diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d42455e..97241e4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,17 @@ for what changed inside the apps it composes.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [1.1.16] - 2026-07-18
+
+### Bumped
+- proxy -> [v1.1.14](https://github.com/theta42/proxy/releases/tag/v1.1.14)
+- sso-manager-node -> [v1.1.14](https://github.com/theta42/sso-manager-node/releases/tag/v1.1.14)
+
+Both: bumped `@simpleworkjs/conf` to 1.2.0 and `jq-repeat` to 2.2.0.
+
+### Changed
+- `./config/sso-secrets.js` and `./config/proxy-secrets.js` are now loaded via each app's `CONF_SECRETS` env var (set by the entrypoint) instead of being symlinked into `/app/conf/secrets.js` — neither container needs write access to its own `conf/` directory anymore. No change to the config file format or bind mounts; existing `./config/` directories keep working as-is.
+
 ## [1.1.15] - 2026-07-17
 
 ### Bumped
@@ -195,7 +206,8 @@ First tagged release. Establishes the `vX.Y.Z` tag convention going forward.
 - proxy -> [v1.1.0](https://github.com/theta42/proxy/releases/tag/v1.1.0)
 - sso-manager-node -> [v1.1.0](https://github.com/theta42/sso-manager-node/releases/tag/v1.1.0)
 
-[Unreleased]: https://github.com/theta42/theta-env/compare/v1.1.15...HEAD
+[Unreleased]: https://github.com/theta42/theta-env/compare/v1.1.16...HEAD
+[1.1.16]: https://github.com/theta42/theta-env/compare/v1.1.15...v1.1.16
 [1.1.15]: https://github.com/theta42/theta-env/compare/v1.1.14...v1.1.15
 [1.1.14]: https://github.com/theta42/theta-env/compare/v1.1.13...v1.1.14
 [1.1.13]: https://github.com/theta42/theta-env/compare/v1.1.12...v1.1.13
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3bd572d..80a792b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -172,7 +172,8 @@ operator-owned and `setup.env` is ignored.
 ### Configuration — `./config/` (no `.env` files)
 
 All config and secrets live in a bind-mounted `./config/` directory (gitignored),
-read by each app's `@simpleworkjs/conf` from a symlinked `secrets.js`:
+read by each app's `@simpleworkjs/conf` via the `CONF_SECRETS` env var, which
+the entrypoint points at the mounted file:
 
