diff --git a/docs/adb-device-analysis.md b/docs/adb-device-analysis.md
index 416e78161f..fb2ce9aac7 100644
--- a/docs/adb-device-analysis.md
+++ b/docs/adb-device-analysis.md
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ existing analysis families directly, for example
 | `list_adb_packages`     | read               | `pm list packages -f` with scope; base APK device paths                                                                                                                   |
 | `resolve_adb_packages`  | read               | Case-insensitive package-name substring search with exact-match flag                                                                                                      |
 | `inspect_adb_package`   | read               | `dumpsys package` projection: versions, install times, installer, flags, permission count                                                                                 |
-| `list_adb_directory`    | read               | `ls -la`: kinds, permissions, owner, group, sizes, symlink targets                                                                                                        |
+| `list_adb_directory`    | read               | NUL-framed immediate children, including hidden entries: kinds, permissions, owner, group, sizes, symlink targets                                                         |
 | `pull_adb_package`      | read               | Complete split APK set from `pm path`, each file digested                                                                                                                 |
 | `pull_adb_file`         | read               | One absolute device path pulled and digested                                                                                                                              |
 | `capture_adb_screen`    | read               | One `screencap -p` frame (exec-out, no device-side file) with dimensions                                                                                                  |
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ existing analysis families directly, for example
 
 ## Interpret the result
 
+- **Directory names retain whitespace and newlines.** Symlink targets do too,
+  including trailing newlines. Records containing invalid UTF-8 remain as
+  labelled hex in `unparsed_lines` and make directory coverage partial.
 - **Inferences carry their basis.** Device `kind` reports
   `kind_basis` (serial prefix or USB transport); APK `role` reports
   `role_basis: file_name`; `emulator_observed` is the build's own
diff --git a/src/adb/AdbDirectoryListing.ts b/src/adb/AdbDirectoryListing.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a8c055ad6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/adb/AdbDirectoryListing.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+import { isUtf8 } from "node:buffer";
+
+interface AdbDirectoryEntry {
+  readonly name: string;
+  readonly kind: "directory" | "file" | "symlink" | "other";
+  readonly permissions: string | null;
+  readonly owner: string | null;
+  readonly group: string | null;
+  readonly bytes: number | null;
+  readonly date: string | null;
+  readonly link_target: string | null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * List direct children with Android 8 Toybox's batched `find -exec` and
+ * `stat -c` support. Names and link targets are NUL-framed; neither is ever
+ * inserted into a line-oriented metadata record or command substitution.
+ */
+export const ADB_DIRECTORY_BATCH_SCRIPT = String.raw`metadata=$(stat -c '%A|%U|%G|%s|%y' "$@") || exit
+printf '%s\n' "$metadata" | {
+  while IFS= read -r metadata; do
+    [ "$#" -gt 0 ] || exit 1
+    path=$1
+    shift
+    printf '%s\000%s\000' "$metadata" "${"${path##*/}"}"
+    case "$metadata" in
+      l*) readlink -n "$path" || exit 1 ;;
+    esac
+    printf '\000'
+  done
+  [ "$#" -eq 0 ]
+}`;
+
+const METADATA =
+  /^([bcdlps-][rwxstST-]{9})\|([^|\n]+)\|([^|\n]+)\|(\d+)\|([^|\n]+)$/u;
+
+const parseEntry = (
+  metadata: string,
+  name: string,
+  linkTarget: string,
+): AdbDirectoryEntry | null => {
+  const match = METADATA.exec(metadata);
+  if (match === null || name === "" || name.includes("/")) return null;
+  const permissions = match[1]!;
+  const bytes = Number(match[4]!);
+  if (!Number.isSafeInteger(bytes)) return null;
+
+  const isSymlink = permissions.startsWith("l");
+  if (isSymlink ? linkTarget === "" : linkTarget !== "") return null;
+
+  return {
+    name,
+    kind: permissions.startsWith("d")
+      ? "directory"
