+    private const string TenantId = "11111111-2222-3333-4444-555555555555";
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Route_is_AuthenticatedUserWithRole_so_the_function_can_see_the_resolved_role()
+    {
+        var entry = EndpointAccessPolicyCatalog.FindPolicy("PUT", "/api/preview/notification-email");
+
+        Assert.NotNull(entry);
+        Assert.Equal("preview/notification-email", entry!.RouteTemplate);
+        Assert.Equal(EndpointPolicy.AuthenticatedUserWithRole, entry.Policy);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(Constants.TenantRoles.Admin)]
+    [InlineData(Constants.TenantRoles.Operator)]
+    [InlineData(Constants.TenantRoles.Viewer)]
+    public async Task Member_role_may_write_even_when_the_tenant_has_members(string role)
+    {
+        var admins = AdminsWith(enabledMember: true);
+        var ctx = new RequestContext { UserRole = role };
+
+        Assert.True(await PreviewWhitelistFunction.MayWriteNotificationEmailAsync(ctx, TenantId, admins.Object));
+        admins.Verify(a => a.GetTenantAdminsAsync(It.IsAny<string>()), Times.Never);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Global_admin_may_write()
+    {
+        var admins = AdminsWith(enabledMember: true);
+        var ctx = new RequestContext { IsGlobalAdmin = true };
+
+        Assert.True(await PreviewWhitelistFunction.MayWriteNotificationEmailAsync(ctx, TenantId, admins.Object));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Roleless_caller_may_write_while_the_tenant_has_no_member_yet()
+    {
+        var admins = AdminsWith(enabledMember: false);
+        var ctx = new RequestContext { UserRole = "Authenticated" };
+
+        Assert.True(await PreviewWhitelistFunction.MayWriteNotificationEmailAsync(ctx, TenantId, admins.Object));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Roleless_caller_is_rejected_once_the_tenant_has_an_enabled_member()
+    {
+        var admins = AdminsWith(enabledMember: true);
+        var ctx = new RequestContext { UserRole = "Authenticated" };
+
+        Assert.False(await PreviewWhitelistFunction.MayWriteNotificationEmailAsync(ctx, TenantId, admins.Object));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Disabled_members_do_not_close_the_signup_window()
+    {
+        var admins = new Mock<TenantAdminsService>(
+            Mock.Of<IAdminRepository>(), Mock.Of<IMemoryCache>(), Mock.Of<ILogger<TenantAdminsService>>())
+        { CallBase = false };
+        admins.Setup(a => a.GetTenantAdminsAsync(TenantId)).ReturnsAsync(new List<TenantAdminEntity>
+        {
+            new() { TenantId = TenantId, Upn = "former@contoso.com", IsEnabled = false, Role = Constants.TenantRoles.Admin },
+        });
+        var ctx = new RequestContext { UserRole = "Authenticated" };
+
+        Assert.True(await PreviewWhitelistFunction.MayWriteNotificationEmailAsync(ctx, TenantId, admins.Object));
+    }
+
+    private static Mock<TenantAdminsService> AdminsWith(bool enabledMember)
+    {
+        var admins = new Mock<TenantAdminsService>(
+            Mock.Of<IAdminRepository>(), Mock.Of<IMemoryCache>(), Mock.Of<ILogger<TenantAdminsService>>())
+        { CallBase = false };
+        var members = new List<TenantAdminEntity>();
+        if (enabledMember)
+            members.Add(new TenantAdminEntity { TenantId = TenantId, Upn = "admin@contoso.com", IsEnabled = true, Role = Constants.TenantRoles.Admin });
+        admins.Setup(a => a.GetTenantAdminsAsync(TenantId)).ReturnsAsync(members);
+        return admins;
+    }
+}

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Tests/TableDeviceSecurityRepositoryKeyTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.DataAccess.TableStorage;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Tests;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// BlockedDevices rows must be keyed case-insensitively: the enforcement cache
+/// (BlockedDeviceService) and Autopilot inventory validation both compare serials
+/// OrdinalIgnoreCase, so a case-variant serial must resolve to the same storage row.
+/// </summary>
+public class TableDeviceSecurityRepositoryKeyTests
+{
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData("ABC123", "ABC123")]
+    [InlineData("abc123", "ABC123")]
+    [InlineData("  aBc123 ", "ABC123")]
+    [InlineData(null, "")]
+    public void CanonicalizeSerial_TrimsAndUpperCases(string? input, string expected)
+        => Assert.Equal(expected, TableDeviceSecurityRepository.CanonicalizeSerial(input));
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData("ABC123", "abc123")]
+    [InlineData("ABC123", "Abc123 ")]
+    [InlineData("PF/1#2", "pf/1#2")]
+    public void DeviceRowKey_IsIdenticalForCaseVariants(string a, string b)
+        => Assert.Equal(TableDeviceSecurityRepository.DeviceRowKey(a), TableDeviceSecurityRepository.DeviceRowKey(b));
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void DeviceRowKey_EscapesReservedCharacters()
+        => Assert.Equal("PF%2F1%232", TableDeviceSecurityRepository.DeviceRowKey("pf/1#2"));
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void LegacyDeviceRowKey_IsNull_WhenAlreadyCanonical()
+        => Assert.Null(TableDeviceSecurityRepository.LegacyDeviceRowKey("ABC123"));
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void LegacyDeviceRowKey_IsVerbatimKey_WhenCaseDiffers()
+        => Assert.Equal("abc123", TableDeviceSecurityRepository.LegacyDeviceRowKey("abc123"));
+}

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Tests/TenantFilterEscapingTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Services;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Tests;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Pins that the caller-influenced tenantId interpolated into the metrics-summary (SessionsIndex)
+/// and device-snapshot search (DeviceSnapshot) OData filters is escaped, so a quote in the value
+/// cannot rewrite the filter grammar (e.g. <c>x' or PartitionKey ne '</c> dissolving the
+/// single-tenant scope and the RowKey date-window bound).
+/// </summary>
+public class TenantFilterEscapingTests
+{
+    private const string Injection = "x' or PartitionKey ne '";
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void MetricsSummaryFilter_EscapesQuotesInTenantId()
+    {
+        var filter = TableStorageService.BuildMetricsSummaryFilter(Injection, "cutoff");
+
+        Assert.Equal("RowKey lt 'cutoff' and PartitionKey eq 'x'' or PartitionKey ne '''", filter);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain(" or ", filter.Replace("'x'' or PartitionKey ne '''", ""));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void MetricsSummaryFilter_NoTenant_KeepsWindowBoundOnly()
+    {
+        Assert.Equal("RowKey lt 'cutoff'", TableStorageService.BuildMetricsSummaryFilter(null, "cutoff"));
+        Assert.Equal("RowKey lt 'cutoff'", TableStorageService.BuildMetricsSummaryFilter("", "cutoff"));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void DeviceSnapshotTenantFilter_EscapesQuotesInTenantId()
+    {
+        Assert.Equal("PartitionKey eq 'x'' or PartitionKey ne '''",
+            TableStorageService.BuildDeviceSnapshotTenantFilter(Injection));
+        Assert.Null(TableStorageService.BuildDeviceSnapshotTenantFilter(null));
+    }
+}

