diff --git a/agent/chat.go b/agent/chat.go
index a859dd3..25cb23b 100644
--- a/agent/chat.go
+++ b/agent/chat.go
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func (c *ChatAgent) Chat(ctx context.Context, agentKey, sessionID, message strin
 		Provider:        c.prov,
 		SystemPrompt:    system,
 		DynamicBoundary: boundary,
-		Tools:           withWebFetch(tools, c.proxyAddr, c.proxyCACert), // WebFetch: routed through the recording proxy for tracing; loads the proxy CA to verify MITM-resigned HTTPS certificates; every redirect hop is gated
+		Tools:           withWebFetch(ctx, tools, c.proxyAddr, c.proxyCACert), // WebFetch: routed through the recording proxy for tracing; loads the proxy CA to verify MITM-resigned HTTPS certificates; every redirect hop is gated
 		DeferredTools:   def.Deferred,
 		UnlockSet:       def.Unlock,
 		PermissionMode:  permission.ModeBypass,
diff --git a/agent/mainagent.go b/agent/mainagent.go
index 5b31883..8caf61f 100644
--- a/agent/mainagent.go
+++ b/agent/mainagent.go
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ func (m *MainAgent) Chat(ctx context.Context, taskID int64, mainSeg int, as *db.
 		Provider:        m.prov,
 		SystemPrompt:    system,
 		DynamicBoundary: boundary,
-		Tools:           withWebFetch(tools, m.proxyAddr, m.proxyCACert), // WebFetch: routed through the recording proxy for tracing; loads the proxy CA to verify MITM-resigned HTTPS certificates; every redirect hop is gated
+		Tools:           withWebFetch(ctx, tools, m.proxyAddr, m.proxyCACert), // WebFetch: routed through the recording proxy for tracing; loads the proxy CA to verify MITM-resigned HTTPS certificates; every redirect hop is gated
 		DeferredTools:   def.Deferred,
 		UnlockSet:       def.Unlock,
 		PermissionMode:  permission.ModeBypass,
diff --git a/agent/planner.go b/agent/planner.go
index 99128b1..bcf71d7 100644
--- a/agent/planner.go
+++ b/agent/planner.go
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ func (p *Planner) Plan(ctx context.Context, taskID int64, as *db.AssetStore, ts
 		Provider:        p.prov,
 		SystemPrompt:    system,
 		DynamicBoundary: boundary,
-		Tools:           withWebFetch(tools, p.proxyAddr, p.proxyCACert), // WebFetch: route through the recording proxy for traceability; load the proxy CA to verify MITM-re-signed HTTPS certs; every redirect hop is gated
+		Tools:           withWebFetch(ctx, tools, p.proxyAddr, p.proxyCACert), // WebFetch: route through the recording proxy for traceability; load the proxy CA to verify MITM-re-signed HTTPS certs; every redirect hop is gated
 		DeferredTools:   def.Deferred,
 		UnlockSet:       def.Unlock,
 		PermissionMode:  permission.ModeBypass,
diff --git a/agent/webfetch.go b/agent/webfetch.go
index 5bdcd02..323bd5e 100644
--- a/agent/webfetch.go
+++ b/agent/webfetch.go
@@ -1,19 +1,27 @@
 package agent
 
 import (
+	"context"
+
 	"github.com/Autumn-27/artex/intercept"
 	actool "github.com/Autumn-27/norma/tool"
 )
 
 // withWebFetch returns tools plus the WebFetch tool of an agent session. Every
-// agent kind builds WebFetch here instead of through agentcore's EnableWebFetch,
-// which has no option for a redirect policy: every redirect hop goes through the
-// target gate (intercept.RedirectCheck), on the client that uses proxy and on
-// the direct retry client alike. The tool is added after the session's own
-// tools, where agentcore adds it, so the tool list keeps its order. caCert is the
-// recording proxy's CA, trusted to verify the HTTPS it re-signs. tools is not
-// modified.
-func withWebFetch(tools []actool.CoreTool, proxy, caCert string) []actool.CoreTool {
-	webFetch := actool.NewWebFetch(actool.WebFetchConfig{Proxy: proxy, CACert: caCert, CheckRedirect: intercept.RedirectCheck("WebFetch")})
+// agent kind builds WebFetch here, one tool per run, so that its configuration
+// can depend on the run: every redirect hop goes through the target gate
+// (intercept.RedirectCheck), and every connection through the pinned dialer
+// (intercept.PinnedDialer), on the client that uses proxy and on the direct
+// retry client alike. ctx is the context of the run: when it carries a target
+// scope the dialer never connects without one, and when that scope's gate is
+// on the direct retry is turned off for the run, since it would leave without
+// the proxy. The tool is added after the session's own tools, where agentcore
+// adds it, so the tool list keeps its order. caCert is the recording proxy's
+// CA, trusted to verify the HTTPS it re-signs. tools is not modified.
+func withWebFetch(ctx context.Context, tools []actool.CoreTool, proxy, caCert string) []actool.CoreTool {
+	scope, scoped := intercept.TargetScopeFromContext(ctx)
+	gated := scoped && scope.Enabled != nil && scope.Enabled()
+	webFetch := actool.NewWebFetch(actool.WebFetchConfig{Proxy: proxy, CACert: caCert, CheckRedirect: intercept.RedirectCheck("WebFetch"),
+		DialContext: intercept.PinnedDialer("WebFetch", scoped), DisableDirectRetry: gated})
 	return append(tools[:len(tools):len(tools)], webFetch)
 }
diff --git a/agent/webfetch_dialer_test.go b/agent/webfetch_dialer_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e954b26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/agent/webfetch_dialer_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+package agent
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"net/netip"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/Autumn-27/artex/db"
+	"github.com/Autumn-27/artex/guard"
+	"github.com/Autumn-27/artex/intercept"
+	actool "github.com/Autumn-27/norma/tool"
+)
+
+// Step 2.1: the WebFetch tool of every agent kind connects through the pinned
+// dialer. In a gated scope it reaches a target only at an address a pin holds.
+
+// tableResolver answers from a table and counts the lookups.
+type tableResolver struct {
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	answers map[string][]string
+	n       int
+}
+
+func newTableResolver() *tableResolver { return &tableResolver{answers: map[string][]string{}} }
+
+func (r *tableResolver) Name() string { return "table" }
+
+func (r *tableResolver) LookupIPs(_ context.Context, host string) ([]netip.Addr, error) {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.mu.Unlock()
+	r.n++
+	var out []netip.Addr
+	for _, ip := range r.answers[host] {
+		out = append(out, netip.MustParseAddr(ip))
+	}
+	if len(out) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no answer for %s", host)
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func (r *tableResolver) set(host string, ips ...string) {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	r.answers[host] = ips
+	r.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (r *tableResolver) lookups() int {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.mu.Unlock()
+	return r.n
+}
+
+// testDialer is the base dialer of the gate in these tests: it records every
+// address, connects the routed TEST-NET addresses to local listeners and a
+// loopback address to itself, and refuses the rest.
+type testDialer struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	routes map[string]string
+	dialed []string
+}
+
+func newTestDialer() *testDialer { return &testDialer{routes: map[string]string{}} }
+
+func (d *testDialer) route(addr, to string) {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	d.routes[addr] = to
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (d *testDialer) dial(ctx context.Context, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	d.dialed = append(d.dialed, addr)
+	to, ok := d.routes[addr]
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+	if !ok && strings.HasPrefix(addr, "127.0.0.1:") {
+		to, ok = addr, true
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, &net.OpError{Op: "dial", Net: network, Err: errors.New("no route in the test dialer")}
+	}
+	return (&net.Dialer{}).DialContext(ctx, network, to)
+}
+
+func (d *testDialer) calls() []string {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	defer d.mu.Unlock()
+	return slices.Clone(d.dialed)
+}
+
+// dialFixture is a gated scope on task taskID whose gate resolves through a
+// table and dials through a testDialer.
+func dialFixture(t *testing.T, d *db.DB, taskID string) (intercept.TargetScope, *tableResolver, *testDialer) {
+	t.Helper()
+	scope := gatedScope(t, d, taskID)
+	res, dialer := newTableResolver(), newTestDialer()
+	scope.Interceptor.SetResolver(res)
+	scope.Interceptor.SetBaseDialer(dialer.dial)
+	return scope, res, dialer
+}
+
+// listener is an HTTP server that counts its requests; port is its port.
+func listener(t *testing.T, body string) (addr, port string, hits *atomic.Int64) {
+	t.Helper()
+	hits = &atomic.Int64{}
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		hits.Add(1)
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/plain")
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(body))
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+	addr = srv.Listener.Addr().String()
+	_, port, _ = net.SplitHostPort(addr)
+	return addr, port, hits
+}
+
+// runAgentKind runs one scripted WebFetch call with the agent kind on ctx.
+func runAgentKind(t *testing.T, kind string, f hookReachFixture, ctx context.Context, rawURL string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	prov := toolCallThenStop("WebFetch", fetchInputJSON(rawURL))
+	switch kind {
+	case "worker":
+		payload := map[string]any{"summary": "dial probe"}
+		intentID, err := f.ts.AddNode("intent", payload, 0, "running", "planner", nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		raw, _ := json.Marshal(payload)
+		w := NewWorker(prov, "test-model", f.workDir, nil, 0, 3)
+		if _, _, err := w.Execute(ctx, "work#1", f.expID, nil, f.ts, &db.Node{ID: intentID, Payload: raw}, passHooks{}, nil, nil, nil); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	case "planner":
+		p := NewPlanner(prov, "test-model", f.workDir, nil, 0, 3)
+		if _, _, err := p.Plan(ctx, f.expID, nil, f.ts, "probe goal", nil, passHooks{}, nil); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	case "mainagent":
+		m := NewMainAgent(prov, "test-model", f.workDir, nil, 0, 3)
+		if _, err := m.Chat(ctx, f.expID, 0, nil, f.ts, "probe goal", "status?", passHooks{}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	case "chat":
+		c := NewChatAgent(prov, "test-model", t.TempDir(), nil, 0)
+		c.SetGuard(guard.New())
+		if _, err := c.Chat(ctx, "assistant", "conv-dial-probe", "fetch it", 3, 0, false, nil); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Each agent kind's WebFetch reaches a pinned name at its pinned address, and
+// once the name answers another address it connects nowhere and asks. A fifth
+// agent kind built without the dialer fails this table once it is added to it.
+func TestWebFetchDialerWiredOnEveryAgentKind(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, kind := range []string{"worker", "planner", "mainagent", "chat"} {
+		t.Run(kind, func(t *testing.T) {
+			f := newHookReachFixture(t)
+			d := testDB(t)
+			t.Cleanup(func() { _ = d.Close() })
+			addr, port, hits := listener(t, "pinned-reached")
+			scope, res, dialer := dialFixture(t, d, f.taskID)
+			dialer.route("203.0.113.7:"+port, addr)
+			dialer.route("203.0.113.9:"+port, addr)
+			res.set("a.example", "203.0.113.7")
+			u := "http://a.example:" + port + "/"
+			pinTarget(t, d, scope, u)
+			ctx := intercept.WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope)
+
+			runAgentKind(t, kind, f, ctx, u)
+			if hits.Load() != 1 || !slices.Equal(dialer.calls(), []string{"203.0.113.7:" + port}) {
+				t.Fatalf("pinned: hits=%d dialled %v, want the pinned address", hits.Load(), dialer.calls())
+			}
+			res.set("a.example", "203.0.113.9")
+			runAgentKind(t, kind, f, ctx, u)
+			if hits.Load() != 1 || len(dialer.calls()) != 1 {
+				t.Fatalf("address changed: hits=%d dialled %v, want nothing more", hits.Load(), dialer.calls())
+			}
+			if keys := openRedirectRequests(t, d, f.taskID); len(keys) != 1 || keys[0] != "a.example:"+port {
+				t.Fatalf("open requests = %v, want one for a.example:%s", keys, port)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// S2: through a proxy, the dialer is given the proxy's address, never the
+// target's. The proxy is a derived exemption: dialled as received, no lookup,
+// no row. The connection to the target is the proxy's (step 2.2 binds it).
+func TestWebFetchProxiedDialIsTheProxy(t *testing.T) {
+	d := testDB(t)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = d.Close() })
+	f := newHookReachFixture(t)
+	scope, res, dialer := dialFixture(t, d, f.taskID)
+	proxy := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte("via-proxy " + r.URL.Host))
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(proxy.Close)
+	scope.Interceptor.SetDerivedExemptions(func() []string { return []string{proxy.URL} })
+	res.set("a.example", "203.0.113.7")
+	ctx := intercept.WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope)
+
+	out, isErr := callWebFetch(t, ctx, proxy.URL, "http://a.example:8080/")
+	if isErr || !strings.Contains(out, "via-proxy a.example:8080") {
+		t.Fatalf("proxied fetch: error=%v out=%q", isErr, out)
+	}
+	if got := dialer.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{proxy.Listener.Addr().String()}) || res.lookups() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v after %d lookups, want the proxy only", got, res.lookups())
+	}
+	if keys := openRedirectRequests(t, d, f.taskID); len(keys) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("open requests = %v", keys)
+	}
+}
+
+// D-8: a run built with the gate off keeps its direct retry when the gate is
+// switched on during the run, and the retry goes through the pinned dialer: a
+// pinned target is dialled at its pinned address, an unpinned one nowhere.
+func TestWebFetchRetryAfterLiveSwitchIsPinned(t *testing.T) {
+	d := testDB(t)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = d.Close() })
+	f := newHookReachFixture(t)
+	scope, res, dialer := dialFixture(t, d, f.taskID)
+	var on atomic.Bool
+	scope.Enabled = on.Load
+	scope.Interceptor.SetDerivedExemptions(func() []string { return []string{"http://127.0.0.1:1"} })
+	addr, port, hits := listener(t, "retry-reached")
+	dialer.route("203.0.113.7:"+port, addr)
+	dialer.route("203.0.113.8:"+port, addr)
+	res.set("a.example", "203.0.113.7")
+	res.set("b.example", "203.0.113.8")
+	ctx := intercept.WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope)
+	tools := withWebFetch(ctx, nil, "http://127.0.0.1:1", "")
+
+	on.Store(true)
+	pinTarget(t, d, scope, "http://a.example:"+port+"/")
+	call := func(u string) (string, bool) {
+		r, err := tools[0].Call(ctx, json.RawMessage(fetchInputJSON(u)), &actool.ToolContext{})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return r.Flatten(), r.IsError
+	}
+	if out, isErr := call("http://a.example:" + port + "/"); isErr || !strings.Contains(out, "retry-reached") || hits.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("pinned target through the retry: error=%v out=%q", isErr, out)
+	}
+	if out, isErr := call("http://b.example:" + port + "/"); !isErr || !strings.Contains(out, intercept.TargetApprovalPending) || hits.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("unpinned target through the retry: error=%v out=%q", isErr, out)
+	}
+	want := []string{"127.0.0.1:1", "203.0.113.7:" + port, "127.0.0.1:1"}
+	if got := dialer.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, want %v", got, want)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/agent/webfetch_redirect_test.go b/agent/webfetch_redirect_test.go
index 7c99d1d..0243aec 100644
--- a/agent/webfetch_redirect_test.go
+++ b/agent/webfetch_redirect_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"net/url"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"testing"
@@ -20,8 +21,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Step 1.9: the WebFetch tool of every agent kind checks each redirect hop
-// against the target gate, on the primary client and on the direct retry
-// client. With the gate off it follows redirects as before.
+// against the target gate. With the gate off it follows redirects as before.
+// Step 2.1: in a gated scope WebFetch has no direct retry.
 
