diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index d9040b5d43..5d28dd7879 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -45,12 +45,9 @@ jobs:
       DAPR_REF:
       TOXIPROXY_URL: https://github.com/Shopify/toxiproxy/releases/download/v2.5.0/toxiproxy-server-linux-amd64
     steps:
-    - name: Install Stable Docker
-      id: setup_docker
-      uses: docker/setup-docker-action@v4   
-    - name: Check Docker version
-      run: docker version     
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Check Docker version
+      run: docker version
     - name: Set up OpenJDK ${{ env.JDK_VER }}
       uses: actions/setup-java@v4
       with:
@@ -118,8 +115,6 @@ jobs:
       run: ./mvnw compile -B -q
     - name: Unit tests
       run: ./mvnw test # making it temporarily verbose.
-      env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}
     - name: Codecov
       uses: codecov/codecov-action@v5.4.2
     - name: Install jars
@@ -127,8 +122,6 @@ jobs:
     - name: Integration tests using spring boot version ${{ matrix.spring-boot-version }}
       id: integration_tests
       run: PRODUCT_SPRING_BOOT_VERSION=${{ matrix.spring-boot-version }} ./mvnw -B -Pintegration-tests verify
-      env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}
     - name: Upload test report for sdk
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
       with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate.yml b/.github/workflows/validate.yml
index 8e6f1c6aab..be69a79e5f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate.yml
@@ -49,11 +49,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: ${{ env.JDK_VER }}
-      - name: Install Stable Docker
-        id: setup_docker
-        uses: docker/setup-docker-action@v4   
       - name: Check Docker version
-        run: docker version   
+        run: docker version
       - name: Set up Dapr CLI
         run: wget -q ${{ env.DAPR_INSTALL_URL }} -O - | /bin/bash -s ${{ env.DAPR_CLI_VER }}
       - name: Set up Go ${{ env.GOVER }}
@@ -113,107 +110,71 @@ jobs:
         run: ./mvnw compile -q
       - name: Install jars
         run: ./mvnw install -q
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}
       - name: Validate Jobs example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/jobs/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}
       - name: Validate conversation ai example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/conversation/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}
       - name: Validate invoke http example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/invoke/http/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate invoke grpc example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/invoke/grpc/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate tracing example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/tracing/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate expection handling example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/exception/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate state example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/state/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate pubsub example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/pubsub/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate bindings HTTP example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/bindings/http/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate secrets example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/secrets/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate unit testing example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/unittesting/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate Configuration API example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
             mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/configuration/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}    
       - name: Validate actors example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
             mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/actors/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}    
       - name: Validate query state HTTP example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
             mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/querystate/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}    
       - name: Validate workflows example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/workflows/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate streaming subscription example
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           mm.py ./src/main/java/io/dapr/examples/pubsub/stream/README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}  
       - name: Validate Spring Boot examples
         working-directory: ./spring-boot-examples
         run: |
           mm.py README.md
-        env:
-          DOCKER_HOST: ${{steps.setup_docker.outputs.sock}}      
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 972aef38a9..cc3b7d9234 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
         which conflict with dapr-sdk's jackson dependencies
         https://github.com/dapr/durabletask-java/blob/main/client/build.gradle#L16
         -->
-    <jackson.version>2.16.1</jackson.version>
+    <jackson.version>2.18.6</jackson.version>
     <gpg.skip>true</gpg.skip>
     <spotbugs.fail>true</spotbugs.fail>
     <spotbugs.exclude.filter.file>../spotbugs-exclude.xml</spotbugs.exclude.filter.file>
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@
     <junit-bom.version>5.11.4</junit-bom.version>
     <snakeyaml.version>2.0</snakeyaml.version>
     <testcontainers.version>1.20.5</testcontainers.version>
-    <springboot.version>3.4.3</springboot.version>
+    <springboot.version>3.4.13</springboot.version>
+    <!-- TODO: Remove netty-bom override once gRPC ships with Netty >= 4.1.132 (CVE-2026-33871, CVE-2026-33870) -->
+    <netty.version>4.1.132.Final</netty.version>
     <nexus-staging-maven-plugin.version>1.7.0</nexus-staging-maven-plugin.version>
     <assertj.version>3.27.3</assertj.version>
   </properties>
@@ -76,6 +78,13 @@
         <artifactId>slf4j-api</artifactId>
         <version>2.0.9</version>
       </dependency>
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>io.netty</groupId>
+        <artifactId>netty-bom</artifactId>
+        <version>${netty.version}</version>
+        <type>pom</type>
+        <scope>import</scope>
+      </dependency>
       <dependency>
         <groupId>io.grpc</groupId>
         <artifactId>grpc-bom</artifactId>