diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 1e8413f..17765ee 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ updates:
   # (intsoc-transactor: 11 cargo alerts, no PRs since Mar 2026).
   # Restoring a real limit so security AND version-update PRs flow.
   # Auto-merge for safe bumps is handled by dependabot-automerge.yml.
+    ignore:
+      # HOLD: github/codeql-action at v4.38.0 (SHA-pinned). v4.38.1 fails
+      # GitHub workflow-startup validation estate-wide (nexia-list#100;
+      # SHA-form re-bump bypassed versions-scoped ignores - nexia-list#101).
+      # Hold until upstream clears 4.38.1 or a new release verifies green.
+      - dependency-name: "github/codeql-action"
+
   - package-ecosystem: "cargo"
     directory: "/"
     schedule:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/actions.lock b/.github/workflows/actions.lock
index 11a9aa6..3e19768 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/actions.lock
+++ b/.github/workflows/actions.lock
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ workflows:
         - 'actions/checkout@v7.0.1'
     '.github/workflows/codeql.yml':
         - 'actions/checkout@v7.0.1'
-        - 'github/codeql-action@v4.38.1'
+        - 'github/codeql-action@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63'
     '.github/workflows/dependabot-automerge.yml':
         - 'dependabot/fetch-metadata@v3.1.0'
     '.github/workflows/dogfood-gate.yml':
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ workflows:
         - 'actions/github-script@v9.0.0'
         - 'actions/upload-artifact@v7.0.1'
         - 'erlef/setup-beam@v1.24.1'
-        - 'github/codeql-action@v4.38.1'
+        - 'github/codeql-action@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63'
     '.github/workflows/instant-sync.yml':
         - 'peter-evans/repository-dispatch@v4.0.1'
     '.github/workflows/k9iser-regen.yml':
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ workflows:
         - 'swatinem/rust-cache@v2.9.2'
     '.github/workflows/scorecard-enforcer.yml':
         - 'actions/checkout@v7.0.1'
-        - 'github/codeql-action@v4.38.1'
+        - 'github/codeql-action@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63'
         - 'ossf/scorecard-action@v2.4.4'
     '.github/workflows/scorecard.yml': []
     '.github/workflows/secret-scanner.yml': []
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ dependencies:
         commit: 'sha1-54075bcc5e249e4758d363f27d099f55d843f124'
         owner_id: 47606891
         repo_id: 331103973
-    'github/codeql-action@v4.38.1':
-        ref: 'v4.38.1'
-        commit: 'sha1-1c5b675653bb5c22dbe9b12b556ec555138e09fd'
+    'github/codeql-action@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63':
+        ref: 'b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63'
+        commit: 'sha1-b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63'
         owner_id: 9919
         repo_id: 259445878
     'hyperpolymath/smtp-notify-action@v0.3.0':
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
index 62320c8..e58db7b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v7.0.1
 
       - name: Initialize CodeQL
-        uses: github/codeql-action/init@v4.38.1
+        uses: github/codeql-action/init@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63 # v4.38.0 (4.38.1 blocked estate-wide; nexia-list#100)
         with:
           languages: ${{ matrix.language }}
           build-mode: ${{ matrix.build-mode }}
 
       - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
-        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v4.38.1
+        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63 # v4.38.0 (4.38.1 blocked estate-wide; nexia-list#100)
         with:
           category: "/language:${{ matrix.language }}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/hypatia-scan.yml b/.github/workflows/hypatia-scan.yml
index c73bacf..9f726d4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/hypatia-scan.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/hypatia-scan.yml
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ jobs:
           always() &&
           (github.event_name != 'pull_request' ||
            github.event.pull_request.head.repo.fork != true)
-        uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@v4.38.1
+        uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63 # v4.38.0 (4.38.1 blocked estate-wide; nexia-list#100)
         with:
           sarif_file: hypatia.sarif
           # Distinct category so Hypatia results coexist with CodeQL's
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scorecard-enforcer.yml b/.github/workflows/scorecard-enforcer.yml
index b27b5a7..c55e62d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/scorecard-enforcer.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/scorecard-enforcer.yml
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ jobs:
           publish_results: true
 
       - name: Upload SARIF
-        uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@v4.38.1
+        uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63 # v4.38.0 (4.38.1 blocked estate-wide; nexia-list#100)
         with:
           sarif_file: results.sarif