fix(ssh): support ChaCha20 in Electron crypto runtimes (#3992)

* fix(ssh): support ChaCha20 in Electron crypto runtimes

* test(ssh): verify packaged cipher transport across platforms

* test(ssh): isolate unused Electron UI APIs in packaged transport harness

* test(ssh): isolate packaged dependency resolution from the checkout

.github/workflows/build.yml

@@ -330,6 +330,9 @@ jobs:
           APPLE_TEAM_ID: ${{ matrix.name == 'macos' && secrets.APPLE_TEAM_ID || '' }}
         run: npm run ${{ matrix.pack_script }}
 
+      - name: Test packaged SSH cipher negotiation
+        run: node scripts/test-packaged-ssh-ciphers.cjs
+
       - name: Test tray panel layout
         run: npm run test:tray-panel-layout
 
@@ -631,6 +634,9 @@ jobs:
           done
           npm run pack:linux-x64
 
+      - name: Test packaged SSH cipher negotiation
+        run: node scripts/test-packaged-ssh-ciphers.cjs
+
       - name: Verify packaged node-pty Linux runtime
         run: bash scripts/ensure-node-pty-linux.sh verify x64
 
@@ -765,6 +771,9 @@ jobs:
           ELECTRON_BUILDER_PUBLISH: "never"
         run: npm run pack:linux-arm64
 
+      - name: Test packaged SSH cipher negotiation
+        run: node scripts/test-packaged-ssh-ciphers.cjs
+
       - name: Verify packaged node-pty Linux runtime
         run: bash scripts/ensure-node-pty-linux.sh verify arm64
 

.github/workflows/test.yml

@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test
         run: npm test
 
+      - name: Test SSH cipher negotiation in Electron's crypto runtime
+        env:
+          NETCATTY_SSH_TEST_RUNTIME: electron
+        run: node --test electron/bridges/sshChaChaTransport.test.cjs
+
       - name: Test browser first-link lifecycle
         run: xvfb-run -a ./node_modules/.bin/electron --no-sandbox electron/hostBrowser/hostBrowser.firstLink.live.test.cjs
 
@@ -138,5 +143,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build
         run: npm run build
 
+      - name: Test SSH cipher negotiation in Windows Electron's crypto runtime
+        env:
+          NETCATTY_SSH_TEST_RUNTIME: electron
+        run: node --test electron/bridges/sshChaChaTransport.test.cjs
+
       - name: Exercise two SSH password prompts in the desktop app
         run: node scripts/terminal-broadcast-ssh.live.cjs

components/terminal/runtime/createTerminalSessionStarters.test.ts

@@ -357,6 +357,34 @@ test("startPluginConnection displays status diagnostics when a Provider exits wi
   ]);
 });
 
+test("startSSH forwards a saved ChaCha20-only host setting to the transport", async () => {
+  const host = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify({
+    id: "host-chacha",
+    label: "Synthetic ChaCha20 server",
+    hostname: "127.0.0.1",
+    username: "synthetic",
+    algorithms: { cipher: ["chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com"] },
+  }));
+  let captured: Record<string, unknown> | undefined;
+  const ctx = createStarterContext({
+    host,
+    terminalBackend: {
+      backendAvailable: () => true,
+      startSSHSession: async (options: Record<string, unknown>) => {
+        captured = options;
+        return "ssh-session";
+      },
+      onSessionData: () => noop,
+      onSessionExit: () => noop,
+      onChainProgress: () => noop,
+      writeToSession: noop,
+      resizeSession: noop,
+    },
+  });
+  await createTerminalSessionStarters(ctx as never).startSSH(createTermStub() as never);
+  assert.deepEqual(captured?.algorithmOverrides, host.algorithms);
+});
+
 test("startSSH forwards imported system agent authentication settings", async () => {
   let capturedOptions: Record<string, unknown> | null = null;
   const terminalBackend = {

electron/bridges/sshAlgorithms.cjs

@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ const FIXED_DH_GROUP_BY_KEX = Object.freeze({
 });
 
 const CIPHER_SSL_NAME_BY_ALGORITHM = Object.freeze({
-  "chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com": "chacha20",
+  // Patched ssh2 supplies original ChaCha20 when Electron/BoringSSL lacks it.
+  // Do not filter this SSH cipher against the OpenSSL-only inventory.
   "aes128-gcm@openssh.com": "aes-128-gcm",
   "aes256-gcm@openssh.com": "aes-256-gcm",
   "aes128-gcm": "aes-128-gcm",

electron/bridges/sshAlgorithms.test.cjs

@@ -144,17 +144,17 @@ for (const [label, buildAlgorithms] of [
     });
   });
 
