diff --git a/.sloptrap b/.sloptrap
index f7b9140..4a1001a 100644
--- a/.sloptrap
+++ b/.sloptrap
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 name=skz-sloptrap
 packages_extra=bash make shellcheck jq podman iproute2 strace
-capabilities=apt-install packet-capture
+capabilities=
 allow_host_network=false
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 78d8a03..a5d794e 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -19,3 +19,4 @@ Do not remove existing instructions unless they are outdated or wrong.
   `shellcheck sloptrap`
   `bash tests/run_tests.sh` (you can also run them separately)
 - When running tests from inside sloptrap, inherited `CODEX_HOME=/codex` plus `SLOPTRAP_PREFER_CODEX_HOME=1` can leak into host-style child launches; ignore that preference when `HOME` has been redirected elsewhere and the runtime hints still point into the inherited `/codex` tree.
+- Capability-enabled runs are Podman-only. `packet-capture` uses a dedicated helper container/pod, and host-network capture must prompt for an explicit acknowledgement on every runtime launch.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9f99751..9f08f69 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,13 +62,13 @@ Supported keys when the manifest is present:
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | `name` | project directory name | Must match `^[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+$`. Used for image/container naming. |
 | `packages_extra` | *empty* | Additional Debian packages installed during `docker/podman build`. Tokens must be alphanumeric plus `+.-`. |
-| `capabilities` | *empty* | Optional privileged features. Supported values are `apt-install` and `packet-capture`. |
+| `capabilities` | *empty* | Optional privileged features. Supported values are `apt-install` and `packet-capture`. Capability-enabled runs require Podman. When `packet-capture` is combined with `allow_host_network=true`, sloptrap shows a runtime warning with concrete consequences and requires an interactive acknowledgement on every run. |
 | `allow_host_network` | `false` | `true` opts into `--network host`; keep `false` unless the project absolutely requires direct access to host-local services. |
 
 Values containing `$`, `` ` ``, or newlines are rejected to prevent command injection. Setting illegal keys or malformed values aborts the run before containers start.
 sloptrap always runs Codex with `--sandbox danger-full-access --ask-for-approval never`. `codex_args` is deprecated and rejected if present.
 
-Capability trust is local state, not part of the repository. Builds for manifests that request capabilities require either an interactive trust confirmation or `--trust-capabilities`. Once the current manifest is trusted, its requested capabilities are enabled automatically for that project configuration.
+Capability trust is local state, not part of the repository. Builds for manifests that request capabilities require either an interactive trust confirmation or `--trust-capabilities`. Once the current manifest is trusted, its requested capabilities are enabled automatically for that project configuration. The `allow_host_network=true` plus `packet-capture` combination still requires a separate interactive acknowledgement each time a runtime container is launched.
 
 ### `.sloptrapignore`
 
@@ -130,24 +130,24 @@ The launcher executes targets sequentially, so `./sloptrap repo build run` perfo
 When the current manifest's capabilities are trusted and enabled, the container includes helper commands:
 
 - `slop-apt install <package...>` for session-scoped package installation.
-- `slopcap capture --interface <iface> [--filter <expr>] [--output <path>] [--stdout]` for packet capture.
+- `slopcap capture --interface <iface> [--filter <expr>] [--output <path>] [--stdout]` for non-promiscuous packet capture through a dedicated helper container. Host-network captures require an explicit acknowledgement each run.
 
 ## Execution Environment
 
-- Container engine: Podman or Docker with identical command lines. Podman uses `--userns=keep-id`; Docker receives the equivalent `--user UID:GID` for standard runs.
+- Container engine: Podman or Docker for standard runs. Capability-enabled runs require Podman. Podman uses `--userns=keep-id`; Docker receives the equivalent `--user UID:GID` for standard runs.
 - Filesystem view: the project directory mounts at `/workspace`; `${HOME}/.codex/sloptrap/state/<project-hash>` mounts at `/codex`; `${HOME}/.codex/auth.json` mounts at `/codex/auth.json`.
 - Ignore filter: `.sloptrapignore` entries are overlaid with tmpfs directories or empty bind mounts so data remains unavailable to Codex.
-- Network: isolated networking is used by default; `allow_host_network=true` opts into `--network host`.
+- Network: isolated networking is used by default; `allow_host_network=true` opts into `--network host`. When `packet-capture` is enabled, sloptrap starts a separate capture helper container in the same Podman pod so the main Codex container does not receive `NET_RAW`.
 - Process context: standard runs drop capabilities, set `no-new-privileges`, use a read-only root filesystem, and keep scratch paths (`/tmp`, `/run`, `/run/lock`) on tmpfs. Capability-enabled runs may selectively add the runtime options required for the requested capability.
-- Codex configuration: runtime flags are fixed to `--sandbox danger-full-access --ask-for-approval never`. Persistent Codex state is project-scoped under `${HOME}/.codex/sloptrap/state/`, while credentials are shared via `${HOME}/.codex/auth.json`.
+- Codex configuration: runtime flags are fixed to `--sandbox danger-full-access --ask-for-approval never`. Persistent Codex state is project-scoped under `${HOME}/.codex/sloptrap/state/`, while credentials are shared via `${HOME}/.codex/auth.json` and mounted read-only except during the `login` target.
 
 ## Threat Model and Limits
 
 - **Outbound disclosure**: prompts and referenced data travel from the container to the configured LLM endpoint. Any file content within `/workspace` or environment data exposed to the process can appear in that traffic.
 - **Shared storage**: `/workspace`, project-scoped `/codex`, and `/codex/auth.json` are host mounts. Files written to these locations become visible on the host and to the LLM provider through prompts.
 - **Environment surface**: the container receives a minimal fixed environment (HOME/XDG paths, `CODEX_HOME`). The manifest no longer allows injecting additional environment variables.
-- **Process isolation**: standard runs keep a read-only root filesystem and no extra Linux capabilities. Capability-enabled runs deliberately relax specific runtime controls for the enabled feature, so they should be treated as a stronger trust decision than a default session.
-- **Networking stance**: traffic is unrestricted once it leaves the container. sloptrap does not enforce an allowlist or DNS policy. Host networking is opt-in per manifest; if you require an offline or firewalled workflow, sloptrap is not an appropriate launcher.
+- **Process isolation**: standard runs keep a read-only root filesystem and no extra Linux capabilities. Capability-enabled runs deliberately relax specific runtime controls for the enabled feature, so they should be treated as a stronger trust decision than a default session. `packet-capture` now runs in a dedicated helper container so the main Codex container does not hold raw-socket capability.
+- **Networking stance**: traffic is unrestricted once it leaves the container. sloptrap does not enforce an allowlist or DNS policy. Host networking is opt-in per manifest; when it is combined with `packet-capture`, sloptrap warns and requires an explicit acknowledgement for each runtime launch because the capture helper will have raw packet access in the host namespace and may observe plaintext traffic or inject spoofed packets. If you require an offline or firewalled workflow, sloptrap is not an appropriate launcher.
 - **Persistence**: Codex history and logs accumulate per project under `${HOME}/.codex/sloptrap/state/`. Sensitive prompts recorded on disk remain on the host after the session. Because `.git/` is ignored inside the container, any historical secrets in Git objects stay outside the LLM context unless explicitly surfaced in the working tree.
 - **Codex cache hygiene**: per-project state mounts remain writable by the container and hold prompts/history/state, while `${HOME}/.codex/auth.json` holds shared credentials. Rotate credentials regularly and protect both locations.
 - **Secret scanning**: sloptrap does not perform secret discovery or redaction; any credentials present in the project remain available to Codex and the upstream provider.
diff --git a/sloptrap b/sloptrap
index ddfb40b..c636c48 100755
--- a/sloptrap
+++ b/sloptrap
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ write_embedded_helper() {
 	      cat <<'EOF'
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
+export PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
 
