README.md

@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 `vaultik` is an incremental backup tool written in Go. It encrypts data using an
 `age` public key and uploads each encrypted blob directly to a remote
-S3-compatible object store. It requires no private keys, secrets, or credentials
+S3-compatible object store. The backed-up system never needs the private key. A
-(other than those required to PUT to encrypted object storage, such as S3 API
+backup needs only the public key and the credentials to write to the object
-keys) stored on the backed-up system.
+store, such as S3 API keys.
 
 ## quickstart
 
@@ -171,6 +171,7 @@ vaultik [--config <path>] config get <key>
 vaultik [--config <path>] config set <key> <value>
 vaultik [--config <path>] snapshot create [snapshot-names...] [--cron] [--prune] [--keep-newer-than <duration>]
 vaultik [--config <path>] snapshot list [--json]                  # alias: ls
+vaultik [--config <path>] snapshot files <snapshot-id> [path] [--json]
 vaultik [--config <path>] snapshot verify <snapshot-id> [--deep] [--json]
 vaultik [--config <path>] snapshot purge [--keep-latest | --older-than <duration>] [--snapshot <name>...] [--force]
 vaultik [--config <path>] snapshot remove <snapshot-id> [--dry-run] [--force] [--local-only] [--json]  # alias: rm
@@ -223,12 +224,24 @@ the backup can delete it; the new snapshot then cannot be restored.
 `remote nuke` deletes everything regardless. To not depend on the grace period,
 give each host or user its own prefix (or directory) on the destination.
 
-Read-only commands — `info`, `snapshot list`, `snapshot verify`, and
+These read-only commands do not take the lock, so they are never blocked, even
-`remote info` — do not take the lock and are never blocked, so they run even
+while a backup is in progress:
-while a backup is in progress. `snapshot restore` does not take the lock either:
+
-it writes only to the target directory you name, not the local index or the
+- `info`
-destination store. `config`, `database delete`, `completion`, and `version` do
+- `snapshot list`
-not take the lock.
+- `snapshot files`
+- `snapshot verify`
+- `remote info`
+
+`snapshot restore` does not take the lock either: it writes only to the target
+directory you name, not the local index or the destination store.
+
+These commands do not take the lock either:
+
+- `config`
+- `database delete`
+- `completion`
+- `version`
 
 ### stdout and stderr
 
@@ -261,9 +274,9 @@ work as written.
 ### environment variables
 
 - `VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY`: Age private key for decryption (required for
-  `snapshot restore` and `snapshot verify --deep`). May hold the whole
+  `snapshot restore`, `snapshot files` and `snapshot verify --deep`). May hold
-  `age-keygen` file — comments and every identity in it are accepted. Set it
+  the whole `age-keygen` file — comments and every identity in it are accepted.
-  from the file, e.g.
+  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`)
@@ -408,6 +421,26 @@ point behind.
   truncated listing all go to stderr through the logger, so stdout stays a
   single parseable document.
 
+**`snapshot files`**: List the files in a snapshot without restoring it. Each
+row of the table shows mode, size in bytes, modification time and path, sorted
+by path.
+
+- Requires `VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY`: the file list is only in the snapshot's
+  encrypted database, which the command downloads and decrypts.
+- Accepts the same identifiers as `snapshot restore`.
+- An optional path limits the list to that path and what is under it. A path
+  that matches nothing in the snapshot is an error.
+- `--json`: Output an array of objects with `path`, `size`, `mode` and `mtime`.
+- In the table, a path that holds a newline or another non-printable character
+  is shown in double quotes, with that character escaped, as in `"a\nb"`.
+- The mode is in Go's file-mode notation, in the table and in `--json`. Letters
+  before the nine permission characters show the file type and any special bit,
+  as in `dtrwxrwxrwx` for a sticky directory. These letters differ from `ls -l`:
+    - `L`: a symbolic link, which `ls -l` shows as `l`.
+    - `u`: setuid, which `ls -l` shows as `s` in place of the owner's `x`.
+    - `g`: setgid, which `ls -l` shows as `s` in place of the group's `x`.
+    - `t`: sticky, which `ls -l` shows as `t` in place of the others' `x`.
+
 **`snapshot verify`**: Verify snapshot integrity.
 
