fix: collect --password once up-front and honor -S consistently across subcommands

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [2.1.5] - Unreleased
+
+### Fixed
+- **`--password` prompt is now collected once up-front and shared across all parallel connection tasks** (#201, closes #200). Previously each per-node SSH task prompted for the password independently, racing each other for stdin and interleaving with the progress UI. The dispatcher now collects the password before any executor or `indicatif` UI is initialized and threads an `Arc<Password>` to every per-node auth task — matching the existing `-S` (`SudoPassword`) pattern. The `BSSH_PASSWORD` environment variable is supported for automation scenarios (discouraged; see security notes below).
+- **`-S` / `--sudo-password` warning now routes to stderr** when passed to subcommands where it has no effect (`ping`, `upload`, `download`, `list`), keeping stdout clean for scripts that consume bssh output (#201).
+
 ## [2.1.4] - 2026-05-10
 
 ### Performance

README.md

@@ -574,8 +574,10 @@ bssh supports multiple authentication methods:
 - **Explicit**: Use `-A` flag to force SSH agent authentication
 
 ### Password Authentication
-- Use `-P` flag to enable password authentication
+- Use `-P` / `--password` flag to enable password authentication
+- The password is prompted **once up-front**, before any parallel connection tasks start, and is shared securely across all nodes — the prompt appears exactly once regardless of how many hosts are targeted
 - Password is prompted securely without echo
+- For automation, set `BSSH_PASSWORD` in the environment (not recommended; see security notes in the Sudo Password section)
 
 ### Examples
 ```bash
@@ -656,6 +658,15 @@ bssh supports configuration via environment variables:
 
 - **`SSH_AUTH_SOCK`**: SSH agent socket path (Unix-like systems)
 
+### SSH Password Variable
+
+- **`BSSH_PASSWORD`**: SSH password for automated password authentication
+  - Used when `--password` / `-P` is set and `BSSH_PASSWORD` is non-empty; skips the interactive prompt
+  - **WARNING**: Not recommended for security reasons
+  - Environment variables may be visible in process listings and shell history
+  - Use the interactive `-P` prompt instead for security-sensitive operations
+  - Example: `BSSH_PASSWORD=secret bssh -P -H "user@host" "uptime"`
+
 ### Sudo Password Variable
 
 - **`BSSH_SUDO_PASSWORD`**: Sudo password for automated sudo authentication

docs/man/bssh.1

@@ -155,8 +155,14 @@ is not available or authentication fails.
 
 .TP
 .BR \-\-password
-Use password authentication. When this option is specified, bssh will
-prompt for the password securely without echoing it to the terminal.
+Use password authentication. The password is collected once up-front,
+before any parallel connection tasks are started, and is shared securely
+across all target nodes. The prompt appears exactly once regardless of
+how many hosts are targeted. If the
+.B BSSH_PASSWORD
+environment variable is set and non-empty, it is used instead of
+prompting interactively (not recommended; see
+.BR ENVIRONMENT ).
 This is useful for systems that don't have SSH keys configured.
 
 .TP
@@ -1796,6 +1802,23 @@ attacks while allowing flexible jump host configurations.
 .br
 Example: BSSH_MAX_JUMP_HOSTS=20 bssh -J host1,host2,...,host20 target
 
+.TP
+.B BSSH_PASSWORD
+SSH password for automated password authentication. When set along with the
+.B \-\-password
+flag and the variable is non-empty, bssh uses this value instead of
+prompting interactively. The password is still collected once up-front and
+shared across all parallel connection tasks.
+.br
+.B WARNING:
+Using environment variables for passwords is not recommended for production
+use as they may be visible in process listings, shell history, or logs.
+Prefer the interactive
+.B \-\-password
+prompt for security-sensitive operations.
+.br
+Example: BSSH_PASSWORD=mysecret bssh --password -H "user@host" "uptime"
+
 .TP
 .B BSSH_SUDO_PASSWORD
 Sudo password for automated sudo authentication. When set along with the

examples/interactive_demo.rs

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         key_path: None,
         use_agent: false,
         use_password: false,
+        ssh_password: None,
         #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
         use_keychain: false,
         strict_mode: StrictHostKeyChecking::AcceptNew,

src/app/dispatcher.rs

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ use bssh::{
     },
     config::InteractiveMode,
     pty::PtyConfig,
-    security::get_sudo_password,
+    security::{Password, get_password, get_sudo_password},
     ssh::tokio_client::{DEFAULT_KEEPALIVE_INTERVAL, DEFAULT_KEEPALIVE_MAX, SshConnectionConfig},
 };
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
@@ -83,6 +83,38 @@ fn build_ssh_connection_config(
     ssh_connection_config
 }
 
+/// Decide whether `-S` (sudo-password) is meaningful for the given subcommand.
