README.md

@@ -107,6 +107,14 @@ exposes only independent management IDs and bounded labels—never cookie values
 session hashes, CSRF proofs, or source addresses. Existing two-column registries are
 migrated in place and their live sessions remain valid.
 
+High-impact actions—merging a pull request, closing an assigned issue, revoking a
+remote device, or signing out every device—require the operator access token again.
+The server issues a random 90-second grant bound to the active session, exact action,
+and exact target. Only its digest is stored, and the grant is consumed atomically on
+first use. Expired, replayed, cross-session, and target-substituted grants fail before
+Gitea or session state is changed. The browser preserves the pending request and
+retries it once after the built-in mobile/keyboard-accessible authorization prompt.
+
 If an active session expires, the first authenticated API rejection replaces the
 dashboard with sign-in and explains that private drafts remain on the device; signing
 in again resumes account-bound queued delivery. Expiry recovery does not clear offline

frontend/session.js

@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
       MessageChannel: root.MessageChannel,
       location: root.location,
       confirmAction: message => root.confirm(message),
+      promptAuthorization: details => root.prompt(
+        `Confirm ${String(details.action || 'this action').replaceAll('_', ' ')} by entering your dashboard access token.`,
+      ),
       onExpired: () => root.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('stackchain:session-expired')),
       onClearError: error => {
         root.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('stackchain:device-clear-failed', { detail: error.message }));
@@ -87,6 +90,7 @@
   }
 })(typeof window !== 'undefined' ? window : this, function createSessionBoundary({
   cookie, origin, base, fetchImpl, localStorage, sessionStorage, indexedDB, caches, serviceWorker, MessageChannel, location, confirmAction,
+  promptAuthorization = () => null,
   onExpired = () => {},
   onClearError = () => {},
 }) {
@@ -118,7 +122,7 @@
     catch (_error) { return false; }
   }
 
-  async function sessionFetch(input, options = {}) {
+  async function sessionFetch(input, options = {}, allowStepUp = true) {
     const method = String(options.method || input?.method || 'GET').toUpperCase();
     const requestOptions = { ...options };
     if (!SAFE_METHODS.has(method) && isSameOrigin(input)) {
@@ -128,6 +132,38 @@
       requestOptions.headers = headers;
     }
     const response = await fetchImpl(input, requestOptions);
+    if (response.status === 428 && isSameOrigin(input) && allowStepUp) {
+      const payload = await response.clone().json().catch(() => ({}));
+      const detail = payload?.detail || {};
+      if (detail.code === 'step_up_required' && detail.action && detail.target) {
+        const accessToken = await promptAuthorization({
+          action: detail.action,
+          target: detail.target,
+        });
+        if (!accessToken) return response;
+        const authorizationHeaders = new Headers({
+          Accept: 'application/json',
+          'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        });
+        const csrf = csrfToken();
+        if (csrf) authorizationHeaders.set('X-CSRF-Token', csrf);
+        const authorization = await fetchImpl(base + 'api/v1/fresh-authorization', {
+          method: 'POST',
+          headers: authorizationHeaders,
+          body: JSON.stringify({
+            access_token: accessToken,
+            action: detail.action,
+            target: detail.target,
+          }),
+        });
+        if (!authorization.ok) return authorization;
+        const grant = await authorization.json().catch(() => ({}));
+        if (!grant.grant) return response;
+        const retryHeaders = new Headers(requestOptions.headers || input?.headers || {});
+        retryHeaders.set('X-Step-Up-Grant', grant.grant);
+        return sessionFetch(input, { ...requestOptions, headers: retryHeaders }, false);
+      }
+    }
     if (response.status === 401 && isSameOrigin(input) && !expirationStarted) {
       expirationStarted = true;
       const payload = await response.clone().json().catch(() => ({}));

src/dashboard_auth.py

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from src.session_store import SessionStore, SessionStoreError
 SESSION_COOKIE = "stackchain_session"
 CSRF_COOKIE = "stackchain_csrf"
 DEFAULT_TTL_SECONDS = 8 * 60 * 60
+STEP_UP_TTL_SECONDS = 90
 MIN_SECRET_LENGTH = 24
 OPERATOR_MODE = "operator"
 INSECURE_LOCAL_MODE = "insecure-local"
@@ -170,6 +171,28 @@ async def revoke_managed_session(management_id: str) -> bool:
     return await asyncio.to_thread(_session_store().revoke_managed, management_id)
 
