diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
index 6313b56c57..f964a06f30 100644
--- a/.gitattributes
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
 * text=auto eol=lf
+/*/**/Dockerfile            linguist-generated
+/*/**/docker-entrypoint.sh  linguist-generated
+/Dockerfile*.template        linguist-language=Dockerfile
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/18/bookworm-core/Dockerfile b/18/bookworm-core/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..734c0229d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/18/bookworm-core/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+FROM debian:bookworm-slim
+
+RUN groupadd --gid 1000 node \
+  && useradd --uid 1000 --gid node --shell /bin/bash --create-home node
+
+ENV NODE_VERSION 18.20.0
+
+COPY --from=node:18.20.0 /usr/local/bin/ /usr/local/bin/
+COPY --from=node:18.20.0 /usr/local/include/node/ /usr/local/include/node/
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["docker-entrypoint.sh"]
+
+CMD [ "node" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/18/bookworm-core/docker-entrypoint.sh b/18/bookworm-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..1b3116e53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/18/bookworm-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+# Run command with node if the first argument contains a "-" or is not a system command. The last
+# part inside the "{}" is a workaround for the following bug in ash/dash:
+# https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=874264
+if [ "${1#-}" != "${1}" ] || [ -z "$(command -v "${1}")" ] || { [ -f "${1}" ] && ! [ -x "${1}" ]; }; then
+  set -- node "$@"
+fi
+
+exec "$@"
diff --git a/18/bullseye-core/Dockerfile b/18/bullseye-core/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..94da4adb0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/18/bullseye-core/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+FROM debian:bullseye-slim
+
+RUN groupadd --gid 1000 node \
+  && useradd --uid 1000 --gid node --shell /bin/bash --create-home node
+
+ENV NODE_VERSION 18.20.0
+
+COPY --from=node:18.20.0 /usr/local/bin/ /usr/local/bin/
+COPY --from=node:18.20.0 /usr/local/include/node/ /usr/local/include/node/
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["docker-entrypoint.sh"]
+
+CMD [ "node" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/18/bullseye-core/docker-entrypoint.sh b/18/bullseye-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..1b3116e53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/18/bullseye-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+# Run command with node if the first argument contains a "-" or is not a system command. The last
+# part inside the "{}" is a workaround for the following bug in ash/dash:
+# https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=874264
+if [ "${1#-}" != "${1}" ] || [ -z "$(command -v "${1}")" ] || { [ -f "${1}" ] && ! [ -x "${1}" ]; }; then
+  set -- node "$@"
+fi
+
+exec "$@"
diff --git a/18/buster-core/Dockerfile b/18/buster-core/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7262803250
--- /dev/null
+++ b/18/buster-core/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+FROM debian:buster-slim
+
+RUN groupadd --gid 1000 node \
+  && useradd --uid 1000 --gid node --shell /bin/bash --create-home node
+
+ENV NODE_VERSION 18.20.0
+
+COPY --from=node:18.20.0 /usr/local/bin/ /usr/local/bin/
+COPY --from=node:18.20.0 /usr/local/include/node/ /usr/local/include/node/
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["docker-entrypoint.sh"]
+
+CMD [ "node" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/18/buster-core/docker-entrypoint.sh b/18/buster-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..1b3116e53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/18/buster-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+# Run command with node if the first argument contains a "-" or is not a system command. The last
+# part inside the "{}" is a workaround for the following bug in ash/dash:
+# https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=874264
+if [ "${1#-}" != "${1}" ] || [ -z "$(command -v "${1}")" ] || { [ -f "${1}" ] && ! [ -x "${1}" ]; }; then
+  set -- node "$@"
+fi
+
+exec "$@"
diff --git a/20/bookworm-core/Dockerfile b/20/bookworm-core/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0b81ae6fcb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20/bookworm-core/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+FROM debian:bookworm-slim
+
+RUN groupadd --gid 1000 node \
+  && useradd --uid 1000 --gid node --shell /bin/bash --create-home node
+
+ENV NODE_VERSION 20.12.0
+
+COPY --from=node:20.12.0 /usr/local/bin/ /usr/local/bin/
+COPY --from=node:20.12.0 /usr/local/include/node/ /usr/local/include/node/
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["docker-entrypoint.sh"]
+
+CMD [ "node" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/20/bookworm-core/docker-entrypoint.sh b/20/bookworm-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..1b3116e53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20/bookworm-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+# Run command with node if the first argument contains a "-" or is not a system command. The last
+# part inside the "{}" is a workaround for the following bug in ash/dash:
+# https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=874264
+if [ "${1#-}" != "${1}" ] || [ -z "$(command -v "${1}")" ] || { [ -f "${1}" ] && ! [ -x "${1}" ]; }; then
+  set -- node "$@"
+fi
+
+exec "$@"
diff --git a/20/bullseye-core/Dockerfile b/20/bullseye-core/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c7b1c9b9a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20/bullseye-core/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+FROM debian:bullseye-slim
+
+RUN groupadd --gid 1000 node \
+  && useradd --uid 1000 --gid node --shell /bin/bash --create-home node
