Gateway: add SecretRef support for gateway.auth.token with auth-mode guardrails (#35094)

src/cli/daemon-cli/install.integration.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { afterAll, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { makeTempWorkspace } from "../../test-helpers/workspace.js";
+import { captureEnv } from "../../test-utils/env.js";
+
+const runtimeLogs: string[] = [];
+const runtimeErrors: string[] = [];
+
+const serviceMock = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  label: "Gateway",
+  loadedText: "loaded",
+  notLoadedText: "not loaded",
+  install: vi.fn(async (_opts?: { environment?: Record<string, string | undefined> }) => {}),
+  uninstall: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+  stop: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+  restart: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+  isLoaded: vi.fn(async () => false),
+  readCommand: vi.fn(async () => null),
+  readRuntime: vi.fn(async () => ({ status: "stopped" as const })),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../daemon/service.js", () => ({
+  resolveGatewayService: () => serviceMock,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../runtime.js", () => ({
+  defaultRuntime: {
+    log: (message: string) => runtimeLogs.push(message),
+    error: (message: string) => runtimeErrors.push(message),
+    exit: (code: number) => {
+      throw new Error(`__exit__:${code}`);
+    },
+  },
+}));
+
+const { runDaemonInstall } = await import("./install.js");
+const { clearConfigCache } = await import("../../config/config.js");
+
+async function readJson(filePath: string): Promise<Record<string, unknown>> {
+  return JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(filePath, "utf8")) as Record<string, unknown>;
+}
+
+describe("runDaemonInstall integration", () => {
+  let envSnapshot: ReturnType<typeof captureEnv>;
+  let tempHome: string;
+  let configPath: string;
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    envSnapshot = captureEnv([
+      "HOME",
+      "OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR",
+      "OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH",
+      "OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN",
+      "CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN",
+      "OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PASSWORD",
+      "CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_PASSWORD",
+    ]);
+    tempHome = await makeTempWorkspace("openclaw-daemon-install-int-");
+    configPath = path.join(tempHome, "openclaw.json");
+    process.env.HOME = tempHome;
+    process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR = tempHome;
+    process.env.OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH = configPath;
+  });
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    envSnapshot.restore();
+    await fs.rm(tempHome, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    runtimeLogs.length = 0;
+    runtimeErrors.length = 0;
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    delete process.env.OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+    delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+    delete process.env.OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PASSWORD;
+    delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_PASSWORD;
+    serviceMock.isLoaded.mockResolvedValue(false);
+    await fs.writeFile(configPath, JSON.stringify({}, null, 2));
+    clearConfigCache();
+  });
+
+  it("fails closed when token SecretRef is required but unresolved", async () => {
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      configPath,
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          secrets: {
+            providers: {
+              default: { source: "env" },
+            },
+          },
+          gateway: {
+            auth: {
+              mode: "token",
+              token: {
+                source: "env",
+                provider: "default",
+                id: "MISSING_GATEWAY_TOKEN",
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        },
+        null,
+        2,
+      ),
+    );
+    clearConfigCache();
+
+    await expect(runDaemonInstall({ json: true })).rejects.toThrow("__exit__:1");
+    expect(serviceMock.install).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    const joined = runtimeLogs.join("\n");
+    expect(joined).toContain("SecretRef is configured but unresolved");
+    expect(joined).toContain("MISSING_GATEWAY_TOKEN");
+  });
+
+  it("auto-mints token when no source exists and persists the same token used for install env", async () => {
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      configPath,
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          gateway: {
+            auth: {
+              mode: "token",
+            },
+          },
+        },
+        null,
+        2,
+      ),
+    );
+    clearConfigCache();
+
+    await runDaemonInstall({ json: true });
+
+    expect(serviceMock.install).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    const updated = await readJson(configPath);
+    const gateway = (updated.gateway ?? {}) as { auth?: { token?: string } };
+    const persistedToken = gateway.auth?.token;
+    expect(typeof persistedToken).toBe("string");
+    expect((persistedToken ?? "").length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+    const installEnv = serviceMock.install.mock.calls[0]?.[0]?.environment;
+    expect(installEnv?.OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN).toBe(persistedToken);
+  });
+});

