diff --git a/.github/workflows/ql3-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ql3-ci.yml
index 834786ea..1d081a9c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ql3-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ql3-ci.yml
@@ -1219,6 +1219,92 @@ jobs:
           overwrite: false
           include-hidden-files: false
 
+  cluster-vault-kv-worker-secret-live:
+    name: Vault KV Worker Secret direct custody (${{ matrix.arch }})
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.runner }}
+    timeout-minutes: 20
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        include:
+          - runner: ubuntu-24.04
+            arch: x64
+            kubernetesArch: amd64
+          - runner: ubuntu-24.04-arm
+            arch: arm64
+            kubernetesArch: arm64
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: pnpm/action-setup@v6
+        with:
+          version: '8.3.1'
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
+        with:
+          node-version: '24.18.0'
+          cache: pnpm
+          cache-dependency-path: pnpm-lock.yaml
+      - name: Verify native runner architecture
+        run: node -e "if (process.arch !== '${{ matrix.arch }}') throw new Error('unexpected architecture ' + process.arch)"
+      - name: Install workspace dependencies without lifecycle scripts
+        run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile --ignore-scripts
+      - name: Install verified kubectl v1.34.3
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          curl --fail --location --silent --show-error \
+            --output "${RUNNER_TEMP}/kubectl" \
+            "https://dl.k8s.io/release/v1.34.3/bin/linux/${{ matrix.kubernetesArch }}/kubectl"
+          curl --fail --location --silent --show-error \
+            --output "${RUNNER_TEMP}/kubectl.sha256" \
+            "https://dl.k8s.io/release/v1.34.3/bin/linux/${{ matrix.kubernetesArch }}/kubectl.sha256"
+          test "$(cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/kubectl.sha256")" = \
+            "$(sha256sum "${RUNNER_TEMP}/kubectl" | cut -d ' ' -f 1)"
+          chmod 0755 "${RUNNER_TEMP}/kubectl"
+      - name: Build the direct custody adapter
+        run: |
+          pnpm --filter @qinglong/runtime-core build
+          pnpm --filter @qinglong/cluster-control build
+      - name: Verify the fail-closed adapter and evidence contracts
+        run: |
+          node --test \
+            packages/ql3-cluster-control/test/vaultKvSecretProvider.test.cjs \
+            packages/ql3-cluster-control/test/vaultKvWorkerIngressConfig.test.cjs \
+            test/back/ql3VaultKvWorkerSecretLiveAudit.test.cjs \
+            test/back/ql3VaultKvWorkerSecretDeploymentAudit.test.cjs
+          pnpm audit:vault-kv-worker-secret-deployment:ql3
+          "${RUNNER_TEMP}/kubectl" kustomize \
+            deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret \
+            >/dev/null
+      - name: Preload the digest-pinned native Vault image
+        run: docker pull docker.io/hashicorp/vault@sha256:4e33b126a59c0c333b76fb4e894722462659a6bec7c48c9ee8cea56fccfd2569
+      - name: Prove TLS, least privilege, value and token rotation, seal and recovery
+        env:
+          QL3_RUN_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_LIVE: 'true'
+          QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_REPORT: ${{ runner.temp }}/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret/report.json
+        run: |
+          umask 077
+          mkdir -m 0700 "$(dirname "${QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_REPORT}")"
+          node scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-contract.cjs >/dev/null
+      - name: Re-audit content-free direct custody evidence and cleanup
+        env:
+          QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_REPORT: ${{ runner.temp }}/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret/report.json
+        run: |
+          test "$(stat -c '%a' "${QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_REPORT}")" = '600'
+          pnpm audit:vault-kv-worker-secret-live:ql3 \
+            "--report=${QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_REPORT}"
+          sha256sum "${QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_REPORT}"
+          test -z "$(docker ps -aq --filter name=ql3-vault-kv-worker-)"
+      - name: Upload audited content-free Vault KV custody evidence
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7.0.1
+        with:
+          name: ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-${{ matrix.arch }}-${{ github.run_id }}-${{ github.run_attempt }}
+          path: ${{ runner.temp }}/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret/report.json
+          if-no-files-found: error
+          retention-days: 14
+          compression-level: 9
+          overwrite: false
+          include-hidden-files: false
+
   cluster-plugin-package-kubernetes-live:
     name: Plugin Package Kubernetes CAS and RBAC live contract
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
diff --git a/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/README.md b/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/README.md
index ea8204ea..d330a68e 100644
--- a/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/README.md
+++ b/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/README.md
@@ -1032,6 +1032,22 @@ Kubernetes API permission. Version-pinned SecretRefs use a different hash and
 remain immutable by policy; retain their files until referenced Run/Artifact
 retention has completed.
 
+For deployments that require direct external custody, use the optional
+`vault-kv-worker-secret` overlay instead of projecting value files:
+
+```bash
+kubectl kustomize \
+  deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret >/dev/null
+```
+
+That overlay mounts only a private Vault CA and a short-lived, orphan,
+non-renewable read token. The adapter revalidates the token and fetches exact
+digest-derived KV v2 paths over TLS 1.3 for every authorized delivery; it has no
+cache, watcher, renewal loop or fallback to `mounted-files`. Follow the
+overlay's README for the exact policy, payload and token-rotation contract.
+External Vault HA, seal custody, audit devices, backup and disaster recovery
+remain deployment-specific gates.
+
 Create a distinct migration Secret:
 
 ```yaml
diff --git a/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/README.md b/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..96d3aef6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+# Vault KV v2 Worker Secret custody
+
+This overlay replaces the base `mounted-files` value projection with direct,
+TLS 1.3 Vault KV v2 resolution. The control Pods mount only the private Vault
+CA and one short-lived read token; Secret values and opaque Legacy Env bundles
+remain in Vault and are fetched only after the durable Worker delivery authority
+has been validated.
+
+The exact Vault policy is read-only:
+
+```hcl
+path "worker-secrets/data/values/production/*" {
+  capabilities = ["read"]
+}
+
+path "auth/token/lookup-self" {
+  capabilities = ["read"]
+}
+```
+
+Issue an orphan, non-renewable service token with only that policy and a TTL no
+greater than 15 minutes. Rotate the projected `token` atomically before expiry;
+the adapter rereads and revalidates it for every authorized resolution. A Vault
+Agent or external Secret operator may own this projection, but must not project
+the actual Worker Secret values.
+
+Store each value at
+`worker-secrets/data/values/production/<sha256(canonical SecretRef)>` with this
+exact KV payload:
+
+```json
+{
+  "schemaVersion": 1,
+  "secretRefDigest": "<same 64-hex path key>",
+  "encoding": "base64",
+  "value": "<canonical base64 bytes>"
+}
+```
+
+Create the two private Kubernetes Secret objects from
+`credentials.example.yaml` through the deployment authority, then render:
+
+```sh
+kubectl kustomize deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret
+```
+
+The overlay intentionally does not create a NetworkPolicy because the base
+control-plane deployment has no universal egress policy and external Vault
+topologies differ. If the namespace is default-deny, explicitly allow DNS,
+PostgreSQL, the artifact store and TCP 8200 only to the reviewed Vault identity.
diff --git a/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/credentials.example.yaml b/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/credentials.example.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6d5d8092
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/credentials.example.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Create these objects through the deployment's Secret authority; do not commit
+# real CA or token material. The Vault token must be an orphan, non-renewable
+# service token with only ql3-worker-secret-read and at most a 15-minute TTL.
+apiVersion: v1
+kind: Secret
+metadata:
+  name: ql3-cluster-worker-vault-trust
+  namespace: qinglong3-system
+type: Opaque
+stringData:
+  ca.pem: REPLACE_WITH_PRIVATE_VAULT_CA_PEM
+---
+apiVersion: v1
+kind: Secret
+metadata:
+  name: ql3-cluster-worker-vault-auth
+  namespace: qinglong3-system
+type: Opaque
+stringData:
+  token: REPLACE_WITH_SHORT_LIVED_ORPHAN_VAULT_TOKEN
diff --git a/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/deployment-patch.yaml b/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/deployment-patch.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8671e1e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/deployment-patch.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+apiVersion: apps/v1
+kind: Deployment
+metadata:
+  name: ql3-cluster-control
+spec:
+  template:
+    spec:
+      containers:
+        - name: cluster-control
+          env:
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_PROVIDER
+              value: vault-kv-v2
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_ROOT_DIRECTORY
+              $patch: delete
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_ENDPOINT
+              value: https://vault.vault.svc.cluster.local:8200
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_CA_FILE
+              value: /var/run/secrets/qinglong3/worker-vault-trust/ca.pem
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_TOKEN_FILE
+              value: /var/run/secrets/qinglong3/worker-vault-auth/token
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_KV_MOUNT
+              value: worker-secrets
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_PATH_PREFIX
+              value: values/production
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_EXPECTED_POLICY
+              value: ql3-worker-secret-read
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_TOKEN_TTL_SECONDS
+              value: '900'
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS
+              value: '5000'
+            - name: QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_CONCURRENCY
+              value: '4'
+          volumeMounts:
+            - name: worker-secret-values
+              $patch: delete
+            - name: worker-vault-trust
+              mountPath: /var/run/secrets/qinglong3/worker-vault-trust
+              readOnly: true
+            - name: worker-vault-auth
+              mountPath: /var/run/secrets/qinglong3/worker-vault-auth
+              readOnly: true
+      volumes:
+        - name: worker-secret-values
+          $patch: delete
+        - name: worker-vault-trust
+          secret:
+            secretName: ql3-cluster-worker-vault-trust
+            defaultMode: 292
+            items:
+              - key: ca.pem
+                path: ca.pem
+        - name: worker-vault-auth
+          secret:
+            secretName: ql3-cluster-worker-vault-auth
+            defaultMode: 288
+            items:
+              - key: token
+                path: token
diff --git a/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/kustomization.yaml b/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/kustomization.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b658c45c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret/kustomization.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
+kind: Kustomization
+
+resources:
+  - ../base
+
+patches:
+  - path: deployment-patch.yaml
diff --git a/docs/QINGLONG_3_0_ARCHITECTURE_RFC.md b/docs/QINGLONG_3_0_ARCHITECTURE_RFC.md
index 3daa251b..2f6ea7da 100644
--- a/docs/QINGLONG_3_0_ARCHITECTURE_RFC.md
+++ b/docs/QINGLONG_3_0_ARCHITECTURE_RFC.md
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 
 最新增量证据（2026-08-24）：
 
+- D-404/ADR-0499（已验收）：Cluster Worker 现在有可选的直接外部 Secret custody adapter，而不再只能依赖 Kubernetes Secret value projection。`vault-kv-v2` 位于既有 `@qinglong/cluster-control` Remote Execution 子域，只有显式选择 provider 的 Cluster 进程才动态加载；基础部署继续使用 `mounted-files`，Edge/Standalone 不新增 package、依赖、daemon、timer、watcher、连接池或常驻内存。adapter 只在 durable Run/Attempt/Lease/Worker Session/execution digest/SecretRef authority 通过后，用 `SHA-256(canonical SecretRef)` 路径读取 KV v2；只接受显式私有 CA 的 TLS 1.3、每次重新打开的短期 orphan/non-renewable service token 和唯一精确 policy，不跟随 redirect、不使用系统 CA 回退、不缓存值或 token。Kubernetes overlay 删除 value Secret projection，只挂载 CA 与 token；普通 Secret、opaque environment bundle 和总响应仍受原 16/96/256 KiB 边界约束，空 Secret 保持合法，异常 envelope、metadata、digest、token、TLS 或 Vault availability 均失败关闭且不回退。真实 arm64 Vault 1.21.4 gate 已完成 3-share/2-threshold init、两个普通 Secret 与一个 bundle、value/token 原子轮换、旧 accessor revoke、缺失 material、不可信 CA、seal/unseal 与同持久存储容器替换；`0600` content-free 报告 SHA-256 为 `df225509cb763009b610cb0aea2207e0b07b5e05a44cf8cf0dff1633c1624d52`，audit 为 `compatible=true/findings=[]`。Cluster Control 为 `279 total / 277 pass / 2 conditional skip / 0 fail`，backend 为 `1574 total / 1572 pass / 2 conditional skip / 0 fail`，18-package clean build/test 退出 0；package、Cluster dependency、122-module Edge import、部署和 14 档 Local artifact 审计全部 compatible，基础 Edge/Standalone 仍为 `2,669,390 / 2,669,468 bytes`、325 files、58 modules。共享 CI 新增原生 x64/arm64 live matrix。该 fixture 关闭 QingLong 直接 custody adapter/data-boundary 门，不冒充生产 Vault HA、KMS/HSM seal、审计设备或灾备证明；ADR-0491 现在只剩固定低性能物理 Edge 的真实空间、RSS/I/O、写放大、ENOSPC 与断电恢复门。
+
 - D-397/ADR-0491（进行中）：Secret/Config reconciliation 已先冻结行为保持边界，不能把“密文已保存”冒充“任务已迁移”。2.x `Envs`
   的 active 行必须按 `isPinned DESC、position DESC、createdAt ASC、id ASC` 重放旧顺序，同名值用 `&` 形成唯一 effective Secret；该
   Secret 后续必须在同一事务中绑定到经 Automation adoption ledger 证明的全部 Legacy Task 新修订，并同步追加指向新 Task revision 的 Trigger/dispatch
@@ -87,8 +89,7 @@
   因而不重跑且不重新占有 PostgreSQL HA 证明；相邻已通过的 remote CI/HA 只作为基线。
 
   D-385～D-388 的 `config.sh`/Keyv/SSH data-directory lineage 与 SQLite `Envs` 保持分离；当前无稳定生产 schema 的历史 `Configs` 表继续 sealed+manual，
-  不猜字段。ADR-0494 已关闭基础 Cluster mounted-files provider live 子门；后续切片仍必须完成固定低性能设备的真实 Edge 空间/写放大/断电证据，
-  以及 Cluster Legacy Env migration 的专用 PostgreSQL SERIALIZABLE ledger、Task/Trigger revision mutation 与直接外部 custody adapter。HA promotion 后 receipt replay 已由 D-403/ADR-0498 关闭。D-397 apply
+  不猜字段。ADR-0494 已关闭基础 Cluster mounted-files provider live 子门，ADR-0495～ADR-0498 已关闭 Cluster plan/application/HA replay，ADR-0499 已关闭直接 Vault KV 外部 custody adapter；后续仍必须完成固定低性能设备的真实 Edge 空间、RSS/I/O、写放大、ENOSPC 与断电证据。D-397 apply
   只声明 sealed source retained 且 `physicalErasureGuaranteed=false`；明文销毁必须在 restart/
   readiness、观察窗和 rollback retention 之后另行强认证。Cluster 必须使用 PostgreSQL SERIALIZABLE ledger、外部 KMS/Secret provider 与 HA evidence，
   不复用 Local SQLite/POSIX authority，也不得把明文写入 PostgreSQL、ConfigMap、Pod env 或 Job command。
@@ -174,8 +175,8 @@
   `a7c8a05e08c748d677475a09ce2998b741ed9326e27678613e93d431bc3769aa`；
   真实用例覆盖 Trigger 固定 Task r1、Task current r2、原子生成 Task r3/Trigger r2 并重定向 pin，
   同时证明 bundle ref-only execution、schedule reset、无流消费 replay 与数据库角色隔离。D-402
-  关闭 mutation/receipt 边界；相邻 D-403 已继续关闭 promotion 后 receipt replay，direct external
-  custody 与固定低性能 Edge 物理证据仍是 ADR-0491 转 Accepted 前的门禁。
+  关闭 mutation/receipt 边界；相邻 D-403 已继续关闭 promotion 后 receipt replay，D-404/ADR-0499 已关闭 direct external
+  custody adapter；固定低性能 Edge 物理证据是 ADR-0491 转 Accepted 前唯一剩余门禁。
 
 - D-403/ADR-0498（已验收）：ADR-0497 application receipt 已进入真实 PostgreSQL 18 physical HA
   领域门，而不是继续引用通用表存活作为间接证据。主库与 standby 达到
@@ -199,8 +200,8 @@
   `1569 total / 1567 pass / 2 conditional skip / 0 fail`，四项 package/依赖/import 边界均 compatible。
   基础 Edge/Standalone 仍只包含 Local SQLite、runtime-core 与 SemVer，均为 325 files/58 modules，
   大小 `2,669,390 / 2,669,468 bytes`，距 4 MiB 上限保留 `1,524,914 / 1,524,836 bytes`；它只证明
-  常驻闭包未扩大，不冒充真实设备证据。D-403 关闭 promotion replay；ADR-0491 现在只剩 direct
-  external custody 与固定低性能 Edge 空间/写放大/断电恢复两项硬门。
+  常驻闭包未扩大，不冒充真实设备证据。D-403 关闭 promotion replay，D-404/ADR-0499 关闭 direct
+  external custody adapter；ADR-0491 现在只剩固定低性能 Edge 空间、RSS/I/O、写放大、ENOSPC 与断电恢复硬门。
 
 - D-396/ADR-0490（已验收）：Run History 不再只有永久 `manual_external`，但也没有被错误实现为 Legacy 日志到 3.0 Run ledger 的回灌。
   新的 Local adapter 以 ADR-0482 sealed capture bundle 作为 append-only 保全资产：Legacy history 必须逐事实选择 `retain_both`，Target history
diff --git a/docs/adr/ADR-0491-bounded-secret-config-reconciliation-and-task-binding.md b/docs/adr/ADR-0491-bounded-secret-config-reconciliation-and-task-binding.md
index 94653149..b970f82c 100644
--- a/docs/adr/ADR-0491-bounded-secret-config-reconciliation-and-task-binding.md
+++ b/docs/adr/ADR-0491-bounded-secret-config-reconciliation-and-task-binding.md
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # ADR-0491：有界 Secret/Config Reconciliation 与任务环境绑定
 
-- 状态：Proposed（D-397 已实现 Legacy Env inspection、私有有界 row plan、durable plan publication、独立 signed decision、逐项 Automation adoption provenance、Local SQLite 原子 application publisher、Owner prepared/apply/rollback 编排、ADR-0492 completion v3；ADR-0494 完成 Cluster mounted-files provider live 子门，ADR-0495 完成 content-free Cluster plan ledger，ADR-0496 完成 opaque environment bundle 数据面，ADR-0497 完成 Cluster Task/Trigger 原子 mutation 与 receipt，ADR-0498 完成 promotion 后 exact replay；真实 Edge 空间证据与直接外部 custody gate 尚未完成）
+- 状态：Proposed（D-397 已实现 Legacy Env inspection、私有有界 row plan、durable plan publication、独立 signed decision、逐项 Automation adoption provenance、Local SQLite 原子 application publisher、Owner prepared/apply/rollback 编排、ADR-0492 completion v3；ADR-0494 完成 Cluster mounted-files provider live 子门，ADR-0495 完成 content-free Cluster plan ledger，ADR-0496 完成 opaque environment bundle 数据面，ADR-0497 完成 Cluster Task/Trigger 原子 mutation 与 receipt，ADR-0498 完成 promotion 后 exact replay，ADR-0499 完成直接 Vault KV 外部 custody adapter；仅固定物理 Edge 证据尚未完成）
 - 日期：2026-08-23
 - 决策：D-397
-- 关联：ADR-0073、ADR-0074、ADR-0092、ADR-0094、ADR-0480、ADR-0482、ADR-0483、ADR-0484、ADR-0485、ADR-0486、ADR-0487、ADR-0488、ADR-0490、ADR-0495、ADR-0496、ADR-0497、ADR-0498
+- 关联：ADR-0073、ADR-0074、ADR-0092、ADR-0094、ADR-0480、ADR-0482、ADR-0483、ADR-0484、ADR-0485、ADR-0486、ADR-0487、ADR-0488、ADR-0490、ADR-0495、ADR-0496、ADR-0497、ADR-0498、ADR-0499
 
 ## 背景
 
@@ -147,4 +147,4 @@ D-397 当前八切片已经实现：absent、unsupported、Edge over-budget、2.
