diff --git a/acls.c b/acls.c
index c9f339c5..b860515c 100644
--- a/acls.c
+++ b/acls.c
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ static int get_rsync_acl(int fd, int dirfd, const char *leaf, const char *fname,
 		size_t len;
 		int cnt;
 
-		if ((buf = get_xattr_acl(fname, type == SMB_ACL_TYPE_ACCESS, &len)) == NULL)
+		if ((buf = get_xattr_acl(fname, fd, type == SMB_ACL_TYPE_ACCESS, &len)) == NULL)
 			return 0;
 		cnt = (len - 4*4) / (4+4);
 		if (len < 4*4 || len != (size_t)cnt*(4+4) + 4*4) {
diff --git a/backup.c b/backup.c
index fde11cc9..12ede66f 100644
--- a/backup.c
+++ b/backup.c
@@ -35,6 +35,32 @@ extern char backup_dir_buf[MAXPATHLEN];
 extern char *backup_suffix;
 extern char *backup_dir;
 
+/* Pin a backup SOURCE leaf with a confined O_NOFOLLOW fd (via the operator
+ * owner-walk resolver, like set_file_attrs's op_leaf_fd) so the ACL/xattr the
+ * backup caches off it are read through the held fd -- a parent-symlink race
+ * can't redirect the read out of the module.  Returns -1 for a non-hardened
+ * receiver (caller path-reads) or for a raced/absent leaf on a hardened one
+ * (caller skips the cache rather than read through a flippable path; use
+ * backup_metadata_hardened() to tell the two -1 cases apart). */
+int backup_metadata_hardened(void)
+{
+	return secure_relpath_active() && !symlink_optout_allowed();
+}
+
+int backup_source_fd(const char *path)
+{
+#if defined AT_FDCWD && defined O_NOFOLLOW
+	if (backup_metadata_hardened() && path && *path) {
+		int save = operator_path_resolve, fd;
+		operator_path_resolve = 1;
+		fd = do_open_at(path, O_RDONLY | O_NONBLOCK | O_NOCTTY | O_CLOEXEC, 0);
+		operator_path_resolve = save;
+		return fd;
+	}
+#endif
+	return -1;
+}
+
 /* Returns -1 on error, 0 on missing dir, and 1 on present dir. */
 static int validate_backup_dir(void)
 {
@@ -121,18 +147,27 @@ static BOOL copy_valid_path(const char *fname)
 			struct file_struct *file;
 			if (!(file = make_file(rel, NULL, NULL, 0, NO_FILTERS)))
 				continue;
-#ifdef SUPPORT_ACLS
-			if (preserve_acls && !S_ISLNK(file->mode)) {
-				get_acl(rel, &sx);
-				cache_tmp_acl(file, &sx);
-				free_acl(&sx);
+#if defined SUPPORT_ACLS || defined SUPPORT_XATTRS
+			{	/* read the source dir's ACL/xattr through a confined fd */
+			int bfd = backup_source_fd(rel);
+			if (!backup_metadata_hardened() || bfd >= 0) {
+# ifdef SUPPORT_ACLS
+				if (preserve_acls && !S_ISLNK(file->mode)) {
+					get_acl_fdat(bfd, -1, NULL, rel, &sx);
+					cache_tmp_acl(file, &sx);
+					free_acl(&sx);
+				}
+# endif
+# ifdef SUPPORT_XATTRS
+				if (preserve_xattrs) {
+					get_xattr(rel, bfd, &sx);
+					cache_tmp_xattr(file, &sx);
+					free_xattr(&sx);
+				}
+# endif
 			}
-#endif
-#ifdef SUPPORT_XATTRS
-			if (preserve_xattrs) {
-				get_xattr(rel, &sx);
-				cache_tmp_xattr(file, &sx);
-				free_xattr(&sx);
+			if (bfd >= 0)
+				close(bfd);
 			}
 #endif
 			set_file_attrs(backup_dir_buf, file, NULL, NULL, 0);
@@ -260,18 +295,27 @@ static int make_backup_inner(const char *fname, BOOL prefer_rename)
 	if (!(file = make_file(fname, NULL, &sx.st, 0, NO_FILTERS)))
 		return 3; /* the file could have disappeared */
 
