diff --git a/server/src/router/v1/admin/admin.routes.js b/server/src/router/v1/admin/admin.routes.js
index bf31ec9..5e774d6 100644
--- a/server/src/router/v1/admin/admin.routes.js
+++ b/server/src/router/v1/admin/admin.routes.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const multer = require('multer')
 const { body, param } = require('express-validator')
 
 const ctrl = require('./admin.controller')
-const { isLoggedIn } = require('../../../utils/auth')
+const { isLoggedIn, requireRole } = require('../../../utils/auth')
 const noindex = require('../../../middleware/noindex')
 const validate = require('../../../middleware/validate')
 
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ const adminRouter = express.Router()
 // Every admin route requires auth and is kept out of search indexes.
 adminRouter.use(noindex, isLoggedIn)
 
+// Admin-only gate. Editors may manage content (posts/wiki), but user
+// management, site mode, and settings are restricted to the admin role.
+const adminOnly = requireRole('admin')
+
 // ── Image uploads (screenshots/gallery) ───────────────────────────────
 const UPLOAD_DIR =
   process.env.UPLOAD_DIR || path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..', '..', 'uploads')
@@ -39,6 +43,7 @@ const upload = multer({
 adminRouter.get('/dashboard', ctrl.dashboard)
 adminRouter.put(
   '/site-mode',
+  adminOnly,
   body('mode').isIn(['live', 'maintenance']),
   validate,
   ctrl.setSiteMode,
@@ -135,13 +140,14 @@ adminRouter.post(
 adminRouter.delete('/wiki/:slug', ctrl.deleteWiki)
 
 // ── Settings ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-adminRouter.get('/settings', ctrl.getSettings)
-adminRouter.put('/settings', ctrl.updateSettings)
+adminRouter.get('/settings', adminOnly, ctrl.getSettings)
+adminRouter.put('/settings', adminOnly, ctrl.updateSettings)
 
 // ── Activity log ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 adminRouter.get('/activity', ctrl.listActivity)
 
-// ── User management ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// ── User management (admin only) ──────────────────────────────────────
+adminRouter.use('/users', adminOnly)
 adminRouter.get('/users', ctrl.listUsers)
 adminRouter.post(
   '/users',
diff --git a/server/src/utils/auth.js b/server/src/utils/auth.js
index 327e291..bb29e4d 100644
--- a/server/src/utils/auth.js
+++ b/server/src/utils/auth.js
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ function isLoggedIn(req, res, next) {
   return next()
 }
 
+// Gate middleware factory: allow only the listed roles. Assumes isLoggedIn ran
+// first so req.user is populated. Use for admin-only endpoints (users, site
+// mode, settings) so a lower-privilege editor cannot reach them.
+function requireRole(...roles) {
+  return (req, res, next) => {
+    if (roles.includes(req.user?.role)) return next()
+    return res.status(403).json({ message: 'Forbidden' })
+  }
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   COOKIE_NAME,
   signToken,
@@ -93,4 +103,5 @@ module.exports = {
   clearAuthCookie,
   getUserFromRequest,
   isLoggedIn,
+  requireRole,
 }