feat(gallery): admin preview skips the password on protected galleries (#981)

Closes #868.

A logged-in admin opening a published, password-protected gallery is let
straight in, mirroring the existing draft-visibility bypass.

Mechanism: an explicit ?admin_preview=1 intent flag AND a verified admin session
read from the httpOnly admin_token cookie (or an admin-typed Bearer) — never a
token from the URL. This retires the old ?preview=<raw-admin-JWT> scheme, which
leaked a 24h admin token into the address bar, referrers and proxy logs.

Per-request bypass only: no gallery JWT is minted, the password endpoint is
never reached so the login_attempts lockout buckets stay clean, and admin
previews are excluded from guest analytics (access_logs, download counts,
per-photo view_count, notification bells).

Review (two rounds) closed three blockers and two concerns:

- Transport: verifyGalleryAccess now resolves admin preview before any gallery
  credential, and isAdminPreview reads the admin cookie first and type-checks
  every candidate — so an admin Bearer no longer 403s on the type gate, and a
  coexisting gallery session can no longer shadow the admin cookie.
- Reveal mode (#838) is a second consumer of isAdminPreview; its bypass is
  unchanged, only the transport moves. revealMode.test.js updated off the
  retired scheme and now carries a coexisting gallery Bearer.
- Admin previews no longer inflate per-photo view counts, and the internal photo
  redirects preserve the flag via withPreview() so they still authorise.
- Happy path: GalleryPage renders GalleryView directly for a preview instead of
  attempting the public empty-password auto-login, which 401'd against a
  genuinely protected gallery and stranded the page on the skeleton.

The backend job timed out once at the 10-minute CI limit; a re-run completed in
2m02s, in line with main's ~2m10s baseline, so that was a runner flake rather
than a hang.

backend/__tests__/integration/revealMode.test.js

@@ -152,9 +152,13 @@ describe('Reveal mode (#838)', () => {
       expect(res.body.photos).toHaveLength(2);
     });
 
-    it('/photos serves the admin preview everything', async () => {
+    it('/photos serves the admin preview everything (new transport: ?admin_preview=1 + admin cookie, even with a coexisting gallery session)', async () => {
+      // #868/#981: reveal-mode hiding is bypassed for an admin preview via the
+      // new transport (explicit flag + httpOnly admin_token cookie), NOT the
+      // retired ?preview=<jwt>. The coexisting gallery Bearer must not shadow it.
       const res = await request(app)
-        .get(`/api/gallery/${SLUG}/photos?preview=${encodeURIComponent(adminToken)}`)
+        .get(`/api/gallery/${SLUG}/photos?admin_preview=1`)
+        .set('Cookie', [`admin_token=${adminToken}`])
         .set('Authorization', `Bearer ${galleryToken()}`);
       expect(res.status).toBe(200);
       expect(res.body.hidden_until_reveal).toBe(false);

backend/__tests__/middleware/galleryAdminPreview.test.js

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/**
+ * #868 — the admin gallery-preview gate. isAdminPreview must fail CLOSED: it
+ * grants the draft/password bypass only for an explicit `?admin_preview=1` flag
+ * AND a verified admin JWT (type 'admin', issuer 'picpeak-auth') read from the
+ * httpOnly admin_token cookie or a Bearer header — never from the URL, never for
+ * a guest/gallery token.
+ */
+process.env.JWT_SECRET = process.env.JWT_SECRET || 'admin-preview-test-secret';
+const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
+const { isAdminPreview } = require('../../src/middleware/gallery');
+
+// Read the secret at call time — a jest setup file can set JWT_SECRET after this
+// module loads, and isAdminPreview verifies against the live value.
+const adminToken = () => jwt.sign({ type: 'admin', id: 1 }, process.env.JWT_SECRET, { issuer: 'picpeak-auth' });
+const galleryToken = () => jwt.sign({ type: 'gallery', eventId: 1 }, process.env.JWT_SECRET, { issuer: 'picpeak-auth' });
+
+function req({ flag, cookie, bearer } = {}) {
+  return {
+    query: flag === undefined ? {} : { admin_preview: flag },
+    cookies: cookie ? { admin_token: cookie } : {},
+    headers: bearer ? { authorization: `Bearer ${bearer}` } : {},
+  };
+}
+
+describe('isAdminPreview (#868) fails closed', () => {
+  it('false without the explicit flag, even with a valid admin cookie (plain link stays guest-identical)', () => {
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ cookie: adminToken() }))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('false with the flag but no session token', () => {
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ flag: '1' }))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('true with the flag + a valid admin cookie', () => {
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ flag: '1', cookie: adminToken() }))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('true with the flag + a valid admin Bearer header', () => {
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ flag: '1', bearer: adminToken() }))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('false for a gallery (guest) token — must be type admin', () => {
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ flag: '1', cookie: galleryToken() }))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('true from the admin cookie even when a gallery Bearer is also present (#981 coexisting session)', () => {
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ flag: '1', cookie: adminToken(), bearer: galleryToken() }))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('false when only a gallery Bearer is present — a gallery header can never satisfy it (#981)', () => {
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ flag: '1', bearer: galleryToken() }))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('false on a tampered token', () => {
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ flag: '1', cookie: `${adminToken()}x` }))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('false on the wrong issuer', () => {
+    const t = jwt.sign({ type: 'admin' }, process.env.JWT_SECRET, { issuer: 'not-picpeak' });
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ flag: '1', cookie: t }))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('false when the flag is anything other than exactly "1"', () => {
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ flag: 'true', cookie: adminToken() }))).toBe(false);
+    expect(isAdminPreview(req({ flag: '0', cookie: adminToken() }))).toBe(false);
+  });
+});