 helper_pid=""
 helperd_bin=${SLOPTRAP_HELPERD_BIN:-/usr/local/bin/sloptrap-helperd}
@@ -394,6 +395,7 @@ EOF
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 umask 077
+export PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
 
 helper_dir=${SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR:-/tmp/sloptrap-helper}
 queue_dir="$helper_dir/queue"
@@ -482,15 +484,15 @@ release_request_dir() {
   local owner_gid=$3
   local path
   [[ $owner_uid =~ ^[0-9]+$ && $owner_gid =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] || return 0
-  for path in "$request_dir" "$request_dir/status" "$request_dir/stdout" "$request_dir/stderr"; do
-    [[ -e $path && ! -L $path ]] || continue
-    chown "$owner_uid:$owner_gid" "$path" 2>/dev/null || true
-  done
   chmod 700 "$request_dir" 2>/dev/null || true
   for path in "$request_dir/status" "$request_dir/stdout" "$request_dir/stderr"; do
     [[ -e $path && ! -L $path ]] || continue
     chmod 600 "$path" 2>/dev/null || true
   done
+  for path in "$request_dir" "$request_dir/status" "$request_dir/stdout" "$request_dir/stderr"; do
+    [[ -e $path && ! -L $path ]] || continue
+    chown "$owner_uid:$owner_gid" "$path" 2>/dev/null || true
+  done
 }
 
 init_request_outputs() {
@@ -537,6 +539,7 @@ write_status() {
 
 run_apt_install() {
   local request_dir=$1
+  local apt_get_bin
   has_capability "apt-install" || {
     printf 'capability apt-install is not active\n' >"$request_dir/stderr"
     write_status "$request_dir" 126
@@ -566,8 +569,18 @@ run_apt_install() {
       return
     fi
   done
-  if apt-get update >"$request_dir/stdout" 2>"$request_dir/stderr" \
-    && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends "${packages[@]}" >>"$request_dir/stdout" 2>>"$request_dir/stderr"; then
+  apt_get_bin=${SLOPTRAP_APT_GET_BIN:-}
+  if [[ -z $apt_get_bin ]]; then
+    apt_get_bin=$(command -v apt-get 2>/dev/null || true)
+  fi
+  if [[ -z $apt_get_bin || ! -x $apt_get_bin ]]; then
+    printf 'apt-get is not available in this image\n' >"$request_dir/stderr"
+    write_status "$request_dir" 127
+    log_action "apt-install" "packages=missing-tool" 127
+    return
+  fi
+  if "$apt_get_bin" update >"$request_dir/stdout" 2>"$request_dir/stderr" \
+    && "$apt_get_bin" install -y --no-install-recommends "${packages[@]}" >>"$request_dir/stdout" 2>>"$request_dir/stderr"; then
     write_status "$request_dir" 0
     log_action "apt-install" "packages=${packages[*]}" 0
     return
@@ -578,6 +591,7 @@ run_apt_install() {
 
 run_packet_capture() {
   local request_dir=$1
+  local tcpdump_bin
   has_capability "packet-capture" || {
     printf 'capability packet-capture is not active\n' >"$request_dir/stderr"
     write_status "$request_dir" 126
@@ -609,7 +623,17 @@ run_packet_capture() {
     log_action "packet-capture" "interface=$iface stdout=invalid" 2
     return
   fi
-  local -a cmd=(tcpdump -i "$iface")
+  tcpdump_bin=${SLOPTRAP_TCPDUMP_BIN:-}
+  if [[ -z $tcpdump_bin ]]; then
+    tcpdump_bin=$(command -v tcpdump 2>/dev/null || true)
+  fi
+  if [[ -z $tcpdump_bin || ! -x $tcpdump_bin ]]; then
+    printf 'tcpdump is not available in this image\n' >"$request_dir/stderr"
+    write_status "$request_dir" 127
+    log_action "packet-capture" "interface=$iface tool=missing" 127
+    return
+  fi
+  local -a cmd=("$tcpdump_bin" -p -i "$iface")
   if [[ -s $output_file ]]; then
     local capture_path
     capture_path=$(read_request_value "$output_file" || true)
@@ -704,6 +728,7 @@ EOF
       cat <<'EOF'
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
+export PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
 
 helper_dir=${SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR:-/tmp/sloptrap-helper}
 queue_dir="$helper_dir/queue"
@@ -721,50 +746,8 @@ ensure_helper_ready() {
   if [[ -w $queue_dir ]] && helper_running; then
     return 0
   fi
-  if [[ -z ${SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES:-} ]]; then
-    printf 'slop-apt: capability helper is not available in this session\n' >&2
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if ! command -v setpriv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    printf 'slop-apt: setpriv is required to bootstrap the capability helper\n' >&2
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  setpriv --reuid 0 --regid 0 --clear-groups -- env \
-    SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR="$helper_dir" \
-    SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES="${SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES:-}" \
-    SLOPTRAP_AUDIT_LOG="${SLOPTRAP_AUDIT_LOG:-/codex/state/capabilities.log}" \
-    SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR="${SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR:-/codex/state/captures}" \
-    SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR="${SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR:-/workspace}" \
-    SLOPTRAP_HOST_UID="${SLOPTRAP_HOST_UID:-$(id -u)}" \
-    SLOPTRAP_HOST_GID="${SLOPTRAP_HOST_GID:-$(id -g)}" \
-    bash -c '
-      set -euo pipefail
-      helper_dir=${SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR:-/tmp/sloptrap-helper}
-      queue_dir="$helper_dir/queue"
-      pidfile="$helper_dir/helperd.pid"
-      helper_bin=$(command -v sloptrap-helperd)
-      [[ -n $helper_bin ]] || exit 1
-      mkdir -p "$queue_dir"
-      chmod 711 "$helper_dir"
-      chmod 1733 "$queue_dir"
-      if [[ -r $pidfile ]]; then
-        pid=$(<"$pidfile")
-        if [[ -n $pid ]] && kill -0 "$pid" 2>/dev/null; then
-          exit 0
-        fi
-      fi
-      "$helper_bin" >/dev/null 2>&1 &
-      for ((i=0; i<30; i+=1)); do
-        if [[ -r $pidfile ]]; then
-          pid=$(<"$pidfile")
-          if [[ -n $pid ]] && kill -0 "$pid" 2>/dev/null; then
-            exit 0
-          fi
-        fi
-        sleep 0.1
-      done
-      exit 1
-    '
+  printf 'slop-apt: capability helper is unavailable; start a fresh sloptrap session with apt-install enabled\n' >&2
+  exit 1
 }
 
 if [[ ${1-} != "install" ]]; then
@@ -811,12 +794,14 @@ EOF
       cat <<'EOF'
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
+export PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
 