 - Default (shallow): checks that every blob the manifest lists is present in
@@ -722,7 +755,7 @@ annotated example also lives in
 | Field                | Default                         | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
 | -------------------- | ------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 | `age_recipients`     | (required by `snapshot create`) | Age public keys for encryption. Other commands run without one, so a machine that only restores can leave it empty                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
-| `age_secret_key`     | (unset)                         | Age private key for decryption (`snapshot restore`, `snapshot verify --deep`). Setting it in the config file places the private key on the backed-up host, defeating the public-key-only design (see "why" above). Prefer the `VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY` environment variable, supplied only on the machine you restore from.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
+| `age_secret_key`     | (unset)                         | Age private key for decryption (`snapshot restore`, `snapshot files`, `snapshot verify --deep`). Setting it in the config file places the private key on the backed-up host, defeating the public-key-only design (see "why" above). Prefer the `VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY` environment variable, supplied only on the machine you restore from.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
 | `snapshots`          | (required)                      | Named snapshot definitions with paths and excludes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
 | `storage_url`        |                                 | Storage backend URL (`s3://`, `file://`, `rclone://`)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
 | `s3.*`               |                                 | Legacy S3 configuration (endpoint, bucket, credentials)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
@@ -839,15 +872,27 @@ environment variable is unset (https://no-color.org/).
   `database delete`.
 - **The data a command exists to produce** is written plain, with no marker and
   no color, because a marker would corrupt a table or a parsed document. This
-  covers the `version`, `info`, `remote info` and `snapshot verify` reports, the
+  covers the report or table of each of these commands:
-  `snapshot list` table, `config get` values, and every `--json` document.
+    - `version`
-  `--quiet` silences the human reports and tables (`version`, `info`,
+    - `info`
-  `remote info`, `snapshot verify`, `snapshot list`) but never the
+    - `remote info`
-  machine-consumed `config get` value or the `--json` documents, which a script
+    - `snapshot verify`
-  depends on. The confirmation prompts of `database delete`, `prune`,
+    - `snapshot list`
-  `snapshot purge` and `snapshot remove`, each with what it asks to delete, are
+    - `snapshot files`
-  also written this way and always shown: they are an interactive exchange the
+
-  operator must see.
+    `config get` values and every `--json` document are written plain too.
+    `--quiet` silences the reports and tables above, but never a `config get`
+    value or a `--json` document, which a script depends on.
+
+    These commands write their confirmation prompt plain too, with what it asks
+    to delete:
+    - `database delete`
+    - `prune`
+    - `snapshot purge`
+    - `snapshot remove`
+
+    `--quiet` never silences these prompts: each is an interactive exchange the
+    operator must see.
 
 `internal/ui` writes to stdout; it is the output the user asked for. The
 exceptions are the startup banner and the error a failed command ends with,

