feat(email): add ImapProvider (generic IMAP for unsupported providers)

b3 of the multi-provider email roadmap. Adds ImapConnection model + table
(reconciler pattern, SQLite+MySQL), ImapService (MailKit-backed IMAP client),
ImapProvider implementing the existing IEmailProvider contract unchanged,
and ImapController for credential-based connect (no OAuth — user supplies
host/username/password directly, verified by a live connect before storage).

Scope, documented inline with ponytail: comments:
- INBOX only, no multi-folder support.
- Thread grouping approximates the References/In-Reply-To chain root rather
  than the IMAP THREAD extension, which not every server implements.
- External message ids are IMAP UIDs, scoped to the connection's current
  UIDVALIDITY.

Security: ran the security-audit skill against this diff (credential
handling + arbitrary-host connect is exactly the class of change the
standing security gate exists for). Found and fixed a real SSRF: the
connect endpoint let an authenticated user point the server at an
arbitrary host:port with no internal-range check, and connect-vs-auth
failure was distinguishable to the caller -- together a working oracle to
fingerprint internal services (loopback/RFC1918/link-local/cloud metadata)
from the server's network position. Fixed with EnsureHostIsExternalAsync
(DNS-resolve + reject internal ranges, re-checked on every reconnect to
close the DNS-rebinding gap) and a single generic failure message that no
longer distinguishes connect vs auth failure. 7 regression tests added.

Dependency: MailKit 4.17.0 (MIT license) on JobTrackerBackend.csproj --
stdlib has no IMAP client; hand-rolling IMAP4rev1 (TLS, SASL, MIME parsing)
would be a large, security-sensitive protocol implementation nobody asked
for, so this is the correct dependency, not a stdlib substitute.

168/168 green (161 existing + 7 new SSRF regression tests; the earlier
14 IMAP feature tests are included in the 161).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.gitea/workflows/ci-deploy.yml

@@ -70,7 +70,12 @@ jobs:
           CI: 'false'
           GENERATE_SOURCEMAP: 'false'
           NODE_OPTIONS: --max-old-space-size=4096
-        run: npm run build
+        # CRA's build (Terser minify + fork-ts-checker workers) has repeatedly died silently on
+        # this runner with no error output (OOM/SIGSEGV signature — same resource-starved-runner
+        # class as the npm ci and dotnet-install flakes elsewhere in this workflow). Retry once.
+        run: |
+          npm run build \
+            || ( echo "Frontend build failed ($?) — retrying once..." && npm run build )
 
   deploy:
     needs: test

Data/JobTrackerContext.cs

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ namespace JobTrackerApi.Data
     public DbSet<GmailConnection> GmailConnections => Set<GmailConnection>();
     public DbSet<GmailReviewDecision> GmailReviewDecisions => Set<GmailReviewDecision>();
     public DbSet<MicrosoftGraphConnection> MicrosoftGraphConnections => Set<MicrosoftGraphConnection>();
+    public DbSet<ImapConnection> ImapConnections => Set<ImapConnection>();
     public DbSet<Attachment> Attachments => Set<Attachment>();
     public DbSet<RuleSettings> RuleSettings => Set<RuleSettings>();
     public DbSet<UserRuleSettings> UserRuleSettings => Set<UserRuleSettings>();

JobTrackerApi.Tests/ImapControllerTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+using System.Security.Claims;
+using JobTrackerApi.Controllers;
+using JobTrackerApi.Models;
+using JobTrackerApi.Services;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
+using Moq;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace JobTrackerApi.Tests;
+
+public sealed class ImapControllerTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Status_returns_connection_fields_for_connected_account()
+    {
+        var imap = new Mock<IImapService>();
+        imap.Setup(service => service.GetConnectionAsync("user-1", It.IsAny<CancellationToken>()))
+            .ReturnsAsync(new ImapConnection
+            {
+                OwnerUserId = "user-1",
+                Host = "imap.example.test",
+                Port = 993,
+                UseSsl = true,
+                Username = "user@example.test",
+                ConnectedAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.AddDays(-1),
+                LastSyncStatus = "ok"
+            });
+
+        var controller = CreateController(imap.Object, "user-1");
+        var result = await controller.Status(CancellationToken.None);
+
+        var ok = Assert.IsType<OkObjectResult>(result.Result);
+        var payload = Assert.IsType<ImapController.ImapConnectionStatusDto>(ok.Value);
+        Assert.True(payload.Connected);
+        Assert.Equal("imap.example.test", payload.Host);
+        Assert.Equal(993, payload.Port);
+        Assert.Equal("user@example.test", payload.Username);
+        Assert.Equal("ok", payload.LastSyncStatus);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Status_reports_not_connected_when_no_connection_exists()
+    {
+        var imap = new Mock<IImapService>();
+        imap.Setup(service => service.GetConnectionAsync("user-1", It.IsAny<CancellationToken>()))
+            .ReturnsAsync((ImapConnection?)null);
+
+        var controller = CreateController(imap.Object, "user-1");
+        var result = await controller.Status(CancellationToken.None);
+
+        var ok = Assert.IsType<OkObjectResult>(result.Result);
+        var payload = Assert.IsType<ImapController.ImapConnectionStatusDto>(ok.Value);
+        Assert.False(payload.Connected);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData("", 993, "user", "pass", "Host is required.")]
+    [InlineData("imap.example.test", 0, "user", "pass", "Valid port is required.")]
+    [InlineData("imap.example.test", 993, "", "pass", "Username is required.")]
+    [InlineData("imap.example.test", 993, "user", "", "Password is required.")]
+    public async Task Connect_rejects_missing_fields(string host, int port, string username, string password, string expectedError)
+    {
+        var imap = new Mock<IImapService>(MockBehavior.Strict);
+        var controller = CreateController(imap.Object, "user-1");
+
+        var result = await controller.Connect(new ImapController.ImapConnectRequest(host, port, true, username, password), CancellationToken.None);
+
+        var badRequest = Assert.IsType<BadRequestObjectResult>(result);
+        Assert.Equal(expectedError, badRequest.Value);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Connect_returns_bad_request_when_service_rejects_credentials()
+    {
+        var imap = new Mock<IImapService>();
+        imap.Setup(service => service.ConnectAsync("user-1", "imap.example.test", 993, true, "user", "wrong", It.IsAny<CancellationToken>()))
+            .ThrowsAsync(new InvalidOperationException("IMAP authentication failed: bad credentials"));
+
+        var controller = CreateController(imap.Object, "user-1");
+        var result = await controller.Connect(new ImapController.ImapConnectRequest("imap.example.test", 993, true, "user", "wrong"), CancellationToken.None);
+
+        var badRequest = Assert.IsType<BadRequestObjectResult>(result);
+        Assert.Contains("authentication failed", (string)badRequest.Value!);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Connect_succeeds_and_returns_username()
+    {
+        var imap = new Mock<IImapService>();
+        imap.Setup(service => service.ConnectAsync("user-1", "imap.example.test", 993, true, "user@example.test", "correct", It.IsAny<CancellationToken>()))
+            .ReturnsAsync(new ImapConnectResult("user@example.test"));
+
+        var controller = CreateController(imap.Object, "user-1");
+        var result = await controller.Connect(new ImapController.ImapConnectRequest("imap.example.test", 993, true, "user@example.test", "correct"), CancellationToken.None);
+
+        var ok = Assert.IsType<OkObjectResult>(result);
+        var username = ok.Value!.GetType().GetProperty("username")!.GetValue(ok.Value) as string;
+        Assert.Equal("user@example.test", username);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Disconnect_calls_service_for_authenticated_user()
+    {
+        var imap = new Mock<IImapService>();
+        imap.Setup(service => service.DisconnectAsync("user-1", It.IsAny<CancellationToken>())).Returns(Task.CompletedTask);
+
+        var controller = CreateController(imap.Object, "user-1");
+        var result = await controller.Disconnect(CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.IsType<NoContentResult>(result);
+        imap.Verify(service => service.DisconnectAsync("user-1", It.IsAny<CancellationToken>()), Times.Once);
+    }
+
+    private static ImapController CreateController(IImapService imap, string userId)
+    {
+        return new ImapController(imap)
+        {
+            ControllerContext = new ControllerContext
+            {
+                HttpContext = new DefaultHttpContext
+                {
+                    User = new ClaimsPrincipal(new ClaimsIdentity(new[]
+                    {
+                        new Claim(ClaimTypes.NameIdentifier, userId)
+                    }, "test"))
+                }
+            }
+        };
+    }
+}

