3.7 KiB
Phase 0.9D independent recovery analysis
Date: 2026-07-18
Status: UNPROVEN
elfldr
| Question | Source-bound answer |
|---|---|
| Write mechanism | none in audited source |
| Executor | original external exploit/rudimentary loader could launch an ELF, but its source is absent |
| Works if elfldr is broken | bootstrap independence is described, not demonstrated: PARTIAL |
| Works if Manager is broken | bootstrap path does not name Manager: PARTIAL |
| Works after reboot | UNPROVEN |
| Works without autoload | manual host send is described: PARTIAL |
| Works without defective listener | port 9020 is described as distinct from elfldr port 9021: PARTIAL |
| Exact restore target selectable | no live target mapping or write contract |
| Write then verify | absent |
| Old file remains intact | no restore transaction exists |
| Power-loss behavior | UNPROVEN; no atomic restoration contract |
| Second route | none source-bound |
Top-level required classification: PARTIAL. Detailed restore classifications:
UNPROVEN and ABSENT; no INDEPENDENT_RECOVERY_CANDIDATE is established.
Payload Manager
| Question | Source-bound answer |
|---|---|
| Write mechanism | full Manager upload/install routes write files, but using a Manager to restore that same Manager is self-dependent and is not authorized |
| Executor | elfldr can launch a Manager ELF sent from a host, according to README/deploy source |
| Works if elfldr is broken | no; described manual Manager route depends on elfldr: CROSS_DEPENDENT |
| Works if Manager is broken | a separately supplied candidate could be launched through elfldr, but persistent restoration is absent: PARTIAL |
| Works after reboot | original exploit and elfldr repeatability are UNPROVEN |
| Works without autoload | manual send is described: PARTIAL |
| Works without normal Manager listener | host-to-elfldr launch is structurally separate: PARTIAL |
| Exact restore target selectable | no current live mapping |
| Write then verify | absent |
| Old file remains intact | upload/install paths are not an audited self-recovery transaction |
| Power-loss behavior | existing writes/renames are not proven safe for the current live Manager object |
| Second route | absent |
Top-level required classification: PARTIAL. Detailed classifications:
CROSS_DEPENDENT, SELF_DEPENDENT, and POWER_LOSS_UNSAFE for the available
shapes. None is recovery proof.
Failure matrix
| Failed component | Still source-plausible | Not proven / unavailable |
|---|---|---|
| elfldr | original port-9020 exploit bootstrap, if the absent external chain remains usable | current exploit availability, persistent rewrite, exact target, verification, power-loss recovery |
| Payload Manager | elfldr remains capable of accepting and launching a separately supplied ELF in source | Manager live path, durable replacement, independent verification, recovery when elfldr also fails |
The current byte-exact Payload Manager backup remains
HARD_BLOCKER_FOR_INSTALLATION. Lack of independent recovery remains
HARD_BLOCKER_FOR_EVERY_DEVICE_WRITE.
Side-by-side feasibility
elfldr socksrv.c:477-507 terminates an already running elfldr.elf service
before creating another one. Payload Manager main.c:81-103 terminates another
pldmgr.elf instance during startup. Both therefore have process/listener
overlap and global-state risks.
The controlled Manager source uses a separate profile/port but is not installed or runtime-proven. Any candidate would require transfer and execution, a source-bound non-live path, collision review, a timeout/cleanup contract, and independent recovery. None exists here.
Classification: BLOCKED / RECOVERY_UNPROVEN. This is not staging,
installation, or execution approval.