src/server/receiver.c

@@ -53,7 +53,13 @@ bool receiver_send_final_success(int fd, const Config* config, const ReceiverOut
     return send_status(fd, final_status);
   size_t count = outcomes ? outcomes->count : 0;
   for (size_t i = 0; i < count; i++) {
-    Status per_file = outcomes->entries[i] == FILE_SAVE_WRITTEN ? STATUS_NEXT : STATUS_OK;
+    Status per_file;
+    if (outcomes->entries[i] == FILE_SAVE_WRITTEN)
+      per_file = STATUS_NEXT;
+    else if (outcomes->entries[i] == FILE_SAVE_FAILED)
+      per_file = STATUS_ERROR;
+    else
+      per_file = STATUS_OK;
     if (!send_status(fd, per_file))
       return false;
   }
@@ -719,6 +725,11 @@ typedef struct {
   ArrayList* would_delete;
   /* --info=del: actually-removed paths collected during the delete commit. */
   ArrayList* deleted_paths;
+  /* Per-run count of entries that failed to materialize without aborting the
+     stream (currently ONLY a --devices mknod EPERM/EACCES).  A nonzero count
+     makes the terminal frame carry a non-OK status so the client exits
+     non-zero, matching rsync's continue-and-exit-partial behavior. */
+  size_t failed_entries;
 } ReceiverSaveContext;
 
 static bool receiver_save_file(File* file, void* context_pointer) {
@@ -742,6 +753,11 @@ static bool receiver_save_file(File* file, void* context_pointer) {
      count as matched data in the end-of-transfer report. */
   if (result != FILE_SAVE_ERROR && file->matched_bytes > 0)
     context->stats.matched_data += file->matched_bytes;
+  /* --devices parity: a device node the receiver could not mknod (EPERM/EACCES)
+     is counted per-run but does not abort the transfer.  The terminal frame
+     turns a nonzero count into a non-OK status so the client exits non-zero. */
+  if (result == FILE_SAVE_FAILED)
+    context->failed_entries++;
   /* Protocol 2.28.0: receiver-observed literal bytes and the created-entry
      breakdown (regular/dir/link/special) for the `--stats` report. */
   if (result == FILE_SAVE_WRITTEN)
@@ -775,9 +791,25 @@ static void receiver_note_delete_limit(void* context_pointer) {
   context->delete_limit_reached = true;
 }
 
+/* Terminal status for a run.  A capped --delete limit wins (rsync exit 25);
+   otherwise any per-entry failure (for example an unprivileged --devices
+   mknod) makes the terminal frame non-OK so the client exits non-zero.  rsync
+   reports 23 here; mapping the client's exact exit code to 23 is a separate,
+   pre-existing concern.  A clean run keeps STATUS_OK. */
+static Status receiver_final_status(bool delete_limit_reached, size_t failed_entries) {
+  if (delete_limit_reached)
+    return STATUS_DELETE_LIMIT;
+  return failed_entries > 0 ? STATUS_ERROR : STATUS_OK;
+}
+
 static bool receiver_send_success_frame(int fd, void* context_pointer) {
   ReceiverSaveContext* context = context_pointer;
-  Status final_status = context->delete_limit_reached ? STATUS_DELETE_LIMIT : STATUS_OK;
+  if (context->failed_entries > 0)
+    log_message(LOG_LEVEL_WARNING,
+                "%zu entr%s failed to materialize; continuing (partial transfer)",
+                context->failed_entries, context->failed_entries == 1 ? "y" : "ies");
+  Status final_status =
+      receiver_final_status(context->delete_limit_reached, context->failed_entries);
   if (!receiver_send_stats_frame(fd, context->config, &context->stats, context->would_delete,
                                  context->deleted_paths))
     return false;

src/server/receiver_pipeline.c

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ PipelineContextReceiver* pipeline_context_receiver_create(Config* config, Queue*
   context->deferred_manifest = NULL;
   context->deferred_plans = NULL;
   context->delete_limit_reached = false;
+  context->failed_entries = 0;
   memset(&context->stats, 0, sizeof(context->stats));
   context->would_delete = NULL;
   context->deleted_paths = NULL;
@@ -264,6 +265,13 @@ int write_thread(void* pipeline_context) {
         receiver_stats_note_saved(&context->stats, file, created, created_dirs);
         mtx_unlock(&context->mutex);
       }
+      /* --devices parity: a device node that could not be mknod'ed is counted
+         per-run but does NOT abort the transfer. */
+      if (result == FILE_SAVE_FAILED) {
+        mtx_lock(&context->mutex);
+        context->failed_entries++;
+        mtx_unlock(&context->mutex);
+      }
       if (result == FILE_SAVE_ERROR) {
         file_destroy(file);
         pipeline_context_receiver_note_bytes_released(context, file_bytes);