 
+async def issue_step_up(session: Session, *, action: str, target: str) -> str:
+    return await asyncio.to_thread(
+        _session_store().mint_step_up,
+        session.session_id,
+        action=action,
+        target=target,
+        ttl_seconds=STEP_UP_TTL_SECONDS,
+    )
+
+
+async def consume_step_up(
+    grant: str, session: Session, *, action: str, target: str
+) -> bool:
+    return await asyncio.to_thread(
+        _session_store().consume_step_up,
+        grant,
+        session.session_id,
+        action=action,
+        target=target,
+    )
+
+
 async def request_session(request: Request) -> Session | None:
     return await asyncio.to_thread(verify_session, request.cookies.get(SESSION_COOKIE))
 

src/main.py

@@ -146,6 +146,14 @@ class DashboardSignIn(BaseModel):
         return normalized
 
 
+class FreshAuthorization(BaseModel):
+    access_token: str = Field(min_length=1, max_length=1_024)
+    action: Literal[
+        "merge_pull", "close_issue", "revoke_device", "revoke_all_sessions"
+    ]
+    target: str = Field(min_length=1, max_length=255)
+
+
 def _login_attempt_store() -> LoginAttemptStore:
     state_dir = os.getenv("STACKCHAIN_STATE_DIR", ".stackchain-state")
     return LoginAttemptStore(
@@ -160,6 +168,33 @@ def _login_attempt_store() -> LoginAttemptStore:
     )
 
 
+async def _require_step_up(
+    request: Request,
+    grant: str | None,
+    *,
+    action: str,
+    target: str,
+) -> None:
+    if dashboard_auth.mode() != dashboard_auth.OPERATOR_MODE:
+        return
+    try:
+        valid = bool(grant) and await dashboard_auth.consume_step_up(
+            grant, request.state.dashboard_session, action=action, target=target
+        )
+    except dashboard_auth.SessionStoreError:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=503, detail="Session registry is temporarily unavailable"
+        )
+    if not valid:
+        return_payload = {
+            "detail": "Fresh authorization required",
+            "code": "step_up_required",
+            "action": action,
+            "target": target,
+        }
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=428, detail=return_payload)
+
+
 class NotificationReadBatch(BaseModel):
     ids: list[PositiveInt] = Field(min_length=1, max_length=50)
 
@@ -732,6 +767,68 @@ async def sign_in(payload: DashboardSignIn, request: Request, response: Response
     return {"authenticated": True}
 
