Reject invalid secret names before any command builds a path (closes #33)

`secret rm ..` resolved to the vault directory and deleted the whole
vault; `secret rm .` and `secret rm ""` deleted every secret. rm, mv,
the version commands, encrypt and decrypt built paths from the name
without checking it; import checked it only after reading the source
file.

vault.ValidateSecretName wraps the existing name rule and its error
states the rule. Each of those commands calls it on the name as given,
before building any path; a move checks both names before switching
the current vault. AddSecret, GetSecretVersion and GetSecretObject use
it too.

The regression test copies two in-memory vaults for each rejected
command and requires the exact error and an unchanged state directory.

Model: opus-5-5

TODO.md

@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ Bring the repo into policy compliance in one commit:
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 2026-10-03: Every command that builds a path from a secret name
+  checks the name first with `vault.ValidateSecretName` and touches
+  nothing when it is invalid: `rm`, `mv` (both names, within a vault
+  and between vaults, before switching the current vault), `import`,
+  `version list`/`promote`/`rm`, `encrypt` and `decrypt`. The error
+  states the naming rule. Before, `secret rm ..` deleted the whole
+  vault and `secret rm .` every secret in it.
 - 2026-10-02: A plain `docker build .` builds again: the size tests
   skip a case that needs more locked memory than the process can
   lock, and run every case under `script/cibuild`. The image stamps the
@@ -96,8 +103,7 @@ Bring the repo into policy compliance in one commit:
       buffer.Bytes() to GPGEncryptFunc and EncryptWithPassphrase.
     - Race conditions: no file locking in vault/secrets.go:142-176;
       non-atomic writes can leave the vault inconsistent.
-    - Input validation: dots in secret names risk path traversal
+    - Input validation: no maximum secret size (DoS).
-      (vault/secrets.go:75-99); no maximum secret size (DoS).
     - Timing attacks: bytes.Equal passphrase compare (cli/init.go:
       209-216); non-constant-time public key compare (vault.go:95-100).
 - High priority:

internal/cli/crypto.go

@@ -122,6 +122,11 @@ func (cli *Instance) resolveEncryptionKey(
 
 // Encrypt encrypts data using an age secret key stored in a secret
 func (cli *Instance) Encrypt(secretName, inputFile, outputFile string) error {
+	err := vault.ValidateSecretName(secretName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Get current vault
 	vlt, err := vault.GetCurrentVault(cli.fs, cli.stateDir)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -191,6 +196,11 @@ func (cli *Instance) Encrypt(secretName, inputFile, outputFile string) error {
 
 // Decrypt decrypts data using an age secret key stored in a secret
 func (cli *Instance) Decrypt(secretName, inputFile, outputFile string) error {
+	err := vault.ValidateSecretName(secretName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Get current vault
 	vlt, err := vault.GetCurrentVault(cli.fs, cli.stateDir)
 	if err != nil {