src/server/receiver_pipeline.h

@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ typedef struct PipelineContextReceiver {
   /* --info=del actually-removed path list, collected by the deferred delete
      commit in server.c and reported in the STATUS_STATS frame. */
   struct ArrayList* deleted_paths;
+  /* Per-run count of entries that failed to materialize without aborting the
+     stream (currently ONLY a --devices mknod EPERM/EACCES).  write_thread
+     increments it under `mutex`; server.c turns a nonzero count into a non-OK
+     terminal status so the client exits non-zero. */
+  size_t failed_entries;
 } PipelineContextReceiver;
 
 PipelineContextReceiver* pipeline_context_receiver_create(Config* config, Queue* queue_receiver,

src/server/server.c

@@ -1044,7 +1044,13 @@ static void server_run_mt_receiver(ServerSession* state) {
       dir_metadata_list_apply(&context->dir_times, config->receive_root_directory, config);
   }
   if (transfer_ok) {
-    Status final_status = context->delete_limit_reached ? STATUS_DELETE_LIMIT : STATUS_OK;
+    if (context->failed_entries > 0)
+      log_message(LOG_LEVEL_WARNING,
+                  "%zu entr%s failed to materialize; continuing (partial transfer)",
+                  context->failed_entries, context->failed_entries == 1 ? "y" : "ies");
+    Status final_status = context->delete_limit_reached
+                              ? STATUS_DELETE_LIMIT
+                              : (context->failed_entries > 0 ? STATUS_ERROR : STATUS_OK);
     /* Emit the optional wire-stats record first (protocol 2.25.0), then the
        success/outcome frame, exactly like the single-threaded receiver. */
     if (!receiver_send_stats_frame(state->fd, config, &context->stats, context->would_delete,

src/shared/file.c

@@ -1182,7 +1182,8 @@ int file_open_temp_dir(const char* dir_path) {
  * destination file) and best-effort: a per-attribute or privilege failure is
  * logged and skipped, never fatal. */
 static void restore_extra_fd(int fd, const FileMetadata* metadata, const FileXattrList* xattrs,
-                             bool fake_super, FileAttrPolicy policy) {
+                             bool fake_super, FileAttrPolicy policy, uint32_t fake_super_rdev_major,
+                             uint32_t fake_super_rdev_minor) {
   xattr_apply_fd(fd, xattrs);
   if (fake_super && metadata) {
     /* Record the ownership that WOULD have been applied: when an explicit
@@ -1197,7 +1198,8 @@ static void restore_extra_fd(int fd, const FileMetadata* metadata, const FileXat
     uint32_t store_gid;
     identity_resolve_storage_ids((int32_t)metadata->uid, (int32_t)metadata->gid, &store_uid,
                                  &store_gid);
-    fake_super_store_fd(fd, store_uid, store_gid, (uint32_t)metadata->mode, 0, 0);
+    fake_super_store_fd(fd, store_uid, store_gid, (uint32_t)metadata->mode, fake_super_rdev_major,
+                        fake_super_rdev_minor);
     fake_super_restore_fd(fd, policy);
   }
 }
@@ -1207,7 +1209,8 @@ file_to_disk_secure_impl(const char* path, const void* data, unsigned long long
                          bool inplace, bool sparse, bool preallocate, const FileMetadata* metadata,
                          FileAttrPolicy policy, bool update, bool no_replace, bool use_fsync,
                          const char* temp_dir, const FileXattrList* xattrs, bool fake_super,
-                         bool keep_partial, unsigned* dirs_created, const char* count_floor) {
+                         bool keep_partial, unsigned* dirs_created, const char* count_floor,
+                         uint32_t fake_super_rdev_major, uint32_t fake_super_rdev_minor) {
   char* leaf = NULL;
   int dirfd = file_open_secure_parent_counted(path, &leaf, true, dirs_created, count_floor);
   if (dirfd < 0)
@@ -1314,7 +1317,8 @@ file_to_disk_secure_impl(const char* path, const void* data, unsigned long long
             }
           }
           if (ok)
-            restore_extra_fd(fd, metadata, xattrs, fake_super, policy);
+            restore_extra_fd(fd, metadata, xattrs, fake_super, policy, fake_super_rdev_major,
+                             fake_super_rdev_minor);
           if (ok && use_fsync)
             ok = fsync(fd) == 0;
         }
@@ -1432,7 +1436,8 @@ file_to_disk_secure_impl(const char* path, const void* data, unsigned long long
           }
         }
         if (ok)
-          restore_extra_fd(fd, metadata, xattrs, fake_super, policy);
+          restore_extra_fd(fd, metadata, xattrs, fake_super, policy, fake_super_rdev_major,
+                           fake_super_rdev_minor);
         if (ok && use_fsync)
           ok = fsync(fd) == 0;
       }
@@ -1500,7 +1505,8 @@ file_to_disk_secure_impl(const char* path, const void* data, unsigned long long
                 "non-atomic copy into the destination directory");
     return file_to_disk_secure_impl(path, data, data_size, inplace, sparse, preallocate, metadata,
                                     policy, update, no_replace, use_fsync, NULL, xattrs, fake_super,
-                                    keep_partial, dirs_created, count_floor);
+                                    keep_partial, dirs_created, count_floor, fake_super_rdev_major,
+                                    fake_super_rdev_minor);
   }
   return ok;
 }
@@ -1510,7 +1516,7 @@ bool file_to_disk_secure(const char* path, const void* data, unsigned long long
                          FileAttrPolicy policy, const char* temp_dir) {
   return file_to_disk_secure_impl(path, data, data_size, inplace, sparse, preallocate, metadata,
                                   policy, false, false, false, temp_dir, NULL, false, false, NULL,
-                                  NULL);
+                                  NULL, 0, 0);
 }
 
