diff --git a/docs/javascript-application-workflows.md b/docs/javascript-application-workflows.md
index 92310f4d2c..50ebc287b8 100644
--- a/docs/javascript-application-workflows.md
+++ b/docs/javascript-application-workflows.md
@@ -195,6 +195,17 @@ earlier read or captured alias. Unproved ordering across branches or function
 activations remains conservative. Returned-reference effects use the same
 read-position facts as call resolution.
 
+Returned-reference effects share one property-projection state per source read.
+When several paths reach that read, differing keys at the same depth become
+wildcards; differing depths become an unknown-depth selection. This retains a
+conservative superset of the represented local targets rather than enumerating
+every alias history or dropping paths at a query cap. It can add possible effects,
+including for finite projection cycles. Static limitations disclose this loss of
+precision; semantic graphs retain `dynamic-property` unknowns at the affected
+callee coordinates, and captured web bundles identify the affected script keys.
+These candidates do not prove runtime calls or mutations. Existing source-worker
+and result-admission limits still apply.
+
 Mutation tracking covers explicit member assignments, updates, deletion, and
 loop assignment targets, including the supported local aliases and shared
 nested references. Calls conservatively invalidate exposed mutable references;
diff --git a/src/application/javascript/JavaScriptSemanticGraphBuilder.ts b/src/application/javascript/JavaScriptSemanticGraphBuilder.ts
index a02b60c0c6..d39a7ef27c 100644
--- a/src/application/javascript/JavaScriptSemanticGraphBuilder.ts
+++ b/src/application/javascript/JavaScriptSemanticGraphBuilder.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import {
   unknownSemanticEvidence,
 } from "./JavaScriptSemanticGraphEvidence.js";
 import {
+  RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION,
   semanticCoverageResourceLimits,
   semanticResourceLimitCoverage,
 } from "../../domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCoverage.js";
@@ -555,6 +556,19 @@ function* projectFileSteps(
   if (moduleNode === null) return [];
   state.roots.add(moduleNode.node_id);
   projectFileResourceLimits({ file, ir, state, moduleNode });
+  for (const location of ir.coverage.widenedReturnedReferences ?? [])
+    addSemanticGraphUnknown(state, {
+      node_id: moduleNode.node_id,
+      family: "data-flow",
+      relation_kinds: ["defines"],
+      reason: "dynamic-property",
+      detail: RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION,
+      candidate_node_ids: [],
+      evidence: {
+        ...unknownSemanticEvidence(file, location),
+        limitations: [RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION],
+      },
+    });
   yield* projectElectronSemanticCallPaths(file, paths, state);
   // Node creation keeps source order, which the per-file node budget relies
   // on; yields between nodes do not change it.
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptReturnedReferenceCoverage.test.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptReturnedReferenceCoverage.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6131c0996
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptReturnedReferenceCoverage.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import { expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { analyzeJavaScriptSemantics } from "./javascriptSemanticAnalysis.js";
+import { analyzeJavaScriptStaticSource } from "./javascriptStaticAnalysis.js";
+import { RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION } from "./javascriptSemanticCoverage.js";
+
+it("preserves possible ambient effects and discloses projection widening in source coverage", () => {
+  const source = `
+    function expose() { return Map.prototype; }
+    let cursor = { target: expose };
+    function walk(flag) {
+      while (flag) cursor = cursor.next;
+      patch(cursor.target());
+    }
+    fetch('/preserved');
+    new Map().get('/candidate');
+  `;
+  const ir = analyzeJavaScriptSemantics(source);
+  expect(ir.coverage).toMatchObject({ status: "partial", omittedCount: 0 });
+  expect(ir.coverage.widenedReturnedReferences?.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+  expect(ir.limitations).toContain(RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION);
+  const facts = analyzeJavaScriptStaticSource(source);
+  expect(facts.limitations).toContain(RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION);
+  expect(facts.endpoints).toEqual(
+    expect.arrayContaining([
+      expect.objectContaining({ value: "/preserved", mechanism: "call:fetch" }),
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        value: "/candidate",
+        interpretation: "candidate",
+      }),
+    ]),
+  );
+});
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAmbientWrites.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAmbientWrites.ts
index b6a2377340..54bccbfc26 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAmbientWrites.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAmbientWrites.ts
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ export const createAmbientPathResolver = (
           ...(current.readsAtSelf && { readsAtSelf: true }),
         });
       const continueReturned = (callee: t.Node, path: AmbientProjection) => {
-        for (const source of returnedReferences(callee))
+        for (const source of returnedReferences(callee).references)
           continueWith(
             source.node,
             path === undefined
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.ts
index ad7ff2f7d0..239c0a79a6 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.ts
@@ -86,7 +86,10 @@ import {
   ELECTRON_MODULE,
 } from "./javascriptElectronMemberWrites.js";
 import { range } from "./javascriptStaticAnalysisHelpers.js";
-import { semanticCoverage } from "./javascriptSemanticCoverage.js";
+import {
+  semanticCoverage,
+  RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION,
+} from "./javascriptSemanticCoverage.js";
 import { semanticResourceLimitReason } from "./javascriptSemanticResourceLimits.js";
 import {
   parseJavaScriptSource,
@@ -414,8 +417,12 @@ export function* analyzeParsedJavaScriptSemanticsSteps(
           ...state.getterResourceLimits,
         ]),
       ].sort(),
+      [...state.returnedReferenceWidenings].map(range),
     ),
     limitations: [
+      ...(state.returnedReferenceWidenings.size > 0
+        ? [RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION]
+        : []),
       ...[...state.getterResourceLimits]
         .sort()
         .map(semanticResourceLimitReason),
@@ -956,6 +963,7 @@ const createState = (
     staticImportResolutionMode,
     valueResourceLimits: new Set(),
     getterResourceLimits: new Set(),
+    returnedReferenceWidenings: new Set(),
     parentsByNode: new WeakMap(),
     scopes: [root],
     scopesById: new Map([[root.scopeId, root]]),
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCallResolution.test.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCallResolution.test.ts
index fa953ce49f..54e1dc0ef7 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCallResolution.test.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCallResolution.test.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ it("bounds shared partial callback alias expansion by AST size", () => {
     );
     try {
       expect(
-        createSemanticReturnedReferences(context.state)(last.argument.callee),
+        createSemanticReturnedReferences(context.state)(last.argument.callee)
+          .references,
       ).toHaveLength(1);
       return {
         callReads,
@@ -154,7 +155,8 @@ return a${depth}.make();}`);
       );
       try {
         expect(
-          createSemanticReturnedReferences(context.state)(last.argument.callee),
+          createSemanticReturnedReferences(context.state)(last.argument.callee)
+            .references,
         ).toHaveLength(1);
         return lookups.reduce(
           (total, lookup) => total + lookup.mock.calls.length,
@@ -231,3 +233,37 @@ it("does not memoize alias cycle cuts across entry paths", () => {
     });
   }
 });
+
+const meshLookups = (writes: number): number => {
+  const source = `function f(){} function g(){} let a=f,b=g;
+function run(){${Array.from({ length: writes }, (_, index) =>
+    index % 2 === 0 ? "a=b;" : "b=a;",
+  ).join("")} a();}`;
+  const context = indexed(source);
+  const run = context.state.program.body[3];
+  if (!t.isFunctionDeclaration(run)) throw new Error("Missing run");
+  const statement = run.body.body.at(-1);
+  if (
+    !t.isExpressionStatement(statement) ||
+    !t.isCallExpression(statement.expression)
+  )
+    throw new Error("Missing mesh call");
+  const lookups = vi.spyOn(context.bindingCache, "get");
+  const result = context.resolve(statement.expression.callee);
+  expect(result).toMatchObject({ complete: false, cycleDependent: true });
+  expect(
+    result.callableIds.map((id) => context.callableById.get(id)?.name).sort(),
+  ).toEqual(["f", "g"]);
+  return lookups.mock.calls.length;
+};
+
+it("closes cycles at full-binding reads with bounded lookup growth", () => {
+  const six = meshLookups(6);
+  const eight = meshLookups(8);
+  const ten = meshLookups(10);
+  const twelve = meshLookups(12);
+  expect(six).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+  expect(eight).toBeLessThan(3 * six);
+  expect(ten).toBeLessThan(3 * eight);
+  expect(twelve).toBeLessThan(3 * ten);
+});
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCallResolution.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCallResolution.ts
index c034751570..4ca40cc9f6 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCallResolution.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCallResolution.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ interface CallResolutionContext {
   readonly state: JavaScriptSemanticAnalysisState;
   readonly callableById: ReadonlyMap<string, JavaScriptSemanticCallable>;
   readonly seenInitializers: ReadonlySet<JavaScriptSemanticInitializer>;
+  /** Bindings on the active chain whose read selected every initializer. */
+  readonly seenBindings: ReadonlySet<JavaScriptSemanticBindingState>;
   readonly bindingCache: WeakMap<t.Identifier, LocalCallableResolution>;
 }
 
