diff --git a/.github/workflows/README.md b/.github/workflows/README.md
index 43ca2780e..e319f2d19 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/README.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/README.md
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ Use `false` unless a later command in the same job performs an authenticated
 Git write. The small number of write-path exceptions use `true` with the
 machine-checked `# required: authenticated git writes` rationale.
 
+Each workflow declares its default `GITHUB_TOKEN` permissions explicitly and
+enumerates scopes instead of using `read-all` or `write-all`. Workflow inputs,
+secrets, and `github.token` are passed to `run` steps through `env`; they are
+data and must never be interpolated into the generated shell program.
+
 ## Issue Triage Automation
 
 **Files**:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/backfill-release-assets.yml b/.github/workflows/backfill-release-assets.yml
index 462ed85d0..03e366f99 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backfill-release-assets.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backfill-release-assets.yml
@@ -55,9 +55,14 @@ jobs:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
           PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_KEY: ${{ secrets.PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_KEY }}
           PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY: ${{ vars.PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY }}
+          REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
+          TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
         run: |
-          ./scripts/backfill-release-assets.sh --tag "${{ inputs.tag }}" --repo "${{ github.repository }}"
+          ./scripts/backfill-release-assets.sh --tag "${TAG}" --repo "${REPOSITORY}"
 
       - name: Validate published release packet
+        env:
+          REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
+          TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
         run: |
-          ./scripts/validate-published-release.sh "${{ inputs.tag }}" "${{ github.repository }}"
+          ./scripts/validate-published-release.sh "${TAG}" "${REPOSITORY}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-release-candidate.yml b/.github/workflows/build-release-candidate.yml
index 0cdf123ef..b97aac0f8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-release-candidate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-release-candidate.yml
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ jobs:
           APPLE_NOTARY_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_NOTARY_KEY_ID }}
           APPLE_NOTARY_ISSUER_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_NOTARY_ISSUER_ID }}
           PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY: ${{ vars.PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY }}
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           for name in \
@@ -305,7 +306,7 @@ jobs:
           security list-keychains -d user -s "$keychain"
 
           ldflags="$(./scripts/release_ldflags.sh agent \
-            --version "v${{ inputs.version }}" \
+            --version "v${VERSION}" \
             --update-public-keys "$PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY")"
           for arch in amd64 arm64; do
             output="native-agent-binaries/pulse-agent-darwin-${arch}"
@@ -371,6 +372,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: pwsh
         env:
           PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY: ${{ vars.PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY }}
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |
           $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
           foreach ($name in @('PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY')) {
@@ -380,7 +382,7 @@ jobs:
           }
 
