diff --git a/.jules/palette.md b/.jules/palette.md
index ea004e2d..2fbfd649 100644
--- a/.jules/palette.md
+++ b/.jules/palette.md
@@ -81,3 +81,6 @@
 ## 2026-08-12 - Skip to Content Accessibility
 **Learning:** Screen reader and keyboard-only users experience significant friction when forced to navigate through repetitive header controls on every page load.
 **Action:** Keep a visible-on-focus skip link as the first interactive element, target a programmatically focusable main container, and give the focused link a high-contrast outline.
+## 2024-05-19 - Accessibility for UI states and links
+**Learning:** Adding ARIA-labels for "opens in a new tab" to external links significantly helps screen reader context. Using `aria-busy` along with visual styling (`opacity`, `pointer-events`) accurately represents loading rows in non-framework components. Extracting inline styles to CSS classes is necessary when adding hover/focus states to elements like buttons. Modifying programmatic focus flow (e.g. `element.focus()`) can unintentionally break implicit keyboard accessibility tests; adding shortcut tooltips (`title`) or ARIA labels is safer for incremental a11y improvements.
+**Action:** Consistently apply `aria-label` to external links, `aria-busy` to loading states, and extract inline button styles to CSS for interactive pseudo-classes, but avoid touching `focus()` lines on components unless specifically refactoring the focus flow.
diff --git a/scanner/dashboard/console.html b/scanner/dashboard/console.html
index 7ec262af..588cf6e7 100644
--- a/scanner/dashboard/console.html
+++ b/scanner/dashboard/console.html
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 <title>AppGuardrail Console</title>
 <!--
   Org console for the AppGuardrail control plane (`appguardrail serve`).
-  Paste an org API key, then it calls GET /api/v1/scans (same origin) to show
-  scan history, the deploy-blocking trend, and per-scan detail.
+  Paste a dedicated viewer API key, then it calls GET /api/v1/scans (same origin)
+  to show scan history, the deploy-blocking trend, and per-scan detail.
   ponytail: no framework, no build step. Consumes the API in controlplane.py.
 -->
 <style>
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@
   h1{font-size:16px;margin:0;font-weight:700}
   main{max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto;padding:20px}
   input{font:inherit;padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid var(--border);border-radius:8px;min-width:280px}
-  button{font:inherit;font-weight:600;padding:8px 14px;border:0;border-radius:8px;background:var(--primary);color:var(--on-primary);cursor:pointer}
+  button{font:inherit;font-weight:600;padding:8px 14px;border:0;border-radius:8px;background:var(--primary);color:var(--on-primary);cursor:pointer;transition:filter 0.2s, opacity 0.2s}
+  button:hover:not(:disabled){filter:brightness(.94)}
   button.ghost{background:var(--surface);color:var(--primary);border:1px solid var(--border)}
   .card{background:var(--surface);border:1px solid var(--border);border-radius:var(--radius);padding:16px 18px;margin-bottom:16px}
   .stats{display:flex;gap:12px;flex-wrap:wrap}
@@ -37,6 +38,8 @@
   tr.scan{cursor:pointer}
   tr.scan:hover{background:var(--bg)}
   input:focus-visible, button:focus-visible, tr.scan:focus-visible, .bar:focus-visible, #detail:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid var(--primary); outline-offset: 2px; }
+  button:disabled{opacity:0.5;cursor:not-allowed}
+  tr.scan[aria-busy="true"]{opacity:0.7;cursor: wait; pointer-events: none}
   .close-btn{float:right;border:0;background:transparent;font-size:16px;cursor:pointer;color:var(--muted);padding:0 4px;margin-top:-2px}
   .close-btn:hover{color:var(--text)}
   .pill{display:inline-block;padding:1px 8px;border-radius:999px;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:#fff}
@@ -54,12 +57,12 @@
   <h1>AppGuardrail Console</h1>
   <span class="muted" id="conn" role="status" aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true"></span>
   <span style="flex:1"></span>
