diff --git a/config/hooks/live/zzzz_ciss_crypt_squash.hook.binary b/config/hooks/live/zzzz_ciss_crypt_squash.hook.binary
index b536502..110bf81 100644
--- a/config/hooks/live/zzzz_ciss_crypt_squash.hook.binary
+++ b/config/hooks/live/zzzz_ciss_crypt_squash.hook.binary
@@ -65,6 +65,59 @@ preallocate() {
 # shellcheck disable=SC2034
 readonly -f preallocate
 
+#######################################
+# Validate that the rootfs attestation artifacts exist in the final ISO payload tree.
+# Globals:
+#   None
+# Arguments:
+#   1: Rootfs attestation manifest path
+# Returns:
+#   0: on success
+#   42: on failure
+#######################################
+require_rootfs_attestation_artifacts() {
+  declare manifest="${1}"
+  declare signature="${manifest}.sig"
+  declare artifact=""
+
+  for artifact in "${manifest}" "${signature}"; do
+
+    if [[ ! -e "${artifact}" ]]; then
+
+      printf "\e[91m❌ Required rootfs attestation artifact missing: [%s]. \e[0m\n" "${artifact}" >&2
+      return 42
+
+    fi
+
+    if [[ -L "${artifact}" || ! -f "${artifact}" ]]; then
+
+      printf "\e[91m❌ Required rootfs attestation artifact is not a regular file: [%s]. \e[0m\n" "${artifact}" >&2
+      return 42
+
+    fi
+
+    if [[ ! -s "${artifact}" ]]; then
+
+      printf "\e[91m❌ Required rootfs attestation artifact is empty: [%s]. \e[0m\n" "${artifact}" >&2
+      return 42
+
+    fi
+
+    if [[ ! -r "${artifact}" ]]; then
+
+      printf "\e[91m❌ Required rootfs attestation artifact is not readable: [%s]. \e[0m\n" "${artifact}" >&2
+      return 42
+
+    fi
+
+  done
+
+  return 0
+}
+### Prevents accidental 'unset -f'.
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+readonly -f require_rootfs_attestation_artifacts
+
 #######################################
 # Create and sign the rootfs attestation manifest for the exact SquashFS payload copied into the LUKS mapper.
 # Globals:
@@ -142,9 +195,12 @@ EOF
 # shellcheck disable=SC2034
 readonly -f create_attestation
 
-declare    LUKSFS="${VAR_HANDLER_BUILD_DIR}/binary/live/ciss_rootfs.crypt"
-declare    ROOTFS="${VAR_HANDLER_BUILD_DIR}/binary/live/filesystem.squashfs"
-declare    ROOTFS_ATTESTATION="${VAR_HANDLER_BUILD_DIR}/binary/live/filesystem.squashfs.sha512sum.txt"
+declare    LIVE_PAYLOAD_DIR="${VAR_HANDLER_BUILD_DIR}/binary/live"
+declare    ROOTFS_ATTESTATION_NAME="filesystem.squashfs.sha512sum.txt"
+declare    ROOTFS_ATTESTATION_REL="live/${ROOTFS_ATTESTATION_NAME}"
+declare    LUKSFS="${LIVE_PAYLOAD_DIR}/ciss_rootfs.crypt"
+declare    ROOTFS="${LIVE_PAYLOAD_DIR}/filesystem.squashfs"
+declare    ROOTFS_ATTESTATION="${VAR_HANDLER_BUILD_DIR}/binary/${ROOTFS_ATTESTATION_REL}"
 declare    DM_LAB="crypt_liveiso"
 declare    DEVMAP="/dev/mapper/${DM_LAB}"
 declare    LUKS_KEY_FILE="${VAR_TMP_SECRET}/${VAR_LUKS_KEY:-luks.txt}"
@@ -162,8 +218,10 @@ declare -i VAR_ROOTFS_SIZE="$(stat -c%s -- "${ROOTFS}")"
 printf "\e[95m🧪 Attestation of filesystem.squashfs ... \e[0m\n"
 
 create_attestation "${ROOTFS}" "${ROOTFS_ATTESTATION}"
+require_rootfs_attestation_artifacts "${ROOTFS_ATTESTATION}"
 
-printf "\e[92m✅ Attestation of filesystem.squashfs successful. \e[0m\n"
+printf "\e[92m✅ Attestation of filesystem.squashfs successful: ISO paths [/%s] and [/%s.sig]. \e[0m\n" \
+  "${ROOTFS_ATTESTATION_REL}" "${ROOTFS_ATTESTATION_REL}"
 
 ### Safety margin:
 #   - LUKS2-Header and Metadata
@@ -250,6 +308,8 @@ shred -fzu -n 5 -- "${LUKS_KEY_FILE}"
 
 rm -f -- "${ROOTFS}"
 
+require_rootfs_attestation_artifacts "${ROOTFS_ATTESTATION}"
+
 umask "${__umask}"
 __umask=""
 
diff --git a/config/includes.chroot/usr/lib/live/boot/0042_ciss_post_decrypt_attest b/config/includes.chroot/usr/lib/live/boot/0042_ciss_post_decrypt_attest
index bd788bf..4061575 100644
--- a/config/includes.chroot/usr/lib/live/boot/0042_ciss_post_decrypt_attest
+++ b/config/includes.chroot/usr/lib/live/boot/0042_ciss_post_decrypt_attest
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #   SHA-512 digest and the exact byte length; allocation slack after that SquashFS payload is intentionally out of scope.
 # - Panics on missing, malformed, unauthentic, or mismatched evidence.
 
