diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/archive_parser.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/archive_parser.go
index e54b73696..0ec5b0054 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/archive_parser.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/archive_parser.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"iter"
 	"os"
 	"path"
+	"regexp"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -301,6 +302,9 @@ func (j *archiveParser) discoverNameVersionLicense(ctx context.Context, manifest
 	if version == "" {
 		version = selectVersion(manifest, j.fileInfo)
 	}
+	if version == "" {
+		version = j.versionFromPropertiesFile(ctx, manifest)
+	}
 
 	if len(lics) == 0 {
 		fileLicenses := j.getLicenseFromFileInArchive(ctx)
@@ -609,6 +613,44 @@ func (j *archiveParser) getLicenseFromFileInArchive(ctx context.Context) []pkg.L
 	return identified
 }
 
+// optional "v" + leading digit + version-ish chars; rejects placeholders like "${revision}"
+var releaseVersionPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`^v?(\d[0-9A-Za-z.\-_+]*)$`)
+
+// versionFromPropertiesFile: last-resort ver from root version.properties for uber-jars built
+// outside maven/gradle e.g. metabase, "tag=v0.63.5", shading can land a deps file at t same
+// path, so be conservative => Main-Class jars only, "version"/"tag" keys only, version shaped values only
+func (j *archiveParser) versionFromPropertiesFile(ctx context.Context, manifest *pkg.JavaManifest) string {
+	if manifest == nil || manifest.Main.MustGet("Main-Class") == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	matches := j.fileManifest.GlobMatch(true, "/version.properties")
+	if len(matches) != 1 {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	contents, err := intFile.ContentsFromZip(ctx, j.archivePath, matches...)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("unable to extract version.properties (%s): %v", j.location, err)
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	props := map[string]string{}
+	for line := range strings.Lines(contents[matches[0]]) {
+		if k, v, ok := strings.Cut(line, "="); ok {
+			props[strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(k))] = strings.TrimSpace(v)
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, key := range []string{"version", "tag"} {
+		if m := releaseVersionPattern.FindStringSubmatch(props[key]); m != nil {
+			return m[1]
+		}
+	}
+
+	return ""
+}
+
 func (j *archiveParser) discoverPkgsFromNestedArchives(ctx context.Context, parentPkg *pkg.Package) ([]pkg.Package, []artifact.Relationship, error) {
 	// we know that all java archives are zip formatted files, so we can use the shared zip helper
 	return discoverPkgsFromZip(ctx, j.location, j.archivePath, j.contentPath, j.fileManifest, parentPkg, j.cfg)
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/Makefile b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/Makefile
index 5cdb05b1e..5d9daaaba 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/Makefile
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/Makefile
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ MULTIPLE_MATCHING = multiple-matching-2.11.5
 ORG_MULTIPLE_THENAME = org.multiple-thename
 MICRONAUT_AOP = micronaut-aop-4.9.11
 COMMONS_LANG3 = commons-lang3-3.12.0
+UBER_APP_VERSION_PROPERTIES = uber-app-version-properties
+UBER_APP_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER = uber-app-version-placeholder
+LIB_WITH_VERSION_PROPERTIES = lib-with-version-properties
 
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := fixtures
 
@@ -24,7 +27,7 @@ fixtures: $(CACHE_DIR)
 # requirement 2: 'fingerprint' goal to determine if the fixture input that indicates any existing cache should be busted
 fingerprint: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
 
-$(CACHE_DIR): $(CACHE_DIR)/$(JACKSON_CORE).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(SBT_JACKSON_CORE).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(OPENSAML_CORE).jar  $(CACHE_DIR)/$(API_ALL_SOURCES).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(SPRING_INSTRUMENTATION).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(MULTIPLE_MATCHING).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(MICRONAUT_AOP).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(COMMONS_LANG3).jar
+$(CACHE_DIR): $(CACHE_DIR)/$(JACKSON_CORE).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(SBT_JACKSON_CORE).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(OPENSAML_CORE).jar  $(CACHE_DIR)/$(API_ALL_SOURCES).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(SPRING_INSTRUMENTATION).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(MULTIPLE_MATCHING).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(MICRONAUT_AOP).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(COMMONS_LANG3).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(UBER_APP_VERSION_PROPERTIES).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(UBER_APP_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER).jar $(CACHE_DIR)/$(LIB_WITH_VERSION_PROPERTIES).jar
 
 $(CACHE_DIR)/$(JACKSON_CORE).jar:
 	mkdir -p $(CACHE_DIR)
@@ -62,6 +65,18 @@ $(CACHE_DIR)/$(COMMONS_LANG3).jar:
 	mkdir -p $(CACHE_DIR)
 	cd $(COMMONS_LANG3) && zip -r $(CACHE_PATH)/$(COMMONS_LANG3).jar .
 