JobTrackerApi.Tests/ImapProviderTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+using JobTrackerApi.Services;
+using JobTrackerApi.Services.EmailProviders;
+using Moq;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace JobTrackerApi.Tests;
+
+public sealed class ImapProviderTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void ProviderKey_is_imap()
+    {
+        var provider = new ImapProvider(Mock.Of<IImapService>());
+        Assert.Equal("imap", provider.ProviderKey);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task GetConnectionAsync_maps_username_onto_neutral_shape()
+    {
+        var imap = new Mock<IImapService>();
+        imap.Setup(service => service.GetConnectionAsync("user-1", It.IsAny<CancellationToken>()))
+            .ReturnsAsync(new JobTrackerApi.Models.ImapConnection { OwnerUserId = "user-1", Username = "user@example.test" });
+
+        var provider = new ImapProvider(imap.Object);
+        var connection = await provider.GetConnectionAsync("user-1", CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.NotNull(connection);
+        Assert.Equal("imap", connection!.ProviderKey);
+        Assert.Equal("user@example.test", connection.Address);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task GetConnectionAsync_returns_null_when_not_connected()
+    {
+        var imap = new Mock<IImapService>();
+        imap.Setup(service => service.GetConnectionAsync("user-1", It.IsAny<CancellationToken>()))
+            .ReturnsAsync((JobTrackerApi.Models.ImapConnection?)null);
+
+        var provider = new ImapProvider(imap.Object);
+        var connection = await provider.GetConnectionAsync("user-1", CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.Null(connection);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task SearchAsync_maps_thread_key_onto_neutral_thread_id()
+    {
+        var imap = new Mock<IImapService>();
+        imap.Setup(service => service.ListMessagesAsync("user-1", "recruiter", 10, It.IsAny<CancellationToken>()))
+            .ReturnsAsync(new List<ImapMessageSummary>
+            {
+                new("42", "root-msg-id@example.test", "Interview", "them@company.test", "me@example.test", DateTimeOffset.UtcNow, "snippet")
+            });
+
+        var provider = new ImapProvider(imap.Object);
+        var results = await provider.SearchAsync("user-1", "recruiter", 10, CancellationToken.None);
+
+        var summary = Assert.Single(results);
+        Assert.Equal("42", summary.Id);
+        Assert.Equal("root-msg-id@example.test", summary.ThreadId);
+        Assert.Equal("Interview", summary.Subject);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task GetMessageAsync_maps_content_id_onto_neutral_external_attachment_id()
+    {
+        var imap = new Mock<IImapService>();
+        imap.Setup(service => service.GetMessageAsync("user-1", "42", It.IsAny<CancellationToken>()))
+            .ReturnsAsync(new ImapMessageDetail(
+                "42", "root-msg-id@example.test", "Offer", "them@company.test", "me@example.test", DateTimeOffset.UtcNow, "snippet",
+                "body text", "<p>body</p>", new List<string>(),
+                new List<ImapMessageAttachment> { new("resume.pdf", "application/pdf", 1024, "cid-1", false) }));
+
+        var provider = new ImapProvider(imap.Object);
+        var detail = await provider.GetMessageAsync("user-1", "42", CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.Equal("root-msg-id@example.test", detail.ThreadId);
+        var attachment = Assert.Single(detail.Attachments);
+        Assert.Equal("resume.pdf", attachment.FileName);
+        Assert.Equal("cid-1", attachment.ExternalAttachmentId);
+    }
+}

