diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 87d81c2..ac69492 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -33,6 +33,16 @@ FOUNDRY_WORLD=
 # Seconds before an idle headless session is reaped (relay env).
 HEADLESS_SESSION_TIMEOUT=3600
 
+# === Dashboard auth (E7) ===
+# The dashboard binds 127.0.0.1 by default (localhost-only, no auth needed).
+# To expose it on your tailnet, pass --host 0.0.0.0 AND set a token below, then
+# flip ENABLE_AUTH_MIDDLEWARE=on. With the flag on, a 0.0.0.0 bind WITHOUT a
+# token is refused at boot (safe-by-default); the flag on without a token is
+# also refused (self-lockout guard — you'd otherwise brick the dashboard).
+# (Optional; off-by-default — the dashboard is localhost-only without these.)
+DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN=
+ENABLE_AUTH_MIDDLEWARE=false
+
 # IMPORTANT — networking: Foundry's rest-api module connects OUT to the relay over
 # WebSocket. So the relay must be REACHABLE FROM your Foundry host. If Foundry runs
 # elsewhere, expose RELAY_PORT (port-forward / tailnet / public domain) and point the
diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index 7dbb39b..3527529 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ export async function cmdUi(opts: CliOptions): Promise<void> {
     outDir: out,
     mode: opts.mode,
     port: opts.port ?? 7788,
-    host: opts.host ?? "0.0.0.0",
+    host: opts.host ?? "127.0.0.1", // E7.2: safe-by-default (localhost). --host 0.0.0.0 exposes on the tailnet (needs DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN when ENABLE_AUTH_MIDDLEWARE=on).
     relayCfg: relayCfg.apiKey ? relayCfg : undefined,
     foundryCfg: foundryCfg.dataDir ? foundryCfg : undefined,
   };
diff --git a/src/dashboard.html b/src/dashboard.html
index aba0653..8319850 100644
--- a/src/dashboard.html
+++ b/src/dashboard.html
@@ -76,6 +76,17 @@
 </style>
 </head>
 <body>
+<div id="loginCard" class="modal-bg" style="display:none;position:fixed;inset:0;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.4);z-index:100">
+  <div class="modal entry" style="max-width:380px;margin:8vh auto 0;padding:18px">
+    <h2 style="margin-top:0">Dashboard auth required</h2>
+    <p class="meta">This dashboard is bound to <code id="loginBound">0.0.0.0</code> and requires a token. Enter the <code>DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN</code> you set in your <code>.env</code>.</p>
+    <input id="loginToken" type="password" placeholder="DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN" style="width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin:8px 0" onkeydown="if(event.key==='Enter')doLogin()">
+    <div id="loginErr" class="meta" style="color:var(--bad);min-height:1em"></div>
+    <div style="display:flex;gap:8px;justify-content:flex-end">
+      <button class="primary" onclick="doLogin()">Log in</button>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
 <header>
   <h1>Foundry ⇄ Obsidian merge</h1>
   <div class="counts" id="counts">loading…</div>
@@ -126,9 +137,43 @@
   <section class="detail" id="detail">Select a row to inspect.</section>
 </main>
 <script>
-let INDEX = null, STATUS = null, SEL = null, REC_FILTER = null, AUTO = null, autoPoll = null, migrationDismissed = false;
+let INDEX = null, STATUS = null, SEL = null, REC_FILTER = null, AUTO = null, autoPoll = null, migrationDismissed = false, AUTH_REQUIRED = false;
 const dryEl = () => document.getElementById('dryRun');
 
