diff --git a/CHANGELOG.d/keyverse-dotenv-dependency-rules.md b/CHANGELOG.d/keyverse-dotenv-dependency-rules.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..77206b6d
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+++ b/CHANGELOG.d/keyverse-dotenv-dependency-rules.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+### Added
+
+- Six packaged regex rules report direct dotenv-loading and container-file dependencies for the CWL Keyverse migration, with 43 syntax/negative-control cases and six full-scanner integration cases. Findings remain advisory syntax evidence; central migration enforcement, full scanner acceptance and organization-wide cutover are separate gates. See `docs/doctoring/dotenv_dependency_detection.md` and ContextualWisdomLab/.github#2063.
diff --git a/docs/doctoring/dotenv_dependency_detection.md b/docs/doctoring/dotenv_dependency_detection.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..40495afe
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+++ b/docs/doctoring/dotenv_dependency_detection.md
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+# Dotenv dependency detection for the Keyverse migration
+
+Date: 2026-09-09. Status: proposed declarative detector; not organization-wide
+enforcement or proof of credential migration.
+
+## Responsibility and implementation decision
+
+Central migration: ContextualWisdomLab/.github#2063.
+Keyverse owner repair: ContextualWisdomLab/keyverse#151, stacked on #129.
+
+Keyverse owns credential lifecycle and workload resolution; AppGuardrail owns
+source-pattern detection. This change adds YAML regex rules to the existing
+packaged engine rather than copying scanners into consumers or `.github`.
+It adds no new Python runtime or alternative vault. New security-runtime
+capabilities remain subject to the organization Rust policy.
+
+The exact engine read was `e71d37e7c58118e6764c96ab7c4492fe33eed6f8`:
+`scanner/cli/appguardrail.py` parses supported `pattern-regex` entries,
+compiles them and loads `scanner/rules/*.yml`. A Semgrep structural `pattern:`
+file alone would not execute in this built-in path, so it was not used.
+
+## Detected syntax
+
+Six IDs cover direct Python load_dotenv/dotenv_values calls, simple Pydantic
+`env_file` assignments, direct Rust dotenv/dotenvy calls, direct Node dotenv
+loading, shell source/dot of `.env`, and literal Compose/container dotenv-file
+transport. Single and double quotes, home/relative paths, common one-line
+settings and simple multiline Compose lists are included in the test corpus.
+
+The rules do not read a referenced dotenv file. They detect code syntax, not
+secret values. Ordinary imports, comments in the tested forms, disabling dotenv,
+`env_file=None`, non-dotenv configuration and `/dev/null` are negative controls.
+Transitive lockfile dependencies and the mere existence of an example are not
+claims that a runtime loader executed.
+
+## Interpretation and limits
+
+WARNING is intentional: use of dotenv by arbitrary AppGuardrail users is not
+proof of an exploitable vulnerability. CWL's central migration gate must adopt
+these IDs explicitly for new production regressions while tracking existing
+legacy findings to their owner. This PR does not turn all warnings into errors,
+change deployment protections or break unrelated standalone consumers.
+
+The matcher is lexical and bounded, not an AST/alias/taint engine. Dynamic file
+variables, wrapper functions, unusual inline control flow, long/multiline calls,
+Docker implicit `.env` interpolation, Java/Go/C# sources, framework-native
+implicit loading, complex YAML anchors/lists and strings containing code may
+need separate evidence or structural detectors. Absence of a finding is not
+proof that a repository does not depend on dotenv or that it uses Keyverse.
+
+Organization inventory must project only rule ID, repository, exact revision,
+path, line and reviewed disposition. Do not export generic scanner source
+snippets or raw settings as migration evidence; the surrounding code could
+contain confidential data. Preserve all unreadable/unscanned repositories in
+the denominator. Do not run credential-bearing application source just to scan
+it, and do not follow a matched dotenv locator.
+
+## Verification and remaining gates
+
+An initial local run failed all 43 syntax/contract tests with the rules absent.
+After the YAML was added, 43 passed using the retrieved production parser and
+compiler logic in a local excerpt harness. The harness is not committed: the
+repository test imports the real owner engine. This is not a complete scanner
+checkout and does not establish end-to-end packaging or full coverage.
