diff --git a/.github/release-allowed-signers b/.github/release-allowed-signers
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..633c265
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/release-allowed-signers
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+release@openclaw.ai ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAII9XsaCcr8TInPnHcuTVfvXXcsoUFrOE7menfbEIHFW9 steipete@gmail.com
diff --git a/.github/scripts/README.md b/.github/scripts/README.md
index 46738df..db5e3b6 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/README.md
+++ b/.github/scripts/README.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ Both complete CLI suites remain required, against the published baseline and
 the exact candidate head. Selected-app manual qualification retains baseline
 `26a574e53b485cd2191df603f02d17fab6d3c4af` and its existing app pins.
 
-The Linux job has a 20-minute ceiling. It prepares dependencies with Go 1.27.2
+The Linux job has a 20-minute ceiling. It prepares dependencies with Go 1.27.3
 and the public Go proxy, then runs baseline and candidate serially with
 `GOPROXY=off`. Each uses native `lsof`, private HOME/XDG/temp directories, a
 private test modfile, and a network/PID namespace with loopback only. The
diff --git a/.github/scripts/downstream-compat.sh b/.github/scripts/downstream-compat.sh
index e64b7bd..5be5f43 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/downstream-compat.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/downstream-compat.sh
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ fi
 for tool in go git lsof tar sha256sum sudo unshare ip setpriv timeout python3; do
   command -v "$tool" >/dev/null || { echo "missing required tool: $tool" >&2; exit 2; }
 done
-[[ $(go env GOVERSION) == go1.27.2 ]] || { echo "Go 1.27.2 is required" >&2; exit 2; }
+[[ $(go env GOVERSION) == go1.27.3 ]] || { echo "Go 1.27.3 is required" >&2; exit 2; }
 sudo -n true
 [[ $(setpriv --help) == *"--pdeathsig"* ]] ||
   { echo "setpriv --pdeathsig keep is required for descendant cleanup" >&2; exit 2; }
diff --git a/.github/scripts/release-preflight.cjs b/.github/scripts/release-preflight.cjs
index 46b9a86..f55b9f7 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/release-preflight.cjs
+++ b/.github/scripts/release-preflight.cjs
@@ -17,12 +17,19 @@ module.exports = async function preflight({ github, context, version, dryRun = f
     throw new Error(`${tag} already has a ${kind}; refusing to rebuild an existing release version. Use a new patch version, or reconcile the original run without rebuilding its verified payload.`);
   };
 
-  // Tags are public Go module versions even without a published GitHub release.
-  // The shared workflow creates the tag before creating any draft or assets.
-  await requireAbsent(() => github.rest.git.getRef({
+  // The shared workflow verifies the fleet signature before building or publishing.
+  const ref = await github.rest.git.getRef({
     ...context.repo,
     ref: `tags/${tag}`,
-  }), 'Git tag');
+  });
+  if (ref.data.object.type !== 'tag') throw new Error(`${tag} must be an annotated fleet-signed tag`);
+  const annotated = await github.rest.git.getTag({
+    ...context.repo,
+    tag_sha: ref.data.object.sha,
+  });
+  if (annotated.data.object.type !== 'commit' || annotated.data.object.sha !== context.sha) {
+    throw new Error(`${tag} must point directly to the release workflow commit`);
+  }
   await requireAbsent(() => github.rest.repos.getReleaseByTag({
     ...context.repo,
     tag,
diff --git a/.github/scripts/release-preflight.test.cjs b/.github/scripts/release-preflight.test.cjs
index 95b7033..aa1110c 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/release-preflight.test.cjs
+++ b/.github/scripts/release-preflight.test.cjs
@@ -3,43 +3,47 @@ const { readFileSync } = require('node:fs');
 const { test } = require('node:test');
 const preflight = require('./release-preflight.cjs');
 
-const context = { repo: { owner: 'openclaw', repo: 'crawlkit' } };
+const context = { repo: { owner: 'openclaw', repo: 'crawlkit' }, sha: 'a'.repeat(40) };
 const missing = () => { throw Object.assign(new Error('Not Found'), { status: 404 }); };
 
