diff --git a/gns3server/compute/base_manager.py b/gns3server/compute/base_manager.py
index 5c1511e8e..4d29f2546 100644
--- a/gns3server/compute/base_manager.py
+++ b/gns3server/compute/base_manager.py
@@ -297,11 +297,12 @@ class BaseManager:
         return node
 
     @staticmethod
-    def has_privileged_access(executable):
+    def has_privileged_access(executable, *, require_net_admin=False):
         """
         Check if an executable have the right to attach to Ethernet and TAP adapters.
 
         :param executable: executable path
+        :param require_net_admin: also require CAP_NET_ADMIN for network configuration
 
         :returns: True or False
         """
@@ -324,8 +325,8 @@ class BaseManager:
         try:
             if sys.platform.startswith("linux") and "security.capability" in os.listxattr(executable):
                 caps = os.getxattr(executable, "security.capability")
-                # test the 2nd byte and check if the 13th bit (CAP_NET_RAW) is set
-                if struct.unpack("<IIIII", caps)[1] & 1 << 13:
+                required = (1 << 13) | ((1 << 12) if require_net_admin else 0)
+                if struct.unpack("<IIIII", caps)[1] & required == required:
                     return True
         except (AttributeError, OSError) as e:
             log.error(f"Could not determine if CAP_NET_RAW capability is set for {executable}: {e}")
diff --git a/gns3server/compute/builtin/nodes/cloud.py b/gns3server/compute/builtin/nodes/cloud.py
index 2ffeda579..7e28c33ae 100644
--- a/gns3server/compute/builtin/nodes/cloud.py
+++ b/gns3server/compute/builtin/nodes/cloud.py
@@ -15,12 +15,15 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import logging
+import os
+import re
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
 import gns3server.utils.asyncio
 import gns3server.utils.interfaces
 from gns3server.compute.ubridge.ubridge_error import UbridgeError
+from gns3server.schemas.compute.cloud_nodes import LINUX_TAP_NAME_PATTERN
 from gns3server.utils.kernel_anchor import is_kernel_datapath_interface
 
 from ...base_node import BaseNode
@@ -69,7 +72,7 @@ class Cloud(BaseNode):
             for port in ports:
                 port["port_number"] = port_number
                 port_number += 1
-            self._ports_mapping = ports
+            self._ports_mapping = self._normalize_ports_mapping(ports)
 
     @property
     def nios(self):
@@ -101,6 +104,9 @@ class Cloud(BaseNode):
                 }
             )
 
+            if sys.platform.startswith("linux") and gns3server.utils.interfaces.is_interface_bridge(interface["name"]):
+                host_interfaces[-1]["is_bridge"] = True
+
         return {
             "name": self.name,
             "usage": self.usage,
@@ -196,6 +202,11 @@ class Cloud(BaseNode):
 
         self._remote_console_http_path = remote_console_http_path
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _normalize_ports_mapping(ports):
+        # API responses include bridge=None; legacy projects omit it.
+        return [{key: value for key, value in port.items() if key != "bridge" or value is not None} for port in ports]
+
     @property
     def ports_mapping(self):
         """
@@ -214,6 +225,7 @@ class Cloud(BaseNode):
         :param ports: ports info
         """
 
+        ports = self._normalize_ports_mapping(ports)
         if ports != self._ports_mapping:
             if len(self._nios) > 0:
                 raise NodeError("Cannot modify a cloud that is already connected.")
@@ -314,7 +326,9 @@ class Cloud(BaseNode):
         await self._ubridge_apply_filters(bridge_name, nio.filters)
         await self._ubridge_apply_markers(bridge_name, nio)
         if port_info["type"] in ("ethernet", "tap"):
-            if not self.manager.has_privileged_access(self.ubridge_path):
+            if not self.manager.has_privileged_access(
+                self.ubridge_path, require_net_admin=bool(port_info.get("bridge"))
+            ):
                 raise NodeError(
                     "uBridge requires root access or the capability to interact with Ethernet and TAP adapters"
                 )
@@ -334,9 +348,7 @@ class Cloud(BaseNode):
                     await self._add_windows_ethernet(port_info, bridge_name)
 
