diff --git a/src/config/schema.ts b/src/config/schema.ts
index 9b5ad8be6..e178803bf 100644
--- a/src/config/schema.ts
+++ b/src/config/schema.ts
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ const FIELD_LABELS: Record<string, string> = {
   "gateway.remote.tlsFingerprint": "Remote Gateway TLS Fingerprint",
   "gateway.auth.token": "Gateway Token",
   "gateway.auth.password": "Gateway Password",
+  "gateway.auth.minLength": "Gateway Auth Minimum Length",
   "tools.media.image.enabled": "Enable Image Understanding",
   "tools.media.image.maxBytes": "Image Understanding Max Bytes",
   "tools.media.image.maxChars": "Image Understanding Max Chars",
@@ -381,6 +382,8 @@ const FIELD_HELP: Record<string, string> = {
   "gateway.auth.token":
     "Required by default for gateway access (unless using Tailscale Serve identity); required for non-loopback binds.",
   "gateway.auth.password": "Required for Tailscale funnel.",
+  "gateway.auth.minLength":
+    "Minimum token/password length required for non-loopback binds (default: 24).",
   "gateway.controlUi.basePath":
     "Optional URL prefix where the Control UI is served (e.g. /moltbot).",
   "gateway.controlUi.allowInsecureAuth":
diff --git a/src/config/types.gateway.ts b/src/config/types.gateway.ts
index a0d562f7b..0f345db37 100644
--- a/src/config/types.gateway.ts
+++ b/src/config/types.gateway.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ export type GatewayAuthConfig = {
   token?: string;
   /** Shared password for password mode (consider env instead). */
   password?: string;
+  /** Minimum auth token/password length when binding beyond loopback. Default: 24. */
+  minLength?: number;
   /** Allow Tailscale identity headers when serve mode is enabled. */
   allowTailscale?: boolean;
 };
diff --git a/src/config/zod-schema.ts b/src/config/zod-schema.ts
index ce4115517..48733c7ca 100644
--- a/src/config/zod-schema.ts
+++ b/src/config/zod-schema.ts
@@ -327,6 +327,7 @@ export const MoltbotSchema = z
             mode: z.union([z.literal("token"), z.literal("password")]).optional(),
             token: z.string().optional(),
             password: z.string().optional(),
+            minLength: z.number().int().min(8).max(128).optional(),
             allowTailscale: z.boolean().optional(),
           })
           .strict()
diff --git a/src/gateway/auth.ts b/src/gateway/auth.ts
index 1adc367a2..49703582a 100644
--- a/src/gateway/auth.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/auth.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,19 @@ type TailscaleUser = {
 
 type TailscaleWhoisLookup = (ip: string) => Promise<TailscaleWhoisIdentity | null>;
 
+export const DEFAULT_GATEWAY_AUTH_MIN_LENGTH = 24;
+
+type AuthFailureState = {
+  count: number;
+  firstSeen: number;
+  blockedUntil?: number;
+};
+
+const AUTH_FAILURE_WINDOW_MS = 60_000;
+const AUTH_FAILURE_BLOCK_MS = 5 * 60_000;
+const AUTH_FAILURE_LIMIT = 10;
+const authFailuresByIp = new Map<string, AuthFailureState>();
+
 function safeEqual(a: string, b: string): boolean {
   if (a.length !== b.length) return false;
   return timingSafeEqual(Buffer.from(a), Buffer.from(b));
@@ -103,6 +116,57 @@ export function isLocalDirectRequest(req?: IncomingMessage, trustedProxies?: str
   return (hostIsLocal || hostIsTailscaleServe) && (!hasForwarded || remoteIsTrustedProxy);
 }
 
