Validate blob hashes, offsets and lengths from the destination (closes #155)

A blob hash read back from the downloaded snapshot database or the store
listing was trusted unchecked. A hostile remote could set a hash such as
"aa/../../etc" and have a decrypted blob written outside the cache
directory, or feed a short or negative value that panicked a command.

blobDiskCache.path now refuses any key with a path separator, and ReadAt
rejects a negative offset or length, bounding with length > size-offset so
a sum cannot overflow past the check. A new isBlobHash helper (a plain
function, since the packer stores temp-placeholder-{uuid} as a hash) gates
FetchBlob, shallow and deep verify, and restore: buildBlobIndexes rejects
every hash from the snapshot database before any fetch. The blobs/ and
metadata/ listings skip a non-conforming name, and short-hash prefixes in
log and error text go through a shortHash helper that cannot panic.
verify's chunk reader rejects a negative length and streams the chunk.

Model: opus-4-8

README.md

@@ -74,11 +74,16 @@ Requirements that no existing tool meets:
 # verify a snapshot (shallow: checks all blobs are present with the listed size)
 vaultik snapshot verify <snapshot-id>
 
+# put the private key file in the environment (reading it from the file
+# keeps the key out of your shell history); the whole age-keygen file,
+# with one or more identities, is accepted
+export VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY="$(cat vaultik_backup_private_key.txt)"
+
 # deep verify (downloads and cryptographically verifies every blob)
-VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY='AGE-SECRET-KEY-...' vaultik snapshot verify --deep <snapshot-id>
+vaultik snapshot verify --deep <snapshot-id>
 
 # restore (requires the private key)
-VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY='AGE-SECRET-KEY-...' vaultik snapshot restore <snapshot-id> /tmp/restored
+vaultik snapshot restore <snapshot-id> /tmp/restored
 
 # daily cron job: back up, keep a 4-week rolling window of snapshots
 # 0 3 * * * vaultik snapshot create --cron --prune --keep-newer-than 4w
@@ -119,15 +124,17 @@ Use that remote key — the hex printed inside `<remote only:...>`, or the
 full `remote_key` from `snapshot list --json` — to restore and verify:
 
 ```sh
+# put the private key file in the environment (reading it from the file
+# keeps the key out of your shell history)
+export VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY="$(cat vaultik_backup_private_key.txt)"
+
 # restore everything to /tmp/restored, then check every restored file's
 # chunk hashes
-VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY='AGE-SECRET-KEY-...' \
+vaultik snapshot restore --verify <remote-key> /tmp/restored
-  vaultik snapshot restore --verify <remote-key> /tmp/restored
 
 # optionally, deep-verify the snapshot against the store (downloads and
 # cryptographically checks every blob)
-VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY='AGE-SECRET-KEY-...' \
+vaultik snapshot verify --deep <remote-key>
-  vaultik snapshot verify --deep <remote-key>
 ```
 
 `age_recipients` (the public key) is not needed to restore — only the
@@ -217,7 +224,7 @@ and `vaultik prune --json | jq .` both work as written.
 
 ### environment variables
 
-* `VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY`: Age private key for decryption (required for `snapshot restore` and `snapshot verify --deep`)
+* `VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY`: Age private key for decryption (required for `snapshot restore` and `snapshot verify --deep`). May hold the whole `age-keygen` file — comments and every identity in it are accepted. Set it from the file, e.g. `export VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY="$(cat vaultik_backup_private_key.txt)"`, so the key is not typed into your shell history.
 * `VAULTIK_CONFIG`: Path to config file (overridden by `--config`)
 * `VAULTIK_INDEX_PATH`: Override local SQLite index path
 * `VAULTIK_CPUPROFILE`: Write a CPU profile to this path for the duration of the run (development/debugging)

internal/blobgen/reader.go

@@ -20,10 +20,12 @@ type Reader struct {
 	bytesRead    int64
 }
 
-// NewReader creates a new Reader that decrypts, decompresses, and verifies data
+// NewReader creates a new Reader that decrypts, decompresses, and verifies
-func NewReader(r io.Reader, identity age.Identity) (*Reader, error) {
+// data. Every supplied identity is offered to age.Decrypt, so a blob
+// encrypted to any one of them can be read.
+func NewReader(r io.Reader, identities ...age.Identity) (*Reader, error) {
 	// Create decryption reader
-	decReader, err := age.Decrypt(r, identity)
+	decReader, err := age.Decrypt(r, identities...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating decryption reader: %w", err)
 	}

internal/cli/snapshot_restore.go

@@ -35,8 +35,12 @@ The snapshot may be named by its ID or, when restoring on a host with no
 local index, by the remote key that 'snapshot list' prints for a
 remote-only snapshot (an unambiguous leading part is enough).
 
-Requires the VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY environment variable to be set with
+Requires the age private key in the VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY environment
-the age private key.
+variable. The variable may hold the whole age-keygen file (comments and
+all of its identities are accepted); read it from the file rather than
+typing the key, so it does not land in your shell history:
+
+  export VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY="$(cat vaultik_backup_private_key.txt)"
 
 Examples:
   # Restore entire snapshot

internal/cli/snapshot_restore_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package cli //nolint:testpackage // exercises the unexported command constructor
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
+)
+
+// TestRestoreCommandDoesNotTakeKeyAsArgument guards the fix for the age
+// key being echoed on the command line: restore must take the key only
+// from the environment, never as a flag value, and its help must show the
+// file-based form rather than a literal key that would land in shell
+// history.
+func TestRestoreCommandDoesNotTakeKeyAsArgument(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	cmd := newSnapshotRestoreCommand()
+
+	cmd.Flags().VisitAll(func(f *pflag.Flag) {
+		lower := strings.ToLower(f.Name)
+		for _, banned := range []string{"key", "secret", "age", "identity"} {
+			if strings.Contains(lower, banned) {
+				t.Errorf("restore must not accept the key as a flag; found --%s", f.Name)
+			}
+		}
+	})
+
+	help := cmd.Long
+	if strings.Contains(help, "AGE-SECRET-KEY-") {
+		t.Error("restore help must not show a literal age private key to type")
+	}
+
+	if !strings.Contains(help, "$(cat ") {
+		t.Error("restore help should read the key from a file, e.g. $(cat ...)")
+	}
+}

internal/config/config.go

@@ -135,6 +135,26 @@ func (c *Config) SnapshotNames() []string {
 	return names
 }
 