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Tests/TestLogPatternFunctionTests.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Linq;
 using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
 using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Functions.Rules;
 
@@ -142,4 +144,26 @@ public class TestLogPatternFunctionTests
             }));
         }
     }
+
+    // ===== hostile sample lines: the built-in CMTrace parser must stay bounded =====
+
+    /// <summary>A maximal request (200 x 8192-char lines) built from the reported worst case:
+    /// each line passes the CMTrace prefix gate and never matches. The built-in parser used to
+    /// backtrack quadratically here (~1.4e9 steps per request) — before the tenant's own
+    /// 1-second-timeout regex ever ran.</summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void CmTraceMode_WorstCaseSampleLines_CompleteInBoundedTime()
+    {
+        var line = string.Concat(Enumerable.Repeat("<![LOG[", 585)) + new string(']', 4097);
+        Assert.Equal(TestLogPatternFunction.MaxLineLength, line.Length);
+        var lines = Enumerable.Repeat(line, TestLogPatternFunction.MaxSampleLines).ToArray();
+
+        var sw = Stopwatch.StartNew();
+        var result = TestLogPatternFunction.EvaluatePattern(AgentRegex("error"), isTextMode: false, lines);
+        sw.Stop();
+
+        Assert.Equal(TestLogPatternFunction.MaxSampleLines, result.ParseFailureCount);
+        Assert.All(result.Lines, l => Assert.Equal("parse_failed", l.Outcome));
+        Assert.True(sw.ElapsedMilliseconds < 1000, $"maximal worst-case request took {sw.ElapsedMilliseconds} ms");
+    }
 }

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/DataAccess/TableStorage/TableDeviceSecurityRepository.cs

@@ -43,24 +43,44 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.DataAccess.TableStorage
             if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(tenantId) || string.IsNullOrEmpty(serialNumber))
                 return (false, null, "Block", null);
 
+            var entity = await GetDeviceBlockEntityAsync(tenantId, serialNumber);
+            if (entity == null)
+                return (false, null, "Block", null);
+
+            var unblockAt = entity.GetDateTimeOffset("UnblockAt")?.UtcDateTime ?? DateTime.MinValue;
+            if (DateTime.UtcNow >= unblockAt)
+                return (false, null, "Block", null);
+
+            var action = entity.GetString("Action") ?? "Block";
+            var blockedSessionIds = entity.GetString("BlockedSessionIds");
+            return (true, unblockAt, action, blockedSessionIds);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Point-reads the block row for a serial under its canonical key, falling back to the
+        /// legacy verbatim-case key for rows written before serials were canonicalized.
+        /// Returns null when neither exists.
+        /// </summary>
+        private async Task<TableEntity?> GetDeviceBlockEntityAsync(string tenantId, string serialNumber)
+        {
+            var entity = await TryGetEntityAsync(tenantId, DeviceRowKey(serialNumber));
+            if (entity != null)
+                return entity;
+
+            var legacyKey = LegacyDeviceRowKey(serialNumber);
+            return legacyKey == null ? null : await TryGetEntityAsync(tenantId, legacyKey);
+        }
+
+        private async Task<TableEntity?> TryGetEntityAsync(string partitionKey, string rowKey)
+        {
             try
             {
-                var response = await _blockedDevicesTable.GetEntityAsync<TableEntity>(tenantId, EncodeRowKey(serialNumber));
-                var entity = response?.Value;
-                if (entity == null)
-                    return (false, null, "Block", null);
-
-                var unblockAt = entity.GetDateTimeOffset("UnblockAt")?.UtcDateTime ?? DateTime.MinValue;
-                if (DateTime.UtcNow >= unblockAt)
-                    return (false, null, "Block", null);
-
-                var action = entity.GetString("Action") ?? "Block";
-                var blockedSessionIds = entity.GetString("BlockedSessionIds");
-                return (true, unblockAt, action, blockedSessionIds);
+                var response = await _blockedDevicesTable.GetEntityAsync<TableEntity>(partitionKey, rowKey);
+                return response?.Value;
             }
             catch (RequestFailedException ex) when (ex.Status == 404)
             {
-                return (false, null, "Block", null);
+                return null;
             }
         }
 
@@ -81,6 +101,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.DataAccess.TableStorage
                 }
 
                 result.Add(MapToBlockedDeviceEntry(entity, tenantId, now));
+                await MigrateLegacyRowKeyAsync(entity);
             }
 
             // Clean up expired entries (fire-and-forget, best effort)
@@ -106,6 +127,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.DataAccess.TableStorage
                 }
 
                 result.Add(MapToBlockedDeviceEntry(entity, entity.PartitionKey, now));
+                await MigrateLegacyRowKeyAsync(entity);
             }
 
             // Clean up expired entries (fire-and-forget, best effort)
@@ -123,37 +145,31 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.DataAccess.TableStorage
         {
             var now = DateTime.UtcNow;
             var unblockAt = now.AddHours(durationHours);
+            var canonicalSerial = CanonicalizeSerial(serialNumber);
 
             // If a session-aware block already exists, merge session IDs
             string? blockedSessionIds = blockedSessionId;
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(blockedSessionId))
             {
-                try
-                {
-                    var existing = await _blockedDevicesTable.GetEntityAsync<TableEntity>(tenantId, EncodeRowKey(serialNumber));
-                    var existingSessionIds = existing?.Value?.GetString("BlockedSessionIds");
+                var existing = await GetDeviceBlockEntityAsync(tenantId, serialNumber);
+                var existingSessionIds = existing?.GetString("BlockedSessionIds");
 
-                    if (existingSessionIds == null)
-                    {
-                        // Existing whole-device block takes precedence — don't downgrade to session-aware
-                        if (existing?.Value != null)
-                            blockedSessionIds = null;
-                    }
-                    else
-                    {
-                        // Merge: append new session ID if not already present
-                        blockedSessionIds = MergeSessionId(existingSessionIds, blockedSessionId);
-                    }
-                }
-                catch (RequestFailedException ex) when (ex.Status == 404)
+                if (existingSessionIds == null)
                 {
-                    // No existing record — use single session ID
+                    // Existing whole-device block takes precedence — don't downgrade to session-aware
+                    if (existing != null)
+                        blockedSessionIds = null;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    // Merge: append new session ID if not already present
+                    blockedSessionIds = MergeSessionId(existingSessionIds, blockedSessionId);
                 }
             }
 
