diff --git a/‎.changeset/20964-approval-snapshot-masked-field.md‎
Lines changed: 15 additions & 0 deletions b/‎.changeset/20964-approval-snapshot-masked-field.md‎
Lines changed: 15 additions & 0 deletions
diff --git a/‎packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/approval-free-text-scope.test.ts‎
Lines changed: 11 additions & 0 deletions b/‎packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/approval-free-text-scope.test.ts‎
Lines changed: 11 additions & 0 deletions
diff --git a/‎packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/approval-payload-masked-field.test.ts‎
Lines changed: 290 additions & 0 deletions b/‎packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/approval-payload-masked-field.test.ts‎
Lines changed: 290 additions & 0 deletions
diff --git a/‎packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/approval-payload-redaction.test.ts‎
Lines changed: 11 additions & 0 deletions b/‎packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/approval-payload-redaction.test.ts‎
Lines changed: 11 additions & 0 deletions
diff --git a/‎packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/approvals-plugin.ts‎
Lines changed: 12 additions & 0 deletions b/‎packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/approvals-plugin.ts‎
Lines changed: 12 additions & 0 deletions
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+---
+'@objectstack/plugin-approvals': minor
+---
+
+fix(approvals): a snapshot field the reader is served masked on the data plane is no longer served as stored (#20964)
+
+Clause-②: yes (widening)
+
+The approval payload snapshot is redacted at serve time by the security service's read projection, `getReadableFields`. That projection counts a field whose `maskingRule` applies to the reader as readable, because the data plane serves the column with its value replaced. So the snapshot kept such a field and served it as captured at submission. The redaction now also reads the security contract's `getQueryableFields`, which differs from the read projection by exactly the fields the reader is served masked, and drops those fields, with their derived labels, on both read doors: the approvals inbox reads and the generic data door on the request object. A reader for whom the masking rule is lifted still sees the stored value. The full snapshot stays at rest.
+
+The field is dropped rather than masked. The contract names which fields are masked for a reader, not the masked value, and reproducing the mask in this plugin would be a second copy of the masking rule.
+
+The one public-surface addition is an optional `getQueryableFields(object, context)` member on the field-visibility source that `ApprovalServiceOptions.fieldVisibility` and `ApprovalService.attachFieldVisibility` accept.
+
+A host that constructs `ApprovalService` itself and passes its own `fieldVisibility` source: that source must now also answer `getQueryableFields` (delegate it to the `security` service). A source without it cannot say which readable fields are masked for the reader, so the redaction fails closed and serves no snapshot field. The approvals plugin's own wiring already forwards it.
@@ -147,6 +147,17 @@ function makeVisibility(answers: Record<string, string[] | undefined>) {
       if (context?.isSystem) return Object.keys(ROW_A);
       return answers[object];
     },
+    /**
+     * [#20964] The contract's query-side answer, which the real service gives
+     * beside the read projection. No field in this fixture carries a masking
+     * rule, so it equals the read projection; a source WITHOUT it fails closed
+     * (pinned in `approval-payload-masked-field.test.ts`). Not recorded in
+     * `_calls`, which counts read-projection asks.
+     */
+    async getQueryableFields(object: string, context?: any): Promise<string[] | undefined> {
+      if (context?.isSystem) return Object.keys(ROW_A);
+      return answers[object];
+    },
   };
 }
 
 
@@ -0,0 +1,290 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 ObjectStack. Licensed under the Apache-2.0 license.
+
+/**
+ * [#20964] A snapshot field the reading caller is served MASKED is not served
+ * as stored.
+ *
+ * ## What is pinned, and why each half is load-bearing
+ *
+ * The data plane serves a field whose `maskingRule` applies to the caller with
+ * its value replaced. The security contract's read projection,
+ * `getReadableFields`, therefore counts that field READABLE: it is a served
+ * column. A snapshot redaction that narrows by the read projection alone keeps
+ * the key, and with it the value as it was captured at submission time.
+ *
+ * The contract's query-side answer, `getQueryableFields` (#20935), is a subset of
+ * the read projection that differs from it by exactly the fields this caller is
+ * served masked. The redaction reads that answer and drops those keys. It does
+ * not re-derive who a masking rule applies to, and it does not reproduce the
+ * mask: the contract publishes WHICH fields are masked for a caller, not the
+ * masked value.
+ *
+ *   1. **not served as stored** — for a caller the rule applies to, the key is
+ *      absent from the served snapshot, on both read doors (the service door and
+ *      the generic data door), and from the derived maps built from its keys.
+ *   2. **control** — for a caller who holds what lifts the rule, the same key
+ *      carries the stored value. Without it, a redaction that dropped the field
+ *      for everyone would pass (1).
