diff --git a/ymir/agents/triage_agent.py b/ymir/agents/triage_agent.py
index aede715b7..994e6aafa 100644
--- a/ymir/agents/triage_agent.py
+++ b/ymir/agents/triage_agent.py
@@ -593,13 +593,39 @@ async def check_cve_eligibility(state):
                 f"Issue {state.jira_issue} not eligible for triage: {state.cve_eligibility_result.reason}"
             )
             if state.cve_eligibility_result.error:
-                state.triage_result = OutputSchema(
-                    resolution=Resolution.ERROR,
-                    data=ErrorData(
-                        details=f"CVE eligibility check error: {state.cve_eligibility_result.error}",
-                        jira_issue=state.jira_issue,
-                    ),
-                )
+                # Distinguish human-correctable errors from transient/operational failures:
+                # - Missing Fix Versions field → CLARIFICATION_NEEDED (non-retriable,
+                #   maps to ymir_needs_attention)
+                # - Clone/dependency check failures → ERROR (retriable,
+                #   maps to ymir_triage_errored)
+                error_msg = state.cve_eligibility_result.error
+                is_missing_fix_version = "Fix Versions field is empty" in error_msg
+
+                if is_missing_fix_version:
+                    # Non-retriable: requires human intervention (e.g., setting Fix Versions field)
+                    # Use CLARIFICATION_NEEDED to skip retry loop and post comment only once
+                    # Maps to ymir_needs_attention label (issue data incomplete, needs human attention)
+                    state.triage_result = OutputSchema(
+                        resolution=Resolution.CLARIFICATION_NEEDED,
+                        data=ClarificationNeededData(
+                            findings=f"CVE eligibility check error: {error_msg}",
+                            additional_info_needed=(
+                                "Please fix the issue and retry manually (e.g., via ymir_todo label)."
+                            ),
+                            jira_issue=state.jira_issue,
+                        ),
+                    )
+                else:
+                    # Retriable: operational/transient errors (network, API failures, etc.)
+                    # Use ERROR resolution to trigger retry logic
+                    # Maps to ymir_triage_errored label after max retries exhausted
+                    state.triage_result = OutputSchema(
+                        resolution=Resolution.ERROR,
+                        data=ErrorData(
+                            details=f"CVE eligibility check error: {error_msg}",
+                            jira_issue=state.jira_issue,
+                        ),
+                    )
             elif dup_key:
                 state.triage_result = OutputSchema(
                     resolution=Resolution.OPEN_ENDED_ANALYSIS,
diff --git a/ymir/tools/privileged/jira.py b/ymir/tools/privileged/jira.py
index 716a76366..ebe01a29d 100644
--- a/ymir/tools/privileged/jira.py
+++ b/ymir/tools/privileged/jira.py
@@ -808,8 +808,8 @@ async def _run(
                 CVEEligibilityResult(
                     is_cve=True,
                     eligibility=TriageEligibility.NEVER,
-                    reason="CVE has no target release specified",
-                    error="CVE has no target release specified",
+                    reason="CVE has no target release specified (Fix Versions field is empty)",
+                    error="CVE has no target release specified (Fix Versions field is empty)",
                 ).model_dump()
             )
 
diff --git a/ymir/tools/privileged/tests/unit/test_jira.py b/ymir/tools/privileged/tests/unit/test_jira.py
index 1b7167e45..3264cde61 100644
--- a/ymir/tools/privileged/tests/unit/test_jira.py
+++ b/ymir/tools/privileged/tests/unit/test_jira.py
@@ -1105,6 +1105,9 @@ async def test_eligibility_no_fix_version():
     result = (await CheckCveTriageEligibilityTool().run(input={"issue_key": "RHEL-12345"})).result
     assert result["eligibility"] == TriageEligibility.NEVER
     assert result["error"] is not None
+    # Verify the clarified error message that specifies which Jira field is missing
+    assert "Fix Versions field is empty" in result["error"]
+    assert "Fix Versions field is empty" in result["reason"]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio