diff --git a/hermes_cli/plugin_catalog.py b/hermes_cli/plugin_catalog.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3de7c1ca9e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hermes_cli/plugin_catalog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,307 @@
+"""Plugin catalog — curated, Nous-approved Hermes plugins shipped with the repo.
+
+Mirrors the ``optional-mcps/`` MCP-catalog pattern (see
+:mod:`hermes_cli.mcp_catalog`): each catalog entry is a single YAML file under
+the in-tree ``plugin-catalog/`` directory, pinned to an exact 40-character
+commit SHA. Users discover entries via ``hermes plugins catalog`` /
+``hermes plugins search`` and install them with
+``hermes plugins install <name>``, which clones the pinned commit.
+
+Catalog policy (see plugin-catalog/README.md for the full admission policy):
+- Entries are added only by merging a PR into hermes-agent — presence in the
+  ``plugin-catalog/`` directory is the human-merged approval gate.
+- Every entry pins an exact 40-hex commit SHA. SHA bumps are new PRs,
+  re-reviewed as diffs. The pinned release should be at least 2 weeks old at
+  pin time, mirroring the optional-mcps supply-chain rules.
+- ``plugin-catalog/removed.yaml`` is the blocklist: entries pulled from the
+  catalog for security or policy reasons are recorded there so installs of
+  the same name/repo are refused with the recorded reason.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+import os
+import re
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any, List, Optional
+
+import yaml
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+CATALOG_TIERS = ("official", "community")
+
+_SHA_RE = re.compile(r"^[0-9a-f]{40}$")
+_NAME_RE = re.compile(r"^[a-z0-9_-]{1,64}$")
+
+
+# ─── Data classes ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+@dataclass
+class RemovedEntry:
+    name: str
+    repo: str = ""
+    reason: str = ""
+    date: str = ""            # ISO date string
+
+
+@dataclass
+class CatalogCapabilities:
+    provides_tools: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+    provides_hooks: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+    provides_middleware: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+    requires_env: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+
+
+@dataclass
+class PluginCatalogEntry:
+    name: str                 # catalog key, [a-z0-9_-]{1,64}
+    repo: str                 # https:// git URL
+    sha: str                  # 40-hex pinned commit — MANDATORY, validated
+    description: str
+    maintainer: str
+    tier: str = "community"   # one of CATALOG_TIERS
+    requires_hermes: str = "" # e.g. ">=0.19" (optional)
+    subdir: str = ""          # optional path within the repo
+    docs_url: str = ""
+    platforms: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)  # empty = all OSes
+    capabilities: CatalogCapabilities = field(default_factory=CatalogCapabilities)
+
+
+# ─── Directory resolution ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def get_catalog_dir() -> Path:
+    """Return the ``plugin-catalog/`` directory shipped with this checkout.
+
+    ``HERMES_PLUGIN_CATALOG_DIR`` overrides the location for tests only —
+    read via ``os.getenv`` at call time so monkeypatched values take effect.
+    """
+    override = os.getenv("HERMES_PLUGIN_CATALOG_DIR", "").strip()
+    if override:
+        return Path(override)
+    return Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "plugin-catalog"
+
+
+# ─── Loading / validation ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def _str_list(raw: Any) -> List[str]:
+    """Coerce a YAML value into a list of strings (drop non-strings)."""
+    if not isinstance(raw, list):
+        return []
+    return [str(item) for item in raw if isinstance(item, (str, int, float))]
+
+
+def _parse_entry(path: Path) -> Optional[PluginCatalogEntry]:
+    """Parse and validate one catalog YAML file.
+
+    Returns ``None`` (after logging a warning) on any validation failure —
+    the loader never raises for a bad entry.
+    """
+    try:
+        data = yaml.safe_load(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) or {}
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.warning("Plugin catalog: failed to read %s: %s", path, exc)
+        return None
+
+    if not isinstance(data, dict):
+        logger.warning("Plugin catalog: %s: entry must be a mapping", path)
+        return None
+
+    name = str(data.get("name") or "")
+    if not _NAME_RE.match(name):
+        logger.warning(
+            "Plugin catalog: %s: invalid name %r (must match [a-z0-9_-]{1,64})",
+            path, name,
+        )
+        return None
+
+    repo = str(data.get("repo") or "")
+    if not repo.startswith("https://"):
+        logger.warning(
+            "Plugin catalog: %s: repo must be an https:// URL (got %r)",
+            path, repo,
+        )
+        return None
+
+    sha = str(data.get("sha") or "").strip().lower()
+    if not _SHA_RE.match(sha):
+        logger.warning(
+            "Plugin catalog: %s: sha must be a full 40-character hex commit "
+            "SHA (got %r)", path, data.get("sha"),
+        )
+        return None
+
+    tier = str(data.get("tier") or "community")
+    if tier not in CATALOG_TIERS:
+        logger.warning(
+            "Plugin catalog: %s: tier must be one of %s (got %r)",
+            path, "/".join(CATALOG_TIERS), tier,
+        )
+        return None
+
+    caps_raw = data.get("capabilities") or {}
+    if not isinstance(caps_raw, dict):
+        caps_raw = {}
+    capabilities = CatalogCapabilities(
+        provides_tools=_str_list(caps_raw.get("provides_tools")),
+        provides_hooks=_str_list(caps_raw.get("provides_hooks")),
+        provides_middleware=_str_list(caps_raw.get("provides_middleware")),
+        requires_env=_str_list(caps_raw.get("requires_env")),
+    )
+
+    return PluginCatalogEntry(
+        name=name,
+        repo=repo,
+        sha=sha,
+        description=str(data.get("description") or "").strip(),
+        maintainer=str(data.get("maintainer") or "").strip(),
+        tier=tier,
+        requires_hermes=str(data.get("requires_hermes") or "").strip(),
+        subdir=str(data.get("subdir") or "").strip(),
+        docs_url=str(data.get("docs_url") or "").strip(),
+        platforms=_str_list(data.get("platforms")),
+        capabilities=capabilities,
+    )
+
+
+def load_catalog() -> List[PluginCatalogEntry]:
+    """Return all valid catalog entries, sorted by name.