+
+ENV NODE_VERSION 20.12.0
+
+COPY --from=node:20.12.0 /usr/local/bin/ /usr/local/bin/
+COPY --from=node:20.12.0 /usr/local/include/node/ /usr/local/include/node/
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["docker-entrypoint.sh"]
+
+CMD [ "node" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/20/bullseye-core/docker-entrypoint.sh b/20/bullseye-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..1b3116e53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20/bullseye-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+# Run command with node if the first argument contains a "-" or is not a system command. The last
+# part inside the "{}" is a workaround for the following bug in ash/dash:
+# https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=874264
+if [ "${1#-}" != "${1}" ] || [ -z "$(command -v "${1}")" ] || { [ -f "${1}" ] && ! [ -x "${1}" ]; }; then
+  set -- node "$@"
+fi
+
+exec "$@"
diff --git a/20/buster-core/Dockerfile b/20/buster-core/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..69a16a8015
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20/buster-core/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+FROM debian:buster-slim
+
+RUN groupadd --gid 1000 node \
+  && useradd --uid 1000 --gid node --shell /bin/bash --create-home node
+
+ENV NODE_VERSION 20.12.0
+
+COPY --from=node:20.12.0 /usr/local/bin/ /usr/local/bin/
+COPY --from=node:20.12.0 /usr/local/include/node/ /usr/local/include/node/
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["docker-entrypoint.sh"]
+
+CMD [ "node" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/20/buster-core/Dockerrfile b/20/buster-core/Dockerrfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/20/buster-core/docker-entrypoint.sh b/20/buster-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..1b3116e53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20/buster-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+# Run command with node if the first argument contains a "-" or is not a system command. The last
+# part inside the "{}" is a workaround for the following bug in ash/dash:
+# https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=874264
+if [ "${1#-}" != "${1}" ] || [ -z "$(command -v "${1}")" ] || { [ -f "${1}" ] && ! [ -x "${1}" ]; }; then
+  set -- node "$@"
+fi
+
+exec "$@"
diff --git a/21/bookworm-core/Dockerfile b/21/bookworm-core/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f3de94d3ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/21/bookworm-core/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+FROM debian:bookworm-slim
+
+RUN groupadd --gid 1000 node \
+  && useradd --uid 1000 --gid node --shell /bin/bash --create-home node
+
+ENV NODE_VERSION 21.7.1
+
+COPY --from=node:21.7.1 /usr/local/bin/ /usr/local/bin/
+COPY --from=node:21.7.1 /usr/local/include/node/ /usr/local/include/node/
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["docker-entrypoint.sh"]
+
+CMD [ "node" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/21/bookworm-core/docker-entrypoint.sh b/21/bookworm-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..1b3116e53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/21/bookworm-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+# Run command with node if the first argument contains a "-" or is not a system command. The last
+# part inside the "{}" is a workaround for the following bug in ash/dash:
+# https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=874264
+if [ "${1#-}" != "${1}" ] || [ -z "$(command -v "${1}")" ] || { [ -f "${1}" ] && ! [ -x "${1}" ]; }; then
+  set -- node "$@"
+fi
+
+exec "$@"
diff --git a/21/bullseye-core/Dockerfile b/21/bullseye-core/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c28b4bde6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/21/bullseye-core/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+FROM debian:bullseye-slim
+
+RUN groupadd --gid 1000 node \
+  && useradd --uid 1000 --gid node --shell /bin/bash --create-home node
+
+ENV NODE_VERSION 21.7.1
+
+COPY --from=node:21.7.1 /usr/local/bin/ /usr/local/bin/
+COPY --from=node:21.7.1 /usr/local/include/node/ /usr/local/include/node/
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["docker-entrypoint.sh"]
+
+CMD [ "node" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/21/bullseye-core/docker-entrypoint.sh b/21/bullseye-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..1b3116e53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/21/bullseye-core/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -e
+
+# Run command with node if the first argument contains a "-" or is not a system command. The last
+# part inside the "{}" is a workaround for the following bug in ash/dash:
+# https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=874264
+if [ "${1#-}" != "${1}" ] || [ -z "$(command -v "${1}")" ] || { [ -f "${1}" ] && ! [ -x "${1}" ]; }; then
+  set -- node "$@"
+fi
+
+exec "$@"
diff --git a/Dockerfile-debian-core.template b/Dockerfile-debian-core.template
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6d815e5217
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile-debian-core.template
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+FROM debian:name-slim
+
+RUN groupadd --gid 1000 node \
+  && useradd --uid 1000 --gid node --shell /bin/bash --create-home node
+
+ENV NODE_VERSION 0.0.0
+
+COPY --from=node:0.0.0 /usr/local/bin/ /usr/local/bin/
+COPY --from=node:0.0.0 /usr/local/include/node/ /usr/local/include/node/
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["docker-entrypoint.sh"]
+
+CMD [ "node" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b86c29ca71..be8891a624 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,30 +11,33 @@ The official Node.js docker image, made with love by the node community.
 <!-- DON'T EDIT THIS SECTION, INSTEAD RE-RUN doctoc TO UPDATE -->
 ## Table of Contents
 
