diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 29ba437b..1a3a5f52 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: 'weekly'
       day: 'saturday'
+    cooldown:
+      default-days: 7
     allow:
       - dependency-type: 'all'
     versioning-strategy: 'auto'
@@ -107,6 +109,8 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: 'weekly'
       day: 'saturday'
+    cooldown:
+      default-days: 7
     labels: [ 'dependencies' ]
     commit-message:
       prefix: 'chore'   ## prefix maximum string length of 15
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nodejs.yml b/.github/workflows/nodejs.yml
index 6b33162a..c676abc9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nodejs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nodejs.yml
@@ -33,10 +33,12 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         # see https://github.com/actions/checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
       - name: Setup Node.js ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
         # see https://github.com/actions/setup-node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6
+        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6.3.0
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
@@ -46,7 +48,7 @@ jobs:
         run: npm run build-dev
       - name: artifact build result
         # see https://github.com/actions/upload-artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6.0.0
         with:
           name: dist
           path: dist
@@ -59,10 +61,12 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         # see https://github.com/actions/checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
       - name: Setup Node.js ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
         # see https://github.com/actions/setup-node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6
+        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6.3.0
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
@@ -84,12 +88,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: Annotate Code
         if: ${{ failure() || success() }}
         # see https://github.com/DerLev/eslint-annotations
-        uses: DerLev/eslint-annotations@a79ea65c1b45a649c48bcc6efc0103b6fd2e4c5f # v2
+        uses: DerLev/eslint-annotations@a79ea65c1b45a649c48bcc6efc0103b6fd2e4c5f # v2.1.0
         with:
           eslint-report: ${{ env.REPORTS_DIR }}/eslint.json
       - name: artifact eslint result
         # see https://github.com/actions/upload-artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6.0.0
         if: ${{ failure() }}
         with:
           name: ${{ env.STANDARD_REPORTS_ARTIFACT }}
@@ -103,10 +107,12 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         # see https://github.com/actions/checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
       - name: Setup Node.js ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
         # see https://github.com/actions/setup-node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6
+        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6.3.0
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
@@ -148,10 +154,12 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         # see https://github.com/actions/checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
       - name: Setup Node.js ${{ matrix.node-version }}
         # see https://github.com/actions/setup-node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6
+        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6.3.0
         with:
           node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
           package-manager-cache: false
@@ -178,7 +186,7 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: ..  # prevent evaluation of package.json
       - name: install project
         shell: bash
-        run: |
+        run: |  # zizmor: ignore[adhoc-packages] -- packages are already locked, but we dont want to alter manifest
           set -ex
           dev_requirements='c8 jest jest-junit imurmurhash fast-glob'
           npm i --ignore-scripts --omit=peer --omit=dev --only=prod --production --loglevel=silly
@@ -188,7 +196,7 @@ jobs:
           npm i --ignore-scripts --loglevel=silly --no-save $dev_requirements
       - name: fetch build artifact
         # see https://github.com/actions/download-artifact
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@37930b1c2abaa49bbe596cd826c3c89aef350131 # v7
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@37930b1c2abaa49bbe596cd826c3c89aef350131 # v7.0.0
         with:
           name: dist
           path: dist
@@ -197,7 +205,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: artifact npm errors
         if: ${{ failure() }}
         # see https://github.com/actions/upload-artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6.0.0
         with:
           name: 'npm-errors_${{ matrix.os }}_node${{ matrix.node-version }}'
           path: '/home/runner/.npm/_logs/*.log'
@@ -217,7 +225,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: artifact test reports
         if: ${{ ! cancelled() }}
         # see https://github.com/actions/upload-artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6.0.0
         with:
           name: '${{ env.TESTS_REPORTS_ARTIFACT }}_${{ matrix.os }}_node${{ matrix.node-version }}'
           path: ${{ env.REPORTS_DIR }}
@@ -237,16 +245,18 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         # see https://github.com/actions/checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
       - name: Setup Node.js ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
         # see https://github.com/actions/setup-node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6
+        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6.3.0
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
       - name: fetch build artifact
         # see https://github.com/actions/download-artifact
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@37930b1c2abaa49bbe596cd826c3c89aef350131 # v7
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@37930b1c2abaa49bbe596cd826c3c89aef350131 # v7.0.0
         with:
           name: dist
           path: dist
@@ -266,7 +276,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: fetch test artifacts
         # see https://github.com/actions/download-artifact
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@37930b1c2abaa49bbe596cd826c3c89aef350131 # v7
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@37930b1c2abaa49bbe596cd826c3c89aef350131 # v7.0.0
         with:
           pattern: '${{ env.TESTS_REPORTS_ARTIFACT }}_*'
           merge-multiple: true
@@ -277,7 +287,7 @@ jobs:
         ## see https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/workflow-syntax-for-github-actions#example-using-secrets
         if: ${{ env.CODACY_PROJECT_TOKEN != '' }}
