diff --git a/cmd/summer/main.go b/cmd/summer/main.go
index af01a6f..3ccea61 100644
--- a/cmd/summer/main.go
+++ b/cmd/summer/main.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ func toolCommands() []bonfire.Command {
 		makePluginCommand(),
 		addPluginCommand(),
 		devCommand(),
+		parityProxyCommand(),
 		parityRecordCommand(),
 		parityReplayCommand(),
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/summer/parity.go b/cmd/summer/parity.go
index 052926a..e6237e2 100644
--- a/cmd/summer/parity.go
+++ b/cmd/summer/parity.go
@@ -9,6 +9,22 @@ import (
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/tide"
 )
 
+func parityProxyCommand() bonfire.Command {
+	return bonfire.Command{
+		Name:        "parity:proxy",
+		Description: "Record named HTTP sessions through a loopback reverse proxy",
+		Flags: []bonfire.Flag{
+			{Name: "listen", Description: "Loopback bind address", Default: tide.DefaultListen},
+			{Name: "upstream", Description: "Fixed loopback HTTP origin", Default: tide.DefaultUpstream},
+			{Name: "session", Description: "Default session name when X-Parity-Session is absent"},
+			{Name: "rules", Description: "Committed YAML capture rules"},
+			{Name: "vars", Description: "Private mode-0600 variable store outside fixtures"},
+			{Name: "fixtures", Description: "Directory for nuxt/ and mcp/ session flows"},
+		},
+		Run: runParityProxy,
+	}
+}
+
 func parityRecordCommand() bonfire.Command {
 	return bonfire.Command{
 		Name:        "parity:record",
@@ -34,6 +50,38 @@ func parityReplayCommand() bonfire.Command {
 	}
 }
 
+func runParityProxy(ctx context.Context, in bonfire.Input, out bonfire.Output) error {
+	rulesPath, err := requireFlag(in, "rules", "parity:proxy")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	fixtures, err := requireFlag(in, "fixtures", "parity:proxy")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	rules, err := tide.LoadRules(rulesPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	listen, _ := in.Flag("listen")
+	upstream, _ := in.Flag("upstream")
+	session, _ := in.Flag("session")
+	varsPath, _ := in.Flag("vars")
+	proxy, err := tide.NewProxy(tide.ProxyConfig{
+		Listen:   listen,
+		Upstream: upstream,
+		Session:  session,
+		Rules:    rules,
+		VarsPath: varsPath,
+		Fixtures: fixtures,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	out.Info(fmt.Sprintf("proxy listening on %s → %s", listen, upstream))
+	return proxy.ListenAndServe(ctx)
+}
+
 func runParityRecord(ctx context.Context, in bonfire.Input, out bonfire.Output) error {
 	specPath, err := requireFlag(in, "spec", "parity:record")
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/summer/parity_test.go b/cmd/summer/parity_test.go
index ae3d27a..e06ad9e 100644
--- a/cmd/summer/parity_test.go
+++ b/cmd/summer/parity_test.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestParityCommands(t *testing.T) {
 	names := commandNames()
-	for _, want := range []string{"parity:record", "parity:replay"} {
+	for _, want := range []string{"parity:record", "parity:replay", "parity:proxy"} {
 		if !containsName(names, want) {
 			t.Fatalf("missing %s in %v", want, names)
 		}
@@ -99,6 +99,23 @@ func TestParityCommands(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := runParity("parity:replay", "--fixtures", keyFixture, "--target", keyOrder.URL); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("reordered JSON keys must pass: %v", err)
 	}
+
+	err = runParity("parity:proxy")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--rules") {
+		t.Fatalf("proxy without rules: %v", err)
+	}
+	rulesPath := filepath.Join(outDir, "rules.yaml")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(rulesPath, []byte("client: nuxt\nkeep_request_headers: []\nkeep_response_headers: []\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	err = runParity("parity:proxy", "--rules", rulesPath, "--fixtures", outDir, "--upstream", "http://example.com")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "loopback") {
+		t.Fatalf("proxy non-loopback upstream: %v", err)
+	}
+	err = runParity("parity:proxy", "--rules", rulesPath, "--fixtures", outDir, "--listen", "0.0.0.0:8422")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "loopback") {
+		t.Fatalf("proxy non-loopback listen: %v", err)
+	}
 }
 
 func commandNames() []string {
diff --git a/tide/fixture.go b/tide/fixture.go
index b659ede..fcc8be5 100644
--- a/tide/fixture.go
+++ b/tide/fixture.go
@@ -154,8 +154,22 @@ func writeCapture(b *strings.Builder, indent int, rules []CaptureRule) {
 	fmt.Fprintf(b, "%scapture:\n", pad)
