diff --git a/.github/workflows/pullfrog.yml b/.github/workflows/pullfrog.yml
index f5ae018..808bda4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pullfrog.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pullfrog.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           prompt: ${{ inputs.prompt }}
         env:
+          API_URL: ${{ secrets.API_URL }}
+          VERCEL_AUTOMATION_BYPASS_SECRET: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_AUTOMATION_BYPASS_SECRET }}
           # add any additional keys your agent(s) need
           # optionally, comment out any you won't use
           ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY }}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index edc80e8..ffe8977 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<!-- test preview system --> <!-- trivial touch -->
+<!-- test preview system --> <!-- test bypass 2 -->
 <p align="center">  
   <h1 align="center">
     <picture>
diff --git a/entry b/entry
index 103c40f..d5c1fca 100755
--- a/entry
+++ b/entry
@@ -139417,15 +139417,43 @@ var Octokit2 = Octokit.plugin(requestLog, legacyRestEndpointMethods, paginateRes
 );
 
 // utils/apiUrl.ts
-function getApiUrl() {
-  const url4 = process.env.API_URL || "https://pullfrog.com";
-  log.debug(`resolved API_URL: ${url4}`);
-  return url4;
+function isLocalUrl(url4) {
+  return url4.hostname === "localhost" || url4.hostname === "127.0.0.1";
 }
-function getVercelBypassHeaders() {
-  const secret = process.env.VERCEL_AUTOMATION_BYPASS_SECRET;
-  if (!secret) return {};
-  return { "x-vercel-protection-bypass": secret };
+function getApiUrl() {
+  const raw = process.env.API_URL || "https://pullfrog.com";
+  const parsed2 = new URL(raw);
+  if (parsed2.protocol !== "https:" && !isLocalUrl(parsed2)) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `API_URL must use https:// (got ${parsed2.protocol}). only localhost is exempt.`
+    );
+  }
+  log.debug(`resolved API_URL: ${raw}`);
+  return raw;
+}
+
+// utils/apiFetch.ts
+async function apiFetch(options) {
+  const apiUrl = getApiUrl();
+  const url4 = new URL(options.path, apiUrl);
+  const bypassSecret = process.env.VERCEL_AUTOMATION_BYPASS_SECRET;
+  if (bypassSecret) {
+    url4.searchParams.set("x-vercel-protection-bypass", bypassSecret);
+  }
+  const headers = {
+    ...options.headers
+  };
+  if (bypassSecret) {
+    headers["x-vercel-protection-bypass"] = bypassSecret;
+  }
+  log.debug(`api fetch: ${options.method ?? "GET"} ${url4.pathname}`);
+  const init = {
+    method: options.method ?? "GET",
+    headers
+  };
+  if (options.body) init.body = options.body;
+  if (options.signal) init.signal = options.signal;
+  return fetch(url4.toString(), init);
 }
 