+
+    Parses every ``*.yaml`` in the catalog dir except ``removed.yaml``.
+    Invalid entries are skipped with a logged warning; this function never
+    raises for a malformed entry.
+    """
+    root = get_catalog_dir()
+    if not root.is_dir():
+        return []
+    entries: List[PluginCatalogEntry] = []
+    for path in sorted(root.glob("*.yaml")):
+        if path.name == "removed.yaml":
+            continue
+        entry = _parse_entry(path)
+        if entry is not None:
+            entries.append(entry)
+    return entries
+
+
+def get_catalog_entry(name: str) -> Optional[PluginCatalogEntry]:
+    """Look up a single catalog entry by name."""
+    for entry in load_catalog():
+        if entry.name == name:
+            return entry
+    return None
+
+
+def search_catalog(query: str) -> List[PluginCatalogEntry]:
+    """Case-insensitive substring search over name, description, and
+    declared tools. An empty query returns the whole catalog."""
+    entries = load_catalog()
+    q = (query or "").strip().lower()
+    if not q:
+        return entries
+    results: List[PluginCatalogEntry] = []
+    for entry in entries:
+        haystacks = [entry.name, entry.description]
+        haystacks.extend(entry.capabilities.provides_tools)
+        if any(q in h.lower() for h in haystacks):
+            results.append(entry)
+    return results
+
+
+# ─── Removed / blocklist ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def _normalize_repo(url: str) -> str:
+    """Normalize a repo URL for comparison (.git suffix and trailing slash
+    stripped, lowercased)."""
+    return url.strip().rstrip("/").removesuffix(".git").lower()
+
+
+def load_removed_list() -> List[RemovedEntry]:
+    """Load ``plugin-catalog/removed.yaml`` (the ``removed:`` list).
+
+    Missing or malformed files yield an empty list — never raises.
+    """
+    path = get_catalog_dir() / "removed.yaml"
+    if not path.is_file():
+        return []
+    try:
+        data = yaml.safe_load(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) or {}
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.warning("Plugin catalog: failed to read %s: %s", path, exc)
+        return []
+    raw_list = data.get("removed") if isinstance(data, dict) else None
+    if not isinstance(raw_list, list):
+        return []
+    removed: List[RemovedEntry] = []
+    for raw in raw_list:
+        if not isinstance(raw, dict):
+            continue
+        name = str(raw.get("name") or "")
+        if not name:
+            continue
+        removed.append(
+            RemovedEntry(
+                name=name,
+                repo=str(raw.get("repo") or ""),
+                reason=str(raw.get("reason") or ""),
+                date=str(raw.get("date") or ""),
+            )
+        )
+    return removed
+
+
+def find_removed(name_or_repo: str) -> Optional[RemovedEntry]:
+    """Match *name_or_repo* against the removed blocklist.
+
+    Matches by exact catalog name OR by repo URL (normalized — ``.git``
+    suffix and trailing slashes are ignored).
+    """
+    if not name_or_repo:
+        return None
+    candidate = name_or_repo.strip()
+    candidate_repo = _normalize_repo(candidate)
+    for entry in load_removed_list():
+        if candidate == entry.name:
+            return entry
+        if entry.repo and candidate_repo == _normalize_repo(entry.repo):
+            return entry
+    return None
+
+
+# ─── Human summaries ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def entry_capability_summary(entry: PluginCatalogEntry) -> str:
+    """One-paragraph human summary of what an entry declares, shown at
+    install prompts so the user knows what they're granting."""
+    caps = entry.capabilities
+    parts: List[str] = []
+    if caps.provides_tools:
+        parts.append(f"registers tool(s): {', '.join(caps.provides_tools)}")
+    if caps.provides_hooks:
+        parts.append(f"hook(s): {', '.join(caps.provides_hooks)}")
+    if caps.provides_middleware:
+        parts.append(f"middleware: {', '.join(caps.provides_middleware)}")
+    if caps.requires_env:
+        parts.append(f"requires env var(s): {', '.join(caps.requires_env)}")
+    if not parts:
+        capability_text = "declares no tools, hooks, middleware, or env vars"
+    else:
+        capability_text = "; ".join(parts)
+    bits = [
+        f"{entry.name} ({entry.tier}, maintained by {entry.maintainer})",
+    ]
+    if entry.description:
+        bits.append(entry.description)
+    bits.append(f"This plugin {capability_text}.")
+    if entry.platforms:
+        bits.append(f"Platforms: {', '.join(entry.platforms)}.")
+    if entry.requires_hermes:
+        bits.append(f"Requires Hermes {entry.requires_hermes}.")
+    return " ".join(bits)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/plugins.py b/hermes_cli/plugins.py
index 6ca393fca53..1a5e93949fd 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/plugins.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/plugins.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import importlib.util
 import inspect
 import logging
 import os
+import re
 import sys
 import threading
 import types
@@ -79,6 +80,93 @@ class PluginToolOverrideError(PermissionError):
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Hermes version gate (manifest ``requires_hermes``)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+_VERSION_COMPARATOR_RE = re.compile(r"^\s*(>=|<=|==|!=|>|<)\s*(.+?)\s*$")
+
+
+def _running_hermes_version() -> str:
+    """Return the running Hermes version string.
+
+    Prefers installed package metadata (matches ``hermes_cli/main.py``'s
+    version reporting), falling back to ``hermes_cli.__version__`` for
+    source checkouts, then ``"0.0.0"`` as a last resort.
+    """
+    try:
+        return importlib.metadata.version("hermes-agent")
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli import __version__
+        return __version__
+    except Exception:
+        return "0.0.0"
+
+
+def _version_tuple(v: str) -> Optional[tuple]:
+    """Parse ``major.minor.patch`` into a comparable tuple.
+
+    Leading ``v`` and pre-release/build metadata (``-rc1``, ``+abc``) are
+    stripped; missing segments default to 0. Returns ``None`` when any
+    segment is non-numeric.
