A file the mesh can deliver and cannot read

Everything else in a declaration is visible to whatever carried it. The
message is signed so it cannot be forged, and signing does not make it
unreadable — a password in `content` is a password the broker sees, which
is the transitive trust this design refuses everywhere else.

So a node generates a third key at enrolment and reports the public half,
exactly as it does for its identity and its overlay key. A file may
arrive `sealed` instead of `content`; the host opens it with that key and
writes the result. The control plane can then store a credential it
cannot use, and the broker relays a blob it cannot read.

A third key rather than reusing one of the two. The identity key signs
and is Ed25519; the overlay key is WireGuard's and is tied to being on
the private network, which a machine may not be. A key used for two
purposes is one rotation away from breaking the other.

Details that are not incidental:

- sealed and content together is refused, so "was this the secret or the
  placeholder" is answerable by looking
- a sealed file defaults to 0600 rather than 0644, because the
  consequence differs; an explicit mode still wins
- a node with no sealing key refuses the file rather than skipping it. A
  machine that quietly omits the one resource carrying a credential looks
  configured and cannot connect
- what is recorded is a digest of what was written, so drift on a
  credential is still detected without the node keeping the value, and
  the report that goes back over the broker carries neither

The key is made at enrolment rather than on first use. One made later is
one the mesh was never told about, so nothing could ever be sealed to it,
and the node would look fine and receive nothing.

This is why sealing was borrowed from another mesh's mistakes rather than
its design: there, credentials sit encrypted in the control plane's
database — which guards the database file and nothing else, since the
same value is also in each node's environment file in plain text and
inside every connection string composed from it. Its own tooling has to
search by value rather than by name to find the copies, and says the ones
inside composed URLs are usually the only copies in use.

internal/apply/apply.go

@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ func Apply(
 	origin string,
 	run Runner,
 	log func(string),
+	unseal Unseal,
 ) (Report, store.State, error) {
 	if log == nil {
 		log = func(string) {}
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ func Apply(
 
 	for _, resource := range d.Resources {
 		was, _ := known.Find(resource.Identity())
-		outcome, err := applyOne(ctx, sys, resource, run, changed, was)
+		outcome, err := applyOne(ctx, sys, resource, run, changed, was, unseal)
 		if err != nil {
 			return report, known, &Error{Resource: resource.Identity(), Err: err, Done: report}
 		}
@@ -150,13 +151,17 @@ func Apply(
 	return report, known, nil
 }
 
+// Unseal opens a value the mesh sealed to this node. Nil when the node has no sealing key, which
+// makes every sealed file an error rather than a silently skipped one.
+type Unseal func(sealed string) ([]byte, error)
+
 func applyOne(ctx context.Context, sys system.System, r declaration.Resource, run Runner,
-	changed map[string]bool, previous store.Applied) (Outcome, error) {
+	changed map[string]bool, previous store.Applied, unseal Unseal) (Outcome, error) {
 	switch res := r.(type) {
 	case *declaration.Directory:
 		return applyDirectory(res)
 	case *declaration.File:
-		return applyFile(res, previous)
+		return applyFile(res, previous, unseal)
 	case *declaration.Service:
 		return applyService(ctx, sys, res, run, changed)
 	case *declaration.Package:
@@ -239,10 +244,32 @@ func applyDirectory(r *declaration.Directory) (Outcome, error) {
 	return out, nil
 }
 
-func applyFile(r *declaration.File, previous store.Applied) (Outcome, error) {
+func applyFile(r *declaration.File, previous store.Applied, unseal Unseal) (Outcome, error) {
 	out := begin(r)
-	out.wrote = digestOf(r.Content)
-	mode, err := modeOf(r.Mode, 0o644)
+
+	// What actually goes on disk. For a sealed file the mesh never had this, and neither did
+	// whatever carried the declaration here.
+	content := r.Content
+	// A secret written world-readable is a secret. The default differs from an ordinary file's
+	// for that reason alone; an explicit mode still wins, because a module may need its own user
+	// to read it and only the module knows which.
+	fallback := os.FileMode(0o644)
+	if r.Secret() {
+		fallback = 0o600
+		if unseal == nil {
+			// Refused rather than skipped. A machine that quietly does not apply the one resource
+			// carrying a credential is a machine that looks configured and cannot connect.
+			return out, fmt.Errorf(
+				"%s is sealed to this node and this node has no sealing key", r.Path)
+		}
+		opened, err := unseal(r.Sealed)
+		if err != nil {
+			return out, fmt.Errorf("cannot open %s: %w", r.Path, err)
+		}
+		content = string(opened)
+	}
+	out.wrote = digestOf(content)
+	mode, err := modeOf(r.Mode, fallback)
 	if err != nil {
 		return out, err
 	}
@@ -260,7 +287,7 @@ func applyFile(r *declaration.File, previous store.Applied) (Outcome, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	contentSame := existed && string(existing) == r.Content
+	contentSame := existed && string(existing) == content
 