 // passHooks lets every tool call run.
 type passHooks struct{}
@@ -100,7 +101,9 @@ func fetchInputJSON(u string) string {
 // no pin covers. The hooks let the call run, so the hop is what the gate sees:
 // each kind must stop at the hop, leave the redirect target untouched and open
 // one request for it. A fifth agent kind added without the redirect policy
-// fails this table once it is added to it.
+// fails this table once it is added to it. The origin is pinned first: the
+// hooks never check it here, and the pinned dialer (step 2.1) connects only to
+// a pinned target.
 func TestWebFetchRedirectCheckWiredOnEveryAgentKind(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, kind := range []string{"worker", "planner", "mainagent", "chat"} {
 		t.Run(kind, func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -109,6 +112,7 @@ func TestWebFetchRedirectCheckWiredOnEveryAgentKind(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Cleanup(func() { _ = d.Close() })
 			pair := newRedirectPair(t)
 			scope := gatedScope(t, d, f.taskID)
+			pinTarget(t, d, scope, pair.start)
 			ctx := intercept.WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope)
 			prov := toolCallThenStop("WebFetch", fetchInputJSON(pair.start))
 
@@ -155,30 +159,33 @@ func TestWebFetchRedirectCheckWiredOnEveryAgentKind(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// The direct retry client carries the policy too: with a proxy that refuses
-// the connection, WebFetch retries without it, reaches the origin, and the
-// hop is still stopped.
-func TestWebFetchRedirectCheckOnDirectRetry(t *testing.T) {
+// In a gated scope the direct retry is off (D-8): with a proxy that refuses the
+// connection, the fetch fails with the proxy's error and never leaves without
+// it. The proxy is a derived exemption, so its dial asks for nothing.
+func TestWebFetchGatedScopeHasNoDirectRetry(t *testing.T) {
 	d := testDB(t)
 	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = d.Close() })
-	expID, err := d.CreateExploration("redirect retry probe", "the direct retry client checks redirects")
+	expID, err := d.CreateExploration("no direct retry probe", "a gated scope has no direct retry")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	t.Cleanup(func() { _, _ = d.Exec(`DELETE FROM explorations WHERE id=$1`, expID) })
 	taskID := fmt.Sprint(expID)
 	pair := newRedirectPair(t)
-	ctx := intercept.WithTargetScope(t.Context(), gatedScope(t, d, taskID))
+	scope := gatedScope(t, d, taskID)
+	scope.Interceptor.SetDerivedExemptions(func() []string { return []string{"http://127.0.0.1:1"} })
+	ctx := intercept.WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope)
 
 	out, isErr := callWebFetch(t, ctx, "http://127.0.0.1:1", pair.start)
-	if !isErr || !strings.Contains(out, intercept.TargetApprovalPending) || !strings.Contains(out, "redirects to "+pair.finalKey) {
-		t.Fatalf("retried fetch: error=%v out=%q", isErr, out)
+	if !isErr || !strings.Contains(out, "proxyconnect") || strings.Contains(out, "TARGET_") {
+		t.Fatalf("proxied fetch: error=%v out=%q, want the proxy's error", isErr, out)
 	}
-	if pair.startHits.Load() != 1 || pair.finalHits.Load() != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("hits origin=%d target=%d, want the origin reached by the retry and the target untouched", pair.startHits.Load(), pair.finalHits.Load())
+	if pair.startHits.Load() != 0 || pair.finalHits.Load() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("hits origin=%d target=%d, want no direct retry", pair.startHits.Load(), pair.finalHits.Load())
 	}
-	if keys := openRedirectRequests(t, d, taskID); len(keys) != 1 || keys[0] != pair.finalKey {
-		t.Fatalf("open requests = %v, want one for %s", keys, pair.finalKey)
+	var requests int
+	if err := d.QueryRow(`SELECT count(*) FROM intercept_pending WHERE task_id=$1 AND target_key IS NOT NULL`, taskID).Scan(&requests); err != nil || requests != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d requests, %v; want none", requests, err)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -213,10 +220,33 @@ func TestWebFetchRedirectGateOffUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// pinTarget opens the request for the target of rawURL in scope and approves
+// it, as a click on the approval card does.
+func pinTarget(t *testing.T, d *db.DB, scope intercept.TargetScope, rawURL string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	ic, input := scope.Interceptor, []byte(fetchInputJSON(rawURL))
+	reqs, res := ic.CheckTargets(t.Context(), scope, "WebFetch", input)
+	if res.Code != "" || len(reqs) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("%s: requests=%+v result=%+v, want one request", rawURL, reqs, res)
+	}
+	scope.WaitBound = 0
+	if res = ic.RequestTargets(t.Context(), scope, "WebFetch", input, reqs, nil); res.Code != intercept.TargetApprovalPending || res.PendingID == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("%s: request = %+v", rawURL, res)
+	}
+	if err := ic.Decide(res.PendingID, true, "test", "192.0.2.1"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	taskID, err := strconv.ParseInt(scope.TaskID, 10, 64)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _, _ = d.Exec(`DELETE FROM target_pins WHERE task_id=$1`, taskID) })
+}
+
 // callWebFetch runs the WebFetch tool the agents build, with proxy.
 func callWebFetch(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, proxy, u string) (string, bool) {
 	t.Helper()
-	tools := withWebFetch(nil, proxy, "")
+	tools := withWebFetch(ctx, nil, proxy, "")
 	if len(tools) != 1 || tools[0].Name() != "WebFetch" {
 		t.Fatalf("withWebFetch built %d tools", len(tools))
 	}
diff --git a/agent/worker.go b/agent/worker.go
index 1900918..c030266 100644
--- a/agent/worker.go
+++ b/agent/worker.go
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ func (w *Worker) execute(ctx context.Context, name string, taskID int64, as *db.
 		Provider:        w.prov,
 		SystemPrompt:    system,
 		DynamicBoundary: boundary,
-		Tools:           withWebFetch(tools, w.proxyAddr, w.proxyCACert),
+		Tools:           withWebFetch(ctx, tools, w.proxyAddr, w.proxyCACert),
 		DeferredTools:   def.Deferred,
 		UnlockSet:       def.Unlock,
 		PermissionMode:  permission.ModeBypass,
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index ad893c9..c42aab3 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -61,4 +61,4 @@ require (
 	modernc.org/memory v1.11.0 // indirect
 )
 
-replace github.com/Autumn-27/norma => github.com/BaaRai/Norma v0.4.7
+replace github.com/Autumn-27/norma => github.com/BaaRai/Norma v0.4.8
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index c5e1973..6d35fb9 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-github.com/BaaRai/Norma v0.4.7 h1:MJTKF7Dpuh3hjRJpmKtLJ8RknX30FEntDz08Q2y4iDs=
-github.com/BaaRai/Norma v0.4.7/go.mod h1:BudWrf7iHl96FgHqFr/HwN3mKYmGjJDt+xL2ZHXfFZw=
+github.com/BaaRai/Norma v0.4.8 h1:k3at2aYSJ6aIDjEo7tC4VDSLBHXw2HobYjpKChVe6hI=
+github.com/BaaRai/Norma v0.4.8/go.mod h1:BudWrf7iHl96FgHqFr/HwN3mKYmGjJDt+xL2ZHXfFZw=
 github.com/andybalholm/brotli v1.2.1 h1:R+f5xP285VArJDRgowrfb9DqL18yVK0gKAW/F+eTWro=
 github.com/andybalholm/brotli v1.2.1/go.mod h1:rzTDkvFWvIrjDXZHkuS16NPggd91W3kUSvPlQ1pLaKY=
 github.com/asaskevich/govalidator v0.0.0-20230301143203-a9d515a09cc2 h1:DklsrG3dyBCFEj5IhUbnKptjxatkF07cF2ak3yi77so=
diff --git a/intercept/intercept.go b/intercept/intercept.go
index 4dd72dd..d2482f8 100644
--- a/intercept/intercept.go
+++ b/intercept/intercept.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"net"
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -190,6 +191,9 @@ type Interceptor struct {
 	targets  targetStore
 	resolve  *resolveCache
 	firstUse sync.Map
+	// dial is the base dialer of PinnedDialer: every connection it lets through
+	// is opened here. See SetBaseDialer.
+	dial func(ctx context.Context, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error)
 }
 