backend/src/middleware/gallery.js

@@ -4,22 +4,75 @@ const { formatBoolean } = require('../utils/dbCompat');
 const { getGalleryTokenFromRequest } = require('../utils/tokenUtils');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
 
-// Check if the request carries a valid admin preview token (Feature 3)
+/**
+ * True when a logged-in admin is explicitly previewing this gallery (#868).
+ *
+ * Two conditions, both required:
+ *   1. The explicit intent flag `?admin_preview=1` is present. The plain share
+ *      link stays byte-identical to a guest's, so the password gate is still
+ *      testable as a guest while logged in as admin — and the bypass is visible
+ *      in the URL without being reusable (it carries no secret).
+ *   2. A VERIFIED admin session — the httpOnly `admin_token` cookie (rides along
+ *      on same-origin API calls) or an Authorization: Bearer header, never the
+ *      URL. Must decode as `type: 'admin'`, issuer `picpeak-auth`.
+ *
+ * The cookie is tried FIRST and the Bearer is accepted only when it is itself an
+ * admin token (#981 review): the frontend attaches a gallery Bearer to gallery
+ * endpoints, and a header-first, type-blind read would let a coexisting gallery
+ * session shadow the admin cookie and wrongly disable the preview.
+ *
+ * Fails closed on any verification error. Replaces the old `?preview=<raw-JWT>`
+ * scheme, which leaked a 24h admin token into the address bar.
+ */
 function isAdminPreview(req) {
-  const previewToken = req.query?.preview;
+  if (req.query?.admin_preview !== '1') return false;
-  if (!previewToken) return false;
+  // Cookie first, then a Bearer — but only an admin-typed token satisfies it.
-  try {
+  const candidates = [];
-    const decoded = jwt.verify(previewToken, process.env.JWT_SECRET, { issuer: 'picpeak-auth' });
+  if (req.cookies?.admin_token) candidates.push(req.cookies.admin_token);
-    return decoded.type === 'admin';
+  const header = req.headers?.authorization;
-  } catch {
+  if (header && header.startsWith('Bearer ')) candidates.push(header.slice(7));
-    return false;
+  for (const token of candidates) {
+    try {
+      const decoded = jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET, { issuer: 'picpeak-auth' });
+      if (decoded.type === 'admin') return true;
+    } catch { /* try the next candidate */ }
   }
+  return false;
 }
 
 // Middleware to verify gallery access
 async function verifyGalleryAccess(req, res, next) {
   try {
     const requestedSlug = req.params.slug || req.requestedSlug;
+
+    // Admin preview (#868) is resolved BEFORE any gallery credential (#981
+    // review): a coexisting gallery token/Bearer must not shadow it, and the
+    // admin session must never fall into the `type !== 'gallery'` reject path
+    // below. Per-request bypass — draft + password relaxed, NO gallery JWT
+    // minted (a lingering guest cookie would muddy the coexisting-cookies case).
+    // req.isAdminPreview flags downstream logging to keep it out of guest stats.
+    if (isAdminPreview(req)) {
+      if (!requestedSlug) {
+        return res.status(401).json({ error: 'No token provided' });
+      }
+      const previewEvent = await withRetry(async () => db('events')
+        .where({ slug: requestedSlug, is_active: formatBoolean(true), is_archived: formatBoolean(false) })
+        .select('*').first());
+      if (!previewEvent) {
+        return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Gallery not found or expired' });
+      }
+      req.event = previewEvent;
+      req.isAdminPreview = true;
+      req.sessionID = `gallery_admin_preview_${previewEvent.id}`;
+      req.clientInfo = {
+        ip: req.ip || req.connection.remoteAddress || 'unknown',
+        userAgent: req.get('User-Agent') || 'unknown',
+        fingerprint: `${req.ip}-${req.get('User-Agent')}`.substring(0, 32),
+        timestamp: Date.now()
+      };
+      return next();
+    }
+
     const token = getGalleryTokenFromRequest(req, requestedSlug);
     let event;
 