 	// Whether the machine still holds what this host last put there. When it does not, and the
 	// declaration has not changed either, somebody edited it — and saying so is the whole
@@ -272,7 +299,7 @@ func applyFile(r *declaration.File, previous store.Applied) (Outcome, error) {
 		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(r.Path), 0o755); err != nil {
 			return out, err
 		}
-		if err := writeAtomically(r.Path, []byte(r.Content), mode); err != nil {
+		if err := writeAtomically(r.Path, []byte(content), mode); err != nil {
 			return out, err
 		}
 	} else if !modeSame {
@@ -286,7 +313,7 @@ func applyFile(r *declaration.File, previous store.Applied) (Outcome, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return out, fmt.Errorf("wrote %s and cannot read it back: %w", r.Path, err)
 	}
-	if string(written) != r.Content {
+	if string(written) != content {
 		return out, fmt.Errorf("%s does not contain what was declared after writing it", r.Path)
 	}
 	info, err := os.Stat(r.Path)

internal/apply/apply_test.go

@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func TestApplyingTwiceChangesNothingTheSecondTime(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"f","type":"file","path":"`+dir+`/etc/a.conf","content":"hello\n","mode":"0640"}
 	]}`)
 
-	first, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	first, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestApplyingTwiceChangesNothingTheSecondTime(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("the first apply on an empty machine changed nothing")
 	}
 
-	second, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	second, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func TestADriftedMachineIsReturned(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"f","type":"file","path":"`+path+`","content":"correct\n","mode":"0644"}
 	]}`)
 
-	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func TestADriftedMachineIsReturned(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func TestADroppedResourceIsRemoved(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"keep","type":"file","path":"`+keep+`","content":"a\n"},
 	  {"id":"drop","type":"file","path":"`+drop+`","content":"b\n"}
 	]}`)
-	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), both, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), both, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func TestADroppedResourceIsRemoved(t *testing.T) {
 	one := parse(t, `{"declaration":1,"resources":[
 	  {"id":"keep","type":"file","path":"`+keep+`","content":"a\n"}
 	]}`)
-	report, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), one, state, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	report, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), one, state, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func TestNothingTheHostDidNotCreateIsTouched(t *testing.T) {
 	d := parse(t, `{"declaration":1,"resources":[
 	  {"id":"ours","type":"file","path":"`+filepath.Join(dir, "ours.conf")+`","content":"a\n"}
 	]}`)
-	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil); err != nil {
+	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func TestARenameToTheSamePathDoesNotDeleteTheNewFile(t *testing.T) {
 	before := parse(t, `{"declaration":1,"resources":[
 	  {"id":"old","type":"file","path":"`+path+`","content":"old\n"}
 	]}`)
-	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), before, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), before, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func TestARenameToTheSamePathDoesNotDeleteTheNewFile(t *testing.T) {
 	after := parse(t, `{"declaration":1,"resources":[
 	  {"id":"new","type":"file","path":"`+path+`","content":"new\n"}
 	]}`)
-	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), after, state, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil); err != nil {
+	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), after, state, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ func TestAFailedStepFailsTheApply(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"never","type":"file","path":"`+filepath.Join(dir, "never.conf")+`","content":"b\n"}
 	]}`)
 
-	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("an impossible resource did not fail the apply")
 	}
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ func TestNothingIsRecordedUntilItWorked(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"doomed","type":"directory","path":"`+blocker+`"}
 	]}`)
 
-	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected a failure")
 	}
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ func TestAModeIsMaintainedNotJustSet(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"f","type":"file","path":"`+path+`","content":"s\n","mode":"0600"}
 	]}`)
 