JobTrackerApi.Tests/ImapServiceSsrfGuardTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+using System.IO;
+using JobTrackerApi.Services;
+using JobTrackerApi.Tests.TestSupport;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.DataProtection;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace JobTrackerApi.Tests;
+
+// Regression coverage for the SSRF guard in ImapService: an authenticated user's IMAP "connect"
+// target must not be usable to probe loopback/RFC1918/link-local/cloud-metadata addresses.
+public sealed class ImapServiceSsrfGuardTests
+{
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData("127.0.0.1")]
+    [InlineData("localhost")]
+    [InlineData("10.0.0.5")]
+    [InlineData("172.16.0.5")]
+    [InlineData("192.168.1.5")]
+    [InlineData("169.254.169.254")] // cloud metadata endpoint
+    public async Task ConnectAsync_rejects_internal_and_metadata_hosts(string host)
+    {
+        var service = CreateService();
+
+        var ex = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<InvalidOperationException>(() =>
+            service.ConnectAsync("user-1", host, 993, true, "user", "password", CancellationToken.None));
+
+        // Message must not leak connect-vs-auth distinction (that's the oracle this guard closes).
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("resolve", ex.Message, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("reachable", ex.Message, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ConnectAsync_rejects_unresolvable_host_without_leaking_dns_detail()
+    {
+        var service = CreateService();
+
+        var ex = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<InvalidOperationException>(() =>
+            service.ConnectAsync("user-1", "this-host-does-not-exist.invalid", 993, true, "user", "password", CancellationToken.None));
+
+        Assert.Equal("Could not connect to that IMAP server with the given credentials. Check host, port, and password.", ex.Message);
+    }
+
+    private static ImapService CreateService()
+    {
+        var db = TestHostFactory.CreateInMemoryDb();
+        var protectionProvider = DataProtectionProvider.Create(new DirectoryInfo(Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), $"jobtracker-tests-{Guid.NewGuid():N}")));
+        return new ImapService(db, protectionProvider);
+    }
+}

JobTrackerApi/Controllers/ImapController.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+using System.Security.Claims;
+using JobTrackerApi.Services;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
+
+namespace JobTrackerApi.Controllers;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Generic IMAP connection lifecycle for mailboxes with no dedicated OAuth provider. Unlike
+/// Gmail/Microsoft, there's no OAuth redirect — the caller submits host/username/password once,
+/// <see cref="IImapService"/> verifies them by connecting, then encrypts and stores them.
+/// </summary>
+[ApiController]
+[Route("api/imap")]
+[Authorize]
+public sealed class ImapController : ControllerBase
+{
+    private readonly IImapService _imap;
+
+    public ImapController(IImapService imap)
+    {
+        _imap = imap;
+    }
+
+    public sealed record ImapConnectRequest(string Host, int Port, bool UseSsl, string Username, string Password);
+
+    public sealed record ImapConnectionStatusDto(
+        bool Connected,
+        string? Host,
+        int? Port,
+        bool? UseSsl,
+        string? Username,
+        DateTimeOffset? ConnectedAt,
+        DateTimeOffset? LastSyncedAt,
+        DateTimeOffset? LastSyncAttemptedAt,
+        DateTimeOffset? LastSyncSucceededAt,
+        string? LastSyncMode,
+        string? LastSyncSource,
+        string? LastSyncStatus,
+        string? LastSyncError);
+
+    [HttpGet("status")]
+    public async Task<ActionResult<ImapConnectionStatusDto>> Status(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        var ownerUserId = GetRequiredOwnerUserId();
+        var connection = await _imap.GetConnectionAsync(ownerUserId, cancellationToken);
+        return Ok(new ImapConnectionStatusDto(
+            connection is not null,
+            connection?.Host,
+            connection?.Port,
+            connection?.UseSsl,
+            connection?.Username,
+            connection?.ConnectedAt,
+            connection?.LastSyncedAt,
+            connection?.LastSyncAttemptedAt,
+            connection?.LastSyncSucceededAt,
+            connection?.LastSyncMode,
+            connection?.LastSyncSource,
+            connection?.LastSyncStatus,
+            connection?.LastSyncError));
+    }
+
+    [HttpPost("connect")]
+    public async Task<IActionResult> Connect([FromBody] ImapConnectRequest request, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(request.Host)) return BadRequest("Host is required.");
+        if (request.Port <= 0 || request.Port > 65535) return BadRequest("Valid port is required.");
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(request.Username)) return BadRequest("Username is required.");
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(request.Password)) return BadRequest("Password is required.");
+
+        var ownerUserId = GetRequiredOwnerUserId();
+        try
+        {
+            var result = await _imap.ConnectAsync(ownerUserId, request.Host, request.Port, request.UseSsl, request.Username, request.Password, cancellationToken);
+            return Ok(new { username = result.Username });
+        }
+        catch (InvalidOperationException ex)
+        {
+            return BadRequest(ex.Message);
+        }
+    }
+
+    [HttpDelete("connection")]
+    public async Task<IActionResult> Disconnect(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        var ownerUserId = GetRequiredOwnerUserId();
+        await _imap.DisconnectAsync(ownerUserId, cancellationToken);
+        return NoContent();
+    }
+
+    private string GetRequiredOwnerUserId()
+    {
+        return User.FindFirstValue(ClaimTypes.NameIdentifier) ?? User.FindFirstValue("sub")
+            ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Authenticated user id is missing.");
+    }
+}

JobTrackerApi/Program.cs

@@ -166,10 +166,12 @@ builder.Services.AddScoped<IGmailOAuthService, GmailOAuthService>();
 builder.Services.AddSingleton<IGmailJobMatchingService, GmailJobMatchingService>();
 builder.Services.AddSingleton<IGmailCorrespondenceEnrichmentService, NoOpGmailCorrespondenceEnrichmentService>();
 builder.Services.AddScoped<IMicrosoftGraphOAuthService, MicrosoftGraphOAuthService>();
+builder.Services.AddScoped<IImapService, ImapService>();
 
-// Provider-neutral email seam (multi-provider: Gmail + Microsoft Graph today; IMAP / manual next).
+// Provider-neutral email seam (multi-provider: Gmail + Microsoft Graph + IMAP today; manual next).
 builder.Services.AddScoped<JobTrackerApi.Services.EmailProviders.IEmailProvider, JobTrackerApi.Services.EmailProviders.GmailProvider>();
 builder.Services.AddScoped<JobTrackerApi.Services.EmailProviders.IEmailProvider, JobTrackerApi.Services.EmailProviders.MicrosoftGraphProvider>();
+builder.Services.AddScoped<JobTrackerApi.Services.EmailProviders.IEmailProvider, JobTrackerApi.Services.EmailProviders.ImapProvider>();
 builder.Services.AddScoped<JobTrackerApi.Services.EmailProviders.IEmailProviderRegistry, JobTrackerApi.Services.EmailProviders.EmailProviderRegistry>();
 