+// E7.2: shared request wrapper. Attaches the stored auth token (set on login) as
+// a Bearer header; on a 401 (token expired / wrong / public bind), shows the
+// login card so the user re-authenticates instead of silently failing.
+function authToken() { return localStorage.getItem('ofs_token') || ''; }
+async function apiFetch(path, init = {}) {
+  const tok = authToken();
+  if (tok) init = { ...init, headers: { ...(init.headers || {}), authorization: `Bearer ${tok}` } };
+  const r = await fetch(path, init);
+  if (r.status === 401) { showLogin(); throw new Error('unauthorized'); }
+  return r;
+}
+function showLogin() {
+  const bound = document.getElementById('loginBound');
+  if (bound && STATUS && STATUS.bound) bound.textContent = STATUS.bound;
+  document.getElementById('loginCard').style.display = '';
+  document.getElementById('loginToken').focus();
+}
+function hideLogin() { document.getElementById('loginCard').style.display = 'none'; }
+async function doLogin() {
+  const tok = document.getElementById('loginToken').value.trim();
+  if (!tok) { document.getElementById('loginErr').textContent = 'enter the token'; return; }
+  const r = await fetch('/api/auth/login', { method: 'POST', headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' }, body: JSON.stringify({ token: tok }) }).then(r => r.json()).catch(() => null);
+  if (r && r.ok) { localStorage.setItem('ofs_token', tok); hideLogin(); document.getElementById('loginErr').textContent = ''; init(); }
+  else { document.getElementById('loginErr').textContent = (r && r.error) ? r.error : 'invalid credentials'; }
+}
+async function doLogout() { localStorage.removeItem('ofs_token'); await fetch('/api/auth/logout', { method: 'POST' }).catch(() => {}); showLogin(); }
+async function checkAuth() {
+  STATUS = await apiFetch('/api/status').then(r => r.json()).catch(() => null);
+  const a = await fetch('/api/auth/status').then(r => r.json()).catch(() => null);
+  if (STATUS && a) STATUS.bound = a.bound; // merge the bind address for showLogin
+  if (a && a.authRequired && !authToken()) { AUTH_REQUIRED = true; showLogin(); return false; }
+  return true;
+}
+
 // Recommendation -> display label, badge class, bulk op, and one-line guidance.
 // `tag` is the short status noun shown on each row (a state, not an action — so it
 // doesn't read like a button); `label` is the fuller heading used in the rec panel.
@@ -145,13 +190,15 @@ const REC = {
 const REC_ORDER = ['import','seed','sync-cc','repull','conflict','in-sync','review'];
 
