diff --git a/PUBLIC_SOURCE_EXPORT.md b/PUBLIC_SOURCE_EXPORT.md
index e168c6a..43f49e1 100644
--- a/PUBLIC_SOURCE_EXPORT.md
+++ b/PUBLIC_SOURCE_EXPORT.md
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # Public source export
 
-This source snapshot was generated from the private canonical repository at revision `ae6b891c48da412de613ce0ed52c0bc1e9908fbf`. It contains no private Git history or operational evidence. Changes are published from the canonical repository.
+This source snapshot was generated from the private canonical repository at revision `945a919d1a3bbd2bb5bd21eb221fc9b58d795d80`. It contains no private Git history or operational evidence. Changes are published from the canonical repository.
diff --git a/PUBLIC_SOURCE_MANIFEST.json b/PUBLIC_SOURCE_MANIFEST.json
index ed65a13..98eb4f5 100644
--- a/PUBLIC_SOURCE_MANIFEST.json
+++ b/PUBLIC_SOURCE_MANIFEST.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "schemaVersion": 1,
-  "sourceRevision": "ae6b891c48da412de613ce0ed52c0bc1e9908fbf",
+  "sourceRevision": "945a919d1a3bbd2bb5bd21eb221fc9b58d795d80",
   "files": [
     {
       "path": ".dockerignore",
@@ -1164,8 +1164,8 @@
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_forge_secret_delivery_controller.py",
-      "sha256": "1695383ed99777000bec2df4ae97d252dc242b690430f102284fa101679465ed",
-      "bytes": 31582
+      "sha256": "d5b35a6f9d188849171fed6f3cfcc813a0e999a9a821855520c3fc6a7502764b",
+      "bytes": 32266
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_frontend_file_boundary.py",
@@ -1204,8 +1204,8 @@
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_hub_candidate_import.py",
-      "sha256": "c5eb8845b6fba09cb8d49edd06b8fad1420a8a14eac0e732198fdce0b6a0a333",
-      "bytes": 45629
+      "sha256": "87762293c6088b5e3e71adfa4c109ec468d7931f3e10b8be6e04ce1d19f8d849",
+      "bytes": 47846
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_hub_candidate_transport.py",
@@ -1259,13 +1259,13 @@
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_managed_validation_checkout.py",
-      "sha256": "92239d5c8760034c145a917534dd4622d507af334eaa0c10db3a310b53bae482",
-      "bytes": 462
+      "sha256": "ada4d91ef0e22e94cf2c5f7af63f7ace8e2db1820a6b4ace7ae174ff065300fb",
+      "bytes": 541
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_managed_validation_parallel.py",
-      "sha256": "5654211d4ab1ab2749c269c148497f9448b0257c70779ebac063ef55780e3c11",
-      "bytes": 2355
+      "sha256": "8b3354bd6353831a081459b7398eac2ce4f8626251ff38422f6d217caf516ec3",
+      "bytes": 2367
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_mcp_hub_candidate_preparation.py",
@@ -1604,14 +1604,19 @@
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_runner_admission_controller.py",
-      "sha256": "dcfb8e7a1d1ee86d6bfadef71bbd8be629a7f70a26baafb37bb134c61e78491d",
-      "bytes": 57459
+      "sha256": "c05470d633c3f8c745522019724de85f470df926235fe7155f9aa754ea3e4e23",
+      "bytes": 69519
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_runner_admission_policy.py",
       "sha256": "e4bdf5b454b5e17d1785b2db82819c1e43150fe84de1bf0fd242288352f4ee26",
       "bytes": 5951
     },
+    {
+      "path": "backend/tests/test_runner_build_acceptance_workflow.py",
+      "sha256": "618c65909b89a7c52e85c6c190bf63a4c6dc202917d60d48eb71b069e5cf30c2",
+      "bytes": 9336
+    },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_runner_capacity_controller.py",
       "sha256": "f1c12a7799f11b7dcb78e79820303a5dce6828dded26b258898e4c80f80a3ed8",
@@ -1659,8 +1664,8 @@
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_runner_fleet_specialize.py",
-      "sha256": "5bd85d16db6ef824a8c83bdafb4e1a70cbb736064611929e538df7224748f885",
-      "bytes": 205798
+      "sha256": "c2dd0ed7a893df8a73868e8efd27baa4ae83949dfa03f75816a3c59e66389895",
+      "bytes": 220641
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_runner_fleet_v2_execution_surface.py",
@@ -1724,8 +1729,8 @@
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_runner_task_image_producer.py",
-      "sha256": "c55f54bf58fa81649ddb31a8953abadf299c2fe32d1b4411dd59889981cc7376",
-      "bytes": 12112
+      "sha256": "025307274b0a93038ebe2e4ceb85579d1bf012ee855a392418f5ed7d6daab617",
+      "bytes": 13787
     },
     {
       "path": "backend/tests/test_secret_storage.py",
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_forge_secret_delivery_controller.py b/backend/tests/test_forge_secret_delivery_controller.py
index 0990297..ed3ad8f 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_forge_secret_delivery_controller.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_forge_secret_delivery_controller.py
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ def _signed_headers(status_module, body: bytes, *, nonce: str | None = None):
     }
 
 
-def _post(address, path: str, body: bytes, headers: dict[str, str]):
-    connection = http.client.HTTPConnection(*address, timeout=3)
+def _post(address, path: str, body: bytes, headers: dict[str, str], *, timeout: int = 3):
+    connection = http.client.HTTPConnection(*address, timeout=timeout)
     try:
         connection.request("POST", path, body=body, headers=headers)
         response = connection.getresponse()
@@ -497,12 +497,13 @@ def test_new_nonce_retries_same_bundle_and_changed_input_is_rejected(
     assert READ_TOKEN.decode() not in response.decode()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("fsync_delay_seconds", [0.0, 0.04])
 @pytest.mark.skipif(
     os.name != "posix" or getattr(os, "geteuid", lambda: 1)() != 0,
     reason="the real bundle helper requires POSIX root ownership",
 )
 def test_signed_http_delivery_uses_real_bundle_helper_and_never_rotates(
-    status_module, endpoint, monkeypatch, tmp_path
+    status_module, endpoint, monkeypatch, tmp_path, fsync_delay_seconds
 ):
     _install_hmac_test(monkeypatch, status_module)
     import importlib
@@ -511,6 +512,19 @@ def test_signed_http_delivery_uses_real_bundle_helper_and_never_rotates(
     assert Path(bundle_module.__file__).resolve() == (
         BROKER / "forge_secret_bundle.py"
     ).resolve()
+    if fsync_delay_seconds:
+        real_os = bundle_module.os
+
+        class SlowFsyncOs:
+            def __getattr__(self, name):
+                return getattr(real_os, name)
+
+            def fsync(self, descriptor):
+                time.sleep(fsync_delay_seconds)
+                return real_os.fsync(descriptor)
+
+        # Keep actual durable writes and all ownership checks; model valid slow I/O.
+        monkeypatch.setattr(bundle_module, "os", SlowFsyncOs())
     root = tmp_path / "real-bundle-root"
     root.mkdir(mode=0o700)
     root.chmod(0o700)
@@ -541,6 +555,8 @@ def test_signed_http_delivery_uses_real_bundle_helper_and_never_rotates(
             status_module.FORGE_SECRET_DELIVERY_PATH,
             body,
             _signed_headers(status_module, body),
+            # Match the existing bounded production HTTP budget for real fsync I/O.
+            timeout=10,
         )
 
     status, response = send(_payload(status_module))
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_hub_candidate_import.py b/backend/tests/test_hub_candidate_import.py
index 72f3edb..ccdaf90 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_hub_candidate_import.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_hub_candidate_import.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import importlib
 import io
 import json
 import contextlib
+import os
 import stat
 import struct
 import sys
@@ -119,6 +120,20 @@ def _private_file(path: Path, data: bytes) -> None:
     path.chmod(0o600)
 