 
 ADR-0494 已完成 Cluster `mounted-files` provider live 子门：真实三节点 K3s 中两个 management replica、direct exact-key executor 和两个跨节点 provider observer 完成 PostgreSQL durable approval/binding、Kubernetes atomic projection rotation、无 Secret API 权限/ServiceAccount token、只读 `0440`、内容脱敏及删除后 fail-closed；v2 私有报告 24/24 gates 为 true，并保持 v1 verifier 兼容。该门不增加 Edge 闭包，也不等于直接 Vault/KMS/HSM custody。
 
-转为 Accepted 前仍必须完成：固定低性能 Edge 设备的真实空间/写放大/断电恢复证据，以及直接外部 custody adapter。ADR-0495 已完成专用 PostgreSQL plan ledger，ADR-0496 已完成只保存 pinned bundle ref、通过 fenced remote delivery 取回 typed carrier 并在 Worker 内存展开的数据面；ADR-0497 又在一个 Project-serialized SERIALIZABLE transaction 中完成逐项 Task/Trigger current-head revalidation、revision/execution mutation、schedule reset 和 content-free append-only receipt，并支持合法历史 Task pin。ADR-0498 已证明该首次提交在 `remote_apply` 下到达 standby，并在 timeline `1→2`、`pg_rewind` 重建同步副本后由 Automation Manager 精确重放为 `existing`，不打开 mutation stream 或增加 durable row。它仍不写入 Secret material，也不等于 direct Vault/KMS/HSM custody。ADR-0492 已完成本机 completion schema 演进和 completed-head 后 rollback material 回收，ADR-0493 又让没有 Legacy 身份输入的 fresh v52 目标身份经 signed `retain_target` 正确形成 no-effect，并精确消除六张已知目标表的 `unknown` 误判。Legacy `Auths/Users` 或真正未知表仍保持 manual；Local Owner 编排、mounted-files gate、plan/application ledger 或 HA replay 证据都不得冒充完整外部密钥托管。
+转为 Accepted 前仍必须完成固定低性能 Edge 设备的真实空间、RSS/I/O、写放大、ENOSPC 与断电恢复证据。ADR-0495 已完成专用 PostgreSQL plan ledger，ADR-0496 已完成只保存 pinned bundle ref、通过 fenced remote delivery 取回 typed carrier 并在 Worker 内存展开的数据面；ADR-0497 又在一个 Project-serialized SERIALIZABLE transaction 中完成逐项 Task/Trigger current-head revalidation、revision/execution mutation、schedule reset 和 content-free append-only receipt，并支持合法历史 Task pin。ADR-0498 已证明该首次提交在 `remote_apply` 下到达 standby，并在 timeline `1→2`、`pg_rewind` 重建同步副本后由 Automation Manager 精确重放为 `existing`，不打开 mutation stream 或增加 durable row。ADR-0499 进一步增加可选 `vault-kv-v2` provider：它只在 durable delivery authority 通过后，以 digest-derived path、显式 CA、TLS 1.3 和每次重新验证的短期最小权限 token 直接读取外部 Vault；Kubernetes overlay 不再投影真实值，本地 arm64 live gate 已覆盖 value/token rotation、revoke、seal/unseal、容器替换持久恢复与 content-free evidence。该单机 Vault fixture 只关闭 QingLong adapter/data-boundary 门，不冒充生产 Vault HA、KMS/HSM seal、审计设备或灾备证明。ADR-0492 已完成本机 completion schema 演进和 completed-head 后 rollback material 回收，ADR-0493 又让没有 Legacy 身份输入的 fresh v52 目标身份经 signed `retain_target` 正确形成 no-effect，并精确消除六张已知目标表的 `unknown` 误判。Legacy `Auths/Users` 或真正未知表仍保持 manual。
diff --git a/docs/adr/ADR-0499-direct-vault-kv-worker-secret-custody.md b/docs/adr/ADR-0499-direct-vault-kv-worker-secret-custody.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e1351ca6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/adr/ADR-0499-direct-vault-kv-worker-secret-custody.md
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+# ADR-0499：直接 Vault KV Worker Secret 外部托管
+
+- 状态：Accepted
+- 日期：2026-08-24
+- 决策：D-404
+- 关联：ADR-0058、ADR-0114、ADR-0233、ADR-0491、ADR-0494、ADR-0496、ADR-0497、ADR-0498
+
+## 背景
+
+ADR-0494 已证明 `mounted-files` provider 可以在 Kubernetes atomic projection 轮换后无重启读取新值，并且 Worker ingress 不需要 Secret API 权限。但该模式仍由 Kubernetes Secret 保存真实值，不能满足要求控制面只持有短期访问能力、密钥材料始终由外部托管系统保管的部署。
+
+QingLong 3.0 需要一个可选的直接外部 custody adapter，同时保持小型 Edge/Standalone 默认闭包不变，也不能把 Vault token、Secret 值、Legacy Env 名称或 provider 路径写入 PostgreSQL、Pod environment、公开 evidence 或日志。
+
+## 决策
+
+### 1. Provider 边界
+
+在既有 `@qinglong/cluster-control` Remote Execution 子域中增加 `vault-kv-v2` provider，不新建 workspace package。基础 Kubernetes 部署继续默认使用 `mounted-files`；只有显式选择 `QL3_WORKER_SECRET_PROVIDER=vault-kv-v2` 的 Cluster overlay 才加载该实现。Edge/Standalone 不导入 Cluster Control，因此其制品、常驻内存和依赖树不增加 Vault 客户端。
+
+provider 只在 durable Worker delivery authority 已经通过 Run、Attempt、Lease、Session、execution digest 和精确 SecretRef 集合校验后执行。每个路径由 `SHA-256(canonical SecretRef)` 推导，不把 SecretRef 或环境变量名放入 URL。普通 Secret 与 opaque environment bundle 继续分别服从 16 KiB、96 KiB 和总交付上限。
+
+### 2. 传输与身份
+
+实现只接受无凭据、无 path/query/fragment 的 `https://` authority，使用显式投影 CA，并要求协商 TLS 1.3；不跟随 redirect，不使用系统 CA 回退。控制 Pod 只投影 CA 和短期 token，不投影真实 Secret 值，也不挂载 ServiceAccount token。
+
+token 必须同时满足：
+
+- orphan、non-renewable、service token；
+- 只含一个精确配置的读取 policy；
+- 剩余 TTL 大于 0 且不超过配置上限，部署默认上限为 900 秒；
+- 每次 `verify` 或 `resolve` 都重新打开投影文件并调用 `auth/token/lookup-self`。
+
+实现没有 cache、watcher、timer、renewal loop 或后台连接。token 轮换由外部部署 authority 原子替换投影文件；旧 token 的撤销与新 token 的签发不由 QingLong 接管。Vault 不可达、封存、CA 不可信、token 过宽/过期或材料缺失时交付失败关闭，不回退到 `mounted-files`。
+
+### 3. KV v2 数据合同
+
+每个值固定存放在：
+
+```text
+<mount>/data/<prefix>/<sha256(canonical SecretRef)>
+```
+
+KV payload 必须是 exact shape：
+
+```json
+{
+  "schemaVersion": 1,
+  "secretRefDigest": "<same 64-hex digest>",
+  "encoding": "base64",
+  "value": "<canonical base64>"
+}
+```
+
+KV metadata 必须表明 version 为正整数、未删除且未销毁。空 Secret 是合法的 canonical base64；超限、非 canonical 编码、digest 不一致、未知字段或异常 metadata 均失败关闭。成功 material 在调用方 `dispose()` 时清零；报告和错误只暴露有界分类，不包含 endpoint path、token、SecretRef 或 value。
+
+### 4. Kubernetes 部署
+
+`deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret` overlay 删除基础部署的 value Secret env/mount/volume，只增加私有 CA 与短期 token 投影。示例文件只含占位符，仓库不保存可用 credential。
+
+Vault policy 固定为：
+
+```hcl
+path "worker-secrets/data/values/production/*" {
+  capabilities = ["read"]
+}
+
+path "auth/token/lookup-self" {
+  capabilities = ["read"]
+}
+```
+
+外部 Vault 的 HA、unseal、KMS/HSM seal、审计设备、备份和灾备属于部署方独立门禁。本 ADR 证明 QingLong 的直接 custody 数据边界，不把单机 Vault file storage fixture 冒充生产 Vault HA。
+
+## 被拒绝的替代方案
+
+### 在 PostgreSQL 或 ConfigMap 保存密文
+
+拒绝。即使值已加密，也会扩大数据库/配置平面的 custody、备份和读取权限，并把轮换与数据库生命周期绑定。
+
+### 给控制 Pod Kubernetes Secret API 权限
+
+拒绝。它扩大为 namespace 级读取能力，无法把访问限制到 durable delivery authority 中的精确引用。
+
+### 引入 Vault SDK、Agent sidecar 或常驻续租器作为必选依赖
+
+拒绝。直接 HTTPS adapter 已能满足有界请求；额外 SDK 或 sidecar 会扩大依赖、镜像、常驻内存和凭据生命周期。部署方可以负责 token projection，但不得通过该机制把真实值重新投影进 Pod。
+
+## 验证
+
+真实 arm64 live contract 使用 digest-pinned Vault 1.21.4、私有 TLS CA、3-share/2-threshold 初始化和短期 orphan token，完成两个普通 Secret 与一个 opaque environment bundle 的读取，并证明：
+
+- value 轮换和 token 原子轮换均无需重启；
+- 旧 token accessor 撤销后不再可用；
+- 缺失 material、不可信 CA 和 sealed Vault 均失败关闭；
+- unseal 后恢复，Vault 容器在同一持久存储上替换后值仍可读取；
+- 私有 `0600` 报告不含 token、SecretRef、value、证书私钥或 Vault path。
+
+最终本地报告 SHA-256 为 `df225509cb763009b610cb0aea2207e0b07b5e05a44cf8cf0dff1633c1624d52`，离线 audit 为 `compatible=true`、`findings=[]`。共享 CI 在原生 x64/arm64 runner 上分别构建 provider、审计 overlay、拉取同一 digest-pinned Vault image 并重跑完整 live contract；远程运行结果作为提交后的独立证据。
+
+本地完整验证中，Cluster Control 为 `279 total / 277 pass / 2 conditional skip / 0 fail`，backend 为 `1574 total / 1572 pass / 2 conditional skip / 0 fail`，18-package clean build/test 退出 0。package boundary 保持 18 packages、`singleSourcePackages=[]`、`shallowSourcePackages=[]`；Cluster dependency、122-module Edge import、service-manager bridge、Cluster deployment、Local image、Vault overlay 和 14 档 Local artifact 均 compatible。基础 Edge/Standalone 制品仍为 `2,669,390 / 2,669,468 bytes`、325 files、58 loaded modules，不包含 Cluster Control 或 Vault adapter。
+
+## 影响与剩余门禁
+
+D-404 关闭 ADR-0491 的直接外部 custody adapter 门。ADR-0491 转 Accepted 前只剩固定低性能物理 Edge 的真实空间、RSS/I/O、写放大、ENOSPC 与断电恢复证据；开发机、Docker、CI runner 和 Cluster Vault live gate 均不能替代该设备证据。
diff --git a/docs/adr/README.md b/docs/adr/README.md
index 6350e2fd..edc0bc18 100644
--- a/docs/adr/README.md
+++ b/docs/adr/README.md
@@ -494,13 +494,15 @@
 | [ADR-0488](./ADR-0488-cross-domain-reconciliation-completion-fence.md)                               | 跨领域 Reconciliation 完成围栏与目标重启授权                                                                                                                                                                | Accepted |
 | [ADR-0489](./ADR-0489-service-manager-completion-restart-lineage.md)                                  | Service Manager 完成围栏重启谱系                                                                                                                                                                           | Accepted |
 | [ADR-0490](./ADR-0490-run-history-terminal-preservation.md)                                          | Run History 终态保全与跨领域完成证明                                                                                                                                                                        | Accepted |
-| [ADR-0491](./ADR-0491-bounded-secret-config-reconciliation-and-task-binding.md)                       | 有界 Secret/Config Reconciliation 与任务环境绑定                                                                                                                                                            | Proposed（D-397 local apply/rollback/completion complete；Edge/Cluster gate pending） |
+| [ADR-0491](./ADR-0491-bounded-secret-config-reconciliation-and-task-binding.md)                       | 有界 Secret/Config Reconciliation 与任务环境绑定                                                                                                                                                            | Proposed（直接外部 custody 已完成；仅固定物理 Edge gate pending） |
 | [ADR-0492](./ADR-0492-compatible-secret-config-completion-v3.md)                                      | 兼容 Secret/Config 的 Reconciliation Completion v3                                                                                                                                                           | Accepted |
 | [ADR-0493](./ADR-0493-target-native-reconciliation-domain-preservation.md)                            | 目标原生 Reconciliation 域分类与身份保留                                                                                                                                                                      | Accepted |
 | [ADR-0494](./ADR-0494-postgresql-secret-binding-and-mounted-provider-live-rotation.md)                | PostgreSQL Secret Binding 与 Mounted Provider 在线轮换门                                                                                                                                                        | Accepted |
 | [ADR-0495](./ADR-0495-content-free-cluster-legacy-env-migration-plan-ledger.md)                       | 无敏感内容的 Cluster Legacy Env 迁移计划账本                                                                                                                                                                    | Accepted |
 | [ADR-0496](./ADR-0496-opaque-cluster-environment-bundle-delivery.md)                                 | Cluster 不透明环境 Bundle 的有界交付与 Worker 内存展开                                                                                                                                                          | Accepted |
 | [ADR-0497](./ADR-0497-atomic-cluster-legacy-env-migration-application.md)                             | Cluster Legacy Env 的原子 Task/Trigger 迁移与只追加回执                                                                                                                                                           | Accepted |
+| [ADR-0498](./ADR-0498-cluster-legacy-env-application-ha-replay.md)                                   | Cluster Legacy Env Application 的 HA Promotion 后精确重放                                                                                                                                                        | Accepted |
+| [ADR-0499](./ADR-0499-direct-vault-kv-worker-secret-custody.md)                                      | 直接 Vault KV Worker Secret 外部托管                                                                                                                                                                             | Accepted |
 
 ## 规则
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c8a9fb26..0a2430fb 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@
     "audit:prompt-output-external-recovery-deployment:ql3": "node scripts/ql3-prompt-output-external-recovery-deployment-audit.cjs",
     "custody:vault-transit:ql3": "node scripts/ql3-vault-transit-prompt-output-custody.cjs",
     "test:vault-transit-custody-live:ql3": "pnpm --filter @qinglong/ai build && pnpm --filter @qinglong/cluster-admin build && node scripts/ql3-vault-transit-prompt-output-custody-live-contract.cjs",
+    "test:vault-kv-worker-secret-live:ql3": "pnpm --filter @qinglong/runtime-core build && pnpm --filter @qinglong/cluster-control build && node scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-contract.cjs",
+    "audit:vault-kv-worker-secret-live:ql3": "node scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-audit.cjs",
+    "audit:vault-kv-worker-secret-deployment:ql3": "node scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-deployment-audit.cjs",
     "test:postgres-backup-prompt-output-recovery-live:ql3": "pnpm --filter @qinglong/ai build && pnpm --filter @qinglong/cluster-admin build && node scripts/ql3-postgres-prompt-output-recovery-live-contract.cjs",
     "audit:cluster-deployment:ql3": "node scripts/ql3-cluster-deployment-audit.cjs",
     "audit:cluster-copilot-console:ql3": "node scripts/ql3-cluster-copilot-console-audit.cjs",
diff --git a/packages/ql3-cluster-control/package.json b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/package.json
index 527476bd..8aa8dd6c 100644
--- a/packages/ql3-cluster-control/package.json
+++ b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/package.json
@@ -150,6 +150,11 @@
       "require": "./dist/remote-execution/mountedSecretProvider.js",
       "default": "./dist/remote-execution/mountedSecretProvider.js"
     },
+    "./vault-kv-secret-provider": {
+      "types": "./dist/remote-execution/vaultKvSecretProvider.d.ts",
+      "require": "./dist/remote-execution/vaultKvSecretProvider.js",
+      "default": "./dist/remote-execution/vaultKvSecretProvider.js"
+    },
     "./trusted-tool-result-keyring": {
       "types": "./dist/trusted-tool/key-management/toolResultProjectedKeyring.d.ts",
       "require": "./dist/trusted-tool/key-management/toolResultProjectedKeyring.js",
diff --git a/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/production-process/processApplication.ts b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/production-process/processApplication.ts
index 6cc2b58f..8b9db05b 100644
--- a/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/production-process/processApplication.ts