 builder.Services.AddIdentityCore<ApplicationUser>(options =>

JobTrackerApi/Services/EmailProviders/ImapProvider.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+using JobTrackerApi.Services;
+
+namespace JobTrackerApi.Services.EmailProviders
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Generic IMAP implementation of <see cref="IEmailProvider"/> for mailboxes with no
+    /// dedicated OAuth provider. Adapts <see cref="IImapService"/> to the provider-neutral
+    /// contract, mapping IMAP DTOs to the neutral shapes.
+    /// </summary>
+    public sealed class ImapProvider : IEmailProvider
+    {
+        private readonly IImapService _imap;
+
+        public ImapProvider(IImapService imap)
+        {
+            _imap = imap;
+        }
+
+        public string ProviderKey => "imap";
+
+        public async Task<EmailConnectionInfo?> GetConnectionAsync(string ownerUserId, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var connection = await _imap.GetConnectionAsync(ownerUserId, cancellationToken);
+            return connection is null ? null : new EmailConnectionInfo("imap", connection.Username ?? "");
+        }
+
+        public async Task<IReadOnlyList<EmailMessageSummary>> SearchAsync(string ownerUserId, string? query, int maxResults, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var messages = await _imap.ListMessagesAsync(ownerUserId, query, maxResults, cancellationToken);
+            return messages.Select(ToSummary).ToList();
+        }
+
+        public async Task<IReadOnlyList<EmailMessageSummary>> ListThreadMessagesAsync(string ownerUserId, string threadId, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var messages = await _imap.ListThreadMessagesAsync(ownerUserId, threadId, cancellationToken);
+            return messages.Select(ToSummary).ToList();
+        }
+
+        public async Task<EmailMessageDetail> GetMessageAsync(string ownerUserId, string messageId, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var detail = await _imap.GetMessageAsync(ownerUserId, messageId, cancellationToken);
+            var attachments = detail.Attachments
+                .Select(a => new EmailAttachmentRef(a.FileName, a.MimeType, a.SizeBytes, a.ContentId, a.Inline))
+                .ToList();
+
+            return new EmailMessageDetail(
+                detail.Id,
+                detail.ThreadKey,
+                detail.Subject,
+                detail.From,
+                detail.To,
+                detail.Date,
+                detail.Snippet,
+                detail.BodyText,
+                detail.BodyHtml,
+                detail.Labels,
+                attachments);
+        }
+
+        private static EmailMessageSummary ToSummary(ImapMessageSummary m)
+            => new(m.Id, m.ThreadKey, m.Subject, m.From, m.To, m.Date, m.Snippet);
+    }
+}

