diff --git a/include/memmodel.h b/include/memmodel.h
index 74db7f1..983efa8 100644
--- a/include/memmodel.h
+++ b/include/memmodel.h
@@ -62,7 +62,47 @@ vmie_mem* vmie_mem_open(const char* path, uint64_t low);
  * Returns a heap-owned handle, or NULL on failure. Release with vmie_mem_close(). */
 vmie_mem* vmie_mem_open_segs(const char* path, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg);
 
-/* Unmap, close, and free a handle from vmie_mem_open*. Safe on NULL. */
+/* Build a source from an already-open file descriptor `fd` instead of a path,
+ * with the single-`low` map (as vmie_mem_open). `fd` is BORROWED: it is dup()'d
+ * internally, so the source owns its own copy and the caller's `fd` stays open
+ * and valid both after this call AND after vmie_mem_close(). `fd` must reference
+ * an mmap-able, read-write object (a regular file, memfd_create, or POSIX shm) -
+ * a pipe/socket/tty is not mmap-able and yields NULL. The fd's file position is
+ * not read or changed (the mapping starts at offset 0). Returns a heap-owned
+ * handle, or NULL on dup/fstat/mmap failure. Release with vmie_mem_close(). */
+vmie_mem* vmie_mem_from_fd(int fd, uint64_t low);
+
+/* As vmie_mem_from_fd, but with an explicit segment map (`nseg` entries; see
+ * gpa_seg), well-formed against the file size. Same dup-borrow semantics: the
+ * caller's `fd` stays valid after this call and after vmie_mem_close(); `fd`
+ * must be an mmap-able RW object and its position is untouched. Returns a
+ * heap-owned handle, or NULL on failure. Release with vmie_mem_close(). */
+vmie_mem* vmie_mem_from_fd_segs(int fd, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg);
+
+/* Read-only twin of vmie_mem_from_fd: build a source from `fd` with the
+ * single-`low` map, but map it PROT_READ and mark it read-only. On the returned
+ * handle gpa_write/gva_write (and any write through the engine) return -1; all
+ * reads - gpa_read/gva_read, gpa_ptr/gva_ptr, gva_regions, sig_scan_mem - behave
+ * exactly as on an RW source. Because only read access is needed, `fd` may be
+ * opened O_RDONLY (an O_RDWR fd is also accepted). Same dup-borrow semantics: the
+ * fd is dup()'d internally, so the caller's `fd` stays valid after this call AND
+ * after vmie_mem_close(); its file position is not read or changed. NOTE: writing
+ * THROUGH a pointer returned by gpa_ptr/gva_ptr on a read-only source is a
+ * contract violation (the pages are read-only and the store will fault) - use
+ * such pointers for reading only. Returns a heap-owned handle, or NULL on
+ * dup/fstat/mmap failure. Release with vmie_mem_close(). */
+vmie_mem* vmie_mem_from_ro_fd(int fd, uint64_t low);
+
+/* As vmie_mem_from_ro_fd, but with an explicit segment map (`nseg` entries; see
+ * gpa_seg), well-formed against the file size. Same read-only contract
+ * (writes -> -1; no writes through gpa_ptr/gva_ptr) and dup-borrow semantics
+ * (caller's `fd` stays valid after this call and after vmie_mem_close(); accepts
+ * an O_RDONLY or O_RDWR fd; position untouched). Returns a heap-owned handle, or
+ * NULL on failure. Release with vmie_mem_close(). */
+vmie_mem* vmie_mem_from_ro_fd_segs(int fd, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg);
+
+/* Unmap, close, and free a handle from vmie_mem_open*, vmie_mem_from_fd*, or
+ * vmie_mem_from_ro_fd*. Safe on NULL. */
 void      vmie_mem_close(vmie_mem* m);
 
 /* ---- flat memory view (single owner) ------------------------------------- *
diff --git a/include/win32.h b/include/win32.h
index 4d38266..b714e93 100644
--- a/include/win32.h
+++ b/include/win32.h
@@ -83,6 +83,15 @@ typedef struct {
  * failure. Free with vmie_win32_close(). */
 vmie_win32* vmie_win32_open(const char* ram_path, uint64_t low);
 