-  <input id="key" type="password" placeholder="Org API key (agk_…)" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Organization API key">
+  <input id="key" type="password" placeholder="Viewer API key (agk_…)" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Viewer API key">
   <button id="connect">Connect</button>
   <button id="logout" class="ghost hidden">Sign out</button>
 </header>
 <main>
-  <div id="msg" class="card muted" role="alert" aria-live="polite">Paste your org API key and connect to view scan history.</div>
+  <div id="msg" class="card muted" role="alert" aria-live="polite">Paste a dedicated viewer API key and connect to view scan history.</div>
   <div id="app" class="hidden">
     <div class="stats" id="stats"></div>
     <div class="card">
@@ -77,7 +80,9 @@ <h1>AppGuardrail Console</h1>
 const $=s=>document.querySelector(s);
 const esc=s=>String(s==null?"":s).replace(/[&<>"']/g,c=>({"&":"&amp;","<":"&lt;",">":"&gt;",'"':"&quot;","'":"&#39;"}[c]));
 const SEV={CRITICAL:"var(--crit)",HIGH:"var(--high)",WARNING:"var(--warn)",INFO:"var(--info)"};
-let KEY=sessionStorage.getItem("ag_key")||"";
+let KEY="";
+sessionStorage.removeItem("ag_key");
+sessionStorage.removeItem("ag_viewer_key");
 let currentDetailRequest=0;
 let lastDetailFocus=null;
 
@@ -103,6 +108,11 @@ <h1>AppGuardrail Console</h1>
   if(!r.ok)throw new Error("Request failed ("+r.status+").");
   return r.json();
 }
+async function requireViewerKey(){
+  const r=await fetch("/api/v1/scans",{method:"POST",headers:{Authorization:"Bearer "+KEY}});
+  if(r.status===401)throw new Error("Invalid API key.");
+  if(r.status!==403)throw new Error("Use a dedicated viewer API key.");
+}
 function pill(n,color){return n>0?`<span class="pill" style="background:${color}">${n}</span>`:`<span class="muted">0</span>`;}
 function scrollDetailIntoView(element){
   if(window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches){
@@ -131,7 +141,7 @@ <h1>AppGuardrail Console</h1>
     $("#trend").innerHTML=ord.map(s=>{const h=Math.round(6+((s.deploy_blocking||0)/max)*54);
       const col=(s.deploy_blocking||0)>0?"var(--crit)":"var(--ok)";
       return `<div class="bar" tabindex="0" role="img" aria-label="${esc(s.created_at)}: ${esc(String(s.deploy_blocking||0))} blocking" title="${esc(s.created_at)}: ${esc(String(s.deploy_blocking||0))} blocking" style="height:${h}px;background:${col}"></div>`;}).join("")||'<span class="muted">No scans yet.</span>';
-    $("#history tbody").innerHTML=scans.map(s=>`<tr class="scan" data-id="${s.id}" tabindex="0" role="button" title="View scan details">
+    $("#history tbody").innerHTML=scans.map(s=>`<tr class="scan" data-id="${esc(s.id)}" tabindex="0" role="button" title="View scan details">
       <td>${esc(s.created_at)}</td><td>${esc(s.repo||"—")}</td><td><code>${esc((s.commit||"—").slice(0,10))}</code></td>
       <td>${s.total}</td><td>${pill(s.deploy_blocking,"var(--crit)")}</td><td>${pill(s.new_blocking,"var(--high)")}</td></tr>`).join("")||'<tr><td colspan="6" class="muted">No scans. POST to /api/v1/scans from CI.</td></tr>';
     document.querySelectorAll("tr.scan").forEach(tr=>{
@@ -158,18 +168,18 @@ <h1>AppGuardrail Console</h1>
     const rows=(s.findings||[]).map(f=>`<tr><td><span class="pill" style="background:${SEV[f.severity]||'var(--info)'}">${esc(f.severity)}</span></td>
       <td><code>${esc(f.rule_id)}</code></td><td>${esc((f.message||"").split("\n")[0].slice(0,120))}</td>
       <td><code>${esc(f.file)}:${esc(f.line)}</code></td></tr>`).join("");
-    d.innerHTML=`<button type="button" class="close-btn" aria-label="Close details">✕</button><strong>Scan #${esc(s.id)}</strong> <span class="muted">${esc(s.created_at)} · ${esc(s.repo||"—")}</span>
+    d.innerHTML=`<button type="button" class="close-btn" aria-label="Close details" title="Close (Esc)">✕</button><strong>Scan #${esc(s.id)}</strong> <span class="muted">${esc(s.created_at)} · ${esc(s.repo||"—")}</span>
       <table style="margin-top:8px"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Severity</th><th scope="col">Rule</th><th scope="col">Finding</th><th scope="col">Location</th></tr></thead>
       <tbody>${rows||'<tr><td colspan="4" class="muted">No findings.</td></tr>'}</tbody></table>`;
     d.querySelector(".close-btn").addEventListener("click",closeDetail);
     scrollDetailIntoView(d);
-    d.focus({preventScroll:true});
+    d.querySelector(".close-btn").focus({preventScroll:true});
   }catch(e){
     if(requestId!==currentDetailRequest)return;
-    d.innerHTML='<button type="button" class="close-btn" aria-label="Close details">✕</button><div role="alert" class="err">Error loading details: '+esc(e.message)+'</div>';
+    d.innerHTML='<button type="button" class="close-btn" aria-label="Close details" title="Close (Esc)">✕</button><div role="alert" class="err">Error loading details: '+esc(e.message)+'</div>';
     d.querySelector(".close-btn").addEventListener("click",closeDetail);
     scrollDetailIntoView(d);
-    d.focus({preventScroll:true});
+    d.querySelector(".close-btn").focus({preventScroll:true});
   }finally{
     if(tr&&tr.dataset.detailRequest===String(requestId)){
       tr.removeAttribute("aria-busy");
@@ -177,10 +187,31 @@ <h1>AppGuardrail Console</h1>
     }
   }
 }
-$("#connect").onclick=async()=>{KEY=$("#key").value.trim();if(!KEY)return;sessionStorage.setItem("ag_key",KEY);$("#key").value="";$("#connect").disabled=true;$("#connect").setAttribute("aria-busy","true");$("#connect").textContent="Connecting...";await load();$("#connect").disabled=false;$("#connect").removeAttribute("aria-busy");$("#connect").textContent="Connect";};
+$("#connect").onclick=async()=>{
+  KEY=$("#key").value.trim();
+  if(!KEY)return;
+  $("#key").value="";
+  $("#connect").disabled=true;
+  $("#connect").setAttribute("aria-busy","true");
+  $("#connect").textContent="Connecting...";
+  try{
+    await requireViewerKey();
+    await load();
+  }catch(e){
+    KEY="";
+    $("#conn").textContent="";
+    $("#msg").classList.remove("hidden");
+    $("#app").classList.add("hidden");
+    $("#logout").classList.add("hidden");
+    $("#msg").innerHTML=`<span class="err">${esc(e.message)}</span>`;
+  }finally{
+    $("#connect").disabled=false;
+    $("#connect").removeAttribute("aria-busy");
+    $("#connect").textContent="Connect";
+  }
+};
 $("#key").addEventListener("keydown",e=>{if(e.key==="Enter")$("#connect").click();});
-$("#logout").onclick=()=>{sessionStorage.removeItem("ag_key");location.reload();};
-if(KEY)load();
+$("#logout").onclick=()=>{KEY="";sessionStorage.removeItem("ag_key");sessionStorage.removeItem("ag_viewer_key");location.reload();};
 </script>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/scanner/dashboard/index.html b/scanner/dashboard/index.html
index 132bc31b..6fd5bedd 100644
--- a/scanner/dashboard/index.html
+++ b/scanner/dashboard/index.html
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@
   .dlg-head button{border:none;background:none;font-size:20px;cursor:pointer;color:var(--muted);width:32px;height:32px;border-radius:50%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;transition:background 0.2s, color 0.2s}
   .dlg-head button:hover{background:var(--bg);color:var(--text)}
   .dlg-head button:focus-visible{outline:2px solid var(--primary);outline-offset:2px}
+  .clear-btn{padding:6px 12px;border-radius:6px;border:1px solid var(--border);background:var(--surface);cursor:pointer;font:inherit;color:var(--text);font-weight:500;transition:background 0.2s}
+  .clear-btn:hover{background:var(--divider)}
   .dlg-body{padding:6px 22px 22px}
   .sec{border:1px solid var(--border);border-left-width:4px;border-radius:8px;padding:14px 16px;margin-top:14px}
   .sec h3{margin:0 0 6px;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.4px;text-transform:uppercase}
@@ -235,7 +237,7 @@ <h1>Dashboard</h1>
           <thead><tr><th scope="col">Severity</th><th scope="col">Finding</th><th scope="col">File</th><th scope="col">Category</th><th scope="col">Status</th></tr></thead>
           <tbody>${rows||`<tr><td colspan="5" style="padding:32px 24px;text-align:center">
           <div style="color:var(--text);font-weight:600;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:8px">No findings match the filter</div>