+ *   3. **audit preserved** — the stored column still holds the whole row.
+ *   4. **fail closed** — a source that cannot say which readable fields are
+ *      masked for this caller (the answer is missing, `undefined`, or throws) is
+ *      served no snapshot field, as the contract obliges a consumer that cannot
+ *      get the answer. An unresolvable read projection still passes the
+ *      snapshot through whole, exactly as before (#3807).
+ *   5. **wiring** — the approvals plugin's bridge to the `security` service
+ *      forwards the query-side answer as well as the read projection.
+ *
+ * The source double below mirrors the contract's two answers per caller; the
+ * real `SecurityPlugin` composition is pinned at the HTTP door in
+ * `packages/qa/dogfood/test/approval-snapshot-masked-field.dogfood.test.ts`.
+ * Fixtures are synthetic.
+ */
+
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
+import { ApprovalService } from './approval-service.js';
+import { ApprovalsServicePlugin } from './approvals-plugin.js';
+import { type FieldVisibilitySource } from './payload-redaction.js';
+import { redactRowsInPlace } from './payload-redaction-middleware.js';
+
+const OBJECT = 'probe_note';
+const RECORD = 'pn_1';
+const REQUEST = 'req_pn_1';
+const TENANT = 't1';
+/** An approver the field's masking rule applies to. */
+const MEMBER = 'probe_member';
+/** An approver on the same request who holds what lifts the rule. */
+const UNMASKER = 'probe_unmasker';
+/** The field served masked to MEMBER. */
+const MASKED_KEY = 'probe_code';
+
+/** The submitted row, as the flow handed it over. Synthetic values. */
+const FULL_ROW = {
+  id: RECORD,
+  title: 'Synthetic note',
+  amount: 10,
+  [MASKED_KEY]: 'SYNTH-0000-VALUE',
+};
+const ALL_FIELDS = Object.keys(FULL_ROW);
+const BUSINESS = { id: RECORD, title: 'Synthetic note', amount: 10 };
+
+type Answer = string[] | undefined;
+
+/**
+ * The contract's two answers for each caller: the read projection counts the
+ * masked field readable (it is served, masked); the query-side answer leaves it
+ * out for the caller the rule applies to and keeps it for the unmasker.
+ */
+const CONTRACT: Record<string, { readable: Answer; queryable: Answer }> = {
+  [MEMBER]: { readable: ALL_FIELDS, queryable: ALL_FIELDS.filter((f) => f !== MASKED_KEY) },
+  [UNMASKER]: { readable: ALL_FIELDS, queryable: ALL_FIELDS },
+};
+
+function contractSource(opts: {
+  queryable?: 'answer' | 'absent' | 'undefined' | 'throws';
+  readable?: 'answer' | 'undefined';
+} = {}): FieldVisibilitySource {
+  const userOf = (context: unknown) => String((context as { userId?: string } | undefined)?.userId ?? '');
+  const source: FieldVisibilitySource = {
+    async getReadableFields(_object: string, context?: unknown) {
+      if (opts.readable === 'undefined') return undefined;
+      return CONTRACT[userOf(context)]?.readable;
+    },
+  };
+  const q = opts.queryable ?? 'answer';
+  if (q !== 'absent') {
+    source.getQueryableFields = async (_object: string, context?: unknown) => {
+      if (q === 'throws') throw new Error('synthetic outage');
+      if (q === 'undefined') return undefined;
+      return CONTRACT[userOf(context)]?.queryable;
+    };
+  }
+  return source;
+}
+
+interface FakeRow { [k: string]: any }
+
+/**
+ * Engine double — reads and inserts only. This file's subject is the READ path,
+ * which never reaches a write verb, so `update` / `delete` are deliberately not
+ * declared (the same reasoning as `approval-payload-redaction.test.ts`).