+/* As vmie_win32_open, but over an already-open file descriptor `fd` for the RAM
+ * backing file instead of a path. `fd` is BORROWED: it is dup()'d internally, so
+ * the context owns its own copy and the caller's `fd` stays open and valid after
+ * this call AND after vmie_win32_close(). `fd` must reference an mmap-able,
+ * read-write object (regular file / memfd_create / POSIX shm); its file position
+ * is not read or changed. Returns a new context (call host_bootstrap() next), or
+ * NULL on dup/fstat/mmap failure. Free with vmie_win32_close(). */
+vmie_win32* vmie_win32_open_fd(int fd, uint64_t low);
+
 /* Unmap, close, and free a context. Safe on NULL. After this, every pointer
  * into guest memory obtained through this context is invalid. */
 void vmie_win32_close(vmie_win32* v);
diff --git a/src/core/gpa.c b/src/core/gpa.c
index 0e3c823..31f2934 100644
--- a/src/core/gpa.c
+++ b/src/core/gpa.c
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ int gpa_read(vmie_mem* m, uintptr_t offs, void* buf, const size_t nmemb) {
 }
 
 int gpa_write(vmie_mem* m, uintptr_t offs, const void* src, const size_t nmemb) {
+    if (m->ro) {
+        return -1;
+    }
     if (out_of_bounds(m, &offs, nmemb)) {
         return -1;
     }
@@ -88,37 +91,64 @@ static int segs_valid(const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg, uint64_t fsize) {
     return 1;
 }
 
+/* Finish a vmie_mem over an ALREADY-OWNED fd (from open() or dup()): fstat it,
+ * validate the seg map against its real size, mmap it shared (PROT_READ when
+ * `ro`, else PROT_RW), and fill `m`. On ANY failure close `fd` and clean `m`
+ * (no partial state); on success store the fd in `m->fd`, record `ro`, and
+ * return 0. The fd's lifetime is now owned by `m` (closed in gpa_close). The
+ * single mmap/validate site shared by every constructor. */
 __attribute__((cold))
-int gpa_open_segs(vmie_mem* m, const char* path, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg) {
+static int gpa_map_owned_fd(vmie_mem* m, int fd, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg, int ro) {
     struct stat st;
 
-    if ((m->fd = open(path, O_RDWR)) < 0) {
-        goto ret_;
-    }
-
-    if (fstat(m->fd, &st) || !segs_valid(segs, nseg, (uint64_t)st.st_size)) {
+    if (fstat(fd, &st) || !segs_valid(segs, nseg, (uint64_t)st.st_size)) {
         goto close_;
     }
 
-    if ((m->pa = mmap(NULL, st.st_size, PROT_RW, MAP_SHARED, m->fd, 0)) == MAP_FAILED) {
+    const int prot = ro ? PROT_READ : PROT_RW;
+    if ((m->pa = mmap(NULL, st.st_size, prot, MAP_SHARED, fd, 0)) == MAP_FAILED) {
       close_:
-        close(m->fd);
-      ret_:
+        close(fd);
         clean_ctx(m);
         return -1;
     }
 
+    m->fd    = fd;
     m->fsize = st.st_size;
     m->nseg  = nseg;
+    m->ro    = ro;
     memcpy(m->seg, segs, (size_t)nseg * sizeof *segs);
 