docs/REPOSTRUCTURE.md

@@ -265,15 +265,23 @@ so an operator can weigh them rather than discover them.
    blob holds hundreds of chunks, so individual chunk lengths are not visible in
    the blob's size; lowering the limit toward the chunk size begins to expose
    them.
-4. **Decrypted data on local disk.** Several commands stage plaintext under
+4. **Decrypted data on local disk.** These commands stage plaintext under
-   `$TMPDIR`: `snapshot restore` writes decrypted blobs under
+   `$TMPDIR`:
-   `vaultik-blobcache-*/` (no size cap) and the decrypted metadata database at
+    - `snapshot restore`: decrypted blobs under `vaultik-blobcache-*/`, with no
-   `vaultik-restore-*/snapshot.db`; `verify --deep` writes that database at
+      size cap, and the decrypted metadata database at
-   `vaultik-verify-*/snapshot.db`; `snapshot create` keeps a plaintext copy of
+      `vaultik-restore-*/snapshot.db`.
-   the index at `vaultik-snapshot-*/snapshot.db`. These files are created `0600`
+    - `snapshot files`: the decrypted metadata database at
-   and removed on success, but a `kill -9` or a power loss leaves them behind —
+      `vaultik-restore-*/snapshot.db`.
-   delete any leftover `vaultik-*` directory under `$TMPDIR` by hand. `$TMPDIR`
+    - `verify --deep`: the decrypted metadata database at
-   should be trusted to the same degree as the restore target.
+      `vaultik-verify-*/snapshot.db`.
+    - `snapshot create`: a plaintext copy of the index at
+      `vaultik-snapshot-*/snapshot.db`.
+
+    These files are created `0600` and removed on success, but a `kill -9` or a
+    power loss leaves them behind — delete any leftover `vaultik-*` directory
+    under `$TMPDIR` by hand. `$TMPDIR` should be trusted to the same degree as
+    the restore target.
+
 5. **Store permissions differ per command.** The backed-up host needs only PUT
    to run `snapshot create`: it writes blobs and metadata and neither reads nor
    deletes them. Other commands need more — `snapshot verify`,

internal/cli/app.go

@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ const (
 	// prune, remote nuke) write the local index or the remote store. They
 	// hold the PID lock so that at most one runs at a time.
 	mutating lockMode = iota
-	// readOnly commands (info, snapshot list, snapshot verify, remote info,
+	// readOnly commands (info, snapshot list, snapshot files, snapshot
-	// snapshot restore) do not write the local index or the remote store,
+	// verify, remote info, snapshot restore) do not write the local index
-	// so they run without the lock and are never blocked by a running
+	// or the remote store, so they run without the lock and are never
-	// mutator. restore writes only to the target directory it is given.
+	// blocked by a running mutator. restore writes only to the target
+	// directory it is given.
 	readOnly
 )
 
@@ -310,7 +311,7 @@ func RunOperation(
 }
 
 // runVaultikApp runs the standard single-operation command lifecycle
-// shared by the snapshot list/purge/remove and remote nuke subcommands:
+// shared by the snapshot list/files/purge/remove and remote nuke subcommands:
 // resolve the config, then run op against the Vaultik instance through
 // RunOperation, reporting a failure prefixed with failMsg on stderr. mode
 // says whether the command takes the PID lock. jsonOutput marks a command

internal/cli/entry_snapshot_files_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package cli //nolint:testpackage // shares runEntry and the backup config helpers
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
+)
+
+// cmdFiles is the word of `snapshot files`, used to build argument
+// vectors below.
+const cmdFiles = "files"
+
+// TestEntrySnapshotFilesListsOnlyThePath backs up two files and runs
+// `snapshot files` with the snapshot ID and the path of one of them,
+// which must be the only file listed.
+//
+//nolint:paralleltest // replaces os.Args, os.Stdout, os.Stderr and the xdg globals
+func TestEntrySnapshotFilesListsOnlyThePath(t *testing.T) {
+	configPath, _ := writeBackupConfigWithPrivateKey(t)
+
+	// writeBackupConfig puts file.txt in the source directory beside the
+	// config file.
+	sourceDir := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(configPath), "source")
+	listed := filepath.Join(sourceDir, "file.txt")
+
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(
+		filepath.Join(sourceDir, "other.txt"), []byte("other"), 0o600))
+
+	code, _, stderr := runEntry(t,
+		flagConfig, configPath, cmdSnapshot, cmdCreate)
+	require.Equal(t, 0, code, stderr)
+
+	code, stdout, stderr := runEntry(t, flagConfig, configPath, cmdSnapshot,
+		cmdFiles, onlySnapshotID(t, configPath), listed, flagJSON)
+	require.Equal(t, 0, code, stderr)
+
+	var entries []vaultik.ListedFile
+
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal([]byte(stdout), &entries))
+	require.Len(t, entries, 1, "only the path given may be listed")
+	assert.Equal(t, listed, entries[0].Path)
+}

internal/cli/entry_test.go

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestCLIEntry(t *testing.T) {
 	} else {
 		// Check snapshot subcommands
 		expectedSubCommands := []string{
-			"create", "list", "purge", "verify", "remove", "restore",
+			"create", "list", "files", "purge", "verify", "remove", "restore",
 		}
 		for _, expected := range expectedSubCommands {
 			found := false

internal/cli/snapshot.go

@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
 )
 