 // utils/retry.ts
@@ -139465,37 +139493,26 @@ function isOIDCAvailable() {
 }
 async function acquireTokenViaOIDC(opts) {
   const oidcToken = await core2.getIDToken("pullfrog-api");
-  const apiUrl = getApiUrl();
-  const params = new URLSearchParams();
   const repos = [...opts?.repos ?? []];
   const targetRepo = process.env.GITHUB_REPOSITORY?.split("/")[1];
   if (targetRepo) {
     repos.push(targetRepo);
   }
-  if (repos.length) {
-    params.set("repos", repos.join(","));
-  }
-  const queryString = params.toString() ? `?${params.toString()}` : "";
+  const reposParam = repos.length ? `?repos=${repos.join(",")}` : "";
   const timeoutMs = 3e4;
   const controller = new AbortController();
   const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), timeoutMs);
   try {
-    const fetchOptions = {
+    const tokenResponse = await apiFetch({
+      path: `/api/github/installation-token${reposParam}`,
       method: "POST",
       headers: {
         Authorization: `Bearer ${oidcToken}`,
-        "Content-Type": "application/json",
-        ...getVercelBypassHeaders()
+        "Content-Type": "application/json"
       },
+      body: opts?.permissions ? JSON.stringify({ permissions: opts.permissions }) : void 0,
       signal: controller.signal
-    };
-    if (opts?.permissions) {
-      fetchOptions.body = JSON.stringify({ permissions: opts.permissions });
-    }
-    const tokenResponse = await fetch(
-      `${apiUrl}/api/github/installation-token${queryString}`,
-      fetchOptions
-    );
+    });
     clearTimeout(timeoutId);
     if (!tokenResponse.ok) {
       throw new Error(`Token exchange failed: ${tokenResponse.status} ${tokenResponse.statusText}`);
@@ -144006,13 +144023,12 @@ function UploadFileTool(ctx) {
       const contentLength = buffer.length;
       const fileType = await fileTypeFromBuffer(buffer);
       const contentType = fileType?.mime || "application/octet-stream";
-      const apiUrl = getApiUrl();
-      const response = await fetch(`${apiUrl}/api/upload/signed-url`, {
+      const response = await apiFetch({
+        path: "/api/upload/signed-url",
         method: "POST",
         headers: {
           Authorization: `Bearer ${ctx.apiToken}`,
-          "Content-Type": "application/json",
-          ...getVercelBypassHeaders()
+          "Content-Type": "application/json"
         },
         body: JSON.stringify({
           filename,
@@ -146718,23 +146734,18 @@ var defaultRunContext = {
   apiToken: ""
 };
 async function fetchRunContext(params) {
-  const apiUrl = getApiUrl();
   const timeoutMs = 3e4;
   const controller = new AbortController();
   const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), timeoutMs);
   try {
-    const response = await fetch(
-      `${apiUrl}/api/repo/${params.repoContext.owner}/${params.repoContext.name}/run-context`,
-      {
-        method: "GET",
-        headers: {
-          Authorization: `Bearer ${params.token}`,
-          "Content-Type": "application/json",
-          ...getVercelBypassHeaders()
-        },
-        signal: controller.signal
-      }
-    );
+    const response = await apiFetch({
+      path: `/api/repo/${params.repoContext.owner}/${params.repoContext.name}/run-context`,
+      headers: {
+        Authorization: `Bearer ${params.token}`,
+        "Content-Type": "application/json"
+      },
+      signal: controller.signal
+    });
     clearTimeout(timeoutId);
     if (!response.ok) {
       return defaultRunContext;
diff --git a/get-installation-token/entry b/get-installation-token/entry
index 81b1507..ef66160 100755
--- a/get-installation-token/entry
+++ b/get-installation-token/entry
@@ -25681,15 +25681,43 @@ var core2 = __toESM(require_core(), 1);
 import { createSign } from "node:crypto";
 
 // utils/apiUrl.ts
-function getApiUrl() {
-  const url = process.env.API_URL || "https://pullfrog.com";
-  log.debug(`resolved API_URL: ${url}`);
-  return url;
+function isLocalUrl(url) {
+  return url.hostname === "localhost" || url.hostname === "127.0.0.1";
 }
-function getVercelBypassHeaders() {
-  const secret = process.env.VERCEL_AUTOMATION_BYPASS_SECRET;
-  if (!secret) return {};
-  return { "x-vercel-protection-bypass": secret };
+function getApiUrl() {
+  const raw = process.env.API_URL || "https://pullfrog.com";
+  const parsed = new URL(raw);
+  if (parsed.protocol !== "https:" && !isLocalUrl(parsed)) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `API_URL must use https:// (got ${parsed.protocol}). only localhost is exempt.`
+    );
+  }
+  log.debug(`resolved API_URL: ${raw}`);
+  return raw;
+}
+
+// utils/apiFetch.ts
+async function apiFetch(options) {
+  const apiUrl = getApiUrl();
+  const url = new URL(options.path, apiUrl);
+  const bypassSecret = process.env.VERCEL_AUTOMATION_BYPASS_SECRET;
+  if (bypassSecret) {
+    url.searchParams.set("x-vercel-protection-bypass", bypassSecret);
+  }
+  const headers = {
+    ...options.headers
+  };
+  if (bypassSecret) {
+    headers["x-vercel-protection-bypass"] = bypassSecret;
+  }
+  log.debug(`api fetch: ${options.method ?? "GET"} ${url.pathname}`);
+  const init = {
+    method: options.method ?? "GET",
+    headers
+  };
+  if (options.body) init.body = options.body;
+  if (options.signal) init.signal = options.signal;
+  return fetch(url.toString(), init);
 }
 