 // SetUpstreamProxyCheck installs the function that reports whether an upstream
@@ -220,7 +224,7 @@ var defaultEnabledTools = []string{
 // first use.
 func New(d *db.DB) *Interceptor {
 	return &Interceptor{db: d, pending: newPendingManager(),
-		targets: dbTargetStore{d}, resolve: newResolveCache(systemResolver{})}
+		targets: dbTargetStore{d}, resolve: newResolveCache(systemResolver{}), dial: baseDial}
 }
 
 // Invalidate clears the in-memory rule cache and the enabled-tools cache.
diff --git a/intercept/target_dial.go b/intercept/target_dial.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ed1d07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/intercept/target_dial.go
@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+package intercept
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"net/netip"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// The HTTP clients the platform owns (WebFetch and the custom http tool)
+// connect through PinnedDialer. The hook, the rendered-URL gate and the
+// redirect policy decide on a URL, and the client then resolves the name again
+// on its own when it connects: a name can answer differently in between. In a
+// gated scope the dialer takes a second, independent decision on the address
+// it is asked to connect to (the target of the call, of a redirect hop, or a
+// proxy). It resolves the name afresh, compares the answer with the pins, and
+// connects only to the addresses it compared, never to the name. It never
+// waits: an address no pin covers finds or opens the approval request and
+// fails the connection at once with TARGET_APPROVAL_PENDING.
+
+// baseDial opens a connection with the dialer settings of http.DefaultTransport.
+var baseDial = (&net.Dialer{Timeout: 30 * time.Second, KeepAlive: 30 * time.Second}).DialContext
+
+// PinnedDialer returns the DialContext of a platform-owned HTTP client run by
+// the tool toolName. The scope is read from the context net/http passes to the
+// dial, which carries the values of the request's context: the scope the hook,
+// the rendered-URL gate and the redirect policy read.
+//
+// scoped is whether the client was built for a session with a target scope.
+// Such a client never dials without one: a scope missing at the dial means the
+// context value was lost on the way, and the dial fails with
+// TARGET_GATE_UNAVAILABLE. A client built without a scope (the operator's test
+// endpoint) dials as before, and so does every client while the gate is off.
+func PinnedDialer(toolName string, scoped bool) func(ctx context.Context, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	return func(ctx context.Context, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
+		scope, ok := TargetScopeFromContext(ctx)
+		switch {
+		case !ok && scoped:
+			return nil, &dialError{code: TargetGateUnavailable, target: addr, reason: "the target scope of the session did not reach the connection"}
+		case !ok:
+			return baseDial(ctx, network, addr)
+		case scope.Enabled == nil || !scope.Enabled():
+			if scope.Interceptor != nil {
+				return scope.Interceptor.baseDialer()(ctx, network, addr)
+			}
+			return baseDial(ctx, network, addr)
+		case scope.Interceptor == nil:
+			return nil, &dialError{code: TargetGateUnavailable, target: addr, reason: "the session's target scope carries no gate"}
+		}
+		return scope.Interceptor.dialTarget(ctx, scope, toolName, network, addr)
+	}
+}
+
+// GateOn reports whether ctx carries a target scope whose gate is on.
+func GateOn(ctx context.Context) bool {
+	_, on := renderedScope(ctx)
+	return on
+}
+
+func (i *Interceptor) baseDialer() func(ctx context.Context, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	i.mu.RLock()
+	defer i.mu.RUnlock()
+	return i.dial
+}
+
+// dialTarget decides one connection of a gated scope and opens it. The asset
+// block rules, exemptions and pins are those of the hook, on the target the
+// address names, with a fresh lookup. URL rules are not matched: they ran on
+// the URL at the hook and on each hop in RedirectCheck.
+//
+// A derived exemption, and a pin that is name-only for this connection, dial
+// the address as received. A stored exemption that holds, and a pin that
+// holds every address of the lookup, dial those addresses and nothing else.
+func (i *Interceptor) dialTarget(ctx context.Context, scope TargetScope, toolName, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	input, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]string{"dial": addr})
+	ctx = WithCall(ctx, toolName, input)
+	t, err := addrTarget(network, addr)
+	if err != nil {
+		res := undeterminedTarget(ctx, scope, toolName, input, "the address of the connection could not be read ("+err.Error()+")")
+		return nil, &dialError{code: res.Code, target: addr, reason: res.Reason}
+	}
+	blocked := func(res TargetResult) error {
+		return &dialError{code: res.Code, target: t.String(), reason: res.Reason}
+	}
+	c := &targetCheck{i: i, ctx: ctx, scope: scope, tool: toolName, input: input, fresh: true}
+	unpinned, res := c.run([]Target{t})
+	if res.Code != "" {
+		return nil, blocked(res)
+	}
+	if len(unpinned) > 0 {
+		// Wait bound 0: the request is found or created, and the dial does not wait.
+		scope.WaitBound = 0
+		res = i.RequestTargets(ctx, scope, toolName, input, unpinned, nil)
+		if res.Code == TargetApprovalPending {
+			res.Reason = notCovered(unpinned[0], scope)
+		}
+		return nil, blocked(res)
+	}
+	switch ct := c.checked[0]; ct.cover {
+	case coverDerived, coverNameOnly:
+		return i.baseDialer()(ctx, network, addr)
+	default:
+		return i.dialAddrs(ctx, network, ct.ips, t.Port)
+	}
+}
+
+// addrTarget reads the address net/http dials, host:port with the host in
+// ASCII form and the port always written, as the target urlTarget reads from
+// the URL.
+func addrTarget(network, addr string) (Target, error) {
+	switch network {
+	case "tcp", "tcp4", "tcp6":
+	default:
+		return Target{}, fmt.Errorf("network %q is not tcp", network)
+	}
+	host, port, err := net.SplitHostPort(addr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Target{}, err
+	}
+	kind, h, ok := normalizeHost(host, true)
+	if !ok || kind == TargetCIDR {
+		return Target{}, fmt.Errorf("host %q", host)
+	}
+	t := Target{Kind: kind, Host: h, Port: validPort(port)}
+	if t.Port == 0 {
+		return Target{}, fmt.Errorf("port %q", port)
+	}
+	return t, nil
+}
+
+// dialAddrs connects to the addresses the decision compared, in their canonical
+// order: the first that accepts wins. An address of the wrong family for tcp4
+// or tcp6 is skipped. When every attempt fails, the last error is returned.
+func (i *Interceptor) dialAddrs(ctx context.Context, network string, ips []string, port int) (net.Conn, error) {
+	dial := i.baseDialer()
+	var last error = &net.AddrError{Err: "no suitable address found", Addr: strings.Join(ips, ", ")}
+	for _, ip := range ips {
+		a, err := netip.ParseAddr(ip)
+		if err != nil || network == "tcp4" && !a.Is4() || network == "tcp6" && !a.Is6() {
+			continue
+		}
+		conn, err := dial(ctx, network, net.JoinHostPort(ip, strconv.Itoa(port)))
+		if err == nil {
+			return conn, nil
+		}
+		last = err
+	}
+	return nil, last
+}
+
+// notCovered says why a connection needs an approval: the addresses the dial
+// resolved, and the pin they fall outside of.
+func notCovered(r TargetRequest, scope TargetScope) string {
+	if r.Pin != nil {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s now resolves to %s, outside pin v%d (%s) of %s",
+			r.Host, strings.Join(r.ResolvedIPs, ", "), r.Pin.Version, strings.Join(r.Pin.PinnedIPs, ", "), scope.scopeName())
+	}
+	if r.Kind != TargetDomain {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s is not approved for %s", r.Host, scope.scopeName())
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s resolves to %s and is not approved for %s", r.Host, strings.Join(r.ResolvedIPs, ", "), scope.scopeName())
+}
+
+// dialError is what PinnedDialer returns for a connection it does not open.
+// Both clients hand the error to the model as the tool result.
+type dialError struct {
+	code, target, reason string
+}
+
+func (e *dialError) Error() string {
+	msg := "[ARTEX platform control, not target defense] " + e.code + ": the connection to " + e.target + " was not opened: " + e.reason + "."
+	if e.code == TargetApprovalPending {
+		msg += " An approval was requested. Retry the same call after the approval."
+	}
+	return msg + " Do not fetch the target with another tool or by its address."
+}
diff --git a/intercept/target_dial_pg_test.go b/intercept/target_dial_pg_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..930617b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/intercept/target_dial_pg_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,336 @@
+package intercept
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/Autumn-27/artex/db"
+)
+
+// Step 2.1 against PostgreSQL: a connection no pin covers at the dial opens or
+// finds the durable request, connects nowhere, and fails at once.
+
+// pgDialGate is a gate on d with a fake resolver and a recording base dialer.
+func pgDialGate(t *testing.T, d *db.DB) (*Interceptor, *fakeResolver, *dialRecorder) {
+	t.Helper()
+	ic, res := pgGate(t, d)
+	rec := newDialRecorder()
+	ic.SetBaseDialer(rec.dial)
+	return ic, res, rec
+}
+
+// openTarget returns the audit target of the single open request of scope.
+func openTarget(t *testing.T, d *db.DB, scope TargetScope) (*db.InterceptDetail, db.InterceptTarget) {
+	t.Helper()
+	ids := openRows(t, d, scope)
+	if len(ids) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("open requests = %v, want one", ids)
+	}
+	detail, err := d.GetInterceptDetail(ids[0])
+	if err != nil || detail == nil || detail.Audit == nil || len(detail.Audit.Targets) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("request detail = %+v, %v", detail, err)
+	}
+	return detail, detail.Audit.Targets[0]
+}
+
+// The failure test: the check passes on the pinned address, the name answers
+// another one before the dial, and the call connects nowhere: not to the old
+// address, not to the new one. One new_ip request shows both; once approved,
+// the same call connects to the new address.
+func TestPinAddressChangedBetweenCheckAndDialNotReachable(t *testing.T) {
+	d := targetTestDB(t)
+	ic, res, rec := pgDialGate(t, d)
+	srv, hits, port := pinnedServer(t, "rebound")
+	rec.route("203.0.113.7:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	rec.route("203.0.113.9:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+	scope := taskScope(t, d, ic, time.Minute)
+	ctx := WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope)
+	u := "http://app.example.com:" + port + "/"
+	pinURL(t, d, ic, scope, u)
+	mustPass(t, "the check", ic, scope, u)
+
+	res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.9")
+	began := time.Now()
+	_, err := get(ctx, pinnedClient(true), u)
+	want := "TARGET_APPROVAL_PENDING: the connection to app.example.com:" + port + " was not opened: app.example.com now resolves to 203.0.113.9, outside pin v1 (203.0.113.7) of task " + scope.TaskID
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), want) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "Retry the same call after the approval") {
+		t.Fatalf("dial after the rebind: %v", err)
+	}
+	if elapsed := time.Since(began); elapsed > 10*time.Second {
+		t.Fatalf("the dial waited %v", elapsed)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); len(got) != 0 || hits.Load() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, hits %d; want nothing", got, hits.Load())
+	}
+	detail, tgt := openTarget(t, d, scope)
+	if tgt.Reason != "new_ip" || !slices.Equal(tgt.ResolvedIPs, []string{"203.0.113.9"}) || tgt.PinVersion != 1 ||
+		!slices.Equal(tgt.PinnedIPs, []string{"203.0.113.7"}) || detail.ToolName != "WebFetch" || !strings.Contains(string(detail.ToolInput), `"dial": "app.example.com:`+port+`"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("request = %+v, target %+v", detail, tgt)
+	}
+
+	approveAll(t, d, ic, scope)
+	if body, err := get(ctx, pinnedClient(true), u); err != nil || body != "rebound" {
+		t.Fatalf("after the approval: %q, %v", body, err)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.9:" + port}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, want the new address", got)
+	}
+	if ps := pins(t, d, scope); len(ps) != 2 || ps[0].Version != 2 || !slices.Equal(ps[0].PinnedIPs, []string{"203.0.113.7", "203.0.113.9"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("pins = %+v, want v2 with both addresses", ps)
+	}
+}
+
+// One address outside the pin is enough: nothing is dialled, not even the
+// pinned one.
+func TestPinnedDialPartialOverlapNotReachable(t *testing.T) {
+	d := targetTestDB(t)
+	ic, res, rec := pgDialGate(t, d)
+	res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+	scope := taskScope(t, d, ic, time.Minute)
+	pinURL(t, d, ic, scope, "https://app.example.com/")
+	res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7", "203.0.113.8")
+	_, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope), "tcp", "app.example.com:443")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetApprovalPending) || len(rec.calls()) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("dial: %v, dialled %v", err, rec.calls())
+	}
+	if _, tgt := openTarget(t, d, scope); tgt.Reason != "new_ip" || !slices.Equal(tgt.ResolvedIPs, []string{"203.0.113.7", "203.0.113.8"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("request target %+v", tgt)
+	}
+}
+
+// A pin revoked between the check and the dial connects nowhere and asks again.
+func TestPinnedDialRevokedBetweenCheckAndDial(t *testing.T) {
+	d := targetTestDB(t)
+	ic, res, rec := pgDialGate(t, d)
+	res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+	scope := taskScope(t, d, ic, time.Minute)
+	pinURL(t, d, ic, scope, "https://app.example.com/")
+	mustPass(t, "the check", ic, scope, "https://app.example.com/")
+	ps := pins(t, d, scope)
+	if _, err := d.RevokeTargetPin(scope.dbRef(t), ps[0].ID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	_, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope), "tcp", "app.example.com:443")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetApprovalPending) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "is not approved for task") || len(rec.calls()) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("dial: %v, dialled %v", err, rec.calls())
+	}
+	if _, tgt := openTarget(t, d, scope); tgt.Reason != "no_pin" {
+		t.Fatalf("request target %+v", tgt)
+	}
+}
+
+// A stored exemption is dialled at the addresses the dial resolved and found
+// public; the same name on a private address is void at the dial, and with no
+// pin it asks, connecting nowhere.
+func TestPinnedDialStoredExemptionDialsCheckedAddresses(t *testing.T) {
+	d := targetTestDB(t)
+	ic, res, rec := pgDialGate(t, d)
+	srv, _, port := pinnedServer(t, "package")
+	rec.route("198.51.100.20:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	rec.route("10.0.0.5:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	storedExemptions(t, d, db.TargetExemption{Host: "pkg.example", Port: atoiPort(t, port)})
+	scope := taskScope(t, d, ic, time.Minute)
+	ctx := WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope)
+	u := "http://pkg.example:" + port + "/"
+
+	res.set("pkg.example", "198.51.100.20")
+	if body, err := get(ctx, pinnedClient(true), u); err != nil || body != "package" {
+		t.Fatalf("exempt fetch: %q, %v", body, err)
+	}
+	res.set("pkg.example", "10.0.0.5")
+	if _, err := get(ctx, pinnedClient(true), u); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetApprovalPending) {
+		t.Fatalf("void exemption: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"198.51.100.20:" + port}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, want the checked public address only", got)
+	}
+	if _, tgt := openTarget(t, d, scope); !tgt.ExemptVoid || tgt.Reason != "no_pin" {
+		t.Fatalf("request target %+v, want a void exemption", tgt)
+	}
+}
+
+// A pinned IP literal is dialled as written, never resolved; a name that
+// resolves to the same address is another target, not covered (D22).
+func TestPinnedDialIPLiteralPin(t *testing.T) {
+	d := targetTestDB(t)
+	ic, res, rec := pgDialGate(t, d)
+	srv, _, port := pinnedServer(t, "literal")
+	rec.route("198.51.100.7:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	scope := taskScope(t, d, ic, time.Minute)
+	ctx := WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope)
+	pinURL(t, d, ic, scope, "http://198.51.100.7:"+port+"/")
+	if body, err := get(ctx, pinnedClient(true), "http://198.51.100.7:"+port+"/"); err != nil || body != "literal" {
+		t.Fatalf("literal: %q, %v", body, err)
+	}
+	if res.total() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d lookups for an IP literal", res.total())
+	}
+	res.set("lit.example", "198.51.100.7")
+	if _, err := get(ctx, pinnedClient(true), "http://lit.example:"+port+"/"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetApprovalPending) {
+		t.Fatalf("a name on the pinned address: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"198.51.100.7:" + port}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// Port precedence as at the check: a (host, 0) pin covers any port; a
+// (host, 443) pin does not cover port 80.
+func TestPinnedDialPortPrecedence(t *testing.T) {
+	d := targetTestDB(t)
+	ic, res, rec := pgDialGate(t, d)
+	srv, _, _ := pinnedServer(t, "any-port")
+	rec.route("203.0.113.7:8443", srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+	res.set("web.example.com", "203.0.113.8")
+	scope := taskScope(t, d, ic, time.Minute)
+	ctx := WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope)
+
+	// A URL of a scheme without a default port declares no port: its pin is (host, 0).
+	pinURL(t, d, ic, scope, "ssh://app.example.com/")
+	if ps := pins(t, d, scope); len(ps) != 1 || ps[0].Port != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("pins = %+v, want one on (app.example.com, 0)", ps)
+	}
+	pinURL(t, d, ic, scope, "https://web.example.com/")
+
+	conn, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(ctx, "tcp", "app.example.com:8443")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("(host, 0) pin, port 8443: %v", err)
+	}
+	conn.Close()
+	if _, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(ctx, "tcp", "web.example.com:80"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetApprovalPending) {
+		t.Fatalf("(host, 443) pin, port 80: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.7:8443"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v", got)
+	}
+	if _, tgt := openTarget(t, d, scope); tgt.Host != "web.example.com" || tgt.Port != 80 || tgt.Reason != "no_pin" {
+		t.Fatalf("request target %+v, want web.example.com:80", tgt)
+	}
+}
+
+// D-5: a redirect hop is checked by the redirect policy and then dialled
+// against the pin of the hop's (host, port), never the origin's.
+func TestRedirectHopDialledAgainstHopPinNotOrigin(t *testing.T) {
+	d := targetTestDB(t)
+	final, finalHits, finalPort := pinnedServer(t, "hop-b")
+	start, _, startPort := hopRedirect(t, "http://b.example:"+finalPort+"/final")
+	aURL, bURL := "http://a.example:"+startPort+"/start", "http://b.example:"+finalPort+"/"
+	setup := func(t *testing.T, pinB bool) (context.Context, TargetScope, *fakeResolver, *dialRecorder) {
+		ic, res, rec := pgDialGate(t, d)
+		rec.route("203.0.113.1:"+startPort, start.Listener.Addr().String())
+		rec.route("203.0.113.2:"+finalPort, final.Listener.Addr().String())
+		// Were the hop dialled at the origin's address, it would reach b as well.
+		rec.route("203.0.113.1:"+finalPort, final.Listener.Addr().String())
+		res.set("a.example", "203.0.113.1")
+		res.set("b.example", "203.0.113.2")
+		scope := taskScope(t, d, ic, time.Minute)
+		pinURL(t, d, ic, scope, aURL)
+		if pinB {
+			pinURL(t, d, ic, scope, bURL)
+		}
+		return WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope), scope, res, rec
+	}
+
+	t.Run("each hop at its own pin", func(t *testing.T) {
+		ctx, _, _, rec := setup(t, true)
+		before := finalHits.Load()
+		if body, err := get(ctx, pinnedClient(true), aURL); err != nil || body != "hop-b" || finalHits.Load() != before+1 {
+			t.Fatalf("redirect: %q, %v", body, err)
+		}
+		if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.1:" + startPort, "203.0.113.2:" + finalPort}) {
+			t.Fatalf("dialled %v", got)
+		}
+	})
+	t.Run("hop resolving to the origin's pinned address", func(t *testing.T) {
+		ctx, scope, res, rec := setup(t, true)
+		// The cache still holds b's pinned answer: the redirect policy passes.
+		res.set("b.example", "203.0.113.1")
+		before := finalHits.Load()
+		_, err := get(ctx, pinnedClient(true), aURL)
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "TARGET_APPROVAL_PENDING: the connection to b.example:"+finalPort+" was not opened") {
+			t.Fatalf("hop: %v", err)
+		}
+		if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.1:" + startPort}) || finalHits.Load() != before {
+			t.Fatalf("dialled %v, b hits %d; want the origin only", got, finalHits.Load()-before)
+		}
+		if _, tgt := openTarget(t, d, scope); tgt.Host != "b.example" || tgt.Port != atoiPort(t, finalPort) || tgt.Reason != "new_ip" {
+			t.Fatalf("request target %+v, want new_ip on b.example", tgt)
+		}
+	})
+	t.Run("hop without a pin", func(t *testing.T) {
+		ctx, scope, _, rec := setup(t, false)
+		before := finalHits.Load()
+		_, err := get(ctx, pinnedClient(true), aURL)
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "redirects to b.example:"+finalPort) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not followed") {
+			t.Fatalf("hop: %v", err)
+		}
+		if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.1:" + startPort}) || finalHits.Load() != before {
+			t.Fatalf("dialled %v; want the dialer never called for b", got)
+		}
+		if _, tgt := openTarget(t, d, scope); tgt.Host != "b.example" || tgt.Reason != "no_pin" {
+			t.Fatalf("request target %+v", tgt)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+// hopRedirect is a server that redirects every request to location.
+func hopRedirect(t *testing.T, location string) (*httptest.Server, *atomic.Int64, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	srv, hits, key := hopServer(t, location)
+	_, port, _ := net.SplitHostPort(key)
+	return srv, hits, port
+}
+
+// Two concurrent dials of one host whose address changed share one request:
+// both fail at once, one approval extends the pin, both retries connect.
+func TestDialMismatchOpensOneNewIPRequest(t *testing.T) {
+	d := targetTestDB(t)
+	ic, res, rec := pgDialGate(t, d)
+	srv, _, port := pinnedServer(t, "shared")
+	rec.route("203.0.113.9:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+	scope := taskScope(t, d, ic, time.Minute)
+	ctx := WithTargetScope(t.Context(), scope)
+	u := "http://app.example.com:" + port + "/"
+	pinURL(t, d, ic, scope, u)
+	res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.9")
+
+	fetchBoth := func() []error {
+		var wg sync.WaitGroup
+		errs := make([]error, 2)
+		for n := range errs {
+			wg.Go(func() { _, errs[n] = get(ctx, pinnedClient(true), u) })
+		}
+		wg.Wait()
+		return errs
+	}
+	for n, err := range fetchBoth() {
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetApprovalPending) {
+			t.Fatalf("dial %d: %v", n, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if ids := openRows(t, d, scope); len(ids) != 1 || allRows(t, d, scope) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("open %v, %d request rows; want the approved one and one new_ip", ids, allRows(t, d, scope))
+	}
+	if len(rec.calls()) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v", rec.calls())
+	}
+	approveAll(t, d, ic, scope)
+	for n, err := range fetchBoth() {
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("retry %d: %v", n, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); len(got) != 2 || got[0] != "203.0.113.9:"+port || got[1] != got[0] {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v", got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/intercept/target_dial_test.go b/intercept/target_dial_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b645834
