diff --git a/pkg/api/plugins.go b/pkg/api/plugins.go
index 141ef9df14e..67628695fc4 100644
--- a/pkg/api/plugins.go
+++ b/pkg/api/plugins.go
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 package api
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"net/http"
-	"os"
 	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
@@ -16,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana-plugin-sdk-go/backend"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/api/dtos"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/api/response"
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/infra/fs"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/models"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/backendplugin"
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/org"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/pluginsettings"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/web"
 )
 
@@ -309,42 +310,25 @@ func (hs *HTTPServer) getPluginAssets(c *models.ReqContext) {
 	}
 
 	// prepend slash for cleaning relative paths
-	requestedFile := filepath.Clean(filepath.Join("/", web.Params(c.Req)["*"]))
-	rel, err := filepath.Rel("/", requestedFile)
+	requestedFile, err := util.CleanRelativePath(web.Params(c.Req)["*"])
 	if err != nil {
 		// slash is prepended above therefore this is not expected to fail
-		c.JsonApiErr(500, "Failed to get the relative path", err)
+		c.JsonApiErr(500, "Failed to clean relative file path", err)
 		return
 	}
 
-	if !plugin.IncludedInSignature(rel) {
-		hs.log.Warn("Access to requested plugin file will be forbidden in upcoming Grafana versions as the file "+
-			"is not included in the plugin signature", "file", requestedFile)
-	}
-
-	absPluginDir, err := filepath.Abs(plugin.PluginDir)
+	f, err := plugin.File(requestedFile)
 	if err != nil {
-		c.JsonApiErr(500, "Failed to get plugin absolute path", nil)
-		return
-	}
-
-	pluginFilePath := filepath.Join(absPluginDir, rel)
-
-	// It's safe to ignore gosec warning G304 since we already clean the requested file path and subsequently
-	// use this with a prefix of the plugin's directory, which is set during plugin loading
-	// nolint:gosec
-	f, err := os.Open(pluginFilePath)
-	if err != nil {
-		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-			c.JsonApiErr(404, "Plugin file not found", err)
+		if errors.Is(err, plugins.ErrFileNotExist) {
+			c.JsonApiErr(404, "Plugin file not found", nil)
 			return
 		}
 		c.JsonApiErr(500, "Could not open plugin file", err)
 		return
 	}
 	defer func() {
-		if err := f.Close(); err != nil {
-			hs.log.Error("Failed to close file", "err", err)
+		if err = f.Close(); err != nil {
+			hs.log.Error("Failed to close plugin file", "err", err)
 		}
 	}()
 
@@ -360,7 +344,16 @@ func (hs *HTTPServer) getPluginAssets(c *models.ReqContext) {
 		c.Resp.Header().Set("Cache-Control", "public, max-age=3600")
 	}
 
-	http.ServeContent(c.Resp, c.Req, pluginFilePath, fi.ModTime(), f)
+	if rs, ok := f.(io.ReadSeeker); ok {
+		http.ServeContent(c.Resp, c.Req, requestedFile, fi.ModTime(), rs)
+	} else {
+		b, err := io.ReadAll(f)
+		if err != nil {
+			c.JsonApiErr(500, "Plugin file exists but could not read", err)
+			return
+		}
+		http.ServeContent(c.Resp, c.Req, requestedFile, fi.ModTime(), bytes.NewReader(b))
+	}
 }
 
 // CheckHealth returns the health of a plugin.
@@ -496,34 +489,24 @@ func (hs *HTTPServer) pluginMarkdown(ctx context.Context, pluginId string, name
 		return nil, plugins.NotFoundError{PluginID: pluginId}
 	}
 
-	// nolint:gosec
-	// We can ignore the gosec G304 warning since we have cleaned the requested file path and subsequently
-	// use this with a prefix of the plugin's directory, which is set during plugin loading
-	path := filepath.Join(plugin.PluginDir, mdFilepath(strings.ToUpper(name)))
-	exists, err := fs.Exists(path)
+	md, err := plugin.File(mdFilepath(strings.ToUpper(name)))
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if !exists {
-		path = filepath.Join(plugin.PluginDir, mdFilepath(strings.ToLower(name)))
+		md, err = plugin.File(mdFilepath(strings.ToUpper(name)))
+		if err != nil {
+			return make([]byte, 0), nil
+		}
 	}
+	defer func() {
+		if err = md.Close(); err != nil {
+			hs.log.Error("Failed to close plugin markdown file", "err", err)
+		}
+	}()
 