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ export const resolveLocalCallables = (
     state: input.state,
     callableById: input.callableById,
     seenInitializers: input.seenInitializers,
+    seenBindings: new Set(),
     bindingCache: input.bindingCache,
   });
 
@@ -103,7 +106,26 @@ const resolveIdentifier = (
     node,
     context.state.parentsByNode,
   );
-  const candidates = resolveBindingCallables(read.binding, context);
+  // A full read re-enters the same candidate set wherever the chain returns
+  // to this binding. Close that cycle at the binding; position-narrowed reads
+  // keep their per-initializer cycle handling.
+  const selectsAll = read.binding === binding;
+  if (selectsAll && context.seenBindings.has(binding))
+    return {
+      callableIds: [],
+      complete: false,
+      cycleDependent: true,
+      reason: `Call target initializer cycle at ${binding.name}.`,
+    };
+  const candidates = resolveBindingCallables(
+    read.binding,
+    selectsAll
+      ? {
+          ...context,
+          seenBindings: new Set(context.seenBindings).add(binding),
+        }
+      : context,
+  );
   // Knowing every local candidate does not prove that any write replaced the
   // incoming value, or that a write in another activation precedes this read.
   const covered =
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCoverage.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCoverage.ts
index 143f8aa09a..cd1d55fb9d 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCoverage.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticCoverage.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import type { JavaScriptSourceRange } from "./javascriptStaticAnalysisTypes.js";
 import type { JavaScriptSemanticResourceLimit } from "./javascriptSemanticValueTypes.js";
 import type { ApplicationCoverage } from "./javascriptApplicationEvidenceSchemas.js";
 import {
@@ -21,26 +22,49 @@ export type JavaScriptSemanticCoverage =
       readonly status: "complete";
       readonly omittedCount: 0;
       readonly resourceLimits?: readonly JavaScriptSemanticResourceLimit[];
+      readonly widenedReturnedReferences?: readonly JavaScriptSourceRange[];
     }
   | {
       readonly status: "partial";
       readonly omittedCount: 0 | null;
       readonly resourceLimits?: readonly JavaScriptSemanticResourceLimit[];
+      readonly widenedReturnedReferences?: readonly JavaScriptSourceRange[];
     }
   | {
       readonly status: "failed";
       readonly omittedCount: null;
       readonly resourceLimits?: readonly JavaScriptSemanticResourceLimit[];
+      readonly widenedReturnedReferences?: readonly JavaScriptSourceRange[];
     };
 
-/** Classify whole-file semantic coverage from parsing and value bounds. */
+/** Source-local effect candidates broadened at a projection merge, without dropping targets. */
+export const RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION =
+  "Local returned-reference projections were conservatively widened; effects include additional source-local candidates.";
+
+/** Classify whole-file semantic coverage from parsing, value bounds and widened projections. */
 export const semanticCoverage = (
   parserPartial: boolean,
   resourceLimits: readonly JavaScriptSemanticResourceLimit[] = [],
-): JavaScriptSemanticCoverage =>
-  resourceLimits.length > 0
-    ? { status: "partial", omittedCount: null, resourceLimits }
-    : { status: parserPartial ? "partial" : "complete", omittedCount: 0 };
+  widenedReturnedReferences: readonly JavaScriptSourceRange[] = [],
+): JavaScriptSemanticCoverage => {
+  const widened =
+    widenedReturnedReferences.length > 0 ? { widenedReturnedReferences } : {};
+  if (resourceLimits.length > 0)
+    return {
+      status: "partial",
+      omittedCount: null,
+      resourceLimits,
+      ...widened,
+    };
+  return {
+    status:
+      parserPartial || widenedReturnedReferences.length > 0
+        ? "partial"
+        : "complete",
+    omittedCount: 0,
+    ...widened,
+  };
+};
 
