diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7eda9d3b..5802f32e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -29,6 +29,20 @@ NOTE: Add new changes BELOW THIS COMMENT.
 
 ### Security
 
+- Previous versions of AdGuard Home allowed users to add any system it had
+  access to as filters, exposing them to be world-readable.  To prevent this,
+  AdGuard Home now allows adding filtering-rule list files only from files
+  matching the patterns enumerated in the `filtering.safe_fs_patterns` property
+  in the configuration file.
+
+  We thank @itz-d0dgy for reporting this vulnerability, designated
+  CVE-2024-36814, to us.
+- Additionally, AdGuard Home will now try to change the permissions of its files
+  and directories to more restrictive ones to prevent similar vulnerabilities
+  as well as limit the access to the configuration.
+
+  We thank @go-compile for reporting this vulnerability, designated
+  CVE-2024-36586, to us.
 - Go version has been updated to prevent the possibility of exploiting the Go
   vulnerabilities fixed in [1.23.2][go-1.23.2].
 
@@ -42,6 +56,15 @@ NOTE: Add new changes BELOW THIS COMMENT.
 - Upstream server URL domain names requirements has been relaxed and now follow
   the same rules as their domain specifications.
 
+#### Configuration changes
+
+In this release, the schema version has changed from 28 to 29.
+
+- The new array `filtering.safe_fs_patterns` contains glob patterns for paths of
+  files that can be added as local filtering-rule lists.  The migration should
+  add list files that have already been added, as well as the default value,
+  `$DATA_DIR/userfilters/*`.
+
 ### Fixed
 
 - Property `clients.runtime_sources.dhcp` in the configuration file not taking
@@ -50,6 +73,22 @@ NOTE: Add new changes BELOW THIS COMMENT.
 - Enforce Bing safe search from Edge sidebar ([#7154]).
 - Text overflow on the query log page ([#7119]).
 
+### Known issues
+
+- Due to the complexity of the Windows permissions architecture and poor support
+  from the standard Go library, we have to postpone the proper automated Windows
+  fix until the next release.
+
+  **Temporary workaround:**  Set the permissions of the `AdGuardHome` directory
+  to more restrictive ones manually.  To do that:
+
+  1. Locate the `AdGuardHome` directory.
+  2. Right-click on it and navigate to *Properties → Security → Advanced*.
+  3. (You might need to disable permission inheritance to make them more
+     restricted.)
+  4. Adjust to give the `Full control` access to only the user which runs
+     AdGuard Home.  Typically, `Administrator`.
+
 [#5009]: https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/issues/5009
 [#5704]: https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/issues/5704
 [#7119]: https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/issues/7119
diff --git a/internal/aghos/os.go b/internal/aghos/os.go
index f2933a98..7d41a456 100644
--- a/internal/aghos/os.go
+++ b/internal/aghos/os.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"bufio"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path"
@@ -19,6 +20,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/log"
 )
 
+// Default file and directory permissions.
+const (
+	DefaultPermDir  fs.FileMode = 0o700
+	DefaultPermFile fs.FileMode = 0o600
+)
+
 // Unsupported is a helper that returns a wrapped [errors.ErrUnsupported].
 func Unsupported(op string) (err error) {
 	return fmt.Errorf("%s: not supported on %s: %w", op, runtime.GOOS, errors.ErrUnsupported)
diff --git a/internal/configmigrate/configmigrate.go b/internal/configmigrate/configmigrate.go
index 6e8845e0..cba61247 100644
--- a/internal/configmigrate/configmigrate.go
+++ b/internal/configmigrate/configmigrate.go
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 package configmigrate
 
 // LastSchemaVersion is the most recent schema version.
-const LastSchemaVersion uint = 28
+const LastSchemaVersion uint = 29
diff --git a/internal/configmigrate/migrations_internal_test.go b/internal/configmigrate/migrations_internal_test.go
index 5349102f..34bbb847 100644
--- a/internal/configmigrate/migrations_internal_test.go
+++ b/internal/configmigrate/migrations_internal_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func TestUpgradeSchema1to2(t *testing.T) {
 
 	m := New(&Config{
 		WorkingDir: "",
+		DataDir:    "",
 	})
 
 	err := m.migrateTo2(diskConf)
diff --git a/internal/configmigrate/migrator.go b/internal/configmigrate/migrator.go
index ebdf6ba7..70a80f8b 100644
--- a/internal/configmigrate/migrator.go
+++ b/internal/configmigrate/migrator.go
@@ -10,20 +10,24 @@ import (
 
 // Config is a the configuration for initializing a [Migrator].
 type Config struct {
-	// WorkingDir is an absolute path to the working directory of AdGuardHome.
+	// WorkingDir is the absolute path to the working directory of AdGuardHome.
 	WorkingDir string
+
+	// DataDir is the absolute path to the data directory of AdGuardHome.
+	DataDir string
 }
 
 // Migrator performs the YAML configuration file migrations.
 type Migrator struct {
-	// workingDir is an absolute path to the working directory of AdGuardHome.
 	workingDir string
+	dataDir    string
 }
 
 // New creates a new Migrator.
-func New(cfg *Config) (m *Migrator) {
+func New(c *Config) (m *Migrator) {
 	return &Migrator{
-		workingDir: cfg.WorkingDir,
+		workingDir: c.WorkingDir,
+		dataDir:    c.DataDir,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -120,6 +124,7 @@ func (m *Migrator) upgradeConfigSchema(current, target uint, diskConf yobj) (err
 		25: migrateTo26,
 		26: migrateTo27,
 		27: migrateTo28,
+		28: m.migrateTo29,
 	}
 
 	for i, migrate := range upgrades[current:target] {
diff --git a/internal/configmigrate/migrator_test.go b/internal/configmigrate/migrator_test.go
index 442713a4..cd7cbe88 100644
--- a/internal/configmigrate/migrator_test.go
+++ b/internal/configmigrate/migrator_test.go
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 package configmigrate_test
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/configmigrate"
@@ -202,6 +205,7 @@ func TestMigrateConfig_Migrate(t *testing.T) {
 
 			migrator := configmigrate.New(&configmigrate.Config{
 				WorkingDir: t.Name(),
+				DataDir:    filepath.Join(t.Name(), "data"),
 			})
 			newBody, upgraded, err := migrator.Migrate(body, tc.targetVersion)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -211,3 +215,43 @@ func TestMigrateConfig_Migrate(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// TODO(a.garipov):  Consider ways of merging into the previous one.
+func TestMigrateConfig_Migrate_v29(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		pathUnix       = `/path/to/file.txt`
+		userDirPatUnix = `TestMigrateConfig_Migrate/v29/data/userfilters/*`
+
+		pathWindows       = `C:\path\to\file.txt`
+		userDirPatWindows = `TestMigrateConfig_Migrate\v29\data\userfilters\*`
+	)
+
+	pathToReplace := pathUnix
+	patternToReplace := userDirPatUnix
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		pathToReplace = pathWindows
+		patternToReplace = userDirPatWindows
+	}
+
+	body, err := fs.ReadFile(testdata, "TestMigrateConfig_Migrate/v29/input.yml")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	body = bytes.ReplaceAll(body, []byte("FILEPATH"), []byte(pathToReplace))
+
+	wantBody, err := fs.ReadFile(testdata, "TestMigrateConfig_Migrate/v29/output.yml")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	wantBody = bytes.ReplaceAll(wantBody, []byte("FILEPATH"), []byte(pathToReplace))
+	wantBody = bytes.ReplaceAll(wantBody, []byte("USERFILTERSPATH"), []byte(patternToReplace))
+
+	migrator := configmigrate.New(&configmigrate.Config{
+		WorkingDir: t.Name(),
+		DataDir:    "TestMigrateConfig_Migrate/v29/data",
+	})
+
+	newBody, upgraded, err := migrator.Migrate(body, 29)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.True(t, upgraded)
+
+	require.YAMLEq(t, string(wantBody), string(newBody))
+}
diff --git a/internal/configmigrate/testdata/TestMigrateConfig_Migrate/v29/input.yml b/internal/configmigrate/testdata/TestMigrateConfig_Migrate/v29/input.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..52130082
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/configmigrate/testdata/TestMigrateConfig_Migrate/v29/input.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+http:
+  address: 127.0.0.1:3000
+  session_ttl: 3h
+  pprof:
+    enabled: true
+    port: 6060
+users:
+- name: testuser
+  password: testpassword
+dns:
+  bind_hosts:
+  - 127.0.0.1
+  port: 53
+  parental_sensitivity: 0
+  upstream_dns:
+  - tls://1.1.1.1
+  - tls://1.0.0.1
+  - quic://8.8.8.8:784
+  bootstrap_dns:
+  - 8.8.8.8:53
+  edns_client_subnet:
+    enabled:    true
+    use_custom: false
+    custom_ip:  ""
+filtering:
+  filtering_enabled: true
+  parental_enabled: false
+  safebrowsing_enabled: false
+  safe_search:
+    enabled:    false
+    bing:       true
+    duckduckgo: true
+    google:     true
+    pixabay:    true
+    yandex:     true
+    youtube:    true
+  protection_enabled: true
+  blocked_services:
+    schedule:
+      time_zone: Local
+    ids:
+    - 500px
+  blocked_response_ttl: 10
+filters:
+- url: https://adaway.org/hosts.txt
+  name: AdAway
+  enabled: false
+- url: FILEPATH
+  name: Local Filter
+  enabled: false
+clients:
+  persistent:
+  - name: localhost
+    ids:
+    - 127.0.0.1
+    - aa:aa:aa:aa:aa:aa
+    use_global_settings: true
+    use_global_blocked_services: true
+    filtering_enabled: false
+    parental_enabled: false
+    safebrowsing_enabled: false
+    safe_search:
+      enabled:    true
+      bing:       true
+      duckduckgo: true
+      google:     true
+      pixabay:    true
+      yandex:     true
+      youtube:    true
+    blocked_services:
+      schedule:
+        time_zone: Local
+      ids:
+      - 500px
+  runtime_sources:
+    whois: true
+    arp:   true
+    rdns:  true
+    dhcp:  true
+    hosts: true
+dhcp:
+  enabled: false
+  interface_name: vboxnet0
+  local_domain_name: local
+  dhcpv4:
+    gateway_ip: 192.168.0.1
+    subnet_mask: 255.255.255.0
+    range_start: 192.168.0.10
+    range_end: 192.168.0.250
+    lease_duration: 1234
+    icmp_timeout_msec: 10
+schema_version: 28
+user_rules: []
+querylog:
+  enabled: true
+  file_enabled: true
+  interval: 720h
+  size_memory: 1000
+  ignored:
+  - '|.^'
+statistics:
+  enabled: true
+  interval: 240h
+  ignored:
+  - '|.^'
+os:
+  group: ''
+  rlimit_nofile: 123
+  user: ''
+log:
+  file: ""
+  max_backups: 0
+  max_size: 100
+  max_age: 3
