diff --git a/packages/mosaic/src/commands/cred.ts b/packages/mosaic/src/commands/cred.ts
index fe20c2de..95cff93c 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/src/commands/cred.ts
+++ b/packages/mosaic/src/commands/cred.ts
@@ -504,23 +504,6 @@ export async function executeCredentialRotate(
       });
     }
     const context = await lifecycleContext(options);
-    const old = await context.store.snapshot(identity, options.estate, options.host);
-    if (old === undefined) {
-      return localLifecycleResult('rotate', identity, options, {
-        outcome: 'refused',
-        code: 'no-token-for-identity',
-        message: 'No existing binding can be rotated.',
-      });
-    }
-    if (options.tokenName === old.binding.tokenName) {
-      old.secret.fill(0);
-      return localLifecycleResult('rotate', identity, options, {
-        outcome: 'refused',
-        code: 'replacement-token-name-conflict',
-        message: 'Replacement token name must differ from the active generation.',
-      });
-    }
-    const authority = await lifecycleAuthority(identity, options);
     const journal = await CredentialAuditJournal.open(context.stateRoot, {
       operation: 'rotate',
       actor: options.actor,
@@ -530,6 +513,25 @@ export async function executeCredentialRotate(
       repo: null,
     });
     await journal.recordIntent('rotate-requested');
+    const old = await context.store.snapshot(identity, options.estate, options.host);
+    if (old === undefined) {
+      await journal.seal('refused', 'no-token-for-identity');
+      return localLifecycleResult('rotate', identity, options, {
+        outcome: 'refused',
+        code: 'no-token-for-identity',
+        message: 'No existing binding can be rotated.',
+      });
+    }
+    if (options.tokenName === old.binding.tokenName) {
+      old.secret.fill(0);
+      await journal.seal('refused', 'replacement-token-name-conflict');
+      return localLifecycleResult('rotate', identity, options, {
+        outcome: 'refused',
+        code: 'replacement-token-name-conflict',
+        message: 'Replacement token name must differ from the active generation.',
+      });
+    }
+    const authority = await lifecycleAuthority(identity, options);
     const provisioned = await provisionCredential(
       {
         identity,
@@ -655,16 +657,17 @@ export async function executeCredentialWire(
       message: 'Declared estate and host could not be resolved before mutation.',
     });
   }
-  const journal = await CredentialAuditJournal.open(locations.stateRoot, {
-    operation: 'wire',
-    actor: options.actor,
-    identity,
-    estate: options.estate,
-    host: options.host,
-    repo: null,
-  });
-  await journal.recordIntent('wire-requested');
+  let journal: CredentialAuditJournal | undefined;
   try {
+    journal = await CredentialAuditJournal.open(locations.stateRoot, {
+      operation: 'wire',
+      actor: options.actor,
+      identity,
+      estate: options.estate,
+      host: options.host,
+      repo: null,
+    });
+    await journal.recordIntent('wire-requested');
     let existing = '';
     try {
       const snapshot = readRegularFileSecure(options.seatEnv, {
@@ -719,15 +722,32 @@ export async function executeCredentialWire(
       message: 'Both fleet identity axes were written to the explicit seat environment.',
       audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'sealed' },
     });
-  } catch {
-    await journal.seal('error', 'wire-failed');
-    return localLifecycleResult('wire', identity, options, {
-      outcome: 'error',
-      mutation: 'unknown',
-      code: 'wire-failed',
-      message: 'Seat environment wiring failed.',
-      audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'sealed' },
-    });
+  } catch (error: unknown) {
+    if (journal === undefined) {
+      return localLifecycleResult('wire', identity, options, {
+        outcome: 'error',
+        code: error instanceof CredentialJournalError ? error.code : 'wire-failed',
+        message: 'Seat environment journal could not be opened durably.',
+      });
+    }
+    try {
+      await journal.seal('error', 'wire-failed');
+      return localLifecycleResult('wire', identity, options, {
+        outcome: 'error',
+        mutation: 'unknown',
+        code: 'wire-failed',
+        message: 'Seat environment wiring failed.',
+        audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'sealed' },
