diff --git a/base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/azl-bootstrap-hardening.comp.toml b/base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/azl-bootstrap-hardening.comp.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ad9dd853863
--- /dev/null
+++ b/base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/azl-bootstrap-hardening.comp.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# Tiny local-spec package that ships a macros.d drop-in to enable
+# distro-wide hardening flags for stage1 builds. Mechanism mirrors how
+# azurelinux-rpm-config layers on top of redhat-rpm-config — this pkg
+# just adds the hardening macros without touching redhat-rpm-config.
+#
+# Intent: any spec that BuildRequires this package (or any buildroot that
+# pre-installs it) gets %_hardened_build=1 plus appended global compiler
+# and linker flags before %set_build_flags composes CFLAGS/LDFLAGS.
+#
+# Used to A/B against Option A (per-component build.defines) on the
+# dracut pilot. See base/comps/dracut/dracut.comp.toml.
+[components.azl-bootstrap-hardening]
+spec = { type = "local", path = "azl-bootstrap-hardening.spec" }
+release = { calculation = "manual" }
diff --git a/base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/azl-bootstrap-hardening.spec b/base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/azl-bootstrap-hardening.spec
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b765df14313
--- /dev/null
+++ b/base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/azl-bootstrap-hardening.spec
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+Name:           azl-bootstrap-hardening
+Version:        1
+Release:        1%{?dist}
+Summary:        Stage1 BinSkim hardening macros for Azure Linux
+License:        MIT
+URL:            https://aka.ms/azurelinux
+BuildArch:      noarch
+
+Source0:        macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
+
+# rpm reads /usr/lib/rpm/macros.d/* at startup, so installing this drop-in
+# is the only thing we need to do — no scriptlets required.
+Requires:       redhat-rpm-config
+
+%description
+Layers Azure Linux stage1 compiler/linker hardening defaults on top of
+Fedora's redhat-rpm-config via a /usr/lib/rpm/macros.d/ drop-in. Pilot
+package used to evaluate distro-wide BinSkim remediation for the
+azl4-bootstrap-compliance build target before broader rollout.
+
+%prep
+# Nothing to unpack.
+
+%build
+# Nothing to build.
+
+%install
+install -d %{buildroot}%{_rpmconfigdir}/macros.d
+install -m 0644 %{SOURCE0} %{buildroot}%{_rpmconfigdir}/macros.d/macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
+
+%files
+%{_rpmconfigdir}/macros.d/macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
+
+%changelog
+* Tue May 27 2026 Azure Linux Team <azurelinux-pmc@microsoft.com> - 1-1
+- Initial package for stage1 hardening flag rollout pilot.
diff --git a/base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening b/base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0a4b6fab2ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
+#
+# Distro-wide hardening defaults for stage1 builds. Layered ON TOP of
+# Fedora's redhat-rpm-config via macros.d drop-in priority — does not
+# fork or replace any redhat-rpm-config file.
+#
+# Effect: when this package is installed in the buildroot, any spec that
+# uses %configure / %cmake / %meson / %make_build / %set_build_flags
+# picks up these flags. Build systems that bypass those macros and call
+# the compiler directly will still need per-spec fixes.
+#
+# Pilot scope: dracut (see base/comps/dracut/dracut.comp.toml).
+# Distro-wide rollout will inject this package into the stage1 mock
+# chroot_setup_cmd once the pilot results are good.
+
+# Toggle Fedora's redhat-hardened-cc1 / redhat-hardened-ld spec files.
+# Covers PIE, RELRO+now, stack protector, fortify on packages that
+# honor Fedora's hardening hooks.
+%_hardened_build 1
+
+# Explicit appends for build systems that override %optflags / LDFLAGS
+# but still respect %__global_compiler_flags / %__global_ldflags via
+# %set_build_flags. Arch-guard CET (only meaningful on x86_64).
+%__global_compiler_flags %{__global_compiler_flags} -fstack-protector-strong -fstack-clash-protection -fPIE -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=3 %{?_cet_flag}
+%__global_ldflags %{__global_ldflags} -Wl,-z,relro,-z,now -Wl,-z,noexecstack -pie
+
+%_cet_flag %{lua: if rpm.expand("%{_target_cpu}") == "x86_64" then print("-fcf-protection=full") end}
diff --git a/base/comps/components.toml b/base/comps/components.toml
index e460cc32019..3369a929cd1 100644
--- a/base/comps/components.toml
+++ b/base/comps/components.toml
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ includes = ["**/*.comp.toml", "component-check-disablement.toml", "component-min
 [components.doxygen]
 [components.dpdk]
 [components.dpkg]
-[components.dracut]
+# dracut: see base/comps/dracut/dracut.comp.toml (hardening-flag evaluation)
 [components.driverctl]
 [components.drpm]
 [components.duktape]
diff --git a/base/comps/dracut/dracut.comp.toml b/base/comps/dracut/dracut.comp.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..da8823afe4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/base/comps/dracut/dracut.comp.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# dracut — used as a pilot package for evaluating stage1 BinSkim-hardening
+# remediation options. We failed 802 packages in azl4-bootstrap-compliance with
+# BA3001 (PIE), BA3003 (stack protector), BA3011 (RELRO). This file stages two
+# mechanisms for injecting the hardening flags so we can A/B them.