+    """
+    s = str(v).strip().lstrip("v")
+    s = re.split(r"[-+]", s, 1)[0]
+    parts = s.split(".")
+    while len(parts) < 3:
+        parts.append("0")
+    try:
+        return tuple(int(p) for p in parts[:3])
+    except ValueError:
+        return None
+
+
+def _version_satisfies(spec: str, current: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True when *current* satisfies *spec*.
+
+    *spec* supports ``>=``, ``>``, ``<=``, ``<``, ``==``, ``!=`` and
+    comma-separated combinations (all must hold). A bare version is treated
+    as ``>=``. Non-numeric version segments fall back to permissive True
+    (with a debug log) — no new dependency, so no full PEP 440 handling.
+    """
+    if not spec or not spec.strip():
+        return True
+    cur = _version_tuple(current)
+    if cur is None:
+        logger.debug(
+            "requires_hermes: unparseable running version %r — allowing", current,
+        )
+        return True
+    for clause in spec.split(","):
+        clause = clause.strip()
+        if not clause:
+            continue
+        m = _VERSION_COMPARATOR_RE.match(clause)
+        if m:
+            op, target = m.group(1), m.group(2)
+        else:
+            op, target = ">=", clause
+        tgt = _version_tuple(target)
+        if tgt is None:
+            logger.debug(
+                "requires_hermes: unparseable version spec %r — allowing", clause,
+            )
+            continue
+        ok = {
+            ">=": cur >= tgt,
+            "<=": cur <= tgt,
+            "==": cur == tgt,
+            "!=": cur != tgt,
+            ">": cur > tgt,
+            "<": cur < tgt,
+        }[op]
+        if not ok:
+            return False
+    return True
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Plugin developer debug logging
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -312,6 +400,16 @@ class PluginManifest:
     # category plugin at ``plugins/image_gen/openai/`` the key is
     # ``image_gen/openai``. When empty, falls back to ``name``.
     key: str = ""
+    # Minimum/exact Hermes version requirement, e.g. ``">=0.19"``. Empty =
+    # no requirement. Checked at load time; unsatisfied plugins are recorded
+    # with an error and skipped (no register() call, no traceback).
+    requires_hermes: str = ""
+    # Declared config keys from the manifest's ``config:`` section — a list
+    # of ``{key, prompt, type (str|bool|int), default, secret (bool)}``
+    # dicts. secret=true values are prompted into ~/.hermes/.env; secret
+    # =false values live under ``plugins.entries.<plugin_id>.<key>`` in
+    # config.yaml. Exposed to plugins via ``ctx.plugin_config``.
+    config_spec: List[Dict[str, Any]] = field(default_factory=list)
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -386,6 +484,40 @@ class PluginContext:
         except Exception:
             return "default"
 
+    # -- declared plugin config ---------------------------------------------
+
+    @property
+    def plugin_config(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Return this plugin's effective config values.
+
+        Built from the manifest's ``config:`` spec defaults, overlaid with
+        whatever the operator set under ``plugins.entries.<plugin_id>`` in
+        config.yaml (config.yaml wins on key collision). Secret keys
+        (``secret: true``) are stored in ``~/.hermes/.env`` instead and are
+        NOT surfaced here — read them via ``os.environ``.
+        """
+        merged: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+        for spec in self.manifest.config_spec or []:
+            key = spec.get("key")
+            if not key:
+                continue
+            if spec.get("secret"):
+                continue  # secrets live in .env, never in config.yaml
+            if "default" in spec:
+                merged[key] = spec.get("default")
+        try:
+            from hermes_cli.config import load_config
+            cfg = load_config() or {}
+        except Exception:
+            cfg = {}
+        plugin_id = self.manifest.key or self.manifest.name
+        entries = (cfg.get("plugins") or {}).get("entries") or {}
+        entry = entries.get(plugin_id) or {}
+        if isinstance(entry, dict):
+            for key, value in entry.items():
+                merged[key] = value
+        return merged
+
     # -- tool registration --------------------------------------------------
 
     def register_tool(
@@ -1632,6 +1764,23 @@ class PluginManager:
                 "Parsed manifest: key=%s name=%s kind=%s source=%s path=%s",
                 key, name, kind, source, plugin_dir,
             )
+            raw_config = data.get("config", [])
+            config_spec: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+            if isinstance(raw_config, list):
+                for item in raw_config:
+                    if isinstance(item, dict) and item.get("key"):
+                        config_spec.append(dict(item))
+                    else:
+                        logger.warning(
+                            "Plugin %s: ignoring invalid config entry %r "
+                            "(must be a mapping with a 'key')", key, item,
+                        )
+            elif raw_config:
+                logger.warning(
+                    "Plugin %s: 'config' must be a list of mappings; ignoring",
+                    key,
+                )
+
             return PluginManifest(
                 name=name,
                 version=str(data.get("version", "")),
@@ -1644,6 +1793,8 @@ class PluginManager:
                 path=str(plugin_dir),
                 kind=kind,
                 key=key,
+                requires_hermes=str(data.get("requires_hermes") or "").strip(),
+                config_spec=config_spec,
             )
         except Exception as exc:
             logger.warning(
@@ -1748,6 +1899,24 @@ class PluginManager:
     def _load_plugin(self, manifest: PluginManifest) -> None:
         """Import a plugin module and call its ``register(ctx)`` function."""
         loaded = LoadedPlugin(manifest=manifest)
+
+        # requires_hermes gate — skip cleanly (no import, no traceback) when
+        # the running Hermes version doesn't satisfy the manifest spec.
