diff --git a/DOWNLOAD_AND_VERIFY_ISO.md b/DOWNLOAD_AND_VERIFY_ISO.md
index 284b89ae3..68ae7f2c4 100644
--- a/DOWNLOAD_AND_VERIFY_ISO.md
+++ b/DOWNLOAD_AND_VERIFY_ISO.md
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
-### 3.3.0-20260908 ISO image released on 2026/09/08
+### 3.3.0-20260911 ISO image released on 2026/09/11
 
 
 ### Download and Verify
 
-3.3.0-20260908 ISO image:  
-https://download.securityonion.net/file/securityonion/securityonion-3.3.0-20260908.iso
+3.3.0-20260911 ISO image:  
+https://download.securityonion.net/file/securityonion/securityonion-3.3.0-20260911.iso
  
-MD5: 5A2C42D0083F2D7B4DC2178C30EBC05F  
-SHA1: 505220A8A3315AFEE601C13772996018425CCD29  
-SHA256: 6EB8401296A1D051FEC558C520D2D4AB1912A72D351A2426FBF8C87FEE2BA844  
+MD5: 12B18433D3A2198A185892FF79CF638F  
+SHA1: 2B3C2E1FA7A78ED1F956E7EDCC12E32593C14EEE  
+SHA256: 0938C73B76CE30EC9E4394D312C79EA7CAC721B6818541697279A6221F7D870D  
 
 Signature for ISO image:  
-https://github.com/Security-Onion-Solutions/securityonion/raw/3/main/sigs/securityonion-3.3.0-20260908.iso.sig
+https://github.com/Security-Onion-Solutions/securityonion/raw/3/main/sigs/securityonion-3.3.0-20260911.iso.sig
 
 Signing key:  
 https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Security-Onion-Solutions/securityonion/3/main/KEYS  
@@ -25,22 +25,22 @@ wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Security-Onion-Solutions/securityonion/3/
 
 Download the signature file for the ISO:  
 ```
-wget https://github.com/Security-Onion-Solutions/securityonion/raw/3/main/sigs/securityonion-3.3.0-20260908.iso.sig
+wget https://github.com/Security-Onion-Solutions/securityonion/raw/3/main/sigs/securityonion-3.3.0-20260911.iso.sig
 ```
 
 Download the ISO image:  
 ```
-wget https://download.securityonion.net/file/securityonion/securityonion-3.3.0-20260908.iso
+wget https://download.securityonion.net/file/securityonion/securityonion-3.3.0-20260911.iso
 ```
 
 Verify the downloaded ISO image using the signature file:  
 ```
-gpg --verify securityonion-3.3.0-20260908.iso.sig securityonion-3.3.0-20260908.iso
+gpg --verify securityonion-3.3.0-20260911.iso.sig securityonion-3.3.0-20260911.iso
 ```
 
 The output should show "Good signature" and the Primary key fingerprint should match what's shown below:
 ```
-gpg: Signature made Tue 08 Sep 2026 10:07:12 AM EDT using RSA key ID FE507013
+gpg: Signature made Fri 11 Sep 2026 11:23:56 AM EDT using RSA key ID FE507013
 gpg: Good signature from "Security Onion Solutions, LLC <info@securityonionsolutions.com>"
 gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature!
 gpg:          There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner.
diff --git a/salt/common/init.sls b/salt/common/init.sls
index bafd12fd6..34b84f09d 100644
--- a/salt/common/init.sls
+++ b/salt/common/init.sls
@@ -117,14 +117,25 @@ elastic_curl_config:
 {% endif %}
 
 
+# A non-root owner here can chmod the directory and replace any script in it, including
+# the root-owned ones. 555 is the mode the filesystem RPM ships; root ignores it anyway.
+usr_sbin_perms:
+  file.directory:
+    - name: /usr/sbin
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 555
+
 common_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://common/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - show_changes: False
+    - require:
+      - file: usr_sbin_perms
 {% if GLOBALS.role == 'so-heavynode' %}
     - exclude_pat:
       - so-pcap-import
@@ -159,8 +170,8 @@ common_sbin_jinja:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://common/tools/sbin_jinja
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939 
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - template: jinja
     - show_changes: False
@@ -173,6 +184,8 @@ so-status_script:
   file.managed:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-status
     - source: salt://common/tools/sbin/so-status
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - mode: 755
 
 {% if GLOBALS.is_sensor %}
diff --git a/salt/common/soup_scripts.sls b/salt/common/soup_scripts.sls
index 6b2f1551d..50be19bb4 100644
--- a/salt/common/soup_scripts.sls
+++ b/salt/common/soup_scripts.sls
@@ -18,47 +18,61 @@ copy_so-common_common_tools_sbin:
     - name: /opt/so/saltstack/default/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_so-image-common_common_tools_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /opt/so/saltstack/default/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-image-common
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-image-common
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_soup_manager_tools_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /opt/so/saltstack/default/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_so-firewall_manager_tools_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /opt/so/saltstack/default/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-firewall
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-firewall
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_so-yaml_manager_tools_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /opt/so/saltstack/default/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-yaml.py
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-yaml.py
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_so-repo-sync_manager_tools_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /opt/so/saltstack/default/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-repo-sync
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-repo-sync
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_bootstrap-salt_manager_tools_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /opt/so/saltstack/default/salt/salt/scripts/bootstrap-salt.sh
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/salt/scripts/bootstrap-salt.sh
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 644
 
 # This section is used to put the new script in place so that it can be called during soup.
 # It is faster than calling the states that normally manage them to put them in place.
@@ -67,46 +81,60 @@ copy_so-common_sbin:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-common
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_so-image-common_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-image-common
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-image-common
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_soup_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /usr/sbin/soup
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_so-firewall_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-firewall
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-firewall
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_so-yaml_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-yaml.py
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-yaml.py
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_so-repo-sync_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-repo-sync
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-repo-sync
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
 
 copy_bootstrap-salt_sbin:
   file.copy:
     - name: /usr/sbin/bootstrap-salt.sh
     - source: {{UPDATE_DIR}}/salt/salt/scripts/bootstrap-salt.sh
     - force: True
-    - preserve: True
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
diff --git a/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common b/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common
index fbcd37bb9..c8ebae084 100755
--- a/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common
+++ b/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common
@@ -240,7 +240,8 @@ copy_new_files() {
   cd $UPDATE_DIR
   rsync -a salt $DEFAULT_SALT_DIR/ --delete "${EXCLUDE_ARGS[@]}"
   rsync -a pillar $DEFAULT_SALT_DIR/ --delete "${EXCLUDE_ARGS[@]}"
-  chown -R socore:socore $DEFAULT_SALT_DIR/
+  # Root-executed code; SOC only needs to read it. Local dirs stay socore-owned.