-#ifdef SUPPORT_ACLS
-	if (preserve_acls && !S_ISLNK(file->mode)) {
-		get_acl(fname, &sx);
-		cache_tmp_acl(file, &sx);
-		free_acl(&sx);
+#if defined SUPPORT_ACLS || defined SUPPORT_XATTRS
+	{	/* read the source file's ACL/xattr through a confined fd */
+	int bfd = backup_source_fd(fname);
+	if (!backup_metadata_hardened() || bfd >= 0) {
+# ifdef SUPPORT_ACLS
+		if (preserve_acls && !S_ISLNK(file->mode)) {
+			get_acl_fdat(bfd, -1, NULL, fname, &sx);
+			cache_tmp_acl(file, &sx);
+			free_acl(&sx);
+		}
+# endif
+# ifdef SUPPORT_XATTRS
+		if (preserve_xattrs) {
+			get_xattr(fname, bfd, &sx);
+			cache_tmp_xattr(file, &sx);
+			free_xattr(&sx);
+		}
+# endif
 	}
-#endif
-#ifdef SUPPORT_XATTRS
-	if (preserve_xattrs) {
-		get_xattr(fname, &sx);
-		cache_tmp_xattr(file, &sx);
-		free_xattr(&sx);
+	if (bfd >= 0)
+		close(bfd);
 	}
 #endif
 