 /** Read typed resource-limit classifications from any coverage state. */
 export const semanticCoverageResourceLimits = (
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticMemberMutations.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticMemberMutations.ts
index 18f3be72e6..872d8bb46c 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticMemberMutations.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticMemberMutations.ts
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ export function* collectSemanticMemberMutationsSteps(
         t.isOptionalCallExpression(node) ||
         t.isNewExpression(node)
       ) {
-        for (const source of returnedReferences(node.callee))
+        for (const source of returnedReferences(node.callee).references)
           markEscaped(source.node, node, source.projection);
         for (const argument of node.arguments)
           if (t.isSpreadElement(argument))
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticReturnedReferences.projection.test.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticReturnedReferences.projection.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..28957b55af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticReturnedReferences.projection.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+import * as t from "@babel/types";
+import { expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { indexJavaScriptBindingsSteps } from "./javascriptSemanticAnalysis.js";
+import { parseJavaScriptSource } from "./javascriptSourceParser.js";
+import { createSemanticReturnedReferences } from "./javascriptSemanticReturnedReferences.js";
+import { completeSemanticSteps } from "./javascriptSemanticTraversal.js";
+
+const indexed = (source: string) => {
+  const parsed = parseJavaScriptSource(
+    source,
+    "returned-reference-projection.js",
+  );
+  if (parsed === null) throw new Error("Expected valid fixture");
+  const state = completeSemanticSteps(
+    indexJavaScriptBindingsSteps(parsed.program),
+  );
+  return { parsed, state };
+};
+
+const callReads = (program: t.Program, name: string): t.Identifier[] => {
+  const reads: t.Identifier[] = [];
+  t.traverseFast(program, (node) => {
+    if (t.isCallExpression(node) && t.isIdentifier(node.callee, { name }))
+      reads.push(node.callee);
+  });
+  return reads;
+};
+
+const callCallees = (program: t.Program, sourceName: string): t.Node[] => {
+  const callees: t.Node[] = [];
+  t.traverseFast(program, (node) => {
+    if (!t.isCallExpression(node)) return;
+    let root = node.callee;
+    while (t.isMemberExpression(root)) root = root.object;
+    if (t.isIdentifier(root, { name: sourceName })) callees.push(node.callee);
+  });
+  return callees;
+};
+
+const returnedExpression = (program: t.Program, name: string): t.Node => {
+  let found: t.Node | undefined;
+  t.traverseFast(program, (node) => {
+    if (
+      found === undefined &&
+      t.isFunctionDeclaration(node) &&
+      node.id?.name === name
+    )
+      t.traverseFast(node.body, (child) => {
+        if (
+          found === undefined &&
+          t.isReturnStatement(child) &&
+          child.argument !== null
+        )
+          found = child.argument;
+      });
+  });
+  if (found === undefined)
+    throw new Error(`Missing return expression in ${name}`);
+  return found;
+};
+
+const resultIdentifier = (program: t.Program, name: string): t.Identifier => {
+  let found: t.Identifier | undefined;
+  t.traverseFast(program, (node) => {
+    if (
+      found === undefined &&
+      ((t.isReturnStatement(node) && node.argument !== null) ||
+        (t.isYieldExpression(node) && node.argument !== null))
+    )
+      t.traverseFast(node.argument, (child) => {
+        if (found === undefined && t.isIdentifier(child, { name }))
+          found = child;
+      });
+  });
+  if (found === undefined) throw new Error(`Missing result expression ${name}`);
+  return found;
+};
+
+it("keeps returned-reference targets at the source read position", () => {
+  const { parsed, state } = indexed(`
+    function beforeTarget() { return beforeResult; }
+    function afterTarget() { return afterResult; }
+    function choose() {
+      let callback = beforeTarget;
+      callback();
+      callback = afterTarget;
+      callback();
+    }
+  `);
+  const [beforeRead, afterRead] = callReads(parsed.program, "callback");
+  if (beforeRead === undefined || afterRead === undefined)
+    throw new Error("Missing callback reads");
+  const returnedReferences = createSemanticReturnedReferences(state);
+
+  const before = returnedReferences(beforeRead);
+  const after = returnedReferences(afterRead);
+
+  expect(before.precision).toBe("exact");
+  expect(before.references.map(({ node }) => node)).toEqual([
+    returnedExpression(parsed.program, "beforeTarget"),
+  ]);
+  expect(after.precision).toBe("exact");
+  expect(after.references.map(({ node }) => node)).toEqual([
+    returnedExpression(parsed.program, "afterTarget"),
+  ]);
+});
+
+it("resolves a finite object and array projection exactly", () => {
+  const { parsed, state } = indexed(`
+    function target() { return targetResult; }
+    const box = { nested: [target] };
+    const callback = box.nested[0];
+    callback();
+  `);
+  const [read] = callReads(parsed.program, "callback");
+  if (read === undefined) throw new Error("Missing callback read");
+
+  const result = createSemanticReturnedReferences(state)(read);
+
+  expect(result.precision).toBe("exact");
+  expect(result.references.map(({ node }) => node)).toEqual([
+    returnedExpression(parsed.program, "target"),
+  ]);
+});
+
+it("reports conservative widening for a shrinking projection cycle", () => {
+  const { parsed, state } = indexed(`
+    function target() { return targetResult; }
+    let cursor = { target };
+    while (flag) cursor = { next: cursor, target };
+    cursor.next.next.target();
+  `);
+  const [callee] = callCallees(parsed.program, "cursor");
+  if (callee === undefined) throw new Error("Missing projected call");
+
+  const result = createSemanticReturnedReferences(state)(callee);
+
+  expect(result.precision).toBe("widened");
+  expect(result.references.map(({ node }) => node)).toEqual([
+    returnedExpression(parsed.program, "target"),
+  ]);
+});
+
+it("widens a growing projection while retaining zero-depth and nested targets", () => {
+  const { parsed, state } = indexed(`
+    function zeroDepthTarget() { return zeroDepthResult; }
+    function objectTarget() { return objectResult; }
+    function arrayTarget() { return arrayResult; }
+    function* generatorTarget() { yield* generatorResult; }
+    const shape = {
+      zero: zeroDepthTarget,
+      nested: {
+        object: objectTarget,
+        array: [arrayTarget],
+        class: class NestedTarget { method() { return classResult; } },
+        generator: generatorTarget,
+      },
+    };
+    let cursor = shape;
+    function walk(flag) {
+      while (flag) cursor = cursor.next;
+      return cursor();
+    }
+    walk(true);
+  `);
+  const [read] = callReads(parsed.program, "cursor");
+  if (read === undefined) throw new Error("Missing cursor read");
+
+  const result = createSemanticReturnedReferences(state)(read);
+  const expressions = result.references.map(({ node }) => node);
+
+  expect(result.precision).toBe("widened");
+  for (const name of ["zeroDepthTarget", "objectTarget", "arrayTarget"])
+    expect(expressions).toContain(returnedExpression(parsed.program, name));
+  expect(expressions).toContain(
+    resultIdentifier(parsed.program, "classResult"),
+  );
+  const generatorResult = resultIdentifier(parsed.program, "generatorResult");
+  expect(result.references).toContainEqual({
+    node: generatorResult,
+    projection: [null],
+  });
+});
+
+it("widens a cycle that rewrites the path head while increasing its depth", () => {
+  const { parsed, state } = indexed(`
+    function target() { return targetResult; }
+    let value = {};
+    while (flag)
+      value = {
+        a: value.x.y,
+        x: value.a.z,
+        target,
+      };
+    value.a.b();
+  `);
+  const [callee] = callCallees(parsed.program, "value");
+  if (callee === undefined) throw new Error("Missing projected call");
+
+  const result = createSemanticReturnedReferences(state)(callee);
+
+  expect(result.precision).toBe("widened");
+  expect(result.references.map(({ node }) => node)).toContain(
+    returnedExpression(parsed.program, "target"),
+  );
+});
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticReturnedReferences.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticReturnedReferences.ts
index fd3fa4fa40..403a2c01a8 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticReturnedReferences.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticReturnedReferences.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import {
 import {
   resolveSemanticBindingState,
   type JavaScriptSemanticAnalysisState,
-  type JavaScriptSemanticInitializer,
 } from "./javascriptSemanticState.js";
 
