diff --git a/scripts/release_evidence.py b/scripts/release_evidence.py
index 3554a7bb..97ce654a 100644
--- a/scripts/release_evidence.py
+++ b/scripts/release_evidence.py
@@ -718,6 +718,15 @@ def container_scan_artifact(root: Path, path: Path) -> dict[str, Any]:
     database = descriptor.get("db")
     if not isinstance(database, dict):
         raise EvidenceError("container vulnerability report must identify its database")
+    # Grype >= 0.110 nests the database identity under db.status; older releases
+    # wrote built/schemaVersion/checksum|from directly on db. Accept both shapes.
+    status = database.get("status")
+    if isinstance(status, dict):
+        if status.get("valid") is False:
+            raise EvidenceError(
+                "container vulnerability database is marked invalid by the scanner"
+            )
+        database = {**database, **status}
     built = database.get("built")
     schema_version = database.get("schemaVersion")
     checksum = database.get("checksum")
diff --git a/tests/test_release_evidence.py b/tests/test_release_evidence.py
index c8d5b5e2..f59a283c 100644
--- a/tests/test_release_evidence.py
+++ b/tests/test_release_evidence.py
@@ -1113,6 +1113,60 @@ def test_release_evidence_accepts_identified_current_grype_database_shape(tmp_pa
     }
 
 
+def test_release_evidence_accepts_grype_0110_nested_db_status_shape(tmp_path):
+    root = _root(tmp_path)
+    dist = _dist(root)
+    inputs = _release_inputs(root, dist)
+    report = json.loads(inputs["image_scan"].read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    report["descriptor"]["db"] = {
+        "status": {
+            "schemaVersion": "v6.1.9",
+            "from": (
+                "https://grype.anchore.io/databases/v6/vulnerability-db_v6.1.9_"
+                "2026-08-25T00:17:00Z_1787638635.tar.zst"
+                "?checksum=sha256%3A" + "f" * 64
+            ),
+            "built": "2026-08-25T06:17:15Z",
+            "path": "/home/runner/.cache/grype/db/6/vulnerability.db",
+            "valid": True,
+        },
+        "providers": {"ubuntu": {"captured": "2026-08-25T00:19:07Z"}},
+    }
+    inputs["image_scan"].write_text(json.dumps(report), encoding="utf-8")
+
+    evidence = _build(root, dist, inputs=inputs)
+
+    assert evidence["container"]["vulnerability_scan"]["database"] == {
+        "built": "2026-08-25T06:17:15Z",
+        "schema_version": "v6.1.9",
+        "checksum": "sha256:" + "f" * 64,
+    }
+
+
+def test_release_evidence_rejects_grype_0110_database_marked_invalid(tmp_path):
+    root = _root(tmp_path)
+    dist = _dist(root)
+    inputs = _release_inputs(root, dist)
+    report = json.loads(inputs["image_scan"].read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    report["descriptor"]["db"] = {
+        "status": {
+            "schemaVersion": "v6.1.9",
+            "from": (
+                "https://grype.anchore.io/databases/v6/vulnerability-db_v6.1.9_"
+                "2026-08-25T00:17:00Z_1787638635.tar.zst"
+                "?checksum=sha256%3A" + "f" * 64
+            ),
+            "built": "2026-08-25T06:17:15Z",
+            "path": "/home/runner/.cache/grype/db/6/vulnerability.db",
+            "valid": False,
+        },
+    }
+    inputs["image_scan"].write_text(json.dumps(report), encoding="utf-8")
+
+    with pytest.raises(EvidenceError, match="marked invalid"):
+        _build(root, dist, inputs=inputs)
+
+
 def test_repair_run_candidates_are_newest_first_and_bound_to_tag_commit_event():
     runs = [
         {