diff --git a/internal/task/package_tasks.go b/internal/task/package_tasks.go
index 6ba932724..f9e674325 100644
--- a/internal/task/package_tasks.go
+++ b/internal/task/package_tasks.go
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ func DefaultPackageTaskFactories() Factories {
 			pkgcataloging.InstalledTag, pkgcataloging.ImageTag, pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, pkgcataloging.LanguageTag, "dotnet", "c#",
 		),
 		newSimplePackageTaskFactory(dotnet.NewDotnetPackagesLockCataloger, pkgcataloging.DeclaredTag, pkgcataloging.ImageTag, pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, pkgcataloging.LanguageTag, "dotnet", "c#"),
+		newSimplePackageTaskFactory(dotnet.NewDotnetCsprojCataloger, pkgcataloging.DeclaredTag, pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, pkgcataloging.LanguageTag, "dotnet", "c#"),
 		newSimplePackageTaskFactory(python.NewInstalledPackageCataloger, pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, pkgcataloging.InstalledTag, pkgcataloging.ImageTag, pkgcataloging.LanguageTag, "python"),
 		newPackageTaskFactory(
 			func(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) pkg.Cataloger {
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/cataloger.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/cataloger.go
index 384469db3..3337d5434 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/cataloger.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/cataloger.go
@@ -29,3 +29,9 @@ func NewDotnetPackagesLockCataloger() pkg.Cataloger {
 	return generic.NewCataloger("dotnet-packages-lock-cataloger").
 		WithParserByGlobs(parseDotnetPackagesLock, "**/packages.lock.json")
 }
+
+// NewDotnetCsprojCataloger returns a cataloger based on .csproj files.
+func NewDotnetCsprojCataloger() pkg.Cataloger {
+	return generic.NewCataloger("dotnet-csproj-cataloger").
+		WithParserByGlobs(parseDotnetCsproj, "**/*.csproj")
+}
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/cataloger_csproj_test.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/cataloger_csproj_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b653f2d1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/cataloger_csproj_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+package dotnet
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/internal/pkgtest"
+)
+
+func TestDotnetCsprojCataloger(t *testing.T) {
+	fixture := "test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample/WeatherForecast.csproj"
+	fixtureLocationSet := file.NewLocationSet(file.NewLocation(fixture))
+
+	expected := []pkg.Package{
+		{
+			Name:      "Steeltoe.Discovery.Eureka",
+			Version:   "3.2.0",
+			Language:  pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:      pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:      "pkg:nuget/Steeltoe.Discovery.Eureka@3.2.0",
+			Locations: fixtureLocationSet,
+			Metadata: pkg.DotnetDepsEntry{
+				Name:     "Steeltoe.Discovery.Eureka",
+				Version:  "3.2.0",
+				Path:     "test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample",
+				Sha512:   "",
+				HashPath: "",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name:      "Steeltoe.Extensions.Configuration.CloudFoundry",
+			Version:   "3.2.0",
+			Language:  pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:      pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:      "pkg:nuget/Steeltoe.Extensions.Configuration.CloudFoundry@3.2.0",
+			Locations: fixtureLocationSet,
+			Metadata: pkg.DotnetDepsEntry{
+				Name:     "Steeltoe.Extensions.Configuration.CloudFoundry",
+				Version:  "3.2.0",
+				Path:     "test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample",
+				Sha512:   "",
+				HashPath: "",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name:      "Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint",
+			Version:   "3.2.0",
+			Language:  pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:      pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:      "pkg:nuget/Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint@3.2.0",
+			Locations: fixtureLocationSet,
+			Metadata: pkg.DotnetDepsEntry{
+				Name:     "Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint",
+				Version:  "3.2.0",
+				Path:     "test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample",
+				Sha512:   "",