 /** A reference potentially handed to a caller or generator consumer. */
@@ -24,73 +23,34 @@ export interface SemanticReturnedReference {
 
 interface Candidate {
   readonly node: t.Node;
-  readonly path: readonly (string | number | null)[];
-  readonly initializers: ReadonlySet<JavaScriptSemanticInitializer>;
+  /** `undefined` means any projection depth after different projection depths merge. */
+  readonly path: readonly (string | number | null)[] | undefined;
 }
 
-type InitializerContext = ReadonlySet<JavaScriptSemanticInitializer>;
-type CompletedExpansions = WeakMap<
-  t.Node,
-  Map<string, readonly InitializerContext[]>
->;
-
-interface ExpansionFrame {
-  readonly item: Candidate;
-  readonly node: t.Node;
-  readonly pathKey: string;
-  readonly parent: ExpansionFrame | null;
-  readonly blockers: Set<JavaScriptSemanticInitializer>;
+export interface SemanticReturnedReferenceResult {
+  readonly references: readonly SemanticReturnedReference[];
+  /** Both states close the supported source-local may-target graph. Widened joins projections without dropping represented targets; it does not claim runtime completeness. */
+  readonly precision: "exact" | "widened";
 }
 
-type ExpansionTask =
-  | {
-      readonly kind: "visit";
-      readonly item: Candidate;
-      readonly parent: ExpansionFrame | null;
-    }
-  | { readonly kind: "complete"; readonly frame: ExpansionFrame };
-
-const contextContains = (
-  context: InitializerContext,
-  required: InitializerContext,
-): boolean => {
-  for (const initializer of required)
-    if (!context.has(initializer)) return false;
-  return true;
+const joinProjection = (
+  left: Candidate["path"],
+  right: Candidate["path"],
+): Candidate["path"] => {
+  if (left === undefined || right === undefined || left.length !== right.length)
+    return undefined;
+  return left.map((key, index) => (key === right[index] ? key : null));
 };
 
-const propagateBlockers = (
-  blockers: InitializerContext,
-  parent: ExpansionFrame | null,
-): void => {
-  if (parent === null) return;
-  for (const initializer of blockers)
-    if (parent.item.initializers.has(initializer))
-      parent.blockers.add(initializer);
-};
-
-const completeExpansion = (
-  frame: ExpansionFrame,
-  expanded: CompletedExpansions,
-): void => {
-  const paths =
-    expanded.get(frame.node) ??
-    new Map<string, readonly InitializerContext[]>();
-  const contexts = paths.get(frame.pathKey) ?? [];
-  const covered = contexts.find((context) =>
-    contextContains(frame.blockers, context),
-  );
-  if (covered === undefined) {
-    paths.set(frame.pathKey, [
-      ...contexts.filter(
-        (context) => !contextContains(context, frame.blockers),
-      ),
-      frame.blockers,
-    ]);
-    expanded.set(frame.node, paths);
-  }
-  propagateBlockers(covered ?? frame.blockers, frame.parent);
-};
+const sameProjection = (
+  left: Candidate["path"],
+  right: Candidate["path"],
+): boolean =>
+  left === undefined
+    ? right === undefined
+    : right !== undefined &&
+      left.length === right.length &&
+      left.every((key, index) => key === right[index]);
 
