diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 972027e..3ecd478 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 DocuVault is a multi-user SaaS document management platform built on FastAPI (Python) + Vue 3. It handles document upload, text extraction (PDF/DOCX/image/text), AI-based topic classification, per-user isolated storage, folder organization, document sharing, and pluggable cloud storage backends (OneDrive, Google Drive, Nextcloud, WebDAV).
 
-**Current state:** v0.2.3 — Phase 12.1 Plan 01 complete 2026-06-22. Cloud provider adapter contract repaired: Nextcloud now inherits canonical `WebDAVBackend.list_folder(connection_id, user_id, parent_ref=None, page_token=None) -> CloudListing`; legacy `list_folder(folder_path="") -> list[dict]` override removed. `normalize_nextcloud_url()` added to `cloud_utils.py`. OneDrive `@odata.nextLink` cross-origin guard added. Four-provider parametrized contract suite in `test_cloud_provider_contract.py`. Phase 12.1 in progress. Not cleared for public internet deployment.
+**Current state:** v0.2.4 — Phase 12.1 Plan 02 complete 2026-06-22. Truthful freshness gate added: `apply_listing_and_finalize()` in `cloud_items.py` is the single shared gate used by both `browse.py` and `cloud_tasks.py`. Incomplete listings (`CloudListing.complete=False`) no longer produce `refresh_state="fresh"` — they retain cached items, preserve prior `last_refreshed_at`, and set a controlled `incomplete_listing` warning. `ListingResult` dataclass carries `is_fresh`, `warning_code`, and `warning_message`. Phase 12.1 in progress. Not cleared for public internet deployment.
 
 ## Stack
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Before adding a helper, check if it belongs in an existing shared module:
 | `backend/services/auth.py` | `validate_password_strength(password)` — raises `ValueError`; routers catch and re-raise as `HTTPException` |
 | `backend/storage/cloud_base.py` | `CloudResourceAdapter`, `CloudListing`, `CloudResource`, `CloudCapability` — Phase 12 browse contract; all 4 providers implement this |
 | `backend/storage/cloud_utils.py` | `validate_cloud_url`, `normalize_nextcloud_url`, `encrypt_credentials`, `decrypt_credentials` — Phase 12.1 adds `normalize_nextcloud_url` |
-| `backend/services/cloud_items.py` | `resolve_owned_connection`, `upsert_cloud_item`, `reconcile_cloud_listing`, `get_or_create_folder_state` — owner-scoped cloud metadata service |
+| `backend/services/cloud_items.py` | `resolve_owned_connection`, `upsert_cloud_item`, `reconcile_cloud_listing`, `get_or_create_folder_state`, `apply_listing_and_finalize`, `ListingResult` — owner-scoped cloud metadata service; `apply_listing_and_finalize` is the single shared freshness gate |
 | `backend/api/cloud/schemas.py` | `CloudBrowseResponse`, `CloudItemOut`, `FolderFreshnessOut`, `ConnectionRenameRequest` — credential-free cloud response schemas |
 
 **Rules:**
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ Before adding a helper, check if it belongs in an existing shared module:
 - No AI provider may define its own `_strip_code_fences` or `_parse_*`. Import from `ai.utils`.
 - No API file may define `_validate_password_strength`. Import from `services.auth`.
 - Service layer raises `ValueError` (or domain exceptions), never `HTTPException`. Only the router layer raises `HTTPException`.
+- No caller of `adapter.list_folder` may independently call `update_folder_state(refresh_state="fresh")`. Callers must use `apply_listing_and_finalize` from `services.cloud_items`.
 
 ### Frontend: shared module map
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b1067c8..5d4cf08 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # DocuVault
 
-**Version 0.2.3 — Alpha**
+**Version 0.2.4 — Alpha**
 
 > **Not production-ready.** DocuVault is functional for local and self-hosted use but has not been audited or hardened for public internet exposure. APIs, environment variables, and the database schema may change without notice until a stable 1.0 release is declared.
 
diff --git a/RUNBOOK.md b/RUNBOOK.md
index 04293e2..5e946ef 100644
--- a/RUNBOOK.md
+++ b/RUNBOOK.md
@@ -682,7 +682,8 @@ UPDATE cloud_connections SET status = 'ACTIVE' WHERE id = '<conn-uuid>';
 ### Cloud browse background refresh
 