 
+def _candidate_directory_link_count(monkeypatch, directory: Path, count: int) -> None:
+    original_lstat = Path.lstat
+
+    def candidate_lstat(path: Path, *args, **kwargs):
+        info = original_lstat(path, *args, **kwargs)
+        if path == directory:
+            values = list(info)
+            values[3] = count
+            return os.stat_result(values)
+        return info
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "lstat", candidate_lstat)
+
+
 def _synthetic_scan_reports(
     services, images, *, created_at: str, finding_service: str | None = None
 ) -> dict[str, bytes]:
@@ -590,8 +605,10 @@ def test_unfixable_vulnerability_finding_is_bound_to_fixed_image_reference(modul
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("finding_present", [False, True])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("rerun_during_load", [False, True])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("directory_link_count", [1, 2])
 def test_fake_local_import_publishes_candidate_and_requires_review_for_findings(
-    modules, monkeypatch, tmp_path, finding_present, rerun_during_load
+    modules, monkeypatch, tmp_path, finding_present, rerun_during_load,
+    directory_link_count,
 ):
     importer = modules.importer
     prepare = modules.prepare
@@ -889,6 +906,7 @@ def test_fake_local_import_publishes_candidate_and_requires_review_for_findings(
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(importer, "_publish_candidate", fake_no_overwrite_publish)
     candidate_directory = state_root / "mcp-hub-release-candidates" / revision
+    _candidate_directory_link_count(monkeypatch, candidate_directory, directory_link_count)
     if rerun_during_load:
         with pytest.raises(importer.CandidateRejected, match="run changed"):
             importer.prepare_candidate(
@@ -970,6 +988,39 @@ def test_fake_local_import_publishes_candidate_and_requires_review_for_findings(
     assert (candidate_directory / "import-receipt.json").read_bytes() == receipt_before_review
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(os.name != "posix", reason="POSIX directory inode metadata")
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("directory_issue", ["zero_links", "public_mode", "foreign_owner", "symlink", "file"])
+def test_cached_candidate_rejects_unsafe_directory(
+    modules, monkeypatch, tmp_path, directory_issue,
+):
+    importer, controller = modules.importer, modules.controller
+    revision = "a" * 40
+    state_root = tmp_path / "state"
+    directory = state_root / "mcp-hub-release-candidates" / revision
+    directory.mkdir(mode=0o700, parents=True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(controller, "STATE_ROOT", state_root)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(controller, "_root_owned", lambda *_args: directory_issue != "foreign_owner")
+    _candidate_directory_link_count(monkeypatch, directory, 0 if directory_issue == "zero_links" else 1)
+    if directory_issue == "public_mode":
+        directory.chmod(0o755)
+    elif directory_issue == "symlink":
+        target = directory.with_name("owned-target")
+        directory.rename(target)
+        directory.symlink_to(target, target_is_directory=True)
+    elif directory_issue == "file":
+        directory.rmdir()
+        _private_file(directory, b"{}")
+
+    def reject_late_read(*_args):
+        raise AssertionError("Directory rejection must precede candidate evidence reads")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(controller, "_mcp_hub_candidate_directory", reject_late_read)
+    with pytest.raises(importer.CandidateRejected, match="not.*private"):
+        importer._cached_candidate_result(
+            revision, "b" * 40, {}, "", lambda *_args: {}, lambda *_args: None,
+        )
+
+
 def test_candidate_artifact_is_exact_bounded_and_unexpired(modules):
     importer = modules.importer
     revision = "c" * 40
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_managed_validation_checkout.py b/backend/tests/test_managed_validation_checkout.py
index 2fae45a..4862218 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_managed_validation_checkout.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_managed_validation_checkout.py
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
 WORKFLOW = ROOT / ".gitea" / "workflows" / "managed-validation.yml"
 
 
-def test_managed_validation_uses_internal_gitea_checkout_path() -> None:
+def test_managed_validation_uses_private_https_gitea_checkout_path() -> None:
     workflow = WORKFLOW.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
     assert "actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683" in workflow
-    assert "github-server-url: http://gitea-runner-internal:3000" in workflow
+    assert "github-server-url: https://gitea.example.com" in workflow
+    assert "github-server-url: http://gitea-runner-internal:3000" not in workflow
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_managed_validation_parallel.py b/backend/tests/test_managed_validation_parallel.py
index a082294..1f62e24 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_managed_validation_parallel.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_managed_validation_parallel.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def test_backend_budget_is_bounded_without_weakening_validation():
         line.strip() for line in backend_body.splitlines() if "-m pytest " in line
     ]
     assert pytest_commands == [
-        '"${py}" -m pytest backend/tests -q --durations=20'
+        '"${py}" -m pytest backend/tests -q --durations=20 --maxfail=1'
     ]
     assert "continue-on-error" not in backend_body
     assert "--ignore" not in backend_body
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_runner_admission_controller.py b/backend/tests/test_runner_admission_controller.py
index 31459a0..e95f627 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_runner_admission_controller.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_runner_admission_controller.py
@@ -44,6 +44,89 @@ def controller_module(monkeypatch):
     )
 