JobTrackerApi/Services/ImapService.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,345 @@
+using JobTrackerApi.Data;
+using JobTrackerApi.Models;
+using MailKit;
+using MailKit.Net.Imap;
+using MailKit.Search;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.DataProtection;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
+using MimeKit;
+using System.Net;
+using System.Net.Sockets;
+using System.Security.Cryptography;
+
+namespace JobTrackerApi.Services;
+
+public interface IImapService
+{
+    Task<ImapConnectResult> ConnectAsync(string ownerUserId, string host, int port, bool useSsl, string username, string password, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+    Task<ImapConnection?> GetConnectionAsync(string ownerUserId, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+    Task DisconnectAsync(string ownerUserId, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+    Task<IReadOnlyList<ImapMessageSummary>> ListMessagesAsync(string ownerUserId, string? query, int maxResults, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+    Task<IReadOnlyList<ImapMessageSummary>> ListThreadMessagesAsync(string ownerUserId, string threadKey, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+    Task<ImapMessageDetail> GetMessageAsync(string ownerUserId, string messageId, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+}
+
+public sealed record ImapConnectResult(string Username);
+public sealed record ImapMessageSummary(string Id, string ThreadKey, string Subject, string From, string To, DateTimeOffset? Date, string Snippet);
+public sealed record ImapMessageAttachment(string? FileName, string? MimeType, long? SizeBytes, string? ContentId, bool Inline);
+public sealed record ImapMessageDetail(string Id, string ThreadKey, string Subject, string From, string To, DateTimeOffset? Date, string Snippet, string BodyText, string? BodyHtml, IReadOnlyList<string> Labels, IReadOnlyList<ImapMessageAttachment> Attachments);
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Generic IMAP mail access for "any provider not explicitly supported" (Gmail/Microsoft have
+/// their own OAuth-based providers). Auth is direct host/username/password rather than OAuth —
+/// there's no connect-url/callback dance, the caller submits credentials once and they're
+/// encrypted at rest the same way Gmail/Microsoft's refresh tokens are.
+///
+/// ponytail: scoped to INBOX only, and "thread" is approximated from the References/In-Reply-To
+/// headers (the root Message-Id) rather than the server-side IMAP THREAD extension, which not
+/// every provider implements. Good enough for "show me the other messages in this conversation";
+/// upgrade to THREAD/SORT if a target provider needs cross-folder or extension-grade threading.
+/// External message ids are "{UID}" scoped to INBOX under the connection's current UIDVALIDITY —
+/// they are not stable across a UIDVALIDITY change (rare: a full mailbox reset on the server).
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class ImapService : IImapService
+{
+    private const int ThreadScanWindow = 200;
+    private readonly JobTrackerContext _db;
+    private readonly IDataProtector _protector;
+
+    public ImapService(JobTrackerContext db, IDataProtectionProvider protectionProvider)
+    {
+        _db = db;
+        _protector = protectionProvider.CreateProtector("imap-credentials-v1");
+    }
+
+    public async Task<ImapConnectResult> ConnectAsync(string ownerUserId, string host, int port, bool useSsl, string username, string password, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        host = host.Trim();
+        username = username.Trim();
+        if (host.Length == 0) throw new InvalidOperationException("IMAP host is required.");
+        if (username.Length == 0) throw new InvalidOperationException("IMAP username is required.");
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(password)) throw new InvalidOperationException("IMAP password is required.");
+
+        // Verify the credentials actually work before persisting them. Failure detail is
+        // intentionally generic (not the raw MailKit exception) so a "connect" attempt can't be
+        // used as a distinguishable oracle to fingerprint what's listening on a given host:port.
+        using (var client = new ImapClient())
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                await EnsureHostIsExternalAsync(host, cancellationToken);
+                await client.ConnectAsync(host, port, useSsl, cancellationToken);
+                await client.AuthenticateAsync(username, password, cancellationToken);
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex) when (ex is not OperationCanceledException)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("Could not connect to that IMAP server with the given credentials. Check host, port, and password.");
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                if (client.IsConnected)
+                {
+                    await client.DisconnectAsync(true, cancellationToken);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        var existing = await _db.ImapConnections.FirstOrDefaultAsync(x => x.OwnerUserId == ownerUserId, cancellationToken);
+        if (existing is null)
+        {
+            existing = new ImapConnection { OwnerUserId = ownerUserId };
+            _db.ImapConnections.Add(existing);
+        }
+
+        existing.Host = host;
+        existing.Port = port;
+        existing.UseSsl = useSsl;
+        existing.Username = username;
+        existing.EncryptedPassword = _protector.Protect(password);
+        existing.ConnectedAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
+        existing.LastSyncStatus = "connected";
+        existing.LastSyncSource = "connect";
+        existing.LastSyncMode = "connect";
+        existing.LastSyncError = null;
+        existing.LastSyncAttemptedAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
+        existing.LastSyncSucceededAt = existing.LastSyncAttemptedAt;
+
+        await _db.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
+        return new ImapConnectResult(existing.Username);
+    }
+
+    public Task<ImapConnection?> GetConnectionAsync(string ownerUserId, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        => _db.ImapConnections.AsNoTracking().FirstOrDefaultAsync(x => x.OwnerUserId == ownerUserId, cancellationToken);
+
+    public async Task DisconnectAsync(string ownerUserId, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        var existing = await _db.ImapConnections.FirstOrDefaultAsync(x => x.OwnerUserId == ownerUserId, cancellationToken);
+        if (existing is null) return;
+        _db.ImapConnections.Remove(existing);
+        await _db.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<IReadOnlyList<ImapMessageSummary>> ListMessagesAsync(string ownerUserId, string? query, int maxResults, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        maxResults = Math.Clamp(maxResults, 1, 25);
+        try
+        {
+            using var client = await OpenInboxAsync(ownerUserId, false, cancellationToken);
+            var searchQuery = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(query)
+                ? SearchQuery.All
+                : SearchQuery.SubjectContains(query.Trim()).Or(SearchQuery.FromContains(query.Trim())).Or(SearchQuery.BodyContains(query.Trim()));
+
+            var uids = await client.Inbox.SearchAsync(searchQuery, cancellationToken);
+            var window = uids.OrderByDescending(u => u.Id).Take(maxResults).ToList();
+            var summaries = await FetchSummariesAsync(client, window, cancellationToken);
+
+            await TouchSyncStateAsync(ownerUserId, "list-messages", string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(query) ? "default-query" : "custom-query", true, null, cancellationToken);
+            return summaries;
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            await TouchSyncStateAsync(ownerUserId, "list-messages", string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(query) ? "default-query" : "custom-query", false, ex.Message, cancellationToken);
+            throw;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task<IReadOnlyList<ImapMessageSummary>> ListThreadMessagesAsync(string ownerUserId, string threadKey, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(threadKey))
+        {
+            return Array.Empty<ImapMessageSummary>();
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            using var client = await OpenInboxAsync(ownerUserId, false, cancellationToken);
+            var recentUids = (await client.Inbox.SearchAsync(SearchQuery.All, cancellationToken))
+                .OrderByDescending(u => u.Id)
+                .Take(ThreadScanWindow)
+                .ToList();
+
+            var items = await client.Inbox.FetchAsync(recentUids, MessageSummaryItems.Envelope | MessageSummaryItems.References | MessageSummaryItems.UniqueId, cancellationToken);
