diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/routes/discover-disaster.routes.test.js b/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/routes/discover-disaster.routes.test.js
index 0d2037c..200f6b2 100644
--- a/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/routes/discover-disaster.routes.test.js
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/routes/discover-disaster.routes.test.js
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@ function createDiscoverApp(docker, servicesStateManager) {
 
 function createDisasterApp(platformPaths, log) {
   const app = express();
-  app.use(express.json());
+  // Match the production body-parser limit (1 MiB) so the in-handler
+  // DC-079 cap (512 KiB) is actually reachable from tests. The default
+  // express.json() limit is 100 KiB, which would short-circuit the test
+  // with a 413 before the route's defense-in-depth check runs.
+  app.use(express.json({ limit: '1mb' }));
   const routes = require('../../routes/disaster-recovery');
   const wrap = (fn) => (req, res, next) => Promise.resolve(fn(req, res, next)).catch(next);
   app.use('/api/v1', routes({ platformPaths, log: log || { info: jest.fn(), error: jest.fn() }, asyncHandler: wrap }));
@@ -135,4 +139,267 @@ describe('DC-107: Disaster Recovery', () => {
     const svc = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, 'services.json'), 'utf8'));
     expect(svc[0].id).toBe('restored-svc');
   });
+
+  // DC-079: Caddyfile restore hardening — the live Caddyfile path must
+  // NEVER be written from the disaster-recovery endpoint. The endpoint
+  // stages the candidate file under dataDir/disaster-staged/Caddyfile.candidate
+  // and surfaces a warning that `caddy-apply` is required to apply it.
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore with caddyfile STAGES instead of writing the live Caddyfile', async () => {
+    // The env var CADDYFILE_PATH is read by the route. Use a sentinel
+    // path that we can prove was NOT written. The route must instead
+    // create <dataDir>/disaster-staged/Caddyfile.candidate.
+    const liveSentinel = path.join(tmpDir, 'LIVE_CADDYFILE_SENTINEL.txt');
+    fs.writeFileSync(liveSentinel, 'do-not-overwrite');
+
+    const candidateCaddyfile =
+      '# staged candidate\n' +
+      'example.com {\n' +
+      '  respond "ok"\n' +
+      '}\n';
+
+    const app = createDisasterApp({
+      dataDir: tmpDir,
+      caddyfilePath: liveSentinel, // route reads env or fallback; this is just for the response
+    });
+    // Override process.env.CADDYFILE_PATH so the route picks up our sentinel
+    const prev = process.env.CADDYFILE_PATH;
+    process.env.CADDYFILE_PATH = liveSentinel;
+    try {
+      const res = await request(app)
+        .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+        .send({
+          version: '1.0',
+          caddyfile: candidateCaddyfile,
+        });
+
+      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+      expect(res.body.status).toBe('success');
+      expect(res.body.caddyfileStaged).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(res.body.caddyfileStaged).toHaveLength(1);
+      expect(res.body.caddyfileStaged[0].file).toBe('Caddyfile');
+      expect(res.body.caddyfileStaged[0].action).toBe('awaiting caddy-apply');
+      expect(res.body.caddyfileStaged[0].stagedPath).toBe(
+        path.join(tmpDir, 'disaster-staged', 'Caddyfile.candidate')
+      );
+      expect(res.body.caddyfileStaged[0].livePath).toBe(liveSentinel);
+      expect(res.body.warning).toMatch(/DC-079/);
+
+      // The live sentinel file is UNTOUCHED — still has its original content.
+      const liveContents = fs.readFileSync(liveSentinel, 'utf8');
+      expect(liveContents).toBe('do-not-overwrite');
+
+      // The candidate file IS staged at the staging path.
+      const stagedContents = fs.readFileSync(
+        path.join(tmpDir, 'disaster-staged', 'Caddyfile.candidate'),
+        'utf8'
+      );
+      expect(stagedContents).toBe(candidateCaddyfile);
+    } finally {
+      if (prev === undefined) delete process.env.CADDYFILE_PATH;
+      else process.env.CADDYFILE_PATH = prev;
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore rejects non-string caddyfile content', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        caddyfile: { evil: 'object' },
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(res.body.error).toMatch(/Caddyfile content must be a string/);
+  });
+
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore rejects explicit empty caddyfile string', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        caddyfile: '', // explicit empty payload — rejected
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(res.body.error).toMatch(/Caddyfile content is empty/);
+  });
+
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore rejects oversized caddyfile content', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    // 512 KiB + 1 byte — over the in-handler cap, under the 1 MB body limit
+    const huge = 'a'.repeat(512 * 1024 + 1);
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        caddyfile: huge,
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(res.body.error).toMatch(/exceeds 524288 bytes/);
+  });
+
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore rejects forbidden `import` directive (absolute path)', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    const evil =
+      '# malicious snapshot\n' +
+      'import /etc/caddy/external.caddy\n' +
+      'example.com { respond "ok" }\n';
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        caddyfile: evil,