-helper_dir=${SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR:-/tmp/sloptrap-helper}
+helper_dir=${SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR:-/codex/state/capture-helper}
 queue_dir="$helper_dir/queue"
 default_output=${SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR:-/codex/state/captures}
 workspace_root=${SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR:-/workspace}
 pidfile="$helper_dir/helperd.pid"
+packet_capture_enabled=${SLOPTRAP_PACKET_CAPTURE_ENABLED:-0}
 mkdir -p "$default_output"
 
 helper_running() {
@@ -828,53 +813,15 @@ helper_running() {
 }
 
 ensure_helper_ready() {
+  if [[ $packet_capture_enabled != "1" ]]; then
+    printf 'slopcap: packet capture is not enabled in this session\n' >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
   if [[ -w $queue_dir ]] && helper_running; then
     return 0
   fi
-  if [[ -z ${SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES:-} ]]; then
-    printf 'slopcap: capability helper is not available in this session\n' >&2
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if ! command -v setpriv >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    printf 'slopcap: setpriv is required to bootstrap the capability helper\n' >&2
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  setpriv --reuid 0 --regid 0 --clear-groups -- env \
-    SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR="$helper_dir" \
-    SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES="${SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES:-}" \
-    SLOPTRAP_AUDIT_LOG="${SLOPTRAP_AUDIT_LOG:-/codex/state/capabilities.log}" \
-    SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR="${SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR:-/codex/state/captures}" \
-    SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR="${SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR:-/workspace}" \
-    SLOPTRAP_HOST_UID="${SLOPTRAP_HOST_UID:-$(id -u)}" \
-    SLOPTRAP_HOST_GID="${SLOPTRAP_HOST_GID:-$(id -g)}" \
-    bash -c '
-      set -euo pipefail
-      helper_dir=${SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR:-/tmp/sloptrap-helper}
-      queue_dir="$helper_dir/queue"
-      pidfile="$helper_dir/helperd.pid"
-      helper_bin=$(command -v sloptrap-helperd)
-      [[ -n $helper_bin ]] || exit 1
-      mkdir -p "$queue_dir"
-      chmod 711 "$helper_dir"
-      chmod 1733 "$queue_dir"
-      if [[ -r $pidfile ]]; then
-        pid=$(<"$pidfile")
-        if [[ -n $pid ]] && kill -0 "$pid" 2>/dev/null; then
-          exit 0
-        fi
-      fi
-      "$helper_bin" >/dev/null 2>&1 &
-      for ((i=0; i<30; i+=1)); do
-        if [[ -r $pidfile ]]; then
-          pid=$(<"$pidfile")
-          if [[ -n $pid ]] && kill -0 "$pid" 2>/dev/null; then
-            exit 0
-          fi
-        fi
-        sleep 0.1
-      done
-      exit 1
-    '
+  printf 'slopcap: capture helper is unavailable; start a fresh sloptrap session with packet-capture enabled\n' >&2
+  exit 1
 }
 
 resolve_requested_path() {
@@ -1174,6 +1121,45 @@ ensure_capability_trust() {
   prompt_capability_trust
 }
 
+host_network_packet_capture_active() {
+  $ALLOW_HOST_NETWORK && capability_list_contains "$ENABLED_CAPABILITIES" "packet-capture"
+}
+
+prompt_runtime_packet_capture_ack() {
+  local tty_path="/dev/tty"
+  printf '%s' "$PREFIX_TEXT" >"$tty_path"
+  printf '%b' "$COLOR_TEXT" >"$tty_path"
+  printf 'Warning: host networking + packet-capture is a high-trust mode.\n' >"$tty_path"
+  printf 'If you continue, code inside this session can capture host-network traffic, including plaintext protocols and requests to local services.\n' >"$tty_path"
+  printf 'It can also transmit spoofed packets into the host network namespace for the duration of this run.\n' >"$tty_path"
+  printf 'This is not a normal sandboxed session boundary.\n' >"$tty_path"
+  printf 'Continue with host-network packet capture for this run? [y/N]: ' >"$tty_path"
+  printf '%b' "$RESET" >"$tty_path"
+  local input
+  if ! IFS= read -r input <"$tty_path"; then
+    error "host-network packet capture requires an interactive terminal acknowledgement"
+  fi
+  case "${input,,}" in
+    y|yes)
+      RUNTIME_PACKET_CAPTURE_ACKNOWLEDGED=true
+      ;;
+    *)
+      error "host-network packet capture not acknowledged"
+      ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+ensure_runtime_packet_capture_ack() {
+  host_network_packet_capture_active || return 0
+  $RUNTIME_PACKET_CAPTURE_ACKNOWLEDGED && return 0
+  if $DRY_RUN; then
+    warn "host networking with packet capture would require an interactive acknowledgement at runtime"
+    RUNTIME_PACKET_CAPTURE_ACKNOWLEDGED=true
+    return 0
+  fi
+  prompt_runtime_packet_capture_ack
+}
+
 write_capability_build_stamp() {
   ensure_capability_state_paths
   if $DRY_RUN; then
@@ -1732,8 +1718,12 @@ EOF
 
 declare -a CONTAINER_SHARED_OPTS=()
 declare -a BASE_CONTAINER_CMD=()
+declare -a CAPTURE_POD_CREATE_CMD=()
+declare -a CAPTURE_HELPER_BASE_CMD=()
 SLOPTRAP_IMAGE_NAME=""
 SLOPTRAP_CONTAINER_NAME=""
+SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_CONTAINER_NAME=""
+SLOPTRAP_POD_NAME=""
 SLOPTRAP_DOCKERFILE_PATH=""
 SLOPTRAP_BUILD_CONTEXT=""
 SLOPTRAP_DOCKERFILE_SOURCE=""
@@ -1759,6 +1749,10 @@ SLOPTRAP_TMPFS_PATHS=""
 SLOPTRAP_ROOTFS_READONLY=""
 SLOPTRAP_ROOTFS_READONLY_DEFAULT=""
 SLOPTRAP_RUN_AS_ROOT=false
+SLOPTRAP_MAIN_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES=""
+SLOPTRAP_PACKET_CAPTURE_ENABLED=false
+SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR_CONT=""
+SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR_HOST=""
 
 get_env_default() {
   local var=$1
@@ -1821,6 +1815,87 @@ run_or_print() {
   "$@"
 }
 