-	exists, err = fs.Exists(path)
+	d, err := io.ReadAll(md)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if !exists {
 		return make([]byte, 0), nil
 	}
-
-	// nolint:gosec
-	// We can ignore the gosec G304 warning since we have cleaned the requested file path and subsequently
-	// use this with a prefix of the plugin's directory, which is set during plugin loading
-	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return data, nil
+	return d, nil
 }
 
 func mdFilepath(mdFilename string) string {
diff --git a/pkg/api/plugins_test.go b/pkg/api/plugins_test.go
index e579996bc41..b0c6dea7ded 100644
--- a/pkg/api/plugins_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/plugins_test.go
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana-plugin-sdk-go/backend"
@@ -135,13 +134,13 @@ func Test_PluginsInstallAndUninstall_AccessControl(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(testName("Install", tc), func(t *testing.T) {
 			input := strings.NewReader("{ \"version\": \"1.0.2\" }")
 			response := callAPI(sc.server, http.MethodPost, "/api/plugins/test/install", input, t)
-			assert.Equal(t, tc.expectedCode, response.Code)
+			require.Equal(t, tc.expectedCode, response.Code)
 		})
 
 		t.Run(testName("Uninstall", tc), func(t *testing.T) {
 			input := strings.NewReader("{ }")
 			response := callAPI(sc.server, http.MethodPost, "/api/plugins/test/uninstall", input, t)
-			assert.Equal(t, tc.expectedCode, response.Code)
+			require.Equal(t, tc.expectedCode, response.Code)
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -155,56 +154,45 @@ func Test_GetPluginAssets(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	t.Cleanup(func() {
 		err := os.RemoveAll(tmpFile.Name())
-		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 		err = os.RemoveAll(tmpFileInParentDir.Name())
-		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 	})
 	expectedBody := "Plugin test"
 	_, err = tmpFile.WriteString(expectedBody)
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	requestedFile := filepath.Clean(tmpFile.Name())
 
-	t.Run("Given a request for an existing plugin file that is listed as a signature covered file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		p := plugins.PluginDTO{
+	t.Run("Given a request for an existing plugin file", func(t *testing.T) {
+		p := &plugins.Plugin{
 			JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
 				ID: pluginID,
 			},
 			PluginDir: pluginDir,
-			SignedFiles: map[string]struct{}{
-				requestedFile: {},
-			},
 		}
 		service := &plugins.FakePluginStore{
-			PluginList: []plugins.PluginDTO{p},
+			PluginList: []plugins.PluginDTO{p.ToDTO()},
 		}
-		l := &logtest.Fake{}
 
 		url := fmt.Sprintf("/public/plugins/%s/%s", pluginID, requestedFile)
-		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service, l,
+		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service,
 			func(sc *scenarioContext) {
 				callGetPluginAsset(sc)
 
 				require.Equal(t, 200, sc.resp.Code)
-				assert.Equal(t, expectedBody, sc.resp.Body.String())
-				assert.Zero(t, l.WarnLogs.Calls)
+				require.Equal(t, expectedBody, sc.resp.Body.String())
 			})
 	})
 
 	t.Run("Given a request for a relative path", func(t *testing.T) {
-		p := plugins.PluginDTO{
-			JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
-				ID: pluginID,
-			},
-			PluginDir: pluginDir,
-		}
+		p := createPluginDTO(plugins.JSONData{ID: pluginID}, plugins.External, pluginDir)
 		service := &plugins.FakePluginStore{
 			PluginList: []plugins.PluginDTO{p},
 		}
-		l := &logtest.Fake{}
 
 		url := fmt.Sprintf("/public/plugins/%s/%s", pluginID, tmpFileInParentDir.Name())
-		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service, l,
+		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service,
 			func(sc *scenarioContext) {
 				callGetPluginAsset(sc)
 
@@ -212,44 +200,15 @@ func Test_GetPluginAssets(t *testing.T) {
 			})
 	})
 
-	t.Run("Given a request for an existing plugin file that is not listed as a signature covered file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		p := plugins.PluginDTO{
-			JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
-				ID: pluginID,
-			},
-			PluginDir: pluginDir,
-		}
-		service := &plugins.FakePluginStore{
-			PluginList: []plugins.PluginDTO{p},
-		}
-		l := &logtest.Fake{}
-
-		url := fmt.Sprintf("/public/plugins/%s/%s", pluginID, requestedFile)
-		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service, l,
-			func(sc *scenarioContext) {
-				callGetPluginAsset(sc)
-
-				require.Equal(t, 200, sc.resp.Code)
-				assert.Equal(t, expectedBody, sc.resp.Body.String())
-				assert.Zero(t, l.WarnLogs.Calls)
-			})
-	})
-
 	t.Run("Given a request for an non-existing plugin file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		p := plugins.PluginDTO{
-			JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
-				ID: pluginID,
-			},
-			PluginDir: pluginDir,
-		}
+		p := createPluginDTO(plugins.JSONData{ID: pluginID}, plugins.External, pluginDir)
 		service := &plugins.FakePluginStore{
 			PluginList: []plugins.PluginDTO{p},
 		}
-		l := &logtest.Fake{}
 
 		requestedFile := "nonExistent"
 		url := fmt.Sprintf("/public/plugins/%s/%s", pluginID, requestedFile)
-		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service, l,
+		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service,
 			func(sc *scenarioContext) {
 				callGetPluginAsset(sc)
 
