diff --git a/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/mutations/extreme.rs b/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/mutations/extreme.rs
index 7e72845..5819ea1 100644
--- a/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/mutations/extreme.rs
+++ b/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/mutations/extreme.rs
@@ -116,6 +116,112 @@ impl Mutation for EmptyEverything {
     }
 }
 
+/// Empty layers with null diff_ids
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct EmptyLayersNullDiffIds;
+
+impl Mutation for EmptyLayersNullDiffIds {
+    fn name(&self) -> &'static str {
+        "empty-layers-null-diffids"
+    }
+    fn category(&self) -> MutationCategory {
+        MutationCategory::Extreme
+    }
+
+    fn apply(&self, mut image: Image, _rng: &mut StdRng) -> Result<Image> {
+        // Clear all layers from manifest
+        image.layers.clear();
+
+        // Set diff_ids to None (serializes as null or omitted)
+        if let Some(ref mut config) = image.config {
+            config.rootfs.diff_ids = None;
+        }
+
+        Ok(image)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Null diff_ids with layers intact
+///
+/// Sets diff_ids to null while keeping the actual layers.
+/// This creates a mismatch where layers exist but config claims none.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct NullDiffIdsOnly;
+
+impl Mutation for NullDiffIdsOnly {
+    fn name(&self) -> &'static str {
+        "null-diffids-only"
+    }
+    fn category(&self) -> MutationCategory {
+        MutationCategory::Extreme
+    }
+
+    fn apply(&self, mut image: Image, _rng: &mut StdRng) -> Result<Image> {
+        // Keep layers but null out diff_ids
+        if let Some(ref mut config) = image.config {
+            config.rootfs.diff_ids = None;
+        }
+        Ok(image)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Empty diff_ids array with layers intact
+///
+/// Sets diff_ids to an empty array while keeping actual layers.
+/// This creates a count mismatch (N layers, 0 diff_ids).
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct EmptyDiffIds;
+
+impl Mutation for EmptyDiffIds {
+    fn name(&self) -> &'static str {
+        "empty-diffids"
+    }
+    fn category(&self) -> MutationCategory {
+        MutationCategory::Extreme
+    }
+
+    fn apply(&self, mut image: Image, _rng: &mut StdRng) -> Result<Image> {
+        if let Some(ref mut config) = image.config {
+            config.rootfs.diff_ids = Some(vec![]);
+        }
+        Ok(image)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Mismatched diff_ids count
+///
+/// Adds extra fake diff_ids or removes some, creating a count mismatch
+/// between manifest layers and config diff_ids.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct MismatchedDiffIdsCount;
+
+impl Mutation for MismatchedDiffIdsCount {
+    fn name(&self) -> &'static str {
+        "mismatched-diffids-count"
+    }
+    fn category(&self) -> MutationCategory {
+        MutationCategory::Extreme
+    }
+
+    fn apply(&self, mut image: Image, rng: &mut StdRng) -> Result<Image> {
+        if let Some(ref mut config) = image.config {
+            if let Some(ref mut diff_ids) = config.rootfs.diff_ids {
+                // Randomly add extra or remove entries
+                if rng.gen_bool(0.5) && !diff_ids.is_empty() {
+                    // Remove half of the diff_ids
+                    diff_ids.truncate(diff_ids.len() / 2);
+                } else {
+                    // Add fake diff_ids
+                    for _ in 0..rng.gen_range(1..5) {
+                        diff_ids.push(format!("sha256:{:064x}", rng.gen::<u128>()));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(image)
+    }
+}
+
 /// Create extremely long strings
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct HugeStrings;
diff --git a/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/mutations/mod.rs b/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/mutations/mod.rs
index bc45d86..085d4dc 100644
--- a/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/mutations/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/mutations/mod.rs
@@ -170,6 +170,10 @@ impl MutationSet {
             Box::new(DeepPathNesting),
             Box::new(ExtremeValues),
             Box::new(EmptyEverything),
+            Box::new(EmptyLayersNullDiffIds),
+            Box::new(NullDiffIdsOnly),
+            Box::new(EmptyDiffIds),
+            Box::new(MismatchedDiffIdsCount),
         ];
         self.pick_random(all, rng)
     }
diff --git a/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/oci.rs b/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/oci.rs
index b0499e1..5f734b2 100644
--- a/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/oci.rs
+++ b/crates/confuzzled_lib/src/oci.rs
@@ -344,10 +344,10 @@ impl ImageConfig {
             rootfs: RootFs {
                 // Empty tar has this digest (uncompressed)
                 // The hash below is for empty content
-                diff_ids: vec![
+                diff_ids: Some(vec![
                     "sha256:e3b0c44298fc1c149afbf4c8996fb92427ae41e4649b934ca495991b7852b855"
                         .to_string(),
-                ],
+                ]),
                 rootfs_type: "layers".to_string(),
             },
             history: None,
@@ -389,7 +389,10 @@ pub struct RootFs {
     #[serde(rename = "type")]
     pub rootfs_type: String,
 
-    pub diff_ids: Vec<String>,
+    /// Layer diff IDs. When None, serializes as null which can trigger
+    /// edge cases in container runtimes that expect this field.
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub diff_ids: Option<Vec<String>>,
 }
 
 /// Image history entry