 
+def _host_gate_sample(module, monkeypatch):
+    now = [100.0]
+    host = {"loadRatio": 0.62, "availableMemoryBytes": 19 * 1024**3,
+            "cacheFreeBytes": 140 * 1024**3, "swapCritical": False,
+            "swapSampleAt": now[0]}
+    capacity = {"host": host, "decision": {"pressure": "headroom"}}
+    controller = module.RunnerAdmissionController(clock=lambda: now[0])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(controller, "_host_evidence", lambda: ("clear", None, capacity))
+    return controller, now, host, capacity
+
+
+def test_safe_live_metric_fluctuations_do_not_restart_stable_headroom(controller_module, monkeypatch):
+    module = controller_module
+    controller, now, host, _ = _host_gate_sample(module, monkeypatch)
+    state = {}
+    assert controller._fresh_mutation_gate("backend", ["backend"], state)[0] == "runner_admission_host_headroom_not_stable"
+    for at, load, memory, cache in [(130, 0.58, 18.5, 139.4), (160, 0.53, 18.2, 138.9)]:
+        now[0] = at
+        host.update(loadRatio=load, availableMemoryBytes=int(memory * 1024**3),
+                    cacheFreeBytes=int(cache * 1024**3), swapSampleAt=at)
+        reason, _ = controller._fresh_mutation_gate("backend", ["backend"], state)
+    assert reason is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("change", ["load", "memory", "cache", "swap", "stale", "future", "pressure", "guard"])
+def test_unsafe_sample_restarts_the_entire_stability_window(controller_module, monkeypatch, change):
+    module = controller_module
+    controller, now, host, capacity = _host_gate_sample(module, monkeypatch)
+    state = {}
+    controller._fresh_mutation_gate("backend", ["backend"], state)
+    now[0] = 130
+    host["swapSampleAt"] = 130
+    original = copy.deepcopy(capacity)
+    if change == "load":
+        host["loadRatio"] = 0.71
+    elif change == "memory":
+        host["availableMemoryBytes"] = 14 * 1024**3
+    elif change == "cache":
+        host["cacheFreeBytes"] = 29 * 1024**3
+    elif change == "swap":
+        host["swapCritical"] = True
+    elif change == "stale":
+        host["swapSampleAt"] = 1
+    elif change == "future":
+        host["swapSampleAt"] = 131
+    elif change == "pressure":
+        capacity["decision"]["pressure"] = "pressure"
+    else:
+        monkeypatch.setattr(controller, "_host_evidence", lambda: ("blocked", "host_guard_paused", capacity))
+    assert controller._fresh_mutation_gate("backend", ["backend"], state)[0] is not None
+    capacity.clear()
+    capacity.update(original)
+    host = capacity["host"]
+    now[0] = 160
+    host["swapSampleAt"] = 160
+    monkeypatch.setattr(controller, "_host_evidence", lambda: ("clear", None, capacity))
+    assert controller._fresh_mutation_gate("backend", ["backend"], state)[0] == "runner_admission_host_headroom_not_stable"
+    now[0] = 220
+    host["swapSampleAt"] = 220
+    assert controller._fresh_mutation_gate("backend", ["backend"], state)[0] is None
+
+
+def test_missing_observation_interval_cannot_count_as_stable_headroom(controller_module, monkeypatch):
+    module = controller_module
+    controller, now, host, _ = _host_gate_sample(module, monkeypatch)
+    state = {}
+    controller._fresh_mutation_gate("backend", ["backend"], state)
+    now[0] = 200
+    host["swapSampleAt"] = 200
+    assert controller._fresh_mutation_gate("backend", ["backend"], state)[0] == "runner_admission_host_headroom_not_stable"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("profile,claims", [("frontend", ["frontend"]), ("backend", ["backend", "checks"])])
+def test_profile_or_reservation_change_requires_new_stability_window(controller_module, monkeypatch, profile, claims):
+    module = controller_module
+    controller, now, host, _ = _host_gate_sample(module, monkeypatch)
+    state = {}
+    controller._fresh_mutation_gate("backend", ["backend"], state)
+    now[0] = 160
+    host["swapSampleAt"] = 160
+    assert controller._fresh_mutation_gate(profile, claims, state)[0] == "runner_admission_host_headroom_not_stable"
+
+
 def _public_observation(module, now: float):
     rows = {}
     containers = {}
@@ -257,6 +340,173 @@ def _lease_fixture(module, *, enabled=("backend", "frontend"), busy=(), queue=()
     return controller, state, observation, inventory_rows, containers
 