+      : isSymlink
+        ? "symlink"
+        : permissions.startsWith("-")
+          ? "file"
+          : "other",
+    permissions,
+    owner: match[2]!,
+    group: match[3]!,
+    bytes,
+    date: match[5]!,
+    link_target: isSymlink ? linkTarget : null,
+  };
+};
+
+/** Parse metadata/name/target NUL triples from `ADB_DIRECTORY_BATCH_SCRIPT`. */
+export const parseAdbDirectoryListing = (
+  stdout: Buffer,
+): {
+  entries: readonly AdbDirectoryEntry[];
+  unparsedLines: readonly string[];
+} => {
+  const entries: AdbDirectoryEntry[] = [];
+  const unparsedLines: string[] = [];
+  let offset = 0;
+  while (offset < stdout.length) {
+    const metadataEnd = stdout.indexOf(0, offset);
+    const nameEnd = metadataEnd < 0 ? -1 : stdout.indexOf(0, metadataEnd + 1);
+    const targetEnd = nameEnd < 0 ? -1 : stdout.indexOf(0, nameEnd + 1);
+    if (targetEnd < 0) {
+      unparsedLines.push(describeUnparsedRecord(stdout.subarray(offset)));
+      break;
+    }
+    const rawRecord = stdout.subarray(offset, targetEnd + 1);
+    if (!isUtf8(rawRecord)) {
+      unparsedLines.push(describeUnparsedRecord(rawRecord));
+    } else {
+      const entry = parseEntry(
+        stdout.toString("utf8", offset, metadataEnd),
+        stdout.toString("utf8", metadataEnd + 1, nameEnd),
+        stdout.toString("utf8", nameEnd + 1, targetEnd),
+      );
+      if (entry === null) unparsedLines.push(rawRecord.toString("utf8"));
+      else entries.push(entry);
+    }
+    offset = targetEnd + 1;
+  }
+
+  return { entries, unparsedLines };
+};
+
+const describeUnparsedRecord = (record: Buffer): string =>
+  isUtf8(record)
+    ? record.toString("utf8")
+    : `Invalid UTF-8 directory record (hex): ${record.toString("hex")}`;
diff --git a/src/adb/AdbProvider.test.ts b/src/adb/AdbProvider.test.ts
index 9ea0f026b4..f9fb6f5201 100644
--- a/src/adb/AdbProvider.test.ts
+++ b/src/adb/AdbProvider.test.ts
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ const shellStub = (
         second === undefined
           ? `[ "$4" = "${first}" ]`
           : `[ "$4" = "${first}" ] && [ "$5" = "${second}" ]`;
-      return `  if ${guard}; then printf '%b' '${output.replace(/'/gu, "'\\''")}'; exit 0; fi`;
+      return `  if ${guard}; then printf '%b' '${output.replaceAll("\\", "\\\\").replaceAll("\0", "\\000").replace(/'/gu, "'\\''")}'; exit 0; fi`;
     })
     .join("\n");
   return () => `if [ "$1" = "version" ]; then ${VERSION_BLOCK}; exit 0; fi
@@ -780,42 +780,74 @@ it("lists processes, features, and services through fixed commands", async () =>
   ]);
 });
 
-it("lists a device directory with kinds and symlink targets", async () => {
-  const { binary } = await writeAdbStub(
-    shellStub({
-      ls: "total 4\n-rw-rw---- u0_a1 u0_a1 4096 2026-01-02 11:00 app.db\nlrwxrwxrwx root root 2026-01-01 10:00 lib -> /apex/com.android.art/lib\n",
-    }),
-  );
-  const result = await evidenceResult(providerOver(binary), {
-    operation: "list_adb_directory",
-    input: {
-      serial: "emulator-5554",
-      device_path: "/data/data/com.example.app",
-    },
-  });
-  expect(result.entries).toEqual([
-    {
-      name: "app.db",
-      kind: "file",
-      permissions: "-rw-rw----",
-      owner: "u0_a1",
-      group: "u0_a1",
-      bytes: 4096,
-      date: "2026-01-02 11:00",
-      link_target: null,
-    },
-    {
-      name: "lib",
-      kind: "symlink",
-      permissions: "lrwxrwxrwx",
-      owner: "root",
-      group: "root",
-      bytes: null,
-      date: "2026-01-01 10:00",
-      link_target: "/apex/com.android.art/lib",
-    },
-  ]);
-});
+it.each(["complete", "truncated"] as const)(
+  "preserves framed directory identities with %s output",
+  async (variant) => {
+    const date = "2026-01-02 11:00:00.000000000 +0000";
+    const names = [
+      "app.db",
+      " app.db ",
+      "   ",
+      "one -> two -> three",
+      "line\r",
+      "line\u2028break",
+      "foo\n-rw-rw---- root root 0 2026-01-01 10:00 ghost",
+      "literal\\n",
+    ];
+    const links = [
+      ["lib", "/apex/com.android.art/lib"],
+      [" lib ", " /apex/lib "],
+      ["one -> two\n", "three -> four\n\n"],
+    ] as const;
+    const truncated = `-rw-rw----|u0_a1|u0_a1|4096|${date}\0unfinished`;
+    const output = [
+      ...names.map(
+        (name) => `-rw-rw----|u0_a1|u0_a1|4096|${date}\0${name}\0\0`,
+      ),
+      ...links.map(
+        ([name, target]) =>
+          `lrwxrwxrwx|root|root|${Buffer.byteLength(target)}|${date}\0${name}\0${target}\0`,
+      ),
+      ...(variant === "truncated" ? [truncated] : []),