+  compress: true
+  local_time: false
+  verbose: true
diff --git a/internal/configmigrate/testdata/TestMigrateConfig_Migrate/v29/output.yml b/internal/configmigrate/testdata/TestMigrateConfig_Migrate/v29/output.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0109834e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/configmigrate/testdata/TestMigrateConfig_Migrate/v29/output.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+http:
+  address: 127.0.0.1:3000
+  session_ttl: 3h
+  pprof:
+    enabled: true
+    port: 6060
+users:
+- name: testuser
+  password: testpassword
+dns:
+  bind_hosts:
+  - 127.0.0.1
+  port: 53
+  parental_sensitivity: 0
+  upstream_dns:
+  - tls://1.1.1.1
+  - tls://1.0.0.1
+  - quic://8.8.8.8:784
+  bootstrap_dns:
+  - 8.8.8.8:53
+  edns_client_subnet:
+    enabled:    true
+    use_custom: false
+    custom_ip:  ""
+filtering:
+  filtering_enabled: true
+  parental_enabled: false
+  safebrowsing_enabled: false
+  safe_fs_patterns:
+      - USERFILTERSPATH
+      - FILEPATH
+  safe_search:
+    enabled:    false
+    bing:       true
+    duckduckgo: true
+    google:     true
+    pixabay:    true
+    yandex:     true
+    youtube:    true
+  protection_enabled: true
+  blocked_services:
+    schedule:
+      time_zone: Local
+    ids:
+    - 500px
+  blocked_response_ttl: 10
+filters:
+- url: https://adaway.org/hosts.txt
+  name: AdAway
+  enabled: false
+- url: FILEPATH
+  name: Local Filter
+  enabled: false
+clients:
+  persistent:
+  - name: localhost
+    ids:
+    - 127.0.0.1
+    - aa:aa:aa:aa:aa:aa
+    use_global_settings: true
+    use_global_blocked_services: true
+    filtering_enabled: false
+    parental_enabled: false
+    safebrowsing_enabled: false
+    safe_search:
+      enabled:    true
+      bing:       true
+      duckduckgo: true
+      google:     true
+      pixabay:    true
+      yandex:     true
+      youtube:    true
+    blocked_services:
+      schedule:
+        time_zone: Local
+      ids:
+      - 500px
+  runtime_sources:
+    whois: true
+    arp:   true
+    rdns:  true
+    dhcp:  true
+    hosts: true
+dhcp:
+  enabled: false
+  interface_name: vboxnet0
+  local_domain_name: local
+  dhcpv4:
+    gateway_ip: 192.168.0.1
+    subnet_mask: 255.255.255.0
+    range_start: 192.168.0.10
+    range_end: 192.168.0.250
+    lease_duration: 1234
+    icmp_timeout_msec: 10
+schema_version: 29
+user_rules: []
+querylog:
+  enabled: true
+  file_enabled: true
+  interval: 720h
+  size_memory: 1000
+  ignored:
+  - '|.^'
+statistics:
+  enabled: true
+  interval: 240h
+  ignored:
+  - '|.^'
+os:
+  group: ''
+  rlimit_nofile: 123
+  user: ''
+log:
+  file: ""
+  max_backups: 0
+  max_size: 100
+  max_age: 3
+  compress: true
+  local_time: false
+  verbose: true
diff --git a/internal/configmigrate/v29.go b/internal/configmigrate/v29.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fcd04bef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/configmigrate/v29.go
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package configmigrate
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+)
+
+// migrateTo29 performs the following changes:
+//
+//	# BEFORE:
+//	'filters':
+//	  - 'enabled': true
+//	    'url': /path/to/file.txt
+//	    'name': My FS Filter
+//	    'id': 1234
+//
+//	# AFTER:
+//	'filters':
+//	  - 'enabled': true
+//	    'url': /path/to/file.txt
+//	    'name': My FS Filter
+//	    'id': 1234
+//	# …
+//	'filtering':
+//	  'safe_fs_patterns':
+//	    - '/opt/AdGuardHome/data/userfilters/*'
+//	    - '/path/to/file.txt'
+//	  # …
+func (m Migrator) migrateTo29(diskConf yobj) (err error) {
+	diskConf["schema_version"] = 29
+
+	filterVals, ok, err := fieldVal[[]any](diskConf, "filters")
+	if !ok {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	paths := []string{
+		filepath.Join(m.dataDir, "userfilters", "*"),
+	}
+
+	for i, v := range filterVals {
+		var f yobj
+		f, ok = v.(yobj)
+		if !ok {
+			return fmt.Errorf("filters: at index %d: expected object, got %T", i, v)
+		}
+
+		var u string
+		u, ok, _ = fieldVal[string](f, "url")
+		if ok && filepath.IsAbs(u) {
+			paths = append(paths, u)
+		}
+	}
+
+	fltConf, ok, err := fieldVal[yobj](diskConf, "filtering")
+	if !ok {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	fltConf["safe_fs_patterns"] = paths
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/dhcpd/db.go b/internal/dhcpd/db.go
index aa482f2e..d3ca53bf 100644
--- a/internal/dhcpd/db.go
+++ b/internal/dhcpd/db.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/dhcpsvc"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/errors"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/log"
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ func writeDB(path string, leases []*dbLease) (err error) {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	err = maybe.WriteFile(path, buf, 0o644)
+	err = maybe.WriteFile(path, buf, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		// Don't wrap the error since it's informative enough as is.
 		return err
diff --git a/internal/dnsforward/dnsforward_test.go b/internal/dnsforward/dnsforward_test.go
index c326f8aa..f56e90df 100644
--- a/internal/dnsforward/dnsforward_test.go
+++ b/internal/dnsforward/dnsforward_test.go
@@ -584,7 +584,11 @@ func TestSafeSearch(t *testing.T) {
 			req := createTestMessage(tc.host)
 
 			var reply *dns.Msg
-			reply, _, err = client.Exchange(req, addr)
+			require.Eventually(t, func() (ok bool) {
+				reply, _, err = client.Exchange(req, addr)
+
+				return err == nil
+			}, testTimeout*10, testTimeout)
 			require.NoErrorf(t, err, "couldn't talk to server %s: %s", addr, err)
 
 			if tc.wantCNAME != "" {
diff --git a/internal/filtering/filter.go b/internal/filtering/filter.go
index 15bc14d9..0dd3471c 100644
--- a/internal/filtering/filter.go
+++ b/internal/filtering/filter.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghrenameio"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/filtering/rulelist"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/container"
@@ -448,11 +449,7 @@ func (d *DNSFilter) updateIntl(flt *FilterYAML) (ok bool, err error) {
 
 	var res *rulelist.ParseResult
 
-	// Change the default 0o600 permission to something more acceptable by end
-	// users.
-	//
-	// See https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/issues/3198.
-	tmpFile, err := aghrenameio.NewPendingFile(flt.Path(d.conf.DataDir), 0o644)
+	tmpFile, err := aghrenameio.NewPendingFile(flt.Path(d.conf.DataDir), aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
@@ -522,6 +519,11 @@ func (d *DNSFilter) reader(fltURL string) (r io.ReadCloser, err error) {
 		return r, nil
 	}
 
+	fltURL = filepath.Clean(fltURL)
+	if !pathMatchesAny(d.safeFSPatterns, fltURL) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("path %q does not match safe patterns", fltURL)
+	}
+
 	r, err = os.Open(fltURL)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("opening file: %w", err)
diff --git a/internal/filtering/filtering.go b/internal/filtering/filtering.go
index 55404b74..8836515c 100644
--- a/internal/filtering/filtering.go
+++ b/internal/filtering/filtering.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghhttp"
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/filtering/rulelist"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/container"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/errors"
@@ -130,6 +131,10 @@ type Config struct {
 	// UserRules is the global list of custom rules.
 	UserRules []string `yaml:"-"`
 
+	// SafeFSPatterns are the patterns for matching which local filtering-rule
+	// files can be added.
+	SafeFSPatterns []string `yaml:"safe_fs_patterns"`
+
 	SafeBrowsingCacheSize uint `yaml:"safebrowsing_cache_size"` // (in bytes)
 	SafeSearchCacheSize   uint `yaml:"safesearch_cache_size"`   // (in bytes)
 	ParentalCacheSize     uint `yaml:"parental_cache_size"`     // (in bytes)
@@ -257,6 +262,8 @@ type DNSFilter struct {
 	refreshLock *sync.Mutex
 
 	hostCheckers []hostChecker
+
+	safeFSPatterns []string
 }
 
 // Filter represents a filter list
@@ -987,13 +994,22 @@ func New(c *Config, blockFilters []Filter) (d *DNSFilter, err error) {
 	d = &DNSFilter{
 		idGen:                  newIDGenerator(int32(time.Now().Unix())),
 		bufPool:                syncutil.NewSlicePool[byte](rulelist.DefaultRuleBufSize),
+		safeSearch:             c.SafeSearch,
 		refreshLock:            &sync.Mutex{},
 		safeBrowsingChecker:    c.SafeBrowsingChecker,
 		parentalControlChecker: c.ParentalControlChecker,
 		confMu:                 &sync.RWMutex{},
 	}
 
-	d.safeSearch = c.SafeSearch
+	for i, p := range c.SafeFSPatterns {
+		// Use Match to validate the patterns here.
+		_, err = filepath.Match(p, "test")
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("safe_fs_patterns: at index %d: %w", i, err)
+		}
+
+		d.safeFSPatterns = append(d.safeFSPatterns, p)
+	}
 
 	d.hostCheckers = []hostChecker{{
 		check: d.matchSysHosts,
@@ -1022,7 +1038,7 @@ func New(c *Config, blockFilters []Filter) (d *DNSFilter, err error) {
 
 	err = d.prepareRewrites()
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("rewrites: preparing: %s", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("rewrites: preparing: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	if d.conf.BlockedServices != nil {
@@ -1037,11 +1053,16 @@ func New(c *Config, blockFilters []Filter) (d *DNSFilter, err error) {
 		if err != nil {
 			d.Close()
 
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("initializing filtering subsystem: %s", err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("initializing filtering subsystem: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
 
-	_ = os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(d.conf.DataDir, filterDir), 0o755)
+	err = os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(d.conf.DataDir, filterDir), aghos.DefaultPermDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		d.Close()
+
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("making filtering directory: %w", err)
+	}
 
 	d.loadFilters(d.conf.Filters)
 	d.loadFilters(d.conf.WhitelistFilters)
diff --git a/internal/filtering/http.go b/internal/filtering/http.go
index 3a13ccb3..e459cb2f 100644
--- a/internal/filtering/http.go
+++ b/internal/filtering/http.go
@@ -20,14 +20,22 @@ import (
 )
 
 // validateFilterURL validates the filter list URL or file name.
-func validateFilterURL(urlStr string) (err error) {
+func (d *DNSFilter) validateFilterURL(urlStr string) (err error) {
 	defer func() { err = errors.Annotate(err, "checking filter: %w") }()
 
 	if filepath.IsAbs(urlStr) {
+		urlStr = filepath.Clean(urlStr)
 		_, err = os.Stat(urlStr)
+		if err != nil {
+			// Don't wrap the error since it's informative enough as is.
+			return err
+		}
 
