diff --git a/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/boot_spec.ex b/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/boot_spec.ex
index dc663854..1c85a1c7 100644
--- a/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/boot_spec.ex
+++ b/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/boot_spec.ex
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.BootSpec do
   @moduledoc """
-  Resolves a `Hyper.Vm.source()` + instance `type` into a concrete, API-shaped
-  cold-boot spec the `:configuring` state issues: machine config (from the
-  instance type), a kernel boot source, and a root drive.
+  Resolves a `Hyper.Vm.source()` + instance `type` + `arch` into a concrete,
+  API-shaped cold-boot spec the `:configuring` state issues: machine config
+  (from the instance type), the guest CPU config, a kernel boot source, and a
+  root drive.
   """
 
-  alias Hyper.Firecracker.Api.{BootSource, Drive, MachineConfiguration}
+  alias Hyper.Firecracker.Api.{BootSource, CpuConfig, Drive, MachineConfiguration}
+  alias Hyper.Node.FireVMM.GuestCpu
   alias Hyper.Vm.Instance
 
   # Default cmdline. No `console=`: serial printk is synchronous at 115200 baud
@@ -18,20 +20,24 @@ defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.BootSpec do
   @default_boot_args "reboot=k panic=1 pci=off init=/hyper-init"
 
   defmodule Cold do
-    @moduledoc "A resolved cold boot."
+    @moduledoc """
+    A resolved cold boot. `cpu_config` is `nil` where the guest boots with
+    Firecracker's default CPU config.
+    """
     @enforce_keys [:machine_config, :boot_source, :drives]
-    defstruct [:machine_config, :boot_source, drives: [], network_interfaces: []]
+    defstruct [:machine_config, :cpu_config, :boot_source, drives: [], network_interfaces: []]
 
     @type t :: %__MODULE__{
             machine_config: MachineConfiguration.t(),
+            cpu_config: CpuConfig.t() | nil,
             boot_source: BootSource.t(),
             drives: [Drive.t()],
             network_interfaces: [Hyper.Firecracker.Api.NetworkInterface.t()]
           }
   end
 
-  @spec resolve(Hyper.Vm.source(), Instance.t()) :: Cold.t()
-  def resolve(source, type) when is_map(source) do
+  @spec resolve(Hyper.Vm.source(), Instance.t(), Instance.arch()) :: Cold.t()
+  def resolve(source, type, arch) when is_map(source) do
     # Networking is mandatory: every VM gets a NIC on the uniform inner-world
     # address plus the kernel `ip=`/`hyper.resolver=` cmdline. A node that
     # reached here has already passed the startup network preflight.
@@ -45,6 +51,7 @@ defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.BootSpec do
 
     %Cold{
       machine_config: Instance.Spec.machine_config(Instance.spec(type)),
+      cpu_config: GuestCpu.config(arch),
       boot_source: %BootSource{
         kernel_image_path: Map.fetch!(source, :kernel_image_path),
         boot_args: boot_args
diff --git a/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/chroot_jail.ex b/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/chroot_jail.ex
index cab7364c..3460a0ec 100644
--- a/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/chroot_jail.ex
+++ b/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/chroot_jail.ex
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.ChrootJail do
   alias Hyper.Node.FireVMM.Jailer
   alias Hyper.SuidHelper
 