 - **`./config/sso-secrets.js`** — SSO config: `ldap` (base, admin password,
   user/group bases), `oauth` (issuer, `jwtSecret`), `smtp`, `name`, plus
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 9971f49..aebf56e 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -13,11 +13,12 @@
 # Config + secrets live in bind-mounted ./config/ (gitignored):
 #   ./config/sso-secrets.js   — SSO app + orchestrator config
 #   ./config/proxy-secrets.js — proxy OIDC/LDAP/auth config
-# Each app's entrypoint symlinks its file into /app/conf/secrets.js so
-# @simpleworkjs/conf reads it. No app_* env is passed (app_* env would override
-# secrets.js). The sso-manager mounts ./config read-write so the bootstrap can
-# write the generated OAuth client creds back into proxy-secrets.js; the proxy
-# mounts it read-only.
+# Each app's entrypoint points CONF_SECRETS at its file so @simpleworkjs/conf
+# (>= 1.2.0) reads it directly -- no app_* env is passed (app_* env would
+# override secrets.js), and no write access to /app/conf is needed. The
+# sso-manager mounts ./config read-write so the bootstrap can write the
+# generated OAuth client creds back into proxy-secrets.js; the proxy mounts
+# it read-only.
 #
 # Compose only interpolates the port defaults below — there is no .env file.
 # First-run wiring (LDAP service account, first admin, OAuth client) is
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ services:
     volumes:
       # Operator-edited SSO secrets (sso-secrets.js). Read-WRITE so the bootstrap
       # can write the generated OAuth client creds into proxy-secrets.js. The
-      # entrypoint symlinks /config/sso-secrets.js -> /app/conf/secrets.js.
+      # entrypoint points CONF_SECRETS at /config/sso-secrets.js.
       - ./config:/config
       # Persist the LDAP database across container recreation.
       - ldap-data:/var/lib/ldap
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ services:
     volumes:
       # Operator-edited proxy secrets (proxy-secrets.js). READ-ONLY — the proxy
       # only reads it; the sso-manager bootstrap writes the OAuth creds. The
-      # entrypoint symlinks /config/proxy-secrets.js -> /app/conf/secrets.js.
+      # entrypoint points CONF_SECRETS at /config/proxy-secrets.js.
       - ./config:/config:ro
       # Persist Redis (AOF + RDB) so Host records, permissions, DNS creds, local
       # users, AND the auto-ssl Let's Encrypt certs survive container recreation.
diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index 189bcc9..2bce8e4 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -102,9 +102,9 @@ inputs from the bind-mounted `./config/sso-secrets.js` + `./config/proxy-secrets
    read-only). If `proxy-secrets.js` already holds a `clientId`+`clientSecret`
    matching an existing client, they are kept; if the client exists but the file
    has no usable secret, the secret is rotated and written back.
-6. **Build + start the proxy**, wait for `/health`. The proxy entrypoint symlinks
-   `./config/proxy-secrets.js` to `/app/conf/secrets.js`, so `@simpleworkjs/conf`
-   (≥1.1.0) reads the OAuth creds + LDAP bind creds from the file.
+6. **Build + start the proxy**, wait for `/health`. The proxy entrypoint points
+   `CONF_SECRETS` at `./config/proxy-secrets.js`, so `@simpleworkjs/conf`
+   (≥1.2.0) reads the OAuth creds + LDAP bind creds from the file.
 7. **Register `<SSO_HOST>` and `<PROXY_HOST>` as Host records in the proxy** —
    `setup.sh` runs a short script inside the proxy container that calls its
    Host model directly (`Host.create({host, ip, targetPort, ...})`), rather
@@ -123,19 +123,20 @@ inputs from the bind-mounted `./config/sso-secrets.js` + `./config/proxy-secrets
 ### How config reaches the apps (no `.env`)
 
 All config and secrets live in `./config/` (gitignored, bind-mounted). Each
-entrypoint symlinks its file to `/app/conf/secrets.js` early, before the app
-starts:
+entrypoint points the `CONF_SECRETS` env var (`@simpleworkjs/conf` >= 1.2.0)
+at its file early, before the app starts:
 
 ```
-./config/sso-secrets.js    ->  sso-manager:/app/conf/secrets.js   (./config RW)
-./config/proxy-secrets.js  ->  proxy:/app/conf/secrets.js         (./config RO)
+CONF_SECRETS=/config/sso-secrets.js    (sso-manager, ./config RW)
+CONF_SECRETS=/config/proxy-secrets.js  (proxy, ./config RO)
 ```
 
-`@simpleworkjs/conf` loads `conf/base.js → <env>.js → conf/secrets.js → app_*
-env`, where **env beats `secrets.js`**. So compose passes **no `app_*` env vars**
-(only `NODE_ENV`, `NODE_PORT`) — that makes `secrets.js` authoritative. The SSO
-entrypoint reads the few values it needs at startup (LDAP base DN, admin
-password, JWT secret, cert CN) from `secrets.js` via an in-container `node` call.
+`@simpleworkjs/conf` loads `conf/base.js → <env>.js → secrets file → app_*
+env`, where **env beats the secrets file**. So compose passes **no `app_*` env
+vars** (only `NODE_ENV`, `NODE_PORT`) — that makes the secrets file
+authoritative. The SSO entrypoint reads the few values it needs at startup
+(LDAP base DN, admin password, JWT secret, cert CN) from `sso-secrets.js` via
+an in-container `node` call.
 