 
+@app.post("/api/v1/fresh-authorization", status_code=201)
+async def fresh_authorization(payload: FreshAuthorization, request: Request):
+    peer_host = request.client.host if request.client is not None else "unknown"
+    source = client_source(
+        peer_host,
+        request.headers.get("x-forwarded-for", ""),
+        os.getenv("STACKCHAIN_TRUSTED_PROXY_CIDRS", ""),
+    )
+    attempts = _login_attempt_store()
+    try:
+        retry_after = await asyncio.to_thread(attempts.retry_after, source)
+    except LoginAttemptStoreError:
+        return JSONResponse(
+            {"detail": "Sign-in throttling is temporarily unavailable"},
+            status_code=503,
+            headers={"Cache-Control": "no-store"},
+        )
+    if retry_after:
+        return JSONResponse(
+            {"detail": "Too many sign-in attempts"},
+            status_code=429,
+            headers={"Cache-Control": "no-store", "Retry-After": str(retry_after)},
+        )
+    configured_token = dashboard_auth.access_token()
+    if not configured_token or not hmac.compare_digest(
+        payload.access_token, configured_token
+    ):
+        try:
+            await asyncio.to_thread(attempts.record_failure, source)
+        except LoginAttemptStoreError:
+            return JSONResponse(
+                {"detail": "Sign-in throttling is temporarily unavailable"},
+                status_code=503,
+                headers={"Cache-Control": "no-store"},
+            )
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Invalid access token")
+    try:
+        await asyncio.to_thread(attempts.clear, source)
+        grant = await dashboard_auth.issue_step_up(
+            request.state.dashboard_session,
+            action=payload.action,
+            target=payload.target,
+        )
+    except LoginAttemptStoreError:
+        return JSONResponse(
+            {"detail": "Sign-in throttling is temporarily unavailable"},
+            status_code=503,
+            headers={"Cache-Control": "no-store"},
+        )
+    except dashboard_auth.SessionStoreError:
+        return JSONResponse(
+            {"detail": "Session registry is temporarily unavailable"},
+            status_code=503,
+            headers={"Cache-Control": "no-store"},
+        )
+    return JSONResponse(
+        {"grant": grant, "expires_in": dashboard_auth.STEP_UP_TTL_SECONDS},
+        status_code=201,
+        headers={"Cache-Control": "no-store"},
+    )
+
+
 @app.get("/api/v1/session")
 async def session_status(request: Request):
     session = request.state.dashboard_session
@@ -802,7 +899,16 @@ async def revoke_active_device(
     management_id: str = PathParam(
         min_length=16, max_length=64, pattern=r"^[A-Za-z0-9_-]+$"
     ),
+    step_up_grant: str | None = Header(
+        default=None, alias="X-Step-Up-Grant", max_length=128
+    ),
 ):
+    await _require_step_up(
+        request,
+        step_up_grant,
+        action="revoke_device",
+        target=management_id,
+    )
     try:
         devices = await dashboard_auth.active_devices(request.state.dashboard_session)
         target = next(
@@ -821,7 +927,19 @@ async def revoke_active_device(
 
 
 @app.delete("/api/v1/sessions")
-async def sign_out_all_devices(request: Request, response: Response):
+async def sign_out_all_devices(
+    request: Request,
+    response: Response,
+    step_up_grant: str | None = Header(
+        default=None, alias="X-Step-Up-Grant", max_length=128
+    ),
+):
+    await _require_step_up(
+        request,
+        step_up_grant,
+        action="revoke_all_sessions",
+        target="all",
+    )
     try:
         await dashboard_auth.revoke_all_sessions()
     except dashboard_auth.SessionStoreError:
@@ -2102,8 +2220,22 @@ async def comment_on_assigned_issue(
 
 
 @app.patch("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{number}/close")
-async def close_assigned_issue(owner: str, repo: str, number: int = PathParam(gt=0)):
+async def close_assigned_issue(
+    request: Request,
+    owner: str,
+    repo: str,
+    number: int = PathParam(gt=0),
+    step_up_grant: str | None = Header(
+        default=None, alias="X-Step-Up-Grant", max_length=128
+    ),
+):
     repository = f"{owner}/{repo}"
+    await _require_step_up(
+        request,
+        step_up_grant,
+        action="close_issue",
+        target=f"{repository}#{number}",
+    )
 
     async def close_issue():
         if not await gitea_proxy.is_assigned_issue(repository, number):
@@ -2336,11 +2468,21 @@ async def comment_on_assigned_pull(
 @app.post("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/pulls/{number}/merge")
 async def merge_assigned_pull(
     submission: PullMergeSubmission,
+    request: Request,
     owner: str,
     repo: str,
     number: int = PathParam(gt=0),
+    step_up_grant: str | None = Header(
+        default=None, alias="X-Step-Up-Grant", max_length=128
+    ),
 ):
     repository = f"{owner}/{repo}"
+    await _require_step_up(
+        request,
+        step_up_grant,
+        action="merge_pull",
+        target=f"{repository}#{number}",
+    )
 
     async def merge_pull():
         if not await gitea_proxy.is_assigned_pull(repository, number):