 
+def _retired_security_inventory(module):
+    rows = [
+        {"name": profile.display_name, "id": 101 + index, "status": "offline",
+         "busy": False, "disabled": True,
+         "labels": [profile.runner_label, *profile.legacy_labels]}
+        for index, profile in enumerate(module.RUNNER_PROFILES.values())
+    ]
+    rows.append({
+        "name": "itworx-security-runner", "id": 9, "status": "offline",
+        "busy": False, "disabled": True,
+        "labels": ["linux-validation", "docker-validation", "ubuntu-latest",
+                   "ubuntu-24.04", "ubuntu-22.04", "mcp-validation", "unraid"],
+    })
+    return rows
+
+
+def test_exact_retired_v1_security_labels_do_not_block_new_profile_inventory(controller_module):
+    module = controller_module
+    rows, ids = module.RunnerAdmissionController._normalized_runner_rows(
+        _retired_security_inventory(module)
+    )
+    claims, profile_ids, _ = module.RunnerAdmissionController._active_claims(rows, ids, {})
+    assert claims == []
+    assert set(profile_ids) == set(module.PROFILE_IDS)
+    assert rows["itworx-security-runner"]["disabled"] is True
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("change", ["enabled", "busy", "missing", "foreign", "replaced_id"])
+def test_retired_v1_security_variant_refuses_live_or_changed_registration(controller_module, change):
+    module = controller_module
+    inventory = _retired_security_inventory(module)
+    old = inventory[-1]
+    if change == "enabled":
+        old["disabled"] = False
+    elif change == "busy":
+        old["busy"] = True
+    elif change == "missing":
+        old["labels"].remove("mcp-validation")
+    elif change == "replaced_id":
+        old["id"] = 99
+    else:
+        old["labels"].append("foreign-capability")
+    with pytest.raises(module.RunnerAdmissionError, match="legacy_runner_labels_invalid"):
+        module.RunnerAdmissionController._normalized_runner_rows(inventory)
+
+
+def test_retired_v1_security_active_job_still_refuses_admission(controller_module):
+    module = controller_module
+    rows, ids = module.RunnerAdmissionController._normalized_runner_rows(
+        _retired_security_inventory(module)
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(module.RunnerAdmissionError, match="legacy_claim_unmapped"):
+        module.RunnerAdmissionController._active_claims(rows, ids, {9: [{"id": "foreign-active"}]})
+
+
+def test_original_security_label_contract_is_preserved(controller_module):
+    module = controller_module
+    inventory = _retired_security_inventory(module)
+    inventory[-1]["labels"] = sorted(module.LEGACY_REQUIRED_LABELS["itworx-security-runner"])
+    rows, _ = module.RunnerAdmissionController._normalized_runner_rows(inventory)
+    assert rows["itworx-security-runner"]["labels"] == set(inventory[-1]["labels"])
+
+
+def _migrated_tower_inventory(module):
+    return [*_retired_security_inventory(module),
+        {"name": "itworx-unraid-deploy", "id": 13, "status": "online", "busy": False,
+         "disabled": False, "labels": ["unraid-deploy"]},
+        {"name": "itworx-windows11-native", "id": 14, "status": "online", "busy": False,
+         "disabled": False, "labels": ["windows-native"]}]
+
+
+def test_migrated_tower_preserves_idle_native_registrations_without_family_claims(controller_module):
+    module = controller_module
+    rows, ids = module.RunnerAdmissionController._normalized_runner_rows(_migrated_tower_inventory(module))
+    claims, profiles, assigned = module.RunnerAdmissionController._active_claims(rows, ids, {})
+    assert claims == []
+    assert set(profiles) == set(module.PROFILE_IDS)
+    assert 13 not in assigned and 14 not in assigned
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("index", [-2, -1])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("change", ["id", "labels", "name"])
+def test_preserved_native_identity_or_capability_drift_refuses(controller_module, index, change):
+    module = controller_module
+    inventory = _migrated_tower_inventory(module)
+    if change == "id":
+        inventory[index]["id"] = 500
+    elif change == "labels":
+        inventory[index]["labels"].append("linux-validation")
+    else:
+        inventory[index]["name"] = "foreign-native"
+    with pytest.raises(module.RunnerAdmissionError, match="preserved_native_identity_invalid"):
+        module.RunnerAdmissionController._normalized_runner_rows(inventory)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("index", [-2, -1])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("busy", [True, False])
+def test_active_preserved_native_blocks_family_admission_until_it_drains(controller_module, index, busy):
+    module = controller_module
+    inventory = _migrated_tower_inventory(module)
+    row = inventory[index]
+    row["busy"] = busy
+    rows, ids = module.RunnerAdmissionController._normalized_runner_rows(inventory)
+    active = {} if busy else {row["id"]: [{"id": "native-active"}]}
+    with pytest.raises(module.RunnerAdmissionError, match="preserved_native_active"):
+        module.RunnerAdmissionController._active_claims(rows, ids, active)
+
+
+def test_foreign_enabled_registration_still_refuses_with_preserved_natives(controller_module):
+    module = controller_module
+    inventory = _migrated_tower_inventory(module)
+    inventory.append({"name": "foreign", "id": 500, "status": "online", "busy": False,
+                      "disabled": False, "labels": ["linux-validation"]})
+    rows, ids = module.RunnerAdmissionController._normalized_runner_rows(inventory)
+    with pytest.raises(module.RunnerAdmissionError, match="enabled_registration_unmapped"):
+        module.RunnerAdmissionController._active_claims(rows, ids, {})
+
+
+def test_absent_retired_container_is_confirmed_by_successful_exact_inventory(controller_module, monkeypatch):
+    module = controller_module
+    calls = []
+    def run(args, **_kwargs):
+        calls.append(args)
+        if args[1] == "inspect":
+            return SimpleNamespace(returncode=1, stdout="[]\n", stderr="opaque failure")
+        return SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(module.subprocess, "run", run)
+    assert module.RunnerAdmissionController()._container("itworx-security-runner") is None
+    assert all(args[1] != "inspect" for args in calls)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("stdout,exit_code", [
+    ("", 1), ("foreign", 0), ("a" * 64 + " wrong-name\n", 0),
+    (("a" * 64 + " itworx-security-runner\n") * 2, 0),
+])
+def test_retired_container_inventory_failure_or_ambiguity_refuses(controller_module, monkeypatch, stdout, exit_code):
+    module = controller_module
+    monkeypatch.setattr(module.subprocess, "run", lambda *_args, **_kwargs:
+                        SimpleNamespace(returncode=exit_code, stdout=stdout, stderr="opaque failure"))
+    with pytest.raises(module.RunnerAdmissionError):
+        module.RunnerAdmissionController()._container("itworx-security-runner")
+
+
+def test_present_retired_container_inspect_failure_is_not_absence(controller_module, monkeypatch):
+    module = controller_module
+    def run(args, **_kwargs):
+        if args[1] == "inspect":
+            return SimpleNamespace(returncode=1, stdout="[]\n", stderr="opaque failure")
+        return SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="a" * 64 + " itworx-security-runner\n", stderr="")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(module.subprocess, "run", run)
+    with pytest.raises(module.RunnerAdmissionError, match="container_inspect_failed"):
+        module.RunnerAdmissionController()._container("itworx-security-runner")
+
+
+def test_present_retired_container_replacement_refuses(controller_module, monkeypatch):
+    module = controller_module
+    def run(args, **_kwargs):
+        if args[1] == "inspect":
+            row = {"Id": "b" * 64, "Name": "/itworx-security-runner", "State": {"Running": False},
+                   "Config": {"Labels": {"com.docker.compose.project": module.COMPOSE_PROJECT}}}
+            return SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout=json.dumps([row]), stderr="")
+        return SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="a" * 64 + " itworx-security-runner\n", stderr="")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(module.subprocess, "run", run)
+    with pytest.raises(module.RunnerAdmissionError, match="container_identity_invalid"):
+        module.RunnerAdmissionController()._container("itworx-security-runner")
+
+
 def _raw_job(module, job, *, runner_id=None, active=False):
     row = {
         "id": job["id"],
@@ -514,7 +764,7 @@ def test_runner_inventory_maps_exact_gitea_display_names_to_fixed_containers(
             "disabled": True,
             "labels": [profile.runner_label, *profile.legacy_labels],
         }
-        for index, profile in enumerate(module.RUNNER_PROFILES.values(), start=10)
+        for index, profile in enumerate(module.RUNNER_PROFILES.values(), start=100)
     ]
 