-            var entity = new TableEntity(tenantId, EncodeRowKey(serialNumber))
+            var entity = new TableEntity(tenantId, DeviceRowKey(serialNumber))
             {
-                ["SerialNumber"] = serialNumber,
+                ["SerialNumber"] = canonicalSerial,
                 ["BlockedAt"] = now,
                 ["UnblockAt"] = unblockAt,
                 ["BlockedByEmail"] = blockedByEmail ?? string.Empty,
@@ -166,7 +182,8 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.DataAccess.TableStorage
                 entity["BlockedSessionIds"] = blockedSessionIds;
 
             await _blockedDevicesTable.UpsertEntityAsync(entity);
-            await _publisher.PublishAsync("device.blocked", new { tenantId, serialNumber, action, durationHours }, tenantId);
+            await DeleteLegacyRowAsync(tenantId, serialNumber);
+            await _publisher.PublishAsync("device.blocked", new { tenantId, serialNumber = canonicalSerial, action, durationHours }, tenantId);
         }
 
         internal static string MergeSessionId(string? existingList, string newSessionId)
@@ -189,16 +206,10 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.DataAccess.TableStorage
 
         public async Task UnblockDeviceAsync(string tenantId, string serialNumber)
         {
-            try
-            {
-                await _blockedDevicesTable.DeleteEntityAsync(tenantId, EncodeRowKey(serialNumber));
-            }
-            catch (RequestFailedException ex) when (ex.Status == 404)
-            {
-                // Already removed
-            }
+            await DeleteIgnoringNotFoundAsync(tenantId, DeviceRowKey(serialNumber));
+            await DeleteLegacyRowAsync(tenantId, serialNumber);
 
-            await _publisher.PublishAsync("device.unblocked", new { tenantId, serialNumber }, tenantId);
+            await _publisher.PublishAsync("device.unblocked", new { tenantId, serialNumber = CanonicalizeSerial(serialNumber) }, tenantId);
         }
 
         // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -396,6 +407,85 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.DataAccess.TableStorage
             }
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Serial numbers are matched case-insensitively everywhere else (agent inventory
+        /// validation, BlockedDeviceService cache), so the storage key must not depend on the
+        /// casing the admin typed or the agent reported: trim + upper-case invariant.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string CanonicalizeSerial(string? serialNumber)
+            => (serialNumber ?? string.Empty).Trim().ToUpperInvariant();
+
+        /// <summary>Canonical BlockedDevices RowKey for a serial number.</summary>
+        internal static string DeviceRowKey(string? serialNumber)
+            => EncodeRowKey(CanonicalizeSerial(serialNumber));
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// RowKey a pre-canonicalization row would have been written under (verbatim case),
+        /// or null when it is identical to the canonical key.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string? LegacyDeviceRowKey(string? serialNumber)
+        {
+            var legacy = EncodeRowKey(serialNumber ?? string.Empty);
+            return string.Equals(legacy, DeviceRowKey(serialNumber), StringComparison.Ordinal) ? null : legacy;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Re-keys a row written under a non-canonical RowKey to its canonical key (best effort).
+        /// Runs from the list paths so the pre-canonicalization backlog drains over time.
+        /// </summary>
+        private async Task MigrateLegacyRowKeyAsync(TableEntity entity)
+        {
+            var serial = entity.GetString("SerialNumber") ?? DecodeRowKey(entity.RowKey);
+            var canonicalKey = DeviceRowKey(serial);
+            if (string.Equals(entity.RowKey, canonicalKey, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+                return;
+
+            try
+            {
+                var migrated = new TableEntity(entity.PartitionKey, canonicalKey);
+                foreach (var kv in entity)
+                {
+                    if (kv.Key is "PartitionKey" or "RowKey" or "Timestamp" or "odata.etag" or "ETag")
+                        continue;
+                    migrated[kv.Key] = kv.Value;
+                }
+                migrated["SerialNumber"] = CanonicalizeSerial(serial);
+
+                // Never clobber a canonical row that already exists (it is the newer write).
+                await _blockedDevicesTable.AddEntityAsync(migrated);
+            }
+            catch (RequestFailedException ex) when (ex.Status == 409)
+            {
+                // Canonical row already present — just drop the legacy duplicate below.
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                _logger.LogWarning(ex, "Failed to migrate legacy BlockedDevices row {PartitionKey}/{RowKey}", entity.PartitionKey, entity.RowKey);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            await DeleteIgnoringNotFoundAsync(entity.PartitionKey, entity.RowKey);
+        }
+
+        private async Task DeleteLegacyRowAsync(string tenantId, string serialNumber)
+        {
+            var legacyKey = LegacyDeviceRowKey(serialNumber);
+            if (legacyKey != null)
+                await DeleteIgnoringNotFoundAsync(tenantId, legacyKey);
+        }
+
+        private async Task DeleteIgnoringNotFoundAsync(string partitionKey, string rowKey)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                await _blockedDevicesTable.DeleteEntityAsync(partitionKey, rowKey);
+            }
+            catch (RequestFailedException ex) when (ex.Status == 404)
+            {
+                // Already removed
+            }
+        }
+
         /// <summary>Azure Table RowKey must not contain /\#? and must be &lt;= 1KB. URL-encode to be safe.</summary>
         internal static string EncodeRowKey(string value)
             => Uri.EscapeDataString(value);

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/Functions/Metrics/MetricsSummaryFunction.cs

@@ -49,6 +49,18 @@ public class MetricsSummaryFunction
             // tenant. When absent, returns the full cross-tenant view (null → all tenants).
             var query = System.Web.HttpUtility.ParseQueryString(req.Url.Query);
             var filterTenantId = query["tenantId"];
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(filterTenantId))
+            {
+                // Query value is interpolated into an OData filter downstream — GUID-gate it here
+                // (belt) in addition to ODataSanitizer at the sink (braces).
+                if (!Guid.TryParse(filterTenantId, out var parsedTenantId))
+                {
+                    var bad = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest);
+                    await bad.WriteAsJsonAsync(new { success = false, message = "tenantId must be a GUID" });
+                    return bad;
+                }
+                filterTenantId = parsedTenantId.ToString("D");
+            }
             var summary = await _metricsRepo.GetMetricsSummaryAsync(
                 string.IsNullOrEmpty(filterTenantId) ? null : filterTenantId,
                 days);

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/Functions/Rules/GatherRulesFunction.cs

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System.Net;
 using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Helpers;
 using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Services;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Shared;
 using AutopilotMonitor.Shared.Models;
 using Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker;
 using Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Http;
@@ -167,12 +168,33 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Functions.Rules
         };
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Validates the phase-scope + emit-mode fields on create/update.
-        /// Returns an error message for a 400 response, or null when valid.
+        /// Validates the phase-scope + emit-mode fields and the on_event trigger wiring on
+        /// create/update. Returns an error message for a 400 response, or null when valid.
         /// Toggle-style partial payloads carry none of these fields and pass through.
+        /// <para>
+        /// on_event: the agent never dispatches on_event rules for events the gather executor
+        /// itself emitted (feedback-loop guard, <c>GatherRuleExecutorHost</c>), so a rule that
+        /// triggers on its own output — or on the <c>gather_result</c> default output type —
+        /// could never fire and is rejected here with an explanatory message instead of being
+        /// stored as a dead rule.
+        /// </para>
         /// </summary>
         internal static string? ValidateScopeAndEmitMode(GatherRule rule)
         {
+            if (string.Equals(rule.Trigger, "on_event", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(rule.TriggerEventType))
+            {
+                var outputEventType = string.IsNullOrEmpty(rule.OutputEventType)
+                    ? Constants.EventTypes.GatherResult
+                    : rule.OutputEventType;
+
+                if (string.Equals(rule.TriggerEventType, outputEventType, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                    return "triggerEventType must differ from the rule's own outputEventType — gather rules never trigger on their own output.";
+
+                if (string.Equals(rule.TriggerEventType, Constants.EventTypes.GatherResult, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                    return $"triggerEventType '{Constants.EventTypes.GatherResult}' is the gather-rule output type — gather rules never trigger on gather output.";
+            }
+
             var hasActivePhases = rule.ActivePhases != null && rule.ActivePhases.Count > 0;
             var hasFromPhase = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(rule.ActiveFromPhase);
 