 	inner := strings.Repeat(" ", indent+2)
 	for _, rule := range rules {
-		fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s- path: %s\n", inner, encodeScalar(rule.Path))
-		fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s  as: %s\n", inner, encodeScalar(rule.As))
+		fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s- as: %s\n", inner, encodeScalar(rule.As))
+		if rule.From != "" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s  from: %s\n", inner, encodeScalar(rule.From))
+		}
+		if rule.Path != "" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s  path: %s\n", inner, encodeScalar(rule.Path))
+		}
+		if rule.Name != "" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s  name: %s\n", inner, encodeScalar(rule.Name))
+		}
+		if rule.Identity != "" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s  identity: %s\n", inner, encodeScalar(rule.Identity))
+		}
+		if rule.Category != "" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s  category: %s\n", inner, encodeScalar(rule.Category))
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/tide/flow.go b/tide/flow.go
index df23968..e54db04 100644
--- a/tide/flow.go
+++ b/tide/flow.go
@@ -50,10 +50,14 @@ type Response struct {
 	SHA256   string            `yaml:"sha256,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// CaptureRule maps a JSON path in the response onto a variable name.
+// CaptureRule maps a named source onto a variable name.
 type CaptureRule struct {
-	Path string `yaml:"path"`
-	As   string `yaml:"as"`
+	From     string `yaml:"from,omitempty"`
+	Path     string `yaml:"path,omitempty"`
+	Name     string `yaml:"name,omitempty"`
+	As       string `yaml:"as"`
+	Identity string `yaml:"identity,omitempty"`
+	Category string `yaml:"category,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // NormalizeRule names a per-step normalizer override.
diff --git a/tide/proxy.go b/tide/proxy.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0632986
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tide/proxy.go
@@ -0,0 +1,544 @@
+package tide
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httputil"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+const (
+	DefaultListen   = "127.0.0.1:8422"
+	DefaultUpstream = "http://127.0.0.1:8423"
+)
+
+type captureKey struct{}
+
+type captureState struct {
+	session    string
+	method     string
+	path       string
+	query      string
+	reqBody    []byte
+	reqHeaders http.Header
+}
+
+type sessionBuf struct {
+	name    string
+	steps   []Step
+	started bool
+}
+
+// ProxyConfig pins a loopback reverse proxy that records named sessions.
+type ProxyConfig struct {
+	Listen    string
+	Upstream  string
+	Session   string
+	Rules     Rules
+	RulesPath string
+	VarsPath  string
+	Fixtures  string
+	MaxBody   int64
+}
+
+// Proxy is a fixed-upstream recording reverse proxy.
+type Proxy struct {
+	cfg      ProxyConfig
+	upstream *url.URL
+	rp       *httputil.ReverseProxy
+	limit    int64
+
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	sessions map[string]*sessionBuf
+	failed   map[string]error
+}
+
+// NewProxy validates loopback bind/upstream and builds a recording handler.
+func NewProxy(cfg ProxyConfig) (*Proxy, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Listen) == "" {
+		cfg.Listen = DefaultListen
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Upstream) == "" {
+		cfg.Upstream = DefaultUpstream
+	}
+	if err := requireLoopbackAddr(cfg.Listen); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	upstream, err := parseLoopbackUpstream(cfg.Upstream)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Fixtures) == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("tide: proxy fixtures directory is required")
+	}
+	if err := validateRules(cfg.Rules); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if cfg.VarsPath != "" {
+		if err := prepareVarsFile(cfg.VarsPath, cfg.Fixtures); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+	p := &Proxy{
+		cfg:      cfg,
+		upstream: upstream,
+		limit:    maxBody(cfg.MaxBody),
+		sessions: make(map[string]*sessionBuf),
+		failed:   make(map[string]error),
+	}
+	p.rp = &httputil.ReverseProxy{
+		Rewrite: func(pr *httputil.ProxyRequest) {
+			pr.SetURL(p.upstream)
+			pr.Out.Host = p.upstream.Host
+			pr.Out.Header.Del(SessionHeader)
+		},
+		ModifyResponse: p.modifyResponse,
+		ErrorHandler: func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, err error) {
+			http.Error(w, "tide: upstream error", http.StatusBadGateway)
+		},
+	}
+	return p, nil
+}
+
+// Handler returns the recording reverse-proxy handler.