           New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path unsigned-native-agent-binaries -Force | Out-Null
-          $ldflags = & bash ./scripts/release_ldflags.sh agent --version "v${{ inputs.version }}" --update-public-keys $env:PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY
+          $ldflags = & bash ./scripts/release_ldflags.sh agent --version "v$env:VERSION" --update-public-keys $env:PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY
           foreach ($arch in @('amd64', 'arm64', '386')) {
             $env:GOOS = 'windows'
             $env:GOARCH = $arch
@@ -569,6 +571,7 @@ jobs:
           SIGNPATH_SIGNING_REQUEST_URL: ${{ steps.signpath.outputs.signing_request_url }}
           SIGNPATH_INPUT_ARTIFACT_ID: ${{ steps.signpath.outputs.github_input_artifact_id }}
           SIGNPATH_EXPECTED_CERTIFICATE_SUBJECT: ${{ vars.SIGNPATH_EXPECTED_CERTIFICATE_SUBJECT }}
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |
           $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
           $sourceDir = if ($env:WINDOWS_SIGNING_BACKEND -eq 'signpath') { 'signed-native-agent-binaries' } else { 'unsigned-native-agent-binaries' }
@@ -595,7 +598,7 @@ jobs:
           $evidence = [ordered]@{
             schemaVersion = 1
             backend = $env:WINDOWS_SIGNING_BACKEND
-            version = '${{ inputs.version }}'
+            version = $env:VERSION
             sourceSha = $env:GITHUB_SHA
             workflowRunUrl = "https://github.com/$env:GITHUB_REPOSITORY/actions/runs/$env:GITHUB_RUN_ID"
             signPathSigningRequestId = $env:SIGNPATH_SIGNING_REQUEST_ID
@@ -639,11 +642,13 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Resolve candidate identity
         id: identity
+        env:
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          echo "artifact_name=release-candidate-${GITHUB_SHA}-${{ inputs.version }}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-          echo "manifest_artifact_name=release-candidate-manifest-${GITHUB_SHA}-${{ inputs.version }}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-          echo "container_artifact_name=release-container-payload-${GITHUB_SHA}-${{ inputs.version }}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "artifact_name=release-candidate-${GITHUB_SHA}-${VERSION}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "manifest_artifact_name=release-candidate-manifest-${GITHUB_SHA}-${VERSION}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "container_artifact_name=release-container-payload-${GITHUB_SHA}-${VERSION}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
@@ -652,9 +657,11 @@ jobs:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
       - name: Validate candidate identity
+        env:
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          test "$(tr -d '\n' < VERSION)" = "${{ inputs.version }}"
+          test "$(tr -d '\n' < VERSION)" = "${VERSION}"
           test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "${GITHUB_SHA}"
 
       - name: Set up Go
@@ -701,6 +708,7 @@ jobs:
           EXPECTED_ARTIFACT_DIGEST: ${{ needs.obtain-release-payload.outputs.artifact_digest }}
           EXPECTED_ARTIFACT_NAME: ${{ needs.obtain-release-payload.outputs.artifact_name }}
           EXPECTED_COMPILER_RUN_ID: ${{ needs.obtain-release-payload.outputs.compiler_run_id }}
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           [[ "${EXPECTED_ARTIFACT_ID}" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]]
@@ -732,7 +740,7 @@ jobs:
           python3 scripts/release_candidate_manifest.py verify-local \
             --release-dir release-compiled/payload \
             --manifest release-compiled/manifest/release-compiled.json \
-            --version "${{ inputs.version }}" \
+            --version "${VERSION}" \
             --source-sha "${GITHUB_SHA}"
           mkdir -p release-candidate-manifest
           payload_manifest_sha256="$(sha256sum release-compiled/manifest/release-compiled.json | awk '{print $1}')"
@@ -743,7 +751,7 @@ jobs:
             --arg payload_manifest_sha256 "${payload_manifest_sha256}" \
             --argjson compiler_workflow_run_id "${EXPECTED_COMPILER_RUN_ID}" \
             --argjson release_workflow_run_id "${GITHUB_RUN_ID}" \
-            --arg version "${{ inputs.version }}" \
+            --arg version "${VERSION}" \
             --arg source_sha "${GITHUB_SHA}" \
             '{schema_version: 2, trust_boundary: "separate-trusted-self-hosted-compiler-workflow", verified_on: "github-hosted", artifact_id: $artifact_id, artifact_name: $artifact_name, artifact_sha256: $artifact_sha256, payload_manifest_sha256: $payload_manifest_sha256, compiler_workflow_run_id: $compiler_workflow_run_id, release_workflow_run_id: $release_workflow_run_id, version: $version, source_sha: $source_sha}' \
             > release-candidate-manifest/compiled-payload-verification.json
@@ -770,7 +778,7 @@ jobs:
           path: release-candidate-manifest
 
       - name: Build release candidate
-        run: ./scripts/build-release.sh "${{ inputs.version }}"
+        run: ./scripts/build-release.sh "${VERSION}"
         env:
           PULSE_LICENSE_PUBLIC_KEY: ${{ secrets.PULSE_LICENSE_PUBLIC_KEY }}
           PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_KEY: ${{ secrets.PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_KEY }}
@@ -779,6 +787,7 @@ jobs:
           PULSE_REQUIRE_WINDOWS_SIGNING: ${{ inputs.require_windows_signing }}
           PULSE_AGENT_NATIVE_BINARIES_DIR: ${{ (inputs.require_macos_signing || inputs.require_windows_signing) && format('{0}/native-agent-binaries', github.workspace) || '' }}
           PULSE_RELEASE_COMPILED_PAYLOAD_DIR: ${{ github.workspace }}/release-compiled/payload
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
 
