diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 323e42e00..e102a12c9 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -85,8 +85,11 @@ updates:
           - '@bsv/*'
 
   # Keep deployment manifests current. Runtime Dockerfiles are digest-only, so
-  # ignore their bare `node` dependency here: a digest-only Dependabot update
-  # would incorrectly resolve the registry's `latest` tag.
+  # exclude them from this scan: Dependabot treats their bare `node` dependency
+  # as `latest`, even when it is ignored, and its multi-directory updater then
+  # fails instead of producing a reviewable change. The readable, versioned
+  # Node source under /governance owns base-image discovery; deployment image
+  # and database updates remain in this entry.
   - package-ecosystem: docker
     directories:
       - /infra
@@ -104,7 +107,11 @@ updates:
       - '*'
     multi-ecosystem-group: monthly-stack-maintenance
     rebase-strategy: auto
+    exclude-paths:
+      - Dockerfile
+      - '**/Dockerfile'
     ignore:
+      # Defense in depth if GitHub changes exclude-path handling.
       - dependency-name: node
       # Database majors require backup/restore, upgrade-path, rollback, and
       # application compatibility validation. Patch and minor refreshes remain
diff --git a/docs/reference/container-supply-chain.md b/docs/reference/container-supply-chain.md
index 3877b2219..8dbc834e9 100644
--- a/docs/reference/container-supply-chain.md
+++ b/docs/reference/container-supply-chain.md
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 ---
 id: container-supply-chain
-title: "Container Supply Chain"
+title: 'Container Supply Chain'
 kind: reference
-version: "1.1.0"
-last_updated: "2026-07-26"
-last_verified: "2026-07-26"
+version: '1.1.0'
+last_updated: '2026-07-26'
+last_verified: '2026-07-26'
 review_cadence_days: 30
 status: stable
 tags: [reference, infrastructure, containers, security, releases]
@@ -39,9 +39,13 @@ its digests let Scorecard verify pinning. Repository health requires those
 tag-and-digest references, the registry's expected version and digest, and every
 digest-only release `FROM` instruction to reconcile in one change. Runtime
 Dockerfiles deliberately omit the tag because Docker uses the digest as the
-actual identity. Automatic Sonar analysis excludes only the non-build metadata
-file because its rule rejects tag-and-digest syntax; the executable zero-install
-repository check remains authoritative for it.
+actual identity. They are excluded from the deployment-image Dependabot scan so
+its Docker updater cannot reinterpret bare digest-only Node references as
+`latest`; the versioned governance manifest is the single Node discovery
+source, while deployment images and database versions remain monitored.
+Automatic Sonar analysis excludes only the non-build metadata file because its
+rule rejects tag-and-digest syntax; the executable zero-install repository check
+remains authoritative for it.
 
 Package locks under `infra/**/package-lock.json` are committed release inputs.
 Release workflows never rewrite them. A stale or inconsistent lock therefore
diff --git a/scripts/container-supply-chain.test.mjs b/scripts/container-supply-chain.test.mjs
index f6666f51b..d58a5f9e8 100644
--- a/scripts/container-supply-chain.test.mjs
+++ b/scripts/container-supply-chain.test.mjs
@@ -223,6 +223,11 @@ test('Docker refreshes and OpenSSF posture checks remain automated', () => {
   assert.match(dependabot, /package-ecosystem: docker/)
   assert.match(dependabot, /directory: \/governance/)
   assert.match(dependabot, /dependency-name: node/)
+  assert.match(
+    dependabot,
+    /exclude-paths:\s+- Dockerfile\s+- '\*\*\/Dockerfile'/,
+    'Dependabot must not reinterpret digest-only runtime Node bases as the mutable latest tag'
+  )
   for (const component of registry.components) {
     assert.match(dependabot, new RegExp(`- /${component.path.replaceAll('/', '\\/')}`))
   }