-  # In-jail filenames + the rootfs drive id (matches BootSpec.resolve/2).
+  # In-jail filenames + the rootfs drive id (matches BootSpec.resolve/3).
   @kernel_name "vmlinux"
   @root_name "rootfs"
   @root_drive_id "rootfs"
diff --git a/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/guest_cpu.ex b/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/guest_cpu.ex
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..abc46f32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/guest_cpu.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.GuestCpu do
+  @moduledoc """
+  The CPU features a guest boots with.
+
+  Guests never see a hardware-virtualization extension. Firecracker passes VMX
+  and SVM through from the host unmasked, so on a host whose KVM offers nested
+  virt (the `kvm_intel`/`kvm_amd` default) every guest could run its own
+  hypervisor on top of the host's nested-paging code (CVE-2026-53359). KVM
+  refuses CR4.VMXE and EFER.SVME when the guest's CPUID lacks the bit, so the
+  mask holds whatever the host's `nested` parameter says.
+  """
+
+  alias Hyper.Firecracker.Api.{CpuConfig, CpuidLeafModifier, CpuidRegisterModifier}
+
+  @vmx_leaf "0x1"
+  @vmx_ecx_bit 5
+  @svm_leaf "0x80000001"
+  @svm_ecx_bit 2
+
+  @doc "The `/cpu-config` for an `arch` guest, or `nil` on aarch64 (CPUID modifiers are x86_64-only)."
+  @spec config(Sys.Arch.t()) :: CpuConfig.t() | nil
+  def config(:aarch64), do: nil
+
+  def config(:x86_64) do
+    %CpuConfig{
+      cpuid_modifiers: [
+        clear_ecx_bit(@vmx_leaf, @vmx_ecx_bit),
+        clear_ecx_bit(@svm_leaf, @svm_ecx_bit)
+      ]
+    }
+  end
+
+  # Firecracker's bitmap is `0b` + 32 chars, bit 31 first: `0` clears, `1` sets,
+  # `x` keeps the host's value.
+  @spec clear_ecx_bit(String.t(), 0..31) :: CpuidLeafModifier.t()
+  defp clear_ecx_bit(leaf, bit) do
+    bitmap = String.duplicate("x", 31 - bit) <> "0" <> String.duplicate("x", bit)
+
+    %CpuidLeafModifier{
+      leaf: leaf,
+      subleaf: "0x0",
+      flags: 0,
+      modifiers: [%CpuidRegisterModifier{register: "ecx", bitmap: "0b" <> bitmap}]
+    }
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/net.ex b/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/net.ex
index a323f0ab..f084efeb 100644
--- a/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/net.ex
+++ b/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/net.ex
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.Net do
   Kernel `hyper.resolver=` cmdline fragment carrying the DNS resolver IP the
   PID-1 guest agent writes to `/etc/resolv.conf` — kernel `ip=` autoconfig sets
   the guest's address/route but never DNS, so this closes that gap. Pure:
-  callers (`BootSpec.resolve/2`) read the configured resolver themselves.
+  callers (`BootSpec.resolve/3`) read the configured resolver themselves.
   """
   @spec resolver_cmdline(String.t()) :: String.t()
   def resolver_cmdline(resolver), do: "hyper.resolver=#{resolver}"
diff --git a/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/state.ex b/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/state.ex
index 4e1b7bbe..c8b519f7 100644
--- a/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/state.ex
+++ b/lib/hyper/node/fire_vmm/state.ex
@@ -87,13 +87,19 @@ defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.State do
   # device off the per-VM mutable layer, resolve the boot spec, set the readiness
   # deadline, and start probing the API.
   def init(
-        %Opts{vm_id: id, mutable: mutable, kernel: kernel, boot_args: boot_args, type: type} =
-          opts
+        %Opts{
+          vm_id: id,
+          mutable: mutable,
+          kernel: kernel,
+          boot_args: boot_args,
+          type: type,
+          arch: arch
+        } = opts
       ) do
     case Hyper.Cluster.Routing.register_self({id, :state}) do
       :ok ->
         source = boot_source(id, kernel, Mutable.blk_path(mutable), boot_args)
-        spec = BootSpec.resolve(source, type)
+        spec = BootSpec.resolve(source, type, arch)
         deadline = System.monotonic_time(:millisecond) + Time.as_ms(@ready_timeout)
         data = %State{opts: opts, spec: spec, boot_deadline: deadline}
 
@@ -224,7 +230,7 @@ defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.State do
 
     use OpenTelemetryDecorator
 
-    alias Hyper.Firecracker.Api.{InstanceActionInfo, Operations, Vsock}
+    alias Hyper.Firecracker.Api.{CpuConfig, InstanceActionInfo, Operations, Vsock}
     alias Hyper.Node.FireVMM.{BootSpec, ChrootJail, Client, Jailer, Opts}
     alias Unit.Time
 
@@ -271,18 +277,17 @@ defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.State do
       {:keep_state_and_data, [{:reply, from, {:error, :not_running}}]}
     end
 