+func (p *Proxy) Handler() http.Handler {
+	return p
+}
+
+func (p *Proxy) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	state, err := p.beginCapture(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		status := http.StatusBadRequest
+		if isTruncated(err) {
+			status = http.StatusRequestEntityTooLarge
+		}
+		http.Error(w, err.Error(), status)
+		return
+	}
+	body := state.reqBody
+	r = r.WithContext(context.WithValue(r.Context(), captureKey{}, state))
+	r.Body = io.NopCloser(bytes.NewReader(body))
+	r.ContentLength = int64(len(body))
+	r.GetBody = func() (io.ReadCloser, error) {
+		return io.NopCloser(bytes.NewReader(body)), nil
+	}
+	p.rp.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+}
+
+// ListenAndServe binds the loopback listener until ctx is cancelled, then flushes.
+func (p *Proxy) ListenAndServe(ctx context.Context) error {
+	ln, err := net.Listen("tcp", p.cfg.Listen)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: listen %s: %w", p.cfg.Listen, err)
+	}
+	addr := ln.Addr().String()
+	if err := requireLoopbackAddr(addr); err != nil {
+		_ = ln.Close()
+		return err
+	}
+	srv := &http.Server{
+		Handler:           p,
+		ReadHeaderTimeout: 10 * time.Second,
+	}
+	errCh := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		errCh <- srv.Serve(ln)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		shutdownCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+		defer cancel()
+		_ = srv.Shutdown(shutdownCtx)
+		<-errCh
+		return p.Flush()
+	case err := <-errCh:
+		flushErr := p.Flush()
+		if err != nil && err != http.ErrServerClosed {
+			if flushErr != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%v; flush: %w", err, flushErr)
+			}
+			return err
+		}
+		return flushErr
+	}
+}
+
+// Flush writes every complete captured session. Failed sessions leave no new fixture.
+func (p *Proxy) Flush() error {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+	var first error
+	for name, buf := range p.sessions {
+		if err := p.failed[name]; err != nil {
+			if first == nil {
+				first = err
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if err := p.writeSessionLocked(buf); err != nil {
+			if first == nil {
+				first = err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return first
+}
+
+func (p *Proxy) beginCapture(r *http.Request) (*captureState, error) {
+	session := strings.TrimSpace(r.Header.Get(SessionHeader))
+	if session == "" {
+		session = strings.TrimSpace(p.cfg.Session)
+	}
+	if err := validateSessionName(session); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	raw, err := readBounded(r.Body, p.limit)
+	if err != nil {
+		p.failSession(session, fmt.Errorf("tide: session %q: %w", session, err))
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &captureState{
+		session:    session,
+		method:     r.Method,
+		path:       r.URL.Path,
+		query:      r.URL.RawQuery,
+		reqBody:    raw,
+		reqHeaders: r.Header.Clone(),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func (p *Proxy) modifyResponse(resp *http.Response) error {
+	state, _ := resp.Request.Context().Value(captureKey{}).(*captureState)
+	if state == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: missing capture state")
+	}
+	raw, err := readBounded(resp.Body, p.limit)
+	if err != nil {
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		p.failSession(state.session, fmt.Errorf("tide: session %q: %w", state.session, err))
+		return err
+	}
+	resp.Body = io.NopCloser(bytes.NewReader(raw))
+	resp.ContentLength = int64(len(raw))
+	resp.Header.Set("Content-Length", fmt.Sprintf("%d", len(raw)))
+	if err := p.recordStep(state, resp, raw); err != nil {
+		p.failSession(state.session, err)
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (p *Proxy) recordStep(state *captureState, resp *http.Response, respBody []byte) error {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+	if err := p.failed[state.session]; err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	buf, err := p.sessionLocked(state.session)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	route := p.cfg.Rules.Match(state.method, state.path)
+	reqHeaders := filterHeaders(state.reqHeaders, p.cfg.Rules.requestHeaders(route))
+	respHeaders := filterHeaders(resp.Header, p.cfg.Rules.responseHeaders(route))
+	step := Step{
+		ID: fmt.Sprintf("%d", len(buf.steps)+1),
+		Request: Request{
+			Method:  state.method,
+			Path:    state.path,
+			Query:   state.query,
+			Headers: reqHeaders,
+			Body:    Body(state.reqBody),
+		},
+		Response: Response{
+			Status:  resp.StatusCode,
+			Headers: respHeaders,
+			Body:    Body(respBody),
+		},
+	}
+	if route != nil {
+		step.Capture = append([]CaptureRule(nil), route.Capture...)
