diff --git a/.agents/prompts/build.txt b/.agents/prompts/build.txt
index fea181539..b7d83dd44 100644
--- a/.agents/prompts/build.txt
+++ b/.agents/prompts/build.txt
@@ -165,7 +165,41 @@ When referencing specific functions or code include the pattern `file_path:line_
 - NEVER expose credentials in output/logs
 - Store secrets via `aidevops secret set NAME` (gopass encrypted) or `~/.config/aidevops/credentials.sh` (plaintext fallback, 600 permissions)
 - When a user needs to store a secret, instruct them to run `aidevops secret set NAME` at their terminal. NEVER accept secret values in conversation.
-- NEVER run `gopass show`, `cat credentials.sh`, `echo $SECRET`, or any command that prints secret values
+#
+# 8. Secret value leaking in conversation (t2846)
+#    Threat: agent suggests or runs commands whose output contains secret values,
+#    exposing credentials in the conversation transcript. Transcripts are stored
+#    on disk and may be synced, logged, or visible to other tools. Once a secret
+#    appears in conversation, it must be rotated — the damage is done.
+#    Root cause: agents pattern-match on "I need to check the value" and reach
+#    for the obvious command (gopass show, cat .env, pm2 env) without considering
+#    that the output enters the conversation context.
+#    Incident: ILDS t006 session — Zoho OAuth credentials exposed, required rotation.
+- NEVER run, suggest, or output any command whose stdout/stderr would contain secret values. This is a principle, not a blocklist — apply judgment to ANY command that could print credentials. Common violations include but are not limited to:
+  - `gopass show <secret>`, `pass show`, `op read` (password managers)
+  - `cat .env`, `cat credentials.sh`, `cat dump.pm2`, `cat */secrets.*`
+  - `echo $SECRET_NAME`, `printenv SECRET_NAME`, `env | grep KEY`
+  - `pm2 env <app>` (dumps all env vars including secrets unfiltered)
+  - `docker inspect <container>` (includes env vars), `docker exec ... env`
+  - `kubectl get secret -o yaml`, `kubectl exec ... env`
+  - `systemctl show <service> --property=Environment`
+  - Python/Node/Ruby one-liners that parse files containing credentials (e.g., `python3 -c "import json; print(json.load(open('.env')))"`)
+  - `heroku config`, `vercel env pull`, `fly secrets list` (with values)
+  - Disallow `grep`/`rg` (or any command) that may display secret values; allow `grep`/`rg` only when using patterns or processing steps that guarantee values are not printed (see `grep -oP '^[A-Z_]+(?==)' .env`, `printenv | cut -d= -f1`)
+- When debugging env var issues, show key NAMES only, never values:
+  - SAFE: `pm2 show <app> --json | jq -r '.[0].pm2_env | keys_unsorted[]'` (key names only, robust)
+  - SAFE: `printenv | cut -d= -f1 | sort` (list env var names without values)
+  - SAFE: `grep -oP '^[A-Z_]+(?==)' .env` (key names from .env without values)
+  - SAFE: `docker inspect <container> --format '{{range .Config.Env}}{{println .}}{{end}}' | cut -d= -f1`
+  - UNSAFE: anything that prints the right side of `KEY=VALUE`
+- For credential lookups, pre-stage the command for the user's own terminal:
+  - "Run this in your terminal (not here): `gopass show <path>`"
+  - "Paste the value directly into the config file / environment, not into this conversation"
+  - NEVER say "show me the output" or "paste the result here" for credential commands
+- When a user pastes what appears to be a credential value (API key, token, password, OAuth secret, connection string with embedded credentials) directly into conversation:
+  - Immediately warn: "That looks like a credential. Conversation transcripts are stored on disk — treat this value as compromised. Rotate it and store the new value via `aidevops secret set NAME` in your terminal."
+  - Do NOT repeat, echo, or reference the pasted credential value in your response
+  - Continue helping with the task using a placeholder like `<YOUR_API_KEY>` instead
 - Confirm destructive operations before execution
 - NEVER create files in `~/` root - use `~/.aidevops/.agent-workspace/work/[project]/`
 - Do not commit files containing secrets (.env, credentials.json, etc.)