diff --git a/NEWS.rst b/NEWS.rst
index 5601b8078..a15d75bd5 100644
--- a/NEWS.rst
+++ b/NEWS.rst
@@ -255,6 +255,8 @@ Modules 5.7.0 (not yet released)
   shell meta-characters. Completion candidates were passed to ``compgen -W``
   which evaluates command substitution syntax. (fix `CVE-2026-85013`_ found
   by AISLE in partnership with Red Hat)
+* Accept abbreviated upper bounds in version ranges such as ``@3.20:3`` to
+  select versions starting at ``3.20`` within major version ``3``.
 
 .. _CVE-2026-85013: https://github.com/envmodules/modules/security/advisories/GHSA-8hrw-p88g-qhmg
 
diff --git a/doc/source/design/advanced-module-version-specifiers.rst b/doc/source/design/advanced-module-version-specifiers.rst
index 7828fdcc1..7b14b5dd1 100644
--- a/doc/source/design/advanced-module-version-specifiers.rst
+++ b/doc/source/design/advanced-module-version-specifiers.rst
@@ -91,6 +91,14 @@ Specification
 
     - for instance *@1:1.10* will matches *1.0* and *1.8* but not *1.12*
 
+  - the upper bound may be less precise than the lower bound
+
+    - an abbreviated upper bound includes all versions that extend it,
+      provided they also satisfy the lower bound
+    - for instance *@1.2:1* matches *1.2* and *1.10* but not *1.1* or *2.0*
+    - a reversed range remains invalid unless the lower bound extends the
+      abbreviated upper bound, so *@2.0:1* is still rejected
+
 - version could be specified as list
 
   - soft@vers,vers,vers
diff --git a/doc/source/module.rst b/doc/source/module.rst
index b9ab6e5ed..e0f58d3e6 100644
--- a/doc/source/module.rst
+++ b/doc/source/module.rst
@@ -3235,6 +3235,9 @@ the activation of the extended default mechanism (see
 to refer to more precise version numbers like ``1.2.3``. Characters ``.`` and
 ``-`` are considered version number separator to determine abbreviated
 versions. Range of versions on its side natively handles abbreviated versions.
+The upper bound may be less precise than the lower bound. An abbreviated
+upper bound includes all versions that extend it, provided they also satisfy
+the lower bound.
 
 In order to be specified in a range of versions or compared to a range of
 versions, the version major element should corresponds to a number. For
diff --git a/doc/source/modulefile.rst b/doc/source/modulefile.rst
index 49194f469..cf34ef69d 100644
--- a/doc/source/modulefile.rst
+++ b/doc/source/modulefile.rst
@@ -2137,6 +2137,9 @@ notation like ``@1`` to refer to more precise version numbers like ``1.2.3``.
 Characters ``.`` and ``-`` are considered version number separator to
 determine abbreviated versions. Range of versions on its side natively handles
 abbreviated versions.
+The upper bound may be less precise than the lower bound. An abbreviated
+upper bound includes all versions that extend it, provided they also satisfy
+the lower bound.
 