+///
+/// `exec` and the interactive paths legitimately need a sudo password; the
+/// other subcommands run either no command (`ping` just runs `true`) or operate
+/// over SFTP (`upload`, `download`, `list`), so sudo is never relevant.
+fn sudo_password_is_applicable(command: &Option<Commands>) -> bool {
+    match command {
+        Some(Commands::Ping)
+        | Some(Commands::Upload { .. })
+        | Some(Commands::Download { .. })
+        | Some(Commands::List)
+        | Some(Commands::CacheStats { .. }) => false,
+        // exec (None), Interactive, and unknown future subcommands default to
+        // "applicable" — better to over-accept than silently strip a flag the
+        // user explicitly passed.
+        _ => true,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Human-readable name of the currently-dispatched subcommand for diagnostics.
+fn subcommand_name(command: &Option<Commands>) -> &'static str {
+    match command {
+        Some(Commands::List) => "list",
+        Some(Commands::Ping) => "ping",
+        Some(Commands::Upload { .. }) => "upload",
+        Some(Commands::Download { .. }) => "download",
+        Some(Commands::Interactive { .. }) => "interactive",
+        Some(Commands::CacheStats { .. }) => "cache-stats",
+        None => "exec",
+    }
+}
+
 /// Dispatch commands to their appropriate handlers
 pub async fn dispatch_command(cli: &Cli, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<()> {
     // Get command to execute
@@ -100,6 +132,36 @@ pub async fn dispatch_command(cli: &Cli, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<()> {
         );
     }
 
+    // Warn if -S is passed to subcommands where it has no effect. We choose
+    // a warning (not a hard reject) to match typical CLI UX: existing scripts
+    // that happen to pass -S to `ping` or `upload` keep working, but the user
+    // gets visible feedback that the flag is being ignored.
+    if cli.sudo_password && !sudo_password_is_applicable(&cli.command) {
+        eprintln!(
+            "Warning: --sudo-password (-S) has no effect for the `{}` subcommand and will be ignored",
+            subcommand_name(&cli.command)
+        );
+    }
+
+    // Hoist `--password` collection: prompt ONCE here, before any per-node
+    // SSH connection task is spawned and before the indicatif progress UI is
+    // rendered. Previously this prompt was issued inside each parallel auth
+    // task (see `ssh/auth.rs::password_auth()`), which interleaved with the
+    // progress bar and could fan out N concurrent stdin reads. Collecting
+    // here mirrors what `-S` (`SudoPassword`) does and is the entire point
+    // of issue #200.
+    //
+    // The returned value is wrapped in `Arc<Password>` so cloning across
+    // per-node tasks does not duplicate the underlying secret; on drop, the
+    // memory is zeroized by `secrecy::SecretString`.
+    let ssh_password: Option<Arc<Password>> = if cli.password {
+        Some(Arc::new(get_password(true).map_err(|e| {
+            anyhow::anyhow!("Failed to collect SSH password: {e}")
+        })?))