             elif port_info["type"] == "tap":
-                await self._ubridge_send(
-                    'bridge add_nio_tap {name} "{interface}"'.format(name=bridge_name, interface=port_info["interface"])
-                )
+                await self._add_tap_interface(port_info, bridge_name)
 
         elif port_info["type"] == "udp":
             await self._ubridge_send(
@@ -350,6 +362,32 @@ class Cloud(BaseNode):
 
         await self._ubridge_send(f"bridge start {bridge_name}")
 
+    async def _add_tap_interface(self, port_info, bridge_name):
+        """Open a TAP and restore its optional host bridge assignment."""
+        target_bridge = port_info.get("bridge")
+        if target_bridge:
+            self._validate_tap_bridge(port_info["interface"], target_bridge)
+        await self._ubridge_send(
+            'bridge add_nio_tap {name} "{interface}"'.format(name=bridge_name, interface=port_info["interface"])
+        )
+
+        if target_bridge:
+            await self._ubridge_send(f'brctl addif "{target_bridge}" "{port_info["interface"]}"')
+
+    def _validate_tap_bridge(self, tap, target_bridge):
+        """Validate host resources before creating or attaching a Cloud TAP."""
+        if not sys.platform.startswith("linux"):
+            raise NodeError("TAP bridge assignments are only supported on Linux")
+        if not all(re.fullmatch(LINUX_TAP_NAME_PATTERN, name) for name in (target_bridge, tap)):
+            raise NodeError("Invalid TAP or bridge interface name")
+        if target_bridge not in {
+            interface["name"] for interface in self._interfaces()
+        } or not gns3server.utils.interfaces.is_interface_bridge(target_bridge):
+            raise NodeError(f"Bridge '{target_bridge}' is missing or not allowed on this server")
+        master_path = os.path.join("/sys/class/net", tap, "master")
+        if os.path.exists(master_path) and os.path.basename(os.path.realpath(master_path)) != target_bridge:
+            raise NodeError(f"TAP '{tap}' already belongs to another bridge")
+
     async def _add_linux_ethernet(self, port_info, bridge_name):
         """
         Connects an Ethernet interface on Linux using raw sockets.
diff --git a/gns3server/schemas/compute/cloud_nodes.py b/gns3server/schemas/compute/cloud_nodes.py
index e2887bbec..274bf23ee 100644
--- a/gns3server/schemas/compute/cloud_nodes.py
+++ b/gns3server/schemas/compute/cloud_nodes.py
@@ -14,15 +14,18 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+import re
 from enum import Enum
 from typing import List, Optional, Union
 from uuid import UUID
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, model_validator
 
 from ..common import NodeStatus
 from ..update import PartialUpdateModel
 
+LINUX_TAP_NAME_PATTERN = r"^[a-zA-Z0-9_.:-]{1,15}$"
+
 
 class HostInterfaceType(str, Enum):
     ethernet = "ethernet"
@@ -57,6 +60,7 @@ class HostInterface(BaseModel):
     name: str = Field(..., description="Interface name")
     type: HostInterfaceType = Field(..., description="Interface type")
     special: bool = Field(..., description="Whether the interface is non standard")
+    is_bridge: bool = Field(False, description="Whether this is a Linux bridge")
     ip_addresses: List[HostInterfaceIPAddress] = Field(
         default_factory=list, description="All IPv4 and IPv6 addresses on this interface"
     )
@@ -94,6 +98,19 @@ class TAPPort(BaseModel):
     port_number: int
     type: TAPType
     interface: str
+    bridge: Optional[str] = Field(
+        None,
+        min_length=1,
+        max_length=15,
+        pattern=LINUX_TAP_NAME_PATTERN,
+        description="Existing Linux bridge to attach the TAP to",
+    )
+
+    @model_validator(mode="after")
+    def validate_bridged_interface(self):
+        if self.bridge and not re.fullmatch(LINUX_TAP_NAME_PATTERN, self.interface):
+            raise ValueError("A bridged TAP name must be 1-15 letters, digits, underscores, dots, colons or hyphens")
+        return self
 
