diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b36d31b..bf83863 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ We've all been there – a deployment script fails because of a temporary networ
 
 - **Strategy-based interface** – Choose the right backoff strategy for your use case
 - **HTTP-aware patience** – Respects `Retry-After` headers and server timing hints
-- **11 backoff strategies** – From simple fixed delays to mathematical proactive rate limiting
+- **10 backoff strategies** – From simple fixed delays to mathematical proactive rate limiting
 - **Diophantine strategy** – Mathematical proactive rate limiting with multi-instance coordination
 - **Intelligent pattern matching** – Define success/failure based on output patterns, not just exit codes
 - **Timeout protection** – Prevent commands from hanging indefinitely
 - **Preserves behavior** – Your command's output and exit codes work exactly as expected
-- **Zero dependencies** – Single binary that works anywhere
+- **Minimal dependencies** – Single binary with vendored dependencies
 - **Unix Socket Daemon** – Real daemon server with JSON protocol for multi-instance coordination
 - **Metrics Daemon (Optional)** – Collect and visualize patience metrics with the [`patienced` daemon](DAEMON.md)
 
diff --git a/pkg/backoff/http_aware.go b/pkg/backoff/http_aware.go
index 3409ea4..62f4ae7 100644
--- a/pkg/backoff/http_aware.go
+++ b/pkg/backoff/http_aware.go
@@ -129,52 +129,114 @@ func (h *HTTPAware) parseRateLimitHeaders(output string) time.Duration {
 
 // parseJSONResponse extracts retry timing from JSON response bodies
 func (h *HTTPAware) parseJSONResponse(output string) time.Duration {
+	// Limit search to first 10KB to avoid processing huge outputs
+	const maxSearchSize = 10 * 1024
+	if len(output) > maxSearchSize {
+		output = output[:maxSearchSize]
+	}
+
 	// Look for JSON-like content
 	if !strings.Contains(output, "{") {
 		return 0
 	}
 
-	// Try to find JSON in the output
-	start := strings.Index(output, "{")
-	if start == -1 {
-		return 0
-	}
+	// Try to find balanced JSON objects and parse each one
+	// This is more robust than first-{ to last-} which can span unrelated content
+	retryFields := []string{"retry_after", "retry_after_seconds", "retryAfter", "retryAfterSeconds", "retry_in"}
 
-	// Find the end of the JSON (simple heuristic)
-	end := strings.LastIndex(output, "}")
-	if end == -1 || end <= start {
-		return 0
-	}
+	start := 0
+	for {
+		// Find next potential JSON start
+		jsonStart := strings.Index(output[start:], "{")
+		if jsonStart == -1 {
+			break
+		}
+		jsonStart += start
 
-	jsonStr := output[start : end+1]
+		// Find matching closing brace using brace counting
+		jsonEnd := findMatchingBrace(output, jsonStart)
+		if jsonEnd == -1 {
+			start = jsonStart + 1
+			continue
+		}
 
-	// Parse JSON and look for retry timing fields
-	var data map[string]interface{}
-	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(jsonStr), &data); err != nil {
-		return 0
-	}
+		jsonStr := output[jsonStart : jsonEnd+1]
 
-	// Check common retry timing field names
-	retryFields := []string{"retry_after", "retry_after_seconds", "retryAfter", "retryAfterSeconds"}
+		// Try to parse this JSON object
+		var data map[string]interface{}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(jsonStr), &data); err != nil {
+			start = jsonStart + 1
+			continue
+		}
 
-	for _, field := range retryFields {
-		if value, exists := data[field]; exists {
-			switch v := value.(type) {
-			case float64:
-				return time.Duration(v) * time.Second
-			case int:
-				return time.Duration(v) * time.Second
-			case string:
-				if seconds, err := strconv.Atoi(v); err == nil {
-					return time.Duration(seconds) * time.Second
+		// Check for retry timing fields in this JSON object
+		for _, field := range retryFields {
+			if value, exists := data[field]; exists {
+				switch v := value.(type) {
+				case float64:
+					return time.Duration(v) * time.Second
+				case int:
+					return time.Duration(v) * time.Second
+				case string:
+					if seconds, err := strconv.Atoi(v); err == nil {
+						return time.Duration(seconds) * time.Second
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
+
+		// This JSON didn't have retry fields, try next one
+		start = jsonEnd + 1
 	}
 
 	return 0
 }
 
+// findMatchingBrace finds the index of the closing brace that matches the opening brace at start
+func findMatchingBrace(s string, start int) int {
+	if start >= len(s) || s[start] != '{' {
+		return -1
+	}
+
+	depth := 0
+	inString := false
+	escaped := false
+
+	for i := start; i < len(s); i++ {
+		c := s[i]
+
+		if escaped {
+			escaped = false
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if c == '\\' && inString {
+			escaped = true
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if c == '"' {
+			inString = !inString
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if inString {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if c == '{' {
+			depth++
+		} else if c == '}' {
+			depth--
+			if depth == 0 {
+				return i
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return -1 // No matching brace found
+}
+
 // capDelay applies the maximum delay cap
 func (h *HTTPAware) capDelay(delay time.Duration) time.Duration {
 	if h.maxRetryAfter > 0 && delay > h.maxRetryAfter {
diff --git a/pkg/daemon/daemon.go b/pkg/daemon/daemon.go
index 35ab1b8..527e426 100644
--- a/pkg/daemon/daemon.go
+++ b/pkg/daemon/daemon.go
@@ -113,14 +113,18 @@ func (d *Daemon) Start() error {
 	}
 
 	// Create Unix domain socket listener
+	// NOTE: This duplicates functionality from UnixServer. Consider refactoring
+	// to use UnixServer for socket handling to reduce code duplication.
 	listener, err := net.Listen("unix", d.config.SocketPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create socket listener: %w", err)
 	}
 	d.listener = listener
 
-	// Set socket permissions
-	if err := os.Chmod(d.config.SocketPath, 0666); err != nil {
+	// Set socket permissions - restrict to owner only for security
+	// Using 0600 ensures only the daemon owner can read/write to the socket,
+	// preventing unauthorized users from sending metrics or interfering with rate limiting
+	if err := os.Chmod(d.config.SocketPath, 0600); err != nil {
 		d.logger.Warn("failed to set socket permissions", "error", err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/executor/executor.go b/pkg/executor/executor.go
index aa30c3e..2d0b610 100644
--- a/pkg/executor/executor.go
+++ b/pkg/executor/executor.go
@@ -82,11 +82,11 @@ func (r *SystemCommandRunner) RunWithOutputAndContext(ctx context.Context, comma
 	// Process cleanup improvement: Set process group for better signal handling
 	cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{Setpgid: true}
 
-	// Network timeout reliability: Set environment variables for faster DNS resolution
-	cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(),
-		"CURL_CA_BUNDLE=", // Disable CA bundle lookup for faster curl operations
-		"CURL_TIMEOUT=10", // Set curl-specific timeout
-	)
+	// Inherit parent environment without modifications
+	// Note: Previously set CURL_CA_BUNDLE="" which disabled TLS certificate validation,
+	// creating a security vulnerability. Users should configure curl timeouts explicitly
+	// via command arguments if needed (e.g., curl --connect-timeout 10)
+	cmd.Env = os.Environ()
 
 	// Capture stdout and stderr while also forwarding to terminal
 	// Use limited buffers for large outputs