+        if manifest.requires_hermes:
+            current = _running_hermes_version()
+            if not _version_satisfies(manifest.requires_hermes, current):
+                loaded.enabled = False
+                loaded.error = (
+                    f"requires hermes {manifest.requires_hermes}, "
+                    f"running {current}"
+                )
+                self._plugins[manifest.key or manifest.name] = loaded
+                logger.warning(
+                    "Plugin '%s' skipped: %s",
+                    manifest.key or manifest.name, loaded.error,
+                )
+                return
+
         logger.debug(
             "Loading plugin '%s' (source=%s, kind=%s, path=%s)",
             manifest.key or manifest.name, manifest.source, manifest.kind, manifest.path,
diff --git a/hermes_cli/plugins_cmd.py b/hermes_cli/plugins_cmd.py
index f5c57bb88f2..731f35c6efa 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/plugins_cmd.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/plugins_cmd.py
@@ -446,19 +446,61 @@ def _require_installed_plugin(name: str, plugins_dir: Path, console) -> Path:
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-def _install_plugin_core(identifier: str, *, force: bool) -> tuple[Path, dict, str]:
+def _raise_removed(removed) -> None:
+    """Raise PluginOperationError describing a blocklisted plugin."""
+    detail = removed.reason or "no reason recorded"
+    if removed.date:
+        detail += f" (removed {removed.date})"
+    raise PluginOperationError(
+        f"Plugin '{removed.name}' was removed from the Hermes plugin "
+        f"catalog and is blocked from installation: {detail}"
+    )
+
+
+def _install_plugin_core(
+    identifier: str,
+    *,
+    force: bool,
+    ref: Optional[str] = None,
+    skip_removed_check: bool = False,
+) -> tuple[Path, dict, str]:
     """Clone Git plugin into ``~/.hermes/plugins``.
 
+    ``ref`` — optional git commit SHA (or tag) checked out after clone.
+    When given, the clone is full-depth (no ``--depth 1``) so any commit is
+    reachable.
+
+    Unless ``skip_removed_check`` is set, the identifier and the resolved
+    repo URL are checked against the plugin catalog's removed blocklist
+    (``plugin-catalog/removed.yaml``); a hit raises ``PluginOperationError``
+    with the recorded reason and date.
+
     Returns ``(target_dir, installed_manifest, canonical_name)``.
     Raises ``PluginOperationError`` on failure.
     """
     import tempfile
 
+    if not skip_removed_check:
+        from hermes_cli.plugin_catalog import find_removed
+
+        # Check the raw identifier first (catches catalog names before URL
+        # resolution), then the resolved repo URL below.
+        removed = find_removed(identifier)
+        if removed is not None:
+            _raise_removed(removed)
+
     try:
         git_url, subdir = _resolve_git_url(identifier)
     except ValueError as e:
         raise PluginOperationError(str(e)) from e
 
+    if not skip_removed_check:
+        from hermes_cli.plugin_catalog import find_removed
+
+        removed = find_removed(git_url)
+        if removed is not None:
+            _raise_removed(removed)
+
     plugins_dir = _plugins_dir()
 
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
@@ -468,9 +510,15 @@ def _install_plugin_core(identifier: str, *, force: bool) -> tuple[Path, dict, s
         if not git_exe:
             raise PluginOperationError("git is not installed or not in PATH.")
 
+        clone_cmd = [git_exe, "clone"]
+        if ref is None:
+            # Fast path — only the tip is needed.
+            clone_cmd += ["--depth", "1"]
+        clone_cmd += [git_url, str(tmp_clone)]
+
         try:
             result = subprocess.run(
-                [git_exe, "clone", "--depth", "1", git_url, str(tmp_clone)],
+                clone_cmd,
                 capture_output=True,
                 text=True,
                 timeout=60,
@@ -488,6 +536,24 @@ def _install_plugin_core(identifier: str, *, force: bool) -> tuple[Path, dict, s
             err = (result.stderr or result.stdout or "").strip()
             raise PluginOperationError(f"Git clone failed:\n{err}")
 
+        if ref is not None:
+            try:
+                checkout = subprocess.run(
+                    [git_exe, "-C", str(tmp_clone), "checkout", ref],
+                    capture_output=True,
+                    text=True,
+                    timeout=60,
+                )
+            except subprocess.TimeoutExpired as e:
+                raise PluginOperationError(
+                    f"Git checkout of ref '{ref}' timed out after 60 seconds.",
+                ) from e
+            if checkout.returncode != 0:
+                err = (checkout.stderr or checkout.stdout or "").strip()
+                raise PluginOperationError(
+                    f"Git checkout of ref '{ref}' failed:\n{err}"
+                )
+
         # Resolve the directory within the clone that holds the plugin.
         if subdir:
             tmp_target = _resolve_subdir_within(tmp_clone, subdir)
diff --git a/plugin-catalog/README.md b/plugin-catalog/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6a44c3a6e68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugin-catalog/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+# Hermes Plugin Catalog
+
+Curated, Nous-approved Hermes plugins. Each YAML file in this directory
+(except `removed.yaml`) is one catalog entry, discoverable via
+`hermes plugins catalog` / `hermes plugins search` and installable with
+`hermes plugins install <name>`.
+
+## Admission policy
+
+Presence in this directory **is** the trust signal. The rules that keep it
+meaningful:
+
+1. **Human-merged gate.** Entries are added *only* via a PR to the
+   `hermes-agent` repository, reviewed and merged by a maintainer. There is
+   no self-serve registry, no automated ingestion.
+2. **Exact SHA pins are mandatory.** Every entry pins a full 40-character
+   commit SHA. Branches, tags, and short SHAs are rejected by the loader.
+   Installs clone the repository and check out exactly that commit.
+3. **Pin maturity.** The pinned release should be **at least 2 weeks old**
+   at pin time, mirroring the supply-chain policy used for `optional-mcps/`
+   and pyproject dependencies. This gives the community time to notice a
+   compromised release before Hermes ships a pointer to it.
+4. **SHA bumps are new PRs.** Updating an entry's pin is a new PR whose diff
+   (old SHA → new SHA) is re-reviewed like any other change — reviewers are
+   expected to look at the upstream commit range being adopted.
+5. **Owner-or-major-contributor submissions only.** An entry may only be
+   submitted by the plugin repository's owner or a major contributor to it.
+   Drive-by submissions of third-party repos are declined.