 
 class UDPType(str, Enum):
diff --git a/tests/api/routes/compute/test_cloud_nodes.py b/tests/api/routes/compute/test_cloud_nodes.py
index 0500356a8..fe1d58519 100644
--- a/tests/api/routes/compute/test_cloud_nodes.py
+++ b/tests/api/routes/compute/test_cloud_nodes.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import pytest_asyncio
 from fastapi import FastAPI, status
 from httpx import AsyncClient
 
+from gns3server.compute.builtin import Builtin
 from gns3server.compute.project import Project
 from tests.utils import asyncio_patch
 
@@ -212,3 +213,36 @@ class TestCloudNodesRoutes:
     #             response = await compute_api.get("/projects/{project_id}/cloud/nodes/{node_id}/adapters/0/ports/0/pcap".format(project_id=compute_project.id, node_id=vm["node_id"]))
     #             assert response.status_code == 200
     #
+
+    async def test_unbridged_connected_tap_update(self, app, compute_client, compute_project):
+        ports = [{"interface": "tap0", "name": "tap0", "port_number": 0, "type": "tap"}]
+        with asyncio_patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.Cloud._start_ubridge"):
+            response = await compute_client.post(
+                app.url_path_for("compute:create_cloud", project_id=compute_project.id),
+                json={"name": "Cloud TAP", "ports_mapping": ports},
+            )
+        assert response.status_code == 201
+        data = response.json()
+        node = Builtin.instance().get_node(data["node_id"], project_id=compute_project.id)
+        node.nios[0] = object()
+        response = await compute_client.put(
+            app.url_path_for("compute:update_cloud", project_id=compute_project.id, node_id=node.id),
+            json={"usage": "Updated usage", "ports_mapping": data["ports_mapping"]},
+        )
+        assert response.status_code == 200
+        assert response.json()["usage"] == "Updated usage"
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("name", ["tap-interface-too-long", "tap bad", "/dev/tap0"])
+    async def test_invalid_bridged_tap_rejected_before_save(self, app, compute_client, compute_project, name):
+        with asyncio_patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.Cloud._start_ubridge") as start:
+            response = await compute_client.post(
+                app.url_path_for("compute:create_cloud", project_id=compute_project.id),
+                json={
+                    "name": "Invalid TAP",
+                    "ports_mapping": [
+                        {"interface": name, "name": name, "port_number": 0, "type": "tap", "bridge": "virbr0"}
+                    ],
+                },
+            )
+        assert response.status_code == 422
+        start.assert_not_called()
diff --git a/tests/compute/builtin/nodes/test_cloud.py b/tests/compute/builtin/nodes/test_cloud.py
index 180ab167d..89d1b7168 100644
--- a/tests/compute/builtin/nodes/test_cloud.py
+++ b/tests/compute/builtin/nodes/test_cloud.py
@@ -15,19 +15,34 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+import struct
 import uuid
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, call, patch
 
 import pytest
 import pytest_asyncio
+from fastapi.encoders import jsonable_encoder
+from pydantic import ValidationError
 
+from gns3server.compute.base_manager import BaseManager
 from gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud import Cloud
+from gns3server.compute.error import NodeError
 from gns3server.compute.nios.nio_udp import NIOUDP
+from gns3server.compute.ubridge.ubridge_error import UbridgeError
+from gns3server.schemas.compute.cloud_nodes import Cloud as CloudSchema
+from gns3server.schemas.compute.cloud_nodes import CloudUpdate, TAPPort
 from tests.utils import asyncio_patch
 
 pytestmark = pytest.mark.asyncio
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def mock_bridge_detection():
+    # Interface inventories are mocked: never mix them with the host's sysfs.
+    with patch("gns3server.utils.interfaces.is_interface_bridge", return_value=False):
+        yield
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def nio():
 
