feat(secrets): add a 0600 file secret backend so production runs on Linux

The production composition hardwired the macOS Keychain (/usr/bin/security),
which made Linux deployment impossible. Now:

- SecretStore gains a stable provider identity persisted in
  secret_references.provider; services stop hardcoding 'macos-keychain'
- shared reference codec (secret-reference.ts) understands both
  keychain:// and secret-file:// references
- FileSecretStore: single 0600 JSON map under the data root, atomic
  temp+rename writes, serialized in-process, same validation envelope
- production composition picks the backend via
  MULTI_SIMADMIN_SECRET_BACKEND (default: Keychain on darwin, file store
  elsewhere) and readiness probes the matching backend

apps/api/src/application/automation/scheduled-operation-dispatcher.test.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ describe('ScheduledOperationDispatcher', () => {
       operations: { prepare: vi.fn(), execute: vi.fn() },
       messages: { send },
       store: {
+        provider: 'macos-keychain',
         set: vi.fn(),
         get: vi.fn(async () =>
           JSON.stringify({
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ describe('ScheduledOperationDispatcher', () => {
         execute,
       },
       messages: { send: vi.fn() },
-      store: { set: vi.fn(), get: vi.fn(), delete: vi.fn() },
+      store: { provider: 'macos-keychain', set: vi.fn(), get: vi.fn(), delete: vi.fn() },
       repository: new ScheduledTaskRepository(db),
     });
     const result = await dispatcher.dispatch(
@@ -179,6 +180,7 @@ describe('ScheduledOperationDispatcher', () => {
       operations: { prepare: vi.fn(), execute: vi.fn() },
       messages: { send },
       store: {
+        provider: 'macos-keychain',
         set: vi.fn(),
         get: vi.fn(async () =>
           JSON.stringify({ recipients: ['13800138000', '13900139000'], content: 'Maintenance' }),
@@ -216,7 +218,7 @@ describe('ScheduledOperationDispatcher', () => {
         execute: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ id: 'job-a', status: 'succeeded' }),
       },
       messages: { send: vi.fn() },
-      store: { set: vi.fn(), get: vi.fn(), delete: vi.fn() },
+      store: { provider: 'macos-keychain', set: vi.fn(), get: vi.fn(), delete: vi.fn() },
       repository: new ScheduledTaskRepository(db),
     });
     const result = await dispatcher.dispatch(

apps/api/src/application/automation/scheduled-task-service.test.ts

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { ScheduledTaskRepository } from './scheduled-task-repository.js';
 import { ScheduledTaskService } from './scheduled-task-service.js';
 
 class MemorySecrets implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
   readonly values = new Map<string, string>();
   readonly setCalls: Array<{ key: SecretKey; value: string }> = [];
   blockRotations = false;

apps/api/src/application/connections/connection-probe.test.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { ConnectionProbe } from './connection-probe.js';
 import { ConnectionLogService } from '../system/connection-log-service.js';
 
 class Store implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
   async set(key: { instanceId: string; purpose: string; slot?: string }) {
     return `keychain://multi-simadmin/${Buffer.from(JSON.stringify([key.instanceId, key.purpose, key.slot])).toString('base64url')}`;
   }

apps/api/src/application/connections/instance-credential-resolver.test.ts

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ describe('InstanceCredentialResolver', () => {
   it('resolves only the canonical password reference for the requested existing instance', async () => {
     let asked: string | undefined;
     const { db, resolver } = fixture({
+      provider: 'macos-keychain',
       set: async () => '',
       get: async (reference) => {
         asked = reference;
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ describe('InstanceCredentialResolver', () => {
   it('does not call SecretStore when no saved credential exists', async () => {
     let calls = 0;
     const { resolver } = fixture({
+      provider: 'macos-keychain',
       set: async () => '',
       get: async () => {
         calls += 1;
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ describe('InstanceCredentialResolver', () => {
   it('rejects a reference bound to another instance before SecretStore access', async () => {
     let calls = 0;
     const { db, resolver } = fixture({
+      provider: 'macos-keychain',
       set: async () => '',
       get: async () => {
         calls += 1;

apps/api/src/application/connections/instance-credential-resolver.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import type Database from 'better-sqlite3';
-import { parseKeychainReference } from '../../infrastructure/secrets/keychain-secret-store.js';
+import { parseSecretReference } from '../../infrastructure/secrets/secret-reference.js';
 import type { SecretStore } from '../../infrastructure/secrets/secret-store.js';
 
 const PURPOSE = 'instance-password';
-const PROVIDER = 'macos-keychain';
 export class CredentialResolverError extends Error {
   constructor(readonly code: 'NOT_FOUND' | 'CREDENTIAL_UNAVAILABLE') {
     super(code);
@@ -24,10 +23,12 @@ export class InstanceCredentialResolver {
       .prepare(
         'SELECT external_reference FROM secret_references WHERE instance_id=? AND purpose=? AND provider=?',
       )
-      .get(instanceId, PURPOSE, PROVIDER) as { external_reference: string } | undefined;
+      .get(instanceId, PURPOSE, this.options.store.provider) as
+        | { external_reference: string }
+        | undefined;
     if (!row) throw new CredentialResolverError('CREDENTIAL_UNAVAILABLE');
     try {
-      const parsed = parseKeychainReference(row.external_reference);
+      const parsed = parseSecretReference(row.external_reference);
       if (parsed.instanceId !== instanceId || parsed.purpose !== PURPOSE || !parsed.slot)
         throw new Error('invalid binding');
       const secret = await this.options.store.get(row.external_reference);