+// Names of the two places the age secret key can be configured, used by
+// AgeSecretKeySourceName for error messages that must not echo the value.
+//
+//nolint:gosec // G101: these are the names of the config sources, not a key
+const (
+	ageSecretKeySourceEnv    = "VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY"
+	ageSecretKeySourceConfig = "age_secret_key"
+)
+
+// AgeSecretKeySourceName returns the human name of where AgeSecretKey was
+// configured. A Config built directly (as in tests) has no recorded
+// source, so it reports the config-file field name.
+func (c *Config) AgeSecretKeySourceName() string {
+	if c.AgeSecretKeySource != "" {
+		return c.AgeSecretKeySource
+	}
+
+	return ageSecretKeySourceConfig
+}
+
 // Config represents the application configuration for Vaultik.
 // It defines all settings for backup operations, including source directories,
 // encryption recipients, storage configuration, and performance tuning parameters.
@@ -144,6 +164,11 @@ func (c *Config) SnapshotNames() []string {
 type Config struct {
 	AgeRecipients []string `yaml:"age_recipients"`
 	AgeSecretKey  string   `yaml:"age_secret_key"`
+	// AgeSecretKeySource names where AgeSecretKey was configured
+	// ("VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY" or "age_secret_key") so a later parse
+	// failure can name the source without echoing the secret value. It is
+	// set by Load and never read from or written to the config file.
+	AgeSecretKeySource string `yaml:"-"`
 	BlobSizeLimit      Size   `yaml:"blob_size_limit"`
 	ChunkSize          Size   `yaml:"chunk_size"`
 	// Exclude holds global excludes applied to all snapshots.
@@ -254,10 +279,7 @@ func Load(path string) (*Config, error) {
 		cfg.IndexPath = expandTilde(envIndexPath)
 	}
 
-	// Check for environment variable override for AgeSecretKey
+	cfg.setAgeSecretKey()
-	if envAgeSecretKey := os.Getenv("VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY"); envAgeSecretKey != "" {
-		cfg.AgeSecretKey = extractAgeSecretKey(envAgeSecretKey)
-	}
 
 	// Get hostname if not set
 	if cfg.Hostname == "" {
@@ -379,6 +401,21 @@ func validateAgeRecipient(recipient string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// setAgeSecretKey records the age secret key and where it came from. The
+// value is stored raw and parsed only where decryption happens
+// (internal/vaultik), so backup, list and prune keep working whatever the
+// field holds. The environment variable overrides the config-file field.
+func (c *Config) setAgeSecretKey() {
+	if c.AgeSecretKey != "" {
+		c.AgeSecretKeySource = ageSecretKeySourceConfig
+	}
+
+	if env := os.Getenv("VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY"); env != "" {
+		c.AgeSecretKey = env
+		c.AgeSecretKeySource = ageSecretKeySourceEnv
+	}
+}
+
 // validateStorage validates storage configuration.
 // If StorageURL is set, it takes precedence. S3 URLs require credentials.
 // File URLs don't require any S3 configuration.
@@ -435,22 +472,6 @@ func (c *Config) validateStorageURL() error {
 	}
 }
 
-// extractAgeSecretKey extracts the AGE-SECRET-KEY from the input using
-// the age library's parser, which handles comments and whitespace.
-func extractAgeSecretKey(input string) string {
-	identities, err := age.ParseIdentities(strings.NewReader(input))
-	if err != nil || len(identities) == 0 {
-		// Fall back to trimmed input if parsing fails
-		return strings.TrimSpace(input)
-	}
-	// Return the string representation of the first identity
-	if id, ok := identities[0].(*age.X25519Identity); ok {
-		return id.String()
-	}
-
-	return strings.TrimSpace(input)
-}
-
 // Module exports the config module for fx dependency injection.
 // It provides the Config type to other modules in the application.
 //

internal/config/config_test.go

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package config //nolint:testpackage // exercises unexported extractAgeSecretKey
+package config //nolint:testpackage // exercises unexported source constants
 
 import (
 	"errors"
@@ -298,53 +298,31 @@ func TestValidateAgeRecipients(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestExtractAgeSecretKey tests extraction of AGE-SECRET-KEY from various inputs
+// TestAgeSecretKeySourceName checks the name reported for the configured
-func TestExtractAgeSecretKey(t *testing.T) {
+// age secret key: the recorded source when Load set one, and the
+// config-file field name for a Config built directly (as in tests).
+func TestAgeSecretKeySourceName(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		name   string
-		input    string
+		source string
-		expected string
+		want   string
 	}{
 		{
-			name:     "plain key",
+			name:   "unset defaults to config field",
-			input:    testIntegrationAgePrivateKey,
+			source: "",
-			expected: testIntegrationAgePrivateKey,
+			want:   ageSecretKeySourceConfig,
 		},
 		{
-			name:     "key with trailing newline",
+			name:   "environment source",
-			input:    testIntegrationAgePrivateKey + "\n",
+			source: ageSecretKeySourceEnv,
-			expected: testIntegrationAgePrivateKey,
+			want:   ageSecretKeySourceEnv,
 		},
 		{
-			name: "full age-keygen output",
+			name:   "config-file source",
-			input: "# created: 2025-01-14T12:00:00Z\n" +
+			source: ageSecretKeySourceConfig,
-				"# public key: " + testIntegrationAgePublicKey + "\n" +
+			want:   ageSecretKeySourceConfig,
-				testIntegrationAgePrivateKey + "\n",
-			expected: testIntegrationAgePrivateKey,
-		},
-		{
-			name: "age-keygen output with extra blank lines",
-			input: "# created: 2025-01-14T12:00:00Z\n" +
-				"# public key: " + testIntegrationAgePublicKey + "\n\n" +
-				testIntegrationAgePrivateKey + "\n\n",
-			expected: testIntegrationAgePrivateKey,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "key with leading whitespace",
-			input:    "  " + testIntegrationAgePrivateKey + "  ",
-			expected: testIntegrationAgePrivateKey,
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "empty input",
-			input:    "",
-			expected: "",
-		},
-		{
-			name:     "only comments",
-			input:    "# this is a comment\n# another comment",
-			expected: "# this is a comment\n# another comment",
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -352,10 +330,9 @@ func TestExtractAgeSecretKey(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Parallel()
 