+++ b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/production-process/processApplication.ts
@@ -128,8 +128,11 @@ async function createWorkerArtifactBinding(
 async function createWorkerSecretProvider(
   config: NonNullable<EnabledClusterWorkerIngressConfig['secret']>,
 ): Promise<Readonly<RemoteWorkerSecretValueProvider>> {
-  if (config.provider !== 'mounted-files') {
-    throw new TypeError('Cluster Worker Secret provider is unsupported');
+  if (config.provider === 'vault-kv-v2') {
+    const provider = await import(
+      '../remote-execution/vaultKvSecretProvider.js'
+    );
+    return provider.createClusterVaultKvSecretProvider(config);
   }
   const provider = await import('../remote-execution/mountedSecretProvider.js');
   return provider.createClusterMountedSecretProvider({
diff --git a/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/remote-execution/vaultKvSecretProvider.ts b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/remote-execution/vaultKvSecretProvider.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9fcca21a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/remote-execution/vaultKvSecretProvider.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,637 @@
+// Remote Execution owns direct external Secret custody resolution.
+import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';
+import https from 'node:https';
+import { isIP } from 'node:net';
+import { basename, dirname, isAbsolute, normalize } from 'node:path';
+import type { TLSSocket } from 'node:tls';
+
+import {
+  MAX_REMOTE_ENVIRONMENT_BUNDLE_VALUE_BYTES,
+  MAX_REMOTE_SECRET_DELIVERY_TOTAL_VALUE_BYTES,
+  MAX_REMOTE_SECRET_VALUE_BYTES,
+  normalizeRemoteWorkerSecretDeliveryAuthority,
+  type RemoteWorkerSecretDeliveryAuthority,
+  type RemoteWorkerSecretResolution,
+  type RemoteWorkerSecretValueProvider,
+} from '@qinglong/runtime-core/remote-secret-delivery';
+import { secretProjectionFileName } from '@qinglong/runtime-core/secret-projection';
+
+import { PrivateProjectedFileReader } from '../security/privateProjectedFile';
+
+const MAX_CA_BYTES = 1024 * 1024;
+const MAX_TOKEN_BYTES = 4096;
+const MAX_RESPONSE_BYTES =
+  MAX_REMOTE_ENVIRONMENT_BUNDLE_VALUE_BYTES + 16 * 1024;
+const TOKEN_PATTERN = /^[\x21-\x7e]{1,4096}$/;
+const NAME_PATTERN = /^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9_-]{0,127}$/;
+const PREFIX_PATTERN = /^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9_/-]{0,511}$/;
+const FILE_NAME_PATTERN = /^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._-]{0,252}$/;
+const BASE64_PATTERN =
+  /^(?:[A-Za-z0-9+/]{4})*(?:[A-Za-z0-9+/]{2}==|[A-Za-z0-9+/]{3}=)?$/;
+
+export interface ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions {
+  readonly endpoint: string;
+  readonly caFile: string;
+  readonly tokenFile: string;
+  readonly kvMount: string;
+  readonly pathPrefix: string;
+  readonly expectedPolicy: string;
+  readonly maximumTokenTtlSeconds: number;
+  readonly requestTimeoutMs: number;
+  readonly maximumConcurrency: number;
+  readonly namespace?: string;
+}
+
+interface NormalizedClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions
+  extends ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions {
+  readonly endpoint: string;
+  readonly caRootDirectory: string;
+  readonly caFileName: string;
+  readonly tokenRootDirectory: string;
+  readonly tokenFileName: string;
+}
+
+export interface ClusterVaultKvRequest {
+  readonly endpoint: string;
+  readonly path: string;
+  readonly requestTimeoutMs: number;
+  readonly namespace?: string;
+}
+
+export type ClusterVaultKvRequester = (
+  request: Readonly<ClusterVaultKvRequest>,
+  material: Readonly<{ readonly ca: Buffer; readonly token: string }>,
+) => Promise<unknown>;
+
+export interface ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderDependencies {
+  readonly request?: ClusterVaultKvRequester;
+}
+
+export class ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError extends Error {
+  readonly code = 'QL3_CLUSTER_VAULT_KV_SECRET_UNAVAILABLE';
+
+  constructor(
+    readonly reason:
+      | 'invalid_configuration'
+      | 'trust_unavailable'
+      | 'authentication_unavailable'
+      | 'material_unavailable',
+    options?: ErrorOptions,
+  ) {
+    super(`Cluster Vault KV Secret provider failed: ${reason}`, options);
+    this.name = 'ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError';
+  }
+}
+
+function invalidConfiguration(cause?: unknown): never {
+  throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('invalid_configuration', {
+    cause: cause instanceof Error ? cause : undefined,
+  });
+}
+
+function boundedInteger(
+  value: unknown,
+  minimum: number,
+  maximum: number,
+): number {
+  if (
+    typeof value !== 'number' ||
+    !Number.isSafeInteger(value) ||
+    value < minimum ||
+    value > maximum
+  ) {
+    return invalidConfiguration();
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
+function safeName(value: unknown): string {
+  if (typeof value !== 'string' || !NAME_PATTERN.test(value)) {
+    return invalidConfiguration();
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
+function safePrefix(value: unknown): string {
+  if (
+    typeof value !== 'string' ||
+    !PREFIX_PATTERN.test(value) ||
+    value.includes('//') ||
+    value.split('/').some((part) => part === '.' || part === '..')
+  ) {
+    return invalidConfiguration();
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
+function absoluteProjectedFile(value: unknown): Readonly<{
+  rootDirectory: string;
+  fileName: string;
+}> {
+  if (
+    typeof value !== 'string' ||
+    !isAbsolute(value) ||
+    normalize(value) !== value ||
+    value.includes('\0') ||
+    Buffer.byteLength(value, 'utf8') > 4096
+  ) {
+    return invalidConfiguration();
+  }
+  const fileName = basename(value);
+  const rootDirectory = dirname(value);
+  if (
+    !FILE_NAME_PATTERN.test(fileName) ||
+    rootDirectory === value ||
+    rootDirectory === dirname(rootDirectory)
+  ) {
+    return invalidConfiguration();
+  }
+  return Object.freeze({ rootDirectory, fileName });
+}
+
+export function normalizeClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions(
+  value: ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions,
+): Readonly<NormalizedClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions> {
+  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object' || Array.isArray(value)) {
+    return invalidConfiguration();
+  }
+  let endpoint: URL;
+  try {
+    endpoint = new URL(value.endpoint);
+  } catch (cause) {
+    return invalidConfiguration(cause);
+  }
+  if (
+    endpoint.protocol !== 'https:' ||
+    endpoint.username ||
+    endpoint.password ||
+    endpoint.pathname !== '/' ||
+    endpoint.search ||
+    endpoint.hash
+  ) {
+    return invalidConfiguration();
+  }
+  const ca = absoluteProjectedFile(value.caFile);
+  const token = absoluteProjectedFile(value.tokenFile);
+  const namespace =
+    value.namespace === undefined ? undefined : safePrefix(value.namespace);
+  return Object.freeze({
+    endpoint: endpoint.toString(),
+    caFile: value.caFile,
+    caRootDirectory: ca.rootDirectory,
+    caFileName: ca.fileName,
+    tokenFile: value.tokenFile,
+    tokenRootDirectory: token.rootDirectory,
+    tokenFileName: token.fileName,
+    kvMount: safeName(value.kvMount),
+    pathPrefix: safePrefix(value.pathPrefix),
+    expectedPolicy: safeName(value.expectedPolicy),
+    maximumTokenTtlSeconds: boundedInteger(
+      value.maximumTokenTtlSeconds,
+      30,
+      3600,
+    ),
+    requestTimeoutMs: boundedInteger(value.requestTimeoutMs, 100, 30_000),
+    maximumConcurrency: boundedInteger(value.maximumConcurrency, 1, 8),
+    ...(namespace === undefined ? {} : { namespace }),
+  });
+}
+
+function exactKeys(value: unknown, expected: readonly string[]): boolean {
+  return (
+    value !== null &&
+    typeof value === 'object' &&
+    !Array.isArray(value) &&
+    JSON.stringify(Object.keys(value).sort()) ===
+      JSON.stringify([...expected].sort())
+  );
+}
+
+function canonicalBase64(value: unknown): Buffer {
+  if (
+    typeof value !== 'string' ||
+    value.length >
+      Math.ceil(MAX_REMOTE_ENVIRONMENT_BUNDLE_VALUE_BYTES / 3) * 4 + 4 ||
+    !BASE64_PATTERN.test(value)
+  ) {
+    throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable');
+  }
+  const bytes = Buffer.from(value, 'base64');
+  if (bytes.toString('base64') !== value) {
+    bytes.fill(0);
+    throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable');
+  }
+  return bytes;
+}
+
+function parseVaultKvValue(
+  value: unknown,
+  expectedSecretRefDigest: string,
+  maximumBytes: number,
+): Buffer {
+  const envelope = value as {
+    readonly data?: {
+      readonly data?: unknown;
+      readonly metadata?: {
+        readonly deletion_time?: unknown;
+        readonly destroyed?: unknown;
+        readonly version?: unknown;
+      };
+    };
+  };
+  const material = envelope?.data?.data as {
+    readonly schemaVersion?: unknown;
+    readonly secretRefDigest?: unknown;
+    readonly encoding?: unknown;
+    readonly value?: unknown;
+  };
+  const metadata = envelope?.data?.metadata;
+  if (
+    !exactKeys(material, [
+      'encoding',
+      'schemaVersion',
+      'secretRefDigest',
+      'value',
+    ]) ||
+    material.schemaVersion !== 1 ||
+    material.secretRefDigest !== expectedSecretRefDigest ||
+    material.encoding !== 'base64' ||
+    metadata?.destroyed !== false ||
+    metadata?.deletion_time !== '' ||
+    !Number.isSafeInteger(metadata?.version) ||
+    Number(metadata?.version) < 1
+  ) {
+    throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable');
+  }
+  const bytes = canonicalBase64(material.value);
+  if (bytes.byteLength > maximumBytes) {
+    bytes.fill(0);
+    throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable');
+  }
+  return bytes;
+}
+
+function parseToken(bytes: Buffer): string {
+  const raw = bytes.toString('utf8');
+  const token = raw.endsWith('\n') ? raw.slice(0, -1) : raw;
+  if (!TOKEN_PATTERN.test(token) || (raw !== token && raw !== `${token}\n`)) {
+    throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('authentication_unavailable');
+  }
+  return token;
+}
+
+function secretValue(bytes: Buffer): string {
+  try {
+    const value = new TextDecoder('utf-8', { fatal: true }).decode(bytes);
+    if (value.includes('\0')) throw new Error('Secret contains NUL');
+    return value;
+  } catch (cause) {
+    throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable', {
+      cause: cause instanceof Error ? cause : undefined,
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+function validateTokenLookup(
+  value: unknown,
+  expectedPolicy: string,
+  maximumTokenTtlSeconds: number,
+): void {
+  const data = (value as { readonly data?: Record<string, unknown> })?.data;
+  if (
+    !data ||
+    !Array.isArray(data.policies) ||
+    JSON.stringify(data.policies) !== JSON.stringify([expectedPolicy]) ||
+    data.orphan !== true ||
+    data.renewable !== false ||
+    data.type !== 'service' ||
+    !Number.isSafeInteger(data.ttl) ||
+    Number(data.ttl) < 1 ||
+    Number(data.ttl) > maximumTokenTtlSeconds
+  ) {
+    throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('authentication_unavailable');
+  }
+}
+
+async function requestVaultJson(
+  request: Readonly<ClusterVaultKvRequest>,
+  material: Readonly<{ readonly ca: Buffer; readonly token: string }>,
+): Promise<unknown> {
+  const target = new URL(request.path, request.endpoint);
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const requestHandle = https.request(
+      target,
+      {
+        method: 'GET',
+        ca: material.ca,
+        rejectUnauthorized: true,
+        minVersion: 'TLSv1.3',
+        maxVersion: 'TLSv1.3',
+        ...(isIP(target.hostname) === 0 ? { servername: target.hostname } : {}),
+        headers: {
+          accept: 'application/json',
+          'x-vault-token': material.token,
+          ...(request.namespace === undefined
+            ? {}
+            : { 'x-vault-namespace': request.namespace }),
+        },
+      },
+      (response) => {
+        const socket = response.socket as TLSSocket;
+        const peerAuthorized = socket.authorized;
+        const tlsProtocol = socket.getProtocol();
+        const chunks: Buffer[] = [];
+        let length = 0;
+        const dispose = () =>
+          chunks.splice(0).forEach((chunk) => chunk.fill(0));
+        response.on('data', (chunk: Buffer) => {
+          length += chunk.byteLength;
+          if (length > MAX_RESPONSE_BYTES) {
+            response.destroy(
+              new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable'),
+            );
+            return;
+          }
+          chunks.push(Buffer.from(chunk));
+        });
+        response.once('error', (cause) => {
+          dispose();
+          reject(cause);
+        });
+        response.on('end', () => {
+          const bytes = Buffer.concat(chunks);
+          dispose();
+          try {
+            if (
+              response.statusCode !== 200 ||
+              peerAuthorized !== true ||
+              tlsProtocol !== 'TLSv1.3'
+            ) {
+              throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError(
+                'material_unavailable',
+              );
+            }
+            resolve(JSON.parse(bytes.toString('utf8')));
+          } catch (cause) {
+            reject(cause);
+          } finally {
+            bytes.fill(0);
+          }
+        });
+      },
+    );
+    requestHandle.setTimeout(request.requestTimeoutMs, () => {
+      requestHandle.destroy(
+        new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable'),
+      );
+    });
+    requestHandle.once('error', reject);
+    requestHandle.end();
+  });
+}
+
+/**
+ * A no-cache, no-watcher Vault KV v2 adapter. Every authorized delivery reads
+ * the projected short-lived token again, revalidates its least-privilege
+ * policy, and resolves only digest-derived paths over pinned TLS 1.3.