 // utils/retry.ts
@@ -25729,37 +25757,26 @@ function isOIDCAvailable() {
 }
 async function acquireTokenViaOIDC(opts) {
   const oidcToken = await core2.getIDToken("pullfrog-api");
-  const apiUrl = getApiUrl();
-  const params = new URLSearchParams();
   const repos = [...opts?.repos ?? []];
   const targetRepo = process.env.GITHUB_REPOSITORY?.split("/")[1];
   if (targetRepo) {
     repos.push(targetRepo);
   }
-  if (repos.length) {
-    params.set("repos", repos.join(","));
-  }
-  const queryString = params.toString() ? `?${params.toString()}` : "";
+  const reposParam = repos.length ? `?repos=${repos.join(",")}` : "";
   const timeoutMs = 3e4;
   const controller = new AbortController();
   const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), timeoutMs);
   try {
-    const fetchOptions = {
+    const tokenResponse = await apiFetch({
+      path: `/api/github/installation-token${reposParam}`,
       method: "POST",
       headers: {
         Authorization: `Bearer ${oidcToken}`,
-        "Content-Type": "application/json",
-        ...getVercelBypassHeaders()
+        "Content-Type": "application/json"
       },
+      body: opts?.permissions ? JSON.stringify({ permissions: opts.permissions }) : void 0,
       signal: controller.signal
-    };
-    if (opts?.permissions) {
-      fetchOptions.body = JSON.stringify({ permissions: opts.permissions });
-    }
-    const tokenResponse = await fetch(
-      `${apiUrl}/api/github/installation-token${queryString}`,
-      fetchOptions
-    );
+    });
     clearTimeout(timeoutId);
     if (!tokenResponse.ok) {
       throw new Error(`Token exchange failed: ${tokenResponse.status} ${tokenResponse.statusText}`);
diff --git a/mcp/upload.ts b/mcp/upload.ts
index 6a76b24..4b1c94c 100644
--- a/mcp/upload.ts
+++ b/mcp/upload.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import * as fs from "node:fs";
 import * as path from "node:path";
 import { type } from "arktype";
 import { fileTypeFromBuffer } from "file-type";
-import { getApiUrl, getVercelBypassHeaders } from "../utils/apiUrl.ts";
+import { apiFetch } from "../utils/apiFetch.ts";
 import type { ToolContext } from "./server.ts";
 import { execute, tool } from "./shared.ts";
 
@@ -25,14 +25,12 @@ export function UploadFileTool(ctx: ToolContext) {
       const fileType = await fileTypeFromBuffer(buffer);
       const contentType = fileType?.mime || "application/octet-stream";
 