-  test(`${label} drops chacha20-poly1305 when the runtime lacks chacha20`, () => {
+  test(`${label} retains chacha20-poly1305 through ssh2's fallback when the runtime lacks chacha20`, () => {
     const ciphersWithoutChacha20 = crypto.getCiphers().filter((cipher) => cipher !== "chacha20");
 
     withAlgorithmRuntime({ ciphers: ciphersWithoutChacha20 }, () => {
       const algorithms = buildAlgorithms(false);
 
-      assert.equal(algorithms.cipher.includes("chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com"), false);
+      assert.equal(algorithms.cipher.includes("chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com"), true);
     });
   });
 
-  test(`${label} cipher override is filtered against runtime support`, () => {
+  test(`${label} preserves explicit ChaCha20 and mixed cipher overrides without native crypto`, () => {
     const ciphersWithoutChacha20 = crypto.getCiphers().filter((cipher) => cipher !== "chacha20");
 
     withAlgorithmRuntime({ ciphers: ciphersWithoutChacha20 }, () => {
@@ -164,7 +164,10 @@ for (const [label, buildAlgorithms] of [
         },
       });
 
-      assert.deepEqual(algorithms.cipher, ["aes256-ctr"]);
+      assert.deepEqual(algorithms.cipher, ["chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com", "aes256-ctr"]);
+      assert.deepEqual(buildAlgorithms(false, {
+        algorithmOverrides: { cipher: ["chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com"] },
+      }).cipher, ["chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com"]);
     });
   });
 