+6. **Declared capabilities must match reality.** The `capabilities:` block
+   (tools, hooks, middleware, env vars) must match what the plugin actually
+   registers at the pinned commit. Validation fails the entry otherwise —
+   undeclared capability creep is treated as a security issue.
+
+## Entry schema
+
+```yaml
+name: example-plugin        # [a-z0-9_-]{1,64}, the catalog key
+repo: https://github.com/owner/repo   # https:// only
+sha: <40-hex commit sha>    # mandatory exact pin
+subdir: ""                  # optional path within the repo
+description: One-line description.
+maintainer: OwnerName
+tier: official              # official | community (default community)
+requires_hermes: ">=0.19"   # optional
+docs_url: ""                # optional
+platforms: []               # optional, e.g. [linux, macos]; empty = all
+capabilities:
+  provides_tools: []
+  provides_hooks: []
+  provides_middleware: []
+  requires_env: []
+```
+
+## removed.yaml — the blocklist
+
+When an entry is pulled from the catalog for security or policy reasons, it
+is recorded in `removed.yaml` with a reason and date. The installer refuses
+to install anything matching a removed entry's name or repo URL, so a
+malicious plugin cannot be re-installed from a stale identifier after
+removal. Removals, like additions, land via reviewed PRs.
diff --git a/plugin-catalog/example-plugin.yaml b/plugin-catalog/example-plugin.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..236b6fa9a77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugin-catalog/example-plugin.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+name: example-plugin
+repo: https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-example-plugins
+sha: 38fe0fb53eff98d477f807432e965429e665ca33
+subdir: ""
+description: Reference example plugins for the Hermes plugin system.
+maintainer: NousResearch
+tier: official
+docs_url: ""
+platforms: []
+capabilities:
+  provides_tools: []
+  provides_hooks: []
+  provides_middleware: []
+  requires_env: []
diff --git a/plugin-catalog/removed.yaml b/plugin-catalog/removed.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..75c6ab8c6cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugin-catalog/removed.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Blocklist for plugins pulled from the catalog for security or policy
+# reasons. The installer refuses to install anything whose name or repo URL
+# matches an entry here (unless the caller explicitly bypasses the check).
+# Each entry: {name, repo, reason, date}. Removals land via reviewed PRs,
+# same as additions.
+removed: []
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_plugin_catalog.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_plugin_catalog.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..18096bfb5e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_plugin_catalog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,594 @@
+"""Tests for the Hermes plugin catalog (hermes_cli.plugin_catalog) and the
+catalog-driven install/manifest extensions in plugins_cmd.py / plugins.py."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+import yaml
+
+from hermes_cli.plugin_catalog import (
+    CATALOG_TIERS,
+    PluginCatalogEntry,
+    RemovedEntry,
+    entry_capability_summary,
+    find_removed,
+    get_catalog_dir,
+    get_catalog_entry,
+    load_catalog,
+    load_removed_list,
+    search_catalog,
+)
+
+
+VALID_SHA = "38fe0fb53eff98d477f807432e965429e665ca33"
+
+
+# ── Helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def _write_entry(catalog_dir: Path, name: str, **overrides) -> Path:
+    """Write a minimal valid catalog entry yaml, applying overrides."""
+    data = {
+        "name": name,
+        "repo": f"https://github.com/example/{name}",
+        "sha": VALID_SHA,
+        "description": f"Test entry {name}.",
+        "maintainer": "Example",
+    }
+    data.update(overrides)
+    catalog_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    path = catalog_dir / f"{name}.yaml"
+    path.write_text(yaml.safe_dump(data), encoding="utf-8")
+    return path
+
+
+def _write_removed(catalog_dir: Path, removed: list) -> Path:
+    catalog_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    path = catalog_dir / "removed.yaml"
+    path.write_text(yaml.safe_dump({"removed": removed}), encoding="utf-8")
+    return path
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def catalog_dir(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    d = tmp_path / "catalog"
+    d.mkdir()
+    monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_PLUGIN_CATALOG_DIR", str(d))
+    return d
+
+
+# ── get_catalog_dir ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestGetCatalogDir:
+    def test_env_override_wins(self, catalog_dir):
+        assert get_catalog_dir() == catalog_dir
+
+    def test_default_is_repo_plugin_catalog(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.delenv("HERMES_PLUGIN_CATALOG_DIR", raising=False)
+        d = get_catalog_dir()
+        assert d.name == "plugin-catalog"
+
+
+# ── load_catalog ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestLoadCatalog:
+    def test_valid_entry_parses(self, catalog_dir):
+        _write_entry(
+            catalog_dir,
+            "my-plugin",
+            tier="official",
+            requires_hermes=">=0.19",
+            subdir="plugins/my-plugin",
+            docs_url="https://example.com/docs",
+            platforms=["linux"],
+            capabilities={
+                "provides_tools": ["my_tool"],
+                "provides_hooks": ["on_start"],
+                "provides_middleware": ["llm_request"],
+                "requires_env": ["MY_API_KEY"],
+            },
+        )
+        entries = load_catalog()
+        assert len(entries) == 1
+        e = entries[0]
+        assert isinstance(e, PluginCatalogEntry)
+        assert e.name == "my-plugin"
+        assert e.repo == "https://github.com/example/my-plugin"
+        assert e.sha == VALID_SHA
+        assert e.tier == "official"
+        assert e.requires_hermes == ">=0.19"
+        assert e.subdir == "plugins/my-plugin"
+        assert e.docs_url == "https://example.com/docs"
+        assert e.platforms == ["linux"]
+        assert e.capabilities.provides_tools == ["my_tool"]
+        assert e.capabilities.provides_hooks == ["on_start"]
+        assert e.capabilities.provides_middleware == ["llm_request"]
+        assert e.capabilities.requires_env == ["MY_API_KEY"]
+
+    def test_tier_defaults_to_community(self, catalog_dir):
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "no-tier")
+        (entry,) = load_catalog()
+        assert entry.tier == "community"
+        assert entry.tier in CATALOG_TIERS
+
+    def test_bad_sha_rejected(self, catalog_dir, caplog):
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "bad-sha", sha="main")
