diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-cd.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-cd.yml
index b0e2785e..37d6260e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-cd.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-cd.yml
@@ -10,10 +10,7 @@ on:
       - published
 name: build-test
 
-
-permissions:
-  contents: read
-  packages: write
+permissions: read-all
 
 jobs:
   build-test:
@@ -355,6 +352,9 @@ jobs:
     if: github.event_name == 'release' && github.event.action== 'published'
     needs: push-image
     name: Update Helm Chart
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      packages: write
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/commit-msg.yaml b/.github/workflows/commit-msg.yaml
index 2dda4718..1fed2a10 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/commit-msg.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/commit-msg.yaml
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ on:
     branches:
       - main
 
+permissions: read-all
+
 jobs:
   check-commit-message-style:
     name: Check commit message style
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nightly.yaml b/.github/workflows/nightly.yaml
index e3cfe894..324f7d05 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nightly.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nightly.yaml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
-          go install github.com/swaggo/swag/cmd/swag
+          go install github.com/swaggo/swag/cmd/swag@v1.8.12
           go mod download
           sudo apt-get update
           sudo apt-get install libgpgme-dev libassuan-dev libbtrfs-dev libdevmapper-dev pkg-config rpm uidmap
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
-          go install github.com/swaggo/swag/cmd/swag
+          go install github.com/swaggo/swag/cmd/swag@v1.8.12
           go mod download
       - name: Run sync harness
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync-3rdparty-images.yaml b/.github/workflows/sync-3rdparty-images.yaml
index 870f3d4e..0fb40f10 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync-3rdparty-images.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync-3rdparty-images.yaml
@@ -7,13 +7,14 @@ on:
       - main
   workflow_dispatch:
 
-permissions:
-  contents: read
-  packages: write
+permissions: read-all
 
 jobs:
   sync-golang:
     name: 'golang'
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      packages: write
     strategy:
       matrix:
         golang_version:
@@ -34,6 +35,9 @@ jobs:
           docker push ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/golang:${{ matrix.golang_version }}
   sync-trivy:
     name: 'trivy-db'
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      packages: write
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Copy trivy-db using oras cli
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c16967d1..4cd2f9cb 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ CRICTL_VERSION := v1.26.1
 ACTION_VALIDATOR := $(TOOLSDIR)/bin/action-validator
 ACTION_VALIDATOR_VERSION := v0.2.1
 ZUI_VERSION := commit-05d5f74
+SWAGGER_VERSION := 1.8.12
 STACKER := $(TOOLSDIR)/bin/stacker
 BATS := $(TOOLSDIR)/bin/bats
 TESTDATA := $(TOP_LEVEL)/test/data
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ check: ./golangcilint.yaml $(GOLINTER)
 	rm pkg/extensions/build/.empty
 
 swagger/docs.go: 
-	swag -v || go install github.com/swaggo/swag/cmd/swag@1.6.3
+	swag -v || go install github.com/swaggo/swag/cmd/swag@$(SWAGGER_VERSION)
 	swag init -o swagger -g pkg/api/routes.go
 
 .PHONY: swagger
diff --git a/SECURITY.md b/SECURITY.md
index 69abcf5f..4db76366 100644
--- a/SECURITY.md
+++ b/SECURITY.md
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
 
 ## Reporting a Vulnerability
 
-When a vulnerability is found, please *DO NOT* file a public issue.
-Instead, send an email to one of the core [maintainers](MAINTAINERS.md) and
-await acknowledgement. Normally we expect to resolve the issue in 60 days.
-However should there be an exception the team will reach out for next steps.
+When a vulnerability is found, please *DO NOT* file a public issue. Instead,
+send an email to one of the core [maintainers](MAINTAINERS.md) and await
+acknowledgement _OR_ file a [private security issue](https://github.com/project-zot/zot/security/advisories). 
+Normally we expect to resolve the issue in 60 days. However should there be an exception
+the team will reach out for next steps.
diff --git a/golangcilint.yaml b/golangcilint.yaml
index e2990605..0e8d880d 100644
--- a/golangcilint.yaml
+++ b/golangcilint.yaml
@@ -49,11 +49,6 @@ linters-settings:
       mnd:
         checks: argument,case,condition,operation,return,assign
         ignored-numbers: 10,64
-  gomoddirectives:
-    replace-allow-list:
-      - helm.sh/helm/v3
-      - github.com/spdx/tools-golang
-      - github.com/opencontainers/image-spec
 issues:
   exclude-rules:
     - path: pkg/extensions/search/schema.resolvers.go