+#
+# Pick ONE of the two options below by commenting/uncommenting. Do not enable
+# both simultaneously (they would apply the same flags twice).
+#
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Option A (DISABLED) - per-component build.defines.
+#   Pros: zero new packages, scoped to just dracut, trivial to revert,
+#         lets us validate the flag list against a real build before
+#         committing to a distro-wide rollout.
+#   Cons: per-spec mechanism - not how we'd ship this distro-wide.
+#
+# Option B (ACTIVE) - pull in a new "azl-bootstrap-hardening" RPM that
+#   drops a macros.d file into the buildroot. Same flags, but delivered
+#   the way we'd eventually ship them for the whole distro.
+#   See base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/.
+# ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+[components.dracut]
+
+# -- Option A (DISABLED): macro overrides via build.defines ------------
+# Kept commented as a per-package escape hatch for bisecting flag changes
+# without touching the distro-wide macros file.
+# [components.dracut.build.defines]
+# _hardened_build = "1"
+# __global_compiler_flags = "-O2 -g -fstack-protector-strong -fstack-clash-protection -fPIE -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=3"
+# __global_ldflags = "-Wl,-z,relro,-z,now -Wl,-z,noexecstack -pie"
+
+# -- Option B (ACTIVE): macros package via BuildRequires ---------------
+# Pulls in azl-bootstrap-hardening, which ships a macros.d drop-in that
+# sets %_hardened_build and appends the global compiler/ld flags. Same
+# delivery mechanism we want for the distro-wide rollout.
+overlays = [
+    { type = "spec-add-tag", tag = "BuildRequires", value = "azl-bootstrap-hardening", description = "Inject AzL stage1/2 hardening macros (PIE, RELRO, stack protector, FORTIFY) via the azl-bootstrap-hardening macros.d drop-in. Pilot for the broader azl4-bootstrap-compliance BinSkim remediation." },
+]
diff --git a/docs/hardening-flags.md b/docs/hardening-flags.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5a6a8604997
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/hardening-flags.md
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# Hardening Flags for Azure Linux 4.0 Builds
+
+## Why this matters
+
+Azure Linux 4.0 builds use Fedora's `redhat-rpm-config` as-is, which does not
+enable `%_hardened_build` by default. As a result, BinSkim compliance scans
+fail on most native packages with three rules:
+
+| Rule   | Issue                  | Flag needed                  |
+| ------ | ---------------------- | ---------------------------- |
+| BA3001 | Not PIE                | `-fPIE -pie`                 |
+| BA3003 | No stack protector     | `-fstack-protector-strong`   |
+| BA3011 | RELRO not enabled      | `-Wl,-z,relro,-z,now`        |
+
+The fix is to inject these flags through RPM macros so every spec that uses
+`%configure`, `%cmake`, `%meson`, or `%make_build` picks them up automatically.
+The same approach works for both stage1 and stage2.
+
+## The flags we want set
+
+```
+%_hardened_build 1
+%__global_compiler_flags -O2 -g -fstack-protector-strong -fstack-clash-protection -fPIE -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=3
+%__global_ldflags -Wl,-z,relro,-z,now -Wl,-z,noexecstack -pie
+```
+
+## Option A — set macros per component
+
+Add the macros to a component's `[components.<name>.build.defines]` block in
+its `comp.toml`. `azldev` will write a sidecar `<name>.azl.macros` file and
+add `%{load:…}` to the rendered spec.
+
+Example: [base/comps/dracut/dracut.comp.toml](../base/comps/dracut/dracut.comp.toml).
+
+**Good for**: trying flag changes on one package without affecting anything else.
+
+**Bad for**: distro-wide rollout — you'd repeat the same block in every
+component's TOML.
+
+## Option B — ship the macros in an RPM
+
+Build a tiny noarch package (`azl-bootstrap-hardening`) that drops a
+`macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening` file into `/usr/lib/rpm/macros.d/`. When
+that package is installed in the buildroot, `rpm` reads the file at startup
+and the macros apply to every build.
+
+Install it everywhere by adding it once to `chroot_setup_cmd` in each mock
+template:
+
+| Stage  | File |
+| ------ | ---- |
+| stage1 | [distro/mock/azl4/stage1/azurelinux-4.0.tpl](../distro/mock/azl4/stage1/azurelinux-4.0.tpl) |
+| stage2 | [distro/mock/azl4/stage2/azurelinux-4.0.tpl](../distro/mock/azl4/stage2/azurelinux-4.0.tpl) |
+
+No spec edits required.
+
+Package definition: [base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/](../base/comps/azl-bootstrap-hardening/).
