diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 7a669dad..b66d1cf9 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -218,6 +218,9 @@ yq -P -oy sample.json
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&yqlib.ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableEnvOps, "security-disable-env-ops", "", false, "Disable env related operations.")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&yqlib.ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableFileOps, "security-disable-file-ops", "", false, "Disable file related operations (e.g. load)")
+
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(
 		createEvaluateSequenceCommand(),
 		createEvaluateAllCommand(),
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/env-variable-operators.md b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/env-variable-operators.md
index c616f66c..4c39a216 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/env-variable-operators.md
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/env-variable-operators.md
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ as follows:
 yq '(.. | select(tag == "!!str")) |= envsubst' file.yaml
 ```
 
+## Disabling env operators
+If required, you can use the `--security-disable-env-ops` to disable env operations.
+
 
 ## Read string environment variable
 Running
@@ -254,3 +257,39 @@ will output
 Error: variable ${notThere} not set
 ```
 
+## env() operation fails when security is enabled
+Use `--security-disable-env-ops` to disable env operations for security.
+
+Running
+```bash
+yq --null-input 'env("MYENV")'
+```
+will output
+```bash
+Error: env operations have been disabled
+```
+
+## strenv() operation fails when security is enabled
+Use `--security-disable-env-ops` to disable env operations for security.
+
+Running
+```bash
+yq --null-input 'strenv("MYENV")'
+```
+will output
+```bash
+Error: env operations have been disabled
+```
+
+## envsubst() operation fails when security is enabled
+Use `--security-disable-env-ops` to disable env operations for security.
+
+Running
+```bash
+yq --null-input '"value: ${MYENV}" | envsubst'
+```
+will output
+```bash
+Error: env operations have been disabled
+```
+
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/env-variable-operators.md b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/env-variable-operators.md
index b8d795c6..643bbd3e 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/env-variable-operators.md
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/env-variable-operators.md
@@ -29,3 +29,6 @@ as follows:
 yq '(.. | select(tag == "!!str")) |= envsubst' file.yaml
 ```
 
+## Disabling env operators
+If required, you can use the `--security-disable-env-ops` to disable env operations.
+
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/load.md b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/load.md
index d6ad6085..da007dba 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/load.md
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/load.md
@@ -46,3 +46,7 @@ this.is = a properties file
 ```
 bXkgc2VjcmV0IGNoaWxsaSByZWNpcGUgaXMuLi4u
 ```
+
+## Disabling file operators
+If required, you can use the `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations.
+
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/load.md b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/load.md
index dc0463aa..588e0076 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/load.md
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/load.md
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ this.is = a properties file
 bXkgc2VjcmV0IGNoaWxsaSByZWNpcGUgaXMuLi4u
 ```
 
+## Disabling file operators
+If required, you can use the `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations.
+
+
 ## Simple example
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
@@ -194,3 +198,63 @@ cool: things
 more_stuff: my secret chilli recipe is....
 ```
 
+## load() operation fails when security is enabled
+Use `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations for security.
+
+Running
+```bash
+yq --null-input 'load("../../examples/thing.yml")'
+```
+will output
+```bash
+Error: file operations have been disabled
+```
+
+## load_str() operation fails when security is enabled
+Use `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations for security.
+
+Running
+```bash
+yq --null-input 'load_str("../../examples/thing.yml")'
+```
+will output
+```bash
+Error: file operations have been disabled
+```
+
+## load_xml() operation fails when security is enabled
+Use `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations for security.
+
+Running
+```bash
+yq --null-input 'load_xml("../../examples/small.xml")'
+```
+will output
+```bash
+Error: file operations have been disabled
+```
+
+## load_props() operation fails when security is enabled
+Use `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations for security.
+
+Running
+```bash
+yq --null-input 'load_props("../../examples/small.properties")'
+```
+will output
+```bash
+Error: file operations have been disabled
+```
+
+## load_base64() operation fails when security is enabled
+Use `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations for security.