 async function init() {
-  STATUS = await fetch('/api/status').then(r => r.json());
+  // E7.2: gate on auth — if the dashboard requires a token and none is stored,
+  // show the login card and stop (don't load the dashboard behind it).
+  if (!(await checkAuth())) return;
   const tag = document.getElementById('modeTag');
   tag.textContent = STATUS.mode + (STATUS.mode === 'apply' ? '' : ' (safe)');
   if (STATUS.mode === 'apply') tag.classList.add('apply');
   // E1b.5: dev-mode banner — auto-sync is disabled in dev mode (apply-mode floor).
   document.getElementById('devBanner').style.display = STATUS.mode === 'dev' ? '' : 'none';
-  INDEX = await fetch('/api/index').then(r => r.json());
+  INDEX = await apiFetch('/api/index').then(r => r.json());
   const c = INDEX.counts;
   document.getElementById('counts').innerHTML =
     `matched <b>${c.matched}</b> · cc-only <b>${c.ccOnly}</b> · refined-only <b>${c.refinedOnly}</b> · unlinked <b>${c.unlinked}</b>`;
@@ -260,7 +307,7 @@ async function select(name){
   SEL = name; render();
   const d = document.getElementById('detail');
   d.innerHTML = `loading ${esc(name)}…`;
-  const f = await fetch('/api/file?name=' + encodeURIComponent(name)).then(r => r.json());
+  const f = await apiFetch('/api/file?name=' + encodeURIComponent(name)).then(r => r.json());
   const r = f.row;
   const m = REC[r.recommendation] || REC['review'];
   const parts = [];
@@ -298,12 +345,12 @@ async function act(op, names){
   const body = { op, dryRun };
   if (names) body.names = names;
   toast(`${op} ${dryRun?'(dry-run)':'('+STATUS.mode+')'}…`);
-  const r = await fetch('/api/action', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify(body)}).then(r=>r.json());
+  const r = await apiFetch('/api/action', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify(body)}).then(r=>r.json());
   if (r.error){ toast('error: ' + r.error); return; }
   const wrote = (r.written||[]).length, prev = (r.preview||[]).length, skip = (r.skipped||[]).length;
   toast(r.message || `${op}: ${dryRun?prev:wrote} ${dryRun?'would write':'wrote'}${skip?', '+skip+' skipped':''}`);
   // Refresh index so recommendation counts update after an action.
-  INDEX = await fetch('/api/index').then(r => r.json());
+  INDEX = await apiFetch('/api/index').then(r => r.json());
   renderRecPanel(); render();
   if (SEL) select(SEL);
 }
@@ -313,7 +360,7 @@ async function act(op, names){
 async function pushRow(name){
   const dryRun = dryEl().checked;
   toast(`push ${name} ${dryRun?'(dry-run)':'(apply)'}…`);
-  const r = await fetch('/api/push', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({name, dryRun})}).then(r=>r.json());
+  const r = await apiFetch('/api/push', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({name, dryRun})}).then(r=>r.json());
   if (r.error){ toast('error: ' + r.error); return; }
   if (r.dryRun){
     toast(`[dry-run] push ${name}: diff ready (${Object.keys(r.diff).length} keys)`);
@@ -325,14 +372,14 @@ async function pushRow(name){
 // Rebuild the cached name↔uuid map via relay /search (zero Foundry downtime).
 async function refreshLive(){
   toast('refresh live index…');
-  const r = await fetch('/api/refresh', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: '{}'}).then(r=>r.json());
+  const r = await apiFetch('/api/refresh', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: '{}'}).then(r=>r.json());
   if (r.error){ toast('error: ' + r.error); return; }
   toast(`live index refreshed: ${r.pairs} name↔uuid pairs cached`);
 }
 // Auto-sync (Obsidian→Foundry, instant): the server watches the vault and pushes
 // saved notes into live Foundry. Toggle here; poll for the activity log while on.
 async function refreshAutosync(){
-  const r = await fetch('/api/autosync').then(r=>r.json()).catch(()=>null);
+  const r = await apiFetch('/api/autosync').then(r=>r.json()).catch(()=>null);
   if (!r) return;
   AUTO = r;
   const btn = document.getElementById('autoSyncBtn');
@@ -388,7 +435,7 @@ async function revertLastPush(){
   const noteName = btn.textContent.replace('Revert last push: ', '');
   if (!confirm(`Revert the last push of "${noteName}"?\n\nThis restores Foundry to the state captured BEFORE the push (a full /update — the one place a full PUT is correct) and re-baselines the note. The note keeps your edit; Foundry reverts.`)) return;
   toast('reverting last push…');
-  const r = await fetch('/api/autosync/revert', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({uuid})}).then(r=>r.json()).catch(()=>null);
+  const r = await apiFetch('/api/autosync/revert', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({uuid})}).then(r=>r.json()).catch(()=>null);
   if (r && r.ok) toast(`reverted — Foundry restored to pre-push state ("${r.restoredName ?? noteName}")`);
   else toast(`revert failed: ${r?.error || 'unknown'}`);
   refreshAutosync();
@@ -396,7 +443,7 @@ async function revertLastPush(){
 async function toggleAutosync(){
   const want = !(AUTO && AUTO.enabled);
   toast(`turning auto-sync ${want ? 'on' : 'off'}…`);
-  const r = await fetch('/api/autosync', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({enabled: want})}).then(r=>r.json());
+  const r = await apiFetch('/api/autosync', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({enabled: want})}).then(r=>r.json());
   if (r.error){ toast('error: ' + r.error); return; }
   toast(`auto-sync ${r.enabled ? 'ON — saving a note pushes it to live Foundry' : 'off'}`);
   refreshAutosync();
@@ -407,14 +454,14 @@ async function toggleAutosync(){
 async function pushAll(){
   const dryRun = dryEl().checked;
   toast(`push all changed ${dryRun?'(dry-run)':'(apply)'}… this may take a moment`);
-  const r = await fetch('/api/push-all', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({dryRun})}).then(r=>r.json());
+  const r = await apiFetch('/api/push-all', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({dryRun})}).then(r=>r.json());
   if (r.error){ toast('error: ' + r.error); return; }
   renderPushAllResults(r);
   if (r.dryRun){
     toast(`[dry-run] push all: ${r.wouldPush} note(s) would be pushed into live Foundry`);
   } else {
     toast(`pushed ${r.pushed}/${r.total}${r.failed?', '+r.failed+' failed':''} · baselined ${r.baselined}`);
-    INDEX = await fetch('/api/index').then(r => r.json());
+    INDEX = await apiFetch('/api/index').then(r => r.json());
     renderRecPanel(); render();
   }
 }
@@ -440,7 +487,7 @@ let LINK_ENTRIES = null, LINK_NAME = null;
 async function linkPicker(name){
   LINK_NAME = name;
   if (!LINK_ENTRIES) {
-    const r = await fetch('/api/entries').then(r => r.json());
+    const r = await apiFetch('/api/entries').then(r => r.json());
     if (r.error) { toast('error: ' + r.error); return; }
     LINK_ENTRIES = r.entries || [];
   }
@@ -471,12 +518,12 @@ async function doLink(name, uuid){
   document.querySelector('.modal-bg')?.remove();
   const dryRun = dryEl().checked;
   toast(`link ${name} ${dryRun?'(dry-run)':'(apply)'}…`);
-  const r = await fetch('/api/link', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({name, uuid, dryRun})}).then(r=>r.json());
+  const r = await apiFetch('/api/link', {method:'POST', headers:{'content-type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({name, uuid, dryRun})}).then(r=>r.json());
   if (r.error){ toast('error: ' + r.error); return; }
   if (r.dryRun){ toast(`[dry-run] link ${name} -> ${uuid}`); }
   else {
     toast(r.message || `linked ${name}`);
-    INDEX = await fetch('/api/index').then(r => r.json());
+    INDEX = await apiFetch('/api/index').then(r => r.json());
     renderRecPanel(); render();
   }
 }
@@ -485,7 +532,7 @@ init();
 // Called by the "Re-scan" button and automatically when the tab regains focus (so edits
 // made in Obsidian show up without a manual refresh).
 async function refreshIndex(){
-  INDEX = await fetch('/api/index').then(r => r.json());
+  INDEX = await apiFetch('/api/index').then(r => r.json());
   const c = INDEX.counts;
   document.getElementById('counts').innerHTML =
     `matched <b>${c.matched}</b> · cc-only <b>${c.ccOnly}</b> · refined-only <b>${c.refinedOnly}</b> · unlinked <b>${c.unlinked}</b>`;
diff --git a/src/server.ts b/src/server.ts
index 6f7c610..7299b48 100644
--- a/src/server.ts
+++ b/src/server.ts
@@ -104,8 +104,10 @@ const ENABLE_AUTH_MIDDLEWARE = process.env.ENABLE_AUTH_MIDDLEWARE === "true";
 const DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN = process.env.DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN ?? "";
 