 bool file_to_disk_secure_update(const char* path, const void* data, unsigned long long data_size,
@@ -1519,7 +1525,7 @@ bool file_to_disk_secure_update(const char* path, const void* data, unsigned lon
                                 const char* temp_dir) {
   return file_to_disk_secure_impl(path, data, data_size, inplace, sparse, preallocate, metadata,
                                   policy, true, false, false, temp_dir, NULL, false, false, NULL,
-                                  NULL);
+                                  NULL, 0, 0);
 }
 
 bool file_to_disk_secure_with_fsync(const char* path, const void* data,
@@ -1528,7 +1534,7 @@ bool file_to_disk_secure_with_fsync(const char* path, const void* data,
                                     FileAttrPolicy policy, bool use_fsync, const char* temp_dir) {
   return file_to_disk_secure_impl(path, data, data_size, inplace, sparse, preallocate, metadata,
                                   policy, false, false, use_fsync, temp_dir, NULL, false, false,
-                                  NULL, NULL);
+                                  NULL, NULL, 0, 0);
 }
 
 bool file_to_disk_secure_no_replace(const char* path, const void* data,
@@ -1537,7 +1543,7 @@ bool file_to_disk_secure_no_replace(const char* path, const void* data,
                                     const char* temp_dir) {
   return file_to_disk_secure_impl(path, data, data_size, false, sparse, preallocate, metadata,
                                   policy, false, true, false, temp_dir, NULL, false, false, NULL,
-                                  NULL);
+                                  NULL, 0, 0);
 }
 
 /* Receiver write-path variant that also applies the per-file xattrs (-X/-A)
@@ -1552,19 +1558,19 @@ bool file_to_disk_secure_attrs(const char* path, const void* data, unsigned long
                                bool fake_super, bool keep_partial, const char* temp_dir) {
   return file_to_disk_secure_attrs_counted(path, data, data_size, inplace, sparse, preallocate,
                                            metadata, policy, update, no_replace, use_fsync, xattrs,
-                                           fake_super, keep_partial, temp_dir, NULL, NULL);
+                                           fake_super, keep_partial, temp_dir, NULL, NULL, 0, 0);
 }
 