-      const apiUrl = getApiUrl();
-
-      const response = await fetch(`${apiUrl}/api/upload/signed-url`, {
+      const response = await apiFetch({
+        path: "/api/upload/signed-url",
         method: "POST",
         headers: {
           Authorization: `Bearer ${ctx.apiToken}`,
           "Content-Type": "application/json",
-          ...getVercelBypassHeaders(),
         },
         body: JSON.stringify({
           filename,
diff --git a/utils/apiFetch.ts b/utils/apiFetch.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b264491
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/apiFetch.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import { getApiUrl } from "./apiUrl.ts";
+import { log } from "./cli.ts";
+
+type ApiFetchOptions = {
+  path: string;
+  method?: string | undefined;
+  headers?: Record<string, string> | undefined;
+  body?: string | undefined;
+  signal?: AbortSignal | undefined;
+};
+
+/**
+ * fetch wrapper for hitting the Pullfrog API with Vercel deployment protection bypass.
+ *
+ * adds the bypass secret as BOTH a query parameter and a header for maximum reliability.
+ * the server-side forwarding code uses query params, and the Vercel docs say both work,
+ * so we do both as belt-and-suspenders.
+ *
+ * the query param approach is the primary bypass mechanism (matches server-side forwarding).
+ * the header is added as a fallback.
+ */
+export async function apiFetch(options: ApiFetchOptions): Promise<Response> {
+  const apiUrl = getApiUrl();
+  const url = new URL(options.path, apiUrl);
+
+  const bypassSecret = process.env.VERCEL_AUTOMATION_BYPASS_SECRET;
+  if (bypassSecret) {
+    url.searchParams.set("x-vercel-protection-bypass", bypassSecret);
+  }
+
+  const headers: Record<string, string> = {
+    ...options.headers,
+  };
+
+  // also add as header for belt-and-suspenders
+  if (bypassSecret) {
+    headers["x-vercel-protection-bypass"] = bypassSecret;
+  }
+
+  log.debug(`api fetch: ${options.method ?? "GET"} ${url.pathname}`);
+
+  const init: RequestInit = {
+    method: options.method ?? "GET",
+    headers,
+  };
+  if (options.body) init.body = options.body;
+  if (options.signal) init.signal = options.signal;
+
+  return fetch(url.toString(), init);
+}
diff --git a/utils/apiUrl.ts b/utils/apiUrl.ts
index 5988d17..233fef8 100644
--- a/utils/apiUrl.ts
+++ b/utils/apiUrl.ts
@@ -1,24 +1,27 @@
 import { log } from "./cli.ts";
 
+function isLocalUrl(url: URL): boolean {
+  return url.hostname === "localhost" || url.hostname === "127.0.0.1";
+}
+
 /**
  * resolve the Pullfrog API base URL.
  *
  * in the action: API_URL is not explicitly set, so this falls back to https://pullfrog.com.
  * in local dev: API_URL=http://localhost:3000 (from .env).
+ *
+ * enforces https:// for non-local URLs to prevent cleartext credential transmission.
  */
 export function getApiUrl(): string {
-  const url = process.env.API_URL || "https://pullfrog.com";
-  log.debug(`resolved API_URL: ${url}`);
-  return url;
-}
+  const raw = process.env.API_URL || "https://pullfrog.com";
+  const parsed = new URL(raw);
 
-/**
- * returns headers needed to bypass Vercel deployment protection on preview deployments.
- * when VERCEL_AUTOMATION_BYPASS_SECRET is set (preview repos), includes the bypass header.
- * otherwise returns an empty object (production / local dev).
- */
-export function getVercelBypassHeaders(): Record<string, string> {
-  const secret = process.env.VERCEL_AUTOMATION_BYPASS_SECRET;
-  if (!secret) return {};
-  return { "x-vercel-protection-bypass": secret };
+  if (parsed.protocol !== "https:" && !isLocalUrl(parsed)) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `API_URL must use https:// (got ${parsed.protocol}). only localhost is exempt.`
+    );
+  }
+
+  log.debug(`resolved API_URL: ${raw}`);
+  return raw;
 }
diff --git a/utils/github.ts b/utils/github.ts
index 71b8851..ded0116 100644
--- a/utils/github.ts
+++ b/utils/github.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { createSign } from "node:crypto";
 import * as core from "@actions/core";
 import { throttling } from "@octokit/plugin-throttling";
 import { Octokit } from "@octokit/rest";
-import { getApiUrl, getVercelBypassHeaders } from "./apiUrl.ts";
+import { apiFetch } from "./apiFetch.ts";
 import { retry } from "./retry.ts";
 
 export interface InstallationToken {
@@ -85,41 +85,28 @@ type AcquireTokenOptions = {
 async function acquireTokenViaOIDC(opts?: AcquireTokenOptions): Promise<string> {
   const oidcToken = await core.getIDToken("pullfrog-api");
 
