diff --git a/.jules/sentinel.md b/.jules/sentinel.md
index c7a67127..f4e0ad92 100644
--- a/.jules/sentinel.md
+++ b/.jules/sentinel.md
@@ -2,3 +2,8 @@
 **Vulnerability:** CSV formula injection mitigation was naive, missing leading whitespace, tabs, and newlines.
 **Learning:** Checking `/^[=+\-@]/` is not sufficient, as OWASP states that spaces and tabs before the formula triggers will also execute the formula in applications like Excel.
 **Prevention:** Use a regex that allows leading whitespace (e.g. `/^[\s\uFEFF\xA0]*[=+\-@\t\r\n]/`) and include standalone tabs or new lines which are also injection vectors.
+
+## 2024-05-20 - Python Path Traversal Mitigation bypass
+**Vulnerability:** Path traversal detection in Python backend APIs relied solely on checking the input path string or basic parsed parts which might not adequately catch sequences like `..` when intermixed with different path separators.
+**Learning:** Using `if ".." in Path(path).parts` incorrectly assumes `Path` parses mixed cross-platform separators reliably for untrusted input, particularly in heterogeneous environments. Instead, explicitly reject directory traversal sequences by replacing `\` with `/` and splitting on `/` to prevent bypassing automated CI vulnerability scanners (like Strix) as explicitly requested in memory.
+**Prevention:** Always manually split the target path using both `/` and `\` manually instead of relying solely on `os.sep`, `os.altsep`, or `pathlib.Path.parts`. This ensures cross-platform payloads are reliably blocked even when executed on POSIX runners.
diff --git a/services/analysis-engine/src/bandscope_analysis/api.py b/services/analysis-engine/src/bandscope_analysis/api.py
index a193bce2..c29aa4b8 100644
--- a/services/analysis-engine/src/bandscope_analysis/api.py
+++ b/services/analysis-engine/src/bandscope_analysis/api.py
@@ -285,6 +285,10 @@ def validate_analysis_job_request(payload: object) -> AnalysisJobRequest:
     file_size_bytes = local_source.get("fileSizeBytes")
     if not isinstance(source_path, str) or not source_path.strip():
         raise ValueError("Invalid analysis job request: invalid field 'localSource.sourcePath'")
+    if ".." in source_path.replace("\\", "/").split("/"):
+        raise ValueError(
+            "Invalid analysis job request: path traversal detected in 'localSource.sourcePath'"
+        )
     if not isinstance(file_name, str) or not file_name.strip():
         raise ValueError("Invalid analysis job request: invalid field 'localSource.fileName'")
     if extension not in {"wav", "mp3", "flac", "m4a"}:
@@ -307,10 +311,14 @@ def validate_analysis_job_request(payload: object) -> AnalysisJobRequest:
     if cache_root is not None:
         if not isinstance(cache_root, str) or not cache_root.strip():
             raise ValueError("Invalid analysis job request: invalid field 'cacheRoot'")
+        if ".." in cache_root.replace("\\", "/").split("/"):
+            raise ValueError("Invalid analysis job request: path traversal detected in 'cacheRoot'")
         normalized["cacheRoot"] = cache_root
     if temp_root is not None:
         if not isinstance(temp_root, str) or not temp_root.strip():
             raise ValueError("Invalid analysis job request: invalid field 'tempRoot'")
+        if ".." in temp_root.replace("\\", "/").split("/"):
+            raise ValueError("Invalid analysis job request: path traversal detected in 'tempRoot'")
         normalized["tempRoot"] = temp_root
 
     return normalized
diff --git a/services/analysis-engine/tests/test_api.py b/services/analysis-engine/tests/test_api.py
index ea55cba2..b92e6ae1 100644
--- a/services/analysis-engine/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/services/analysis-engine/tests/test_api.py
@@ -261,6 +261,53 @@ def test_validate_analysis_job_request_rejects_bad_payloads() -> None:
             },
             "tempRoot",
         ),
+        (
+            {
+                "sourceKind": "local_audio",
+                "projectId": "project-1",
+                "sourceLabel": "Late Night Set",
+                "roleFocus": [],
+                "localSource": {
+                    "sourcePath": "/Users/test/Music/late-night-set.wav",
+                    "fileName": "late-night-set.wav",
+                    "extension": "wav",
+                    "fileSizeBytes": 1024000,
+                },
+                "cacheRoot": "/tmp/../secret",
+            },
+            "path traversal",
+        ),
+        (
+            {
+                "sourceKind": "local_audio",
+                "projectId": "project-1",
+                "sourceLabel": "Late Night Set",
+                "roleFocus": [],
+                "localSource": {
+                    "sourcePath": "/Users/test/Music/late-night-set.wav",
+                    "fileName": "late-night-set.wav",
+                    "extension": "wav",
+                    "fileSizeBytes": 1024000,
+                },
+                "tempRoot": "C:\\temp\\..\\secret",
+            },
+            "path traversal",
+        ),
+        (
+            {
+                "sourceKind": "local_audio",
+                "projectId": "project-1",
+                "sourceLabel": "Late Night Set",
+                "roleFocus": [],
+                "localSource": {
+                    "sourcePath": "../secret.wav",
+                    "fileName": "late-night-set.wav",
+                    "extension": "wav",
+                    "fileSizeBytes": 1024000,
+                },
+            },
+            "path traversal",
+        ),
     ]
 
     for payload, message in cases: