diff --git a/app/code/Magento/GraphQl/etc/di.xml b/app/code/Magento/GraphQl/etc/di.xml
index 0b18d3c4cfdc..c04c3875787e 100644
--- a/app/code/Magento/GraphQl/etc/di.xml
+++ b/app/code/Magento/GraphQl/etc/di.xml
@@ -110,9 +110,8 @@
     <type name="Magento\Framework\GraphQl\Query\Resolver\Argument\Validator\CompositeValidator">
         <arguments>
             <argument name="validators" xsi:type="array">
-                <item name="backpressureValidator" xsi:type="object">
-                    Magento\GraphQl\Model\Backpressure\BackpressureFieldValidator
-                </item>
+                <item name="searchCriteriaValidator" xsi:type="object">Magento\Framework\GraphQl\Query\Resolver\Argument\Validator\SearchCriteriaValidator</item>
+                <item name="backpressureValidator" xsi:type="object">Magento\GraphQl\Model\Backpressure\BackpressureFieldValidator</item>
             </argument>
         </arguments>
     </type>
diff --git a/app/etc/di.xml b/app/etc/di.xml
index bae85aa539ec..dc77b9551ac4 100644
--- a/app/etc/di.xml
+++ b/app/etc/di.xml
@@ -1990,13 +1990,6 @@
         </arguments>
     </type>
     <preference for="Magento\Framework\GraphQl\Query\Resolver\Argument\ValidatorInterface" type="Magento\Framework\GraphQl\Query\Resolver\Argument\Validator\CompositeValidator"/>
-    <type name="Magento\Framework\GraphQl\Query\Resolver\Argument\Validator\CompositeValidator">
-        <arguments>
-            <argument name="validators" xsi:type="array">
-                <item name="searchCriteriaValidator" xsi:type="object">Magento\Framework\GraphQl\Query\Resolver\Argument\Validator\SearchCriteriaValidator</item>
-            </argument>
-        </arguments>
-    </type>
     <type name="Magento\Framework\GraphQl\Query\Resolver\Argument\Validator\SearchCriteriaValidator">
         <arguments>
             <argument name="maxPageSize" xsi:type="number">300</argument>
diff --git a/dev/tests/api-functional/testsuite/Magento/GraphQl/Query/SearchCriteriaValidatorTest.php b/dev/tests/api-functional/testsuite/Magento/GraphQl/Query/SearchCriteriaValidatorTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f643079bdf36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev/tests/api-functional/testsuite/Magento/GraphQl/Query/SearchCriteriaValidatorTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Copyright 2026 Adobe
+ * All Rights Reserved.
+ */
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Magento\GraphQl\Query;
+
+use Magento\TestFramework\Fixture\Config;
+use Magento\TestFramework\TestCase\GraphQlAbstract;
+use Magento\TestFramework\TestCase\GraphQl\ResponseContainsErrorsException;
+
+/**
+ * Verify that SearchCriteriaValidator enforces the pageSize limit in GraphQL queries.
+ *
+ * Regression: Magento_GraphQl module-level di.xml was overriding the global di.xml array argument
+ * for CompositeValidator, silently dropping SearchCriteriaValidator from the composite.
+ */
+class SearchCriteriaValidatorTest extends GraphQlAbstract
+{
+    /**
+     * Verify that a pageSize argument exceeding the configured maximum returns an error.
+     */
+    #[
+        Config('graphql/validation/input_limit_enabled', 1),
+        Config('graphql/validation/maximum_page_size', 5)
+    ]
+    public function testProductsQueryExceedingPageSizeReturnsError()
+    {
+        $query = <<<QUERY
+        {
+            products(pageSize: 6, filter: {sku: {eq: "test"}}) {
+                total_count
+            }
+        }
+        QUERY;
+
+        $this->expectException(ResponseContainsErrorsException::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('Maximum pageSize is 5');
+        $this->graphQlQuery($query);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Verify that a pageSize argument within the configured maximum succeeds.
+     */
+    #[
+        Config('graphql/validation/input_limit_enabled', 1),
+        Config('graphql/validation/maximum_page_size', 5)
+    ]
+    public function testProductsQueryWithinPageSizeLimitSucceeds()
+    {
+        $query = <<<QUERY
+        {
+            products(pageSize: 5, filter: {sku: {eq: "test"}}) {
+                total_count
+            }
+        }
+        QUERY;
+
+        $response = $this->graphQlQuery($query);
+        $this->assertArrayHasKey('products', $response);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Verify that pageSize is not enforced when input limiting is disabled.