@@ -257,8 +216,7 @@ func Test_GetPluginAssets(t *testing.T) {
 				err := json.NewDecoder(sc.resp.Body).Decode(&respJson)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				require.Equal(t, 404, sc.resp.Code)
-				assert.Equal(t, "Plugin file not found", respJson["message"])
-				assert.Zero(t, l.WarnLogs.Calls)
+				require.Equal(t, "Plugin file not found", respJson["message"])
 			})
 	})
 
@@ -270,16 +228,16 @@ func Test_GetPluginAssets(t *testing.T) {
 
 		requestedFile := "nonExistent"
 		url := fmt.Sprintf("/public/plugins/%s/%s", pluginID, requestedFile)
-		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service, l,
+		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service,
 			func(sc *scenarioContext) {
 				callGetPluginAsset(sc)
 
 				var respJson map[string]interface{}
 				err := json.NewDecoder(sc.resp.Body).Decode(&respJson)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
-				assert.Equal(t, 404, sc.resp.Code)
-				assert.Equal(t, "Plugin not found", respJson["message"])
-				assert.Zero(t, l.WarnLogs.Calls)
+				require.Equal(t, 404, sc.resp.Code)
+				require.Equal(t, "Plugin not found", respJson["message"])
+				require.Zero(t, l.WarnLogs.Calls)
 			})
 	})
 
@@ -295,13 +253,13 @@ func Test_GetPluginAssets(t *testing.T) {
 		l := &logtest.Fake{}
 
 		url := fmt.Sprintf("/public/plugins/%s/%s", pluginID, requestedFile)
-		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service, l,
+		pluginAssetScenario(t, "When calling GET on", url, "/public/plugins/:pluginId/*", service,
 			func(sc *scenarioContext) {
 				callGetPluginAsset(sc)
 
 				require.Equal(t, 200, sc.resp.Code)
-				assert.Equal(t, expectedBody, sc.resp.Body.String())
-				assert.Zero(t, l.WarnLogs.Calls)
+				require.Equal(t, expectedBody, sc.resp.Body.String())
+				require.Zero(t, l.WarnLogs.Calls)
 			})
 	})
 }
@@ -348,7 +306,7 @@ func TestMakePluginResourceRequestSetCookieNotPresent(t *testing.T) {
 			break
 		}
 	}
-	assert.Empty(t, resp.Header().Values("Set-Cookie"), "Set-Cookie header should not be present")
+	require.Empty(t, resp.Header().Values("Set-Cookie"), "Set-Cookie header should not be present")
 }
 
 func TestMakePluginResourceRequestContentTypeUnique(t *testing.T) {
@@ -382,8 +340,8 @@ func TestMakePluginResourceRequestContentTypeUnique(t *testing.T) {
 					break
 				}
 			}
-			assert.Len(t, resp.Header().Values("Content-Type"), 1, "should have 1 Content-Type header")
-			assert.Len(t, resp.Header().Values("x-another"), 1, "should have 1 X-Another header")
+			require.Len(t, resp.Header().Values("Content-Type"), 1, "should have 1 Content-Type header")
+			require.Len(t, resp.Header().Values("x-another"), 1, "should have 1 X-Another header")
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -417,12 +375,11 @@ func callGetPluginAsset(sc *scenarioContext) {
 }
 
 func pluginAssetScenario(t *testing.T, desc string, url string, urlPattern string, pluginStore plugins.Store,
-	logger log.Logger, fn scenarioFunc) {
+	fn scenarioFunc) {
 	t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", desc, url), func(t *testing.T) {
 		hs := HTTPServer{
 			Cfg:         setting.NewCfg(),
 			pluginStore: pluginStore,
-			log:         logger,
 		}
 
 		sc := setupScenarioContext(t, url)
@@ -478,42 +435,40 @@ func (c *fakePluginClient) QueryData(ctx context.Context, req *backend.QueryData
 }
 
