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Mesa DescriptionTL;DRRefactored authentication logic to prioritize the Why we made these changesTo ensure that when What changed?
ValidationCurrent state# Using KERNEL_API_KEY it uses my current org I called it Nov 25 ORG notice last browser name
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ ./bin/kernel browsers list
Browser ID | Created At | Persisten... | Profile | CDP WS URL | Live View URL
ca3u5hijj15ifurm3ujxztml | 2025-11-25... | 9878979987 | - | httof idle browser in... | https://apterygial-mu...
jo2n7c4zgl70zzlnzgmy3t8h | 2025-11-25... | 1223132213 | - | httof idle browser in... | https://apterygial-mu...
hj5tjjncxfkewvor5fsprck0 | 2025-11-25... | Nov25-Org... | - | httof idle browser in... | https://apterygial-mu...
# Log in with and select org "Mateos org"
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ ./bin/kernel login
INFO Starting Kernel authentication...
INFO This will open your browser to complete the OAuth flow
INFO Authentication URL:
http://localhost:3002/authorize?client_id=J7i8BKwyFBoyPQN3&code_challenge=XPFk4ct2f3mLWg85mgKPZ01yeFdqQnSlR98Ew2pK87g&code_challenge_method=S256&redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%3A58432%2Fcallback&response_type=code&scope=openid+email&state=eyJjc3JmIjoiSGk0dWg0c0VBMTRFVzUwY3c1NjltUnZpZkx1S0tnSUsifQ%3D%3D
SUCCESS Authentication successful!
SUCCESS ✓ Successfully authenticated with Kernel!
INFO You can now use other Kernel CLI commands without setting KERNEL_API_KEY
# Now it should browsers from my other org "Mateos org"
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ ./bin/kernel browsers list
[DEBUG] Using OAuth token authentication (token length: 918 chars)
[DEBUG] Token preview: eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiIs...C87PgKujVC4nYMU8zDGA
Browser ID | Created At | Persisten... | Profile | CDP WS URL | Live View URL
tmww8k86b170jh8kqxjtzhqu | 2025-11-25... | mateos-Or... | - | httof idle browser in... | https://apterygial-mu...After changes# Using KERNEL_API_KEY it uses my current org I called it Nov 25 ORG notice last browser name
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ ./bin/kernel browsers list
Browser ID | Created At | Persistent ID | Profile | CDP WS URL | Live View URL
ca3u5hijj15ifurm3ujxztml | 2025-11-25 13:... | 9878979987 | - | httof idle browser instances in... | https://apterygial-multiflorous...
jo2n7c4zgl70zzlnzgmy3t8h | 2025-11-25 14:... | 1223132213 | - | httof idle browser instances in... | https://apterygial-multiflorous...
hj5tjjncxfkewvor5fsprck0 | 2025-11-25 14:... | Nov25-OrgPer... | - | httof idle browser instances in... | https://apterygial-multiflorous...
# Log in with and select org "Mateos org"
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ ./bin/kernel login
INFO Starting Kernel authentication...
INFO This will open your browser to complete the OAuth flow
INFO Authentication URL:
http://localhost:3002/authorize?client_id=J7i8BKwyFBoyPQN3&code_challenge=qaTOaQ1yIwkNnde8QHJ2sBT4IKqjBly0EfXQ4Gqoe2c&code_challenge_method=S256&redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%3A58432%2Fcallback&response_type=code&scope=openid+email&state=eyJjc3JmIjoiaW8xVTluSzh5a0xXR0lkSXFjdnBvb20tc09nelEyZU4ifQ%3D%3D
SUCCESS Authentication successful!
SUCCESS ✓ Successfully authenticated with Kernel!
INFO You can now use other Kernel CLI commands without setting KERNEL_API_KEY
# Now it should browsers from my other org "Mateos org"
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ ./bin/kernel browsers list
[DEBUG] Using OAuth token authentication (token length: 918 chars)
[DEBUG] Token preview: eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiIs...pm2ig2L1X7nM9EASXU7Q
Browser ID | Created At | Persistent ID | Profile | CDP WS URL | Live View URL
tmww8k86b170jh8kqxjtzhqu | 2025-11-25 14:... | mateos-OrgPe... | - | httof idle browser instances in... | https://apterygial-multiflorous...