+	}
+	if err := rejectUnclassifiedCredentials(step); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: session %q: %w", state.session, err)
+	}
+	buf.steps = append(buf.steps, step)
+	return p.writeSessionLocked(buf)
+}
+
+func (p *Proxy) sessionLocked(name string) (*sessionBuf, error) {
+	if buf, ok := p.sessions[name]; ok {
+		return buf, nil
+	}
+	dest := p.sessionPath(name)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(dest); err == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("tide: duplicate session %q", name)
+	}
+	buf := &sessionBuf{name: name}
+	p.sessions[name] = buf
+	return buf, nil
+}
+
+func (p *Proxy) writeSessionLocked(buf *sessionBuf) error {
+	if buf == nil || len(buf.steps) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err := p.failed[buf.name]; err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	flow := Flow{
+		Version: CurrentVersion,
+		Name:    buf.name,
+		Steps:   append([]Step(nil), buf.steps...),
+	}
+	return SaveFlow(p.sessionPath(buf.name), flow)
+}
+
+func (p *Proxy) sessionPath(name string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(p.cfg.Fixtures, p.cfg.Rules.Client, name+".yaml")
+}
+
+func (p *Proxy) failSession(name string, err error) {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+	if _, ok := p.failed[name]; !ok {
+		p.failed[name] = err
+	}
+	if buf := p.sessions[name]; buf != nil && len(buf.steps) == 0 {
+		_ = os.Remove(p.sessionPath(name))
+	}
+}
+
+func validateSessionName(name string) error {
+	name = strings.TrimSpace(name)
+	if name == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: session name is required (X-Parity-Session or --session)")
+	}
+	if strings.ContainsAny(name, `/\`) || strings.Contains(name, "..") || name != filepath.Base(name) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: session name %q must not contain path separators", name)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func requireLoopbackAddr(hostport string) error {
+	host, _, err := net.SplitHostPort(hostport)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: listen %q: %w", hostport, err)
+	}
+	if !isLoopbackHost(host) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: listen %q must be loopback", hostport)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func parseLoopbackUpstream(raw string) (*url.URL, error) {
+	u, err := url.Parse(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("tide: upstream: %w", err)
+	}
+	if u.Scheme != "http" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("tide: upstream %q must be plain http on loopback", raw)
+	}
+	if u.Host == "" || !isLoopbackHost(u.Hostname()) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("tide: upstream %q must be loopback", raw)
+	}
+	return u, nil
+}
+
+func isLoopbackHost(host string) bool {
+	if host == "" {
+		return false
+	}
+	if strings.EqualFold(host, "localhost") {
+		return true
+	}
+	ip := net.ParseIP(host)
+	return ip != nil && ip.IsLoopback()
+}
+
+func prepareVarsFile(path, fixtures string) error {
+	absVars, err := filepath.Abs(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: vars path: %w", err)
+	}
+	absFix, err := filepath.Abs(fixtures)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: fixtures path: %w", err)
+	}
+	if absVars == absFix || strings.HasPrefix(absVars, absFix+string(os.PathSeparator)) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: vars file %q must be outside fixtures %q", path, fixtures)
+	}
+	if st, err := os.Stat(absVars); err == nil {
+		if st.IsDir() {
+			return fmt.Errorf("tide: vars %q is a directory", path)
+		}
+		if err := os.Chmod(absVars, 0o600); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("tide: chmod vars: %w", err)
+		}
+		return nil
+	} else if !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: stat vars: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(absVars), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: create vars dir: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(absVars, []byte("{}\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: create vars: %w", err)
+	}
+	return os.Chmod(absVars, 0o600)
+}
+
+func isTruncated(err error) bool {
+	return err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "exceeds")
+}
+
+func rejectUnclassifiedCredentials(step Step) error {
+	var parts []string
+	for _, v := range step.Request.Headers {
+		parts = append(parts, v)
+	}
+	parts = append(parts, step.Request.Query, string(step.Request.Body))
+	for _, v := range step.Response.Headers {
+		parts = append(parts, v)
+	}
+	parts = append(parts, string(step.Response.Body))
+	classified := classifiedNames(step.Capture)
+	for _, part := range parts {
+		if hit := firstCredential(part); hit != "" && !classified[hit] {
+			return fmt.Errorf("unclassified credential-shaped value in step %s", step.ID)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func classifiedNames(rules []CaptureRule) map[string]bool {
+	out := make(map[string]bool)
+	for _, rule := range rules {
+		if rule.Category != "" {
+			out[rule.Category] = true
+		}
+		out[rule.As] = true
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func firstCredential(s string) string {
+	if s == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if jwtRe.MatchString(s) {
+		return "jwt"
+	}
+	if invRe.MatchString(s) {
+		return "token"
+	}
+	lower := strings.ToLower(s)
+	if strings.Contains(lower, "auth_token=") {
+		return "cookie"
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(lower, "client_secret=") {
+		return "oauth_secret"
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(lower, "code_verifier=") {
+		return "pkce"
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+var (
+	jwtRe = mustCompileJWT()
+	invRe = mustCompileInv()
+)
+
+func mustCompileJWT() *regexpJWT {
+	return &regexpJWT{}
+}
+
+func mustCompileInv() *regexpInv {
+	return &regexpInv{}
+}
+
+// tiny wrappers keep the credential regexes local without extra files in task 1.
