diff --git a/docs/vm-security-blind-spots-roadmap.md b/docs/vm-security-blind-spots-roadmap.md
index 60222b3..24a9d8d 100644
--- a/docs/vm-security-blind-spots-roadmap.md
+++ b/docs/vm-security-blind-spots-roadmap.md
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ Effective `sshd -T` settings showed:
 - [ ] Inventory root/user crontabs, `/etc/cron.d`, systemd timers, Hermes cron, and Gitea Actions schedules.
 - [x] Remove or update stale `/opt/bytelyst/bytelyst-devops-tools/...` references after confirming replacements.
 - [ ] Add owner, purpose, expected output, and alert channel for every job.
-- [ ] Add a stale-job detector for missing script paths and failed systemd units.
+- [x] Add a stale-job detector for missing script paths and failed systemd units.
 
 **Acceptance criteria:**
 
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ Effective `sshd -T` settings showed:
 - [ ] Fix/retire unhealthy containers.
 - [x] Resolve `hermes-root-backup.service` failed state.
 - [x] Decide and document Gitea runner active/disabled state.
-- [ ] Add missing-script checks. Stale root cron path was fixed on 2026-05-27.
+- [x] Add missing-script checks. Stale root cron path was fixed on 2026-05-27.
 - [ ] Apply pending security/runtime updates in a maintenance window.
 
 **Exit criteria:** no unexpected failed units, no ignored unhealthy required containers, no stale cron paths, and runner state is intentional.
@@ -497,6 +497,24 @@ Minimum post-checks for Phase 1:
 - Record a small dedicated smoke workflow that does not need production secrets, so runner health is proven by a controlled workflow rather than incidental queued work.
 - Add runner health to VM observability so enabled-but-inactive drift is caught automatically.
 
+### 2026-05-27 — Phase 2 stale automation detector
+
+**Changed:**
+
+- Extended `scripts/VMs/HostingerVM/vm-health-check.sh` with an `AUTOMATION DRIFT` section.
+- The daily health check now reports failed systemd units and root crontab script paths that no longer exist.
+- Made optional `/var/log/vm-health-check.log` writes silent when the script runs in a restricted/read-only context.
+
+**Verified:**
+
+- `bash -n scripts/VMs/HostingerVM/vm-health-check.sh` passed.
+- Restricted `--json` run stayed quiet on log-write failure and reported the new checks.
+- Host-permission `--json` run reported `failed_units=OK` and `cron_missing_paths=OK`.
+
+**Residual risk:**
+
+- The detector currently covers root crontab and failed systemd units. Full ownership inventory still needs `/etc/cron.d`, user crontabs, Hermes cron, Gitea schedules, owners, outputs, and alert channels.
+
 ## Do Not Start With
 
 - Rootless Docker migration.
diff --git a/scripts/README.md b/scripts/README.md
index 1c0df1f..b1b8475 100644
--- a/scripts/README.md
+++ b/scripts/README.md
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ This directory is the preferred home for self-contained operational scripts.
   - Supported.
   - Purpose: update and harden Ubuntu VMs with unattended upgrades, UFW, and fail2ban.
   - Risk level: high, because it modifies packages, firewall rules, and reboot behavior.
+- `VMs/HostingerVM/vm-health-check.sh`
+  - Supported.
+  - Purpose: read-only VM health and drift check for disk, memory, swap, Docker health, failed systemd units, and stale root crontab script paths.
+  - Risk level: low, because it is read-only apart from an optional local log write.
 
 ## Conventions
 
diff --git a/scripts/VMs/HostingerVM/vm-health-check.sh b/scripts/VMs/HostingerVM/vm-health-check.sh
index 3c86b8a..87a8d34 100755
--- a/scripts/VMs/HostingerVM/vm-health-check.sh
+++ b/scripts/VMs/HostingerVM/vm-health-check.sh
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ declare -A JSON_DATA
 
 # ── Helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 log_to_file() {
+  local log_dir
+  log_dir="$(dirname "$LOG_FILE")"
+  if [[ ( -e "$LOG_FILE" && ! -w "$LOG_FILE" ) || ( ! -e "$LOG_FILE" && ! -w "$log_dir" ) ]]; then
+    return
+  fi
   echo "[$(date -u '+%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ')] $*" >> "$LOG_FILE" 2>/dev/null || true
 }
 
@@ -256,6 +261,47 @@ check_logs() {
   fi
 }
 
+check_automation_drift() {
+  header "AUTOMATION DRIFT"
+
+  local failed_units
+  failed_units=$(systemctl --failed --no-legend --plain 2>/dev/null | awk '{print $1}' | paste -sd, - || true)
+  if [[ -n "$failed_units" ]]; then
+    record failed_units WARN "$failed_units" "Failed systemd units: $failed_units"
+  else
+    record failed_units OK "0 failed" "No failed systemd units"
+  fi
+
+  local missing_paths=()
+  local cron_line path clean_path
+  while IFS= read -r cron_line; do
+    [[ -z "$cron_line" || "$cron_line" =~ ^[[:space:]]*# ]] && continue
+    [[ "$cron_line" =~ ^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*= ]] && continue
+
+    while IFS= read -r path; do
+      clean_path="${path%\"}"
+      clean_path="${clean_path%\'}"
+      clean_path="${clean_path%,}"
+      clean_path="${clean_path%;}"
+      clean_path="${clean_path%)}"
+
+      case "$clean_path" in
+        /var/log/*|/run/*|/proc/*|/sys/*|/dev/*) continue ;;
+      esac
+
+      if [[ "$clean_path" == *.sh || "$clean_path" == *.py || "$clean_path" == */scripts/* ]]; then
+        [[ -e "$clean_path" ]] || missing_paths+=("$clean_path")
+      fi
+    done < <(grep -oE '/(opt|root|home|usr/local|etc)/[^[:space:]|;&<>]+' <<< "$cron_line" || true)
+  done < <(crontab -l 2>/dev/null || true)
+
+  if (( ${#missing_paths[@]} > 0 )); then
+    record cron_missing_paths WARN "${missing_paths[*]}" "Cron references missing path(s): ${missing_paths[*]}"
+  else
+    record cron_missing_paths OK "0 missing" "No missing script paths in root crontab"
+  fi
+}
+
 # ── Run all checks ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 if ! $JSON_MODE && ! $QUIET; then
@@ -269,6 +315,7 @@ check_swap
 check_docker_containers
 check_docker_disk
 check_logs
+check_automation_drift
 
 # ── Summary ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────