       - name: Validate installer signing key pins
         env:
@@ -798,23 +807,29 @@ jobs:
           done
 
       - name: Validate complete candidate locally
-        run: ./scripts/validate-release.sh "${{ inputs.version }}" --skip-docker
+        env:
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
+        run: ./scripts/validate-release.sh "${VERSION}" --skip-docker
 
       - name: Create immutable candidate manifest
+        env:
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |
           python3 scripts/release_candidate_manifest.py create \
             --release-dir release \
-            --version "${{ inputs.version }}" \
+            --version "${VERSION}" \
             --source-sha "${GITHUB_SHA}" \
             --output release-candidate-manifest/release-candidate.json
 
       - name: Create exact-candidate container payload
+        env:
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           payload_root="$RUNNER_TEMP/release-container-payload"
           ./scripts/prepare-release-container-context.sh \
             release \
-            "${{ inputs.version }}" \
+            "${VERSION}" \
             "${payload_root}/payload/release"
           mkdir -p "${payload_root}/payload/compiled/binaries"
           for arch in amd64 arm64; do
@@ -824,7 +839,7 @@ jobs:
           done
           python3 scripts/release_candidate_manifest.py create \
             --release-dir "${payload_root}/payload" \
-            --version "${{ inputs.version }}" \
+            --version "${VERSION}" \
             --source-sha "${GITHUB_SHA}" \
             --output "${payload_root}/release-container-payload.json"
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/compile-release-payload.yml b/.github/workflows/compile-release-payload.yml
index 16c9f3e24..25a5c38e5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/compile-release-payload.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/compile-release-payload.yml
@@ -45,10 +45,13 @@ jobs:
           ref: ${{ inputs.source_sha }}
 
       - name: Validate candidate identity
+        env:
+          EXPECTED_SOURCE_SHA: ${{ inputs.source_sha }}
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          test "$(tr -d '\n' < VERSION)" = "${{ inputs.version }}"
-          test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "${{ inputs.source_sha }}"
+          test "$(tr -d '\n' < VERSION)" = "${VERSION}"
+          test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "${EXPECTED_SOURCE_SHA}"
 
       - name: Set up Go
         uses: actions/setup-go@4a3601121dd01d1626a1e23e37211e3254c1c06c # v6.4.0
@@ -84,7 +87,8 @@ jobs:
           PULSE_LICENSE_PUBLIC_KEY: ${{ secrets.PULSE_LICENSE_PUBLIC_KEY }}
           PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY: ${{ vars.PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY }}
           PULSE_RELEASE_BUILD_JOBS: "2"
-        run: ./scripts/build-release-binaries.sh "${{ inputs.version }}" "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-compiled"
+          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
+        run: ./scripts/build-release-binaries.sh "${VERSION}" "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-compiled"
 
       - name: Upload exact-SHA compiled payload
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7.0.1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-docker.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-docker.yml
index af398db14..95b95daf2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-docker.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-docker.yml
@@ -62,8 +62,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Extract version from release tag
         id: version
+        env:
+          INPUT_TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
         run: |
-          TAG="${{ inputs.tag }}"
+          TAG="${INPUT_TAG}"
           VERSION="${TAG#v}"
 
           # Detect if this is a prerelease (RC, alpha, beta)
@@ -105,12 +107,15 @@ jobs:
           path: ${{ runner.temp }}/release-container-payload
 