+
+Six additional integration cases require actual SCAN_RULES discovery and
+`_scan_file` execution in the complete repository. They have been added but
+have not been executed in the local excerpt environment. Full repository CI,
+coverage/docstrings, packaging, security checks and independent review must
+pass before merge/release. This PR adds no workflow copies or model credentials.
+
+Reproduction in the complete repository:
+
+```sh
+python -m pytest -q tests/test_dotenv_dependency_rules.py tests/test_dotenv_scanner_integration.py
+```
+
+## Primary references — APA 7th
+
+OWASP Foundation. (n.d.). *Secrets management cheat sheet*. https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/Secrets_Management_Cheat_Sheet.html
+
+GitHub. (n.d.). *OpenID Connect reference*. https://docs.github.com/en/actions/reference/security/oidc
+
+The former motivates explicit custody/lifecycle rather than simply renaming
+configuration transport. The latter informs the owner workload-authentication
+contract, not this source-pattern detector. Neither is a claim of certification.
diff --git a/scanner/rules/dotenv_dependencies.yml b/scanner/rules/dotenv_dependencies.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9b33892b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scanner/rules/dotenv_dependencies.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+rules:
+  - id: python-dotenv-runtime-load
+    patterns:
+      - pattern-regex: '^[ \t]*(?:[A-Za-z_]\w*(?:[ \t]*:[ \t]*[^=\r\n]{1,128})?[ \t]*=[ \t]*)?(?:dotenv\.)?(?:load_dotenv|dotenv_values)[ \t]*\('
+    message: |
+      Runtime dotenv loading is present. For the CWL migration, resolve credentials
+      through a released Keyverse contract and keep non-secret settings separate.
+      This is bounded syntax evidence, not proof that secret values were exposed.
+    severity: WARNING
+    languages: [python]
+  - id: python-dotenv-settings-source
+    patterns:
+      - pattern-regex: '^[ \t]*(?:[A-Za-z_]\w*[ \t]*=[ \t]*SettingsConfigDict[ \t]*\([ \t]*)?env_file[ \t]*=[ \t]*["\x27][^"\x27\r\n]{0,256}\.env(?:\.[A-Za-z0-9_-]+)?["\x27]'
+    message: |
+      A settings source explicitly loads a dotenv file. Replace this credential
+      authority with Keyverse and retain non-secret settings in typed configuration.
+      Validate startup and rollback before removing an existing deployment source.
+    severity: WARNING
+    languages: [python]
+  - id: rust-dotenv-runtime-load
+    patterns:
+      - pattern-regex: '^[ \t]*(?:let[ \t]+(?:mut[ \t]+)?[A-Za-z_]\w*[ \t]*=[ \t]*)?(?:dotenvy|dotenv)::(?:dotenv|from_filename|from_path)[ \t]*\('
+    message: |
+      A Rust runtime loads dotenv content. Use the released Keyverse credential
+      port with workload identity; do not substitute environment fallback on failure.
+      Imported libraries alone are not an executed loader finding.
+    severity: WARNING
+    languages: [rust]
+  - id: node-dotenv-runtime-load
+    patterns:
+      - pattern-regex: '^[ \t]*(?:dotenv[ \t]*\.[ \t]*config[ \t]*\(|require[ \t]*\([ \t]*["\x27]dotenv["\x27][ \t]*\)[ \t]*\.[ \t]*config[ \t]*\(|require[ \t]*\([ \t]*["\x27]dotenv/config["\x27][ \t]*\)|import[ \t]*["\x27]dotenv/config["\x27])'
+    message: |
+      A Node runtime invokes dotenv or imports its automatic loader. Move server
+      credentials to Keyverse; never place resolved values in browser bundles.
+      This rule covers the declared direct syntax, not arbitrary import aliases.
+    severity: WARNING
+    languages: [javascript, typescript]
+  - id: shell-dotenv-source
+    patterns:
+      - pattern-regex: '^[ \t]*(?:source|\.)[ \t]+["\x27]?(?:[^"\x27\r\n#;]{0,256}/)?\.env(?:\.[A-Za-z0-9_-]+)?(?=["\x27\s;]|$)'
+    message: |
+      A shell sources dotenv content as executable configuration. Use approved
+      Keyverse bootstrap and credential resolution rather than sourcing secret files.
+      Confirm the deployment owner and recovery path before retiring the loader.