+
+## Which to use
+
+|                              | Option A          | Option B           |
+| ---------------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ |
+| Spec edits                   | per component     | none               |
+| Source of truth              | many TOML files   | one RPM            |
+| Arch-conditional macros      | no                | yes (`%ifarch`)    |
+| Revert                       | per component     | one mock line      |
+| Works in stage1              | yes               | yes                |
+| Works in stage2              | yes               | yes                |
+
+**Recommendation: Option B.** Single source of truth, no per-spec churn, and
+the same package can be dropped into both stage1 and stage2 buildroots.
+
+Keep Option A available as a way to test flag changes on one package before
+updating the distro-wide macros file.
+
+## What this won't fix
+
+Some packages will still fail compliance after the flags are set globally.
+These need per-spec work and aren't solved by either option:
+
+- Build systems that clobber `CFLAGS`/`LDFLAGS` (raw `cmake`, raw `go build`).
+- Rust uses `RUSTFLAGS`, not `CFLAGS` — needs a separate macro.
+- Asm-only or prebuilt-blob packages — candidates for a "known exceptions" list.
diff --git a/specs/a/azl-bootstrap-hardening/azl-bootstrap-hardening.spec b/specs/a/azl-bootstrap-hardening/azl-bootstrap-hardening.spec
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e92999c3cd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/specs/a/azl-bootstrap-hardening/azl-bootstrap-hardening.spec
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# This spec file has been modified by azldev to include build configuration overlays.
+# Do not edit manually; changes may be overwritten.
+
+Name:           azl-bootstrap-hardening
+Version:        1
+Release:        1%{?dist}
+Summary:        Stage1 BinSkim hardening macros for Azure Linux
+License:        MIT
+URL:            https://aka.ms/azurelinux
+BuildArch:      noarch
+
+Source0:        macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
+
+# rpm reads /usr/lib/rpm/macros.d/* at startup, so installing this drop-in
+# is the only thing we need to do — no scriptlets required.
+Requires:       redhat-rpm-config
+
+%description
+Layers Azure Linux stage1 compiler/linker hardening defaults on top of
+Fedora's redhat-rpm-config via a /usr/lib/rpm/macros.d/ drop-in. Pilot
+package used to evaluate distro-wide BinSkim remediation for the
+azl4-bootstrap-compliance build target before broader rollout.
+
+%prep
+# Nothing to unpack.
+
+%build
+# Nothing to build.
+
+%install
+install -d %{buildroot}%{_rpmconfigdir}/macros.d
+install -m 0644 %{SOURCE0} %{buildroot}%{_rpmconfigdir}/macros.d/macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
+
+%files
+%{_rpmconfigdir}/macros.d/macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
+
+%changelog
+* Tue May 27 2026 Azure Linux Team <azurelinux-pmc@microsoft.com> - 1-1
+- Initial package for stage1 hardening flag rollout pilot.
diff --git a/specs/a/azl-bootstrap-hardening/macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening b/specs/a/azl-bootstrap-hardening/macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0a4b6fab2ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/specs/a/azl-bootstrap-hardening/macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# macros.azl-bootstrap-hardening
+#
+# Distro-wide hardening defaults for stage1 builds. Layered ON TOP of
+# Fedora's redhat-rpm-config via macros.d drop-in priority — does not
+# fork or replace any redhat-rpm-config file.
+#
+# Effect: when this package is installed in the buildroot, any spec that
+# uses %configure / %cmake / %meson / %make_build / %set_build_flags
+# picks up these flags. Build systems that bypass those macros and call
+# the compiler directly will still need per-spec fixes.
+#
+# Pilot scope: dracut (see base/comps/dracut/dracut.comp.toml).
+# Distro-wide rollout will inject this package into the stage1 mock
+# chroot_setup_cmd once the pilot results are good.
+
+# Toggle Fedora's redhat-hardened-cc1 / redhat-hardened-ld spec files.
+# Covers PIE, RELRO+now, stack protector, fortify on packages that
+# honor Fedora's hardening hooks.
+%_hardened_build 1
+
+# Explicit appends for build systems that override %optflags / LDFLAGS
+# but still respect %__global_compiler_flags / %__global_ldflags via
+# %set_build_flags. Arch-guard CET (only meaningful on x86_64).
+%__global_compiler_flags %{__global_compiler_flags} -fstack-protector-strong -fstack-clash-protection -fPIE -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=3 %{?_cet_flag}
+%__global_ldflags %{__global_ldflags} -Wl,-z,relro,-z,now -Wl,-z,noexecstack -pie
+
+%_cet_flag %{lua: if rpm.expand("%{_target_cpu}") == "x86_64" then print("-fcf-protection=full") end}
diff --git a/specs/d/dracut/dracut.spec b/specs/d/dracut/dracut.spec
index c12c660db99..9291c799aba 100644
--- a/specs/d/dracut/dracut.spec
+++ b/specs/d/dracut/dracut.spec
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 Name: dracut
 Version: 107
-Release: 9%{?dist}
+Release: 10%{?dist}
 
 Summary: Initramfs generator using udev
 
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ Requires: procps-ng
 
 Requires: libkcapi-hmaccalc
 
+BuildRequires: azl-bootstrap-hardening
 %description
 dracut contains tools to create bootable initramfses for the Linux
 kernel. Unlike other implementations, dracut hard-codes as little