+  chown -R root:root $DEFAULT_SALT_DIR/
   cd /tmp
 }
 
diff --git a/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-sensor-clean b/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-sensor-clean
index 083a316b9..ef061beff 100755
--- a/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-sensor-clean
+++ b/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-sensor-clean
@@ -8,21 +8,37 @@
 # Elastic License 2.0.
 
 
-SENSOR_DIR='/nsm'
+SENSOR_DIR="${SENSOR_DIR:-/nsm}"
 CRIT_DISK_USAGE=90
-CUR_USAGE=$(df -P $SENSOR_DIR | tail -1 | awk '{print $5}' | tr -d %)
-LOG="/opt/so/log/sensor_clean.log"
-TODAY=$(date -u "+%Y-%m-%d")
+LOG="${LOG:-/opt/so/log/sensor_clean.log}"
+LOCK="${LOCK:-/var/tmp/so-sensor-clean.lock}"
+MAX_PASSES=100
 
+ZEEK_LOGS="$SENSOR_DIR/zeek/logs"
+STRELKA_FILES="$SENSOR_DIR/strelka/processed"
+SURICATA_LOGS="$SENSOR_DIR/suricata"
+PCAPS="$SENSOR_DIR/pcapout"
+
+log() {
+	echo "$(date) - $*" >>"$LOG"
+}
+
+disk_usage() {
+	df -P "$SENSOR_DIR" | tail -1 | awk '{print $5}' | tr -d %
+}
+
+disk_avail() {
+	df -P "$SENSOR_DIR" | tail -1 | awk '{print $4}'
+}
+
+# sets REMOVED=1 if anything was actually deleted
 clean() {
 	## find the oldest Zeek logs directory
-	OLDEST_DIR=$(ls /nsm/zeek/logs/ | grep -v "current" | grep -v "stats" | grep -v "packetloss" | grep -v "zeek_clean" | sort | head -n 1)
-	if [ -z "$OLDEST_DIR" -o "$OLDEST_DIR" == ".." -o "$OLDEST_DIR" == "." ]; then
-		echo "$(date) - No old Zeek logs available to clean up in /nsm/zeek/logs/" >>$LOG
-		#exit 0
-	else
-		echo "$(date) - Removing directory: /nsm/zeek/logs/$OLDEST_DIR" >>$LOG
-		rm -rf /nsm/zeek/logs/"$OLDEST_DIR"
+	OLDEST_DIR=$(ls "$ZEEK_LOGS" 2>/dev/null | grep -v "current" | grep -v "stats" | grep -v "packetloss" | grep -v "zeek_clean" | sort | head -n 1)
+	if [ -n "$OLDEST_DIR" ]; then
+		log "Removing directory: $ZEEK_LOGS/$OLDEST_DIR"
+		rm -rf "$ZEEK_LOGS/$OLDEST_DIR"
+		REMOVED=1
 	fi
 
 	## Remarking for now, as we are moving extracted files to /nsm/strelka/processed
@@ -43,58 +59,73 @@ clean() {
 	#fi
 
 	## Clean up Zeek extracted files processed by Strelka
-	STRELKA_FILES='/nsm/strelka/processed'
-	OLDEST_STRELKA=$(find $STRELKA_FILES -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' | sort -n | head -n 1)
-	if [ -z "$OLDEST_STRELKA" -o "$OLDEST_STRELKA" == ".." -o "$OLDEST_STRELKA" == "." ]; then
-		echo "$(date) - No old files available to clean up in $STRELKA_FILES" >>$LOG
-	else
+	OLDEST_STRELKA=$(find "$STRELKA_FILES" -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' 2>/dev/null | sort -n | head -n 1)
+	if [ -n "$OLDEST_STRELKA" ]; then
 		OLDEST_STRELKA_DATE=$(echo $OLDEST_STRELKA | awk '{print $1}' | cut -d+ -f1)
-		OLDEST_STRELKA_FILE=$(echo $OLDEST_STRELKA | awk '{print $2}')
-		echo "$(date) - Removing extracted files for $OLDEST_STRELKA_DATE" >>$LOG
-		find $STRELKA_FILES -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' | grep $OLDEST_STRELKA_DATE | awk '{print $2}' | while read FILE; do
-			echo "$(date) - Removing file: $FILE" >>$LOG
+		log "Removing extracted files for $OLDEST_STRELKA_DATE"
+		REMOVED=1
+		find "$STRELKA_FILES" -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' 2>/dev/null | grep $OLDEST_STRELKA_DATE | awk '{print $2}' | while read FILE; do
+			log "Removing file: $FILE"
 			rm -f "$FILE"
 		done
 	fi
 
 	## Clean up Suricata log files
-	SURICATA_LOGS='/nsm/suricata'
-	OLDEST_SURICATA=$(find $SURICATA_LOGS -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' | sort -n | head -n 1)
-	if [[ -z "$OLDEST_SURICATA" ]] || [[ "$OLDEST_SURICATA" == ".." ]] || [[ "$OLDEST_SURICATA" == "." ]]; then
-		echo "$(date) - No old files available to clean up in $SURICATA_LOGS" >>$LOG
-	else
+	OLDEST_SURICATA=$(find "$SURICATA_LOGS" -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' 2>/dev/null | sort -n | head -n 1)
+	if [ -n "$OLDEST_SURICATA" ]; then
 		OLDEST_SURICATA_DATE=$(echo $OLDEST_SURICATA | awk '{print $1}' | cut -d+ -f1)
-		OLDEST_SURICATA_FILE=$(echo $OLDEST_SURICATA | awk '{print $2}')
-		echo "$(date) - Removing logs for $OLDEST_SURICATA_DATE" >>$LOG
-		find $SURICATA_LOGS -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' | grep $OLDEST_SURICATA_DATE | awk '{print $2}' | while read FILE; do
-			echo "$(date) - Removing file: $FILE" >>$LOG
+		log "Removing logs for $OLDEST_SURICATA_DATE"
+		REMOVED=1
+		find "$SURICATA_LOGS" -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' 2>/dev/null | grep $OLDEST_SURICATA_DATE | awk '{print $2}' | while read FILE; do
+			log "Removing file: $FILE"
 			rm -f "$FILE"
 		done
 	fi
 
 	## Clean up extracted pcaps
-	PCAPS='/nsm/pcapout'
-	OLDEST_PCAP=$(find $PCAPS -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' | sort -n | head -n 1)
-	if [ -z "$OLDEST_PCAP" -o "$OLDEST_PCAP" == ".." -o "$OLDEST_PCAP" == "." ]; then
-		echo "$(date) - No old files available to clean up in $PCAPS" >>$LOG
-	else
+	OLDEST_PCAP=$(find "$PCAPS" -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' 2>/dev/null | sort -n | head -n 1)
+	if [ -n "$OLDEST_PCAP" ]; then
 		OLDEST_PCAP_DATE=$(echo $OLDEST_PCAP | awk '{print $1}' | cut -d+ -f1)
-		OLDEST_PCAP_FILE=$(echo $OLDEST_PCAP | awk '{print $2}')
-		echo "$(date) - Removing extracted files for $OLDEST_PCAP_DATE" >>$LOG
-		find $PCAPS -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' | grep $OLDEST_PCAP_DATE | awk '{print $2}' | while read FILE; do
-			echo "$(date) - Removing file: $FILE" >>$LOG
+		log "Removing extracted files for $OLDEST_PCAP_DATE"
+		REMOVED=1
+		find "$PCAPS" -type f -printf '%T+ %p\n' 2>/dev/null | grep $OLDEST_PCAP_DATE | awk '{print $2}' | while read FILE; do
+			log "Removing file: $FILE"
 			rm -f "$FILE"
 		done
 	fi
 }
 
-# Check to see if we are already running
-NUM_RUNNING=$(pgrep -cf "/bin/bash /usr/sbin/so-sensor-clean")