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/Functions/Rules/PreviewWhitelistFunction.cs

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System.Net;
 using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Extensions;
 using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.DataAccess.TableStorage;
+using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Helpers;
 using AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Services;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization;
 using Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker;
@@ -11,7 +12,8 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Functions.Rules;
 
 /// <summary>
 /// CRUD endpoints for managing the tenant-activation whitelist (table: PreviewWhitelist).
-/// All endpoints are Global Admin only (except notification-email which is AuthenticatedUser).
+/// All endpoints are Global Admin only, except PUT notification-email: that one is
+/// AuthenticatedUserWithRole and gated in-function (member role, or the tenant has no members yet).
 /// </summary>
 public class PreviewWhitelistFunction
 {
@@ -19,6 +21,7 @@ public class PreviewWhitelistFunction
     private readonly PreviewWhitelistService _previewWhitelistService;
     private readonly TenantApprovalService _tenantApprovalService;
     private readonly TenantConfigurationService _tenantConfigurationService;
+    private readonly TenantAdminsService _tenantAdminsService;
     private readonly IEmailService _emailService;
 
     public PreviewWhitelistFunction(
@@ -26,12 +29,14 @@ public class PreviewWhitelistFunction
         PreviewWhitelistService previewWhitelistService,
         TenantApprovalService tenantApprovalService,
         TenantConfigurationService tenantConfigurationService,
+        TenantAdminsService tenantAdminsService,
         IEmailService emailService)
     {
         _logger = logger;
         _previewWhitelistService = previewWhitelistService;
         _tenantApprovalService = tenantApprovalService;
         _tenantConfigurationService = tenantConfigurationService;
+        _tenantAdminsService = tenantAdminsService;
         _emailService = emailService;
     }
 
@@ -156,7 +161,8 @@ public class PreviewWhitelistFunction
     /// <summary>
     /// PUT /api/preview/notification-email
     /// Saves the caller's notification email for the activation notice.
-    /// AuthenticatedUser policy — preview-blocked users can call this.
+    /// AuthenticatedUserWithRole policy — preview-blocked users can call this, but only while the
+    /// tenant has no members (see <see cref="MayWriteNotificationEmailAsync"/>).
     /// </summary>
     [Function("SavePreviewNotificationEmail")]
     [Authorize]
@@ -174,6 +180,16 @@ public class PreviewWhitelistFunction
             return bad;
         }
 
+        if (!await MayWriteNotificationEmailAsync(req.GetRequestContext(), tenantId, _tenantAdminsService))
+        {
+            _logger.LogWarning(
+                "Preview notification email write denied for roleless caller {Upn} — tenant {TenantId} already has members",
+                principal?.GetUserPrincipalName() ?? "unknown", tenantId);
+            var forbidden = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.Forbidden);
+            await forbidden.WriteAsJsonAsync(new { error = "A tenant member role is required to change the notification email" });
+            return forbidden;
+        }
+
         var body = await req.ReadFromJsonAsync<SaveNotificationEmailRequest>();
         var email = body?.Email?.Trim();
 
@@ -208,6 +224,25 @@ public class PreviewWhitelistFunction
         return response;
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The notification email is tenant-shared state consumed by privileged flows (welcome mail,
+    /// offboarding farewell, operator contact). A member role (or platform scope) always may write
+    /// it. A roleless caller may write it ONLY while the tenant has no enabled member at all — the
+    /// first-touch signup window, where the activating user is still roleless because the requester
+    /// is auto-promoted to Admin only on approval. Once any member exists, that window is closed for
+    /// good: an ordinary employee with a valid JWT but no product role must not be able to redirect
+    /// or suppress the tenant's correspondence.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal static async Task<bool> MayWriteNotificationEmailAsync(
+        RequestContext ctx, string tenantId, TenantAdminsService tenantAdminsService)
+    {
+        if (ctx.IsTenantMemberOrGlobalAdmin())
+            return true;
+
+        var members = await tenantAdminsService.GetTenantAdminsAsync(tenantId);
+        return !members.Any(m => m.IsEnabled);
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// POST /api/preview/send-welcome-email/{tenantId}
     /// Sends (or resends) the activation welcome email. Global Admin only.

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/Functions/Sessions/SearchSessionsFunction.cs

@@ -56,6 +56,17 @@ public class SearchSessionsFunction
             else
             {
                 filterTenantId = query["tenantId"];
+                if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(filterTenantId))
+                {
+                    // Interpolated into OData filters downstream — GUID-gate the raw query value.
+                    if (!Guid.TryParse(filterTenantId, out var parsedTenantId))
+                    {
+                        var bad = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest);
+                        await bad.WriteAsJsonAsync(new { success = false, message = "tenantId must be a GUID" });
+                        return bad;
+                    }
+                    filterTenantId = parsedTenantId.ToString("D");
+                }
                 tenantId = filterTenantId;
                 scope = "search:global";
                 basePath = "/api/global/search/sessions";

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/Security/EndpointAccessPolicyCatalog.cs

@@ -223,7 +223,11 @@ public static class EndpointAccessPolicyCatalog
         // ProgressPortalFunction; regression history c4dabeee).
         new("GET",    "progress/sessions/lookup",  EndpointPolicy.AuthenticatedUserWithRole, TenantScoping.QueryParam),
         new("GET",    "progress/sessions/{sessionId}/events", EndpointPolicy.AuthenticatedUser, TenantScoping.QueryParam),
-        new("PUT",    "preview/notification-email", EndpointPolicy.AuthenticatedUser),
+        // AuthenticatedUserWithRole (not plain AuthenticatedUser): the activating user is still
+        // roleless during first-touch signup, so the tier must admit non-members — but the address is
+        // tenant-shared state feeding the welcome/farewell mails, so the function re-gates on the
+        // resolved role: roleless callers may only write while the tenant has no member yet.
+        new("PUT",    "preview/notification-email", EndpointPolicy.AuthenticatedUserWithRole),
         new("GET",    "feedback/status",           EndpointPolicy.AuthenticatedUser),
         new("POST",   "feedback",                  EndpointPolicy.AuthenticatedUser),
         new("GET",    "config/latest-versions",    EndpointPolicy.AuthenticatedUser),

src/Backend/AutopilotMonitor.Functions/Services/TableStorageService.AgentApi.cs

@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Services
             string? tenantId, SessionSearchFilter filter, int pageSize, string? continuation)
         {
             var snapshotTableClient = _tableServiceClient.GetTableClient(Constants.TableNames.DeviceSnapshot);
-            var oDataFilter = string.IsNullOrEmpty(tenantId) ? null : $"PartitionKey eq '{tenantId}'";
+            var oDataFilter = BuildDeviceSnapshotTenantFilter(tenantId);
 
