diff --git a/strix/report/verify.py b/strix/report/verify.py
index d8e2f0b91..854d641f1 100644
--- a/strix/report/verify.py
+++ b/strix/report/verify.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
 import logging
+import math
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
 from agents.model_settings import ModelSettings
@@ -67,6 +68,15 @@ Respond with ONLY a JSON object:
 
 
 def _verify_extra_args(verify: VerifySettings) -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Per-call credential + endpoint for a *dedicated* verify model.
+
+    Only applies when STRIX_VERIFY_MODEL is set: the verifier's key/base must
+    never be overlaid onto the main model when the verifier falls back to it
+    (that would point verification at the wrong endpoint/account). Mirrors the
+    dedupe module's gating.
+    """
+    if not verify.model:
+        return {}
     extra: dict[str, str] = {}
     if verify.api_key and verify.api_key.strip():
         extra["api_key"] = verify.api_key.strip()
@@ -122,10 +132,16 @@ def _parse_verdict(content: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
 
     verdict = str(parsed.get("verdict") or "").strip().upper()
     reason = str(parsed.get("reason") or "")[:500]
+    # The model output is untrusted (no schema is enforced on the response), so
+    # a confidence outside [0, 1] — 100, 1e999, -5, nan — must not be able to
+    # authorize suppression. Anything non-finite or out of range collapses to
+    # 0.0, which fails the min_confidence gate and emits (fail-open).
     try:
         confidence = float(parsed.get("confidence", 0.0))
     except (TypeError, ValueError):
         confidence = 0.0
+    if not math.isfinite(confidence) or not (0.0 <= confidence <= 1.0):
+        confidence = 0.0
     return {"verdict": verdict, "confidence": confidence, "reason": reason}
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_verify.py b/tests/test_verify.py
index 5d7289757..20e40a0a0 100644
--- a/tests/test_verify.py
+++ b/tests/test_verify.py
@@ -83,6 +83,31 @@ def test_parse_verdict_bad_confidence_defaults_zero():
     assert v["confidence"] == 0.0
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("raw", ["100", "1e999", "-5", "1.0001", "NaN", "-0.01"])
+def test_parse_verdict_out_of_range_confidence_collapses_to_zero(raw: str):
+    # Untrusted output: any confidence outside [0,1] or non-finite must not be
+    # able to authorize suppression — it collapses to 0.0 (emits, fail-open).
+    v = verify._parse_verdict(f'{{"verdict": "FALSE_POSITIVE", "confidence": {raw}}}')
+    assert v["confidence"] == 0.0
+
+
+def test_extra_args_gated_on_dedicated_model(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
+    # Verifier creds must NOT overlay onto the main model when no dedicated
+    # STRIX_VERIFY_MODEL is set (would point verification at the wrong endpoint).
+    monkeypatch.setenv("VERIFY_LLM_API_KEY", "sk-verify")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("VERIFY_LLM_API_BASE", "https://verify.example")
+    _reset_cache()
+    verify_settings = loader.load_settings().verify
+    assert verify_settings.model is None
+    assert verify._verify_extra_args(verify_settings) == {}
+
+    # With a dedicated model, the creds ARE passed through.
+    monkeypatch.setenv("STRIX_VERIFY_MODEL", "openai/verifier")
+    _reset_cache()
+    verify_settings = loader.load_settings().verify
+    assert verify._verify_extra_args(verify_settings)["api_key"] == "sk-verify"
+
+
 def test_parse_verdict_no_json_raises():
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         verify._parse_verdict("I think this is real, sorry no JSON")
@@ -186,3 +211,15 @@ async def test_unparseable_response_emits(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
     out = await _run_with_stubbed_model(monkeypatch, "no json here", "critical")
     assert out["reject"] is False
     assert out["verdict"] == "ERROR"
+
+
+async def test_out_of_range_confidence_does_not_suppress(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
+    # A FALSE_POSITIVE with confidence=100 must NOT authorize suppression — the
+    # clamp collapses it to 0.0, which fails the threshold and emits.
+    out = await _run_with_stubbed_model(
+        monkeypatch,
+        '{"verdict": "FALSE_POSITIVE", "confidence": 100, "reason": "bogus"}',
+        "critical",
+    )
+    assert out["reject"] is False
+    assert out["confidence"] == 0.0