+$(CACHE_DIR)/$(UBER_APP_VERSION_PROPERTIES).jar:
+	mkdir -p $(CACHE_DIR)
+	cd $(UBER_APP_VERSION_PROPERTIES) && zip -r $(CACHE_PATH)/$(UBER_APP_VERSION_PROPERTIES).jar .
+
+$(CACHE_DIR)/$(UBER_APP_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER).jar:
+	mkdir -p $(CACHE_DIR)
+	cd $(UBER_APP_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER) && zip -r $(CACHE_PATH)/$(UBER_APP_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER).jar .
+
+$(CACHE_DIR)/$(LIB_WITH_VERSION_PROPERTIES).jar:
+	mkdir -p $(CACHE_DIR)
+	cd $(LIB_WITH_VERSION_PROPERTIES) && zip -r $(CACHE_PATH)/$(LIB_WITH_VERSION_PROPERTIES).jar .
+
 # Jenkins plugins typically do not have the version included in the archive name,
 # so it is important to not include it in the generated test fixture
 $(CACHE_DIR)/gradle.hpi:
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/lib-with-version-properties/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/lib-with-version-properties/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..826e1c76b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/lib-with-version-properties/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+Manifest-Version: 1.0
+Created-By: Apache Maven
+
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/lib-with-version-properties/version.properties b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/lib-with-version-properties/version.properties
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e252ccc11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/lib-with-version-properties/version.properties
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+version=1.2.3
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-placeholder/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-placeholder/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..22b39ee02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-placeholder/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Manifest-Version: 1.0
+Created-By: build.clj
+Main-Class: example.core.bootstrap
+
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-placeholder/version.properties b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-placeholder/version.properties
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ec854c15d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-placeholder/version.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+version=${revision}
+build.date=${build_timestamp}
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-properties/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-properties/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6f80f7c3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-properties/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+Manifest-Version: 1.0
+Multi-Release: true
+Created-By: build.clj
+Build-Jdk-Spec: 25
+Main-Class: example.core.bootstrap
+
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-properties/version.properties b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-properties/version.properties
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cf3400354
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/testdata/jar-metadata/uber-app-version-properties/version.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+tag=v0.63.5
+hash=1dca717
+date=2026-08-05
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/version_properties_test.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/version_properties_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2b9680cf1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/java/version_properties_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+package java
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	intFile "github.com/anchore/syft/internal/file"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/internal/pkgtest"
+)
+
+func readManifest(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, parser *archiveParser) *pkg.JavaManifest {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	matches := parser.fileManifest.GlobMatch(false, manifestGlob)
+	require.Len(t, matches, 1)
+
+	contents, err := intFile.ContentsFromZip(ctx, parser.archivePath, matches...)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	manifest, err := parseJavaManifest(parser.archivePath, strings.NewReader(contents[matches[0]]))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	return manifest
+}
+
+func Test_archiveParser_versionFromPropertiesFile(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		fixture string
+		want    string
+	}{
+		{
+			// "tag=v0.63.5"
+			name:    "release tag from root version.properties",
+			fixture: "uber-app-version-properties",
+			want:    "0.63.5",
+		},
+		{
+			// clickhouse-jdbc ships "version=${revision}" must not become a version
+			name:    "unresolved build placeholder is rejected",
+			fixture: "uber-app-version-placeholder",
+			want:    "",
+		},
+		{
+			// no Main-Class -> cant tell app uberjar from bundled dep
+			name:    "library without Main-Class is rejected",
+			fixture: "lib-with-version-properties",
+			want:    "",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx := pkgtest.Context(t)
+
+			fixturePath := generateJavaMetadataJarFixture(t, tt.fixture, "jar")
+			fixture, err := os.Open(fixturePath)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			parser, cleanupFn, err := newJavaArchiveParser(ctx,
+				file.LocationReadCloser{
+					Location:   file.NewLocation(fixture.Name()),
+					ReadCloser: fixture,
+				}, false, DefaultArchiveCatalogerConfig())
+			defer cleanupFn()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, parser.versionFromPropertiesFile(ctx, readManifest(t, ctx, parser)))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func Test_archiveParser_versionFromPropertiesFile_noManifest(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := pkgtest.Context(t)
+
+	fixturePath := generateJavaMetadataJarFixture(t, "uber-app-version-properties", "jar")
+	fixture, err := os.Open(fixturePath)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	parser, cleanupFn, err := newJavaArchiveParser(ctx,
+		file.LocationReadCloser{
+			Location:   file.NewLocation(fixture.Name()),
+			ReadCloser: fixture,
+		}, false, DefaultArchiveCatalogerConfig())
+	defer cleanupFn()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Empty(t, parser.versionFromPropertiesFile(ctx, nil))
+}
+
+func Test_releaseVersionPattern(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		value string
+		want  string
+	}{
+		{"v0.63.5", "0.63.5"},
+		{"0.63.5", "0.63.5"},
+		{"2.5.1", "2.5.1"},
+		{"1.0.0-SNAPSHOT", "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"},
+		{"3", "3"},
+		{"${revision}", ""},
+		{"trunk-nightly build", ""},
+		{"valhalla", ""},
+		{"", ""},
+		{"v", ""},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.value, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var got string
+			if m := releaseVersionPattern.FindStringSubmatch(tt.value); m != nil {
+				got = m[1]
+			}
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, got)
+		})
+	}
+}