+function resolveAuthRateLimitKey(
+  req?: IncomingMessage,
+  trustedProxies?: string[],
+): string | null {
+  if (!req) return null;
+  if (isLocalDirectRequest(req, trustedProxies)) return null;
+  const clientIp = resolveRequestClientIp(req, trustedProxies);
+  if (!clientIp || isLoopbackAddress(clientIp)) return null;
+  return clientIp;
+}
+
+function isAuthRateLimited(key: string, now: number): boolean {
+  const state = authFailuresByIp.get(key);
+  if (!state) return false;
+  if (state.blockedUntil && state.blockedUntil > now) return true;
+  if (now - state.firstSeen > AUTH_FAILURE_WINDOW_MS) {
+    authFailuresByIp.delete(key);
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
+function recordAuthFailure(key: string, now: number): void {
+  const state = authFailuresByIp.get(key);
+  if (!state || now - state.firstSeen > AUTH_FAILURE_WINDOW_MS) {
+    authFailuresByIp.set(key, { count: 1, firstSeen: now });
+    return;
+  }
+  const nextCount = state.count + 1;
+  const blockedUntil =
+    nextCount >= AUTH_FAILURE_LIMIT ? now + AUTH_FAILURE_BLOCK_MS : state.blockedUntil;
+  authFailuresByIp.set(key, { ...state, count: nextCount, blockedUntil });
+}
+
+function clearAuthFailures(key: string | null): void {
+  if (!key) return;
+  authFailuresByIp.delete(key);
+}
+
+function shouldRecordAuthFailure(reason: string | undefined): boolean {
+  return (
+    reason === "token_missing" ||
+    reason === "token_mismatch" ||
+    reason === "password_missing" ||
+    reason === "password_mismatch" ||
+    reason === "tailscale_user_missing" ||
+    reason === "tailscale_proxy_missing" ||
+    reason === "tailscale_whois_failed" ||
+    reason === "tailscale_user_mismatch"
+  );
+}
+
 function getTailscaleUser(req?: IncomingMessage): TailscaleUser | null {
   if (!req) return null;
   const login = req.headers["tailscale-user-login"];
@@ -206,6 +270,17 @@ export async function authorizeGatewayConnect(params: {
   const { auth, connectAuth, req, trustedProxies } = params;
   const tailscaleWhois = params.tailscaleWhois ?? readTailscaleWhoisIdentity;
   const localDirect = isLocalDirectRequest(req, trustedProxies);
+  const now = Date.now();
+  const rateLimitKey = resolveAuthRateLimitKey(req, trustedProxies);
+  if (rateLimitKey && isAuthRateLimited(rateLimitKey, now)) {
+    return { ok: false, reason: "rate_limited" };
+  }
+  const fail = (reason: GatewayAuthResult["reason"]) => {
+    if (rateLimitKey && shouldRecordAuthFailure(reason)) {
+      recordAuthFailure(rateLimitKey, now);
+    }
+    return { ok: false, reason };
+  };
 
   if (auth.allowTailscale && !localDirect) {
     const tailscaleCheck = await resolveVerifiedTailscaleUser({
@@ -213,40 +288,44 @@ export async function authorizeGatewayConnect(params: {
       tailscaleWhois,
     });
     if (tailscaleCheck.ok) {
+      clearAuthFailures(rateLimitKey);
       return {
         ok: true,
         method: "tailscale",
         user: tailscaleCheck.user.login,
       };
     }
+    return fail(tailscaleCheck.reason);
   }
 
   if (auth.mode === "token") {
     if (!auth.token) {
-      return { ok: false, reason: "token_missing_config" };
+      return fail("token_missing_config");
     }
     if (!connectAuth?.token) {
-      return { ok: false, reason: "token_missing" };
+      return fail("token_missing");
     }
     if (!safeEqual(connectAuth.token, auth.token)) {
-      return { ok: false, reason: "token_mismatch" };
+      return fail("token_mismatch");
     }
+    clearAuthFailures(rateLimitKey);
     return { ok: true, method: "token" };
   }
 
   if (auth.mode === "password") {
     const password = connectAuth?.password;
     if (!auth.password) {
-      return { ok: false, reason: "password_missing_config" };
+      return fail("password_missing_config");
     }
     if (!password) {
-      return { ok: false, reason: "password_missing" };
+      return fail("password_missing");
     }
     if (!safeEqual(password, auth.password)) {
-      return { ok: false, reason: "password_mismatch" };
+      return fail("password_mismatch");
     }
+    clearAuthFailures(rateLimitKey);
     return { ok: true, method: "password" };
   }
 
