os.lstat rebuilt a link's stat_result from the target string, so uid and
gid came back as the process defaults and a chown -h (os.lchown, or
os.chown with follow_symlinks=False) could not be observed afterwards.
It reads the namespace link row now, which is where every other
no-follow surface already looks, and ls -l and os.lstat agree again. The
readlink probe stays in front of the table read and is the gate, since
the node table has no session: a hidden link is still absent.
posix_mode answers LINK_MODE for a symlink row, because the bits on a
link are never consulted. chmod -h still stores them and still shows
nothing.
Zecheng Zhang
0e59a6c659