-bool file_to_disk_secure_attrs_counted(const char* path, const void* data,
+bool file_to_disk_secure_attrs_counted(
-                                       unsigned long long data_size, bool inplace, bool sparse,
+    const char* path, const void* data, unsigned long long data_size, bool inplace, bool sparse,
-                                       bool preallocate, const FileMetadata* metadata,
+    bool preallocate, const FileMetadata* metadata, FileAttrPolicy policy, bool update,
-                                       FileAttrPolicy policy, bool update, bool no_replace,
+    bool no_replace, bool use_fsync, const FileXattrList* xattrs, bool fake_super,
-                                       bool use_fsync, const FileXattrList* xattrs, bool fake_super,
+    bool keep_partial, const char* temp_dir, unsigned* dirs_created, const char* count_floor,
-                                       bool keep_partial, const char* temp_dir,
+    uint32_t fake_super_rdev_major, uint32_t fake_super_rdev_minor) {
-                                       unsigned* dirs_created, const char* count_floor) {
   return file_to_disk_secure_impl(path, data, data_size, inplace, sparse, preallocate, metadata,
                                   policy, update, no_replace, use_fsync, temp_dir, xattrs,
-                                  fake_super, keep_partial, dirs_created, count_floor);
+                                  fake_super, keep_partial, dirs_created, count_floor,
+                                  fake_super_rdev_major, fake_super_rdev_minor);
 }
 
 /* Atomic --link-dest install.  The destination is replaced (via a temporary
@@ -1694,7 +1700,7 @@ static bool file_copy_basis_stream_impl(const char* path, const char* basis_path
         wrote = false;
       }
       if (wrote)
-        restore_extra_fd(fd, metadata, xattrs, fake_super, policy);
+        restore_extra_fd(fd, metadata, xattrs, fake_super, policy, 0, 0);
       if (wrote && use_fsync)
         wrote = fsync(fd) == 0;
       if (close(fd) != 0)
@@ -1843,7 +1849,7 @@ static bool file_to_disk_secure_link_impl(const char* path, const char* basis_pa
       return true;
     return file_to_disk_secure_attrs_counted(
         path, data, data_size, false, false, preallocate, metadata, policy, false, false, use_fsync,
-        xattrs, fake_super, false, temp_dir, dirs_created, count_floor);
+        xattrs, fake_super, false, temp_dir, dirs_created, count_floor, 0, 0);
   }
 
   if (scratch_dirfd >= 0)

src/shared/file.h

@@ -182,13 +182,12 @@ bool file_copy_basis_stream_attrs(const char* path, const char* basis_path,
  * confined secure walk had to create that lie strictly below `count_floor` (a
  * receive-root-relative prefix, or NULL for all).  Used to reproduce rsync's
  * `Number of created files` directory count on a fresh destination. */
-bool file_to_disk_secure_attrs_counted(const char* path, const void* data,
+bool file_to_disk_secure_attrs_counted(
-                                       unsigned long long data_size, bool inplace, bool sparse,
+    const char* path, const void* data, unsigned long long data_size, bool inplace, bool sparse,
-                                       bool preallocate, const FileMetadata* metadata,
+    bool preallocate, const FileMetadata* metadata, FileAttrPolicy policy, bool update,
-                                       FileAttrPolicy policy, bool update, bool no_replace,
+    bool no_replace, bool use_fsync, const FileXattrList* xattrs, bool fake_super,
-                                       bool use_fsync, const FileXattrList* xattrs, bool fake_super,
+    bool keep_partial, const char* temp_dir, unsigned* dirs_created, const char* count_floor,
-                                       bool keep_partial, const char* temp_dir,
+    uint32_t fake_super_rdev_major, uint32_t fake_super_rdev_minor);
-                                       unsigned* dirs_created, const char* count_floor);
 bool file_to_disk_secure_link_attrs_counted(const char* path, const char* basis_path,
                                             const void* data, unsigned long long data_size,
                                             bool preallocate, const FileMetadata* metadata,