+type regexpJWT struct{}
+
+func (regexpJWT) MatchString(s string) bool {
+	return jwtLooksLike(s)
+}
+
+type regexpInv struct{}
+
+func (regexpInv) MatchString(s string) bool {
+	return strings.Contains(s, "inv_") && invLooksLike(s)
+}
+
+func jwtLooksLike(s string) bool {
+	const prefix = "eyJ"
+	for i := 0; i < len(s); i++ {
+		j := strings.Index(s[i:], prefix)
+		if j < 0 {
+			return false
+		}
+		i += j
+		if token := jwtAt(s[i:]); token != "" {
+			return true
+		}
+		i++
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func jwtAt(s string) string {
+	parts := 0
+	n := 0
+	for n < len(s) {
+		c := s[n]
+		if isJWTByte(c) {
+			n++
+			continue
+		}
+		if c == '.' {
+			parts++
+			n++
+			if parts > 2 {
+				return ""
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		break
+	}
+	if parts == 2 && n >= 20 {
+		return s[:n]
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func isJWTByte(c byte) bool {
+	return (c >= 'A' && c <= 'Z') || (c >= 'a' && c <= 'z') || (c >= '0' && c <= '9') || c == '-' || c == '_'
+}
+
+func invLooksLike(s string) bool {
+	for {
+		i := strings.Index(s, "inv_")
+		if i < 0 {
+			return false
+		}
+		rest := s[i+4:]
+		n := 0
+		for n < len(rest) && isJWTByte(rest[n]) {
+			n++
+		}
+		if n >= 8 {
+			return true
+		}
+		s = rest
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tide/proxy_test.go b/tide/proxy_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ca1c97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tide/proxy_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,368 @@
+package tide
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestProxyNamedSessionsOrderedAndIsolated(t *testing.T) {
+	var seenHost []string
+	upstream := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		seenHost = append(seenHost, r.Host)
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"path":"` + r.URL.Path + `"}`))
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(upstream.Close)
+
+	fixtures := t.TempDir()
+	proxy := newTestProxy(t, upstream.URL, fixtures, testRulesYAML())
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(proxy.Handler())
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+
+	doProxy(t, srv.URL, "alpha", "/one", "")
+	doProxy(t, srv.URL, "alpha", "/two", "")
+	doProxy(t, srv.URL, "beta", "/other", "")
+
+	if err := proxy.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	alpha, err := LoadFlow(filepath.Join(fixtures, "nuxt", "alpha.yaml"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(alpha.Steps) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("alpha steps: %d", len(alpha.Steps))
+	}
+	if alpha.Steps[0].Request.Path != "/one" || alpha.Steps[1].Request.Path != "/two" {
+		t.Fatalf("alpha order: %+v", alpha.Steps)
+	}
+	beta, err := LoadFlow(filepath.Join(fixtures, "nuxt", "beta.yaml"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(beta.Steps) != 1 || beta.Steps[0].Request.Path != "/other" {
+		t.Fatalf("beta interleaved: %+v", beta.Steps)
+	}
+
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, srv.URL+"/evil", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	req.Host = "evil.example"
+	req.Header.Set(SessionHeader, "gamma")
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	if len(seenHost) < 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("upstream hits: %d", len(seenHost))
+	}
+	wantHost := strings.TrimPrefix(upstream.URL, "http://")
+	if seenHost[len(seenHost)-1] != wantHost {
+		t.Fatalf("client Host leaked: last=%s want=%s all=%v", seenHost[len(seenHost)-1], wantHost, seenHost)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProxyForwardsCookieRedirectAndBody(t *testing.T) {
+	upstream := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if r.URL.Path == "/go" {
+			w.Header().Set("Set-Cookie", "sid=abc; Path=/")
+			w.Header().Set("Location", "/landed")
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusFound)
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte("redirect-body"))
+			return
+		}
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/plain")
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte("cookie=" + r.Header.Get("Cookie")))
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(upstream.Close)
+
+	fixtures := t.TempDir()
+	proxy := newTestProxy(t, upstream.URL, fixtures, testRulesYAML())
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(proxy.Handler())
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+
+	client := &http.Client{
+		CheckRedirect: func(*http.Request, []*http.Request) error {
+			return http.ErrUseLastResponse
+		},
+	}
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, srv.URL+"/go", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set(SessionHeader, "redir")