+    severity: WARNING
+    languages: [generic]
+  - id: compose-dotenv-transport
+    patterns:
+      - pattern-regex: '^[ \t]*(?:env_file[ \t]*:[ \t]*(?:\[[ \t]*|\r?\n[ \t]*-[ \t]*)?["\x27]?[^"\x27\r\n#]{0,256}\.env(?:\.[A-Za-z0-9_-]+)?(?=["\x27\s\],]|$)|(?:[A-Za-z_]\w*[ \t]*:?=[ \t]*)?(?:docker|podman)[ \t]+(?:compose|run)[^\r\n#]{0,256}--env-file(?:[ \t]+|=)["\x27]?[^"\x27\r\n#]{0,256}\.env(?:\.[A-Za-z0-9_-]+)?(?=["\x27\s;]|$))'
+    message: |
+      A container invocation explicitly depends on a dotenv file. Adopt the released
+      Keyverse credential contract and a non-secret deployment descriptor instead.
+      This is migration inventory; it does not establish complete secret coverage.
+    severity: WARNING
+    languages: [generic]
diff --git a/tests/test_dotenv_dependency_rules.py b/tests/test_dotenv_dependency_rules.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..49e46eab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_dotenv_dependency_rules.py
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+"""Bounded syntax evidence for the CWL Keyverse credential migration."""
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from scanner.cli.appguardrail import _compile_yaml_regex_rule, _parse_yaml_regex_rules
+
+RULE_PATH = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1] / "scanner/rules/dotenv_dependencies.yml"
+RULE_IDS = {
+    "python-dotenv-runtime-load", "python-dotenv-settings-source",
+    "rust-dotenv-runtime-load", "node-dotenv-runtime-load",
+    "shell-dotenv-source", "compose-dotenv-transport",
+}
+
+
+def loaded_rules():
+    """Compile through the owner's supported YAML engine, not Semgrep fixtures."""
+    assert RULE_PATH.is_file(), "the executable dotenv migration rules are missing"
+    parsed_rules = _parse_yaml_regex_rules(RULE_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    compiled_rules = [compiled for parsed in parsed_rules
+                      for compiled in _compile_yaml_regex_rule(parsed)]
+    assert {rule["id"] for rule in compiled_rules} == RULE_IDS
+    assert len(compiled_rules) == len(RULE_IDS), "one executable pattern per ID"
+    return {rule["id"]: rule for rule in compiled_rules}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("rule_id,source", [
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", "load_dotenv()"),
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", "    dotenv.load_dotenv(override=True)"),
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", 'settings = dotenv_values(".env")'),
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", 'values: dict[str, str] = dotenv_values(".env")'),
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", "values = dotenv.dotenv_values()"),
+    ("python-dotenv-settings-source", '    env_file=".env",'),
+    ("python-dotenv-settings-source", 'model_config = SettingsConfigDict(env_file="../.env")'),
+    ("python-dotenv-settings-source", 'model_config = SettingsConfigDict(\n    env_file=".env",\n)'),
+    ("python-dotenv-settings-source", '    env_file = "~/.env.production"'),
+    ("rust-dotenv-runtime-load", "    dotenvy::dotenv().ok();"),
+    ("rust-dotenv-runtime-load", 'let _ = dotenv::from_filename(".env");'),
+    ("rust-dotenv-runtime-load", 'let mut loaded = dotenvy::dotenv();'),
+    ("rust-dotenv-runtime-load", 'dotenvy::from_path("private.env")?;'),
+    ("node-dotenv-runtime-load", "dotenv.config();"),
+    ("node-dotenv-runtime-load", "require('dotenv').config();"),
+    ("node-dotenv-runtime-load", 'require("dotenv/config");'),
+    ("node-dotenv-runtime-load", 'import "dotenv/config";'),
+    ("shell-dotenv-source", 'source "$HOME/.env"'),
+    ("shell-dotenv-source", ". .env"),
+    ("shell-dotenv-source", ". '/run/app/.env.production'"),
+    ("compose-dotenv-transport", '  env_file: .env'),
+    ("compose-dotenv-transport", '  env_file:\n    - .env.production'),
+    ("compose-dotenv-transport", '  env_file: ["../.env"]'),
+    ("compose-dotenv-transport", 'docker compose --env-file "$HOME/.env" up'),
+    ("compose-dotenv-transport", 'COMPOSE := docker compose --env-file "$$HOME/.env"'),
+    ("compose-dotenv-transport", 'podman run --env-file .env application'),
+])
+def test_declared_runtime_dependency_is_detected(rule_id, source):
+    """The tested literal loader/transport syntax produces evidence."""