--- /dev/null
+++ b/intercept/target_dial_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,537 @@
+package intercept
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/tls"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/Autumn-27/artex/db"
+)
+
+// Step 2.1: the pinned dialer of the platform-owned HTTP clients. Without a
+// database: a dial that would open a request is covered by the PostgreSQL
+// tests in target_dial_pg_test.go.
+
+// dialRecorder is a base dialer for tests. It records every address it is
+// asked to connect to, connects the routed ones (TEST-NET addresses) to local
+// listeners and loopback addresses to themselves, and refuses the rest.
+type dialRecorder struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	routes map[string]string
+	refuse map[string]bool
+	dialed []string
+}
+
+func newDialRecorder() *dialRecorder {
+	return &dialRecorder{routes: map[string]string{}, refuse: map[string]bool{}}
+}
+
+func (d *dialRecorder) route(addr, to string) {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	d.routes[addr] = to
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (d *dialRecorder) dial(ctx context.Context, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	d.dialed = append(d.dialed, addr)
+	to, ok := d.routes[addr]
+	refused := d.refuse[addr]
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+	if !ok && strings.HasPrefix(addr, "127.0.0.1:") {
+		to, ok = addr, true
+	}
+	if refused || !ok {
+		return nil, &net.OpError{Op: "dial", Net: network, Err: errors.New("connection refused by the test dialer")}
+	}
+	return (&net.Dialer{}).DialContext(ctx, network, to)
+}
+
+func (d *dialRecorder) calls() []string {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	defer d.mu.Unlock()
+	return slices.Clone(d.dialed)
+}
+
+// pinnedServer is a listener that counts its requests; port is its port.
+func pinnedServer(t *testing.T, body string) (srv *httptest.Server, hits *atomic.Int64, port string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	hits = &atomic.Int64{}
+	srv = httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		hits.Add(1)
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(body))
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+	_, port, _ = net.SplitHostPort(srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	return srv, hits, port
+}
+
+// dialGate is a gate fixture whose base dialer is a dialRecorder.
+func dialGate(t *testing.T) (*gateFixture, *dialRecorder) {
+	t.Helper()
+	g := newGate(t)
+	rec := newDialRecorder()
+	g.ic.SetBaseDialer(rec.dial)
+	return g, rec
+}
+
+func (g *gateFixture) pin(host string, port int, ips ...string) *db.TargetPin {
+	g.store.mu.Lock()
+	defer g.store.mu.Unlock()
+	p := &db.TargetPin{ID: int64(len(g.store.pins) + 1), Host: host, Port: port, Version: 1, Status: db.TargetPinActive, PinnedIPs: ips}
+	g.store.pins = append(g.store.pins, p)
+	return p
+}
+
+// pinnedClient is a client built like the platform's: the redirect policy and
+// the pinned dialer, keep-alive off.
+func pinnedClient(scoped bool) *http.Client {
+	tr := http.DefaultTransport.(*http.Transport).Clone()
+	tr.Proxy = nil
+	tr.DialContext = PinnedDialer("WebFetch", scoped)
+	tr.DisableKeepAlives = true
+	return &http.Client{Transport: tr, CheckRedirect: RedirectCheck("WebFetch")}
+}
+
+func get(ctx context.Context, client *http.Client, rawURL string) (string, error) {
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodGet, rawURL, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	resp, err := client.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	b, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	return string(b), err
+}
+
+// With the gate off, or with no scope in a client built without one, the dial
+// is the dial of today: the address as received, no lookup, no store access.
+func TestPinnedDialGateOffIsPlainDial(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	srv, hits, port := pinnedServer(t, "plain")
+	rec.route("app.example.com:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+
+	conn, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", false)(context.Background(), "tcp", srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("no scope: %v", err)
+	}
+	conn.Close()
+	for name, scope := range map[string]TargetScope{
+		"no flag":  {TaskID: "7", WaitBound: time.Minute, Interceptor: g.ic},
+		"flag off": {TaskID: "7", Enabled: func() bool { return false }, WaitBound: time.Minute, Interceptor: g.ic},
+	} {
+		if body, err := get(WithTargetScope(context.Background(), scope), pinnedClient(true), "http://app.example.com:"+port+"/"); err != nil || body != "plain" {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: %q, %v", name, body, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); len(got) != 2 || got[0] != "app.example.com:"+port || got[1] != got[0] {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, want the address as received", got)
+	}
+	if hits.Load() != 2 || g.store.reads != 0 || len(g.store.logged) != 0 || g.res.total() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("hits=%d, %d store reads, %d rows, %d lookups; want none but the hits", hits.Load(), g.store.reads, len(g.store.logged), g.res.total())
+	}
+}
+
+// A client built for a scope never dials without one: a lost context value
+// fails closed, nothing is dialled.
+func TestPinnedDialScopeLostFailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, hits, _ := pinnedServer(t, "unbound")
+	_, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(context.Background(), "tcp", srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetGateUnavailable) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "did not reach the connection") {
+		t.Fatalf("dial without the scope: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := get(context.Background(), pinnedClient(true), srv.URL); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetGateUnavailable) {
+		t.Fatalf("fetch without the scope: %v", err)
+	}
+	if hits.Load() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d requests reached the server", hits.Load())
+	}
+}
+
+// Every way the gate cannot decide fails closed with TARGET_GATE_UNAVAILABLE,
+// dials nothing, and logs one decided row where there is a store and a scope.
+func TestPinnedDialScopeUnreadableFailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name          string
+		setup         func(g *gateFixture)
+		network, addr string
+		rows          int
+	}{
+		{"nil interceptor", func(g *gateFixture) { g.scope.Interceptor = nil }, "tcp", "app.example.com:443", 0},
+		{"task id", func(g *gateFixture) { g.scope.TaskID = "seven" }, "tcp", "app.example.com:443", 0},
+		{"rules", func(g *gateFixture) { g.store.fail["BlockRules"] = errors.New("down") }, "tcp", "app.example.com:443", 1},
+		{"pins", func(g *gateFixture) { g.store.fail["ActivePins"] = errors.New("down") }, "tcp", "app.example.com:443", 1},
+		{"exemptions", func(g *gateFixture) { g.store.fail["Exemptions"] = errors.New("down") }, "tcp", "app.example.com:443", 1},
+		{"address", nil, "tcp", "app.example.com", 1},
+		{"port", nil, "tcp", "app.example.com:0", 1},
+		{"network", nil, "udp", "app.example.com:443", 1},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			g, rec := dialGate(t)
+			g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+			g.pin("app.example.com", 443, "203.0.113.7")
+			if tc.setup != nil {
+				tc.setup(g)
+			}
+			_, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(g.ctx(), tc.network, tc.addr)
+			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetGateUnavailable) {
+				t.Fatalf("dial: %v, want TARGET_GATE_UNAVAILABLE", err)
+			}
+			if got := rec.calls(); len(got) != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("dialled %v", got)
+			}
+			if got := g.store.outcomes(); len(got) != tc.rows || tc.rows == 1 && got[0] != "denied/gate_unavailable" {
+				t.Fatalf("rows = %v, want %d gate_unavailable", got, tc.rows)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// A pinned name is dialled at the address the lookup returned and the pin
+// holds, never by the name.
+func TestPinnedDialConnectsOnlyToPinnedAddresses(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	srv, hits, port := pinnedServer(t, "pinned")
+	rec.route("203.0.113.7:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+	g.pin("app.example.com", atoiPort(t, port), "203.0.113.7")
+
+	if body, err := get(g.ctx(), pinnedClient(true), "http://app.example.com:"+port+"/"); err != nil || body != "pinned" {
+		t.Fatalf("pinned fetch: %q, %v", body, err)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.7:" + port}) || hits.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, hits %d; want the pinned address only", got, hits.Load())
+	}
+}
+
+// A name that does not resolve at the dial is blocked without a request (the
+// fixture has no database: a request would fail the test), nothing is dialled.
+func TestPinnedDialResolveFailureBlocksWithoutRequest(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	g.pin("app.example.com", 443, "203.0.113.7")
+	g.res.mu.Lock()
+	g.res.errs["app.example.com"] = errors.New("no such host")
+	g.res.mu.Unlock()
+	_, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(g.ctx(), "tcp", "app.example.com:443")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetResolveFailed) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "app.example.com:443") {
+		t.Fatalf("dial: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := g.store.outcomes(); len(got) != 1 || got[0] != "denied/resolve_failed" || len(rec.calls()) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("rows %v, dialled %v", got, rec.calls())
+	}
+}
+
+// An asset block rule on an address the dial resolves wins over the pin.
+func TestPinnedDialBlockRuleOnDialAddress(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	g.pin("app.example.com", 443, "203.0.113.7", "203.0.113.8")
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.8")
+	g.store.rules = []db.AssetInterceptRule{{Enabled: true, Kind: "exact_ip", Pattern: "203.0.113.8"}}
+	_, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(g.ctx(), "tcp", "app.example.com:443")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), TargetRuleBlocked) {
+		t.Fatalf("dial: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := g.store.outcomes(); len(got) != 1 || got[0] != "denied/rule_blocked" || len(rec.calls()) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("rows %v, dialled %v", got, rec.calls())
+	}
+}
+
+// A derived exemption is dialled as received and never resolved, wherever its
+// name points: an LLM gateway on an internal address, the recording proxy on
+// loopback.
+func TestPinnedDialDerivedExemptionDialsByName(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	srv, hits, port := pinnedServer(t, "gateway")
+	rec.route("llm.example:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	g.res.set("llm.example", "10.0.0.5")
+	proxy := srv.Listener.Addr().String()
+	g.ic.SetDerivedExemptions(func() []string { return []string{"https://llm.example:" + port, "http://" + proxy} })
+
+	for _, addr := range []string{"llm.example:" + port, proxy} {
+		conn, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(g.ctx(), "tcp", addr)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: %v", addr, err)
+		}
+		conn.Close()
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"llm.example:" + port, proxy}) || g.res.total() != 0 || hits.Load() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, %d lookups; want the addresses as received and no lookup", got, g.res.total())
+	}
+}
+
+// A pin that is name-only for this connection, by its mark or because the
+// upstream proxy is set now, is dialled by name: the platform does not bind it.
+func TestPinnedDialNameOnlyPinDialsByName(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name    string
+		marked  bool
+		proxied bool
+	}{{"marked pin", true, false}, {"upstream proxy now", false, true}} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			g, rec := dialGate(t)
+			srv, _, port := pinnedServer(t, "name-only")
+			rec.route("app.example.com:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+			g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.9")
+			g.pin("app.example.com", atoiPort(t, port), "203.0.113.7").NameOnlyEffective = tc.marked
+			g.ic.SetUpstreamProxyCheck(func() bool { return tc.proxied })
+			if body, err := get(g.ctx(), pinnedClient(true), "http://app.example.com:"+port+"/"); err != nil || body != "name-only" {
+				t.Fatalf("fetch: %q, %v", body, err)
+			}
+			if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"app.example.com:" + port}) {
+				t.Fatalf("dialled %v, want the name", got)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// The dial reads its address as the check reads the URL: same key for case,
+// trailing dot, Unicode, IPv6 brackets and IPv4-mapped IPv6. net/http dials the
+// ASCII form of a Unicode name with the scheme's port written (S3).
+func TestPinnedDialNormalisesLikeTheCheck(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct{ rawURL, addr string }{
+		{"https://App.Example.COM./x", "App.Example.COM.:443"},
+		{"http://bücher.example/", "xn--bcher-kva.example:80"},
+		{"https://[2001:DB8::1]:8443/", "[2001:db8::1]:8443"},
+		{"http://[::ffff:192.0.2.1]/", "[::ffff:192.0.2.1]:80"},
+	} {
+		want, err := urlTarget(tc.rawURL)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		got, err := addrTarget("tcp", tc.addr)
+		if err != nil || got != want {
+			t.Errorf("%s: dial key %+v (%v), check key %+v", tc.addr, got, err, want)
+		}
+	}
+	var dialled string
+	tr := &http.Transport{DialContext: func(_ context.Context, _, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
+		dialled = addr
+		return nil, errors.New("recorded")
+	}}
+	_, _ = (&http.Client{Transport: tr}).Get("http://bücher.example/")
+	if dialled != "xn--bcher-kva.example:80" {
+		t.Fatalf("net/http dialled %q, want the ASCII name and the scheme's port", dialled)
+	}
+}
+
+// Concurrent dials of one host share one lookup; the cached answer is not
+// used, and the cache holds the new answer afterwards.
+func TestPinnedDialFreshLookupCollapsed(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	srv, _, port := pinnedServer(t, "fresh")
+	rec.route("203.0.113.7:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	g.pin("app.example.com", atoiPort(t, port), "203.0.113.7")
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.9")
+	if _, err := g.ic.resolve.lookup(context.Background(), "app.example.com", false); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// The cache now holds 203.0.113.9, which no pin covers: a dial that used it
+	// would open a request, which this fixture cannot.
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+	hold := make(chan struct{})
+	g.res.mu.Lock()
+	g.res.hold = hold
+	g.res.mu.Unlock()
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	errs := make(chan error, 2)
+	for range 2 {
+		wg.Go(func() {
+			conn, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(g.ctx(), "tcp", "app.example.com:"+port)
+			if err == nil {
+				conn.Close()
+			}
+			errs <- err
+		})
+	}
+	eventually(t, "the shared lookup", func() bool { return g.res.lookups("app.example.com") == 2 })
+	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+	close(hold)
+	wg.Wait()
+	close(errs)
+	for err := range errs {
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("dial: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+	if n := g.res.lookups("app.example.com"); n != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d lookups, want the cached one and one shared by both dials", n)
+	}
+	g.ic.resolve.mu.Lock()
+	cached := g.ic.resolve.entries["app.example.com"].ips
+	g.ic.resolve.mu.Unlock()
+	if !slices.Equal(cached, []string{"203.0.113.7"}) || !slices.Equal(rec.calls(), []string{"203.0.113.7:" + port, "203.0.113.7:" + port}) {
+		t.Fatalf("cache %v, dialled %v", cached, rec.calls())
+	}
+}
+
+// The compared addresses are tried in canonical order, the first that accepts
+// wins; tcp4 skips the IPv6 ones.
+func TestPinnedDialTriesAddressesInOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	srv, _, port := pinnedServer(t, "second")
+	rec.refuse["203.0.113.7:"+port] = true
+	rec.route("203.0.113.8:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	g.pin("app.example.com", atoiPort(t, port), "203.0.113.7", "203.0.113.8")
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.8", "203.0.113.7")
+	if body, err := get(g.ctx(), pinnedClient(true), "http://app.example.com:"+port+"/"); err != nil || body != "second" {
+		t.Fatalf("fetch: %q, %v", body, err)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.7:" + port, "203.0.113.8:" + port}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v", got)
+	}
+
+	g, rec = dialGate(t)
+	rec.route("203.0.113.8:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	g.pin("app.example.com", atoiPort(t, port), "2001:db8::1", "203.0.113.8")
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "2001:db8::1", "203.0.113.8")
+	conn, err := PinnedDialer("WebFetch", true)(g.ctx(), "tcp4", "app.example.com:"+port)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("tcp4: %v", err)
+	}
+	conn.Close()
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.8:" + port}) {
+		t.Fatalf("tcp4 dialled %v, want the IPv4 address only", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// S1: the context net/http passes to DialContext carries the values of the
+// request's context. The client is built without a scope (scoped=false), so
+// only the request's context can send the dial down the pinned path.
+func TestPinnedDialSeesScopeInDialContext(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	srv, _, port := pinnedServer(t, "scoped")
+	rec.route("203.0.113.7:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	g.pin("app.example.com", atoiPort(t, port), "203.0.113.7")
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+	if body, err := get(g.ctx(), pinnedClient(false), "http://app.example.com:"+port+"/"); err != nil || body != "scoped" {
+		t.Fatalf("fetch: %q, %v", body, err)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.7:" + port}) || g.res.lookups("app.example.com") != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v after %d lookups, want the pinned path", got, g.res.lookups("app.example.com"))
+	}
+}
+
+// S4: dialling the pinned address keeps HTTPS verified against the name of
+// the request. A name the certificate does not hold fails verification.
+func TestPinnedDialHTTPSVerifiesName(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	srv := httptest.NewTLSServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) { _, _ = w.Write([]byte("verified")) }))
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+	_, port, _ := net.SplitHostPort(srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	rec.route("203.0.113.7:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	// httptest's certificate holds example.com.
+	for _, host := range []string{"example.com", "other.example"} {
+		g.pin(host, atoiPort(t, port), "203.0.113.7")
+		g.res.set(host, "203.0.113.7")
+	}
+	client := pinnedClient(true)
+	client.Transport.(*http.Transport).TLSClientConfig = &tls.Config{RootCAs: srv.Client().Transport.(*http.Transport).TLSClientConfig.RootCAs}
+	if body, err := get(g.ctx(), client, "https://example.com:"+port+"/"); err != nil || body != "verified" {
+		t.Fatalf("https by the pinned address: %q, %v", body, err)
+	}
+	_, err := get(g.ctx(), client, "https://other.example:"+port+"/")
+	var verr *tls.CertificateVerificationError
+	if !errors.As(err, &verr) {
+		t.Fatalf("a name the certificate does not hold: %v, want a verification error", err)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.7:" + port, "203.0.113.7:" + port}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// S6: with keep-alive off (as Norma sets it on a transport with a dialer, and
+// the custom tool on its own), a second fetch of one client dials again: a pin
+// changed in between applies to it.
+func TestPinnedDialNoReuseAcrossCalls(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	srv, _, port := pinnedServer(t, "again")
+	rec.route("203.0.113.7:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	rec.route("203.0.113.8:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	p := atoiPort(t, port)
+	g.pin("app.example.com", p, "203.0.113.7")
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+	client := pinnedClient(true)
+	u := "http://app.example.com:" + port + "/"
+	if _, err := get(g.ctx(), client, u); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	g.store.revoke("app.example.com", p)
+	g.pin("app.example.com", p, "203.0.113.8")
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.8")
+	if _, err := get(g.ctx(), client, u); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.7:" + port, "203.0.113.8:" + port}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, want a new dial under the new pin", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// S5: the redirected request keeps the original request's context, so the
+// hop's redirect check and the hop's dial read the same target scope.
+func TestRedirectContextCarriesScope(t *testing.T) {
+	g, rec := dialGate(t)
+	final, finalHits, finalKey := hopServer(t, "")
+	start, _, startKey := hopServer(t, final.URL+"/final")
+	for _, key := range []string{startKey, finalKey} {
+		host, port, _ := net.SplitHostPort(key)
+		g.pin(host, atoiPort(t, port), host)
+	}
+	var hopScope TargetScope
+	var hopOK bool
+	client := pinnedClient(true)
+	policy := client.CheckRedirect
+	client.CheckRedirect = func(req *http.Request, via []*http.Request) error {
+		hopScope, hopOK = TargetScopeFromContext(req.Context())
+		return policy(req, via)
+	}
+	if body, err := get(g.ctx(), client, start.URL+"/start"); err != nil || body != "hop-reached" || finalHits.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("redirect: %q, %v", body, err)
+	}
+	if !hopOK || hopScope.TaskID != g.scope.TaskID || hopScope.Interceptor != g.ic {
+		t.Fatalf("hop context scope = %+v (%v), want the scope of the call", hopScope, hopOK)
+	}
+	if got := rec.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{startKey, finalKey}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, want the origin then the hop through the pinned path", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// D-2: a request raised while the upstream proxy is set says the platform does
+// not bind the connection.
+func TestNameOnlyReasonSaysConnectionNotBound(t *testing.T) {
+	scope := TargetScope{TaskID: "7"}
+	r := target("app.example.com", 443, "203.0.113.7")
+	const sentence = "This approval is name-only. The platform does not bind the connection to these addresses."
+	if got := targetReason(scope, r, nil, true); !strings.Contains(got, sentence) {
+		t.Fatalf("name-only reason = %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := targetReason(scope, r, nil, false); strings.Contains(got, "does not bind") {
+		t.Fatalf("reason without the upstream proxy = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// D-2: the first-use row of an unmarked pin used while the upstream proxy is
+// set records the pin as name-only.
+func TestPinUsedRecordsEffectiveNameOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	g := newGate(t)
+	g.res.set("app.example.com", "203.0.113.7")
+	g.pin("app.example.com", 443, "203.0.113.7")
+	g.ic.SetUpstreamProxyCheck(func() bool { return true })
+	g.passes("pinned", g.fetch(appURL))
+	if got := g.store.outcomes(); len(got) != 1 || got[0] != "allowed/pin_match" || !g.store.logged[0].Audit.Targets[0].NameOnlyEffective {
+		t.Fatalf("rows %v, target %+v; want a name-only first use", got, g.store.logged[0].Audit.Targets[0])
+	}
+}
diff --git a/intercept/target_exempt.go b/intercept/target_exempt.go
index 9f365f1..ea1b552 100644
--- a/intercept/target_exempt.go
+++ b/intercept/target_exempt.go
@@ -73,8 +73,13 @@ func (i *Interceptor) SetDerivedExemptions(f func() []string) {
 	i.mu.Unlock()
 }
 
