diff --git a/skill_categorization/tools/scripts/generate_index.py b/skill_categorization/tools/scripts/generate_index.py
index 94724b77..f5286268 100644
--- a/skill_categorization/tools/scripts/generate_index.py
+++ b/skill_categorization/tools/scripts/generate_index.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import os
 import json
 import re
 import sys
+from collections.abc import Mapping
+from datetime import date, datetime
 
 import yaml
 from _project_paths import find_repo_root
@@ -161,6 +163,27 @@ def infer_category(skill_info, metadata, body_text):
 
     return infer_dynamic_category(str(skill_info.get("id", "")))
 
+
+def normalize_yaml_value(value):
+    if isinstance(value, Mapping):
+        return {key: normalize_yaml_value(val) for key, val in value.items()}
+    if isinstance(value, list):
+        return [normalize_yaml_value(item) for item in value]
+    if isinstance(value, (date, datetime)):
+        return value.isoformat()
+    if isinstance(value, (bytes, bytearray)):
+        return bytes(value).decode("utf-8", errors="replace")
+    return value
+
+
+def coerce_metadata_text(value):
+    if value is None or isinstance(value, (Mapping, list, tuple, set)):
+        return None
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        return value
+    return str(value)
+
+
 def parse_frontmatter(content):
     """
     Parses YAML frontmatter, sanitizing unquoted values containing @.
@@ -190,7 +213,12 @@ def parse_frontmatter(content):
     sanitized_yaml = '\n'.join(sanitized_lines)
     
     try:
-        return yaml.safe_load(sanitized_yaml) or {}
+        parsed = yaml.safe_load(sanitized_yaml) or {}
+        parsed = normalize_yaml_value(parsed)
+        if not isinstance(parsed, Mapping):
+            print("⚠️ YAML frontmatter must be a mapping/object")
+            return {}
+        return dict(parsed)
     except yaml.YAMLError as e:
         print(f"⚠️ YAML parsing error: {e}")
         return {}
@@ -240,11 +268,25 @@ def generate_index(skills_dir, output_file):
                 body = content[fm_match.end():].strip()
             
             # Merge Metadata (frontmatter takes priority)
-            if "name" in metadata: skill_info["name"] = metadata["name"]
-            if "description" in metadata: skill_info["description"] = metadata["description"]
-            if "risk" in metadata: skill_info["risk"] = metadata["risk"]
-            if "source" in metadata: skill_info["source"] = metadata["source"]
-            if "date_added" in metadata: skill_info["date_added"] = metadata["date_added"]
+            name = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("name"))
+            description = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("description"))
+            risk = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("risk"))
+            source = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("source"))
+            date_added = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("date_added"))
+            category = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("category"))
+
+            if name is not None:
+                skill_info["name"] = name
+            if description is not None:
+                skill_info["description"] = description
+            if risk is not None:
+                skill_info["risk"] = risk
+            if source is not None:
+                skill_info["source"] = source
+            if date_added is not None:
+                skill_info["date_added"] = date_added
+            if category is not None:
+                skill_info["category"] = category
             
             # Category: prefer frontmatter, then folder structure, then default
             inferred_category, confidence, reason = infer_category(skill_info, metadata, body)
diff --git a/tools/scripts/generate_index.py b/tools/scripts/generate_index.py
index eea0e5e2..3c7451e6 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/generate_index.py
+++ b/tools/scripts/generate_index.py
@@ -808,8 +808,18 @@ def normalize_yaml_value(value):
         return [normalize_yaml_value(item) for item in value]
     if isinstance(value, (date, datetime)):
         return value.isoformat()
+    if isinstance(value, (bytes, bytearray)):
+        return bytes(value).decode("utf-8", errors="replace")
     return value
 
+
+def coerce_metadata_text(value):
+    if value is None or isinstance(value, (Mapping, list, tuple, set)):
+        return None
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        return value
+    return str(value)
+
 def parse_frontmatter(content):
     """
     Parses YAML frontmatter, sanitizing unquoted values containing @.
@@ -905,15 +915,27 @@ def generate_index(skills_dir, output_file, compatibility_report=None):
             metadata = parse_frontmatter(content)
             
             # Merge Metadata (frontmatter takes priority)
-            if "name" in metadata: skill_info["name"] = metadata["name"]
-            if "description" in metadata: skill_info["description"] = metadata["description"]
-            if "risk" in metadata: skill_info["risk"] = metadata["risk"]
-            if "source" in metadata: skill_info["source"] = metadata["source"]
-            if "date_added" in metadata: skill_info["date_added"] = metadata["date_added"]
+            name = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("name"))
+            description = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("description"))
+            risk = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("risk"))
+            source = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("source"))
+            date_added = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("date_added"))
+            category = coerce_metadata_text(metadata.get("category"))
+
+            if name is not None:
+                skill_info["name"] = name
+            if description is not None:
+                skill_info["description"] = description
+            if risk is not None:
+                skill_info["risk"] = risk
+            if source is not None:
+                skill_info["source"] = source
+            if date_added is not None:
+                skill_info["date_added"] = date_added
             