-			result := extractAgeSecretKey(tt.input)
+			cfg := &Config{AgeSecretKeySource: tt.source}
-			if result != tt.expected {
+			if got := cfg.AgeSecretKeySourceName(); got != tt.want {
-				t.Errorf("extractAgeSecretKey(%q) = %q, want %q",
+				t.Errorf("AgeSecretKeySourceName() = %q, want %q", got, tt.want)
-					tt.input, result, tt.expected)
 			}
 		})
 	}

internal/database/snapshots.go

@@ -11,6 +11,18 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/types"
 )
 
+// Sentinel errors for the single-snapshot invariant that an exported
+// per-snapshot metadata database must satisfy.
+var (
+	// ErrNoSnapshotInDatabase means the metadata database has no snapshot
+	// row at all.
+	ErrNoSnapshotInDatabase = errors.New("database contains no snapshot")
+	// ErrMultipleSnapshotsInDatabase means the metadata database holds
+	// more than the single snapshot an export is supposed to contain.
+	ErrMultipleSnapshotsInDatabase = errors.New(
+		"database contains more than one snapshot")
+)
+
 // SnapshotRepository provides access to the snapshots table and its
 // snapshot_files / snapshot_blobs association tables.
 type SnapshotRepository struct {
@@ -206,6 +218,48 @@ func (r *SnapshotRepository) GetByID(
 	return &snapshot, nil
 }
 
+// GetOnlySnapshot returns the sole snapshot in an exported per-snapshot
+// metadata database. The backup path writes each snapshot's database with
+// exactly one snapshot row (see cleanSnapshotDB), so restore and deep
+// verify expect exactly one. Zero rows return ErrNoSnapshotInDatabase and
+// more than one returns ErrMultipleSnapshotsInDatabase; callers treat
+// either as a failed identity check on the downloaded database.
+func (r *SnapshotRepository) GetOnlySnapshot(ctx context.Context) (*Snapshot, error) {
+	query := `
+		SELECT id, hostname, vaultik_version, vaultik_git_revision,
+			started_at, completed_at, file_count, chunk_count, blob_count,
+			total_size, blob_size, compression_ratio
+		FROM snapshots
+		LIMIT 2
+	`
+
+	rows, err := r.db.conn.QueryContext(ctx, query)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("querying snapshots: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	defer func() {
+		err := rows.Close()
+		if err != nil {
+			Fatalf("failed to close rows: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	snapshots, err := r.scanSnapshotRows(rows)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	switch len(snapshots) {
+	case 1:
+		return snapshots[0], nil
+	case 0:
+		return nil, ErrNoSnapshotInDatabase
+	default:
+		return nil, ErrMultipleSnapshotsInDatabase
+	}
+}
+
 // ListRecent returns up to limit snapshots, most recently started first.
 func (r *SnapshotRepository) ListRecent(
 	ctx context.Context, limit int,

internal/vaultik/blob_fetch.go

@@ -74,14 +74,15 @@ func (h *hashVerifyReader) Close() error {
 // The hash is verified when the returned reader is closed (after fully reading).
 // This avoids buffering the entire blob in memory.
 func (v *Vaultik) FetchAndDecryptBlob(
-	ctx context.Context, blobHash string, expectedSize int64, identity age.Identity,
+	ctx context.Context, blobHash string, expectedSize int64,
+	identities ...age.Identity,
 ) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
 	rc, _, err := v.FetchBlob(ctx, blobHash, expectedSize)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	reader, err := blobgen.NewReader(rc, identity)
+	reader, err := blobgen.NewReader(rc, identities...)
 	if err != nil {
 		_ = rc.Close()
 

internal/vaultik/destination_validation_test.go

@@ -54,6 +54,51 @@ func TestBlobCacheRejectsKeyWithSeparator(t *testing.T) {
 		"cache wrote outside its directory at %s", target)
 }
 
+// TestBuildBlobIndexesRejectsHostileHash proves restore refuses a snapshot
+// database whose blob_hash escapes the cache directory. buildBlobIndexes is
+// the first place restore reads these hashes back, and it fails there, before
+// any blob is fetched or written, so a hash containing /../ cannot steer a
+// later write outside the cache directory.
+func TestBuildBlobIndexesRejectsHostileHash(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	db, err := database.New(ctx, filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "index.sqlite"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	defer func() { _ = db.Close() }()
+
+	// A blob cache and a target file just outside it. The hostile hash is
+	// the relative path from the cache to that target, so an unguarded
+	// restore keyed by this hash would write there.
+	cache, err := newBlobDiskCache(1 << 20)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	defer func() { _ = cache.Close() }()
+
+	target := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "pwned")
+	hostile, err := filepath.Rel(cache.dir, target)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Contains(t, hostile, "..")
+
+	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
+	require.NoError(t, repos.Blobs.Create(ctx, nil, &database.Blob{
+		ID:        types.NewBlobID(),
+		Hash:      types.BlobHash(hostile),
+		CreatedTS: time.Now().UTC(),
+	}))
+
+	v := NewForTesting(nil)
+	v.SetContext(ctx)
+
+	_, _, err = v.buildBlobIndexes(repos)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errInvalidBlobHash)
+
+	_, statErr := os.Stat(target)
+	require.Truef(t, os.IsNotExist(statErr),
+		"restore wrote outside the cache directory at %s", target)
+}
+
 // TestBlobCacheReadAtRejectsBadBounds proves a blob_chunks row cannot
 // drive an out-of-range or negative read. offset/length reach ReadAt
 // straight from the database.

internal/vaultik/restore.go

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/blobgen"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/database"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/snapshot"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/types"
 )
 