apps/api/src/application/instances/instance-service.test.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import type { Instance } from '@multi-simadmin/contracts';
 import { InstanceService, InstanceServiceError } from './instance-service.js';
 
 class MemorySecrets implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
   readonly values = new Map<string, string>();
   readonly deletes: string[] = [];
   readonly sets: Array<{

apps/api/src/application/instances/instance-service.ts

@@ -10,10 +10,9 @@ import type {
   SnapshotFreshness,
 } from '@multi-simadmin/contracts';
 import type { SecretStore } from '../../infrastructure/secrets/secret-store.js';
-import { parseKeychainReference } from '../../infrastructure/secrets/keychain-secret-store.js';
+import { parseSecretReference } from '../../infrastructure/secrets/secret-reference.js';
 
 const PURPOSE = 'instance-password';
-const PROVIDER = 'macos-keychain';
 const MAX_TAGS = 50;
 const MAX_TAG_LENGTH = 100;
 
@@ -408,7 +407,7 @@ export class InstanceService {
       .prepare(
         'INSERT INTO secret_references (id,instance_id,purpose,provider,external_reference,created_at,updated_at) VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?,?)',
       )
-      .run(id, instanceId, PURPOSE, PROVIDER, external, now, now);
+      .run(id, instanceId, PURPOSE, this.store.provider, external, now, now);
   }
   private async storeSecret(
     instanceId: string,
@@ -422,7 +421,7 @@ export class InstanceService {
       throw new InstanceServiceError('SECRET_STORE_FAILED', 'Could not store instance credential');
     }
     try {
-      const parsed = parseKeychainReference(external);
+      const parsed = parseSecretReference(external);
       if (parsed.instanceId !== instanceId || parsed.purpose !== PURPOSE || parsed.slot !== slot)
         throw new Error('secret store returned a reference with an invalid binding');
     } catch {
@@ -504,7 +503,7 @@ export class InstanceService {
           AND secret_cleanup_tasks.purpose=excluded.purpose
           AND secret_cleanup_tasks.provider=excluded.provider`,
       )
-      .run(reference, instanceId, PURPOSE, PROVIDER, now, now);
+      .run(reference, instanceId, PURPOSE, this.store.provider, now, now);
     if (queued.changes !== 1)
       throw new InstanceServiceError('DATABASE_FAILED', 'Cleanup task could not be persisted');
   }
@@ -529,13 +528,13 @@ export class InstanceService {
     );
   }
   private validateCleanupEntry(entry: CleanupEntry): void {
-    if (entry.purpose !== PURPOSE || entry.provider !== PROVIDER)
+    if (entry.purpose !== PURPOSE || entry.provider !== this.store.provider)
       throw new InstanceServiceError('DATABASE_FAILED', 'Cleanup task is invalid');
     this.validateCleanupReference(entry.instanceId, entry.reference);
   }
   private validateCleanupReference(instanceId: string, reference: string): void {
     try {
-      const parsed = parseKeychainReference(reference);
+      const parsed = parseSecretReference(reference);
       if (
         parsed.instanceId !== instanceId ||
         parsed.purpose !== PURPOSE ||

apps/api/src/application/legacy-import/activate-pending-secret.test.ts

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ function pendingDatabase(): Database.Database {
 }
 
 class FakeStore implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
   readonly sets: { key: SecretKey; value: string }[] = [];
   readonly deletes: string[] = [];
   setError?: Error;

apps/api/src/application/legacy-import/activate-pending-secret.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import { getManagedDatabaseIdentity } from '../../infrastructure/database/databa
 import type { SecretStore } from '../../infrastructure/secrets/secret-store.js';
 
 const PURPOSE = 'instance-password';
-const PROVIDER = 'macos-keychain';
 const metadataKey = (instanceId: string): string => `legacy-import.instance.${instanceId}`;
 const referenceId = (instanceId: string): string => `legacy-secret:${instanceId}:${PURPOSE}`;
 
@@ -163,7 +162,7 @@ async function activatePendingSecretExclusive({
         throw new ActivationError('DATABASE_FAILED', 'Instance changed during secret activation');
       db.prepare(
         'INSERT INTO secret_references (id,instance_id,purpose,provider,external_reference,created_at,updated_at) VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?,?)',
-      ).run(id, instanceId, PURPOSE, PROVIDER, externalReference, now, now);
+      ).run(id, instanceId, PURPOSE, store.provider, externalReference, now, now);
       const updated = db
         .prepare(
           "UPDATE instances SET auth_mode='password',config_revision=config_revision+1,updated_at=? WHERE id=? AND auth_mode='none' AND config_revision=?",

apps/api/src/application/notifications/central-notification-service.test.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
 } from './central-notification-service.js';
 
 class MemorySecrets implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
   readonly values = new Map<string, string>();
 
   async set(key: { instanceId: string; purpose: string; slot?: string }, value: string) {

apps/api/src/application/operations/delete-instance-operation.test.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 } from './delete-instance-operation.js';
 
 class Store implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
   async set() {
     return '';
   }

apps/api/src/control-plane.operations.test.ts

@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@ it('registers the read-only operations catalog without touching upstream', async
   let upstreamCalls = 0;
   const app = buildControlPlaneApp({
     db,
-    store: { set: async () => '', get: async () => undefined, delete: async () => false },
+    store: {
+      provider: 'macos-keychain',
+      set: async () => '',
+      get: async () => undefined,
+      delete: async () => false,
+    },
     upstream: {
       get: async () => {
         upstreamCalls += 1;

apps/api/src/control-plane.test.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ afterEach(async () => {
   for (const db of dbs.splice(0)) db.close();
 });
 class Store implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
   private readonly values = new Map<string, string>();
   async set(key: { instanceId: string; purpose: string; slot?: string }, value: string) {
     const account = Buffer.from(

apps/api/src/infrastructure/database/backup.test.ts

@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ describe('verified backup, restore, and rollback foundation', () => {
 
   // Activation renames a WAL file that a live connection still holds open;
   // POSIX permits that, Windows file locking does not.
-  it('verifies a separate candidate and digest-binds activation', { skip: process.platform === 'win32' && 'relies on POSIX rename-over-open-file semantics' }, async () => {
+  const itPosix = process.platform === 'win32' ? it.skip : it;
+  itPosix('verifies a separate candidate and digest-binds activation', async () => {
     const { livePath, backupPath, database } = await fixture();
     const snapshot = await backupDatabase(database, backupPath);
     database.exec('UPDATE app_settings SET value_json = \'"after"\'');
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ describe('verified backup, restore, and rollback foundation', () => {
     expect(await readFile(livePath)).toEqual(before);
   });
 
-  it('rejects in-place staged-byte mutation even when metadata is preserved', { skip: process.platform === 'win32' && 'uses python3 utime and POSIX rename-over-open-file semantics' }, async () => {
+  itPosix('rejects in-place staged-byte mutation even when metadata is preserved', async () => {
     const { livePath, backupPath, database } = await fixture();
     await backupDatabase(database, backupPath);
     database.close();

apps/api/src/infrastructure/secrets/file-secret-store.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto';
+import { chmod, mkdir, open, readFile, rename, rm, stat } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { dirname, isAbsolute } from 'node:path';
+import {
+  accountFor,
+  parseSecretAccount,
+  validateKey,
+  SecretReferenceError,
+} from './secret-reference.js';
+import type { SecretKey, SecretStore } from './secret-store.js';
+
+const PROVIDER = 'secret-file';
+const SERVICE = 'multi-simadmin';
+const MAX_SECRET_BYTES = 16_384;
+const MAX_STORE_BYTES = 4 * 1024 * 1024;
+
+export type FileSecretStoreErrorCode =
+  | 'INVALID_KEY'
+  | 'INVALID_SECRET'
+  | 'INVALID_REFERENCE'
+  | 'INVALID_STORE_PATH'
+  | 'SIZE_LIMIT'
+  | 'PAYLOAD_INVALID';
+
+export class FileSecretStoreError extends Error {
+  constructor(
+    readonly code: FileSecretStoreErrorCode,
+    message: string,
+  ) {
+    super(message);
+    this.name = 'FileSecretStoreError';
+  }
+}
+
+function invalid(code: FileSecretStoreErrorCode, message: string): never {
+  throw new FileSecretStoreError(code, message);
+}
+
+/**
+ * POSIX filesystem-backed secret store for hosts without a system keyring
+ * (e.g. Linux servers). Secrets live in a single 0600 JSON map under the data
+ * root, replaced atomically via temp file + rename, with writes serialized
+ * in-process.
+ */
+export class FileSecretStore implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = PROVIDER;
+
+  private queue: Promise<unknown> = Promise.resolve();
+
+  constructor(readonly filePath: string) {
+    if (typeof filePath !== 'string' || filePath.length === 0 || !isAbsolute(filePath))
+      invalid('INVALID_STORE_PATH', 'Secret file path must be absolute');
+  }
+
+  async set(key: SecretKey, value: string): Promise<string> {
+    if (
+      typeof value !== 'string' ||
+      value.length === 0 ||
+      /[\0\r\n]/.test(value) ||
+      Buffer.byteLength(value, 'utf8') > MAX_SECRET_BYTES
+    ) {
+      invalid('INVALID_SECRET', 'Secret is not valid for file storage');
+    }
+    validateKey(key);
+    const account = accountFor(key);
+    await this.enqueue(() => this.withStore((store) => ({ ...store, [account]: value })));
+    return `secret-file://${SERVICE}/${account}`;
+  }
+
+  async get(reference: string): Promise<string | undefined> {
+    const { account } = this.parse(reference);
+    const store = await this.readStore();
+    return store[account];
+  }
+
+  async delete(reference: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    const { account } = this.parse(reference);
+    let removed = false;
+    await this.enqueue(() =>
+      this.withStore((store) => {
+        if (!(account in store)) return store;
+        removed = true;
+        const next = { ...store };
+        delete next[account];
+        return next;
+      }),
+    );
+    return removed;
+  }
+
+  private parse(reference: string): { account: string } {
+    if (typeof reference !== 'string' || reference.length > 512)
+      invalid('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Secret file reference is invalid');
+    const match = /^secret-file:\/\/multi-simadmin\/([A-Za-z0-9_-]+)$/.exec(reference);
+    if (!match?.[1]) invalid('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Secret file reference is invalid');
+    try {
+      parseSecretAccount(match[1], PROVIDER);
+    } catch (error) {
+      if (error instanceof SecretReferenceError)
+        invalid('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Secret file reference is invalid');
+      throw error;
+    }
+    return { account: match[1] };
+  }
+
+  private enqueue<T>(task: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
+    const run = this.queue.then(task, task);
+    this.queue = run.catch(() => {});
+    return run;
+  }
+
+  private async readStore(): Promise<Record<string, string>> {
+    let raw: string;
+    try {
+      raw = await readFile(this.filePath, 'utf8');
+    } catch (error) {
+      if ((error as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code === 'ENOENT') return {};
+      throw error;
+    }
+    if (Buffer.byteLength(raw, 'utf8') > MAX_STORE_BYTES)
+      invalid('SIZE_LIMIT', 'Secret file exceeds the size limit');
+    let parsed: unknown;
+    try {
+      parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
+    } catch {
+      invalid('PAYLOAD_INVALID', 'Secret file payload is invalid');
+    }
+    if (!isPlainStringMap(parsed)) invalid('PAYLOAD_INVALID', 'Secret file payload is invalid');
+    return parsed;
+  }
+
+  /** Reads the current map, applies `mutate`, and durably replaces the file. */
+  private async withStore(
+    mutate: (store: Record<string, string>) => Record<string, string>,
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    const current = await this.readStore();
+    const next = mutate(current);
+    const directory = dirname(this.filePath);
+    await mkdir(directory, { recursive: true, mode: 0o700 });
+    if (process.platform !== 'win32') {
+      const info = await stat(directory);
+      if (info.isDirectory() && (info.mode & 0o077) !== 0) await chmod(directory, 0o700);
+    }
+    const temporary = `${this.filePath}.${randomUUID()}.tmp`;
+    const handle = await open(temporary, 'wx', 0o600);
+    try {
+      await handle.writeFile(`${JSON.stringify(next, null, 2)}\n`, 'utf8');
+      // Windows FlushFileBuffers is skipped along with the directory fsync below;
+      // durability anchoring is POSIX-only by design.
+      if (process.platform !== 'win32') await handle.sync();
+    } finally {
+      await handle.close();
+    }
+    try {
+      await rename(temporary, this.filePath);
+      if (process.platform !== 'win32') {
+        const directoryHandle = await open(directory, 'r');
+        try {
+          await directoryHandle.sync();
+        } finally {
+          await directoryHandle.close();
+        }
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      await rm(temporary, { force: true });
+      throw error;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function isPlainStringMap(value: unknown): value is Record<string, string> {
+  if (typeof value !== 'object' || value === null || Array.isArray(value)) return false;
+  return Object.values(value).every((entry) => typeof entry === 'string');
+}

apps/api/src/infrastructure/secrets/keychain-secret-store.ts

@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
+import {
+  accountFor,
+  parseSecretAccount,
+  SecretReferenceError,
+} from './secret-reference.js';
 import type { SecretKey, SecretStore } from './secret-store.js';
 
 const SECURITY_PATH = '/usr/bin/security';
 const SERVICE = 'multi-simadmin';
 const TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000;
 const MAX_STDOUT_BYTES = 65_536;
-const safeComponent = /^[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+$/;
 
 export type SecretStoreErrorCode =
   | 'INVALID_KEY'
@@ -105,43 +109,6 @@ function invalid(code: 'INVALID_KEY' | 'INVALID_REFERENCE', message: string): ne
   throw new SecretStoreError(code, message);
 }
 
-function validateKey(key: SecretKey): void {
-  if (
-    typeof key.instanceId !== 'string' ||
-    key.instanceId.length === 0 ||
-    key.instanceId.length > 128 ||
-    !safeComponent.test(key.instanceId)
-  ) {
-    invalid('INVALID_KEY', 'Secret key instance id is invalid');
-  }
-  if (
-    typeof key.purpose !== 'string' ||
-    key.purpose.length === 0 ||
-    key.purpose.length > 64 ||
-    !safeComponent.test(key.purpose)
-  ) {
-    invalid('INVALID_KEY', 'Secret key purpose is invalid');
-  }
-  if (
-    key.slot !== undefined &&
-    (typeof key.slot !== 'string' ||
-      key.slot.length === 0 ||
-      key.slot.length > 64 ||
-      !safeComponent.test(key.slot))
-  ) {
-    invalid('INVALID_KEY', 'Secret key slot is invalid');
-  }
-}
-
-function accountFor(key: SecretKey): string {
-  validateKey(key);
-  const components =
-    key.slot === undefined
-      ? [key.instanceId, key.purpose]
-      : [key.instanceId, key.purpose, key.slot];
-  return Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(components), 'utf8').toString('base64url');
-}
-
 function referenceFor(account: string): string {
   return `keychain://${SERVICE}/${account}`;
 }
@@ -152,28 +119,26 @@ export function parseKeychainReference(reference: string): ParsedKeychainReferen
   const match = /^keychain:\/\/multi-simadmin\/([A-Za-z0-9_-]+)$/.exec(reference);
   if (!match?.[1]) invalid('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Keychain reference is invalid');
   const account = match[1];
-  let decoded: unknown;
+  let parsed;
   try {
-    decoded = JSON.parse(Buffer.from(account, 'base64url').toString('utf8'));
+    parsed = parseSecretAccount(account, 'macos-keychain');
-  } catch {
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error instanceof SecretReferenceError)
       invalid('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Keychain reference is invalid');
+    throw error;
   }
-  if (!Array.isArray(decoded) || (decoded.length !== 2 && decoded.length !== 3))
-    invalid('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Keychain reference is invalid');
-  const [instanceId, purpose, slot] = decoded;
-  const key = { instanceId, purpose, ...(slot === undefined ? {} : { slot }) } as SecretKey;
-  validateKey(key);
-  if (accountFor(key) !== account) invalid('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Keychain reference is invalid');
   return {
     service: SERVICE,
     account,
-    instanceId: key.instanceId,
+    instanceId: parsed.instanceId,
-    purpose: key.purpose,
+    purpose: parsed.purpose,
-    ...(key.slot === undefined ? {} : { slot: key.slot }),
+    ...(parsed.slot === undefined ? {} : { slot: parsed.slot }),
   };
 }
 
 export class MacOSKeychainSecretStore implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
+
   constructor(private readonly runner: CommandRunner = new SpawnCommandRunner()) {}
 
   async set(key: SecretKey, value: string): Promise<string> {

apps/api/src/infrastructure/secrets/secret-backend.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { mkdtemp, readFile, readdir, rm, stat, writeFile, chmod } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+import { FileSecretStore, FileSecretStoreError } from './file-secret-store.js';
+import { SecretReferenceError } from './secret-reference.js';
+import {
+  createDefaultSecretStore,
+  defaultSecretFileMetadataCheck,
+  resolveSecretBackend,
+  SecretBackendError,
+} from './secret-backend.js';
+import { MacOSKeychainSecretStore } from './keychain-secret-store.js';
+
+describe('FileSecretStore', () => {
+  it('round-trips set/get/delete with stable secret-file references', async () => {
+    const directory = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'msa-file-secrets-'));
+    try {
+      const store = new FileSecretStore(join(directory, 'secrets.json'));
+      const reference = await store.set(
+        { instanceId: 'device-1', purpose: 'instance-password', slot: 'slot-1' },
+        'pa$$word',
+      );
+      expect(reference).toMatch(/^secret-file:\/\/multi-simadmin\/[A-Za-z0-9_-]+$/);
+      expect(await store.get(reference)).toBe('pa$$word');
+      expect(await store.delete(reference)).toBe(true);
+      expect(await store.get(reference)).toBeUndefined();
+      expect(await store.delete(reference)).toBe(false);
+    } finally {
+      await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('rejects empty, framing, oversize, and malformed keys/values', async () => {
+    const directory = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'msa-file-secrets-'));
+    try {
+      const store = new FileSecretStore(join(directory, 'secrets.json'));
+      await expect(store.set({ instanceId: 'x', purpose: 'p' }, '')).rejects.toThrow(
+        FileSecretStoreError,
+      );
+      await expect(store.set({ instanceId: 'x', purpose: 'p' }, 'a\nb')).rejects.toThrow(
+        FileSecretStoreError,
+      );
+      await expect(
+        store.set({ instanceId: 'x', purpose: 'p' }, 'a'.repeat(16_385)),
+      ).rejects.toThrow(FileSecretStoreError);
+      await expect(store.set({ instanceId: '', purpose: 'p' }, 'v')).rejects.toThrow(
+        SecretReferenceError,
+      );
+      await expect(store.get('https://evil.example/one')).rejects.toThrow(FileSecretStoreError);
+      await expect(store.get('secret-file://other-service/abc')).rejects.toThrow(
+        FileSecretStoreError,
+      );
+    } finally {
+      await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('keeps the map private (0600) and leaves no temporary files behind', async () => {
+    const directory = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'msa-file-secrets-'));
+    try {
+      const path = join(directory, 'nested', 'secrets.json');
+      const store = new FileSecretStore(path);
+      const reference = await store.set({ instanceId: 'x', purpose: 'p', slot: 's' }, 'secret');
+      if (process.platform !== 'win32')
+        expect((await stat(path)).mode & 0o777).toBe(0o600);
+      expect(await readdir(join(directory, 'nested'))).toEqual(['secrets.json']);
+      const raw = await readFile(path, 'utf8');
+      expect(JSON.parse(raw)).toEqual({
+        [reference.slice('secret-file://multi-simadmin/'.length)]: 'secret',
+      });
+      expect(await store.get(reference)).toBe('secret');
+    } finally {
+      await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('serializes concurrent writes so every mutation lands', async () => {
+    const directory = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'msa-file-secrets-'));
+    try {
+      const store = new FileSecretStore(join(directory, 'secrets.json'));
+      const references = await Promise.all(
+        Array.from({ length: 25 }, (_, index) =>
+          store.set({ instanceId: 'x', purpose: `p${index}`, slot: 's' }, `v${index}`),
+        ),
+      );
+      for (const [index, reference] of references.entries())
+        expect(await store.get(reference)).toBe(`v${index}`);
+    } finally {
+      await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('refuses a corrupted or non-map payload instead of failing open', async () => {
+    const directory = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'msa-file-secrets-'));
+    try {
+      const path = join(directory, 'secrets.json');
+      await writeFile(path, 'not json', 'utf8');
+      const store = new FileSecretStore(path);
+      await expect(store.get('secret-file://multi-simadmin/abc')).rejects.toThrow(
+        FileSecretStoreError,
+      );
+      await writeFile(path, '{"account": 42}', 'utf8');
+      await expect(store.get('secret-file://multi-simadmin/abc')).rejects.toThrow(
+        FileSecretStoreError,
+      );
+      expect(() => new FileSecretStore('relative/secrets.json')).toThrow(FileSecretStoreError);
+    } finally {
+      await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+});
+
+describe('secret backend selection', () => {
+  it('defaults to the keychain on darwin and the file store elsewhere', () => {
+    expect(resolveSecretBackend({}, 'darwin')).toBe('macos-keychain');
+    expect(resolveSecretBackend({}, 'linux')).toBe('secret-file');
+    expect(resolveSecretBackend({ MULTI_SIMADMIN_SECRET_BACKEND: 'secret-file' }, 'darwin')).toBe(
+      'secret-file',
+    );
+    expect(() =>
+      resolveSecretBackend({ MULTI_SIMADMIN_SECRET_BACKEND: 'vault' }, 'darwin'),
+    ).toThrow(SecretBackendError);
+  });
+
+  it('builds the matching store and refuses keychain off macOS', () => {
+    const directory = join(tmpdir(), 'msa-backend-selection');
+    expect(
+      createDefaultSecretStore({ env: {}, secretFilePath: join(directory, 's.json'), platform: 'linux' }),
+    ).toBeInstanceOf(FileSecretStore);
+    expect(
+      createDefaultSecretStore({
+        env: { MULTI_SIMADMIN_SECRET_BACKEND: 'macos-keychain' },
+        secretFilePath: join(directory, 's.json'),
+        platform: 'darwin',
+      }),
+    ).toBeInstanceOf(MacOSKeychainSecretStore);
+    expect(() =>
+      createDefaultSecretStore({
+        env: { MULTI_SIMADMIN_SECRET_BACKEND: 'macos-keychain' },
+        secretFilePath: join(directory, 's.json'),
+        platform: 'linux',
+      }),
+    ).toThrow(SecretBackendError);
+  });
+
+  it('file metadata probe accepts a missing or private file and rejects a public one', async () => {
+    const directory = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'msa-file-secrets-meta-'));
+    try {
+      const path = join(directory, 'secrets.json');
+      expect(await defaultSecretFileMetadataCheck(path)).toBe(true);
+      await writeFile(path, '{}\n', { mode: 0o600 });
+      expect(await defaultSecretFileMetadataCheck(path)).toBe(true);
+      if (process.platform !== 'win32') {
+        await chmod(path, 0o644);
+        expect(await defaultSecretFileMetadataCheck(path)).toBe(false);
+      }
+    } finally {
+      await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+});

apps/api/src/infrastructure/secrets/secret-backend.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import { stat } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { FileSecretStore } from './file-secret-store.js';
+import { MacOSKeychainSecretStore } from './keychain-secret-store.js';
+import type { SecretStore } from './secret-store.js';
+
+export type SecretBackend = 'macos-keychain' | 'secret-file';
+
+const BACKENDS: readonly SecretBackend[] = ['macos-keychain', 'secret-file'];
+
+export class SecretBackendError extends Error {
+  constructor(message: string) {
+    super(message);
+    this.name = 'SecretBackendError';
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Resolves the secret backend: explicit MULTI_SIMADMIN_SECRET_BACKEND override,
+ * otherwise the macOS Keychain on darwin and the 0600 file store elsewhere.
+ */
+export function resolveSecretBackend(
+  env: Readonly<Record<string, string | undefined>> = process.env,
+  platform: NodeJS.Platform = process.platform,
+): SecretBackend {
+  const raw = env.MULTI_SIMADMIN_SECRET_BACKEND;
+  if (raw !== undefined) {
+    if (!BACKENDS.includes(raw as SecretBackend))
+      throw new SecretBackendError(
+        'MULTI_SIMADMIN_SECRET_BACKEND must be one of: macos-keychain, secret-file',
+      );
+    return raw as SecretBackend;
+  }
+  return platform === 'darwin' ? 'macos-keychain' : 'secret-file';
+}
+
+export interface CreateDefaultSecretStoreOptions {
+  readonly env?: Readonly<Record<string, string | undefined>>;
+  /** Absolute path of the file store map; required for the secret-file backend. */
+  readonly secretFilePath: string;
+  readonly platform?: NodeJS.Platform;
+}
+
+export function createDefaultSecretStore(options: CreateDefaultSecretStoreOptions): SecretStore {
+  const platform = options.platform ?? process.platform;
+  const backend = resolveSecretBackend(options.env, platform);
+  if (backend === 'secret-file') return new FileSecretStore(options.secretFilePath);
+  if (platform !== 'darwin')
+    throw new SecretBackendError(
+      'The macos-keychain backend requires /usr/bin/security (macOS only)',
+    );
+  return new MacOSKeychainSecretStore();
+}
+
+interface SecretFileMetadata {
+  isFile(): boolean;
+  readonly mode: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Readiness metadata probe for the file backend. Availability only — this must
+ * never read secret material.
+ */
+export async function defaultSecretFileMetadataCheck(
+  filePath: string,
+  platform: NodeJS.Platform = process.platform,
+  statFn: (path: string) => Promise<SecretFileMetadata> = stat,
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  try {
+    const info = await statFn(filePath);
+    if (!info.isFile()) return false;
+    // Windows keeps no POSIX mode bits; NTFS ACLs govern access there.
+    if (platform !== 'win32' && (info.mode & 0o777) !== 0o600) return false;
+    return true;
+  } catch (error) {
+    // A missing map is healthy: secrets are added lazily by instance setup.
+    return (error as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code === 'ENOENT';
+  }
+}