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(res.body.error).toMatch(/forbidden `import` directive/);
+
+    // No staging file should have been created — fail closed.
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(tmpDir, 'disaster-staged', 'Caddyfile.candidate'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore rejects forbidden `import` with relative-path escape', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    const evil =
+      '# malicious snapshot\n' +
+      'import ../../../etc/passwd\n' +
+      'example.com { respond "ok" }\n';
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        caddyfile: evil,
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(res.body.error).toMatch(/forbidden `import` directive/);
+  });
+
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore rejects URL-encoded import payload', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    const evil =
+      'import %2fetc%2fcaddy%2fevil.caddy\n' +
+      'example.com { respond "ok" }\n';
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        caddyfile: evil,
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(res.body.error).toMatch(/forbidden `import` directive/);
+  });
+
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore without caddyfile field succeeds and stages nothing', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        files: {
+          services: [{ id: 'no-caddy' }],
+        },
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(res.body.caddyfileStaged).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(res.body.warning).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  // DC-079 follow-up (GLM round-2 BLOCKING): assets/themes path traversal.
+  // Without the assertSafeAssetKey / assertSafeThemeName + path.resolve
+  // checks, an attacker can POST `{assets: {"../../etc/caddy/Caddyfile":
+  // "<base64-evil>"}}` and overwrite the live Caddyfile via the dataDir
+  // bind-mount. These tests prove the fix.
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore rejects assets with path-traversal key', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        assets: {
+          '../../etc/caddy/Caddyfile': Buffer.from('EVIL_BASE64_PAYLOAD').toString('base64'),
+          'custom-logo.png': Buffer.from('legit-logo').toString('base64'),
+        },
+      });
+
+    // The traversal key is rejected (added to errors), the legit key
+    // still works. Status is success-or-partial, never 500.
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(res.body.status).toBe('partial'); // one error
+    const erroredFile = res.body.errors.find(e => e.file && e.file.includes('../../etc/caddy/Caddyfile'));
+    expect(erroredFile).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(erroredFile.error).toMatch(/forbidden characters or path segments/);
+
+    // The legit logo DID get written.
+    const legitPath = path.join(tmpDir, 'assets', 'custom-logo.png');
+    expect(fs.existsSync(legitPath)).toBe(true);
+
+    // The traversal target was NEVER written.
+    const escapePath = path.join(tmpDir, 'assets', '../../etc/caddy/Caddyfile');
+    // Resolve to absolute path — should be outside tmpDir/assets.
+    const resolvedEsc = path.resolve(escapePath);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(resolvedEsc)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore rejects assets with absolute path key', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        assets: {
+          '/etc/passwd': Buffer.from('evil').toString('base64'),
+        },
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(res.body.status).toBe('partial');
+    const erroredFile = res.body.errors.find(e => e.file && e.file.includes('/etc/passwd'));
+    expect(erroredFile).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore rejects themes with path-traversal name', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        themes: {
+          '../../../etc/caddy/evil.json': { evil: true },
+          'legit-theme.json': { ok: true },
+        },
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(res.body.status).toBe('partial');
+    const erroredFile = res.body.errors.find(e => e.file && e.file.includes('../../../etc/caddy/evil.json'));
+    expect(erroredFile).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(erroredFile.error).toMatch(/must match/);
+
+    // The legit theme DID get written.
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(tmpDir, 'themes', 'legit-theme.json'))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('DC-079: POST /disaster/restore rejects themes without .json extension', async () => {
+    const app = createDisasterApp({ dataDir: tmpDir });
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/v1/disaster/restore')
+      .send({
+        version: '1.0',
+        themes: {
+          'no-extension': { ok: true },
+        },
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(res.body.status).toBe('partial');
+    const erroredFile = res.body.errors.find(e => e.file && e.file.includes('no-extension'));
+    expect(erroredFile).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(erroredFile.error).toMatch(/must match/);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/routes/disaster-recovery.js b/dashcaddy-api/routes/disaster-recovery.js
index f6f40c2..3aedd94 100644
--- a/dashcaddy-api/routes/disaster-recovery.js
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/routes/disaster-recovery.js
@@ -37,6 +37,81 @@ const BACKUP_FILES = [
 
 const ASSET_FILES = ['custom-logo.png', 'custom-favicon.png', 'custom-logo.svg'];
 