-		// Don't wrap the error since it's informative enough as is.
-		return err
+		if !pathMatchesAny(d.safeFSPatterns, urlStr) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("path %q does not match safe patterns", urlStr)
+		}
+
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	u, err := url.ParseRequestURI(urlStr)
@@ -65,7 +73,7 @@ func (d *DNSFilter) handleFilteringAddURL(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request
 		return
 	}
 
-	err = validateFilterURL(fj.URL)
+	err = d.validateFilterURL(fj.URL)
 	if err != nil {
 		aghhttp.Error(r, w, http.StatusBadRequest, "%s", err)
 
@@ -225,7 +233,7 @@ func (d *DNSFilter) handleFilteringSetURL(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request
 		return
 	}
 
-	err = validateFilterURL(fj.Data.URL)
+	err = d.validateFilterURL(fj.Data.URL)
 	if err != nil {
 		aghhttp.Error(r, w, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid url: %s", err)
 
diff --git a/internal/filtering/path.go b/internal/filtering/path.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a52a6ebe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/filtering/path.go
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package filtering
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+)
+
+// pathMatchesAny returns true if filePath matches one of globs.  globs must be
+// valid.  filePath must be absolute and clean.  If globs are empty,
+// pathMatchesAny returns false.
+//
+// TODO(a.garipov): Move to golibs?
+func pathMatchesAny(globs []string, filePath string) (ok bool) {
+	if len(globs) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	clean, err := filepath.Abs(filePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(fmt.Errorf("pathMatchesAny: %w", err))
+	} else if clean != filePath {
+		panic(fmt.Errorf("pathMatchesAny: filepath %q is not absolute", filePath))
+	}
+
+	for _, g := range globs {
+		ok, err = filepath.Match(g, filePath)
+		if err != nil {
+			panic(fmt.Errorf("pathMatchesAny: bad pattern: %w", err))
+		}
+
+		if ok {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/internal/filtering/path_unix_internal_test.go b/internal/filtering/path_unix_internal_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..09139979
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/filtering/path_unix_internal_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+//go:build unix
+
+package filtering
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestPathInAnyDir(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const (
+		filePath      = "/path/to/file.txt"
+		filePathGlob  = "/path/to/*"
+		otherFilePath = "/otherpath/to/file.txt"
+	)
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		want     assert.BoolAssertionFunc
+		filePath string
+		name     string
+		globs    []string
+	}{{
+		want:     assert.False,
+		filePath: filePath,
+		name:     "nil_pats",
+		globs:    nil,
+	}, {
+		want:     assert.True,
+		filePath: filePath,
+		name:     "match",
+		globs: []string{
+			filePath,
+			otherFilePath,
+		},
+	}, {
+		want:     assert.False,
+		filePath: filePath,
+		name:     "no_match",
+		globs: []string{
+			otherFilePath,
+		},
+	}, {
+		want:     assert.True,
+		filePath: filePath,
+		name:     "match_star",
+		globs: []string{
+			filePathGlob,
+		},
+	}}
+
+	for _, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			tc.want(t, pathMatchesAny(tc.globs, tc.filePath))
+		})
+	}
+
+	require.True(t, t.Run("panic_on_unabs_file_path", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		assert.Panics(t, func() {
+			_ = pathMatchesAny([]string{"/home/user"}, "../../etc/passwd")
+		})
+	}))
+
+	require.True(t, t.Run("panic_on_bad_pat", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		assert.Panics(t, func() {
+			_ = pathMatchesAny([]string{`\`}, filePath)
+		})
+	}))
+}
diff --git a/internal/filtering/path_windows_internal_test.go b/internal/filtering/path_windows_internal_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cbabc243
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/filtering/path_windows_internal_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package filtering
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestPathInAnyDir(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const (
+		filePath      = `C:\path\to\file.txt`
+		filePathGlob  = `C:\path\to\*`
+		otherFilePath = `C:\otherpath\to\file.txt`
+	)
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		want     assert.BoolAssertionFunc
+		filePath string
+		name     string
+		globs    []string
+	}{{
+		want:     assert.False,
+		filePath: filePath,
+		name:     "nil_pats",
+		globs:    nil,
+	}, {
+		want:     assert.True,
+		filePath: filePath,
+		name:     "match",
+		globs: []string{
+			filePath,
+			otherFilePath,
+		},
+	}, {
+		want:     assert.False,
+		filePath: filePath,
+		name:     "no_match",
+		globs: []string{
+			otherFilePath,
+		},
+	}, {
+		want:     assert.True,
+		filePath: filePath,
+		name:     "match_star",
+		globs: []string{
+			filePathGlob,
+		},
+	}}
+
+	for _, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			tc.want(t, pathMatchesAny(tc.globs, tc.filePath))
+		})
+	}
+
+	require.True(t, t.Run("panic_on_unabs_file_path", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		assert.Panics(t, func() {
+			_ = pathMatchesAny([]string{`C:\home\user`}, `..\..\etc\passwd`)
+		})
+	}))
+
+	// TODO(a.garipov): See if there is anything for which filepath.Match
+	// returns ErrBadPattern on Windows.
+}
diff --git a/internal/filtering/rulelist/filter.go b/internal/filtering/rulelist/filter.go
index 5f3fa6be..a29897de 100644
--- a/internal/filtering/rulelist/filter.go
+++ b/internal/filtering/rulelist/filter.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghrenameio"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/errors"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/ioutil"
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ func (f *Filter) readFromHTTP(
 		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("got status code %d, want %d", resp.StatusCode, http.StatusOK)
 	}
 