       - name: Verify exact-candidate container payload
+        env:
+          EXPECTED_SOURCE_SHA: ${{ inputs.source_sha }}
+          VERSION: ${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}
         run: |
           python3 scripts/release_candidate_manifest.py verify-local \
             --release-dir "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-container-payload/payload" \
             --manifest "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-container-payload/release-container-payload.json" \
-            --version "${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}" \
-            --source-sha "${{ inputs.source_sha }}"
+            --version "${VERSION}" \
+            --source-sha "${EXPECTED_SOURCE_SHA}"
 
       - name: Set up QEMU
         uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@06116385d9baf250c9f4dcb4858b16962ea869c3 # v4.1.0
@@ -263,8 +268,11 @@ jobs:
         id: proof
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
+          SOURCE_SHA: ${{ inputs.source_sha }}
+          TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           ./scripts/verify-release-container-images.sh \
-            "${{ inputs.tag }}" "${{ inputs.source_sha }}" \
-            "${{ github.repository }}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            "${TAG}" "${SOURCE_SHA}" \
+            "${REPOSITORY}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-helm-chart.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-helm-chart.yml
index 79d485e59..9cb8f762d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-helm-chart.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-helm-chart.yml
@@ -139,8 +139,11 @@ jobs:
           path: dist/pulse-${{ steps.versions.outputs.chart_version }}.tgz
 
       - name: Authenticate with GHCR
+        env:
+          GHCR_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          GHCR_USERNAME: ${{ github.actor }}
         run: |
-          echo "${{ github.token }}" | helm registry login ghcr.io --username "${{ github.actor }}" --password-stdin
+          echo "${GHCR_TOKEN}" | helm registry login ghcr.io --username "${GHCR_USERNAME}" --password-stdin
 
       - name: Push chart to GHCR
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/qualify-release-containers.yml b/.github/workflows/qualify-release-containers.yml
index 7a5c706ae..c06dab17d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/qualify-release-containers.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/qualify-release-containers.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ jobs:
     # expose and repair runner capacity without blocking a stable patch.
     runs-on: ${{ !contains(inputs.version, '-') && 'ubuntu-24.04' || fromJSON('["self-hosted","Linux","X64","pulse-pve-build"]') }}
     timeout-minutes: 15
+    env:
+      VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@ jobs:
           python3 scripts/release_candidate_manifest.py verify-local \
             --release-dir "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-container-payload/payload" \
             --manifest "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-container-payload/release-container-payload.json" \
-            --version "${{ inputs.version }}" \
+            --version "${VERSION}" \
             --source-sha "${{ github.sha }}"
 
       - name: Assemble exact-candidate runtime and agent images
@@ -60,14 +62,14 @@ jobs:
             --platform linux/amd64 \
             --build-context "release_payload=${RUNNER_TEMP}/release-container-payload/payload/release" \
             --load \
-            --tag "pulse-helm-smoke:${{ inputs.version }}" \
+            --tag "pulse-helm-smoke:${VERSION}" \
             .
           docker buildx build \
             --target agent_runtime_prebuilt \
             --platform linux/amd64 \
             --build-context "release_payload=${RUNNER_TEMP}/release-container-payload/payload/release" \
             --load \
-            --tag "pulse-agent-candidate:${{ inputs.version }}" \
+            --tag "pulse-agent-candidate:${VERSION}" \
             .
           docker buildx build \
             --file deploy/provider-msp/Dockerfile.control-plane \
@@ -75,24 +77,24 @@ jobs:
             --platform linux/amd64 \
             --build-context "compiled_payload=${RUNNER_TEMP}/release-container-payload/payload/compiled" \
             --load \
-            --tag "pulse-control-plane-candidate:${{ inputs.version }}" \
+            --tag "pulse-control-plane-candidate:${VERSION}" \
             .
 