+ */
+function makeEngine() {
+  const tables: Record<string, FakeRow[]> = {};
+  const ensure = (n: string) => (tables[n] ??= []);
+  function matches(row: FakeRow, filter: any): boolean {
+    if (!filter || typeof filter !== 'object') return true;
+    for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(filter)) {
+      if (k === '$or') { if (!(v as any[]).some((s) => matches(row, s))) return false; continue; }
+      if (k === '$and') { if (!(v as any[]).every((s) => matches(row, s))) return false; continue; }
+      const rv = row[k];
+      if (v != null && typeof v === 'object' && '$in' in (v as any)) {
+        if (!(v as any).$in.includes(rv)) return false; continue;
+      }
+      if (rv !== v) return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+  return {
+    _tables: tables,
+    async find(object: string, options?: any) {
+      const rows = ensure(object).filter((r) => matches(r, options?.filter ?? options?.where));
+      return rows.slice(options?.offset ?? 0, (options?.offset ?? 0) + (options?.limit ?? 1000));
+    },
+    async insert(object: string, data: any) { ensure(object).push({ ...data }); return { ...data }; },
+    /** The subject object's labels, so the derived `payload_labels` map is really built. */
+    getSchema(object: string) {
+      if (object !== OBJECT) return undefined;
+      return {
+        name: OBJECT,
+        label: 'Probe Note',
+        fields: Object.fromEntries(ALL_FIELDS.map((f) => [f, { name: f, label: `Label ${f}` }])),
+      };
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+function seed(engine: ReturnType<typeof makeEngine>) {
+  engine._tables[OBJECT] = [{ ...FULL_ROW, organization_id: TENANT }];
+  engine._tables['sys_approval_request'] = [{
+    id: REQUEST,
+    organization_id: TENANT,
+    process_name: 'flow:probe_review',
+    object_name: OBJECT,
+    record_id: RECORD,
+    submitter_id: 'probe_submitter',
+    status: 'pending',
+    current_step: 'review',
+    pending_approvers: [MEMBER, UNMASKER].join(','),
+    payload_json: JSON.stringify(FULL_ROW),
+    created_at: '2026-09-30T00:00:00Z',
+  }];
+  engine._tables['sys_approval_approver'] = [
+    { id: 'idx_m', request_id: REQUEST, approver: MEMBER, organization_id: TENANT },
+    { id: 'idx_u', request_id: REQUEST, approver: UNMASKER, organization_id: TENANT },
+  ];
+  engine._tables['sys_approval_action'] = [];
+}
+
+const asUser = (userId: string) => ({ userId, tenantId: TENANT, positions: [], permissions: [] }) as any;
+
+const storedSnapshot = (engine: ReturnType<typeof makeEngine>) =>
+  JSON.parse(String(engine._tables['sys_approval_request'][0].payload_json)) as Record<string, unknown>;
+
+describe('[#20964] a snapshot field served masked to the reader is not served as stored — the service door', () => {
+  let engine: ReturnType<typeof makeEngine>;
+  let service: ApprovalService;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    engine = makeEngine();
+    seed(engine);
+    service = new ApprovalService({ engine: engine as any });
+  });
+
+  it('(1) getRequest: the masked-for-this-caller key is not served, and the business fields still are', async () => {
+    service.attachFieldVisibility(contractSource());
+    const row = await service.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(MEMBER));
+    const payload = row!.payload as Record<string, unknown>;
+    expect(payload).not.toHaveProperty(MASKED_KEY);
+    expect(payload).toEqual(BUSINESS);
+  });
+
+  it('(1) listRequests: the masked-for-this-caller key is not served', async () => {
+    service.attachFieldVisibility(contractSource());
+    const rows = await service.listRequests({ approverId: MEMBER }, asUser(MEMBER));
+    expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(rows[0].payload).toEqual(BUSINESS);
+  });
+
+  it('(1) the derived label map built from the snapshot keys does not carry the masked-for-this-caller key', async () => {
+    service.attachFieldVisibility(contractSource());
+    const row = (await service.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(MEMBER))) as any;
+    // Built at all (the fixture's schema labels reach it) ...
+    expect(row.payload_labels).toHaveProperty('title');
+    // ... and without the key the redaction dropped.