+// filesMaxArgs is the maximum positional argument count of
+// `snapshot files <snapshot-id> [path]`.
+const filesMaxArgs = 2
+
 var (
 	errSnapshotIDRequired  = errors.New("snapshot ID required")
 	errWrongArgCount       = errors.New("wrong argument count")
@@ -52,6 +56,7 @@ func NewSnapshotCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	// Add subcommands
 	cmd.AddCommand(newSnapshotCreateCommand())
 	cmd.AddCommand(newSnapshotListCommand())
+	cmd.AddCommand(newSnapshotFilesCommand())
 	cmd.AddCommand(newSnapshotPurgeCommand())
 	cmd.AddCommand(newSnapshotVerifyCommand())
 	cmd.AddCommand(newSnapshotRemoveCommand())
@@ -172,6 +177,44 @@ func newSnapshotListCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	return cmd
 }
 
+// newSnapshotFilesCommand creates the 'snapshot files' subcommand
+func newSnapshotFilesCommand() *cobra.Command {
+	var jsonOutput bool
+
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "files <snapshot-id> [path]",
+		Short: "List the files in a snapshot",
+		Long: `Lists the path, size, mode and modification time of every file in a
+snapshot, without restoring it. With a path, lists only that path and
+what is under it; a path that matches nothing is an error.
+
+The snapshot may be named by its ID or, 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).
+
+The file list is only in the snapshot's encrypted database, so this
+downloads and decrypts it, and requires the age private key in the
+VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY environment variable, as 'snapshot restore' does.`,
+		Args: cobra.RangeArgs(1, filesMaxArgs),
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			path := ""
+			if len(args) == filesMaxArgs {
+				path = args[1]
+			}
+
+			return runVaultikApp(cmd, readOnly, jsonOutput,
+				"Failed to list snapshot files",
+				func(v *vaultik.Vaultik) error {
+					return v.ListSnapshotFiles(args[0], path, jsonOutput)
+				})
+		},
+	}
+
+	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&jsonOutput, "json", false, "Output in JSON format")
+
+	return cmd
+}
+
 // newSnapshotPurgeCommand creates the 'snapshot purge' subcommand
 func newSnapshotPurgeCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	opts := &vaultik.SnapshotPurgeOptions{}

internal/database/database.go

@@ -219,7 +219,8 @@ func retryOpen(ctx context.Context, path string) (*DB, error) {
 
 // errUntrustedSnapshotSchema is returned when a downloaded snapshot
 // database carries schema objects the real schema never defines, or is
-// missing a table the restore and deep-verify queries read.
+// missing a table the restore, deep-verify and `snapshot files` queries
+// read.
 var errUntrustedSnapshotSchema = errors.New(
 	"downloaded snapshot database has an untrusted schema")
 
