diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3d00e7319..4eda32488 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,13 +2,11 @@
 
 Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 
-## 2026.1.25
-
-### Changes
-- TBD.
+## 2026.1.24-3
 
 ### Fixes
 - Gateway: harden reverse proxy handling for local-client detection and unauthenticated proxied connects. (#1795) Thanks @orlyjamie.
+- Security audit: flag loopback Control UI with auth disabled as critical. (#1795) Thanks @orlyjamie.
 
 ## 2026.1.24-2
 
diff --git a/docs/platforms/mac/release.md b/docs/platforms/mac/release.md
index 7f37951cb..d2d267661 100644
--- a/docs/platforms/mac/release.md
+++ b/docs/platforms/mac/release.md
@@ -30,17 +30,17 @@ Notes:
 # From repo root; set release IDs so Sparkle feed is enabled.
 # APP_BUILD must be numeric + monotonic for Sparkle compare.
 BUNDLE_ID=com.clawdbot.mac \
-APP_VERSION=2026.1.24-1 \
+APP_VERSION=2026.1.24-3 \
 APP_BUILD="$(git rev-list --count HEAD)" \
 BUILD_CONFIG=release \
 SIGN_IDENTITY="Developer ID Application: <Developer Name> (<TEAMID>)" \
 scripts/package-mac-app.sh
 
 # Zip for distribution (includes resource forks for Sparkle delta support)
-ditto -c -k --sequesterRsrc --keepParent dist/Clawdbot.app dist/Clawdbot-2026.1.24-1.zip
+ditto -c -k --sequesterRsrc --keepParent dist/Clawdbot.app dist/Clawdbot-2026.1.24-3.zip
 
 # Optional: also build a styled DMG for humans (drag to /Applications)
-scripts/create-dmg.sh dist/Clawdbot.app dist/Clawdbot-2026.1.24-1.dmg
+scripts/create-dmg.sh dist/Clawdbot.app dist/Clawdbot-2026.1.24-3.dmg
 
 # Recommended: build + notarize/staple zip + DMG
 # First, create a keychain profile once:
@@ -48,26 +48,26 @@ scripts/create-dmg.sh dist/Clawdbot.app dist/Clawdbot-2026.1.24-1.dmg
 #     --apple-id "<apple-id>" --team-id "<team-id>" --password "<app-specific-password>"
 NOTARIZE=1 NOTARYTOOL_PROFILE=clawdbot-notary \
 BUNDLE_ID=com.clawdbot.mac \
-APP_VERSION=2026.1.24-1 \
+APP_VERSION=2026.1.24-3 \
 APP_BUILD="$(git rev-list --count HEAD)" \
 BUILD_CONFIG=release \
 SIGN_IDENTITY="Developer ID Application: <Developer Name> (<TEAMID>)" \
 scripts/package-mac-dist.sh
 
 # Optional: ship dSYM alongside the release
-ditto -c -k --keepParent apps/macos/.build/release/Clawdbot.app.dSYM dist/Clawdbot-2026.1.24-1.dSYM.zip
+ditto -c -k --keepParent apps/macos/.build/release/Clawdbot.app.dSYM dist/Clawdbot-2026.1.24-3.dSYM.zip
 ```
 
 ## Appcast entry
 Use the release note generator so Sparkle renders formatted HTML notes:
 ```bash
-SPARKLE_PRIVATE_KEY_FILE=/path/to/ed25519-private-key scripts/make_appcast.sh dist/Clawdbot-2026.1.24-1.zip https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clawdbot/clawdbot/main/appcast.xml
+SPARKLE_PRIVATE_KEY_FILE=/path/to/ed25519-private-key scripts/make_appcast.sh dist/Clawdbot-2026.1.24-3.zip https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clawdbot/clawdbot/main/appcast.xml
 ```
 Generates HTML release notes from `CHANGELOG.md` (via [`scripts/changelog-to-html.sh`](https://github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot/blob/main/scripts/changelog-to-html.sh)) and embeds them in the appcast entry.
 Commit the updated `appcast.xml` alongside the release assets (zip + dSYM) when publishing.
 
 ## Publish & verify
-- Upload `Clawdbot-2026.1.24-1.zip` (and `Clawdbot-2026.1.24-1.dSYM.zip`) to the GitHub release for tag `v2026.1.24-1`.
+- Upload `Clawdbot-2026.1.24-3.zip` (and `Clawdbot-2026.1.24-3.dSYM.zip`) to the GitHub release for tag `v2026.1.24-3`.
 - Ensure the raw appcast URL matches the baked feed: `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clawdbot/clawdbot/main/appcast.xml`.
 - Sanity checks:
   - `curl -I https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clawdbot/clawdbot/main/appcast.xml` returns 200.
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 39e7b31d2..5d77e25d0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "clawdbot",
-  "version": "2026.1.24-2",
+  "version": "2026.1.24-3",
   "description": "WhatsApp gateway CLI (Baileys web) with Pi RPC agent",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
diff --git a/src/security/audit.test.ts b/src/security/audit.test.ts
index 0051b753f..2ee7e27ee 100644
--- a/src/security/audit.test.ts
+++ b/src/security/audit.test.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,31 @@ describe("security audit", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it("flags loopback control UI without auth as critical", async () => {
+    const cfg: ClawdbotConfig = {
+      gateway: {
+        bind: "loopback",
+        controlUi: { enabled: true },
+        auth: { mode: "none" as any },
+      },
+    };
+
+    const res = await runSecurityAudit({
+      config: cfg,
+      includeFilesystem: false,
+      includeChannelSecurity: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(res.findings).toEqual(
+      expect.arrayContaining([
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          checkId: "gateway.loopback_no_auth",
+          severity: "critical",
+        }),
+      ]),
+    );
+  });
+
   it("flags logging.redactSensitive=off", async () => {
     const cfg: ClawdbotConfig = {
       logging: { redactSensitive: "off" },
diff --git a/src/security/audit.ts b/src/security/audit.ts
index db51d576f..3695cf049 100644
--- a/src/security/audit.ts
+++ b/src/security/audit.ts
@@ -236,6 +236,18 @@ function collectGatewayConfigFindings(cfg: ClawdbotConfig): SecurityAuditFinding
     });
   }
 
+  if (bind === "loopback" && controlUiEnabled && auth.mode === "none") {
+    findings.push({
+      checkId: "gateway.loopback_no_auth",
+      severity: "critical",
+      title: "Gateway auth disabled on loopback",
+      detail:
+        "gateway.bind is loopback and gateway.auth is disabled. " +
+        "If the Control UI is exposed through a reverse proxy, unauthenticated access is possible.",
+      remediation: "Set gateway.auth (token recommended) or keep the Control UI local-only.",
+    });
+  }
+
   if (tailscaleMode === "funnel") {
     findings.push({
       checkId: "gateway.tailscale_funnel",