-function fixture({ tag = missing, release = missing } = {}) {
+function fixture({ tag = () => ({ data: { object: { type: 'tag', sha: 'b'.repeat(40) } } }), annotated = () => ({ data: { object: { type: 'commit', sha: context.sha } } }), release = missing } = {}) {
   const calls = [];
   return {
     calls,
     // Only read endpoints exist: mutations are never part of preflight.
     github: { rest: {
-      git: { getRef: async (args) => { calls.push(['tag', args]); return tag(); } },
+      git: {
+        getRef: async (args) => { calls.push(['tag', args]); return tag(); },
+        getTag: async (args) => { calls.push(['annotated', args]); return annotated(); },
+      },
       repos: { getReleaseByTag: async (args) => { calls.push(['release', args]); return release(); } },
     } },
   };
 }
 
 for (const version of ['0.14.8', 'v0.14.8', '0.14.8-rc.1', 'v0.14.8+build.1']) {
-  test(`unused ${version} reaches the shared release workflow`, async () => {
+  test(`annotated ${version} at the workflow commit reaches signature verification`, async () => {
     const { github, calls } = fixture();
     await preflight({ github, context, version });
     const tag = `v${version.replace(/^v/, '')}`;
     assert.deepEqual(calls, [
       ['tag', { ...context.repo, ref: `tags/${tag}` }],
+      ['annotated', { ...context.repo, tag_sha: 'b'.repeat(40) }],
       ['release', { ...context.repo, tag }],
     ]);
   });
 }
 
-for (const kind of ['tag', 'commit']) {
-  test(`existing ${kind} stops before rebuilding, even without a GitHub release`, async () => {
+for (const kind of ['commit', 'tree', 'blob']) {
+  test(`non-annotated ${kind} stops before building`, async () => {
     const { github, calls } = fixture({ tag: () => ({ data: { object: { type: kind } } }) });
-    await assert.rejects(preflight({ github, context, version: 'v0.14.7' }), /v0\.14\.7 already has a Git tag/);
+    await assert.rejects(preflight({ github, context, version: 'v0.14.7' }), /must be an annotated fleet-signed tag/);
     assert.equal(calls.length, 1);
   });
 }
 
 for (const draft of [false, true]) {
-  test(`existing ${draft ? 'draft' : 'public release'} blocks even if its tag is missing`, async () => {
+  test(`existing ${draft ? 'draft' : 'public release'} blocks publication`, async () => {
     const { github } = fixture({ release: () => ({ data: { id: 123, draft } }) });
     await assert.rejects(preflight({ github, context, version: '0.14.7' }), /already has a GitHub release/);
   });
@@ -51,10 +55,10 @@ test('the halted v0.14.7 state cannot reach build or draft creation', async () =
     release: () => ({ data: { id: 370802867, draft: false } }),
   });
   await assert.rejects(preflight({ github, context, version: '0.14.7' }), /refusing to rebuild/);
-  assert.equal(calls.length, 1);
+  assert.equal(calls.length, 3);
 });
 
-for (const endpoint of ['tag', 'release']) {
+for (const endpoint of ['tag', 'annotated', 'release']) {
   for (const status of [401, 403, 429, 500]) {
     test(`${endpoint} HTTP ${status} fails closed`, async () => {
       const error = Object.assign(new Error('API unavailable'), { status });
@@ -87,11 +91,18 @@ test('dry runs still reject invalid versions', async () => {
   assert.deepEqual(calls, []);
 });
 
-test('an explicit publication still rejects an existing version', async () => {
-  const { github } = fixture({ tag: () => ({ data: { object: { type: 'tag' } } }) });
-  await assert.rejects(preflight({ github, context, version: 'v0.17.0', dryRun: false }), /already has a Git tag/);
+test('publication requires a pre-created tag', async () => {
+  const { github } = fixture({ tag: missing });
+  await assert.rejects(preflight({ github, context, version: 'v0.17.0', dryRun: false }), /Not Found/);
 });
 