+				HashPath: "",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name:      "Microsoft.AspNetCore.OpenApi",
+			Version:   "8.0.0",
+			Language:  pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:      pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:      "pkg:nuget/Microsoft.AspNetCore.OpenApi@8.0.0",
+			Locations: fixtureLocationSet,
+			Metadata: pkg.DotnetDepsEntry{
+				Name:     "Microsoft.AspNetCore.OpenApi",
+				Version:  "8.0.0",
+				Path:     "test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample",
+				Sha512:   "",
+				HashPath: "",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name:      "Swashbuckle.AspNetCore",
+			Version:   "6.5.0",
+			Language:  pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:      pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:      "pkg:nuget/Swashbuckle.AspNetCore@6.5.0",
+			Locations: fixtureLocationSet,
+			Metadata: pkg.DotnetDepsEntry{
+				Name:     "Swashbuckle.AspNetCore",
+				Version:  "6.5.0",
+				Path:     "test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample",
+				Sha512:   "",
+				HashPath: "",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name:      "Serilog.AspNetCore",
+			Version:   "8.0.0",
+			Language:  pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:      pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:      "pkg:nuget/Serilog.AspNetCore@8.0.0",
+			Locations: fixtureLocationSet,
+			Metadata: pkg.DotnetDepsEntry{
+				Name:     "Serilog.AspNetCore",
+				Version:  "8.0.0",
+				Path:     "test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample",
+				Sha512:   "",
+				HashPath: "",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name:      "Serilog.Sinks.Console",
+			Version:   "5.0.0",
+			Language:  pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:      pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:      "pkg:nuget/Serilog.Sinks.Console@5.0.0",
+			Locations: fixtureLocationSet,
+			Metadata: pkg.DotnetDepsEntry{
+				Name:     "Serilog.Sinks.Console",
+				Version:  "5.0.0",
+				Path:     "test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample",
+				Sha512:   "",
+				HashPath: "",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	pkgtest.TestCataloger(t, fixture, NewDotnetCsprojCataloger(), expected, nil)
+}
+
+func TestDotnetCsprojCataloger_GlopsMatch(t *testing.T) {
+	expectedPackages := []pkg.Package{
+		{
+			Name:     "Serilog",
+			Version:  "2.10.0",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Serilog@2.10.0",
+		},
+		{
+			Name:     "Serilog.Sinks.Console",
+			Version:  "4.0.1",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Serilog.Sinks.Console@4.0.1",
+		},
+		{
+			Name:     "Newtonsoft.Json",
+			Version:  "13.0.3",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Newtonsoft.Json@13.0.3",
+		},
+		{
+			Name:     "Humanizer",
+			Version:  "2.14.1",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Humanizer@2.14.1",
+		},
+		{
+			Name:     "Microsoft.Web.LibraryManager.Build",
+			Version:  "2.1.175",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Microsoft.Web.LibraryManager.Build@2.1.175",
+		},
+		{
+			Name:     "Steeltoe.Discovery.Eureka",
+			Version:  "3.2.0",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Steeltoe.Discovery.Eureka@3.2.0",
+		},
+		{
+			Name:     "Steeltoe.Extensions.Configuration.CloudFoundry",
+			Version:  "3.2.0",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Steeltoe.Extensions.Configuration.CloudFoundry@3.2.0",
+		},
+		{
+			Name:     "Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint",
+			Version:  "3.2.0",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint@3.2.0",
+		},
+		{
+			Name:     "Microsoft.AspNetCore.OpenApi",
+			Version:  "8.0.0",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Microsoft.AspNetCore.OpenApi@8.0.0",
+		},
+		{
+			Name:     "Swashbuckle.AspNetCore",
+			Version:  "6.5.0",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Swashbuckle.AspNetCore@6.5.0",
+		},
+		{
+			Name:     "Serilog.AspNetCore",
+			Version:  "8.0.0",
+			Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+			Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+			PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Serilog.AspNetCore@8.0.0",
+		},
+	}
+
+	pkgtest.NewCatalogTester().
+		FromDirectory(t, "test-fixtures").
+		Expects(expectedPackages, nil).
+		TestCataloger(t, NewDotnetCsprojCataloger())
+}
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/parse_csproj.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/parse_csproj.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1e277c017
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/parse_csproj.go
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+package dotnet
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/xml"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/anchore/packageurl-go"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/artifact"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/generic"
+)
+
+// csprojProject represents the root element of a .csproj file
+type csprojProject struct {
+	XMLName    xml.Name          `xml:"Project"`
+	Sdk        string            `xml:"Sdk,attr"`
+	ItemGroups []csprojItemGroup `xml:"ItemGroup"`
+}
+
+// csprojItemGroup represents an ItemGroup element containing references
+type csprojItemGroup struct {
+	PackageReferences []csprojPackageReference `xml:"PackageReference"`
+	ProjectReferences []csprojProjectReference `xml:"ProjectReference"`
+}
+
+// csprojPackageReference represents a PackageReference element
+type csprojPackageReference struct {
+	Include       string `xml:"Include,attr"`
+	Version       string `xml:"Version,attr"`
+	PrivateAssets string `xml:"PrivateAssets,attr"`
+	IncludeAssets string `xml:"IncludeAssets,attr"`
+	Condition     string `xml:"Condition,attr"`
+}
+
+// csprojProjectReference represents a ProjectReference element
+type csprojProjectReference struct {
+	Include   string `xml:"Include,attr"`
+	Condition string `xml:"Condition,attr"`
+}
+
+func parseDotnetCsproj(_ context.Context, _ file.Resolver, _ *generic.Environment, reader file.LocationReadCloser) ([]pkg.Package, []artifact.Relationship, error) {
+	contents, err := io.ReadAll(reader)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to read .csproj file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var project csprojProject
+	if err := xml.Unmarshal(contents, &project); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to parse .csproj XML: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var pkgs []pkg.Package
+	var relationships []artifact.Relationship
+
+	// Process PackageReference elements
+	for _, itemGroup := range project.ItemGroups {
+		for _, pkgRef := range itemGroup.PackageReferences {
+			// Skip packages that are build-time only or analyzers
+			if shouldSkipPackageReference(pkgRef) {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			p := buildPackageFromReference(pkgRef, reader.Location)
+			if p != nil {
+				pkgs = append(pkgs, *p)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Process ProjectReference elements (if we want to include them as relationships)
+		for _, projRef := range itemGroup.ProjectReferences {
+			// ProjectReferences represent internal project dependencies
+			// We could create relationships here, but for now we skip them
+			// since they represent source-to-source dependencies within the same solution
+			_ = projRef
+		}
+	}
+
+	return pkgs, relationships, nil
+}
+
+// shouldSkipPackageReference determines if a package reference should be skipped
+func shouldSkipPackageReference(ref csprojPackageReference) bool {
+	// Skip packages that are private assets only (build-time dependencies)
+	if ref.PrivateAssets == "all" || ref.PrivateAssets == "All" {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	// Skip conditional references that are likely build/development only
+	condition := strings.ToLower(ref.Condition)
+	if strings.Contains(condition, "debug") && !strings.Contains(condition, "release") {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	// Skip packages that are commonly build-time only
+	lowerName := strings.ToLower(ref.Include)
+	buildTimePackages := []string{
+		"microsoft.net.test.sdk",
+		"stylecop.analyzers",
+		"microsoft.codeanalysis",
+		"coverlet.collector",
+		"xunit.runner.visualstudio",
+	}
+
+	for _, buildPkg := range buildTimePackages {
+		if strings.Contains(lowerName, buildPkg) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
+// buildPackageFromReference creates a Package from a PackageReference element
+func buildPackageFromReference(ref csprojPackageReference, location file.Location) *pkg.Package {
+	name := strings.TrimSpace(ref.Include)
+	if name == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	version := strings.TrimSpace(ref.Version)
+	// If version is empty, this might be a framework reference or implicit version
+	// For now, we'll skip packages without explicit versions since we can't determine them
+	// from the .csproj alone (would need props/targets files or lock files)
+	if version == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Generate PURL following the established pattern for .NET packages
+	purl := packageurl.NewPackageURL(
+		packageurl.TypeNuget,
+		"",
+		name,
+		version,
+		nil,
+		"",
+	)
+
+	p := &pkg.Package{
+		Name:      name,
+		Version:   version,
+		Language:  pkg.Dotnet,
+		Type:      pkg.DotnetPkg,
+		PURL:      purl.ToString(),
+		Locations: file.NewLocationSet(location),
+		Metadata: pkg.DotnetDepsEntry{
+			Name:     name,
+			Version:  version,
+			Path:     filepath.Dir(location.RealPath),
+			Sha512:   "",
+			HashPath: "",
+		},
+	}
+
+	return p
+}
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/parse_csproj_test.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/parse_csproj_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..52095882f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/parse_csproj_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,384 @@
+package dotnet
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"io"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/generic"
+)
+
+func TestParseDotnetCsproj(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name          string
+		input         string
+		expected      []pkg.Package
+		expectedError bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "basic PackageReference parsing",
