diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 64b6ad32..cbc31639 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@ inputs:
     required: false
     default: ''
     description: '[Orchestrator] Github private token to pull from github'
+  gitAuthMode:
+    required: false
+    default: 'header'
+    description:
+      '[Orchestrator] How git authentication is configured. "header" (default) uses http.extraHeader so the token
+      never appears in clone URLs or git config. "url" embeds the token in clone URLs (legacy behavior).'
   githubOwner:
     required: false
     default: ''
diff --git a/src/model/build-parameters.ts b/src/model/build-parameters.ts
index a338433b..e67f215a 100644
--- a/src/model/build-parameters.ts
+++ b/src/model/build-parameters.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class BuildParameters {
   public sshAgent!: string;
   public sshPublicKeysDirectoryPath!: string;
   public providerStrategy!: string;
+  public gitAuthMode!: string;
   public gitPrivateToken!: string;
   public awsStackName!: string;
   public awsEndpoint?: string;
@@ -194,6 +195,7 @@ class BuildParameters {
       containerRegistryRepository: Input.containerRegistryRepository,
       containerRegistryImageVersion: Input.containerRegistryImageVersion,
       providerStrategy: OrchestratorOptions.providerStrategy,
+      gitAuthMode: OrchestratorOptions.gitAuthMode,
       buildPlatform: OrchestratorOptions.buildPlatform,
       kubeConfig: OrchestratorOptions.kubeConfig,
       containerMemory: OrchestratorOptions.containerMemory,
diff --git a/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-folders-auth.test.ts b/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-folders-auth.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5845d4dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-folders-auth.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+import { OrchestratorFolders } from './orchestrator-folders';
+
+jest.mock('../orchestrator', () => ({
+  __esModule: true,
+  default: {
+    buildParameters: {
+      orchestratorRepoName: 'game-ci/unity-builder',
+      githubRepo: 'myorg/myrepo',
+      gitPrivateToken: 'ghp_test123',
+      gitAuthMode: 'header',
+      buildGuid: 'test-guid',
+      projectPath: '',
+      buildPath: 'Builds',
+      cacheKey: 'test-cache',
+    },
+    lockedWorkspace: '',
+  },
+}));
+
+jest.mock('./orchestrator-options', () => ({
+  __esModule: true,
+  default: {
+    useSharedBuilder: false,
+  },
+}));
+
+jest.mock('../services/core/orchestrator-system', () => ({
+  OrchestratorSystem: {
+    Run: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(''),
+  },
+}));
+
+const mockOrchestrator = require('../orchestrator').default;
+
+describe('OrchestratorFolders git auth', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  describe('useHeaderAuth', () => {
+    it('should return true when gitAuthMode is header', () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'header';
+      expect(OrchestratorFolders.useHeaderAuth).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should return true when gitAuthMode is undefined (default)', () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = undefined;
+      expect(OrchestratorFolders.useHeaderAuth).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false when gitAuthMode is url', () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'url';
+      expect(OrchestratorFolders.useHeaderAuth).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('unityBuilderRepoUrl', () => {
+    it('should not include token in URL when using header auth', () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'header';
+      const url = OrchestratorFolders.unityBuilderRepoUrl;
+      expect(url).toBe('https://github.com/game-ci/unity-builder.git');
+      expect(url).not.toContain('ghp_test123');
+    });
+
+    it('should include token in URL when using url auth (legacy)', () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'url';
+      const url = OrchestratorFolders.unityBuilderRepoUrl;
+      expect(url).toBe('https://ghp_test123@github.com/game-ci/unity-builder.git');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('targetBuildRepoUrl', () => {
+    it('should not include token in URL when using header auth', () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'header';
+      const url = OrchestratorFolders.targetBuildRepoUrl;
+      expect(url).toBe('https://github.com/myorg/myrepo.git');
+      expect(url).not.toContain('ghp_test123');
+    });
+
+    it('should include token in URL when using url auth (legacy)', () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'url';
+      const url = OrchestratorFolders.targetBuildRepoUrl;
+      expect(url).toBe('https://ghp_test123@github.com/myorg/myrepo.git');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('gitAuthConfigScript', () => {
+    it('should emit http.extraHeader commands in header mode', () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'header';
+      const script = OrchestratorFolders.gitAuthConfigScript;
+      expect(script).toContain('http.extraHeader');
+      expect(script).toContain('GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN');
+      expect(script).toContain('Authorization: Basic');
+    });
+
+    it('should emit no-op comment in url mode', () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'url';
+      const script = OrchestratorFolders.gitAuthConfigScript;
+      expect(script).toContain('legacy');
+      expect(script).not.toContain('http.extraHeader');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('configureGitAuth', () => {
+    it('should run git config with http.extraHeader in header mode', async () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'header';