+// proxyPorts are the ports net/http dials for a proxy URL without one, for the
+// schemes schemePorts has no default for.
+var proxyPorts = map[string]int{"socks5": 1080, "socks5h": 1080}
+
 // DerivedExemptions returns the exemptions derived from the configuration, as
-// exact host and port. An endpoint without a port is not listed.
+// exact host and port. An endpoint without a port gets the one net/http dials
+// (the scheme's default, 1080 for socks5); one with neither is not listed.
 func (i *Interceptor) DerivedExemptions() []db.TargetExemption {
 	i.mu.RLock()
 	f := i.derivedExempt
@@ -86,6 +91,9 @@ func (i *Interceptor) DerivedExemptions() []db.TargetExemption {
 	seen := map[string]bool{}
 	for _, raw := range f() {
 		t, ok := NormalizeTarget(raw)
+		if scheme, _, found := strings.Cut(strings.TrimSpace(raw), "://"); ok && found && t.Port == 0 {
+			t.Port = proxyPorts[strings.ToLower(scheme)]
+		}
 		if !ok || t.Port == 0 || t.Kind == TargetCIDR || seen[db.TargetKey(t.Host, t.Port)] {
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/intercept/target_exempt_test.go b/intercept/target_exempt_test.go
index a551242..4267cbb 100644
--- a/intercept/target_exempt_test.go
+++ b/intercept/target_exempt_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 package intercept
 