 func Test_PluginsList_AccessControl(t *testing.T) {
-	pluginStore := plugins.FakePluginStore{PluginList: []plugins.PluginDTO{
-		{
-			PluginDir:     "/grafana/plugins/test-app/dist",
-			Class:         "external",
-			DefaultNavURL: "/plugins/test-app/page/test",
-			Pinned:        false,
-			Signature:     "unsigned",
-			Module:        "plugins/test-app/module",
-			BaseURL:       "public/plugins/test-app",
-			JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
-				ID:   "test-app",
-				Type: "app",
-				Name: "test-app",
-				Info: plugins.Info{
-					Version: "1.0.0",
-				},
+	p1 := &plugins.Plugin{
+		PluginDir:     "/grafana/plugins/test-app/dist",
+		Class:         plugins.External,
+		DefaultNavURL: "/plugins/test-app/page/test",
+		Signature:     plugins.SignatureUnsigned,
+		Module:        "plugins/test-app/module",
+		BaseURL:       "public/plugins/test-app",
+		JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
+			ID:   "test-app",
+			Type: plugins.App,
+			Name: "test-app",
+			Info: plugins.Info{
+				Version: "1.0.0",
 			},
 		},
-		{
-			PluginDir: "/grafana/public/app/plugins/datasource/mysql",
-			Class:     "core",
-			Pinned:    false,
-			Signature: "internal",
-			Module:    "app/plugins/datasource/mysql/module",
-			BaseURL:   "public/app/plugins/datasource/mysql",
-			JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
-				ID:   "mysql",
-				Type: "datasource",
-				Name: "MySQL",
-				Info: plugins.Info{
-					Author:      plugins.InfoLink{Name: "Grafana Labs", URL: "https://grafana.com"},
-					Description: "Data source for MySQL databases",
-				},
+	}
+	p2 := &plugins.Plugin{
+		PluginDir: "/grafana/public/app/plugins/datasource/mysql",
+		Class:     plugins.Core,
+		Pinned:    false,
+		Signature: plugins.SignatureInternal,
+		Module:    "app/plugins/datasource/mysql/module",
+		BaseURL:   "public/app/plugins/datasource/mysql",
+		JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
+			ID:   "mysql",
+			Type: plugins.DataSource,
+			Name: "MySQL",
+			Info: plugins.Info{
+				Author:      plugins.InfoLink{Name: "Grafana Labs", URL: "https://grafana.com"},
+				Description: "Data source for MySQL databases",
 			},
 		},
-	}}
+	}
+	pluginStore := plugins.FakePluginStore{PluginList: []plugins.PluginDTO{p1.ToDTO(), p2.ToDTO()}}
 
 	pluginSettings := pluginsettings.FakePluginSettings{Plugins: map[string]*pluginsettings.DTO{
 		"test-app": {ID: 0, OrgID: 1, PluginID: "test-app", PluginVersion: "1.0.0", Enabled: true},
@@ -574,3 +529,12 @@ func Test_PluginsList_AccessControl(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func createPluginDTO(jd plugins.JSONData, class plugins.Class, pluginDir string) plugins.PluginDTO {
+	p := &plugins.Plugin{
+		JSONData:  jd,
+		Class:     class,
+		PluginDir: pluginDir,
+	}
+	return p.ToDTO()
+}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/backendplugin/provider/provider.go b/pkg/plugins/backendplugin/provider/provider.go
index 218d89df5e1..a83f5a8fb8f 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/backendplugin/provider/provider.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/backendplugin/provider/provider.go
@@ -2,10 +2,6 @@ package provider
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"runtime"
-	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/infra/log"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
@@ -49,7 +45,7 @@ var RendererProvider PluginBackendProvider = func(_ context.Context, p *plugins.
 	if !p.IsRenderer() {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return grpcplugin.NewRendererPlugin(p.ID, filepath.Join(p.PluginDir, rendererStartCmd()),
+	return grpcplugin.NewRendererPlugin(p.ID, p.ExecutablePath(),
 		func(pluginID string, renderer pluginextensionv2.RendererPlugin, logger log.Logger) error {
 			p.Renderer = renderer
 			return nil
@@ -61,7 +57,7 @@ var SecretsManagerProvider PluginBackendProvider = func(_ context.Context, p *pl
 	if !p.IsSecretsManager() {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return grpcplugin.NewSecretsManagerPlugin(p.ID, filepath.Join(p.PluginDir, secretsManagerStartCmd()),
+	return grpcplugin.NewSecretsManagerPlugin(p.ID, p.ExecutablePath(),
 		func(pluginID string, secretsmanager secretsmanagerplugin.SecretsManagerPlugin, logger log.Logger) error {
 			p.SecretsManager = secretsmanager
 			return nil
@@ -70,42 +66,5 @@ var SecretsManagerProvider PluginBackendProvider = func(_ context.Context, p *pl
 }
 
