fix: Opt-in lockdown for global config (#278)

* fix: Reject overriding managed flags

* fix: Lockdown overrides when global config present

* fix: Opt-in lock-down enforcement for global config

* fix: Code review fixes

* fix: Code review fixes

* fix: Code review fixes

cmd/setup/info.go

@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@ func executeSetupInfo() error {
 	configEntries["Config File"] = cfg.ConfigFilePath()
 	configSource := "user"
 	if cfg.IsManaged() {
-		configSource = "global (managed)"
+		configSource = "global"
+		if cfg.IsLocked() {
+			configSource = "global (locked)"
+		}
 	}
 	configEntries["Config Source"] = configSource
 	configEntries["Proxy Mode"] = strconv.FormatBool(cfg.IsProxyModeEnabled())

config/cobra.go

@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@ package config
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 )
 
 var skipDependencyCooldown bool
@@ -11,37 +13,128 @@ var skipDependencyCooldown bool
 // sandboxAllowRaw holds the raw --sandbox-allow flag values before parsing.
 var sandboxAllowRaw []string
 
-// ApplyCobraFlags applies the cobra flags to the command.
+// flagSpec declares a pmg flag once: how to bind it into cobra (bind) and the
-// These flags are local concern of the config package. This helper function is used
+// metadata used to reason about it (managed). configFlagSpecs is the single
-// to bind them to the Cobra. The default values are taken from the global configuration,
+// source of truth, so the cobra wiring and policy decisions cannot drift apart.
-// allowing for overriding the configuration at runtime.
+type flagSpec struct {
+	name  string
+	usage string
+
+	// true when the globally managed config governs this value
+	managed bool
+
+	// bind registers the flag on fs. It owns the type, target field, and default
+	// (read at bind time), keeping the flag tied to its config field with
+	// compile-time safety rather than a stringly-typed key.
+	bind func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string)
+}
+
+var configFlagSpecs = []flagSpec{
+	{
+		name: "transitive", usage: "Resolve transitive dependencies", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Transitive, name, globalConfig.Config.Transitive, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "transitive-depth", usage: "Maximum depth of transitive dependencies to resolve", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.IntVar(&globalConfig.Config.TransitiveDepth, name, globalConfig.Config.TransitiveDepth, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "include-dev-dependencies", usage: "Include dev dependencies in the dependency graph (slows down resolution)", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.IncludeDevDependencies, name, globalConfig.Config.IncludeDevDependencies, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "dry-run", usage: "Dry run skips execution of package manager", managed: false,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.BoolVar(&globalConfig.DryRun, name, globalConfig.DryRun, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "paranoid", usage: "Enable high-security defaults (treat suspicious as malicious)", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Paranoid, name, globalConfig.Config.Paranoid, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "skip-event-log", usage: "Skip event logging", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.SkipEventLogging, name, globalConfig.Config.SkipEventLogging, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "proxy-mode", usage: "Use proxy based interception", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Proxy.Enabled, name, globalConfig.Config.Proxy.Enabled, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "sandbox", usage: "Enable sandbox mode to isolate package manager processes (EXPERIMENTAL)", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.Enabled, name, globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.Enabled, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "sandbox-enforce", usage: "Apply sandbox to all commands, not just install commands (requires --sandbox)", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.EnforceAlways, name, globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.EnforceAlways, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "sandbox-profile", usage: "Override sandbox policy profile (built-in name or path to custom YAML)", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.StringVar(&globalConfig.SandboxProfileOverride, name, globalConfig.SandboxProfileOverride, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "sandbox-allow", usage: "Add runtime sandbox allow rule (type=value). Types: read, write, exec, net-connect, net-bind", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.StringArrayVar(&sandboxAllowRaw, name, nil, usage)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		name: "skip-dependency-cooldown", usage: "Skip dependency cooldown enforcement", managed: true,
+		bind: func(fs *pflag.FlagSet, name, usage string) {
+			fs.BoolVar(&skipDependencyCooldown, name, false, usage)
+		},
+	},
+}
+
+// ApplyCobraFlags binds the config flags onto cmd as persistent flags. Defaults
+// are read from the current global configuration, allowing runtime overrides.
 func ApplyCobraFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) {
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Transitive, "transitive",
+	fs := cmd.PersistentFlags()
-		globalConfig.Config.Transitive, "Resolve transitive dependencies")
+	for _, f := range configFlagSpecs {
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().IntVar(&globalConfig.Config.TransitiveDepth, "transitive-depth",
+		f.bind(fs, f.name, f.usage)
-		globalConfig.Config.TransitiveDepth, "Maximum depth of transitive dependencies to resolve")
+	}
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.IncludeDevDependencies, "include-dev-dependencies",
+}
-		globalConfig.Config.IncludeDevDependencies, "Include dev dependencies in the dependency graph (slows down resolution)")
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&globalConfig.DryRun, "dry-run",
-		globalConfig.DryRun, "Dry run skips execution of package manager")
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Paranoid, "paranoid",
-		globalConfig.Config.Paranoid, "Enable high-security defaults (treat suspicious as malicious)")
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.SkipEventLogging, "skip-event-log",
-		globalConfig.Config.SkipEventLogging, "Skip event logging")
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Proxy.Enabled, "proxy-mode",
-		globalConfig.Config.Proxy.Enabled, "Use proxy based interception")
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.Enabled, "sandbox",
-		globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.Enabled, "Enable sandbox mode to isolate package manager processes (EXPERIMENTAL)")
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.EnforceAlways, "sandbox-enforce",
-		globalConfig.Config.Sandbox.EnforceAlways, "Apply sandbox to all commands, not just install commands (requires --sandbox)")
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&globalConfig.SandboxProfileOverride, "sandbox-profile",
-		globalConfig.SandboxProfileOverride, "Override sandbox policy profile (built-in name or path to custom YAML)")
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().StringArrayVar(&sandboxAllowRaw, "sandbox-allow",
-		nil, "Add runtime sandbox allow rule (type=value). Types: read, write, exec, net-connect, net-bind")
 