-[ "$NUM_RUNNING" -gt 1 ] && echo "$(date) - $NUM_RUNNING sensor clean script processes running...exiting." >>$LOG && exit 0
-
-if [ "$CUR_USAGE" -gt "$CRIT_DISK_USAGE" ]; then
-	while [ "$CUR_USAGE" -gt "$CRIT_DISK_USAGE" ]; do
-		clean
-		CUR_USAGE=$(df -P $SENSOR_DIR | tail -1 | awk '{print $5}' | tr -d %)
-	done
+# Only one instance at a time; the lock is the fd, so it releases on any exit
+exec 9>"$LOCK" || exit 1
+if ! flock -n 9; then
+	log "another so-sensor-clean is already running (lock $LOCK held); exiting"
+	exit 0
 fi
+
+CUR_USAGE=$(disk_usage)
+[ "$CUR_USAGE" -gt "$CRIT_DISK_USAGE" ] || exit 0
+
+log "$SENSOR_DIR at ${CUR_USAGE}% (threshold ${CRIT_DISK_USAGE}%); starting cleanup"
+
+PASS=0
+while [ "$CUR_USAGE" -gt "$CRIT_DISK_USAGE" ]; do
+	PASS=$((PASS + 1))
+	if [ "$PASS" -gt "$MAX_PASSES" ]; then
+		log "stopping after $MAX_PASSES passes; $SENSOR_DIR still at ${CUR_USAGE}%"
+		break
+	fi
+
+	REMOVED=0
+	BEFORE=$(disk_avail)
+	clean
+	CUR_USAGE=$(disk_usage)
+
+	if [ "$REMOVED" -eq 0 ]; then
+		log "nothing left to remove in $ZEEK_LOGS, $STRELKA_FILES, $SURICATA_LOGS, $PCAPS; $SENSOR_DIR still at ${CUR_USAGE}% - space is consumed outside of NSM cleanup scope"
+		break
+	fi
+	if [ "$(disk_avail)" -le "$BEFORE" ]; then
+		log "pass $PASS freed no space; $SENSOR_DIR still at ${CUR_USAGE}% - stopping until next run"
+		break
+	fi
+done
diff --git a/salt/elastalert/config.sls b/salt/elastalert/config.sls
index 25d5bf5f8..147666e6e 100644
--- a/salt/elastalert/config.sls
+++ b/salt/elastalert/config.sls
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ elastalert_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://elastalert/tools/sbin
-    - user: 933
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 #elastalert_sbin_jinja:
diff --git a/salt/elasticagent/config.sls b/salt/elasticagent/config.sls
index b54186fab..63992b199 100644
--- a/salt/elasticagent/config.sls
+++ b/salt/elasticagent/config.sls
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ elasticagent_sbin_jinja:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://elasticagent/tools/sbin_jinja
-    - user: 949
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - template: jinja
 
diff --git a/salt/elasticfleet/config.sls b/salt/elasticfleet/config.sls
index 6a8919605..59f052b7f 100644
--- a/salt/elasticfleet/config.sls
+++ b/salt/elasticfleet/config.sls
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ elasticfleet_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://elasticfleet/tools/sbin
-    - user: 947
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - show_changes: False
 
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ elasticfleet_sbin_jinja:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://elasticfleet/tools/sbin_jinja
-    - user: 947
-    - group: 939 
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - template: jinja
     - exclude_pat:
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ eapackageupgrade:
   file.managed:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-elastic-fleet-package-upgrade
     - source: salt://elasticfleet/tools/sbin_jinja/so-elastic-fleet-package-upgrade
-    - user: 947
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - mode: 755
     - template: jinja
 
diff --git a/salt/elasticfleet/install_agent_grid.sls b/salt/elasticfleet/install_agent_grid.sls
index 7ed727b48..ca36b06de 100644
--- a/salt/elasticfleet/install_agent_grid.sls
+++ b/salt/elasticfleet/install_agent_grid.sls
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ so-elastic-agent-install:
   file.managed:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-elastic-agent-install
     - source: salt://elasticfleet/tools/sbin/so-elastic-agent-install
-    - user: 947
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - mode: 755
     - show_changes: False
 
diff --git a/salt/elasticsearch/config.sls b/salt/elasticsearch/config.sls
index cbfdca406..5c1645ca6 100644
--- a/salt/elasticsearch/config.sls
+++ b/salt/elasticsearch/config.sls
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ elasticsearch_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://elasticsearch/tools/sbin
-    - user: 930
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - exclude_pat:
       - so-elasticsearch-pipelines # exclude this because we need to watch it for changes, we sync it in another state
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ so-elasticsearch-system-indices-patch-script:
   file.managed:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-elasticsearch-system-indices-patch
     - source: salt://elasticsearch/tools/sbin/so-elasticsearch-system-indices-patch
-    - user: 930
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - mode: 755
     - show_changes: False
 
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ elasticsearch_sbin_jinja:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://elasticsearch/tools/sbin_jinja
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939 
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - template: jinja
     - exclude_pat:
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ so-elasticsearch-ilm-policy-load-script:
   file.managed:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-elasticsearch-ilm-policy-load
     - source: salt://elasticsearch/tools/sbin_jinja/so-elasticsearch-ilm-policy-load
-    - user: 930
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - mode: 754
     - template: jinja
     - defaults:
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ so-elasticsearch-pipelines-script:
   file.managed:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-elasticsearch-pipelines
     - source: salt://elasticsearch/tools/sbin/so-elasticsearch-pipelines
-    - user: 930