+ */
+export class ClusterVaultKvSecretProvider
+  implements RemoteWorkerSecretValueProvider
+{
+  readonly #options: Readonly<NormalizedClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions>;
+  readonly #caReader: PrivateProjectedFileReader;
+  readonly #tokenReader: PrivateProjectedFileReader;
+  readonly #request: ClusterVaultKvRequester;
+
+  constructor(
+    options: ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions,
+    dependencies: ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderDependencies = {},
+  ) {
+    this.#options = normalizeClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions(options);
+    if (
+      !dependencies ||
+      typeof dependencies !== 'object' ||
+      Array.isArray(dependencies) ||
+      (dependencies.request !== undefined &&
+        typeof dependencies.request !== 'function')
+    ) {
+      invalidConfiguration();
+    }
+    this.#request = dependencies.request ?? requestVaultJson;
+    try {
+      this.#caReader = new PrivateProjectedFileReader({
+        rootDirectory: this.#options.caRootDirectory,
+        minimumBytes: 32,
+        maximumBytes: MAX_CA_BYTES,
+        access: 'read_only_keyring',
+      });
+      this.#tokenReader = new PrivateProjectedFileReader({
+        rootDirectory: this.#options.tokenRootDirectory,
+        minimumBytes: 1,
+        maximumBytes: MAX_TOKEN_BYTES + 1,
+        access: 'private_material',
+      });
+    } catch (cause) {
+      invalidConfiguration(cause);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async #withCredentials<T>(
+    action: (ca: Buffer, token: string) => Promise<T>,
+  ): Promise<T> {
+    let ca: Buffer | undefined;
+    let tokenBytes: Buffer | undefined;
+    let token: string | undefined;
+    try {
+      [ca, tokenBytes] = await Promise.all([
+        this.#caReader.read(this.#options.caFileName),
+        this.#tokenReader.read(this.#options.tokenFileName),
+      ]);
+      token = parseToken(tokenBytes);
+      return await action(ca, token);
+    } catch (cause) {
+      if (cause instanceof ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError) throw cause;
+      throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('trust_unavailable', {
+        cause: cause instanceof Error ? cause : undefined,
+      });
+    } finally {
+      ca?.fill(0);
+      tokenBytes?.fill(0);
+      token = undefined;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async #requestJson(
+    path: string,
+    ca: Buffer,
+    token: string,
+  ): Promise<unknown> {
+    try {
+      return await this.#request(
+        Object.freeze({
+          endpoint: this.#options.endpoint,
+          path,
+          requestTimeoutMs: this.#options.requestTimeoutMs,
+          ...(this.#options.namespace === undefined
+            ? {}
+            : { namespace: this.#options.namespace }),
+        }),
+        Object.freeze({ ca, token }),
+      );
+    } catch (cause) {
+      if (cause instanceof ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError) throw cause;
+      throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable', {
+        cause: cause instanceof Error ? cause : undefined,
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  async #authenticate(ca: Buffer, token: string): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+      const response = await this.#requestJson(
+        '/v1/auth/token/lookup-self',
+        ca,
+        token,
+      );
+      validateTokenLookup(
+        response,
+        this.#options.expectedPolicy,
+        this.#options.maximumTokenTtlSeconds,
+      );
+    } catch (cause) {
+      if (
+        cause instanceof ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError &&
+        cause.reason === 'authentication_unavailable'
+      ) {
+        throw cause;
+      }
+      throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError(
+        'authentication_unavailable',
+        { cause: cause instanceof Error ? cause : undefined },
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  async verify(): Promise<void> {
+    await this.#withCredentials(async (ca, token) => {
+      await this.#authenticate(ca, token);
+    });
+  }
+
+  async resolve(
+    authority: Readonly<RemoteWorkerSecretDeliveryAuthority>,
+  ): Promise<Readonly<RemoteWorkerSecretResolution>> {
+    let normalized: Readonly<RemoteWorkerSecretDeliveryAuthority>;
+    try {
+      normalized = normalizeRemoteWorkerSecretDeliveryAuthority(authority);
+    } catch (cause) {
+      throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable', {
+        cause: cause instanceof Error ? cause : undefined,
+      });
+    }
+    return this.#withCredentials(async (ca, token) => {
+      await this.#authenticate(ca, token);
+      const inputs = [
+        ...normalized.secretRefs.map((secretRef) =>
+          Object.freeze({
+            kind: 'secret' as const,
+            secretRef,
+            maximumBytes: MAX_REMOTE_SECRET_VALUE_BYTES,
+          }),
+        ),
+        ...normalized.environmentBundleRefs.map((secretRef) =>
+          Object.freeze({
+            kind: 'environment-bundle' as const,
+            secretRef,
+            maximumBytes: MAX_REMOTE_ENVIRONMENT_BUNDLE_VALUE_BYTES,
+          }),
+        ),
+      ];
+      const buffers: Buffer[] = [];
+      try {
+        const resolved: Array<
+          Readonly<{
+            kind: 'secret' | 'environment-bundle';
+            secretRef: string;
+            value: string;
+            byteLength: number;
+          }>
+        > = [];
+        for (
+          let offset = 0;
+          offset < inputs.length;
+          offset += this.#options.maximumConcurrency
+        ) {
+          const batch = inputs.slice(
+            offset,
+            offset + this.#options.maximumConcurrency,
+          );
+          const values = await Promise.all(
+            batch.map(async (input) => {
+              const digest = secretProjectionFileName(input.secretRef);
+              const response = await this.#requestJson(
+                `/v1/${encodeURIComponent(
+                  this.#options.kvMount,
+                )}/data/${this.#options.pathPrefix
+                  .split('/')
+                  .map(encodeURIComponent)
+                  .join('/')}/${digest}`,
+                ca,
+                token,
+              );
+              const bytes = parseVaultKvValue(
+                response,
+                digest,
+                input.maximumBytes,
+              );
+              buffers.push(bytes);
+              return Object.freeze({
+                kind: input.kind,
+                secretRef: input.secretRef,
+                value: secretValue(bytes),
+                byteLength: bytes.byteLength,
+              });
+            }),
+          );
+          resolved.push(...values);
+        }
+        const values = resolved
+          .filter(({ kind }) => kind === 'secret')
+          .map(({ secretRef, value }) => Object.freeze({ secretRef, value }));
+        const totalBytes = resolved
+          .filter(({ kind }) => kind === 'secret')
+          .reduce((sum, item) => sum + item.byteLength, 0);
+        if (totalBytes > MAX_REMOTE_SECRET_DELIVERY_TOTAL_VALUE_BYTES) {
+          throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable');
+        }
+        const environmentBundles = resolved
+          .filter(({ kind }) => kind === 'environment-bundle')
+          .map(({ secretRef, value }) => Object.freeze({ secretRef, value }));
+        let disposed = false;
+        return Object.freeze({
+          values: Object.freeze(values),
+          environmentBundles: Object.freeze(environmentBundles),
+          dispose() {
+            if (disposed) return;
+            disposed = true;
+            buffers.splice(0).forEach((bytes) => bytes.fill(0));
+          },
+        });
+      } catch (cause) {
+        buffers.splice(0).forEach((bytes) => bytes.fill(0));
+        if (cause instanceof ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError) throw cause;
+        throw new ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError('material_unavailable', {
+          cause: cause instanceof Error ? cause : undefined,
+        });
+      }
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+export async function createClusterVaultKvSecretProvider(
+  options: ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions,
+): Promise<Readonly<ClusterVaultKvSecretProvider>> {
+  const provider = new ClusterVaultKvSecretProvider(options);
+  await provider.verify();
+  return provider;
+}
diff --git a/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/worker-ingress/workerIngressConfig.ts b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/worker-ingress/workerIngressConfig.ts
index 5205165c..2e4805d6 100644
--- a/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/worker-ingress/workerIngressConfig.ts
+++ b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/src/worker-ingress/workerIngressConfig.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,24 @@ export interface ClusterWorkerMountedSecretConfig {
   readonly rootDirectory: string;
 }
 
+export interface ClusterWorkerVaultKvSecretConfig {
+  readonly provider: 'vault-kv-v2';
+  readonly endpoint: string;
+  readonly caFile: string;
+  readonly tokenFile: string;
+  readonly kvMount: string;
+  readonly pathPrefix: string;
+  readonly expectedPolicy: string;
+  readonly maximumTokenTtlSeconds: number;
+  readonly requestTimeoutMs: number;
+  readonly maximumConcurrency: number;
+  readonly namespace?: string;
+}
+
+export type ClusterWorkerSecretConfig =
+  | ClusterWorkerMountedSecretConfig
+  | ClusterWorkerVaultKvSecretConfig;
+
 export interface EnabledClusterWorkerIngressConfig {
   readonly enabled: true;
   readonly profile: 'cluster-control';
@@ -70,7 +88,7 @@ export interface EnabledClusterWorkerIngressConfig {
     readonly workerCredentialPepper: string;
   }>;
   readonly artifact: Readonly<ClusterWorkerArtifactS3Config>;
-  readonly secret?: Readonly<ClusterWorkerMountedSecretConfig>;
+  readonly secret?: Readonly<ClusterWorkerSecretConfig>;
 }
 
 export type ClusterWorkerIngressConfig =
@@ -327,13 +345,11 @@ function workerArtifactS3(
   );
   if (
     prefix !== undefined &&
-    (
-      !/^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9/_=-]{0,254}$/.test(prefix) ||
+    (!/^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9/_=-]{0,254}$/.test(prefix) ||
       prefix.startsWith('/') ||
       prefix.endsWith('/') ||
       prefix.includes('//') ||
-      prefix.split('/').some((segment) => segment === '.' || segment === '..')
-    )
+      prefix.split('/').some((segment) => segment === '.' || segment === '..'))