@@ -29,8 +30,13 @@ var (
 	errDecryptionKeyRequired = errors.New(
 		"decryption key required for restore\n\n" +
 			"Set the VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY environment variable to your " +
-			"age private key:\n" +
+			"age private key file:\n" +
-			"  export VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY='AGE-SECRET-KEY-...'")
+			"  export VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY=\"$(cat vaultik_backup_private_key.txt)\"")
+	// errInvalidAgeSecretKey is returned when the configured key does not
+	// parse as any age identity. It names the source but never the value,
+	// which is secret, so the message is safe to print and log.
+	errInvalidAgeSecretKey = errors.New(
+		"configured age secret key holds no usable age identity")
 	errBlobMissingFromIndex     = errors.New("blob hash missing from blob index")
 	errChunkNotInAnyBlob        = errors.New("chunk not found in any blob")
 	errBlobIDNotInHashIndex     = errors.New("blob id missing from hash index")
@@ -41,6 +47,8 @@ var (
 		"restored file has trailing data after its last chunk")
 	errRestoreIncomplete = errors.New(
 		"restore loop ended with files still pending")
+	errSnapshotDBMismatch = errors.New(
+		"decrypted database is not the requested snapshot")
 )
 
 // snapshotDBFilename is the name the decrypted snapshot database is
@@ -94,7 +102,7 @@ type RestoreResult struct {
 func (v *Vaultik) Restore(opts *RestoreOptions) error {
 	startTime := time.Now()
 
-	identity, err := v.prepareRestoreIdentity()
+	identities, err := v.restoreIdentities()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -108,7 +116,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) Restore(opts *RestoreOptions) error {
 	// Step 1: Download and decrypt the snapshot metadata database
 	log.Info("Downloading snapshot metadata...")
 
-	tempDB, tempDir, err := v.downloadSnapshotDB(opts.SnapshotID, identity)
+	tempDB, tempDir, err := v.downloadSnapshotDB(opts.SnapshotID, identities)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("downloading snapshot database: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -157,7 +165,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) Restore(opts *RestoreOptions) error {
 	}
 
 	// Step 5: Restore files
-	result, err := v.restoreAllFiles(files, repos, opts, identity, chunkToBlobMap)
+	result, err := v.restoreAllFiles(files, repos, opts, identities, chunkToBlobMap)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -218,21 +226,28 @@ func (v *Vaultik) finishRestore(
 	return nil
 }
 
-// prepareRestoreIdentity validates that an age secret key is configured
+// restoreIdentities parses the configured age secret key once into every
-// and parses it.
+// identity it contains. The value may be a single key line or a whole
-//
+// age-keygen file with several identities; all of them are returned so
-//nolint:ireturn // age.Identity is the decryption abstraction by design
+// blobgen (via age.Decrypt) can read a blob encrypted to any of their
-func (v *Vaultik) prepareRestoreIdentity() (age.Identity, error) {
+// recipients. This is the first step of both restore and deep verify, so
+// a missing or unparseable key fails before anything is downloaded. The
+// error names the configuration source but never the key value.
+func (v *Vaultik) restoreIdentities() ([]age.Identity, error) {
 	if v.Config.AgeSecretKey == "" {
 		return nil, errDecryptionKeyRequired
 	}
 
-	identity, err := age.ParseX25519Identity(v.Config.AgeSecretKey)
+	// age.ParseIdentities skips comment and blank lines and rejects a
+	// malformed key. Its error can quote the offending line, so it is not
+	// wrapped here — that would leak the secret into the message.
+	identities, err := age.ParseIdentities(strings.NewReader(v.Config.AgeSecretKey))
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parsing age secret key: %w", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w (source: %s)",
+			errInvalidAgeSecretKey, v.Config.AgeSecretKeySourceName())
 	}
 
-	return identity, nil
+	return identities, nil
 }
 
 // restoreAllFiles processes files in blob-locality order: drain every
@@ -245,7 +260,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) restoreAllFiles(
 	files []*database.File,
 	repos *database.Repositories,
 	opts *RestoreOptions,
-	identity age.Identity,
+	identities []age.Identity,
 	chunkToBlobMap map[string]*database.BlobChunk,
 ) (*RestoreResult, error) {
 	result := &RestoreResult{}
@@ -299,7 +314,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) restoreAllFiles(
 		ctx:            v.ctx,
 		repos:          repos,
 		opts:           opts,
-		identity:       identity,
+		identities:     identities,
 		chunkToBlobMap: chunkToBlobMap,
 		blobByHash:     blobByHash,
 		blobIDToHash:   blobIDToHash,
@@ -410,12 +425,12 @@ func (s *restoreSession) downloadNextBlobSet(plan *restorePlan) (bool, error) {
 
 		blob, ok := s.blobByHash[hash]
 		if !ok {
-			return false, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errBlobMissingFromIndex, hash[:16])
+			return false, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errBlobMissingFromIndex, shortHash(hash))
 		}
 
 		err := s.downloadBlobToCache(hash, blob.CompressedSize)
 		if err != nil {
-			return false, fmt.Errorf("downloading blob %s: %w", hash[:16], err)
+			return false, fmt.Errorf("downloading blob %s: %w", shortHash(hash), err)
 		}
 
 		s.result.BlobsDownloaded++
@@ -459,6 +474,16 @@ func (v *Vaultik) buildBlobIndexes(
 	blobByHash := make(map[string]*database.Blob, len(blobsByID))
 	for id, blob := range blobsByID {
 		hash := blob.Hash.String()
+
+		// The snapshot database is untrusted. A hash that is not 64
+		// lowercase hex characters could steer a later fetch to a path
+		// outside the cache directory, so reject it here, before any
+		// blob is downloaded.
+		if !isBlobHash(hash) {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf(
+				"%w: %s", errInvalidBlobHash, shortHash(hash))
+		}
+
 		blobIDToHash[id] = hash
 		blobByHash[hash] = blob
 	}
@@ -613,7 +638,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) handleRestoreVerification(
 // for a remote-only snapshot) is used as-is, so a host with no local
 // index can restore the snapshots it can only see on the store.
 func (v *Vaultik) downloadSnapshotDB(
-	snapshotID string, identity age.Identity,
+	snapshotID string, identities []age.Identity,
 ) (*database.DB, string, error) {
 	remoteKey, err := v.resolveSnapshotRemoteKey(snapshotID)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -640,7 +665,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) downloadSnapshotDB(
 		"size", ubytes(int64(len(encryptedData))))
 
