diff --git a/backend/internal/api/handlers/auth_handler.go b/backend/internal/api/handlers/auth_handler.go
index fee65835..9d0a67d1 100644
--- a/backend/internal/api/handlers/auth_handler.go
+++ b/backend/internal/api/handlers/auth_handler.go
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 package handlers
 
 import (
+	"net"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -47,6 +49,82 @@ func requestScheme(c *gin.Context) string {
 	return "http"
 }
 
+func normalizeHost(rawHost string) string {
+	host := strings.TrimSpace(rawHost)
+	if host == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	if strings.Contains(host, ":") {
+		if parsedHost, _, err := net.SplitHostPort(host); err == nil {
+			host = parsedHost
+		}
+	}
+
+	return strings.Trim(host, "[]")
+}
+
+func originHost(rawURL string) string {
+	if rawURL == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	parsedURL, err := url.Parse(rawURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	return normalizeHost(parsedURL.Host)
+}
+
+func isLocalHost(host string) bool {
+	if strings.EqualFold(host, "localhost") {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if ip := net.ParseIP(host); ip != nil && ip.IsLoopback() {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
+func isLocalRequest(c *gin.Context) bool {
+	candidates := []string{}
+
+	if c.Request != nil {
+		candidates = append(candidates, normalizeHost(c.Request.Host))
+
+		if c.Request.URL != nil {
+			candidates = append(candidates, normalizeHost(c.Request.URL.Host))
+		}
+
+		candidates = append(candidates,
+			originHost(c.Request.Header.Get("Origin")),
+			originHost(c.Request.Header.Get("Referer")),
+		)
+	}
+
+	if forwardedHost := c.GetHeader("X-Forwarded-Host"); forwardedHost != "" {
+		parts := strings.Split(forwardedHost, ",")
+		for _, part := range parts {
+			candidates = append(candidates, normalizeHost(part))
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, host := range candidates {
+		if host == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if isLocalHost(host) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
 // setSecureCookie sets an auth cookie with security best practices
 // - HttpOnly: prevents JavaScript access (XSS protection)
 // - Secure: derived from request scheme to allow HTTP/IP logins when needed
@@ -59,6 +137,11 @@ func setSecureCookie(c *gin.Context, name, value string, maxAge int) {
 		sameSite = http.SameSiteLaxMode
 	}
 
+	if isLocalRequest(c) {
+		secure = false
+		sameSite = http.SameSiteLaxMode
+	}
+
 	// Use the host without port for domain
 	domain := ""
 
diff --git a/backend/internal/api/handlers/auth_handler_test.go b/backend/internal/api/handlers/auth_handler_test.go
index 26c0efcc..460b8922 100644
--- a/backend/internal/api/handlers/auth_handler_test.go
+++ b/backend/internal/api/handlers/auth_handler_test.go
@@ -96,6 +96,92 @@ func TestSetSecureCookie_HTTP_Lax(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, http.SameSiteLaxMode, c.SameSite)
 }
 
+func TestSetSecureCookie_ForwardedHTTPS_LocalhostForcesInsecure(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	gin.SetMode(gin.TestMode)
+	_ = os.Setenv("CHARON_ENV", "production")
+	defer func() { _ = os.Unsetenv("CHARON_ENV") }()
+
+	recorder := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	ctx, _ := gin.CreateTestContext(recorder)
+	req := httptest.NewRequest("POST", "http://localhost:8080/login", http.NoBody)
+	req.Host = "localhost:8080"
+	req.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-Proto", "https")
+	ctx.Request = req
+
+	setSecureCookie(ctx, "auth_token", "abc", 60)
+	cookies := recorder.Result().Cookies()
+	require.Len(t, cookies, 1)
+	cookie := cookies[0]
+	assert.False(t, cookie.Secure)
+	assert.Equal(t, http.SameSiteLaxMode, cookie.SameSite)
+}
+
+func TestSetSecureCookie_ForwardedHTTPS_LoopbackForcesInsecure(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	gin.SetMode(gin.TestMode)
+	_ = os.Setenv("CHARON_ENV", "production")
+	defer func() { _ = os.Unsetenv("CHARON_ENV") }()
+
+	recorder := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	ctx, _ := gin.CreateTestContext(recorder)
+	req := httptest.NewRequest("POST", "http://127.0.0.1:8080/login", http.NoBody)
+	req.Host = "127.0.0.1:8080"
+	req.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-Proto", "https")
+	ctx.Request = req
+
+	setSecureCookie(ctx, "auth_token", "abc", 60)
+	cookies := recorder.Result().Cookies()
+	require.Len(t, cookies, 1)
+	cookie := cookies[0]
+	assert.False(t, cookie.Secure)
+	assert.Equal(t, http.SameSiteLaxMode, cookie.SameSite)
+}
+
+func TestSetSecureCookie_ForwardedHostLocalhostForcesInsecure(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	gin.SetMode(gin.TestMode)
+	_ = os.Setenv("CHARON_ENV", "production")
+	defer func() { _ = os.Unsetenv("CHARON_ENV") }()
+
+	recorder := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	ctx, _ := gin.CreateTestContext(recorder)
+	req := httptest.NewRequest("POST", "http://charon.local/login", http.NoBody)
+	req.Host = "charon.internal:8080"
+	req.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-Proto", "https")
+	req.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-Host", "localhost:8080")
+	ctx.Request = req
+
+	setSecureCookie(ctx, "auth_token", "abc", 60)
+	cookies := recorder.Result().Cookies()
+	require.Len(t, cookies, 1)
+	cookie := cookies[0]
+	assert.False(t, cookie.Secure)
+	assert.Equal(t, http.SameSiteLaxMode, cookie.SameSite)
+}
+
+func TestSetSecureCookie_OriginLoopbackForcesInsecure(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	gin.SetMode(gin.TestMode)
+	_ = os.Setenv("CHARON_ENV", "production")
+	defer func() { _ = os.Unsetenv("CHARON_ENV") }()
+
+	recorder := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	ctx, _ := gin.CreateTestContext(recorder)
+	req := httptest.NewRequest("POST", "http://service.internal/login", http.NoBody)
+	req.Host = "service.internal:8080"
+	req.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-Proto", "https")
+	req.Header.Set("Origin", "http://127.0.0.1:8080")
+	ctx.Request = req
+
+	setSecureCookie(ctx, "auth_token", "abc", 60)
+	cookies := recorder.Result().Cookies()
+	require.Len(t, cookies, 1)
+	cookie := cookies[0]
+	assert.False(t, cookie.Secure)
+	assert.Equal(t, http.SameSiteLaxMode, cookie.SameSite)
+}
+
 func TestAuthHandler_Login_Errors(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	handler, _ := setupAuthHandler(t)