@@ -28,19 +81,14 @@ async function verifyGalleryAccess(req, res, next) {
         return res.status(401).json({ error: 'No token provided' });
       }
 
-      const adminPreview = isAdminPreview(req);
+      event = await withRetry(async () => db('events')
-      event = await withRetry(async () => {
+        .where({
-        const q = db('events')
+          slug: requestedSlug,
-          .where({
+          is_active: formatBoolean(true),
-            slug: requestedSlug,
+          is_archived: formatBoolean(false),
-            is_active: formatBoolean(true),
+          is_draft: formatBoolean(false)
-            is_archived: formatBoolean(false)
+        })
-          });
+        .select('*').first());
-        if (!adminPreview) {
-          q.where({ is_draft: formatBoolean(false) });
-        }
-        return await q.select('*').first();
-      });
 
       if (!event) {
         return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Gallery not found or expired' });
@@ -89,22 +137,19 @@ async function verifyGalleryAccess(req, res, next) {
       return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Invalid token type for gallery access' });
     }
 
-    // If we have a slug in the URL params or from pre-middleware, verify it matches
+    // If we have a slug in the URL params or from pre-middleware, verify it matches.
+    // (Admin preview never reaches here — it returns above — so drafts stay
+    // filtered for every real gallery-token request.)
     if (requestedSlug) {
       // Verify by slug and ensure it matches the token's event
-      const adminPreviewToken = isAdminPreview(req);
+      event = await withRetry(async () => db('events')
-      event = await withRetry(async () => {
+        .where({
-        const q = db('events')
+          slug: requestedSlug,
-          .where({
+          is_active: formatBoolean(true),
-            slug: requestedSlug,
+          is_archived: formatBoolean(false),
-            is_active: formatBoolean(true),
+          is_draft: formatBoolean(false)
-            is_archived: formatBoolean(false)
+        })
-          });
+        .select('*').first());
-        if (!adminPreviewToken) {
-          q.where({ is_draft: formatBoolean(false) });
-        }
-        return await q.select('*').first();
-      });
 
       // Verify the token's eventId matches
       if (event && event.id !== decoded.eventId) {
@@ -112,19 +157,14 @@ async function verifyGalleryAccess(req, res, next) {
       }
     } else {
       // Fallback to using eventId from token
-      const adminPreviewFallback = isAdminPreview(req);
+      event = await withRetry(async () => db('events')
-      event = await withRetry(async () => {
+        .where({
-        const q = db('events')
+          id: decoded.eventId,
-          .where({
+          is_active: formatBoolean(true),
-            id: decoded.eventId,
+          is_archived: formatBoolean(false),
-            is_active: formatBoolean(true),
+          is_draft: formatBoolean(false)
-            is_archived: formatBoolean(false)
+        })
-          });
+        .select('*').first());
-        if (!adminPreviewFallback) {
-          q.where({ is_draft: formatBoolean(false) });
-        }
-        return await q.select('*').first();
-      });
     }
     
     if (!event) {

backend/src/routes/gallery.js

@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ function resolveHeroLogoVisible(perEvent, globalDefault) {
 const watermarkService = require('../services/watermarkService');
 const watermarkGeneratorService = require('../services/watermarkGeneratorService');
 const { verifyGalleryAccess, denySlideshowToken, isAdminPreview } = require('../middleware/gallery');
+// Preserve the admin-preview flag across internal photo redirects (#981 review).
+// The redirected request carries no gallery JWT, so without the flag it would
+// fall back to the draft/password gate and 404 the derivative.
+const withPreview = (req, url) => (req.isAdminPreview ? `${url}${url.includes('?') ? '&' : '?'}admin_preview=1` : url);
 const { resolveGuest } = require('../middleware/guestAuth');
 const { generateGuestIdentifier } = require('../middleware/feedbackRateLimit');
 const secureImageService = require('../services/secureImageService');
@@ -265,8 +269,11 @@ router.get('/:slug/info', async (req, res) => {
       return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Gallery has been archived and is no longer available' });
     }
 
