diff --git a/frigate/api/auth.py b/frigate/api/auth.py
index 2ee43dd29..7aefdb355 100644
--- a/frigate/api/auth.py
+++ b/frigate/api/auth.py
@@ -32,10 +32,97 @@ from frigate.models import User
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+
+def require_admin_by_default():
+    """
+    Global admin requirement dependency for all endpoints by default.
+
+    This is set as the default dependency on the FastAPI app to ensure all
+    endpoints require admin access unless explicitly overridden with
+    allow_public(), allow_any_authenticated(), or allow_viewer().
+
+    Port 5000 (internal) always has admin role set by the /auth endpoint,
+    so this check passes automatically for internal requests.
+    """
+
+    async def admin_checker(request: Request):
+        role = request.headers.get("remote-role")
+        if role == "admin":
+            return
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=403,
+            detail="Admin role required for this endpoint",
+        )
+
+    return admin_checker
+
+
+def allow_public():
+    """
+    Override dependency to allow unauthenticated access to an endpoint.
+
+    Use this for endpoints that should be publicly accessible without
+    authentication, such as login page, health checks, or pre-auth info.
+
+    Example:
+        @router.get("/public-endpoint", dependencies=[Depends(allow_public())])
+    """
+
+    async def public_checker(request: Request):
+        return  # Always allow
+
+    return public_checker
+
+
+def allow_any_authenticated():
+    """
+    Override dependency to allow any authenticated user (bypass admin requirement).
+
+    The user must have valid remote-user and remote-role headers, but any role
+    is accepted. Port 5000 requests have "admin" role so they also pass.
+
+    Example:
+        @router.get("/authenticated-endpoint", dependencies=[Depends(allow_any_authenticated())])
+    """
+
+    async def auth_checker(request: Request):
+        if not request.headers.get("remote-user"):
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=401,
+                detail="Authentication required",
+            )
+        return
+
+    return auth_checker
+
+
+def allow_viewer():
+    """
+    Override dependency to allow viewer or higher roles (admin, custom roles with cameras).
+
+    This is useful for read-only endpoints that should allow non-admin authenticated users.
+
+    Example:
+        @router.get("/viewer-endpoint", dependencies=[Depends(allow_viewer())])
+    """
+
+    async def viewer_checker(request: Request):
+        role = request.headers.get("remote-role")
+        if not role:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=401,
+                detail="Authentication required",
+            )
+        # Any role is allowed (admin, viewer, or custom roles)
+        return
+
+    return viewer_checker
+
+
 router = APIRouter(tags=[Tags.auth])
 
 
-@router.get("/auth/first_time_login")
+@router.get("/auth/first_time_login", dependencies=[Depends(allow_public())])
 def first_time_login(request: Request):
     """Return whether the admin first-time login help flag is set in config.
 
@@ -352,7 +439,7 @@ def resolve_role(
 
 
 # Endpoints
-@router.get("/auth")
+@router.get("/auth", dependencies=[Depends(allow_public())])
 def auth(request: Request):
     auth_config: AuthConfig = request.app.frigate_config.auth
     proxy_config: ProxyConfig = request.app.frigate_config.proxy
@@ -478,7 +565,7 @@ def auth(request: Request):
         return fail_response
 
 
-@router.get("/profile")
+@router.get("/profile", dependencies=[Depends(allow_any_authenticated())])
 def profile(request: Request):
     username = request.headers.get("remote-user", "anonymous")
     role = request.headers.get("remote-role", "viewer")
@@ -492,7 +579,7 @@ def profile(request: Request):
     )
 
 
-@router.get("/logout")
+@router.get("/logout", dependencies=[Depends(allow_any_authenticated())])
 def logout(request: Request):
     auth_config: AuthConfig = request.app.frigate_config.auth
     response = RedirectResponse("/login", status_code=303)
@@ -503,7 +590,7 @@ def logout(request: Request):
 limiter = Limiter(key_func=get_remote_addr)
 
 
-@router.post("/login")
+@router.post("/login", dependencies=[Depends(allow_public())])
 @limiter.limit(limit_value=rateLimiter.get_limit)
 def login(request: Request, body: AppPostLoginBody):
     JWT_COOKIE_NAME = request.app.frigate_config.auth.cookie_name
diff --git a/frigate/api/fastapi_app.py b/frigate/api/fastapi_app.py
index afb7c9059..2c4b9def2 100644
--- a/frigate/api/fastapi_app.py
+++ b/frigate/api/fastapi_app.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import logging
 import re
 from typing import Optional
 
-from fastapi import FastAPI, Request
+from fastapi import Depends, FastAPI, Request
 from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse
 from joserfc.jwk import OctKey
 from playhouse.sqliteq import SqliteQueueDatabase
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from frigate.api import (
     preview,
     review,
 )
-from frigate.api.auth import get_jwt_secret, limiter
+from frigate.api.auth import get_jwt_secret, limiter, require_admin_by_default
 from frigate.comms.event_metadata_updater import (
     EventMetadataPublisher,
 )
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ def create_fastapi_app(
     app = FastAPI(
         debug=False,
         swagger_ui_parameters={"apisSorter": "alpha", "operationsSorter": "alpha"},
+        dependencies=[Depends(require_admin_by_default())],
     )
 
     # update the request_address with the x-forwarded-for header from nginx