-  const apiUrl = getApiUrl();
-  const params = new URLSearchParams();
-
-  // ensure the token covers GITHUB_REPOSITORY (may differ from OIDC claims repo)
   const repos = [...(opts?.repos ?? [])];
   const targetRepo = process.env.GITHUB_REPOSITORY?.split("/")[1];
   if (targetRepo) {
     repos.push(targetRepo);
   }
-  if (repos.length) {
-    params.set("repos", repos.join(","));
-  }
-  const queryString = params.toString() ? `?${params.toString()}` : "";
+  const reposParam = repos.length ? `?repos=${repos.join(",")}` : "";
 
   const timeoutMs = 30000;
   const controller = new AbortController();
   const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), timeoutMs);
 
   try {
-    const fetchOptions: RequestInit = {
+    const tokenResponse = await apiFetch({
+      path: `/api/github/installation-token${reposParam}`,
       method: "POST",
       headers: {
         Authorization: `Bearer ${oidcToken}`,
         "Content-Type": "application/json",
-        ...getVercelBypassHeaders(),
       },
+      body: opts?.permissions ? JSON.stringify({ permissions: opts.permissions }) : undefined,
       signal: controller.signal,
-    };
-    if (opts?.permissions) {
-      fetchOptions.body = JSON.stringify({ permissions: opts.permissions });
-    }
-    const tokenResponse = await fetch(
-      `${apiUrl}/api/github/installation-token${queryString}`,
-      fetchOptions
-    );
+    });
 
     clearTimeout(timeoutId);
 
diff --git a/utils/runContext.ts b/utils/runContext.ts
index 046d795..b0d2ad5 100644
--- a/utils/runContext.ts
+++ b/utils/runContext.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { AgentName, BashPermission, PushPermission, ToolPermission } from "../external.ts";
-import { getApiUrl, getVercelBypassHeaders } from "./apiUrl.ts";
+import { apiFetch } from "./apiFetch.ts";
 import type { RepoContext } from "./github.ts";
 
 export interface Mode {
@@ -52,24 +52,19 @@ export async function fetchRunContext(params: {
   token: string;
   repoContext: RepoContext;
 }): Promise<RunContext> {
-  const apiUrl = getApiUrl();
   const timeoutMs = 30000;
   const controller = new AbortController();
   const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), timeoutMs);
 
   try {
-    const response = await fetch(
-      `${apiUrl}/api/repo/${params.repoContext.owner}/${params.repoContext.name}/run-context`,
-      {
-        method: "GET",
-        headers: {
-          Authorization: `Bearer ${params.token}`,
-          "Content-Type": "application/json",
-          ...getVercelBypassHeaders(),
-        },
-        signal: controller.signal,
-      }
-    );
+    const response = await apiFetch({
+      path: `/api/repo/${params.repoContext.owner}/${params.repoContext.name}/run-context`,
+      headers: {
+        Authorization: `Bearer ${params.token}`,
+        "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      },
+      signal: controller.signal,
+    });
 
     clearTimeout(timeoutId);
 
diff --git a/utils/secrets.ts b/utils/secrets.ts
index 4f0ff52..a7bb2e3 100644
--- a/utils/secrets.ts
+++ b/utils/secrets.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
  * Redacts actual secret values rather than using pattern matching
  */
 
-import { agentsManifest } from "../external.ts";
 import { getGitHubInstallationToken } from "./token.ts";
 
 // patterns for sensitive env var names
@@ -52,28 +51,14 @@ export function resolveEnv(mode: EnvMode | undefined): Record<string, string | u
 function getAllSecrets(): string[] {
   const secrets: string[] = [];
 
-  // get all API key values from agent manifest
-  for (const agent of Object.values(agentsManifest)) {
-    for (const keyName of agent.apiKeyNames) {
-      const envKey = keyName.toUpperCase();
-      const value = process.env[envKey];
-      if (value) {
-        secrets.push(value);
-      }
+  // collect all env var values matching SENSITIVE_PATTERNS
+  for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(process.env)) {
+    if (value && isSensitiveEnvName(key)) {
+      secrets.push(value);
     }
   }
 
-  // for OpenCode: also scan all API_KEY environment variables (since apiKeyNames is empty)
-  const opencodeAgent = agentsManifest.opencode;
-  if (opencodeAgent && opencodeAgent.apiKeyNames.length === 0) {
-    for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(process.env)) {
-      if (value && typeof value === "string" && key.includes("API_KEY")) {
-        secrets.push(value);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  // add GitHub installation token
+  // add GitHub installation token (stored in memory, not in env)
   try {
     const token = getGitHubInstallationToken();
     if (token) {