-  return { ok: false, reason: "unauthorized" };
+  return fail("unauthorized");
 }
diff --git a/src/gateway/http-common.ts b/src/gateway/http-common.ts
index 993a3ac36..de2a4a117 100644
--- a/src/gateway/http-common.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/http-common.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ export function sendUnauthorized(res: ServerResponse) {
   });
 }
 
+export function sendRateLimited(res: ServerResponse) {
+  sendJson(res, 429, {
+    error: { message: "Too many requests", type: "rate_limited" },
+  });
+}
+
 export function sendInvalidRequest(res: ServerResponse, message: string) {
   sendJson(res, 400, {
     error: { message, type: "invalid_request_error" },
diff --git a/src/gateway/openai-http.ts b/src/gateway/openai-http.ts
index 5a05f08d5..e08a691a4 100644
--- a/src/gateway/openai-http.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/openai-http.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   readJsonBodyOrError,
   sendJson,
   sendMethodNotAllowed,
+  sendRateLimited,
   sendUnauthorized,
   setSseHeaders,
   writeDone,
@@ -172,6 +173,10 @@ export async function handleOpenAiHttpRequest(
     trustedProxies: opts.trustedProxies,
   });
   if (!authResult.ok) {
+    if (authResult.reason === "rate_limited") {
+      sendRateLimited(res);
+      return true;
+    }
     sendUnauthorized(res);
     return true;
   }
diff --git a/src/gateway/openresponses-http.ts b/src/gateway/openresponses-http.ts
index 147ca5fb9..9aa31df1d 100644
--- a/src/gateway/openresponses-http.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/openresponses-http.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   readJsonBodyOrError,
   sendJson,
   sendMethodNotAllowed,
+  sendRateLimited,
   sendUnauthorized,
   setSseHeaders,
   writeDone,
@@ -335,6 +336,10 @@ export async function handleOpenResponsesHttpRequest(
     trustedProxies: opts.trustedProxies,
   });
   if (!authResult.ok) {
+    if (authResult.reason === "rate_limited") {
+      sendRateLimited(res);
+      return true;
+    }
     sendUnauthorized(res);
     return true;
   }
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-runtime-config.test.ts b/src/gateway/server-runtime-config.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6edfcf795
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gateway/server-runtime-config.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import type { MoltbotConfig } from "../config/config.js";
+import { resolveGatewayRuntimeConfig } from "./server-runtime-config.js";
+
+describe("resolveGatewayRuntimeConfig", () => {
+  it("rejects weak auth when binding beyond loopback", async () => {
+    const cfg: MoltbotConfig = {
+      gateway: {
+        auth: {
+          mode: "token",
+          token: "short-token",
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    await expect(
+      resolveGatewayRuntimeConfig({
+        cfg,
+        port: 18789,
+        host: "0.0.0.0",
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow("weak shared secret");
+  });
+
+  it("allows custom auth minimum length", async () => {
+    const cfg: MoltbotConfig = {
+      gateway: {
+        auth: {
+          mode: "token",
+          token: "long-enough-token",
+          minLength: 10,
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    await expect(
+      resolveGatewayRuntimeConfig({
+        cfg,
+        port: 18789,
+        host: "0.0.0.0",
+      }),
+    ).resolves.toMatchObject({
+      bindHost: "0.0.0.0",
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-runtime-config.ts b/src/gateway/server-runtime-config.ts
index 2d699988a..eb22b7faa 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-runtime-config.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-runtime-config.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import type {
 } from "../config/config.js";
 import {
   assertGatewayAuthConfigured,
+  DEFAULT_GATEWAY_AUTH_MIN_LENGTH,
   type ResolvedGatewayAuth,
   resolveGatewayAuth,
 } from "./auth.js";
@@ -75,6 +76,12 @@ export async function resolveGatewayRuntimeConfig(params: {
     typeof resolvedAuth.password === "string" && resolvedAuth.password.trim().length > 0;
   const hasSharedSecret =
     (authMode === "token" && hasToken) || (authMode === "password" && hasPassword);
+  const minAuthLength = params.cfg.gateway?.auth?.minLength ?? DEFAULT_GATEWAY_AUTH_MIN_LENGTH;
+  const tokenLength = hasToken ? resolvedAuth.token?.trim().length ?? 0 : 0;
+  const passwordLength = hasPassword ? resolvedAuth.password?.trim().length ?? 0 : 0;
+  const isWeakSharedSecret =
+    (authMode === "token" && tokenLength > 0 && tokenLength < minAuthLength) ||
+    (authMode === "password" && passwordLength > 0 && passwordLength < minAuthLength);
   const hooksConfig = resolveHooksConfig(params.cfg);
   const canvasHostEnabled =
     process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_CANVAS_HOST !== "1" && params.cfg.canvasHost?.enabled !== false;
@@ -93,6 +100,11 @@ export async function resolveGatewayRuntimeConfig(params: {
       `refusing to bind gateway to ${bindHost}:${params.port} without auth (set gateway.auth.token/password, or set CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN/CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_PASSWORD)`,
     );
   }
+  if (!isLoopbackHost(bindHost) && isWeakSharedSecret) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `refusing to bind gateway to ${bindHost}:${params.port} with a weak shared secret (min length ${minAuthLength}; use a long random token/password or set gateway.bind=loopback)`,
+    );
+  }
 
