diff --git a/tools/src/main/js/linter/index.js b/tools/src/main/js/linter/index.js
index 9e371e63..f09b2345 100644
--- a/tools/src/main/js/linter/index.js
+++ b/tools/src/main/js/linter/index.js
@@ -380,28 +380,85 @@ export class SchemaLinter {
 }
 
 /**
- * Utility to traverse a JSON schema and call a visitor function
+ * Build an unambiguous path segment for a key (bracket notation when key contains . or non-identifier chars)
+ * @param {string} base - Current path (e.g. '$' or '$.definitions')
+ * @param {string} key - Property key
+ * @returns {string}
+ */
+function safePathJoin(base, key) {
+  if (/^[A-Za-z_$][A-Za-z0-9_$]*$/.test(key)) {
+    return `${base}.${key}`;
+  }
+  return `${base}[${JSON.stringify(key)}]`;
+}
+
+/** Keys that, if present in schema and later used in a path-based setter (e.g. lodash.set), could lead to prototype pollution. Exported so path consumers can reject/escape these segments; in traverseSchema used only for optional onDangerousKey notification (traversal is not skipped). */
+export const DANGEROUS_PATH_KEYS = new Set(['__proto__', 'constructor', 'prototype']);
+
+/** Default max traversal depth: no limit (Infinity), so default behaviour matches original—no truncation. Set a finite maxDepth (e.g. 1000) via config to guard against depth-only DoS; use onDepthLimit to warn when hit. */
+export const DEFAULT_MAX_DEPTH = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
+
+/**
+ * Utility to traverse a JSON schema and call a visitor function.
+ *
+ * Behavior notes:
+ * - **Cycle detection (stack-based):** Objects/arrays on the current recursion path are kept in a WeakSet
+ *   (inProgress). When leaving a node it is removed. So the same object reachable via different paths
+ *   (shared refs / DAG / YAML aliases) is visited once per path; only when we would re-enter a node
+ *   already on the current path do we skip (true cycle). This preserves coverage for path-sensitive
+ *   checks while preventing infinite recursion.
+ * - **Paths:** Keys that are not simple identifiers (e.g. contain '.' or special chars) use bracket
+ *   notation so paths are unambiguous (e.g. `$["a.b"]` instead of `$.a.b`).
+ * - **Depth limit:** Beyond maxDepth, traversal stops without visiting deeper nodes. Pass onDepthLimit
+ *   to be notified when this happens so lint results are not silently incomplete. Recommended: have
+ *   the runner (e.g. SchemaLinter) always pass onDepthLimit and emit a LintIssue so truncation is never silent.
+ * - **Dangerous path keys:** This function does not traverse the prototype chain and does not mutate
+ *   objects. If path strings are only used for reporting, prototype pollution risk is negligible. If
+ *   any consumer uses a path in a path-based setter (e.g. lodash.set), segments like __proto__,
+ *   constructor, prototype can be dangerous. Pass onDangerousKey to be notified when such a key is
+ *   encountered (traversal is not skipped; coverage is unchanged).
+ *
  * @param {object} schema - The schema to traverse
  * @param {function} visitor - Function called for each node: (node, path, key, parent)
  * @param {string} [path] - Current path (used internally)
  * @param {string} [key] - Current key (used internally)
  * @param {object} [parent] - Parent node (used internally)
+ * @param {WeakSet} [inProgress] - Set of objects on the current recursion path for cycle detection (used internally)
+ * @param {number} [depth] - Current depth (used internally)
+ * @param {number} [maxDepth] - Stop recursing beyond this depth (used internally; default no limit so behaviour is unchanged unless set)
+ * @param {function(string, number): void} [onDepthLimit] - When provided, called with (path, depth) when traversal stops due to depth limit
+ * @param {function(string, string|null, object|null): void} [onCycle] - When provided, called with (path, key, parent) when a cycle is detected (node already on current path)
+ * @param {function(string, string): void} [onDangerousKey] - When provided, called with (path, key) when key is __proto__, constructor, or prototype (path could be dangerous if given to a setter); traversal still continues
  */
-export function traverseSchema(schema, visitor, path = '$', key = null, parent = null) {
-  visitor(schema, path, key, parent);
-  
+export function traverseSchema(schema, visitor, path = '$', key = null, parent = null, inProgress = new WeakSet(), depth = 0, maxDepth = DEFAULT_MAX_DEPTH, onDepthLimit = undefined, onCycle = undefined, onDangerousKey = undefined) {
   if (typeof schema !== 'object' || schema === null) {
+    visitor(schema, path, key, parent);
+    return;
+  }
+  if (inProgress.has(schema)) {
+    if (typeof onCycle === 'function') onCycle(path, key, parent);
     return;
   }
-  
-  if (Array.isArray(schema)) {
-    schema.forEach((item, index) => {
-      traverseSchema(item, visitor, `${path}[${index}]`, index, schema);
-    });
-  } else {
-    for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(schema)) {
-      traverseSchema(v, visitor, `${path}.${k}`, k, schema);
+  inProgress.add(schema);
+  try {
+    visitor(schema, path, key, parent);
+    if (depth >= maxDepth) {
+      if (typeof onDepthLimit === 'function') onDepthLimit(path, depth);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (Array.isArray(schema)) {
+      schema.forEach((item, index) => {
+        traverseSchema(item, visitor, `${path}[${index}]`, index, schema, inProgress, depth + 1, maxDepth, onDepthLimit, onCycle, onDangerousKey);
+      });
+    } else {
+      for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(schema)) {
+        const nextPath = safePathJoin(path, k);
+        if (DANGEROUS_PATH_KEYS.has(k) && typeof onDangerousKey === 'function') onDangerousKey(nextPath, k);
+        traverseSchema(v, visitor, nextPath, k, schema, inProgress, depth + 1, maxDepth, onDepthLimit, onCycle, onDangerousKey);
+      }
     }
+  } finally {
+    inProgress.delete(schema);
   }
 }