src/session_store.py

@@ -62,6 +62,21 @@ class SessionStore:
                     )
                     """
                 )
+                connection.execute(
+                    """
+                    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS step_up_grants (
+                        grant_hash TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+                        session_hash TEXT NOT NULL,
+                        action TEXT NOT NULL,
+                        target TEXT NOT NULL,
+                        expires_at INTEGER NOT NULL
+                    )
+                    """
+                )
+                connection.execute(
+                    "CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS step_up_grants_session_hash "
+                    "ON step_up_grants(session_hash)"
+                )
                 columns = {
                     row[1] for row in connection.execute("PRAGMA table_info(active_sessions)")
                 }
@@ -134,7 +149,11 @@ class SessionStore:
 
     def revoke(self, session_id: str) -> None:
         try:
-            with self._connect() as connection:
+            with self._connect(initialize=True) as connection:
+                connection.execute(
+                    "DELETE FROM step_up_grants WHERE session_hash = ?",
+                    (self._digest(session_id),),
+                )
                 connection.execute(
                     "DELETE FROM active_sessions WHERE session_hash = ?",
                     (self._digest(session_id),),
@@ -169,6 +188,15 @@ class SessionStore:
     def revoke_managed(self, management_id: str) -> bool:
         try:
             with self._connect() as connection:
+                row = connection.execute(
+                    "SELECT session_hash FROM active_sessions WHERE management_id = ?",
+                    (management_id,),
+                ).fetchone()
+                if row is None:
+                    return False
+                connection.execute(
+                    "DELETE FROM step_up_grants WHERE session_hash = ?", (row[0],)
+                )
                 cursor = connection.execute(
                     "DELETE FROM active_sessions WHERE management_id = ?", (management_id,)
                 )
@@ -178,7 +206,83 @@ class SessionStore:
 
     def revoke_all(self) -> None:
         try:
-            with self._connect() as connection:
+            with self._connect(initialize=True) as connection:
+                connection.execute("DELETE FROM step_up_grants")
                 connection.execute("DELETE FROM active_sessions")
         except (OSError, sqlite3.Error) as exc:
             raise SessionStoreError("Session registry is temporarily unavailable") from exc
+
+    def mint_step_up(
+        self,
+        session_id: str,
+        *,
+        action: str,
+        target: str,
+        ttl_seconds: int,
+    ) -> str:
+        now = int(self.clock())
+        grant = secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
+        session_hash = self._digest(session_id)
+        try:
+            with self._connect(initialize=True) as connection:
+                active = connection.execute(
+                    "SELECT 1 FROM active_sessions "
+                    "WHERE session_hash = ? AND expires_at > ?",
+                    (session_hash, now),
+                ).fetchone()
+                if active is None:
+                    raise SessionStoreError("Session is no longer active")
+                connection.execute(
+                    "DELETE FROM step_up_grants WHERE expires_at <= ?", (now,)
+                )
+                connection.execute(
+                    "INSERT INTO step_up_grants("
+                    "grant_hash, session_hash, action, target, expires_at"
+                    ") VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)",
+                    (
+                        self._digest(grant),
+                        session_hash,
+                        action,
+                        target,
+                        now + max(1, ttl_seconds),
+                    ),
+                )
+        except SessionStoreError:
+            raise
+        except (OSError, sqlite3.Error) as exc:
+            raise SessionStoreError("Session registry is temporarily unavailable") from exc
+        return grant
+
+    def consume_step_up(
+        self,
+        grant: str,
+        session_id: str,
+        *,
+        action: str,
+        target: str,
+    ) -> bool:
+        now = int(self.clock())
+        try:
+            with self._connect() as connection:
+                connection.execute(
+                    "DELETE FROM step_up_grants WHERE expires_at <= ?", (now,)
+                )
+                cursor = connection.execute(
+                    "DELETE FROM step_up_grants WHERE grant_hash = ? "
+                    "AND session_hash = ? AND action = ? AND target = ? "
+                    "AND expires_at > ? AND EXISTS ("
+                    "SELECT 1 FROM active_sessions "
+                    "WHERE active_sessions.session_hash = step_up_grants.session_hash "
+                    "AND active_sessions.expires_at > ?)",
+                    (
+                        self._digest(grant),
+                        self._digest(session_id),
+                        action,
+                        target,
+                        now,
+                        now,
+                    ),
+                )
+                return cursor.rowcount == 1
+        except (OSError, sqlite3.Error) as exc:
+            raise SessionStoreError("Session registry is temporarily unavailable") from exc

tests/test_dashboard_auth.py

@@ -20,6 +20,23 @@ def access_control(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
     monkeypatch.setenv("STACKCHAIN_LOGIN_WINDOW_SECONDS", "60")
 