electron/bridges/sshChaChaTransport.test.cjs

@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+const test = require("node:test");
+const assert = require("node:assert/strict");
+const crypto = require("node:crypto");
+const fs = require("node:fs");
+const os = require("node:os");
+const path = require("node:path");
+const { spawn } = require("node:child_process");
+const { Server } = require("ssh2");
+
+const CHACHA = "chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com";
+const AES = "aes128-gcm@openssh.com";
+const root = path.resolve(__dirname, "../..");
+const { privateKey } = crypto.generateKeyPairSync("rsa", { modulusLength: 2048 });
+const hostKey = privateKey.export({ type: "pkcs1", format: "pem" });
+
+async function connect(t, {
+  serverCiphers = [CHACHA],
+  cipher,
+  entrypoint = "netcatty:start",
+  withoutNativeChacha = true,
+} = {}) {
+  const homeDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "netcatty-chacha-"));
+  t.after(() => fs.rmSync(homeDir, { recursive: true, force: true }));
+  const offered = {};
+  let negotiated;
+  const connections = new Set();
+  // The server uses Node/OpenSSL's ChaCha20; only the child uses the fallback.
+  const server = new Server({
+    hostKeys: [hostKey],
+    algorithms: { cipher: serverCiphers },
+    debug(line) {
+      const match = /Handshake: \(remote\) (C->S|S->C) cipher: (.*)/.exec(line);
+      if (match) offered[match[1]] = match[2].split(",");
+    },
+  }, (client) => {
+    connections.add(client);
+    client.on("error", () => {});
+    client.on("close", () => connections.delete(client));
+    client.on("handshake", (info) => { negotiated = info; });
+    client.on("authentication", (ctx) => ctx.accept());
+    client.on("ready", () => {
+      client.on("session", (accept) => {
+        const session = accept();
+        session.on("pty", (acceptPty) => acceptPty?.());
+        session.on("env", (acceptEnv) => acceptEnv?.());
+        session.on("shell", (acceptShell) => {
+          const stream = acceptShell();
+          stream.on("data", (data) => stream.write(data));
+        });
+      });
+    });
+  });
+  t.after(() => {
+    for (const client of connections) client.end();
+    server.close();
+  });
+  await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    server.once("error", reject);
+    server.listen(0, "127.0.0.1", resolve);
+  });
+  const runtime = process.env.NETCATTY_SSH_TEST_RUNTIME === "electron"
+    ? require("electron")
+    : path.resolve(process.env.NETCATTY_SSH_TEST_RUNTIME || process.execPath);
+  const child = spawn(runtime, ["scripts/fixtures/ssh-chacha-client.cjs"], {
+    cwd: root,
+    env: { ...process.env, ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE: "1" },
+    stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "pipe"],
+  });
+  t.after(() => child.kill());
+  let stdout = "";
+  let stderr = "";
+  child.stdout.on("data", (data) => { stdout += data; });
+  child.stderr.on("data", (data) => { stderr += data; });
+  child.stdin.end(JSON.stringify({
+    port: server.address().port,
+    appRoot: process.env.NETCATTY_SSH_TEST_APP_ROOT,
+    homeDir,
+    // Cross several SSH packets, exercising both nonce/counter directions.
+    input: "synthetic SSH echo\r\n".repeat(4000),
+    algorithmOverrides: cipher ? { cipher } : undefined,
+    entrypoint,
+    withoutNativeChacha,
+  }));
+  const code = await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    child.once("error", reject);
+    child.once("close", resolve);
+  });
+  assert.equal(code, 0, stderr || stdout);
+  const resultLine = stdout.split("\n").find((line) => line.startsWith("NETCATTY_TRANSPORT_RESULT="));
+  assert.ok(resultLine, stderr || stdout);
+  const result = JSON.parse(resultLine.slice("NETCATTY_TRANSPORT_RESULT=".length));
+  if (process.env.NETCATTY_SSH_TEST_APP_ROOT && result.connected) {
+    assert.equal(result.packagedDependency, "node_modules/@noble/ciphers/chacha.js");
+  }
+  return { ...result, offered, negotiated };
+}
+
+for (const entrypoint of ["netcatty:start", "netcatty:test-connection"]) {
+  test(`${entrypoint} advertises and negotiates an explicit ChaCha20-only override without native crypto`, { timeout: 15000 }, async (t) => {
+    const result = await connect(t, { cipher: [CHACHA], entrypoint });
+    assert.equal(result.connected, true, result.error);
+    assert.equal(result.nativeChacha, false);
+    assert.deepEqual(result.offered["C->S"], [CHACHA]);
+    assert.deepEqual(result.offered["S->C"], [CHACHA]);
+    assert.equal(result.negotiated.cs.cipher, CHACHA);
+    assert.equal(result.negotiated.sc.cipher, CHACHA);
+    if (entrypoint === "netcatty:start") assert.equal(result.echoed, true);
+  });
+}
+
+test("default ciphers can connect to a ChaCha20-only server", async (t) => {
+  const result = await connect(t);
+  assert.equal(result.connected, true, result.error);
+  assert.equal(result.echoed, true);
+  assert.ok(result.offered["C->S"].includes(CHACHA));
+  assert.equal(result.negotiated.cs.cipher, CHACHA);
+});
+
+test("default and mixed offers retain AES preference and explicit cipher order", async (t) => {
+  for (const cipher of [undefined, [AES, CHACHA], [CHACHA, AES]]) {
+    const result = await connect(t, { serverCiphers: [AES, CHACHA], cipher });
+    assert.equal(result.connected, true, result.error);
+    assert.equal(result.echoed, true);
+    assert.equal(result.negotiated.cs.cipher, cipher?.[0] || AES);
+    if (cipher) assert.deepEqual(result.offered["C->S"], cipher);
+  }
+});
+
+test("an explicit AES-only choice never falls back to ChaCha20", async (t) => {
+  const result = await connect(t, { cipher: [AES] });
+  assert.equal(result.connected, false);
+  assert.match(result.error, /no matching C->S cipher/);
+  assert.deepEqual(result.offered["C->S"], [AES]);
+});
+
+test("the runtime's unmodified crypto path still supports ChaCha20", async (t) => {
+  const result = await connect(t, { cipher: [CHACHA], withoutNativeChacha: false });
+  assert.equal(result.connected, true, result.error);
+  assert.equal(result.echoed, true);
+});