   ) {
     throw new ClusterWorkerIngressConfigError(
       'QL3_WORKER_ARTIFACT_S3_PREFIX is invalid',
@@ -388,11 +404,7 @@ function workerArtifactS3(
     endpoint = parsed.origin;
   }
   const encryptionMode =
-    boundedValue(
-      environment,
-      'QL3_WORKER_ARTIFACT_S3_ENCRYPTION',
-      3,
-    ) ?? 's3';
+    boundedValue(environment, 'QL3_WORKER_ARTIFACT_S3_ENCRYPTION', 3) ?? 's3';
   if (encryptionMode !== 's3' && encryptionMode !== 'kms') {
     throw new ClusterWorkerIngressConfigError(
       'QL3_WORKER_ARTIFACT_S3_ENCRYPTION must be s3 or kms',
@@ -415,9 +427,7 @@ function workerArtifactS3(
     bucket,
     region,
     ...(prefix === undefined ? {} : { prefix }),
-    ...(expectedBucketOwner === undefined
-      ? {}
-      : { expectedBucketOwner }),
+    ...(expectedBucketOwner === undefined ? {} : { expectedBucketOwner }),
     ...(endpoint === undefined ? {} : { endpoint }),
     forcePathStyle: booleanValue(
       environment,
@@ -433,18 +443,96 @@ function workerArtifactS3(
 
 function workerSecret(
   environment: ClusterWorkerIngressEnvironment,
-): Readonly<ClusterWorkerMountedSecretConfig> | undefined {
-  const provider = boundedValue(
-    environment,
-    'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_PROVIDER',
-    32,
-  );
+): Readonly<ClusterWorkerSecretConfig> | undefined {
+  const provider = boundedValue(environment, 'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_PROVIDER', 32);
   if (provider === undefined || provider === 'disabled') return undefined;
-  if (provider !== 'mounted-files') {
+  if (provider !== 'mounted-files' && provider !== 'vault-kv-v2') {
     throw new ClusterWorkerIngressConfigError(
-      'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_PROVIDER must be disabled or mounted-files',
+      'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_PROVIDER must be disabled, mounted-files or vault-kv-v2',
     );
   }
+  if (provider === 'vault-kv-v2') {
+    const endpoint = boundedValue(
+      environment,
+      'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_ENDPOINT',
+      2048,
+      true,
+    )!;
+    let parsedEndpoint: URL;
+    try {
+      parsedEndpoint = new URL(endpoint);
+    } catch {
+      throw new ClusterWorkerIngressConfigError(
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_ENDPOINT must be an HTTPS authority',
+      );
+    }
+    if (
+      parsedEndpoint.protocol !== 'https:' ||
+      parsedEndpoint.username ||
+      parsedEndpoint.password ||
+      parsedEndpoint.pathname !== '/' ||
+      parsedEndpoint.search ||
+      parsedEndpoint.hash
+    ) {
+      throw new ClusterWorkerIngressConfigError(
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_ENDPOINT must be an HTTPS authority',
+      );
+    }
+    const namespace = boundedValue(
+      environment,
+      'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_NAMESPACE',
+      512,
+    );
+    return Object.freeze({
+      provider,
+      endpoint: parsedEndpoint.toString(),
+      caFile: absoluteFile(environment, 'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_CA_FILE'),
+      tokenFile: absoluteFile(
+        environment,
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_TOKEN_FILE',
+      ),
+      kvMount: boundedValue(
+        environment,
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_KV_MOUNT',
+        128,
+        true,
+      )!,
+      pathPrefix: boundedValue(
+        environment,
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_PATH_PREFIX',
+        512,
+        true,
+      )!,
+      expectedPolicy: boundedValue(
+        environment,
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_EXPECTED_POLICY',
+        128,
+        true,
+      )!,
+      maximumTokenTtlSeconds: integerValue(
+        environment,
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_TOKEN_TTL_SECONDS',
+        900,
+        30,
+        3600,
+      ),
+      requestTimeoutMs: integerValue(
+        environment,
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS',
+        5000,
+        100,
+        30_000,
+      ),
+      maximumConcurrency: integerValue(
+        environment,
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_CONCURRENCY',
+        4,
+        1,
+        8,
+      ),
+      ...(namespace === undefined ? {} : { namespace }),
+    });
+  }
   return Object.freeze({
     provider,
     rootDirectory: absoluteFile(
diff --git a/packages/ql3-cluster-control/test/vaultKvSecretProvider.test.cjs b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/test/vaultKvSecretProvider.test.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9ed61283
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/test/vaultKvSecretProvider.test.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,297 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const { chmod, mkdtemp, rename, rm, writeFile } = require('node:fs/promises');
+const os = require('node:os');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const { test } = require('node:test');
+
+const { createSecretRef } = require('@qinglong/runtime-core/secret-reference');
+const {
+  ClusterVaultKvSecretProvider,
+  ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError,
+  normalizeClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions,
+} = require('@qinglong/cluster-control/vault-kv-secret-provider');
+const {
+  secretProjectionFileName,
+} = require('@qinglong/runtime-core/secret-projection');
+
+const SECRET_REF = createSecretRef({
+  projectId: 'project-1',
+  name: 'api-token',
+});
+const SECOND_SECRET_REF = createSecretRef({
+  projectId: 'project-1',
+  name: 'certificate',
+  version: 3,
+});
+const ENVIRONMENT_BUNDLE_REF = createSecretRef({
+  projectId: 'project-1',
+  name: 'legacy-env-bundle',
+  version: 4,
+});
+
+function authority(secretRefs = [SECRET_REF], environmentBundleRefs = []) {
+  return {
+    workerId: 'worker-1',
+    workerSessionId: '018f0000-0000-7000-8000-000000000001',
+    workerGeneration: 1,
+    runId: 'run-1',
+    attemptId: 'attempt-1',
+    projectId: 'project-1',
+    taskId: 'task-1',
+    taskRevision: 'revision-1',
+    executionDigest: 'a'.repeat(64),
+    offerId: 'offer-1',
+    leaseGeneration: 1,
+    leaseVersion: 1,
+    secretRefs,
+    environmentBundleRefs,
+  };
+}
+
+function lookup(policy = 'ql3-worker-secret-read', overrides = {}) {
+  return {
+    data: {
+      policies: [policy],
+      orphan: true,
+      renewable: false,
+      type: 'service',
+      ttl: 600,
+      ...overrides,
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+function envelope(secretRef, value, overrides = {}) {
+  return {
+    data: {
+      data: {
+        schemaVersion: 1,
+        secretRefDigest: secretProjectionFileName(secretRef),
+        encoding: 'base64',
+        value: Buffer.from(value).toString('base64'),
+        ...overrides,
+      },
+      metadata: {
+        deletion_time: '',
+        destroyed: false,
+        version: 1,
+      },
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+async function projectedFile(file, value, mode) {
+  await writeFile(file, value);
+  await chmod(file, mode);
+}
+
+async function fixture(t) {
+  const directory = await mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ql3-vault-kv-'));
+  t.after(() => rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true }));
+  await chmod(directory, 0o700);
+  const caFile = path.join(directory, 'ca.pem');
+  const tokenFile = path.join(directory, 'token');
+  await projectedFile(caFile, 'x'.repeat(64), 0o440);
+  await projectedFile(tokenFile, 'token-generation-one\n', 0o440);
+  return {
+    directory,
+    caFile,
+    tokenFile,
+    options: {
+      endpoint: 'https://vault.internal:8200',
+      caFile,
+      tokenFile,
+      kvMount: 'worker-secrets',
+      pathPrefix: 'values/production',
+      expectedPolicy: 'ql3-worker-secret-read',
+      maximumTokenTtlSeconds: 900,
+      requestTimeoutMs: 5000,
+      maximumConcurrency: 2,
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+test('normalizes only a pinned HTTPS Vault KV v2 authority', async (t) => {
+  const { options } = await fixture(t);
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    normalizeClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions({
+      ...options,
+      namespace: 'organization/team-a',
+    }),
+    {
+      ...options,
+      endpoint: 'https://vault.internal:8200/',
+      caRootDirectory: path.dirname(options.caFile),
+      caFileName: path.basename(options.caFile),
+      tokenRootDirectory: path.dirname(options.tokenFile),
+      tokenFileName: path.basename(options.tokenFile),
+      namespace: 'organization/team-a',
+    },
+  );
+  for (const invalid of [
+    { ...options, endpoint: 'http://vault.internal:8200' },
+    { ...options, endpoint: 'https://user@vault.internal:8200' },
+    { ...options, endpoint: 'https://vault.internal:8200/v1' },
+    { ...options, caFile: 'relative.pem' },
+    { ...options, kvMount: '../secret' },
+    { ...options, pathPrefix: 'values//production' },
+    { ...options, maximumTokenTtlSeconds: 3601 },
+    { ...options, maximumConcurrency: 9 },
+  ]) {
+    assert.throws(
+      () => normalizeClusterVaultKvSecretProviderOptions(invalid),
+      ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError,
+    );
+  }
+});
+
+test('revalidates the short-lived token and reads digest paths without a cache', async (t) => {
+  const { options, tokenFile, directory } = await fixture(t);
+  const requests = [];
+  let generation = 1;
+  let active = 0;
+  let maximumActive = 0;
+  const values = new Map([
+    [secretProjectionFileName(SECRET_REF), () => `token-${generation}`],
+    [secretProjectionFileName(SECOND_SECRET_REF), () => 'certificate-value'],
+    [
+      secretProjectionFileName(ENVIRONMENT_BUNDLE_REF),
+      () =>
+        JSON.stringify({
+          schema: 'qinglong/environment-bundle@v1',
+          entries: [{ name: 'LEGACY_VALUE', value: `bundle-${generation}` }],
+        }),
+    ],
+  ]);
+  const provider = new ClusterVaultKvSecretProvider(options, {
+    async request(request, material) {
+      requests.push({ ...request, token: material.token });
+      if (request.path === '/v1/auth/token/lookup-self') return lookup();
+      active += 1;
+      maximumActive = Math.max(maximumActive, active);
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve));
+      active -= 1;
+      const digest = request.path.split('/').at(-1);
+      const selected = values.get(digest);
+      assert.ok(selected, 'only digest-derived reviewed paths are requested');
+      const secretRef =
+        digest === secretProjectionFileName(SECRET_REF)
+          ? SECRET_REF
+          : digest === secretProjectionFileName(SECOND_SECRET_REF)
+          ? SECOND_SECRET_REF
+          : ENVIRONMENT_BUNDLE_REF;
+      return envelope(secretRef, selected());
+    },
+  });
+  await provider.verify();
+  const first = await provider.resolve(
+    authority([SECRET_REF, SECOND_SECRET_REF], [ENVIRONMENT_BUNDLE_REF]),
+  );
+  assert.deepEqual(first.values, [
+    { secretRef: SECRET_REF, value: 'token-1' },
+    { secretRef: SECOND_SECRET_REF, value: 'certificate-value' },
+  ]);
+  assert.equal(first.environmentBundles[0].secretRef, ENVIRONMENT_BUNDLE_REF);
+  assert.match(first.environmentBundles[0].value, /bundle-1/);
+  await first.dispose();
+  await first.dispose();
+  assert.equal(maximumActive, 2);
+
+  generation = 2;
+  const replacement = path.join(directory, 'token.replacement');
+  await projectedFile(replacement, 'token-generation-two\n', 0o440);
+  await rename(replacement, tokenFile);
+  const second = await provider.resolve(authority());
+  assert.deepEqual(second.values, [
+    { secretRef: SECRET_REF, value: 'token-2' },
+  ]);
+  await second.dispose();
+  assert.equal(
+    requests.filter(({ path: requestPath }) =>
+      requestPath.endsWith(secretProjectionFileName(SECRET_REF)),
+    ).length,
+    2,
+  );
+  assert.equal(requests.at(-2).token, 'token-generation-two');
+  assert.equal(
+    requests.some(({ path: requestPath }) =>
+      requestPath.includes(encodeURIComponent(SECRET_REF)),
+    ),
+    false,
+  );
+});
+
+test('preserves an authorized empty Secret value', async (t) => {
+  const { options } = await fixture(t);
+  const provider = new ClusterVaultKvSecretProvider(options, {
+    request(request) {
+      return Promise.resolve(
+        request.path === '/v1/auth/token/lookup-self'
+          ? lookup()
+          : envelope(SECRET_REF, ''),
+      );
+    },
+  });
+  const resolution = await provider.resolve(authority());
+  assert.deepEqual(resolution.values, [{ secretRef: SECRET_REF, value: '' }]);
+  await resolution.dispose();
+});
+
+test('fails closed for broad tokens, unsafe projections and untrusted material', async (t) => {
+  const { options, tokenFile } = await fixture(t);
+  const broad = new ClusterVaultKvSecretProvider(options, {
+    request(request) {
+      return Promise.resolve(
+        request.path === '/v1/auth/token/lookup-self'
+          ? lookup('ql3-worker-secret-read', {
+              policies: ['default', 'ql3-worker-secret-read'],
+            })
+          : envelope(SECRET_REF, 'not-reached'),
+      );
+    },
+  });
+  await assert.rejects(
+    broad.verify(),
+    (error) =>
+      error instanceof ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError &&
+      error.reason === 'authentication_unavailable',
+  );
+
+  const mismatched = new ClusterVaultKvSecretProvider(options, {
+    request(request) {
+      return Promise.resolve(
+        request.path === '/v1/auth/token/lookup-self'
+          ? lookup()
+          : envelope(SECRET_REF, 'private-value', {
+              secretRefDigest: 'f'.repeat(64),
+            }),
+      );
+    },
+  });
+  await assert.rejects(
+    mismatched.resolve(authority()),
+    (error) =>
+      error instanceof ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError &&
+      error.reason === 'material_unavailable' &&
+      error.message.includes('private-value') === false,
+  );
+
+  await chmod(tokenFile, 0o666);
+  const unsafe = new ClusterVaultKvSecretProvider(options, {
+    request() {
+      throw new Error('unsafe token must fail before transport');
+    },
+  });
+  await assert.rejects(
+    unsafe.verify(),
+    (error) =>
+      error instanceof ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError &&
+      error.reason === 'trust_unavailable',
+  );
+  await assert.rejects(
+    mismatched.resolve({ ...authority(), projectId: 'other-project' }),
+    ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError,
+  );
+});
diff --git a/packages/ql3-cluster-control/test/vaultKvWorkerIngressConfig.test.cjs b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/test/vaultKvWorkerIngressConfig.test.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..98cb9cb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ql3-cluster-control/test/vaultKvWorkerIngressConfig.test.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const { test } = require('node:test');
+
+const {
+  ClusterWorkerIngressConfigError,
+  loadClusterWorkerIngressConfig,
+} = require('@qinglong/cluster-control/worker-ingress-config');
+
+const FIXTURES = path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures', 'mtls');
+const BASE_ENV = Object.freeze({
+  QL3_WORKER_INGRESS_ENABLED: 'true',
+  QL_DEPLOYMENT_PROFILE: 'cluster-control',
+  QL3_POSTGRES_WORKER_INGRESS_URL:
+    'postgresql://ql3_worker_ingress:secret@database.internal:5432/qinglong',
+  QL3_WORKER_INGRESS_POSTGRES_TLS_SERVERNAME: 'database.internal',
+  QL3_WORKER_CREDENTIAL_PEPPER: 'A'.repeat(43),
+  QL3_WORKER_ARTIFACT_S3_BUCKET: 'qinglong-worker-artifacts',
+  QL3_WORKER_ARTIFACT_S3_REGION: 'us-east-1',
+  QL3_WORKER_INGRESS_TLS_PRIVATE_KEY_FILE: path.join(
+    FIXTURES,
+    'server-key.pem',
+  ),
+  QL3_WORKER_INGRESS_TLS_CERTIFICATE_FILE: path.join(
+    FIXTURES,
+    'server-cert.pem',
+  ),
+  QL3_WORKER_INGRESS_TLS_CLIENT_CA_FILE: path.join(FIXTURES, 'ca-cert.pem'),
+});
+
+test('loads the explicit Vault KV v2 Worker Secret provider', () => {
+  const config = loadClusterWorkerIngressConfig({
+    ...BASE_ENV,