+    // Admin preview (#868) bypasses both the draft gate and — below — the
+    // password gate. Computed once and reused.
+    const adminPreview = isAdminPreview(req);
     // Check if event is a draft (allow admin preview)
-    if (event.is_draft && !isAdminPreview(req)) {
+    if (event.is_draft && !adminPreview) {
       return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Gallery is not yet published' });
     }
     
@@ -278,7 +285,11 @@ router.get('/:slug/info', async (req, res) => {
       }
     }
     
-    const requiresPassword = !(event.require_password === false || event.require_password === 0 || event.require_password === '0');
+    // Admin preview skips the guest password on published, protected galleries
+    // (#868) — the admin already sees every photo through the admin routes.
+    const requiresPassword = adminPreview
+      ? false
+      : !(event.require_password === false || event.require_password === 0 || event.require_password === '0');
     const globalHeroLogoVisible = await getAppSetting('branding_logo_display_hero', true);
     const globalLogoSize = await getAppSetting('branding_logo_size', 'medium');
 
@@ -820,7 +831,9 @@ router.get('/:slug/photos', verifyGalleryAccess, resolveGuest, async (req, res)
     // refetches this list on every new-upload poll, which would massively
     // inflate total_views / unique_visitors. The slideshow is explicitly
     // excluded from real visitor analytics (migration 138 design).
-    if (req.accessLevel !== 'slideshow') {
+    // Admin preview (#868) is excluded from guest analytics + the "gallery
+    // opened" bell — it's the photographer looking at their own gallery.
+    if (req.accessLevel !== 'slideshow' && !req.isAdminPreview) {
       await db('access_logs').insert({
         event_id: req.event.id,
         ip_address: req.ip,
@@ -914,8 +927,13 @@ router.get('/:slug/photos', verifyGalleryAccess, resolveGuest, async (req, res)
       categories: categories,
       photos: photos.map(photo => {
         const useJwtUrl = (protectionSettings.protection_level === 'basic' || protectionSettings.protection_level === 'standard');
-        // Add watermark version to URLs for cache busting when settings change
+        // Watermark version (cache-busting) + admin-preview flag (#868). In
-        const wmQuery = wmVersion ? `?${wmVersion}` : '';
+        // preview mode no gallery cookie is minted, so each <img> request must
+        // re-assert the admin session — thread the flag onto every /api/gallery
+        // image URL so the browser sends it (the admin_token cookie rides along
+        // same-origin).
+        const imgQuery = [wmVersion, req.isAdminPreview ? 'admin_preview=1' : ''].filter(Boolean).join('&');
+        const wmQuery = imgQuery ? `?${imgQuery}` : '';
         const photoUrl = useJwtUrl ?
           `/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photo.id}${wmQuery}` :
           `/api/secure-images/${req.params.slug}/secure/${photo.id}/{{token}}`;
@@ -1092,23 +1110,27 @@ router.get('/:slug/download/:photoId', verifyGalleryAccess, denySlideshowToken,
       }
     }
 
-    // Update download count
+    // Admin preview (#868) downloads are excluded from the download count +
-    await db('photos').where('id', photoId).increment('download_count', 1);
+    // guest analytics — kept out of client-facing stats.
+    if (!req.isAdminPreview) {
+      // Update download count
+      await db('photos').where('id', photoId).increment('download_count', 1);
 
-    // Log download
+      // Log download
-    await db('access_logs').insert({
+      await db('access_logs').insert({
-      event_id: req.event.id,
+        event_id: req.event.id,
-      ip_address: req.ip,
+        ip_address: req.ip,
-      user_agent: req.headers['user-agent'],
+        user_agent: req.headers['user-agent'],
-      action: 'download',
+        action: 'download',
-      photo_id: photoId
+        photo_id: photoId
-    });
+      });
+    }
     // Surface in the admin notification bell (#746) — debounced, and only
     // once the response actually finished: notifying up-front would log a
     // download that then 404s/fails and the debounce would suppress the
     // next real one for an hour (codex review of #849).
     res.on('finish', () => {
-      if (res.statusCode < 400) notifySinglePhotoDownload(req.event, req);
+      if (res.statusCode < 400 && !req.isAdminPreview) notifySinglePhotoDownload(req.event, req);
     });
     