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitPrivateToken = 'ghp_test123';
+      const { OrchestratorSystem } = require('../services/core/orchestrator-system');
+
+      await OrchestratorFolders.configureGitAuth();
+
+      // Verify the base64 encoding and extraHeader config are correct
+      const expectedEncoded = Buffer.from('x-access-token:ghp_test123').toString('base64');
+      expect(OrchestratorSystem.Run).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining(expectedEncoded),
+      );
+      expect(OrchestratorSystem.Run).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('.extraHeader'),
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should not run git config in url mode', async () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'url';
+      const { OrchestratorSystem } = require('../services/core/orchestrator-system');
+
+      await OrchestratorFolders.configureGitAuth();
+
+      expect(OrchestratorSystem.Run).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should not run git config when no token is available', async () => {
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode = 'header';
+      mockOrchestrator.buildParameters.gitPrivateToken = '';
+      const originalEnv = process.env.GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN;
+      delete process.env.GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN;
+      const { OrchestratorSystem } = require('../services/core/orchestrator-system');
+
+      await OrchestratorFolders.configureGitAuth();
+
+      expect(OrchestratorSystem.Run).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      if (originalEnv !== undefined) process.env.GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN = originalEnv;
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-folders.ts b/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-folders.ts
index eebbbe2d..2dc6d9d7 100644
--- a/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-folders.ts
+++ b/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-folders.ts
@@ -72,14 +72,67 @@ export class OrchestratorFolders {
     return path.join(OrchestratorFolders.cacheFolderForCacheKeyFull, `Library`);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Whether to use http.extraHeader for git authentication (secure, default)
+   * instead of embedding the token in clone URLs (legacy).
+   */
+  public static get useHeaderAuth(): boolean {
+    return Orchestrator.buildParameters.gitAuthMode !== 'url';
+  }
+
   public static get unityBuilderRepoUrl(): string {
+    if (OrchestratorFolders.useHeaderAuth) {
+      return `https://github.com/${Orchestrator.buildParameters.orchestratorRepoName}.git`;
+    }
+
     return `https://${Orchestrator.buildParameters.gitPrivateToken}@github.com/${Orchestrator.buildParameters.orchestratorRepoName}.git`;
   }
 
   public static get targetBuildRepoUrl(): string {
+    if (OrchestratorFolders.useHeaderAuth) {
+      return `https://github.com/${Orchestrator.buildParameters.githubRepo}.git`;
+    }
+
     return `https://${Orchestrator.buildParameters.gitPrivateToken}@github.com/${Orchestrator.buildParameters.githubRepo}.git`;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Shell commands to configure git authentication via http.extraHeader.
+   * Uses GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN env var so the token never appears in clone URLs or git config output.
+   * This is the same mechanism used by actions/checkout.
+   *
+   * Only emits commands when gitAuthMode is 'header' (default). In 'url' mode,
+   * returns a no-op comment since the token is already in the URL.
+   */
+  public static get gitAuthConfigScript(): string {
+    if (!OrchestratorFolders.useHeaderAuth) {
+      return `# git auth: using token-in-URL mode (legacy)`;
+    }
+
+    return `# git auth: configuring http.extraHeader (secure mode)
+if [ -n "$GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN" ]; then
+  git config --global http.https://github.com/.extraHeader "Authorization: Basic $(printf '%s' "x-access-token:$GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN" | base64 -w 0)"
+fi`;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Configure git authentication via http.extraHeader in the current Node process.
+   * For use in the remote-client where shell scripts aren't used.
+   * Only configures when gitAuthMode is 'header' (default).
+   */
+  public static async configureGitAuth(): Promise<void> {
+    if (!OrchestratorFolders.useHeaderAuth) return;
+
+    const token = Orchestrator.buildParameters.gitPrivateToken || process.env.GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN || '';
+    if (!token) return;
+
+    const encoded = Buffer.from(`x-access-token:${token}`).toString('base64');
+    const { OrchestratorSystem } = await import('../services/core/orchestrator-system');
+    await OrchestratorSystem.Run(
+      `git config --global http.https://github.com/.extraHeader "Authorization: Basic ${encoded}"`,
+    );
+  }
+
   public static get buildVolumeFolder() {
     return 'data';
   }
diff --git a/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-options.ts b/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-options.ts
index e68160cc..175d2957 100644
--- a/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-options.ts
+++ b/src/model/orchestrator/options/orchestrator-options.ts
@@ -138,6 +138,10 @@ class OrchestratorOptions {
     return provider || 'local';
   }
 
+  static get gitAuthMode(): string {
+    return OrchestratorOptions.getInput('gitAuthMode') || 'header';
+  }
+
   static get containerCpu(): string {
     return OrchestratorOptions.getInput('containerCpu') || `1024`;
   }
diff --git a/src/model/orchestrator/remote-client/index.ts b/src/model/orchestrator/remote-client/index.ts
index 62d9124d..1d99809d 100644