+	req.Header.Set("Cookie", "keep=1")
+	resp, err := client.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	body, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusFound {
+		t.Fatalf("status %d", resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+	if loc := resp.Header.Get("Location"); loc != "/landed" {
+		t.Fatalf("location %q", loc)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(resp.Header.Get("Set-Cookie"), "sid=abc") {
+		t.Fatalf("set-cookie %q", resp.Header.Get("Set-Cookie"))
+	}
+	if string(body) != "redirect-body" {
+		t.Fatalf("body %q", body)
+	}
+
+	req2, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, srv.URL+"/echo", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	req2.Header.Set(SessionHeader, "redir")
+	req2.Header.Set("Cookie", "keep=1")
+	resp2, err := client.Do(req2)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	got, _ := io.ReadAll(resp2.Body)
+	resp2.Body.Close()
+	if string(got) != "cookie=keep=1" {
+		t.Fatalf("cookie not forwarded: %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProxyRejectsNonLoopbackOverflowAndCredentials(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := NewProxy(ProxyConfig{
+		Listen:   "0.0.0.0:8422",
+		Upstream: "http://127.0.0.1:8423",
+		Fixtures: t.TempDir(),
+		Rules:    mustParseRules(t, testRulesYAML()),
+	}); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "loopback") {
+		t.Fatalf("non-loopback listen: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := NewProxy(ProxyConfig{
+		Listen:   "127.0.0.1:8422",
+		Upstream: "http://example.com",
+		Fixtures: t.TempDir(),
+		Rules:    mustParseRules(t, testRulesYAML()),
+	}); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "loopback") {
+		t.Fatalf("non-loopback upstream: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	upstream := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/plain")
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte("hello-world"))
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(upstream.Close)
+
+	fixtures := t.TempDir()
+	cfg := ProxyConfig{
+		Listen:   "127.0.0.1:0",
+		Upstream: upstream.URL,
+		Fixtures: fixtures,
+		Rules:    mustParseRules(t, testRulesYAML()),
+		MaxBody:  4,
+	}
+	proxy, err := NewProxy(cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(proxy.Handler())
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, srv.URL+"/sample", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set(SessionHeader, "overflow")
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusRequestEntityTooLarge && resp.StatusCode != http.StatusBadGateway && resp.StatusCode != http.StatusInternalServerError {
+		if resp.StatusCode == http.StatusOK {
+			t.Fatal("overflow recorded as success")
+		}
+	}
+	overflowPath := filepath.Join(fixtures, "nuxt", "overflow.yaml")
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(overflowPath); !os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+		t.Fatalf("partial fixture committed: %v", statErr)
+	}
+
+	bigUp := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"token":"eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxIn0.abcabcabcabcabcabcab"}`))
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(bigUp.Close)
+	secretFix := t.TempDir()
+	secretProxy, err := NewProxy(ProxyConfig{
+		Listen:   "127.0.0.1:0",
+		Upstream: bigUp.URL,
+		Fixtures: secretFix,
+		Rules:    mustParseRules(t, testRulesYAML()),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	secretSrv := httptest.NewServer(secretProxy.Handler())
+	t.Cleanup(secretSrv.Close)
+	sreq, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, secretSrv.URL+"/sample", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	sreq.Header.Set(SessionHeader, "secret")
+	sresp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(sreq)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	sresp.Body.Close()
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(secretFix, "nuxt", "secret.yaml")); !os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+		t.Fatalf("credential fixture was committed: %v", statErr)
+	}
+
+	reqBad, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, srv.URL+"/sample", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	reqBad.Header.Set(SessionHeader, "alice/../bob")
+	bresp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(reqBad)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	bresp.Body.Close()
+	if bresp.StatusCode == http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatal("path-separator session must fail")
+	}
+
+	inside := filepath.Join(fixtures, "vars.yaml")
+	if _, err := NewProxy(ProxyConfig{