 interface ObjectTargetIndex {
   readonly propertyByName: ReadonlyMap<
@@ -111,51 +71,45 @@ interface ObjectTargetUnknown {
 /** Resolve local result references conservatively, without claiming call execution. */
 export const createSemanticReturnedReferences = (
   state: JavaScriptSemanticAnalysisState,
-): ((callee: t.Node) => readonly SemanticReturnedReference[]) => {
-  const results = new WeakMap<t.Node, readonly SemanticReturnedReference[]>();
+): ((callee: t.Node) => SemanticReturnedReferenceResult) => {
+  const results = new WeakMap<t.Node, SemanticReturnedReferenceResult>();
   const objectTargets = new WeakMap<t.ObjectExpression, ObjectTargetIndex>();
   return (callee) => {
     const existing = results.get(callee);
     if (existing !== undefined) return existing;
-    const functions = new Set<t.Node>();
-    const work: ExpansionTask[] = [
-      {
-        kind: "visit",
-        item: { node: callee, path: [], initializers: new Set() },
-        parent: null,
-      },
-    ];
-    // Finish descendants before memoizing an expansion. Only actual external
-    // cycle blockers affect reuse; branch history is not a dependency. An
-    // acyclic expression/path is consequently expanded once across a diamond.
-    const expanded: CompletedExpansions = new WeakMap();
+    const functions = new Set<t.Function>();
+    const work: t.Node[] = [];
+    // A transition depends on the source read and current projection, not the
+    // initializer history used to reach it. Keeping history out of the key lets
+    // shared diamonds and reassignment cycles converge to the graph fixed point.
+    const projections = new WeakMap<t.Node, Candidate["path"]>();
+    const queued = new WeakSet<t.Node>();
+    const result: {
+      references: readonly SemanticReturnedReference[];
+      precision: SemanticReturnedReferenceResult["precision"];
+    } = { references: [], precision: "exact" };
+    const enqueue = (node: t.Node, path: Candidate["path"]): void => {
+      const source = unwrapJavaScriptExpression(node).node;
+      if (!projections.has(source)) {
+        projections.set(source, path);
+      } else {
+        const previous = projections.get(source);
+        const joined = joinProjection(previous, path);
+        if (sameProjection(previous, joined)) return;
+        projections.set(source, joined);
+        result.precision = "widened";
+      }
+      if (!queued.has(source)) {
+        work.push(source);
+        queued.add(source);
+      }
+    };
+    enqueue(callee, []);
     while (work.length > 0) {
-      const task = work.pop();
-      if (task === undefined) break;
-      if (task.kind === "complete") {
-        completeExpansion(task.frame, expanded);
-        continue;
-      }
-      const { item, parent } = task;
-      const node = unwrapJavaScriptExpression(item.node).node;
-      const pathKey = JSON.stringify(item.path);
-      const covered = expanded
-        .get(node)
-        ?.get(pathKey)
-        ?.find((context) => contextContains(item.initializers, context));
-      if (covered !== undefined) {
-        // Cached cycle dependencies must reach the caller's proof too.
-        propagateBlockers(covered, parent);
-        continue;
-      }
-      const frame: ExpansionFrame = {
-        item,
-        node,
-        pathKey,
-        parent,
-        blockers: new Set(),
-      };
-      work.push({ kind: "complete", frame });
+      const node = work.pop();
+      if (node === undefined) break;
+      queued.delete(node);
+      const current: Candidate = { node, path: projections.get(node) };
       const pending: Candidate[] = [];
       if (t.isIdentifier(node)) {
         const binding = resolveSemanticBindingState(state, node, node.name);
@@ -169,14 +123,12 @@ export const createSemanticReturnedReferences = (
           ...selected.initializers,
           ...selected.referenceInitializers,
         ]) {
-          if (item.initializers.has(initializer)) {
-            frame.blockers.add(initializer);
-            continue;
-          }
           pending.push({
             node: initializer.node,
-            path: [...initializer.projection, ...item.path],
-            initializers: new Set([...item.initializers, initializer]),
+            path:
+              current.path === undefined
+                ? undefined
+                : [...initializer.projection, ...current.path],
           });
         }
       } else if (
@@ -195,9 +147,12 @@ export const createSemanticReturnedReferences = (
           receiver = unwrapJavaScriptExpression(receiver.object).node;
         }
         pending.push({
-          ...item,
+          ...current,
           node: receiver,
-          path: [...path.reverse(), ...item.path],
+          path:
+            current.path === undefined
+              ? undefined
+              : [...path.reverse(), ...current.path],
         });
       } else if (
         t.isConditionalExpression(node) ||
@@ -205,90 +160,102 @@ export const createSemanticReturnedReferences = (
       ) {
         pending.push(
           {
-            ...item,
+            ...current,
             node: t.isConditionalExpression(node) ? node.consequent : node.left,
           },
           {
-            ...item,
+            ...current,
             node: t.isConditionalExpression(node) ? node.alternate : node.right,
           },
         );
       } else if (t.isSequenceExpression(node)) {
         const last = node.expressions.at(-1);
-        if (last !== undefined) pending.push({ ...item, node: last });
-      } else if (t.isFunction(node) && item.path.length === 0)
+        if (last !== undefined) pending.push({ ...current, node: last });
+      } else if (
+        t.isFunction(node) &&
+        (current.path === undefined || current.path.length === 0)
+      )
         functions.add(node);
       else if (t.isObjectExpression(node))
-        selectObjectTargets(node, item, pending, objectTargets);
+        selectObjectTargets(node, current, pending, objectTargets);
       else if (t.isArrayExpression(node)) {
-        const [key, ...path] = item.path;
+        const [key, ...path] = current.path ?? [];
         const index =
-          key === undefined || key === null ? null : semanticArrayIndex(key);
+          current.path === undefined || key === undefined || key === null
+            ? null
+            : semanticArrayIndex(key);
         let uncertainOffset = false;
         node.elements.forEach((element, offset) => {
           if (element === null) return;
           if (t.isSpreadElement(element)) {
             uncertainOffset = true;
             pending.push({
-              ...item,
+              ...current,
               node: element.argument,
-              path: [null, ...path],
+              path: current.path === undefined ? undefined : [null, ...path],
             });
           } else if (index === null || uncertainOffset || index === offset)
-            pending.push({ ...item, node: element, path });
+            pending.push({
+              ...current,
+              node: element,
+              path: current.path === undefined ? undefined : path,
+            });
         });
       } else if (t.isNewExpression(node))
-        pending.push({ ...item, node: node.callee });
+        pending.push({ ...current, node: node.callee });
       else if (t.isClass(node)) {
-        const [key, ...path] = item.path;
+        const [key, ...path] = current.path ?? [];
         for (const member of node.body.body) {
           if (t.isClassMethod(member)) {
             if (
-              (item.path.length === 0 && member.kind === "constructor") ||
+              ((current.path === undefined || current.path.length === 0) &&
+                member.kind === "constructor") ||
+              current.path === undefined ||
               (key !== undefined &&
                 (key === null ||
                   semanticStaticPropertyKey(member.key, member.computed) ===
                     String(key)))
             )
-              pending.push({ ...item, node: member, path });
+              pending.push({
+                ...current,
+                node: member,
+                path: current.path === undefined ? undefined : path,
+              });
           } else if (
             t.isClassProperty(member) &&
             member.value !== null &&
             member.value !== undefined &&
-            key !== undefined &&
-            (key === null ||
+            (key !== undefined || current.path === undefined) &&
+            (current.path === undefined ||
+              key === null ||
               semanticStaticPropertyKey(member.key, member.computed) ===
                 String(key))
           )
-            pending.push({ ...item, node: member.value, path });
+            pending.push({
+              ...current,
+              node: member.value,
+              path: current.path === undefined ? undefined : path,
+            });
         }
         if (node.superClass !== null && node.superClass !== undefined)
-          pending.push({ ...item, node: node.superClass });
+          pending.push({ ...current, node: node.superClass });
       }
       for (let index = pending.length - 1; index >= 0; index--) {
         const child = pending[index];
-        if (child !== undefined)
-          work.push({ kind: "visit", item: child, parent: frame });
+        if (child !== undefined) enqueue(child.node, child.path);
       }
     }
-    const output = [...functions].flatMap((node) => {
-      const callables = t.isClass(node)
-        ? node.body.body.filter(
-            (member) =>
-              t.isClassMethod(member) && member.kind === "constructor",
-          )
-        : [node];
-      return callables.flatMap((callable) =>
-        semanticCallableResultExpressions(callable).flatMap(
-          ({ node, delegated }) =>
-            node === null
-              ? []
-              : [{ node, projection: delegated ? [null] : [] }],
-        ),
-      );
-    });
-    results.set(callee, output);
-    return output;
+    const output = [...functions].flatMap((callable) =>
+      semanticCallableResultExpressions(callable).flatMap(
+        ({ node, delegated }) =>
+          node === null ? [] : [{ node, projection: delegated ? [null] : [] }],
+      ),
+    );
+    result.references = output;
+    results.set(callee, result);
+    if (result.precision === "widened")
+      state.returnedReferenceWidenings.add(callee);
+    return result;
   };
 };
 