 The browse endpoint (`GET /api/cloud/connections/{id}/items`) serves cached metadata and schedules a background refresh when stale:
-- **Freshness states:** `fresh` (just refreshed), `refreshing` (refresh in progress), `stale` (last refresh > threshold), `warning` (refresh failed)
+- **Freshness states:** `fresh` (complete authoritative listing), `refreshing` (refresh in progress), `warning` (incomplete listing or provider error)
+- **`fresh` requires `complete=True`** — a `CloudListing(complete=False)` result from any provider always produces `warning` state (`incomplete_listing` error code), never `fresh`. `last_refreshed_at` is only advanced on successful `complete=True` listings.
 - **Cached data is always served** — the UI shows a warning banner for stale/error states without blocking navigation
 - **No bytes are downloaded** during browse; `size_bytes` values come from provider-reported metadata only
 
diff --git a/SECURITY.md b/SECURITY.md
index 0a8c3db..fd69e15 100644
--- a/SECURITY.md
+++ b/SECURITY.md
@@ -417,3 +417,23 @@ Integration tests activate with `INTEGRATION=1` against a disposable PostgreSQL
 
 **Gate 3 — No new Python or frontend packages introduced.**
 **Gate 4 — No hardcoded credentials in Compose or test files.**
+
+---
+
+## Phase 12.1 Plan 02 — Truthful Freshness Gate
+
+| Threat ID | Threat | Mitigation disposition | Status | Evidence |
+|-----------|--------|----------------------|--------|---------|
+| T-12.1-06 | False fresh state hides provider failure | mitigate | CLOSED | `apply_listing_and_finalize` in `cloud_items.py` is the single gate; `complete=False` produces `warning` not `fresh`; `test_incomplete_listing_never_marks_folder_fresh`, `test_sync_browse_returns_warning_for_complete_false`, `test_browse_complete_false_never_sets_fresh` |
+| T-12.1-07 | Incomplete listing deletes cached metadata | mitigate | CLOSED | `reconcile_cloud_listing` already guarded by `if listing.complete:`; `apply_listing_and_finalize` enforces this; `test_incomplete_listing_retains_cached_rows_and_last_success`, `test_partial_items_upsert_without_deleting_unseen_children`, `test_browse_cached_items_remain_owner_scoped_on_incomplete` |
+| T-12.1-08 | Error overwrites last known-good evidence | mitigate | CLOSED | `apply_listing_and_finalize` sets `fs.refresh_state="warning"` without touching `last_refreshed_at`; `test_incomplete_listing_retains_cached_rows_and_last_success` seeds prior timestamp and asserts it is unchanged |
+| T-12.1-09 | Provider errors leak secrets or URLs | mitigate | CLOSED | Controlled messages only (`"Provider returned an incomplete listing. Showing cached results."`); `ListingResult.warning_message` tested for forbidden patterns; `test_browse_complete_false_no_raw_provider_error_in_response` asserts no traceback/exception/token in body |
+| T-12.1-10 | Refresh changes bytes/quota | mitigate | CLOSED | Existing no-byte/no-MinIO/no-quota assertions still pass; `apply_listing_and_finalize` only calls `reconcile_cloud_listing` and `update_folder_state` — no byte IO |
+
+### Phase 12.1 Plan 02 Security Gate Evidence
+
+```
+pytest -q backend/tests/test_cloud_items.py backend/tests/test_cloud.py backend/tests/test_cloud_security.py
+89 passed
+```
+Bandit over modified files (`services/cloud_items.py`, `api/cloud/browse.py`, `tasks/cloud_tasks.py`): 0 HIGH, 0 MEDIUM findings.
diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 7b3d690..121c402 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
 
 # ── Application factory ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-app = FastAPI(title="Document Scanner API", version="0.2.3", lifespan=lifespan)
+app = FastAPI(title="Document Scanner API", version="0.2.4", lifespan=lifespan)
 
 # Rate limiter state (slowapi)
 app.state.limiter = auth_limiter
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 862abd8..980a308 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "document-scanner-frontend",
-  "version": "0.2.3",
+  "version": "0.2.4",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",