@@ -241,12 +242,12 @@ func snapshotReadOnlyDSN(path string) string {
 
 // OpenReadOnly opens an already-materialized SQLite file for read-only
 // querying of a snapshot database downloaded from the store, used by
-// restore and deep verify. Unlike New it never applies schema migrations
+// restore, deep verify and `snapshot files`. Unlike New it never applies
-// and never writes: the connection is opened read-only with query_only
+// schema migrations and never writes: the connection is opened read-only
-// and trusted_schema=OFF. It refuses any file whose schema carries a
+// with query_only and trusted_schema=OFF. It refuses any file whose schema
-// trigger, view or virtual table, or lacks an expected table, so a forged
+// carries a trigger, view or virtual table, or lacks an expected table, so
-// file cannot redefine what the restore queries return. The caller owns
+// a forged file cannot redefine what the restore queries return. The
-// the file and must remove it.
+// caller owns the file and must remove it.
 func OpenReadOnly(ctx context.Context, path string) (*DB, error) {
 	conn, err := sql.Open("sqlite", snapshotReadOnlyDSN(path))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -276,9 +277,9 @@ func OpenReadOnly(ctx context.Context, path string) (*DB, error) {
 // the plain table set the real schema defines. Any trigger, view or
 // virtual table, or a missing expected table, fails the open.
 func verifySnapshotSchema(ctx context.Context, conn *sql.DB) error {
-	// expectedSnapshotTables are the tables the restore and deep-verify
+	// expectedSnapshotTables are the tables the restore, deep-verify and
-	// queries read. A downloaded database missing any of them is not a
+	// `snapshot files` queries read. A downloaded database missing any of
-	// genuine snapshot database and is refused.
+	// them is not a genuine snapshot database and is refused.
 	expectedSnapshotTables := []string{
 		"blob_chunks",
 		"blobs",

internal/database/snapshots.go

@@ -238,10 +238,11 @@ func (r *SnapshotRepository) GetByID(
 
 // 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
+// exactly one snapshot row (see cleanSnapshotDB), so restore, deep verify
-// verify expect exactly one. Zero rows return ErrNoSnapshotInDatabase and
+// and `snapshot files` expect exactly one. Zero rows return
-// more than one returns ErrMultipleSnapshotsInDatabase; callers treat
+// ErrNoSnapshotInDatabase and more than one returns
-// either as a failed identity check on the downloaded database.
+// 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,

internal/ui/ui.go

@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 // Count, Percent) return ANSI-colored strings the caller composes into
 // the message body. When color is disabled (non-TTY output or NO_COLOR
 // set) all formatters return plain text.
+//
+// QuoteUnprintable is the same escaping without colour, for plain tables
+// that print paths from the snapshot database.
 package ui
 
 import (
@@ -227,17 +230,17 @@ func (w *Writer) Hex(s string) string {
 		short = s[:hexAbbrevLen] + "..."
 	}
 
-	return w.paint(ansiCyan, sanitize(short))
+	return w.paint(ansiCyan, QuoteUnprintable(short))
 }
 
 // Snapshot colorizes a snapshot ID (full, no abbreviation).
 func (w *Writer) Snapshot(id string) string {
-	return w.paint(ansiCyan+ansiBold, sanitize(id))
+	return w.paint(ansiCyan+ansiBold, QuoteUnprintable(id))
 }
 
 // Path colorizes a filesystem path.
 func (w *Writer) Path(p string) string {
-	return w.paint(ansiBlue, sanitize(p))
+	return w.paint(ansiBlue, QuoteUnprintable(p))
 }
 
 // Size colorizes a byte count using humanize.Bytes.
@@ -312,14 +315,15 @@ func (w *Writer) paint(color, s string) string {
 	return color + s + ansiReset
 }
 
-// sanitize returns s unchanged when every rune in it is printable, and a
+// QuoteUnprintable returns s unchanged when every rune in it is printable,
-// double-quoted, backslash-escaped form (\n, \x1b, …) otherwise. The
+// and a double-quoted, backslash-escaped form (\n, \x1b, …) otherwise. The
 // string value formatters escape their argument through this before
 // painting: identifiers, paths and symlink targets they render come from
 // the snapshot database, which is not trusted, and escaping must happen
 // before colour is applied — the painted result already contains the
 // escape codes the raw text would otherwise be indistinguishable from.
-func sanitize(s string) string {
+// Plain tables call it directly.
+func QuoteUnprintable(s string) string {
 	for _, r := range s {
 		if !unicode.IsPrint(r) {
 			return strconv.Quote(s)