@@ -298,7 +265,8 @@ const selectObjectTargets = (
   pending: Candidate[],
   indexes: WeakMap<t.ObjectExpression, ObjectTargetIndex>,
 ): void => {
-  const [key, ...path] = item.path;
+  const [key, ...path] = item.path ?? [];
+  const childPath = item.path === undefined ? undefined : path;
   if (key !== null && key !== undefined) {
     const index = objectTargetIndex(node, indexes);
     const property = index.propertyByName.get(String(key));
@@ -318,12 +286,12 @@ const selectObjectTargets = (
             : t.isObjectProperty(unknown)
               ? unknown.value
               : unknown,
-          ...(t.isSpreadElement(unknown) ? {} : { path }),
+          ...(t.isSpreadElement(unknown) ? {} : { path: childPath }),
         });
       pending.push({
         ...item,
         node: t.isObjectProperty(property) ? property.value : property,
-        path,
+        path: childPath,
       });
       return;
     }
@@ -344,8 +312,8 @@ const selectObjectTargets = (
     )
       continue;
     if (t.isObjectProperty(property))
-      pending.push({ ...item, node: property.value, path });
-    else pending.push({ ...item, node: property, path });
+      pending.push({ ...item, node: property.value, path: childPath });
+    else pending.push({ ...item, node: property, path: childPath });
     if (key !== null && key !== undefined && name === String(key))
       replaced = true;
   }
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticReturnedReferencesBounded.test.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticReturnedReferencesBounded.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e9aec4049a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticReturnedReferencesBounded.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+import * as t from "@babel/types";
+import { expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import { indexJavaScriptBindingsSteps } from "./javascriptSemanticAnalysis.js";
+import { parseJavaScriptSource } from "./javascriptSourceParser.js";
+import { createSemanticReturnedReferences } from "./javascriptSemanticReturnedReferences.js";
+
+const indexed = (source: string) => {
+  const parsed = parseJavaScriptSource(source, "returned-references.js");
+  if (parsed === null) throw new Error("Expected valid fixture");
+  const steps = indexJavaScriptBindingsSteps(parsed.program);
+  let step = steps.next();
+  while (step.done !== true) step = steps.next();
+  return step.value;
+};
+
+const measuredSwap = (writes: number) => {
+  const source = `
+    function first(){return {x:{deep:{leaf:1}}}}
+    function second(){return {x:{deep:{leaf:2}}}}
+    let a=first,b=second;
+    function run(){
+      ${Array.from({ length: writes }, () => "a=b;b=a;").join("")}
+      a().x=1;
+    }
+  `;
+  const state = indexed(source);
+  let callee: t.Identifier | undefined;
+  t.traverseFast(state.program, (node) => {
+    if (
+      callee === undefined &&
+      t.isCallExpression(node) &&
+      t.isIdentifier(node.callee, { name: "a" })
+    )
+      callee = node.callee;
+  });
+  if (callee === undefined) throw new Error("Missing selected call read");
+  const lookups = state.scopes.map((scope) => vi.spyOn(scope.bindings, "get"));
+  try {
+    const result = createSemanticReturnedReferences(state)(callee);
+    return {
+      result,
+      reads: lookups.reduce(
+        (count, lookup) => count + lookup.mock.calls.length,
+        0,
+      ),
+    };
+  } finally {
+    for (const lookup of lookups) lookup.mockRestore();
+  }
+};
+
+const measuredSwitchWeb = (arms: number) => {
+  const bindings = ["t", "e", "a", "n", "r"];
+  const keys = [
+    "child",
+    "sibling",
+    "return",
+    "memoizedState",
+    "pendingProps",
+    "stateNode",
+  ];
+  const cases = Array.from({ length: arms }, (_, index) => {
+    const target = bindings[index % bindings.length];
+    const source = bindings[(index + 1) % bindings.length];
+    const key = keys[index % keys.length];
+    return `case ${index}: ${target} = ${source}.${key}; break;`;
+  }).join("\n");
+  const state = indexed(`
+    function beginWork(t,e,a,n,r) {
+      switch(t.tag) { ${cases} }
+      const d=t.deletions;
+      d.push(n);
+      return t;
+    }
+    beginWork(fiber,e0,a0,n0,r0);
+  `);
+  let callee: t.MemberExpression | undefined;
+  t.traverseFast(state.program, (node) => {
+    if (
+      callee === undefined &&
+      t.isCallExpression(node) &&
+      t.isMemberExpression(node.callee) &&
+      t.isIdentifier(node.callee.object, { name: "d" }) &&
+      t.isIdentifier(node.callee.property, { name: "push" })
+    )
+      callee = node.callee;
+  });
+  if (callee === undefined) throw new Error("Missing switch-web sink");
+  const lookups = state.scopes.map((scope) => vi.spyOn(scope.bindings, "get"));
+  try {
+    const result = createSemanticReturnedReferences(state)(callee);
+    return {
+      result,
+      reads: lookups.reduce(
+        (count, lookup) => count + lookup.mock.calls.length,
+        0,
+      ),
+    };
+  } finally {
+    for (const lookup of lookups) lookup.mockRestore();
+  }
+};
+
+it("bounds shared reassignment initializer expansion by visited AST projections", () => {
+  const small = measuredSwap(8);
+  const large = measuredSwap(18);
+  expect(small.result.precision).toBe("exact");
+  expect(large.result.precision).toBe("exact");
+  expect(small.result.references.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+  expect(large.result.references.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(
+    small.result.references.length,
+  );
+  expect(small.reads).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+  expect(large.reads).toBeLessThan(3 * small.reads);
+});
+
+it("bounds returned-reference expansion across a React-shaped switch mesh", () => {
+  const small = measuredSwitchWeb(12);
+  const large = measuredSwitchWeb(24);
+  expect(small.result.references).toEqual([]);
+  expect(large.result.references).toEqual([]);
+  expect(small.reads).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+  expect(large.reads).toBeLessThan(4 * small.reads);
+});
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticState.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticState.ts
index 2f3eec92df..e6e388280a 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticState.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticState.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ export interface JavaScriptSemanticAnalysisState {
   readonly valueResourceLimits: Set<JavaScriptSemanticResourceLimit>;
   /** Getter query bounds encountered while resolving object and class properties. */
   readonly getterResourceLimits: Set<JavaScriptSemanticResourceLimit>;
+  /** Callee sites whose possible local returns needed a broader projection. */
+  readonly returnedReferenceWidenings: Set<t.Node>;
   readonly parentsByNode: WeakMap<t.Node, t.Node>;
   readonly scopes: JavaScriptSemanticScopeState[];
   readonly scopesById: Map<string, JavaScriptSemanticScopeState>;
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptStaticAnalysis.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptStaticAnalysis.ts
index 758355af25..ebf69a2f0e 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptStaticAnalysis.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptStaticAnalysis.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import * as t from "@babel/types";
+import { RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION } from "./javascriptSemanticCoverage.js";
 import { collectElectronWrappedCallPaths } from "./electronWrappedCallPaths.js";
 import {
   ELECTRON_IDENTITY_LIMITATION,
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ export function* analyzeParsedJavaScriptStaticSourceSteps(
     electronIdentity,
   );
   addSourceMapDirectives(source, file.comments ?? [], accumulator);
-  return finalizeStaticAnalysis(source, file, accumulator);
+  return finalizeStaticAnalysis(source, file, accumulator, bindings);
 }
 