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&skipDependencyCooldown, "skip-dependency-cooldown",
+// RejectManagedFlagOverrides fails when the active config is a locked global
-		false, "Skip dependency cooldown enforcement")
+// config and the user explicitly set a flag whose value that config governs.
+// Operational flags (managed == false) are unaffected, and an unlocked managed
+// config allows flag overrides. Call it after flag parsing.
+func RejectManagedFlagOverrides(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
+	if !Get().IsLocked() {
+		return nil
+	}
 
+	var offending []string
+	for _, f := range configFlagSpecs {
+		if f.managed && cmd.Flags().Changed(f.name) {
+			offending = append(offending, "--"+f.name)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(offending) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return managedError(fmt.Sprintf("these flags cannot override the globally managed configuration (%s): %s",
+		globalConfig.configFilePath, strings.Join(offending, ", ")))
 }
 
 // FinalizeDependencyCooldownOverride disables dependency cooldown in the global

config/cobra_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// withLockedState swaps globalConfig for a fresh managed config with the
+// requested lockdown state, and restores the original afterwards. Locked implies
+// managed, matching production (initConfig sets configLocked = IsManaged() && ...).
+func withLockedState(t *testing.T, locked bool) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	orig := globalConfig
+	t.Cleanup(func() { globalConfig = orig })
+
+	cfg := DefaultConfig()
+	globalConfig = &cfg
+	globalConfig.configFilePath = "/global/config.yml" // managed: active path differs from user path
+	globalConfig.userConfigFilePath = "/user/config.yml"
+	globalConfig.configLocked = locked
+}
+
+func TestRejectManagedFlagOverrides(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		locked  bool
+		args    []string
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{"locked blocks a managed flag", true, []string{"--paranoid"}, true},
+		{"locked blocks sandbox-allow", true, []string{"--sandbox-allow", "read=/tmp"}, true},
+		{"locked allows dry-run", true, []string{"--dry-run"}, false},
+		{"locked allows no flags", true, nil, false},
+		{"unlocked allows a managed flag", false, []string{"--paranoid"}, false},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			withLockedState(t, tc.locked)
+
+			cmd := &cobra.Command{Use: "test", Run: func(*cobra.Command, []string) {}}
+			ApplyCobraFlags(cmd)
+			require.NoError(t, cmd.ParseFlags(tc.args))
+
+			err := RejectManagedFlagOverrides(cmd)
+			if tc.wantErr {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "globally managed")
+			} else {
+				assert.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// Proves the check sees managed flags set as inherited persistent flags on a
+// subcommand, which is how they reach the real root PersistentPreRun.
+func TestRejectManagedFlagOverridesDetectsInheritedFlag(t *testing.T) {
+	withLockedState(t, true)
+
+	root := &cobra.Command{Use: "pmg"}
+	ApplyCobraFlags(root)
+
+	var checked bool
+	child := &cobra.Command{
+		Use: "install",
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
+			checked = true
+			return RejectManagedFlagOverrides(cmd)
+		},
+	}
+	root.AddCommand(child)
+	root.SetArgs([]string{"install", "--sandbox=false"})
+
+	err := root.Execute()
+	require.True(t, checked)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "globally managed")