       - name: Verify container binaries match immutable candidate
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           expected_server="$(sha256sum "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-container-payload/payload/release/amd64/bin/pulse" | awk '{print $1}')"
-          actual_server="$(docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh "pulse-helm-smoke:${{ inputs.version }}" -c 'sha256sum /app/pulse' | awk '{print $1}')"
+          actual_server="$(docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh "pulse-helm-smoke:${VERSION}" -c 'sha256sum /app/pulse' | awk '{print $1}')"
           expected_agent="$(sha256sum "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-container-payload/payload/release/amd64/bin/pulse-agent-linux-amd64" | awk '{print $1}')"
-          actual_embedded_agent="$(docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh "pulse-helm-smoke:${{ inputs.version }}" -c 'sha256sum /usr/local/bin/pulse-agent' | awk '{print $1}')"
-          actual_agent="$(docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh "pulse-agent-candidate:${{ inputs.version }}" -c 'sha256sum /usr/local/bin/pulse-agent' | awk '{print $1}')"
+          actual_embedded_agent="$(docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh "pulse-helm-smoke:${VERSION}" -c 'sha256sum /usr/local/bin/pulse-agent' | awk '{print $1}')"
+          actual_agent="$(docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh "pulse-agent-candidate:${VERSION}" -c 'sha256sum /usr/local/bin/pulse-agent' | awk '{print $1}')"
           expected_control_plane="$(sha256sum "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-container-payload/payload/compiled/binaries/pulse-control-plane-linux-amd64" | awk '{print $1}')"
-          actual_control_plane="$(docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh "pulse-control-plane-candidate:${{ inputs.version }}" -c 'sha256sum /usr/local/bin/pulse-control-plane' | awk '{print $1}')"
+          actual_control_plane="$(docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh "pulse-control-plane-candidate:${VERSION}" -c 'sha256sum /usr/local/bin/pulse-control-plane' | awk '{print $1}')"
           test "${actual_server}" = "${expected_server}"
           test "${actual_embedded_agent}" = "${expected_agent}"
           test "${actual_agent}" = "${expected_agent}"
           test "${actual_control_plane}" = "${expected_control_plane}"
-          docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh "pulse-helm-smoke:${{ inputs.version }}" -c '
+          docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh "pulse-helm-smoke:${VERSION}" -c '
             set -euo pipefail
             test "$(readlink /usr/local/bin/pulse-agent)" = "/opt/pulse/bin/pulse-agent-linux-amd64"
             test -x /usr/local/bin/pulse-agent
diff --git a/.github/workflows/recover-release-activation.yml b/.github/workflows/recover-release-activation.yml
index d9460b953..17aa9f2b2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/recover-release-activation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/recover-release-activation.yml
@@ -198,10 +198,11 @@ jobs:
         id: container_proof
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           ./scripts/verify-release-container-images.sh \
-            "${{ inputs.tag }}" "${{ steps.qualify.outputs.source_sha }}" \
+            "${TAG}" "${{ steps.qualify.outputs.source_sha }}" \
             "${{ github.repository }}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
       - name: Dispatch a fresh durable convergence owner
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-demo-server.yml b/.github/workflows/update-demo-server.yml
index 0427fcfd2..74118cd95 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-demo-server.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-demo-server.yml
@@ -184,11 +184,13 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Check release type
+        env:
+          VERIFY_ONLY: ${{ inputs.verify_only }}
         run: |
           echo "Tag: ${{ needs.resolve.outputs.tag }}"
           echo "Target: ${{ needs.resolve.outputs.target }}"
           echo "Environment: ${{ needs.resolve.outputs.environment_name }}"
-          echo "Verification only: ${{ inputs.verify_only }}"
+          echo "Verification only: ${VERIFY_ONLY}"
 
