Self-Replicating LLM Artifacts & Accidental Supply-Chain Contamination

This paper introduces the concept of "Logical Prions": self-replicating LLM artifacts that exploit recursive logic to induce systemic failure. By documenting a real-world case of supply-chain contamination involving a shell bootstrap installer, this research explores how Ken Thompson’s "Reflections on Trusting Trust" manifests within modern stochastic systems. The author identifies and analyzes a new class of vulnerability where metaprogramming triggers recursive reasoning loops, presenting a significant risk to LLM-assisted developer workflows.