-	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ func TestAModeIsMaintainedNotJustSet(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state, store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ func TestAServiceIsReadBackNotAssumed(t *testing.T) {
 	d := parse(t, `{"declaration":1,"resources":[
 	  {"id":"s","type":"service","unit":"doomed.service","state":"running"}
 	]}`)
-	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a service that died immediately was reported as running")
 	}
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ func TestAnUnknownServiceStateIsRefusedNotGuessed(t *testing.T) {
 	d := parse(t, `{"declaration":1,"resources":[
 	  {"id":"s","type":"service","unit":"odd.service","state":"running"}
 	]}`)
-	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "neither running nor stopped") {
 		t.Errorf("an unrecognised service state was not refused: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ func TestADroppedServiceIsStoppedNotDeleted(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"other","type":"file","path":"`+filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "a")+`","content":"a\n"}
 	]}`)
 
-	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state, store.OriginCarried, run, nil); err != nil {
+	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	joined := strings.Join(commands, "; ")
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ func TestAUnitThatDoesNotExistIsNotStopped(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"s","type":"service","unit":"never-installed.service","state":"stopped"}
 	]}`)
 
-	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, absent, nil)
+	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, absent, nil, nil)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a unit that does not exist was reported as satisfactorily stopped")
 	}
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ func TestAMaskedUnitIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	d := parse(t, `{"declaration":1,"resources":[
 	  {"id":"s","type":"service","unit":"masked.service","state":"running"}
 	]}`)
-	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, masked, nil); err == nil {
+	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, masked, nil, nil); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a masked unit was accepted")
 	}
 }
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ func TestForgettingAUnitThatIsGoneDoesNotStrandTheNode(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"f","type":"file","path":"`+filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "a")+`","content":"a\n"}
 	]}`)
 
-	report, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, known, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	report, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, known, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("a vanished unit stranded the apply: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ func TestABrokenPackageDatabaseIsNotReadAsNotInstalled(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"rt","type":"package","package":"docker"}
 	]}`)
 
-	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a broken package database was read as 'not installed'")
 	}
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ func TestAnInstalledPackageIsNotReinstalled(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"rt","type":"package","package":"docker"}
 	]}`)
 
-	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ func TestAPackageIsNeverUninstalled(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"f","type":"file","path":"`+filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "a")+`","content":"a\n"}
 	]}`)
 
-	report, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, known, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	report, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, known, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("dropping a package stranded the apply: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ func TestAnActionThatIsAlreadyTrueDoesNotRun(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"db","type":"action","command":["create-db","mesh"],"verify":["has-db","mesh"]}
 	]}`)
 
-	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ func TestAnActionThatSucceedsAndDoesNothingFails(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"db","type":"action","command":["create-db","mesh"],"verify":["has-db","mesh"]}
 	]}`)
 
-	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("an action that reported success and did nothing was accepted")
 	}
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ func TestAnActionRunsInsideTheContainerItNames(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"db","type":"action","in":"store","command":["createdb","mesh"],"verify":["psql","-lqt"]}
 	]}`)
 
-	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil); err != nil {
+	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if !sawExec {
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ func TestAContainerThatExitsImmediatelyFailsTheApply(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"store","type":"container","name":"store","image":"`+pinned+`"}
 	]}`)
 
-	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a container that exited immediately was reported as applied")
 	}
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ func TestAContainerWhoseDeclarationChangedIsReplaced(t *testing.T) {
 		return "", nil
 	}
 
-	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ func TestAContainerThatMatchesIsLeftAlone(t *testing.T) {
 		return "", nil
 	}
 
-	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ func TestAServiceIsEnabledAtBootWhenAsked(t *testing.T) {
 	]}`)
 
 	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried,
-		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "inactive", "disabled", &verbs), nil)
+		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "inactive", "disabled", &verbs), nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -756,7 +756,7 @@ func TestBootIsEnabledBeforeTheUnitIsStarted(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"rt","type":"service","unit":"docker.service","state":"running","boot":"enabled"}
 	]}`)
 	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried,
-		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "inactive", "disabled", &verbs), nil); err != nil {
+		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "inactive", "disabled", &verbs), nil, nil); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	if len(verbs) < 2 || verbs[0] != "enable" {
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ func TestAlreadyEnabledAndRunningIsUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
 	]}`)
 