+append_auth_mount_arg() {
+  local writable=$1
+  local -n out=$2
+  local suffix=""
+  if [[ $CONTAINER_ENGINE == "podman" ]]; then
+    suffix=":Z"
+    if [[ $writable != true ]]; then
+      suffix=":Z,ro"
+    fi
+  elif [[ $writable != true ]]; then
+    suffix=":ro"
+  fi
+  out+=(-v "$CODEX_AUTH_FILE_HOST:$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT/auth.json$suffix")
+}
+
+ensure_capability_engine_supported() {
+  [[ -n $REQUESTED_CAPABILITIES ]] || return 0
+  if [[ $CONTAINER_ENGINE != "podman" ]]; then
+    error "capability-enabled runs require podman; docker is not supported for capabilities"
+  fi
+}
+
+packet_capture_enabled() {
+  capability_list_contains "$ENABLED_CAPABILITIES" "packet-capture"
+}
+
+stop_packet_capture_helper() {
+  [[ -n $SLOPTRAP_POD_NAME ]] || return 0
+  if $DRY_RUN; then
+    print_command "$CONTAINER_ENGINE" pod rm -f "$SLOPTRAP_POD_NAME"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  "$CONTAINER_ENGINE" pod rm -f "$SLOPTRAP_POD_NAME" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+}
+
+wait_for_path() {
+  local path=$1
+  local attempts=${2:-50}
+  local delay=${3:-0.1}
+  local i
+  for ((i=0; i<attempts; i+=1)); do
+    [[ -e $path ]] && return 0
+    sleep "$delay"
+  done
+  return 1
+}
+
+start_packet_capture_helper() {
+  packet_capture_enabled || return 0
+  ensure_runtime_packet_capture_ack
+  ensure_codex_directory "$SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR_HOST" "capture helper state"
+  if $DRY_RUN; then
+    print_command "${CAPTURE_POD_CREATE_CMD[@]}"
+    print_command "${CAPTURE_HELPER_BASE_CMD[@]}"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  stop_packet_capture_helper
+  "${CAPTURE_POD_CREATE_CMD[@]}" >/dev/null
+  if ! "${CAPTURE_HELPER_BASE_CMD[@]}" >/dev/null; then
+    stop_packet_capture_helper
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if ! wait_for_path "$SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR_HOST/helperd.pid"; then
+    stop_packet_capture_helper
+    error "packet capture helper failed to start"
+  fi
+}
+
+run_runtime_container_cmd() {
+  local -a cmd=("$@")
+  start_packet_capture_helper
+  local status=0
+  if run_or_print "${cmd[@]}"; then
+    status=0
+  else
+    status=$?
+  fi
+  stop_packet_capture_helper
+  return "$status"
+}
+
 ensure_codex_directory() {
   local path=$1
   local label=$2
@@ -2057,7 +2132,17 @@ prepare_container_runtime() {
   SLOPTRAP_IMAGE_NAME=$(sanitize_engine_name "$SLOPTRAP_IMAGE_NAME")
   SLOPTRAP_CONTAINER_NAME=$(sanitize_engine_name "$SLOPTRAP_CONTAINER_NAME")
 
-  local -a network_opts=(--network "$SLOPTRAP_NETWORK_NAME" --init)
+  SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_CONTAINER_NAME=$(sanitize_engine_name "${PROJECT_NAME}-sloptrap-capture")
+  SLOPTRAP_POD_NAME=$(sanitize_engine_name "${PROJECT_NAME}-sloptrap-pod")
+  SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR_CONT="$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT/state/capture-helper"
+  SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR_HOST="$CODEX_STATE_HOME_HOST/state/capture-helper"
+
+  local -a network_opts=(--init)
+  if packet_capture_enabled; then
+    network_opts+=(--pod "$SLOPTRAP_POD_NAME")
+  else
+    network_opts+=(--network "$SLOPTRAP_NETWORK_NAME")
+  fi
   local -a security_opts=(--cap-drop=ALL)
   local -a capability_opts=()
   if [[ -n $SLOPTRAP_SECURITY_OPTS_EXTRA ]]; then
@@ -2082,13 +2167,19 @@ prepare_container_runtime() {
     done
   fi
 
+  SLOPTRAP_MAIN_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES=""
+  SLOPTRAP_PACKET_CAPTURE_ENABLED=false
   if capability_list_contains "$ENABLED_CAPABILITIES" "apt-install"; then
     SLOPTRAP_ROOTFS_READONLY=0
     SLOPTRAP_RUN_AS_ROOT=true
+    SLOPTRAP_MAIN_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES="apt-install"
   fi
   if capability_list_contains "$ENABLED_CAPABILITIES" "packet-capture"; then
-    capability_opts+=(--cap-add NET_RAW --cap-add NET_ADMIN)
-    SLOPTRAP_RUN_AS_ROOT=true
+    SLOPTRAP_PACKET_CAPTURE_ENABLED=true
+  fi
+  local packet_capture_flag="0"
+  if $SLOPTRAP_PACKET_CAPTURE_ENABLED; then
+    packet_capture_flag="1"
   fi
   security_opts+=(--security-opt no-new-privileges)
   if $SLOPTRAP_RUN_AS_ROOT; then
@@ -2096,8 +2187,6 @@ prepare_container_runtime() {
       --cap-add SETUID
       --cap-add SETGID
       --cap-add CHOWN
-      --cap-add DAC_OVERRIDE
-      --cap-add FOWNER
     )
   fi
 
@@ -2117,7 +2206,6 @@ prepare_container_runtime() {
   local -a volume_opts=(
     -v "$SLOPTRAP_SHARED_DIR_ABS:$SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR$SLOPTRAP_VOLUME_LABEL"
     -v "$CODEX_STATE_HOME_HOST:$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT$SLOPTRAP_VOLUME_LABEL"
-    -v "$CODEX_AUTH_FILE_HOST:$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT/auth.json$SLOPTRAP_VOLUME_LABEL"
   )
 
   local -a env_args=(
@@ -2128,7 +2216,9 @@ prepare_container_runtime() {
     -e "CODEX_HOME=$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT"
     -e "SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR=$SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR"
     -e "SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR=/tmp/sloptrap-helper"
-    -e "SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES=$ENABLED_CAPABILITIES"
+    -e "SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES=$SLOPTRAP_MAIN_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES"
+    -e "SLOPTRAP_PACKET_CAPTURE_ENABLED=$packet_capture_flag"
+    -e "SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR=$SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR_CONT"
     -e "SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR=$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT/state/captures"
     -e "SLOPTRAP_AUDIT_LOG=$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT/state/capabilities.log"
     -e "SLOPTRAP_PREFER_CODEX_HOME=1"
@@ -2156,6 +2246,55 @@ prepare_container_runtime() {
     fi
   fi
 
+  CAPTURE_POD_CREATE_CMD=()
+  CAPTURE_HELPER_BASE_CMD=()
+  if $SLOPTRAP_PACKET_CAPTURE_ENABLED; then
+    local -a capture_env_args=(
+      -e "HOME=$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT"
+      -e "XDG_CONFIG_HOME=$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT/config"
+      -e "XDG_CACHE_HOME=$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT/cache"
+      -e "XDG_STATE_HOME=$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT/state"
+      -e "CODEX_HOME=$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT"
+      -e "SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR=$SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR"
+      -e "SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR=$SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR_CONT"
+      -e "SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES=packet-capture"
+      -e "SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR=$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT/state/captures"
+      -e "SLOPTRAP_AUDIT_LOG=$SLOPTRAP_CODEX_HOME_CONT/state/capabilities.log"
+      -e "SLOPTRAP_HOST_UID=$uid"
+      -e "SLOPTRAP_HOST_GID=$gid"
+    )
+    if [[ -n $user ]]; then
+      capture_env_args+=(-e "SLOPTRAP_HOST_USER=$user")
+    fi
+    local -a capture_user_opts=(--userns="keep-id:uid=$uid,gid=$gid")
+    CAPTURE_POD_CREATE_CMD=(
+      "$CONTAINER_ENGINE" pod create
+      --name "$SLOPTRAP_POD_NAME"
+      --network "$SLOPTRAP_NETWORK_NAME"
+    )
+    CAPTURE_HELPER_BASE_CMD=(
+      "$CONTAINER_ENGINE" run -d --rm
+      --name "$SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_CONTAINER_NAME"
+      --pod "$SLOPTRAP_POD_NAME"
+      --cap-drop=ALL
+      --cap-add NET_RAW
+      --cap-add SETUID
+      --cap-add SETGID
+      --cap-add CHOWN
+      --security-opt no-new-privileges
+      "${resource_opts[@]}"
+      --read-only
+      "${tmpfs_opts[@]}"
+      "${volume_opts[@]}"
+      "${IGNORE_MOUNT_ARGS[@]}"
+      "${capture_env_args[@]}"
+      "${capture_user_opts[@]}"
+      -w "$SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR"
+      "$SLOPTRAP_IMAGE_NAME"
+      sleep infinity
+    )
+  fi
+
   CONTAINER_SHARED_OPTS=(
     "${network_opts[@]}"
     "${security_opts[@]}"
@@ -2301,6 +2440,7 @@ build_if_missing() {
 }
 