src/shared/file_save.c

@@ -401,12 +401,13 @@ bool file_special_rdev_valid(int32_t major, int32_t minor, mode_t mode) {
  *
  * Privilege gating: making a real device node requires CAP_MKNOD (root); making
  * a FIFO works unprivileged (mkfifo).  A device node whose mknodat() fails with
- * EPERM/EACCES is a genuine transfer error (rsync parity: rsync reports the
+ * EPERM/EACCES is a PER-ENTRY failure (rsync parity: rsync reports the mknod
- * mknod failure and the run exits partial, code 23).  Only the unprivileged
+ * failure, still transfers the rest, and exits partial, code 23), reported as
- * FIFO/socket (--specials) path keeps the best-effort skip, because those are
+ * FILE_SAVE_FAILED so the receiver counts it and continues.  Only the
- * normally creatable without privilege and a failure there is environmental.
+ * unprivileged FIFO/socket (--specials) path keeps the best-effort skip,
- * CI runs non-root, so device creation is expected to fail there; only a FIFO
+ * because those are normally creatable without privilege and a failure there is
- * is honestly assertable unprivileged.
+ * environmental.  CI runs non-root, so device creation is expected to fail
+ * there; only a FIFO is honestly assertable unprivileged.
  *
  * Confinement: the parent directory is opened fd-relative below the receive
  * root (file_open_secure_parent: O_NOFOLLOW, no "..", root-checked) and the
@@ -548,10 +549,10 @@ static FileSaveResult file_save_special_to_disk(const char* root_directory, cons
       const char* shown_path = escaped_path ? escaped_path : "<allocation failed>";
       if (is_char || is_blk) {
         /* rsync parity: a device node that cannot be created (no CAP_MKNOD, or
-         * super-user activities not permitted) is a genuine transfer error.
+         * super-user activities not permitted) is a per-entry failure.  rsync
-         * rsync reports `mknod ".../node" failed: ...` and the run exits
+         * logs `mknod ".../node" failed: ...`, still transfers the remaining
-         * partial (23); FastSync surfaces it through the outcome aggregation
+         * files, and exits partial (23); FastSync logs it, counts it, and
-         * instead of silently skipping the entry.  FIFO/socket creation
+         * continues rather than aborting the stream.  FIFO/socket creation
          * (--specials) keeps the best-effort skip path below. */
         log_message(LOG_LEVEL_ERROR,
                     "cannot create %s %s: %s\n"
@@ -561,7 +562,7 @@ static FileSaveResult file_save_special_to_disk(const char* root_directory, cons
         close(parent_fd);
         free(leaf);
         free(destination);
-        return FILE_SAVE_ERROR;
+        return FILE_SAVE_FAILED;
       }
       /* Missing CAP_MKNOD / parent write permission for a FIFO/socket: the
          environment cannot create the node, so skip instead of failing the
@@ -936,6 +937,14 @@ static bool file_save_try_special_dispatch(const FileSavePlan* plan, bool* creat
   /* Device/special node (--devices/--specials): recreate the node instead of
      writing content (privilege-gated, confined, rdev-validated). */
   if (file->is_special) {
+    /* Under --fake-super rsync never mknod()s a device: it writes a regular
+       empty file and records the real rdev in user.rsync.%stat.  Fall through to
+       the ordinary writer so the device round-trips (its S_IFMT mode bits and
+       rdev are parked in the record).  Without --fake-super the node is
+       recreated (or, when privilege is refused, handled per-entry). */
+    mode_t special_mode = file->metadata ? file->metadata->mode : 0;
+    if (config && config->fake_super && (S_ISCHR(special_mode) || S_ISBLK(special_mode)))
+      return false;
     *out = file_save_special_to_disk(plan->root_directory, file, config, created);
     return true;
   }
@@ -1110,7 +1119,7 @@ static bool file_save_install_data(FileSavePlan* plan, const FileMetadata* metad
         config && config->preallocate, metadata, plan->policy, config && config->update,
         config && config->ignore_existing, config && config->use_fsync, file->xattrs,
         config ? config->fake_super : false, config ? config->partial : false, plan->confined_temp,
-        created_dirs, count_floor);
+        created_dirs, count_floor, (uint32_t)file->rdev_major, (uint32_t)file->rdev_minor);
   }
   free(count_floor);
   return ok;

src/shared/file_save.h

@@ -12,8 +12,16 @@
 
 /* Outcome of a single file_save_to_disk operation.  The receiver needs to
    distinguish "written" from "skipped" so --remove-source-files can be told
-   which sources were actually stored. */
+   which sources were actually stored.  FILE_SAVE_FAILED is a per-entry failure
-typedef enum { FILE_SAVE_ERROR = 0, FILE_SAVE_WRITTEN = 1, FILE_SAVE_SKIPPED = 2 } FileSaveResult;
+   (for example a device node that mknodat() refused with EPERM/EACCES): it is
+   logged and counted by the receiver but does NOT abort the transfer, matching
+   rsync's continue-and-exit-partial behavior. */
+typedef enum {
+  FILE_SAVE_ERROR = 0,
+  FILE_SAVE_WRITTEN = 1,
+  FILE_SAVE_SKIPPED = 2,
+  FILE_SAVE_FAILED = 3
+} FileSaveResult;
 
 bool file_special_rdev_valid(int32_t major, int32_t minor, mode_t mode);
 

src/shared/xattr.c

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "utils.h"
 #include "file_types.h"
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -386,6 +387,56 @@ void fake_super_store_fd(int fd, uint32_t uid, uint32_t gid, uint32_t mode, uint
   }
 }
 