+			input: `<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Serilog" Version="2.10.0" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>`,
+			expected: []pkg.Package{
+				{
+					Name:     "Newtonsoft.Json",
+					Version:  "13.0.3",
+					Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+					Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+					PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Newtonsoft.Json@13.0.3",
+				},
+				{
+					Name:     "Serilog",
+					Version:  "2.10.0",
+					Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+					Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+					PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Serilog@2.10.0",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "skip private assets",
+			input: `<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="StyleCop.Analyzers" Version="1.2.0" PrivateAssets="all" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" Version="17.8.0" PrivateAssets="All" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>`,
+			expected: []pkg.Package{
+				{
+					Name:     "Newtonsoft.Json",
+					Version:  "13.0.3",
+					Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+					Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+					PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Newtonsoft.Json@13.0.3",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "skip conditional debug-only references",
+			input: `<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" Version="17.8.0" Condition="'$(Configuration)' == 'Debug'" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>`,
+			expected: []pkg.Package{
+				{
+					Name:     "Newtonsoft.Json",
+					Version:  "13.0.3",
+					Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+					Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+					PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Newtonsoft.Json@13.0.3",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "skip build-time packages",
+			input: `<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" Version="17.8.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="StyleCop.Analyzers" Version="1.2.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Analyzers" Version="3.3.4" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>`,
+			expected: []pkg.Package{
+				{
+					Name:     "Newtonsoft.Json",
+					Version:  "13.0.3",
+					Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+					Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+					PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Newtonsoft.Json@13.0.3",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "skip packages without version",
+			input: `<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.App" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>`,
+			expected: []pkg.Package{
+				{
+					Name:     "Newtonsoft.Json",
+					Version:  "13.0.3",
+					Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+					Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+					PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Newtonsoft.Json@13.0.3",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "multiple ItemGroup elements",
+			input: `<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Serilog" Version="2.10.0" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>`,
+			expected: []pkg.Package{
+				{
+					Name:     "Newtonsoft.Json",
+					Version:  "13.0.3",
+					Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+					Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+					PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Newtonsoft.Json@13.0.3",
+				},
+				{
+					Name:     "Serilog",
+					Version:  "2.10.0",
+					Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+					Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+					PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Serilog@2.10.0",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "empty project",
+			input: `<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+</Project>`,
+			expected: []pkg.Package{},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "ProjectReference ignored",
+			input: `<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="../SharedLibrary/SharedLibrary.csproj" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>`,
+			expected: []pkg.Package{
+				{
+					Name:     "Newtonsoft.Json",
+					Version:  "13.0.3",
+					Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+					Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+					PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Newtonsoft.Json@13.0.3",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "malformed XML",
+			input:         `<Project><ItemGroup><PackageReference Include="Test"`,
+			expected:      nil,
+			expectedError: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			reader := file.NewLocationReadCloser(
+				file.NewLocation("/test/project.csproj"),
+				io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader(test.input)),
+			)
+
+			packages, relationships, err := parseDotnetCsproj(context.Background(), nil, &generic.Environment{}, reader)
+
+			if test.expectedError {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				return
+			}
+
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Empty(t, relationships)
+			require.Len(t, packages, len(test.expected))
+
+			for i, expectedPkg := range test.expected {
+				actualPkg := packages[i]
+				assert.Equal(t, expectedPkg.Name, actualPkg.Name)
+				assert.Equal(t, expectedPkg.Version, actualPkg.Version)
+				assert.Equal(t, expectedPkg.Language, actualPkg.Language)
+				assert.Equal(t, expectedPkg.Type, actualPkg.Type)
+				assert.Equal(t, expectedPkg.PURL, actualPkg.PURL)
+
+				// Verify metadata structure
+				metadata, ok := actualPkg.Metadata.(pkg.DotnetDepsEntry)
+				require.True(t, ok, "expected DotnetDepsEntry metadata")
+				assert.Equal(t, expectedPkg.Name, metadata.Name)
+				assert.Equal(t, expectedPkg.Version, metadata.Version)
+				assert.NotEmpty(t, metadata.Path)
+
+				// Verify locations are set