     by_name, by_id = module.RunnerAdmissionController._normalized_runner_rows(rows)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_runner_build_acceptance_workflow.py b/backend/tests/test_runner_build_acceptance_workflow.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7fc10d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_runner_build_acceptance_workflow.py
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+"""Exercise the real workflow's receipt publisher without Docker or network."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import copy
+import json
+import os
+import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+import yaml
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+WORKFLOW = ROOT / ".gitea/workflows/runner-build-acceptance.yml"
+REVISION = "a" * 40
+TREE = "b" * 40
+MARKER = "ITWORX_CI_JOB_DOCKER_PROBE_RESULT="
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def workflow():
+    return yaml.safe_load(WORKFLOW.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+
+
+def test_only_manual_fixed_build_profile_and_pinned_actions(workflow):
+    # PyYAML's YAML 1.1 parser treats the Actions `on` key as boolean true.
+    events = workflow.get("on", workflow.get(True))
+    assert set(events) == {"workflow_dispatch"}
+    assert set(events["workflow_dispatch"]["inputs"]) == {"source_sha"}
+    assert workflow["permissions"] == {"contents": "read"}
+    assert workflow["concurrency"]["cancel-in-progress"] is False
+    assert set(workflow["jobs"]) == {"build-runner-acceptance"}
+    job = workflow["jobs"]["build-runner-acceptance"]
+    assert job["runs-on"] == "itworx-ci-build"
+    assert "services" not in job and "container" not in job
+    checkout, probe, upload = job["steps"]
+    assert checkout["uses"] == "actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683"
+    assert checkout["with"]["persist-credentials"] is False
+    assert checkout["with"]["github-server-url"] == "https://gitea.example.com"
+    assert checkout["with"]["ref"] == "${{ gitea.sha }}"
+    assert "secrets." not in WORKFLOW.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    assert probe["shell"] == "bash"
+    assert upload["uses"] == "ChristopherHX/gitea-upload-artifact@62ac910c5d3dfa85c7cb2df15afe2e342b2407c2"
+    assert upload.get("if") is None  # Actions default success; never always().
+    assert upload["with"]["path"] == "${{ runner.temp }}/runner-build-acceptance/receipt.json"
+    assert upload["with"]["if-no-files-found"] == "error"
+    assert upload["with"]["overwrite"] is False
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def publisher(workflow, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    script = workflow["jobs"]["build-runner-acceptance"]["steps"][1]["run"]
+    script = script.split("python3 - <<'PY'\n", 1)[1].rsplit("\nPY", 1)[0]
+    environment = {
+        "EXPECTED_SOURCE_SHA": REVISION,
+        "DISPATCH_SHA": REVISION,
+        "DISPATCH_REF": "refs/heads/main",
+        "DISPATCH_EVENT": "workflow_dispatch",
+        "RUN_REPOSITORY": "Jens/Unraid-AppOps-Gateway",
+        "RUN_ID": "22840",
+        "RUN_NUMBER": "1261",
+        "RUN_ATTEMPT": "1",
+        "RUN_JOB": "build-runner-acceptance",
+        "RUNNER_TEMP": str(tmp_path),
+    }
+    probe = {
+        "schema": "itworx.ci.job-docker-probe/v1", "status": "passed",
+        "sourceRevision": REVISION, "sourceTree": TREE,
+        "engineVersion": "29.8.2", "engineRootless": True,
+        "engineStorageDriver": "overlay2", "engineCgroupDriver": "none",
+        "engineSocket": "unix:///run/itworx-job-docker/docker.sock",
+        "engineSocketUid": 1000, "composeVersion": "5.5.1",
+        "buildRun": True, "composeHealthy": True, "composeDnsResolved": True,
+        "archiveNormalized": True, "archiveLoaded": True, "holdSeconds": 30,
+        "imageLabels": {
+            "org.opencontainers.image.source": "https://gitea.example.com/Jens/Unraid-AppOps-Gateway",
+            "org.opencontainers.image.revision": REVISION,
+            "tech.itworx.source-tree": TREE, "tech.itworx.ci.profile": "build",
+        },
+        "imageId": "sha256:" + "c" * 64,
+        "archiveSha256": "sha256:" + "d" * 64,
+    }
+    state = {"calls": [], "probe": probe, "exit": 0, "dirty": "", "tree": TREE}
+
+    def run(args, **kwargs):
+        state["calls"].append(args)
+        assert kwargs["stdin"] == subprocess.DEVNULL
+        if args[0] == "git":
+            assert kwargs["stderr"] == subprocess.DEVNULL
+            command = args[1:]
+            values = {
+                ("rev-parse", "HEAD"): REVISION,
+                ("cat-file", "-t", REVISION): "commit",
+                ("rev-parse", "HEAD^{tree}"): state["tree"],
+                ("cat-file", "-t", TREE): "tree",
+                ("rev-parse", REVISION + "^{tree}"): TREE,
+                ("status", "--porcelain", "--untracked-files=no"): state["dirty"],
+            }
+            return subprocess.CompletedProcess(args, 0, values[tuple(command)] + "\n")
+        assert args == ["/usr/local/bin/itworx-ci-job-docker-probe", REVISION,
+                        TREE, "--hold-seconds", "30"]
+        assert kwargs["stderr"] == subprocess.DEVNULL
+        assert kwargs["timeout"] == 1000
+        if state.get("timeout"):
+            raise subprocess.TimeoutExpired(args, 1000, stderr="PRIVATE_TEST_SECRET")
+        output = state.get("raw", MARKER + json.dumps(state["probe"]) + "\n")
+        kwargs["stdout"].write(output.encode())
+        return subprocess.CompletedProcess(args, state["exit"])
+
+    def execute():
+        with monkeypatch.context() as patch:
+            for key, value in environment.items():
+                patch.setenv(key, value)
+            patch.setattr(subprocess, "run", run)
+            # Execute repository-owned workflow code; every subprocess is intercepted.
+            previous_umask = os.umask(0o077)
+            try:
+                exec(compile(script, str(WORKFLOW), "exec"), {})  # noqa: S102
+            finally:
+                os.umask(previous_umask)
+
+    state["environment"] = environment
+    state["execute"] = execute
+    state["receipt"] = tmp_path / "runner-build-acceptance/receipt.json"
+    return state
+
+
+def test_success_publishes_only_finite_post_cleanup_receipt(publisher):
+    publisher["execute"]()
+    receipt = json.loads(publisher["receipt"].read_text())
+    assert receipt["cleanupVerified"] is True
+    assert receipt["probeExitCode"] == 0
+    assert receipt["probe"] == publisher["probe"]
+    assert receipt["gitea"] == {
+        "repository": "Jens/Unraid-AppOps-Gateway",
+        "workflow": "runner-build-acceptance.yml", "jobKey": "build-runner-acceptance",
+        "runId": 22840, "runNumber": 1261, "runAttempt": 1,
+        "nativeCorrelationRequired": True,
+    }
+
+
+def test_missing_attempt_is_honest_null_not_invented_one(publisher):
+    publisher["environment"]["RUN_ATTEMPT"] = ""
+    publisher["execute"]()
+    run = json.loads(publisher["receipt"].read_text())["gitea"]
+    assert run["runAttempt"] is None
+    assert run["nativeCorrelationRequired"] is True
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("failed_probe", [False, True])
+def test_publisher_fixture_restores_process_umask(publisher, failed_probe, monkeypatch):
+    mask = [0o022]
+
+    def umask(value):
+        previous, mask[0] = mask[0], value
+        return previous
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(os, "umask", umask)
+    publisher["exit"] = 70 if failed_probe else 0
+    if failed_probe:
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+            publisher["execute"]()
+    else:
+        publisher["execute"]()
+    assert mask[0] == 0o022
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(("key", "value"), [
+    ("EXPECTED_SOURCE_SHA", "$(echo PRIVATE_TEST_SECRET)"),
+    ("EXPECTED_SOURCE_SHA", "e" * 40),
+    ("DISPATCH_SHA", "e" * 40),
+    ("DISPATCH_REF", "refs/heads/other"),
+    ("DISPATCH_EVENT", "push"),
+    ("RUN_REPOSITORY", "Jens/Other"),
+    ("RUN_ID", ""), ("RUN_ID", "0"),
+    ("RUN_ATTEMPT", "garbage"),
+    ("RUN_JOB", "other"),
+])
+def test_invalid_identity_refuses_before_probe(publisher, key, value):
+    publisher["environment"][key] = value
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit, match="no success receipt published"):
+        publisher["execute"]()
+    assert all(args[0] == "git" for args in publisher["calls"])
+    assert not publisher["receipt"].exists()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(("key", "value"), [("dirty", " M tracked.txt"), ("tree", "invalid")])
+def test_bad_checkout_tree_refuses_before_probe(publisher, key, value):
+    publisher[key] = value
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit, match="no success receipt published"):
+        publisher["execute"]()
+    assert all(args[0] == "git" for args in publisher["calls"])
+    assert not publisher["receipt"].exists()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("mode", ["cleanup_failure", "hold_failure", "timeout", "secret_output"])
+def test_marker_does_not_authorize_success_before_exit_zero(publisher, mode):
+    if mode in {"cleanup_failure", "hold_failure"}:
+        publisher["exit"] = 70
+    elif mode == "timeout":
+        publisher["timeout"] = True
+    else:
+        publisher["raw"] = "PRIVATE_TEST_SECRET\n" + MARKER + json.dumps(publisher["probe"])
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as failure:
+        publisher["execute"]()
+    assert "PRIVATE_TEST_SECRET" not in str(failure.value)
+    assert not publisher["receipt"].exists()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(("key", "value"), [
+    ("engineRootless", False), ("engineRootless", 1),
+    ("archiveLoaded", False), ("composeHealthy", False),
+    ("sourceRevision", "e" * 40), ("sourceTree", "e" * 40),
+    ("imageId", "invalid"), ("unexpected", "PRIVATE_TEST_SECRET"),
+])
+def test_false_or_foreign_probe_receipt_is_never_published(publisher, key, value):
+    publisher["probe"] = copy.deepcopy(publisher["probe"])
+    publisher["probe"][key] = value
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as failure:
+        publisher["execute"]()
+    assert "PRIVATE_TEST_SECRET" not in str(failure.value)
+    assert not publisher["receipt"].exists()
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_runner_fleet_specialize.py b/backend/tests/test_runner_fleet_specialize.py
index a43e8e5..68de036 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_runner_fleet_specialize.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_runner_fleet_specialize.py
@@ -4308,16 +4308,18 @@ def test_legacy_queue_gate_rejects_job_duplicated_across_status_snapshots(specia
         specialize._check_legacy_queued_jobs()
 