+    ].join("");
+    const { binary } = await writeAdbStub(shellStub({ sh: output }));
+    const result = await evidenceResult(providerOver(binary), {
+      operation: "list_adb_directory",
+      input: {
+        serial: "emulator-5554",
+        device_path: "/data/data/com.example.app",
+      },
+    });
+    expect(result.entries).toEqual([
+      ...names.map((name) => ({
+        name,
+        kind: "file",
+        permissions: "-rw-rw----",
+        owner: "u0_a1",
+        group: "u0_a1",
+        bytes: 4096,
+        date,
+        link_target: null,
+      })),
+      ...links.map(([name, target]) => ({
+        name,
+        kind: "symlink",
+        permissions: "lrwxrwxrwx",
+        owner: "root",
+        group: "root",
+        bytes: Buffer.byteLength(target),
+        date,
+        link_target: target,
+      })),
+    ]);
+    expect(result.unparsed_lines).toEqual(
+      variant === "truncated" ? [truncated] : [],
+    );
+    expect(result.coverage).toBe(
+      variant === "truncated" ? "partial" : "complete",
+    );
+  },
+);
 
 it("inspects the display and window focus", async () => {
   const { binary } = await writeAdbStub(
diff --git a/src/adb/AdbProvider.ts b/src/adb/AdbProvider.ts
index eec3169786..2a64930a56 100644
--- a/src/adb/AdbProvider.ts
+++ b/src/adb/AdbProvider.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import { execFile } from "node:child_process";
 import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
 import { constants as fsConstants } from "node:fs";
 import {
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ import { err, ok, type Result } from "../domain/result.js";
 import { hashStableFile } from "../filesystem/StableFileHash.js";
 import { ProviderCleanupError } from "../domain/providerCleanupError.js";
 import {
-  execFileOutput,
+  execFileBytes,
   execFileOutputFailure,
 } from "../process/ExecFileOutput.js";
 import {
@@ -56,12 +55,15 @@ import {
   parsePmPathOutput,
 } from "./AdbDeviceOutput.js";
 import { adbHostFileName } from "./AdbHostFileName.js";
+import {
+  ADB_DIRECTORY_BATCH_SCRIPT,
+  parseAdbDirectoryListing,
+} from "./AdbDirectoryListing.js";
 import {
   parseAmStartOutput,
   parseBugreportCopiedPath,
   parseDumpsysPackageOutput,
   parseFeatureListOutput,
-  parseLsOutput,
   parsePackageChangeOutput,
   parseProcessListOutput,
   parsePngDimensions,
@@ -105,7 +107,6 @@ const BUGREPORT_TIMEOUT_MS = 600_000;
 const BUGREPORT_MAX_OUTPUT_BYTES = 1024 * 1024;
 const STDERR_EXCERPT_BYTES = 512;
 const UNPARSED_LINES_REPORTED = 10;
-const STOP_GRACE_MS = 5_000;
 
 const hashAdbFile = async (
   path: string,
@@ -144,19 +145,19 @@ interface AdbRunLimits {
 }
 
 /** Run one bounded adb invocation and keep its exact failure shape. */
-const runAdb = async (
+const runAdbCapture = async (
   operation: string,
   targetPath: string,
   binary: string,
   arguments_: readonly string[],
   limits: AdbRunLimits,
   signal: AbortSignal | undefined,
-): Promise<Result<{ stdout: string; stderr: string }, AnalysisError>> => {
+): Promise<Result<{ stdout: Buffer; stderr: Buffer }, AnalysisError>> => {
   if (signal?.aborted === true)
     return err(new AnalysisCancelledError(operation));
   try {
     return ok(
-      await execFileOutput(binary, arguments_, {
+      await execFileBytes(binary, arguments_, {
         timeout: limits.timeoutMs,
         maxBuffer: limits.maxOutputBytes,
         stopSignal: "SIGTERM",
@@ -223,61 +224,17 @@ const runAdb = async (
   }
 };
 
-/** Capture one adb invocation's raw binary stdout (screencap PNG). */
-const runAdbBinary = (
-  operation: string,
-  binary: string,
-  arguments_: readonly string[],
-  limits: AdbRunLimits,
-  signal: AbortSignal | undefined,
-): Promise<Result<Buffer, AnalysisError>> =>
-  new Promise((settle) => {
-    if (signal?.aborted === true)
-      return settle(err(new AnalysisCancelledError(operation)));
-    let stopped: "abort" | "timeout" | undefined;
-    let deadline: NodeJS.Timeout | undefined;
-    let grace: NodeJS.Timeout | undefined;
-    const child = execFile(
-      binary,
-      [...arguments_],
-      {
-        encoding: "buffer" as const,
-        maxBuffer: limits.maxOutputBytes,
-        killSignal: "SIGTERM",
-        timeout: 0,
-      },
-      (error, stdout) => {
-        signal?.removeEventListener("abort", onAbort);
-        clearTimeout(deadline);
-        clearTimeout(grace);
-        if (stopped === "abort")
-          return settle(err(new AnalysisCancelledError(operation)));
-        if (stopped === "timeout")
-          return settle(
-            err(new AnalysisTimeoutError(operation, limits.timeoutMs)),
-          );
-        if (error !== null)
-          return settle(
-            err(
-              new AnalysisProtocolError(
-                `adb failed for ${operation}: ${error.message}`,
-                { cause: error },
-              ),
-            ),
-          );
-        settle(ok(stdout as Buffer));
-      },
-    );
-    const stop = (reason: "abort" | "timeout"): void => {
-      if (stopped !== undefined) return;
-      stopped = reason;
-      child.kill("SIGTERM");
-      grace = setTimeout(() => child.kill("SIGKILL"), STOP_GRACE_MS);
-    };
-    const onAbort = (): void => stop("abort");
-    signal?.addEventListener("abort", onAbort, { once: true });
-    deadline = setTimeout(() => stop("timeout"), limits.timeoutMs);
+/** Decode textual adb protocols after the shared byte capture and error boundary. */
+const runAdb = async (
+  ...arguments_: Parameters<typeof runAdbCapture>
+): Promise<Result<{ stdout: string; stderr: string }, AnalysisError>> => {
+  const captured = await runAdbCapture(...arguments_);
+  if (!captured.ok) return captured;
+  return ok({
+    stdout: captured.value.stdout.toString("utf8"),
+    stderr: captured.value.stderr.toString("utf8"),
   });
+};
 
 const clientIdentityResult = (
   selection: AdbBinarySelection,
@@ -947,12 +904,29 @@ export class AdbProvider {
         );
       }
       case "list_adb_directory": {
-        const ran = await shell(["ls", "-la", request.input.device_path], {
-          timeoutMs: LISTING_TIMEOUT_MS,
-          maxOutputBytes: LISTING_MAX_OUTPUT_BYTES,
-        });
+        const ran = await runAdbCapture(
+          operation,
+          request.input.serial,
+          selection.binary,
+          adbArguments(request.input.serial, [
+            "shell",
+            "sh",
+            "-c",
+            'cd "$1" || exit\nexec find . -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -exec sh -c "$2" rea-list-directory {} +',
+            "rea-list-directory",
+            request.input.device_path,
+            ADB_DIRECTORY_BATCH_SCRIPT,
+          ]),
+          {
+            timeoutMs: LISTING_TIMEOUT_MS,
+            maxOutputBytes: LISTING_MAX_OUTPUT_BYTES,
+          },
+          signal,
+        );
         if (!ran.ok) return ran;
-        const { entries, unparsedLines } = parseLsOutput(ran.value.stdout);
+        const { entries, unparsedLines } = parseAdbDirectoryListing(
+          ran.value.stdout,
+        );
         return ok(
           createAnalysisExecution(
             {
@@ -965,7 +939,7 @@ export class AdbProvider {
             provider,
             {
               limitations: [
-                "Entry kinds derive from the permission string's type character",
+                "Entry kinds derive from stat permission mode; directory contents and link targets may change during capture",
                 ...unparsedOverflowLimitation(unparsedLines),
               ],
             },
@@ -2046,15 +2020,16 @@ export class AdbProvider {
     const localPath = join(directory.value, "screen.png");
     const existing = await refuseExistingTarget(operation, localPath);
     if (existing !== undefined) return err(existing);
-    const captured = await runAdbBinary(
+    const captured = await runAdbCapture(
       operation,
+      input.serial,
       selection.binary,
       adbArguments(input.serial, ["exec-out", "screencap", "-p"]),
       { timeoutMs: SCREEN_TIMEOUT_MS, maxOutputBytes: SCREEN_MAX_OUTPUT_BYTES },
       signal,
     );
     if (!captured.ok) return captured;
-    const dimensions = parsePngDimensions(captured.value);
+    const dimensions = parsePngDimensions(captured.value.stdout);
     if (dimensions.width === null)
       return err(
         new AnalysisProtocolError(
@@ -2062,7 +2037,7 @@ export class AdbProvider {
         ),
       );
     try {
-      await writeFile(localPath, captured.value, { flag: "wx" });
+      await writeFile(localPath, captured.value.stdout, { flag: "wx" });
     } catch (cause) {
       return err(
         new AnalysisOutputError(
@@ -2072,14 +2047,16 @@ export class AdbProvider {
         ),
       );
     }
-    const sha256 = createHash("sha256").update(captured.value).digest("hex");
+    const sha256 = createHash("sha256")
+      .update(captured.value.stdout)
+      .digest("hex");
     return ok(
       createAnalysisExecution(
         {
           client,
           serial: input.serial,
           local_path: localPath,
-          bytes: captured.value.byteLength,