@@ -256,3 +271,142 @@ async def test_linux_ethernet_raw_add_nio_bridge(linux_platform, compute_project
             call(f"bridge start {cloud._id}-0"),
         ]
     )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("bridge", [None, "virbr0"])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("existing_master", [False, True])
+async def test_tap_bridge_recreated(linux_platform, compute_project, manager, nio, bridge, existing_master):
+    ports = [{"interface": "tap0", "name": "tap0", "port_number": 0, "type": "tap"}]
+    if bridge:
+        ports[0]["bridge"] = bridge
+    cloud = Cloud("cloud1", str(uuid.uuid4()), compute_project, manager, ports=ports)
+    # Round-trip through the API schema, as happens when a project is restored.
+    restored_ports = CloudSchema(**cloud.asdict()).model_dump()["ports_mapping"]
+    restored = Cloud("cloud1", cloud.id, compute_project, manager, ports=restored_ports)
+    with (
+        asyncio_patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.Cloud._ubridge_send") as send,
+        asyncio_patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.Cloud._start_ubridge"),
+        patch.object(restored, "_interfaces", return_value=[{"name": "virbr0"}]),
+        patch("gns3server.utils.interfaces.is_interface_bridge", return_value=True),
+        patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.os.path.exists", return_value=existing_master),
+        patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.os.path.realpath", return_value="/sys/class/net/virbr0"),
+    ):
+        restored._nios[0] = nio
+        await restored.start()
+        tap_call = call(f'bridge add_nio_tap {cloud.id}-0 "tap0"')
+        assert tap_call in send.call_args_list
+        attach_call = call('brctl addif "virbr0" "tap0"')
+        if bridge:
+            assert send.call_args_list.index(tap_call) < send.call_args_list.index(attach_call)
+        else:
+            assert attach_call not in send.call_args_list
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("failure", ["missing", "not_bridge", "other_master", "invalid_name", "non_linux"])
+async def test_tap_bridge_validation(linux_platform, compute_project, manager, nio, failure):
+    ports = [{"interface": "tap0", "name": "tap0", "port_number": 0, "type": "tap", "bridge": "virbr0"}]
+    if failure == "invalid_name":
+        ports[0]["interface"] = 'tap0"\nbridge delete all'
+    cloud = Cloud("cloud1", str(uuid.uuid4()), compute_project, manager, ports=ports)
+    with (
+        asyncio_patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.Cloud._ubridge_send") as send,
+        patch.object(cloud, "_interfaces", return_value=[] if failure == "missing" else [{"name": "virbr0"}]),
+        patch("gns3server.utils.interfaces.is_interface_bridge", return_value=failure != "not_bridge"),
+        patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.os.path.exists", return_value=failure == "other_master"),
+        patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.os.path.realpath", return_value="/sys/class/net/another0"),
+        patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.sys.platform", "darwin" if failure == "non_linux" else "linux"),
+    ):
+        with pytest.raises(NodeError):
+            await cloud._add_ubridge_connection(nio, 0)
+        assert not any("add_nio_tap" in c.args[0] or "brctl addif" in c.args[0] for c in send.call_args_list)
+
+
+async def test_tap_bridge_attachment_failure(linux_platform, compute_project, manager, nio):
+    ports = [{"interface": "tap0", "name": "tap0", "port_number": 0, "type": "tap", "bridge": "virbr0"}]
+    cloud = Cloud("cloud1", str(uuid.uuid4()), compute_project, manager, ports=ports)
+    cloud.status = "started"
+
+    async def send(command):
+        if command.startswith("brctl addif"):