package-lock.json

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
         "@netcatty/plugin-cli": "0.1.0-internal",
         "@netcatty/plugin-contract": "0.1.0-internal",
         "@netcatty/plugin-sdk": "0.1.0-internal",
+        "@noble/ciphers": "2.4.0",
         "@openai/codex-sdk": "0.144.3",
         "@smithy/node-http-handler": "^4.4.9",
         "@withfig/autocomplete": "^2.692.3",
@@ -4683,6 +4684,18 @@
       "resolved": "packages/plugin-sdk",
       "link": true
     },
+    "node_modules/@noble/ciphers": {
+      "version": "2.4.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@noble/ciphers/-/ciphers-2.4.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-AnjFn0Jv92laAkvMrghlFZq4qQCIN/4DxFV/eooqtC2YTjB7kBeLMS2T9KJX4Dn+ZVXLOwK0lSgqDtx9gvxtiw==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 20.19.0"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://paulmillr.com/funding/"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/@noble/hashes": {
       "version": "2.2.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@noble/hashes/-/hashes-2.2.0.tgz",

package.json

@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@
     "@netcatty/plugin-cli": "0.1.0-internal",
     "@netcatty/plugin-contract": "0.1.0-internal",
     "@netcatty/plugin-sdk": "0.1.0-internal",
+    "@noble/ciphers": "2.4.0",
     "@openai/codex-sdk": "0.144.3",
     "@smithy/node-http-handler": "^4.4.9",
     "@withfig/autocomplete": "^2.692.3",

patches/ssh2+1.17.0.patch

@@ -860,10 +860,10 @@ index 9f33c02..9751164 100644
        if (names !== undefined) {
          sftp._debug && sftp._debug(
 diff --git a/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/constants.js b/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/constants.js
-index ad77592..a249e00 100644
+index ad77592..03ab33b 100644
 --- a/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/constants.js
 +++ b/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/constants.js
-@@ -71,9 +71,30 @@ const DEFAULT_SERVER_HOST_KEY = [
+@@ -71,14 +71,37 @@ const DEFAULT_SERVER_HOST_KEY = [
  ];
  if (eddsaSupported)
    DEFAULT_SERVER_HOST_KEY.unshift('ssh-ed25519');
@@ -894,7 +894,15 @@ index ad77592..a249e00 100644
  
  
  const canUseCipher = (() => {
-@@ -160,6 +181,7 @@ const COMPAT = {
+   const ciphers = crypto.getCiphers();
+-  return (name) => ciphers.includes(CIPHER_INFO[name].sslName);
++  // crypto.js supplies the original ChaCha20 primitive on BoringSSL too.
++  return (name) => (name === 'chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com'
++                    || ciphers.includes(CIPHER_INFO[name].sslName));
+ })();
+ let DEFAULT_CIPHER = [
+   // http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5647
+@@ -160,6 +183,7 @@ const COMPAT = {
    DYN_RPORT_BUG: 1 << 2,
    BUG_DHGEX_LARGE: 1 << 3,
    IMPLY_RSA_SHA2_SIGALGS: 1 << 4,
@@ -902,7 +910,7 @@ index ad77592..a249e00 100644
  };
  