+    } else {
+        None
+    };
+
     // Calculate hostname for SSH config integration
     let hostname_for_ssh_config = if cli.is_ssh_mode() {
         cli.parse_destination().map(|(_, host, _)| host)
@@ -143,6 +205,7 @@ pub async fn dispatch_command(cli: &Cli, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<()> {
                 cli.timeout,
                 Some(cli.connect_timeout),
                 jump_hosts,
+                ssh_password.clone(),
             )
             .await
         }
@@ -172,6 +235,7 @@ pub async fn dispatch_command(cli: &Cli, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<()> {
                 strict_mode: ctx.strict_mode,
                 use_agent: cli.use_agent,
                 use_password: cli.password,
+                ssh_password: ssh_password.clone(),
                 recursive: *recursive,
                 ssh_config: Some(&ctx.ssh_config),
                 jump_hosts,
@@ -204,6 +268,7 @@ pub async fn dispatch_command(cli: &Cli, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<()> {
                 strict_mode: ctx.strict_mode,
                 use_agent: cli.use_agent,
                 use_password: cli.password,
+                ssh_password: ssh_password.clone(),
                 recursive: *recursive,
                 ssh_config: Some(&ctx.ssh_config),
                 jump_hosts,
@@ -225,6 +290,7 @@ pub async fn dispatch_command(cli: &Cli, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<()> {
                 prompt_format,
                 history_file,
                 work_dir.as_deref(),
+                ssh_password.clone(),
             )
             .await
         }
@@ -234,12 +300,13 @@ pub async fn dispatch_command(cli: &Cli, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<()> {
         }
         None => {
             // Execute command (auto-exec or interactive shell)
-            handle_exec_command(cli, ctx, &command).await
+            handle_exec_command(cli, ctx, &command, ssh_password.clone()).await
         }
     }
 }
 
 /// Handle interactive command execution
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 async fn handle_interactive_command(
     cli: &Cli,
     ctx: &AppContext,
@@ -248,6 +315,7 @@ async fn handle_interactive_command(
     prompt_format: &str,
     history_file: &Path,
     work_dir: Option<&str>,
+    ssh_password: Option<Arc<Password>>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     // Get interactive config from configuration file (with cluster-specific overrides)
     let cluster_name = cli.cluster.as_deref();
@@ -340,6 +408,7 @@ async fn handle_interactive_command(
         key_path,
         use_agent: cli.use_agent,
         use_password: cli.password,
+        ssh_password,
         #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
         use_keychain,
         strict_mode: ctx.strict_mode,
@@ -358,7 +427,12 @@ async fn handle_interactive_command(
 }
 
 /// Handle exec command or SSH mode interactive session
-async fn handle_exec_command(cli: &Cli, ctx: &AppContext, command: &str) -> Result<()> {
+async fn handle_exec_command(
+    cli: &Cli,
+    ctx: &AppContext,
+    command: &str,
+    ssh_password: Option<Arc<Password>>,
+) -> Result<()> {
     // In SSH mode without command, start interactive session
     if cli.is_ssh_mode() && command.is_empty() {
         // SSH mode interactive session (like ssh user@host)
@@ -414,6 +488,7 @@ async fn handle_exec_command(cli: &Cli, ctx: &AppContext, command: &str) -> Resu
             key_path,
             use_agent: cli.use_agent,
             use_password: cli.password,
+            ssh_password,
             #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
             use_keychain,
             strict_mode: ctx.strict_mode,
@@ -504,6 +579,7 @@ async fn handle_exec_command(cli: &Cli, ctx: &AppContext, command: &str) -> Resu
             strict_mode: ctx.strict_mode,
             use_agent: cli.use_agent,
             use_password: cli.password,
+            ssh_password,
             #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
             use_keychain,
             output_dir: cli.output_dir.as_deref(),

src/commands/download.rs

@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ pub async fn download_file(
         params.use_agent,
         params.use_password,
     )
-    .with_jump_hosts(params.jump_hosts.clone());
+    .with_jump_hosts(params.jump_hosts.clone())
+    .with_ssh_password(params.ssh_password.clone());
     if let Some(ssh_config) = params.ssh_config {
         executor = executor.with_ssh_config(Some(ssh_config.clone()));
     }
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ pub async fn download_file(
                 params.jump_hosts.as_deref(), // Pass jump hosts from params
                 None,                         // Use default connect timeout
                 params.ssh_config,            // Pass ssh_config for ProxyJump resolution
+                params.ssh_password.clone(),
             )
             .await;
 
@@ -185,6 +187,10 @@ pub async fn download_file(
                 params.use_agent,
                 params.use_password,
                 None, // Use default timeout for ls command
+                // Issue #200 (C2): forward the dispatcher's pre-collected
+                // password so this glob-resolution step does NOT re-prompt
+                // after the dispatcher already asked once.
+                params.ssh_password.clone(),
             )
             .await?;
 

src/commands/exec.rs

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use crate::executor::{ExitCodeStrategy, OutputMode, ParallelExecutor, RankDetector};
 use crate::forwarding::ForwardingType;
 use crate::node::Node;
-use crate::security::SudoPassword;
+use crate::security::{Password, SudoPassword};
 use crate::ssh::SshConfig;
 use crate::ssh::known_hosts::StrictHostKeyChecking;
 use crate::ssh::tokio_client::SshConnectionConfig;
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ pub struct ExecuteCommandParams<'a> {
     pub strict_mode: StrictHostKeyChecking,
     pub use_agent: bool,
     pub use_password: bool,
+    /// Pre-collected SSH password collected once by the dispatcher and shared
+    /// (via `Arc::clone`) with every per-node SSH connection task. When
+    /// `use_password` is `true`, this should be `Some(_)`.