+    expect(Object.keys(row.payload_labels)).not.toContain(MASKED_KEY);
+    const control = (await service.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(UNMASKER))) as any;
+    expect(control.payload_labels).toHaveProperty(MASKED_KEY);
+  });
+
+  it('(2) control: a reader who holds what lifts the rule is served the stored value', async () => {
+    service.attachFieldVisibility(contractSource());
+    const row = await service.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(UNMASKER));
+    expect(row!.payload).toEqual(FULL_ROW);
+  });
+
+  it('(3) audit preserved: the stored column still holds the whole row after a masked read', async () => {
+    service.attachFieldVisibility(contractSource());
+    await service.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(MEMBER));
+    expect(storedSnapshot(engine)).toEqual(FULL_ROW);
+  });
+
+  it('(4) fail closed: a source with no query-side answer serves no snapshot field', async () => {
+    service.attachFieldVisibility(contractSource({ queryable: 'absent' }));
+    const row = await service.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(UNMASKER));
+    expect(row!.payload).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it('(4) fail closed: a query-side answer of `undefined` serves no snapshot field', async () => {
+    service.attachFieldVisibility(contractSource({ queryable: 'undefined' }));
+    const row = await service.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(UNMASKER));
+    expect(row!.payload).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it('(4) fail closed: a query-side answer that throws serves no snapshot field', async () => {
+    service.attachFieldVisibility(contractSource({ queryable: 'throws' }));
+    const row = await service.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(UNMASKER));
+    expect(row!.payload).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it('(4) an unresolvable read projection still passes the snapshot through whole (#3807)', async () => {
+    service.attachFieldVisibility(contractSource({ readable: 'undefined', queryable: 'absent' }));
+    const row = await service.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(MEMBER));
+    expect(row!.payload).toEqual(FULL_ROW);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('[#20964] a snapshot field served masked to the reader is not served as stored — the generic data door', () => {
+  const rowsFor = () => [{ id: REQUEST, object_name: OBJECT, payload_json: JSON.stringify(FULL_ROW) }];
+
+  it('(1) the raw snapshot string loses the masked-for-this-caller key and keeps the business fields', async () => {
+    const rows = rowsFor();
+    await redactRowsInPlace(rows, contractSource(), asUser(MEMBER));
+    expect(JSON.parse(rows[0].payload_json)).toEqual(BUSINESS);
+  });
+
+  it('(2) control: a reader who holds what lifts the rule is served the stored value', async () => {
+    const rows = rowsFor();
+    await redactRowsInPlace(rows, contractSource(), asUser(UNMASKER));
+    expect(JSON.parse(rows[0].payload_json)).toEqual(FULL_ROW);
+  });
+
+  it('(4) fail closed: a source with no query-side answer serves no snapshot field', async () => {
+    const rows = rowsFor();
+    await redactRowsInPlace(rows, contractSource({ queryable: 'absent' }), asUser(UNMASKER));
+    expect(JSON.parse(rows[0].payload_json)).toEqual({});
+  });
+});
+
+describe('[#20964] the approvals plugin forwards the query-side answer to the redaction', () => {
+  it('(5) the service door narrows by the `security` service\'s query-side answer', async () => {
+    const engine = makeEngine();
+    seed(engine);
+    const services: Record<string, unknown> = { objectql: engine, security: contractSource() };
+    const ctx: any = {
+      getService: (name: string) => {
+        if (!(name in services)) throw new Error(`[Kernel] Service '${name}' not found`);
+        return services[name];
+      },
+      registerService: (name: string, svc: unknown) => { services[name] = svc; },
+      logger: { info: () => {}, warn: () => {}, error: () => {}, debug: () => {} },
+    };
+    await new ApprovalsServicePlugin({ disableAutoHooks: true }).start(ctx);
+    const approvals = services.approvals as ApprovalService;
+    expect(approvals).toBeInstanceOf(ApprovalService);
+
+    const masked = await approvals.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(MEMBER));
+    expect(masked!.payload).toEqual(BUSINESS);
+    const control = await approvals.getRequest(REQUEST, asUser(UNMASKER));
+    expect(control!.payload).toEqual(FULL_ROW);
+  });
+});
@@ -147,6 +147,17 @@ function makeVisibility(answers: Record<string, string[] | undefined>, opts?: {
       if (context?.isSystem) return Object.keys(FULL_ROW);
       return answers[object];
     },
+    /**
+     * [#20964] The contract's query-side answer, which the real service gives
+     * beside the read projection. No field in this fixture carries a masking
+     * rule, so it equals the read projection; a source WITHOUT it fails closed
+     * (pinned in `approval-payload-masked-field.test.ts`). Not recorded in
+     * `_calls`, which counts read-projection asks.
+     */
+    async getQueryableFields(object: string, context?: any): Promise<string[] | undefined> {
+      if (context?.isSystem) return Object.keys(FULL_ROW);
+      return answers[object];
+    },
   };
 }
 
 
@@ -246,6 +246,18 @@ export class ApprovalsServicePlugin implements Plugin {
           ? sec.getReadableFields(object, context)
           : Promise.resolve(undefined);
       },
+      // [#20964] The masked-for-this-caller answer, from the same service: the
+      // read projection counts a masked field readable, so the service door
+      // narrows by both. A service without the member answers `undefined`
+      // here, which the redaction reads as "cannot tell" and fails closed on
+      // (`resolveReadableSnapshotFields`). The generic data door below is
+      // handed the service itself and reads the same member directly.
+      getQueryableFields: (object: string, context?: unknown) => {
+        const sec = fieldVisibility();
+        return sec && typeof sec.getQueryableFields === 'function'
+          ? sec.getQueryableFields(object, context)
+          : Promise.resolve(undefined);
+      },
     });
 
     // Record lock: block edits to a record while it has a pending request.