diff --git a/.github/workflows/maven.yml b/.github/workflows/maven.yml
index b0ddf4c..d707a23 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/maven.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/maven.yml
@@ -9,11 +9,9 @@ on:
   pull_request:
     branches: ["master"]
   workflow_dispatch:
+# Least privilege by default; jobs opt into more only where they need it.
 permissions:
-  contents: write
-  packages: write
-  id-token: write
-  security-events: write
+  contents: read
 
 jobs:
   ci-test:
@@ -81,6 +79,10 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: ci-test
     timeout-minutes: 20
+    # Only this job touches GHCR (login + image push), so it is the only one granted packages:write.
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      packages: write
     # 🚨 only run if this workflow was triggered by a tag push (release)
     # workflow_dispatch reruns skip the build and re-converge the box against :latest.
     if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')