 /** E7.1: mutable auth state (the boot env values by default; tests override
- *  `enabled`/`token` to exercise the flag-on path without re-importing). */
-export const __authState = { enabled: ENABLE_AUTH_MIDDLEWARE, token: DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN };
+ *  `enabled`/`token`/`bound` to exercise the flag-on path without re-importing).
+ *  E7.2: `bound` is the actual bind address (set at startServer); auth is only
+ *  enforced on a public bind (0.0.0.0) — 127.0.0.1 is localhost-trusted. */
+export const __authState = { enabled: ENABLE_AUTH_MIDDLEWARE, token: DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN, bound: "127.0.0.1" };
 
 /** E7.1: the auth-relevant subset of a route (the full Route type adds the handler). */
 export interface AuthRoute {
@@ -165,6 +167,10 @@ function readAuthToken(req: IncomingMessage): string | null {
 export async function authenticate(req: IncomingMessage, res: ServerResponse, route: AuthRoute): Promise<boolean> {
   if (!__authState.enabled) return true; // flag off → no-op pass-through
   if (!route.requireAuth) return true; // unguarded route (read endpoints stay open on-box)
+  // E7.2: only enforce on a PUBLIC bind (0.0.0.0). On 127.0.0.1 (localhost
+  // trusted), requireAuth routes stay open even with the flag on — the
+  // refuse-to-start guard ensures a 0.0.0.0 bind has a token before boot.
+  if (__authState.bound !== "0.0.0.0") return true;
   if (!__authState.token) { send(res, 500, { error: "auth required but DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN is unset" }); return false; }
   let token: string | null;
   try { token = readAuthToken(req); }
@@ -1359,6 +1365,19 @@ export class AutoSyncController {
 }
 
 export async function startServer(cfg: ServerConfig): Promise<{ server: Server; state: State }> {
+  // E7.2: bind + auth boot guards (before anything else). Safe-by-default: the
+  // host default is 127.0.0.1 (localhost). Public exposure (0.0.0.0) requires a
+  // token when the auth flag is on; the flag on without a token would brick the
+  // dashboard (no recovery short of editing .env), so refuse that too.
+  const token = (__authState.token ?? "").trim();
+  if (__authState.enabled && !token) {
+    throw new Error("ENABLE_AUTH_MIDDLEWARE=on requires DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN — set the token or disable the flag");
+  }
+  if (__authState.enabled && cfg.host === "0.0.0.0" && !token) {
+    throw new Error("refusing to bind 0.0.0.0 without DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN — set the token or bind 127.0.0.1");
+  }
+  __authState.bound = cfg.host;
+
   const db = await JournalDb.open(cfg.journal);
   const state = { db, cfg, index: null } as State;
   state.autosync = new AutoSyncController(state);
@@ -1427,6 +1446,41 @@ export async function startServer(cfg: ServerConfig): Promise<{ server: Server;
       method: "GET", requireAuth: false, requireCSRF: false,
       handler: async (_s, _req, res) => send(res, 200, state.autosync.status()),
     },
+    // E7.2: auth status (the login prompt polls this; always open — booleans
+    // only, no secret values). authRequired = enforcement active (flag on + a
+    // public bind + a token set) → the dashboard shows a login card.
+    "GET /api/auth/status": {
+      method: "GET", requireAuth: false, requireCSRF: false,
+      handler: async (_s, _req, res) => send(res, 200, {
+        authRequired: __authState.enabled && __authState.bound === "0.0.0.0" && !!__authState.token,
+        bound: __authState.bound,
+        relayConfigured: !!state.cfg.relayCfg,
+        foundryConfigured: !!state.cfg.foundryCfg,
+      }),
+    },
+    // E7.2: first-run login. Validates the token (constant-time; no leak which
+    // field was wrong) and sets an HttpOnly SameSite=Strict cookie. Always open
+    // (the login prompt itself must be reachable pre-auth).
+    "POST /api/auth/login": {
+      method: "POST", requireAuth: false, requireCSRF: false,
+      handler: async (_s, req, res) => {
+        const body = await readJsonBody(req);
+        if (body === null) return send(res, 400, { error: "bad json" });
+        const token = String(body.token ?? "").trim();
+        if (!__authState.token || !constantTimeEqual(token, __authState.token)) {
+          return send(res, 401, { error: "invalid credentials" });
+        }
+        res.setHeader("set-cookie", `auth_token=${token}; HttpOnly; SameSite=Strict; Path=/`);
+        return send(res, 200, { ok: true });
+      },
+    },
+    "POST /api/auth/logout": {
+      method: "POST", requireAuth: false, requireCSRF: false,
+      handler: async (_s, _req, res) => {
+        res.setHeader("set-cookie", "auth_token=; HttpOnly; SameSite=Strict; Path=/; Max-Age=0");
+        return send(res, 200, { ok: true });
+      },
+    },
     "GET /api/autosync/conflicts": {
       method: "GET", requireAuth: false, requireCSRF: false,
       handler: async (_s, _req, res) => send(res, 200, { conflicts: state.autosync.conflicts }),
diff --git a/tests/e7-1-auth.test.ts b/tests/e7-1-auth.test.ts
index 5bdd1e8..6395d11 100644
--- a/tests/e7-1-auth.test.ts
+++ b/tests/e7-1-auth.test.ts
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ function mockRes(): { res: ServerResponse; code: number; body: string } {
 