+		Listen:   "127.0.0.1:0",
+		Upstream: upstream.URL,
+		Fixtures: fixtures,
+		VarsPath: inside,
+		Rules:    mustParseRules(t, testRulesYAML()),
+	}); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "outside") {
+		t.Fatalf("vars inside fixtures: %v", err)
+	}
+	outside := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "vars.yaml")
+	p, err := NewProxy(ProxyConfig{
+		Listen:   "127.0.0.1:0",
+		Upstream: upstream.URL,
+		Fixtures: fixtures,
+		VarsPath: outside,
+		Rules:    mustParseRules(t, testRulesYAML()),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	_ = p
+	st, err := os.Stat(outside)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if st.Mode().Perm() != 0o600 {
+		t.Fatalf("vars mode %o", st.Mode().Perm())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProxyDuplicateSessionName(t *testing.T) {
+	upstream := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/plain")
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte("ok"))
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(upstream.Close)
+	fixtures := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(fixtures, "nuxt"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(fixtures, "nuxt", "taken.yaml"), []byte("version: 1\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	proxy := newTestProxy(t, upstream.URL, fixtures, testRulesYAML())
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(proxy.Handler())
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, srv.URL+"/sample", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set(SessionHeader, "taken")
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode == http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatal("duplicate session must fail")
+	}
+}
+
+func newTestProxy(t *testing.T, upstream, fixtures, rulesYAML string) *Proxy {
+	t.Helper()
+	p, err := NewProxy(ProxyConfig{
+		Listen:   "127.0.0.1:0",
+		Upstream: upstream,
+		Fixtures: fixtures,
+		Rules:    mustParseRules(t, rulesYAML),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return p
+}
+
+func mustParseRules(t *testing.T, raw string) Rules {
+	t.Helper()
+	rules, err := ParseRules([]byte(raw))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return rules
+}
+
+func testRulesYAML() string {
+	return "" +
+		"client: nuxt\n" +
+		"keep_request_headers:\n" +
+		"  - Cookie\n" +
+		"  - Content-Type\n" +
+		"keep_response_headers:\n" +
+		"  - Content-Type\n" +
+		"  - Location\n" +
+		"  - Set-Cookie\n" +
+		"routes:\n" +
+		"  - method: GET\n" +
+		"    path: /sample\n" +
+		"  - method: GET\n" +
+		"    path: /*\n"
+}
+
+func doProxy(t *testing.T, base, session, path, body string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	var rdr io.Reader
+	if body != "" {
+		rdr = strings.NewReader(body)
+	}
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, base+path, rdr)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set(SessionHeader, session)
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		b, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+		t.Fatalf("%s %s: %d %s", session, path, resp.StatusCode, b)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tide/rules.go b/tide/rules.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4fe4df5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tide/rules.go
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+package tide
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/goccy/go-yaml"
+)
+
+const (
+	ClientNuxt = "nuxt"
+	ClientMCP  = "mcp"
+
+	SessionHeader = "X-Parity-Session"
+)
+
+// Rules is the committed, non-secret capture policy for a proxy session.
+type Rules struct {
+	Client              string      `yaml:"client"`
+	KeepRequestHeaders  []string    `yaml:"keep_request_headers"`
+	KeepResponseHeaders []string    `yaml:"keep_response_headers"`
+	Routes              []RouteRule `yaml:"routes"`
+}
+
+// RouteRule matches a method and path pattern and names capture sources.
+type RouteRule struct {
+	Method              string        `yaml:"method"`
+	Path                string        `yaml:"path"`
+	KeepRequestHeaders  []string      `yaml:"keep_request_headers,omitempty"`
+	KeepResponseHeaders []string      `yaml:"keep_response_headers,omitempty"`
+	Capture             []CaptureRule `yaml:"capture,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// LoadRules reads a strict YAML rule file, rejecting unknown fields.
+func LoadRules(path string) (Rules, error) {
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Rules{}, fmt.Errorf("tide: read rules %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return ParseRules(raw)
+}
+
+// ParseRules decodes rules YAML with unknown-field rejection.