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - mode: 754
     - show_changes: False
 
diff --git a/salt/elasticsearch/files/ingest/suricata.fileinfo b/salt/elasticsearch/files/ingest/suricata.fileinfo
index 4f6182139..d59aa2401 100644
--- a/salt/elasticsearch/files/ingest/suricata.fileinfo
+++ b/salt/elasticsearch/files/ingest/suricata.fileinfo
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
     { "rename": 	{ "field": "message2.proto", 			"target_field": "network.transport",	"ignore_missing": true 	} },
     { "rename": 	{ "field": "message2.app_proto", 		"target_field": "network.protocol",	"ignore_missing": true 	} },
     { "rename": 	{ "field": "message2.fileinfo.filename", 	"target_field": "file.name",		"ignore_missing": true 	} },
-    { "rename": 	{ "field": "message2.fileinfo.gaps", 		"target_field": "file.bytes.missing",	"ignore_missing": true 	} },
+    { "rename": 	{ "field": "message2.fileinfo.gaps", 		"target_field": "suricata.fileinfo.gaps",	"ignore_missing": true 	} },
+    { "set":		{ "if": "ctx.suricata?.fileinfo?.gaps == false", 	"field": "file.bytes.missing",	"value": 0 		} },
     { "rename": 	{ "field": "message2.fileinfo.magic", 		"target_field": "file.mime_type",	"ignore_missing": true 	} },
     { "rename": 	{ "field": "message2.fileinfo.md5", 		"target_field": "hash.md5",		"ignore_missing": true 	} },
     { "rename": 	{ "field": "message2.fileinfo.sha1", 		"target_field": "hash.sha1",		"ignore_missing": true 	} },
diff --git a/salt/hypervisor/init.sls b/salt/hypervisor/init.sls
index 4a2edad75..106d366b7 100644
--- a/salt/hypervisor/init.sls
+++ b/salt/hypervisor/init.sls
@@ -21,12 +21,16 @@ hypervisor_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://hypervisor/tools/sbin
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 744
 
 hypervisor_sbin_jinja:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://hypervisor/tools/sbin_jinja
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - template: jinja
     - file_mode: 744
 
diff --git a/salt/idh/config.sls b/salt/idh/config.sls
index 2e6315007..e17823604 100644
--- a/salt/idh/config.sls
+++ b/salt/idh/config.sls
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ idh_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://idh/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 #idh_sbin_jinja:
diff --git a/salt/influxdb/config.sls b/salt/influxdb/config.sls
index bf8b67b78..819d78b98 100644
--- a/salt/influxdb/config.sls
+++ b/salt/influxdb/config.sls
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ influxdb_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://influxdb/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 #influxdb_sbin_jinja:
diff --git a/salt/kafka/config.sls b/salt/kafka/config.sls
index 1bedf96a0..6a7c30c94 100644
--- a/salt/kafka/config.sls
+++ b/salt/kafka/config.sls
@@ -30,16 +30,16 @@ kafka_sbin_tools:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://kafka/tools/sbin
-    - user: 960
-    - group: 960
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 kafka_sbin_jinja_tools:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://kafka/tools/sbin_jinja
-    - user: 960
-    - group: 960
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - template: jinja
     - defaults:
diff --git a/salt/kibana/config.sls b/salt/kibana/config.sls
index 433fc9601..bc4e5f431 100644
--- a/salt/kibana/config.sls
+++ b/salt/kibana/config.sls
@@ -36,16 +36,16 @@ kibana_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://kibana/tools/sbin
-    - user: 932
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 kibana_sbin_jinja:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://kibana/tools/sbin_jinja
-    - user: 932
-    - group: 939 
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - template: jinja
     - defaults:
diff --git a/salt/libvirt/64962/init.sls b/salt/libvirt/64962/init.sls
index e20f24f2d..973da0e97 100644
--- a/salt/libvirt/64962/init.sls
+++ b/salt/libvirt/64962/init.sls
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ so-fix-salt-ldap_script:
   file.managed:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-fix-salt-ldap.py
     - source: salt://libvirt/64962/scripts/so-fix-salt-ldap.py
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - mode: 744
 
 fix-salt-ldap:
diff --git a/salt/logstash/config.sls b/salt/logstash/config.sls
index 80fbe44b2..7a09349fc 100644
--- a/salt/logstash/config.sls
+++ b/salt/logstash/config.sls
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ logstash_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://logstash/tools/sbin
-    - user: 931
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 #logstash_sbin_jinja:
diff --git a/salt/manager/init.sls b/salt/manager/init.sls
index a74d16ff2..87669fad4 100644
--- a/salt/manager/init.sls
+++ b/salt/manager/init.sls
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@ manager_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://manager/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - exclude_pat:
       - "*_test.py"
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ manager_sbin_jinja:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin/
     - source: salt://manager/tools/sbin_jinja/
-    - user: socore
-    - group: socore
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - template: jinja
     - show_changes: False
@@ -190,11 +190,15 @@ so_fleetagent_monitor:
   - month: '*'
   - dayweek: '*'
 
-socore_own_saltstack_default:
+# This tree is the source of every root-executed script (/usr/sbin, reactors, _runners,
+# engines, salt-relay.sh). SOC mounts /opt/so/saltstack rw as uid 939 but only writes
+# under local/. Do not add dir_mode/file_mode here -- SOC reads default/ and 750/640
+# would break its config load.