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "short-sha", sha="38fe0fb")
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "good", sha=VALID_SHA)
+        with caplog.at_level("WARNING"):
+            entries = load_catalog()
+        assert [e.name for e in entries] == ["good"]
+
+    def test_bad_name_rejected(self, catalog_dir, caplog):
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "BadName")
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "has spaces")
+        with caplog.at_level("WARNING"):
+            entries = load_catalog()
+        assert entries == []
+
+    def test_non_https_repo_rejected(self, catalog_dir, caplog):
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "sshrepo", repo="git@github.com:x/y.git")
+        with caplog.at_level("WARNING"):
+            entries = load_catalog()
+        assert entries == []
+
+    def test_invalid_tier_rejected(self, catalog_dir, caplog):
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "weird-tier", tier="platinum")
+        with caplog.at_level("WARNING"):
+            entries = load_catalog()
+        assert entries == []
+
+    def test_removed_yaml_is_not_an_entry(self, catalog_dir):
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "real-entry")
+        _write_removed(catalog_dir, [])
+        entries = load_catalog()
+        assert [e.name for e in entries] == ["real-entry"]
+
+    def test_unparseable_yaml_skipped_without_raising(self, catalog_dir, caplog):
+        (catalog_dir / "broken.yaml").write_text(
+            "name: [unclosed", encoding="utf-8"
+        )
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "ok-entry")
+        with caplog.at_level("WARNING"):
+            entries = load_catalog()
+        assert [e.name for e in entries] == ["ok-entry"]
+
+    def test_missing_dir_returns_empty(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv(
+            "HERMES_PLUGIN_CATALOG_DIR", str(tmp_path / "does-not-exist")
+        )
+        assert load_catalog() == []
+
+
+# ── get_catalog_entry / search_catalog ─────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestLookupAndSearch:
+    def test_get_catalog_entry_by_name(self, catalog_dir):
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "alpha")
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "beta")
+        entry = get_catalog_entry("beta")
+        assert entry is not None and entry.name == "beta"
+        assert get_catalog_entry("nope") is None
+
+    def test_search_matches_name_case_insensitive(self, catalog_dir):
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "weather-tools")
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "other")
+        results = search_catalog("WEATHER")
+        assert [e.name for e in results] == ["weather-tools"]
+
+    def test_search_matches_description(self, catalog_dir):
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "abc", description="Fetches Stock Quotes.")
+        results = search_catalog("stock")
+        assert [e.name for e in results] == ["abc"]
+
+    def test_search_matches_declared_tools(self, catalog_dir):
+        _write_entry(
+            catalog_dir,
+            "toolful",
+            capabilities={"provides_tools": ["get_forecast"]},
+        )
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "toolless")
+        results = search_catalog("Forecast")
+        assert [e.name for e in results] == ["toolful"]
+
+    def test_empty_query_returns_all(self, catalog_dir):
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "one")
+        _write_entry(catalog_dir, "two")
+        assert len(search_catalog("")) == 2
+
+
+# ── removed list ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestRemovedList:
+    def test_load_removed_list(self, catalog_dir):
+        _write_removed(
+            catalog_dir,
+            [
+                {
+                    "name": "evil-plugin",
+                    "repo": "https://github.com/evil/evil-plugin",
+                    "reason": "Exfiltrated env vars",
+                    "date": "2026-07-02",
+                }
+            ],
+        )
+        removed = load_removed_list()
+        assert len(removed) == 1
+        r = removed[0]
+        assert isinstance(r, RemovedEntry)
+        assert r.name == "evil-plugin"
+        assert r.reason == "Exfiltrated env vars"
+        assert r.date == "2026-07-02"
+
+    def test_missing_removed_yaml_returns_empty(self, catalog_dir):
+        assert load_removed_list() == []
+        assert find_removed("anything") is None
+
+    def test_find_removed_by_name(self, catalog_dir):
+        _write_removed(catalog_dir, [{"name": "evil-plugin", "reason": "bad"}])
+        hit = find_removed("evil-plugin")
+        assert hit is not None and hit.reason == "bad"
+
+    def test_find_removed_by_repo_url_with_and_without_git_suffix(
+        self, catalog_dir
+    ):
+        _write_removed(
+            catalog_dir,
+            [
+                {
+                    "name": "evil-plugin",
+                    "repo": "https://github.com/evil/evil-plugin",
+                    "reason": "bad",
+                }
+            ],
+        )
+        assert find_removed("https://github.com/evil/evil-plugin") is not None
+        assert find_removed("https://github.com/evil/evil-plugin.git") is not None
+        assert find_removed("https://github.com/good/fine.git") is None
+
+
+# ── entry_capability_summary ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestCapabilitySummary:
+    def test_summary_contains_declared_capabilities(self):
+        entry = PluginCatalogEntry(
+            name="cap-plugin",
+            repo="https://github.com/example/cap-plugin",
+            sha=VALID_SHA,
+            description="Does capable things.",
+            maintainer="Example",
+        )
+        entry.capabilities.provides_tools = ["tool_a", "tool_b"]
+        entry.capabilities.provides_hooks = ["session_start"]
+        entry.capabilities.requires_env = ["CAP_API_KEY"]
+        summary = entry_capability_summary(entry)
+        assert "tool_a" in summary
+        assert "tool_b" in summary
+        assert "session_start" in summary
+        assert "CAP_API_KEY" in summary
+
+    def test_summary_for_empty_capabilities_mentions_none(self):
+        entry = PluginCatalogEntry(
+            name="plain",
+            repo="https://github.com/example/plain",
+            sha=VALID_SHA,
+            description="Plain.",
+            maintainer="Example",
+        )
+        summary = entry_capability_summary(entry)
+        assert summary  # non-empty human text
+
+
+# ── shipped catalog seed ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestShippedCatalog:
+    def test_shipped_catalog_entries_are_valid(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Every yaml shipped in <repo>/plugin-catalog must load cleanly."""