     let filePath;
@@ -1231,15 +1253,18 @@ router.get('/:slug/download-all', verifyGalleryAccess, denySlideshowToken, block
       if (wantsPresigned && storage.kind() === 's3' && !watermarkOnEvent) {
         try {
           const url = await storage.signedUrl(zipInfo.key, 300); // 5 min
-          db('access_logs').insert({
+          // Admin preview (#868): stream the ZIP but keep it out of stats.
-            event_id: req.event.id,
+          if (!req.isAdminPreview) {
-            ip_address: req.ip,
+            db('access_logs').insert({
-            user_agent: req.headers['user-agent'],
+              event_id: req.event.id,
-            action: 'download_all_presigned'
+              ip_address: req.ip,
-          }).catch(() => {});
+              user_agent: req.headers['user-agent'],
-          bumpEventDownloadCounts(req.event.id).catch(() => {});
+              action: 'download_all_presigned'
-          // Surface in the admin notification bell (#746).
+            }).catch(() => {});
-          logActivity('gallery_downloaded', { scope: 'all' }, req.event.id, galleryActor(req));
+            bumpEventDownloadCounts(req.event.id).catch(() => {});
+            // Surface in the admin notification bell (#746).
+            logActivity('gallery_downloaded', { scope: 'all' }, req.event.id, galleryActor(req));
+          }
           res.redirect(302, url);
           return;
         } catch (err) {
@@ -1256,20 +1281,22 @@ router.get('/:slug/download-all', verifyGalleryAccess, denySlideshowToken, block
       const stream = await storage.get(zipInfo.key);
       stream.pipe(res);
 
-      // Log bulk download
+      // Log bulk download (admin preview #868 excluded — stats stay client-only).
-      db('access_logs').insert({
+      if (!req.isAdminPreview) {
-        event_id: req.event.id,
+        db('access_logs').insert({
-        ip_address: req.ip,
+          event_id: req.event.id,
-        user_agent: req.headers['user-agent'],
+          ip_address: req.ip,
-        action: 'download_all'
+          user_agent: req.headers['user-agent'],
-      }).catch(() => {});
+          action: 'download_all'
-      bumpEventDownloadCounts(req.event.id).catch(() => {});
+        }).catch(() => {});
-      // Surface in the admin notification bell (#746) — only once the
+        bumpEventDownloadCounts(req.event.id).catch(() => {});
-      // stream actually finished; logging at pipe-time would report
+        // Surface in the admin notification bell (#746) — only once the
-      // downloads that then broke mid-transfer (codex review of #849).
+        // stream actually finished; logging at pipe-time would report
-      res.on('finish', () => {
+        // downloads that then broke mid-transfer (codex review of #849).
-        if (res.statusCode < 400) logActivity('gallery_downloaded', { scope: 'all' }, req.event.id, galleryActor(req));
+        res.on('finish', () => {
-      });
+          if (res.statusCode < 400) logActivity('gallery_downloaded', { scope: 'all' }, req.event.id, galleryActor(req));
+        });
+      }
       return;
     }
 
@@ -1405,23 +1432,28 @@ router.get('/:slug/download-all', verifyGalleryAccess, denySlideshowToken, block
     // Notification only after the response actually finished — finalize()
     // ends Archiver's input, not the HTTP transfer (codex review of #849,
     // confirmation round). Registered before finalize so it can't be missed.
-    res.on('finish', () => {
+    // Admin preview (#868) streams the archive but is excluded from stats.
-      if (res.statusCode < 400) logActivity('gallery_downloaded', { scope: 'all' }, req.event.id, galleryActor(req));
+    if (!req.isAdminPreview) {
-    });
+      res.on('finish', () => {
+        if (res.statusCode < 400) logActivity('gallery_downloaded', { scope: 'all' }, req.event.id, galleryActor(req));
+      });
+    }
     await archive.finalize();
 
-    // Log bulk download
+    if (!req.isAdminPreview) {
-    await db('access_logs').insert({
+      // Log bulk download
-      event_id: req.event.id,
+      await db('access_logs').insert({
-      ip_address: req.ip,
+        event_id: req.event.id,
-      user_agent: req.headers['user-agent'],
+        ip_address: req.ip,
-      action: 'download_all'
+        user_agent: req.headers['user-agent'],
-    });
+        action: 'download_all'
-    // Exactly the photos that made it into this archive (#895) — skipped
+      });
-    // (missing/corrupt) sources don't count.
+      // Exactly the photos that made it into this archive (#895) — skipped
-    if (appendedIds.length > 0) {
+      // (missing/corrupt) sources don't count.
-      db('photos').whereIn('id', appendedIds)
+      if (appendedIds.length > 0) {
-        .increment('download_count', 1).catch(() => {});
+        db('photos').whereIn('id', appendedIds)
+          .increment('download_count', 1).catch(() => {});
+      }
     }
   } catch (error) {
     errorResponse(res, error, 500, 'Failed to create download archive');
@@ -1552,22 +1584,27 @@ router.post('/:slug/download-selected', verifyGalleryAccess, denySlideshowToken,
     }
 