+root_own_saltstack_default:
   file.directory:
     - name: /opt/so/saltstack/default
-    - user: socore
-    - group: socore
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - recurse:
       - user
       - group
diff --git a/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-minion b/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-minion
index ea93cee43..cbae05652 100755
--- a/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-minion
+++ b/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-minion
@@ -121,8 +121,14 @@ for i in "$@"; do
 	esac
 done
 
-PILLARFILE=/opt/so/saltstack/local/pillar/minions/$MINION_ID.sls
-ADVPILLARFILE=/opt/so/saltstack/local/pillar/minions/adv_$MINION_ID.sls
+if [[ -n "$MINION_ID" && ! "$MINION_ID" =~ ^[A-Za-z0-9._-]{1,253}$ ]]; then
+	echo "Invalid minion id: $MINION_ID"
+	log "ERROR" "Invalid minion id: $MINION_ID"
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+readonly PILLARFILE=/opt/so/saltstack/local/pillar/minions/$MINION_ID.sls
+readonly ADVPILLARFILE=/opt/so/saltstack/local/pillar/minions/adv_$MINION_ID.sls
 
 function getinstallinfo() {
 	log "INFO" "Getting install info for minion $MINION_ID"
@@ -133,10 +139,23 @@ function getinstallinfo() {
 		return 1
 	fi
 
-	while read -r var; do export "$var"; done <<< "$INSTALLVARS"
-	if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
-		log "ERROR" "Failed to source install variables"
-		return 1
+	# install.txt is controlled by the minion; only accept known keys and never eval or export them
+	local line key
+	while IFS= read -r line; do
+		[[ "$line" == *=* ]] || continue
+		key=${line%%=*}
+		case "$key" in
+			MAINIP|MNIC|NODE_DESCRIPTION|ES_HEAP_SIZE|PATCHSCHEDULENAME|INTERFACE|NODETYPE|CORECOUNT|LSHOSTNAME|LSHEAP|CPUCORES|IDH_MGTRESTRICT|IDH_SERVICES)
+				printf -v "$key" '%s' "${line#*=}"
+				;;
+			*)
+				log "WARN" "Ignoring unexpected install var from $MINION_ID: ${key:0:64}"
+				;;
+		esac
+	done <<< "$INSTALLVARS"
+
+	if [[ "$NODE_DESCRIPTION" == \'*\' ]]; then
+		NODE_DESCRIPTION=${NODE_DESCRIPTION:1:-1}
 	fi
 
 	log "INFO" "Fetched install info for $MINION_ID (node type: ${NODETYPE:-unset})"
@@ -176,6 +195,12 @@ function pcapspace() {
 		fi
 	fi
 
+	# Must be checked before arithmetic expansion, which evaluates array subscripts
+	if [[ ! "$SPACESIZE" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]]; then
+		log "ERROR" "Invalid disk size for $MINION_ID: ${SPACESIZE:0:64}"
+		return 1
+	fi
+
 	local s=$(( $SPACESIZE / 1000000 ))
 	local s1=$(( $s / 4 * $PCAP_PERCENTAGE ))
 
@@ -1050,6 +1075,57 @@ function updateMineAndApplyStates() {
 	fi
 }
 
+# Values end up in a Jinja-rendered pillar and in bash, and may come from the minion
+function validate_minion_vars() {
+	local error_msg=""
+	# Inline rather than valid_ip4: so-common is not installed yet when setup runs -o=setup
+	local octet='(25[0-5]|2[0-4][0-9]|1?[0-9]?[0-9])'
+	local ip4_re="^($octet\.){3}$octet$"
+
+	case "$NODETYPE" in
+		EVAL|STANDALONE|MANAGER|MANAGERSEARCH|MANAGERHYPE|IMPORT)
+			# Manager pillars also rewrite the CA pillar, so never accept them from a remote node
+			[[ "$OPERATION" == "setup" ]] || error_msg="Node type $NODETYPE can only be configured during setup"
+			;;
+		FLEET|IDH|HEAVYNODE|SENSOR|SEARCHNODE|RECEIVER|HYPERVISOR|DESKTOP)
+			;;
+		*)
+			error_msg="Invalid node type: ${NODETYPE:0:64}"
+			;;
+	esac
+
+	if [[ -z "$error_msg" ]]; then
+		if [[ ! "$MAINIP" =~ $ip4_re ]]; then
+			error_msg="Invalid MAINIP: ${MAINIP:0:64}"
+		elif [[ ! "$MNIC" =~ ^[A-Za-z0-9._-]*$ ]]; then
+			error_msg="Invalid MNIC: ${MNIC:0:64}"
+		elif [[ ! "$INTERFACE" =~ ^[A-Za-z0-9._-]*$ ]]; then
+			error_msg="Invalid INTERFACE: ${INTERFACE:0:64}"
+		elif [[ ! "$LSHOSTNAME" =~ ^[A-Za-z0-9._-]*$ ]]; then
+			error_msg="Invalid LSHOSTNAME: ${LSHOSTNAME:0:64}"
+		elif [[ ! "$ES_HEAP_SIZE" =~ ^([0-9]+[kKmMgG]?)?$ ]]; then
+			error_msg="Invalid ES_HEAP_SIZE: ${ES_HEAP_SIZE:0:64}"
+		elif [[ ! "$LSHEAP" =~ ^([0-9]+[kKmMgG]?)?$ ]]; then
+			error_msg="Invalid LSHEAP: ${LSHEAP:0:64}"
+		elif [[ ! "$CORECOUNT" =~ ^[0-9]*$ ]]; then
+			error_msg="Invalid CORECOUNT: ${CORECOUNT:0:64}"
+		elif [[ ! "$CPUCORES" =~ ^[0-9]*$ ]]; then
+			error_msg="Invalid CPUCORES: ${CPUCORES:0:64}"
+		elif [[ ! "$IDH_MGTRESTRICT" =~ ^(True|False)?$ ]]; then
+			error_msg="Invalid IDH_MGTRESTRICT: ${IDH_MGTRESTRICT:0:64}"
+		fi
+	fi
+
+	if [[ -n "$error_msg" ]]; then
+		log "ERROR" "$error_msg"
+		echo "$error_msg"
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	# Free text; removing braces is enough to prevent any Jinja delimiter
+	NODE_DESCRIPTION=${NODE_DESCRIPTION//[\{\}[:cntrl:]]/}
+}
+
 function setupMinionFiles() {
 	log "INFO" "Setting up minion files for $MINION_ID (pillar: $PILLARFILE)"
 	
@@ -1061,6 +1137,8 @@ function setupMinionFiles() {
 		return 1
 	fi
 
+	validate_minion_vars || return 1
+
 	# Create the base minion files
 	create_minion_files || return 1
 
diff --git a/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-saltstack-update b/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-saltstack-update
index c8723beb0..4ff4b0519 100755
--- a/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-saltstack-update
+++ b/salt/manager/tools/sbin/so-saltstack-update
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ copy_new_files() {
   
   rsync -a salt $default_salt_dir/
   rsync -a pillar $default_salt_dir/
-  chown -R socore:socore $default_salt_dir/salt
-  chown -R socore:socore $default_salt_dir/pillar
+  chown -R root:root $default_salt_dir/salt
+  chown -R root:root $default_salt_dir/pillar
   chmod 755 $default_salt_dir/pillar/firewall/addfirewall.sh
 
   rm -rf /tmp/sogh
diff --git a/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup b/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup
index 353158b7e..7ab6d7598 100755
--- a/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup
+++ b/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ check_err() {
       161)
         echo 'Required intermediate Elasticsearch upgrade not complete'
       ;;
+      162)
+        echo 'One or more Elastic Agent nodes do not support the x86-64-v3 CPU instruction set'
+      ;;
       170)
         echo "Intermediate upgrade completed successfully to $next_step_so_version, but next soup to Security Onion $originally_requested_so_version could not be started automatically."
         echo "Start soup again manually to continue the upgrade to Security Onion $originally_requested_so_version."