+}
+
+// Proves the SSOT table is internally consistent: every spec actually binds a
+// flag, every registered flag traces back to a spec (no out-of-band flags), and
+// the managed classification matches intent. Catches accidental managed flips
+// and config flags added without classification.
+func TestConfigFlagSpecsSSOT(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{Use: "test"}
+	ApplyCobraFlags(cmd)
+
+	specByName := make(map[string]flagSpec, len(configFlagSpecs))
+	gotManaged := make(map[string]bool)
+	for _, f := range configFlagSpecs {
+		specByName[f.name] = f
+		require.NotNil(t, cmd.PersistentFlags().Lookup(f.name), "spec %q is not registered by ApplyCobraFlags", f.name)
+		if f.managed {
+			gotManaged[f.name] = true
+		}
+	}
+
+	// No flag is registered outside the SSOT table.
+	cmd.PersistentFlags().VisitAll(func(f *pflag.Flag) {
+		_, ok := specByName[f.Name]
+		assert.True(t, ok, "flag --%s is registered but has no flagSpec", f.Name)
+	})
+
+	wantManaged := map[string]bool{
+		"transitive": true, "transitive-depth": true, "include-dev-dependencies": true,
+		"paranoid": true, "skip-event-log": true, "proxy-mode": true,
+		"sandbox": true, "sandbox-enforce": true, "sandbox-profile": true,
+		"sandbox-allow": true, "skip-dependency-cooldown": true,
+	}
+	assert.Equal(t, wantManaged, gotManaged, "managed flag classification changed unexpectedly")
+}

config/config.go

@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
-	"strconv"
 	"time"
 
 	_ "embed"
@@ -202,6 +201,7 @@ type RuntimeConfig struct {
 	configDir                string
 	configFilePath           string // active config: globally managed file if present, else per-user
 	userConfigFilePath       string // per-user config file, used for writes and removal
+	configLocked             bool   // global file present and opted into lockdown (global_lockdown: true)
 	eventLogDir              string
 	sandboxProfileDir        string
 	sandboxViolationCacheDir string
@@ -245,6 +245,15 @@ func (r *RuntimeConfig) IsManaged() bool {
 	return r.configFilePath != r.userConfigFilePath
 }
 
+// IsLocked reports whether a globally managed config opted into lockdown via
+// global_lockdown: true. When locked, env and CLI overrides of config are
+// refused. An unlocked managed config is an overridable baseline: it stays the
+// authoritative file (the per-user file is still ignored), but env and CLI args
+// can override its values at runtime.
+func (r *RuntimeConfig) IsLocked() bool {
+	return r.configLocked
+}
+
 // EventLogDir returns the path to the event log directory.
 func (r *RuntimeConfig) EventLogDir() string {
 	return r.eventLogDir
@@ -296,12 +305,7 @@ type SandboxAllowOverride struct {
 // The config package return an appropriate RuntimeConfig based on the environment and the configuration.
 func DefaultConfig() RuntimeConfig {
 	// Backward compatibility for the insecure installation flag before config was introduced.
-	insecureInstallation := false
+	insecureInstallation := utils.EnvBool(pmgInsecureInstallationEnvKey, false)
-	if val := os.Getenv(pmgInsecureInstallationEnvKey); val != "" {
-		if boolVal, err := strconv.ParseBool(val); err == nil {
-			insecureInstallation = boolVal
-		}
-	}
 
 	return RuntimeConfig{
 		Config: Config{
@@ -401,6 +405,17 @@ func initConfig() {
 	globalConfig.sandboxProfileDir = sandboxProfileDir
 	globalConfig.sandboxViolationCacheDir = sandboxViolationCacheDir
 
