diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index fc577a6..f16b295 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,13 @@ updates:
         patterns:
           - "*"
     open-pull-requests-limit: 2
+    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: "nix"
     directory: "/"
     schedule:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
index 721a3e1..1d07f9a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
       - name: Initialize CodeQL
-        uses: github/codeql-action/init@1c5b675653bb5c22dbe9b12b556ec555138e09fd # v3.28.1
+        uses: github/codeql-action/init@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63 # v4.38.0 (4.38.1 blocked estate-wide; nexia-list#100)
         with:
           languages: ${{ matrix.language }}
           build-mode: ${{ matrix.build-mode }}
       - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
-        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@1c5b675653bb5c22dbe9b12b556ec555138e09fd # v3.28.1
+        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63 # v4.38.0 (4.38.1 blocked estate-wide; nexia-list#100)
         with:
           category: "/language:${{ matrix.language }}"