   return {
     bindHost,
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-startup-log.ts b/src/gateway/server-startup-log.ts
index cf6d2575c..7dde89ae9 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-startup-log.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-startup-log.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { DEFAULT_MODEL, DEFAULT_PROVIDER } from "../agents/defaults.js";
 import { resolveConfiguredModelRef } from "../agents/model-selection.js";
 import type { loadConfig } from "../config/config.js";
 import { getResolvedLoggerSettings } from "../logging.js";
+import { DEFAULT_GATEWAY_AUTH_MIN_LENGTH, resolveGatewayAuth } from "./auth.js";
 
 export function logGatewayStartup(params: {
   cfg: ReturnType<typeof loadConfig>;
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ export function logGatewayStartup(params: {
   bindHosts?: string[];
   port: number;
   tlsEnabled?: boolean;
-  log: { info: (msg: string, meta?: Record<string, unknown>) => void };
+  log: { info: (msg: string, meta?: Record<string, unknown>) => void; warn?: (msg: string) => void };
   isNixMode: boolean;
 }) {
   const { provider: agentProvider, model: agentModel } = resolveConfiguredModelRef({
@@ -34,6 +35,29 @@ export function logGatewayStartup(params: {
     params.log.info(`listening on ${scheme}://${formatHost(host)}:${params.port}`);
   }
   params.log.info(`log file: ${getResolvedLoggerSettings().file}`);
+  const minAuthLength = params.cfg.gateway?.auth?.minLength ?? DEFAULT_GATEWAY_AUTH_MIN_LENGTH;
+  const tailscaleMode = params.cfg.gateway?.tailscale?.mode ?? "off";
+  const resolvedAuth = resolveGatewayAuth({
+    authConfig: params.cfg.gateway?.auth,
+    env: process.env,
+    tailscaleMode,
+  });
+  const tokenLength = resolvedAuth.token?.trim().length ?? 0;
+  const passwordLength = resolvedAuth.password?.trim().length ?? 0;
+  const activeLength = resolvedAuth.mode === "password" ? passwordLength : tokenLength;
+  const label = resolvedAuth.mode === "password" ? "password" : "token";
+  if (activeLength > 0) {
+    const message = `gateway auth: ${label} length ${activeLength} (min ${minAuthLength})`;
+    if (activeLength < minAuthLength) {
+      params.log.warn?.(`${message} - weak`);
+    } else {
+      params.log.info(`${message} - ok`);
+    }
+  } else if (resolvedAuth.allowTailscale && tailscaleMode === "serve") {
+    params.log.info("gateway auth: tailscale serve identity allowed (no shared secret configured)");
+  } else {
+    params.log.warn?.("gateway auth: no shared secret configured");
+  }
   if (params.isNixMode) {
     params.log.info("gateway: running in Nix mode (config managed externally)");
   }
diff --git a/src/gateway/server/ws-connection/message-handler.ts b/src/gateway/server/ws-connection/message-handler.ts
index d1f6ae511..833cb0a3e 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server/ws-connection/message-handler.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server/ws-connection/message-handler.ts
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ function formatGatewayAuthFailureMessage(params: {
       return "unauthorized: tailscale identity check failed (use Tailscale Serve auth or gateway token/password)";
     case "tailscale_user_mismatch":
       return "unauthorized: tailscale identity mismatch (use Tailscale Serve auth or gateway token/password)";
+    case "rate_limited":
+      return "unauthorized: too many failed attempts (try again later)";
     default:
       break;
   }
diff --git a/src/gateway/tools-invoke-http.ts b/src/gateway/tools-invoke-http.ts
index fa45bf3dc..924ab1576 100644
--- a/src/gateway/tools-invoke-http.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/tools-invoke-http.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import {
   sendInvalidRequest,
   sendJson,
   sendMethodNotAllowed,
+  sendRateLimited,
   sendUnauthorized,
 } from "./http-common.js";
 