 	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried,
-		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "active", "enabled", &verbs), nil)
+		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "active", "enabled", &verbs), nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ func TestOmittingBootLeavesItAlone(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"rt","type":"service","unit":"docker.service","state":"running"}
 	]}`)
 	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried,
-		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "inactive", "enabled", &verbs), nil); err != nil {
+		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "inactive", "enabled", &verbs), nil, nil); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	for _, v := range verbs {
@@ -811,7 +811,7 @@ func TestAStaticUnitCannotBeEnabled(t *testing.T) {
 	]}`)
 
 	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried,
-		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "active", "static", &verbs), nil)
+		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "active", "static", &verbs), nil, nil)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a static unit was accepted as enable-able")
 	}
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ func TestAnUnknownBootStateIsRefusedNotGuessed(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"rt","type":"service","unit":"x.service","state":"running","boot":"enabled"}
 	]}`)
 	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried,
-		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "active", "indirect", &verbs), nil)
+		systemctlStub(t, "loaded", "active", "indirect", &verbs), nil, nil)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("an unrecognised boot state was guessed at instead of refused")
 	}
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ func TestAContainerUsesTheRuntimeTheMachineHas(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// It will fail at read-back — the stub never reports it running — and what matters is
 	// WHICH binary it used getting there.
-	_, _, _ = Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	_, _, _ = Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 
 	for _, c := range calledWith {
 		if c != "podman" {
@@ -923,7 +923,7 @@ func TestNoRuntimeIsSaidPlainly(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"id":"store","type":"container","name":"store","image":"`+pinned+`"}
 	]}`)
 
-	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a machine with no container runtime applied a container")
 	}
@@ -964,14 +964,14 @@ func TestAServiceIsRestartedWhenWhatItReflectsChanges(t *testing.T) {
 	run := recordingServices(&commands)
 
 	if _, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{},
-		store.OriginCarried, run, nil); err != nil {
+		store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	} else {
 		// Second apply with the same content: nothing moved, so nothing restarts. A machine that
 		// restarted its services on every reconcile would never be steady.
 		commands = nil
 		if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state,
-			store.OriginCarried, run, nil); err != nil {
+			store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		for _, c := range commands {
@@ -987,7 +987,7 @@ func TestAServiceIsRestartedWhenWhatItReflectsChanges(t *testing.T) {
 		]}`, path))
 		commands = nil
 		if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), changedDecl, state,
-			store.OriginCarried, run, nil); err != nil {
+			store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		var stopped, started bool
@@ -1021,7 +1021,7 @@ func TestAServiceIsNotRestartedByAChangeItDoesNotName(t *testing.T) {
 	var commands []string
 	run := recordingServices(&commands)
 	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), first, store.State{},
-		store.OriginCarried, run, nil)
+		store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1033,7 +1033,7 @@ func TestAServiceIsNotRestartedByAChangeItDoesNotName(t *testing.T) {
 	]}`, conf, other))
 	commands = nil
 	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), second, state,
-		store.OriginCarried, run, nil); err != nil {
+		store.OriginCarried, run, nil, nil); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	for _, c := range commands {
@@ -1072,7 +1072,7 @@ func TestAFileChangedOnTheMachineIsCorrectedAndSaidSo(t *testing.T) {
 	]}`, path))
 
 	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{},
-		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1083,7 +1083,7 @@ func TestAFileChangedOnTheMachineIsCorrectedAndSaidSo(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	report, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state,
-		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1115,12 +1115,12 @@ func TestTheMeshChangingItsMindIsNotDrift(t *testing.T) {
 	]}`, path))
 
 	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), first, store.State{},
-		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), second, state,
-		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1138,12 +1138,12 @@ func TestAnUntouchedFileIsStillUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
 	]}`, path))
 
 	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{},
-		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state,
-		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil)
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}