+          bytes: captured.value.stdout.byteLength,
           sha256,
           width: dimensions.width,
           height: dimensions.height,
diff --git a/src/adb/AdbShellOutput.ts b/src/adb/AdbShellOutput.ts
index a67cf8e89a..97720366f4 100644
--- a/src/adb/AdbShellOutput.ts
+++ b/src/adb/AdbShellOutput.ts
@@ -53,65 +53,6 @@ export const parseProcessListOutput = (
   return { columns, processes, unparsedLines };
 };
 
-export interface AdbDirectoryEntry {
-  readonly name: string;
-  readonly kind: "directory" | "file" | "symlink" | "other";
-  readonly permissions: string | null;
-  readonly owner: string | null;
-  readonly group: string | null;
-  readonly bytes: number | null;
-  readonly date: string | null;
-  readonly link_target: string | null;
-}
-
-const LS_LINE =
-  /^([bcdlps-][rwxstST-]{9})\s+(?:(\d+)\s+)?(\S+)\s+(\S+)\s+(?:(\d+)\s+)?([\d-]{10})\s+([\d:]{4,8})\s+(.+)$/u;
-
-/** Parse `ls -la` output, including `total` headers and symlink targets. */
-export const parseLsOutput = (
-  stdout: string,
-): {
-  entries: readonly AdbDirectoryEntry[];
-  unparsedLines: readonly string[];
-} => {
-  const entries: AdbDirectoryEntry[] = [];
-  const unparsedLines: string[] = [];
-  for (const rawLine of stdout.split(/\r?\n/u)) {
-    const line = rawLine.trimEnd();
-    if (line === "" || line.startsWith("total ")) continue;
-    const match = LS_LINE.exec(line);
-    if (match === null) {
-      if (line.trim() !== "") unparsedLines.push(line);
-      continue;
-    }
-    const permissions = match[1]!;
-    let name = match[8]!.trim();
-    let linkTarget: string | null = null;
-    const linkArrow = name.indexOf(" -> ");
-    if (linkArrow !== -1 && permissions.startsWith("l")) {
-      linkTarget = name.slice(linkArrow + 4);
-      name = name.slice(0, linkArrow);
-    }
-    entries.push({
-      name,
-      kind: permissions.startsWith("d")
-        ? "directory"
-        : permissions.startsWith("l")
-          ? "symlink"
-          : permissions.startsWith("-")
-            ? "file"
-            : "other",
-      permissions,
-      owner: match[3] ?? null,
-      group: match[4] ?? null,
-      bytes: match[5] === undefined ? null : Number(match[5]),
-      date: `${match[6] ?? ""} ${match[7] ?? ""}`.trim() || null,
-      link_target: linkTarget,
-    });
-  }
-  return { entries, unparsedLines };
-};
-
 export interface AdbFeatureEntry {
   readonly name: string;
   readonly version: number | null;
diff --git a/src/contracts/adb/adbToolContracts.ts b/src/contracts/adb/adbToolContracts.ts
index 30377069a5..0ebd39790f 100644
--- a/src/contracts/adb/adbToolContracts.ts
+++ b/src/contracts/adb/adbToolContracts.ts
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ export const ADB_TOOL_CONTRACTS = [
     name: "list_adb_directory",
     ...toolContractMetadata("list_adb_directory"),
     description:
-      "List one absolute device directory (`ls -la`): names, kinds, permissions, owner, group, sizes, dates, and symlink targets. Recognizes the standard errors for absent paths and denied reads. Read-only.",
+      "List the immediate children of one absolute device directory, including hidden entries: names, kinds, permissions, owner, group, sizes, dates, and symlink targets. Names and targets preserve embedded newlines. Recognizes the standard errors for absent paths and denied reads. Read-only.",
     kind: "adb-provider",
     inputSchema: adbInputSchemas.list_adb_directory,
     outputSchema: evidenceResultOf(adbResultSchemas.list_adb_directory),
diff --git a/src/domain/adb/adbDeviceAnalysis.ts b/src/domain/adb/adbDeviceAnalysis.ts
index 37c72dbca9..fd956dde98 100644
--- a/src/domain/adb/adbDeviceAnalysis.ts
+++ b/src/domain/adb/adbDeviceAnalysis.ts
@@ -149,7 +149,9 @@ export const adbInputSchemas = {
       .string()
       .min(1)
       .regex(/^\/[^\x00]*$/u, "Device path must be absolute")
-      .describe("Absolute device directory path to list (ls -la)"),
+      .describe(
+        "Absolute device directory path to list, including hidden children",
+      ),
   }),
   list_adb_features: z.strictObject({
     serial: deviceSerialSchema.describe(
diff --git a/src/process/ExecFileOutput.test.ts b/src/process/ExecFileOutput.test.ts
index f4d690e336..78d87800a3 100644
--- a/src/process/ExecFileOutput.test.ts
+++ b/src/process/ExecFileOutput.test.ts
@@ -5,9 +5,19 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
 import { createTestTempDirectory } from "../../tests/fixtures/temporaryDirectory.js";
 
-import { execFileOutput } from "./ExecFileOutput.js";