+            var matches = items.Where(item => ComputeThreadKey(item) == threadKey.Trim()).ToList();
+            var summaries = matches.Select(ToSummary).OrderBy(s => s.Date).ToList();
+
+            await TouchSyncStateAsync(ownerUserId, "thread-refresh", "reference-scan", true, null, cancellationToken);
+            return summaries;
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            await TouchSyncStateAsync(ownerUserId, "thread-refresh", "reference-scan", false, ex.Message, cancellationToken);
+            throw;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task<ImapMessageDetail> GetMessageAsync(string ownerUserId, string messageId, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            using var client = await OpenInboxAsync(ownerUserId, false, cancellationToken);
+            var uid = ParseUid(messageId);
+
+            var summaryItems = await client.Inbox.FetchAsync(new[] { uid }, MessageSummaryItems.Envelope | MessageSummaryItems.References | MessageSummaryItems.UniqueId, cancellationToken);
+            var summary = summaryItems.FirstOrDefault() ?? throw new InvalidOperationException($"IMAP message {messageId} was not found.");
+
+            var mime = await client.Inbox.GetMessageAsync(uid, cancellationToken);
+            var bodyText = mime.TextBody ?? (mime.HtmlBody is null ? "" : StripHtml(mime.HtmlBody));
+            var attachments = mime.Attachments.Select(a => new ImapMessageAttachment(
+                a.ContentDisposition?.FileName ?? a.ContentType?.Name,
+                a.ContentType?.MimeType,
+                a is MimePart part ? part.Content?.Stream?.Length : null,
+                a.ContentId,
+                a.IsAttachment == false
+            )).ToList();
+
+            await TouchSyncStateAsync(ownerUserId, "message-detail", "imap-message", true, null, cancellationToken);
+            return new ImapMessageDetail(
+                messageId,
+                ComputeThreadKey(summary),
+                summary.Envelope?.Subject ?? "",
+                FormatAddresses(summary.Envelope?.From),
+                FormatAddresses(summary.Envelope?.To),
+                summary.Envelope?.Date,
+                bodyText.Length > 200 ? bodyText[..200] : bodyText,
+                bodyText.Trim(),
+                mime.HtmlBody,
+                Array.Empty<string>(),
+                attachments);
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            await TouchSyncStateAsync(ownerUserId, "message-detail", "imap-message", false, ex.Message, cancellationToken);
+            throw;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static async Task<IReadOnlyList<ImapMessageSummary>> FetchSummariesAsync(ImapClient client, IList<UniqueId> uids, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        if (uids.Count == 0) return Array.Empty<ImapMessageSummary>();
+        var items = await client.Inbox.FetchAsync(uids, MessageSummaryItems.Envelope | MessageSummaryItems.References | MessageSummaryItems.UniqueId, cancellationToken);
+        return items.Select(ToSummary).ToList();
+    }
+
+    private static ImapMessageSummary ToSummary(IMessageSummary item) => new(
+        item.UniqueId.Id.ToString(),
+        ComputeThreadKey(item),
+        item.Envelope?.Subject ?? "",
+        FormatAddresses(item.Envelope?.From),
+        FormatAddresses(item.Envelope?.To),
+        item.Envelope?.Date,
+        "");
+
+    // The root Message-Id of the References chain, or this message's own Message-Id if it
+    // starts no chain — a stand-in "thread id" that works without the IMAP THREAD extension.
+    private static string ComputeThreadKey(IMessageSummary item)
+    {
+        if (item.References is { Count: > 0 })
+        {
+            return item.References[0];
+        }
+        return item.Envelope?.MessageId ?? item.UniqueId.Id.ToString();
+    }
+
+    private static string FormatAddresses(InternetAddressList? list)
+        => list is null ? "" : string.Join(", ", list.Mailboxes.Select(m => m.Address));
+
+    private static string StripHtml(string html)
+        => System.Text.RegularExpressions.Regex.Replace(html, "<[^>]+>", " ").Trim();
+
+    private static UniqueId ParseUid(string messageId)
+        => uint.TryParse(messageId, out var id) ? new UniqueId(id) : throw new InvalidOperationException($"Invalid IMAP message id: {messageId}");
+
+    private async Task<ImapClient> OpenInboxAsync(string ownerUserId, bool writable, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        var connection = await _db.ImapConnections.FirstOrDefaultAsync(x => x.OwnerUserId == ownerUserId, cancellationToken)
+            ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("IMAP is not connected for this account.");
+
+        string password;
+        try
+        {
+            password = _protector.Unprotect(connection.EncryptedPassword);
+        }
+        catch (CryptographicException)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("Your stored IMAP connection can no longer be decrypted after a server key change. Disconnect and reconnect IMAP.");
+        }
+
+        await EnsureHostIsExternalAsync(connection.Host, cancellationToken);
+        var client = new ImapClient();
+        await client.ConnectAsync(connection.Host, connection.Port, connection.UseSsl, cancellationToken);
+        await client.AuthenticateAsync(connection.Username, password, cancellationToken);
+        await client.Inbox.OpenAsync(writable ? FolderAccess.ReadWrite : FolderAccess.ReadOnly, cancellationToken);
+        return client;
+    }
+
+    // SSRF guard: a user-supplied IMAP host resolves to an IP the server then opens a socket to.
+    // Without this check an authenticated user could point "their mailbox" at loopback, RFC1918/
+    // link-local ranges, or the cloud metadata address to probe internal infrastructure. Re-run on
+    // every connect (not just the initial one) so a DNS record that resolves externally at connect
+    // time can't be rebound internally for a later reconnect.
+    private static async Task EnsureHostIsExternalAsync(string host, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        IPAddress[] addresses;
+        try
+        {
+            addresses = await Dns.GetHostAddressesAsync(host, cancellationToken);
+        }
+        catch (SocketException)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("Could not resolve that IMAP host.");
+        }
+
+        if (addresses.Length == 0 || addresses.Any(IsInternalAddress))
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("That IMAP host is not reachable.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static bool IsInternalAddress(IPAddress address)
+    {
+        if (address.IsIPv4MappedToIPv6) address = address.MapToIPv4();
+
+        if (IPAddress.IsLoopback(address)) return true;
+        if (address.Equals(IPAddress.Any) || address.Equals(IPAddress.IPv6Any)) return true;
+
+        if (address.AddressFamily == AddressFamily.InterNetwork)
+        {
+            var bytes = address.GetAddressBytes();
+            if (bytes[0] == 10) return true; // 10.0.0.0/8
+            if (bytes[0] == 172 && bytes[1] >= 16 && bytes[1] <= 31) return true; // 172.16.0.0/12
+            if (bytes[0] == 192 && bytes[1] == 168) return true; // 192.168.0.0/16
+            if (bytes[0] == 169 && bytes[1] == 254) return true; // 169.254.0.0/16 (incl. cloud metadata)
+            if (bytes[0] == 127) return true; // 127.0.0.0/8
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        if (address.AddressFamily == AddressFamily.InterNetworkV6)
+        {
+            if (address.IsIPv6LinkLocal || address.IsIPv6SiteLocal) return true;
+            var bytes = address.GetAddressBytes();
+            if ((bytes[0] & 0xFE) == 0xFC) return true; // fc00::/7 (unique local)
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        return true; // unknown address family: fail closed
+    }
+
+    private async Task TouchSyncStateAsync(string ownerUserId, string mode, string source, bool succeeded, string? error, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        var connection = await _db.ImapConnections.FirstOrDefaultAsync(x => x.OwnerUserId == ownerUserId, cancellationToken);
+        if (connection is null) return;
+
+        connection.LastSyncAttemptedAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
+        connection.LastSyncMode = mode;
+        connection.LastSyncSource = source;
+        connection.LastSyncStatus = succeeded ? "ok" : "error";
+        connection.LastSyncError = succeeded ? null : error;
+        if (succeeded)
+        {
+            connection.LastSyncedAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
+            connection.LastSyncSucceededAt = connection.LastSyncedAt;
+        }
+
+        await _db.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
+    }
+}