 In order to be specified in a range of versions or compared to a range of
 versions, the version major element should corresponds to a number. For
diff --git a/tcl/modspec.tcl b/tcl/modspec.tcl
index 97bf7e488..a614a449c 100644
--- a/tcl/modspec.tcl
+++ b/tcl/modspec.tcl
@@ -1246,7 +1246,9 @@ proc parseModuleVersionSpecifier {modspec} {
          set cmpspec le
          set versspec $hivers
       # between or equal
-      } elseif {[versioncmp $lovers $hivers] == 1} {
+      # An abbreviated upper bound includes its more precise versions.
+      } elseif {[versioncmp $lovers $hivers] == 1 && ![string match\
+         $hivers[extendedDefaultCharGlobMatch] $lovers]} {
          set invalidversrange 1
       } else {
          set cmpspec be
diff --git a/testsuite/modules.70-maint/272-adv_version_spec-range.exp b/testsuite/modules.70-maint/272-adv_version_spec-range.exp
index 0e4ac79de..6af813afb 100644
--- a/testsuite/modules.70-maint/272-adv_version_spec-range.exp
+++ b/testsuite/modules.70-maint/272-adv_version_spec-range.exp
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ testouterr_cmd sh {load mod@1::} ERR "$err_specvers'1::'"
 testouterr_cmd sh {load mod@1,:,} ERR "$err_specvers'1,:,'"
 testouterr_cmd sh {load mod@,:} ERR "$err_specvers',:'"
 testouterr_cmd sh {load mod@1.3:1.2} ERR "$err_rangevers'1.3:1.2'"
+testouterr_cmd sh {load mod@4.1:3} ERR "$err_rangevers'4.1:3'"
+testouterr_cmd sh {load mod@1.30:1.3} ERR "$err_rangevers'1.30:1.3'"
 testouterr_cmd sh {load mod@,<} ERR "$err_specvers',<'"
 testouterr_cmd sh {load mod@:<} ERR "$err_rangevers':<'"
 testouterr_cmd sh {load mod@1/1:2} ERR "$err_specvers'1/1:2'"
@@ -113,6 +115,7 @@ testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl @1.2:} $ans {}
 testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl @:1.3.1} $ans {}
 testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl @:1.3.7} $ans {}
 testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl @1.2:1.3} $ans {}
+testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl @1.2:1} $ans {}
 testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl @1.2.3:1.3.7} $ans {}
 testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl @:2.0.1} $ans {}
 testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl @:2.0} $ans {}
@@ -162,6 +165,7 @@ testouterr_cmd sh {path extdfl/ @1.2:1.3} [list [list text $mp/extdfl/1.3.1]] {}
 
 # test all sub-cmd concerned by context
 testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t extdfl @1.3:1.4} OK "$mp:\nextdfl/1.3.1(default)\nextdfl/1.3.7\nextdfl/1.4.5"
+testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t extdfl @1.3.7:1} OK "$mp:\nextdfl/1.3.7\nextdfl/1.4.5"
 testouterr_cmd_re sh {whatis extdfl@1.3.7:1.4.5} OK "$modlin $mpre $modlin
 \\s+extdfl/1.3.7: extdfl/1.3.7
 \\s+extdfl/1.4.5: extdfl/1.4.5"
@@ -187,6 +191,18 @@ testouterr_cmd sh {spider -t ext?fl @1.3:} OK "$mp:\nextdfl/1.3.1(default)\nextd
 testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t e??.* @:1.4} OK "$mp:\ne.t.fl/1.3.1\ne.t.fl/1.3.7\ne.t.fl/1.4.5"
 
 # additional version tests
+# Abbreviated upper bounds apply independently of extended defaults.
+foreach extdfl {0 1} {
+    setenv_var MODULES_EXTENDED_DEFAULT $extdfl
+    set ans [list [list text $mp/extdfl/1.3.7] [list text $mp/extdfl/1.4.5]]
+    testouterr_cmd sh {paths extdfl@1.3.7:1} $ans {}
+    testouterr_cmd sh {paths -i EXTDFL@1.3.7:1} $ans {}
+    set ans [list [list text $mp/extdfl/1.3.7]]
+    testouterr_cmd sh {paths extdfl@1.3.7:1.3} $ans {}
+    testouterr_cmd sh {paths extdfl@1.3.7:1.3,9:10} $ans {}
+}
+unsetenv_var MODULES_EXTENDED_DEFAULT
+
 testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t extdfl8 @1.33:} OK "$mp:\nextdfl8/1.33"
 testouterr_cmd sh {avail -t extdfl8 @:1.3} OK "$mp:\nextdfl8/1.3.1\nextdfl8/1.3.7"
 testouterr_cmd sh {spider -t extdfl8 @:1.3} OK "$mp:\nextdfl8/1.3.1\nextdfl8/1.3.7"
@@ -297,6 +313,7 @@ set ans [list]
 lappend ans [list set _LMFILES_ $mp/extdfl2/3.1.7]
 lappend ans [list set LOADEDMODULES extdfl2/3.1.7]
 testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl2@3.0.2:3.1.7} $ans {}
+testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl2@3.1.7:3.1} $ans {}
 testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl2@:3.1.7} $ans {}
 testouterr_cmd sh {load extdfl2@:3.1.7} $ans {}
 testouterr_cmd sh "load $mp/extdfl2 @:3.1.7" ERR "$err_file'$mp/extdfl2 @:3.1.7'"