     return 0;
 }
 
-/* Convenience: the classic single-`low` QEMU map. Below the 4 GiB PCI hole the
- * file maps 1:1 ([0,low)->file[0,low)); at and above 4 GiB it resumes at file
- * offset low. When low >= fsize the hole is never reached, so one inert identity
- * seg covering the whole image suffices. */
+/* Build the classic single-`low` QEMU map into out[0..nseg) and return nseg.
+ * Below the 4 GiB PCI hole the file maps 1:1 ([0,low)->file[0,low)); at and
+ * above 4 GiB it resumes at file offset low. When low >= fsize the hole is never
+ * reached, so one inert identity seg covering the whole image suffices (nseg=1).
+ * The single low-map site shared by gpa_open (fsize from stat) and gpa_from_fd
+ * (fsize from fstat). */
+__attribute__((cold))
+static int low_segs(uint64_t fsize, uint64_t low, gpa_seg out[2]) {
+    if (low >= fsize) {
+        out[0] = (gpa_seg){ 0, fsize, 0 };
+        return 1;
+    }
+    out[0] = (gpa_seg){ 0, low, 0 };
+    out[1] = (gpa_seg){ RAM_H, fsize - low, low };
+    return 2;
+}
+
+__attribute__((cold))
+int gpa_open_segs(vmie_mem* m, const char* path, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg) {
+    const int fd = open(path, O_RDWR);
+    if (fd < 0) {
+        clean_ctx(m);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return gpa_map_owned_fd(m, fd, segs, nseg, 0);
+}
+
 __attribute__((cold))
 int gpa_open(vmie_mem* m, const char* path, uintptr_t low) {
     struct stat st;
@@ -126,16 +156,70 @@ int gpa_open(vmie_mem* m, const char* path, uintptr_t low) {
         clean_ctx(m);
         return -1;
     }
-    const uint64_t fsize = (uint64_t)st.st_size;
 
-    const gpa_seg one[1] = { { 0, fsize, 0 } };
-    const gpa_seg two[2] = { { 0, low, 0 }, { RAM_H, fsize > low ? fsize - low : 0, low } };
-    const gpa_seg* segs = low >= fsize ? one : two;
-    const int      nseg = low >= fsize ? 1 : 2;
+    gpa_seg   segs[2];
+    const int nseg = low_segs((uint64_t)st.st_size, low, segs);
 
     return gpa_open_segs(m, path, segs, nseg);
 }
 
+/* fd-backed constructors: build a vmie_mem from an already-open file descriptor
+ * instead of a path. The fd is BORROWED via dup() - core owns the copy (closed
+ * in gpa_close); the caller's fd stays valid. The fd must reference an mmap-able
+ * RW object (regular file / memfd / shm); its file position is not used. */
+__attribute__((cold))
+int gpa_from_fd_segs(vmie_mem* m, int fd, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg) {
+    const int dupfd = dup(fd);
+    if (dupfd < 0) {
+        clean_ctx(m);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return gpa_map_owned_fd(m, dupfd, segs, nseg, 0);
+}
+
+__attribute__((cold))
+int gpa_from_fd(vmie_mem* m, int fd, uintptr_t low) {
+    struct stat st;
+    if (fstat(fd, &st)) {
+        clean_ctx(m);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    gpa_seg   segs[2];
+    const int nseg = low_segs((uint64_t)st.st_size, low, segs);
+
+    return gpa_from_fd_segs(m, fd, segs, nseg);
+}
+
+/* read-only twins of gpa_from_fd*: map the borrowed fd PROT_READ and mark the
+ * source read-only (m->ro), so gpa_write/gva_write return -1. Same dup-borrow
+ * semantics (core owns the copy, caller's fd stays valid). Accept O_RDONLY as
+ * well as O_RDWR fds - only read access is required for a PROT_READ mapping.
+ * Reads/gpa_ptr/scan behave exactly as on an RW source. */
+__attribute__((cold))
+int gpa_from_ro_fd_segs(vmie_mem* m, int fd, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg) {
+    const int dupfd = dup(fd);
+    if (dupfd < 0) {
+        clean_ctx(m);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return gpa_map_owned_fd(m, dupfd, segs, nseg, 1);
+}
+
+__attribute__((cold))
+int gpa_from_ro_fd(vmie_mem* m, int fd, uintptr_t low) {
+    struct stat st;
+    if (fstat(fd, &st)) {
+        clean_ctx(m);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    gpa_seg   segs[2];
+    const int nseg = low_segs((uint64_t)st.st_size, low, segs);
+
+    return gpa_from_ro_fd_segs(m, fd, segs, nseg);
+}
+
 __attribute__((cold))
 void gpa_close(vmie_mem* m) {
     if (m->pa) {
@@ -180,6 +264,58 @@ vmie_mem* vmie_mem_open_segs(const char* path, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg) {
     return m;
 }
 