+				assert.NotEmpty(t, actualPkg.Locations)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestShouldSkipPackageReference(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		ref      csprojPackageReference
+		expected bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "regular package",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include: "Newtonsoft.Json",
+				Version: "13.0.3",
+			},
+			expected: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "private assets all",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include:       "StyleCop.Analyzers",
+				Version:       "1.2.0",
+				PrivateAssets: "all",
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "private assets All (capitalized)",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include:       "StyleCop.Analyzers",
+				Version:       "1.2.0",
+				PrivateAssets: "All",
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "debug condition",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include:   "Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk",
+				Version:   "17.8.0",
+				Condition: "'$(Configuration)' == 'Debug'",
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "test SDK package",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include: "Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk",
+				Version: "17.8.0",
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "stylecop analyzer",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include: "StyleCop.Analyzers",
+				Version: "1.2.0",
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "code analysis package",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include: "Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.Analyzers",
+				Version: "3.3.4",
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			result := shouldSkipPackageReference(test.ref)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.expected, result)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBuildPackageFromReference(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		ref      csprojPackageReference
+		location file.Location
+		expected *pkg.Package
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "valid package reference",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include: "Newtonsoft.Json",
+				Version: "13.0.3",
+			},
+			location: file.NewLocation("/test/project.csproj"),
+			expected: &pkg.Package{
+				Name:     "Newtonsoft.Json",
+				Version:  "13.0.3",
+				Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+				Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+				PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Newtonsoft.Json@13.0.3",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "empty name",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include: "",
+				Version: "13.0.3",
+			},
+			location: file.NewLocation("/test/project.csproj"),
+			expected: nil,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "empty version",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include: "Newtonsoft.Json",
+				Version: "",
+			},
+			location: file.NewLocation("/test/project.csproj"),
+			expected: nil,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "whitespace in name and version",
+			ref: csprojPackageReference{
+				Include: "  Newtonsoft.Json  ",
+				Version: "  13.0.3  ",
+			},
+			location: file.NewLocation("/test/project.csproj"),
+			expected: &pkg.Package{
+				Name:     "Newtonsoft.Json",
+				Version:  "13.0.3",
+				Language: pkg.Dotnet,
+				Type:     pkg.DotnetPkg,
+				PURL:     "pkg:nuget/Newtonsoft.Json@13.0.3",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			result := buildPackageFromReference(test.ref, test.location)
+
+			if test.expected == nil {
+				assert.Nil(t, result)
+				return
+			}
+
+			require.NotNil(t, result)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.expected.Name, result.Name)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.expected.Version, result.Version)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.expected.Language, result.Language)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.expected.Type, result.Type)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.expected.PURL, result.PURL)
+
+			// Verify metadata
+			metadata, ok := result.Metadata.(pkg.DotnetDepsEntry)
+			require.True(t, ok)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.expected.Name, metadata.Name)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.expected.Version, metadata.Version)
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample/WeatherForecast.csproj b/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample/WeatherForecast.csproj
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..67d36529f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet/test-fixtures/steeltoe-sample/WeatherForecast.csproj
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Web">
+
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
+    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Steeltoe.Discovery.Eureka" Version="3.2.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Steeltoe.Extensions.Configuration.CloudFoundry" Version="3.2.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint" Version="3.2.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.OpenApi" Version="8.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Swashbuckle.AspNetCore" Version="6.5.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Serilog.AspNetCore" Version="8.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Serilog.Sinks.Console" Version="5.0.0" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <!-- Development-only packages -->
+  <ItemGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)' == 'Debug'">
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" Version="17.8.0" PrivateAssets="All" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <!-- Build-time analyzers -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="StyleCop.Analyzers" Version="1.2.0-beta.435" PrivateAssets="All" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+</Project>
\ No newline at end of file