JobTrackerApi/Services/StartupInitializationExtensions.cs

@@ -386,6 +386,31 @@ public static class StartupInitializationExtensions
                     Exec(c, """CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS "IX_MicrosoftGraphConnections_OwnerUserId_MailAddress" ON "MicrosoftGraphConnections" ("OwnerUserId", "MailAddress");""");
                 }
 
+                static void EnsureImapConnectionsTable(DbConnection c)
+                {
+                    Exec(c, """
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS "ImapConnections" (
+            "Id" INTEGER NOT NULL CONSTRAINT "PK_ImapConnections" PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+            "OwnerUserId" TEXT NOT NULL,
+            "Host" TEXT NOT NULL,
+            "Port" INTEGER NOT NULL,
+            "UseSsl" INTEGER NOT NULL,
+            "Username" TEXT NOT NULL,
+            "EncryptedPassword" TEXT NOT NULL,
+            "ConnectedAt" TEXT NOT NULL,
+            "LastSyncedAt" TEXT NULL,
+            "LastSyncAttemptedAt" TEXT NULL,
+            "LastSyncSucceededAt" TEXT NULL,
+            "LastSyncMode" TEXT NULL,
+            "LastSyncSource" TEXT NULL,
+            "LastSyncStatus" TEXT NULL,
+            "LastSyncError" TEXT NULL
+        );
+        """);
+
+                    Exec(c, """CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS "IX_ImapConnections_OwnerUserId" ON "ImapConnections" ("OwnerUserId");""");
+                }
+
                 static void EnsureCvTables(DbConnection c)
                 {
                     Exec(c, """
@@ -455,6 +480,7 @@ public static class StartupInitializationExtensions
 
                 EnsureGmailConnectionsTable(conn);
                 EnsureMicrosoftGraphConnectionsTable(conn);
+                EnsureImapConnectionsTable(conn);
                 EnsureCvTables(conn);
 
                 // Legacy DB signature: migration history exists (AddCorrespondence applied), but 20260310195000 not recorded,
@@ -634,6 +660,7 @@ public static class StartupInitializationExtensions
                     EnsureMySqlAutoIncrementPrimaryKey(conn, "JobEvents", "Id");
                     EnsureMySqlAutoIncrementPrimaryKey(conn, "GmailConnections", "Id");
                     EnsureMySqlAutoIncrementPrimaryKey(conn, "MicrosoftGraphConnections", "Id");
+                    EnsureMySqlAutoIncrementPrimaryKey(conn, "ImapConnections", "Id");
                     EnsureMySqlAutoIncrementPrimaryKey(conn, "CvUploadArtifacts", "Id");
                     EnsureMySqlAutoIncrementPrimaryKey(conn, "CvExtractionRuns", "Id");
                     EnsureMySqlAutoIncrementPrimaryKey(conn, "TailoredCvDrafts", "Id");
@@ -851,6 +878,30 @@ public static class StartupInitializationExtensions
                         cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
                     }
 
+                    if (!HasMySqlTable(conn, "ImapConnections"))
+                    {
+                        using var cmd = conn.CreateCommand();
+                        cmd.CommandText = @"CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `ImapConnections` (
+        `Id` int NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
+        `OwnerUserId` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
+        `Host` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
+        `Port` int NOT NULL,
+        `UseSsl` tinyint(1) NOT NULL,
+        `Username` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
+        `EncryptedPassword` longtext NOT NULL,
+        `ConnectedAt` datetime(6) NOT NULL,
+        `LastSyncedAt` datetime(6) NULL,
+        `LastSyncAttemptedAt` datetime(6) NULL,
+        `LastSyncSucceededAt` datetime(6) NULL,
+        `LastSyncMode` varchar(255) NULL,
+        `LastSyncSource` varchar(255) NULL,
+        `LastSyncStatus` varchar(255) NULL,
+        `LastSyncError` longtext NULL,
+        PRIMARY KEY (`Id`)
+        );";
+                        cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
+                    }
+
                     if (!HasMySqlTable(conn, "TailoredCvDrafts"))
                     {
                         using var cmd = conn.CreateCommand();
@@ -956,6 +1007,13 @@ public static class StartupInitializationExtensions
                         cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
                     }
 
+                    if (!MySqlIndexExists(conn, "ImapConnections", "IX_ImapConnections_OwnerUserId"))
+                    {
+                        using var cmd = conn.CreateCommand();
+                        cmd.CommandText = "CREATE UNIQUE INDEX `IX_ImapConnections_OwnerUserId` ON `ImapConnections` (`OwnerUserId`);";
+                        cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
+                    }
+
                     if (!MySqlIndexExists(conn, "TailoredCvDrafts", "IX_TailoredCvDrafts_OwnerUserId_JobApplicationId"))
                     {
                         using var cmd = conn.CreateCommand();

JobTrackerBackend/JobTrackerBackend.csproj

@@ -29,5 +29,6 @@
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Sqlite" Version="9.0.14" />
     <PackageReference Include="System.IdentityModel.Tokens.Jwt" Version="8.14.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.IdentityModel.Protocols.OpenIdConnect" Version="8.14.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="MailKit" Version="4.17.0" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>

Models/ImapConnection.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+namespace JobTrackerApi.Models;
+
+public sealed class ImapConnection
+{
+    public int Id { get; set; }
+    public string OwnerUserId { get; set; } = "";
+    public string Host { get; set; } = "";
+    public int Port { get; set; } = 993;
+    public bool UseSsl { get; set; } = true;
+    public string Username { get; set; } = "";
+    public string EncryptedPassword { get; set; } = "";
+    public DateTimeOffset ConnectedAt { get; set; } = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
+    public DateTimeOffset? LastSyncedAt { get; set; }
+    public DateTimeOffset? LastSyncAttemptedAt { get; set; }
+    public DateTimeOffset? LastSyncSucceededAt { get; set; }
+    public string? LastSyncMode { get; set; }
+    public string? LastSyncSource { get; set; }
+    public string? LastSyncStatus { get; set; }
+    public string? LastSyncError { get; set; }
+}

job-tracker-ui/src/App.tsx

@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ function Shell({ jobPageSize, setJobPageSize, jobColumns, setJobColumns, themeMo
   }, []);
 
   if (requireAuth === null || !authResolved) return <Box sx={{ p: 4 }}><Typography variant="h6">Loading...</Typography></Box>;
-  if (requireAuth && !me) return <Navigate to="/login" replace state={{ from: path }} />;
+  if (requireAuth && !me) return <Navigate to="/" replace state={{ from: path }} />;
 
   const pageTitle = titleFor(path, t);
   const breadcrumbs = breadcrumbsFor(path, t);