 stop_container() {
+  stop_packet_capture_helper
   if $DRY_RUN; then
     print_command "$CONTAINER_ENGINE" stop "$SLOPTRAP_CONTAINER_NAME"
     return 0
@@ -2343,15 +2483,17 @@ prune_sloptrap_images() {
 run_codex_command() {
   local -a extra_args=("$@")
   local -a source_args=("$SLOPTRAP_IMAGE_NAME")
+  local -a auth_mount=()
   ensure_codex_storage_paths
-  local -a cmd=("${BASE_CONTAINER_CMD[@]}" "${source_args[@]}" "codex")
+  append_auth_mount_arg false auth_mount
+  local -a cmd=("${BASE_CONTAINER_CMD[@]}" "${auth_mount[@]}" "${source_args[@]}" "codex")
   if [[ ${#CODEX_ARGS_ARRAY[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
     cmd+=("${CODEX_ARGS_ARRAY[@]}")
   fi
   if [[ ${#extra_args[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
     cmd+=("${extra_args[@]}")
   fi
-  run_or_print "${cmd[@]}"
+  run_runtime_container_cmd "${cmd[@]}"
 }
 
 run_codex() {
@@ -2366,21 +2508,25 @@ run_codex() {
 run_login_target() {
   ensure_codex_storage_paths
   local -a source_args=("$SLOPTRAP_IMAGE_NAME")
+  local -a auth_mount=()
   if ! $DRY_RUN; then
     status_line "Login %s\n" "$SLOPTRAP_IMAGE_NAME"
   fi
-  local -a cmd=("${BASE_CONTAINER_CMD[@]}" "${source_args[@]}" "codex" login)
-  run_or_print "${cmd[@]}"
+  append_auth_mount_arg true auth_mount
+  local -a cmd=("${BASE_CONTAINER_CMD[@]}" "${auth_mount[@]}" "${source_args[@]}" "codex" login)
+  run_runtime_container_cmd "${cmd[@]}"
 }
 
 run_shell_target() {
   ensure_codex_storage_paths
   local -a source_args=("$SLOPTRAP_IMAGE_NAME")
+  local -a auth_mount=()
   if ! $DRY_RUN; then
     status_line "Shell %s\n" "$SLOPTRAP_IMAGE_NAME"
   fi
-  local -a cmd=("${BASE_CONTAINER_CMD[@]}" "${source_args[@]}" /bin/bash)
-  run_or_print "${cmd[@]}"
+  append_auth_mount_arg false auth_mount
+  local -a cmd=("${BASE_CONTAINER_CMD[@]}" "${auth_mount[@]}" "${source_args[@]}" /bin/bash)
+  run_runtime_container_cmd "${cmd[@]}"
 }
 
 run_resume_target() {
@@ -2447,6 +2593,7 @@ DRY_RUN=false
 PRINT_CONFIG=false
 SKIP_BUILD_BANNER=false
 TRUST_CAPABILITIES=false
+RUNTIME_PACKET_CAPTURE_ACKNOWLEDGED=false
 
 while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
   case "$1" in
@@ -2599,6 +2746,7 @@ if [[ -n $PACKAGES_EXTRA ]]; then
   validate_package_list "packages_extra" "$PACKAGES_EXTRA"
 fi
 CONTAINER_ENGINE="$(detect_container_engine)"
+ensure_capability_engine_supported
 CODEX_ARGS_ARRAY=("${DEFAULT_CODEX_ARGS[@]}")
 ensure_safe_sandbox "${CODEX_ARGS_ARRAY[@]}"
 CODEX_ARGS_DISPLAY=$DEFAULT_CODEX_ARGS_DISPLAY
diff --git a/tests/README.md b/tests/README.md
index 82ac6c3..7fc4cb7 100644
--- a/tests/README.md
+++ b/tests/README.md
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ Current scenarios:
 - `auth_file_mount` — verifies `~/.codex/auth.json` is mounted directly into `/codex/auth.json`.
 - `project_state_isolation` — verifies different projects map `/codex` to different host state directories.
 - `auto_login_empty_auth` — verifies an empty `auth.json` still triggers automatic login before the main target.
+- `host_network_packet_capture/` — exercises the per-run acknowledgement path for host networking combined with `packet-capture`.
diff --git a/tests/capability_repo/.sloptrap b/tests/capability_repo/.sloptrap
index 45d88bc..d5acc15 100644
--- a/tests/capability_repo/.sloptrap
+++ b/tests/capability_repo/.sloptrap
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 name=capability-repo
 capabilities=apt-install packet-capture
-allow_host_network=true
+allow_host_network=false
diff --git a/tests/host_network_packet_capture/.sloptrap b/tests/host_network_packet_capture/.sloptrap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14eb259
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/host_network_packet_capture/.sloptrap
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+name=host-network-packet-capture
+capabilities=packet-capture
+allow_host_network=true
diff --git a/tests/host_network_repo/.sloptrap b/tests/host_network_repo/.sloptrap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8dec208
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/host_network_repo/.sloptrap
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+name=host-network-repo
+capabilities=apt-install
+allow_host_network=true
diff --git a/tests/run_tests.sh b/tests/run_tests.sh
index eb8b9b2..e422434 100755
--- a/tests/run_tests.sh
+++ b/tests/run_tests.sh
@@ -97,6 +97,47 @@ verify_secret_mounts() {
   return 0
 }
 