+__attribute__((cold))
+vmie_mem* vmie_mem_from_fd(int fd, uint64_t low) {
+    vmie_mem* m = calloc(1, sizeof *m);
+    if (!m) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    if (gpa_from_fd(m, fd, (uintptr_t)low)) {
+        free(m);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return m;
+}
+
+__attribute__((cold))
+vmie_mem* vmie_mem_from_fd_segs(int fd, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg) {
+    vmie_mem* m = calloc(1, sizeof *m);
+    if (!m) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    if (gpa_from_fd_segs(m, fd, segs, nseg)) {
+        free(m);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return m;
+}
+
+__attribute__((cold))
+vmie_mem* vmie_mem_from_ro_fd(int fd, uint64_t low) {
+    vmie_mem* m = calloc(1, sizeof *m);
+    if (!m) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    if (gpa_from_ro_fd(m, fd, (uintptr_t)low)) {
+        free(m);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return m;
+}
+
+__attribute__((cold))
+vmie_mem* vmie_mem_from_ro_fd_segs(int fd, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg) {
+    vmie_mem* m = calloc(1, sizeof *m);
+    if (!m) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    if (gpa_from_ro_fd_segs(m, fd, segs, nseg)) {
+        free(m);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return m;
+}
+
 __attribute__((cold))
 void vmie_mem_close(vmie_mem* m) {
     if (!m) {
diff --git a/src/core/include/core.h b/src/core/include/core.h
index bc6f89d..6b626c7 100644
--- a/src/core/include/core.h
+++ b/src/core/include/core.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ typedef struct vmie_mem {
     int      fd;
     int      nseg;
     gpa_seg  seg[VMIE_MAX_SEGS];
+    int      ro;     /* source is read-only (gpa_write/gva_write -> -1); 0 = RW */
 } vmie_mem;
 
 /* GPA <-> file-offset converters over the segment map.
@@ -40,6 +41,15 @@ static inline uintptr_t offset_gpa(const vmie_mem* m, uintptr_t off) {
 /* guest-physical lifecycle + primitives (gpa.c) */
 int   gpa_open_segs(vmie_mem* m, const char* path, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg);
 int   gpa_open (vmie_mem* m, const char* path, uintptr_t low);
+/* fd-backed twins of gpa_open*: build from a borrowed fd (dup'd internally,
+ * caller's fd stays valid) instead of a path. fd must be an mmap-able RW object. */
+int   gpa_from_fd_segs(vmie_mem* m, int fd, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg);
+int   gpa_from_fd (vmie_mem* m, int fd, uintptr_t low);
+/* read-only twins of gpa_from_fd*: map the borrowed fd PROT_READ and mark the
+ * source read-only (gpa_write/gva_write -> -1). Accept O_RDONLY as well as
+ * O_RDWR fds (only read access is required). Reads/gpa_ptr/scan behave as RW. */
+int   gpa_from_ro_fd_segs(vmie_mem* m, int fd, const gpa_seg* segs, int nseg);
+int   gpa_from_ro_fd (vmie_mem* m, int fd, uintptr_t low);
 void  gpa_close(vmie_mem* m);
 int   gpa_read (vmie_mem* m, uintptr_t offs, void* dst, size_t nmemb);
 int   gpa_write(vmie_mem* m, uintptr_t offs, const void* src, size_t nmemb);
diff --git a/src/engine/win32/host.c b/src/engine/win32/host.c
index 89c07f3..43fb509 100644
--- a/src/engine/win32/host.c
+++ b/src/engine/win32/host.c
@@ -21,6 +21,19 @@ vmie_win32* vmie_win32_open(const char* ram_path, uint64_t low) {
     return v;
 }
 
+__attribute__((cold))
+vmie_win32* vmie_win32_open_fd(int fd, uint64_t low) {
+    vmie_win32* v = calloc(1, sizeof *v);
+    if (!v) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    if (gpa_from_fd(&v->mem, fd, low)) {
+        free(v);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return v;
+}
+
 __attribute__((cold))
 void vmie_win32_close(vmie_win32* v) {
     if (!v) {