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A defective path that is inert only under the checked-in configuration was being downgraded to a hardening note. Clarify in HUNTING.md, SKILL.md, and VALIDATION-AND-REPORTING.md that non-default or absent configuration is a deployment fact (needs_validation), and reserve hardening for paths no supported configuration reaches or that a visible control prevents.
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This was referenced Sep 20, 2026
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Summary
Addresses gap 4 from #20: a real defect whose reachability depends on a deployment/configuration choice (e.g. a credentialed grant tied to an auth path that is not ambient in the checked-in config) gets downgraded to a hardening note. "Not reachable today" and "not a defect" are different claims, and a hardening note reads as the latter.
The existing rules already say a missing deployment fact should become
needs_validation, but three places let it slip to hardening/rejected:HUNTING.mdcandidate gate rule 5 groups "missing best practice" with hardening, and "disproved by source" with rejection, with nothing in between for "inert in the checked-in config".SKILL.mdanti-pattern 2 (defense-in-depth with no reachable violation) is easy to misapply to the same case.VALIDATION-AND-REPORTING.mdlists "an impossible prerequisite" as grounds forrejected; a merely non-default prerequisite is not impossible.Changes (docs only, +8/-1)
HUNTING.md: rule 5 now says "not reachable in the checked-in configuration" is not "disproved by source". If a supported, documented, or shipped option would make the path reachable, useneeds_validationnaming that option. Hardening is reserved for paths no supported configuration reaches or that a visible control prevents.SKILL.md: "Respect source visibility" distinguishes a control that prevents the attack from a configuration that leaves the defect inert today.VALIDATION-AND-REPORTING.md: a non-default or absent-from-config prerequisite is not "impossible"; keep itneeds_validationwith that fact as the blocker.No schema, validator, or ledger changes. This does not loosen the "only confirm established boundary failures" principle: these cases stay
needs_validationwith no severity.Test plan
needs_validationshape (blockers,validation_plan.deployment) already fits this case, so no schema change is needed.node --teston both validator suites. Docs-only diff; the only failures are the pre-existing WindowsO_NOFOLLOW/O_NONBLOCKCLI-test failures tracked in Fix CLI test suite hanging failures on platforms without O_NOFOLLOW/O_NONBLOCK #31 and its related PRs.Refs #20