+	// A globally managed config enforces lockdown only when it opts in via
+	// global_lockdown, read straight from the file so it cannot be flipped by
+	// env or CLI.
+	globalConfig.configLocked = globalConfig.IsManaged() && globalConfigEnablesLockdown(globalConfigFilePath())
+
+	// When locked, env cannot bypass the config, including the
+	// PMG_INSECURE_INSTALLATION malicious-package block bypass.
+	if globalConfig.IsLocked() {
+		globalConfig.InsecureInstallation = false
+	}
+
 	loadConfig()
 
 	if err := preprocessTrustedPackages(&globalConfig.Config); err != nil {
@@ -655,10 +670,15 @@ func RemoveUserConfigFile() error {
 // globally managed configuration. It carries a useful error code and help text
 // so the CLI presents it as an expected, actionable failure rather than a bug.
 func NewManagedConfigError() error {
-	msg := fmt.Sprintf("configuration is globally managed (%s) and cannot be changed", globalConfig.configFilePath)
+	return managedError(fmt.Sprintf("configuration is globally managed (%s) and cannot be changed", globalConfig.configFilePath))
+}
+
+// managedError builds the standard "globally managed" CLI error with a useful
+// code and actionable help.
+func managedError(message string) error {
 	return usefulerror.Useful().
 		WithCode(usefulerror.ErrCodePermissionDenied).
-		WithHumanError(msg).
+		WithHumanError(message).
 		WithHelp("This machine's PMG configuration is centrally managed. Contact your administrator to change it.").
-		Wrap(errors.New(msg))
+		Wrap(errors.New(message))
 }

config/managed_config_test.go

@@ -85,6 +85,93 @@ func TestSetConfigValueRefusedWhenManaged(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoFileExists(t, filepath.Join(userDir, "config.yml"))
 }
 
+func TestEnvDoesNotOverrideLockedConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	globalDir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(globalDir, "config.yml"), []byte("paranoid: true\nglobal_lockdown: true\n"), 0o644))
+
+	useManagedConfigDir(t, globalDir)
+	t.Setenv("PMG_CONFIG_DIR", t.TempDir())
+	t.Setenv("PMG_PARANOID", "false")
+	initConfig()
+
+	require.True(t, Get().IsLocked())
+	assert.True(t, Get().Config.Paranoid, "PMG_PARANOID must not override a locked config")
+}
+
+func TestEnvOverridesManagedConfigWhenNotLocked(t *testing.T) {
+	globalDir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(globalDir, "config.yml"), []byte("paranoid: true\n"), 0o644))
+
+	useManagedConfigDir(t, globalDir)
+	t.Setenv("PMG_CONFIG_DIR", t.TempDir())
+	t.Setenv("PMG_PARANOID", "false")
+	initConfig()
+
+	require.True(t, Get().IsManaged())
+	require.False(t, Get().IsLocked())
+	assert.False(t, Get().Config.Paranoid, "without lockdown, PMG_PARANOID overrides the managed baseline")
+}
+
+func TestEnvOverridesUserConfigWhenNotManaged(t *testing.T) {
+	userDir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(userDir, "config.yml"), []byte("paranoid: true\n"), 0o644))
+
+	useManagedConfigDir(t, t.TempDir()) // empty global dir -> not managed
+	t.Setenv("PMG_CONFIG_DIR", userDir)
+	t.Setenv("PMG_PARANOID", "false")
+	initConfig()
+
+	require.False(t, Get().IsManaged())
+	assert.False(t, Get().Config.Paranoid, "PMG_PARANOID should override the per-user config")
+}
+
+func TestInsecureInstallationEnvIgnoredWhenLocked(t *testing.T) {
+	globalDir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(globalDir, "config.yml"), []byte("global_lockdown: true\n"), 0o644))
+
+	useManagedConfigDir(t, globalDir)
+	t.Setenv("PMG_INSECURE_INSTALLATION", "true")
+	initConfig()
+
+	require.True(t, Get().IsLocked())
+	assert.False(t, Get().InsecureInstallation, "PMG_INSECURE_INSTALLATION must not bypass a locked config")
+}
+
+func TestInsecureInstallationHonoredWhenManagedNotLocked(t *testing.T) {
+	globalDir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(globalDir, "config.yml"), []byte("paranoid: true\n"), 0o644))
+
+	useManagedConfigDir(t, globalDir)
+	t.Setenv("PMG_INSECURE_INSTALLATION", "true")
+	initConfig()
+
+	require.True(t, Get().IsManaged())
+	require.False(t, Get().IsLocked())
+	assert.True(t, Get().InsecureInstallation, "without lockdown, PMG_INSECURE_INSTALLATION is honored")
+}
+
+func TestInsecureInstallationEnvHonoredWhenNotManaged(t *testing.T) {
+	useManagedConfigDir(t, t.TempDir()) // empty global dir -> not managed
+	t.Setenv("PMG_CONFIG_DIR", t.TempDir())
+	t.Setenv("PMG_INSECURE_INSTALLATION", "true")
+	initConfig()
+
+	require.False(t, Get().IsManaged())
+	assert.True(t, Get().InsecureInstallation)
+}
+
+func TestMalformedGlobalConfigFailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	globalDir := t.TempDir()
+	// Present but unparseable YAML ("mapping values not allowed in this context").
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(globalDir, "config.yml"), []byte("a: b: c\n"), 0o644))
+
+	useManagedConfigDir(t, globalDir)
+	initConfig()
+
+	require.True(t, Get().IsManaged())
+	assert.True(t, Get().IsLocked(), "a present but unparseable global config must fail closed (locked)")
+}
+
 func TestRemoveUserConfigFileNeverTouchesGlobal(t *testing.T) {
 	globalDir := t.TempDir()
 	userDir := t.TempDir()