@@ -347,6 +350,83 @@ check_cluster_health() {
   exit 0
 }
 
+no_soup_for_you() {
+  echo ""
+  echo "No soup for you!"
+  exit 162
+}
+
+check_cpu_compatibility() {
+  # Roles running a container built from the so-elastic-agent image; mirrors the
+  # elasticagent and elasticfleet entries in salt/reactor/pillar_push_map.yaml.
+  local cpu_target='G@role:so-heavynode or G@role:so-eval or G@role:so-fleet or G@role:so-import or G@role:so-manager or G@role:so-managerhype or G@role:so-managersearch or G@role:so-standalone'
+  local expected_nodes cpu_results node result confirm
+  local -a unsupported=() offline=()
+
+  echo "Checking that Elastic Agent nodes support the x86-64-v3 CPU instruction set now required by Elastic."
+
+  if [[ "$SKIP_CPU_CHECK" == "true" ]]; then
+    printf "\nSkipping the x86-64-v3 CPU check because --skip-cpu-check was specified.\n\n"
+    return
+  fi
+
+  # Nodes that never answer are absent from the results, so diff against who should have.
+  expected_nodes=$(salt -C "$cpu_target" --preview-target --out=json 2>/dev/null | jq -r '.[]?') || true
+  if [[ -z "$expected_nodes" ]]; then
+    printf "\nCould not determine which nodes run the Elastic Agent, so the x86-64-v3 CPU check cannot run.\n"
+    no_soup_for_you
+  fi
+
+  cpu_results=$(salt -t 30 -C "$cpu_target" cmd.run "/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 --help | grep x86-64-v3" --out=json 2>/dev/null) || true
+
+  while IFS= read -r node; do
+    [[ -z "$node" ]] && continue
+    result=$(jq -r --arg node "$node" '.[$node] // empty' <<< "$cpu_results" 2>/dev/null)
+    if [[ -z "$result" || "$result" == *"did not return"* ]]; then
+      offline+=("$node")
+    elif [[ "$result" != *"x86-64-v3 (supported"* ]]; then
+      # glibc appends "(supported, searched)" only when supported; the open paren keeps
+      # this from matching a future "(unsupported".
+      unsupported+=("$node")
+    fi
+  done <<< "$expected_nodes"
+
+  if [[ ${#unsupported[@]} -eq 0 && ${#offline[@]} -eq 0 ]]; then
+    printf "\nAll Elastic Agent nodes support x86-64-v3. We can proceed with SOUP.\n\n"
+    return
+  fi
+
+  echo ""
+  if [[ ${#unsupported[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
+    echo "The following node(s) do NOT support the x86-64-v3 CPU instruction set:"
+    printf '  %s\n' "${unsupported[@]}"
+    echo ""
+    echo "Upstream Elastic now builds its binaries for x86-64-v3, so these nodes can no"
+    echo "longer run Elastic. Upgrading them WILL BREAK them."
+    echo ""
+  fi
+  if [[ ${#offline[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
+    echo "The following node(s) did not respond and could not be checked:"
+    printf '  %s\n' "${offline[@]}"
+    echo ""
+    echo "These nodes are offline, so we cannot confirm they support x86-64-v3, which"
+    echo "upstream Elastic now requires."
+    echo ""
+  fi
+
+  if [[ -n $UNATTENDED ]]; then
+    echo "Unattended mode cannot prompt for an override. Re-run soup interactively, or pass --skip-cpu-check to bypass this check."
+    no_soup_for_you
+  fi
+
+  read -rp "Type 'override' to continue anyway, or press Enter to exit: " confirm
+  if [[ "${confirm,,}" == "override" ]]; then
+    printf "\nOverride accepted. Continuing at your own risk.\n\n"
+  else
+    no_soup_for_you
+  fi
+}
+
 check_fleet_server() {
   echo "Checking that Elastic Fleet Server is responding."
   # Modeled on the wait_for_so-elastic-fleet state check in elasticfleet/enabled.sls,
@@ -1977,6 +2057,9 @@ main() {
 
   echo "Let's see if we need to update Security Onion."
   upgrade_check
+
+  check_cpu_compatibility
+
   upgrade_space
 
   echo "Verifying Elasticsearch version compatibility across the grid before upgrading."