+maybe_create_helper_pidfile() {
+  local -a args=("$@")
+  local codex_source=""
+  local helper_dir=""
+  local idx=0
+  while (( idx < ${#args[@]} )); do
+    local arg=${args[$idx]}
+    case "$arg" in
+      -v)
+        idx=$((idx + 1))
+        if (( idx < ${#args[@]} )); then
+          local spec=${args[$idx]}
+          case "$spec" in
+            *:/codex|*:/codex:* )
+              codex_source=${spec%%:/codex*}
+              ;;
+          esac
+        fi
+        ;;
+      -e)
+        idx=$((idx + 1))
+        if (( idx < ${#args[@]} )); then
+          local envspec=${args[$idx]}
+          case "$envspec" in
+            SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR=*)
+              helper_dir=${envspec#SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR=}
+              ;;
+          esac
+        fi
+        ;;
+    esac
+    idx=$((idx + 1))
+  done
+  if [[ -z $codex_source || $helper_dir != /codex/* ]]; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+  local helper_host=${codex_source}/${helper_dir#/codex/}
+  mkdir -p "$helper_host"
+  printf '12345\n' >"$helper_host/helperd.pid"
+}
+
 if [[ ${1-} == "image" && ${2-} == "inspect" && ${FAKE_PODMAN_INSPECT_FAIL:-0} == 1 ]]; then
   if [[ " $* " == *" --format "* ]]; then
     printf 'fake-image-id\n'
@@ -113,10 +154,16 @@ if [[ ${SECRET_MASK_VERIFY:-0} == 1 && ${1-} == "run" ]]; then
   fi
 fi
 
+if [[ ${1-} == "run" ]]; then
+  maybe_create_helper_pidfile "$@"
+fi
+
 echo "FAKE PODMAN: $*" >>"$FAKE_PODMAN_LOG"
 exit 0
 EOF
   chmod +x "$STUB_BIN/podman"
+  cp "$STUB_BIN/podman" "$STUB_BIN/docker"
+  chmod +x "$STUB_BIN/docker"
   cat >"$STUB_BIN/curl" <<'EOF'
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
@@ -367,7 +414,7 @@ run_resume_target() {
 }
 
 run_runtime_context_prompt() {
-  local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/capability_repo"
+  local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/host_network_repo"
   printf '==> runtime_context_prompt\n'
   setup_stub_env
   if ! PATH="$STUB_BIN:$PATH" HOME="$STUB_HOME" FAKE_PODMAN_LOG="$STUB_LOG" FAKE_PODMAN_INSPECT_FAIL=1 \
@@ -382,8 +429,8 @@ run_runtime_context_prompt() {
   if [[ -z $run_line || $run_line != *"You are running inside sloptrap"* ]]; then
     record_failure "runtime_context_prompt: startup prompt missing from fresh run"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "name=capability-repo" "$STUB_LOG" \
-    || ! grep -q -- "enabled_capabilities=apt-install packet-capture" "$STUB_LOG" \
+  if ! grep -q -- "name=host-network-repo" "$STUB_LOG" \
+    || ! grep -q -- "enabled_capabilities=apt-install" "$STUB_LOG" \
     || ! grep -q -- "network_mode=host" "$STUB_LOG"; then
     record_failure "runtime_context_prompt: runtime summary missing manifest or capability state"
   fi
@@ -394,7 +441,7 @@ run_runtime_context_prompt() {
 }
 
 run_sh_reexec() {
-  local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/capability_repo"
+  local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/host_network_repo"
   printf '==> sh_reexec\n'
   setup_stub_env
   if ! PATH="$STUB_BIN:$PATH" HOME="$STUB_HOME" FAKE_PODMAN_LOG="$STUB_LOG" FAKE_PODMAN_INSPECT_FAIL=1 \
@@ -410,7 +457,7 @@ run_sh_reexec() {
 }
 
 run_resume_omits_runtime_context() {
-  local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/capability_repo"
+  local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/host_network_repo"
   local session_id="019a81b7-32d2-7622-8639-6698c6579625"
   printf '==> resume_omits_runtime_context\n'
   setup_stub_env
@@ -442,8 +489,8 @@ run_auth_file_mount() {
     teardown_stub_env
     return
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "-v ${STUB_HOME}/.codex/auth.json:/codex/auth.json:Z" "$STUB_LOG"; then
-    record_failure "auth_file_mount: missing auth file bind mount"
+  if ! grep -q -- "-v ${STUB_HOME}/.codex/auth.json:/codex/auth.json:Z,ro" "$STUB_LOG"; then
+    record_failure "auth_file_mount: auth file should be mounted read-only for normal runs"
   fi
   if ! grep -q -- "-v ${STUB_HOME}/.codex/sloptrap/state/" "$STUB_LOG"; then
     record_failure "auth_file_mount: missing project state bind mount"
@@ -466,8 +513,8 @@ run_codex_home_override() {
     teardown_stub_env
     return
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "-v ${codex_root}/auth.json:/codex/auth.json:Z" "$STUB_LOG"; then
-    record_failure "codex_home_override: missing CODEX_HOME auth file mount"
+  if ! grep -q -- "-v ${codex_root}/auth.json:/codex/auth.json:Z,ro" "$STUB_LOG"; then
+    record_failure "codex_home_override: CODEX_HOME auth file should be mounted read-only for normal runs"
   fi
   if ! grep -q -- "-v ${codex_root}/sloptrap/state/" "$STUB_LOG"; then
     record_failure "codex_home_override: missing CODEX_HOME project state bind mount"
@@ -564,8 +611,11 @@ run_auto_login_empty_auth() {
   if [[ -z $first_run || $first_run != *" login" ]]; then
     record_failure "auto_login_empty_auth: expected login before primary run"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "-v ${STUB_HOME}/.codex/auth.json:/codex/auth.json:Z" "$STUB_LOG"; then
-    record_failure "auto_login_empty_auth: missing auth file bind mount"
+  if [[ -z $first_run || $first_run != *"-v ${STUB_HOME}/.codex/auth.json:/codex/auth.json:Z "* ]]; then
+    record_failure "auto_login_empty_auth: login target should keep auth file writable"
+  fi
+  if ! grep -q -- "-v ${STUB_HOME}/.codex/auth.json:/codex/auth.json:Z,ro" "$STUB_LOG"; then
+    record_failure "auto_login_empty_auth: post-login runtime should remount auth file read-only"
   fi
   teardown_stub_env
 }
@@ -687,6 +737,53 @@ run_invalid_allow_host_network() {
   fi
 }
 