+        monkeypatch.delenv("HERMES_PLUGIN_CATALOG_DIR", raising=False)
+        shipped = get_catalog_dir()
+        yaml_files = [
+            p for p in shipped.glob("*.yaml") if p.name != "removed.yaml"
+        ]
+        entries = load_catalog()
+        assert len(entries) == len(yaml_files)
+        # removed.yaml must exist and parse
+        assert (shipped / "removed.yaml").exists()
+        load_removed_list()
+
+
+# ── _version_satisfies ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestVersionSatisfies:
+    @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+    def _import(self):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins import _version_satisfies
+
+        self.satisfies = _version_satisfies
+
+    def test_ge(self):
+        assert self.satisfies(">=0.19", "0.19.0") is True
+        assert self.satisfies(">=0.19", "0.20.1") is True
+        assert self.satisfies(">=0.19", "0.18.2") is False
+
+    def test_gt_lt_le(self):
+        assert self.satisfies(">0.19", "0.19.1") is True
+        assert self.satisfies(">0.19", "0.19.0") is False
+        assert self.satisfies("<1.0", "0.19.0") is True
+        assert self.satisfies("<=0.19.0", "0.19.0") is True
+
+    def test_eq_ne(self):
+        assert self.satisfies("==0.19.0", "0.19.0") is True
+        assert self.satisfies("==0.19.0", "0.19.1") is False
+        assert self.satisfies("!=0.19.0", "0.19.1") is True
+        assert self.satisfies("!=0.19.0", "0.19.0") is False
+
+    def test_comma_separated_all_must_hold(self):
+        assert self.satisfies(">=0.10, <1.0", "0.19.0") is True
+        assert self.satisfies(">=0.10, <0.15", "0.19.0") is False
+
+    def test_bare_version_treated_as_ge(self):
+        assert self.satisfies("0.10", "0.19.0") is True
+        assert self.satisfies("999", "0.19.0") is False
+
+    def test_empty_spec_is_satisfied(self):
+        assert self.satisfies("", "0.19.0") is True
+
+    def test_non_numeric_segments_fall_back_permissive(self):
+        assert self.satisfies(">=abc.def", "0.19.0") is True
+        assert self.satisfies(">=0.19", "unknown") is True
+
+
+# ── requires_hermes manifest gate ──────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def _make_plugin(base: Path, name: str, *, manifest_extra: dict | None = None,
+                 register_body: str = "pass", enable: bool = True) -> Path:
+    """Create a plugin dir under <HERMES_HOME>/plugins and opt it in."""
+    plugin_dir = base / name
+    plugin_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    manifest = {"name": name, "version": "0.1.0", "description": name}
+    if manifest_extra:
+        manifest.update(manifest_extra)
+    (plugin_dir / "plugin.yaml").write_text(yaml.safe_dump(manifest))
+    (plugin_dir / "__init__.py").write_text(
+        f"def register(ctx):\n    {register_body}\n"
+    )
+    if enable:
+        hermes_home = Path(os.environ["HERMES_HOME"])
+        cfg_path = hermes_home / "config.yaml"
+        cfg: dict = {}
+        if cfg_path.exists():
+            cfg = yaml.safe_load(cfg_path.read_text()) or {}
+        cfg.setdefault("plugins", {}).setdefault("enabled", []).append(name)
+        cfg_path.write_text(yaml.safe_dump(cfg))
+    return plugin_dir
+
+
+class TestRequiresHermesGate:
+    def test_unsatisfied_requires_hermes_skips_load(self, monkeypatch):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins import PluginManager
+
+        hermes_home = Path(os.environ["HERMES_HOME"])
+        plugins_dir = hermes_home / "plugins"
+        _make_plugin(
+            plugins_dir, "future_plugin",
+            manifest_extra={"requires_hermes": ">=999.0"},
+        )
+        mgr = PluginManager()
+        mgr.discover_and_load()
+        loaded = mgr._plugins["future_plugin"]
+        assert loaded.enabled is False
+        assert loaded.error is not None
+        assert "requires hermes" in loaded.error
+        assert ">=999.0" in loaded.error
+        assert loaded.module is None  # register() never ran
+
+    def test_satisfied_requires_hermes_loads_normally(self, monkeypatch):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins import PluginManager
+
+        hermes_home = Path(os.environ["HERMES_HOME"])
+        plugins_dir = hermes_home / "plugins"
+        _make_plugin(
+            plugins_dir, "old_ok_plugin",
+            manifest_extra={"requires_hermes": ">=0.1"},
+        )
+        mgr = PluginManager()
+        mgr.discover_and_load()
+        loaded = mgr._plugins["old_ok_plugin"]
+        assert loaded.enabled is True
+        assert loaded.error is None
+
+    def test_requires_hermes_parsed_onto_manifest(self):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins import PluginManager
+
+        hermes_home = Path(os.environ["HERMES_HOME"])
+        plugins_dir = hermes_home / "plugins"
+        _make_plugin(
+            plugins_dir, "spec_plugin",
+            manifest_extra={"requires_hermes": ">=0.19"},
+            enable=False,
+        )
+        mgr = PluginManager()
+        mgr.discover_and_load()
+        assert mgr._plugins["spec_plugin"].manifest.requires_hermes == ">=0.19"
+
+
+# ── config: spec parsing + ctx.plugin_config ───────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestPluginConfig:
+    def test_config_spec_parsed_onto_manifest(self):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins import PluginManager
+
+        hermes_home = Path(os.environ["HERMES_HOME"])
+        plugins_dir = hermes_home / "plugins"
+        spec = [
+            {"key": "api_url", "prompt": "API URL", "type": "str",
+             "default": "https://api.example.com", "secret": False},
+            {"key": "token", "prompt": "Token", "type": "str", "secret": True},
+        ]
+        _make_plugin(
+            plugins_dir, "cfg_plugin",
+            manifest_extra={"config": spec},
+            enable=False,
+        )
+        mgr = PluginManager()
+        mgr.discover_and_load()
+        manifest = mgr._plugins["cfg_plugin"].manifest
+        assert isinstance(manifest.config_spec, list)
+        assert manifest.config_spec[0]["key"] == "api_url"
+        assert manifest.config_spec[1]["secret"] is True
+
+    def test_plugin_config_merges_defaults_under_config_entries(self):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins import PluginContext, PluginManifest, PluginManager
+
+        hermes_home = Path(os.environ["HERMES_HOME"])
+        cfg_path = hermes_home / "config.yaml"
+        cfg_path.write_text(yaml.safe_dump({
+            "plugins": {"entries": {"merge_plugin": {"api_url": "https://override"}}}
+        }))
+
+        manifest = PluginManifest(
+            name="merge_plugin",
+            key="merge_plugin",
+            config_spec=[
+                {"key": "api_url", "default": "https://default"},
+                {"key": "retries", "type": "int", "default": 3},
+            ],
+        )
+        ctx = PluginContext(manifest, PluginManager())
+        cfg = ctx.plugin_config
+        assert cfg["api_url"] == "https://override"   # config.yaml wins
+        assert cfg["retries"] == 3                    # default fills the gap
+
+    def test_plugin_config_empty_without_spec_or_entries(self):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins import PluginContext, PluginManifest, PluginManager
+
+        manifest = PluginManifest(name="bare_plugin", key="bare_plugin")
+        ctx = PluginContext(manifest, PluginManager())
+        assert ctx.plugin_config == {}
+
+
+# ── _install_plugin_core: ref checkout + removed blocklist ────────────────
+
+
+def _make_git_repo(tmp_path: Path) -> tuple[Path, str, str]:
+    """Create a local git repo with two commits; return (path, sha1, sha2)."""