-	fltFile, err := aghrenameio.NewPendingFile(cachePath, 0o644)
+	fltFile, err := aghrenameio.NewPendingFile(cachePath, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("creating temp file: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -271,7 +272,7 @@ func parseIntoCache(
 	filePath string,
 	cachePath string,
 ) (parseRes *ParseResult, err error) {
-	tmpFile, err := aghrenameio.NewPendingFile(cachePath, 0o644)
+	tmpFile, err := aghrenameio.NewPendingFile(cachePath, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating temp file: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/home/auth.go b/internal/home/auth.go
index 18bc5668..5b6cf9b8 100644
--- a/internal/home/auth.go
+++ b/internal/home/auth.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/errors"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/log"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/netutil"
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ func InitAuth(
 		trustedProxies: trustedProxies,
 	}
 	var err error
-	a.db, err = bbolt.Open(dbFilename, 0o644, nil)
+	a.db, err = bbolt.Open(dbFilename, aghos.DefaultPermFile, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error("auth: open DB: %s: %s", dbFilename, err)
 		if err.Error() == "invalid argument" {
diff --git a/internal/home/config.go b/internal/home/config.go
index b8d69dae..20d2eb97 100644
--- a/internal/home/config.go
+++ b/internal/home/config.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghalg"
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghtls"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/configmigrate"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/dhcpd"
@@ -26,9 +27,15 @@ import (
 	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
-// dataDir is the name of a directory under the working one to store some
-// persistent data.
-const dataDir = "data"
+const (
+	// dataDir is the name of a directory under the working one to store some
+	// persistent data.
+	dataDir = "data"
+
+	// userFilterDataDir is the name of the directory used to store users'
+	// FS-based rule lists.
+	userFilterDataDir = "userfilters"
+)
 
 // logSettings are the logging settings part of the configuration file.
 type logSettings struct {
@@ -520,6 +527,7 @@ func parseConfig() (err error) {
 
 	migrator := configmigrate.New(&configmigrate.Config{
 		WorkingDir: Context.workDir,
+		DataDir:    Context.getDataDir(),
 	})
 
 	var upgraded bool
@@ -534,7 +542,7 @@ func parseConfig() (err error) {
 		confPath := configFilePath()
 		log.Debug("writing config file %q after config upgrade", confPath)
 
-		err = maybe.WriteFile(confPath, config.fileData, 0o644)
+		err = maybe.WriteFile(confPath, config.fileData, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("writing new config: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -700,7 +708,7 @@ func (c *configuration) write() (err error) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("generating config file: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	err = maybe.WriteFile(confPath, buf.Bytes(), 0o644)
+	err = maybe.WriteFile(confPath, buf.Bytes(), aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("writing config file: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/home/controlinstall.go b/internal/home/controlinstall.go
index f94457d0..3051f0f6 100644
--- a/internal/home/controlinstall.go
+++ b/internal/home/controlinstall.go
@@ -270,9 +270,9 @@ DNSStubListener=no
 const resolvConfPath = "/etc/resolv.conf"
 
 // Deactivate DNSStubListener
-func disableDNSStubListener() error {
+func disableDNSStubListener() (err error) {
 	dir := filepath.Dir(resolvedConfPath)
-	err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755)
+	err = os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("os.MkdirAll: %s: %w", dir, err)
 	}
@@ -413,9 +413,12 @@ func (web *webAPI) handleInstallConfigure(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request
 	copyInstallSettings(curConfig, config)
 
 	Context.firstRun = false
-	config.HTTPConfig.Address = netip.AddrPortFrom(req.Web.IP, req.Web.Port)
 	config.DNS.BindHosts = []netip.Addr{req.DNS.IP}
 	config.DNS.Port = req.DNS.Port
+	config.Filtering.SafeFSPatterns = []string{
+		filepath.Join(Context.workDir, userFilterDataDir, "*"),
+	}
+	config.HTTPConfig.Address = netip.AddrPortFrom(req.Web.IP, req.Web.Port)
 
 	u := &webUser{
 		Name: req.Username,
diff --git a/internal/home/dns.go b/internal/home/dns.go
index 9dd711f5..f0c6d4de 100644
--- a/internal/home/dns.go
+++ b/internal/home/dns.go
@@ -47,14 +47,9 @@ func onConfigModified() {
 // initDNS updates all the fields of the [Context] needed to initialize the DNS
 // server and initializes it at last.  It also must not be called unless
 // [config] and [Context] are initialized.  l must not be nil.
-func initDNS(l *slog.Logger) (err error) {
+func initDNS(l *slog.Logger, statsDir, querylogDir string) (err error) {
 	anonymizer := config.anonymizer()
 
-	statsDir, querylogDir, err := checkStatsAndQuerylogDirs(&Context, config)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	statsConf := stats.Config{
 		Logger:            l.With(slogutil.KeyPrefix, "stats"),
 		Filename:          filepath.Join(statsDir, "stats.db"),
diff --git a/internal/home/home.go b/internal/home/home.go
index 69a67223..df4e4296 100644
--- a/internal/home/home.go
+++ b/internal/home/home.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/filtering"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/filtering/hashprefix"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/filtering/safesearch"
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/permcheck"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/querylog"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/stats"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/updater"
@@ -630,9 +631,9 @@ func run(opts options, clientBuildFS fs.FS, done chan struct{}) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	dir := Context.getDataDir()
-	err = os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755)
-	fatalOnError(errors.Annotate(err, "creating DNS data dir at %s: %w", dir))
+	dataDir := Context.getDataDir()
+	err = os.MkdirAll(dataDir, aghos.DefaultPermDir)
+	fatalOnError(errors.Annotate(err, "creating DNS data dir at %s: %w", dataDir))
 