+     */
+    #[
+        Config('graphql/validation/input_limit_enabled', 0),
+        Config('graphql/validation/maximum_page_size', 5)
+    ]
+    public function testProductsQueryPageSizeNotEnforcedWhenLimitingDisabled()
+    {
+        $query = <<<QUERY
+        {
+            products(pageSize: 100, filter: {sku: {eq: "test"}}) {
+                total_count
+            }
+        }
+        QUERY;
+
+        $response = $this->graphQlQuery($query);
+        $this->assertArrayHasKey('products', $response);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/dev/tests/integration/testsuite/Magento/GraphQl/Query/CompositeValidatorTest.php b/dev/tests/integration/testsuite/Magento/GraphQl/Query/CompositeValidatorTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..bc7d7009ac4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev/tests/integration/testsuite/Magento/GraphQl/Query/CompositeValidatorTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Copyright 2026 Adobe
+ * All Rights Reserved.
+ */
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Magento\GraphQl\Query;
+
+use Magento\Framework\App\Area;
+use Magento\Framework\GraphQl\Config\Element\Field;
+use Magento\Framework\GraphQl\Exception\GraphQlInputException;
+use Magento\Framework\GraphQl\Query\Resolver\Argument\Validator\CompositeValidator;
+use Magento\Store\Model\ScopeInterface;
+use Magento\TestFramework\Fixture\AppArea;
+use Magento\TestFramework\Fixture\Config;
+use Magento\TestFramework\Fixture\DbIsolation;
+use Magento\TestFramework\Helper\Bootstrap;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\Attributes\CoversClass;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
+
+/**
+ * Verify that CompositeValidator correctly delegates to all registered validators.
+ *
+ * Integration test for composites per DoD: ensures SearchCriteriaValidator and
+ * BackpressureFieldValidator are loaded and functional within the composite.
+ *
+ * Regression: module-level di.xml array arguments replace global di.xml entries,
+ * so SearchCriteriaValidator was silently dropped from CompositeValidator.
+ */
+#[
+    CoversClass(CompositeValidator::class),
+    AppArea(Area::AREA_GRAPHQL),
+    DbIsolation(false),
+]
+class CompositeValidatorTest extends TestCase
+{
+    /**
+     * @var CompositeValidator
+     */
+    private CompositeValidator $compositeValidator;
+
+    /**
+     * @inheritDoc
+     */
+    protected function setUp(): void
+    {
+        $this->compositeValidator = Bootstrap::getObjectManager()->get(CompositeValidator::class);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Verify SearchCriteriaValidator in composite enforces pageSize when limiting is enabled.
+     */
+    #[
+        Config('graphql/validation/input_limit_enabled', 1, ScopeInterface::SCOPE_STORE, 'default'),
+        Config('graphql/validation/maximum_page_size', 5, ScopeInterface::SCOPE_STORE, 'default')
+    ]
+    public function testSearchCriteriaValidatorEnforcesPageSizeLimit(): void
+    {
+        $field = $this->createMock(Field::class);
+
+        $this->expectException(GraphQlInputException::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('Maximum pageSize is 5');
+        $this->compositeValidator->validate($field, ['pageSize' => 6]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Verify composite does not throw when pageSize is within the configured limit.
+     *
+     * @doesNotPerformAssertions
+     */
+    #[
+        Config('graphql/validation/input_limit_enabled', 1, ScopeInterface::SCOPE_STORE, 'default'),
+        Config('graphql/validation/maximum_page_size', 5, ScopeInterface::SCOPE_STORE, 'default')
+    ]
+    public function testCompositeAllowsPageSizeWithinLimit(): void
+    {
+        $field = $this->createMock(Field::class);
+
+        $this->compositeValidator->validate($field, ['pageSize' => 5]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Verify composite does not throw when input limiting is disabled.
+     *
+     * @doesNotPerformAssertions
+     */
+    #[
+        Config('graphql/validation/input_limit_enabled', 0, ScopeInterface::SCOPE_STORE, 'default'),
+        Config('graphql/validation/maximum_page_size', 5, ScopeInterface::SCOPE_STORE, 'default')
+    ]
+    public function testSearchCriteriaValidatorSkipsEnforcementWhenDisabled(): void
+    {
+        $field = $this->createMock(Field::class);
+
+        $this->compositeValidator->validate($field, ['pageSize' => 100]);
+    }
+}