-          <button type="button" aria-label="Clear filters" onclick="query=''; filterSev=''; render(); document.getElementById('q')?.focus();" style="padding:6px 12px;border-radius:6px;border:1px solid var(--border);background:var(--surface);cursor:pointer;font:inherit;color:var(--text);font-weight:500;transition:background 0.2s">Clear filters</button>
+          <button type="button" aria-label="Clear filters" onclick="query=''; filterSev=''; render(); document.getElementById('q')?.focus();" class="clear-btn">Clear filters</button>
         </td></tr>`}</tbody>
         </table></div>
       </div>
@@ -281,7 +283,7 @@ <h1>Dashboard</h1>
 function openDetail(f){
   lastFocus = document.activeElement;
   const s = String(f.severity||'INFO').toUpperCase();
-  const refs = (f.references||[]).map(r=>`<a href="${esc(safeUrl(r))}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">${esc(r)}</a>`).join('<br>');
+  const refs = (f.references||[]).map(r=>`<a href="${esc(safeUrl(r))}" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="${esc(r)} (opens in a new tab)">${esc(r)}</a>`).join('<br>');
   const owasp = (f.owasp||[]).join(', ');
   const cwe = (f.cwe||[]).join(', ');
   const d = document.getElementById('detail');
diff --git a/tests/test_console_dashboard_security.py b/tests/test_console_dashboard_security.py
index 6e514c84..fc17af2b 100644
--- a/tests/test_console_dashboard_security.py
+++ b/tests/test_console_dashboard_security.py
@@ -29,5 +29,5 @@ def test_detail_panel_close_invalidates_async_work_and_restores_focus() -> None:
     assert 'e.key==="Escape"' in html
     assert html.count('class="close-btn" aria-label="Close details"') == 2
     assert html.count('d.querySelector(".close-btn").addEventListener("click",closeDetail);') == 2
-    assert html.count("d.focus({preventScroll:true});") == 2
+    assert html.count("d.querySelector(\".close-btn\").focus({preventScroll:true});") == 2
     assert 'aria-label="${esc(s.created_at)}: ${esc(String(s.deploy_blocking||0))} blocking"' in html
diff --git a/tests/test_console_viewer_key_contract.py b/tests/test_console_viewer_key_contract.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..220af457
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_console_viewer_key_contract.py
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+"""Security regressions for the browser console's least-privilege key contract."""
+
+import threading
+import urllib.error
+import urllib.request
+
+import pytest
+
+from appguardrail_core.controlplane import connect, create_key, create_org, make_control_plane_server
+from scanner.cli.appguardrail import dashboard_index_path
+
+
+def _empty_scan_post_status(url: str, api_key: str) -> int:
+    """Return the status of a bodyless scan POST used only as an authz probe."""
+    request = urllib.request.Request(url, data=b"", method="POST")
+    request.add_header("Authorization", f"Bearer {api_key}")
+    try:
+        urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=5)
+    except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
+        return error.code
+    raise AssertionError("bodyless scan POST unexpectedly succeeded")
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def viewer_role_server(tmp_path):
+    """Serve a control plane with distinct viewer, member, and owner credentials."""
+    db_path = str(tmp_path / "viewer-role.db")
+    connection = connect(db_path)
+    org_id, owner_key = create_org(connection, "Acme")
+    _viewer_id, viewer_key = create_key(connection, org_id, "viewer", "browser console")
+    _member_id, member_key = create_key(connection, org_id, "member", "ci ingest")
+    connection.close()
+
+    server = make_control_plane_server("127.0.0.1", 0, db_path)
+    threading.Thread(target=server.serve_forever, daemon=True).start()
+    port = server.server_address[1]
+    try:
+        yield f"http://127.0.0.1:{port}", owner_key, member_key, viewer_key
+    finally:
+        server.shutdown()
+        server.server_close()
+
+
+def test_bodyless_scan_post_distinguishes_viewer_from_elevated_roles(
+    viewer_role_server,
+) -> None:
+    """A side-effect-free malformed POST must distinguish viewer from write roles."""