+import { execFileBytes, execFileOutput } from "./ExecFileOutput.js";
 
 describe("execFileOutput", () => {
+  it("preserves captured bytes for callers that own the output format", async () => {
+    const result = await execFileBytes(process.execPath, [
+      "-e",
+      "process.stdout.write(Buffer.from([0x00, 0xff, 0x41])); process.stderr.write(Buffer.from([0xfe]));",
+    ]);
+
+    expect(result.stdout).toEqual(Buffer.from([0x00, 0xff, 0x41]));
+    expect(result.stderr).toEqual(Buffer.from([0xfe]));
+  });
+
   it("captures output larger than Node's default execFile limit", async () => {
     const marker = "tail-marker";
     const result = await execFileOutput(process.execPath, [
diff --git a/src/process/ExecFileOutput.ts b/src/process/ExecFileOutput.ts
index dd6aaae620..08046d83d3 100644
--- a/src/process/ExecFileOutput.ts
+++ b/src/process/ExecFileOutput.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import {
   execFile,
-  type ExecFileOptionsWithStringEncoding,
+  type ExecFileOptionsWithBufferEncoding,
 } from "node:child_process";
 
 type ExecFileOutputOptions = Omit<
-  ExecFileOptionsWithStringEncoding,
+  ExecFileOptionsWithBufferEncoding,
   "encoding" | "maxBuffer"
 > & {
   readonly maxBuffer?: number;
@@ -100,12 +100,12 @@ export const execFileOutputFailure = (
   };
 };
 
-/** Run a shell-free command while capturing its complete UTF-8 output. */
-export const execFileOutput = (
+/** Run a shell-free command while capturing its complete output bytes. */
+export const execFileBytes = (
   command: string,
   arguments_: readonly string[],
   options: ExecFileOutputOptions = {},
-): Promise<{ readonly stdout: string; readonly stderr: string }> =>
+): Promise<{ readonly stdout: Buffer; readonly stderr: Buffer }> =>
   new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     const { stopSignal, signal, timeout, ...execOptions } = options;
     const invalid = timeout === undefined ? undefined : invalidTimeout(timeout);
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ export const execFileOutput = (
               ...(timeout === undefined ? {} : { timeout }),
             }
           : { killSignal: stopSignal }),
-        encoding: "utf8",
+        encoding: "buffer",
         maxBuffer: options.maxBuffer ?? Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY,
       },
       (error, stdout, stderr) => {
@@ -148,8 +148,8 @@ export const execFileOutput = (
               ? timeoutError(command, timeout, error)
               : error;
         if (failure !== null) {
-          Reflect.set(failure, "stdout", stdout);
-          Reflect.set(failure, "stderr", stderr);
+          Reflect.set(failure, "stdout", stdout.toString("utf8"));
+          Reflect.set(failure, "stderr", stderr.toString("utf8"));
           reject(failure);
           return;
         }
@@ -173,3 +173,14 @@ export const execFileOutput = (
         stop("timeout");
       }, timeout);
   });
+
+/** Run a shell-free command while capturing its complete UTF-8 output. */
+export const execFileOutput = (
+  command: string,
+  arguments_: readonly string[],
+  options: ExecFileOutputOptions = {},
+): Promise<{ readonly stdout: string; readonly stderr: string }> =>
+  execFileBytes(command, arguments_, options).then(({ stdout, stderr }) => ({
+    stdout: stdout.toString("utf8"),
+    stderr: stderr.toString("utf8"),
+  }));
diff --git a/tests/boundary/process/adbDirectoryListing.test.ts b/tests/boundary/process/adbDirectoryListing.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e060144dbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/boundary/process/adbDirectoryListing.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,288 @@
+import { execFile } from "node:child_process";
+import { chmod, mkdir, readFile, symlink, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { promisify } from "node:util";
+import { expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { createTestTempDirectory } from "../../fixtures/temporaryDirectory.js";
+import { AdbProvider } from "../../../src/adb/AdbProvider.js";
+import { adbResultSchemas } from "../../../src/domain/adb/adbDeviceAnalysis.js";
+import {
+  ADB_DIRECTORY_BATCH_SCRIPT,
+  parseAdbDirectoryListing,
+} from "../../../src/adb/AdbDirectoryListing.js";
+
+const execFileAsync = promisify(execFile);
+const itPosix = it.skipIf(process.platform === "win32");
+
+// AOSP Toybox stat's documented %A/%U/%G/%s/%y conversions are fixed-format
+// metadata fields. This shim models those fields from host lstat data; it does
+// not claim to exercise an Android device's Toybox binary.