 
+async def fresh_grant(client, action: str, target: str) -> str:
+    response = await client.post(
+        "/api/v1/fresh-authorization",
+        json={
+            "access_token": "correct horse battery staple",
+            "action": action,
+            "target": target,
+        },
+        headers={
+            "Origin": "https://test",
+            "X-CSRF-Token": client.cookies["stackchain_csrf"],
+        },
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 201
+    return response.json()["grant"]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_default_operator_mode_fails_closed_before_gitea_when_secrets_are_missing(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.delenv("STACKCHAIN_DASHBOARD_AUTH_MODE", raising=False)
@@ -257,6 +274,126 @@ async def test_authenticated_session_status_exposes_only_csrf_proof(access_contr
     assert "correct horse battery staple" not in response.text
 
 
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_merge_requires_single_use_fresh_authorization_bound_to_exact_target(
+    access_control, monkeypatch
+):
+    merge_calls = []
+
+    async def assigned(repository, number):
+        return True
+
+    async def merge(repository, number, expected_head_sha):
+        merge_calls.append((repository, number, expected_head_sha))
+        return {"number": number, "merged": True, "state": "closed"}
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "is_assigned_pull", assigned)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "merge_assigned_pull", merge)
+    transport = httpx.ASGITransport(app=main.app)
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient(transport=transport, base_url="https://test") as client:
+        await client.post(
+            "/api/v1/session", json={"access_token": "correct horse battery staple"}
+        )
+        csrf_headers = {
+            "Origin": "https://test",
+            "X-CSRF-Token": client.cookies["stackchain_csrf"],
+        }
+        missing = await client.post(
+            "/api/v1/repos/stackchain/api/pulls/7/merge",
+            json={"expected_head_sha": "abc123"},
+            headers=csrf_headers,
+        )
+        authorized = await client.post(
+            "/api/v1/fresh-authorization",
+            json={
+                "access_token": "correct horse battery staple",
+                "action": "merge_pull",
+                "target": "stackchain/api#7",
+            },
+            headers=csrf_headers,
+        )
+        grant_headers = {**csrf_headers, "X-Step-Up-Grant": authorized.json()["grant"]}
+        merged = await client.post(
+            "/api/v1/repos/stackchain/api/pulls/7/merge",
+            json={"expected_head_sha": "abc123"},
+            headers=grant_headers,
+        )
+        replayed = await client.post(
+            "/api/v1/repos/stackchain/api/pulls/7/merge",
+            json={"expected_head_sha": "abc123"},
+            headers=grant_headers,
+        )
+
+    assert missing.status_code == 428
+    assert missing.json() == {
+        "detail": {
+            "detail": "Fresh authorization required",
+            "code": "step_up_required",
+            "action": "merge_pull",
+            "target": "stackchain/api#7",
+        }
+    }
+    assert authorized.status_code == 201
+    assert authorized.json()["expires_in"] == 90
+    assert merged.status_code == 200
+    assert replayed.status_code == 428
+    assert merge_calls == [("stackchain/api", 7, "abc123")]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_other_high_impact_routes_require_fresh_authorization_before_mutation(
+    access_control, monkeypatch
+):
+    close_calls = []
+
+    async def assigned(repository, number):
+        return True
+
+    async def close(repository, number):
+        close_calls.append((repository, number))
+        return {"number": number, "state": "closed"}
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "is_assigned_issue", assigned)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "close_issue", close)
+    transport = httpx.ASGITransport(app=main.app)
+    async with (
+        httpx.AsyncClient(transport=transport, base_url="https://test") as phone,
+        httpx.AsyncClient(transport=transport, base_url="https://test") as laptop,
+    ):
+        await phone.post(
+            "/api/v1/session",
+            json={"access_token": "correct horse battery staple", "device_label": "Phone"},
+        )
+        await laptop.post(
+            "/api/v1/session",
+            json={"access_token": "correct horse battery staple", "device_label": "Laptop"},
+        )
+        remote = next(
+            item
+            for item in (await phone.get("/api/v1/sessions")).json()["devices"]
+            if not item["current"]
+        )
+        headers = {
+            "Origin": "https://test",
+            "X-CSRF-Token": phone.cookies["stackchain_csrf"],
+        }
+        closed = await phone.patch(
+            "/api/v1/repos/stackchain/api/issues/7/close", headers=headers
+        )
+        revoked = await phone.delete(
+            f"/api/v1/sessions/{remote['management_id']}", headers=headers
+        )
+        revoked_all = await phone.delete("/api/v1/sessions", headers=headers)
+        laptop_still_active = await laptop.get("/api/v1/session")
+
+    assert [closed.status_code, revoked.status_code, revoked_all.status_code] == [428, 428, 428]
+    assert [closed.json()["detail"]["action"], revoked.json()["detail"]["action"], revoked_all.json()["detail"]["action"]] == [
+        "close_issue", "revoke_device", "revoke_all_sessions"
+    ]
+    assert close_calls == []
+    assert laptop_still_active.status_code == 200
+
+
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_operator_can_review_and_revoke_one_remote_device(access_control):
     transport = httpx.ASGITransport(app=main.app)
@@ -287,11 +424,15 @@ async def test_operator_can_review_and_revoke_one_remote_device(access_control):
         missing_csrf = await laptop.delete(
             f"/api/v1/sessions/{phone_device['management_id']}"
         )
+        grant = await fresh_grant(
+            laptop, "revoke_device", phone_device["management_id"]
+        )
         revoked = await laptop.delete(
             f"/api/v1/sessions/{phone_device['management_id']}",
             headers={
                 "Origin": "https://test",
                 "X-CSRF-Token": laptop.cookies["stackchain_csrf"],
+                "X-Step-Up-Grant": grant,
             },
         )
         phone_status = await phone.get("/api/v1/session")
@@ -401,11 +542,13 @@ async def test_sign_out_all_devices_revokes_every_existing_session(access_contro
             "/api/v1/session", json={"access_token": "correct horse battery staple"}
         )
 