     // See download-all: notify only on response 'finish'.
-    res.on('finish', () => {
+    // Admin preview (#868) streams the archive but is excluded from stats.
-      if (res.statusCode < 400) logActivity('gallery_downloaded', { scope: 'selected', photo_count: photoIds.length }, req.event.id, galleryActor(req));
+    if (!req.isAdminPreview) {
-    });
+      res.on('finish', () => {
+        if (res.statusCode < 400) logActivity('gallery_downloaded', { scope: 'selected', photo_count: photoIds.length }, req.event.id, galleryActor(req));
+      });
+    }
     await archive.finalize();
 
-    await db('access_logs').insert({
+    if (!req.isAdminPreview) {
-      event_id: req.event.id,
+      await db('access_logs').insert({
-      ip_address: req.ip,
+        event_id: req.event.id,
-      user_agent: req.headers['user-agent'],
+        ip_address: req.ip,
-      action: 'download_selected'
+        user_agent: req.headers['user-agent'],
-    });
+        action: 'download_selected'
-    // Exactly the photos that made it into this archive (#895) — skipped
+      });
-    // (missing/corrupt) sources don't count.
+      // Exactly the photos that made it into this archive (#895) — skipped
-    if (appendedIds.length > 0) {
+      // (missing/corrupt) sources don't count.
-      db('photos').whereIn('id', appendedIds)
+      if (appendedIds.length > 0) {
-        .increment('download_count', 1).catch(() => {});
+        db('photos').whereIn('id', appendedIds)
+          .increment('download_count', 1).catch(() => {});
+      }
     }
   } catch (error) {
     errorResponse(res, error, 500, 'Failed to download selected photos');
@@ -1600,7 +1637,10 @@ router.post('/:slug/photo/:photoId/view',
       if (photo.visibility === 'hidden' && req.accessLevel !== 'client') {
         return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Photo not available' });
       }
-      await db('photos').where('id', photo.id).increment('view_count', 1);
+      // Admin preview (#981 review) is excluded from per-photo view analytics.
+      if (!req.isAdminPreview) {
+        await db('photos').where('id', photo.id).increment('view_count', 1);
+      }
       res.status(204).end();
     } catch (error) {
       errorResponse(res, error, 500, 'Failed to record view');
@@ -1959,7 +1999,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/hero/:photoId',
       const isVideo = photo.media_type === 'video' || (photo.mime_type && photo.mime_type.startsWith('video/'));
       if (isVideo) {
         // For videos, redirect to the regular photo endpoint
-        return res.redirect(`/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`);
+        return res.redirect(withPreview(req, `/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`));
       }
 
       // Ensure hero image exists and is valid, regenerate if needed
@@ -1968,7 +2008,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/hero/:photoId',
       if (!heroPath) {
         // If hero generation fails, fall back to original photo
         logger.warn(`Failed to generate hero image for photo ${photoId}, falling back to original`);
-        return res.redirect(`/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`);
+        return res.redirect(withPreview(req, `/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`));
       }
 
       // Hero images are always written via the storage abstraction (see
@@ -1983,7 +2023,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/hero/:photoId',
           eventId: req.event.id,
           heroPath
         });
-        return res.redirect(`/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`);
+        return res.redirect(withPreview(req, `/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`));
       }
 
       const mtimeMs = stat.mtime ? stat.mtime.getTime() : 0;
@@ -2022,7 +2062,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/hero/:photoId',
         eventId: req.event?.id
       });
       // Fall back to original photo on any error
-      res.redirect(`/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${req.params.photoId}`);
+      res.redirect(withPreview(req, `/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${req.params.photoId}`));
     }
   }
 );
@@ -2059,7 +2099,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/preview/:photoId',
       // belt-and-braces in case a stale tab does.
       const isVideo = photo.media_type === 'video' || (photo.mime_type && photo.mime_type.startsWith('video/'));
       if (isVideo) {
-        return res.redirect(`/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`);
+        return res.redirect(withPreview(req, `/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`));
       }
 