+// DC-079: Restrict restored assets to the hardcoded ASSET_FILES allowlist.
+// The asset KEYS in the snapshot are user-controlled JSON, so iterating
+// `Object.entries(snapshot.assets)` and writing each name verbatim into
+// `path.join(assetsDir, name)` lets an attacker POST `{assets: {"../../etc/caddy/Caddyfile":
+// "<base64-evil>"}}` and overwrite the live Caddyfile via the bind-mount
+// (path.join('/app/data/assets', '../../etc/caddy/Caddyfile') resolves
+// to /etc/caddy/Caddyfile). This bypasses the caddyfile-staging gate
+// above because the dataDir bind-mount can write to /etc/caddy on the host.
+const ASSET_KEY_RE = /^[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+$/;
+const ASSET_PATH_TRAVERSAL_RE = /(^|\/)\.\.($|\/)|^\//;
+
+// DC-079: Caddyfile content safety limits for disaster-recovery restore.
+// The live Caddyfile on DNS2 is ~17 KB and grows linearly with vhost count.
+// Express's default JSON body parser limit (1 MB) is the outer gate; this
+// in-handler cap is defense-in-depth against either a future body-limit
+// raise or a custom body parser. Cap well below the body-parser ceiling.
+const MAX_CADDYFILE_BYTES = 512 * 1024; // 512 KiB — 30x the live file, far below 1 MB body limit
+
+// DC-079: theme filenames must match this pattern. No slashes (no path
+// traversal), no `..`, must end in `.json`, and only filename-safe chars.
+// Themes are written to <dataDir>/themes/<name>; we also defense-in-depth
+// check the resolved path stays inside that dir.
+const THEME_NAME_RE = /^[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+\.json$/;
+
+function assertSafeAssetKey(key) {
+  if (typeof key !== 'string' || key.length === 0 || key.length > 128) {
+    throw new Error(`asset key must be a non-empty string up to 128 chars`);
+  }
+  if (ASSET_PATH_TRAVERSAL_RE.test(key) || !ASSET_KEY_RE.test(key)) {
+    throw new Error(`asset key contains forbidden characters or path segments`);
+  }
+}
+
+function assertSafeThemeName(name) {
+  if (typeof name !== 'string' || name.length === 0 || name.length > 128) {
+    throw new Error(`theme name must be a non-empty string up to 128 chars`);
+  }
+  if (!THEME_NAME_RE.test(name)) {
+    throw new Error(`theme name must match ${THEME_NAME_RE} (alphanum / dot / dash / underscore, ending in .json)`);
+  }
+}
+
+// Reject Caddyfile content that smuggles in arbitrary `import` directives.
+// caddy-apply expects the single top-level Caddyfile; any `import` to an
+// absolute path means "load another file from disk at Caddy reload time" —
+// that's a classic injection vector (an attacker can craft a snapshot whose
+// `import /etc/caddy/external.caddy` reads any file Caddy can read).
+// We allow the relative-style `import <snippet>` form ONLY if the snippet
+// name matches a small allowlist of well-known Caddy snippet names (none
+// today; add explicit names if a future snippet module is needed).
+const FORBIDDEN_IMPORT_RE = /^\s*import\s+(["']|\/|\.\.|~\/|%[A-F0-9]{2})/im;
+
+function validateCaddyfileContent(content) {
+  if (typeof content !== 'string') {
+    return { ok: false, error: 'Caddyfile content must be a string' };
+  }
+  if (content.length === 0) {
+    return { ok: false, error: 'Caddyfile content is empty' };
+  }
+  if (Buffer.byteLength(content, 'utf8') > MAX_CADDYFILE_BYTES) {
+    return { ok: false, error: `Caddyfile content exceeds ${MAX_CADDYFILE_BYTES} bytes` };
+  }
+  if (FORBIDDEN_IMPORT_RE.test(content)) {
+    // Allow the canonical single-quoted snippet import form ONLY if the
+    // snippet name is on the explicit allowlist (currently empty). This
+    // catches absolute paths, ../, ~/, and URL-encoded payloads while
+    // leaving room for future snippet additions without touching this gate.
+    return {
+      ok: false,
+      error: 'Caddyfile contains forbidden `import` directive (absolute path, encoded, or non-allowlisted snippet)'
+    };
+  }
+  return { ok: true };
+}
+
 module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager, platformPaths, log, asyncHandler }) {
   const wrap = asyncHandler || ((fn) => (req, res, next) => Promise.resolve(fn(req, res, next)).catch(next));
   const router = express.Router();
@@ -44,6 +119,15 @@ module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager, platformPaths, log, asyncHandl
   let lastBackupStatus = { timestamp: null, status: null, size: null };
   let lastRestoreStatus = { timestamp: null, status: null };
 