+/* Parse rsync's `user.rsync.%stat` grammar strictly:
+ *   "<octal st_mode> <rdev_major>,<rdev_minor> <uid>:<gid>"
+ * Every field is parsed with strtoul() so an out-of-range value is a clean
+ * rejection rather than the undefined behavior sscanf("%u") exhibited, each
+ * field is range-checked against the same bounds the wire validator uses, and
+ * the whole record must be consumed (only trailing whitespace is tolerated) so
+ * trailing garbage is refused.  Returns false on any malformed input. */
+static bool fake_super_parse_stat(const char* record, unsigned* mode_out, unsigned* rdev_major_out,
+                                  unsigned* rdev_minor_out, unsigned* uid_out, unsigned* gid_out) {
+  if (!record)
+    return false;
+  char* end = NULL;
+  const char* p = record;
+  errno = 0;
+  unsigned long mode = strtoul(p, &end, 8);
+  if (errno != 0 || end == p || mode > (unsigned long)UINT_MAX || *end != ' ')
+    return false;
+  p = end + 1;
+  errno = 0;
+  unsigned long rdev_major = strtoul(p, &end, 10);
+  if (errno != 0 || end == p || rdev_major > 0xffffUL || *end != ',')
+    return false;
+  p = end + 1;
+  errno = 0;
+  unsigned long rdev_minor = strtoul(p, &end, 10);
+  if (errno != 0 || end == p || rdev_minor > 0x00ffffffUL || *end != ' ')
+    return false;
+  p = end + 1;
+  errno = 0;
+  unsigned long uid = strtoul(p, &end, 10);
+  if (errno != 0 || end == p || uid > (unsigned long)UINT_MAX || *end != ':')
+    return false;
+  p = end + 1;
+  errno = 0;
+  unsigned long gid = strtoul(p, &end, 10);
+  if (errno != 0 || end == p || gid > (unsigned long)UINT_MAX)
+    return false;
+  p = end;
+  while (*p == ' ' || *p == '\t' || *p == '\n' || *p == '\r')
+    p++;
+  if (*p != '\0')
+    return false;
+  *mode_out = (unsigned)mode;
+  *rdev_major_out = (unsigned)rdev_major;
+  *rdev_minor_out = (unsigned)rdev_minor;
+  *uid_out = (unsigned)uid;
+  *gid_out = (unsigned)gid;
+  return true;
+}
+
 /* --fake-super replay: read the freshly-stored record and re-apply its
  * permission bits fd-relative.  The recorded uid/gid are retained for a later
  * privileged restore but are NEVER chowned here: --fake-super only RECORDS
@@ -403,7 +454,7 @@ bool fake_super_restore_fd(int fd, FileAttrPolicy policy) {
     return false; /* absent or filesystem without xattrs: silent no-op */
   record[len] = '\0';
   unsigned ul_mode, rdev_major, rdev_minor, ul_uid, ul_gid;
-  if (sscanf(record, "%o %u,%u %u:%u", &ul_mode, &rdev_major, &rdev_minor, &ul_uid, &ul_gid) != 5)
+  if (!fake_super_parse_stat(record, &ul_mode, &rdev_major, &rdev_minor, &ul_uid, &ul_gid))
     return false; /* malformed record: skip, never fatal */
 
   /* --fake-super NEVER performs a real chown: that would defeat the whole point

tests/integration/test_temp_dir_absolute.py

@@ -64,6 +64,13 @@ def test_read_batch_absolute_temp_dir_inside_root_accepted(tmp_path):
     clean_dir(dest)
     scratch = os.path.join(dest, "scratch")
     os.makedirs(scratch)
+    # Stamp the scratch dir with an old mtime so the test can prove the receiver
+    # really created (and then removed) its temp file there: the directory mtime
+    # changes when an entry is created/removed, so a silently-ignored --temp-dir
+    # would leave the stamp untouched.  An empty scratch dir alone does not
+    # distinguish "used and cleaned up" from "never used".
+    stale_mtime = 946684800  # 2000-01-01
+    os.utime(scratch, (stale_mtime, stale_mtime))
 
     batch = _make_batch(str(tmp_path), source)
     result = _run(["--read-batch", batch, dest, "--temp-dir", scratch])
@@ -73,6 +80,9 @@ def test_read_batch_absolute_temp_dir_inside_root_accepted(tmp_path):
     for rel, data in FILES.items():
         assert _read(os.path.join(received, rel)) == data, f"content mismatch for {rel}"
     assert os.listdir(scratch) == [], "scratch dir was not left clean"
+    assert os.stat(scratch).st_mtime != stale_mtime, (
+        "--temp-dir scratch dir was never written to (temp file not created there)"
+    )
 