 const savedEnabled = __authState.enabled;
 const savedToken = __authState.token;
-beforeEach(() => { __authState.enabled = false; __authState.token = ""; });
-afterEach(() => { __authState.enabled = savedEnabled; __authState.token = savedToken; });
+const savedBound = __authState.bound;
+beforeEach(() => { __authState.enabled = false; __authState.token = ""; __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1"; });
+afterEach(() => { __authState.enabled = savedEnabled; __authState.token = savedToken; __authState.bound = savedBound; });
 
 describe("E7.1a authenticate (flag off = no-op pass-through)", () => {
   it("flag off → always returns true regardless of route or headers", async () => {
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ describe("E7.1a authenticate (flag off = no-op pass-through)", () => {
 });
 
 describe("E7.1a authenticate (flag on)", () => {
-  beforeEach(() => { __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = "s3cret-token"; });
+  beforeEach(() => { __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = "s3cret-token"; __authState.bound = "0.0.0.0"; });
 
   it("requireAuth:false (read route) → proceeds without a token", async () => {
     const r = mockRes();
@@ -47,6 +48,13 @@ describe("E7.1a authenticate (flag on)", () => {
     expect(r.code).toBe(0);
   });
 
+  it("E7.2: bound 127.0.0.1 (localhost trusted) → no enforcement even with flag on", async () => {
+    __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1";
+    const r = mockRes();
+    expect(await authenticate(mockReq(), r.res, REQUIRE_AUTH)).toBe(true); // no enforcement
+    expect(r.code).toBe(0);
+  });
+
   it("requireAuth:true + no Authorization header → 401 unauthorized", async () => {
     const r = mockRes();
     expect(await authenticate(mockReq(), r.res, REQUIRE_AUTH)).toBe(false);
diff --git a/tests/e7-1-dispatch.test.ts b/tests/e7-1-dispatch.test.ts
index 41a78fb..8b6f0e5 100644
--- a/tests/e7-1-dispatch.test.ts
+++ b/tests/e7-1-dispatch.test.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ let server: Server;
 let baseURL: string;
 const savedEnabled = __authState.enabled;
 const savedToken = __authState.token;
+const savedBound = __authState.bound;
 const realFetch = globalThis.fetch;
 
 beforeAll(async () => {
@@ -47,12 +48,13 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
 afterAll(async () => {
   __authState.enabled = savedEnabled;
   __authState.token = savedToken;
+  __authState.bound = savedBound;
   await new Promise<void>((r) => server.close(() => r()));
   await rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
 });
 
-beforeEach(() => { __authState.enabled = false; __authState.token = ""; });
-afterEach(() => { __authState.enabled = false; __authState.token = ""; });
+beforeEach(() => { __authState.enabled = false; __authState.token = ""; __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1"; });
+afterEach(() => { __authState.enabled = false; __authState.token = ""; __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1"; });
 
 async function req(path: string, init: RequestInit = {}): Promise<{ code: number; body: unknown }> {
   const r = await fetch(`${baseURL}${path}`, init);
@@ -85,7 +87,9 @@ describe("E7.1c dispatch (flag off — no auth, byte-identical)", () => {
 });
 
 describe("E7.1c dispatch (flag on + token set)", () => {
-  beforeEach(() => { __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = "s3cret-token"; });
+  // E7.2: enforcement only on a public bind (0.0.0.0). The server binds 127.0.0.1
+  // (safe for the test), so override __authState.bound to simulate a public bind.
+  beforeEach(() => { __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = "s3cret-token"; __authState.bound = "0.0.0.0"; });
 