 function* traverseStaticSourceSteps(
@@ -140,9 +141,13 @@ const finalizeStaticAnalysis = (
   source: string,
   file: ParsedJavaScriptSource,
   accumulator: AnalysisAccumulator,
+  bindings: JavaScriptSemanticAnalysisState,
 ): JavaScriptStaticAnalysis => {
   const parserErrors = file.errors.length;
   const limitations = [
+    ...(bindings.returnedReferenceWidenings.size > 0
+      ? [RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION]
+      : []),
     ...(accumulator.electronCallPaths?.length
       ? [
           "Bundled Electron call paths use static argument and closure substitutions. Conditions, ambient helper overrides, runtime reachability and arbitrary side effects remain unproven.",
diff --git a/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzer.test.ts b/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzer.test.ts
index ff13fde934..291978c507 100644
--- a/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzer.test.ts
+++ b/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzer.test.ts
@@ -113,6 +113,45 @@ it.each([
   },
 );
 
+it("discloses widened returned-reference effects only for the affected script", () => {
+  const captured = inspection(`
+    function expose() { return Map.prototype; }
+    let cursor = { target: expose };
+    function walk(flag) {
+      while (flag) cursor = cursor.next;
+      patch(cursor.target());
+    }
+    new Map().get('/candidate');
+    fetch('/preserved');
+  `);
+  const independent = inspection(
+    "new Map().get('/intrinsic'); fetch('/independent');",
+  ).scripts.items[0];
+  if (independent === undefined) throw new Error("Missing independent script");
+  captured.scripts.items.push({ ...independent, script_key: "independent" });
+  captured.scripts.total += 1;
+  const result = analyzeCapturedWebBundle(captured);
+  expect(result.completeness).toMatchObject({
+    status: "partial",
+    parsed_scripts: 2,
+    parse_failures: 0,
+  });
+  expect(result.unknowns).toContainEqual({
+    dimension: "javascript_ast",
+    reason: expect.stringContaining("returned-reference projections"),
+    affected_script_keys: [captured.scripts.items[0]?.script_key],
+  });
+  expect(result.observations.endpoints.map(({ value }) => value)).toEqual([
+    "/preserved",
+    "/independent",
+  ]);
+  expect(
+    result.inferences
+      .filter(({ kind }) => kind === "endpoint_candidate")
+      .map(({ value }) => value),
+  ).toEqual(["/candidate"]);
+});
+
 describe("web bundle analyzer", () => {
   it("extracts graph, route, endpoint, vendor, and WebMCP evidence", () => {
     const source = `
diff --git a/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzerInspection.ts b/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzerInspection.ts
index 87e1022d12..696a049f8f 100644
--- a/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzerInspection.ts
+++ b/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzerInspection.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ export interface AnalysisAccumulator {
   parsedScripts: number;
   readonly failedScripts: string[];
   readonly recoveredScripts: string[];
+  readonly widenedScripts: string[];
 }
 
 export const analyzeScript = (
@@ -116,6 +117,8 @@ export const analyzeScript = (
         node: endpoint.node,
         accumulator,
       });
+  if (index.bindings.returnedReferenceWidenings.size > 0)
+    accumulator.widenedScripts.push(script.script_key);
 };
 
 const inspectNode = (
@@ -470,6 +473,7 @@ export const emptyAccumulator = (): AnalysisAccumulator => ({
   parsedScripts: 0,
   failedScripts: [],
   recoveredScripts: [],
+  widenedScripts: [],
 });
 