internal/vaultik/blob_fetch.go

@@ -160,7 +160,8 @@ func (v *Vaultik) FetchBlob(
 // Not every backend's reader stops on cancel by itself (the file
 // backend's does not), and a read stalled on a slow or hung source would
 // otherwise outlast the shutdown timeout, so the process would exit
-// before restore or deep verify removed its decrypted temporary files.
+// before restore, deep verify or `snapshot files` removed its decrypted
+// temporary files.
 type closeOnCancelReader struct {
 	io.ReadCloser
 

internal/vaultik/restore.go

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ var (
 	errPathsNotInSnapshot    = errors.New("requested path(s) not in the snapshot")
 	errFilesFailedVerify     = errors.New("files failed verification")
 	errDecryptionKeyRequired = errors.New(
-		"decryption key required for restore\n\n" +
+		"decryption key required\n\n" +
 			"Set the VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY environment variable to your " +
 			"age private key file:\n" +
 			"  export VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY=\"$(cat vaultik_backup_private_key.txt)\"")
@@ -153,18 +153,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) Restore(opts *RestoreOptions) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("downloading snapshot database: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	defer func() {
+	defer v.closeSnapshotDB(tempDB, tempDir)
-		err := tempDB.Close()
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Debug("Failed to close temp database", "error", err)
-		}
-		// Remove the whole private directory, so the decrypted database
-		// and any SQLite side files it produced are gone on every path.
-		err = v.Fs.RemoveAll(tempDir)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Debug("Failed to remove temp database directory", "error", err)
-		}
-	}()
 
 	repos := database.NewRepositories(tempDB)
 
@@ -325,9 +314,10 @@ func (v *Vaultik) reportUnmatchedPaths(unmatched []string) error {
 // 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
 // blobgen (via age.Decrypt) can read a blob encrypted to any of their
-// recipients. This is the first step of both restore and deep verify, so
+// recipients. This is the first step of restore, deep verify and
-// a missing or unparseable key fails before anything is downloaded. The
+// `snapshot files`, so a missing or unparseable key fails before anything
-// error names the configuration source but never the key value.
+// 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
@@ -880,18 +870,34 @@ func (v *Vaultik) downloadSnapshotDB(
 	return db, tempDir, nil
 }
 
+// closeSnapshotDB closes a database returned by downloadSnapshotDB and
+// removes its private directory, so the decrypted database and any SQLite
+// side files it produced are gone.
+func (v *Vaultik) closeSnapshotDB(db *database.DB, tempDir string) {
+	err := db.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Debug("Failed to close temp database", "error", err)
+	}
+
+	err = v.Fs.RemoveAll(tempDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Debug("Failed to remove temp database directory", "error", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // 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
+// material) would otherwise redirect restore, deep verify and
-// different snapshot's contents. The exported per-snapshot database holds
+// `snapshot files` to a different snapshot's contents. The exported
-// exactly one snapshot row, and a snapshot's remote key is derived from
+// per-snapshot database holds exactly one snapshot row, and a snapshot's
-// that row's ID, so the database is the requested one exactly when its
+// remote key is derived from that row's ID, so the database is the
-// sole snapshot hashes back to remoteKey. Comparing the requested
+// requested one exactly when its sole snapshot hashes back to remoteKey.
-// identifier directly would not do: it may be a remote-key prefix a
+// Comparing the requested identifier directly would not do: it may be a
-// recovery host uses in place of a human snapshot ID it cannot know.
+// 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 {