internal/apply/sealed_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+package apply
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/declaration"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/identity"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/store"
+)
+
+// A file the mesh delivers without being able to read.
+//
+// Everything else in a declaration is visible to whatever carried it: the message is signed, so
+// it cannot be forged, and signing does not make it unreadable. A password in `content` is a
+// password the broker sees — the transitive trust this design refuses everywhere else.
+
+func sealedTo(t *testing.T, key identity.SealingKey, value string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	sealed, err := identity.Seal(key.Public, []byte(value))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return sealed
+}
+
+func opener(key identity.SealingKey) Unseal {
+	return func(sealed string) ([]byte, error) { return key.Unseal(sealed) }
+}
+
+func sealedFile(t *testing.T, path, sealed string) *declaration.Declaration {
+	t.Helper()
+	raw := map[string]any{"declaration": 1, "resources": []map[string]any{
+		{"id": "creds", "type": "file", "path": path, "sealed": sealed},
+	}}
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(raw)
+	d, err := declaration.Parse(body)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return d
+}
+
+func TestASealedFileIsOpenedAndWritten(t *testing.T) {
+	key, err := identity.GenerateSealingKey()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := dir + "/db.json"
+	d := sealedFile(t, path, sealedTo(t, key, `{"password":"hunter2"}`))
+
+	report, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{},
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, opener(key))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !report.Changed() {
+		t.Fatal("nothing changed")
+	}
+	on, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if string(on) != `{"password":"hunter2"}` {
+		t.Fatalf("the file holds %q", on)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestASecretIsNotWorldReadableByDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	// An ordinary file defaults to 0644, which for a credential is the whole problem. The default
+	// differs because the consequence differs; an explicit mode still wins, since a module may
+	// need its own user to read it and only the module knows which.
+	key, _ := identity.GenerateSealingKey()
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := dir + "/db.json"
+	d := sealedFile(t, path, sealedTo(t, key, "secret"))
+	if _, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{},
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, opener(key)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	info, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if info.Mode().Perm() != 0o600 {
+		t.Fatalf("a credential landed mode %o", info.Mode().Perm())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSomethingSealedToAnotherNodeIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	// Refused, not skipped, and refused before anything is written. A machine that quietly does
+	// not apply the one resource carrying a credential looks configured and cannot connect.
+	mine, _ := identity.GenerateSealingKey()
+	theirs, _ := identity.GenerateSealingKey()
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := dir + "/db.json"
+	d := sealedFile(t, path, sealedTo(t, theirs, "not for you"))
+
+	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{},
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, opener(mine))
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a file sealed to another node was applied")
+	}
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(path); statErr == nil {
+		t.Fatal("something was written before the failure")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestANodeWithNoSealingKeyRefusesRatherThanSkipping(t *testing.T) {
+	key, _ := identity.GenerateSealingKey()
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	d := sealedFile(t, dir+"/db.json", sealedTo(t, key, "secret"))
+	_, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{},
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, nil)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a sealed file was skipped by a node that cannot open one")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "sealing key") {
+		t.Fatalf("the failure does not say why: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTheSecretIsNeverInWhatTheMeshIsToldBack(t *testing.T) {
+	// The node reports what it applied, and that report goes over the same broker the sealing was
+	// for. A digest is a fact about the file; the file is not.
+	key, _ := identity.GenerateSealingKey()
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	d := sealedFile(t, dir+"/db.json", sealedTo(t, key, "hunter2"))
+	report, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{},
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, opener(key))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	said, _ := json.Marshal(report)
+	kept, _ := json.Marshal(state)
+	for what, blob := range map[string][]byte{"the report": said, "the node's state": kept} {
+		if strings.Contains(string(blob), "hunter2") {
+			t.Fatalf("%s carries the secret in plain text:\n%s", what, blob)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestASealedFileStillNoticesAHandEdit(t *testing.T) {
+	// Drift detection must survive not holding the plaintext. It does, because what is recorded
+	// is a digest of what was written rather than what was written.
+	key, _ := identity.GenerateSealingKey()
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := dir + "/db.json"
+	d := sealedFile(t, path, sealedTo(t, key, "hunter2"))
+	_, state, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{},
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, opener(key))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte("meddled"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	again, _, err := Apply(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, state,
+		store.OriginCarried, noServices, nil, opener(key))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !again.Changed() {
+		t.Fatal("a hand-edited credential was left as it was found")
+	}
+	on, _ := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if string(on) != "hunter2" {
+		t.Fatalf("it was not put back: %q", on)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestContentAndSealedTogetherIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	// Otherwise nobody can tell by looking whether what landed on the machine was the secret or
+	// the placeholder.
+	_, err := declaration.Parse([]byte(`{"declaration":1,"resources":[
+		{"id":"f","type":"file","path":"/etc/x","content":"a","sealed":"b"}]}`))
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a file that is both literal and sealed was accepted")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not both") {
+		t.Fatalf("unhelpful refusal: %v", err)
+	}
+}