 	// Decrypt and decompress using blobgen.Reader
-	blobReader, err := blobgen.NewReader(bytes.NewReader(encryptedData), identity)
+	blobReader, err := blobgen.NewReader(bytes.NewReader(encryptedData), identities...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("creating decryption reader: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -655,7 +680,53 @@ func (v *Vaultik) downloadSnapshotDB(
 
 	log.Debug("Decrypted database", "size", ubytes(int64(len(dbData))))
 
-	return v.materializeSnapshotDB(dbData)
+	db, tempDir, err := v.materializeSnapshotDB(dbData)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+
+	// Confirm the decrypted database really is the snapshot named by
+	// remoteKey before any files are read from it. On mismatch, close the
+	// database and remove its private directory so nothing is left behind.
+	err = v.verifySnapshotDBIdentity(db, snapshotID, remoteKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = db.Close()
+		_ = v.Fs.RemoveAll(tempDir)
+
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+
+	return db, tempDir, nil
+}
+
+// verifySnapshotDBIdentity confirms the decrypted metadata database really
+// is the snapshot named by remoteKey. age decryption proves the database
+// is readable, not that the object served at
+// metadata/<remoteKey>/db.zst.age is the snapshot that was requested: an
+// attacker who swaps in another valid db.zst.age (which needs no key
+// material) would otherwise redirect restore and deep verify to a
+// different snapshot's contents. The exported per-snapshot database holds
+// exactly one snapshot row, and a snapshot's remote key is derived from
+// that row's ID, so the database is the requested one exactly when its
+// sole snapshot hashes back to remoteKey. Comparing the requested
+// identifier directly would not do: it may be a remote-key prefix a
+// recovery host uses in place of a human snapshot ID it cannot know.
+func (v *Vaultik) verifySnapshotDBIdentity(
+	db *database.DB, requested, remoteKey string,
+) error {
+	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
+
+	snap, err := repos.Snapshots.GetOnlySnapshot(v.ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("checking identity of database for %s: %w", requested, err)
+	}
+
+	if snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snap.ID.String()) != remoteKey {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: requested %s but the database is snapshot %s",
+			errSnapshotDBMismatch, requested, snap.ID)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 // materializeSnapshotDB writes the decrypted snapshot database bytes into
@@ -784,7 +855,7 @@ type restoreSession struct {
 	ctx            context.Context //nolint:containedctx // per-restore state by design
 	repos          *database.Repositories
 	opts           *RestoreOptions
-	identity       age.Identity
+	identities     []age.Identity
 	chunkToBlobMap map[string]*database.BlobChunk
 	blobByHash     map[string]*database.Blob
 	blobIDToHash   map[string]string
@@ -1146,7 +1217,7 @@ func (s *restoreSession) downloadBlobToCache(
 	start := time.Now()
 
 	t0 := time.Now()
-	rc, err := s.v.FetchAndDecryptBlob(s.ctx, blobHash, expectedSize, s.identity)
+	rc, err := s.v.FetchAndDecryptBlob(s.ctx, blobHash, expectedSize, s.identities...)
 	fetchSetupDur := time.Since(t0)
 
 	if err != nil {

internal/vaultik/restore_identity_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+package vaultik //nolint:testpackage // exercises unexported restoreIdentities
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io"
+	"testing"
+
+	"filippo.io/age"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/blobgen"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/config"
+)
+
+// encryptBlobTo returns a blobgen blob of plaintext encrypted to exactly
+// one recipient, so a decryptor succeeds only if it holds that recipient's
+// identity.
+func encryptBlobTo(t *testing.T, recipient string, plaintext []byte) []byte {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
+	writer, err := blobgen.NewWriter(&buf, 1, []string{recipient})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = writer.Write(plaintext)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, writer.Close())
+
+	return buf.Bytes()
+}
+
+// decryptBlobWith reads a blob back through the identities and returns its
+// plaintext.
+func decryptBlobWith(t *testing.T, blob []byte, identities []age.Identity) []byte {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	reader, err := blobgen.NewReader(bytes.NewReader(blob), identities...)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	plaintext, err := io.ReadAll(reader)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, reader.Close())
+
+	return plaintext
+}
+
+// TestRestoreIdentitiesAcceptsEveryIdentity proves a key file holding two
+// identities yields both, so a blob encrypted only to the second
+// recipient — the one the previous single-identity parse dropped — still
+// decrypts.
+func TestRestoreIdentitiesAcceptsEveryIdentity(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	first, err := age.GenerateX25519Identity()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	second, err := age.GenerateX25519Identity()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// A whole age-keygen-style file: comment lines plus two identity lines.
+	keyFile := "# public key: " + first.Recipient().String() + "\n" +
+		first.String() + "\n" +
+		"# public key: " + second.Recipient().String() + "\n" +
+		second.String() + "\n"
+
+	v := &Vaultik{Config: &config.Config{AgeSecretKey: keyFile}}
+
+	identities, err := v.restoreIdentities()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, identities, 2)
+
+	plaintext := []byte("payload encrypted only to the second identity")
+	blob := encryptBlobTo(t, second.Recipient().String(), plaintext)
+
+	require.Equal(t, plaintext, decryptBlobWith(t, blob, identities))
+}
+
+// TestRestoreIdentitiesAcceptsTrailingNewline mirrors a YAML
+// age_secret_key value that carries a trailing newline: it must still
+// parse to its one identity and decrypt a blob encrypted to it.
+func TestRestoreIdentitiesAcceptsTrailingNewline(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	id, err := age.GenerateX25519Identity()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	v := &Vaultik{Config: &config.Config{AgeSecretKey: id.String() + "\n"}}
+
+	identities, err := v.restoreIdentities()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, identities, 1)
+
+	plaintext := []byte("value with a trailing newline")
+	blob := encryptBlobTo(t, id.Recipient().String(), plaintext)
+
+	require.Equal(t, plaintext, decryptBlobWith(t, blob, identities))
+}
+
+// TestRestoreIdentitiesMissingKey reports the dedicated missing-key error
+// rather than a parse failure, so the user is told to set the key.
+func TestRestoreIdentitiesMissingKey(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	v := &Vaultik{Config: &config.Config{}}
+
+	_, err := v.restoreIdentities()
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errDecryptionKeyRequired)
+}