+      });
+    } catch (sealError: unknown) {
+      return localLifecycleResult('wire', identity, options, {
+        outcome: 'error',
+        mutation: 'unknown',
+        code: sealError instanceof CredentialJournalError ? sealError.code : 'wire-failed',
+        message: 'Seat environment audit could not be sealed.',
+        audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'open' },
+      });
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -736,16 +756,17 @@ export async function executeCredentialGet(
   options: CredentialLifecycleCommandOptions,
 ): Promise<CredentialLifecycleResultDto> {
   const locations = lifecycleLocations(options);
-  const journal = await CredentialAuditJournal.open(locations.stateRoot, {
-    operation: 'get',
-    actor: options.actor,
-    identity,
-    estate: options.estate,
-    host: options.host,
-    repo: null,
-  });
-  await journal.recordIntent('get-requested');
+  let journal: CredentialAuditJournal | undefined;
   try {
+    journal = await CredentialAuditJournal.open(locations.stateRoot, {
+      operation: 'get',
+      actor: options.actor,
+      identity,
+      estate: options.estate,
+      host: options.host,
+      repo: null,
+    });
+    await journal.recordIntent('get-requested');
     if (options.authorityFd === undefined || options.actor !== identity) {
       await journal.seal('refused', 'provider-identity-mismatch');
       return localLifecycleResult('get', identity, options, {
@@ -810,14 +831,30 @@ export async function executeCredentialGet(
       message: 'Credential was emitted only to the protected output fd.',
       audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'sealed' },
     });
-  } catch {
-    await journal.seal('error', 'insecure-credential-destination');
-    return localLifecycleResult('get', identity, options, {
-      outcome: 'error',
-      code: 'insecure-credential-destination',
-      message: 'Protected credential output fd was unavailable or unsafe.',
-      audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'sealed' },
-    });
+  } catch (error: unknown) {
+    if (journal === undefined) {
+      return localLifecycleResult('get', identity, options, {
+        outcome: 'error',
+        code: error instanceof CredentialJournalError ? error.code : 'journal-unavailable',
+        message: 'Credential access journal could not be opened durably.',
+      });
+    }
+    try {
+      await journal.seal('error', 'insecure-credential-destination');
+      return localLifecycleResult('get', identity, options, {
+        outcome: 'error',
+        code: 'insecure-credential-destination',
+        message: 'Protected credential output fd was unavailable or unsafe.',
+        audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'sealed' },
+      });
+    } catch (sealError: unknown) {
+      return localLifecycleResult('get', identity, options, {
+        outcome: 'error',
+        code: sealError instanceof CredentialJournalError ? sealError.code : 'journal-unavailable',
+        message: 'Credential access audit could not be sealed.',
+        audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'open' },
+      });
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -826,16 +863,17 @@ async function executeAuthorizedInventoryRead(
   options: CredentialLifecycleCommandOptions,
 ): Promise<CredentialLifecycleResultDto> {
   const locations = lifecycleLocations(options);
-  const journal = await CredentialAuditJournal.open(locations.stateRoot, {
-    operation,
-    actor: options.actor,
-    identity: options.actor,
-    estate: options.estate,
-    host: options.host,
-    repo: null,
-  });
-  await journal.recordIntent(`${operation}-requested`);
+  let journal: CredentialAuditJournal | undefined;
   try {
+    journal = await CredentialAuditJournal.open(locations.stateRoot, {
+      operation,
+      actor: options.actor,
+      identity: options.actor,
+      estate: options.estate,
+      host: options.host,
+      repo: null,
+    });
+    await journal.recordIntent(`${operation}-requested`);
     if (options.authorityFd === undefined) {
       await journal.seal('refused', 'authority-required');
       return localLifecycleResult(operation, 'all', options, {
@@ -891,14 +929,30 @@ async function executeAuthorizedInventoryRead(
       },
       audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'sealed' },
     });
-  } catch {