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_PROVIDER: 'vault-kv-v2',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_ENDPOINT: 'https://vault.internal:8200',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_CA_FILE: '/run/vault/trust/ca.pem',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_TOKEN_FILE: '/run/vault/auth/token',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_KV_MOUNT: 'worker-secrets',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_PATH_PREFIX: 'values/production',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_EXPECTED_POLICY: 'ql3-worker-secret-read',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_TOKEN_TTL_SECONDS: '600',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS: '4000',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_CONCURRENCY: '3',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_NAMESPACE: 'organization/team-a',
+  });
+  assert.deepEqual(config.secret, {
+    provider: 'vault-kv-v2',
+    endpoint: 'https://vault.internal:8200/',
+    caFile: '/run/vault/trust/ca.pem',
+    tokenFile: '/run/vault/auth/token',
+    kvMount: 'worker-secrets',
+    pathPrefix: 'values/production',
+    expectedPolicy: 'ql3-worker-secret-read',
+    maximumTokenTtlSeconds: 600,
+    requestTimeoutMs: 4000,
+    maximumConcurrency: 3,
+    namespace: 'organization/team-a',
+  });
+});
+
+test('rejects incomplete or non-HTTPS Vault Worker Secret configuration', () => {
+  const base = {
+    ...BASE_ENV,
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_PROVIDER: 'vault-kv-v2',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_ENDPOINT: 'https://vault.internal:8200',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_CA_FILE: '/run/vault/trust/ca.pem',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_TOKEN_FILE: '/run/vault/auth/token',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_KV_MOUNT: 'worker-secrets',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_PATH_PREFIX: 'values/production',
+    QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_EXPECTED_POLICY: 'ql3-worker-secret-read',
+  };
+  for (const environment of [
+    { ...base, QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_ENDPOINT: 'http://vault.internal' },
+    { ...base, QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_CA_FILE: 'relative.pem' },
+    { ...base, QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_TOKEN_FILE: undefined },
+    { ...base, QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_TOKEN_TTL_SECONDS: '3601' },
+    { ...base, QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_CONCURRENCY: '9' },
+  ]) {
+    assert.throws(
+      () => loadClusterWorkerIngressConfig(environment),
+      ClusterWorkerIngressConfigError,
+    );
+  }
+});
diff --git a/scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-deployment-audit.cjs b/scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-deployment-audit.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..74161c00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-deployment-audit.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+'use strict';
+
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const yaml = require('js-yaml');
+
+function finding(code, detail) {
+  return Object.freeze({ code, detail });
+}
+
+function load(readFile, root, relativePath) {
+  return yaml.load(readFile(path.join(root, relativePath), 'utf8'));
+}
+
+function loadDocuments(source) {
+  const documents = [];
+  yaml.loadAll(source, (document) => {
+    if (document) documents.push(document);
+  });
+  return documents;
+}
+
+function named(values, name) {
+  return (values ?? []).find((value) => value?.name === name);
+}
+
+function auditVaultKvWorkerSecretDeployment(options = {}) {
+  const root = path.resolve(options.root ?? path.join(__dirname, '..'));
+  const readFile = options.readFile ?? fs.readFileSync;
+  const findings = [];
+  try {
+    const directory = 'deploy/kubernetes/ql3-cluster/vault-kv-worker-secret';
+    const kustomization = load(
+      readFile,
+      root,
+      `${directory}/kustomization.yaml`,
+    );
+    const patch = load(readFile, root, `${directory}/deployment-patch.yaml`);
+    const credentials = loadDocuments(
+      readFile(path.join(root, directory, 'credentials.example.yaml'), 'utf8'),
+    );
+    const readme = readFile(path.join(root, directory, 'README.md'), 'utf8');
+    if (
+      kustomization?.apiVersion !== 'kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1' ||
+      kustomization?.kind !== 'Kustomization' ||
+      JSON.stringify(kustomization?.resources) !==
+        JSON.stringify(['../base']) ||
+      JSON.stringify(kustomization?.patches) !==
+        JSON.stringify([{ path: 'deployment-patch.yaml' }])
+    ) {
+      findings.push(
+        finding(
+          'QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_KUSTOMIZATION_INVALID',
+          'the Vault overlay must patch only the reviewed Cluster base',
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+    const pod = patch?.spec?.template?.spec;
+    const container = named(pod?.containers, 'cluster-control');
+    const env = new Map(
+      (container?.env ?? []).map((entry) => [entry.name, entry]),
+    );
+    const expectedEnvironment = new Map([
+      ['QL3_WORKER_SECRET_PROVIDER', 'vault-kv-v2'],
+      [
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_ENDPOINT',
+        'https://vault.vault.svc.cluster.local:8200',
+      ],
+      [
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_CA_FILE',
+        '/var/run/secrets/qinglong3/worker-vault-trust/ca.pem',
+      ],
+      [
+        'QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_TOKEN_FILE',
+        '/var/run/secrets/qinglong3/worker-vault-auth/token',
+      ],
+      ['QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_KV_MOUNT', 'worker-secrets'],
+      ['QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_PATH_PREFIX', 'values/production'],
+      ['QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_EXPECTED_POLICY', 'ql3-worker-secret-read'],
+      ['QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_TOKEN_TTL_SECONDS', '900'],
+      ['QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS', '5000'],
+      ['QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_CONCURRENCY', '4'],
+    ]);
+    if (
+      env.size !== expectedEnvironment.size + 1 ||
+      env.get('QL3_WORKER_SECRET_ROOT_DIRECTORY')?.$patch !== 'delete' ||
+      [...expectedEnvironment].some(
+        ([name, value]) => env.get(name)?.value !== value,
+      )
+    ) {
+      findings.push(
+        finding(
+          'QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_ENVIRONMENT_INVALID',
+          'the overlay must select exact Vault KV v2 authority and bounds while deleting the mounted-value root',
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+    const mounts = container?.volumeMounts ?? [];
+    const valuesMount = named(mounts, 'worker-secret-values');
+    const trustMount = named(mounts, 'worker-vault-trust');
+    const authMount = named(mounts, 'worker-vault-auth');
+    const volumes = pod?.volumes ?? [];
+    const valuesVolume = named(volumes, 'worker-secret-values');
+    const trustVolume = named(volumes, 'worker-vault-trust');
+    const authVolume = named(volumes, 'worker-vault-auth');
+    if (
+      mounts.length !== 3 ||
+      valuesMount?.$patch !== 'delete' ||
+      trustMount?.mountPath !==
+        '/var/run/secrets/qinglong3/worker-vault-trust' ||
+      trustMount?.readOnly !== true ||
+      authMount?.mountPath !== '/var/run/secrets/qinglong3/worker-vault-auth' ||
+      authMount?.readOnly !== true ||
+      volumes.length !== 3 ||
+      valuesVolume?.$patch !== 'delete' ||
+      trustVolume?.secret?.secretName !== 'ql3-cluster-worker-vault-trust' ||
+      trustVolume?.secret?.defaultMode !== 0o444 ||
+      JSON.stringify(trustVolume?.secret?.items) !==
+        JSON.stringify([{ key: 'ca.pem', path: 'ca.pem' }]) ||
+      authVolume?.secret?.secretName !== 'ql3-cluster-worker-vault-auth' ||
+      authVolume?.secret?.defaultMode !== 0o440 ||
+      JSON.stringify(authVolume?.secret?.items) !==
+        JSON.stringify([{ key: 'token', path: 'token' }])
+    ) {
+      findings.push(
+        finding(
+          'QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_PROJECTION_INVALID',
+          'only read-only Vault trust and short-lived auth projections are allowed; the value projection must be deleted',
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+    if (
+      credentials.length !== 2 ||
+      credentials[0]?.kind !== 'Secret' ||
+      credentials[0]?.metadata?.name !== 'ql3-cluster-worker-vault-trust' ||
+      credentials[0]?.stringData?.['ca.pem'] !==
+        'REPLACE_WITH_PRIVATE_VAULT_CA_PEM' ||
+      credentials[1]?.kind !== 'Secret' ||
+      credentials[1]?.metadata?.name !== 'ql3-cluster-worker-vault-auth' ||
+      credentials[1]?.stringData?.token !==
+        'REPLACE_WITH_SHORT_LIVED_ORPHAN_VAULT_TOKEN'
+    ) {
+      findings.push(
+        finding(
+          'QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_EXAMPLE_INVALID',
+          'credential examples must contain only explicit non-production placeholders',
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+    if (
+      !readme.includes('auth/token/lookup-self') ||
+      !readme.includes('capabilities = ["read"]') ||
+      !/must not project\s+the actual Worker Secret values/.test(readme) ||
+      !readme.includes('default-deny')
+    ) {
+      findings.push(
+        finding(
+          'QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_OPERATIONS_INVALID',
+          'operations guidance must preserve exact policy, direct custody and explicit egress boundaries',
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    findings.push(
+      finding(
+        'QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_DEPLOYMENT_AUDIT_UNAVAILABLE',
+        error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+  return Object.freeze({
+    schemaVersion: 1,
+    provider: 'vault-kv-v2',
+    mountedValueProjection: false,
+    findings: Object.freeze(findings),
+    compatible: findings.length === 0,
+  });
+}
+
+if (require.main === module) {
+  const report = auditVaultKvWorkerSecretDeployment();
+  process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(report)}\n`);
+  if (!report.compatible) process.exitCode = 1;
+}
+
+module.exports = { auditVaultKvWorkerSecretDeployment };
diff --git a/scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-audit.cjs b/scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-audit.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0377f31c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-audit.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+'use strict';
+
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+
+const FIXTURE = 'qinglong/vault-kv-worker-secret-direct-custody-live@v1';
+const IMAGE =
+  'docker.io/hashicorp/vault@sha256:4e33b126a59c0c333b76fb4e894722462659a6bec7c48c9ee8cea56fccfd2569';
+const SHA256 = /^sha256:[a-f0-9]{64}$/;
+const VERSION = /^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(?:[+-][A-Za-z0-9.-]+)?$/;
+const FORBIDDEN_KEY =
+  /(secretRef|secretValue|clientToken|rootToken|accessor|endpoint|pathPrefix|tokenFile|caFile|materialValue|materialBytes|privateKey)/i;
+const REQUIRED_GATES = Object.freeze([
+  'digestPinnedVaultImage',
+  'nativeVaultArchitecture',
+  'tls13WithExplicitPrivateCa',
+  'untrustedCaRejected',
+  'initializedWithThreeOfTwoSealAuthority',
+  'kvV2ExternalCustody',
+  'oneExactReadOnlyPolicy',
+  'shortLivedOrphanNonRenewableToken',
+  'tokenRevalidatedPerResolution',
+  'digestDerivedPathsOnly',
+  'normalSecretBoundPreserved',
+  'opaqueEnvironmentBundleBoundPreserved',
+  'valueRotationObservedWithoutControlRestart',
+  'tokenRotationObservedWithoutControlRestart',
+  'revokedTokenRemoved',
+  'missingMaterialFailsClosed',
+  'sealedVaultFailsClosed',
+  'thresholdUnsealRestoresResolution',
+  'persistentValuesSurviveContainerReplacement',
+  'reportIsContentFree',
+  'passed',
+]);
+
+function exact(value, keys) {
+  return Boolean(
+    value &&
+      typeof value === 'object' &&
+      !Array.isArray(value) &&
+      JSON.stringify(Object.keys(value).sort()) ===
+        JSON.stringify([...keys].sort()),
+  );
+}
+
+function scan(value, findings, location = 'report') {
+  if (
+    typeof value === 'string' &&
+    /(hvs\.[A-Za-z0-9_-]{16,}|-----BEGIN (?:RSA |EC )?PRIVATE KEY-----|qlsecret:v1:|vault-private-|bundle-private-)/.test(
+      value,
+    )
+  ) {
+    findings.push(`${location} contains sensitive material`);
+    return;
+  }
+  if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+    value.forEach((entry, index) =>
+      scan(entry, findings, `${location}[${index}]`),
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object') return;
+  for (const [key, entry] of Object.entries(value)) {
+    if (FORBIDDEN_KEY.test(key)) {
+      findings.push(`${location}.${key} is forbidden`);
+    }
+    scan(entry, findings, `${location}.${key}`);
+  }
+}
+
+function validateVaultKvWorkerSecretLiveReport(report) {
+  const findings = [];
+  if (
+    !exact(report, [
+      'schemaVersion',
+      'fixture',
+      'platform',
+      'custody',
+      'gates',
+      'limitations',
+    ]) ||
+    report?.schemaVersion !== 1 ||
+    report?.fixture !== FIXTURE
+  ) {
+    findings.push('report envelope is invalid');
+  }
+  if (
+    !exact(report?.platform, [
+      'architecture',
+      'vaultImage',
+      'vaultImageId',
+      'vaultVersion',
+      'transport',
+      'storage',
+    ]) ||
+    !['amd64', 'arm64'].includes(report?.platform?.architecture) ||
+    report?.platform?.vaultImage !== IMAGE ||
+    !SHA256.test(report?.platform?.vaultImageId ?? '') ||
+    !VERSION.test(report?.platform?.vaultVersion ?? '') ||
+    report?.platform?.transport !== 'TLSv1.3 with an explicit private CA' ||
+    report?.platform?.storage !== 'persistent file barrier fixture'
+  ) {
+    findings.push('platform evidence is invalid');
+  }
+  if (
+    !exact(report?.custody, [
+      'provider',
+      'kvVersion',
+      'policyCount',
+      'maximumTokenTtlSeconds',
+      'tokenLeaseSeconds',
+      'secretCount',
+      'environmentBundleCount',
+      'observedVersions',
+      'containerReplacements',
+    ]) ||
+    report?.custody?.provider !== 'vault-kv-v2' ||
+    report?.custody?.kvVersion !== 2 ||
+    report?.custody?.policyCount !== 1 ||
+    report?.custody?.maximumTokenTtlSeconds !== 900 ||
+    report?.custody?.tokenLeaseSeconds !== 600 ||
+    report?.custody?.secretCount !== 2 ||
+    report?.custody?.environmentBundleCount !== 1 ||
+    JSON.stringify(report?.custody?.observedVersions) !==
+      JSON.stringify([1, 2]) ||
+    report?.custody?.containerReplacements !== 1
+  ) {
+    findings.push('custody evidence is invalid');
+  }
+  if (
+    !exact(report?.gates, REQUIRED_GATES) ||
+    REQUIRED_GATES.some((gate) => report?.gates?.[gate] !== true)
+  ) {
+    findings.push('one or more required gates are false or missing');
+  }
+  if (
+    !Array.isArray(report?.limitations) ||
+    report.limitations.length !== 3 ||
+    report.limitations.some(
+      (value) =>
+        typeof value !== 'string' || value.length < 32 || value.length > 512,
+    )
+  ) {
+    findings.push('limitations are invalid');
+  }
+  scan(report, findings);
+  return Object.freeze({
+    schemaVersion: 1,
+    fixture: FIXTURE,
+    findings: Object.freeze(findings),
+    compatible: findings.length === 0,
+  });
+}
+
+function main(argv) {
+  if (argv.length !== 1 || !argv[0].startsWith('--report=/')) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'usage: ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-audit --report=/absolute/report.json',
+    );
+  }
+  const reportPath = argv[0].slice('--report='.length);
+  if (path.resolve(reportPath) !== reportPath) {
+    throw new Error('report path is invalid');
+  }
+  const report = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(reportPath, 'utf8'));
+  const result = validateVaultKvWorkerSecretLiveReport(report);
+  process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(result)}\n`);
+  if (!result.compatible) process.exitCode = 1;
+}
+
+if (require.main === module) {
+  try {
+    main(process.argv.slice(2));
+  } catch (error) {
+    process.stderr.write(
+      `QL3 Vault KV Worker Secret live audit failed: ${
+        error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)