 var DefaultProvider PluginBackendProvider = func(_ context.Context, p *plugins.Plugin) backendplugin.PluginFactoryFunc {
-	// TODO check for executable
-	return grpcplugin.NewBackendPlugin(p.ID, filepath.Join(p.PluginDir, pluginStartCmd(p.Executable)))
-}
-
-func pluginStartCmd(executable string) string {
-	os := strings.ToLower(runtime.GOOS)
-	arch := runtime.GOARCH
-	extension := ""
-
-	if os == "windows" {
-		extension = ".exe"
-	}
-
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s_%s%s", executable, os, strings.ToLower(arch), extension)
-}
-
-func rendererStartCmd() string {
-	os := strings.ToLower(runtime.GOOS)
-	arch := runtime.GOARCH
-	extension := ""
-
-	if os == "windows" {
-		extension = ".exe"
-	}
-
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s_%s%s", "plugin_start", os, strings.ToLower(arch), extension)
-}
-
-func secretsManagerStartCmd() string {
-	os := strings.ToLower(runtime.GOOS)
-	arch := runtime.GOARCH
-	extension := ""
-
-	if os == "windows" {
-		extension = ".exe"
-	}
-
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s_%s%s", "secrets_plugin_start", os, strings.ToLower(arch), extension)
+	return grpcplugin.NewBackendPlugin(p.ID, p.ExecutablePath())
 }
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/dashboards/filestore.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/dashboards/filestore.go
index cb37225f043..80796cd448b 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/dashboards/filestore.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/dashboards/filestore.go
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/fs"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
@@ -24,10 +22,8 @@ func ProvideFileStoreManager(pluginStore plugins.Store) *FileStoreManager {
 	}
 }
 
-var openDashboardFile = func(name string) (fs.File, error) {
-	// Wrapping in filepath.Clean to properly handle
-	// gosec G304 Potential file inclusion via variable rule.
-	return os.Open(filepath.Clean(name))
+var openDashboardFile = func(p plugins.PluginDTO, name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	return p.File(name)
 }
 
 func (m *FileStoreManager) ListPluginDashboardFiles(ctx context.Context, args *ListPluginDashboardFilesArgs) (*ListPluginDashboardFilesResult, error) {
@@ -90,8 +86,7 @@ func (m *FileStoreManager) GetPluginDashboardFileContents(ctx context.Context, a
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	dashboardFilePath := filepath.Join(plugin.PluginDir, cleanPath)
-	file, err := openDashboardFile(dashboardFilePath)
+	file, err := openDashboardFile(plugin, cleanPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/dashboards/filestore_test.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/dashboards/filestore_test.go
index ae9697864bf..4ab977e4187 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/dashboards/filestore_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/dashboards/filestore_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package dashboards
 import (
 	"context"
 	"io"
+	"io/fs"
 	"testing"
 	"testing/fstest"
 
@@ -117,20 +118,24 @@ func TestDashboardFileStore(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run("With filesystem", func(t *testing.T) {
 			origOpenDashboardFile := openDashboardFile
 			mapFs := fstest.MapFS{
-				"plugins/plugin-id/dashboards/dash1.json": {
+				"dashboards/dash1.json": {
 					Data: []byte("dash1"),
 				},
-				"plugins/plugin-id/dashboards/dash2.json": {
+				"dashboards/dash2.json": {
 					Data: []byte("dash2"),
 				},
-				"plugins/plugin-id/dashboards/dash3.json": {
+				"dashboards/dash3.json": {
 					Data: []byte("dash3"),
 				},
-				"plugins/plugin-id/dash2.json": {
+				"dash2.json": {
 					Data: []byte("dash2"),
 				},
 			}
-			openDashboardFile = mapFs.Open
+			openDashboardFile = func(p plugins.PluginDTO, name string) (fs.File, error) {
+				f, err := mapFs.Open(name)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				return f, nil
+			}
 			t.Cleanup(func() {
 				openDashboardFile = origOpenDashboardFile
 			})
@@ -156,7 +161,6 @@ func TestDashboardFileStore(t *testing.T) {
 				b, err := io.ReadAll(res.Content)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				require.Equal(t, "dash1", string(b))
-				require.NoError(t, res.Content.Close())
 			})
 
 			t.Run("Should return file content for dashboards/dash2.json", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -170,7 +174,6 @@ func TestDashboardFileStore(t *testing.T) {
 				b, err := io.ReadAll(res.Content)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				require.Equal(t, "dash2", string(b))
-				require.NoError(t, res.Content.Close())
 			})
 
 			t.Run("Should return error when trying to read relative file", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -189,39 +192,39 @@ func TestDashboardFileStore(t *testing.T) {
 func setupPluginDashboardsForTest(t *testing.T) *FileStoreManager {
 	t.Helper()
 