-- [What is Node.js?](#what-is-nodejs)
-- [How to use this image](#how-to-use-this-image)
-  - [Create a `Dockerfile` in your Node.js app project](#create-a-dockerfile-in-your-nodejs-app-project)
-  - [Best Practices](#best-practices)
-  - [Run a single Node.js script](#run-a-single-nodejs-script)
-  - [Verbosity](#verbosity)
-    - [Dockerfile](#dockerfile)
-    - [Docker Run](#docker-run)
-    - [NPM run](#npm-run)
-- [Image Variants](#image-variants)
-  - [`node:<version>`](#nodeversion)
-  - [`node:alpine`](#nodealpine)
-  - [`node:buster`](#nodebuster)
-  - [`node:bullseye`](#nodebullseye)
-  - [`node:bookworm`](#nodebookworm)
-  - [`node:slim`](#nodeslim)
-- [License](#license)
-- [Supported Docker versions](#supported-docker-versions)
-- [Supported Node.js versions](#supported-nodejs-versions)
-- [Governance and Current Members](#governance-and-current-members)
-  - [Docker Working Group Members](#docker-working-group-members)
-  - [Docker Working Group Collaborators](#docker-working-group-collaborators)
-  - [Emeritus](#emeritus)
-    - [Docker Working Group Members](#docker-working-group-members-1)
+- [Node.js](#nodejs)
+  - [Table of Contents](#table-of-contents)
+  - [What is Node.js?](#what-is-nodejs)
+  - [How to use this image](#how-to-use-this-image)
+    - [Create a `Dockerfile` in your Node.js app project](#create-a-dockerfile-in-your-nodejs-app-project)
+    - [Best Practices](#best-practices)
+    - [Run a single Node.js script](#run-a-single-nodejs-script)
+    - [Verbosity](#verbosity)
+      - [Dockerfile](#dockerfile)
+      - [Docker Run](#docker-run)
+      - [NPM run](#npm-run)
+  - [Image Variants](#image-variants)
+    - [`node:<version>`](#nodeversion)
+    - [`node:alpine`](#nodealpine)
+    - [`node:buster`](#nodebuster)
+    - [`node:bullseye`](#nodebullseye)
+    - [`node:bookworm`](#nodebookworm)
+    - [`node:slim`](#nodeslim)
+    - [`node:core`](#nodecore)
+  - [License](#license)
+  - [Supported Docker versions](#supported-docker-versions)
+  - [Supported Node.js versions](#supported-nodejs-versions)
+  - [Governance and Current Members](#governance-and-current-members)
+    - [Docker Working Group Members](#docker-working-group-members)
+    - [Docker Working Group Collaborators](#docker-working-group-collaborators)
+    - [Emeritus](#emeritus)
+      - [Docker Working Group Members](#docker-working-group-members-1)
 