-    await journal.seal('error', 'inventory-read-failed');
-    return localLifecycleResult(operation, 'all', options, {
-      outcome: 'error',
-      code: 'inventory-read-failed',
-      message: 'Authorized credential inventory read failed.',
-      audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'sealed' },
-    });
+  } catch (error: unknown) {
+    if (journal === undefined) {
+      return localLifecycleResult(operation, 'all', options, {
+        outcome: 'error',
+        code: error instanceof CredentialJournalError ? error.code : 'journal-unavailable',
+        message: 'Inventory journal could not be opened durably.',
+      });
+    }
+    try {
+      await journal.seal('error', 'inventory-read-failed');
+      return localLifecycleResult(operation, 'all', options, {
+        outcome: 'error',
+        code: 'inventory-read-failed',
+        message: 'Authorized credential inventory read failed.',
+        audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'sealed' },
+      });
+    } catch (sealError: unknown) {
+      return localLifecycleResult(operation, 'all', options, {
+        outcome: 'error',
+        code: sealError instanceof CredentialJournalError ? sealError.code : 'journal-unavailable',
+        message: 'Inventory audit could not be sealed.',
+        audit: { journalId: journal.journalId(), state: 'open' },
+      });
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/file-credential-store.ts b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/file-credential-store.ts
index 9b5f04e3..6ab27af2 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/file-credential-store.ts
+++ b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/file-credential-store.ts
@@ -222,6 +222,25 @@ export class FileCredentialResolver implements CredentialResolver {
   }
 }
 
+function assertPrivateTokenDirectory(path: string): {
+  readonly dev: number | bigint;
+  readonly ino: number | bigint;
+} {
+  const stat = lstatSync(path);
+  if (
+    !stat.isDirectory() ||
+    stat.isSymbolicLink() ||
+    stat.uid !== process.getuid?.() ||
+    (stat.mode & 0o022) !== 0
+  ) {
+    throw new CredentialStoreError(
+      'insecure-token-owner',
+      'token directory ownership or write permissions are unsafe',
+    );
+  }
+  return { dev: stat.dev, ino: stat.ino };
+}
+
 async function syncDirectory(path: string): Promise<void> {
   const handle = await open(path, 'r');
   try {
@@ -269,6 +288,7 @@ export class FileCredentialStore {
   async put(metadata: CredentialBindingMetadataDto, secret: Uint8Array): Promise<void> {
     const paths = this.paths(metadata.identity, metadata.estate, metadata.host);
     ensureManagedDirectory(this.tokenDirectory, this.tokenDirectory);
+    const directoryIdentity = assertPrivateTokenDirectory(this.tokenDirectory);
     const token = validateSecret(Buffer.from(secret));
     const envelope = credentialEnvelopeSchema.parse({
       ...metadata,
@@ -296,6 +316,16 @@ export class FileCredentialStore {
       } finally {
         await handle.close();
       }
+      const beforeCommit = assertPrivateTokenDirectory(this.tokenDirectory);
+      if (
+        beforeCommit.dev !== directoryIdentity.dev ||
+        beforeCommit.ino !== directoryIdentity.ino
+      ) {
+        throw new CredentialStoreError(
+          'insecure-token-owner',
+          'token directory changed during credential commit',
+        );
+      }
       await rename(envelopeTemp, paths.envelope);
       await syncDirectory(this.tokenDirectory);
     } finally {
@@ -424,6 +454,7 @@ export class FileCredentialStore {
     expectedTokenDigest?: string,
   ): Promise<void> {
     const paths = this.paths(identity, estate, host);
+    const directoryIdentity = assertPrivateTokenDirectory(this.tokenDirectory);
     const lockPath = join(this.tokenDirectory, `${paths.prefix}.lock`);
     let lock;
     try {
@@ -444,6 +475,16 @@ export class FileCredentialStore {
           );
         }
       }
+      const beforeRemoval = assertPrivateTokenDirectory(this.tokenDirectory);
+      if (
+        beforeRemoval.dev !== directoryIdentity.dev ||
+        beforeRemoval.ino !== directoryIdentity.ino
+      ) {
+        throw new CredentialStoreError(
+          'insecure-token-owner',
+          'token directory changed during credential removal',
+        );
+      }
       await unlink(paths.token).catch((error: unknown): void => {
         if (!isMissingFile(error)) throw error;