+            raise UbridgeError("Operation not permitted")
+
+    with (
+        asyncio_patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.Cloud._ubridge_send", side_effect=send),
+        asyncio_patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.Cloud._stop_ubridge") as stop,
+        patch.object(cloud, "_interfaces", return_value=[{"name": "virbr0"}]),
+        patch("gns3server.utils.interfaces.is_interface_bridge", return_value=True),
+        patch("gns3server.compute.builtin.nodes.cloud.os.path.exists", return_value=False),
+    ):
+        await cloud.add_nio(nio, 0)
+        stop.assert_called_once()
+        assert cloud.status == "stopped"
+
+
+async def test_cloud_lists_linux_bridges(linux_platform, compute_project, manager):
+    cloud = Cloud(
+        "cloud1",
+        str(uuid.uuid4()),
+        compute_project,
+        manager,
+        ports=[{"interface": "tap0", "name": "tap0", "port_number": 0, "type": "tap"}],
+    )
+    with (
+        patch(
+            "gns3server.utils.interfaces.interfaces",
+            return_value=[
+                {"name": "eth0", "type": "ethernet", "special": False},
+                {"name": "virbr0", "type": "ethernet", "special": True},
+            ],
+        ),
+        patch("gns3server.utils.interfaces.is_interface_bridge", side_effect=lambda name: name == "virbr0"),
+    ):
+        interfaces = CloudSchema(**cloud.asdict()).model_dump()["interfaces"]
+    assert [(interface["name"], interface["is_bridge"]) for interface in interfaces] == [
+        ("eth0", False),
+        ("virbr0", True),
+    ]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("stored_bridge", [None, "omitted"])
+async def test_connected_tap_mapping_round_trip(compute_project, manager, stored_bridge):
+    port = {"interface": "tap0", "name": "tap0", "port_number": 0, "type": "tap"}
+    if stored_bridge is None:
+        port["bridge"] = None
+    cloud = Cloud("cloud1", str(uuid.uuid4()), compute_project, manager, ports=[port])
+    response = CloudSchema(**cloud.asdict()).model_dump(mode="json")
+    cloud._nios[0] = object()
+    ports = jsonable_encoder(CloudUpdate(ports_mapping=response["ports_mapping"]), exclude_unset=True)["ports_mapping"]
+    cloud.ports_mapping = ports
+    assert cloud.ports_mapping == [{"interface": "tap0", "name": "tap0", "port_number": 0, "type": "tap"}]
+    ports[0]["bridge"] = "virbr0"
+    with pytest.raises(NodeError, match="already connected"):
+        cloud.ports_mapping = ports
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("name", ["tap-interface-too-long", "tap bad", 'tap0"\nbridge delete all', "/dev/tap0"])
+async def test_bridged_tap_name_validation_preserves_legacy_names(name):
+    port = {"interface": name, "name": name, "port_number": 0, "type": "tap"}
+    assert TAPPort(**port).interface == name
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match="bridged TAP name"):
+        TAPPort(**port, bridge="virbr0")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "caps,legacy_allowed,bridge_allowed",
+    [
+        (0, False, False),
+        (1 << 12, False, False),
+        (1 << 13, True, False),
+        ((1 << 12) | (1 << 13), True, True),
+    ],
+)
+async def test_bridged_tap_requires_net_admin(linux_platform, tmp_path, caps, legacy_allowed, bridge_allowed):
+    executable = tmp_path / "ubridge"
+    executable.write_text("")
+    with (
+        patch("os.geteuid", return_value=1000),
+        patch("os.listxattr", return_value=["security.capability"]),
+        patch("os.getxattr", return_value=struct.pack("<IIIII", 0x2000001, caps, 0, 0, 0)),
+    ):
+        assert BaseManager.has_privileged_access(executable) is legacy_allowed
+        assert BaseManager.has_privileged_access(executable, require_net_admin=True) is bridge_allowed