-import "testing"
+import (
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/Autumn-27/artex/db"
+)
 
 // An operator may exempt a private unicast IP literal, never a loopback,
 // link-local (cloud metadata), unspecified or multicast one.
@@ -27,3 +32,20 @@ func TestValidateExemptionHost(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// A proxy endpoint configured without a port is exempt on the port net/http
+// dials for it (OPEN-9): the scheme's default, 1080 for socks5. An endpoint
+// with no port and no known scheme is not listed.
+func TestDerivedExemptionsDefaultProxyPort(t *testing.T) {
+	ic := New(nil)
+	ic.SetDerivedExemptions(func() []string {
+		return []string{"socks5://egress.example.net", "SOCKS5H://dns.example.net", "http://proxy.example.net", "https://gw.example.net", "bare.example.net", "socks5://set.example.net:9050"}
+	})
+	want := []db.TargetExemption{
+		{Host: "egress.example.net", Port: 1080}, {Host: "dns.example.net", Port: 1080}, {Host: "proxy.example.net", Port: 80},
+		{Host: "gw.example.net", Port: 443}, {Host: "set.example.net", Port: 9050},
+	}
+	if got := ic.DerivedExemptions(); !slices.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("derived exemptions = %+v, want %+v", got, want)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/intercept/target_gate.go b/intercept/target_gate.go
index b9d038b..de7b8e2 100644
--- a/intercept/target_gate.go
+++ b/intercept/target_gate.go
@@ -112,8 +112,21 @@ type targetCheck struct {
 	urls  []string // the URLs the call declares, as written, for the URL block rules
 	// redirectFrom is the origin (host:port) of a redirect hop; empty for a call.
 	redirectFrom string
+	// fresh makes every lookup skip the cache: the decision of a connection
+	// (dialTarget) compares the answer it is about to dial.
+	fresh bool
+	// checked is what the run decided about each target, read by dialTarget.
+	checked []*checkedTarget
 }
 