src/cli/daemon-cli/install.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import type { DaemonActionResponse } from "./response.js";
+
+const loadConfigMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const readConfigFileSnapshotMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const resolveGatewayPortMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(() => 18789));
+const writeConfigFileMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const resolveIsNixModeMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(() => false));
+const resolveSecretInputRefMock = vi.hoisted(() =>
+  vi.fn((): { ref: unknown } => ({ ref: undefined })),
+);
+const resolveGatewayAuthMock = vi.hoisted(() =>
+  vi.fn(() => ({
+    mode: "token",
+    token: undefined,
+    password: undefined,
+    allowTailscale: false,
+  })),
+);
+const resolveSecretRefValuesMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const randomTokenMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(() => "generated-token"));
+const buildGatewayInstallPlanMock = vi.hoisted(() =>
+  vi.fn(async () => ({
+    programArguments: ["openclaw", "gateway", "run"],
+    workingDirectory: "/tmp",
+    environment: {},
+  })),
+);
+const parsePortMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(() => null));
+const isGatewayDaemonRuntimeMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(() => true));
+const installDaemonServiceAndEmitMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => {}));
+
+const actionState = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  warnings: [] as string[],
+  emitted: [] as DaemonActionResponse[],
+  failed: [] as Array<{ message: string; hints?: string[] }>,
+}));
+
+const service = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  label: "Gateway",
+  loadedText: "loaded",
+  notLoadedText: "not loaded",
+  isLoaded: vi.fn(async () => false),
+  install: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+  uninstall: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+  restart: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+  stop: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+  readCommand: vi.fn(async () => null),
+  readRuntime: vi.fn(async () => ({ status: "stopped" as const })),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../config/config.js", () => ({
+  loadConfig: loadConfigMock,
+  readConfigFileSnapshot: readConfigFileSnapshotMock,
+  resolveGatewayPort: resolveGatewayPortMock,
+  writeConfigFile: writeConfigFileMock,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../config/paths.js", () => ({
+  resolveIsNixMode: resolveIsNixModeMock,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../config/types.secrets.js", () => ({
+  resolveSecretInputRef: resolveSecretInputRefMock,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../gateway/auth.js", () => ({
+  resolveGatewayAuth: resolveGatewayAuthMock,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../secrets/resolve.js", () => ({
+  resolveSecretRefValues: resolveSecretRefValuesMock,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../commands/onboard-helpers.js", () => ({
+  randomToken: randomTokenMock,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../commands/daemon-install-helpers.js", () => ({
+  buildGatewayInstallPlan: buildGatewayInstallPlanMock,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./shared.js", () => ({
+  parsePort: parsePortMock,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../commands/daemon-runtime.js", () => ({
+  DEFAULT_GATEWAY_DAEMON_RUNTIME: "node",
+  isGatewayDaemonRuntime: isGatewayDaemonRuntimeMock,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("../../daemon/service.js", () => ({
+  resolveGatewayService: () => service,
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./response.js", () => ({
+  buildDaemonServiceSnapshot: vi.fn(),
+  createDaemonActionContext: vi.fn(() => ({
+    stdout: process.stdout,
+    warnings: actionState.warnings,
+    emit: (payload: DaemonActionResponse) => {
+      actionState.emitted.push(payload);
+    },
+    fail: (message: string, hints?: string[]) => {
+      actionState.failed.push({ message, hints });
+    },
+  })),
+  installDaemonServiceAndEmit: installDaemonServiceAndEmitMock,
+}));
+
+const runtimeLogs: string[] = [];
+vi.mock("../../runtime.js", () => ({
+  defaultRuntime: {
+    log: (message: string) => runtimeLogs.push(message),
+    error: vi.fn(),
+    exit: vi.fn(),
+  },
+}));
+
+const { runDaemonInstall } = await import("./install.js");
+
+describe("runDaemonInstall", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    loadConfigMock.mockReset();
+    readConfigFileSnapshotMock.mockReset();
+    resolveGatewayPortMock.mockClear();
+    writeConfigFileMock.mockReset();
+    resolveIsNixModeMock.mockReset();
+    resolveSecretInputRefMock.mockReset();
+    resolveGatewayAuthMock.mockReset();
+    resolveSecretRefValuesMock.mockReset();
+    randomTokenMock.mockReset();
+    buildGatewayInstallPlanMock.mockReset();