       - name: Validate demo environment configuration
         env:
diff --git a/scripts/check_workflow_trust.py b/scripts/check_workflow_trust.py
index c94a0733a..574f08a45 100644
--- a/scripts/check_workflow_trust.py
+++ b/scripts/check_workflow_trust.py
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ ACTION_SHA_RE = re.compile(r"^[0-9a-f]{40}$")
 CONTAINER_DIGEST_RE = re.compile(r"^docker://.+@sha256:[0-9a-f]{64}$")
 HOSTED_LATEST_RE = re.compile(r"\b(?:ubuntu|windows|macos)-latest\b")
 USES_RE = re.compile(r"^\s*(?:-\s*)?uses:\s*([^\s#]+)")
+RUN_RE = re.compile(r"^(\s*)(?:-\s*)?run:\s*(.*)$")
+EXPRESSION_RE = re.compile(r"\$\{\{(.*?)\}\}")
+# Workflow-call and dispatch inputs are data, not shell source. Secrets include
+# github.token because Actions makes that credential available independently of
+# an explicit secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN reference.
+SHELL_DATA_CONTEXT_RE = re.compile(
+    r"(?<![\w.])(?:inputs|secrets)\.|(?<![\w.])github\.token\b"
+)
 CHECKOUT_PREFIX = "actions/checkout@"
 WRITE_CREDENTIAL_RATIONALE = "# required: authenticated git writes"
 
@@ -48,10 +56,54 @@ def _checkout_block(lines: list[str], uses_index: int) -> list[tuple[int, str]]:
     return block
 
 
+def _run_script_lines(lines: list[str], run_index: int) -> list[tuple[int, str]]:
+    """Return the source lines GitHub will materialize as a run script."""
+    match = RUN_RE.match(lines[run_index])
+    if not match:
+        return []
+    run_indent = len(match.group(1))
+    value = match.group(2).strip()
+    if value not in {"|", "|-", "|+", ">", ">-", ">+"}:
+        return [(run_index, match.group(2))]
+
+    script: list[tuple[int, str]] = []
+    for index in range(run_index + 1, len(lines)):
+        line = lines[index]
+        if line.strip() and _indent(line) <= run_indent:
+            break
+        script.append((index, line))
+    return script
+
+
 def audit_workflow(path: Path) -> list[Finding]:
     lines = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines()
     findings: list[Finding] = []
 
+    permission_declarations = [
+        index
+        for index, line in enumerate(lines)
+        if re.match(r"^permissions\s*:", line)
+    ]
+    if len(permission_declarations) != 1:
+        findings.append(
+            Finding(
+                path,
+                1,
+                "workflow must declare top-level permissions explicitly exactly once",
+            )
+        )
+    elif lines[permission_declarations[0]].split("#", 1)[0].strip() not in {
+        "permissions:",
+        "permissions: {}",
+    }:
+        findings.append(
+            Finding(
+                path,
+                permission_declarations[0] + 1,
+                "workflow permissions must use a scope mapping or explicit empty mapping",
+            )
+        )
+
     for index, line in enumerate(lines):
         line_number = index + 1
         code = line.split("#", 1)[0]
@@ -64,6 +116,18 @@ def audit_workflow(path: Path) -> list[Finding]:
                 )
             )
 