+      }\n`,
+    );
+    process.exitCode = 1;
+  }
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  FIXTURE,
+  IMAGE,
+  REQUIRED_GATES,
+  validateVaultKvWorkerSecretLiveReport,
+};
diff --git a/scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-contract.cjs b/scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-contract.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..904e8cfb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-contract.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,814 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+'use strict';
+
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const { spawnSync } = require('node:child_process');
+const { randomBytes } = require('node:crypto');
+const {
+  chmodSync,
+  mkdirSync,
+  mkdtempSync,
+  readFileSync,
+  renameSync,
+  rmSync,
+  writeFileSync,
+} = require('node:fs');
+const https = require('node:https');
+const { isIP } = require('node:net');
+const os = require('node:os');
+const path = require('node:path');
+
+const {
+  createSecretRef,
+} = require('../packages/ql3-runtime-core/dist/secret/secretReference.js');
+const {
+  secretProjectionFileName,
+} = require('../packages/ql3-runtime-core/dist/secret/secretProjection.js');
+const {
+  ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError,
+  createClusterVaultKvSecretProvider,
+} = require('../packages/ql3-cluster-control/dist/remote-execution/vaultKvSecretProvider.js');
+
+const IMAGE =
+  'docker.io/hashicorp/vault@sha256:4e33b126a59c0c333b76fb4e894722462659a6bec7c48c9ee8cea56fccfd2569';
+const FIXTURE = 'qinglong/vault-kv-worker-secret-direct-custody-live@v1';
+const MAX_RESPONSE_BYTES = 256 * 1024;
+const VAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 10_000;
+const POLICY = 'ql3-worker-secret-read';
+const MOUNT = 'worker-secrets';
+const PREFIX = 'values/production';
+
+function docker(args, options = {}) {
+  const result = spawnSync('docker', args, {
+    encoding: 'utf8',
+    timeout: options.timeoutMs ?? 120_000,
+    maxBuffer: 4 * 1024 * 1024,
+  });
+  if (result.error) throw result.error;
+  if (result.status !== 0 && !options.allowFailure) {
+    throw new Error(`Docker command failed: ${args[0] ?? 'unknown'}`);
+  }
+  return {
+    status: result.status,
+    stdout: result.stdout.trim(),
+    stderr: result.stderr.trim(),
+  };
+}
+
+function privateFile(directory, name, value, mode = 0o440) {
+  const target = path.join(directory, name);
+  writeFileSync(target, value, { mode: 0o600, flag: 'wx' });
+  chmodSync(target, mode);
+  return target;
+}
+
+function openssl(args) {
+  const result = spawnSync('openssl', args, {
+    encoding: 'utf8',
+    timeout: 30_000,
+    maxBuffer: 1024 * 1024,
+  });
+  if (result.error) throw result.error;
+  if (result.status !== 0) throw new Error('OpenSSL command failed');
+}
+
+function generateTlsAuthority(directory) {
+  const tlsDirectory = path.join(directory, 'tls');
+  mkdirSync(tlsDirectory, { mode: 0o700 });
+  const caKeyFile = path.join(tlsDirectory, 'ca-key.pem');
+  const caFile = path.join(tlsDirectory, 'ca.pem');
+  const serverKeyFile = path.join(tlsDirectory, 'server-key.pem');
+  const serverRequestFile = path.join(tlsDirectory, 'server.csr');
+  const serverCertificateFile = path.join(tlsDirectory, 'server.pem');
+  const untrustedCaKeyFile = path.join(tlsDirectory, 'untrusted-ca-key.pem');
+  const untrustedCaFile = path.join(tlsDirectory, 'untrusted-ca.pem');
+  const extensionsFile = privateFile(
+    tlsDirectory,
+    'server-extensions.cnf',
+    [
+      'basicConstraints=critical,CA:FALSE',
+      'keyUsage=critical,digitalSignature,keyEncipherment',
+      'extendedKeyUsage=serverAuth',
+      'subjectAltName=IP:127.0.0.1,DNS:localhost',
+      '',
+    ].join('\n'),
+    0o400,
+  );
+  openssl([
+    'req',
+    '-x509',
+    '-newkey',
+    'rsa:2048',
+    '-sha256',
+    '-nodes',
+    '-days',
+    '2',
+    '-subj',
+    '/CN=QingLong 3 Vault KV Live Root',
+    '-addext',
+    'basicConstraints=critical,CA:TRUE,pathlen:0',
+    '-addext',
+    'keyUsage=critical,keyCertSign,cRLSign',
+    '-keyout',
+    caKeyFile,
+    '-out',
+    caFile,
+  ]);
+  openssl([
+    'req',
+    '-new',
+    '-newkey',
+    'rsa:2048',
+    '-sha256',
+    '-nodes',
+    '-subj',
+    '/CN=127.0.0.1',
+    '-keyout',
+    serverKeyFile,
+    '-out',
+    serverRequestFile,
+  ]);
+  openssl([
+    'x509',
+    '-req',
+    '-sha256',
+    '-days',
+    '2',
+    '-in',
+    serverRequestFile,
+    '-CA',
+    caFile,
+    '-CAkey',
+    caKeyFile,
+    '-CAcreateserial',
+    '-extfile',
+    extensionsFile,
+    '-out',
+    serverCertificateFile,
+  ]);
+  openssl([
+    'req',
+    '-x509',
+    '-newkey',
+    'rsa:2048',
+    '-sha256',
+    '-nodes',
+    '-days',
+    '2',
+    '-subj',
+    '/CN=QingLong 3 Untrusted Vault KV Root',
+    '-addext',
+    'basicConstraints=critical,CA:TRUE,pathlen:0',
+    '-addext',
+    'keyUsage=critical,keyCertSign,cRLSign',
+    '-keyout',
+    untrustedCaKeyFile,
+    '-out',
+    untrustedCaFile,
+  ]);
+  chmodSync(caKeyFile, 0o400);
+  chmodSync(caFile, 0o440);
+  chmodSync(serverKeyFile, 0o400);
+  chmodSync(serverRequestFile, 0o400);
+  chmodSync(serverCertificateFile, 0o440);
+  chmodSync(untrustedCaKeyFile, 0o400);
+  chmodSync(untrustedCaFile, 0o440);
+  return Object.freeze({
+    tlsDirectory,
+    caFile,
+    serverCertificateFile,
+    serverKeyFile,
+    untrustedCaFile,
+  });
+}
+
+function vaultJson(endpoint, ca, token, method, requestPath, body) {
+  const bytes = body === undefined ? null : Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(body));
+  const target = new URL(requestPath, endpoint);
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const request = https.request(
+      target,
+      {
+        method,
+        ca,
+        rejectUnauthorized: true,
+        minVersion: 'TLSv1.3',
+        maxVersion: 'TLSv1.3',
+        ...(isIP(target.hostname) === 0 ? { servername: target.hostname } : {}),
+        headers: {
+          accept: 'application/json',
+          ...(bytes === null
+            ? {}
+            : {
+                'content-type': 'application/json',
+                'content-length': String(bytes.byteLength),
+              }),
+          ...(token === null ? {} : { 'x-vault-token': token }),
+        },
+      },
+      (response) => {
+        const tlsProtocol = response.socket.getProtocol();
+        const peerAuthorized = response.socket.authorized;
+        const chunks = [];
+        let length = 0;
+        response.on('data', (chunk) => {
+          length += chunk.byteLength;
+          if (length > MAX_RESPONSE_BYTES) {
+            response.destroy(new Error('Vault response exceeded live limit'));
+            return;
+          }
+          chunks.push(Buffer.from(chunk));
+        });
+        response.once('error', reject);
+        response.on('end', () => {
+          const responseBytes = Buffer.concat(chunks);
+          chunks.forEach((chunk) => chunk.fill(0));
+          try {
+            resolve({
+              statusCode: response.statusCode,
+              value: responseBytes.byteLength
+                ? JSON.parse(responseBytes.toString('utf8'))
+                : null,
+              tlsProtocol,
+              peerAuthorized,
+            });
+          } catch (cause) {
+            reject(cause);
+          } finally {
+            responseBytes.fill(0);
+          }
+        });
+      },
+    );
+    request.setTimeout(VAULT_TIMEOUT_MS, () =>
+      request.destroy(new Error('Vault live request timed out')),
+    );
+    request.once('error', reject);
+    request.once('close', () => bytes?.fill(0));
+    request.end(bytes ?? undefined);
+  });
+}
+
+async function waitForVault(endpoint, ca, expected) {
+  let lastError;
+  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 120; attempt += 1) {
+    try {
+      const health = await vaultJson(
+        endpoint,
+        ca,
+        null,
+        'GET',
+        '/v1/sys/health',
+      );
+      if (
+        health.statusCode === expected.statusCode &&
+        health.value?.initialized === expected.initialized &&
+        health.value?.sealed === expected.sealed
+      ) {
+        assert.equal(health.tlsProtocol, 'TLSv1.3');
+        assert.equal(health.peerAuthorized, true);
+        return health;
+      }
+    } catch (cause) {
+      lastError = cause;
+    }
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 125));
+  }
+  const detail =
+    lastError instanceof Error
+      ? `${
+          typeof lastError.code === 'string' ? lastError.code : lastError.name
+        }:${lastError.message}`
+      : 'no-health-response';
+  throw new Error(
+    `Vault server did not reach the expected state (${detail.slice(0, 256)})`,
+    { cause: lastError },
+  );
+}
+
+function startVaultContainer(container, publish, directory, tls) {
+  const uid = typeof process.getuid === 'function' ? process.getuid() : 100;
+  const gid = typeof process.getgid === 'function' ? process.getgid() : 1000;
+  docker([
+    'run',
+    '--detach',
+    '--rm',
+    '--name',
+    container,
+    '--publish',
+    publish,
+    '--user',
+    `${uid}:${gid}`,
+    '--cap-drop',
+    'ALL',
+    '--cap-add',
+    'IPC_LOCK',
+    '--security-opt',
+    'no-new-privileges:true',
+    '--read-only',
+    '--tmpfs',
+    '/tmp:rw,noexec,nosuid,size=16m',
+    '--volume',
+    `${path.join(directory, 'vault-server.hcl')}:/vault/config/server.hcl:ro`,
+    '--volume',
+    `${tls.tlsDirectory}:/vault/tls:ro`,
+    '--volume',
+    `${path.join(directory, 'vault-data')}:/vault/file:rw`,
+    '--entrypoint',
+    '/bin/vault',
+    IMAGE,
+    'server',
+    '-config=/vault/config/server.hcl',
+  ]);
+  return docker(['inspect', container, '--format', '{{.Id}}']).stdout;
+}
+
+async function unsealVault(endpoint, ca, unsealKeys) {
+  let result;
+  for (const key of unsealKeys.slice(0, 2)) {
+    result = await vaultJson(endpoint, ca, null, 'POST', '/v1/sys/unseal', {
+      key: key.toString('base64'),
+    });
+    assert.equal(result.statusCode, 200);
+  }
+  assert.equal(result.value?.sealed, false);
+  assert.equal(result.value?.t, 2);
+  assert.equal(result.value?.n, 3);
+}
+
+function authority(secretRefs, environmentBundleRefs = []) {
+  return {
+    workerId: 'worker-vault-live',
+    workerSessionId: '018f0000-0000-7000-8000-000000000001',
+    workerGeneration: 1,
+    runId: 'run-vault-live',
+    attemptId: 'attempt-vault-live',
+    projectId: 'project-vault-live',
+    taskId: 'task-vault-live',
+    taskRevision: 'revision-vault-live',
+    executionDigest: 'a'.repeat(64),
+    offerId: 'offer-vault-live',
+    leaseGeneration: 1,
+    leaseVersion: 1,
+    secretRefs,
+    environmentBundleRefs,
+  };
+}
+
+function kvEnvelope(secretRef, value) {
+  return {
+    schemaVersion: 1,
+    secretRefDigest: secretProjectionFileName(secretRef),
+    encoding: 'base64',
+    value: Buffer.from(value).toString('base64'),
+  };
+}
+
+async function putSecret(endpoint, ca, rootToken, secretRef, value) {
+  const digest = secretProjectionFileName(secretRef);
+  const response = await vaultJson(
+    endpoint,
+    ca,
+    rootToken,
+    'POST',
+    `/v1/${MOUNT}/data/${PREFIX}/${digest}`,
+    { data: kvEnvelope(secretRef, value) },
+  );
+  assert.equal(response.statusCode, 200);
+  assert.equal(Number.isSafeInteger(response.value?.data?.version), true);
+  return response.value.data.version;
+}
+
+async function createLeastPrivilegeToken(endpoint, ca, rootToken) {
+  const response = await vaultJson(
+    endpoint,
+    ca,
+    rootToken,
+    'POST',
+    '/v1/auth/token/create-orphan',
+    {
+      policies: [POLICY],
+      no_default_policy: true,
+      renewable: false,
+      ttl: '10m',
+      display_name: 'ql3-worker-secret-live',
+    },
+  );
+  assert.equal(response.statusCode, 200);
+  assert.equal(response.value?.auth?.policies?.length, 1);
+  assert.equal(response.value.auth.policies[0], POLICY);
+  assert.equal(response.value.auth.orphan, true);
+  assert.equal(response.value.auth.renewable, false);
+  assert.equal(response.value.auth.lease_duration, 600);
+  assert.equal(typeof response.value.auth.client_token, 'string');
+  assert.equal(typeof response.value.auth.accessor, 'string');
+  return {
+    token: response.value.auth.client_token,
+    accessor: response.value.auth.accessor,
+  };
+}
+
+async function main() {
+  if (process.env.QL3_RUN_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_LIVE !== 'true') {
+    throw new Error('QL3_RUN_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_LIVE=true is required');
+  }
+  docker(['version', '--format', '{{.Server.Version}}']);
+  docker(['image', 'inspect', IMAGE]);
+
+  const suffix = `${process.pid}-${randomBytes(3).toString('hex')}`;
+  const container = `ql3-vault-kv-worker-${suffix}`;
+  const directory = mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ql3-vault-kv-live-'));
+  chmodSync(directory, 0o700);
+  const unsealKeys = [];
+  let ca;
+  let rootToken;
+  let firstToken;
+  let secondToken;
+  let started = false;
+  try {
+    const tls = generateTlsAuthority(directory);
+    ca = readFileSync(tls.caFile);
+    const untrustedCa = readFileSync(tls.untrustedCaFile);
+    mkdirSync(path.join(directory, 'vault-data'), { mode: 0o700 });
+    privateFile(
+      directory,
+      'vault-server.hcl',
+      [
+        'ui = false',
+        'disable_mlock = false',
+        'api_addr = "https://127.0.0.1:8200"',
+        'cluster_addr = "https://127.0.0.1:8201"',
+        'storage "file" {',
+        '  path = "/vault/file"',
+        '}',
+        'listener "tcp" {',
+        '  address = "0.0.0.0:8200"',
+        '  cluster_address = "0.0.0.0:8201"',
+        '  tls_cert_file = "/vault/tls/server.pem"',
+        '  tls_key_file = "/vault/tls/server-key.pem"',
+        '  tls_min_version = "tls13"',
+        '  tls_max_version = "tls13"',
+        '}',
+        '',
+      ].join('\n'),
+    );
+    const firstContainerId = startVaultContainer(
+      container,
+      '127.0.0.1::8200',
+      directory,
+      tls,
+    );
+    started = true;
+    const portOutput = docker(['port', container, '8200/tcp']).stdout;
+    const portMatch = /^127\.0\.0\.1:([1-9][0-9]*)$/.exec(portOutput);
+    assert.ok(portMatch, 'Vault host port must be loopback-only');
+    const hostPort = Number(portMatch[1]);
+    const endpoint = `https://127.0.0.1:${hostPort}`;
+    const uninitialized = await waitForVault(endpoint, ca, {
+      statusCode: 501,
+      initialized: false,
+      sealed: true,
+    });
+    const initialization = await vaultJson(
+      endpoint,
+      ca,
+      null,
+      'POST',
+      '/v1/sys/init',
+      { secret_shares: 3, secret_threshold: 2 },
+    );
+    assert.equal(initialization.statusCode, 200);
+    for (const encoded of initialization.value.keys_base64) {
+      const key = Buffer.from(encoded, 'base64');
+      assert.equal(key.toString('base64'), encoded);
+      unsealKeys.push(key);
+    }
+    rootToken = initialization.value.root_token;
+    initialization.value.keys = [];
+    initialization.value.keys_base64 = [];
+    initialization.value.root_token = '';
+    await unsealVault(endpoint, ca, unsealKeys);
+    const initialHealth = await waitForVault(endpoint, ca, {
+      statusCode: 200,
+      initialized: true,
+      sealed: false,
+    });
+
+    const mount = await vaultJson(
+      endpoint,
+      ca,
+      rootToken,
+      'POST',
+      `/v1/sys/mounts/${MOUNT}`,
+      { type: 'kv', options: { version: '2' } },
+    );
+    assert.equal(mount.statusCode, 204);
+    const policy = await vaultJson(
+      endpoint,
+      ca,
+      rootToken,
+      'PUT',
+      `/v1/sys/policies/acl/${POLICY}`,
+      {
+        policy: [
+          `path "${MOUNT}/data/${PREFIX}/*" { capabilities = ["read"] }`,
+          'path "auth/token/lookup-self" { capabilities = ["read"] }',
+        ].join('\n'),
+      },
+    );
+    assert.equal(policy.statusCode, 204);
+
+    const secretRef = createSecretRef({
+      projectId: 'project-vault-live',
+      name: 'legacy-token',
+      version: 2,
+    });
+    const secondSecretRef = createSecretRef({
+      projectId: 'project-vault-live',
+      name: 'legacy-certificate',
+      version: 1,
+    });
+    const bundleRef = createSecretRef({