 
-def test_image_workflow_builds_from_protected_appops_main_with_gitea_checkout_url():
+def test_image_workflow_builds_from_protected_appops_main_with_private_https_checkout_url():
     workflow = (ROOT / ".gitea" / "workflows" / "ci-task-images.yml").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
     build = (ROOT / "scripts" / "build_ci_task_images.sh").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
     frontend = (ROOT / "ops" / "runner-task-images" / "frontend" / "Dockerfile").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
-    assert "github-server-url: http://gitea-runner-internal:3000" in workflow
-    assert "runs-on: linux-validation" in workflow
-    assert 'bash scripts/build_ci_task_images.sh "$GITHUB_SHA" "$GITHUB_RUN_ID" "$output"' in workflow
-    assert "runs-on: itworx-ci-build" not in workflow
-    assert "--job-local" not in workflow
+    assert "github-server-url: https://gitea.example.com" in workflow
+    for name in ("managed-validation.yml", "runner-build-acceptance.yml", "ci-task-images.yml"):
+        content = (ROOT / ".gitea" / "workflows" / name).read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        assert "gitea-runner-internal" not in content
+    assert "runs-on: itworx-ci-build" in workflow
+    assert 'bash scripts/build_ci_task_images.sh "$GITHUB_SHA" "$GITHUB_RUN_ID" "$output" --job-local' in workflow
+    assert "runs-on: linux-validation" not in workflow
     assert "jens/unraid-appops-gateway" in build
     assert "Jens/Unraid-AppOps-Gateway" in build
     assert "corepack prepare pnpm@11.15.0 --activate" in frontend
@@ -4375,6 +4377,9 @@ def test_gitea_pretty_registration_names_map_only_to_fixed_container_identity(
 
 def _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch, *, family_exists=True):
     rows, containers, dind, journal, model = _active_recovery_fixture(specialize)
+    dind.update({"Id": "a" * 64, "Image": specialize._DIND_IMAGE_ID})
+    for profile in specialize.RUNNER_PROFILES.values():
+        containers[profile.container_name]["State"]["Pid"] = 0
     events = []
 
     class Volume:
@@ -4425,6 +4430,10 @@ def _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch, *, family_exists=True):
     )
     monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_wait_healthy", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: events.append("healthy"))
     monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "verify_profile_task_images", lambda _profiles: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_bind_active_dind_family",
+                        lambda *_args: events.append("owned-populated-family"))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run_dind_docker", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: "")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run", lambda args, **_kwargs: events.append(("docker", args)) or "")
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         specialize,
         "_resource_proof",
@@ -4433,7 +4442,8 @@ def _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch, *, family_exists=True):
 
     def inspect(name):
         if name == specialize.DIND_NAME:
-            dind["State"] = {"Running": True, "Health": {"Status": "healthy"}}
+            dind["State"] = {"Running": True, "Pid": 77,
+                             "StartedAt": "2026-10-12T00:00:00Z", "Health": {"Status": "healthy"}}
             return dind
         return None
 
@@ -4461,11 +4471,270 @@ def test_active_recovery_restarts_only_fixed_dind_after_two_fresh_gates(
     assert compose_bytes == b"captured-compose"
     assert args == ("up", "-d", "--no-deps", "runner-dind")
     assert kwargs["timeout"] <= 30
-    assert events.count("fresh-host-gate") == 2
+    assert events.count("fresh-host-gate") == 3
     assert events.index("fresh-host-gate") < events.index("healthy")
 