 export const isIncludedScript = (
diff --git a/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzerResult.ts b/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzerResult.ts
index b34867f85e..903f5d6864 100644
--- a/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzerResult.ts
+++ b/src/domain/webBundleAnalyzerResult.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION } from "./javascript/javascriptSemanticCoverage.js";
 import type { WebPageInspection } from "./browserObservationSchemas.js";
 import {
   webBundleAnalysisSchema,
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ export const buildWebBundleAnalysis = (
   const partial =
     accumulator.failedScripts.length > 0 ||
     accumulator.recoveredScripts.length > 0 ||
+    accumulator.widenedScripts.length > 0 ||
     unavailable.length > 0 ||
     sourceMapIncomplete ||
     omittedScripts !== undefined ||
@@ -48,6 +50,7 @@ export const buildWebBundleAnalysis = (
       unavailable,
       failedScripts: accumulator.failedScripts,
       recoveredScripts: accumulator.recoveredScripts,
+      widenedScripts: accumulator.widenedScripts,
       sourceMaps,
       omittedScripts,
       omittedSourceMaps,
@@ -92,6 +95,7 @@ interface UnknownsInput {
   readonly unavailable: string[];
   readonly failedScripts: readonly string[];
   readonly recoveredScripts: readonly string[];
+  readonly widenedScripts: readonly string[];
   readonly sourceMaps: WebBundleAnalysis["observations"]["source_maps"];
   readonly omittedScripts: number | null | undefined;
   readonly omittedSourceMaps: number | null | undefined;
@@ -125,6 +129,15 @@ const buildUnknowns = (input: UnknownsInput): WebBundleAnalysis["unknowns"] => [
           affected_script_keys: [...input.failedScripts],
         },
       ]),
+  ...(input.widenedScripts.length === 0
+    ? []
+    : [
+        {
+          dimension: "javascript_ast" as const,
+          reason: RETURNED_REFERENCE_WIDENING_LIMITATION,
+          affected_script_keys: [...input.widenedScripts],
+        },
+      ]),
   ...(input.recoveredScripts.length === 0
     ? []
     : [
diff --git a/src/javascript/analysis/JavaScriptAnalysisWorkerSchemas.ts b/src/javascript/analysis/JavaScriptAnalysisWorkerSchemas.ts
index e3da83f938..2ac16ad355 100644
--- a/src/javascript/analysis/JavaScriptAnalysisWorkerSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/javascript/analysis/JavaScriptAnalysisWorkerSchemas.ts
@@ -528,23 +528,29 @@ const coverage = z
       status: z.literal("complete"),
       omittedCount: z.literal(0),
       resourceLimits: z.array(resourceLimit).optional(),
+      widenedReturnedReferences: z.array(range).optional(),
     }),
     z.strictObject({
       status: z.literal("partial"),
       omittedCount: z.union([z.literal(0), z.null()]),
       resourceLimits: z.array(resourceLimit).optional(),
+      widenedReturnedReferences: z.array(range).optional(),
     }),
     z.strictObject({
       status: z.literal("failed"),
       omittedCount: z.null(),
       resourceLimits: z.array(resourceLimit).optional(),
+      widenedReturnedReferences: z.array(range).optional(),
     }),
   ])
   .transform((value) => {
-    const { resourceLimits, ...rest } = value;
+    const { resourceLimits, widenedReturnedReferences, ...rest } = value;
     return {
       ...rest,
       ...(resourceLimits === undefined ? {} : { resourceLimits }),
+      ...(widenedReturnedReferences === undefined
+        ? {}
+        : { widenedReturnedReferences }),
     };
   });
 const moduleLink = z
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/applications/javascriptReturnedReferenceCycles.test.ts b/tests/acceptance/applications/javascriptReturnedReferenceCycles.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..981806e4dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/acceptance/applications/javascriptReturnedReferenceCycles.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+import { writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { expect } from "vitest";
+
+import { parseEvidence } from "../../../src/domain/evidence.js";
+import { javascriptApplicationAnalysisResultSchema } from "../../../src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationAnalysis.js";
+import { connectLocalToolsMcp } from "../../fixtures/localToolsMcp.js";
+import { createTestTempDirectory } from "../../fixtures/temporaryDirectory.js";
+import { cliTest } from "../../support/cli/cliFixture.js";
+
+const verify = (value: unknown) => {
+  const result = javascriptApplicationAnalysisResultSchema.parse(
+    parseEvidence(value).normalized_result,
+  );
+  expect(result.statistics).toMatchObject({
+    parsed_javascript_files: 3,
+    skipped_javascript_files: 0,
+    parse_failures: 0,
+  });
+  const endpoints = result.graph.nodes
+    .filter(({ kind }) => kind === "endpoint")
+    .flatMap(({ observations }) =>
+      observations.map(({ properties }) => ({
+        value: properties.value,
+        interpretation: properties.interpretation,
+      })),
+    );
+  expect(endpoints).toContainEqual({
+    value: "/preserved",
+    interpretation: undefined,
+  });
+  expect(endpoints).toContainEqual({
+    value: "/possibly-patched",
+    interpretation: "candidate",
+  });
+  expect(endpoints).toContainEqual({
+    value: "/growing",
+    interpretation: "candidate",
+  });
+  expect(endpoints.some(({ value }) => value === "/intrinsic")).toBe(false);
+  expect(result.semantic_graph.unknowns).toContainEqual(
+    expect.objectContaining({
+      reason: "dynamic-property",
+      detail: expect.stringContaining("returned-reference projections"),
+    }),
+  );
+};
+
+cliTest(
+  "retains static facts and possible prototype effects across a recursive alias web in CLI and MCP",
+  async ({ cli }) => {
+    const root = await createTestTempDirectory(
+      "rea-returned-reference-cycles-",
+    );
+    await writeFile(
+      join(root, "cycles.js"),
+      `function local() { return {}; }
+function exposed() { return Map.prototype; }
+let a = local, b = exposed;
+function patch(flag) {
+  ${Array.from({ length: 28 }, (_, index) =>
+    index % 2 === 0 ? "a = b;" : "b = a;",
+  ).join("\n")}
+  a().get = fetch;
+}
+fetch("/preserved");
+new Map().get("/possibly-patched");`,
+    );
+    await writeFile(
+      join(root, "independent.js"),
+      'const records = new Map(); records.get("/intrinsic");',
+    );
+    await writeFile(
+      join(root, "growing.js"),
+      `function expose() { return Map.prototype; }
+let cursor = { target: expose };
+function walk(flag) {
+  while (flag) cursor = cursor.next;
+  patch(cursor.target());
+}
+new Map().get("/growing");`,
+    );
+    const response = await cli.run({
+      arguments: [
+        "analyze-javascript-application",
+        root,
+        "--max-heap-mb",
+        "256",
+        "--analysis-timeout-ms",
+        "30000",
+        "--format",
+        "json",
+      ],
+    });
+    expect(response.exitCode, response.stderr).toBe(0);
+    verify(response.json);
+
+    const { call } = await connectLocalToolsMcp();
+    const analyzed = await call("analyze_javascript_application", {
+      input_path: root,
+      max_heap_mb: 256,
+      analysis_timeout_ms: 30_000,
+    });
+    expect(analyzed.isError, JSON.stringify(analyzed.content)).not.toBe(true);
+    verify(analyzed.structuredContent);
+  },
+  90_000,
+);