+    pub ssh_password: Option<Arc<Password>>,
     #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
     pub use_keychain: bool,
     pub output_dir: Option<&'a Path>,
@@ -109,10 +113,21 @@ async fn execute_command_with_forwarding(params: ExecuteCommandParams<'_>) -> Re
             return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("SSH agent not supported on Windows"));
         }
     } else if params.use_password {
-        // For password auth, we'd need to prompt - for now return error
-        return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
-            "Password authentication not yet supported with port forwarding"
-        ));
+        // Issue #200 (M1): consume the dispatcher's pre-collected password
+        // instead of erroring out. Previously this branch returned
+        // "Password authentication not yet supported with port forwarding"
+        // even though the dispatcher had already prompted the user — a
+        // confusing UX regression. The dispatcher collects unconditionally
+        // for `exec`, so when `use_password` is true we always have one.
+        let Some(password) = params.ssh_password.as_ref() else {
+            anyhow::bail!(
+                "--password was requested for port-forwarding exec but no \
+                 password was collected up-front (programmer error in dispatcher: \
+                 the `exec` arm must populate `ExecuteCommandParams::ssh_password` \
+                 when `use_password` is true)."
+            );
+        };
+        AuthMethod::with_password(password.as_str())
     } else {
         // Use default key file authentication
         let key_path = params
@@ -218,6 +233,7 @@ async fn execute_command_without_forwarding(params: ExecuteCommandParams<'_>) ->
     .with_connect_timeout(params.connect_timeout)
     .with_jump_hosts(params.jump_hosts.map(|s| s.to_string()))
     .with_sudo_password(params.sudo_password)
+    .with_ssh_password(params.ssh_password)
     .with_batch_mode(params.batch)
     .with_fail_fast(params.fail_fast)
     .with_ssh_config(params.ssh_config.cloned())

src/commands/interactive/connection.rs

@@ -161,7 +161,8 @@ impl InteractiveCommand {
         auth_ctx = auth_ctx
             .with_agent(self.use_agent)
             .with_password(self.use_password)
-            .with_password_fallback(!self.use_password); // Enable fallback only if not using explicit password
+            .with_password_fallback(!self.use_password) // Enable fallback only if not using explicit password
+            .with_pre_collected_password(self.ssh_password.clone());
 
         // Set macOS Keychain integration if available
         #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
@@ -262,11 +263,14 @@ impl InteractiveCommand {
                         .min(MAX_TIMEOUT_SECS),
                 );
 
-                // Pass SSH connection config to jump host chain for keepalive settings
+                // Pass SSH connection config to jump host chain for keepalive settings.
+                // Also pass the dispatcher's pre-collected password so jump-host
+                // authentication consumes it instead of re-prompting per call. See #200.
                 let chain = JumpHostChain::new(jump_hosts)
                     .with_connect_timeout(adjusted_timeout)
                     .with_command_timeout(Duration::from_secs(300))
-                    .with_ssh_connection_config(self.ssh_connection_config.clone());
+                    .with_ssh_connection_config(self.ssh_connection_config.clone())
+                    .with_ssh_password(self.ssh_password.clone());
 
                 // Connect through the chain
                 let connection = timeout(
@@ -406,11 +410,14 @@ impl InteractiveCommand {
                         .min(MAX_TIMEOUT_SECS),
                 );
 
-                // Pass SSH connection config to jump host chain for keepalive settings
+                // Pass SSH connection config to jump host chain for keepalive settings.
+                // Also pass the dispatcher's pre-collected password so jump-host
+                // authentication consumes it instead of re-prompting per call. See #200.
                 let chain = JumpHostChain::new(jump_hosts)
                     .with_connect_timeout(adjusted_timeout)
                     .with_command_timeout(Duration::from_secs(300))
-                    .with_ssh_connection_config(self.ssh_connection_config.clone());
+                    .with_ssh_connection_config(self.ssh_connection_config.clone())
+                    .with_ssh_password(self.ssh_password.clone());
 
                 // Connect through the chain
                 let connection = timeout(