{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "slug": "how-must-an-instance-handle-reference-delegation-when-the-origin-cannot-be-directly-contacted",
  "title": "How must an instance handle reference delegation when the origin cannot be directly contacted?",
  "date_of_record": "2026 October 20",
  "scope": "* **Applies when:** The reference's origin is unreachable, delegation is required, and downstream decisions depend on resolution accuracy. * **Does not apply when:** The origin is reachable, references are content-addressed (no resolution n",
  "projections": {
    "unified_markdown_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-must-an-instance-handle-reference-delegation-when-the-origin-cannot-be-directly-contacted.md",
    "method_python_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-must-an-instance-handle-reference-delegation-when-the-origin-cannot-be-directly-contacted.py",
    "remnant_warrant_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-must-an-instance-handle-reference-delegation-when-the-origin-cannot-be-directly-contacted.warrant.json"
  },
  "token_profile": {
    "full_markdown_tokens": 1092,
    "python_slice_tokens": 344,
    "warrant_slice_tokens": 220
  },
  "remnant_summary": {
    "core_distinction": "The separation between **delegated resolution** (the reference is resolved via an intermediary) and **original resolution** (the reference is resolved via the origin). Relying on delegated resolution creates the **Delegation Trust Gap**: the intermediary may return a different resource than the origin would have, either maliciously (attacker-controlled inter...",
    "what_was_observed": "In networks with unreachable origins, failing to handle delegated resolution produces three primary failure modes: 1. **Intermediary Substitution:** An intermediary returns a resource that looks like the origin's resource but is controlled by an attacker. The receiver has no way to distinguish this from legitimate delegation. 2. **Stale Cache Return:** An intermediary returns a cached version of the resource from a t...",
    "condition_of_validity": "* **Applies when:** The reference's origin is unreachable, delegation is required, and downstream decisions depend on resolution accuracy. * **Does not apply when:** The origin is reachable, references are content-addressed (no resolution needed), or delegation is prohibited and only origin resolution is acceptable.",
    "decision_boundary": "1. **Is the origin reachable?** If yes, resolve directly. If no, proceed to delegation. 2. **Is the `delegation_chain_receipt` present and complete?** If no, the receiver cannot see the delegation path. Reject or treat as unverified. 3. **Do all intermediaries have `intermediary_trust_attestation_receipts`?** If no, some intermediaries are untrusted. Weight ...",
    "operational_effect": "1. **Intermediary Substitution Detection:** Origin signatures on resources prevent substitution even via untrusted intermediaries. 2. **Stale Cache Awareness:** Delegation freshness reveals stale cached content. 3. **Delegation Chain Transparency:** The full delegation path is visible, allowing trust decisions at each hop."
  },
  "matched_failure_symptoms": [
    "DOMAIN:EPISTEMIC_PROVENANCE_AND_FEDERATION_ROUTING"
  ],
  "composition_edges": {
    "primary_domain": "epistemic_provenance_and_federation_routing",
    "upstream_precondition_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/according-to-what-precedence-hierarchy-must-an-instance-resolve-contradictory-directives-across-system-developer-and-user-tiers.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-should-an-instance-decide-that-a-stored-conclusion-has-gone-stale-without-a-new-observation.md"
    ],
    "downstream_consequence_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/by-what-checkpoint-and-compaction-boundaries-must-an-instance-externalize-working-state-to-prevent-context-window-drift-and-truncation-amnesia.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/across-what-additive-schema-and-unknown-field-preservation-boundaries-must-an-instance-evolve-wire-contracts-to-prevent-rolling-deploy-deserialization-crashes.md"
    ],
    "co_occurring_sibling_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-capture-implicit-user-preferences-without-storing-private-data.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-compress-long-reasoning-traces-into-binding-conclusions.md"
    ]
  },
  "empirical_verification_warrant": {
    "status": "AST_AND_INVARIANT_VERIFIED",
    "syntax_valid": true,
    "code_sha256": "26b9a524b33bfb4f43956846a77216e4d5b85506cfed6d35753aa4c812a0d1d1",
    "verified_classes": [
      "DelegationVerdict",
      "DelegationHop",
      "DelegatedResolution",
      "DelegationPolicy",
      "DelegationManifest",
      "DelegatedReferenceGuard"
    ],
    "verified_functions": [
      "_hash",
      "evaluate_resolution"
    ],
    "verified_functions_count": 2,
    "defensive_guards_count": 0,
    "raised_exceptions": [],
    "sample_fail_closed_invariants": [],
    "stdlib_dependencies": [
      "dataclasses",
      "enum",
      "hashlib",
      "json"
    ],
    "observation_mode": "EMPIRICAL_BOUNDARY_CAPTURE",
    "zero_external_deps": true
  }
}