-	return &FileStoreManager{
-		pluginStore: &plugins.FakePluginStore{
-			PluginList: []plugins.PluginDTO{
+	p1 := &plugins.Plugin{
+		JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
+			ID: "pluginWithoutDashboards",
+			Includes: []*plugins.Includes{
 				{
-					JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
-						ID: "pluginWithoutDashboards",
-						Includes: []*plugins.Includes{
-							{
-								Type: "page",
-							},
-						},
-					},
-				},
-				{
-					PluginDir: "plugins/plugin-id",
-					JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
-						ID: "pluginWithDashboards",
-						Includes: []*plugins.Includes{
-							{
-								Type: "page",
-							},
-							{
-								Type: "dashboard",
-								Path: "dashboards/dash1.json",
-							},
-							{
-								Type: "dashboard",
-								Path: "dashboards/dash2.json",
-							},
-						},
-					},
+					Type: "page",
 				},
 			},
 		},
 	}
+
+	p2 := &plugins.Plugin{
+		JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
+			ID: "pluginWithDashboards",
+			Includes: []*plugins.Includes{
+				{
+					Type: "page",
+				},
+				{
+					Type: "dashboard",
+					Path: "dashboards/dash1.json",
+				},
+				{
+					Type: "dashboard",
+					Path: "dashboards/dash2.json",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	return &FileStoreManager{
+		pluginStore: &plugins.FakePluginStore{
+			PluginList: []plugins.PluginDTO{p1.ToDTO(), p2.ToDTO()},
+		},
+	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/installer.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/installer.go
index 0d82f6ee561..5f0e22b9697 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/installer.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/installer.go
@@ -51,8 +51,7 @@ func (m *PluginInstaller) Add(ctx context.Context, pluginID, version string, opt
 
 		if plugin.Info.Version == version {
 			return plugins.DuplicateError{
-				PluginID:          plugin.ID,
-				ExistingPluginDir: plugin.PluginDir,
+				PluginID: plugin.ID,
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -65,8 +64,7 @@ func (m *PluginInstaller) Add(ctx context.Context, pluginID, version string, opt
 		// if existing plugin version is the same as the target update version
 		if dlOpts.Version == plugin.Info.Version {
 			return plugins.DuplicateError{
-				PluginID:          plugin.ID,
-				ExistingPluginDir: plugin.PluginDir,
+				PluginID: plugin.ID,
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/installer_test.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/installer_test.go
index fe4066f2163..02e394c396d 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/installer_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/installer_test.go
@@ -81,8 +81,7 @@ func TestPluginManager_Add_Remove(t *testing.T) {
 
 			err = inst.Add(context.Background(), pluginID, v1, plugins.CompatOpts{})
 			require.Equal(t, plugins.DuplicateError{
-				PluginID:          pluginV1.ID,
-				ExistingPluginDir: pluginV1.PluginDir,
+				PluginID: pluginV1.ID,
 			}, err)
 		})
 
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/loader.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/loader.go
index 4a42e941f92..14d76ad985a 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/loader.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/loader.go
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@ func (l *Loader) loadPlugins(ctx context.Context, class plugins.Class, pluginJSO
 		plugin.Signature = sig.Status
 		plugin.SignatureType = sig.Type
 		plugin.SignatureOrg = sig.SigningOrg
-		plugin.SignedFiles = sig.Files
 
 		loadedPlugins[plugin.PluginDir] = plugin
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/manager_integration_test.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/manager_integration_test.go
index 8bda9300e45..cfffbef2737 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/manager_integration_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/manager_integration_test.go
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ func TestIntegrationPluginManager(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	verifyCorePluginCatalogue(t, ctx, ps)
-	verifyBundledPlugins(t, ctx, ps)
-	verifyPluginStaticRoutes(t, ctx, ps)
+	verifyBundledPlugins(t, ctx, ps, reg)
+	verifyPluginStaticRoutes(t, ctx, ps, reg)
 	verifyBackendProcesses(t, reg.Plugins(ctx))
 	verifyPluginQuery(t, ctx, client.ProvideService(reg, pCfg))
 }
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ func verifyCorePluginCatalogue(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, ps *store.Serv
 	require.Equal(t, len(expPanels)+len(expDataSources)+len(expApps), len(ps.Plugins(ctx)))
 }
 
-func verifyBundledPlugins(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, ps *store.Service) {
+func verifyBundledPlugins(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, ps *store.Service, reg registry.Service) {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	dsPlugins := make(map[string]struct{})
@@ -258,6 +258,9 @@ func verifyBundledPlugins(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, ps *store.Service)
 	require.NotEqual(t, plugins.PluginDTO{}, inputPlugin)
 	require.NotNil(t, dsPlugins["input"])
 
+	intInputPlugin, exists := reg.Plugin(ctx, "input")
+	require.True(t, exists)
+
 	pluginRoutes := make(map[string]*plugins.StaticRoute)
 	for _, r := range ps.Routes() {
 		pluginRoutes[r.PluginID] = r
@@ -265,23 +268,23 @@ func verifyBundledPlugins(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, ps *store.Service)
 
 	for _, pluginID := range []string{"input"} {
 		require.Contains(t, pluginRoutes, pluginID)
-		require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(pluginRoutes[pluginID].Directory, inputPlugin.PluginDir))
+		require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(pluginRoutes[pluginID].Directory, intInputPlugin.PluginDir))
 	}
 }
 