  module.exports = {
-@@ -330,6 +352,7 @@ module.exports = {
+@@ -330,6 +354,7 @@ module.exports = {
    COMPAT_CHECKS: [
      [ 'Cisco-1.25', COMPAT.BAD_DHGEX ],
      [ /^Cisco-1[.]/, COMPAT.BUG_DHGEX_LARGE ],
@@ -910,6 +918,113 @@ index ad77592..a249e00 100644
      [ /^[0-9.]+$/, COMPAT.OLD_EXIT ], // old SSH.com implementations
      [ /^OpenSSH_5[.][0-9]+/, COMPAT.DYN_RPORT_BUG ],
      [ /^OpenSSH_7[.]4/, COMPAT.IMPLY_RSA_SHA2_SIGALGS ],
+diff --git a/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/crypto.js b/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/crypto.js
+index 851cc73..088de2a 100644
+--- a/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/crypto.js
++++ b/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/crypto.js
+@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ const {
+ } = require('crypto');
+ 
+ const { readUInt32BE, writeUInt32BE } = require('./utils.js');
++const { chacha20, nativeChacha20 } = require('./crypto/chacha20.js');
+ 
+ const FastBuffer = Buffer[Symbol.species];
+ const MAX_SEQNO = 2 ** 32 - 1;
+@@ -198,20 +199,17 @@ class ChaChaPolyCipherNative {
+     POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE[0] = 0; // Set counter to 0 (little endian)
+     writeUInt32BE(POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE, this.outSeqno, 12);
+     const polyKey =
+-      createCipheriv('chacha20', this._encKeyMain, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE)
+-      .update(POLY1305_ZEROS);
++      chacha20(this._encKeyMain, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE, POLY1305_ZEROS);
+ 
+     // Encrypt packet length
+     const pktLenEnc =
+-      createCipheriv('chacha20', this._encKeyPktLen, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE)
+-      .update(packet.slice(0, 4));
++      chacha20(this._encKeyPktLen, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE, packet.slice(0, 4));
+     this._onWrite(pktLenEnc);
+ 
+     // Encrypt rest of packet
+     POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE[0] = 1; // Set counter to 1 (little endian)
+     const payloadEnc =
+-      createCipheriv('chacha20', this._encKeyMain, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE)
+-      .update(packet.slice(4));
++      chacha20(this._encKeyMain, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE, packet.slice(4));
+     this._onWrite(payloadEnc);
+ 
+     // Calculate Poly1305 MAC
+@@ -650,8 +648,7 @@ class ChaChaPolyDecipherNative {
+         writeUInt32BE(POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE, this.inSeqno, 12);
+ 
+         const decLenBytes =
+-          createDecipheriv('chacha20', this._decKeyPktLen, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE)
+-          .update(this._lenBuf);
++          chacha20(this._decKeyPktLen, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE, this._lenBuf);
+         this._len = readUInt32BE(decLenBytes, 0);
+ 
+         if (this._len > MAX_PACKET_SIZE
+@@ -706,8 +703,7 @@ class ChaChaPolyDecipherNative {
+       POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE[0] = 0; // Set counter to 0 (little endian)
+       writeUInt32BE(POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE, this.inSeqno, 12);
+       const polyKey =
+-        createCipheriv('chacha20', this._decKeyMain, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE)
+-        .update(POLY1305_ZEROS);
++        chacha20(this._decKeyMain, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE, POLY1305_ZEROS);
