diff --git a/src/API/CustomEmployeeManager.cs b/src/API/CustomEmployeeManager.cs
index 9b4512b6..df8c5e42 100644
--- a/src/API/CustomEmployeeManager.cs
+++ b/src/API/CustomEmployeeManager.cs
@@ -891,10 +891,17 @@ private static void SetPortrait(Transform card, string employeeId)
 
             string assetsDir = Path.Combine(MelonEnvironment.UserDataDirectory, "ModAssets");
             string? imagePath = null;
-            foreach (var ext in new[] { ".jpg", ".png" })
+
+            // [Security] Prevent path traversal from unsanitized employeeId
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(employeeId) &&
+                employeeId.IndexOfAny(Path.GetInvalidFileNameChars()) < 0 &&
+                !employeeId.Contains(".."))
             {
-                string candidate = Path.Combine(assetsDir, employeeId + ext);
-                if (File.Exists(candidate)) { imagePath = candidate; break; }
+                foreach (var ext in new[] { ".jpg", ".png" })
+                {
+                    string candidate = Path.Combine(assetsDir, employeeId + ext);
+                    if (File.Exists(candidate)) { imagePath = candidate; break; }
+                }
             }
 
             if (imagePath != null)
diff --git a/src/GameLayer/Patches/Networking/CablePositionsPatch.cs b/src/GameLayer/Patches/Networking/CablePositionsPatch.cs
index 84c3f50c..cd909f7d 100644
--- a/src/GameLayer/Patches/Networking/CablePositionsPatch.cs
+++ b/src/GameLayer/Patches/Networking/CablePositionsPatch.cs
@@ -57,6 +57,12 @@ private static bool CreateNewCablePrefix(
         }
     }
 
+    [System.Runtime.CompilerServices.MethodImpl(System.Runtime.CompilerServices.MethodImplOptions.NoInlining)]
+    private static void LogBaseIdChange(int baseId)
+    {
+        MelonLogger.Msg($"[CablePatch] Cable ID counter set to {baseId + 1}");
+    }
+
     public static void SetBaseId(int baseId)
     {
         int current;
@@ -67,7 +73,14 @@ public static void SetBaseId(int baseId)
         }
         while (Interlocked.CompareExchange(ref _nextCableId, baseId + 1, current) != current);
 
-        MelonLogger.Msg($"[CablePatch] Cable ID counter set to {baseId + 1}");
+        try
+        {
+            LogBaseIdChange(baseId);
+        }
+        catch (System.Exception)
+        {
+            // Ignore MelonLoader not being present in test environment
+        }
     }
 
     public static int PeekNextId() => _nextCableId;