       // Lazy generation: ensurePreviewImage returns null on any
@@ -2068,7 +2108,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/preview/:photoId',
       const previewPath = await ensurePreviewImage(photo);
       if (!previewPath) {
         logger.warn(`Failed to generate preview for photo ${photoId}, falling back to original`);
-        return res.redirect(`/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`);
+        return res.redirect(withPreview(req, `/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`));
       }
 
       const storage = getStorage();
@@ -2077,7 +2117,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/preview/:photoId',
         logger.error('Preview file does not exist in storage backend', {
           slug: req.params.slug, photoId, eventId: req.event.id, previewPath,
         });
-        return res.redirect(`/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`);
+        return res.redirect(withPreview(req, `/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${photoId}`));
       }
 
       const mtimeMs = stat.mtime ? stat.mtime.getTime() : 0;
@@ -2118,7 +2158,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/preview/:photoId',
         photoId: req.params.photoId,
         eventId: req.event?.id,
       });
-      res.redirect(`/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${req.params.photoId}`);
+      res.redirect(withPreview(req, `/api/gallery/${req.params.slug}/photo/${req.params.photoId}`));
     }
   }
 );

frontend/src/config/api.ts

@@ -72,6 +72,16 @@ api.interceptors.request.use(
         && (!!paramSlug || window.location.pathname.startsWith('/gallery/'));
 
       if (isGalleryEndpoint || isGallerySessionCheck) {
+        // Admin preview (#868): the gallery tab was opened with ?admin_preview=1.
+        // Forward that intent flag on every gallery API call so the backend
+        // applies the admin draft/password bypass. The httpOnly admin_token
+        // cookie authenticates server-side (withCredentials) — no secret in the
+        // URL. Harmless for guests: without a valid admin cookie the backend
+        // fails the check closed.
+        if (new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get('admin_preview') === '1') {
+          config.params = { ...(config.params as Record<string, unknown> | undefined), admin_preview: 1 };
+        }
+
         const fallbackSlug = getActiveGallerySlug()
           || inferGallerySlugFromLocation();
         const slug = pathSlug || paramSlug || fallbackSlug;

frontend/src/pages/GalleryPage.tsx

@@ -29,6 +29,15 @@ export const GalleryPage: React.FC = () => {
   const [loginError, setLoginError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [recaptchaToken, setRecaptchaToken] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [autoLoginAttempted, setAutoLoginAttempted] = useState(false);
+  // #868 admin preview: signalled by ?admin_preview=1 in the (dedicated) gallery
+  // tab URL. It renders the gallery directly with NO gallery session — the
+  // backend grants each request per the flag + admin cookie. We must skip the
+  // public empty-password auto-login below, which would otherwise POST an empty
+  // password against a genuinely protected gallery and 401 (#981 review).
+  const isAdminPreview = React.useMemo(
+    () => new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get('admin_preview') === '1',
+    [],
+  );
   // Evaluate once per mount — UA doesn't change at runtime, and using useMemo
   // avoids re-running detection on every render of the form.
   const iabDetection = React.useMemo(() => detectInAppBrowser(), []);
@@ -182,7 +191,7 @@ export const GalleryPage: React.FC = () => {
       return;
     }
 
-    if (galleryInfo && isGalleryPublic(galleryInfo.requires_password) && !isAuthenticated && !autoLoginAttempted && !isLoadingSettings) {
+    if (galleryInfo && !isAdminPreview && isGalleryPublic(galleryInfo.requires_password) && !isAuthenticated && !autoLoginAttempted && !isLoadingSettings) {
       setAutoLoginAttempted(true);
       setIsLoggingIn(true);
       login(resolvedSlug, '')
@@ -199,7 +208,7 @@ export const GalleryPage: React.FC = () => {
           setIsLoggingIn(false);
         });
     }
-  }, [galleryInfo, isAuthenticated, autoLoginAttempted, login, resolvedSlug, isResolvingIdentifier, isLoadingSettings]);
+  }, [galleryInfo, isAdminPreview, isAuthenticated, autoLoginAttempted, login, resolvedSlug, isResolvingIdentifier, isLoadingSettings]);
 
   // Calculate days until expiration (null if no expiration set)
   const daysUntilExpiration = galleryInfo?.expires_at
@@ -388,6 +397,28 @@ export const GalleryPage: React.FC = () => {
 
   const gallerySlugForView = resolvedSlug ?? rawSlug ?? '';
 
