Release Date: August 5, 2025

## Bug fixes

- We fixed the Git fetcher so that it now correctly clears empty or invalid cache directories if it fails to fetch a profile from a Git repository. Previously, these empty directories would lead Test Kitchen to fail. ([#7398](https://github.com/inspec/inspec/pull/7398))
- We fixed the `Tried to load unspecified class: Date error` error that occurred when running an InSpec profile with a waiver file containing `expiration_date` while using the `--filter-waived-controls` flag. ([#7391](https://github.com/inspec/inspec/pull/7391))

### Security fixes

- Upgraded rack in Omnibus from `2.2.11` to `2.2.14`. ([#7428](https://github.com/inspec/inspec/pull/7428)
- Upgraded thor from `>= 0.20, < 1.3.0` to `>= 0.20, < 1.5.0`. ([#7442](https://github.com/inspec/inspec/pull/7442))
- Upgraded thor for Omnibus from `1.3.1` to `1.4.0`. ([#7461](https://github.com/inspec/inspec/pull/7461)).

## Dependency updates

- Dropped Ruby 3.0 support. ([#7359](https://github.com/inspec/inspec/pull/7359))
- Upgraded Ruby and Ruby Devkit to 3.1.7 for Habitat packages.
- Upgraded Ruby and Ruby Devkit to 3.1.7 for Omnibus packages. ([#7423](https://github.com/inspec/inspec/pull/7423))
- Upgraded `rspec-its` from `~> 1.2` to `>= 1.2, < 3.0`. ([#7436](https://github.com/inspec/inspec/pull/7436))
- Upgraded `rspec` from `>= 3.9, <= 3.12` to `>= 3.9, <= 3.14`. ([#7432](https://github.com/inspec/inspec/pull/7432))
- Upgraded `rubyzip` from `>= 1.2.2, < 3.0` to `>= 1.2.2, < 4.0`. ([#7469](https://github.com/inspec/inspec/pull/7469))