+      projectId: 'project-vault-live',
+      name: 'legacy-environment-bundle',
+      version: 3,
+    });
+    const missingRef = createSecretRef({
+      projectId: 'project-vault-live',
+      name: 'not-provisioned',
+    });
+    const firstValue = `vault-private-generation-one-${suffix}`;
+    const secondValue = `vault-private-generation-two-${suffix}`;
+    const certificateValue = `vault-private-certificate-${suffix}`;
+    const bundleValue = JSON.stringify({
+      schema: 'qinglong/environment-bundle@v1',
+      entries: [{ name: 'LEGACY_ENV', value: `bundle-private-${suffix}` }],
+    });
+    const firstVersion = await putSecret(
+      endpoint,
+      ca,
+      rootToken,
+      secretRef,
+      firstValue,
+    );
+    await putSecret(endpoint, ca, rootToken, secondSecretRef, certificateValue);
+    await putSecret(endpoint, ca, rootToken, bundleRef, bundleValue);
+    firstToken = await createLeastPrivilegeToken(endpoint, ca, rootToken);
+    const tokenFile = privateFile(
+      directory,
+      'worker-token',
+      `${firstToken.token}\n`,
+      0o440,
+    );
+    const options = {
+      endpoint,
+      caFile: tls.caFile,
+      tokenFile,
+      kvMount: MOUNT,
+      pathPrefix: PREFIX,
+      expectedPolicy: POLICY,
+      maximumTokenTtlSeconds: 900,
+      requestTimeoutMs: 5000,
+      maximumConcurrency: 2,
+    };
+    const initialLookup = await vaultJson(
+      endpoint,
+      ca,
+      firstToken.token,
+      'GET',
+      '/v1/auth/token/lookup-self',
+    );
+    assert.equal(initialLookup.statusCode, 200);
+    assert.deepEqual(initialLookup.value?.data?.policies, [POLICY]);
+    assert.equal(initialLookup.value?.data?.orphan, true);
+    assert.equal(initialLookup.value?.data?.renewable, false);
+    assert.equal(initialLookup.value?.data?.type, 'service');
+    assert.equal(
+      Number.isSafeInteger(initialLookup.value?.data?.ttl) &&
+        initialLookup.value.data.ttl > 0 &&
+        initialLookup.value.data.ttl <= 900,
+      true,
+    );
+    const provider = await createClusterVaultKvSecretProvider(options);
+    const first = await provider.resolve(
+      authority([secretRef, secondSecretRef], [bundleRef]),
+    );
+    assert.deepEqual(first.values, [
+      { secretRef, value: firstValue },
+      { secretRef: secondSecretRef, value: certificateValue },
+    ]);
+    assert.deepEqual(first.environmentBundles, [
+      { secretRef: bundleRef, value: bundleValue },
+    ]);
+    await first.dispose();
+
+    const rotatedVersion = await putSecret(
+      endpoint,
+      ca,
+      rootToken,
+      secretRef,
+      secondValue,
+    );
+    assert.equal(rotatedVersion, firstVersion + 1);
+    const rotated = await provider.resolve(authority([secretRef]));
+    assert.deepEqual(rotated.values, [{ secretRef, value: secondValue }]);
+    await rotated.dispose();
+
+    await assert.rejects(
+      provider.resolve(authority([missingRef])),
+      (error) =>
+        error instanceof ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError &&
+        error.reason === 'material_unavailable',
+    );
+    const untrustedProvider = createClusterVaultKvSecretProvider({
+      ...options,
+      caFile: tls.untrustedCaFile,
+    });
+    await assert.rejects(untrustedProvider, ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError);
+
+    secondToken = await createLeastPrivilegeToken(endpoint, ca, rootToken);
+    const tokenReplacement = privateFile(
+      directory,
+      'worker-token.next',
+      `${secondToken.token}\n`,
+      0o440,
+    );
+    renameSync(tokenReplacement, tokenFile);
+    const revoke = await vaultJson(
+      endpoint,
+      ca,
+      rootToken,
+      'POST',
+      '/v1/auth/token/revoke-accessor',
+      { accessor: firstToken.accessor },
+    );
+    assert.equal(revoke.statusCode, 204);
+    const afterTokenRotation = await provider.resolve(authority([secretRef]));
+    assert.equal(afterTokenRotation.values[0].value, secondValue);
+    await afterTokenRotation.dispose();
+
+    const seal = await vaultJson(
+      endpoint,
+      ca,
+      rootToken,
+      'PUT',
+      '/v1/sys/seal',
+    );
+    assert.equal(seal.statusCode, 204);
+    await waitForVault(endpoint, ca, {
+      statusCode: 503,
+      initialized: true,
+      sealed: true,
+    });
+    await assert.rejects(
+      provider.resolve(authority([secretRef])),
+      ClusterVaultKvSecretProviderError,
+    );
+    await unsealVault(endpoint, ca, unsealKeys);
+    const postUnseal = await provider.resolve(authority([secretRef]));
+    assert.equal(postUnseal.values[0].value, secondValue);
+    await postUnseal.dispose();
+
+    docker(['rm', '--force', container]);
+    started = false;
+    const secondContainerId = startVaultContainer(
+      container,
+      `127.0.0.1:${hostPort}:8200`,
+      directory,
+      tls,
+    );
+    started = true;
+    assert.notEqual(secondContainerId, firstContainerId);
+    const sealedAfterReplacement = await waitForVault(endpoint, ca, {
+      statusCode: 503,
+      initialized: true,
+      sealed: true,
+    });
+    await unsealVault(endpoint, ca, unsealKeys);
+    const postReplacementHealth = await waitForVault(endpoint, ca, {
+      statusCode: 200,
+      initialized: true,
+      sealed: false,
+    });
+    const postReplacement = await provider.resolve(authority([secretRef]));
+    assert.equal(postReplacement.values[0].value, secondValue);
+    await postReplacement.dispose();
+
+    const imageId = docker([
+      'image',
+      'inspect',
+      IMAGE,
+      '--format',
+      '{{.Id}}',
+    ]).stdout;
+    const architecture = docker([
+      'image',
+      'inspect',
+      IMAGE,
+      '--format',
+      '{{.Architecture}}',
+    ]).stdout;
+    const report = {
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      fixture: FIXTURE,
+      platform: {
+        architecture,
+        vaultImage: IMAGE,
+        vaultImageId: imageId,
+        vaultVersion: postReplacementHealth.value.version,
+        transport: 'TLSv1.3 with an explicit private CA',
+        storage: 'persistent file barrier fixture',
+      },
+      custody: {
+        provider: 'vault-kv-v2',
+        kvVersion: 2,
+        policyCount: 1,
+        maximumTokenTtlSeconds: 900,
+        tokenLeaseSeconds: 600,
+        secretCount: 2,
+        environmentBundleCount: 1,
+        observedVersions: [firstVersion, rotatedVersion],
+        containerReplacements: 1,
+      },
+      gates: {
+        digestPinnedVaultImage: true,
+        nativeVaultArchitecture: ['amd64', 'arm64'].includes(architecture),
+        tls13WithExplicitPrivateCa:
+          uninitialized.tlsProtocol === 'TLSv1.3' &&
+          initialHealth.tlsProtocol === 'TLSv1.3' &&
+          postReplacementHealth.tlsProtocol === 'TLSv1.3',
+        untrustedCaRejected: true,
+        initializedWithThreeOfTwoSealAuthority: true,
+        kvV2ExternalCustody: true,
+        oneExactReadOnlyPolicy: true,
+        shortLivedOrphanNonRenewableToken: true,
+        tokenRevalidatedPerResolution: true,
+        digestDerivedPathsOnly: true,
+        normalSecretBoundPreserved: true,
+        opaqueEnvironmentBundleBoundPreserved: true,
+        valueRotationObservedWithoutControlRestart: true,
+        tokenRotationObservedWithoutControlRestart: true,
+        revokedTokenRemoved: true,
+        missingMaterialFailsClosed: true,
+        sealedVaultFailsClosed: true,
+        thresholdUnsealRestoresResolution: true,
+        persistentValuesSurviveContainerReplacement:
+          sealedAfterReplacement.value.sealed === true,
+        reportIsContentFree: true,
+        passed: true,
+      },
+      limitations: [
+        'single-host file storage is not Vault integrated-storage HA or an HSM seal quorum',
+        'the short-lived private CA and service tokens are live fixture authorities rather than enterprise PKI or workload identity',
+        'the live gate proves direct external custody resolution and rotation, not fixed physical Edge storage behavior',
+      ],
+    };
+    const serialized = JSON.stringify(report);
+    for (const forbidden of [
+      rootToken,
+      firstToken.token,
+      secondToken.token,
+      firstValue,
+      secondValue,
+      certificateValue,
+      bundleValue,
+      directory,
+      endpoint,
+    ]) {
+      assert.equal(serialized.includes(forbidden), false);
+    }
+    const outputPath = process.env.QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_REPORT;
+    if (outputPath !== undefined) {
+      if (!path.isAbsolute(outputPath))
+        throw new Error('report path is invalid');
+      writeFileSync(outputPath, `${serialized}\n`, {
+        flag: 'wx',
+        mode: 0o600,
+      });
+    }
+    process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(report, null, 2)}\n`);
+    untrustedCa.fill(0);
+  } finally {
+    ca?.fill(0);
+    unsealKeys.forEach((key) => key.fill(0));
+    rootToken = undefined;
+    firstToken = undefined;
+    secondToken = undefined;
+    if (started) docker(['rm', '--force', container], { allowFailure: true });
+    rmSync(directory, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+}
+
+if (require.main === module) {
+  main().catch((error) => {
+    process.stderr.write(
+      `ql3 Vault KV Worker Secret live contract failed: ${
+        error instanceof Error ? error.stack ?? error.message : String(error)
+      }\n`,
+    );
+    process.exitCode = 1;
+  });
+}
+
+module.exports = { FIXTURE, IMAGE };
diff --git a/test/back/ql3DeploymentLockContract.test.cjs b/test/back/ql3DeploymentLockContract.test.cjs
index adf1b267..c19a1622 100644
--- a/test/back/ql3DeploymentLockContract.test.cjs
+++ b/test/back/ql3DeploymentLockContract.test.cjs
@@ -919,7 +919,7 @@ test('CLI rejects symlinks, open arguments, output aliasing and policy ambiguity
 test('source-surface audit freezes every reviewed cluster and worker authority', () => {
   assert.deepEqual(auditDeploymentImageSurfaces(root), {
     schemaVersion: 1,
-    deploymentYamlFiles: 224,
+    deploymentYamlFiles: 227,
     imageOccurrences: {
       control: 2,
       'control-ai': 1,
diff --git a/test/back/ql3PackageBoundaryAudit.test.cjs b/test/back/ql3PackageBoundaryAudit.test.cjs
index 04205a7e..f120d4b9 100644
--- a/test/back/ql3PackageBoundaryAudit.test.cjs
+++ b/test/back/ql3PackageBoundaryAudit.test.cjs
@@ -385,10 +385,10 @@ test('current QL3 workspace has exactly eighteen reviewed package boundaries', (
       rootSourceFileRoles: clusterControl.rootSourceFileRoles,
     },
     {
-      sourceFiles: 65,
+      sourceFiles: 66,
       rootSourceFiles: 2,
       rootSourceLines: 195,
-      nestedSourceFiles: 63,
+      nestedSourceFiles: 64,
       rootSourceFileRoles: {
         'aiCli.ts': 'binary_entry',
         'cli.ts': 'binary_entry',
diff --git a/test/back/ql3VaultKvWorkerSecretDeploymentAudit.test.cjs b/test/back/ql3VaultKvWorkerSecretDeploymentAudit.test.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eaa0e21b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/back/ql3VaultKvWorkerSecretDeploymentAudit.test.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const { test } = require('node:test');
+
+const {
+  auditVaultKvWorkerSecretDeployment,
+} = require('../../scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-deployment-audit.cjs');
+
+const ROOT = path.resolve(__dirname, '../..');
+
+test('accepts the exact direct Vault KV deployment overlay', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(auditVaultKvWorkerSecretDeployment({ root: ROOT }), {
+    schemaVersion: 1,
+    provider: 'vault-kv-v2',
+    mountedValueProjection: false,
+    findings: [],
+    compatible: true,
+  });
+});
+
+test('rejects a restored mounted-value projection or broad token TTL', () => {
+  const readFile = (file, encoding) => {
+    const source = fs.readFileSync(file, encoding);
+    if (!file.endsWith('deployment-patch.yaml')) return source;
+    return source
+      .replace(
+        "QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_TOKEN_TTL_SECONDS\n              value: '900'",
+        "QL3_WORKER_SECRET_VAULT_MAX_TOKEN_TTL_SECONDS\n              value: '3600'",
+      )
+      .replace(
+        '- name: worker-secret-values\n              $patch: delete',
+        '- name: worker-secret-values\n              mountPath: /run/values',
+      );
+  };
+  const result = auditVaultKvWorkerSecretDeployment({ root: ROOT, readFile });
+  assert.equal(result.compatible, false);
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    result.findings.map(({ code }) => code),
+    [
+      'QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_ENVIRONMENT_INVALID',
+      'QL3_VAULT_KV_WORKER_SECRET_PROJECTION_INVALID',
+    ],
+  );
+});
diff --git a/test/back/ql3VaultKvWorkerSecretLiveAudit.test.cjs b/test/back/ql3VaultKvWorkerSecretLiveAudit.test.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1b9a3e45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/back/ql3VaultKvWorkerSecretLiveAudit.test.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const { test } = require('node:test');
+
+const {
+  FIXTURE,
+  IMAGE,
+  REQUIRED_GATES,
+  validateVaultKvWorkerSecretLiveReport,
+} = require('../../scripts/ql3-vault-kv-worker-secret-live-audit.cjs');
+
+function fixture() {
+  return {
+    schemaVersion: 1,
+    fixture: FIXTURE,
+    platform: {
+      architecture: 'arm64',
+      vaultImage: IMAGE,
+      vaultImageId: `sha256:${'a'.repeat(64)}`,
+      vaultVersion: '1.20.2',
+      transport: 'TLSv1.3 with an explicit private CA',
+      storage: 'persistent file barrier fixture',
+    },
+    custody: {
+      provider: 'vault-kv-v2',
+      kvVersion: 2,
+      policyCount: 1,
+      maximumTokenTtlSeconds: 900,
+      tokenLeaseSeconds: 600,
+      secretCount: 2,
+      environmentBundleCount: 1,
+      observedVersions: [1, 2],
+      containerReplacements: 1,
+    },
+    gates: Object.fromEntries(REQUIRED_GATES.map((gate) => [gate, true])),
+    limitations: [
+      'single-host file storage is not Vault integrated-storage HA or an HSM seal quorum',
+      'the short-lived private CA and service tokens are fixture authorities rather than enterprise PKI',
+      'the live gate proves direct custody resolution rather than physical Edge storage behavior',
+    ],
+  };
+}
+
+test('accepts the exact content-free Vault KV direct custody report', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(validateVaultKvWorkerSecretLiveReport(fixture()), {
+    schemaVersion: 1,
+    fixture: FIXTURE,
+    findings: [],
+    compatible: true,
+  });
+});
+
+test('rejects false, missing or widened Vault KV gates', () => {
+  const falseGate = fixture();
+  falseGate.gates.sealedVaultFailsClosed = false;
+  assert.equal(
+    validateVaultKvWorkerSecretLiveReport(falseGate).compatible,
+    false,
+  );
+  const widened = fixture();
+  widened.gates.unreviewed = true;
+  assert.equal(
+    validateVaultKvWorkerSecretLiveReport(widened).compatible,
+    false,
+  );
+  const missing = fixture();
+  delete missing.gates.tokenRevalidatedPerResolution;
+  assert.equal(
+    validateVaultKvWorkerSecretLiveReport(missing).compatible,
+    false,
+  );
+});
+
+test('rejects sensitive material or widened report shape', () => {
+  const sensitive = fixture();
+  sensitive.limitations[0] =
+    'vault-private-generation-one-must-never-enter-the-report';
+  assert.match(
+    validateVaultKvWorkerSecretLiveReport(sensitive).findings.join('; '),
+    /sensitive material/,
+  );
+  const widened = fixture();
+  widened.endpoint = 'https://vault.private:8200';
+  const findings = validateVaultKvWorkerSecretLiveReport(widened).findings;
+  assert.ok(findings.includes('report envelope is invalid'));
+  assert.match(findings.join('; '), /endpoint is forbidden/);
+});
diff --git a/test/back/ql3VersionTransition.test.cjs b/test/back/ql3VersionTransition.test.cjs
index eb9794ef..1b2ef9c9 100644
--- a/test/back/ql3VersionTransition.test.cjs
+++ b/test/back/ql3VersionTransition.test.cjs
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ test('audits one source-derived QingLong 3 release identity', () => {
     legacyRootExcluded: true,
     workspacePackageCount: 18,
     containerRootCount: 4,
-    deploymentFileCount: 242,
+    deploymentFileCount: 246,
     deploymentImageReferences: 32,
     deploymentVersionOccurrences: 36,
     compatible: true,