-    # Device PUT sequence: machine-config -> boot-source -> drives -> NICs -> vsock.
-    # InstanceStart is deferred until the vsock UDS grant succeeds.
+    # Device PUT sequence: machine-config -> cpu-config -> boot-source -> drives ->
+    # NICs -> vsock. InstanceStart is deferred until the vsock UDS grant succeeds.
     @spec configure_devices(Hyper.Vm.Id.t(), BootSpec.Cold.t()) :: :ok | {:error, term()}
     @decorate with_span("Hyper.Node.FireVMM.State.Configuring.configure_devices", include: [:id])
     defp configure_devices(id, %BootSpec.Cold{} = cold) do
       via = Client.via(id)
 
       ops =
-        [
-          fn opts -> Operations.put_machine_configuration(cold.machine_config, opts) end,
-          fn opts -> Operations.put_guest_boot_source(cold.boot_source, opts) end
-        ] ++
+        [fn opts -> Operations.put_machine_configuration(cold.machine_config, opts) end] ++
+          cpu_config_ops(cold.cpu_config) ++
+          [fn opts -> Operations.put_guest_boot_source(cold.boot_source, opts) end] ++
           Enum.map(cold.drives, fn drive ->
             fn opts -> Operations.put_guest_drive_by_id(drive.drive_id, drive, opts) end
           end) ++
@@ -306,6 +311,12 @@ defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.State do
       end)
     end
 
+    @spec cpu_config_ops(CpuConfig.t() | nil) :: [(keyword() -> :ok | {:error, term()})]
+    defp cpu_config_ops(nil), do: []
+
+    defp cpu_config_ops(%CpuConfig{} = config),
+      do: [fn opts -> Operations.put_cpu_configuration(config, opts) end]
+
     # Attempt to hand the vsock UDS to the node user. Firecracker may not have
     # created the socket yet immediately after PUT /vsock, so retry on
     # :socket_pending at @probe_interval, mirroring AwaitingApi's grant-api shape.
diff --git a/lib/hyper/vm.ex b/lib/hyper/vm.ex
index 219a9c3a..f49b9ac2 100644
--- a/lib/hyper/vm.ex
+++ b/lib/hyper/vm.ex
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ defmodule Hyper.Vm do
   What a VM boots from: explicit, already-jail-visible artifact paths for a cold
   boot (kernel + root drive). `boot_args` defaults to a standard serial-console
   cmdline when omitted. `vm_id` is required — networking is mandatory and
-  `BootSpec.resolve/2` derives the guest NIC (`ip=` cmdline + MAC) from it.
+  `BootSpec.resolve/3` derives the guest NIC (`ip=` cmdline + MAC) from it.
   """
   @type source :: %{
           required(:kernel_image_path) => Path.t(),
diff --git a/test/e2e/guest_cpu_test.exs b/test/e2e/guest_cpu_test.exs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..948bc906
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/e2e/guest_cpu_test.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+defmodule Hyper.E2e.GuestCpuTest do
+  @moduledoc """
+  Live contract that a booted x86_64 guest sees no hardware-virtualization
+  extension: `vmx` and `svm` are absent from its `/proc/cpuinfo` flags
+  (`Hyper.Node.FireVMM.GuestCpu`).
+
+  Only has teeth on a host whose KVM offers nested virt, which is the
+  `kvm_intel`/`kvm_amd` default; a `nested=0` host passes either way. CI's
+  `integration` runner keeps the default.
+
+  Runs only under `--only integration` / `--include integration` on a host
+  provisioned per docs/cookbook/install.md.
+  """
+  use ExUnit.Case, async: false
+
+  import Hyper.E2e
+
+  @moduletag :integration
+  @moduletag timeout: :timer.minutes(10)
+
+  if Sys.Arch.current() != {:ok, :x86_64} do
+    @moduletag skip: "VMX and SVM are x86 CPUID features"
+  end
+
+  @image System.get_env("HYPER_E2E_IMAGE", "public.ecr.aws/docker/library/alpine:3.19")
+
+  test "a booted guest's CPU flags carry neither vmx nor svm" do
+    assert {:ok, img_id} = Hyper.Img.OciLoader.load(@image)
+    assert {:ok, vm} = Hyper.create_vm(%Hyper.Vm.Spec{img_id: img_id, type: :micro})
+    on_exit(fn -> Hyper.Node.stop_image_vm(vm) end)
+
+    assert {:ok, %{stdout: flags, exit_code: 0}} =
+             await_exec(
+               vm,
+               ["/bin/sh", "-c", "grep -m1 '^flags' /proc/cpuinfo"],
+               :timer.seconds(120)
+             )
+
+    refute flags =~ ~r/\b(vmx|svm)\b/, "guest exposes a virtualization extension:\n#{flags}"
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/hyper/node/fire_vmm/boot_spec_test.exs b/test/hyper/node/fire_vmm/boot_spec_test.exs
index b7aa8ea4..209bac3e 100644
--- a/test/hyper/node/fire_vmm/boot_spec_test.exs
+++ b/test/hyper/node/fire_vmm/boot_spec_test.exs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.BootSpecTest do
   @source %{vm_id: "vabc", kernel_image_path: "/vmlinux", root_drive_path: "/rootfs"}
 