+for (const object of [{ type: 'commit', sha: 'c'.repeat(40) }, { type: 'tag', sha: context.sha }]) {
+  test(`rejects a tag that does not directly freeze the workflow commit (${object.type})`, async () => {
+    const { github } = fixture({ annotated: () => ({ data: { object } }) });
+    await assert.rejects(preflight({ github, context, version: '0.17.2' }), /must point directly to the release workflow commit/);
+  });
+}
+
 for (const dryRun of ['true', 'false', 1, null]) {
   test(`non-boolean dryRun ${JSON.stringify(dryRun)} fails closed`, async () => {
     const { github, calls } = fixture();
@@ -109,4 +120,5 @@ test('workflow gates the reusable job and serializes preflight through publicati
   assert.match(workflow, /DRY_RUN: \$\{\{ inputs.dry_run \}\}/);
   assert.match(workflow, /await preflight\(\{ github, context, version: process.env.RELEASE_VERSION, dryRun: process.env.DRY_RUN === 'true' \}\)/);
   assert.match(workflow, /dry-run: \$\{\{ inputs.dry_run \}\}/);
+  assert.match(workflow, /require-signed-tag: true/);
 });
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a3eb519..a4b1fbd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
           persist-credentials: false
       - uses: actions/setup-go@b7ad1dad31e06c5925ef5d2fc7ad053ef454303e # v7.0.0
         with:
-          go-version: '1.27.2'
+          go-version: '1.27.3'
           cache: false
       - name: Compare pinned downstream CLI suites
         run: bash candidate/.github/scripts/downstream-compat.sh candidate baseline gitcrawl
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ jobs:
           persist-credentials: false
       - uses: actions/setup-go@b7ad1dad31e06c5925ef5d2fc7ad053ef454303e # v7.0.0
         with:
-          go-version: '1.27.2'
+          go-version: '1.27.3'
           cache: false
       - name: Compare pinned app tests, builds, and read-only smokes
         env:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-unified.yml b/.github/workflows/release-unified.yml
index c533ca3..93d0bf5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-unified.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-unified.yml
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ jobs:
       version: ${{ inputs.version }}
       dry-run: ${{ inputs.dry_run }}
       repository-type: openclaw
+      require-signed-tag: true
       checksum-filename: checksums.txt
       nfpm: auto
       stable-identifier: org.openclaw.crawlctl
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 57b147c..50d8f42 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -76,10 +76,11 @@ then consume it from the app.
 ## Release Model
 
 Release only through `.github/workflows/release-unified.yml`. The shared
-`openclaw/release-workflows` pipeline owns tag creation, Developer ID signing,
+`openclaw/release-workflows` pipeline verifies fleet-signed tags and owns Developer ID signing,
 notarization, independent artifact verification, and GitHub Release
-publication. Never create or sign release tags locally, publish locally built
-artifacts, or handle release credentials outside the workflow. There is no npm,
+publication. After a successful dry run, create and verify an annotated release
+tag with the fleet signing key before dispatching publication. Never publish locally built
+artifacts or handle binary-signing credentials outside the workflow. There is no npm,
 PyPI, or Homebrew publish step for `crawlkit`.
 
 Use patch tags for narrow fixes and minor tags for broader shared crawler or TUI
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 257967d..bc0eb90 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+## 0.17.2 - 2026-10-20
+
+**Highlights:** Rebuild with Go 1.27.3 to fix the reachable crypto/x509 certificate-validation vulnerability.
+
+### Security
+
+- Build with Go 1.27.3 to fix the reachable crypto/x509 certificate-validation vulnerability GO-2026-6809 while retaining the Go 1.27.0 minimum; require fleet-signed release tags.
+
 ## 0.17.1 - 2026-10-20
 
 **Highlights:** Refreshed security analysis and dependency checks, with more reliable Crabbox validation and macOS release preflight.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2406d44..495f6ab 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Provider APIs, authentication, schemas, privacy filters, and user-facing command
 
 `crawlkit` requires Go 1.27.0 or newer.
 
-Development builds prefer Go 1.27.2 through the `toolchain` directive in `go.mod`.
+Development builds prefer Go 1.27.3 through the `toolchain` directive in `go.mod`.
 