internal/vaultik/snapshot_files.go

@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+package vaultik
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"text/tabwriter"
+	"time"
+
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/database"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/ui"
+)
+
+// ListedFile is one entry printed by `snapshot files`. Mode is the Go
+// file mode string, which shows the entry type and the permission bits
+// (for example -rw-r--r-- or drwxr-xr-x).
+type ListedFile struct {
+	Path  string    `json:"path"`
+	Size  int64     `json:"size"`
+	Mode  string    `json:"mode"`
+	MTime time.Time `json:"mtime"`
+}
+
+// ListSnapshotFiles prints the path, size, mode and modification time of
+// every file the snapshot holds at or under path, or of every file when
+// path is empty. The file list is only in the snapshot's encrypted
+// database, so this downloads and decrypts it as restore does, and needs
+// the private key.
+func (v *Vaultik) ListSnapshotFiles(snapshotID, path string, jsonOutput bool) error {
+	identities, err := v.restoreIdentities()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	remoteKey, err := v.resolveSnapshotRemoteKey(snapshotID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	db, tempDir, err := v.downloadSnapshotDB(snapshotID, remoteKey, identities)
+	if errors.Is(err, errWrongPrivateKey) {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("downloading snapshot database: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	defer v.closeSnapshotDB(db, tempDir)
+
+	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
+
+	var files []*database.File
+
+	if path == "" {
+		files, err = repos.Files.ListAll(v.ctx)
+	} else {
+		files, err = repos.Files.ListUnderPath(v.ctx, filepath.Clean(path))
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("listing files: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if path != "" && len(files) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errPathsNotInSnapshot, path)
+	}
+
+	entries := make([]ListedFile, 0, len(files))
+
+	for _, file := range files {
+		entries = append(entries, ListedFile{
+			Path:  file.Path.String(),
+			Size:  file.Size,
+			Mode:  os.FileMode(file.Mode).String(),
+			MTime: file.MTime,
+		})
+	}
+
+	if jsonOutput {
+		encoder := json.NewEncoder(v.Stdout)
+		encoder.SetIndent("", "  ")
+
+		return encoder.Encode(entries)
+	}
+
+	if v.UI.Quiet() {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return v.printListedFileTable(entries)
+}
+
+// printListedFileTable writes the entries as a plain table to stdout.
+func (v *Vaultik) printListedFileTable(entries []ListedFile) error {
+	w := tabwriter.NewWriter(v.Stdout, 0, 0, tabPadding, ' ', 0)
+
+	_, err := fmt.Fprintln(w, "MODE\tSIZE\tMODIFIED\tPATH")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		_, err = fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%d\t%s\t%s\n",
+			entry.Mode, entry.Size,
+			entry.MTime.Format(time.RFC3339), ui.QuoteUnprintable(entry.Path))
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return w.Flush()
+}