+func ParseRules(raw []byte) (Rules, error) {
+	var rules Rules
+	dec := yaml.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(raw), yaml.DisallowUnknownField())
+	if err := dec.Decode(&rules); err != nil {
+		return Rules{}, fmt.Errorf("tide: parse rules: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := validateRules(rules); err != nil {
+		return Rules{}, err
+	}
+	return rules, nil
+}
+
+func validateRules(rules Rules) error {
+	switch rules.Client {
+	case ClientNuxt, ClientMCP:
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("tide: rules client must be %q or %q", ClientNuxt, ClientMCP)
+	}
+	for i, route := range rules.Routes {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(route.Method) == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("tide: rules routes[%d] is missing method", i)
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(route.Path) == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("tide: rules routes[%d] is missing path", i)
+		}
+		for j, cap := range route.Capture {
+			if strings.TrimSpace(cap.As) == "" {
+				return fmt.Errorf("tide: rules routes[%d].capture[%d] is missing as", i, j)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Match returns the first route rule for method and path, or nil.
+func (r Rules) Match(method, requestPath string) *RouteRule {
+	for i := range r.Routes {
+		route := &r.Routes[i]
+		if !matchMethod(route.Method, method) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !matchPath(route.Path, requestPath) {
+			continue
+		}
+		return route
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (r Rules) requestHeaders(route *RouteRule) []string {
+	if route != nil && len(route.KeepRequestHeaders) > 0 {
+		return route.KeepRequestHeaders
+	}
+	return r.KeepRequestHeaders
+}
+
+func (r Rules) responseHeaders(route *RouteRule) []string {
+	if route != nil && len(route.KeepResponseHeaders) > 0 {
+		return route.KeepResponseHeaders
+	}
+	return r.KeepResponseHeaders
+}
+
+func matchMethod(pattern, method string) bool {
+	pattern = strings.TrimSpace(pattern)
+	if pattern == "" || pattern == "*" {
+		return true
+	}
+	return strings.EqualFold(pattern, method)
+}
+
+func matchPath(pattern, requestPath string) bool {
+	if pattern == requestPath {
+		return true
+	}
+	ok, err := path.Match(pattern, requestPath)
+	return err == nil && ok
+}
+
+func filterHeaders(h http.Header, keep []string) map[string]string {
+	if len(keep) == 0 || h == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make(map[string]string)
+	for _, name := range keep {
+		vals := h.Values(name)
+		if len(vals) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		if len(vals) == 1 {
+			out[http.CanonicalHeaderKey(name)] = vals[0]
+			continue
+		}
+		out[http.CanonicalHeaderKey(name)] = strings.Join(vals, "\n")
+	}
+	if len(out) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return out
+}
diff --git a/tide/rules_test.go b/tide/rules_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3562c01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tide/rules_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package tide
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestRulesLoadAndMatch(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "rules.yaml")
+	raw := "" +
+		"client: nuxt\n" +
+		"keep_request_headers:\n" +
+		"  - Cookie\n" +
+		"keep_response_headers:\n" +
+		"  - Location\n" +
+		"routes:\n" +
+		"  - method: GET\n" +
+		"    path: /sample\n" +
+		"    capture:\n" +
+		"      - from: response.json\n" +
+		"        path: $.token\n" +
+		"        as: jwt:alice\n" +
+		"        category: jwt\n" +
+		"  - method: POST\n" +
+		"    path: /items/*\n"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(raw), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	rules, err := LoadRules(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if rules.Client != ClientNuxt {
+		t.Fatalf("client: %s", rules.Client)
+	}
+	if got := rules.Match("GET", "/sample"); got == nil || len(got.Capture) != 1 || got.Capture[0].As != "jwt:alice" {
+		t.Fatalf("GET /sample match: %+v", got)
+	}
+	if got := rules.Match("POST", "/items/9"); got == nil {
+		t.Fatal("POST /items/9 should match wildcard")
+	}
+	if got := rules.Match("GET", "/other"); got != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected match: %+v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRulesRejectUnknownAndInvalid(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := ParseRules([]byte("client: nuxt\nextra: true\n")); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("unknown field must fail")
+	}
+	if _, err := ParseRules([]byte("client: browser\n")); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "client") {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid client: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := ParseRules([]byte("client: mcp\nroutes:\n  - method: GET\n    path: /x\n    capture:\n      - path: $.a\n")); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "as") {
+		t.Fatalf("capture missing as: %v", err)
+	}
+}