+    parsePortMock.mockReset();
+    isGatewayDaemonRuntimeMock.mockReset();
+    installDaemonServiceAndEmitMock.mockReset();
+    service.isLoaded.mockReset();
+    runtimeLogs.length = 0;
+    actionState.warnings.length = 0;
+    actionState.emitted.length = 0;
+    actionState.failed.length = 0;
+
+    loadConfigMock.mockReturnValue({ gateway: { auth: { mode: "token" } } });
+    readConfigFileSnapshotMock.mockResolvedValue({ exists: false, valid: true, config: {} });
+    resolveGatewayPortMock.mockReturnValue(18789);
+    resolveIsNixModeMock.mockReturnValue(false);
+    resolveSecretInputRefMock.mockReturnValue({ ref: undefined });
+    resolveGatewayAuthMock.mockReturnValue({
+      mode: "token",
+      token: undefined,
+      password: undefined,
+      allowTailscale: false,
+    });
+    resolveSecretRefValuesMock.mockResolvedValue(new Map());
+    randomTokenMock.mockReturnValue("generated-token");
+    buildGatewayInstallPlanMock.mockResolvedValue({
+      programArguments: ["openclaw", "gateway", "run"],
+      workingDirectory: "/tmp",
+      environment: {},
+    });
+    parsePortMock.mockReturnValue(null);
+    isGatewayDaemonRuntimeMock.mockReturnValue(true);
+    installDaemonServiceAndEmitMock.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    service.isLoaded.mockResolvedValue(false);
+  });
+
+  it("fails install when token auth requires an unresolved token SecretRef", async () => {
+    resolveSecretInputRefMock.mockReturnValue({
+      ref: { source: "env", provider: "default", id: "OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN" },
+    });
+    resolveSecretRefValuesMock.mockRejectedValue(new Error("secret unavailable"));
+
+    await runDaemonInstall({ json: true });
+
+    expect(actionState.failed[0]?.message).toContain("gateway.auth.token SecretRef is configured");
+    expect(actionState.failed[0]?.message).toContain("unresolved");
+    expect(buildGatewayInstallPlanMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(installDaemonServiceAndEmitMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("validates token SecretRef but does not serialize resolved token into service env", async () => {
+    resolveSecretInputRefMock.mockReturnValue({
+      ref: { source: "env", provider: "default", id: "OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN" },
+    });
+    resolveSecretRefValuesMock.mockResolvedValue(
+      new Map([["env:default:OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN", "resolved-from-secretref"]]),
+    );
+
+    await runDaemonInstall({ json: true });
+
+    expect(actionState.failed).toEqual([]);
+    expect(buildGatewayInstallPlanMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        token: undefined,
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(writeConfigFileMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(
+      actionState.warnings.some((warning) =>
+        warning.includes("gateway.auth.token is SecretRef-managed"),
+      ),
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("does not treat env-template gateway.auth.token as plaintext during install", async () => {
+    loadConfigMock.mockReturnValue({
+      gateway: { auth: { mode: "token", token: "${OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN}" } },
+    });
+    resolveSecretInputRefMock.mockReturnValue({
+      ref: { source: "env", provider: "default", id: "OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN" },
+    });
+    resolveSecretRefValuesMock.mockResolvedValue(
+      new Map([["env:default:OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN", "resolved-from-secretref"]]),
+    );
+
+    await runDaemonInstall({ json: true });
+
+    expect(actionState.failed).toEqual([]);
+    expect(resolveSecretRefValuesMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(buildGatewayInstallPlanMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        token: undefined,
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("auto-mints and persists token when no source exists", async () => {
+    randomTokenMock.mockReturnValue("minted-token");
+    readConfigFileSnapshotMock.mockResolvedValue({
+      exists: true,
+      valid: true,
+      config: { gateway: { auth: { mode: "token" } } },
+    });
+
+    await runDaemonInstall({ json: true });
+
+    expect(actionState.failed).toEqual([]);
+    expect(writeConfigFileMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    const writtenConfig = writeConfigFileMock.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as {
+      gateway?: { auth?: { token?: string } };
+    };
+    expect(writtenConfig.gateway?.auth?.token).toBe("minted-token");
+    expect(buildGatewayInstallPlanMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ token: "minted-token", port: 18789 }),
+    );
+    expect(installDaemonServiceAndEmitMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(actionState.warnings.some((warning) => warning.includes("Auto-generated"))).toBe(true);
+  });
+});