+run_host_network_packet_capture_ack_required() {
+  local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/host_network_packet_capture"
+  printf '==> host_network_packet_capture_ack_required\n'
+  local output_log
+  output_log=$(mktemp)
+  setup_stub_env
+  if PATH="$STUB_BIN:$PATH" HOME="$STUB_HOME" FAKE_PODMAN_LOG="$STUB_LOG" FAKE_PODMAN_INSPECT_FAIL=1 \
+    "$SLOPTRAP_BIN" --trust-capabilities "$scenario_dir" </dev/null >"$output_log" 2>&1; then
+    record_failure "host_network_packet_capture_ack_required: expected failure without interactive acknowledgement"
+  fi
+  if grep -q -- "FAKE PODMAN: run " "$STUB_LOG"; then
+    record_failure "host_network_packet_capture_ack_required: runtime container should not start without acknowledgement"
+  fi
+  teardown_stub_env
+  rm -f "$output_log"
+}
+
+run_host_network_packet_capture_ack_prompt() {
+  local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/host_network_packet_capture"
+  printf '==> host_network_packet_capture_ack_prompt\n'
+  if ! can_run_script_pty; then
+    printf 'skipping host_network_packet_capture_ack_prompt: script PTY support not available\n'
+    return
+  fi
+  local output_log
+  output_log=$(mktemp)
+  setup_stub_env
+  if ! printf 'y\n' | script -q -c "env PATH=\"$STUB_BIN:$PATH\" HOME=\"$STUB_HOME\" FAKE_PODMAN_LOG=\"$STUB_LOG\" FAKE_PODMAN_INSPECT_FAIL=1 \"$SLOPTRAP_BIN\" --trust-capabilities \"$scenario_dir\"" "$output_log" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    record_failure "host_network_packet_capture_ack_prompt: interactive acknowledgement should allow the run"
+    teardown_stub_env
+    rm -f "$output_log"
+    return
+  fi
+  if [[ $(grep -c -- 'Continue with host-network packet capture for this run' "$output_log" || true) -ne 1 ]]; then
+    record_failure "host_network_packet_capture_ack_prompt: expected a single runtime acknowledgement prompt"
+  fi
+  if ! grep -q -- 'capture host-network traffic' "$output_log" \
+    || ! grep -q -- 'transmit spoofed packets' "$output_log"; then
+    record_failure "host_network_packet_capture_ack_prompt: warning should describe concrete consequences"
+  fi
+  if ! grep -q -- "--network host" "$STUB_LOG"; then
+    record_failure "host_network_packet_capture_ack_prompt: host networking run did not reach the container engine"
+  fi
+  teardown_stub_env
+  rm -f "$output_log"
+}
+
 run_wizard_create_manifest() {
   local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/wizard_empty"
   printf '==> wizard_create_manifest\n'
@@ -736,7 +833,7 @@ run_wizard_existing_defaults() {
   if ! grep -qx "packages_extra=make git" "$scenario_dir/.sloptrap"; then
     record_failure "wizard_existing_defaults: packages_extra not preserved"
   fi
-  if ! grep -qx "capabilities=apt-install packet-capture" "$scenario_dir/.sloptrap"; then
+  if ! grep -qx "capabilities=apt-install" "$scenario_dir/.sloptrap"; then
     record_failure "wizard_existing_defaults: capabilities not preserved"
   fi
   if ! grep -qx "allow_host_network=true" "$scenario_dir/.sloptrap"; then
@@ -779,10 +876,31 @@ run_capability_trust_required() {
   teardown_stub_env
 }
 
+run_capabilities_require_podman() {
+  local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/capability_repo"
+  printf '==> capabilities_require_podman\n'
+  local output_log
+  output_log=$(mktemp)
+  setup_stub_env
+  if PATH="$STUB_BIN:$PATH" HOME="$STUB_HOME" SLOPTRAP_CONTAINER_ENGINE=docker \
+    "$SLOPTRAP_BIN" --dry-run "$scenario_dir" >"$output_log" 2>&1; then
+    record_failure "capabilities_require_podman: expected docker capability run to be rejected"
+  elif ! grep -q -- 'capability-enabled runs require podman' "$output_log"; then
+    record_failure "capabilities_require_podman: missing explicit podman requirement"
+  fi
+  teardown_stub_env
+  rm -f "$output_log"
+}
+
 run_capability_profiles() {
   local scenario_dir="$TEST_ROOT/capability_repo"
   printf '==> capability_profiles\n'
   setup_stub_env
+  local main_lines capture_lines pod_lines
+  local expected_build_network="bridge"
+  if command -v slirp4netns >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    expected_build_network="slirp4netns"
+  fi
   if ! PATH="$STUB_BIN:$PATH" HOME="$STUB_HOME" FAKE_PODMAN_LOG="$STUB_LOG" FAKE_PODMAN_INSPECT_FAIL=1 \
     "$SLOPTRAP_BIN" --trust-capabilities "$scenario_dir" </dev/null >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     record_failure "capability_profiles: sloptrap exited non-zero"
@@ -792,44 +910,65 @@ run_capability_profiles() {
   if ! grep -q -- "CAPABILITY_PACKAGES=tcpdump" "$STUB_LOG"; then
     record_failure "capability_profiles: build arg for capability packages missing"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "FAKE PODMAN: build --quiet -t capability-repo-sloptrap-image -f .* --network host " "$STUB_LOG"; then
-    record_failure "capability_profiles: build should inherit host networking"
+  if ! grep -q -- "FAKE PODMAN: build --quiet -t capability-repo-sloptrap-image -f .* --network $expected_build_network " "$STUB_LOG"; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: build should stay on isolated networking"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "--cap-add NET_RAW" "$STUB_LOG"; then
-    record_failure "capability_profiles: NET_RAW capability missing"
+  main_lines=$(grep "FAKE PODMAN: run " "$STUB_LOG" | grep -- "--name capability-repo-sloptrap-container" || true)
+  capture_lines=$(grep "FAKE PODMAN: run " "$STUB_LOG" | grep -- "--name capability-repo-sloptrap-capture" || true)
+  pod_lines=$(grep "FAKE PODMAN: pod create " "$STUB_LOG" | grep -- "--name capability-repo-sloptrap-pod" || true)
+  if [[ -z $main_lines ]]; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: main runtime container did not reach the container engine"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "--cap-add NET_ADMIN" "$STUB_LOG"; then
-    record_failure "capability_profiles: NET_ADMIN capability missing"
+  if [[ -z $pod_lines ]]; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: packet capture should create a dedicated pod"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "--cap-add SETUID" "$STUB_LOG"; then
+  if [[ -z $capture_lines || $capture_lines != *"--cap-add NET_RAW"* ]]; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: capture sidecar should receive NET_RAW"
+  fi
+  if [[ -n $main_lines && $main_lines == *"--cap-add NET_RAW"* ]]; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: main container should not receive NET_RAW"
+  fi
+  if grep -q -- "--cap-add NET_ADMIN" <<<"$capture_lines"; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: NET_ADMIN should not be granted"
+  fi
+  if [[ -z $capture_lines || $capture_lines != *"--cap-add SETUID"* ]]; then
     record_failure "capability_profiles: SETUID capability missing"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "--cap-add SETGID" "$STUB_LOG"; then
+  if [[ -z $capture_lines || $capture_lines != *"--cap-add SETGID"* ]]; then
     record_failure "capability_profiles: SETGID capability missing"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "--cap-add CHOWN" "$STUB_LOG"; then
+  if [[ -z $capture_lines || $capture_lines != *"--cap-add CHOWN"* ]]; then
     record_failure "capability_profiles: CHOWN capability missing"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "--cap-add DAC_OVERRIDE" "$STUB_LOG"; then
-    record_failure "capability_profiles: DAC_OVERRIDE capability missing"
+  if grep -q -- "--cap-add DAC_OVERRIDE" <<<"$capture_lines$main_lines"; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: DAC_OVERRIDE should not be granted"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "--cap-add FOWNER" "$STUB_LOG"; then
-    record_failure "capability_profiles: FOWNER capability missing"
+  if grep -q -- "--cap-add FOWNER" <<<"$capture_lines$main_lines"; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: FOWNER should not be granted"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "--security-opt no-new-privileges" "$STUB_LOG"; then
+  if ! grep -q -- "--security-opt no-new-privileges" <<<"$capture_lines$main_lines"; then
     record_failure "capability_profiles: no-new-privileges missing"
   fi
-  if grep -q -- "--read-only" "$STUB_LOG"; then
+  if grep -q -- "--read-only" <<<"$main_lines"; then
     record_failure "capability_profiles: apt profile should disable read-only rootfs"
   fi
-  if grep -q -- "--user " "$STUB_LOG"; then
+  if grep -q -- "--user " <<<"$main_lines"; then
     record_failure "capability_profiles: capability-enabled run should not force --user"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "--userns=keep-id:uid=$(id -u),gid=$(id -g)" "$STUB_LOG"; then
+  if ! grep -q -- "--userns=keep-id:uid=$(id -u),gid=$(id -g)" <<<"$capture_lines$main_lines"; then
     record_failure "capability_profiles: podman keep-id user namespace missing"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES=apt-install packet-capture" "$STUB_LOG"; then
-    record_failure "capability_profiles: active capability environment missing"
+  if ! grep -q -- "SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES=apt-install" <<<"$main_lines"; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: main helper capability environment missing"
+  fi
+  if ! grep -q -- "SLOPTRAP_PACKET_CAPTURE_ENABLED=1" <<<"$main_lines"; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: main container should advertise packet capture availability"
+  fi
+  if ! grep -q -- "SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR=/codex/state/capture-helper" <<<"$capture_lines"; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: capture sidecar helper dir missing"
+  fi
+  if ! grep -q -- "SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES=packet-capture" <<<"$capture_lines"; then
+    record_failure "capability_profiles: capture sidecar capability environment missing"
   fi
   if ! grep -q -- "SLOPTRAP_HOST_UID=$(id -u)" "$STUB_LOG"; then
     record_failure "capability_profiles: host uid environment missing"
@@ -926,28 +1065,29 @@ EOF
     record_failure "embedded_capability_helpers: entrypoint did not expose helper queue to the dropped user"
   fi
 