+ 
+       // Calculate and compare Poly1305 MACs
+       poly1305_auth(POLY1305_RESULT_MALLOC,
+@@ -729,8 +725,7 @@ class ChaChaPolyDecipherNative {
+       // Decrypt packet
+       POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE[0] = 1; // Set counter to 1 (little endian)
+       const packet =
+-        createDecipheriv('chacha20', this._decKeyMain, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE)
+-        .update(this._packet);
++        chacha20(this._decKeyMain, POLY1305_OUT_COMPUTE, this._packet);
+ 
+       const payload = new FastBuffer(packet.buffer,
+                                      packet.byteOffset + 1,
+@@ -1496,7 +1491,7 @@ function createCipher(config) {
+               ? new AESGCMCipherBinding(config)
+               : new AESGCMCipherNative(config));
+     case 'chacha20':
+-      return (ChaChaPolyCipher && !forceNative
++      return (ChaChaPolyCipher && nativeChacha20 && !forceNative
+               ? new ChaChaPolyCipherBinding(config)
+               : new ChaChaPolyCipherNative(config));
+     default: {
+@@ -1556,7 +1551,7 @@ function createDecipher(config) {
+               ? new AESGCMDecipherBinding(config)
+               : new AESGCMDecipherNative(config));
+     case 'chacha20':
+-      return (ChaChaPolyDecipher && !forceNative
++      return (ChaChaPolyDecipher && nativeChacha20 && !forceNative
+               ? new ChaChaPolyDecipherBinding(config)
+               : new ChaChaPolyDecipherNative(config));
+     default: {
+diff --git a/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/crypto/chacha20.js b/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/crypto/chacha20.js
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000..86dd731
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/crypto/chacha20.js
+@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
++// OpenSSH uses original ChaCha20 (64-bit nonce), not the IETF/TLS AEAD.
++// Electron's BoringSSL lacks the standalone cipher, including in sshcrypto.
++'use strict';
++const { createCipheriv, getCiphers } = require('crypto');
++const nativeChacha20 = getCiphers().includes('chacha20');
++const { chacha20orig } = nativeChacha20 ? {} : require('@noble/ciphers/chacha.js');
++
++function chacha20(key, iv, data) {
++  if (nativeChacha20)
++    return createCipheriv('chacha20', key, iv).update(data);
++  // ssh2 only uses block counters 0 (length/Poly1305 key) and 1 (payload).
++  // The last eight IV bytes are its big-endian SSH packet sequence nonce.
++  return Buffer.from(chacha20orig(key, iv.subarray(8), data, undefined,
++                                  iv.readUInt32LE(0)));
++}
++
++module.exports = { chacha20, nativeChacha20 };
 diff --git a/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/kex.js b/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/kex.js
 index 811e631..422a198 100644
 --- a/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/kex.js
@@ -1127,7 +1242,7 @@ index 811e631..422a198 100644
    onKEXPayload,
    DEFAULT_KEXINIT_CLIENT: new KexInit({
 diff --git a/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/keyParser.js b/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/keyParser.js
-index a276c1a..c8ff9d1 100644
+index a276c1a..57a05d6 100644
 --- a/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/keyParser.js
 +++ b/node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/keyParser.js
 @@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ const SYM_PRIV_PEM = Symbol('Private key PEM');