internal/vaultik/restore_malformed_key_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package vaultik_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"io"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/config"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/ui"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
+)
+
+// TestRestoreRejectsMalformedKeyBeforeDownload verifies that a malformed
+// age secret key stops restore at the parse step: nothing is fetched from
+// the store, and the error does not echo the key value (which is secret).
+func TestRestoreRejectsMalformedKeyBeforeDownload(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const malformed = "this-is-not-a-valid-age-key"
+
+	mock := NewMockStorer()
+
+	v := &vaultik.Vaultik{
+		Config:  &config.Config{AgeSecretKey: malformed},
+		Storage: mock,
+		Stdout:  io.Discard,
+		Stderr:  io.Discard,
+		UI:      ui.NewWithColor(io.Discard, false),
+	}
+	v.SetContext(context.Background())
+
+	err := v.Restore(&vaultik.RestoreOptions{
+		SnapshotID: "any-snapshot",
+		TargetDir:  t.TempDir(),
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.NotContains(t, err.Error(), malformed,
+		"error must not echo the key value")
+	require.Contains(t, err.Error(), "age_secret_key",
+		"error should name the configuration source")
+	require.Empty(t, mock.GetCalls(),
+		"a malformed key must fail before anything is fetched")
+}

internal/vaultik/restore_snapshot_identity_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,251 @@
+package vaultik_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"io"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/afero"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/config"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/database"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/snapshot"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/ui"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
+)
+
+// TestRestoreAndDeepVerifyRejectSwappedDatabase proves that swapping two
+// snapshots' encrypted databases on the store is caught. age decryption
+// alone proves only that a database is readable; without an identity check
+// restore would happily write the wrong snapshot's files and deep verify
+// would report success. After the swap, restore and deep verify of A both
+// fail, and the error names the snapshot the database actually holds (B).
+func TestRestoreAndDeepVerifyRejectSwappedDatabase(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
+
+	chunkSize := int64(64 * 1024)
+
+	storer, err := storage.NewFileStorer(storeDir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Two snapshots with different content, backed up into one shared
+	// store. Different names give them different remote keys, so their
+	// metadata directories are distinct and can be tampered with alone.
+	dataA := filepath.Join(tempDir, "srcA")
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(dataA, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, filepath.Join(dataA, "a.bin"),
+		bytesPattern("alpha-", int(chunkSize*2)), 0o644))
+
+	dataB := filepath.Join(tempDir, "srcB")
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(dataB, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, filepath.Join(dataB, "b.bin"),
+		bytesPattern("beta-", int(chunkSize*2)), 0o644))
+
+	idA := backupNamedSnapshotToStore(ctx, t, fs, dataA, storer,
+		filepath.Join(tempDir, "idxA.sqlite"), "alpha")
+	idB := backupNamedSnapshotToStore(ctx, t, fs, dataB, storer,
+		filepath.Join(tempDir, "idxB.sqlite"), "beta")
+	require.NotEqual(t, idA, idB)
+
+	keyA := snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(idA)
+	keyB := snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(idB)
+	require.NotEqual(t, keyA, keyB)
+
+	// Baseline: each snapshot verifies against its own intact metadata.
+	require.NoError(t, newStoreClient(ctx, t, fs, storer).RunDeepVerify(
+		idA, &vaultik.VerifyOptions{Deep: true}))
+	require.NoError(t, newStoreClient(ctx, t, fs, storer).RunDeepVerify(
+		idB, &vaultik.VerifyOptions{Deep: true}))
+
+	// Swap the two snapshots' encrypted databases on the store.
+	swapStoreFiles(t, fs,
+		filepath.Join(storeDir, "metadata", keyA, "db.zst.age"),
+		filepath.Join(storeDir, "metadata", keyB, "db.zst.age"))
+
+	// Restore of A now decrypts B's database; the identity check must
+	// reject it and name the snapshot it actually found.
+	restoreErr := newStoreClient(ctx, t, fs, storer).Restore(&vaultik.RestoreOptions{
+		SnapshotID: idA,
+		TargetDir:  filepath.Join(tempDir, "restoreA"),
+	})
+	require.Error(t, restoreErr)
+	require.ErrorContains(t, restoreErr, idB)
+
+	// Deep verify of A must reject the swapped database for the same reason.
+	verifyErr := newStoreClient(ctx, t, fs, storer).RunDeepVerify(
+		idA, &vaultik.VerifyOptions{Deep: true})
+	require.Error(t, verifyErr)
+	require.ErrorContains(t, verifyErr, idB)
+}
+
+// TestDeepVerifyRejectsSwappedDatabaseWithEmptyManifest covers the case the
+// issue calls out: swapping in a database whose blob set is empty and
+// pairing it with an equally empty manifest. The manifest then agrees with
+// the database, so every blob-level check passes and deep verify used to
+// report success with zero blobs verified. The identity check rejects it
+// before any blob check runs.
+func TestDeepVerifyRejectsSwappedDatabaseWithEmptyManifest(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
+
+	chunkSize := int64(64 * 1024)
+
+	storer, err := storage.NewFileStorer(storeDir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Snapshot A: real content, so its manifest lists blobs.
+	dataA := filepath.Join(tempDir, "srcA")
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(dataA, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, filepath.Join(dataA, "a.bin"),
+		bytesPattern("alpha-", int(chunkSize*2)), 0o644))
+	idA := backupNamedSnapshotToStore(ctx, t, fs, dataA, storer,
+		filepath.Join(tempDir, "idxA.sqlite"), "alpha")
+
+	// Snapshot C: a single empty file, so it references no blobs and its
+	// manifest is empty. This is the database/manifest pair an attacker
+	// would swap in to make the blob checks vacuously pass.
+	dataC := filepath.Join(tempDir, "srcC")
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(dataC, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs,
+		filepath.Join(dataC, "empty.bin"), []byte{}, 0o644))
+	idC := backupNamedSnapshotToStore(ctx, t, fs, dataC, storer,
+		filepath.Join(tempDir, "idxC.sqlite"), "charlie")
+
+	keyA := snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(idA)
+	keyC := snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(idC)
+
+	// Replace A's database and manifest with C's empty pair.
+	copyStoreFile(t, fs,
+		filepath.Join(storeDir, "metadata", keyC, "db.zst.age"),
+		filepath.Join(storeDir, "metadata", keyA, "db.zst.age"))
+	copyStoreFile(t, fs,
+		filepath.Join(storeDir, "metadata", keyC, "manifest.json.zst"),
+		filepath.Join(storeDir, "metadata", keyA, "manifest.json.zst"))
+
+	verifyErr := newStoreClient(ctx, t, fs, storer).RunDeepVerify(
+		idA, &vaultik.VerifyOptions{Deep: true})
+	require.Error(t, verifyErr)
+	require.ErrorContains(t, verifyErr, idC)
+}
+
+// backupNamedSnapshotToStore backs up dataDir into the shared storer under
+// the given snapshot name and returns the human snapshot ID. Two snapshots
+// backed up under different names get different remote keys, so their
+// metadata directories on the store are distinct.
+func backupNamedSnapshotToStore(
+	ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs,
+	dataDir string, storer storage.Storer, dbPath, name string,
+) string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	const (
+		chunkSize   = int64(64 * 1024)
+		maxBlobSize = int64(512 * 1024)
+	)
+
+	cfg := &config.Config{
+		AgeRecipients:    []string{testAgePublicKey},
+		AgeSecretKey:     testAgeSecretKey,
+		CompressionLevel: 3,
+		Hostname:         testHostname,
+	}
+
+	db, err := database.New(ctx, dbPath)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
+
+	sm := snapshot.NewSnapshotManager(snapshot.SnapshotManagerParams{
+		Repos:   repos,
+		Storage: storer,
+		Config:  cfg,
+	})
+	sm.SetFilesystem(fs)
+
+	scanner := snapshot.NewScanner(snapshot.ScannerConfig{
+		FS:               fs,
+		Storage:          storer,
+		ChunkSize:        chunkSize,
+		MaxBlobSize:      maxBlobSize,
+		CompressionLevel: cfg.CompressionLevel,
+		AgeRecipients:    cfg.AgeRecipients,
+		Repositories:     repos,
+	})
+
+	snapshotID, err := sm.CreateSnapshotWithName(
+		ctx, cfg.Hostname, name, "test-version", "test-git")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = scanner.Scan(ctx, dataDir, snapshotID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.NoError(t, sm.CompleteSnapshot(ctx, snapshotID))
+	require.NoError(t, sm.ExportSnapshotMetadata(ctx, dbPath, snapshotID))
+	require.NoError(t, db.Close())
+
+	return snapshotID
+}
+
+// newStoreClient builds a Vaultik that reads only from the store: the
+// secret key, the storer, and a filesystem, with no local index. This is
+// what restore and deep verify need.
+func newStoreClient(
+	ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs, storer storage.Storer,
+) *vaultik.Vaultik {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	v := &vaultik.Vaultik{
+		Config: &config.Config{
+			AgeSecretKey: testAgeSecretKey,
+			Hostname:     testHostname,
+		},
+		Storage: storer,
+		Fs:      fs,
+		Stdout:  io.Discard,
+		Stderr:  io.Discard,
+		UI:      ui.NewWithColor(io.Discard, false),
+	}
+	v.SetContext(ctx)
+
+	return v
+}
+
+// swapStoreFiles exchanges the contents of two files on the store.
+func swapStoreFiles(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs, a, b string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	dataA, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, a)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	dataB, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, b)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, a, dataB, 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, b, dataA, 0o644))
+}
+
+// copyStoreFile overwrites dst with the contents of src on the store.
+func copyStoreFile(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs, src, dst string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	data, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, src)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, dst, data, 0o644))
+}