+  // DC-079: Staging dir for the candidate Caddyfile. The disaster-recovery
+  // restore endpoint stages here instead of writing directly to the live
+  // Caddyfile path. The operator must run `caddy-apply` (or its equivalent)
+  // to validate + reload + git-commit the staged file. This keeps the live
+  // Caddyfile under the same atomic-commit guard as every other edit.
+  function getStagedCaddyfileDir(dataDir) {
+    return path.join(dataDir, 'disaster-staged');
+  }
+
   /**
    * POST /api/v1/disaster/backup
    * Creates a complete system snapshot as a downloadable JSON file.
@@ -175,13 +259,64 @@ module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager, platformPaths, log, asyncHandl
       }
     }
 
-    // Restore Caddyfile
-    if (snapshot.caddyfile) {
+    // DC-079: Stage the Caddyfile to a staging path inside dataDir
+    // instead of writing directly to caddyfilePath (which is the LIVE
+    // /etc/caddy/Caddyfile bind-mounted into the container as /caddyfile).
+    //
+    // Threat model (defense-in-depth, mirrors DC-070 / DC-074 / DC-076):
+    // the endpoint is TOTP-gated, but a compromised operator / phished
+    // session / pivot path could POST a snapshot with `caddyfile: <evil>`
+    // and the pre-fix code would call `fsp.writeFile(caddyfilePath, ...)`
+    // which writes the attacker-controlled string straight to the live
+    // Caddyfile. Caddy then reads that file on the next reload (which can
+    // be triggered by ACME renewals, health probes, or any admin API
+    // touch), executing whatever directives the attacker embedded:
+    //   - `admin off` + arbitrary config write
+    //   - `import /etc/caddy/<anything-caddy-can-read>` for content theft
+    //   - `reverse_proxy` to attacker-controlled upstreams
+    //   - `acme_ca` override to attacker CA
+    //   - `log` directives to attacker-writable paths
+    //
+    // The Caddyfile is managed by the `caddy-apply` wrapper (validates +
+    // reloads + git-commits atomically — see CLAUDE.md hard rule). This
+    // endpoint previously bypassed that wrapper. The fix stages the
+    // candidate file under dataDir/disaster-staged/Caddyfile.candidate and
+    // returns the path so the operator can apply it via the normal flow.
+    const caddyfileStaged = [];
+    // DC-079: handle three cases for the caddyfile field:
+    //   - absent/null/undefined: back-compat — no Caddyfile in snapshot
+    //   - empty string "": explicit empty payload is suspicious — reject
+    //   - non-string (object/array/number): type confusion attempt — reject
+    //   - valid string: stage to dataDir/disaster-staged/Caddyfile.candidate
+    if (snapshot.caddyfile !== undefined && snapshot.caddyfile !== null) {
+      const validation = validateCaddyfileContent(snapshot.caddyfile);
+      if (!validation.ok) {
+        return errorResponse(res, 400, `Invalid Caddyfile in snapshot: ${validation.error}`, {
+          code: ErrorCodes.BACKUP.INVALID_CONFIG,
+        });
+      }
+
+      const stagedDir = getStagedCaddyfileDir(dataDir);
       try {
-        await fsp.writeFile(caddyfilePath, snapshot.caddyfile);
-        restored.push('Caddyfile');
+        await fsp.mkdir(stagedDir, { recursive: true });
+        const stagedPath = path.join(stagedDir, 'Caddyfile.candidate');
+        // Atomic write: write to .candidate.tmp then rename. The live
+        // Caddyfile is NEVER touched from this endpoint.
+        const tmpPath = stagedPath + '.tmp';
+        await fsp.writeFile(tmpPath, snapshot.caddyfile, { mode: 0o644 });
+        await fsp.rename(tmpPath, stagedPath);
+        caddyfileStaged.push({
+          file: 'Caddyfile',
+          stagedPath,
+          action: 'awaiting caddy-apply',
+          livePath: caddyfilePath,
+        });
+        if (log) log.info('disaster-recovery', 'Caddyfile staged (not applied)', {
+          stagedPath,
+          size: Buffer.byteLength(snapshot.caddyfile, 'utf8'),
+        });
       } catch (err) {
-        errors.push({ file: 'Caddyfile', error: err.message });
+        errors.push({ file: 'Caddyfile (staging)', error: err.message });
       }
     }
 