   it("GET /api/status (read) passes WITHOUT a token", async () => {
     const r = await req("/api/status");
diff --git a/tests/e7-2-auth.test.ts b/tests/e7-2-auth.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa28258
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e7-2-auth.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+// E7.2 — localhost-default bind + refuse-to-start + first-run auth prompt.
+//
+// Covers: /api/auth/status (authRequired flag), /api/auth/login (valid/invalid →
+// cookie / 401), /api/auth/logout (clears cookie), and the startServer refuse-to-
+// start guards (self-lockout + 0.0.0.0-without-token).
+
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeAll, afterAll, beforeEach, afterEach } from "vitest";
+import { ClassicLevel } from "classic-level";
+import { mkdtemp, mkdir, rm } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import type { Server } from "node:http";
+
+import { startServer, __authState } from "../src/server.js";
+
+let dir: string;
+let server: Server;
+let baseURL: string;
+const savedEnabled = __authState.enabled;
+const savedToken = __authState.token;
+const savedBound = __authState.bound;
+
+beforeAll(async () => {
+  dir = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "e7-2-"));
+  await mkdir(join(dir, "refined"), { recursive: true });
+  await mkdir(join(dir, "cc"), { recursive: true });
+  const jdb = new ClassicLevel<string, string>(join(dir, "journal"));
+  await jdb.open(); await jdb.close();
+  const { server: srv } = await startServer({
+    journal: join(dir, "journal"), refinedDir: join(dir, "refined"), ccDir: join(dir, "cc"),
+    outDir: join(dir, "out"), mode: "dev", port: 0, host: "127.0.0.1",
+  });
+  server = srv;
+  baseURL = `http://127.0.0.1:${(server.address() as { port: number }).port}`;
+});
+
+afterAll(async () => {
+  __authState.enabled = savedEnabled; __authState.token = savedToken; __authState.bound = savedBound;
+  await new Promise<void>((r) => server.close(() => r()));
+  await rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+});
+
+beforeEach(() => { __authState.enabled = false; __authState.token = ""; __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1"; });
+afterEach(() => { __authState.enabled = false; __authState.token = ""; __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1"; });
+
+async function req(path: string, init: RequestInit = {}): Promise<{ code: number; body: unknown; headers: Headers }> {
+  const r = await fetch(`${baseURL}${path}`, init);
+  return { code: r.status, body: r.headers.get("content-type")?.includes("json") ? await r.json() : await r.text(), headers: r.headers };
+}
+
+describe("E7.2 /api/auth/status", () => {
+  it("flag off → authRequired:false, bound:127.0.0.1", async () => {
+    const r = await req("/api/auth/status");
+    expect(r.code).toBe(200);
+    expect((r.body as { authRequired: boolean }).authRequired).toBe(false);
+    expect((r.body as { bound: string }).bound).toBe("127.0.0.1");
+  });
+  it("flag on + 127.0.0.1 (localhost trusted) → authRequired:false", async () => {
+    __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = "s3cret"; __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1";
+    const r = await req("/api/auth/status");
+    expect((r.body as { authRequired: boolean }).authRequired).toBe(false);
+  });
+  it("flag on + 0.0.0.0 + token → authRequired:true", async () => {
+    __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = "s3cret"; __authState.bound = "0.0.0.0";
+    const r = await req("/api/auth/status");
+    expect((r.body as { authRequired: boolean }).authRequired).toBe(true);
+  });
+  it("never echoes the token or secret config (booleans only)", async () => {
+    __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = "s3cret"; __authState.bound = "0.0.0.0";
+    const r = await req("/api/auth/status");
+    const body = JSON.stringify(r.body);
+    expect(body).not.toContain("s3cret");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("E7.2 /api/auth/login + logout", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => { __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = "s3cret"; __authState.bound = "0.0.0.0"; });
+
+  it("valid token → 200 + sets an HttpOnly SameSite=Strict auth_token cookie", async () => {
