🔄 Release Tracking: v1.8.11

## 🚀 Release Cycle: v1.8.11

**Branch:** `master`
**Run:** https://github.com/Azure/azure-container-networking/actions/runs/29602936218

### Tags to be created:
• `v1.8.11` (CNI/CNS/NPM)
• `dropgz/v0.2.1`
• `azure-ipam/v0.4.2`
• `azure-iptables-monitor/v0.0.6`
• `azure-ip-masq-merger/v0.0.2`
• `cilium-log-collector/v0.0.3`
### ⏳ Pending PRs — Dependabot (22) + Go Upgrade (3):

- [ ] #4333 — deps: bump go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk from 1.40.0 to 1.43.0
- [ ] #4361 — ci: bump actions/upload-artifact from 7.0.0 to 7.0.1
- [ ] #4399 — deps: bump go.uber.org/zap from 1.27.1 to 1.28.0 in /zapai in the all-go-minor-and-patch group across 1 directory
- [ ] #4400 — deps: bump go.uber.org/zap from 1.27.1 to 1.28.0 in /dropgz in the all-go-minor-and-patch group across 1 directory
- [ ] #4401 — deps: bump the all-go-minor-and-patch group across 1 directory with 3 updates
- [ ] #4453 — deps: bump the all-go-minor-and-patch group across 1 directory with 22 updates
- [ ] #4457 — ci: bump github/codeql-action from 4.36.0 to 4.36.2
- [ ] #4468 — deps: bump go.mongodb.org/mongo-driver from 1.14.0 to 1.17.7
- [ ] #4474 — ci: bump actions/checkout from 4.3.1 to 7.0.0
- [ ] #4483 — chore: upgrade library versions and base images to latest
- [ ] #4484 — ci: bump github/codeql-action/analyze from 4.36.0 to 4.36.2
- [ ] #4485 — ci: bump github/codeql-action/init from 4.36.0 to 4.36.2
- [ ] #4486 — ci: bump github/codeql-action/autobuild from 4.36.0 to 4.36.2
- [ ] #4488 — ci: bump zizmorcore/zizmor-action from 0.5.6 to 0.5.7
- [ ] #4492 — ci: bump actions/setup-go from 6.3.0 to 6.5.0
- [ ] #4494 — chore: upgrade Go 1.24 → 1.26.4
- [ ] #4496 — ci: bump actions/stale from db5d06a4c82d5e94513c09c406638111df61f63e to 9461cb10066d1553762bac6a02599ab8c26b14dd
- [ ] #4504 — deps: bump golang.org/x/net from 0.48.0 to 0.55.0 in /azure-ipam
- [ ] #4505 — ci: bump the go_modules group across 3 directories with 1 update
- [ ] #4506 — deps: bump golang.org/x/net from 0.48.0 to 0.55.0
- [ ] #4507 — ci: bump golangci/golangci-lint-action from 9.2.1 to 9.3.0
- [ ] #4509 — deps: bump github.com/cilium/cilium from 1.17.15 to 1.17.16
- [ ] #4514 — fix(azure-iptables-monitor): build with Go 1.25 to remediate CVE-2026-39825
- [ ] #4519 — deps: bump golang.org/x/crypto from 0.46.0 to 0.52.0 in /azure-ipam
- [ ] #4520 — deps: bump golang.org/x/crypto from 0.46.0 to 0.52.0

---
### Skip Instructions

To skip a specific PR, comment on this issue:
```
skip #
```

To skip ALL remaining dependency PRs (dependabot + Go upgrade):
```
skip all
```

### Pause for a non-dependabot PR

To hold the release until a specific PR merges (any PR, not just dependabot):
```
pause #
```

To remove the hold:
```
unpause #
```

### Pause the release entirely

To freeze the release (e.g. waiting for an unrelated fix, discussion, etc.):
```
pause
```

To unfreeze and let it continue:
```
resume
```

---
_This issue is managed by the Scheduled Release workflow. It will close automatically when the release completes._

Start with the Scheduled Release workflow and the linked Actions run, then review the pending PRs and release tags listed in this issue. Done means the required PRs are handled, the listed tags are created, and the automated release process closes the issue.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.