 	GLMode = opts.glinetMode
 
@@ -649,8 +650,11 @@ func run(opts options, clientBuildFS fs.FS, done chan struct{}) {
 	Context.web, err = initWeb(opts, clientBuildFS, upd, slogLogger)
 	fatalOnError(err)
 
+	statsDir, querylogDir, err := checkStatsAndQuerylogDirs(&Context, config)
+	fatalOnError(err)
+
 	if !Context.firstRun {
-		err = initDNS(slogLogger)
+		err = initDNS(slogLogger, statsDir, querylogDir)
 		fatalOnError(err)
 
 		Context.tls.start()
@@ -671,6 +675,12 @@ func run(opts options, clientBuildFS fs.FS, done chan struct{}) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if permcheck.NeedsMigration(confPath) {
+		permcheck.Migrate(Context.workDir, dataDir, statsDir, querylogDir, confPath)
+	}
+
+	permcheck.Check(Context.workDir, dataDir, statsDir, querylogDir, confPath)
+
 	Context.web.start()
 
 	// Wait for other goroutines to complete their job.
@@ -714,7 +724,12 @@ func (c *configuration) anonymizer() (ipmut *aghnet.IPMut) {
 // startMods initializes and starts the DNS server after installation.  l must
 // not be nil.
 func startMods(l *slog.Logger) (err error) {
-	err = initDNS(l)
+	statsDir, querylogDir, err := checkStatsAndQuerylogDirs(&Context, config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = initDNS(l, statsDir, querylogDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/next/configmgr/configmgr.go b/internal/next/configmgr/configmgr.go
index 84e4e61a..a75f1304 100644
--- a/internal/next/configmgr/configmgr.go
+++ b/internal/next/configmgr/configmgr.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/next/agh"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/next/dnssvc"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/next/websvc"
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ func (m *Manager) write() (err error) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("encoding: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	err = maybe.WriteFile(m.fileName, b, 0o644)
+	err = maybe.WriteFile(m.fileName, b, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("writing: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/permcheck/migrate.go b/internal/permcheck/migrate.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b052bffa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/permcheck/migrate.go
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+package permcheck
+
+import (
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/errors"
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/log"
+)
+
+// NeedsMigration returns true if AdGuard Home files need permission migration.
+//
+// TODO(a.garipov):  Consider ways to detect this better.
+func NeedsMigration(confFilePath string) (ok bool) {
+	s, err := os.Stat(confFilePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			// Likely a first run.  Don't check.
+			return false
+		}
+
+		log.Error("permcheck: checking if files need migration: %s", err)
+
+		// Unexpected error.  Try to migrate just in case.
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return s.Mode().Perm() != aghos.DefaultPermFile
+}
+
+// Migrate attempts to change the permissions of AdGuard Home's files.  It logs
+// the results at an appropriate level.
+func Migrate(workDir, dataDir, statsDir, querylogDir, confFilePath string) {
+	chmodDir(workDir)
+
+	chmodFile(confFilePath)
+
+	// TODO(a.garipov): Put all paths in one place and remove this duplication.
+	chmodDir(dataDir)
+	chmodDir(filepath.Join(dataDir, "filters"))
+	chmodFile(filepath.Join(dataDir, "sessions.db"))
+	chmodFile(filepath.Join(dataDir, "leases.json"))
+
+	if dataDir != querylogDir {
+		chmodDir(querylogDir)
+	}
+	chmodFile(filepath.Join(querylogDir, "querylog.json"))
+	chmodFile(filepath.Join(querylogDir, "querylog.json.1"))
+
+	if dataDir != statsDir {
+		chmodDir(statsDir)
+	}
+	chmodFile(filepath.Join(statsDir, "stats.db"))
+}
+
+// chmodDir changes the permissions of a single directory.  The results are
+// logged at the appropriate level.
+func chmodDir(dirPath string) {
+	chmodPath(dirPath, typeDir, aghos.DefaultPermDir)
+}
+
+// chmodFile changes the permissions of a single file.  The results are logged
+// at the appropriate level.
+func chmodFile(filePath string) {
+	chmodPath(filePath, typeFile, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
+}
+
+// chmodPath changes the permissions of a single filesystem entity.  The results
+// are logged at the appropriate level.
+func chmodPath(entPath, fileType string, fm fs.FileMode) {
+	err := os.Chmod(entPath, fm)
+	if err == nil {
+		log.Info("permcheck: changed permissions for %s %q", fileType, entPath)
+
+		return
+	} else if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		log.Debug("permcheck: changing permissions for %s %q: %s", fileType, entPath, err)
+
+		return
+	}
+
+	log.Error(
+		"permcheck: SECURITY WARNING: cannot change permissions for %s %q to %#o: %s; "+
+			"this can leave your system vulnerable, see "+
+			"https://adguard-dns.io/kb/adguard-home/running-securely/#os-service-concerns",
+		fileType,
+		entPath,
+		fm,
+		err,
+	)
+}
diff --git a/internal/permcheck/permcheck.go b/internal/permcheck/permcheck.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aea4a743
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/permcheck/permcheck.go
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+// Package permcheck contains code for simplifying permissions checks on files
+// and directories.
+//
+// TODO(a.garipov):  Improve the approach on Windows.
+package permcheck
+
+import (
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/errors"
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/log"
+)
+
+// File type constants for logging.
+const (
+	typeDir  = "directory"
+	typeFile = "file"
+)
+
+// Check checks the permissions on important files.  It logs the results at
+// appropriate levels.
+func Check(workDir, dataDir, statsDir, querylogDir, confFilePath string) {
+	checkDir(workDir)
+
+	checkFile(confFilePath)
+
+	// TODO(a.garipov): Put all paths in one place and remove this duplication.
+	checkDir(dataDir)
+	checkDir(filepath.Join(dataDir, "filters"))
+	checkFile(filepath.Join(dataDir, "sessions.db"))
+	checkFile(filepath.Join(dataDir, "leases.json"))
+
+	if dataDir != querylogDir {
+		checkDir(querylogDir)
+	}
+	checkFile(filepath.Join(querylogDir, "querylog.json"))
+	checkFile(filepath.Join(querylogDir, "querylog.json.1"))
+
+	if dataDir != statsDir {
+		checkDir(statsDir)
+	}
+	checkFile(filepath.Join(statsDir, "stats.db"))
+}
+
+// checkDir checks the permissions of a single directory.  The results are
+// logged at the appropriate level.
+func checkDir(dirPath string) {
+	checkPath(dirPath, typeDir, aghos.DefaultPermDir)
+}
+
+// checkFile checks the permissions of a single file.  The results are logged at
+// the appropriate level.
+func checkFile(filePath string) {
+	checkPath(filePath, typeFile, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
+}
+
+// checkPath checks the permissions of a single filesystem entity.  The results
+// are logged at the appropriate level.
+func checkPath(entPath, fileType string, want fs.FileMode) {
+	s, err := os.Stat(entPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		logFunc := log.Error
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			logFunc = log.Debug
+		}
+
+		logFunc("permcheck: checking %s %q: %s", fileType, entPath, err)
+
+		return
+	}
+
+	// TODO(a.garipov): Add a more fine-grained check and result reporting.
+	perm := s.Mode().Perm()
+	if perm != want {
+		log.Info(
+			"permcheck: SECURITY WARNING: %s %q has unexpected permissions %#o; want %#o",
+			fileType,
+			entPath,
+			perm,
+			want,
+		)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/querylog/qlogfile.go b/internal/querylog/qlogfile.go
index 397840c9..175420ea 100644
--- a/internal/querylog/qlogfile.go
+++ b/internal/querylog/qlogfile.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/errors"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/log"
 )
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ type qLogFile struct {
 