src/cli/daemon-cli/install.ts

@@ -3,16 +3,10 @@ import {
   DEFAULT_GATEWAY_DAEMON_RUNTIME,
   isGatewayDaemonRuntime,
 } from "../../commands/daemon-runtime.js";
-import { randomToken } from "../../commands/onboard-helpers.js";
-import {
-  loadConfig,
-  readConfigFileSnapshot,
-  resolveGatewayPort,
-  writeConfigFile,
-} from "../../config/config.js";
+import { resolveGatewayInstallToken } from "../../commands/gateway-install-token.js";
+import { loadConfig, resolveGatewayPort } from "../../config/config.js";
 import { resolveIsNixMode } from "../../config/paths.js";
 import { resolveGatewayService } from "../../daemon/service.js";
-import { resolveGatewayAuth } from "../../gateway/auth.js";
 import { defaultRuntime } from "../../runtime.js";
 import { formatCliCommand } from "../command-format.js";
 import {
@@ -75,78 +69,29 @@ export async function runDaemonInstall(opts: DaemonInstallOptions) {
     }
   }
 
-  // Resolve effective auth mode to determine if token auto-generation is needed.
-  // Password-mode and Tailscale-only installs do not need a token.
-  const resolvedAuth = resolveGatewayAuth({
-    authConfig: cfg.gateway?.auth,
-    tailscaleMode: cfg.gateway?.tailscale?.mode ?? "off",
+  const tokenResolution = await resolveGatewayInstallToken({
+    config: cfg,
+    env: process.env,
+    explicitToken: opts.token,
+    autoGenerateWhenMissing: true,
+    persistGeneratedToken: true,
   });
-  const needsToken =
-    resolvedAuth.mode === "token" && !resolvedAuth.token && !resolvedAuth.allowTailscale;
-
-  let token: string | undefined =
-    opts.token ||
-    cfg.gateway?.auth?.token ||
-    process.env.OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN ||
-    process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
-
-  if (!token && needsToken) {
-    token = randomToken();
-    const warnMsg = "No gateway token found. Auto-generated one and saving to config.";
+  if (tokenResolution.unavailableReason) {
+    fail(`Gateway install blocked: ${tokenResolution.unavailableReason}`);
+    return;
+  }
+  for (const warning of tokenResolution.warnings) {
     if (json) {
-      warnings.push(warnMsg);
+      warnings.push(warning);
     } else {
-      defaultRuntime.log(warnMsg);
-    }
-
-    // Persist to config file so the gateway reads it at runtime
-    // (launchd does not inherit shell env vars, and CLI tools also
-    // read gateway.auth.token from config for gateway calls).
-    try {
-      const snapshot = await readConfigFileSnapshot();
-      if (snapshot.exists && !snapshot.valid) {
-        // Config file exists but is corrupt/unparseable — don't risk overwriting.
-        // Token is still embedded in the plist EnvironmentVariables.
-        const msg = "Warning: config file exists but is invalid; skipping token persistence.";
-        if (json) {
-          warnings.push(msg);
-        } else {
-          defaultRuntime.log(msg);
-        }
-      } else {
-        const baseConfig = snapshot.exists ? snapshot.config : {};
-        if (!baseConfig.gateway?.auth?.token) {
-          await writeConfigFile({
-            ...baseConfig,
-            gateway: {
-              ...baseConfig.gateway,
-              auth: {
-                ...baseConfig.gateway?.auth,
-                mode: baseConfig.gateway?.auth?.mode ?? "token",
-                token,
-              },
-            },
-          });
-        } else {
-          // Another process wrote a token between loadConfig() and now.
-          token = baseConfig.gateway.auth.token;
-        }
-      }
-    } catch (err) {
-      // Non-fatal: token is still embedded in the plist EnvironmentVariables.
-      const msg = `Warning: could not persist token to config: ${String(err)}`;
-      if (json) {
-        warnings.push(msg);
-      } else {
-        defaultRuntime.log(msg);
-      }
+      defaultRuntime.log(warning);
     }
   }
 