+        grant = await fresh_grant(phone, "revoke_all_sessions", "all")
         response = await phone.delete(
             "/api/v1/sessions",
             headers={
                 "Origin": "https://test",
                 "X-CSRF-Token": phone.cookies["stackchain_csrf"],
+                "X-Step-Up-Grant": grant,
             },
         )
         phone_private = await phone.get("/api/v1/background-identity")
@@ -452,18 +595,26 @@ async def test_sign_out_all_devices_registry_failure_sets_no_cookies(access_cont
             "/api/v1/session", json={"access_token": "correct horse battery staple"}
         )
         csrf = client.cookies["stackchain_csrf"]
+        grant = await fresh_grant(client, "revoke_all_sessions", "all")
 
         class BrokenStore:
             def is_active(self, session_id, expires_at):
                 return True
 
+            def consume_step_up(self, grant, session_id, *, action, target):
+                return True
+
             def revoke_all(self):
                 raise SessionStoreError("database path and secret details")
 
         monkeypatch.setattr(main.dashboard_auth, "_session_store", lambda now=None: BrokenStore())
         response = await client.delete(
             "/api/v1/sessions",
-            headers={"Origin": "https://test", "X-CSRF-Token": csrf},
+            headers={
+                "Origin": "https://test",
+                "X-CSRF-Token": csrf,
+                "X-Step-Up-Grant": grant,
+            },
         )
 