             var (entities, nextRawToken) = await AzureTablesPaginator.FetchPageAsync<TableEntity>(
                 client: snapshotTableClient,
@@ -838,7 +838,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Services
         private async Task<List<SessionSummary>> SearchSessionsByDeviceSnapshotAsync(string? tenantId, SessionSearchFilter filter)
         {
             var tableClient = _tableServiceClient.GetTableClient(Constants.TableNames.DeviceSnapshot);
-            var oDataFilter = string.IsNullOrEmpty(tenantId) ? null : $"PartitionKey eq '{tenantId}'";
+            var oDataFilter = BuildDeviceSnapshotTenantFilter(tenantId);
 
             var sessionIds = new List<string>();
             await foreach (var entity in tableClient.QueryAsync<TableEntity>(filter: oDataFilter))
@@ -1437,6 +1437,26 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Services
             groups[pk] = g.Add(statusStr);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// SessionsIndex filter for the metrics summary: date-window bound plus optional single-tenant
+        /// scope. <paramref name="tenantId"/> may originate from the HTTP query string, so it is
+        /// escaped — a quote in the value must never alter the filter grammar.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string BuildMetricsSummaryFilter(string? tenantId, string cutoffRowKeyPrefix)
+        {
+            var filterParts = new List<string> { $"RowKey lt '{cutoffRowKeyPrefix}'" };
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(tenantId))
+                filterParts.Add($"PartitionKey eq '{ODataSanitizer.EscapeValue(tenantId)}'");
+            return string.Join(" and ", filterParts);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// DeviceSnapshot filter for the device-property search path: optional single-tenant scope.
+        /// Escaped for the same reason as <see cref="BuildMetricsSummaryFilter"/>.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string? BuildDeviceSnapshotTenantFilter(string? tenantId)
+            => string.IsNullOrEmpty(tenantId) ? null : $"PartitionKey eq '{ODataSanitizer.EscapeValue(tenantId)}'";
+
         public async Task<List<object>> GetMetricsSummaryAsync(string? tenantId, int days = 30)
         {
             // Clamp to a sane range so callers can't accidentally trigger an unbounded scan.
@@ -1446,10 +1466,7 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Functions.Services
             var indexTableClient = _tableServiceClient.GetTableClient(Constants.TableNames.SessionsIndex);
             var cutoffRowKeyPrefix = ComputeCutoffRowKeyPrefix(days);
 
-            var filterParts = new List<string> { $"RowKey lt '{cutoffRowKeyPrefix}'" };
-            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(tenantId))
-                filterParts.Add($"PartitionKey eq '{tenantId}'");
-            var oDataFilter = string.Join(" and ", filterParts);
+            var oDataFilter = BuildMetricsSummaryFilter(tenantId, cutoffRowKeyPrefix);
 
             // Tally every status into its own bucket so the buckets always reconcile to total
             // (SessionStatusBuckets enforces this by construction — Pending/Stalled/Unknown no

src/Shared/AutopilotMonitor.Shared/Logging/CmTraceLogParser.cs

@@ -73,32 +73,84 @@ namespace AutopilotMonitor.Shared.Logging
     /// </summary>
     public static class CmTraceLogParser
     {
-        // Pre-compiled regex for the CMTrace format. The time field may carry a UTC-bias
-        // suffix in minutes ("06:08:04.8834397+480", GetTimeZoneInformation convention:
-        // UTC = local + bias) — without the optional bias group such lines would not match
-        // at all and their content would be invisible to every pattern.
-        private static readonly Regex CmTraceRegex = new Regex(
-            @"<!\[LOG\[(?<message>.*)\]LOG\]!><time=""(?<time>[\d:.]+)(?<bias>[+-]\d{1,4})?""\s+date=""(?<date>[\d-]+)""\s+component=""(?<component>[^""]*)""\s+context=""[^""]*""\s+type=""(?<type>\d+)""\s+thread=""(?<thread>\d+)""\s+file=""[^""]*"">",
-            RegexOptions.Compiled | RegexOptions.Singleline
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Every CMTrace line has the shape <c>&lt;![LOG[message]LOG]!&gt;&lt;time=... file=""&gt;</c>. The
+        /// parser deliberately does NOT express that as one regex with a greedy <c>.*</c> message
+        /// group in front of the <c>]LOG]!&gt;&lt;time="</c> literal: on a line that never matches, such a
+        /// regex re-tries every <c>&lt;![LOG[</c> occurrence as a fresh start and, for each, backtracks
+        /// <c>.*</c> across every later character — Theta(k*m), quadratic in line length. Both sinks
+        /// parse attacker-influenced input (tenant-supplied sample lines on the backend, tailed log
+        /// files assembled into multi-line entries on the SYSTEM agent), so the cost must be linear.
+        ///
+        /// <para>
+        /// The greedy regex's semantics are reproduced exactly with string search: the message
+        /// starts after the FIRST <c>&lt;![LOG[</c> (a later start can only match when the first one
+        /// does too, since <c>.*</c> spans the difference), and the message ends at the LAST
+        /// <c>]LOG]!&gt;&lt;time="</c> occurrence whose trailer parses — earlier occurrences are tried in
+        /// turn exactly as backtracking would. The trailer regex is anchored with <c>\G</c>, has no
+        /// ambiguous quantifier, and additionally carries a match timeout as a backstop; a timeout
+        /// is reported as "does not match", never thrown.
+        /// </para>
+        /// </summary>
+        private const string LogOpen = "<![LOG[";
+        private const string TrailerOpen = "]LOG]!><time=\"";
+
+        // The time field may carry a UTC-bias suffix in minutes ("06:08:04.8834397+480",
+        // GetTimeZoneInformation convention: UTC = local + bias) — without the optional bias
+        // group such lines would not match at all and their content would be invisible to
+        // every pattern.
+        private static readonly Regex TrailerRegex = new Regex(
+            @"\G\]LOG\]!><time=""(?<time>[\d:.]+)(?<bias>[+-]\d{1,4})?""\s+date=""(?<date>[\d-]+)""\s+component=""(?<component>[^""]*)""\s+context=""[^""]*""\s+type=""(?<type>\d+)""\s+thread=""(?<thread>\d+)""\s+file=""[^""]*"">",
+            RegexOptions.Compiled,
+            TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1)
         );
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Attempts to parse a single line of CMTrace-formatted log.
         /// Returns true if parsing succeeded, false if the line doesn't match the format.
+        /// Cost is linear in the line length for arbitrary input; it never throws.
         /// </summary>
         public static bool TryParseLine(string? line, [NotNullWhen(true)] out CmTraceLogEntry? entry)
         {
             entry = null;
 
             // netstandard2.0's IsNullOrEmpty lacks [NotNullWhen(false)] — assert non-null after it.
-            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(line) || !line!.StartsWith("<![LOG["))
+            // StartsWith is culture-sensitive on purpose: a leading BOM (U+FEFF) is ignorable
+            // there, so a freshly created log's first line still parses.
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(line) || !line!.StartsWith(LogOpen))
                 return false;
 