+        if RUN_RE.match(code):
+            for script_index, script_line in _run_script_lines(lines, index):
+                for expression in EXPRESSION_RE.findall(script_line):
+                    if SHELL_DATA_CONTEXT_RE.search(expression):
+                        findings.append(
+                            Finding(
+                                path,
+                                script_index + 1,
+                                "workflow inputs and secrets must enter run scripts through env",
+                            )
+                        )
+
         match = USES_RE.search(code)
         if not match:
             continue
diff --git a/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py b/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py
index 79c5543af..8746a2cd1 100644
--- a/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py
+++ b/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py
@@ -1721,8 +1721,10 @@ class ReleasePromotionPolicyTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("name: Backfill Release Assets", backfill_workflow)
         self.assertIn("workflow_dispatch:", backfill_workflow)
         self.assertIn('SYFT_VERSION="1.42.4"', backfill_workflow)
-        self.assertIn('./scripts/backfill-release-assets.sh --tag "${{ inputs.tag }}" --repo "${{ github.repository }}"', backfill_workflow)
-        self.assertIn('./scripts/validate-published-release.sh "${{ inputs.tag }}" "${{ github.repository }}"', backfill_workflow)
+        self.assertIn("TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}", backfill_workflow)
+        self.assertIn("REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}", backfill_workflow)
+        self.assertIn('./scripts/backfill-release-assets.sh --tag "${TAG}" --repo "${REPOSITORY}"', backfill_workflow)
+        self.assertIn('./scripts/validate-published-release.sh "${TAG}" "${REPOSITORY}"', backfill_workflow)
         self.assertIn("PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY: ${{ vars.PULSE_UPDATE_SIGNING_PUBLIC_KEY }}", backfill_workflow)
         self.assertIn("./scripts/prepare-release-container-context.sh", candidate_workflow)
         self.assertIn('test "${actual_server}" = "${expected_server}"', docker_build)
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test_workflow_trust.py b/scripts/tests/test_workflow_trust.py
index 7878a64bf..c83037580 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/test_workflow_trust.py
+++ b/scripts/tests/test_workflow_trust.py
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ class WorkflowTrustTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_accepts_immutable_dependencies_and_explicit_checkout_credentials(self) -> None:
         findings = self.audit(
-            f"""jobs:
+            f"""permissions:
+  contents: read
+jobs:
   test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
@@ -47,7 +49,9 @@ class WorkflowTrustTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_rejects_mutable_action_runner_and_container_references(self) -> None:
         findings = self.audit(
-            """jobs:
+            """permissions:
+  contents: read
+jobs:
   test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
@@ -61,14 +65,16 @@ class WorkflowTrustTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_rejects_implicit_or_unjustified_checkout_credentials(self) -> None:
         omitted = self.audit(
-            f"""steps:
+            f"""permissions: {{}}
+steps:
   - uses: actions/checkout@{PIN}
 """
         )
         self.assertTrue(any("must set persist-credentials" in finding for finding in omitted))
 
         unjustified = self.audit(
-            f"""steps:
+            f"""permissions: {{}}
+steps:
   - uses: actions/checkout@{PIN}
     with:
       persist-credentials: true
@@ -77,7 +83,8 @@ class WorkflowTrustTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(any("require # required" in finding for finding in unjustified))
 
         mixed_case = self.audit(
-            f"""steps:
+            f"""permissions: {{}}
+steps:
   - uses: Actions/Checkout@{PIN}
 """
         )
@@ -87,7 +94,8 @@ class WorkflowTrustTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_accepts_documented_authenticated_git_write(self) -> None:
         findings = self.audit(
-            f"""steps:
+            f"""permissions: {{}}
+steps:
   - uses: actions/checkout@{PIN}
     with:
       persist-credentials: true  # required: authenticated git writes
@@ -95,6 +103,38 @@ class WorkflowTrustTest(unittest.TestCase):
         )
         self.assertEqual(findings, [])
 
+    def test_requires_explicit_least_privilege_permissions(self) -> None:
+        missing = self.audit("jobs: {}\n")
+        self.assertTrue(any("top-level permissions" in finding for finding in missing))
+
+        broad = self.audit("permissions: write-all\njobs: {}\n")
+        self.assertTrue(any("scope mapping" in finding for finding in broad))
+
+        dynamic = self.audit("permissions: ${{ inputs.permissions }}\njobs: {}\n")
+        self.assertTrue(any("scope mapping" in finding for finding in dynamic))
+
+    def test_rejects_shell_template_data_but_accepts_env_data(self) -> None:
+        findings = self.audit(
+            """permissions: {}
+jobs:
+  unsafe:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    steps:
+      - run: echo "${{ inputs.name }}"
+      - run: |
+          echo "${{ secrets.ACCESS_TOKEN }}"
+          echo "${{ github.token }}"
+      - env:
+          NAME: ${{ inputs.name }}
+          TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+        run: printf '%s\\n' "$NAME" >/dev/null
+"""
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            sum("must enter run scripts through env" in finding for finding in findings),
+            3,
+        )
+
     def test_repository_workflows_satisfy_contract(self) -> None:
         findings = workflow_trust.audit_directory(REPO_ROOT / ".github" / "workflows")
         self.assertEqual([finding.render() for finding in findings], [])