+    repo = tmp_path / "src-repo"
+    repo.mkdir()
+
+    def git(*args):
+        subprocess.run(
+            ["git", *args], cwd=repo, check=True, capture_output=True, text=True,
+            env={**os.environ,
+                 "GIT_AUTHOR_NAME": "t", "GIT_AUTHOR_EMAIL": "t@t",
+                 "GIT_COMMITTER_NAME": "t", "GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL": "t@t"},
+        )
+
+    git("init", "-b", "main")
+    (repo / "plugin.yaml").write_text(
+        yaml.safe_dump({"name": "refplugin", "version": "1"})
+    )
+    (repo / "__init__.py").write_text("def register(ctx):\n    pass\n")
+    (repo / "marker.txt").write_text("first\n")
+    git("add", "-A")
+    git("commit", "-m", "first")
+    sha1 = subprocess.run(
+        ["git", "rev-parse", "HEAD"], cwd=repo, check=True,
+        capture_output=True, text=True,
+    ).stdout.strip()
+    (repo / "marker.txt").write_text("second\n")
+    git("add", "-A")
+    git("commit", "-m", "second")
+    sha2 = subprocess.run(
+        ["git", "rev-parse", "HEAD"], cwd=repo, check=True,
+        capture_output=True, text=True,
+    ).stdout.strip()
+    return repo, sha1, sha2
+
+
+class TestInstallPluginCore:
+    def test_ref_checkout_installs_pinned_commit(self, tmp_path, catalog_dir):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins_cmd import _install_plugin_core
+
+        repo, sha1, _sha2 = _make_git_repo(tmp_path)
+        target, manifest, name = _install_plugin_core(
+            f"file://{repo}", force=False, ref=sha1
+        )
+        assert name == "refplugin"
+        assert (target / "marker.txt").read_text() == "first\n"
+
+    def test_default_install_gets_head(self, tmp_path, catalog_dir):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins_cmd import _install_plugin_core
+
+        repo, _sha1, _sha2 = _make_git_repo(tmp_path)
+        target, _manifest, _name = _install_plugin_core(
+            f"file://{repo}", force=False
+        )
+        assert (target / "marker.txt").read_text() == "second\n"
+
+    def test_bad_ref_raises(self, tmp_path, catalog_dir):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins_cmd import PluginOperationError, _install_plugin_core
+
+        repo, _sha1, _sha2 = _make_git_repo(tmp_path)
+        with pytest.raises(PluginOperationError):
+            _install_plugin_core(
+                f"file://{repo}", force=False,
+                ref="0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
+            )
+
+    def test_removed_repo_blocked(self, tmp_path, catalog_dir):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins_cmd import PluginOperationError, _install_plugin_core
+
+        repo, _sha1, _sha2 = _make_git_repo(tmp_path)
+        _write_removed(
+            catalog_dir,
+            [{
+                "name": "refplugin",
+                "repo": f"file://{repo}",
+                "reason": "exfiltrated env vars",
+                "date": "2026-07-02",
+            }],
+        )
+        with pytest.raises(PluginOperationError, match="exfiltrated env vars"):
+            _install_plugin_core(f"file://{repo}", force=False)
+
+    def test_removed_identifier_blocked_by_name(self, tmp_path, catalog_dir):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins_cmd import PluginOperationError, _install_plugin_core
+
+        _write_removed(
+            catalog_dir,
+            [{"name": "evil-plugin", "reason": "malware", "date": "2026-01-01"}],
+        )
+        with pytest.raises(PluginOperationError, match="malware"):
+            _install_plugin_core("evil-plugin", force=False)
+
+    def test_skip_removed_check_bypasses_block(self, tmp_path, catalog_dir):
+        from hermes_cli.plugins_cmd import _install_plugin_core
+
+        repo, _sha1, _sha2 = _make_git_repo(tmp_path)
+        _write_removed(
+            catalog_dir,
+            [{
+                "name": "refplugin",
+                "repo": f"file://{repo}",
+                "reason": "bad",
+                "date": "2026-07-02",
+            }],
+        )
+        target, _manifest, name = _install_plugin_core(
+            f"file://{repo}", force=False, skip_removed_check=True
+        )
+        assert name == "refplugin"
+        assert target.exists()