internal/vaultik/verify.go

@@ -95,11 +95,10 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RunDeepVerify(snapshotID string, opts *VerifyOptions) error {
 	}
 
 	// Parse the age secret key once, the same way restore does, and reuse
-	// the identity for the database and every blob.
+	// the identities for the database and every blob.
-	identity, err := v.prepareRestoreIdentity()
+	identities, err := v.restoreIdentities()
 	if err != nil {
-		return v.deepVerifyFailure(result, opts,
+		return v.deepVerifyFailure(result, opts, err.Error(), err)
-			fmt.Sprintf("parsing age secret key: %v", err), err)
 	}
 
 	log.Info("Starting snapshot verification", "snapshot_id", snapshotID, "mode", "deep")
@@ -109,7 +108,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RunDeepVerify(snapshotID string, opts *VerifyOptions) error {
 	}
 
 	manifest, tempDB, dbBlobs, err := v.loadVerificationData(
-		snapshotID, opts, result, identity)
+		snapshotID, opts, result, identities)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -130,7 +129,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RunDeepVerify(snapshotID string, opts *VerifyOptions) error {
 	result.TotalSize = totalSize
 
 	err = v.runVerificationSteps(
-		manifest, dbBlobs, tempDB, opts, result, totalSize, identity)
+		manifest, dbBlobs, tempDB, opts, result, totalSize, identities)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -155,7 +154,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RunDeepVerify(snapshotID string, opts *VerifyOptions) error {
 // loadVerificationData downloads manifest, database, and blob list for verification
 func (v *Vaultik) loadVerificationData(
 	snapshotID string, opts *VerifyOptions, result *VerifyResult,
-	identity age.Identity,
+	identities []age.Identity,
 ) (*snapshot.Manifest, *tempDB, []snapshot.BlobInfo, error) {
 	// Resolve the identifier to the snapshot's remote key. A human ID is
 	// hashed; a remote key (or its abbreviation, as printed for a
@@ -192,24 +191,10 @@ func (v *Vaultik) loadVerificationData(
 		v.stdoutf("Downloading and decrypting database...\n")
 	}
 