 
-def test_active_recovery_rolls_back_empty_cgroup_if_host_guard_pauses_before_dind(
+def test_active_recovery_survives_disappearing_empty_family(specialize, monkeypatch):
+    events, _rows, _containers, _dind = _stub_active_recovery(
+        specialize, monkeypatch, family_exists=False
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_cgroup_family_snapshot", lambda: {
+        "exists": False,
+        "safeToStartDind": False,
+        "safeToStartDindReason": "resource_cgroup_family_missing",
+        "rootSubtreeControllers": ["cpu", "memory", "pids"],
+    })
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_bind_active_dind_family",
+                        lambda *_args: events.append("owned-populated-family"), raising=False)
+
+    result = specialize.ensure_active_fleet_ready()
+
+    assert result == {"ready": True, "reason": None}
+    assert "cgroup-create" not in events
+    assert events.index("healthy") < events.index("owned-populated-family")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("failure", ["health", "inspect-after-binding", "binding", "images", "envelope", "guard"])
+def test_active_recovery_stops_only_its_new_empty_start_on_failed_acceptance(
+    specialize, monkeypatch, failure,
+):
+    events, _rows, _containers, _dind = _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch)
+    if failure == "health":
+        def fail_health(*_args, **_kwargs):
+            raise specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError("runner_fleet_specialization_dind_recovery_unverified")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_wait_healthy", fail_health)
+    elif failure == "inspect-after-binding":
+        original_inspect = specialize._inspect
+        count = [0]
+        def fail_inspect(name):
+            count[0] += 1
+            if count[0] == 2:
+                raise RuntimeError("sentinel-secret")
+            return original_inspect(name)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_inspect", fail_inspect)
+    elif failure == "binding":
+        def fail_binding(*_args):
+            raise specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError("runner_fleet_specialization_cgroup_family_unavailable")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_bind_active_dind_family", fail_binding)
+    elif failure == "images":
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "verify_profile_task_images", lambda *_args: False)
+    elif failure == "envelope":
+        def fail_proof(*_args):
+            raise specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError("runner_fleet_specialization_resource_envelope_unready")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_resource_proof", fail_proof)
+    else:
+        count = [0]
+        def fail_guard():
+            count[0] += 1
+            if count[0] == 3:
+                raise specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError("runner_fleet_specialization_host_guard_paused")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_fresh_recovery_host_gate", fail_guard)
+
+    result = specialize.ensure_active_fleet_ready()
+
+    assert result["ready"] is False
+    assert "sentinel-secret" not in str(result)
+    assert ("docker", ["docker", "stop", "--time", "30", "a" * 64]) in events
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("drift", ["id", "pid", "started", "job", "profile", "profile-pid", "registration", "busy", "enabled", "volume"])
+def test_active_recovery_rollback_refuses_changed_or_foreign_state(specialize, monkeypatch, drift):
+    events, rows, containers, dind = _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch)
+    inspected = specialize._inspect(specialize.DIND_NAME)
+    binding = specialize._active_dind_binding(inspected, {})
+    marker, journal, model, compose = specialize._active_release_bundle()
+    identity = specialize._active_recovery_identity(marker, journal, compose)
+    if drift == "id":
+        dind["Id"] = "b" * 64
+    elif drift in {"pid", "started"}:
+        key, value = ("Pid", 88) if drift == "pid" else ("StartedAt", "2026-10-12T00:01:00Z")
+        def changed_inspect(_name):
+            changed = copy.deepcopy(dind)
+            changed["State"][key] = value
+            return changed
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_inspect", changed_inspect)
+    elif drift == "job":
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run_dind_docker", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: "foreign-job")
+    elif drift == "profile":
+        containers[specialize.RUNNER_PROFILES["backend"].container_name]["State"]["Running"] = True
+    elif drift == "profile-pid":
+        containers[specialize.RUNNER_PROFILES["backend"].container_name]["State"]["Pid"] = 88
+    elif drift == "registration":
+        rows[0]["id"] += 1000
+    elif drift == "busy":
+        rows[0]["busy"] = True
+    elif drift == "enabled":
+        rows[0]["disabled"] = False
+    else:
+        def changed_bundle():
+            raise specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError("runner_fleet_specialization_active_release_untrusted")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_active_release_bundle", changed_bundle)
+    try:
+        specialize._stop_new_active_dind(binding, model, identity)
+    except specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError:
+        pass
+    assert not any(isinstance(item, tuple) and item[0] == "docker" for item in events)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("case", ["missing-original", "replaced", "same-cid-restarted", "uninspectable", "inspect-once", "nonempty"])
+def test_active_recovery_failed_start_never_infers_cleanup_ownership(specialize, monkeypatch, case):
+    events, _rows, containers, _dind = _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch)
+    original_inspect = specialize._inspect
+    if case == "missing-original":
+        containers.pop(specialize.DIND_NAME)
+    elif case == "replaced":
+        def replaced(name):
+            item = copy.deepcopy(original_inspect(name))
+            item["Id"] = "b" * 64
+            return item
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_inspect", replaced)
+    elif case == "uninspectable":
+        def fail_inspect(_name):
+            raise RuntimeError("sentinel-secret")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_inspect", fail_inspect)
+    elif case == "inspect-once":
+        count = [0]
+        def fail_once(name):
+            count[0] += 1
+            if count[0] == 1:
+                raise RuntimeError("sentinel-secret")
+            return original_inspect(name)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_inspect", fail_once)
+    elif case == "same-cid-restarted":
+        def restarted(name):
+            item = copy.deepcopy(original_inspect(name))
+            item["State"].update({"Pid": 88, "StartedAt": "2026-10-12T00:01:00Z"})
+            return item
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_inspect", restarted)
+    else:
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run_dind_docker", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: "foreign-job")
+    def fail_start(*_args, **_kwargs):
+        raise RuntimeError("sentinel-secret")
+    if case != "inspect-once":
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run_compose", fail_start)
+
+    result = specialize.ensure_active_fleet_ready()
+
+    assert result["ready"] is False
+    assert "sentinel-secret" not in str(result)
+    assert not any(isinstance(item, tuple) and item[0] == "docker" for item in events)
+
+
+def test_active_binder_uses_exact_owned_population_without_migration_journal_writes(specialize, monkeypatch):
+    binder = specialize._bind_active_dind_family
+    events, _rows, _containers, _dind = _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch)
+    # Exercise the real binder rather than the high-level lifecycle stub.
+    item = specialize._inspect(specialize.DIND_NAME)
+    calls = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: "PID\n77\n78\n")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "ensure_owned_dind_cgroup_family", lambda **kwargs: calls.append(kwargs))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_write_journal", lambda *_args: pytest.fail("migration evidence must remain intact"))
+    marker, journal, model, compose = specialize._active_release_bundle()
+    binder(item, model, specialize._active_recovery_identity(marker, journal, compose))
+
+    assert calls == [{"expected_container_id": "a" * 64, "expected_host_pid": 77,
+                      "expected_process_ids": [77, 78], "allow_owned_partial": True}]
+    assert "cgroup-create" not in events
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("case", ["job", "job-after", "duplicate", "zero", "missing-init", "unknown-pid", "foreign-family", "replaced", "replaced-before", "restarted-before"])
+def test_active_binder_rejects_untrusted_or_nonempty_population(specialize, monkeypatch, case):
+    binder = specialize._bind_active_dind_family
+    _events, _rows, _containers, dind = _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch)
+    item = copy.deepcopy(specialize._inspect(specialize.DIND_NAME))
+    if case == "replaced-before":
+        dind["Id"] = "b" * 64
+    elif case == "restarted-before":
+        original_inspect = specialize._inspect
+        def restarted(name):
+            changed = copy.deepcopy(original_inspect(name))
+            changed["State"].update({"Pid": 88, "StartedAt": "2026-10-12T00:01:00Z"})
+            return changed
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_inspect", restarted)
+    text = {"duplicate": "PID\n77\n77\n", "zero": "PID\n77\n0\n",
+            "missing-init": "PID\n78\n", "unknown-pid": "PID\nsentinel-secret\n"}.get(case, "PID\n77\n78\n")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: text)
+    if case == "job":
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run_dind_docker", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: "foreign-job")
+    calls = []
+    def bind(**kwargs):
+        calls.append(kwargs)
+        if case == "foreign-family":
+            raise RuntimeError("sentinel-secret")
+        if case == "replaced":
+            dind["Id"] = "b" * 64
+        elif case == "job-after":
+            monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run_dind_docker", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: "foreign-job")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "ensure_owned_dind_cgroup_family", bind)
+    marker, journal, model, compose = specialize._active_release_bundle()
+    with pytest.raises(specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError) as error:
+        binder(item, model, specialize._active_recovery_identity(marker, journal, compose))
+    assert "sentinel-secret" not in str(error.value)
+    if case not in {"foreign-family", "replaced", "job-after"}:
+        assert calls == []
+
+
+def test_active_recovery_can_finish_existing_empty_bounded_start_without_stopping_it(specialize, monkeypatch):
+    events, _rows, _containers, _dind = _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch)
+    specialize._inspect(specialize.DIND_NAME)
+    ready = iter([{"ready": False}, {"ready": True}])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "verified_topology", lambda: next(ready))
+    assert specialize.ensure_active_fleet_ready() == {"ready": True, "reason": None}
+    assert "owned-populated-family" in events
+    assert not any(isinstance(item, tuple) and item[0] in {"compose", "docker"} for item in events)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("drift", ["sourceScriptSha256", "imageSourceRevision", "imageSourceTree", "imageManifestSha256", "compose", "registration"])
+def test_active_binder_and_cleanup_refuse_valid_same_model_release_drift(specialize, monkeypatch, drift):
+    binder = specialize._bind_active_dind_family
+    events, _rows, _containers, _dind = _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch)
+    item = specialize._inspect(specialize.DIND_NAME)
+    binding = specialize._active_dind_binding(item, {})
+    marker, journal, model, compose = specialize._active_release_bundle()
+    identity = specialize._active_recovery_identity(marker, journal, compose)
+    changed_marker, changed_journal, changed_compose = copy.deepcopy(marker), copy.deepcopy(journal), compose
+    if drift == "compose":
+        changed_compose += b" "
+    elif drift == "registration":
+        changed_journal["newRegistrationIds"]["backend"] += 1000
+    else:
+        changed_marker[drift] = "f" * (40 if drift in {"imageSourceRevision", "imageSourceTree"} else 64)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_active_release_bundle", lambda: (changed_marker, changed_journal, model, changed_compose))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: "PID\n77\n78\n")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "ensure_owned_dind_cgroup_family", lambda **_kwargs: pytest.fail("changed source cannot bind"))
+    with pytest.raises(specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError, match="active_release_changed"):
+        binder(item, model, identity)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run", lambda args, **_kwargs: events.append(("docker", args)) or "")
+    with pytest.raises(specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError, match="active_release_changed"):
+        specialize._stop_new_active_dind(binding, model, identity)
+    assert not any(isinstance(item, tuple) and item[0] == "docker" for item in events)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("failure", ["binding", "proof"])
+def test_active_recovery_preserves_preexisting_running_daemon_on_failure(specialize, monkeypatch, failure):
+    events, _rows, _containers, _dind = _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch)
+    specialize._inspect(specialize.DIND_NAME)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "verified_topology", lambda: {"ready": False})
+    def fail_bind(*_args):
+        raise specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError("runner_fleet_specialization_cgroup_family_unavailable")
+    if failure == "binding":
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_bind_active_dind_family", fail_bind)
+    assert specialize.ensure_active_fleet_ready()["ready"] is False
+    assert not any(isinstance(item, tuple) and item[0] in {"compose", "docker"} for item in events)
+
+
+def test_active_recovery_does_not_stop_new_daemon_with_work_appearing_after_binding(specialize, monkeypatch):
+    events, _rows, _containers, _dind = _stub_active_recovery(specialize, monkeypatch)
+    def failed_binding(*_args):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_run_dind_docker", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: "foreign-job")
+        raise specialize.RunnerFleetSpecializeError("runner_fleet_specialization_dind_recovery_unverified")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(specialize, "_bind_active_dind_family", failed_binding)
+    assert specialize.ensure_active_fleet_ready()["ready"] is False
+    assert not any(isinstance(item, tuple) and item[0] == "docker" for item in events)
+
+
+def test_active_recovery_makes_no_cgroup_or_start_write_if_host_guard_pauses_before_dind(
     specialize, monkeypatch
 ):
     events, _rows, _containers, _dind = _stub_active_recovery(
@@ -4495,9 +4764,8 @@ def test_active_recovery_rolls_back_empty_cgroup_if_host_guard_pauses_before_din
         "ready": False,
         "reason": "runner_fleet_specialization_host_guard_paused",
     }
-    assert rollback == [
-        {"created": True, "initial_controllers": ["cpu", "memory", "pids"]}
-    ]
+    assert rollback == []
+    assert "cgroup-create" not in events
     assert not any(isinstance(item, tuple) and item[0] == "compose" for item in events)
 