@@ -89,6 +90,10 @@ export async function handleToolsInvokeHttpRequest(
     trustedProxies: opts.trustedProxies ?? cfg.gateway?.trustedProxies,
   });
   if (!authResult.ok) {
+    if (authResult.reason === "rate_limited") {
+      sendRateLimited(res);
+      return true;
+    }
     sendUnauthorized(res);
     return true;
   }
diff --git a/src/security/audit.ts b/src/security/audit.ts
index 7aebd6928..5be1600c6 100644
--- a/src/security/audit.ts
+++ b/src/security/audit.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import type { ChannelId } from "../channels/plugins/types.js";
 import type { MoltbotConfig } from "../config/config.js";
 import { resolveBrowserConfig, resolveProfile } from "../browser/config.js";
 import { resolveConfigPath, resolveStateDir } from "../config/paths.js";
-import { resolveGatewayAuth } from "../gateway/auth.js";
+import { DEFAULT_GATEWAY_AUTH_MIN_LENGTH, resolveGatewayAuth } from "../gateway/auth.js";
 import { formatCliCommand } from "../cli/command-format.js";
 import { buildGatewayConnectionDetails } from "../gateway/call.js";
 import { probeGateway } from "../gateway/probe.js";
@@ -264,6 +264,7 @@ function collectGatewayConfigFindings(
   const hasPassword = typeof auth.password === "string" && auth.password.trim().length > 0;
   const hasSharedSecret =
     (auth.mode === "token" && hasToken) || (auth.mode === "password" && hasPassword);
+  const minAuthLength = cfg.gateway?.auth?.minLength ?? DEFAULT_GATEWAY_AUTH_MIN_LENGTH;
   const hasTailscaleAuth = auth.allowTailscale === true && tailscaleMode === "serve";
   const hasGatewayAuth = hasSharedSecret || hasTailscaleAuth;
 
@@ -344,12 +345,24 @@ function collectGatewayConfigFindings(
 
   const token =
     typeof auth.token === "string" && auth.token.trim().length > 0 ? auth.token.trim() : null;
-  if (auth.mode === "token" && token && token.length < 24) {
+  if (auth.mode === "token" && token && token.length < minAuthLength) {
     findings.push({
       checkId: "gateway.token_too_short",
       severity: "warn",
       title: "Gateway token looks short",
-      detail: `gateway auth token is ${token.length} chars; prefer a long random token.`,
+      detail: `gateway auth token is ${token.length} chars (min length ${minAuthLength}).`,
+    });
+  }
+  const password =
+    typeof auth.password === "string" && auth.password.trim().length > 0
+      ? auth.password.trim()
+      : null;
+  if (auth.mode === "password" && password && password.length < minAuthLength) {
+    findings.push({
+      checkId: "gateway.password_too_short",
+      severity: "warn",
+      title: "Gateway password looks short",
+      detail: `gateway auth password is ${password.length} chars (min length ${minAuthLength}).`,
     });
   }