-            var match = CmTraceRegex.Match(line);
-            if (!match.Success)
+            var open = line.IndexOf(LogOpen, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+            if (open < 0)
+                return false;
+            var messageStart = open + LogOpen.Length;
+
+            Match? match = null;
+            var trailerPos = line.LastIndexOf(TrailerOpen, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+            try
+            {
+                while (trailerPos >= messageStart)
+                {
+                    var candidate = TrailerRegex.Match(line, trailerPos);
+                    if (candidate.Success)
+                    {
+                        match = candidate;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    if (trailerPos == messageStart)
+                        break;
+                    trailerPos = line.LastIndexOf(TrailerOpen, trailerPos - 1, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+                }
+            }
+            catch (RegexMatchTimeoutException)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            if (match == null)
                 return false;
 
-            var message = match.Groups["message"].Value;
+            var message = line.Substring(messageStart, trailerPos - messageStart);
             var timeStr = match.Groups["time"].Value;
             var biasStr = match.Groups["bias"].Value;
             var dateStr = match.Groups["date"].Value;

src/Web/autopilot-monitor-web/app/diagnosis/page.tsx

@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ export default function DiagnosisPage() {
 function DiagnosisContent() {
   const searchParams = useSearchParams();
   const router = useRouter();
-  const sessionId = searchParams?.get("id") as string;
+  // Deep-link value is percent-decoded by useSearchParams; only a GUID may reach the API builders.
+  const sessionId = (isGuid(searchParams?.get("id")) ? searchParams!.get("id")!.trim() : "") as string;
 
   const [session, setSession] = useState<Session | null>(null);
   const [sessionTenantId, setSessionTenantId] = useState<string | null>(null);

src/Web/autopilot-monitor-web/app/sessions/hooks/useSessionDetail.ts

@@ -108,7 +108,10 @@ export function useSessionDetail({
       const response = await authenticatedFetch(endpoint, getAccessToken);
       if (response.ok) {
         const data = await response.json();
-        const foundSession = data.session ?? data.sessions?.find((s: Session) => s.sessionId === sessionId);
+        // Accept only a session whose id matches the one we asked for — a misrouted or
+        // unexpected 200 must never hydrate the page (defense in depth behind the GUID gate).
+        const candidate: Session | undefined = data.session ?? data.sessions?.find((s: Session) => s.sessionId === sessionId);
+        const foundSession = candidate?.sessionId?.toLowerCase() === sessionId.toLowerCase() ? candidate : undefined;
         if (foundSession) {
           setSession(foundSession);
           setSessionTenantId(foundSession.tenantId);

src/Web/autopilot-monitor-web/app/sessions/network-timeline/page.tsx

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';
 import Link from 'next/link';
 import { ProtectedRoute } from '@/components/ProtectedRoute';
 import { useAuth } from '@/contexts/AuthContext';
+import { isGuid } from '@/utils/inputValidation';
 import { api } from '@/lib/api';
 import { authenticatedFetch } from '@/lib/authenticatedFetch';
 import { extractContinuation, MAX_EAGER_PAGES } from '@/lib/paginationLink';
@@ -91,7 +92,8 @@ export default function NetworkTimelinePage() {
 
 function Content() {
   const searchParams = useSearchParams();
-  const sessionId = searchParams?.get('id') ?? null;
+  // Deep-link value is percent-decoded by useSearchParams; only a GUID may reach the API builders.
+  const sessionId = isGuid(searchParams?.get('id')) ? searchParams!.get('id')!.trim() : null;
   const tenantIdOverride = searchParams?.get('tenantId') ?? undefined;
 
   const { session, events, loading, error } = useSessionData(sessionId, tenantIdOverride);

src/Web/autopilot-monitor-web/app/sessions/page.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { diagnosisUrl, inspectorUrl } from "@/lib/routes";
 import { Suspense, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
 import { useRouter, useSearchParams } from "next/navigation";
+import Link from "next/link";
 import { useSignalR } from "../../contexts/SignalRContext";
 import { useTenant } from "../../contexts/TenantContext";
 import { useAuth } from "../../contexts/AuthContext";
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ import ScriptExecutions from '../../components/ScriptExecutions';
 import { useLatestVersions } from '@/lib/useLatestVersions';
 import { useScriptDisplayNames } from '@/lib/scriptDisplayNames';
 import { api } from "@/lib/api";
+import { isGuid } from "@/utils/inputValidation";
 import { authenticatedFetch, TokenExpiredError } from "@/lib/authenticatedFetch";
 
 import { useSessionAnalysis } from "./hooks/useSessionAnalysis";
@@ -59,7 +61,11 @@ function SessionDetailContent() {
   const searchParams = useSearchParams();
   // Query-string identity (`?id=`) — path params are gone with the static export;
   // legacy /sessions/{id} URLs are rewritten here by LegacyPathRedirect.
-  const sessionId = searchParams?.get("id") as string;
+  // The raw value is attacker-deliverable (deep link) and useSearchParams returns it
+  // percent-DECODED, so anything but a GUID must never reach an API URL builder: an empty
+  // sessionId keeps every data hook inert and the page renders the invalid-id branch below.
+  const rawSessionId = searchParams?.get("id") ?? "";
+  const sessionId = isGuid(rawSessionId) ? rawSessionId.trim() : "";
   // Explicit target tenant from the fleet drill-in (`?tenantId=`). Drives the cross-tenant reads for a
   // delegated ("MSP") admin viewing a managed tenant's session, and flips the page into read-only mode.
   const tenantIdOverride = searchParams?.get("tenantId") || undefined;
@@ -424,6 +430,19 @@ function SessionDetailContent() {
   // so `loading` never flips and we'd render this branch forever — bypassing the
   // auth gate and hanging on "Loading session details..." without ever triggering
   // the MSAL login redirect. Wrapping here lets ProtectedRoute drive re-auth.
+  if (!sessionId) {
+    return (
+      <ProtectedRoute>
+        <div className="min-h-screen bg-gray-50 flex items-center justify-center">
+          <div className="text-gray-600">
+            {rawSessionId ? "Invalid session id." : "No session id given."}{" "}
+            <Link href="/dashboard" className="text-blue-600 hover:underline">Back to dashboard</Link>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </ProtectedRoute>
+    );
+  }
+
   if (loading && !session && events.length === 0) {
     return (
       <ProtectedRoute>

