diff --git a/.pipelines/cni/cilium/cilium-overlay-load-test-template.yaml b/.pipelines/cni/cilium/cilium-overlay-load-test-template.yaml
index 2ee3759f2e..880e5ce522 100644
--- a/.pipelines/cni/cilium/cilium-overlay-load-test-template.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/cni/cilium/cilium-overlay-load-test-template.yaml
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ stages:
                   fi
 
                   echo "install Cilium ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG}"
-                  export DIR=${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG%.*}
+                  export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
                   echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
 
                   echo "deploy Cilium ConfigMap"
diff --git a/.pipelines/cni/cilium/cilium-scale-test.yaml b/.pipelines/cni/cilium/cilium-scale-test.yaml
index c3b0ac2dc7..c0d0d16cf3 100644
--- a/.pipelines/cni/cilium/cilium-scale-test.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/cni/cilium/cilium-scale-test.yaml
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ stages:
                 pwd
 
                 echo "install Cilium ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG}"
-                export DIR=${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG%.*}
+                export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
                 echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
 
                 echo "deploy Cilium ConfigMap"
diff --git a/.pipelines/cni/lsg/lsg-cni-intergration-template.yaml b/.pipelines/cni/lsg/lsg-cni-intergration-template.yaml
index 73a399b8cb..23dd7b059d 100644
--- a/.pipelines/cni/lsg/lsg-cni-intergration-template.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/cni/lsg/lsg-cni-intergration-template.yaml
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ stages:
                   kubectl get po -owide -A
 
                   echo "install Cilium ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG}"
-                  export DIR=${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG%.*}
+                  export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
                   echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
 
                   echo "deploy Cilium ConfigMap"
diff --git a/.pipelines/networkobservability/pipeline.yaml b/.pipelines/networkobservability/pipeline.yaml
index c42b989210..7df373fbf9 100644
--- a/.pipelines/networkobservability/pipeline.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/networkobservability/pipeline.yaml
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ stages:
             scriptType: "bash"
             addSpnToEnvironment: true
             inlineScript: |
-              export DIR=${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG%.*}
+              export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
               echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
               kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-config/cilium-config-hubble.yaml
               kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-agent/files
diff --git a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-dualstack-overlay/cilium-dualstackoverlay-e2e-step-template.yaml b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-dualstack-overlay/cilium-dualstackoverlay-e2e-step-template.yaml
index 2475d7f281..879850a586 100644
--- a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-dualstack-overlay/cilium-dualstackoverlay-e2e-step-template.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-dualstack-overlay/cilium-dualstackoverlay-e2e-step-template.yaml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ steps:
         kubectl cluster-info
         kubectl get po -owide -A
         echo "install Cilium ${CILIUM_DUALSTACK_VERSION}"
-        export DIR=${CILIUM_DUALSTACK_VERSION%.*}
+        export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_DUALSTACK_VERSION#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
         echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
         echo "deploy Cilium ConfigMap"
         kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-config/cilium-config-dualstack.yaml
diff --git a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-dualstack-overlay/cilium-dualstackoverlay-e2e.steps.yaml b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-dualstack-overlay/cilium-dualstackoverlay-e2e.steps.yaml
index b7e6bdf0bf..dea896aeb3 100644
--- a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-dualstack-overlay/cilium-dualstackoverlay-e2e.steps.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-dualstack-overlay/cilium-dualstackoverlay-e2e.steps.yaml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ steps:
         kubectl cluster-info
         kubectl get po -owide -A
         echo "install Cilium ${CILIUM_DUALSTACK_VERSION}"
-        export DIR=${CILIUM_DUALSTACK_VERSION%.*}
+        export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_DUALSTACK_VERSION#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
         echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
         echo "deploy Cilium ConfigMap"
         kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-config/cilium-config-dualstack.yaml
diff --git a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay-withhubble/cilium-overlay-e2e-step-template.yaml b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay-withhubble/cilium-overlay-e2e-step-template.yaml
index 38dc6eb17d..ec8530183c 100644
--- a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay-withhubble/cilium-overlay-e2e-step-template.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay-withhubble/cilium-overlay-e2e-step-template.yaml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ steps:
         make -C ./hack/aks set-kubeconf AZCLI=az CLUSTER=${{ parameters.clusterName }}
         ls -lah
         export CILIUM_VERSION_TAG=${CILIUM_HUBBLE_VERSION_TAG}
-        export DIR=${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG%.*}
+        export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
         echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
         kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-config/cilium-config-hubble.yaml
         kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-agent/files
diff --git a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay-withhubble/cilium-overlay-e2e.steps.yaml b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay-withhubble/cilium-overlay-e2e.steps.yaml
index 80e92aff96..8634bff50b 100644
--- a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay-withhubble/cilium-overlay-e2e.steps.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay-withhubble/cilium-overlay-e2e.steps.yaml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ steps:
         make -C ./hack/aks set-kubeconf AZCLI=az CLUSTER=${{ parameters.clusterName }}
         ls -lah
         export CILIUM_VERSION_TAG=${CILIUM_HUBBLE_VERSION_TAG}
-        export DIR=${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG%.*}
+        export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
         echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
         kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-config/cilium-config-hubble.yaml
         kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-agent/files
diff --git a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay/cilium-overlay-e2e-step-template.yaml b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay/cilium-overlay-e2e-step-template.yaml
index c5c4c97021..a045b67f7e 100644
--- a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay/cilium-overlay-e2e-step-template.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay/cilium-overlay-e2e-step-template.yaml
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ steps:
           kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/cilium${FILE_PATH}-operator
         else
           echo "install Cilium ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG}"
-          export DIR=${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG%.*}
+          export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
           echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
           echo "deploy Cilium ConfigMap"
           kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-config/cilium-config.yaml
diff --git a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay/cilium-overlay-e2e.steps.yaml b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay/cilium-overlay-e2e.steps.yaml
index 201c35b2bc..5fad1a3320 100644
--- a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay/cilium-overlay-e2e.steps.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium-overlay/cilium-overlay-e2e.steps.yaml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ steps:
           kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/cilium${FILE_PATH}-operator
         else
           echo "install Cilium ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG}"
-          export DIR=${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG%.*}
+          export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
           echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
           echo "deploy Cilium ConfigMap"
           kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-config/cilium-config.yaml
diff --git a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium/cilium-e2e-step-template.yaml b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium/cilium-e2e-step-template.yaml
index e6fae342e9..53e7544a60 100644
--- a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium/cilium-e2e-step-template.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium/cilium-e2e-step-template.yaml
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ steps:
         kubectl cluster-info
         kubectl get po -owide -A
         echo "install Cilium ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG}"
-        export DIR=${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG%.*}
+        export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
         echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
         echo "deploy Cilium ConfigMap"
         kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-config/cilium-config.yaml
diff --git a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium/cilium-e2e.steps.yaml b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium/cilium-e2e.steps.yaml
index e0a98461e4..9f8650efd5 100644
--- a/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium/cilium-e2e.steps.yaml
+++ b/.pipelines/singletenancy/cilium/cilium-e2e.steps.yaml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ steps:
         kubectl cluster-info
         kubectl get po -owide -A
         echo "install Cilium ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG}"
-        export DIR=${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG%.*}
+        export DIR=$(echo ${CILIUM_VERSION_TAG#v} | cut -d. -f1,2)
         echo "installing files from ${DIR}"
         echo "deploy Cilium ConfigMap"
         kubectl apply -f test/integration/manifests/cilium/v${DIR}/cilium-config/cilium-config.yaml