diff --git a/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-311.pyc b/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-311.pyc
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diff --git a/__pycache__/quick_merge_node.cpython-311.pyc b/__pycache__/quick_merge_node.cpython-311.pyc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a281674
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diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index f9fc7e1..c2ebe36 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "ComfyUI-Quick-Merge"
-version = "1.0.1"
+version = "1.0.2"
 description = "High-performance modular layer blending and folder batch processing for ComfyUI."
 license = { text = "MIT License" }
 authors = [
diff --git a/quick_merge_node.py b/quick_merge_node.py
index 1de4f58..dd66014 100644
--- a/quick_merge_node.py
+++ b/quick_merge_node.py
@@ -8,7 +8,12 @@ import numpy as np
 import folder_paths
 import comfy.model_management as mm
 from comfy.utils import load_torch_file, ProgressBar
-import spandrel
+
+try:
+    import spandrel
+    SPANDREL_AVAILABLE = True
+except ImportError:
+    SPANDREL_AVAILABLE = False
 
 try:
     from transformers import AutoModelForImageSegmentation
@@ -24,6 +29,7 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     ONNXRUNTIME_AVAILABLE = False
 
+
 class QuickMergeNode:
     def __init__(self):
         self.cached_bg_model = None
@@ -391,6 +397,29 @@ class QuickMergeNode:
             bg_blur[:, :, start_y:start_y+new_h, start_x:start_x+new_w] = tensor_scaled
             return bg_blur
 
+    # --- SECURE PATH VALIDATION ENGINE ---
+    def get_secure_path(self, user_path):
+        """
+        Validates that the provided folder path is strictly inside ComfyUI's input directory.
+        Prevents directory traversal (../) and symlink security exploits.
+        """
+        if not user_path or user_path == "📁 Type or paste folder path here...":
+            return None
+            
+        # Use realpath to resolve malicious symlinks pointing outside the directory
+        base_dir = os.path.realpath(folder_paths.get_input_directory())
+        full_path = os.path.realpath(os.path.join(base_dir, user_path))
+        
+        try:
+            if os.path.commonpath([base_dir, full_path]) != base_dir:
+                print(f"[Quick Merge] SECURITY BLOCK: Attempted path traversal outside input directory -> {user_path}")
+                return None
+            return full_path
+        except ValueError:
+            # Handles edge cases where paths exist on different drives (Windows)
+            print(f"[Quick Merge] SECURITY BLOCK: Invalid path (different drive) -> {user_path}")
+            return None
+
     def load_folder_images(self, folder_path, device, is_active):
         if not is_active or not os.path.isdir(folder_path):
             return None
@@ -443,8 +472,8 @@ class QuickMergeNode:
         batch_processing   = kwargs.get("📁 batch_processing", False)
         foreground_batch   = kwargs.get("📁 foreground_batch", False)
         background_batch   = kwargs.get("📁 background_batch", False)
-        fg_batch_folder    = kwargs.get("📁 fg_batch_folder", "")
-        bg_batch_folder    = kwargs.get("📁 bg_batch_folder", "")
+        fg_batch_folder    = kwargs.get("📁 fg_batch_folder", "").strip()
+        bg_batch_folder    = kwargs.get("📁 bg_batch_folder", "").strip()
         batch_pairing_mode = kwargs.get("📁 batch_pairing_mode", "1-to-1 Match (Sequential)")
         batch_chunk_size   = kwargs.get("📁 batch_chunk_size", 4)
 
@@ -510,7 +539,7 @@ class QuickMergeNode:
         pixel_smoothing  = kwargs.get("🖼️ pixel_smoothing", "bicubic")
         interpolation    = pixel_smoothing if pixel_smoothing != "lanczos" else "bicubic"
 
-        # --- 1. DIRECTORY CONDITIONAL PROCESSING OVERRIDES ---
+        # --- 1. DIRECTORY CONDITIONAL PROCESSING OVERRIDES (SECURED) ---
         bg_input   = kwargs.get("Background", None)
         fg_input   = kwargs.get("Foreground (optional)", None)
         mask_input = kwargs.get("mask (optional)", None)
@@ -520,10 +549,14 @@ class QuickMergeNode:
         if bg_batch_folder == default_folder_text: bg_batch_folder = ""
         
         if batch_processing:
-            if background_batch and bg_batch_folder and os.path.isdir(bg_batch_folder):
-                bg_input = self.load_folder_images(bg_batch_folder, device, True)
-            if foreground_batch and fg_batch_folder and os.path.isdir(fg_batch_folder):
-                fg_input = self.load_folder_images(fg_batch_folder, device, True)
+            if background_batch and bg_batch_folder:
+                secure_bg = self.get_secure_path(bg_batch_folder)
+                if secure_bg and os.path.isdir(secure_bg):
+                    bg_input = self.load_folder_images(secure_bg, device, True)
+            if foreground_batch and fg_batch_folder:
+                secure_fg = self.get_secure_path(fg_batch_folder)
+                if secure_fg and os.path.isdir(secure_fg):
+                    fg_input = self.load_folder_images(secure_fg, device, True)
                 
         has_bg   = bg_input is not None
         has_fg   = fg_input is not None
@@ -670,6 +703,11 @@ class QuickMergeNode:
             if not ai_upscale or ai_upscale_model == "None Found":
                 pbar.update_absolute(end_pct)
                 return t_img
+                
+            if not SPANDREL_AVAILABLE:
+                print("[Quick Merge] Spandrel not available. Skipping upscale.")
+                pbar.update_absolute(end_pct)
+                return t_img
 
             chunk_b, orig_c, orig_h, orig_w = t_img.shape
             target_out_h   = max(8, round(orig_h * upscale_by))
@@ -686,7 +724,9 @@ class QuickMergeNode:
                         os.makedirs(dl_dir, exist_ok=True)
                         model_path = os.path.join(dl_dir, "RealESRGAN_x2plus.pth")
                         try:
+                            print(f"[Quick Merge] Downloading RealESRGAN_x2plus.pth... Please wait, the UI may pause.")
                             urllib.request.urlretrieve("https://github.com/xinntao/Real-ESRGAN/releases/download/v0.2.1/RealESRGAN_x2plus.pth", model_path)
+                            print(f"[Quick Merge] Download complete!")
                         except Exception:
                             pbar.update_absolute(end_pct)
                             return t_img