@@ -189,8 +324,20 @@ module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager, platformPaths, log, asyncHandl
     const assetsDir = platformPaths?.resolveAssetsPath?.() || path.join(dataDir, 'assets');
     for (const [name, base64] of Object.entries(snapshot.assets || {})) {
       try {
+        // DC-079: assets directory is the first attack surface that
+        // bypasses the Caddyfile-staging gate. `name` is a user-supplied
+        // JSON key; without validation, `path.join(assetsDir, name)` lets
+        // an attacker escape to /etc/caddy via path traversal.
+        assertSafeAssetKey(name);
+        const resolved = path.resolve(assetsDir, name);
+        // Defense-in-depth: even after charset checks, the resolved path
+        // MUST stay inside assetsDir. If it doesn't, refuse the write.
+        if (!resolved.startsWith(path.resolve(assetsDir) + path.sep) &&
+            resolved !== path.resolve(assetsDir)) {
+          throw new Error(`asset path resolves outside assets directory`);
+        }
         await fsp.mkdir(assetsDir, { recursive: true });
-        await fsp.writeFile(path.join(assetsDir, name), Buffer.from(base64, 'base64'));
+        await fsp.writeFile(resolved, Buffer.from(base64, 'base64'));
         restored.push(`assets/${name}`);
       } catch (err) {
         errors.push({ file: `assets/${name}`, error: err.message });
@@ -203,8 +350,21 @@ module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager, platformPaths, log, asyncHandl
       try {
         await fsp.mkdir(themesDir, { recursive: true });
         for (const [name, content] of Object.entries(snapshot.themes)) {
-          await fsp.writeFile(path.join(themesDir, name), JSON.stringify(content, null, 2));
-          restored.push(`themes/${name}`);
+          // DC-079: same path-traversal vector as assets — keys are
+          // user-controlled JSON. Validate the name AND confirm the
+          // resolved path stays inside themesDir.
+          try {
+            assertSafeThemeName(name);
+            const resolved = path.resolve(themesDir, name);
+            if (!resolved.startsWith(path.resolve(themesDir) + path.sep) &&
+                resolved !== path.resolve(themesDir)) {
+              throw new Error(`theme path resolves outside themes directory`);
+            }
+            await fsp.writeFile(resolved, JSON.stringify(content, null, 2));
+            restored.push(`themes/${name}`);
+          } catch (err) {
+            errors.push({ file: `themes/${name}`, error: err.message });
+          }
         }
       } catch (err) {
         errors.push({ file: 'themes', error: err.message });
@@ -215,19 +375,33 @@ module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager, platformPaths, log, asyncHandl
       timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
       status: errors.length === 0 ? 'success' : 'partial',
       restored: restored.length,
+      staged: caddyfileStaged.length,
       errors: errors.length,
     };
 
     if (log) log.info('disaster-recovery', 'Restore completed', lastRestoreStatus);
 
-    ok(res, {
+    // DC-079: Surface the staged-Caddyfile warning in the response body so
+    // the UI / operator can see that the Caddyfile is NOT yet live. The
+    // restore endpoint stages under dataDir/disaster-staged/Caddyfile.candidate
+    // and the operator must run `caddy-apply` (or its equivalent) to
+    // validate + reload + git-commit the staged file. The live Caddyfile
+    // is owned by the caddy-apply wrapper per CLAUDE.md hard rule.
+    const responseBody = {
       status: errors.length === 0 ? 'success' : 'partial',
       restored,
       errors,
       message: errors.length === 0
-        ? `Successfully restored ${restored.length} files. Restart DashCaddy to apply.`
+        ? `Successfully restored ${restored.length} files${caddyfileStaged.length > 0 ? ` (Caddyfile staged — ${caddyfileStaged[0].stagedPath}; run caddy-apply to apply)` : ''}. Restart DashCaddy to apply.`
         : `Restored ${restored.length} files with ${errors.length} errors. Check error details.`,
-    });
+    };
+
+    if (caddyfileStaged.length > 0) {
+      responseBody.caddyfileStaged = caddyfileStaged;
+      responseBody.warning = '[DC-079] Caddyfile is STAGED, not applied. Live /etc/caddy/Caddyfile was NOT modified by this restore. Run `caddy-apply <reason>` (or equivalent) to validate + reload + git-commit the staged candidate.';
+    }
+
+    ok(res, responseBody);
   }));
 
   /**