internal/cli/path_traversal_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,232 @@
+package cli_test
+
+import (
+	"maps"
+	"os"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"git.eeqj.de/sneak/secret/internal/cli"
+	"git.eeqj.de/sneak/secret/internal/secret"
+	"git.eeqj.de/sneak/secret/internal/vault"
+	"github.com/awnumar/memguard"
+	"github.com/spf13/afero"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+const (
+	// testStateDir is the in-memory state directory of the test vaults.
+	testStateDir = "/test/state"
+
+	// testPassphrase protects the passphrase unlocker of each test vault.
+	testPassphrase = "test-passphrase"
+
+	// testVersion is a version name in the format the vault uses.
+	testVersion = "20260101.001"
+
+	// missingFile is an import source that does not exist, so an import
+	// that opened it before checking the name would fail with another error.
+	missingFile = "/no/such/file"
+)
+
+// newTwoVaultFs returns an in-memory filesystem holding the vaults "work"
+// and "default", the current one. Each holds the secret "x" and a
+// passphrase unlocker, so both secrets.d and unlockers.d have contents.
+//
+//nolint:ireturn // afero.Fs is the filesystem abstraction used throughout
+func newTwoVaultFs(t *testing.T) afero.Fs {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	t.Setenv(secret.EnvMnemonic, testMnemonic)
+
+	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+
+	for _, name := range []string{"work", "default"} {
+		vlt, err := vault.CreateVault(fs, testStateDir, name)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		err = vlt.AddSecret("x", memguard.NewBufferFromBytes([]byte("value")), false)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		_, err = vlt.CreatePassphraseUnlocker(
+			memguard.NewBufferFromBytes([]byte(testPassphrase)))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	}
+
+	return fs
+}
+
+// snapshotStateDir maps every file under the state directory to its
+// contents, and every directory, written with a trailing "/", to "". Two
+// snapshots are equal only if nothing in it was added, removed or changed.
+func snapshotStateDir(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs) map[string]string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	tree := map[string]string{}
+
+	err := afero.Walk(fs, testStateDir, func(
+		path string, info os.FileInfo, err error,
+	) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if info.IsDir() {
+			tree[path+"/"] = ""
+
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		content, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		tree[path] = string(content)
+
+		return nil
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	return tree
+}
+
+// newFsFromSnapshot returns a new in-memory filesystem holding exactly the
+// directories and files recorded by snapshotStateDir.
+//
+//nolint:ireturn // afero.Fs is the filesystem abstraction used throughout
+func newFsFromSnapshot(t *testing.T, tree map[string]string) afero.Fs {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+
+	// In sorted order every directory comes before its contents.
+	for _, path := range slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(tree)) {
+		dir, isDir := strings.CutSuffix(path, "/")
+		if isDir {
+			require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(dir, secret.DirPerms))
+
+			continue
+		}
+
+		err := afero.WriteFile(fs, path, []byte(tree[path]), secret.FilePerms)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	}
+
+	return fs
+}
+
+// requireRejectedAndUnchanged runs a command on a copy of the state
+// directory recorded in before. It requires exactly the error
+// vault.ValidateSecretName gives for the rejected name, so that a later
+// check rejecting the name does not count, and everything under the state
+// directory as it was: the error alone proves nothing, since it could come
+// after the vault had already been deleted.
+func requireRejectedAndUnchanged(
+	t *testing.T, before map[string]string, rejected string,
+	run func(c *cli.Instance) error,
+) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	fs := newFsFromSnapshot(t, before)
+
+	err := run(cli.NewCLIInstanceWithStateDir(fs, testStateDir))
+
+	require.Equal(t, before, snapshotStateDir(t, fs))
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, vault.ErrInvalidSecretName)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, vault.ValidateSecretName(rejected).Error())
+}
+
+// TestInvalidSecretNameLeavesVaultsUnchanged is a regression test for
+// https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/secret/issues/33, where `secret rm ..` deleted
+// the whole vault, and `secret rm .` or `secret rm ""` every secret in it.
+// Moves and imports use --force, so that only the name check stands in
+// the way.
+//
+//nolint:paralleltest // newTwoVaultFs uses t.Setenv
+func TestInvalidSecretNameLeavesVaultsUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
+	// Creating a passphrase unlocker is slow by design, so the vaults are
+	// created once and each case runs on its own copy of them.
+	before := snapshotStateDir(t, newTwoVaultFs(t))
+
+	vaultDir := testStateDir + "/vaults.d/default"
+	require.Contains(t, before, vaultDir+"/secrets.d/x/")
+	require.Contains(t, before, vaultDir+"/unlockers.d/passphrase/")
+	require.Equal(t, "default", before[testStateDir+"/currentvault"])
+
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		command  string
+		rejected string // the secret name the command must reject
+		run      func(c *cli.Instance) error
+	}{
+		{"rm ..", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.RemoveSecret(cmd, "..", false)
+		}},
+		{"rm .", ".", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.RemoveSecret(cmd, ".", false)
+		}},
+		{`rm ""`, "", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.RemoveSecret(cmd, "", false)
+		}},
+		{"rm ../../etc", "../../etc", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.RemoveSecret(cmd, "../../etc", false)
+		}},
+		{"mv --force .. x", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.MoveSecret(cmd, "..", "x", true)
+		}},
+		{"mv --force x ..", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.MoveSecret(cmd, "x", "..", true)
+		}},
+		// "work" is not the current vault: a move within it must not
+		// select it when a name is rejected.
+		{"mv --force work:.. work:x", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.MoveSecret(cmd, "work:..", "work:x", true)
+		}},
+		{"mv --force work:x work:..", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.MoveSecret(cmd, "work:x", "work:..", true)
+		}},
+		{"mv --force default:.. work", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.MoveSecret(cmd, "default:..", "work", true)
+		}},
+		{"mv --force default:.. work:y", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.MoveSecret(cmd, "default:..", "work:y", true)
+		}},
+		{"mv --force default:x work:..", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.MoveSecret(cmd, "default:x", "work:..", true)
+		}},
+		{"import --force ..", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.ImportSecret(cmd, "..", missingFile, true)
+		}},
+		{"import --force .", ".", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.ImportSecret(cmd, ".", missingFile, true)
+		}},
+		{"import --force ../../etc", "../../etc", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.ImportSecret(cmd, "../../etc", missingFile, true)
+		}},
+		{"version list ..", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.ListVersions(cmd, "..")
+		}},
+		{"version promote ..", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.PromoteVersion(cmd, "..", testVersion)
+		}},
+		{"version rm ..", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.RemoveVersion(cmd, "..", testVersion)
+		}},
+		{"encrypt ..", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.Encrypt("..", "", "")
+		}},
+		{"decrypt ..", "..", func(c *cli.Instance) error {
+			return c.Decrypt("..", "", "")
+		}},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.command, func(t *testing.T) {
+			requireRejectedAndUnchanged(t, before, tt.rejected, tt.run)
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/cli/secrets.go