@@ -2255,6 +2338,17 @@ fi
   echo "### soup has been served at $(date) ###"
 }
 
+SKIP_CPU_CHECK=false
+declare -a SOUP_ARGS=()
+for arg in "$@"; do
+  if [[ "$arg" == "--skip-cpu-check" ]]; then
+    SKIP_CPU_CHECK=true
+  else
+    SOUP_ARGS+=("$arg")
+  fi
+done
+set -- "${SOUP_ARGS[@]}"
+
 while getopts ":b:f:y" opt; do
   case ${opt} in
     b )
@@ -2278,7 +2372,7 @@ while getopts ":b:f:y" opt; do
       ISOLOC="$OPTARG"
     ;;
     \? )
-      echo "Usage: soup [-b] [-y] [-f <iso location>]"
+      echo "Usage: soup [-b] [-y] [-f <iso location>] [--skip-cpu-check]"
       exit 1
     ;;
     : )
diff --git a/salt/nginx/config.sls b/salt/nginx/config.sls
index ead3d9986..9b0e72a68 100644
--- a/salt/nginx/config.sls
+++ b/salt/nginx/config.sls
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ nginx_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://nginx/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 #nginx_sbin_jinja:
diff --git a/salt/redis/config.sls b/salt/redis/config.sls
index 11aaa1f0e..13ac7e056 100644
--- a/salt/redis/config.sls
+++ b/salt/redis/config.sls
@@ -50,16 +50,16 @@ redis_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://redis/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 redis_sbin_jinja:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://redis/tools/sbin_jinja
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939 
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - template: jinja
 
diff --git a/salt/salt/init.sls b/salt/salt/init.sls
index d39c984eb..64a0a8794 100644
--- a/salt/salt/init.sls
+++ b/salt/salt/init.sls
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ salt_bootstrap:
   file.managed:
     - name: /usr/sbin/bootstrap-salt.sh
     - source: salt://salt/scripts/bootstrap-salt.sh
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - mode: 755
     - show_changes: False
 
@@ -10,6 +12,6 @@ salt_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://salt/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
diff --git a/salt/sensor/init.sls b/salt/sensor/init.sls
index 7d1714c2c..0b302e186 100644
--- a/salt/sensor/init.sls
+++ b/salt/sensor/init.sls
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ combine_bond_script:
   file.managed:
     - name: /usr/sbin/so-combine-bond
     - source: salt://sensor/tools/sbin_jinja/so-combine-bond
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - mode: 755
     - template: jinja
     - defaults:
diff --git a/salt/sensoroni/config.sls b/salt/sensoroni/config.sls
index 225d0ddb4..75c92b971 100644
--- a/salt/sensoroni/config.sls
+++ b/salt/sensoroni/config.sls
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ sensoroni_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://sensoroni/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 #sensoroni_sbin_jinja:
diff --git a/salt/soc/config.sls b/salt/soc/config.sls
index 3609b7024..677c63e5d 100644
--- a/salt/soc/config.sls
+++ b/salt/soc/config.sls
@@ -171,8 +171,8 @@ soc_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://soc/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 #soc_sbin_jinja:
diff --git a/salt/soc/defaults.yaml b/salt/soc/defaults.yaml
index d14ca3e08..b4c293e33 100644
--- a/salt/soc/defaults.yaml
+++ b/salt/soc/defaults.yaml
@@ -1465,6 +1465,7 @@ soc:
             - core
             - emerging_threats_addon
           useEsql: false
+          esqlCaseInsensitive: true
         elastic:
           hostUrl:
           remoteHostUrls: []
@@ -1537,7 +1538,7 @@ soc:
             Orchestrator: sonnet@SOAI
             Investigator: gemma@SOAI
             DetectionEngineer: gemma@SOAI
-          useMemory: true
+          useMemory: false
           useMemoryScanner: false
           dontScanBefore: ""
           memoryScanIntervalSeconds: 300
@@ -1556,6 +1557,69 @@ soc:
           reconcilePersona: ""
           toolUseTurnAttempts: 12
           toolUseTurnDelayMs: 175
+          tools:
+            filterEventFields:
+              - "@timestamp"
+              - "client.name"
+              - "destination.ip"
+              - "destination.port"
+              - "destination.geo.country_name"
+              - "dns.query.name"
+              - "dns.query_name"
+              - "event.action"
+              - "event.category"
+              - "event.module"
+              - "event.dataset"
+              - "event.outcome"
+              - "event.severity"
+              - "event.severity_label"
+              - "event.type"
+              - "event_data.agent.name"
+              - "event_data.host.os.name"
+              - "file.mime_type"
+              - "file.name"
+              - "hash.md5"
+              - "hash.sha1"
+              - "host.mac"
+              - "host.name"
+              - "host.os.name"
+              - "http.method"
+              - "http.useragent"
+              - "http.virtual_host"
+              - "log.id.uid"
+              - "network.community_id"
+              - "network.protocol"
+              - "network.transport"
+              - "notice.message"
+              - "observer.name"
+              - "process.name"
+              - "process.executable"
+              - "process.entity_id"
+              - "process.command_line"
+              - "process.Ext.ancestry"
+              - "process.parent.entity_id"
+              - "process.parent.command_line"
+              - "rule.category"
+              - "rule.name"
+              - "rule.uuid"
+              - "software.name"
+              - "software.type"
+              - "software.version.unparsed"
+              - "source.ip"
+              - "source.port"
+              - "source.geo.country_name"
+              - "ssh.cypher_algorithm"
+              - "ssh.client"
+              - "ssh.server"
+              - "ssl.cipher"
+              - "ssl.server_name"
+              - "ssl.version"
+              - "system.auth.sudo.command"
+              - "user.name"
+              - "user.domain"
+              - "user.effective.name"
+              - "weird.name"
+              - "tags"
         onionconfig:
           saltstackDir: /opt/so/saltstack
           bypassEnabled: false
diff --git a/salt/soc/dyanno/hypervisor/init.sls b/salt/soc/dyanno/hypervisor/init.sls
index 1f17552e7..41b7a2ebf 100644
--- a/salt/soc/dyanno/hypervisor/init.sls
+++ b/salt/soc/dyanno/hypervisor/init.sls
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ hypervisor_annotation:
     - name: /opt/so/saltstack/default/salt/hypervisor/soc_hypervisor.yaml
     - source: salt://soc/dyanno/hypervisor/soc_hypervisor.yaml.jinja
     - template: jinja
-    - user: socore
-    - group: socore
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - defaults:
         HYPERVISORS: {{ HYPERVISORS }}
         baseDomainStatus: {{ salt['pillar.get']('baseDomain:status', 'Initialized') }}
diff --git a/salt/soc/files/soc/sigma_so_pipeline.yaml b/salt/soc/files/soc/sigma_so_pipeline.yaml
index 64b691d8f..ae867be49 100644
--- a/salt/soc/files/soc/sigma_so_pipeline.yaml
+++ b/salt/soc/files/soc/sigma_so_pipeline.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,31 @@
 name: Security Onion Baseline Pipeline
 priority: 90
 transformations:
+    # ES|QL scalar == returns null on multivalued fields; the
+    # backend reads this key and emits MV_INTERSECTS instead.