     assert response.status_code == 503

tests/test_dashboard_session_frontend.py

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ SESSION_JS = ROOT / "frontend" / "session.js"
 def run_session_scenario(scenario: str) -> dict:
     harness = f"""
 const createSessionBoundary = require({json.dumps(str(SESSION_JS))});
-const state = {{ requests: [], removed: [], deletedDatabases: [], deletionCompleted: false, deletedCaches: [], assigned: '', replaced: [], assignedAfterDeletion: false, workerMessages: [], confirmations: [], clearErrors: [], responseStatus: 200, responsePayload: {{}} }};
+const state = {{ requests: [], removed: [], deletedDatabases: [], deletionCompleted: false, deletedCaches: [], assigned: '', replaced: [], assignedAfterDeletion: false, workerMessages: [], confirmations: [], prompts: [], clearErrors: [], responseStatus: 200, responsePayload: {{}}, responses: [] }};
 const storage = {{
   values: new Map([['stackchain.private', 'secret'], ['gitea.preference', 'keep']]),
   get length() {{ return this.values.size; }},
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ const boundary = createSessionBoundary({{
   origin: 'https://forge.example',
   base: '/dashboard/',
   fetchImpl: async (url, options = {{}}) => {{
-    state.requests.push({{ url: String(url), method: options.method || 'GET', headers: Object.fromEntries(new Headers(options.headers || {{}})) }});
-    return new Response(JSON.stringify(state.responsePayload), {{ status: state.responseStatus, headers: {{ 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }} }});
+    state.requests.push({{ url: String(url), method: options.method || 'GET', headers: Object.fromEntries(new Headers(options.headers || {{}})), body: options.body || null }});
+    const configured = state.responses.length ? state.responses.shift() : {{ status: state.responseStatus, payload: state.responsePayload }};
+    return new Response(JSON.stringify(configured.payload), {{ status: configured.status, headers: {{ 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }} }});
   }},
   localStorage: storage,
   sessionStorage: storage,
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ const boundary = createSessionBoundary({{
   }},
   onClearError: error => state.clearErrors.push(error.message),
   confirmAction: message => {{ state.confirmations.push(message); return true; }},
+  promptAuthorization: details => {{ state.prompts.push(details); return 'correct horse battery staple'; }},
 }});
 (async () => {{ {scenario} }})().catch(error => {{ console.error(error); process.exit(1); }});
 """
@@ -71,6 +73,39 @@ process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify(state));
     assert result["requests"][0]["headers"]["x-csrf-token"] == "csrf-proof"
 
 
+def test_high_impact_fetch_prompts_once_and_retries_original_request_with_grant():
+    result = run_session_scenario(
+        """
+state.responses = [
+  {status:428, payload:{detail:{code:'step_up_required', action:'merge_pull', target:'stackchain/api#7'}}},
+  {status:201, payload:{grant:'one-time-grant', expires_in:90}},
+  {status:200, payload:{merged:true}},
+];
+const original = { method:'POST', headers:{'Content-Type':'application/json'}, body:JSON.stringify({expected_head_sha:'abc123'}) };
+const response = await boundary.fetch('/dashboard/api/v1/repos/stackchain/api/pulls/7/merge', original);
+state.finalStatus = response.status;
+process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify(state));
+"""
+    )
+
+    assert result["finalStatus"] == 200
+    assert result["prompts"] == [
+        {"action": "merge_pull", "target": "stackchain/api#7"}
+    ]
+    assert [request["url"] for request in result["requests"]] == [
+        "/dashboard/api/v1/repos/stackchain/api/pulls/7/merge",
+        "/dashboard/api/v1/fresh-authorization",
+        "/dashboard/api/v1/repos/stackchain/api/pulls/7/merge",
+    ]
+    assert json.loads(result["requests"][1]["body"]) == {
+        "access_token": "correct horse battery staple",
+        "action": "merge_pull",
+        "target": "stackchain/api#7",
+    }
+    assert result["requests"][2]["headers"]["x-step-up-grant"] == "one-time-grant"
+    assert result["requests"][2]["body"] == result["requests"][0]["body"]
+
+
 def test_same_origin_unauthorized_response_replaces_dashboard_once_without_clearing_private_work():
     result = run_session_scenario(
         """