       });
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/gitea-provider.ts b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/gitea-provider.ts
index db0bef6e..18738b5b 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/gitea-provider.ts
+++ b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/gitea-provider.ts
@@ -389,6 +389,33 @@ export class GiteaGrantProviderAdapter
   extends GiteaCredentialProviderAdapter
   implements GiteaGrantProvider
 {
+  async readBasicIdentity(authority: ResolvedCredential): Promise<ProviderIdentityEvidenceDto> {
+    const endpoint = 'GET /api/v1/user';
+    const response = await this.request(`${this.origin}/api/v1/user`, {
+      method: 'GET',
+      headers: {
+        Accept: JSON_CONTENT_TYPE,
+        Authorization: basicAuthorization(authority),
+        'User-Agent': USER_AGENT,
+      },
+    });
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      await boundedBody(response);
+      throw new CredentialProviderEvidenceError(
+        'credential-rejected',
+        'delegated Basic authority was rejected',
+      );
+    }
+    const parsed = userSchema.safeParse(await jsonObject(response));
+    if (!parsed.success) {
+      throw new CredentialProviderEvidenceError(
+        'unexpected-provider-shape',
+        'delegated Basic identity response was malformed',
+      );
+    }
+    return { login: parsed.data.login, endpoint, contentType: contentType(response) };
+  }
+
   async grantCollaborator(
     authority: ResolvedCredential,
     identity: string,
@@ -402,7 +429,7 @@ export class GiteaGrantProviderAdapter
         method: 'PUT',
         headers: {
           Accept: JSON_CONTENT_TYPE,
-          Authorization: apiAuthorization(authority),
+          Authorization: basicAuthorization(authority),
           'Content-Type': JSON_CONTENT_TYPE,
           'User-Agent': USER_AGENT,
         },
@@ -433,7 +460,7 @@ export class GiteaGrantProviderAdapter
         method: 'GET',
         headers: {
           Accept: JSON_CONTENT_TYPE,
-          Authorization: apiAuthorization(authority),
+          Authorization: basicAuthorization(authority),
           'User-Agent': USER_AGENT,
         },
       },
@@ -518,7 +545,7 @@ export class GiteaTeamGrantProviderAdapter
         method: 'GET',
         headers: {
           Accept: JSON_CONTENT_TYPE,
-          Authorization: apiAuthorization(authority),
+          Authorization: basicAuthorization(authority),
           'User-Agent': USER_AGENT,
         },
       },
@@ -557,7 +584,7 @@ export class GiteaTeamGrantProviderAdapter
           method: 'GET',
           headers: {
             Accept: JSON_CONTENT_TYPE,
-            Authorization: apiAuthorization(authority),
+            Authorization: basicAuthorization(authority),
             'User-Agent': USER_AGENT,
           },
         },
@@ -613,7 +640,7 @@ export class GiteaTeamGrantProviderAdapter
       method: 'PUT',
       headers: {
         Accept: JSON_CONTENT_TYPE,
-        Authorization: apiAuthorization(authority),
+        Authorization: basicAuthorization(authority),
         'User-Agent': USER_AGENT,
       },
     });
@@ -666,7 +693,7 @@ export class GiteaTeamGrantProviderAdapter
       method: 'GET',
       headers: {
         Accept: JSON_CONTENT_TYPE,
-        Authorization: apiAuthorization(authority),
+        Authorization: basicAuthorization(authority),
         'User-Agent': USER_AGENT,
       },
     });
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/grant.spec.ts b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/grant.spec.ts
index 8eb62b70..3a3b6c58 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/grant.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/grant.spec.ts
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ describe('direct repository grant', (): void => {
   it('opens the journal before mutation and accepts only matching provider read-back', async (): Promise<void> => {
     const root = await stateRoot();
     const provider: GiteaGrantProvider = {
-      async readIdentity() {
+      async readBasicIdentity() {
         return {
           login: 'provisioner',
           endpoint: 'GET /api/v1/user',
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ describe('direct repository grant', (): void => {
   it('preserves applied mutation and journal context when post-grant read-back fails', async (): Promise<void> => {