 
 @pytest.mark.ci
@@ -98,6 +108,11 @@ def test_tcp_absolute_temp_dir_inside_root_accepted(shared_server):
     clean_dir(dest)
     scratch = os.path.join(dest, "scratch")
     os.makedirs(scratch)
+    # See test_read_batch_absolute_temp_dir_inside_root_accepted: the stale
+    # mtime makes actual scratch usage observable (the temp file creation and
+    # removal bump the directory mtime).
+    stale_mtime = 946684800  # 2000-01-01
+    os.utime(scratch, (stale_mtime, stale_mtime))
 
     result, _ = run_client(source, dest, flags=["--temp-dir", scratch], port=shared_server.port)
     assert result.returncode == 0, (result.stdout, result.stderr)[:300]
@@ -105,6 +120,9 @@ def test_tcp_absolute_temp_dir_inside_root_accepted(shared_server):
     for rel, data in FILES.items():
         assert _read(os.path.join(received, rel)) == data, f"content mismatch for {rel}"
     assert os.listdir(scratch) == [], "scratch dir was not left clean"
+    assert os.stat(scratch).st_mtime != stale_mtime, (
+        "--temp-dir scratch dir was never written to (temp file not created there)"
+    )
 
 
 def test_tcp_absolute_temp_dir_outside_root_rejected(shared_server):

tests/test_file.c

@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
 #include "charset.h"
 #include "utils.h"
 #include "protocol.h"
+#include "xattr.h"
 #include "test_utils.h"
+#include <errno.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <limits.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -17,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <sys/sysmacros.h>
 #include <sys/wait.h>
+#include <sys/xattr.h>
 #include <time.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
@@ -348,7 +351,8 @@ static void test_file_save_to_disk_temp_dir_confined() {
   mkdir(root, 0755);
   mkdir("test_temp_confine_tmp/scratch", 0755);
   mkdir("test_temp_confine_tmp/abs_scratch", 0755);
-  EXPECT_NOT_NULL(realpath("test_temp_confine_tmp/abs_scratch", inside_abs));
+  if (!realpath("test_temp_confine_tmp/abs_scratch", inside_abs))
+    EXPECT_FAIL("realpath(abs_scratch) failed; inside_abs would be uninitialized");
   mkdir(outside, 0755);
 
   File* f = file_create("file.txt");
@@ -1327,6 +1331,103 @@ static void test_special_socket_recreated() {
   rmdir(root);
 }
 