+const statShim = String.raw`#!${process.execPath}
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+fs.appendFileSync(process.env.STAT_CALLS, args.slice(2).length + '\n');
+const fail = process.env.STAT_FAIL_PATH;
+for (const path of args.slice(2)) {
+  if (path === fail) {
+    process.stdout.write('-rw-r--r--|1000|1000|1|2026-10-12 00:00:00\n');
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+  const stat = fs.lstatSync(path);
+  const kind = stat.isSymbolicLink() ? 'l' : stat.isDirectory() ? 'd' : '-';
+  const permissions = kind + 'rw-r--r--';
+  process.stdout.write(permissions + '|1000|1000|' + stat.size + '|2026-10-12 00:00:00\n');
+}`;
+
+const readlinkShim = String.raw`#!${process.execPath}
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+fs.appendFileSync(process.env.READLINK_CALLS, 'called\n');
+process.stdout.write(fs.readlinkSync(process.argv[3]));
+`;
+
+const makeTool = async (directory: string, name: string, contents: string) => {
+  const path = join(directory, name);
+  await writeFile(path, contents);
+  await chmod(path, 0o755);
+  return path;
+};
+
+const shellQuote = (value: string): string =>
+  "'" + value.replaceAll("'", "'\\''") + "'";
+
+const makeFakeAdb = async (
+  directory: string,
+  toolDirectory: string,
+  calls: string,
+  linkCalls: string,
+) => {
+  const path = join(directory, "fakeadb");
+  await writeFile(
+    path,
+    `#!/bin/sh
+if [ "$1" = version ]; then
+  printf 'Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.41\\nVersion 34.0.5-stub\\nInstalled as %s\\n' "$0"
+  exit 0
+fi
+if [ "$1" = -s ]; then shift 2; fi
+[ "$1" = shell ] || exit 90
+shift
+export PATH=${shellQuote(`${toolDirectory}:` + (process.env.PATH ?? ""))}
+export STAT_CALLS=${shellQuote(calls)}
+export READLINK_CALLS=${shellQuote(linkCalls)}
+exec /bin/sh -c "$*"
+`,
+    { mode: 0o755 },
+  );
+  await chmod(path, 0o755);
+  return path;
+};
+
+const makeRawOutputFakeAdb = async (
+  directory: string,
+  rawOutput: Buffer,
+): Promise<string> => {
+  const path = join(directory, "fakeadb-raw-output");
+  const encoded = rawOutput.toString("base64");
+  await writeFile(
+    path,
+    `#!/bin/sh
+if [ "$1" = version ]; then
+  printf 'Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.41\\nVersion 34.0.5-stub\\nInstalled as %s\\n' "$0"
+  exit 0
+fi
+if [ "$1" = -s ]; then shift 2; fi
+[ "$1" = shell ] || exit 90
+exec ${shellQuote(process.execPath)} -e 'process.stdout.write(Buffer.from("${encoded}", "base64"))'
+`,
+    { mode: 0o755 },
+  );
+  await chmod(path, 0o755);
+  return path;
+};
+
+const runScript = async (
+  script: string,
+  paths: readonly string[],
+  environment: NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
+) => {
+  const { stdout } = await execFileAsync(
+    "/bin/sh",
+    ["-c", script, "rea-list-directory", ...paths],
+    { encoding: "buffer", env: environment, maxBuffer: 64 * 1024 },
+  );
+  return stdout;
+};
+
+itPosix(
+  "lists adversarial names through the complete adb provider command",
+  async () => {
+    const root = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-adb-directory-listing-");
+    const bin = join(root, "bin");
+    const deviceDirectory = join(root, "device dir ' $");
+    await mkdir(bin);
+    await mkdir(deviceDirectory);
+    const calls = join(root, "stat-calls");
+    const linkCalls = join(root, "readlink-calls");
+    await writeFile(calls, "");
+    await writeFile(linkCalls, "");
+    await makeTool(bin, "stat", statShim);
+    await makeTool(bin, "readlink", readlinkShim);
+
+    const names = [
+      "line\nbreak",
+      "arrow -> tick` quote' space",
+      "carriage\r雪",
+      "tail\n",
+      ".hidden",
+    ];
+    const paths: string[] = [];
+    for (const name of names) {
+      const path = join(deviceDirectory, name);
+      await writeFile(path, "x");
+      paths.push(path);
+    }
+    const nested = join(deviceDirectory, "nested");
+    await mkdir(nested);
+    await writeFile(join(nested, "ghost"), "not a direct child");
+    paths.push(nested);
+    const target = "target -> `quoted'\n雪\n";
+    const link = join(deviceDirectory, "link\nname");
+    await symlink(target, link);
+    paths.push(link);
+    const binary = await makeFakeAdb(root, bin, calls, linkCalls);
+
+    const execution = await new AdbProvider({
+      environment: { REA_ADB_PATH: binary },
+    }).execute({
+      operation: "list_adb_directory",
