diff --git a/acestep/training/path_safety.py b/acestep/training/path_safety.py
index cef4eaff..b7eccb16 100644
--- a/acestep/training/path_safety.py
+++ b/acestep/training/path_safety.py
@@ -2,10 +2,14 @@
 
 Provides a single ``safe_path`` function that validates user-provided
 filesystem paths against a known safe root directory.  The validation
-uses ``os.path.normpath`` followed by a ``.startswith`` check — the
+uses ``os.path.realpath`` followed by a ``.startswith`` check — the
 exact pattern that CodeQL recognises as a sanitiser for the
 ``py/path-injection`` query.
 
+Symlinks are resolved on both the root and user paths so that paths
+through symlinks (e.g. ``/root/data`` → ``/vepfs/.../data``) are
+compared consistently.
+
 All training modules that accept user-supplied paths should call
 ``safe_path`` (or ``safe_open``) before performing any filesystem I/O.
 """
@@ -15,20 +19,30 @@
 
 from loguru import logger
 
+
+def _resolve(path: str) -> str:
+    """Normalise and resolve symlinks in *path*.
+
+    Uses ``os.path.realpath`` so that symlinked prefixes are resolved
+    to their canonical form before comparison.
+    """
+    return os.path.normpath(os.path.realpath(path))
+
+
 # Root directory that all user-provided paths must resolve under.
 # Defaults to the working directory at import time.  Override via
 # ``set_safe_root`` if needed (e.g. in tests).
-_SAFE_ROOT: str = os.path.normpath(os.path.abspath(os.getcwd()))
+_SAFE_ROOT: str = _resolve(os.getcwd())
 
 
 def set_safe_root(root: str) -> None:
     """Override the safe root directory.
 
     Args:
-        root: New safe root (will be normalised).
+        root: New safe root (will be normalised and symlink-resolved).
     """
     global _SAFE_ROOT  # noqa: PLW0603
-    _SAFE_ROOT = os.path.normpath(os.path.abspath(root))
+    _SAFE_ROOT = _resolve(root)
 
 
 def get_safe_root() -> str:
@@ -40,30 +54,32 @@ def safe_path(user_path: str, *, base: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
     """Validate and normalise a user-provided path.
 
     The returned path is guaranteed to live under *base* (or the
-    global ``_SAFE_ROOT`` when *base* is ``None``).
+    global ``_SAFE_ROOT`` when *base* is ``None``).  Symlinks in both
+    the root and user path are resolved so that paths through symlinks
+    compare correctly.
 
     Args:
         user_path: Untrusted path string from user input.
         base: Optional explicit base directory.  When provided it is
-              normalised and used instead of ``_SAFE_ROOT``.
+              resolved (symlinks included) and used instead of
+              ``_SAFE_ROOT``.
 
     Returns:
-        Normalised absolute path that is within the safe root.
+        Normalised, symlink-resolved absolute path within the safe root.
 
     Raises:
-        ValueError: If the normalised path escapes the safe root.
+        ValueError: If the resolved path escapes the safe root.
     """
     if base is not None:
-        root = os.path.normpath(os.path.abspath(base))
+        root = _resolve(base)
     else:
         root = _SAFE_ROOT
 
-    # Normalise the user path.  If it is relative, resolve it against
-    # *root*; if absolute, normalise it directly.
+    # Resolve the user path.  If relative, join against *root* first.
     if os.path.isabs(user_path):
-        normalised = os.path.normpath(user_path)
+        normalised = _resolve(user_path)
     else:
-        normalised = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(root, user_path))
+        normalised = _resolve(os.path.join(root, user_path))
 
     # ── CodeQL-recognised sanitiser barrier ──
     # ``normpath(…).startswith(safe_prefix)`` is the pattern that