   const { programArguments, workingDirectory, environment } = await buildGatewayInstallPlan({
     env: process.env,
     port,
-    token,
+    token: tokenResolution.token,
     runtime: runtimeRaw,
     warn: (message) => {
       if (json) {

src/cli/daemon-cli/lifecycle-core.ts

@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ import { checkTokenDrift } from "../../daemon/service-audit.js";
 import type { GatewayService } from "../../daemon/service.js";
 import { renderSystemdUnavailableHints } from "../../daemon/systemd-hints.js";
 import { isSystemdUserServiceAvailable } from "../../daemon/systemd.js";
-import { resolveGatewayCredentialsFromConfig } from "../../gateway/credentials.js";
+import {
+  isGatewaySecretRefUnavailableError,
+  resolveGatewayCredentialsFromConfig,
+} from "../../gateway/credentials.js";
 import { isWSL } from "../../infra/wsl.js";
 import { defaultRuntime } from "../../runtime.js";
 import {
@@ -299,8 +302,15 @@ export async function runServiceRestart(params: {
           }
         }
       }
-    } catch {
-      // Non-fatal: token drift check is best-effort
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (isGatewaySecretRefUnavailableError(err, "gateway.auth.token")) {
+        const warning =
+          "Unable to verify gateway token drift: gateway.auth.token SecretRef is configured but unavailable in this command path.";
+        warnings.push(warning);
+        if (!json) {
+          defaultRuntime.log(`\n⚠️  ${warning}\n`);
+        }
+      }
     }
   }
 

src/cli/daemon-cli/status.gather.test.ts

@@ -123,12 +123,14 @@ describe("gatherDaemonStatus", () => {
       "OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH",
       "OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN",
       "OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PASSWORD",
+      "DAEMON_GATEWAY_TOKEN",
       "DAEMON_GATEWAY_PASSWORD",
     ]);
     process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR = "/tmp/openclaw-cli";
     process.env.OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH = "/tmp/openclaw-cli/openclaw.json";
     delete process.env.OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
     delete process.env.OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PASSWORD;
+    delete process.env.DAEMON_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
     delete process.env.DAEMON_GATEWAY_PASSWORD;
     callGatewayStatusProbe.mockClear();
     loadGatewayTlsRuntime.mockClear();
@@ -218,6 +220,37 @@ describe("gatherDaemonStatus", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it("resolves daemon gateway auth token SecretRef values before probing", async () => {
+    daemonLoadedConfig = {
+      gateway: {
+        bind: "lan",
+        tls: { enabled: true },
+        auth: {
+          mode: "token",
+          token: "${DAEMON_GATEWAY_TOKEN}",
+        },
+      },
+      secrets: {
+        providers: {
+          default: { source: "env" },
+        },
+      },
+    };
+    process.env.DAEMON_GATEWAY_TOKEN = "daemon-secretref-token";
+
+    await gatherDaemonStatus({
+      rpc: {},
+      probe: true,
+      deep: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(callGatewayStatusProbe).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        token: "daemon-secretref-token",
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
   it("does not resolve daemon password SecretRef when token auth is configured", async () => {
     daemonLoadedConfig = {
       gateway: {

src/cli/daemon-cli/status.gather.ts

@@ -9,7 +9,11 @@ import type {
   GatewayBindMode,
   GatewayControlUiConfig,
 } from "../../config/types.js";
-import { normalizeSecretInputString, resolveSecretInputRef } from "../../config/types.secrets.js";
+import {
+  hasConfiguredSecretInput,
+  normalizeSecretInputString,
+  resolveSecretInputRef,
+} from "../../config/types.secrets.js";
 import { readLastGatewayErrorLine } from "../../daemon/diagnostics.js";
 import type { FindExtraGatewayServicesOptions } from "../../daemon/inspect.js";
 import { findExtraGatewayServices } from "../../daemon/inspect.js";
@@ -114,6 +118,61 @@ function readGatewayTokenEnv(env: Record<string, string | undefined>): string |
   return trimToUndefined(env.OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN) ?? trimToUndefined(env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN);
 }
 