+      input: { serial: "test-device", device_path: deviceDirectory },
+    });
+    if (!execution.ok) throw execution.error;
+    const result = adbResultSchemas.list_adb_directory.parse(
+      execution.value.result,
+    );
+    expect(result.device_path).toBe(deviceDirectory);
+    expect(result.unparsed_lines).toEqual([]);
+    expect(result.coverage).toBe("complete");
+    expect(result.entries.map((entry) => entry.name).sort()).toEqual(
+      [...names, "nested", "link\nname"].sort(),
+    );
+    expect(
+      result.entries.find((entry) => entry.name === "link\nname"),
+    ).toMatchObject({
+      kind: "symlink",
+      bytes: expect.any(Number),
+      link_target: target,
+    });
+    expect(
+      result.entries.filter((entry) => entry.kind !== "symlink"),
+    ).toHaveLength(names.length + 1);
+    expect(
+      result.entries.some((entry) => entry.name === "." || entry.name === ".."),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect((await readFile(calls, "utf8")).trim().split("\n")).toEqual([
+      String(paths.length),
+    ]);
+    expect((await readFile(linkCalls, "utf8")).trim().split("\n")).toEqual([
+      "called",
+    ]);
+  },
+);
+
+itPosix(
+  "discards a failed stat batch instead of pairing shortened rows with later names",
+  async () => {
+    const root = await createTestTempDirectory(
+      "rea-adb-directory-stat-failure-",
+    );
+    const bin = join(root, "bin");
+    await mkdir(bin);
+    const calls = join(root, "stat-calls");
+    const linkCalls = join(root, "readlink-calls");
+    await writeFile(calls, "");
+    await writeFile(linkCalls, "");
+    await makeTool(bin, "stat", statShim);
+    await makeTool(bin, "readlink", readlinkShim);
+    const first = join(root, "first");
+    const omitted = join(root, "omitted");
+    const last = join(root, "last");
+    await Promise.all(
+      [first, omitted, last].map((path) => writeFile(path, "x")),
+    );
+
+    const output = await runScript(
+      ADB_DIRECTORY_BATCH_SCRIPT,
+      [first, omitted, last],
+      {
+        ...process.env,
+        PATH: `${bin}:${process.env.PATH ?? ""}`,
+        STAT_CALLS: calls,
+        READLINK_CALLS: linkCalls,
+        STAT_FAIL_PATH: omitted,
+      },
+    ).catch((cause: unknown) => {
+      if (
+        cause instanceof Error &&
+        "stdout" in cause &&
+        Buffer.isBuffer(cause.stdout)
+      )
+        return cause.stdout;
+      throw cause;
+    });
+    expect(parseAdbDirectoryListing(output)).toEqual({
+      entries: [],
+      unparsedLines: [],
+    });
+    expect((await readFile(calls, "utf8")).trim()).toBe("3");
+  },
+);
+
+itPosix(
+  "preserves distinct invalid UTF-8 filenames as partial evidence",
+  async () => {
+    const root = await createTestTempDirectory(
+      "rea-adb-directory-invalid-utf8-",
+    );
+    const deviceDirectory = join(root, "device");
+    await mkdir(deviceDirectory);
+    const invalidNames = [Buffer.from([0xff]), Buffer.from([0xfe])];
+
+    // macOS rejects raw invalid-UTF-8 path bytes with EILSEQ, so fake adb
+    // returns the exact producer bytes while U+FFFD remains a valid record.
+    const metadata = Buffer.from(
+      "-rw-r--r--|1000|1000|1|2026-10-12 00:00:00\0",
+    );
+    const records = [
+      ...invalidNames.map((name) =>
+        Buffer.concat([metadata, name, Buffer.from("\0\0")]),
+      ),
+      Buffer.concat([metadata, Buffer.from("\ufffd"), Buffer.from("\0\0")]),
+    ];
+    const rawOutput = Buffer.concat(records);
+    const binary = await makeRawOutputFakeAdb(root, rawOutput);
+    const execution = await new AdbProvider({
+      environment: { REA_ADB_PATH: binary },
+    }).execute({
+      operation: "list_adb_directory",
+      input: { serial: "test-device", device_path: deviceDirectory },
+    });
+    if (!execution.ok) throw execution.error;
+    const result = adbResultSchemas.list_adb_directory.parse(
+      execution.value.result,
+    );
+
+    expect(result.entries.map((entry) => entry.name)).toEqual(["\ufffd"]);
+    expect(result.coverage).toBe("partial");
+    expect(result.unparsed_lines).toHaveLength(2);
+    for (const invalidName of invalidNames) {
+      const malformedRecord = Buffer.concat([
+        metadata,
+        invalidName,
+        Buffer.from("\0\0"),
+      ]).toString("hex");
+      expect(
+        result.unparsed_lines.some((line) => line.includes(malformedRecord)),
+      ).toBe(true);
+    }
+  },
+);