             # Category: prefer frontmatter, then folder structure, then conservative inference
-            if "category" in metadata:
-                skill_info["category"] = metadata["category"]
+            if category is not None:
+                skill_info["category"] = category
             elif skill_info["category"] is None:
                 inferred_category = infer_category(
                     skill_info["id"],
diff --git a/tools/scripts/plugin_compatibility.py b/tools/scripts/plugin_compatibility.py
index 63a4758f..718e0103 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/plugin_compatibility.py
+++ b/tools/scripts/plugin_compatibility.py
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ def _normalize_yaml_value(value: Any) -> Any:
         return [_normalize_yaml_value(item) for item in value]
     if isinstance(value, (date, datetime)):
         return value.isoformat()
+    if isinstance(value, (bytes, bytearray)):
+        return bytes(value).decode("utf-8", errors="replace")
     return value
 
 
@@ -114,6 +116,7 @@ def _runtime_dependency_files(skill_dir: Path) -> list[str]:
 
 def _local_link_reasons(content: str, skill_dir: Path) -> set[str]:
     reasons: set[str] = set()
+    resolved_skill_dir = skill_dir.resolve()
 
     for link in LOCAL_LINK_RE.findall(content):
         link_clean = link.split("#", 1)[0].strip()
@@ -125,6 +128,11 @@ def _local_link_reasons(content: str, skill_dir: Path) -> set[str]:
             continue
 
         target_path = (skill_dir / link_clean).resolve(strict=False)
+        try:
+            target_path.relative_to(resolved_skill_dir)
+        except ValueError:
+            reasons.add("escaped_local_reference")
+            continue
         if not target_path.exists():
             reasons.add("broken_local_reference")
 
diff --git a/tools/scripts/sync_editorial_bundles.py b/tools/scripts/sync_editorial_bundles.py
index af02400b..62e0fc0b 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/sync_editorial_bundles.py
+++ b/tools/scripts/sync_editorial_bundles.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from update_readme import configure_utf8_output, load_metadata
 SAFE_SKILL_ID_RE = re.compile(
     r"^(?!.*(?:^|/)\.{1,2}(?:/|$))[A-Za-z0-9._-]+(?:/[A-Za-z0-9._-]+)*$"
 )
+SAFE_BUNDLE_ID_RE = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z0-9](?:[A-Za-z0-9._-]*[A-Za-z0-9])?$")
 REPO_URL = "https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills"
 AUTHOR = {
     "name": "sickn33 and contributors",
@@ -182,6 +183,11 @@ def _validate_bundle_skill_id(skill_id: str) -> None:
         raise ValueError(f"Invalid skill id in editorial bundles manifest: {skill_id!r}")
 
 
+def _validate_bundle_id(bundle_id: str) -> None:
+    if not SAFE_BUNDLE_ID_RE.fullmatch(bundle_id):
+        raise ValueError(f"Invalid editorial bundle id: {bundle_id!r}")
+
+
 def _validate_editorial_bundles(root: Path, payload: dict[str, Any]) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     bundles = payload.get("bundles")
     if not isinstance(bundles, list) or not bundles:
@@ -199,6 +205,7 @@ def _validate_editorial_bundles(root: Path, payload: dict[str, Any]) -> list[dic
         bundle_name = str(bundle.get("name", "")).strip()
         if not bundle_id or not bundle_name:
             raise ValueError("Each editorial bundle requires non-empty 'id' and 'name'.")
+        _validate_bundle_id(bundle_id)
         if bundle_id in seen_bundle_ids:
             raise ValueError(f"Duplicate editorial bundle id: {bundle_id}")
         if bundle_name in seen_bundle_names:
diff --git a/tools/scripts/tests/test_editorial_bundles.py b/tools/scripts/tests/test_editorial_bundles.py
index e16ae535..437df0bd 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/tests/test_editorial_bundles.py
+++ b/tools/scripts/tests/test_editorial_bundles.py
@@ -106,6 +106,30 @@ class EditorialBundlesTests(unittest.TestCase):
         )
         self.assertEqual(generated_plugins, expected_plugins)
 