-# set -eu
+set -eu
 
 printf "\e[95m[INFO] Starting             : [/usr/lib/live/boot/0042_ciss_post_decrypt_attest] \n\e[0m"
 
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ export CDLB_MAPPER_DEV="${CDLB_MAPPER_DEV:-/dev/mapper/${CDLB_MAPPER_NAME}}"
 export CDLB_MNT_MEDIUM="${CDLB_MNT_MEDIUM:-/run/live/medium}"
 
 ### Locations of the attestation file of filesystem.squashfs on the verified live medium. --------------------------------------
-CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST="${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST:-${CDLB_MNT_MEDIUM}/live/filesystem.squashfs.sha512sum.txt}"
+CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_NAME="${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_NAME:-filesystem.squashfs.sha512sum.txt}"
+CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST="${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST:-${CDLB_MNT_MEDIUM}/live/${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_NAME}}"
 CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_SIGNATURE="${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_SIGNATURE:-${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST}.sig}"
 CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_CHECK="${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_CHECK:-/run/ciss-rootfs-attestation.sha512sum}"
 CDLB_KEY_DIR="${CDLB_KEY_DIR:-/etc/ciss/keys}"
@@ -73,6 +74,16 @@ log_ok() { printf '\e[92m[INFO] %s \n\e[0m' "$*"; }
 #######################################
 log_er() { printf '\e[91m[FATAL] %s \n\e[0m' "$*"; }
 
+### Provide a local fail-closed fallback when this file is executed as a subprocess outside the live-boot shell context. --------
+if ! command -v panic >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+
+  panic() {
+    log_er "${*}"
+    exit 1
+  }
+
+fi
+
 #######################################
 # Validate a boot-time attestation input file.
 # Globals:
@@ -125,6 +136,52 @@ require_attestation_file() {
   return 0
 }
 
+#######################################
+# Resolve rootfs attestation paths on known live medium mountpoints.
+# Globals:
+#   CDLB_MNT_MEDIUM
+#   CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST
+#   CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_NAME
+#   CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_SIGNATURE
+# Arguments:
+#   None
+# Returns:
+#   0: on success
+#######################################
+resolve_rootfs_attestation_artifacts() {
+  medium_path=""
+  manifest_path=""
+  signature_path=""
+
+  if [ -f "${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST}" ] && [ -f "${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_SIGNATURE}" ]; then
+
+    return 0
+
+  fi
+
+  for medium_path in "${CDLB_MNT_MEDIUM}" /run/live/medium /lib/live/mount/medium /cdrom; do
+
+    [ -n "${medium_path}" ] || continue
+
+    manifest_path="${medium_path}/live/${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_NAME}"
+    signature_path="${manifest_path}.sig"
+
+    if [ -f "${manifest_path}" ] && [ -f "${signature_path}" ]; then
+
+      CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST="${manifest_path}"
+      CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_SIGNATURE="${signature_path}"
+      return 0
+
+    fi
+
+  done
+
+  log_er "0042()              : Rootfs attestation artifacts not found. Expected manifest/signature: [${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST}] [${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_SIGNATURE}]"
+  panic  "0042()              : Rootfs attestation artifacts not found. Expected manifest/signature: [${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST}] [${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_SIGNATURE}]"
+
+  return 1
+}
+
 #######################################
 # Validate the decrypted rootfs payload device.
 # Globals:
@@ -144,7 +201,11 @@ require_rootfs_payload_device() {
 
   fi
 
-  if [ -L "${artifact_path}" ] || { [ ! -b "${artifact_path}" ] && [ ! -f "${artifact_path}" ]; }; then
+  if [ -b "${artifact_path}" ]; then
+
+    :
+
+  elif [ -L "${artifact_path}" ] || [ ! -f "${artifact_path}" ]; then
 
     log_er "0042()              : Rootfs payload must be a block device or regular test fixture: [${artifact_path}]"
     panic  "0042()              : Rootfs payload must be a block device or regular test fixture: [${artifact_path}]"
@@ -270,6 +331,8 @@ verify_rootfs_payload() {
   return 0
 }
 
+resolve_rootfs_attestation_artifacts
+
 HASH_FILE="${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_MANIFEST}"
 SIGN_FILE="${CDLB_ROOTFS_ATTEST_SIGNATURE}"
 KEYFILE="${CDLB_KEY_DIR}/${CDLB_EXP_FPR}.gpg"