-  local autostart_helper_dir
-  autostart_helper_dir="$temp_root/helper-autostart"
-  if ! TEST_TOOL_LOG="$tool_log" PATH="$helper_bin:$PATH" SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR="$autostart_helper_dir" \
+  if grep -q -- "setpriv --reuid 0 --regid 0" "$helper_bin/slop-apt" \
+    || grep -q -- "setpriv --reuid 0 --regid 0" "$helper_bin/slopcap"; then
+    record_failure "embedded_capability_helpers: helper clients should not attempt to regain root"
+  fi
+  if TEST_TOOL_LOG="$tool_log" PATH="$helper_bin:$PATH" SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR="$temp_root/helper-missing" \
     SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES="apt-install packet-capture" \
     SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR="$capture_dir" SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR="$workspace_dir" \
-    SLOPTRAP_AUDIT_LOG="$temp_root/autostart-audit.log" \
-    SLOPTRAP_HOST_UID="$(id -u)" SLOPTRAP_HOST_GID="$(id -g)" \
-    "$helper_bin/slop-apt" install jq >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    record_failure "embedded_capability_helpers: slop-apt did not self-bootstrap the helper daemon"
-  fi
-  if [[ ! -r $autostart_helper_dir/helperd.pid ]]; then
-    record_failure "embedded_capability_helpers: helper self-bootstrap did not create a pid file"
-  else
-    kill "$(cat "$autostart_helper_dir/helperd.pid")" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-    wait "$(cat "$autostart_helper_dir/helperd.pid")" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    "$helper_bin/slop-apt" install jq >"$temp_root/missing-helper.out" 2>"$temp_root/missing-helper.err"; then
+    record_failure "embedded_capability_helpers: slop-apt should fail when the root helper is unavailable"
+  elif ! grep -q -- 'capability helper is unavailable' "$temp_root/missing-helper.err"; then
+    record_failure "embedded_capability_helpers: missing helper failure should explain the boundary"
   fi
 
   TEST_TOOL_LOG="$tool_log" PATH="$helper_bin:$PATH" SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR="$helper_dir" \
     SLOPTRAP_ACTIVE_CAPABILITIES="apt-install packet-capture" \
+    SLOPTRAP_APT_GET_BIN="$helper_bin/apt-get" \
+    SLOPTRAP_TCPDUMP_BIN="$helper_bin/tcpdump" \
     SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR="$capture_dir" SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR="$workspace_dir" \
     SLOPTRAP_AUDIT_LOG="$temp_root/audit.log" "$helper_bin/sloptrap-helperd" >/dev/null 2>&1 &
   helper_pid=$!
+  if ! wait_for_path "$helper_dir/helperd.pid"; then
+    record_failure "embedded_capability_helpers: helper daemon did not publish its pid file"
+  fi
 
   if ! TEST_TOOL_LOG="$tool_log" PATH="$helper_bin:$PATH" SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR="$helper_dir" \
     "$helper_bin/slop-apt" install jq >/dev/null 2>&1; then
@@ -972,17 +1112,19 @@ EOF
 
   if TEST_TOOL_LOG="$tool_log" PATH="$helper_bin:$PATH" SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR="$helper_dir" \
     SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR="$capture_dir" SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR="$workspace_dir" \
+    SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR="$helper_dir" SLOPTRAP_PACKET_CAPTURE_ENABLED=1 \
     "$helper_bin/slopcap" capture --interface eth0 --output /tmp/escape.pcap >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     record_failure "embedded_capability_helpers: slopcap accepted an out-of-bounds output path"
   fi
 
   if ! TEST_TOOL_LOG="$tool_log" PATH="$helper_bin:$PATH" SLOPTRAP_HELPER_DIR="$helper_dir" \
     SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_DIR="$capture_dir" SLOPTRAP_WORKDIR="$workspace_dir" \
+    SLOPTRAP_CAPTURE_HELPER_DIR="$helper_dir" SLOPTRAP_PACKET_CAPTURE_ENABLED=1 \
     "$helper_bin/slopcap" capture --interface eth0 --filter 'tcp port 80' \
     --output "$workspace_dir/capture.pcap" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     record_failure "embedded_capability_helpers: slopcap failed for a workspace-local capture file"
   fi
-  if ! grep -q -- "tcpdump -i eth0 -w $workspace_dir/capture.pcap -- tcp port 80" "$tool_log"; then
+  if ! grep -q -- "tcpdump -p -i eth0 -w $workspace_dir/capture.pcap -- tcp port 80" "$tool_log"; then
     record_failure "embedded_capability_helpers: slopcap did not invoke tcpdump with the expected guarded arguments"
   fi
 
@@ -1080,11 +1222,14 @@ run_invalid_manifest_sandbox
 run_invalid_manifest_packages
 run_invalid_manifest_capabilities
 run_invalid_allow_host_network
+run_host_network_packet_capture_ack_required
+run_host_network_packet_capture_ack_prompt
 run_removed_nested_podman_manifest
 run_wizard_create_manifest
 run_wizard_existing_defaults
 run_wizard_build_trigger
 run_capability_trust_required
+run_capabilities_require_podman
 run_capability_profiles
 run_embedded_capability_helpers
 run_make_install_single_file
diff --git a/tests/wizard_existing/.sloptrap b/tests/wizard_existing/.sloptrap
index 1cb5ede..15575dc 100644
--- a/tests/wizard_existing/.sloptrap
+++ b/tests/wizard_existing/.sloptrap
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 name=custom-wizard
 packages_extra=make git
-capabilities=apt-install packet-capture
+capabilities=apt-install
 allow_host_network=true