-	// Download and decrypt database
+	tdb, err := v.downloadVerifiedSnapshotDB(
-	dbPath := fmt.Sprintf("metadata/%s/db.zst.age", remoteKey)
+		snapshotID, remoteKey, opts, result, identities)
-	log.Info("Downloading encrypted database", "path", dbPath)
-
-	dbReader, err := v.Storage.Get(v.ctx, dbPath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, v.deepVerifyFailure(result, opts,
+		return nil, nil, nil, err
-			fmt.Sprintf("failed to download database: %v", err),
-			fmt.Errorf("failed to download database: %w", err))
-	}
-
-	defer func() { _ = dbReader.Close() }()
-
-	tdb, err := v.decryptAndLoadDatabase(dbReader, identity)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, v.deepVerifyFailure(result, opts,
-			fmt.Sprintf("failed to decrypt database: %v", err),
-			fmt.Errorf("failed to decrypt database: %w", err))
 	}
 
 	dbBlobs, err := v.getBlobsFromDatabase(tdb.db.Conn())
@@ -238,6 +223,45 @@ func (v *Vaultik) loadVerificationData(
 	return manifest, tdb, dbBlobs, nil
 }
 
+// downloadVerifiedSnapshotDB downloads and decrypts the snapshot metadata
+// database and confirms it really is the snapshot named by remoteKey
+// before any of its rows are trusted (see verifySnapshotDBIdentity). On
+// any failure it records the failure in result and returns the error the
+// caller should propagate; the temp database is closed on a rejected
+// identity so nothing is left on disk.
+func (v *Vaultik) downloadVerifiedSnapshotDB(
+	snapshotID, remoteKey string, opts *VerifyOptions, result *VerifyResult,
+	identities []age.Identity,
+) (*tempDB, error) {
+	dbPath := fmt.Sprintf("metadata/%s/db.zst.age", remoteKey)
+	log.Info("Downloading encrypted database", "path", dbPath)
+
+	dbReader, err := v.Storage.Get(v.ctx, dbPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, v.deepVerifyFailure(result, opts,
+			fmt.Sprintf("failed to download database: %v", err),
+			fmt.Errorf("failed to download database: %w", err))
+	}
+
+	defer func() { _ = dbReader.Close() }()
+
+	tdb, err := v.decryptAndLoadDatabase(dbReader, identities)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, v.deepVerifyFailure(result, opts,
+			fmt.Sprintf("failed to decrypt database: %v", err),
+			fmt.Errorf("failed to decrypt database: %w", err))
+	}
+
+	err = v.verifySnapshotDBIdentity(tdb.db, snapshotID, remoteKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = tdb.Close()
+
+		return nil, v.deepVerifyFailure(result, opts, err.Error(), err)
+	}
+
+	return tdb, nil
+}
+
 // runVerificationSteps executes manifest verification, blob existence
 // check, and deep content verification.
 func (v *Vaultik) runVerificationSteps(
@@ -247,7 +271,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) runVerificationSteps(
 	opts *VerifyOptions,
 	result *VerifyResult,
 	totalSize int64,
-	identity age.Identity,
+	identities []age.Identity,
 ) error {
 	if !opts.JSON {
 		v.stdoutf("Verifying manifest against database...\n")
@@ -274,7 +298,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) runVerificationSteps(
 			len(dbBlobs), ubytes(totalSize))
 	}
 
-	err = v.performDeepVerificationFromDB(dbBlobs, tdb.db.Conn(), opts, identity)
+	err = v.performDeepVerificationFromDB(dbBlobs, tdb.db.Conn(), opts, identities)
 	if err != nil {
 		return v.deepVerifyFailure(result, opts, err.Error(), err)
 	}
@@ -302,10 +326,10 @@ func (t *tempDB) Close() error {
 // from the encrypted stream. It reads through the same blobgen reader restore
 // uses, streaming the decrypted, decompressed database to a temp file.
 func (v *Vaultik) decryptAndLoadDatabase(
-	reader io.ReadCloser, identity age.Identity,
+	reader io.ReadCloser, identities []age.Identity,
 ) (*tempDB, error) {
 	// Decrypt and decompress through the shared blobgen reader.
-	blobReader, err := blobgen.NewReader(reader, identity)
+	blobReader, err := blobgen.NewReader(reader, identities...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create decryption reader: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -366,7 +390,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) decryptAndLoadDatabase(
 
 // verifyBlob downloads and verifies a single blob
 func (v *Vaultik) verifyBlob(
-	blobInfo snapshot.BlobInfo, db *sql.DB, identity age.Identity,
+	blobInfo snapshot.BlobInfo, db *sql.DB, identities []age.Identity,
 ) error {
 	// Download blob using shared fetch method
 	reader, _, err := v.FetchBlob(v.ctx, blobInfo.Hash, blobInfo.CompressedSize)
@@ -380,7 +404,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) verifyBlob(
 	// the plaintext as it is read. A blob's hash — its remote name — is the
 	// double SHA-256 of that plaintext (see blobgen.DoubleSHA256), not of the
 	// encrypted bytes.
-	blobReader, err := blobgen.NewReader(reader, identity)
+	blobReader, err := blobgen.NewReader(reader, identities...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create blob reader: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -673,7 +697,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) verifyBlobExistenceFromDB(blobs []snapshot.BlobInfo) error {
 // each blob using the database as source.
 func (v *Vaultik) performDeepVerificationFromDB(
 	blobs []snapshot.BlobInfo, db *sql.DB, opts *VerifyOptions,
-	identity age.Identity,
+	identities []age.Identity,
 ) error {
 	// Calculate total bytes for ETA
 	var totalBytesExpected int64
@@ -691,7 +715,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) performDeepVerificationFromDB(
 
 	for i, blobInfo := range blobs {
 		// Verify individual blob
-		err := v.verifyBlob(blobInfo, db, identity)
+		err := v.verifyBlob(blobInfo, db, identities)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("blob %s verification failed: %w", blobInfo.Hash, err)
 		}