config/viper.go

@@ -5,12 +5,15 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/safedep/dry/log"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 // loadViperConfig loads the configuration using Viper.
 // Precedence (highest to lowest): cobra flags > env vars > config file > defaults.
+// When a globally managed config is active, env overrides are disabled and
+// managed flags are rejected, so the managed file is authoritative.
 // Cobra flags write directly to the config struct after this function runs.
 func loadViperConfig() error {
 	// Use the active config path resolved by initConfig (globally managed file
@@ -19,12 +22,18 @@ func loadViperConfig() error {
 
 	v := viper.New()
 	v.SetConfigType("yaml")
-	v.SetEnvPrefix("PMG")
+
-	v.AutomaticEnv()
+	// A locked global config must not be bypassable via PMG_* env vars, so
-	v.SetEnvKeyReplacer(strings.NewReplacer("-", "_", ".", "_"))
+	// AutomaticEnv is enabled unless lockdown is in force. An unlocked managed
+	// config stays an overridable baseline.
+	if !globalConfig.IsLocked() {
+		v.SetEnvPrefix("PMG")
+		v.AutomaticEnv()
+		v.SetEnvKeyReplacer(strings.NewReplacer("-", "_", ".", "_"))
+	}
 
 	// Load the embedded template as the base so Viper knows all keys and their
-	// defaults. This is required for AutomaticEnv to resolve PMG_* env vars for
+	// defaults, and (when env overrides are enabled) can resolve PMG_* vars for
 	// keys that are absent from or newer than the user's config file.
 	if err := v.ReadConfig(strings.NewReader(templateConfig)); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to load default config: %w", err)
@@ -56,17 +65,26 @@ func loadViperConfig() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// hasProxySectionInFile checks whether the user's config file contains a
+// readConfigFileKeys reads path and returns its top-level YAML mapping.
-// top-level "proxy" key. Returns false if the file doesn't exist or can't
+func readConfigFileKeys(path string) (map[string]any, error) {
-// be parsed.
-func hasProxySectionInFile(path string) bool {
 	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	var raw map[string]any
 	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(data, &raw); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+
+	return raw, nil
+}
+
+// hasProxySectionInFile checks whether the config file at path contains a
+// top-level "proxy" key. A missing or unparseable file reports false.
+func hasProxySectionInFile(path string) bool {
+	raw, err := readConfigFileKeys(path)
+	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
 
@@ -74,18 +92,47 @@ func hasProxySectionInFile(path string) bool {
 	return ok
 }
 