+    const r = await req("/api/auth/login", { method: "POST", headers: { "content-type": "application/json" }, body: JSON.stringify({ token: "s3cret" }) });
+    expect(r.code).toBe(200);
+    const cookie = r.headers.get("set-cookie") ?? "";
+    expect(cookie).toContain("auth_token=s3cret");
+    expect(cookie).toContain("HttpOnly");
+    expect(cookie).toContain("SameSite=Strict");
+  });
+  it("wrong token → 401 invalid credentials (no leak)", async () => {
+    const r = await req("/api/auth/login", { method: "POST", headers: { "content-type": "application/json" }, body: JSON.stringify({ token: "wrong" }) });
+    expect(r.code).toBe(401);
+    expect((r.body as { error: string }).error).toBe("invalid credentials");
+    expect(r.headers.get("set-cookie")).toBe(null); // no cookie set on failure
+  });
+  it("empty/whitespace token → 401 (treated as unset)", async () => {
+    const r = await req("/api/auth/login", { method: "POST", headers: { "content-type": "application/json" }, body: JSON.stringify({ token: "   " }) });
+    expect(r.code).toBe(401);
+  });
+  it("no token configured (DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN unset) → 401 (can't log in)", async () => {
+    __authState.token = "";
+    const r = await req("/api/auth/login", { method: "POST", headers: { "content-type": "application/json" }, body: JSON.stringify({ token: "anything" }) });
+    expect(r.code).toBe(401);
+  });
+  it("logout → 200 + clears the cookie (Max-Age=0)", async () => {
+    const r = await req("/api/auth/logout", { method: "POST" });
+    expect(r.code).toBe(200);
+    const cookie = r.headers.get("set-cookie") ?? "";
+    expect(cookie).toContain("auth_token=");
+    expect(cookie).toContain("Max-Age=0");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("E7.2 startServer refuse-to-start guards", () => {
+  // These throw BEFORE opening the journal, so no LevelDB is needed.
+  const dummyCfg = (host: string) => ({
+    journal: join(dir, "no-such-journal"), refinedDir: join(dir, "refined"), ccDir: join(dir, "cc"),
+    outDir: join(dir, "out"), mode: "dev" as const, port: 0, host,
+  });
+
+  it("flag on + no token → refuses to start (self-lockout guard)", async () => {
+    __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = ""; __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1";
+    await expect(startServer(dummyCfg("127.0.0.1"))).rejects.toThrow(/ENABLE_AUTH_MIDDLEWARE=on requires DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN/);
+  });
+  it("flag on + 0.0.0.0 + no token → refuses to start (public-exposure gate)", async () => {
+    __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = ""; __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1";
+    // The self-lockout guard fires first (no token at all), so this throws the
+    // self-lockout message — both guards refuse; assert it refuses (either message).
+    await expect(startServer(dummyCfg("0.0.0.0"))).rejects.toThrow();
+  });
+  it("flag on + token set → does NOT throw on the guards (would proceed to open the journal)", async () => {
+    __authState.enabled = true; __authState.token = "s3cret"; __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1";
+    // With a token, the guards pass; startServer then tries to open the journal
+    // (dummyCfg points at a non-existent path) → throws a DIFFERENT error (LevelDB
+    // open), NOT the guard message. Assert it does NOT throw the guard message.
+    try {
+      await startServer(dummyCfg("0.0.0.0"));
+      expect.unreachable("should have thrown on the missing journal");
+    } catch (e) {
+      expect((e as Error).message).not.toMatch(/DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN/);
+      expect((e as Error).message).not.toMatch(/refusing to bind/);
+    }
+  });
+  it("flag off → no guard (back-compat: 0.0.0.0 + no token would proceed)", async () => {
+    __authState.enabled = false; __authState.token = ""; __authState.bound = "127.0.0.1";
+    try {
+      await startServer(dummyCfg("0.0.0.0"));
+      expect.unreachable("should have thrown on the missing journal");
+    } catch (e) {
+      // No guard message — it got past the guards to the journal open.
+      expect((e as Error).message).not.toMatch(/DASHBOARD_AUTH_TOKEN/);
+      expect((e as Error).message).not.toMatch(/refusing to bind/);
+    }
+  });
+});
\ No newline at end of file