@@ -603,6 +603,11 @@ func printSecretsTable(
 func (cli *Instance) ImportSecret(
 	cmd *cobra.Command, secretName, sourceFile string, force bool,
 ) error {
+	err := vault.ValidateSecretName(secretName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Get current vault
 	vlt, err := vault.GetCurrentVault(cli.fs, cli.stateDir)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -649,6 +654,11 @@ func (cli *Instance) ImportSecret(
 
 // RemoveSecret removes a secret from the vault
 func (cli *Instance) RemoveSecret(cmd *cobra.Command, secretName string, _ bool) error {
+	err := vault.ValidateSecretName(secretName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Get current vault
 	currentVlt, err := vault.GetCurrentVault(cli.fs, cli.stateDir)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -737,10 +747,22 @@ func (cli *Instance) MoveSecret(
 		destSecretName = srcSecretName
 	}
 
+	// Check both names before selecting a vault below, so that a rejected
+	// move leaves the current vault as it was.
+	err := vault.ValidateSecretName(srcSecretName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = vault.ValidateSecretName(destSecretName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Same vault? Use simple rename if possible (optimization)
 	if srcVaultName == destVaultName {
 		// Select the vault and do a simple move
-		err := vault.SelectVault(cli.fs, cli.stateDir, srcVaultName)
+		err = vault.SelectVault(cli.fs, cli.stateDir, srcVaultName)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to select vault '%s': %w", srcVaultName, err)
 		}
@@ -757,6 +779,16 @@ func (cli *Instance) MoveSecret(
 func (cli *Instance) moveSecretWithinVault(
 	cmd *cobra.Command, source, dest string, force bool,
 ) error {
+	err := vault.ValidateSecretName(source)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = vault.ValidateSecretName(dest)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	currentVlt, err := vault.GetCurrentVault(cli.fs, cli.stateDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -808,7 +840,8 @@ func (cli *Instance) moveSecretWithinVault(
 	return nil
 }
 
-// moveSecretCrossVault handles moving between different vaults
+// moveSecretCrossVault handles moving between different vaults. Its caller,
+// MoveSecret, has already checked both secret names.
 func (cli *Instance) moveSecretCrossVault(
 	cmd *cobra.Command,
 	srcVaultName, srcSecretName,

internal/cli/version.go

@@ -112,6 +112,11 @@ func VersionCommands(cli *Instance) *cobra.Command {
 func (cli *Instance) ListVersions(cmd *cobra.Command, secretName string) error {
 	secret.Debug("ListVersions called", "secret_name", secretName)
 