# Now I trigger re build with my latest changes
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ make build
go build -o bin/kernel ./cmd/kernel
# It gives precedence to API KEY
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ ./bin/kernel browsers list
Browser ID | Created At | Persistent ID | Profile | CDP WS URL | Live View URL
ca3u5hijj15ifurm3ujxztml | 2025-11-25 13:... | 9878979987 | - | httof idle browser instances in... | https://apterygial-multiflorous...
jo2n7c4zgl70zzlnzgmy3t8h | 2025-11-25 14:... | 1223132213 | - | httof idle browser instances in... | https://apterygial-multiflorous...
hj5tjjncxfkewvor5fsprck0 | 2025-11-25 14:... | Nov25-OrgPer... | - | httof idle browser instances in... | https://apterygial-multiflorous...
# I do logout
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ ./bin/kernel logout
INFO Logging out...
SUCCESS ✓ Successfully logged out
INFO Run 'kernel login' to authenticate again
# Now login again to "Mateos org"
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ ./bin/kernel login
INFO Starting Kernel authentication...
INFO This will open your browser to complete the OAuth flow
INFO Authentication URL:
http://localhost:3002/authorize?client_id=J7i8BKwyFBoyPQN3&code_challenge=jQg_U5OE4av1FtB1dBwjibFnSLvSrM1jqXsl8DLa70E&code_challenge_method=S256&redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%3A58432%2Fcallback&response_type=code&scope=openid+email&state=eyJjc3JmIjoidEEwckg5UWh3cktILWFKNWpNaXctRUlWdFFyTE1ncEMifQ%3D%3D
SUCCESS Authentication successful!
SUCCESS ✓ Successfully authenticated with Kernel!
INFO You can now use other Kernel CLI commands without setting KERNEL_API_KEY
# It still gives precedence to my org named "Nov 25" this is the one in API_KEY
➜ cli git:(feat-use-api-key-first) ✗ ./bin/kernel browsers list
Browser ID | Created At | Persistent ID | Profile | CDP WS URL | Live View URL
ca3u5hijj15ifurm3ujxztml | 2025-11-25 13:58:01 EST | 9878979987 | - | httof idle browser instances in the pops://apte... | https://apterygial-multiflorous-magaly.ngrok-fr...
jo2n7c4zgl70zzlnzgmy3t8h | 2025-11-25 14:05:16 EST | 1223132213 | - | httof idle browser instances in the pops://apte... | https://apterygial-multiflorous-magaly.ngrok-fr...
hj5tjjncxfkewvor5fsprck0 | 2025-11-25 14:08:57 EST | Nov25-OrgPersistent | - | httof idle browser instances in the pops://apte... | https://apterygial-multiflorous-magaly.ngrok-fr...Description generated by Mesa. Update settings |
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Performed full review of 01dc4cd...f17b89f
Analysis
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Authentication priority inversion from OAuth-first to API-key-first fundamentally changes security model, with environment variables now taking precedence over user login sessions.
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Potential for unexpected authentication behavior where users with both OAuth login and environment variables set will silently use API keys instead of their OAuth credentials.
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Documentation update required to communicate this significant change to users, particularly for developers who work in both local development and CI/CD environments.
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Performed full review of 01dc4cd...f17b89f
Analysis
-
The PR reverses authentication priority, making
KERNEL_API_KEYthe primary method over OAuth tokens, which could silently change behavior for users with both configured. -
By prioritizing stateless API keys over stateful OAuth tokens, the system will bypass OAuth's automatic refresh mechanism when both are present, potentially leading to unexpected authentication failures when API keys expire.
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This authentication strategy change lacks explicit configuration options, forcing environment-based priority that may not align with all user expectations or workflows.
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The change lacks sufficient documentation or user notifications to alert users about this potentially breaking change in authentication behavior.
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Help
Slash Commands:
/review- Request a full code review/review latest- Review only changes since the last review/describe- Generate PR description. This will update the PR body or issue comment depending on your configuration/help- Get help with Mesa commands and configuration options
1 files reviewed | 0 comments | Edit Agent Settings • Read Docs
Sayan-
approved these changes
Nov 26, 2025
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Ticket: https://linear.app/onkernel/issue/KERNEL-487/cli-set-api-key-auth-priority-higher-than-oauth
Tested
Current state
After changes