+/* --fake-super device round-trip (rsync parity): a char/block device must be
+ * materialized as a REGULAR empty file whose user.rsync.%stat records the real
+ * rdev -- never as an mknod'ed node -- even on a privileged receiver.  This is
+ * the non-privileged unit counterpart to the setpriv integration test (which
+ * the PR gate excludes). */
+static void test_fake_super_device_writes_regular_file_with_rdev() {
+  const char* root = "test_fake_super_dev_tmp";
+  const char* node = "test_fake_super_dev_tmp/cdev";
+  unlink(node);
+  rmdir(root);
+  EXPECT_EQ_INT(mkdir(root, 0700), 0);
+
+  Config* cfg = config_create();
+  EXPECT_NOT_NULL(cfg);
+  cfg->fake_super = true;
+  cfg->preserve_devices = true;
+  cfg->preserve_perms = true;
+  cfg->use_metadata = true;
+  cfg->use_xattrs = true;
+
+  FileMetadata meta;
+  memset(&meta, 0, sizeof(meta));
+  meta.mode = S_IFCHR | 0644;
+
+  File* f = file_create("cdev");
+  EXPECT_NOT_NULL(f);
+  f->is_special = true;
+  f->rdev_major = 1;
+  f->rdev_minor = 3;
+  f->metadata = &meta;
+
+  EXPECT_EQ_INT(file_save_to_disk_full(root, f, cfg), FILE_SAVE_WRITTEN);
+
+  struct stat st;
+  EXPECT_EQ_INT(lstat(node, &st), 0);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(S_ISREG(st.st_mode)); /* never a real device node */
+  EXPECT_EQ_INT((int)st.st_size, 0);
+
+  char value[128] = {0};
+  ssize_t got = getxattr(node, FAKESUPER_XATTR, value, sizeof(value) - 1);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(got > 0);
+  EXPECT_EQ_STR(value, "20644 1,3 0:0"); /* the REAL rdev, not 0,0 */
+
+  f->metadata = NULL;
+  file_destroy(f);
+  config_delete(cfg);
+  unlink(node);
+  rmdir(root);
+}
+
+/* A char/block device that mknodat() refuses (EPERM/EACCES on an unprivileged
+ * receiver) must be a PER-ENTRY failure -- FILE_SAVE_FAILED, which the receiver
+ * counts and continues past -- never the fatal FILE_SAVE_ERROR that aborts the
+ * stream.  The unit suite normally runs as root, so drop the effective uid to
+ * make the kernel refusal deterministic. */
+static void test_device_mknod_failure_is_per_entry() {
+  const char* root = "test_device_eperm_tmp";
+  const char* node = "test_device_eperm_tmp/cdev";
+  unlink(node);
+  rmdir(root);
+  EXPECT_EQ_INT(mkdir(root, 0777), 0);
+
+  Config* cfg = config_create();
+  EXPECT_NOT_NULL(cfg);
+  cfg->preserve_devices = true;
+  cfg->use_metadata = true;
+
+  FileMetadata meta;
+  memset(&meta, 0, sizeof(meta));
+  meta.mode = S_IFCHR | 0644;
+
+  File* f = file_create("cdev");
+  EXPECT_NOT_NULL(f);
+  f->is_special = true;
+  f->rdev_major = 1;
+  f->rdev_minor = 3;
+  f->metadata = &meta;
+
+  uid_t saved = geteuid();
+  bool dropped = false;
+  if (saved == 0 && seteuid(65534) == 0)
+    dropped = true;
+  FileSaveResult result = file_save_to_disk_full(root, f, cfg);
+  if (dropped)
+    EXPECT_EQ_INT(seteuid(saved), 0);
+
+  EXPECT_EQ_INT(result, FILE_SAVE_FAILED);
+  /* Nothing was created: no device node and no regular-file fallback. */
+  struct stat st;
+  EXPECT_EQ_INT(lstat(node, &st), -1);
+
+  f->metadata = NULL;
+  file_destroy(f);
+  config_delete(cfg);
+  rmdir(root);
+}
+
 static void test_inplace_overwrite_truncates_shorter_payload() {
   const char* root = "test_inplace_trunc_tmp";
   const char* path = "test_inplace_trunc_tmp/big.txt";
@@ -2408,6 +2509,8 @@ void test_file() {
   test_new_file_mode_honors_source_and_umask();
   test_special_fifo_mode_honors_source_and_umask();
   test_special_socket_recreated();
+  test_fake_super_device_writes_regular_file_with_rdev();
+  test_device_mknod_failure_is_per_entry();
   test_inplace_overwrite_truncates_shorter_payload();
   test_inplace_refuses_fifo_destination();
   test_inplace_refuses_device_destination();

tests/test_xattr.c

@@ -450,6 +450,24 @@ static void test_fake_super_rsync_format() {
   EXPECT_EQ_INT((int)st.st_uid, (int)before.st_uid);
   EXPECT_EQ_INT((int)st.st_gid, (int)before.st_gid);
 
+  /* Hardened parser: an out-of-range field (previously UB via sscanf("%u")),
+     a missing field, or trailing garbage is rejected cleanly instead of being
+     silently accepted. */
+  const char* malformed[] = {
+      "20644 65536,3 111:222",        /* major > 0xffff */
+      "20644 1,16777216 111:222",     /* minor > 0xffffff */
+      "20644 1,3 111:222 trailing",   /* trailing garbage */
+      "20644 1,3 111",                /* missing gid */
+      "20644 1,3 4294967296:222",     /* uid > UINT_MAX */
+      "20644 1,3 111:4294967296",     /* gid > UINT_MAX */
+      "99999999999999999999 1,3 0:0", /* mode overflow */
+      "",                             /* empty record */
+  };
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < sizeof(malformed) / sizeof(malformed[0]); i++) {
+    EXPECT_EQ_INT((int)fsetxattr(fd, FAKESUPER_XATTR, malformed[i], strlen(malformed[i]), 0), 0);
+    EXPECT_FALSE(fake_super_restore_fd(fd, policy));
+  }
+
   close(fd);
   unlink(path);
 }