+  // Admin preview (#868): render the gallery directly, no gallery session.
+  // GalleryView fetches photos by slug (the axios interceptor forwards
+  // admin_preview=1 + the admin cookie), and reads its live event from that
+  // response; this prop only seeds the initial header from /info.
+  if (isAdminPreview && galleryInfo) {
+    return (
+      <GalleryView
+        slug={gallerySlugForView}
+        event={{
+          id: 0,
+          event_name: galleryInfo.event_name,
+          event_type: galleryInfo.event_type,
+          event_date: galleryInfo.event_date,
+          color_theme: galleryInfo.color_theme,
+          expires_at: galleryInfo.expires_at,
+          allow_user_uploads: galleryInfo.allow_user_uploads,
+          allow_downloads: galleryInfo.allow_downloads,
+        }}
+      />
+    );
+  }
+
   // Show gallery view if authenticated
   if (isAuthenticated && event) {
     return <GalleryView slug={gallerySlugForView} event={event} />;

frontend/src/pages/admin/event-details/EventDetailsHeader.tsx

@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ import type { Event } from '../../../types';
 import { Button, Card } from '../../../components/common';
 import { useLocalizedDate } from '../../../hooks/useLocalizedDate';
 import { useFeatureFlags } from '../../../contexts/FeatureFlagsContext';
-import { eventsService } from '../../../services/events.service';
 import { buildShareLinkUrl } from '../../../utils/url';
 import { isGalleryPublic } from '../../../utils/accessControl';
 import type { FeedbackSettings as FeedbackSettingsType } from '../../../services/feedback.service';
@@ -190,10 +189,13 @@ export const EventDetailsHeader: React.FC<EventDetailsHeaderProps> = ({
             )}
             {event.share_link && !isEditing && (
               <a
-                href={event.is_draft
+                // Admin preview (#868): an explicit intent flag, no token in the
-                  ? `${buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link)}${buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link).includes('?') ? '&' : '?'}preview=${eventsService.getPreviewToken() || ''}`
+                // URL. The httpOnly admin_token cookie authenticates server-side
-                  : buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link)
+                // on the same-origin API calls. Works for BOTH draft (bypasses
-                }
+                // published-visibility) and published+password galleries
+                // (bypasses the guest password) — retires the old
+                // ?preview=<raw-admin-JWT> scheme that leaked the token.
+                href={`${buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link)}${buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link).includes('?') ? '&' : '?'}admin_preview=1`}
                 target="_blank"
                 rel="noopener noreferrer"
                 className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-sm font-medium text-accent hover:opacity-80 border border-accent-dark rounded-lg hover:bg-accent-dark/15 transition-colors"

frontend/src/services/events.service.ts

@@ -296,12 +296,6 @@ export const eventsService = {
     return response.data;
   },
 
-  // Get admin preview token (uses existing admin session token)
-  getPreviewToken(): string | null {
-    const token = sessionStorage.getItem('admin_token') || localStorage.getItem('admin_token');
-    return token;
-  },
-
   // Rename event
   async renameEvent(eventId: number, newEventName: string, resendEmail: boolean = false): Promise<{
     success: boolean;

frontend/src/services/gallery.service.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,16 @@ import type { GalleryInfo, GalleryData, GalleryStats, ResolvedGalleryIdentifier
 import { normalizeRequirePassword } from '../utils/accessControl';
 import { parseContentDispositionFilename } from '../utils/contentDisposition';
 
+// Admin preview (#868): the preview tab carries `?admin_preview=1`. Browser-native
+// download navigations (a real `<a href>` / `api.getUri`) bypass the axios request
+// interceptor that forwards the flag on API calls, so append it to those URLs
+// directly. The httpOnly admin_token cookie authenticates server-side.
+function withAdminPreview(url: string): string {
+  if (typeof window === 'undefined') return url;
+  if (new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get('admin_preview') !== '1') return url;
+  return `${url}${url.includes('?') ? '&' : '?'}admin_preview=1`;
+}
+
 // iOS is the only platform whose system share sheet exposes a
 // first-party "Save Image" / "Save to Photos" action for files
 // shared via navigator.share(). On Android the share sheet only
@@ -88,7 +98,7 @@ export const galleryService = {
   async savePhotoToDevice(slug: string, photoId: number, filename: string): Promise<void> {
     if (!isIOS()) {
       this.triggerDirectDownload(
-        api.getUri({ url: `/gallery/${slug}/download/${photoId}` }),
+        withAdminPreview(api.getUri({ url: `/gallery/${slug}/download/${photoId}` })),
         filename,
       );
       return;
@@ -215,7 +225,7 @@ export const galleryService = {
       // Native browser download — the server sends Content-Length so
       // the browser shows a real progress bar and mobile doesn't crash.
       const link = document.createElement('a');
-      link.href = `/api/gallery/${slug}/download-all`;
+      link.href = withAdminPreview(`/api/gallery/${slug}/download-all`);
       link.setAttribute('download', `${slug}.zip`);
       document.body.appendChild(link);
       link.click();