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_runner_task_image_producer.py b/backend/tests/test_runner_task_image_producer.py
index 1734e67..0e0107d 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_runner_task_image_producer.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_runner_task_image_producer.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import tarfile
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
-
+import yaml
 
 ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
 PROFILES = ("checks", "backend", "frontend", "security", "browser", "build")
@@ -30,6 +30,39 @@ BASE_LABELS = {
 }
 
 
+def test_post_activation_producer_uses_fixed_job_local_build_route_and_preserves_artifact_contract():
+    workflow = yaml.safe_load((ROOT / ".gitea/workflows/ci-task-images.yml").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    events = workflow.get("on", workflow.get(True))
+    assert events == {"push": {"branches": ["main"]}}
+    assert workflow["permissions"] == {"contents": "read"}
+    assert workflow["concurrency"]["cancel-in-progress"] is False
+    assert set(workflow["jobs"]) == {"build"}
+    job = workflow["jobs"]["build"]
+    assert job["runs-on"] == "itworx-ci-build"
+    assert job["timeout-minutes"] == 90
+    assert "services" not in job and "container" not in job
+    checkout, build, upload = job["steps"]
+    assert checkout["uses"] == "actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683"
+    assert checkout["with"] == {
+        "fetch-depth": 1, "persist-credentials": False,
+        "github-server-url": "https://gitea.example.com",
+    }
+    assert build["run"].strip() == (
+        'set -euo pipefail\n'
+        'output="${RUNNER_TEMP}/ci-task-images-${GITHUB_SHA}"\n'
+        'bash scripts/build_ci_task_images.sh "$GITHUB_SHA" "$GITHUB_RUN_ID" "$output" --job-local'
+    )
+    assert "env" not in build
+    assert upload["uses"] == "ChristopherHX/gitea-upload-artifact@62ac910c5d3dfa85c7cb2df15afe2e342b2407c2"
+    assert upload.get("if") is None
+    assert upload["with"] == {
+        "name": "ci-task-images-${{ github.sha }}",
+        "path": "${{ runner.temp }}/ci-task-images-${{ github.sha }}/*",
+        "if-no-files-found": "error", "retention-days": 90,
+        "compression-level": 6, "overwrite": False,
+    }
+
+
 def _run_producer(tmp_path: Path, mutation: str = ""):
     repo = tmp_path / "repository"
     repo.mkdir()
@@ -121,6 +154,7 @@ def _run_producer(tmp_path: Path, mutation: str = ""):
         capture_output=True,
         text=True,
         timeout=30,
+        check=False,
     )
     return result, output, revision, tree