+    base, owner_key, member_key, viewer_key = viewer_role_server
+    endpoint = f"{base}/api/v1/scans"
+
+    assert _empty_scan_post_status(endpoint, viewer_key) == 403
+    assert _empty_scan_post_status(endpoint, member_key) == 400
+    assert _empty_scan_post_status(endpoint, owner_key) == 400
+
+
+def test_console_accepts_only_viewer_keys_and_never_persists_credentials() -> None:
+    """The browser console must reject elevated keys and keep viewer keys in memory."""
+    html = dashboard_index_path().with_name("console.html").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    assert 'placeholder="Viewer API key (agk_…)"' in html
+    assert 'aria-label="Viewer API key"' in html
+    assert 'sessionStorage.removeItem("ag_key");' in html
+    assert 'sessionStorage.removeItem("ag_viewer_key");' in html
+    assert "sessionStorage.setItem" not in html
+    assert "sessionStorage.getItem" not in html
+
+    assert "async function requireViewerKey()" in html
+    viewer_probe = 'fetch("/api/v1/scans",{method:"POST",headers:{Authorization:"Bearer "+KEY}})'
+    reject_elevated = 'if(r.status!==403)throw new Error("Use a dedicated viewer API key.");'
+    assert viewer_probe in html
+    assert reject_elevated in html
+
+    connect_flow = html.split('$("#connect").onclick=', 1)[1].split(
+        '$("#key").addEventListener', 1
+    )[0]
+    assert "await requireViewerKey();" in connect_flow
+    assert "await load();" in connect_flow
+    assert connect_flow.index("await requireViewerKey();") < connect_flow.index("await load();")
diff --git a/tests/test_console_visual_state_contract.py b/tests/test_console_visual_state_contract.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1b0de9f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_console_visual_state_contract.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+"""Regression contracts for visible dashboard interaction states."""
+
+from scanner.cli.appguardrail import dashboard_index_path
+
+
+def _console_html() -> str:
+    """Return the standalone console document as UTF-8 text."""
+    return dashboard_index_path().with_name("console.html").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def test_console_hover_feedback_excludes_disabled_controls() -> None:
+    """Enabled buttons must look interactive without styling disabled buttons as hoverable."""
+    html = _console_html()
+
+    assert "transition:filter 0.2s, opacity 0.2s" in html
+    assert "button:hover:not(:disabled){filter:brightness(.94)}" in html
+
+
+def test_console_busy_scan_rows_are_visually_and_pointer_disabled() -> None:
+    """Busy rows must expose a visible wait state and reject duplicate pointer activation."""
+    html = _console_html()
+
+    assert 'tr.scan[aria-busy="true"]' in html
+    assert "cursor: wait" in html
+    assert "pointer-events: none" in html
diff --git a/tests/test_dashboard_external_link_contract.py b/tests/test_dashboard_external_link_contract.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..782c026c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_dashboard_external_link_contract.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+"""Regression tests for external-reference link accessibility."""
+
+import re
+from html.parser import HTMLParser
+
+from scanner.cli.appguardrail import dashboard_index_path
+
+
+class _LinkAttributeParser(HTMLParser):
+    """Collect attributes from dashboard link markup."""
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        """Initialize an empty link-attribute collection."""
+        super().__init__()
+        self.links: list[dict[str, str | None]] = []
+
+    def handle_starttag(
+        self,
+        tag: str,
+        attrs: list[tuple[str, str | None]],
+    ) -> None:
+        """Record anchor attributes and ignore every other element."""
+        if tag == "a":
+            self.links.append(dict(attrs))
+
+
+def test_dashboard_external_links_announce_new_tab_behavior() -> None:
+    """A screen-reader user must know that a reference opens a new tab."""
+    html = dashboard_index_path().read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    detail_markup = re.search(
+        r"const refs = \(f\.references\|\|\[\]\)\.map\(r=>`(.*?)`\)\.join\('<br>'\);",
+        html,
+        flags=re.DOTALL,
+    )
+    assert detail_markup is not None
+
+    parser = _LinkAttributeParser()
+    parser.feed(detail_markup.group(1))
+
+    assert any(
+        attributes.get("target") == "_blank"
+        and attributes.get("rel") == "noopener"
+        and attributes.get("aria-label") == "${esc(r)} (opens in a new tab)"
+        for attributes in parser.links
+    )