{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "slug": "how-must-an-instance-prevent-indirection-attacks-when-references-point-to-other-references",
  "title": "How must an instance prevent indirection attacks when references point to other references?",
  "date_of_record": "2026 October 20",
  "scope": "* **Applies when:** References can point to other references, chains can have non-trivial depth, and downstream actions depend on the chain's final target. * **Does not apply when:** References always resolve directly (no indirection), or i",
  "projections": {
    "unified_markdown_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-must-an-instance-prevent-indirection-attacks-when-references-point-to-other-references.md",
    "method_python_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-must-an-instance-prevent-indirection-attacks-when-references-point-to-other-references.py",
    "remnant_warrant_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-must-an-instance-prevent-indirection-attacks-when-references-point-to-other-references.warrant.json"
  },
  "token_profile": {
    "full_markdown_tokens": 1028,
    "python_slice_tokens": 322,
    "warrant_slice_tokens": 220
  },
  "remnant_summary": {
    "core_distinction": "The separation between **reference validity** (each reference in the chain is individually valid) and **chain integrity** (the chain as a whole leads to the intended target, with no redirection). Relying on per-reference validity creates the **Indirection Redirection Attack**: an attacker manipulates a middle hop so that a legitimate-looking reference chain ...",
    "what_was_observed": "In indirection-heavy reference networks, failing to verify chain integrity produces three primary failure modes: 1. **Middle-Hop Substitution:** Reference A points to B, B points to C. An attacker replaces B with B', a cryptographically valid reference to a malicious C'. The receiver follows A → B' → C' and acts on C' believing it is C. 2. **Redirect Loops:** An attacker creates a reference chain A → B → C → A (cycle...",
    "condition_of_validity": "* **Applies when:** References can point to other references, chains can have non-trivial depth, and downstream actions depend on the chain's final target. * **Does not apply when:** References always resolve directly (no indirection), or indirection is strictly within a single trust boundary.",
    "decision_boundary": "1. **Is the reference a direct reference or an indirection?** If direct, standard resolution applies. If indirection, proceed. 2. **Is the `chain_root_signature` valid (chain established by a trusted authority)?** If no, the chain is attacker-constructed. Reject. 3. **Does each hop have a `per_hop_transition_receipt`?** If no, the chain contains unauthorized...",
    "operational_effect": "1. **Middle-Hop Attack Prevention:** Per-hop transitions are verified, catching injected middle hops. 2. **Loop Prevention:** Chain depth is bounded, preventing redirect loops. 3. **Scope Integrity:** The final target's scope is verified to match the root's intent."
  },
  "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": "a74fa51591b707556bde4654f37f6997a560ca14e35c46ebe2d904255c9eb4b4",
    "verified_classes": [
      "IndirectionVerdict",
      "ChainHop",
      "IndirectionChain",
      "IndirectionPolicy",
      "IndirectionManifest",
      "IndirectionChainGuard"
    ],
    "verified_functions": [
      "_hash",
      "evaluate_chain"
    ],
    "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
  }
}