   test "default cmdline boots our agent as init with no serial console" do
-    cold = BootSpec.resolve(@source, :micro)
+    cold = BootSpec.resolve(@source, :micro, :x86_64)
     assert cold.boot_source.boot_args =~ "init=/hyper-init"
     # No console by default: serial printk blocks the boot vCPU. A debug boot
     # re-adds console=ttyS0 through the per-VM boot_args override.
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.BootSpecTest do
   end
 
   test "every VM gets a NIC and the ip=/hyper.resolver= cmdline" do
-    cold = BootSpec.resolve(@source, :micro)
+    cold = BootSpec.resolve(@source, :micro, :x86_64)
     assert length(cold.network_interfaces) == 1
     assert cold.boot_source.boot_args =~ "ip="
     assert cold.boot_source.boot_args =~ "hyper.resolver="
diff --git a/test/hyper/node/fire_vmm/guest_cpu_properties_test.exs b/test/hyper/node/fire_vmm/guest_cpu_properties_test.exs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a24336a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/hyper/node/fire_vmm/guest_cpu_properties_test.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+defmodule Hyper.Node.FireVMM.GuestCpuPropertiesTest do
+  @moduledoc """
+  Laws for `GuestCpu.config(:x86_64)`, checked by applying its modifiers to
+  arbitrary host CPUID values the way Firecracker documents the bitmap (`0b` +
+  32 chars, bit 31 first; `0` clears, `1` sets, `x` keeps):
+
+    * masked -- VMX (`CPUID.01H:ECX[5]`) and SVM (`CPUID.80000001H:ECX[2]`)
+      are clear in the guest for every host value;
+    * minimal -- every other bit keeps the host's value, and no modifier
+      targets a leaf, subleaf or register outside those two.
+  """
+  use ExUnit.Case, async: true
+  use ExUnitProperties
+
+  import Bitwise
+
+  alias Hyper.Firecracker.Api.{CpuidLeafModifier, CpuidRegisterModifier}
+  alias Hyper.Node.FireVMM.GuestCpu
+
+  @u32 0..0xFFFF_FFFF
+
+  property "VMX and SVM are cleared and every other host bit survives" do
+    check all(leaf_1_ecx <- integer(@u32), ext_leaf_1_ecx <- integer(@u32)) do
+      host = %{{0x1, 0, :ecx} => leaf_1_ecx, {0x80000001, 0, :ecx} => ext_leaf_1_ecx}
+
+      guest = apply_modifiers(host, GuestCpu.config(:x86_64).cpuid_modifiers)
+
+      assert guest == %{
+               {0x1, 0, :ecx} => leaf_1_ecx &&& bnot(1 <<< 5),
+               {0x80000001, 0, :ecx} => ext_leaf_1_ecx &&& bnot(1 <<< 2)
+             }
+    end
+  end
+
+  # A modifier for a register the host table lacks raises, so a stray leaf,
+  # subleaf or register fails the property rather than slipping past it.
+  defp apply_modifiers(host, modifiers) do
+    for %CpuidLeafModifier{leaf: leaf, subleaf: subleaf, modifiers: regs} <- modifiers,
+        %CpuidRegisterModifier{register: register, bitmap: bitmap} <- regs,
+        reduce: host do
+      acc ->
+        key = {parse_index(leaf), parse_index(subleaf), String.to_existing_atom(register)}
+        Map.update!(acc, key, &apply_bitmap(bitmap, &1))
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp apply_bitmap("0b" <> bits, value) when byte_size(bits) == 32 do
+    bits
+    |> String.graphemes()
+    |> Enum.reverse()
+    |> Enum.with_index()
+    |> Enum.reduce(value, fn
+      {"x", _bit}, acc -> acc
+      {"0", bit}, acc -> acc &&& bnot(1 <<< bit)
+      {"1", bit}, acc -> acc ||| 1 <<< bit
+    end)
+  end
+
+  defp parse_index("0x" <> hex), do: String.to_integer(hex, 16)
+  defp parse_index("0b" <> bin), do: String.to_integer(bin, 2)
+  defp parse_index(dec), do: String.to_integer(dec)
+end