tests/test_session_store.py

@@ -119,3 +119,92 @@ def test_existing_session_registry_migrates_without_invalidating_sessions(tmp_pa
     devices = store.list_active("existing-session")
     assert len(devices) == 2
     assert next(device for device in devices if device.current).device_label == "Existing device"
+
+
+def test_existing_session_can_mint_first_step_up_grant_during_schema_upgrade(tmp_path):
+    database = tmp_path / "sessions.sqlite3"
+    digest = SessionStore._digest("existing-session")
+    with sqlite3.connect(database) as connection:
+        connection.execute(
+            "CREATE TABLE active_sessions (session_hash TEXT PRIMARY KEY, expires_at INTEGER NOT NULL)"
+        )
+        connection.execute("INSERT INTO active_sessions VALUES (?, ?)", (digest, 2_000))
+
+    store = SessionStore(database, clock=lambda: 1_000.0)
+    grant = store.mint_step_up(
+        "existing-session", action="revoke_all_sessions", target="all", ttl_seconds=90
+    )
+
+    assert store.consume_step_up(
+        grant,
+        "existing-session",
+        action="revoke_all_sessions",
+        target="all",
+    ) is True
+
+
+def test_step_up_grant_is_single_use_and_bound_to_session_action_and_target(tmp_path):
+    now = [1_000.0]
+    store = SessionStore(tmp_path / "sessions.sqlite3", clock=lambda: now[0])
+    store.activate("phone-session", 2_000)
+
+    grant = store.mint_step_up(
+        "phone-session", action="merge_pull", target="stackchain/api#7", ttl_seconds=90
+    )
+
+    assert store.consume_step_up(
+        grant, "phone-session", action="merge_pull", target="stackchain/api#8"
+    ) is False
+    assert store.consume_step_up(
+        grant, "other-session", action="merge_pull", target="stackchain/api#7"
+    ) is False
+    assert store.consume_step_up(
+        grant, "phone-session", action="close_issue", target="stackchain/api#7"
+    ) is False
+    assert store.consume_step_up(
+        grant, "phone-session", action="merge_pull", target="stackchain/api#7"
+    ) is True
+    assert store.consume_step_up(
+        grant, "phone-session", action="merge_pull", target="stackchain/api#7"
+    ) is False
+    assert grant.encode() not in store.path.read_bytes()
+
+
+def test_step_up_grants_expire_and_are_removed_with_parent_session(tmp_path):
+    now = [1_000.0]
+    store = SessionStore(tmp_path / "sessions.sqlite3", clock=lambda: now[0])
+    store.activate("phone-session", 2_000)
+    expired = store.mint_step_up(
+        "phone-session", action="close_issue", target="stackchain/api#7", ttl_seconds=90
+    )
+    revoked = store.mint_step_up(
+        "phone-session", action="revoke_all_sessions", target="all", ttl_seconds=90
+    )
+
+    now[0] = 1_091.0
+    assert store.consume_step_up(
+        expired, "phone-session", action="close_issue", target="stackchain/api#7"
+    ) is False
+
+    now[0] = 1_010.0
+    store.revoke("phone-session")
+    assert store.consume_step_up(
+        revoked, "phone-session", action="revoke_all_sessions", target="all"
+    ) is False
+
+
+def test_managed_session_revocation_invalidates_its_outstanding_grants(tmp_path):
+    store = SessionStore(tmp_path / "sessions.sqlite3", clock=lambda: 1_000.0)
+    store.activate("phone-session", 2_000, device_label="Phone")
+    grant = store.mint_step_up(
+        "phone-session", action="merge_pull", target="stackchain/api#7", ttl_seconds=90
+    )
+    phone = store.list_active("phone-session")[0]
+
+    assert store.revoke_managed(phone.management_id) is True
+    assert store.consume_step_up(
+        grant,
+        "phone-session",
+        action="merge_pull",
+        target="stackchain/api#7",
+    ) is False