diff --git a/app/Livewire/Security/ApiTokens.php b/app/Livewire/Security/ApiTokens.php
index af2ae189a..ffd8f28cf 100644
--- a/app/Livewire/Security/ApiTokens.php
+++ b/app/Livewire/Security/ApiTokens.php
@@ -50,31 +50,29 @@ private function getTokens()
 
     public function updatedPermissions($permissionToUpdate)
     {
-        // Check if user is trying to use restricted permissions
-        if ($permissionToUpdate == 'root' && ! $this->canUseRootPermissions) {
+        // Re-evaluate policies fresh — never trust stored snapshot booleans
+        if ($permissionToUpdate == 'root' && ! auth()->user()->can('useRootPermissions', PersonalAccessToken::class)) {
             $this->dispatch('error', 'You do not have permission to use root permissions.');
-            // Remove root from permissions if it was somehow added
             $this->permissions = array_diff($this->permissions, ['root']);
 
             return;
         }
 
-        if (in_array($permissionToUpdate, ['write', 'write:sensitive']) && ! $this->canUseWritePermissions) {
+        if (in_array($permissionToUpdate, ['write', 'write:sensitive']) && ! auth()->user()->can('useWritePermissions', PersonalAccessToken::class)) {
             $this->dispatch('error', 'You do not have permission to use write permissions.');
-            // Remove write permissions if they were somehow added
             $this->permissions = array_diff($this->permissions, ['write', 'write:sensitive']);
 
             return;
         }
 
-        if ($permissionToUpdate == 'deploy' && ! $this->canUseDeployPermissions) {
+        if ($permissionToUpdate == 'deploy' && ! auth()->user()->can('useDeployPermissions', PersonalAccessToken::class)) {
             $this->dispatch('error', 'You do not have permission to use deploy permissions.');
             $this->permissions = array_diff($this->permissions, ['deploy']);
 
             return;
         }
 
-        if ($permissionToUpdate == 'read:sensitive' && ! $this->canUseSensitivePermissions) {
+        if ($permissionToUpdate == 'read:sensitive' && ! auth()->user()->can('useSensitivePermissions', PersonalAccessToken::class)) {
             $this->dispatch('error', 'You do not have permission to use read:sensitive permissions.');
             $this->permissions = array_diff($this->permissions, ['read:sensitive']);
 
@@ -100,20 +98,22 @@ public function addNewToken()
         try {
             $this->authorize('create', PersonalAccessToken::class);
 
-            // Validate permissions based on user role
-            if (in_array('root', $this->permissions) && ! $this->canUseRootPermissions) {
+            // Re-evaluate policies fresh against the current authenticated user.
+            // Never trust $this->canUse* booleans — they come from the Livewire
+            // snapshot which can be replayed from another user's session.
+            if (in_array('root', $this->permissions) && ! auth()->user()->can('useRootPermissions', PersonalAccessToken::class)) {
                 throw new \Exception('You do not have permission to create tokens with root permissions.');
             }
 
-            if (array_intersect(['write', 'write:sensitive'], $this->permissions) && ! $this->canUseWritePermissions) {
+            if (array_intersect(['write', 'write:sensitive'], $this->permissions) && ! auth()->user()->can('useWritePermissions', PersonalAccessToken::class)) {
                 throw new \Exception('You do not have permission to create tokens with write permissions.');
             }
 
-            if (in_array('deploy', $this->permissions) && ! $this->canUseDeployPermissions) {
+            if (in_array('deploy', $this->permissions) && ! auth()->user()->can('useDeployPermissions', PersonalAccessToken::class)) {
                 throw new \Exception('You do not have permission to create tokens with deploy permissions.');
             }
 
-            if (in_array('read:sensitive', $this->permissions) && ! $this->canUseSensitivePermissions) {
+            if (in_array('read:sensitive', $this->permissions) && ! auth()->user()->can('useSensitivePermissions', PersonalAccessToken::class)) {
                 throw new \Exception('You do not have permission to create tokens with read:sensitive permissions.');
             }
 
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Authorization/ApiAuthorizationTest.php b/tests/Feature/Authorization/ApiAuthorizationTest.php
index 59bfd9659..66a6900a3 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Authorization/ApiAuthorizationTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Authorization/ApiAuthorizationTest.php
@@ -123,10 +123,10 @@
 
 // --- Member with root token (policy should deny mutations) ---
 
-test('member with root token can view project', function () {
+test('member with root token is blocked by middleware', function () {
     $this->withToken($this->memberRootToken->plainTextToken)
         ->getJson("/api/v1/projects/{$this->project->uuid}")
-        ->assertSuccessful();
+        ->assertStatus(403);
 });
 
 test('member with root token cannot delete project', function () {
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Authorization/ApiTokenPermissionTest.php b/tests/Feature/Authorization/ApiTokenPermissionTest.php
index 44efb7e06..b10afb58e 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Authorization/ApiTokenPermissionTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Authorization/ApiTokenPermissionTest.php
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <?php
 