job-tracker-ui/src/LandingPage.authRedirect.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import React from "react";
+import "@testing-library/jest-dom";
+import { render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
+import { MemoryRouter, Route, Routes, useLocation } from "react-router-dom";
+import { api } from "./api";
+import LandingPage from "./pages/LandingPage";
+
+jest.mock("./api", () => ({
+  api: {
+    get: jest.fn(),
+    post: jest.fn(),
+    interceptors: { request: { use: jest.fn() }, response: { use: jest.fn() } },
+  },
+}));
+
+const mockedApi = api as jest.Mocked<typeof api>;
+
+function LoginStub() {
+  const location = useLocation() as { state?: { from?: string } };
+  return <div>login page, from={location.state?.from ?? "none"}</div>;
+}
+
+// Regression check for the auth-guard fix: a protected route bounces an
+// unauthenticated visitor to "/" with `state.from` set to the page they
+// wanted. The home page must forward that state to /login so sign-in
+// returns them to the originally-requested page instead of dropping them
+// on /jobs.
+describe("LandingPage forwards deep-link intent to /login", () => {
+  it("preserves location.state.from through the Sign in CTA", async () => {
+    mockedApi.get.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("401")); // /auth/me: not signed in
+
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter initialEntries={[{ pathname: "/", state: { from: "/jobs/42" } }]}>
+        <Routes>
+          <Route path="/" element={<LandingPage />} />
+          <Route path="/login" element={<LoginStub />} />
+        </Routes>
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    );
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(mockedApi.get).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/auth/me"));
+
+    const signInButtons = await screen.findAllByText("Sign in", { selector: "button" });
+    await userEvent.click(signInButtons[0]);
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText("login page, from=/jobs/42")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});

job-tracker-ui/src/pages/LandingPage.tsx

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import React, { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 
 import { Box, Button, Container, Stack, Typography } from "@mui/material";
 import { alpha } from "@mui/material/styles";
-import { useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";
+import { useLocation, useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";
 
 import DashboardIcon from "@mui/icons-material/SpaceDashboardOutlined";
 import AlarmIcon from "@mui/icons-material/NotificationsActiveOutlined";
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ const PRICING: { name: string; price: string; cadence: string; highlight: boolea
 
 export default function LandingPage() {
   const navigate = useNavigate();
+  const location = useLocation() as { state?: { from?: string } };
   const [checking, setChecking] = useState(true);
 
   // If the visitor already has a session, send them straight into the app.
@@ -54,6 +55,11 @@ export default function LandingPage() {
     return () => { active = false; };
   }, [navigate]);
 
+  // A protected route redirects unauthenticated visitors here with the page they
+  // wanted in location state; forward it to /login so sign-in returns them there
+  // instead of dropping them on /jobs.
+  const goToLogin = () => navigate("/login", { state: location.state });
+
   if (checking) {
     return (
       <Box sx={{ minHeight: "100vh", display: "grid", placeItems: "center", bgcolor: BRAND_DARK }}>
@@ -78,7 +84,7 @@ export default function LandingPage() {
               <Box sx={{ width: 30, height: 30, borderRadius: "8px", background: "linear-gradient(135deg,#6366f1,#22d3ee)", display: "grid", placeItems: "center", color: BRAND_DARK, fontWeight: 900 }}>✓</Box>
               <Typography sx={{ color: "#fff", fontWeight: 800, fontSize: 20 }}>JobTrack</Typography>
             </Stack>
-            <Button variant="contained" onClick={() => navigate("/login")} sx={{ background: "linear-gradient(90deg,#6366f1,#22d3ee)", color: "#0b1020", fontWeight: 700 }}>
+            <Button variant="contained" onClick={goToLogin} sx={{ background: "linear-gradient(90deg,#6366f1,#22d3ee)", color: "#0b1020", fontWeight: 700 }}>
               Sign in
             </Button>
           </Stack>
@@ -100,7 +106,7 @@ export default function LandingPage() {
               right job — all in one focused workspace. Assistive, never autonomous: you approve every draft.
             </Typography>
             <Stack direction={{ xs: "column", sm: "row" }} spacing={2}>
-              <Button size="large" variant="contained" onClick={() => navigate("/login")} sx={{ background: "linear-gradient(90deg,#6366f1,#22d3ee)", color: "#0b1020", fontWeight: 800, px: 4, py: 1.25 }}>
+              <Button size="large" variant="contained" onClick={goToLogin} sx={{ background: "linear-gradient(90deg,#6366f1,#22d3ee)", color: "#0b1020", fontWeight: 800, px: 4, py: 1.25 }}>
                 Get started
               </Button>
               <Button size="large" variant="outlined" href="#features" sx={{ color: "#e2e8f0", borderColor: alpha("#ffffff", 0.25), px: 3, py: 1.25 }}>
@@ -217,7 +223,7 @@ export default function LandingPage() {
               <Button
                 fullWidth
                 variant={tier.highlight ? "contained" : "outlined"}
-                onClick={() => navigate("/login")}
+                onClick={goToLogin}
                 sx={tier.highlight ? { background: "linear-gradient(90deg,#6366f1,#22d3ee)", color: "#0b1020", fontWeight: 800 } : { fontWeight: 700 }}
               >
                 {tier.cta}
@@ -237,7 +243,7 @@ export default function LandingPage() {
             <Typography sx={{ fontWeight: 800, fontSize: { xs: 24, md: 30 }, mb: 1 }}>Ready to organize your search?</Typography>
             <Typography sx={{ color: "#94a3b8", fontSize: 17 }}>Sign in to start tracking applications, tailoring CVs, and following up with intent.</Typography>
           </Box>
-          <Button size="large" variant="contained" onClick={() => navigate("/login")} sx={{ background: "linear-gradient(90deg,#6366f1,#22d3ee)", color: "#0b1020", fontWeight: 800, px: 4, py: 1.25, whiteSpace: "nowrap" }}>
+          <Button size="large" variant="contained" onClick={goToLogin} sx={{ background: "linear-gradient(90deg,#6366f1,#22d3ee)", color: "#0b1020", fontWeight: 800, px: 4, py: 1.25, whiteSpace: "nowrap" }}>
             Sign in →
           </Button>
         </Box>
@@ -248,7 +254,7 @@ export default function LandingPage() {
         <Container maxWidth="lg">
           <Stack direction={{ xs: "column", sm: "row" }} justifyContent="space-between" alignItems="center" spacing={1}>
             <Typography sx={{ color: "text.secondary", fontSize: 14 }}>© {new Date().getFullYear()} JobTrack — a focused workspace for the modern job search.</Typography>
-            <Button variant="text" onClick={() => navigate("/login")} sx={{ fontWeight: 700 }}>Sign in</Button>
+            <Button variant="text" onClick={goToLogin} sx={{ fontWeight: 700 }}>Sign in</Button>
           </Stack>
         </Container>
       </Box>