internal/vaultik/snapshot_files_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,197 @@
+package vaultik_test
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/afero"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/database"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
+)
+
+// These tests cover https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/435:
+// `snapshot files` lists what a snapshot holds without restoring it.
+
+// unprintableFileName is a file name holding a newline and an escape
+// sequence, which the table must not print raw.
+const unprintableFileName = "odd\nname\x1b[31m"
+
+// backUpForFileListing backs up the fault source tree, plus a file named
+// unprintableFileName at its top, and returns a reader whose stdout is
+// out, the snapshot ID, and the source directory.
+func backUpForFileListing(
+	t *testing.T, out *bytes.Buffer,
+) (*vaultik.Vaultik, string, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
+	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	cfg := faultTestConfig()
+
+	writeFaultSourceTree(t, fs, dataDir)
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs,
+		filepath.Join(dataDir, unprintableFileName), []byte("odd"), 0o644))
+
+	store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(t.TempDir())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	db, err := database.New(ctx, dbPath)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	id := fullFaultBackup(ctx, t, fs, store, cfg,
+		database.NewRepositories(db), dataDir, dbPath, "files")
+	require.NoError(t, db.Close())
+
+	v := newReaderVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, nil, fs)
+	v.Stdout = out
+
+	return v, id, dataDir
+}
+
+func TestSnapshotFilesJSONListsEveryFileWithItsMetadata(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+
+	v, id, dataDir := backUpForFileListing(t, &out)
+
+	require.NoError(t, v.ListSnapshotFiles(id, "", true))
+
+	var entries []vaultik.ListedFile
+
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(out.Bytes(), &entries))
+
+	byPath := make(map[string]vaultik.ListedFile, len(entries))
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		byPath[entry.Path] = entry
+	}
+
+	for _, rel := range []string{"small.txt", "a.bin", "sub", "sub/b.bin", "sub/c.bin"} {
+		path := filepath.Join(dataDir, rel)
+
+		entry, ok := byPath[path]
+		require.True(t, ok, "%s must be listed", path)
+
+		info, err := afero.NewOsFs().Stat(path)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		assert.Equal(t, info.Mode().String(), entry.Mode, path)
+		assert.True(t, info.ModTime().Equal(entry.MTime),
+			"%s: mtime %v, listed %v", path, info.ModTime(), entry.MTime)
+
+		if !info.IsDir() {
+			assert.Equal(t, info.Size(), entry.Size, path)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSnapshotFilesListsOnlyWhatIsUnderThePath(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+
+	v, id, dataDir := backUpForFileListing(t, &out)
+
+	require.NoError(t, v.ListSnapshotFiles(id, filepath.Join(dataDir, "sub"), false))
+
+	text := out.String()
+	assert.Contains(t, text, filepath.Join(dataDir, "sub", "b.bin"))
+	assert.Contains(t, text, filepath.Join(dataDir, "sub", "c.bin"))
+	assert.NotContains(t, text, filepath.Join(dataDir, "small.txt"))
+	assert.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(text, "MODE"), "the table must have a header")
+}
+
+// TestSnapshotFilesTableEscapesAnUnprintablePath checks that the table
+// prints a path holding a newline and an escape sequence quoted and
+// escaped on one row: the newline must not start a forged row, and the
+// escape sequence must not reach the terminal.
+func TestSnapshotFilesTableEscapesAnUnprintablePath(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+
+	v, id, dataDir := backUpForFileListing(t, &out)
+
+	require.NoError(t, v.ListSnapshotFiles(id, "", false))
+
+	text := out.String()
+	assert.Contains(t, text,
+		strconv.Quote(filepath.Join(dataDir, unprintableFileName)))
+	assert.NotContains(t, text, "\x1b", "no escape byte may reach the output")
+
+	for line := range strings.SplitSeq(text, "\n") {
+		assert.False(t, strings.HasPrefix(line, "name"),
+			"the newline in the name must not start a row: %q", line)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSnapshotFilesQuietSuppressesTableNotJSON is the --quiet contract
+// for `snapshot files`: the table is silenced, but the --json document a
+// script depends on is still written.
+func TestSnapshotFilesQuietSuppressesTableNotJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+
+	v, id, _ := backUpForFileListing(t, &out)
+	v.UI.SetQuiet(true)
+
+	require.NoError(t, v.ListSnapshotFiles(id, "", false))
+	require.Empty(t, out.String(), "the table must be silenced under --quiet")
+
+	require.NoError(t, v.ListSnapshotFiles(id, "", true))
+
+	var entries []vaultik.ListedFile
+
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(out.Bytes(), &entries))
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, entries,
+		"the --json document must still be written under --quiet")
+}
+
+func TestSnapshotFilesFailsOnAPathThatMatchesNothing(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+
+	v, id, dataDir := backUpForFileListing(t, &out)
+	missing := filepath.Join(dataDir, "typo.txt")
+
+	err := v.ListSnapshotFiles(id, missing, false)
+
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), missing, "the error must name the path")
+	assert.Empty(t, out.String(), "nothing must be printed")
+}
+
+func TestSnapshotFilesRequiresThePrivateKey(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+
+	v, id, _ := backUpForFileListing(t, &out)
+	v.Config.AgeSecretKey = ""
+
+	err := v.ListSnapshotFiles(id, "", false)
+
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "VAULTIK_AGE_SECRET_KEY")
+}

internal/vaultik/snapshot_list.go

@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ const maxRemoteOnlyRows = 1000
 // manifest reads need throttling.
 const remoteManifestFetchConcurrency = 8
 
-// tabPadding is the tabwriter cell padding for the snapshot table.
+// tabPadding is the tabwriter cell padding for the `snapshot list` and
+// `snapshot files` tables.
 const tabPadding = 3
 
 // ListSnapshots prints the table of snapshots known to this host: the