+// globalConfigEnablesLockdown reports whether the global config file at path
+// enables lockdown. It is only called when a global config is present, so a read
+// or parse failure means a managed file we cannot interpret: fail closed
+// (locked) rather than silently dropping policy. global_lockdown is read directly
+// from the file, so it cannot be flipped via env or CLI.
+func globalConfigEnablesLockdown(path string) bool {
+	raw, err := readConfigFileKeys(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("could not read global config %q to determine lockdown (%v); defaulting to locked", path, err)
+		return true
+	}
+
+	value, ok := raw["global_lockdown"]
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	enabled, isBool := value.(bool)
+	if !isBool {
+		log.Warnf("config %q sets global_lockdown to a non-boolean value (%v); treating as disabled", path, value)
+		return false
+	}
+
+	return enabled
+}
+
 // applyProxyLegacyFallback populates the new Proxy struct from deprecated
 // flat keys when the user's config file does not have a proxy: section.
 // New env vars (PMG_PROXY_ENABLED, PMG_PROXY_INSTALL_ONLY) take precedence
 // over legacy config file keys to respect the documented precedence order.
 func applyProxyLegacyFallback(v *viper.Viper) {
-	if os.Getenv("PMG_PROXY_ENABLED") == "" && v.IsSet("proxy_mode") {
+	// A locked config ignores env, so env must not suppress the legacy migration.
+	envIgnored := globalConfig.IsLocked()
+
+	if (envIgnored || os.Getenv("PMG_PROXY_ENABLED") == "") && v.IsSet("proxy_mode") {
 		val := v.GetBool("proxy_mode")
 		globalConfig.Config.Proxy.Enabled = val
 		v.Set("proxy.enabled", val)
 	}
 
-	if os.Getenv("PMG_PROXY_INSTALL_ONLY") == "" && v.IsSet("proxy_install_only") {
+	if (envIgnored || os.Getenv("PMG_PROXY_INSTALL_ONLY") == "") && v.IsSet("proxy_install_only") {
 		val := v.GetBool("proxy_install_only")
 		globalConfig.Config.Proxy.InstallOnly = val
 		v.Set("proxy.install_only", val)

docs/config.md

@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ PMG_PROXY_INSTALL_ONLY=true pmg npm install express
 3. Config file (`config.yml`)
 4. Built-in defaults
 
+Under a [globally managed config](#globally-managed-configuration) with `global_lockdown` enabled, PMG disables `PMG_*` and managed-flag overrides.
+
 
