diff --git a/docs/backends/seatbelt/seatbelt-backend.md b/docs/backends/seatbelt/seatbelt-backend.md
index 75b1e0b3d..cf2552a15 100644
--- a/docs/backends/seatbelt/seatbelt-backend.md
+++ b/docs/backends/seatbelt/seatbelt-backend.md
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ even syntactically valid.
 |---|---|---|
 | `readonlyPaths` | `(allow file-read* (subpath …))` **plus** `(deny file-write* network-bind network-outbound (subpath …))` | Read the subtree — and explicitly *not* write it or use sockets in it |
 | `readwritePaths` | `(allow file-read* file-write* network-bind network-outbound (subpath …))` | Read, write, and use AF_UNIX sockets |
-| `deniedPaths` | `(deny file-read* file-write* network-bind network-outbound (subpath …))`, emitted **last** | Overrides every allow above it |
+| `deniedPaths` | `(deny file-read* file-read-metadata file-write* network-bind network-outbound (subpath …))`, emitted **last** | Overrides every allow above it |
 
 The paired deny on `readonlyPaths` is emitted for **every** read-only entry, not
 just nested ones. It matters most when a read-only path sits inside a broader
@@ -102,6 +102,12 @@ Seatbelt is **last-match-wins** among rules that carry a filter, so denies
 emitted after allows win. (An *unfiltered* rule doesn't participate — a blanket
 `(allow network-outbound)` can't override a path-scoped deny.)
 
+A rule naming an operation outright outranks one that only reaches it through a
+wildcard, which is why `deniedPaths` spells out `file-read-metadata` alongside
+`file-read*`: the baseline grants metadata reads unfiltered so path resolution
+works, and without the explicit mention a denied path would still answer
+`stat()` with its real size and timestamps.
+
 Rules are emitted shallow-to-deep, so the **deepest** matching rule wins at any
 given path. `deniedPaths` sits outside that ordering and always outranks.
 
@@ -157,6 +163,10 @@ and standard tools work:
 | Read **+ write** | `/dev/null`, `/dev/zero`, `/dev/random`, `/dev/urandom` |
 | Read-data only | `/` itself — the loader can't resolve path lookups without it |
 
+Every sandbox also gets an unfiltered `(allow file-read-metadata)`, because the
+kernel reads metadata on each ancestor directory while resolving a path.
+`deniedPaths` names that operation explicitly so it still outranks the grant.
+
 The `/dev/*` entries are writable because shell redirections (`>/dev/null`,
 `</dev/urandom`) need both directions. Writes to `/dev/null` and `/dev/zero` are
 discarded; writes to the entropy devices are harmless.
diff --git a/src/mxc-sdk/src/backends/seatbelt/common/profile_builder.rs b/src/mxc-sdk/src/backends/seatbelt/common/profile_builder.rs
index 34f128fce..eaf365f0b 100644
--- a/src/mxc-sdk/src/backends/seatbelt/common/profile_builder.rs
+++ b/src/mxc-sdk/src/backends/seatbelt/common/profile_builder.rs
@@ -92,6 +92,10 @@ pub fn build_profile_with_proxy(
 }
 
 /// Baseline allow rules required for any sandboxed process to start.
+///
+/// The unfiltered `(allow file-read-metadata)` is what path resolution needs —
+/// the kernel reads metadata on every ancestor directory. `deniedPaths` names
+/// `file-read-metadata` explicitly so it outranks this grant.
 const BASELINE_ALLOW: &str = "\
 ;; --- baseline (required for any process to start) ---
 (allow process-fork)
@@ -364,10 +368,16 @@ fn write_filesystem_deny(out: &mut String, paths: &ResolvedPaths) {
         // `connect()` to a UNIX socket inside a denied subtree and talk to
         // whatever listens there. A Docker / ssh-agent / gpg-agent socket is a
         // control plane, so that would be an escape.
+        //
+        // `file-read-metadata` is named explicitly even though `file-read*`
+        // nominally spans it: the baseline emits an unfiltered `(allow
+        // file-read-metadata)`, and a rule naming the operation outranks one
+        // that only reaches it through the wildcard. Without it a denied path
+        // still answers `stat()` with its real size and timestamps.
         out.push_str(";; --- policy.deniedPaths (override broader allow rules) ---\n");
         write_path_rule(
             out,
-            "deny file-read* file-write* network-bind network-outbound",
+            "deny file-read* file-read-metadata file-write* network-bind network-outbound",
             &paths.denied,
         );
     }
@@ -874,7 +884,9 @@ mod tests {
         r.policy.denied_paths = vec!["/tmp/secret".into()];
         let p = build_profile(&r).unwrap();
         let allow_idx = p.find("(allow file-read* file-write*").unwrap();
-        let deny_idx = p.find("(deny file-read* file-write*").unwrap();
+        let deny_idx = p
+            .find("(deny file-read* file-read-metadata file-write*")
+            .unwrap();
         assert!(
             deny_idx > allow_idx,
             "deny rules must come after allow rules so they win on last-match"
@@ -1385,7 +1397,8 @@ mod tests {
             .unwrap_or("")
     }
     const RW_RULE: &str = "(allow file-read* file-write* network-bind network-outbound\n";
-    const DENY_RULE: &str = "(deny file-read* file-write* network-bind network-outbound\n";
+    const DENY_RULE: &str =
+        "(deny file-read* file-read-metadata file-write* network-bind network-outbound\n";
 
     #[test]
     fn readwrite_paths_emit_unix_socket_ops() {
@@ -1454,6 +1467,23 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(p[deny_idx..].contains("(subpath \"/private/tmp/secret\")"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn denied_paths_name_metadata_reads_explicitly() {
+        // The baseline emits an unfiltered `(allow file-read-metadata)` for
+        // path resolution. A rule naming that operation outranks one that only
+        // reaches it through `file-read*`, so the deny has to name it too or a
+        // denied path still answers `stat()`.
+        let mut r = req();
+        r.policy.readwrite_paths = vec!["/tmp".into()];
+        r.policy.denied_paths = vec!["/tmp/secret".into()];
+        let p = build_profile(&r).unwrap();
+        assert!(p.contains("(allow file-read-metadata)"));
+        let deny_idx = p
+            .find(DENY_RULE)
+            .expect("deny must name file-read-metadata");
+        assert!(p[deny_idx..].contains("(subpath \"/private/tmp/secret\")"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn lexical_spellings_normalize_to_the_same_rule() {
         // Each of these accesses `/private/tmp/secret` at the kernel level, so