     const root = await stateRoot();
     const provider: GiteaGrantProvider = {
-      async readIdentity() {
+      async readBasicIdentity() {
         return {
           login: 'provisioner',
           endpoint: 'GET /api/v1/user',
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ describe('direct repository grant', (): void => {
   it('is indeterminate when grant read-back disagrees with the requested permission', async (): Promise<void> => {
     const root = await stateRoot();
     const provider: GiteaGrantProvider = {
-      async readIdentity() {
+      async readBasicIdentity() {
         return {
           login: 'provisioner',
           endpoint: 'GET /api/v1/user',
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/grant.ts b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/grant.ts
index 195e3052..d694a672 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/grant.ts
+++ b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/grant.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import type {
 import { evaluateGiteaReadValidation, evaluateGiteaWriteValidation } from './validate.js';
 
 export interface GiteaGrantProvider {
-  readIdentity(authority: ResolvedCredential): Promise<{
+  readBasicIdentity(authority: ResolvedCredential): Promise<{
     readonly login: string;
     readonly endpoint: string;
     readonly contentType: string;
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export async function grantDirectRepositoryPermission(
   await journal.recordIntent('provider-grant');
   let mutation: 'none' | 'unknown' | 'applied' = 'none';
   try {
-    const authorityIdentity = await grantProvider.readIdentity(authority);
+    const authorityIdentity = await grantProvider.readBasicIdentity(authority);
     if (authorityIdentity.login !== options.actor) {
       await journal.seal('refused', 'provider-identity-mismatch');
       return {
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/team-grant.spec.ts b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/team-grant.spec.ts
index b5da30ae..7ad141b8 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/team-grant.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/team-grant.spec.ts
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ describe('team repository grant', (): void => {
   it('reads team permission, org membership, member attachment, repo attachment, and effective subject permission', async (): Promise<void> => {
     cleanup = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'mosaic-team-grant-'));
     const provider: GiteaTeamGrantProvider = {
-      async readIdentity() {
+      async readBasicIdentity() {
         return {
           login: 'provisioner',
           endpoint: 'GET /api/v1/user',
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ describe('team repository grant', (): void => {
     cleanup = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'mosaic-team-grant-'));
     let mutated = false;
     const provider: GiteaTeamGrantProvider = {
-      async readIdentity() {
+      async readBasicIdentity() {
         return {
           login: 'provisioner',
           endpoint: 'GET /api/v1/user',
diff --git a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/team-grant.ts b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/team-grant.ts
index 39f104a6..d7ad4d39 100644
--- a/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/team-grant.ts
+++ b/packages/mosaic/src/credentials/team-grant.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export interface TeamGrantResult extends CredentialGrantResultDto {
   };
 }
 export interface GiteaTeamGrantProvider {
-  readIdentity(
+  readBasicIdentity(
     authority: ResolvedCredential,
   ): Promise<{ readonly login: string; readonly endpoint: string; readonly contentType: string }>;
   resolveTeam(
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ export async function grantTeamRepositoryPermission(
   await journal.recordIntent('provider-grant');
   let mutation: 'none' | 'unknown' | 'applied' = 'none';
   try {
-    const authorityIdentity = await provider.readIdentity(authority);
+    const authorityIdentity = await provider.readBasicIdentity(authority);
     const organization = request.repo.split('/')[0] ?? '';
     const team = await provider.resolveTeam(authority, organization, request.team);
     if (authorityIdentity.login !== options.actor || team.permission !== request.permission) {