diff --git a/flist.c b/flist.c
index 45521d85..46895de2 100644
--- a/flist.c
+++ b/flist.c
@@ -1821,7 +1821,7 @@ static struct file_struct *send_file_name(int f, struct file_list *flist,
 #ifdef SUPPORT_XATTRS
 		if (preserve_xattrs) {
 			sx.st.st_mode = file->mode;
-			if (get_xattr(fname, &sx) < 0) {
+			if (get_xattr(fname, -1, &sx) < 0) {
 				io_error |= IOERR_GENERAL;
 #ifdef SUPPORT_ACLS
 				free_acl(&sx); /* get_acl() above may have loaded one */
diff --git a/generator.c b/generator.c
index 358b1cfe..9fd4ba56 100644
--- a/generator.c
+++ b/generator.c
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ static inline int xattrs_differ(const char *fname, struct file_struct *file, sta
 {
 	if (preserve_xattrs) {
 		if (!XATTR_READY(*sxp))
-			get_xattr(fname, sxp);
+			get_xattr(fname, -1, sxp);
 		if (xattr_diff(file, sxp, 0))
 			return 1;
 	}
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ void itemize(const char *fnamecmp, struct file_struct *file, int ndx, int statre
 #ifdef SUPPORT_XATTRS
 		if (preserve_xattrs) {
 			if (!XATTR_READY(*sxp))
-				get_xattr(fnamecmp, sxp);
+				get_xattr(fnamecmp, -1, sxp);
 			if (xattr_diff(file, sxp, 1))
 				iflags |= ITEM_REPORT_XATTR;
 		}
@@ -1402,7 +1402,7 @@ static int gen_entry_chmod(const char *fname, struct file_struct *file, mode_t m
 static int gen_entry_copy_xattrs(const char *src, const char *fname, struct file_struct *file)
 {
 	int dfd = held_dfd_for(fname, file);
-	int xfd = -1, ret;
+	int xfd = -1, sfd = -1, ret;
 	if (dfd >= 0) {
 		const char *slash = strrchr(fname, '/');
 		xfd = openat(dfd, slash ? slash + 1 : fname,
@@ -1419,7 +1419,44 @@ static int gen_entry_copy_xattrs(const char *src, const char *fname, struct file
 			return -1;
 		}
 	}
-	ret = copy_xattrs(src, fname, xfd);
+	/* Pin the SOURCE (alt-dest basis) leaf too so the xattr READ can't be raced
+	 * out of tree (copy_file does the same for its content+xattr source).  A
+	 * relative basis goes through the RESOLVE_BENEATH resolver; an absolute one
+	 * through the operator ownership walk.  Refuse (don't path-read) when we are
+	 * meant to confine but can't pin; a non-hardened receiver path-reads (sfd<0). */
+#if defined AT_FDCWD && defined O_NOFOLLOW
+	if (secure_relpath_active() && src && *src && !symlink_optout_allowed()) {
+		int odir = 0;
+#ifdef O_DIRECTORY
+		if (S_ISDIR(file->mode))	/* secure_relative_open rejects a dir leaf without this */
+			odir = O_DIRECTORY;
+#endif
+		if (src[0] != '/')
+			sfd = secure_relative_open(NULL, src, O_RDONLY | O_NOFOLLOW | odir, 0);
+		else {
+			int save = operator_path_resolve, sdfd, e;
+			const char *leaf;
+			operator_path_resolve = 1;
+			sdfd = owner_walk_parent(src, &leaf);
+			operator_path_resolve = save;
+			if (sdfd >= 0) {
+				sfd = openat(sdfd, leaf, O_RDONLY | O_NOFOLLOW | odir | O_NONBLOCK | O_NOCTTY | O_CLOEXEC);
+				e = errno; close(sdfd); errno = e;
+			}
+		}
+		if (sfd < 0) {
+			rsyserr(FERROR_XFER, errno,
+				"gen_entry_copy_xattrs: secure open of basis %s failed",
+				full_fname(src));
+			if (xfd >= 0)
+				close(xfd);
+			return -1;
+		}
+	}
+#endif
+	ret = copy_xattrs(src, sfd, fname, xfd);
+	if (sfd >= 0)
+		close(sfd);
 	if (xfd >= 0)
 		close(xfd);
 	return ret;
@@ -2225,7 +2262,14 @@ static void recv_generator(char *fname, struct file_struct *file, int ndx,
 		 * copied the xattrs through its own held fd -- don't repeat it
 		 * with a path-based set a parent-symlink race could redirect. */
 		if (preserve_xattrs && f_copy >= 0) {
-			copy_xattrs(fname, backupptr, f_copy);
+			/* Read fname's xattrs through a confined fd so the copy onto the
+			 * held backup fd can't be fed an out-of-module source by a raced
+			 * parent symlink; a hardened race skips rather than path-reads. */
+			int bfd = backup_source_fd(fname);
+			if (!backup_metadata_hardened() || bfd >= 0)
+				copy_xattrs(fname, bfd, backupptr, f_copy);
+			if (bfd >= 0)
+				close(bfd);
 			preserve_xattrs = 0;
 		}
 #endif
diff --git a/hlink.c b/hlink.c
index dc95c42e..2e84b49f 100644
--- a/hlink.c
+++ b/hlink.c
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ int hard_link_check(struct file_struct *file, int ndx, char *fname,
 			if (preserve_xattrs) {
 				free_xattr(sxp);
 				if (!XATTR_READY(alt_sx))
-					get_xattr(cmpbuf, sxp);
+					get_xattr(cmpbuf, -1, sxp);
 				else {
 					sxp->xattr = alt_sx.xattr;
 					alt_sx.xattr = NULL;
diff --git a/t_stub.c b/t_stub.c
index 3744a1f5..9f0d734c 100644
--- a/t_stub.c
+++ b/t_stub.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ filter_rule_list daemon_filter_list;
 	return 0;
 }
 
- int copy_xattrs(UNUSED(const char *source), UNUSED(const char *dest), UNUSED(int dest_fd))
+ int copy_xattrs(UNUSED(const char *source), UNUSED(int source_fd), UNUSED(const char *dest), UNUSED(int dest_fd))
 {
 	return -1;
 }
diff --git a/util1.c b/util1.c
index 5659857f..230f7ded 100644
--- a/util1.c
+++ b/util1.c
@@ -483,11 +483,6 @@ int copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int tmpfilefd, mode_t mode)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (close(ifd) < 0) {
-		rsyserr(FWARNING, errno, "close failed on %s",
-			full_fname(source));
-	}
-
 	/* Source file might have shrunk since we fstatted it.
 	 * Cut off any extra preallocated zeros from dest file. */
 	if (offset < prealloc_len) {
@@ -505,17 +500,24 @@ int copy_file(const char *source, const char *dest, int tmpfilefd, mode_t mode)
 		int save_errno = errno;
 		rsyserr(FERROR, errno, "fsync failed on %s", full_fname(dest));
 		close(ofd);
+		close(ifd);	/* ifd is held open until after the xattr copy below */
 		errno = save_errno;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 #ifdef SUPPORT_XATTRS
-	/* Set xattrs through ofd while it's still held so a parent-symlink race
-	 * can't redirect them onto a file outside the tree. */
+	/* Read the source xattrs through the held source fd (ifd) and set them
+	 * through ofd while both are still held, so a parent-symlink race can't
+	 * redirect the read out of tree or the write onto a file outside it. */
 	if (preserve_xattrs)
-		copy_xattrs(source, dest, ofd);
+		copy_xattrs(source, ifd, dest, ofd);
 #endif
 