+// What let a target pass, recorded in checkedTarget.cover.
+const (
+	coverDerived  = "derived"   // an exemption derived from the configuration
+	coverStored   = "stored"    // a stored exemption that holds
+	coverPin      = "pin"       // a pin that holds every resolved address
+	coverNameOnly = "name_only" // a pin that is name-only for this call
+)
+
 // checkedTarget is one target of the call and what the gate learned about it.
 type checkedTarget struct {
 	Target
@@ -122,6 +135,7 @@ type checkedTarget struct {
 	resolvedAt time.Time
 	err        error // the name did not resolve
 	exemptVoid bool
+	cover      string // what let the target pass; empty when nothing did
 }
 
 func (t Target) String() string {
@@ -169,6 +183,7 @@ func (c *targetCheck) run(targets []Target) ([]TargetRequest, TargetResult) {
 	// Then the declared form of every target: the name as written, the IP
 	// literal, the range.
 	checked := make([]*checkedTarget, len(targets))
+	c.checked = checked
 	for n, t := range targets {
 		ct := &checkedTarget{Target: t}
 		checked[n] = ct
@@ -185,7 +200,7 @@ func (c *targetCheck) run(targets []Target) ([]TargetRequest, TargetResult) {
 		if ct.Kind != TargetDomain || ex.derived[db.TargetKey(ct.Host, ct.Port)] {
 			continue
 		}
-		c.resolve(ct, false)
+		c.resolve(ct, c.fresh)
 		if rule, hit := blockRule(rules, ct); hit {
 			return c.block(TargetRuleBlocked, "rule_blocked", ct, fmt.Sprintf("%s is blocked by an asset rule. %s", ct.Target, rule.Reason()))
 		}
@@ -204,11 +219,13 @@ func (c *targetCheck) run(targets []Target) ([]TargetRequest, TargetResult) {
 	for _, ct := range checked {
 		key := db.TargetKey(ct.Host, ct.Port)
 		if ex.derived[key] {
+			ct.cover = coverDerived
 			uses = append(uses, func() { c.exemptUsed(ct, ex.digest) })
 			continue
 		}
 		if ex.stored[key] {
 			if exemptionHolds(ct) {
+				ct.cover = coverStored
 				uses = append(uses, func() { c.exemptUsed(ct, ex.digest) })
 				continue
 			}
@@ -223,9 +240,10 @@ func (c *targetCheck) run(targets []Target) ([]TargetRequest, TargetResult) {
 			return c.block(TargetGateUnavailable, "gate_unavailable", ct, "the pins could not be read: "+err.Error())
 		}
 		pin := coveringPin(pins, ct.ips, nameOnly)
-		if pin == nil && ct.Kind == TargetDomain {
+		if pin == nil && ct.Kind == TargetDomain && !c.fresh {
 			// A request is about to be raised: the addresses a human reads and
-			// pins are resolved now, never taken from the cache.
+			// pins are resolved now, never taken from the cache. A fresh run
+			// already has them.
 			if c.resolve(ct, true); ct.err != nil {
 				return c.block(TargetResolveFailed, "resolve_failed", ct, c.resolveFailure(ct))
 			}
@@ -235,7 +253,11 @@ func (c *targetCheck) run(targets []Target) ([]TargetRequest, TargetResult) {
 			pin = coveringPin(pins, ct.ips, nameOnly)
 		}
 		if pin != nil {
-			uses = append(uses, func() { c.pinUsed(ct, pin) })
+			ct.cover = coverPin
+			if nameOnly || pin.NameOnlyEffective {
+				ct.cover = coverNameOnly
+			}
+			uses = append(uses, func() { c.pinUsed(ct, pin, nameOnly) })
 			continue
 		}
 		req := TargetRequest{Host: ct.Host, Port: ct.Port, Kind: ct.Kind, ResolvedIPs: ct.ips,
@@ -326,12 +348,14 @@ func (c *targetCheck) exemptUsed(ct *checkedTarget, digest string) {
 }
 
 // pinUsed logs the first call of this process that a pin version covers.
-func (c *targetCheck) pinUsed(ct *checkedTarget, pin *db.TargetPin) {
+// nameOnly is whether the upstream proxy made every pin name-only for the call:
+// the row records the effective state, not only the pin's mark.
+func (c *targetCheck) pinUsed(ct *checkedTarget, pin *db.TargetPin, nameOnly bool) {
 	if _, seen := c.i.firstUse.LoadOrStore(fmt.Sprintf("pin|%d", pin.ID), true); seen {
 		return
 	}
 	t := ct.audit("pin_match")
-	t.PinID, t.PinVersion, t.PinnedIPs, t.NameOnlyEffective = pin.ID, pin.Version, pin.PinnedIPs, pin.NameOnlyEffective
+	t.PinID, t.PinVersion, t.PinnedIPs, t.NameOnlyEffective = pin.ID, pin.Version, pin.PinnedIPs, pin.NameOnlyEffective || nameOnly
 	c.log("allowed", fmt.Sprintf("Target %s is covered by pin v%d of %s.", ct.Target, pin.Version, c.scope.scopeName()), "", t)
 }
 
diff --git a/intercept/target_request.go b/intercept/target_request.go
index 025fb49..70430b4 100644
--- a/intercept/target_request.go
+++ b/intercept/target_request.go
@@ -384,7 +384,8 @@ func targetReason(scope TargetScope, t TargetRequest, ask *Decision, nameOnly bo
 	fmt.Fprintf(&b, " Approving pins these addresses for %s until revoked.", bound)
 	if nameOnly {
 		b.WriteString(" Egress goes through the upstream proxy, which chooses the address it connects to." +
-			" The addresses listed are what the platform resolved. This approval is name-only.")
+			" The addresses listed are what the platform resolved. This approval is name-only." +
+			" The platform does not bind the connection to these addresses.")
 	}
 	return b.String()
 }
diff --git a/intercept/target_resolve.go b/intercept/target_resolve.go
index 6d15d7a..5f9e82e 100644
--- a/intercept/target_resolve.go
+++ b/intercept/target_resolve.go
@@ -24,6 +24,16 @@ type Resolver interface {
 // resolver unless one is set.
 func (i *Interceptor) SetResolver(r Resolver) { i.resolve.use(r) }
 
+// SetBaseDialer replaces the dialer that opens the connections PinnedDialer
+// lets through, which is a net.Dialer with the settings of
+// http.DefaultTransport unless one is set. Tests use it to map addresses to
+// local listeners and to see what was dialled.
+func (i *Interceptor) SetBaseDialer(f func(ctx context.Context, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error)) {
+	i.mu.Lock()
+	i.dial = f
+	i.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
 // systemResolver is the resolver of the ARTEX process. It reads the same
 // resolver configuration as the tools that run in the same container.
 type systemResolver struct{}
diff --git a/server/customtool.go b/server/customtool.go
index 91fae7f..09c4c1c 100644
--- a/server/customtool.go
+++ b/server/customtool.go
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ func (s *Server) runHTTPTool(ctx context.Context, key string, execRaw json.RawMe
 	client := &http.Client{Timeout: timeoutOr(spec.TimeoutMs, 30000)}
 	// Every redirect hop goes through the target gate, as the rendered URL did.
 	client.CheckRedirect = intercept.RedirectCheck(key)
-	if tr := s.httpProxyTransport(spec); tr != nil {
+	if tr := s.httpToolTransport(ctx, key, spec); tr != nil {
 		client.Transport = tr
 	}
 	resp, err := client.Do(req)
@@ -471,6 +471,26 @@ func (s *Server) runHTTPTool(ctx context.Context, key string, execRaw json.RawMe
 	return actool.Text(actool.Capture(tc, string(b))), nil
 }
 