src/Web/autopilot-monitor-web/lib/__tests__/apiPathEncoding.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from "vitest";
+
+// API_BASE_URL is read at import time of lib/api — stub it before the import.
+vi.mock("@/utils/config", () => ({ API_BASE_URL: "https://test.example" }));
+
+// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
+const apiPromise = import("../api") as Promise<{ api: any }>;
+
+/**
+ * Path-position ids must be percent-encoded so an attacker-controlled id
+ * (deep link `/sessions?id=...`, decoded by useSearchParams) cannot rewrite the
+ * route: '/' and '..' would otherwise be resolved by the URL parser into a
+ * different API path, '#' would truncate the builder's suffix and query string.
+ */
+const HOSTILE = "x/../../global/y#";
+const ENCODED = "x%2F..%2F..%2Fglobal%2Fy%23";
+
+describe("api path ids are percent-encoded", () => {
+  it("sessions.* keeps a hostile id inside the sessions/{id} segment", async () => {
+    const { api } = await apiPromise;
+    const builders: Array<(id: string) => string> = [
+      (id) => api.sessions.get(id),
+      (id) => api.sessions.events(id),
+      (id) => api.sessions.delete(id, "t"),
+      (id) => api.sessions.analysis(id),
+      (id) => api.sessions.vulnerabilityReport(id),
+      (id) => api.sessions.timeAttribution(id),
+      (id) => api.sessions.markFailed(id),
+      (id) => api.sessions.markSucceeded(id),
+      (id) => api.sessions.queueAction(id),
+      (id) => api.sessions.report(id),
+      (id) => api.sessions.annotations(id),
+      (id) => api.sessions.annotation(id, "lane"),
+      (id) => api.inspector.signals(id),
+      (id) => api.inspector.decisionGraph(id),
+      (id) => api.inspector.reducerVerification(id),
+    ];
+    for (const build of builders) {
+      const url = build(HOSTILE);
+      expect(url.startsWith(`https://test.example/api/sessions/${ENCODED}`)).toBe(true);
+      expect(new URL(url).pathname.startsWith(`/api/sessions/${ENCODED}`)).toBe(true);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("markFailed keeps its suffix after a '#'-bearing id", async () => {
+    const { api } = await apiPromise;
+    expect(api.sessions.markFailed(HOSTILE, "t")).toBe(
+      `https://test.example/api/sessions/${ENCODED}/mark-failed?tenantId=t`,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("annotation lane and gather rule id are encoded too", async () => {
+    const { api } = await apiPromise;
+    expect(api.sessions.annotation("s", "a/b")).toBe("https://test.example/api/sessions/s/annotations/a%2Fb");
+    expect(api.rules.gatherRule(HOSTILE)).toBe(`https://test.example/api/rules/gather/${ENCODED}`);
+  });
+
+  it("no path builder lets an id escape its segment", async () => {
+    const { api } = await apiPromise;
+    type Builder = (...args: string[]) => string;
+    const walk = (node: unknown): Builder[] =>
+      typeof node === "function"
+        ? [node as Builder]
+        : Object.values(node as Record<string, unknown>).flatMap(walk);
+    for (const fn of walk(api)) {
+      if (fn.length === 0) continue;
+      const url = fn(HOSTILE, HOSTILE);
+      // The WHATWG parser resolves a raw "x/../../global/y" into "/api/global/y";
+      // an encoded id survives verbatim and the fragment marker never appears.
+      expect(new URL(url).pathname, url).not.toMatch(/\/global\/y/);
+      expect(url).not.toContain("#");
+    }
+  });
+});

src/Web/autopilot-monitor-web/lib/api.ts

@@ -33,44 +33,44 @@ export const api = {
         continuation: opts?.continuation,
       })}`,
     get: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     events: (
       sessionId: string,
       tenantId?: string,
       opts?: { pageSize?: number; continuation?: string },
     ) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/events${qs({
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/events${qs({
         tenantId,
         pageSize: opts?.pageSize?.toString(),
         continuation: opts?.continuation,
       })}`,
     delete: (sessionId: string, tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     analysis: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string, reanalyze?: boolean) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/analysis${qs({ tenantId, ...(reanalyze ? { reanalyze: "true" } : {}) })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/analysis${qs({ tenantId, ...(reanalyze ? { reanalyze: "true" } : {}) })}`,
     vulnerabilityReport: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string, rescan?: boolean) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/vulnerability-report${qs({ tenantId, ...(rescan ? { rescan: "true" } : {}) })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/vulnerability-report${qs({ tenantId, ...(rescan ? { rescan: "true" } : {}) })}`,
     // F1 time attribution: pre-computed breakdown row (null for pre-feature / non-terminal /
     // Incomplete sessions — the lane is simply omitted, nothing is re-derived client-side).
     timeAttribution: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/time-attribution${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/time-attribution${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     markFailed: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/mark-failed${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/mark-failed${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     markSucceeded: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/mark-succeeded${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/mark-succeeded${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     // POST { type, reason } — queues a ServerAction delivered with the agent's next ingest
     // response (e.g. request_diagnostics for the "Collect Logs" button).
     queueAction: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/actions${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/actions${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     report: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/report${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/report${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     // GET — all annotation lanes visible to the caller (backend hides the globaladmin
     // lane from callers without global scope).
     annotations: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/annotations${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/annotations${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     // PUT { verdict, note } — upserts one lane; both fields null/empty clears it.
     annotation: (sessionId: string, lane: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/annotations/${lane}${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/annotations/${encodeURIComponent(lane)}${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     quickSearch: (q: string) =>
       `${API_BASE_URL}/api/search/quick${qs({ q })}`,
     // Server-side free-text search (dashboard search box) — substring across the same
@@ -92,11 +92,11 @@ export const api = {
   // ── Inspector v1 (global admin only — Plan §M6) ───────────────────────────
   inspector: {
     signals: (sessionId: string, opts?: { tenantId?: string; maxResults?: number }) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/signals${qs({ tenantId: opts?.tenantId, maxResults: opts?.maxResults?.toString() })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/signals${qs({ tenantId: opts?.tenantId, maxResults: opts?.maxResults?.toString() })}`,
     decisionGraph: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/decision-graph${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/decision-graph${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     reducerVerification: (sessionId: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${sessionId}/reducer-verification${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/reducer-verification${qs({ tenantId })}`,
   },
 