+use App\Models\InstanceSettings;
 use App\Models\Team;
 use App\Models\User;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
@@ -7,6 +8,8 @@
 uses(RefreshDatabase::class);
 
 beforeEach(function () {
+    InstanceSettings::updateOrCreate(['id' => 0], ['is_api_enabled' => true]);
+
     $this->team = Team::factory()->create();
     $this->user = User::factory()->create();
     $this->team->members()->attach($this->user->id, ['role' => 'owner']);
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Security/ApiTokenCreationSecurityTest.php b/tests/Feature/Security/ApiTokenCreationSecurityTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0e5d363de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/Security/ApiTokenCreationSecurityTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+<?php
+
+use App\Livewire\Security\ApiTokens;
+use App\Models\InstanceSettings;
+use App\Models\Team;
+use App\Models\User;
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
+use Livewire\Livewire;
+
+uses(RefreshDatabase::class);
+
+beforeEach(function () {
+    InstanceSettings::updateOrCreate(['id' => 0], ['is_api_enabled' => true]);
+
+    $this->team = Team::factory()->create();
+
+    $this->owner = User::factory()->create();
+    $this->owner->teams()->attach($this->team, ['role' => 'owner']);
+
+    $this->member = User::factory()->create();
+    $this->member->teams()->attach($this->team, ['role' => 'member']);
+});
+
+describe('Livewire ApiTokens — member cannot create elevated tokens', function () {
+    test('member cannot create token with root permissions', function () {
+        $this->actingAs($this->member);
+        session(['currentTeam' => $this->team]);
+
+        Livewire::test(ApiTokens::class)
+            ->set('description', 'my-root-token')
+            ->set('permissions', ['root'])
+            ->call('addNewToken')
+            ->assertDispatched('error');
+
+        expect($this->member->tokens()->count())->toBe(0);
+    });
+
+    test('member cannot create token with write permissions', function () {
+        $this->actingAs($this->member);
+        session(['currentTeam' => $this->team]);
+
+        Livewire::test(ApiTokens::class)
+            ->set('description', 'my-write-token')
+            ->set('permissions', ['write'])
+            ->call('addNewToken')
+            ->assertDispatched('error');
+
+        expect($this->member->tokens()->count())->toBe(0);
+    });
+
+    test('member cannot create token with deploy permissions', function () {
+        $this->actingAs($this->member);
+        session(['currentTeam' => $this->team]);
+
+        Livewire::test(ApiTokens::class)
+            ->set('description', 'my-deploy-token')
+            ->set('permissions', ['deploy'])
+            ->call('addNewToken')
+            ->assertDispatched('error');
+
+        expect($this->member->tokens()->count())->toBe(0);
+    });
+
+    test('member cannot create token with read:sensitive permissions', function () {
+        $this->actingAs($this->member);
+        session(['currentTeam' => $this->team]);
+
+        Livewire::test(ApiTokens::class)
+            ->set('description', 'my-sensitive-token')
+            ->set('permissions', ['read', 'read:sensitive'])
+            ->call('addNewToken')
+            ->assertDispatched('error');
+
+        expect($this->member->tokens()->count())->toBe(0);
+    });
+
+    test('member cannot bypass by setting canUseRootPermissions property', function () {
+        $this->actingAs($this->member);
+        session(['currentTeam' => $this->team]);
+
+        // Simulate snapshot replay: force the boolean to true
+        Livewire::test(ApiTokens::class)
+            ->set('canUseRootPermissions', true)
+            ->set('description', 'sneaky-root-token')
+            ->set('permissions', ['root'])
+            ->call('addNewToken')
+            ->assertDispatched('error');
+
+        expect($this->member->tokens()->count())->toBe(0);
+    });
+
+    test('member can create token with read permissions', function () {
+        $this->actingAs($this->member);
+        session(['currentTeam' => $this->team]);
+
+        Livewire::test(ApiTokens::class)
+            ->set('description', 'my-read-token')
+            ->set('permissions', ['read'])
+            ->call('addNewToken')
+            ->assertNotDispatched('error');
+
+        expect($this->member->tokens()->count())->toBe(1);
+        expect($this->member->tokens()->first()->abilities)->toBe(['read']);
+    });
+
+    test('owner can create token with root permissions', function () {
+        $this->actingAs($this->owner);
+        session(['currentTeam' => $this->team]);
+
+        Livewire::test(ApiTokens::class)
+            ->set('description', 'my-root-token')
+            ->set('permissions', ['root'])
+            ->call('addNewToken')
+            ->assertNotDispatched('error');
+
+        expect($this->owner->tokens()->count())->toBe(1);
+        expect($this->owner->tokens()->first()->abilities)->toBe(['root']);
+    });
+});
+
+describe('ApiAbility middleware — member with elevated token blocked', function () {
+    test('member root token is blocked on team_id=0 (root team)', function () {
+        // Create root team with id=0
+        $rootTeam = Team::factory()->create(['id' => 0]);
+        $member = User::factory()->create();
+        $rootTeam->members()->attach($member->id, ['role' => 'member']);
+
+        session(['currentTeam' => $rootTeam]);
+        $token = $member->createToken('root-token', ['root']);
+
+        $this->withToken($token->plainTextToken)
+            ->getJson('/api/v1/projects')
+            ->assertStatus(403);
+    });
+
+    test('admin root token passes on team_id=0 (root team)', function () {
+        $rootTeam = Team::factory()->create(['id' => 0]);
+        $admin = User::factory()->create();
+        $rootTeam->members()->attach($admin->id, ['role' => 'admin']);
+
+        session(['currentTeam' => $rootTeam]);
+        $token = $admin->createToken('root-token', ['root']);
+
+        $this->withToken($token->plainTextToken)
+            ->getJson('/api/v1/projects')
+            ->assertSuccessful();
+    });
+
+    test('member root token is blocked on non-zero team', function () {
+        session(['currentTeam' => $this->team]);
+        $token = $this->member->createToken('root-token', ['root']);
+
+        $this->withToken($token->plainTextToken)
+            ->getJson('/api/v1/projects')
+            ->assertStatus(403);
+    });
+
+    test('member read token passes on non-zero team', function () {
+        session(['currentTeam' => $this->team]);
+        $token = $this->member->createToken('read-token', ['read']);
+
+        $this->withToken($token->plainTextToken)
+            ->getJson('/api/v1/projects')
+            ->assertSuccessful();
+    });
+});