apps/api/src/infrastructure/secrets/secret-reference.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+import type { SecretKey } from './secret-store.js';
+
+export const SECRET_SERVICE = 'multi-simadmin';
+
+export type SecretProvider = 'macos-keychain' | 'secret-file';
+
+export const SECRET_PROVIDERS: readonly SecretProvider[] = ['macos-keychain', 'secret-file'];
+
+const safeComponent = /^[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+$/;
+
+export type SecretReferenceErrorCode = 'INVALID_KEY' | 'INVALID_REFERENCE';
+
+export function parseSecretAccount(
+  account: string,
+  provider: SecretProvider,
+): ParsedSecretReference {
+  let decoded: unknown;
+  try {
+    decoded = JSON.parse(Buffer.from(account, 'base64url').toString('utf8'));
+  } catch {
+    throw new SecretReferenceError('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Secret reference is invalid');
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(decoded) || (decoded.length !== 2 && decoded.length !== 3))
+    throw new SecretReferenceError('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Secret reference is invalid');
+  const [instanceId, purpose, slot] = decoded;
+  const key = { instanceId, purpose, ...(slot === undefined ? {} : { slot }) } as SecretKey;
+  validateKey(key);
+  if (accountFor(key) !== account)
+    throw new SecretReferenceError('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Secret reference is invalid');
+  return {
+    provider,
+    instanceId: key.instanceId,
+    purpose: key.purpose,
+    ...(key.slot === undefined ? {} : { slot: key.slot }),
+  };
+}
+
+export function validateKey(key: SecretKey): void {
+  if (
+    typeof key.instanceId !== 'string' ||
+    key.instanceId.length === 0 ||
+    key.instanceId.length > 128 ||
+    !safeComponent.test(key.instanceId)
+  ) {
+    throw new SecretReferenceError('INVALID_KEY', 'Secret key instance id is invalid');
+  }
+  if (
+    typeof key.purpose !== 'string' ||
+    key.purpose.length === 0 ||
+    key.purpose.length > 64 ||
+    !safeComponent.test(key.purpose)
+  ) {
+    throw new SecretReferenceError('INVALID_KEY', 'Secret key purpose is invalid');
+  }
+  if (
+    key.slot !== undefined &&
+    (typeof key.slot !== 'string' ||
+      key.slot.length === 0 ||
+      key.slot.length > 64 ||
+      !safeComponent.test(key.slot))
+  ) {
+    throw new SecretReferenceError('INVALID_KEY', 'Secret key slot is invalid');
+  }
+}
+
+export function accountFor(key: SecretKey): string {
+  validateKey(key);
+  const components =
+    key.slot === undefined
+      ? [key.instanceId, key.purpose]
+      : [key.instanceId, key.purpose, key.slot];
+  return Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(components), 'utf8').toString('base64url');
+}
+
+export interface ParsedSecretReference {
+  readonly provider: SecretProvider;
+  readonly instanceId: string;
+  readonly purpose: string;
+  readonly slot?: string;
+}
+
+export class SecretReferenceError extends Error {
+  constructor(
+    readonly code: SecretReferenceErrorCode,
+    message: string,
+  ) {
+    super(message);
+    this.name = 'SecretReferenceError';
+  }
+}
+
+/** Accepts `keychain://multi-simadmin/<account>` and `secret-file://multi-simadmin/<account>`. */
+export function parseSecretReference(reference: string): ParsedSecretReference {
+  if (typeof reference !== 'string' || reference.length > 512)
+    throw new SecretReferenceError('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Secret reference is invalid');
+  const match = /^([a-z-]+):\/\/multi-simadmin\/([A-Za-z0-9_-]+)$/.exec(reference);
+  if (!match?.[1] || !match[2])
+    throw new SecretReferenceError('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Secret reference is invalid');
+  const scheme = match[1];
+  const provider = scheme === 'keychain' ? 'macos-keychain' : scheme === 'secret-file' ? 'secret-file' : undefined;
+  if (!provider)
+    throw new SecretReferenceError('INVALID_REFERENCE', 'Secret reference is invalid');
+  return parseSecretAccount(match[2], provider);
+}

apps/api/src/infrastructure/secrets/secret-store.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ export interface SecretKey {
 }
 
 export interface SecretStore {
+  /** Stable identifier persisted in secret_references.provider ('macos-keychain' | 'secret-file'). */
+  readonly provider: string;
   set(key: SecretKey, value: string): Promise<string>;
   get(reference: string): Promise<string | undefined>;
   delete(reference: string): Promise<boolean>;

apps/api/src/interface/http/automation-routes.test.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import type { SecretKey, SecretStore } from '../../infrastructure/secrets/secret
 import { registerAutomationRoutes } from './automation-routes.js';
 
 class MemorySecrets implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
   readonly values = new Map<string, string>();
   async set(key: SecretKey, value: string): Promise<string> {
     const reference = `memory://${key.instanceId}/${key.purpose}`;

apps/api/src/interface/http/central-notification-routes.test.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import type { SecretStore } from '../../infrastructure/secrets/secret-store.js';
 import { registerCentralNotificationRoutes } from './central-notification-routes.js';
 
 class MemorySecrets implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
   readonly values = new Map<string, string>();
 