+	if (close(ifd) < 0) {
+		rsyserr(FWARNING, errno, "close failed on %s",
+			full_fname(source));
+	}
+
 	if (close(ofd) < 0) {
 		int save_errno = errno;
 		rsyserr(FERROR_XFER, errno, "close failed on %s", full_fname(dest));
diff --git a/xattrs.c b/xattrs.c
index c205189e..7ef63684 100644
--- a/xattrs.c
+++ b/xattrs.c
@@ -191,9 +191,13 @@ static ssize_t get_xattr_names(const char *fname, int fd)
 /* On entry, the *len_ptr parameter contains the size of the extra space we
  * should allocate when we create a buffer for the data.  On exit, it contains
  * the length of the datum. */
-static char *get_xattr_data(const char *fname, const char *name, size_t *len_ptr, int no_missing_error)
+/* Read xattr `name`'s value.  When fd >= 0 the read goes through that held fd
+ * (sys_fgetxattr) so a parent-symlink race can't redirect it; otherwise it falls
+ * back to the path (sys_lgetxattr), matching get_xattr_names(). */
+static char *get_xattr_data(const char *fname, int fd, const char *name, size_t *len_ptr, int no_missing_error)
 {
-	size_t datum_len = sys_lgetxattr(fname, name, NULL, 0);
+	size_t datum_len = fd >= 0 ? sys_fgetxattr(fd, name, NULL, 0)
+				   : sys_lgetxattr(fname, name, NULL, 0);
 	size_t extra_len = *len_ptr;
 	char *ptr;
 
@@ -215,7 +219,8 @@ static char *get_xattr_data(const char *fname, const char *name, size_t *len_ptr
 	ptr = new_array(char, datum_len + extra_len);
 
 	if (datum_len) {
-		size_t len = sys_lgetxattr(fname, name, ptr, datum_len);
+		size_t len = fd >= 0 ? sys_fgetxattr(fd, name, ptr, datum_len)
+				     : sys_lgetxattr(fname, name, ptr, datum_len);
 		if (len != datum_len) {
 			if (len == (size_t)-1) {
 				rsyserr(FERROR_XFER, errno,
@@ -235,7 +240,7 @@ static char *get_xattr_data(const char *fname, const char *name, size_t *len_ptr
 	return ptr;
 }
 
-static int rsync_xal_get(const char *fname, item_list *xalp)
+static int rsync_xal_get(const char *fname, int fd, item_list *xalp)
 {
 	ssize_t list_len, name_len;
 	size_t datum_len, name_offset;
@@ -247,7 +252,7 @@ static int rsync_xal_get(const char *fname, item_list *xalp)
 	int count;
 
 	/* This puts the name list into the "namebuf" buffer. */
-	if ((list_len = get_xattr_names(fname, -1)) < 0)
+	if ((list_len = get_xattr_names(fname, fd)) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
 	for (name = namebuf; list_len > 0; name += name_len) {
@@ -275,7 +280,7 @@ static int rsync_xal_get(const char *fname, item_list *xalp)
 		}
 
 		datum_len = name_len; /* Pass extra size to get_xattr_data() */
-		if (!(ptr = get_xattr_data(fname, name, &datum_len, 0)))
+		if (!(ptr = get_xattr_data(fname, fd, name, &datum_len, 0)))
 			return -1;
 
 		if (datum_len > MAX_FULL_DATUM) {
@@ -308,7 +313,9 @@ static int rsync_xal_get(const char *fname, item_list *xalp)
 }
 
 /* Read the xattr(s) for this filename. */
-int get_xattr(const char *fname, stat_x *sxp)
+/* Collect fname's xattrs into sxp.  fd >= 0 reads them through that held fd
+ * (race-safe); fd < 0 uses the path. */
+int get_xattr(const char *fname, int fd, stat_x *sxp)
 {
 	sxp->xattr = new(item_list);
 	*sxp->xattr = empty_xattr;
@@ -333,18 +340,18 @@ int get_xattr(const char *fname, stat_x *sxp)
 	} else if (IS_MISSING_FILE(sxp->st))
 		return 0;
 
