diff --git a/src/osism_drift/archive.py b/src/osism_drift/archive.py
index 38f6840b4..926d57bea 100644
--- a/src/osism_drift/archive.py
+++ b/src/osism_drift/archive.py
@@ -42,14 +42,40 @@ def _safe_extract(data, dest):
             except tarfile.FilterError as e:
                 raise SourceError(f"unsafe archive member: {e}") from e
         else:
+            root = dest.resolve()
+
+            def _within(p):
+                return p == root or root in p.parents
+
             for m in tar.getmembers():
                 target = (dest / m.name).resolve()
-                root = dest.resolve()
-                if target != root and root not in target.parents:
+                if not _within(target):
                     raise SourceError(f"unsafe archive member path: {m.name}")
-                if not (m.isfile() or m.isdir()):
-                    raise SourceError(f"unsafe archive member (link/special): {m.name}")
-            tar.extractall(dest)
+                # Emulate the 'data' filter for older Pythons: permit links
+                # whose target stays inside the extraction root (the release
+                # repo aliases per-version ceph.yml/openstack.yml this way),
+                # reject links that escape and any other special member.
+                if m.issym():
+                    link = (target.parent / m.linkname).resolve()
+                    if not _within(link):
+                        raise SourceError(
+                            f"unsafe archive member (link escapes): {m.name}"
+                        )
+                elif m.islnk():
+                    link = (dest / m.linkname).resolve()
+                    if not _within(link):
+                        raise SourceError(
+                            f"unsafe archive member (link escapes): {m.name}"
+                        )
+                elif not (m.isfile() or m.isdir()):
+                    raise SourceError(f"unsafe archive member (special): {m.name}")
+            # Members are already validated above. Old Pythons (no data_filter)
+            # extract fully-trusted by default; newer ones need it stated so
+            # they don't consult the (absent) default filter.
+            try:
+                tar.extractall(dest, filter="fully_trusted")
+            except TypeError:
+                tar.extractall(dest)
 
 
 def _extract_snapshot(data, repo, ref):
diff --git a/tests/kolla_drift/test_archive.py b/tests/kolla_drift/test_archive.py
index 2024d9722..5e03dd1ee 100644
--- a/tests/kolla_drift/test_archive.py
+++ b/tests/kolla_drift/test_archive.py
@@ -118,8 +118,9 @@ def test_unsafe_traversal_member_rejected():
 
 
 @responses.activate
-def test_symlink_member_rejected_on_fallback(monkeypatch):
-    # Force the no-data_filter fallback path and confirm it rejects a link member.
+def test_absolute_symlink_member_rejected_on_fallback(monkeypatch):
+    # Force the no-data_filter fallback path and confirm it rejects a link
+    # whose target escapes the extraction dir (absolute path).
     monkeypatch.delattr(tarfile, "data_filter", raising=False)
     cfg = _stub()
     link = tarfile.TarInfo("osism-r-abc/link")
@@ -133,3 +134,27 @@ def test_symlink_member_rejected_on_fallback(monkeypatch):
     )
     with pytest.raises(SourceError):
         archive.snapshot_dir("osism", "r", "main", cfg)
+
+
+@responses.activate
+def test_safe_relative_symlink_extracted_on_fallback(monkeypatch):
+    # Force the no-data_filter fallback path. A relative symlink that stays
+    # inside the extraction dir (as the release repo uses for its per-version
+    # ceph.yml / openstack.yml aliases) must be extracted, not rejected.
+    monkeypatch.delattr(tarfile, "data_filter", raising=False)
+    cfg = _stub()
+    link = tarfile.TarInfo("osism-release-abc/1.0.0/ceph.yml")
+    link.type = tarfile.SYMTYPE
+    link.linkname = "ceph-pacific.yml"
+    responses.add(
+        responses.GET,
+        "https://api.github.com/repos/osism/release/tarball/main",
+        body=_targz(
+            {"1.0.0/ceph-pacific.yml": b"pacific\n"},
+            top="osism-release-abc",
+            extra_members=[link],
+        ),
+        status=200,
+    )
+    d = archive.snapshot_dir("osism", "release", "main", cfg)
+    assert (d / "1.0.0/ceph.yml").read_bytes() == b"pacific\n"