 **Limitation**
 
@@ -79,3 +81,62 @@ PMG_PROXY_INSTALL_ONLY=true pmg npm install express
 If a key is commented out (e.g. `# endpoint_id: "my-machine"`) or missing entirely, `set` will
 return a "key not found" error. To fix this, uncomment or add the key manually via `pmg config edit`,
 or run `pmg setup install` to merge missing template keys into your config.
+
+## Globally Managed Configuration
+
+For centrally managed or fleet deployments, PMG can read an OS-level **global config file**. When this file exists, it is authoritative: PMG uses it and ignores the per-user `config.yml` (the two are never merged). An administrator ships a machine-wide baseline this way, and can lock it (see [Lockdown](#lockdown)) to forbid user overrides.
+
+**Paths** (used when the file is present):
+
+| OS | Global config path |
+|---|---|
+| macOS | `/Library/Application Support/safedep/pmg/config.yml` |
+| Linux | `/etc/safedep/pmg/config.yml` |
+| Windows | `%PROGRAMDATA%\safedep\pmg\config.yml` |
+
+Check whether a global config is active with `pmg setup info`:
+
+```bash
+pmg setup info
+# Config Source: global            <- global config, overrides allowed
+# Config Source: global (locked)   <- global config with lockdown enabled
+# Config Source: user              <- per-user config in effect
+```
+
+### Behaviour
+
+Whenever a global config file is present:
+
+- **It is authoritative.** PMG ignores the per-user `config.yml`. The file may be **partial**. Keys it does not set fall back to PMG's built-in defaults, not to a user's values.
+- **`config set` and `config edit` fail.** They return an error stating the config is globally managed. To change it, deploy an updated file at the OS path, which is root-owned and not writable by users.
+- **`pmg setup install` skips the per-user config.** It still creates shell aliases and shims per user.
+
+By default a user can still override the global config's values at runtime through `PMG_*` environment variables and CLI flags. Enable lockdown to forbid that.
+
+### Lockdown
+
+Add `global_lockdown: true` to the global config to enforce it:
+
+```yaml
+# Only meaningful in the global config file.
+global_lockdown: true
+```
+
+When lockdown is on:
+
+- **CLI flags that would change a managed value fail fast.** For example, `pmg --sandbox=false ...` or `pmg --paranoid ...` errors out instead of overriding policy. Governed flags: `--transitive`, `--transitive-depth`, `--include-dev-dependencies`, `--paranoid`, `--skip-event-log`, `--proxy-mode`, `--sandbox`, `--sandbox-enforce`, `--sandbox-profile`, `--sandbox-allow`, `--skip-dependency-cooldown`. Operational flags such as `--dry-run` keep working.
+- **`PMG_*` variables cannot change the config**, including `PMG_INSECURE_INSTALLATION` (which otherwise bypasses malicious-package blocking).
+
+PMG reads `global_lockdown` straight from the global file, so a user cannot flip it through env or CLI. If the global file exists but cannot be read or parsed, PMG fails closed and treats it as locked. `PMG_CONFIG_DIR` and `PMG_CACHE_DIR` still relocate per-user state directories (logs, cache) in any mode, but leave the managed config alone.
+
+### Precedence
+
+| Mode | Effective order (highest to lowest) |
+|---|---|
+| No global config | CLI flags > `PMG_*` env > per-user `config.yml` > built-in defaults |
+| Global config, no lockdown | CLI flags > `PMG_*` env > global config > built-in defaults |
+| Global config, `global_lockdown: true` | global config > built-in defaults (env and managed-flag overrides refused) |
+
+### Deploying via MDM (macOS)
+
+Scripts to install or update PMG and deploy a global config across a macOS fleet (Jamf, Mosyle, Kandji, Intune) live in [`scripts/mdm`](../scripts/mdm). Bundle a `config.yml` next to the scripts. The installer places it at the global path, and the uninstaller removes it. See the [`scripts/mdm` README](../scripts/mdm/README.md) for details.

main.go

@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@ func main() {
 
 			log.InitZapLogger("pmg", "cli")
 
+			// Refuse flags that would override a globally managed config before any
+			// config-dependent initialization (event logging, audit) runs, so a
+			// managed flag like --skip-event-log cannot take effect first.
+			if err := config.RejectManagedFlagOverrides(cmd); err != nil {
+				ui.ErrorExit(err)
+			}
+
 			// Initialize event logging (silently fail if it can't be initialized)
 			var eventlogErr error
 			if logFile != "" {

scripts/mdm/README.md

@@ -58,8 +58,9 @@ It then removes the machine-wide binary via `brew uninstall`, or by deleting `/u
 
 ## Globally managed config
 
-Include a `config.yml` next to the scripts to centrally manage PMG configuration. When that file is present at `/Library/Application Support/safedep/pmg/config.yml`, PMG treats it as authoritative and **ignores every user's own config**. Users cannot override it: `pmg config set` and `pmg config edit` refuse, and the file is root-owned (`0644`), so it is not user-writable.
+Include a `config.yml` next to the scripts to centrally manage PMG configuration. When that file is present at `/Library/Application Support/safedep/pmg/config.yml`, PMG treats it as authoritative and **ignores every user's own config**. `pmg config set` and `pmg config edit` refuse, and the file is root-owned (`0644`), so it is not user-writable.
 
+- By default the global config is an overridable baseline: users can still override its values at runtime with `PMG_*` env vars and CLI flags. Set `global_lockdown: true` in the bundled `config.yml` to forbid those overrides. See [Globally Managed Configuration](../../docs/config.md#globally-managed-configuration) for the full behaviour.
 - The file can be **partial**. Keys it does not set fall back to PMG's built-in defaults, not to user values.
 - To enable cloud sync, set `cloud.enabled: true` in the bundled `config.yml`. The install script skips the per-user `pmg config set` (a managed config refuses it) but still stores each logged-in user's credentials in the Keychain.
 - Install copies the bundled `config.yml` to the global path *before* configuring users, so each user's setup skips writing a per-user config.