-func verifyPluginStaticRoutes(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, ps *store.Service) {
+func verifyPluginStaticRoutes(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, rr plugins.StaticRouteResolver, reg registry.Service) {
 	routes := make(map[string]*plugins.StaticRoute)
-	for _, route := range ps.Routes() {
+	for _, route := range rr.Routes() {
 		routes[route.PluginID] = route
 	}
 
 	require.Len(t, routes, 2)
 
-	inputPlugin, _ := ps.Plugin(ctx, "input")
+	inputPlugin, _ := reg.Plugin(ctx, "input")
 	require.NotNil(t, routes["input"])
 	require.Equal(t, routes["input"].Directory, inputPlugin.PluginDir)
 
-	testAppPlugin, _ := ps.Plugin(ctx, "test-app")
+	testAppPlugin, _ := reg.Plugin(ctx, "test-app")
 	require.Contains(t, routes, "test-app")
 	require.Equal(t, routes["test-app"].Directory, testAppPlugin.PluginDir)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest.go
index 858ccf57910..8edf7f2d556 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/manifest.go
@@ -111,12 +111,7 @@ func Calculate(mlog log.Logger, plugin *plugins.Plugin) (plugins.Signature, erro
 		}, err
 	}
 
-	manifestPath := filepath.Join(plugin.PluginDir, "MANIFEST.txt")
-
-	// nolint:gosec
-	// We can ignore the gosec G304 warning on this one because `manifestPath` is based
-	// on plugin the folder structure on disk and not user input.
-	byteValue, err := os.ReadFile(manifestPath)
+	byteValue := plugin.Manifest()
 	if err != nil || len(byteValue) < 10 {
 		mlog.Debug("Plugin is unsigned", "id", plugin.ID)
 		return plugins.Signature{
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/signature.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/signature.go
index b0d3c6d3bbb..2e7262d7569 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/signature.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/signature/signature.go
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (s *Validator) Validate(plugin *plugins.Plugin) *plugins.SignatureError {
 				SignatureStatus: plugins.SignatureUnsigned,
 			}
 		}
-		s.log.Warn("Permitting unsigned plugin. This is not recommended", "pluginID", plugin.ID, "pluginDir", plugin.PluginDir)
+		s.log.Warn("Permitting unsigned plugin. This is not recommended", "pluginID", plugin.ID)
 		return nil
 	case plugins.SignatureInvalid:
 		s.log.Debug("Plugin has an invalid signature", "pluginID", plugin.ID)
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/models.go b/pkg/plugins/models.go
index 3eed57d64ca..d60c7656314 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/models.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/models.go
@@ -26,12 +26,11 @@ func (e NotFoundError) Error() string {
 }
 
 type DuplicateError struct {
-	PluginID          string
-	ExistingPluginDir string
+	PluginID string
 }
 
 func (e DuplicateError) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("plugin with ID '%s' already exists in '%s'", e.PluginID, e.ExistingPluginDir)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("plugin with ID '%s' already exists", e.PluginID)
 }
 
 func (e DuplicateError) Is(err error) bool {
@@ -195,13 +194,10 @@ func (s SignatureType) IsValid() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-type PluginFiles map[string]struct{}
-
 type Signature struct {
 	Status     SignatureStatus
 	Type       SignatureType
 	SigningOrg string
-	Files      PluginFiles
 }
 
 type PluginMetaDTO struct {
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/plugins.go b/pkg/plugins/plugins.go
index c0400d369c2..81bfbf11d6c 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/plugins.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/plugins.go
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana-plugin-sdk-go/backend"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/infra/log"
@@ -11,8 +16,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/backendplugin/pluginextensionv2"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/backendplugin/secretsmanagerplugin"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/org"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
 )
 
+var ErrFileNotExist = fmt.Errorf("file does not exist")
+
 type Plugin struct {
 	JSONData
 
@@ -30,7 +38,6 @@ type Plugin struct {
 	SignatureOrg   string
 	Parent         *Plugin
 	Children       []*Plugin
-	SignedFiles    PluginFiles
 	SignatureError *SignatureError
 
 	// SystemJS fields
@@ -46,8 +53,10 @@ type Plugin struct {
 type PluginDTO struct {
 	JSONData
 
-	PluginDir string
-	Class     Class
+	logger    log.Logger
+	pluginDir string
+
+	Class Class
 
 	// App fields
 	IncludedInAppID string
@@ -58,7 +67,6 @@ type PluginDTO struct {
 	Signature      SignatureStatus
 	SignatureType  SignatureType
 	SignatureOrg   string
-	SignedFiles    PluginFiles
 	SignatureError *SignatureError
 
 	// SystemJS fields
@@ -89,21 +97,29 @@ func (p PluginDTO) IsSecretsManager() bool {
 	return p.JSONData.Type == SecretsManager
 }
 