+    - id: declare_multivalue_fields
+      type: set_state
+      key: multivalue_fields
+      val:
+        - event.type
+        - event.action
+        - event.category
+        - tags
+        - process.args
+        - related.ip
+        - dns.resolved_ip
+    - id: esql_default_index
+      type: set_state
+      key: index
+      val: .ds-logs-*
+    - id: esql_source_metadata
+      type: set_state
+      key: metadata
+      val: "_id, _index, _source"
+    - id: esql_source_keep
+      type: set_state
+      key: keep
+      val: "_id, _index, _source"
     - id: baseline_field_name_mapping
       type: field_name_mapping
       mapping:
diff --git a/salt/soc/soc_soc.yaml b/salt/soc/soc_soc.yaml
index 0e9752e17..96e2b932f 100644
--- a/salt/soc/soc_soc.yaml
+++ b/salt/soc/soc_soc.yaml
@@ -403,6 +403,11 @@ soc:
             global: True
             advanced: True
             forcedType: bool
+          esqlCaseInsensitive:
+            description: "Match string values case-insensitively when converting Sigma rules. Applies to ES|QL only"
+            global: True
+            advanced: True
+            forcedType: bool
         elastic:
           index:
             description: Comma-separated list of indices or index patterns (wildcard "*" supported) that SOC will search for records.
@@ -931,6 +936,11 @@ soc:
             description: The number of times to retry extracting memories from a session if errors occur.
             global: True
             advanced: True
+          tools:
+            filterEventFields:
+              description: A whitelist of fields to return when OnionAI uses the query_events tool. All other fields are removed. One field per line.
+              global: True
+              multiline: True
       client:
         assistant:
           enabled:
diff --git a/salt/strelka/config.sls b/salt/strelka/config.sls
index f03afa61b..2c5fe741d 100644
--- a/salt/strelka/config.sls
+++ b/salt/strelka/config.sls
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ strelka_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://strelka/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 {% else %}
diff --git a/salt/suricata/config.sls b/salt/suricata/config.sls
index da75580e3..dd228ef31 100644
--- a/salt/suricata/config.sls
+++ b/salt/suricata/config.sls
@@ -76,16 +76,16 @@ suricata_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://suricata/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 suricata_sbin_jinja:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://suricata/tools/sbin_jinja
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939 
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
     - template: jinja
 
diff --git a/salt/telegraf/config.sls b/salt/telegraf/config.sls
index 3873d1da0..18ac51ddd 100644
--- a/salt/telegraf/config.sls
+++ b/salt/telegraf/config.sls
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ telegraf_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://telegraf/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 #telegraf_sbin_jinja:
diff --git a/salt/zeek/config.sls b/salt/zeek/config.sls
index 3677b1ba1..17a495010 100644
--- a/salt/zeek/config.sls
+++ b/salt/zeek/config.sls
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ zeek_sbin:
   file.recurse:
     - name: /usr/sbin
     - source: salt://zeek/tools/sbin
-    - user: 939
-    - group: 939
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
     - file_mode: 755
 
 #zeek_sbin_jinja:
diff --git a/salt/zeek/defaults.yaml b/salt/zeek/defaults.yaml
index c68339584..24e1d8ca0 100644
--- a/salt/zeek/defaults.yaml
+++ b/salt/zeek/defaults.yaml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ zeek:
       StatsLogEnable: 0
       StatsLogExpireInterval: 0
       StatusCmdShowAll: 0
+      StopWait: 1
       CrashExpireInterval: 0
       SitePolicyScripts: local.zeek
       LogDir: /nsm/zeek/logs
diff --git a/salt/zeek/disabled.sls b/salt/zeek/disabled.sls
index c75cdd7b1..2025327fd 100644
--- a/salt/zeek/disabled.sls
+++ b/salt/zeek/disabled.sls
@@ -9,9 +9,19 @@
 include:
   - zeek.sostatus
   
+# Stop first so the entrypoint's SIGTERM trap can archive the final logs; docker_container.absent
+# with force is a 'docker rm -f', which never delivers SIGTERM. force stays so the state still
+# converges if the stop overruns.
+so-zeek_stopped:
+  docker_container.stopped:
+    - name: so-zeek
+    - error_on_absent: False
+
 so-zeek:
   docker_container.absent:
     - force: True
+    - require:
+      - docker_container: so-zeek_stopped
 
 so-zeek_so-status.disabled:
   file.comment:
diff --git a/salt/zeek/enabled.sls b/salt/zeek/enabled.sls
index 453990acb..ec8148e90 100644
--- a/salt/zeek/enabled.sls
+++ b/salt/zeek/enabled.sls
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ so-zeek:
     - restart_policy: unless-stopped
     - start: True
     - privileged: True
+    # Docker's default 10s grace is not enough for the entrypoint's SIGTERM trap to run
+    # 'zeekctl stop' and let StopWait archive the final logs. Overrunning it means SIGKILL,
+    # which strands those logs in spool/tmp and marks every node crashed on the next start.
+    - stop_timeout: 180
     {% if DOCKERMERGED.containers['so-zeek'].ulimits %}
     - ulimits:
     {%   for ULIMIT in DOCKERMERGED.containers['so-zeek'].ulimits %}
diff --git a/salt/zeek/soc_zeek.yaml b/salt/zeek/soc_zeek.yaml
index 1a12f7f5f..f1cc9e14d 100644
--- a/salt/zeek/soc_zeek.yaml
+++ b/salt/zeek/soc_zeek.yaml
@@ -99,6 +99,18 @@ zeek:
         regexFailureMessage: You must enter a whole number of days, or 0 to keep crash directories forever.
         helpLink: zeek
         advanced: True
+      StopWait:
+        description: >-
+          Set to 1 to make "zeekctl stop" wait for the final logs to be archived instead of
+          letting that finish in the background. Security Onion stops Zeek by stopping its
+          container, so anything still running in the background is killed when the container
+          exits - without this, the last logs of each run are stranded unarchived in
+          /nsm/zeek/spool/tmp and never reach Elasticsearch. It is read only for that reason.
+        regex: ^[01]$
+        regexFailureMessage: You must enter 0 or 1.
+        helpLink: zeek
+        advanced: True
+        readonly: True
       MinDiskSpace:
         description: >-
           Percentage of free disk space below which ZeekControl reports a warning, or 0 to disable the check
diff --git a/setup/so-functions b/setup/so-functions
index 1269b4e9d..64e809be5 100755
--- a/setup/so-functions
+++ b/setup/so-functions
@@ -2105,6 +2105,8 @@ setup_salt_master_dirs() {
 
 	info "Chown the salt dirs on the manager for socore"
 	logCmd "chown -R socore:socore /opt/so"
+	# The default tree is root-executed code; SOC reads it but never writes it.
+	logCmd "chown -R root:root $default_salt_dir"
 }
 
 set_progress_str() {
diff --git a/sigs/securityonion-3.3.0-20260911.iso.sig b/sigs/securityonion-3.3.0-20260911.iso.sig
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3f90eed8b
Binary files /dev/null and b/sigs/securityonion-3.3.0-20260911.iso.sig differ