   // ── Global Sessions (global admin) ────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -131,31 +131,31 @@ export const api = {
   // ── Config ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   config: {
     all: () => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/all`,
-    tenant: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}`,
+    tenant: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}`,
     // Same PUT, labelled: the session-detail Collect Logs quick-config dialog. The backend
     // maps the intent to write source "portal-collect-logs" and emits the dedicated
     // CollectLogsQuickConfigEnabled ops event instead of the generic DiagnosticsUploadEnabled.
-    tenantCollectLogsQuickConfig: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}?intent=collect-logs`,
+    tenantCollectLogsQuickConfig: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}?intent=collect-logs`,
     /**
      * PATCH — transactional field-level config write (TenantAdminOrGA, own row):
      * { fields: { <wireFieldName>: value | null, ... }, reason?: string }. The backend
      * verifies exactly those fields changed and rolls back on drift; every write snapshots
      * to ConfigurationBackups first. The Settings sections save through this per section.
      */
-    fields: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/fields`,
-    featureFlags: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/feature-flags`,
+    fields: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/fields`,
+    featureFlags: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/feature-flags`,
     /** PATCH — GA-only plan/trial mutation: { planTier?, trialExpiresUtc?: ISO | null }. */
-    plan: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/plan`,
+    plan: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/plan`,
     /** POST — tenant-admin self-service 30-day Pro trial (once per tenant, 409 after). */
-    trial: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/trial`,
+    trial: (tenantId: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/trial`,
     autopilotConsentUrl: (tenantId: string, redirectUri: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/autopilot-device-validation/consent-url${qs({ redirectUri })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/autopilot-device-validation/consent-url${qs({ redirectUri })}`,
     autopilotConsentStatus: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/autopilot-device-validation/consent-status`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/autopilot-device-validation/consent-status`,
     autopilotConsentFailure: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/autopilot-device-validation/consent-failure`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/autopilot-device-validation/consent-failure`,
     autopilotConsentSuccess: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/autopilot-device-validation/consent-success`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/autopilot-device-validation/consent-success`,
     /**
      * Probe whether the app's core validation permission is already effectively granted in
      * the tenant (pre-approved by someone with consent rights), so a rights-less admin can be
@@ -163,16 +163,16 @@ export const api = {
      * { accessPresent, isTransient, requiredPermission }.
      */
     autopilotAccessCheck: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/autopilot-device-validation/access-check`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/autopilot-device-validation/access-check`,
     /**
      * POST — dual app-reg homing flip: { target: "primary" | "legacy", force?: boolean }.
      * Tenant admins: target "primary" only, no force, kill-switch flag on, consent probe must
      * pass. Global Admins: both directions, force skips the probe.
      */
     appHoming: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/app-homing`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/app-homing`,
     testNotification: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${tenantId}/test-notification`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/test-notification`,
     latestVersions: (opts?: { refresh?: boolean }) =>
       `${API_BASE_URL}/api/config/latest-versions${qs({ refresh: opts?.refresh ? "true" : undefined })}`,
   },
@@ -181,13 +181,13 @@ export const api = {
   graphPermissions: {
     /** GET status of optional Graph add-on permissions for the tenant (admin-only). */
     status: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${tenantId}/graph-permissions/status`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/graph-permissions/status`,
     /** POST to invalidate the backend's cached roles after a grant script run. */
     refresh: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${tenantId}/graph-permissions/refresh`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/graph-permissions/refresh`,
     /** POST endpoint to resolve Intune script display names; body carries the refs array. */
     scriptDisplayNames: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${tenantId}/scripts/display-names`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/scripts/display-names`,
   },
 
   // ── Global Config (global admin) ──────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -201,17 +201,17 @@ export const api = {
   // ── Tenants ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   tenants: {
     admins: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${tenantId}/admins`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/admins`,
     admin: (tenantId: string, adminUpn: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${tenantId}/admins/${encodeURIComponent(adminUpn)}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/admins/${encodeURIComponent(adminUpn)}`,
     adminAction: (tenantId: string, adminUpn: string, action: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${tenantId}/admins/${encodeURIComponent(adminUpn)}/${action}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/admins/${encodeURIComponent(adminUpn)}/${encodeURIComponent(action)}`,
     adminPermissions: (tenantId: string, adminUpn: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${tenantId}/admins/${encodeURIComponent(adminUpn)}/permissions`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/admins/${encodeURIComponent(adminUpn)}/permissions`,
     offboard: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${tenantId}/offboard`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/offboard`,
     offboardFeedback: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${tenantId}/offboard/feedback`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/tenants/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}/offboard/feedback`,
   },
 
   // ── Devices ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ export const api = {
     gather: (tenantId?: string) =>
       `${API_BASE_URL}/api/rules/gather${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     gatherRule: (ruleId: string, tenantId?: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/rules/gather/${ruleId}${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/rules/gather/${encodeURIComponent(ruleId)}${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     globalGather: (tenantId?: string) =>
       `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/rules/gather${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     // Cross-tenant edit/toggle/delete of an existing gather rule (Global Admin override) — see globalAnalyzeRule.
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ export const api = {
     lookup: (tenantId: string, search: string) =>
       `${API_BASE_URL}/api/progress/sessions/lookup${qs({ tenantId, search })}`,
     sessionEvents: (sessionId: string, tenantId: string, serial: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/progress/sessions/${sessionId}/events${qs({ tenantId, serial })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/progress/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}/events${qs({ tenantId, serial })}`,
   },
 
   // ── Bootstrap ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ export const api = {
     sessions: (tenantId?: string) =>
       `${API_BASE_URL}/api/bootstrap/sessions${qs({ tenantId })}`,
     session: (code: string, tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/bootstrap/sessions/${code}${qs({ tenantId })}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/bootstrap/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(code)}${qs({ tenantId })}`,
   },
 
   // ── Annotations (tenant-scoped overview list) ─────────────────────────────
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ export const api = {
     downloadUrl: (blobName: string) =>
       `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/session-reports/download-url${qs({ blobName })}`,
     note: (reportId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/session-reports/${reportId}/note`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/session-reports/${encodeURIComponent(reportId)}/note`,
   },
 
   // ── Diag Files Reports (no session context) ───────────────────────────────
@@ -553,11 +553,11 @@ export const api = {
   // ── Notifications ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   notifications: {
     list: () => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/notifications`,
-    dismiss: (id: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/notifications/${id}/dismiss`,
+    dismiss: (id: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/notifications/${encodeURIComponent(id)}/dismiss`,
     dismissAll: () => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/notifications/dismiss-all`,
     // Tenant-scoped persistent notifications (bell). TenantId resolved server-side from JWT.
     tenantList: () => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/notifications`,
-    tenantDismiss: (id: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/notifications/${id}/dismiss`,
+    tenantDismiss: (id: string) => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/notifications/${encodeURIComponent(id)}/dismiss`,
     tenantDismissAll: () => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/notifications/dismiss-all`,
   },
 
@@ -608,12 +608,12 @@ export const api = {
   preview: {
     whitelist: () => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/preview/whitelist`,
     whitelistTenant: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/preview/whitelist/${tenantId}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/preview/whitelist/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}`,
     sendWelcomeEmail: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/preview/send-welcome-email/${tenantId}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/preview/send-welcome-email/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}`,
     notificationEmail: () => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/preview/notification-email`,
     notificationEmailTenant: (tenantId: string) =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/preview/notification-email/${tenantId}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/preview/notification-email/${encodeURIComponent(tenantId)}`,
     /** GA/Reader: every stored notification address, keyed by lowercased tenant id. */
     notificationEmails: () => `${API_BASE_URL}/api/preview/notification-emails`,
   },
@@ -721,13 +721,13 @@ export const api = {
   // ── Email Templates (GA) ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
   emailTemplates: {
     get: (kind: "welcome" | "farewell") =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/email-templates/${kind}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/email-templates/${encodeURIComponent(kind)}`,
     save: (kind: "welcome" | "farewell") =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/email-templates/${kind}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/email-templates/${encodeURIComponent(kind)}`,
     reset: (kind: "welcome" | "farewell") =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/email-templates/${kind}`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/email-templates/${encodeURIComponent(kind)}`,
     sendTest: (kind: "welcome" | "farewell") =>
-      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/email-templates/${kind}/test`,
+      `${API_BASE_URL}/api/global/email-templates/${encodeURIComponent(kind)}/test`,
   },
 
   // ── Maintenance ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────