-func (p PluginDTO) IncludedInSignature(file string) bool {
-	// permit Core plugin files
-	if p.IsCorePlugin() {
-		return true
+func (p PluginDTO) File(name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	cleanPath, err := util.CleanRelativePath(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		// CleanRelativePath should clean and make the path relative so this is not expected to fail
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// permit when no signed files (no MANIFEST)
-	if p.SignedFiles == nil {
-		return true
+	absPluginDir, err := filepath.Abs(p.pluginDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if _, exists := p.SignedFiles[file]; !exists {
-		return false
+	absFilePath := filepath.Join(absPluginDir, cleanPath)
+	// Wrapping in filepath.Clean to properly handle
+	// gosec G304 Potential file inclusion via variable rule.
+	f, err := os.Open(filepath.Clean(absFilePath))
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil, ErrFileNotExist
+		}
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	return true
+	return f, nil
 }
 
 // JSONData represents the plugin's plugin.json
@@ -318,6 +334,25 @@ func (p *Plugin) Client() (PluginClient, bool) {
 	return nil, false
 }
 
+func (p *Plugin) ExecutablePath() string {
+	os := strings.ToLower(runtime.GOOS)
+	arch := runtime.GOARCH
+	extension := ""
+
+	if os == "windows" {
+		extension = ".exe"
+	}
+	if p.IsRenderer() {
+		return filepath.Join(p.PluginDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s_%s%s", "plugin_start", os, strings.ToLower(arch), extension))
+	}
+
+	if p.IsSecretsManager() {
+		return filepath.Join(p.PluginDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s_%s%s", "secrets_plugin_start", os, strings.ToLower(arch), extension))
+	}
+
+	return filepath.Join(p.PluginDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s_%s%s", p.Executable, os, strings.ToLower(arch), extension))
+}
+
 type PluginClient interface {
 	backend.QueryDataHandler
 	backend.CollectMetricsHandler
@@ -330,8 +365,9 @@ func (p *Plugin) ToDTO() PluginDTO {
 	c, _ := p.Client()
 
 	return PluginDTO{
+		logger:          p.Logger(),
+		pluginDir:       p.PluginDir,
 		JSONData:        p.JSONData,
-		PluginDir:       p.PluginDir,
 		Class:           p.Class,
 		IncludedInAppID: p.IncludedInAppID,
 		DefaultNavURL:   p.DefaultNavURL,
@@ -339,7 +375,6 @@ func (p *Plugin) ToDTO() PluginDTO {
 		Signature:       p.Signature,
 		SignatureType:   p.SignatureType,
 		SignatureOrg:    p.SignatureOrg,
-		SignedFiles:     p.SignedFiles,
 		SignatureError:  p.SignatureError,
 		Module:          p.Module,
 		BaseURL:         p.BaseURL,
@@ -387,6 +422,15 @@ func (p *Plugin) IsExternalPlugin() bool {
 	return p.Class == External
 }
 
+func (p *Plugin) Manifest() []byte {
+	d, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(p.PluginDir, "MANIFEST.txt"))
+	if err != nil {
+		return []byte{}
+	}
+
+	return d
+}
+
 type Class string
 
 const (
diff --git a/pkg/services/plugindashboards/service/service.go b/pkg/services/plugindashboards/service/service.go
index a2934ce6ea9..ddb7e1697f5 100644
--- a/pkg/services/plugindashboards/service/service.go
+++ b/pkg/services/plugindashboards/service/service.go
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func (s Service) LoadPluginDashboard(ctx context.Context, req *plugindashboards.
 	}
 
 	defer func() {
-		if err := resp.Content.Close(); err != nil {
+		if err = resp.Content.Close(); err != nil {
 			s.logger.Warn("Failed to close plugin dashboard file", "reference", req.Reference, "err", err)
 		}
 	}()
diff --git a/pkg/services/plugindashboards/service/service_test.go b/pkg/services/plugindashboards/service/service_test.go
index f46af1556f3..ed367318b59 100644
--- a/pkg/services/plugindashboards/service/service_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/plugindashboards/service/service_test.go
@@ -191,9 +191,8 @@ func (m pluginDashboardStoreMock) ListPluginDashboardFiles(ctx context.Context,
 func (m pluginDashboardStoreMock) GetPluginDashboardFileContents(ctx context.Context, args *dashboards.GetPluginDashboardFileContentsArgs) (*dashboards.GetPluginDashboardFileContentsResult, error) {
 	if dashboardFiles, exists := m.pluginDashboardFiles[args.PluginID]; exists {
 		if content, exists := dashboardFiles[args.FileReference]; exists {
-			r := bytes.NewReader(content)
 			return &dashboards.GetPluginDashboardFileContentsResult{
-				Content: io.NopCloser(r),
+				Content: io.NopCloser(bytes.NewReader(content)),
 			}, nil
 		}
 	} else if !exists {