+    assert loaded_rules()[rule_id]["pattern"].search(source)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("rule_id,source", [
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", "# load_dotenv()"),
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", "from dotenv import load_dotenv"),
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", 'description = "load_dotenv()"'),
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", "def load_dotenv():"),
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", 'os.environ["PYTHON_DOTENV_DISABLED"] = "1"'),
+    ("python-dotenv-settings-source", "env_file = None"),
+    ("python-dotenv-settings-source", 'env_file = "settings.toml"'),
+    ("python-dotenv-settings-source", '# env_file = ".env"'),
+    ("rust-dotenv-runtime-load", "// dotenvy::dotenv().ok();"),
+    ("rust-dotenv-runtime-load", "use dotenvy::dotenv;"),
+    ("node-dotenv-runtime-load", "// dotenv.config();"),
+    ("node-dotenv-runtime-load", 'import dotenv from "dotenv";'),
+    ("node-dotenv-runtime-load", 'const note = "dotenv.config()";'),
+    ("shell-dotenv-source", "# source ~/.env"),
+    ("shell-dotenv-source", "source /run/configuration/settings.sh"),
+    ("compose-dotenv-transport", "# env_file: .env"),
+    ("compose-dotenv-transport", 'env_file: settings.config'),
+    ("compose-dotenv-transport", "docker compose --env-file /dev/null up"),
+])
+def test_negative_control_is_not_a_migration_finding(rule_id, source):
+    """Imports, comments, disabled dotenv and non-dotenv config are distinct."""
+    assert not loaded_rules()[rule_id]["pattern"].search(source)
+
+
+def test_migration_rules_do_not_claim_a_proven_secret_leak():
+    """Syntax evidence is advisory until an explicit organization gate adopts it."""
+    for rule in loaded_rules().values():
+        assert rule["severity"] == "WARNING"
+        assert "Keyverse" in rule["message"]
+        assert "secret leak" not in rule["message"].lower()
+
+
+def test_patterns_stay_bounded_on_long_nonmatching_lines():
+    """Do not introduce unbounded wildcard alternatives into migration scanning."""
+    for rule in loaded_rules().values():
+        assert not rule["pattern"].search("x" * 100_000)
+        assert ".*" not in rule["pattern"].pattern
diff --git a/tests/test_dotenv_scanner_integration.py b/tests/test_dotenv_scanner_integration.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6ce31042
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_dotenv_scanner_integration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+"""The complete installed scanner must load and execute migration rules."""
+import pytest
+
+from scanner.cli.appguardrail import SCAN_RULES, _scan_file
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("rule_id,file_name,source", [
+    ("python-dotenv-runtime-load", "runtime_config.py", "load_dotenv()\n"),
+    (
+        "python-dotenv-runtime-load",
+        "typed_runtime_config.py",
+        'values: dict[str, str] = dotenv_values(".env")\n',
+    ),
+    ("python-dotenv-settings-source", "runtime_settings.py", 'env_file=".env"\n'),
+    ("rust-dotenv-runtime-load", "runtime_config.rs", "dotenvy::dotenv().ok();\n"),
+    ("node-dotenv-runtime-load", "runtime_config.js", "require('dotenv').config();\n"),
+    ("shell-dotenv-source", "runtime_start.sh", 'source "$HOME/.env"\n'),
+    ("compose-dotenv-transport", "compose_runtime.yml", "env_file: .env\n"),
+])
+def test_packaged_scanner_executes_dotenv_rule(tmp_path, rule_id, file_name, source):
+    """A rule file alone is insufficient: production discovery must execute it."""
+    registered = [rule for rule in SCAN_RULES if rule["id"] == rule_id]
+    assert len(registered) == 1
+    source_file = tmp_path / file_name
+    source_file.write_text(source, encoding="utf-8")
+    findings = [finding for finding in _scan_file(source_file, tmp_path)
+                if finding["rule_id"] == rule_id]
+    assert len(findings) == 1
+    assert findings[0]["line"] == 1
+    assert findings[0]["severity"] == "WARNING"