         # see https://github.com/codacy/codacy-coverage-reporter-action
-        uses: codacy/codacy-coverage-reporter-action@89d6c85cfafaec52c72b6c5e8b2878d33104c699 # v1
+        uses: codacy/codacy-coverage-reporter-action@89d6c85cfafaec52c72b6c5e8b2878d33104c699 # v1.3.0
         with:
           project-token: ${{ env.CODACY_PROJECT_TOKEN }}
           coverage-reports: ${{ env.REPORTS_DIR }}/coverage/*/*
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 7e1f30b7..5c342004 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -51,7 +51,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
         # see https://github.com/actions/checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
       - name: Configure Git
         # needed for push back of changes
         run: |
@@ -60,7 +62,7 @@ jobs:
           git config --local user.name "${GITHUB_ACTOR}"
       - name: Setup Node.js ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
         # see https://github.com/actions/setup-node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6
+        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6.3.0
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
@@ -80,8 +82,18 @@ jobs:
           NPMV_NEWVERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.newversion }}
           NPMV_MESSAGE: ${{ github.event.inputs.commitMessage }}
           NPMV_PREID: ${{ github.event.inputs.preid }}
-      - name: git push back
-        run: git push --follow-tags
+      - name: Push commit + annotated tags
+        shell: bash
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          set +x
+          echo "::add-mask::$GITHUB_TOKEN"
+          AUTH_B64="$(printf "x-access-token:%s" "$GITHUB_TOKEN" | base64 | tr -d '\n')"
+          echo "::add-mask::$AUTH_B64"
+          git -c http.https://github.com/.extraheader="AUTHORIZATION: basic $AUTH_B64" \
+            push --follow-tags "https://github.com/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}.git" "HEAD:${GITHUB_REF_NAME}"
 
   publish-NPMJS:
     needs:
@@ -96,12 +108,13 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
         # see https://github.com/actions/checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
         with:
           ref: ${{ needs.bump.outputs.version }}
+          persist-credentials: false
       - name: Setup Node.js ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
         # see https://github.com/actions/setup-node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6
+        uses: actions/setup-node@53b83947a5a98c8d113130e565377fae1a50d02f # v6.3.0
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
@@ -134,7 +147,7 @@ jobs:
           npm pack --pack-destination "$PACKED_DIR"
       - name: artifact release result
         # see https://github.com/actions/upload-artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6.0.0
         with:
           name: ${{ env.PACKED_ARTIFACT }}
           path: ${{ env.PACKED_DIR }}/
@@ -154,19 +167,29 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: fetch release result
         # see https://github.com/actions/download-artifact
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@37930b1c2abaa49bbe596cd826c3c89aef350131 # v7
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@37930b1c2abaa49bbe596cd826c3c89aef350131 # v7.0.0
         with:
           name: ${{ env.PACKED_ARTIFACT }}
           path: ${{ env.ASSETS_DIR }}
       - name: Create Release
-        id: release
-        # see https://github.com/softprops/action-gh-release
-        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@3bb12739c298aeb8a4eeaf626c5b8d85266b0e65 # v2
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-        with:
-          tag_name:   ${{ needs.bump.outputs.version }}
-          name:       ${{ needs.bump.outputs.version_plain }}
-          prerelease: ${{ github.event.inputs.prerelease }}
-          files:      '${{ env.ASSETS_DIR }}/*'
-          target_commitish: ${{ github.head_ref || github.ref_name }}
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          TAG: ${{ needs.bump.outputs.version }}
+          TITLE: ${{ needs.bump.outputs.version_plain }}
+          TARGET: ${{ github.head_ref || github.ref_name }}
+          PRERELEASE: ${{ github.event.inputs.prerelease }}
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          args=(
+            "$TAG"
+            "${ASSETS_DIR}"/*
+            --repo "${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}"
+            --title "$TITLE"
+            --target "$TARGET"
+            --verify-tag
+          )
+          if [ "$PRERELEASE" = "true" ]; then
+            args+=(--prerelease)
+          fi
+          gh release create "${args[@]}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/zizmor.yml b/.github/workflows/zizmor.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..220939f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/zizmor.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Analyzes all GitHub Actions workflows for security issues using zizmor.
+# docs: https://docs.zizmor.sh/
+name: Zizmor
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: ['master', 'main']
+  pull_request:
+    branches: ['**']
+  workflow_dispatch:
+  schedule:
+    - cron: '0 0 * * 6'
+
+permissions: {}
+
+concurrency:
+  group: '${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}'
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  zizmor:
+    name: Zizmor
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 10
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        # see https://github.com/actions/checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0  # v7.0.0
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      - name: Run zizmor 🌈
+        # see https://github.com/zizmorcore/zizmor-action
+        uses: zizmorcore/zizmor-action@6599ee8b7a49aef6a770f63d261d214911a7ce02  # v0.6.0
+        with:
+          # advanced-security: false => emit findings as workflow-command annotations (::error file=…) rather than
+          # uploading a SARIF report to GitHub's Security tab.
+          # Uploading SARIF requires `security-events: write` and GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS),
+          # both of which are unnecessary here and would violate the least-privilege policy.
+          # The two modes are mutually exclusive: advanced-security must be false for
+          # annotations to take effect.
+          advanced-security: false
+          annotations: true
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c0df418f..b16eaf3f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@cyclonedx/webpack-plugin",
-  "version": "5.3.3-rc.2",
+  "version": "5.3.3-rc.4",
   "description": "Creates CycloneDX Software Bill of Materials (SBoM) from webpack projects",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "copyright": "Copyright OWASP Foundation",