 Add the package you need to a Go module. For the quick start below:
 
diff --git a/docs/publishing.md b/docs/publishing.md
index 0e3e2c4..15a09f9 100644
--- a/docs/publishing.md
+++ b/docs/publishing.md
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 
 `crawlkit` is a Go library with the optional `crawlctl` CLI. Releases use the
 fleet `release-go-cli` workflow from `openclaw/release-workflows`. The workflow
-owns tag creation, Developer ID signing, notarization, independent artifact
-verification, and GitHub Release publication. Do not create release tags or
-handle signing credentials locally.
+verifies fleet-signed tags and owns Developer ID signing, notarization, independent
+artifact verification, and GitHub Release publication. Create and verify the
+annotated tag with the fleet release key only after a successful dry run. Binary
+signing credentials remain in the workflow.
 
 Published versions and signed CLI assets are listed on
 [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/openclaw/crawlkit/releases/latest) and the
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ signing identity is `Developer ID Application: OpenClaw Foundation
 (FWJYW4S8P8)`. The workflow signs each native Mach-O with the hardened runtime,
 submits it for notarization, and independently verifies both architectures
 before publication. Both native macOS binaries require macOS 13.0 or later,
-matching the Go 1.27 deployment target. Before the shared workflow creates a tag,
+matching the Go 1.27 deployment target. Before the shared workflow builds artifacts,
 the caller builds both architectures with CGO disabled, checks each
 `LC_BUILD_VERSION` using `otool -l`, and confirms notarization access with a
 read-only `xcrun notarytool history`. crawlkit has no universal macOS archive, nFPM package, or
@@ -67,17 +68,22 @@ The default remains a real release, which requires an unused version.
    ```
 
 3. Merge the release-preparation PR and confirm its exact merge commit is green.
-4. Dispatch the unified workflow from the current protected `main` head:
+   Run the dry run above with the new version, then create the annotated version
+   tag on that commit with the fleet release key. Verify it with
+   `git -c gpg.ssh.allowedSignersFile=.github/release-allowed-signers verify-tag vX.Y.Z`
+   before pushing it.
+4. Dispatch the unified workflow from the same protected `main` head:
 
    ```bash
    gh workflow run release-unified.yml --repo openclaw/crawlkit -f version=X.Y.Z
    ```
 
 5. Watch the exact workflow run through publication. A read-only preflight
-   rejects existing tags and releases before the shared workflow runs. A
+   requires an annotated tag pointing directly to the workflow commit and rejects
+   existing releases before the shared workflow verifies the tag signature. A
    repository-wide workflow lock spans preflight through publication, so queued
    dispatches (including `X.Y.Z` and `vX.Y.Z`) recheck state after the previous
-   run finishes. The shared workflow creates an annotated version tag, builds all four native archives, signs and
+   run finishes. The shared workflow freezes the verified tag, builds all four native archives, signs and
    notarizes the two macOS binaries, verifies the immutable draft independently
    on Apple Silicon and Intel, and publishes only the verified bytes.
 6. Confirm the GitHub Release notes match the dated changelog section. Download
@@ -100,10 +106,10 @@ The default remains a real release, which requires an unused version.
 
 Never delete or force-update a release tag or replace published assets. A Git
 tag is already a public Go module version, even when GitHub publication fails.
-Fresh dispatches require a new version once a tag exists; this also blocks
-leftover drafts because the shared pipeline freezes the tag before drafting.
-The release lookup additionally rejects a visible release whose tag is missing.
-API failures other than an explicit 404 stop preflight.
+Publication requires a fleet-signed tag on the exact workflow commit and no
+existing draft or public release. The shared pipeline freezes that tag before
+drafting. Tag lookup failures stop preflight; only an explicit 404 for the
+release lookup is treated as an unused release version.
 
 After a failure, inspect the exact run, tag, release IDs, and retained artifacts
 before taking action. Do not rerun all jobs or redispatch a published version:
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 02a981b..065c754 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ module github.com/openclaw/crawlkit
 
 go 1.27.0
 
-toolchain go1.27.2
+toolchain go1.27.3
 
 require (
 	filippo.io/age v1.3.2