 ### Why not `require` the SSO's internal models?
 
diff --git a/docs/standalone.md b/docs/standalone.md
index d5b66fd..0ae170f 100644
--- a/docs/standalone.md
+++ b/docs/standalone.md
@@ -25,18 +25,18 @@ mkdir -p config && cp secrets.js.example config/sso-secrets.js   # edit it
 docker compose up -d --build
 ```
 
-The entrypoint symlinks `config/sso-secrets.js` to `nodejs/conf/secrets.js` so
+The entrypoint points the `CONF_SECRETS` env var at `config/sso-secrets.js` so
 `@simpleworkjs/conf` reads it. Set `ldap.bindPassword`, `oauth.jwtSecret`, and
 the `stack`/`bootstrap` keys (the app ignores the ones it doesn't use). Pass
-**no `app_*` env** — env beats `secrets.js`, so `app_*` would silently override
-your file.
+**no `app_*` env** — env beats the secrets file, so `app_*` would silently
+override your file.
 
 - Web UI: `http://localhost:3001`
 - Health: `http://localhost:3001/health`
 - OIDC discovery: `http://localhost:3001/.well-known/openid-configuration`
 - LDAPS: `ldaps://<host>:636`
 
-Requires `@simpleworkjs/conf` >= 1.1.0. Full reference:
+Requires `@simpleworkjs/conf` >= 1.2.0. Full reference:
 [SSO Manager deployment docs](https://theta42.github.io/sso-manager-node/deployment.html).
 
 ### Bare metal
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ mkdir -p config && cp secrets.js.example config/proxy-secrets.js   # edit it
 docker compose up -d --build
 ```
 
-The entrypoint symlinks `config/proxy-secrets.js` to `nodejs/conf/secrets.js` so
-`@simpleworkjs/conf` reads it. Fill in `oidc` (your SSO's endpoints +
+The entrypoint points the `CONF_SECRETS` env var at `config/proxy-secrets.js`
+so `@simpleworkjs/conf` reads it. Fill in `oidc` (your SSO's endpoints +
 `clientId`/`clientSecret`/`redirectUri`), `ldap` (bind creds + search base), and
-`auth` (admin groups/users). Pass **no `app_*` env** — env beats `secrets.js`,
-so `app_*` would silently override your file.
+`auth` (admin groups/users). Pass **no `app_*` env** — env beats the secrets
+file, so `app_*` would silently override your file.
 
 - Proxy (public, auto-SSL): `https://<host>/`
 - Mgmt UI / API: `http://127.0.0.1:3000/`
diff --git a/proxy b/proxy
index b9bdf36..f0eadbc 160000
--- a/proxy
+++ b/proxy
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit b9bdf366385a8c3dc758d03e96afb7396752ff93
+Subproject commit f0eadbc2d79b90d72dddbcc6ff97652e3d913b22
diff --git a/setup.sh b/setup.sh
index 3ea1355..fd3ce49 100755
--- a/setup.sh
+++ b/setup.sh
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ write_sso_secrets() {
 	cat > "$CONFIG_DIR/sso-secrets.js" <<SSOEOF
 'use strict';
 // Generated by setup.sh. Edit freely; re-run ./setup.sh to apply.
-// The SSO app reads this via @simpleworkjs/conf (symlinked to conf/secrets.js).
+// The SSO app reads this via @simpleworkjs/conf (CONF_SECRETS env var).
 // The app ignores the extra stack/bootstrap/serviceAccountPass keys (read by
 // the orchestrator). Back this file up off-host — it holds all SSO secrets.
 
@@ -271,8 +271,8 @@ write_proxy_secrets() {
 	local dn="$CFG_BASE_DN"
 	cat > "$CONFIG_DIR/proxy-secrets.js" <<PROXYEOF
 'use strict';
-// Generated by setup.sh. The proxy reads this via @simpleworkjs/conf (symlinked
-// to conf/secrets.js). clientId/clientSecret are filled in by the bootstrap
+// Generated by setup.sh. The proxy reads this via @simpleworkjs/conf (CONF_SECRETS
+// env var). clientId/clientSecret are filled in by the bootstrap
 // (run by ./setup.sh) — leave them as-is. ldap.bindPassword MUST equal
 // serviceAccountPass in sso-secrets.js (the proxy binds as that account).
 
diff --git a/sso-manager-node b/sso-manager-node
index 47a9f6c..c5a2c0a 160000
--- a/sso-manager-node
+++ b/sso-manager-node
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 47a9f6c3ec4ea78995708a558821be46385bb467
+Subproject commit c5a2c0a71df2d8ca65f9c6a541797f8236048271