 // newQLogFile initializes a new instance of the qLogFile.
 func newQLogFile(path string) (qf *qLogFile, err error) {
-	f, err := os.OpenFile(path, os.O_RDONLY, 0o644)
+	f, err := os.OpenFile(path, os.O_RDONLY, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/querylog/querylogfile.go b/internal/querylog/querylogfile.go
index 3783376f..412a364b 100644
--- a/internal/querylog/querylogfile.go
+++ b/internal/querylog/querylogfile.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/errors"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/log"
 )
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ func (l *queryLog) flushToFile(b *bytes.Buffer) (err error) {
 
 	filename := l.logFile
 
-	f, err := os.OpenFile(filename, os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND, 0o644)
+	f, err := os.OpenFile(filename, os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("creating file %q: %w", filename, err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/stats/stats.go b/internal/stats/stats.go
index c6de4c66..a3a0f62e 100644
--- a/internal/stats/stats.go
+++ b/internal/stats/stats.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghhttp"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghnet"
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/errors"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/logutil/slogutil"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/timeutil"
@@ -383,7 +384,7 @@ func (s *StatsCtx) openDB() (err error) {
 	s.logger.Debug("opening database")
 
 	var db *bbolt.DB
-	db, err = bbolt.Open(s.filename, 0o644, nil)
+	db, err = bbolt.Open(s.filename, aghos.DefaultPermFile, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		if err.Error() == "invalid argument" {
 			const lines = `AdGuard Home cannot be initialized due to an incompatible file system.
diff --git a/internal/updater/updater.go b/internal/updater/updater.go
index 4e4a21d4..b3e85dee 100644
--- a/internal/updater/updater.go
+++ b/internal/updater/updater.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/aghos"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/internal/version"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/errors"
 	"github.com/AdguardTeam/golibs/ioutil"
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ func (u *Updater) check() (err error) {
 // ignores the configuration file if firstRun is true.
 func (u *Updater) backup(firstRun bool) (err error) {
 	log.Debug("updater: backing up current configuration")
-	_ = os.Mkdir(u.backupDir, 0o755)
+	_ = os.Mkdir(u.backupDir, aghos.DefaultPermDir)
 	if !firstRun {
 		err = copyFile(u.confName, filepath.Join(u.backupDir, "AdGuardHome.yaml"))
 		if err != nil {
@@ -337,10 +338,10 @@ func (u *Updater) downloadPackageFile() (err error) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("io.ReadAll() failed: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	_ = os.Mkdir(u.updateDir, 0o755)
+	_ = os.Mkdir(u.updateDir, aghos.DefaultPermDir)
 
 	log.Debug("updater: saving package to file")
-	err = os.WriteFile(u.packageName, body, 0o644)
+	err = os.WriteFile(u.packageName, body, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("os.WriteFile() failed: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -527,7 +528,7 @@ func copyFile(src, dst string) error {
 	if e != nil {
 		return e
 	}
-	e = os.WriteFile(dst, d, 0o644)
+	e = os.WriteFile(dst, d, aghos.DefaultPermFile)
 	if e != nil {
 		return e
 	}
diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index 08c54e87..31184cb0 100644
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ download() {
 # Function unpack unpacks the passed archive depending on it's extension.
 unpack() {
 	log "unpacking package from $pkg_name into $out_dir"
-	if ! mkdir -p "$out_dir"
+	if ! mkdir -m 0700 -p "$out_dir"
 	then
 		error_exit "cannot create directory $out_dir"
 	fi