+// httpToolTransport is the transport of one http tool call, or nil
+// (http.DefaultTransport). A call through a proxy keeps httpProxyTransport: it
+// dials the proxy, which makes the connection to the target. A direct call in
+// a gated scope connects through the pinned dialer, to addresses a pin covers.
+func (s *Server) httpToolTransport(ctx context.Context, key string, spec httpExec) *http.Transport {
+	if tr := s.httpProxyTransport(spec); tr != nil {
+		return tr
+	}
+	if !intercept.GateOn(ctx) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	tr := http.DefaultTransport.(*http.Transport).Clone()
+	// An environment proxy would be dialled instead of the target.
+	tr.Proxy = nil
+	tr.DialContext = intercept.PinnedDialer(key, true)
+	// One request per call: no idle connection outlives the call.
+	tr.DisableKeepAlives = true
+	return tr
+}
+
 // httpProxyTransport builds a Transport for the http tool's proxy config, or nil
 // (direct). use_recording_proxy routes through the recording proxy + trusts its CA.
 func (s *Server) httpProxyTransport(spec httpExec) *http.Transport {
diff --git a/server/customtool_dial_test.go b/server/customtool_dial_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b221b68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/customtool_dial_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,312 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/Autumn-27/artex/db"
+	"github.com/Autumn-27/artex/intercept"
+)
+
+// Step 2.1: the custom http tool connects directly through the pinned dialer
+// in a gated scope, and a gated worker's WebFetch end to end.
+
+// routeDialer is the base dialer of the gate in these tests: it records every
+// address, connects the routed TEST-NET addresses to local listeners, and
+// refuses the rest.
+type routeDialer struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	routes map[string]string
+	dialed []string
+}
+
+func newRouteDialer(g *gateServer) *routeDialer {
+	d := &routeDialer{routes: map[string]string{}}
+	g.m.interceptor.SetBaseDialer(d.dial)
+	return d
+}
+
+func (d *routeDialer) route(addr, to string) {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	d.routes[addr] = to
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (d *routeDialer) dial(ctx context.Context, network, addr string) (net.Conn, error) {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	d.dialed = append(d.dialed, addr)
+	to, ok := d.routes[addr]
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, &net.OpError{Op: "dial", Net: network, Err: errors.New("no route in the test dialer")}
+	}
+	return (&net.Dialer{}).DialContext(ctx, network, to)
+}
+
+func (d *routeDialer) calls() []string {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	defer d.mu.Unlock()
+	return slices.Clone(d.dialed)
+}
+
+func (r *countingResolver) set(host string, ips ...string) {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	r.answers[host] = ips
+	r.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+// approveTarget opens the request of a gated http tool call on key and approves it.
+func approveTarget(t *testing.T, g *gateServer, task *Task, tool interface {
+	Name() string
+}, call func() (string, bool), key string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if out, isErr := call(); !isErr || !strings.Contains(out, "TARGET_APPROVAL_PENDING") {
+		t.Fatalf("%s before the approval: error=%v out=%q", tool.Name(), isErr, out)
+	}
+	id, _, _, ok := openTargetRequest(t, g.m.pg, task.ID, key)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("no request on %s", key)
+	}
+	decide(t, g, id, "allowed")
+}
+
+// A gated direct call reaches its target at the pinned address; once the name
+// answers another address, the rendered-URL gate passes on the cached answer
+// and the dial connects nowhere.
+func TestCustomHTTPDirectDialPinned(t *testing.T) {
+	g := newGateServer(t)
+	on := true
+	task := g.newTask(t, db.TaskCreateOptions{TargetGate: &on})
+	srv, hits, _, port := countingServer(t)
+	res := &countingResolver{answers: map[string][]string{"api.example.com": {"203.0.113.7"}}}
+	g.m.interceptor.SetResolver(res)
+	dialer := newRouteDialer(g)
+	dialer.route("203.0.113.7:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	dialer.route("203.0.113.9:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	key := "api.example.com:" + port
+	tool := g.s.buildCustomTool(&db.Tool{Key: "probe_dial", Kind: "http",
+		Exec: execJSON(t, map[string]any{"url": "http://" + key + "/dial"})})
+	call := func() (string, bool) { return callTool(t, tool, gatedCtx(task, 0), `{}`, nil) }
+	approveTarget(t, g, task, tool, call, key)
+
+	if out, isErr := call(); isErr || !strings.Contains(out, "probe-reached") || hits.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("pinned call: error=%v out=%q hits=%d", isErr, out, hits.Load())
+	}
+	res.set("api.example.com", "203.0.113.9")
+	out, isErr := call()
+	if !isErr || !strings.Contains(out, "TARGET_APPROVAL_PENDING: the connection to "+key+" was not opened") || hits.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("rebound name: error=%v out=%q hits=%d", isErr, out, hits.Load())
+	}
+	if got := dialer.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.7:" + port}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, want the pinned address once", got)
+	}
+	if _, toolName, input, ok := openTargetRequest(t, g.m.pg, task.ID, key); !ok || toolName != "probe_dial" || !strings.Contains(input, "dial") {
+		t.Fatalf("request at the dial: ok=%v tool=%q input=%s", ok, toolName, input)
+	}
+}
+
+// With the gate off (and without a scope) the call keeps http.DefaultTransport:
+// no transport is built. A spec with a proxy keeps its proxy transport, without
+// a dialer. Gate on and direct: a transport with the pinned dialer, no
+// environment proxy, keep-alive off.
+func TestCustomHTTPGateOffTransportUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
+	s := &Server{}
+	direct := httpExec{URL: "http://api.example.com/"}
+	scope := func(on bool) context.Context {
+		return intercept.WithTargetScope(context.Background(), intercept.TargetScope{TaskID: "7", Enabled: func() bool { return on }})
+	}
+	for name, ctx := range map[string]context.Context{"no scope": context.Background(), "flag off": scope(false)} {
+		if tr := s.httpToolTransport(ctx, "probe", direct); tr != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: transport %+v, want nil (http.DefaultTransport)", name, tr)
+		}
+	}
+	if tr := s.httpToolTransport(scope(true), "probe", httpExec{URL: direct.URL, Proxy: "http://127.0.0.1:1"}); tr == nil || tr.Proxy == nil || tr.DialContext != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("operator proxy: transport %+v, want the proxy transport without a dialer", tr)
+	}
+	if tr := s.httpToolTransport(scope(true), "probe", direct); tr == nil || tr.Proxy != nil || tr.DialContext == nil || !tr.DisableKeepAlives {
+		t.Fatalf("gated direct call: transport %+v", tr)
+	}
+}
+
+// A redirect of a pinned origin to a pinned hop: the hop is dialled at the
+// hop's pinned address.
+func TestCustomHTTPRedirectHopDialPinned(t *testing.T) {
+	g := newGateServer(t)
+	on := true
+	task := g.newTask(t, db.TaskCreateOptions{TargetGate: &on})
+	final, finalHits, _, finalPort := countingServer(t)
+	hopKey := "hop.example.com:" + finalPort
+	start, _, startAddr := redirectingServer(t, "http://"+hopKey+"/final")
+	_, startPort, _ := net.SplitHostPort(startAddr)
+	originKey := "api.example.com:" + startPort
+	res := &countingResolver{answers: map[string][]string{"api.example.com": {"203.0.113.7"}, "hop.example.com": {"203.0.113.8"}}}
+	g.m.interceptor.SetResolver(res)
+	dialer := newRouteDialer(g)
+	dialer.route("203.0.113.7:"+startPort, start.Listener.Addr().String())
+	dialer.route("203.0.113.8:"+finalPort, final.Listener.Addr().String())
+	// Were the hop dialled at the origin's address, it would still reach it.
+	dialer.route("203.0.113.7:"+finalPort, final.Listener.Addr().String())
+	tool := g.s.buildCustomTool(&db.Tool{Key: "probe_hop", Kind: "http",
+		Exec: execJSON(t, map[string]any{"url": "http://" + originKey + "/start"})})
+	call := func() (string, bool) { return callTool(t, tool, gatedCtx(task, 0), `{}`, nil) }
+	approveTarget(t, g, task, tool, call, originKey)
+	approveTarget(t, g, task, tool, call, hopKey)
+
+	before := len(dialer.calls())
+	if out, isErr := call(); isErr || !strings.Contains(out, "probe-reached") || finalHits.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("pinned hop: error=%v out=%q", isErr, out)
+	}
+	if got := dialer.calls()[before:]; !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.7:" + startPort, "203.0.113.8:" + finalPort}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v, want the origin's then the hop's pinned address", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// The custom-tool test endpoint has no scope (D14): its connection never goes
+// through the gate's dialer, and nothing is written.
+func TestCustomToolTestEndpointDialUngated(t *testing.T) {
+	g := newGateServer(t)
+	on := true
+	g.newTask(t, db.TaskCreateOptions{TargetGate: &on})
+	dialer := newRouteDialer(g)
+	_, hits, host, port := countingServer(t)
+	before := 0
+	if err := g.m.pg.QueryRow(`SELECT count(*) FROM intercept_pending WHERE decision_source='target' OR target_key IS NOT NULL`).Scan(&before); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	code, out := g.do(t, "POST", "/api/tools/custom/test", fmt.Sprintf(`{"kind":"http","exec":{"url":"http://%s:%s/test"}}`, host, port))
+	if code != 200 || out["is_error"] != false || hits.Load() != 1 || len(dialer.calls()) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("test endpoint: %d %v hits=%d dialled %v", code, out, hits.Load(), dialer.calls())
+	}
+	after := 0
+	if err := g.m.pg.QueryRow(`SELECT count(*) FROM intercept_pending WHERE decision_source='target' OR target_key IS NOT NULL`).Scan(&after); err != nil || after != before {
+		t.Fatalf("the test endpoint wrote %d target rows (%v)", after-before, err)
+	}
+}
+
+// Documents a known limit: a custom http tool that goes through a proxy is not
+// bound to pins. The pinned dialer covers direct connections only; through a
+// proxy the connection to the target is the proxy's, and the proxy here
+// connects to a peer nobody pinned. Step 2.2 binds the recording proxy (and
+// flips its half of this test); an operator-written proxy stays unbound
+// (OPEN-6).
+func TestBypass_CustomHTTPProxyPeerNotPinned(t *testing.T) {
+	g := newGateServer(t)
+	on := true
+	task := g.newTask(t, db.TaskCreateOptions{TargetGate: &on})
+	_, hits, _, port := countingServer(t)
+	peer := "127.0.0.1:" + port
+	proxy := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		// Whatever the request names, the proxy connects to peer.
+		resp, err := http.Get("http://" + peer + r.URL.Path)
+		if err != nil {
+			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadGateway)
+			return
+		}
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
+		_, _ = io.Copy(w, resp.Body)
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(proxy.Close)
+	res := &countingResolver{answers: map[string][]string{"api.example.com": {"203.0.113.7"}}}
+	g.m.interceptor.SetResolver(res)
+	dialer := newRouteDialer(g)
+	key := "api.example.com:" + port
+	url := "http://" + key + "/bypass"
+	direct := g.s.buildCustomTool(&db.Tool{Key: "probe_bypass", Kind: "http", Exec: execJSON(t, map[string]any{"url": url})})
+	approveTarget(t, g, task, direct, func() (string, bool) { return callTool(t, direct, gatedCtx(task, 0), `{}`, nil) }, key)
+
+	// httpProxyTransport writes "http://" before the recording proxy address, so
+	// the address is given here without a scheme.
+	g.m.mu.Lock()
+	g.m.globalProxy = proxy.Listener.Addr().String()
+	g.m.mu.Unlock()
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		g.m.mu.Lock()
+		g.m.globalProxy = ""
+		g.m.mu.Unlock()
+	})
+	for name, exec := range map[string]map[string]any{
+		"operator proxy":      {"url": url, "proxy": proxy.URL},
+		"use_recording_proxy": {"url": url, "use_recording_proxy": true},
+	} {
+		before := hits.Load()
+		tool := g.s.buildCustomTool(&db.Tool{Key: "probe_bypass", Kind: "http", Exec: execJSON(t, exec)})
+		if out, isErr := callTool(t, tool, gatedCtx(task, 0), `{}`, nil); isErr || !strings.Contains(out, "probe-reached") || hits.Load() != before+1 {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: error=%v out=%q", name, isErr, out)
+		}
+	}
+	if got := dialer.calls(); len(got) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v; the pinned address 203.0.113.7 is never dialled through a proxy", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// A gated worker's WebFetch end to end: approved, the next call passes; the
+// name then answers another address from the next lookup on, so the following
+// call passes the hook on the cached answer and fails at the dial with
+// TARGET_APPROVAL_PENDING. The new_ip request is approved through the API and
+// the call after passes.
+func TestTargetGateEndToEndDialRebindBlocked(t *testing.T) {
+	g := newGateServer(t)
+	on := true
+	task := g.newTask(t, db.TaskCreateOptions{TargetGate: &on})
+	pg := g.m.pg
+	srv, hits, _, port := countingServer(t)
+	res := &countingResolver{answers: map[string][]string{"api.example.com": {"203.0.113.7"}}}
+	g.m.interceptor.SetResolver(res)
+	dialer := newRouteDialer(g)
+	dialer.route("203.0.113.7:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	dialer.route("203.0.113.9:"+port, srv.Listener.Addr().String())
+	key := "api.example.com:" + port
+	target := "http://" + key + "/e2e"
+	p := &toolScript{calls: fetches(target, target, target), results: make(chan string, 16),
+		hold: map[int64]chan struct{}{2: make(chan struct{}), 3: make(chan struct{})}}
+	done := runScriptedWorker(t, g, task, p)
+
+	var id int64
+	waitUntil(t, "the first request", func() bool {
+		var ok bool
+		id, _, _, ok = openTargetRequest(t, pg, task.ID, key)
+		return ok
+	})
+	decide(t, g, id, "allowed")
+	if r := p.next(t); !strings.Contains(r, "probe-reached") || hits.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("first call after the approval: %q hits=%d", r, hits.Load())
+	}
+
+	res.set("api.example.com", "203.0.113.9")
+	close(p.hold[2])
+	if r := p.next(t); !strings.Contains(r, "TARGET_APPROVAL_PENDING: the connection to "+key+" was not opened") || hits.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("second call, rebound at the dial: %q hits=%d", r, hits.Load())
+	}
+	newIP, toolName, _, ok := openTargetRequest(t, pg, task.ID, key)
+	if !ok || newIP == id || toolName != "WebFetch" {
+		t.Fatalf("new_ip request: ok=%v id=%d tool=%q", ok, newIP, toolName)
+	}
+	detail, err := pg.GetInterceptDetail(newIP)
+	if err != nil || detail == nil || detail.Audit == nil || detail.Audit.Targets[0].Reason != "new_ip" ||
+		!slices.Equal(detail.Audit.Targets[0].ResolvedIPs, []string{"203.0.113.9"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("new_ip request detail = %+v, %v", detail, err)
+	}
+	decide(t, g, newIP, "allowed")
+	close(p.hold[3])
+	if r := p.next(t); !strings.Contains(r, "probe-reached") || hits.Load() != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("third call after the new_ip approval: %q hits=%d", r, hits.Load())
+	}
+	if got := dialer.calls(); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"203.0.113.7:" + port, "203.0.113.9:" + port}) {
+		t.Fatalf("dialled %v", got)
+	}
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+	case <-time.After(60 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("the worker run did not end")
+	}
+}