   async set(key: { instanceId: string; purpose: string }, value: string) {

apps/api/src/interface/http/instance-routes.test.ts

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import type { SecretStore } from '../../infrastructure/secrets/secret-store.js';
 import { registerInstanceRoutes } from './instance-routes.js';
 
 class FakeStore implements SecretStore {
+  readonly provider = 'macos-keychain';
   async set(key: { instanceId: string; purpose: string; slot?: string }) {
     return `keychain://multi-simadmin/${Buffer.from(
       JSON.stringify([key.instanceId, key.purpose, key.slot]),

apps/api/src/production-control-plane.test.ts

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ async function fixtureOptions(): Promise<ProductionControlPlaneOptions> {
     databasePath: join(directory, 'db.sqlite'),
     gatewayToken,
     store: {
+      provider: 'macos-keychain',
       set: async () => '',
       get: async () => undefined,
       delete: async () => false,

apps/api/src/production-control-plane.ts

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {
 } from './application/system/console-update-service.js';
 import { openDatabase } from './infrastructure/database/database.js';
 import { migrateDatabase } from './infrastructure/database/migrations.js';
-import { MacOSKeychainSecretStore } from './infrastructure/secrets/keychain-secret-store.js';
+import { createDefaultSecretStore, resolveSecretBackend, defaultSecretFileMetadataCheck } from './infrastructure/secrets/secret-backend.js';
 import type { SecretStore } from './infrastructure/secrets/secret-store.js';
 import { createProductionUpstream } from './infrastructure/transport/production-upstream.js';
 import { createProductionReadiness, defaultKeychainMetadataCheck } from './production-readiness.js';
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export interface ProductionControlPlaneOptions {
   readonly upstream?: SafeControlPlaneUpstream;
   readonly gatewayToken?: string;
   readonly keychainMetadataCheck?: () => boolean | Promise<boolean>;
+  readonly secretFileMetadataCheck?: () => boolean | Promise<boolean>;
   readonly assetsCheck?: () => boolean | Promise<boolean>;
   readonly runtimeVersion?: string;
   readonly recoveryMarkersCheck?: () => number | Promise<number>;
@@ -44,8 +45,10 @@ export function buildProductionControlPlane(
   const db = openDatabase(options.databasePath);
   try {
     migrateDatabase(db);
-    const store = options.store ?? new MacOSKeychainSecretStore();
     const env = options.env ?? process.env;
+    const secretFilePath = join(dirname(options.databasePath), 'secrets.json');
+    const store = options.store ?? createDefaultSecretStore({ env, secretFilePath });
+    const secretBackend = resolveSecretBackend(env);
     const updateRoot = env.MULTI_SIMADMIN_UPDATE_ROOT ?? process.cwd();
     const updateRunner = createCommandRunner({ cwd: updateRoot, timeoutMs: 120_000 });
     const app = buildControlPlaneApp({
@@ -71,7 +74,16 @@ export function buildProductionControlPlane(
         readiness: createProductionReadiness({
           db,
           gatewayToken: options.gatewayToken ?? '',
-          keychainMetadataCheck: options.keychainMetadataCheck ?? defaultKeychainMetadataCheck,
+          ...(secretBackend === 'macos-keychain'
+            ? {
+                keychainMetadataCheck:
+                  options.keychainMetadataCheck ?? defaultKeychainMetadataCheck,
+              }
+            : {
+                secretFileMetadataCheck:
+                  options.secretFileMetadataCheck ??
+                  (async () => defaultSecretFileMetadataCheck(secretFilePath)),
+              }),
           ...(options.assetsCheck ? { assetsCheck: options.assetsCheck } : {}),
           ...(options.recoveryMarkersCheck
             ? { recoveryMarkersCheck: options.recoveryMarkersCheck }

apps/api/src/production-readiness.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ export interface ProductionReadinessOptions {
   readonly db: Database.Database;
   readonly gatewayToken: string;
   /** Metadata/availability probe only. This callback must never retrieve a secret. */
-  readonly keychainMetadataCheck: () => boolean | Promise<boolean>;
+  readonly keychainMetadataCheck?: () => boolean | Promise<boolean>;
+  /** Metadata/availability probe for the file secret backend (never reads secrets). */
+  readonly secretFileMetadataCheck?: () => boolean | Promise<boolean>;
   /** Release gates are deliberately required: omitting one fails readiness closed. */
   readonly assetsCheck?: () => boolean | Promise<boolean>;
   readonly recoveryMarkersCheck?: () => number | Promise<number>;
@@ -56,11 +58,20 @@ export function createProductionReadiness(
     checks.gatewayAuth = Buffer.byteLength(options.gatewayToken) >= 32 ? 'ready' : 'unconfigured';
     if (checks.gatewayAuth !== 'ready') ready = false;
     try {
+      if (options.keychainMetadataCheck !== undefined) {
         checks.keychain = (await options.keychainMetadataCheck()) ? 'ready' : 'unavailable';
-    } catch {
-      checks.keychain = 'unavailable';
-    }
         if (checks.keychain !== 'ready') ready = false;
+      } else if (options.secretFileMetadataCheck !== undefined) {
+        checks.secretFile = (await options.secretFileMetadataCheck()) ? 'ready' : 'unavailable';
+        if (checks.secretFile !== 'ready') ready = false;
+      } else {
+        checks.secrets = 'unconfigured';
+        ready = false;
+      }
+    } catch {
+      checks.secrets = 'unavailable';
+      ready = false;
+    }
 
     try {
       const row = options.db