+    def test_manifest_rejects_bundle_ids_with_path_traversal(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+            temp_root = pathlib.Path(temp_dir)
+            skill_dir = temp_root / "skills" / "safe-skill"
+            skill_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+            payload = {
+                "bundles": [
+                    {
+                        "id": "../../outside",
+                        "name": "Safe Bundle",
+                        "group": "Security",
+                        "emoji": "🛡️",
+                        "tagline": "Test bundle",
+                        "audience": "Testers",
+                        "description": "Testers",
+                        "skills": [{"id": "safe-skill", "summary": "ok"}],
+                    }
+                ]
+            }
+
+            with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, "Invalid editorial bundle id"):
+                editorial_bundles._validate_editorial_bundles(temp_root, payload)
+
     def test_sample_bundle_copy_matches_source_file_inventory(self):
         sample_bundle = next(bundle for bundle in self.manifest_bundles if bundle["id"] == "documents-presentations")
         plugin_skills_root = REPO_ROOT / "plugins" / "antigravity-bundle-documents-presentations" / "skills"
diff --git a/tools/scripts/tests/test_frontmatter_parsing_security.py b/tools/scripts/tests/test_frontmatter_parsing_security.py
index 2f1a6a83..db57a39a 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/tests/test_frontmatter_parsing_security.py
+++ b/tools/scripts/tests/test_frontmatter_parsing_security.py
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ def load_module(relative_path: str, module_name: str):
 
 
 generate_index = load_module("tools/scripts/generate_index.py", "generate_index")
+legacy_generate_index = load_module(
+    "skill_categorization/tools/scripts/generate_index.py",
+    "legacy_generate_index",
+)
 validate_skills = load_module("tools/scripts/validate_skills.py", "validate_skills")
 
 
@@ -80,6 +84,34 @@ class FrontmatterParsingSecurityTests(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(skills[0]["date_added"], "2026-03-15")
             self.assertIn('"date_added": "2026-03-15"', output_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
 
+    def test_generate_index_normalizes_binary_frontmatter_scalars(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+            root = Path(temp_dir)
+            skills_dir = root / "skills"
+            skill_dir = skills_dir / "demo"
+            output_file = root / "skills_index.json"
+
+            skill_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+            (skill_dir / "SKILL.md").write_text(
+                "---\nname: !!binary aGVsbG8=\ndescription: !!binary d29ybGQ=\n---\nBody\n",
+                encoding="utf-8",
+            )
+
+            skills = generate_index.generate_index(str(skills_dir), str(output_file))
+
+            self.assertEqual(skills[0]["name"], "hello")
+            self.assertEqual(skills[0]["description"], "world")
+            self.assertIn('"name": "hello"', output_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+
+    def test_legacy_generate_index_rejects_non_mapping_and_normalizes_binary_scalars(self):
+        self.assertEqual(legacy_generate_index.parse_frontmatter("---\njust-a-string\n---\nbody\n"), {})
+        metadata = legacy_generate_index.parse_frontmatter(
+            "---\nname: !!binary aGVsbG8=\ndescription: !!binary d29ybGQ=\n---\nbody\n"
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(metadata["name"], "hello")
+        self.assertEqual(metadata["description"], "world")
+
     def test_generate_index_ignores_symlinked_skill_markdown(self):
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
             root = Path(temp_dir)
diff --git a/tools/scripts/tests/test_plugin_compatibility.py b/tools/scripts/tests/test_plugin_compatibility.py
index ee7db1e9..b4e87749 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/tests/test_plugin_compatibility.py
+++ b/tools/scripts/tests/test_plugin_compatibility.py
@@ -78,6 +78,30 @@ class PluginCompatibilityTests(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(entry["targets"]["claude"], "blocked")
             self.assertIn("undeclared_runtime_dependency", entry["reasons"])
 
+    def test_relative_links_cannot_escape_skill_directory(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+            skills_dir = pathlib.Path(temp_dir) / "skills"
+            self._write_skill(
+                skills_dir,
+                "escaping-link-skill",
+                (
+                    "---\n"
+                    "name: escaping-link-skill\n"
+                    "description: Example\n"
+                    "---\n"
+                    "Read [secret](../../outside/secret.txt)\n"
+                ),
+            )
+            outside_dir = pathlib.Path(temp_dir) / "outside"
+            outside_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            (outside_dir / "secret.txt").write_text("secret", encoding="utf-8")
+
+            report = plugin_compatibility.build_report(skills_dir)
+            entry = report["skills"][0]
+            self.assertEqual(entry["targets"]["codex"], "blocked")
+            self.assertEqual(entry["targets"]["claude"], "blocked")
+            self.assertIn("escaped_local_reference", entry["reasons"])
+
     def test_manual_setup_metadata_can_make_runtime_skill_supported(self):
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
             skills_dir = pathlib.Path(temp_dir) / "skills"