--- a/src/model/orchestrator/remote-client/index.ts
+++ b/src/model/orchestrator/remote-client/index.ts
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ export class RemoteClient {
 
     RemoteClientLogger.log(`Initializing source repository for cloning with caching of LFS files`);
     await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global advice.detachedHead false`);
+    await OrchestratorFolders.configureGitAuth();
     RemoteClientLogger.log(`Cloning the repository being built:`);
     await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global filter.lfs.smudge "git-lfs smudge --skip -- %f"`);
     await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global filter.lfs.process "git-lfs filter-process --skip"`);
@@ -411,12 +412,7 @@ export class RemoteClient {
       const gitPrivateToken = process.env.GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN;
       if (gitPrivateToken) {
         RemoteClientLogger.log(`Attempting to pull LFS files with GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN...`);
-        await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global --unset-all url."https://github.com/".insteadOf || true`);
-        await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global --unset-all url."ssh://git@github.com/".insteadOf || true`);
-        await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global --unset-all url."git@github.com".insteadOf || true`);
-        await OrchestratorSystem.Run(
-          `git config --global url."https://${gitPrivateToken}@github.com/".insteadOf "https://github.com/"`,
-        );
+        await RemoteClient.configureTokenAuth(gitPrivateToken);
         await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git lfs pull`, true);
         await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git lfs checkout || true`, true);
         RemoteClientLogger.log(`Successfully pulled LFS files with GIT_PRIVATE_TOKEN`);
@@ -432,12 +428,7 @@ export class RemoteClient {
       const githubToken = process.env.GITHUB_TOKEN;
       if (githubToken) {
         RemoteClientLogger.log(`Attempting to pull LFS files with GITHUB_TOKEN fallback...`);
-        await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global --unset-all url."https://github.com/".insteadOf || true`);
-        await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global --unset-all url."ssh://git@github.com/".insteadOf || true`);
-        await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global --unset-all url."git@github.com".insteadOf || true`);
-        await OrchestratorSystem.Run(
-          `git config --global url."https://${githubToken}@github.com/".insteadOf "https://github.com/"`,
-        );
+        await RemoteClient.configureTokenAuth(githubToken);
         await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git lfs pull`, true);
         await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git lfs checkout || true`, true);
         RemoteClientLogger.log(`Successfully pulled LFS files with GITHUB_TOKEN`);
@@ -501,4 +492,25 @@ export class RemoteClient {
 
     return false;
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Configure git authentication for a token. In header mode (default), uses
+   * http.extraHeader so the token never appears in URLs or git config output.
+   * In url mode (legacy), uses url.insteadOf to embed the token in URLs.
+   */
+  private static async configureTokenAuth(token: string): Promise<void> {
+    if (OrchestratorFolders.useHeaderAuth) {
+      const encoded = Buffer.from(`x-access-token:${token}`).toString('base64');
+      await OrchestratorSystem.Run(
+        `git config --global http.https://github.com/.extraHeader "Authorization: Basic ${encoded}"`,
+      );
+    } else {
+      await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global --unset-all url."https://github.com/".insteadOf || true`);
+      await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global --unset-all url."ssh://git@github.com/".insteadOf || true`);
+      await OrchestratorSystem.Run(`git config --global --unset-all url."git@github.com".insteadOf || true`);
+      await OrchestratorSystem.Run(
+        `git config --global url."https://${token}@github.com/".insteadOf "https://github.com/"`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/model/orchestrator/workflows/async-workflow.ts b/src/model/orchestrator/workflows/async-workflow.ts
index 0f9c4f87..02495b22 100644
--- a/src/model/orchestrator/workflows/async-workflow.ts
+++ b/src/model/orchestrator/workflows/async-workflow.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ printenv
 git config --global advice.detachedHead false
 git config --global filter.lfs.smudge "git-lfs smudge --skip -- %f"
 git config --global filter.lfs.process "git-lfs filter-process --skip"
+${OrchestratorFolders.gitAuthConfigScript}
 BRANCH="${Orchestrator.buildParameters.orchestratorBranch}"
 REPO="${OrchestratorFolders.unityBuilderRepoUrl}"
 if [ -n "$(git ls-remote --heads "$REPO" "$BRANCH" 2>/dev/null)" ]; then
diff --git a/src/model/orchestrator/workflows/build-automation-workflow.ts b/src/model/orchestrator/workflows/build-automation-workflow.ts
index cbd642fb..3663940e 100644
--- a/src/model/orchestrator/workflows/build-automation-workflow.ts
+++ b/src/model/orchestrator/workflows/build-automation-workflow.ts
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ export class BuildAutomationWorkflow implements WorkflowInterface {
     const commands = `mkdir -p ${OrchestratorFolders.ToLinuxFolder(
       OrchestratorFolders.builderPathAbsolute,
     )}
+${OrchestratorFolders.gitAuthConfigScript}
 BRANCH="${Orchestrator.buildParameters.orchestratorBranch}"
 REPO="${OrchestratorFolders.unityBuilderRepoUrl}"
 DEST="${OrchestratorFolders.ToLinuxFolder(OrchestratorFolders.builderPathAbsolute)}"