scripts/fixtures/ssh-chacha-client.cjs

@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+// Runs in a separate Node/Electron process so ssh2 detects its actual crypto
+// capabilities at module load. The parent owns the disposable loopback server.
+const os = require("node:os");
+const path = require("node:path");
+const crypto = require("node:crypto");
+
+async function main(config) {
+  os.homedir = () => config.homeDir;
+  delete process.env.SSH_AUTH_SOCK;
+  delete process.env.SSH_AGENT_PID;
+  if (config.withoutNativeChacha) {
+    const getCiphers = crypto.getCiphers;
+    crypto.getCiphers = () => getCiphers().filter((name) => name !== "chacha20");
+    for (const name of ["createCipheriv", "createDecipheriv"]) {
+      const original = crypto[name];
+      crypto[name] = (algorithm, ...args) => {
+        if (algorithm === "chacha20") throw new Error("Standalone ChaCha20 unavailable");
+        return original(algorithm, ...args);
+      };
+    }
+  }
+  let packagedDependency;
+  if (config.appRoot) {
+    config.appRoot = require("node:fs").realpathSync(config.appRoot);
+    // RUN_AS_NODE supports ASAR files, but does not expose Electron's main
+    // process APIs. The packaged bridge imports sessionLogsBridge's dialog/shell
+    // even with logging disabled. Supply only that unrelated UI host seam;
+    // ssh2, crypto, algorithm selection, and sockets remain the shipped code.
+    const Module = require("node:module");
+    const load = Module._load;
+    Module._load = function loadWithHeadlessElectron(request, ...args) {
+      if (request === "electron") return { dialog: {}, shell: {} };
+      return load.call(this, request, ...args);
+    };
+    const packagedRequire = Module.createRequire(path.join(config.appRoot, "node_modules/ssh2/lib/protocol/crypto/chacha20.js"));
+    const noblePath = packagedRequire.resolve("@noble/ciphers/chacha.js");
+    if (!noblePath.startsWith(`${config.appRoot}${path.sep}`)) {
+      throw new Error("ChaCha20 dependency resolved outside the packaged app");
+    }
+    packagedDependency = path.relative(config.appRoot, noblePath).replaceAll("\\", "/");
+  }
+  const bridge = require(path.join(config.appRoot || path.resolve(__dirname, "../.."), "electron/bridges/sshBridge.cjs"));
+  const sessions = new Map();
+  let output = "";
+  let resolveOutput;
+  const echoed = new Promise((resolve) => { resolveOutput = resolve; });
+  bridge.init({
+    sessions,
+    electronModule: {},
+    terminalOutputChannel: {
+      openSession() {},
+      send(_sessionId, data) {
+        output += data;
+        if (output.length >= config.input.length) resolveOutput();
+        return true;
+      },
+    },
+  });
+  const handlers = new Map();
+  bridge.registerHandlers({ handle: (name, handler) => handlers.set(name, handler), on() {} });
+  const sender = new (require("node:events").EventEmitter)();
+  Object.assign(sender, { id: 1, isDestroyed: () => false, send() {} });
+  try {
+    const result = await handlers.get(config.entrypoint)({ sender }, {
+      sessionId: "synthetic-chacha-test",
+      hostname: "127.0.0.1",
+      port: config.port,
+      username: "synthetic",
+      authMethod: "password",
+      useSshAgent: false,
+      verifyHostKeys: false,
+      skipShellDiscovery: true,
+      algorithmOverrides: config.algorithmOverrides,
+    });
+    if (config.entrypoint === "netcatty:start") {
+      sessions.get(result.sessionId).stream.write(config.input);
+      await echoed;
+    }
+    return {
+      connected: true,
+      echoed: output === config.input,
+      electron: process.versions.electron,
+      nativeChacha: crypto.getCiphers().includes("chacha20"),
+      packagedDependency,
+    };
+  } finally {
+    for (const session of sessions.values()) session.conn?.destroy();
+    bridge.stopAllMonitoring();
+  }
+}
+
+let input = "";
+process.stdin.setEncoding("utf8");
+process.stdin.on("data", (data) => { input += data; });
+process.stdin.on("end", async () => {
+  const config = JSON.parse(input);
+  const timeout = setTimeout(() => process.exit(2), 10000);
+  let result;
+  try { result = await main(config); }
+  catch (error) { result = { connected: false, error: error.message }; }
+  clearTimeout(timeout);
+  // Only public algorithm/runtime information leaves the synthetic client.
+  console.log(`NETCATTY_TRANSPORT_RESULT=${JSON.stringify(result)}`);
+});

scripts/test-packaged-ssh-ciphers.cjs

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+// Exercise shipped JS/dependencies with the same Electron runtime, headlessly.
+// No BrowserWindow, real accounts, or external SSH hosts are involved.
+const fs = require("node:fs");
+const os = require("node:os");
+const path = require("node:path");
+const { spawnSync } = require("node:child_process");
+
+const releaseDir = path.resolve(process.argv[2] || "release");
+const archives = fs.readdirSync(releaseDir, { recursive: true })
+  .filter((entry) => path.basename(entry) === "app.asar")
+  .map((entry) => path.join(releaseDir, entry));
+if (archives.length === 0) throw new Error("No packaged app.asar found");
+for (const appRoot of archives) {
+  // Outside the checkout, a missing packaged dependency cannot resolve from
+  // the checkout's node_modules. Copy the paired unpacked payload as shipped.
+  const detachedDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "netcatty-packaged-ssh-"));
+  try {
+    const detachedRoot = path.join(detachedDir, "app.asar");
+    fs.copyFileSync(appRoot, detachedRoot);
+    fs.cpSync(`${appRoot}.unpacked`, `${detachedRoot}.unpacked`, { recursive: true });
+    const env = {
+      ...process.env,
+      NETCATTY_SSH_TEST_APP_ROOT: detachedRoot,
+      NETCATTY_SSH_TEST_RUNTIME: require("electron"),
+    };
+    delete env.NODE_PATH;
+    console.log(`Testing detached packaged SSH transport: ${appRoot}`);
+    const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, ["--test", "electron/bridges/sshChaChaTransport.test.cjs"], {
+      env,
+      stdio: "inherit",
+    });
+    if (result.error) throw result.error;
+    if (result.status !== 0) throw new Error(`Packaged SSH transport tests failed (${result.status})`);
+  } finally {
+    fs.rmSync(detachedDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+}