-	if (rsync_xal_get(fname, sxp->xattr) < 0) {
+	if (rsync_xal_get(fname, fd, sxp->xattr) < 0) {
 		free_xattr(sxp);
 		return -1;
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/* Copy xattrs from source to dest.  When dest_fd >= 0 it is a held,
- * O_NOFOLLOW-opened fd for dest and the set goes through fsetxattr so a
- * parent-symlink race can't redirect it; dest_fd < 0 keeps the path-based
- * lsetxattr behaviour (non-hardened receivers, or no held fd available). */
-int copy_xattrs(const char *source, const char *dest, int dest_fd)
+/* Copy xattrs from source to dest.  source_fd/dest_fd, when >= 0, are held
+ * O_NOFOLLOW-opened fds so the source read (fgetxattr) and the dest set
+ * (fsetxattr) can't be redirected by a parent-symlink race; a < 0 fd keeps the
+ * path-based l-variant (non-hardened receivers, or no held fd available). */
+int copy_xattrs(const char *source, int source_fd, const char *dest, int dest_fd)
 {
 	ssize_t list_len, name_len;
 	size_t datum_len;
@@ -354,7 +361,7 @@ int copy_xattrs(const char *source, const char *dest, int dest_fd)
 #endif
 
 	/* This puts the name list into the "namebuf" buffer. */
-	if ((list_len = get_xattr_names(source, -1)) < 0)
+	if ((list_len = get_xattr_names(source, source_fd)) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
 	for (name = namebuf; list_len > 0; name += name_len) {
@@ -372,7 +379,7 @@ int copy_xattrs(const char *source, const char *dest, int dest_fd)
 #endif
 
 		datum_len = 0;
-		if (!(ptr = get_xattr_data(source, name, &datum_len, 0)))
+		if (!(ptr = get_xattr_data(source, source_fd, name, &datum_len, 0)))
 			return -1;
 		if ((dest_fd >= 0 ? sys_fsetxattr(dest_fd, name, ptr, datum_len)
 				  : sys_lsetxattr(dest, name, ptr, datum_len)) < 0) {
@@ -671,7 +678,7 @@ void send_xattr_request(const char *fname, struct file_struct *file, int f_out)
 			char *ptr;
 
 			/* Re-read the long datum. */
-			if (!(ptr = get_xattr_data(fname, rxa->name, &len, 0))) {
+			if (!(ptr = get_xattr_data(fname, -1, rxa->name, &len, 0))) {
 				rprintf(FERROR_XFER, "failed to re-read xattr %s for %s\n", rxa->name, fname);
 				write_varint(f_out, 0);
 				continue;
@@ -999,7 +1006,7 @@ static int rsync_xal_set(const char *fname, item_list *xalp,
 		if (XATTR_ABBREV(rxas[i])) {
 			/* See if the fnamecmp version is identical. */
 			len = name_len = rxas[i].name_len;
-			if ((ptr = get_xattr_data(fnamecmp, name, &len, 1)) == NULL) {
+			if ((ptr = get_xattr_data(fnamecmp, -1, name, &len, 1)) == NULL) {
 			  still_abbrev:
 				if (am_generator)
 					continue;
@@ -1168,11 +1175,11 @@ int set_xattr(const char *fname, const struct file_struct *file, const char *fna
 }
 
 #ifdef SUPPORT_ACLS
-char *get_xattr_acl(const char *fname, int is_access_acl, size_t *len_p)
+char *get_xattr_acl(const char *fname, int fd, int is_access_acl, size_t *len_p)
 {
 	const char *name = is_access_acl ? XACC_ACL_ATTR : XDEF_ACL_ATTR;
 	*len_p = 0; /* no extra data alloc needed from get_xattr_data() */
-	return get_xattr_data(fname, name, len_p, 1);
+	return get_xattr_data(fname, fd, name, len_p, 1);
 }
 
 /* Store/delete a --fake-super ACL-as-xattr.  When fd >= 0 (a held O_NOFOLLOW fd