+function readGatewayPasswordEnv(env: Record<string, string | undefined>): string | undefined {
+  return (
+    trimToUndefined(env.OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PASSWORD) ?? trimToUndefined(env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_PASSWORD)
+  );
+}
+
+async function resolveDaemonProbeToken(params: {
+  daemonCfg: OpenClawConfig;
+  mergedDaemonEnv: Record<string, string | undefined>;
+  explicitToken?: string;
+  explicitPassword?: string;
+}): Promise<string | undefined> {
+  const explicitToken = trimToUndefined(params.explicitToken);
+  if (explicitToken) {
+    return explicitToken;
+  }
+  const envToken = readGatewayTokenEnv(params.mergedDaemonEnv);
+  if (envToken) {
+    return envToken;
+  }
+  const defaults = params.daemonCfg.secrets?.defaults;
+  const configured = params.daemonCfg.gateway?.auth?.token;
+  const { ref } = resolveSecretInputRef({
+    value: configured,
+    defaults,
+  });
+  if (!ref) {
+    return normalizeSecretInputString(configured);
+  }
+  const authMode = params.daemonCfg.gateway?.auth?.mode;
+  if (authMode === "password" || authMode === "none" || authMode === "trusted-proxy") {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  if (authMode !== "token") {
+    const passwordCandidate =
+      trimToUndefined(params.explicitPassword) ||
+      readGatewayPasswordEnv(params.mergedDaemonEnv) ||
+      (hasConfiguredSecretInput(params.daemonCfg.gateway?.auth?.password, defaults)
+        ? "__configured__"
+        : undefined);
+    if (passwordCandidate) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+  }
+  const resolved = await resolveSecretRefValues([ref], {
+    config: params.daemonCfg,
+    env: params.mergedDaemonEnv as NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
+  });
+  const token = trimToUndefined(resolved.get(secretRefKey(ref)));
+  if (!token) {
+    throw new Error("gateway.auth.token resolved to an empty or non-string value.");
+  }
+  return token;
+}
+
 async function resolveDaemonProbePassword(params: {
   daemonCfg: OpenClawConfig;
   mergedDaemonEnv: Record<string, string | undefined>;
@@ -124,7 +183,7 @@ async function resolveDaemonProbePassword(params: {
   if (explicitPassword) {
     return explicitPassword;
   }
-  const envPassword = trimToUndefined(params.mergedDaemonEnv.OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PASSWORD);
+  const envPassword = readGatewayPasswordEnv(params.mergedDaemonEnv);
   if (envPassword) {
     return envPassword;
   }
@@ -145,7 +204,9 @@ async function resolveDaemonProbePassword(params: {
     const tokenCandidate =
       trimToUndefined(params.explicitToken) ||
       readGatewayTokenEnv(params.mergedDaemonEnv) ||
-      trimToUndefined(params.daemonCfg.gateway?.auth?.token);
+      (hasConfiguredSecretInput(params.daemonCfg.gateway?.auth?.token, defaults)
+        ? "__configured__"
+        : undefined);
     if (tokenCandidate) {
       return undefined;
     }
@@ -290,14 +351,19 @@ export async function gatherDaemonStatus(
         explicitPassword: opts.rpc.password,
       })
     : undefined;
+  const daemonProbeToken = opts.probe
+    ? await resolveDaemonProbeToken({
+        daemonCfg,
+        mergedDaemonEnv,
+        explicitToken: opts.rpc.token,
+        explicitPassword: opts.rpc.password,
+      })
+    : undefined;
 
   const rpc = opts.probe
     ? await probeGatewayStatus({
         url: probeUrl,
-        token:
-          opts.rpc.token ||
-          mergedDaemonEnv.OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN ||
-          daemonCfg.gateway?.auth?.token,
+        token: daemonProbeToken,
         password: daemonProbePassword,
         tlsFingerprint:
           shouldUseLocalTlsRuntime && tlsRuntime?.enabled