+
+Running
+```bash
+yq --null-input 'load_base64("../../examples/base64.txt")'
+```
+will output
+```bash
+Error: file operations have been disabled
+```
+
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_env.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_env.go
index 4605804a..6f0f938e 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_env.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_env.go
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ type envOpPreferences struct {
 }
 
 func envOperator(_ *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
+	if ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableEnvOps {
+		return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("env operations have been disabled")
+	}
 	envName := expressionNode.Operation.CandidateNode.Value
 	log.Debug("EnvOperator, env name:", envName)
 
@@ -54,6 +57,9 @@ func envOperator(_ *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expressi
 }
 
 func envsubstOperator(_ *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
+	if ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableEnvOps {
+		return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("env operations have been disabled")
+	}
 	var results = list.New()
 	preferences := envOpPreferences{}
 	if expressionNode.Operation.Preferences != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_env_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_env_test.go
index e80508c3..f6cfc439 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_env_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_env_test.go
@@ -250,3 +250,40 @@ func TestEnvOperatorScenarios(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	documentOperatorScenarios(t, "env-variable-operators", envOperatorScenarios)
 }
+
+var envOperatorSecurityDisabledScenarios = []expressionScenario{
+	{
+		description:    "env() operation fails when security is enabled",
+		subdescription: "Use `--security-disable-env-ops` to disable env operations for security.",
+		expression:     `env("MYENV")`,
+		expectedError:  "env operations have been disabled",
+	},
+	{
+		description:    "strenv() operation fails when security is enabled",
+		subdescription: "Use `--security-disable-env-ops` to disable env operations for security.",
+		expression:     `strenv("MYENV")`,
+		expectedError:  "env operations have been disabled",
+	},
+	{
+		description:    "envsubst() operation fails when security is enabled",
+		subdescription: "Use `--security-disable-env-ops` to disable env operations for security.",
+		expression:     `"value: ${MYENV}" | envsubst`,
+		expectedError:  "env operations have been disabled",
+	},
+}
+
+func TestEnvOperatorSecurityDisabledScenarios(t *testing.T) {
+	// Save original security preferences
+	originalDisableEnvOps := ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableEnvOps
+	defer func() {
+		ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableEnvOps = originalDisableEnvOps
+	}()
+
+	// Test that env() fails when DisableEnvOps is true
+	ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableEnvOps = true
+
+	for _, tt := range envOperatorSecurityDisabledScenarios {
+		testScenario(t, &tt)
+	}
+	appendOperatorDocumentScenario(t, "env-variable-operators", envOperatorSecurityDisabledScenarios)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_load.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_load.go
index 970b9e5b..a4a2e506 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_load.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_load.go
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ func loadWithDecoder(filename string, decoder Decoder) (*CandidateNode, error) {
 
 func loadStringOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
 	log.Debugf("loadString")
+	if ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableFileOps {
+		return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("file operations have been disabled")
+	}
 
 	var results = list.New()
 
@@ -94,6 +97,9 @@ func loadStringOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *E
 
 func loadOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
 	log.Debugf("loadOperator")
+	if ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableFileOps {
+		return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("file operations have been disabled")
+	}
 
 	loadPrefs := expressionNode.Operation.Preferences.(loadPrefs)
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_load_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_load_test.go
index 15acb2d9..aab885ae 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_load_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_load_test.go
@@ -131,3 +131,52 @@ func TestLoadScenarios(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	documentOperatorScenarios(t, "load", loadScenarios)
 }
+
+var loadOperatorSecurityDisabledScenarios = []expressionScenario{
+	{
+		description:    "load() operation fails when security is enabled",
+		subdescription: "Use `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations for security.",
+		expression:     `load("../../examples/thing.yml")`,
+		expectedError:  "file operations have been disabled",
+	},
+	{
+		description:    "load_str() operation fails when security is enabled",
+		subdescription: "Use `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations for security.",
+		expression:     `load_str("../../examples/thing.yml")`,
+		expectedError:  "file operations have been disabled",
+	},
+	{
+		description:    "load_xml() operation fails when security is enabled",
+		subdescription: "Use `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations for security.",
+		expression:     `load_xml("../../examples/small.xml")`,
+		expectedError:  "file operations have been disabled",
+	},
+	{
+		description:    "load_props() operation fails when security is enabled",
+		subdescription: "Use `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations for security.",
+		expression:     `load_props("../../examples/small.properties")`,
+		expectedError:  "file operations have been disabled",
+	},
+	{
+		description:    "load_base64() operation fails when security is enabled",
+		subdescription: "Use `--security-disable-file-ops` to disable file operations for security.",
+		expression:     `load_base64("../../examples/base64.txt")`,
+		expectedError:  "file operations have been disabled",
+	},
+}
+
+func TestLoadOperatorSecurityDisabledScenarios(t *testing.T) {
+	// Save original security preferences
+	originalDisableFileOps := ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableFileOps
+	defer func() {
+		ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableFileOps = originalDisableFileOps
+	}()
+
+	// Test that load operations fail when DisableFileOps is true
+	ConfiguredSecurityPreferences.DisableFileOps = true
+
+	for _, tt := range loadOperatorSecurityDisabledScenarios {
+		testScenario(t, &tt)
+	}
+	appendOperatorDocumentScenario(t, "load", loadOperatorSecurityDisabledScenarios)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/security_prefs.go b/pkg/yqlib/security_prefs.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3e2fe6b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/security_prefs.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package yqlib
+
+type SecurityPreferences struct {
+	DisableEnvOps  bool
+	DisableFileOps bool
+}
+
+var ConfiguredSecurityPreferences = SecurityPreferences{
+	DisableEnvOps:  false,
+	DisableFileOps: false,
+}