+	err := vault.ValidateSecretName(secretName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Get current vault
 	vlt, err := vault.GetCurrentVault(cli.fs, cli.stateDir)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -239,6 +244,11 @@ func formatVersionTime(t *time.Time) string {
 func (cli *Instance) PromoteVersion(
 	cmd *cobra.Command, secretName string, version string,
 ) error {
+	err := vault.ValidateSecretName(secretName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Get current vault
 	vlt, err := vault.GetCurrentVault(cli.fs, cli.stateDir)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -282,6 +292,11 @@ func (cli *Instance) PromoteVersion(
 func (cli *Instance) RemoveVersion(
 	cmd *cobra.Command, secretName string, version string,
 ) error {
+	err := vault.ValidateSecretName(secretName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Get current vault
 	vlt, err := vault.GetCurrentVault(cli.fs, cli.stateDir)
 	if err != nil {

internal/vault/errors.go

@@ -29,10 +29,11 @@ var (
 	// ErrNilValueBuffer indicates a nil value buffer was supplied.
 	ErrNilValueBuffer = errors.New("value buffer is nil")
 
-	// ErrInvalidSecretName indicates a secret name that does not match
+	// ErrInvalidSecretName indicates a secret name that breaks the naming
-	// the allowed pattern [a-z0-9.\-_/]+. Composed as
+	// rule: only letters, digits, '.', '-', '_' and '/'; not empty; no
-	// "invalid secret name '<name>': must match pattern [a-z0-9.\-_/]+",
+	// leading '.' or '/', no trailing '/', no '//', no '..' path segment.
-	// or as "invalid secret name: <name>" by GetSecretObject.
+	// Composed by ValidateSecretName as
+	// "invalid secret name '<name>': <the rule>".
 	ErrInvalidSecretName = errors.New("invalid secret name")
 
 	// ErrSecretExists indicates the secret already exists and --force

internal/vault/secrets.go

@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ func (v *Vault) ListSecrets() ([]string, error) {
 // - No leading or trailing slashes
 // - No double slashes
 // - No names starting with dots
+// - No ".." path segments
 func isValidSecretName(name string) bool {
 	if name == "" {
 		return false
@@ -110,6 +111,22 @@ func isValidSecretName(name string) bool {
 	return matched
 }
 
+// ValidateSecretName returns an error wrapping ErrInvalidSecretName when
+// name is not a valid secret name. Call it on the name exactly as the user
+// gave it, before building any path from it.
+func ValidateSecretName(name string) error {
+	if !isValidSecretName(name) {
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"%w '%s': only letters, digits, '.', '-', '_' and '/' are allowed, "+
+				"and a name must not be empty, start with '.' or '/', end with '/', "+
+				"contain '//', or have '..' as a path segment",
+			ErrInvalidSecretName, name,
+		)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // AddSecret adds a secret to this vault
 func (v *Vault) AddSecret(name string, value *memguard.LockedBuffer, force bool) error {
 	if value == nil {
@@ -124,13 +141,11 @@ func (v *Vault) AddSecret(name string, value *memguard.LockedBuffer, force bool)
 	)
 
 	// Validate secret name
-	if !isValidSecretName(name) {
+	err := ValidateSecretName(name)
+	if err != nil {
 		secret.Debug("Invalid secret name provided", "secret_name", name)
 
-		return fmt.Errorf(
+		return err
-			"%w '%s': must match pattern [a-z0-9.\\-_/]+",
-			ErrInvalidSecretName, name,
-		)
 	}
 
 	secret.Debug("Secret name validation passed", "secret_name", name)
@@ -358,8 +373,9 @@ func (v *Vault) UnlockVault() (*age.X25519Identity, error) {
 
 // GetSecretObject retrieves a Secret object with metadata loaded from this vault
 func (v *Vault) GetSecretObject(name string) (*secret.Secret, error) {
-	if !isValidSecretName(name) {
+	err := ValidateSecretName(name)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrInvalidSecretName, name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	// First check if the secret exists by checking for the metadata file
@@ -628,13 +644,11 @@ func (v *Vault) updatePreviousVersion(
 // version exist, and resolves an empty version to the current one.
 func (v *Vault) resolveSecretVersion(name, version string) (string, error) {
 	// Validate secret name to prevent path traversal
-	if !isValidSecretName(name) {
+	err := ValidateSecretName(name)
+	if err != nil {
 		secret.Debug("Invalid secret name provided", "secret_name", name)
 
-		return "", fmt.Errorf(
+		return "", err
-			"%w '%s': must match pattern [a-z0-9.\\-_/]+",
-			ErrInvalidSecretName, name,
-		)
 	}
 
 	// Get vault directory