 <!-- END doctoc generated TOC please keep comment here to allow auto update -->
 
@@ -223,6 +226,8 @@ in an environment where *only* the Node.js image will be deployed and you have
 space constraints, we highly recommend using the default image of this
 repository.
 
+### `node:core`
+
 ## License
 
 [License information](https://github.com/nodejs/node/blob/master/LICENSE) for
diff --git a/architectures b/architectures
index 1ef81e6bb2..3bfdefa406 100644
--- a/architectures
+++ b/architectures
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 bashbrew-arch  variants
-amd64          alpine3.18,alpine3.19,bookworm,bookworm-slim,bullseye,bullseye-slim,buster,buster-slim
+amd64          alpine3.18,alpine3.19,bookworm,bookworm-slim,bookworm-core,bullseye,bullseye-slim,bullseye-core,buster,buster-slim,buster-core
 arm32v6        alpine3.18,alpine3.19
-arm32v7        alpine3.18,alpine3.19,bookworm,bookworm-slim,bullseye,bullseye-slim,buster,buster-slim
-arm64v8        alpine3.18,alpine3.19,bookworm,bookworm-slim,bullseye,bullseye-slim,buster,buster-slim
+arm32v7        alpine3.18,alpine3.19,bookworm,bookworm-slim,bookworm-core,bullseye,bullseye-slim,bullseye-core,buster,buster-slim,buster-core
+arm64v8        alpine3.18,alpine3.19,bookworm,bookworm-slim,bookworm-core,bullseye,bullseye-slim,bullseye-core,buster,buster-slim,buster-core
 i386           alpine3.18,alpine3.19
-ppc64le        alpine3.18,alpine3.19,bookworm,bookworm-slim,bullseye,bullseye-slim,buster,buster-slim
-s390x          alpine3.18,alpine3.19,bookworm,bookworm-slim,bullseye,bullseye-slim,buster,buster-slim
+ppc64le        alpine3.18,alpine3.19,bookworm,bookworm-slim,bookworm-core,bullseye,bullseye-slim,bullseye-core,buster,buster-slim,buster-core
+s390x          alpine3.18,alpine3.19,bookworm,bookworm-slim,bookworm-core,bullseye,bullseye-slim,bullseye-core,buster,buster-slim,buster-core
diff --git a/functions.sh b/functions.sh
index df1883f732..a50502e374 100755
--- a/functions.sh
+++ b/functions.sh
@@ -193,6 +193,20 @@ function is_debian_slim() {
   return 1
 }
 
+function is_debian_core() {
+  local variant
+  variant=$1
+  shift
+
+  IFS=' ' read -ra debianVersions <<< "$(get_config "./" "debian_versions")"
+  for d in "${debianVersions[@]}"; do
+    if [ "${d}-core" = "${variant}" ]; then
+      return 0
+    fi
+  done
+  return 1
+}
+
 function get_fork_name() {
   local version
   version=$1
diff --git a/update.sh b/update.sh
index 9a321c800c..5514ba7f6a 100755
--- a/update.sh
+++ b/update.sh
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ function update_node_version() {
 
     sed -Ei -e 's/^FROM (.*)/FROM '"$fromprefix"'\1/' "${dockerfile}-tmp"
     sed -Ei -e 's/^(ENV NODE_VERSION ).*/\1'"${nodeVersion}"'/' "${dockerfile}-tmp"
+    sed -Ei -e 's/^(COPY --from=node:)[^ ]*/\1'"${nodeVersion}"'/' "${dockerfile}-tmp"
 
     currentYarnVersion="$(grep "ENV YARN_VERSION" "${dockerfile}" | cut -d' ' -f3)"
     sed -Ei -e 's/^(ENV YARN_VERSION ).*/\1'"${currentYarnVersion}"'/' "${dockerfile}-tmp"
@@ -167,6 +168,8 @@ function update_node_version() {
       sed -Ei -e "s/(buildpack-deps:)name/\\1${variant}/" "${dockerfile}-tmp"
     elif is_debian_slim "${variant}"; then
       sed -Ei -e "s/(debian:)name-slim/\\1${variant}/" "${dockerfile}-tmp"
+    elif is_debian_core "${variant}"; then
+      sed -Ei -e "s/(debian:)name-slim/\\1${variant%"-core"}-slim/" "${dockerfile}-tmp"
     fi
 
     if diff -q "${dockerfile}-tmp" "${dockerfile}" > /dev/null; then
@@ -211,6 +214,7 @@ for version in "${versions[@]}"; do
   fi
 
   for variant in "${variants[@]}"; do
+
     # Skip non-docker directories
     [ -f "${version}/${variant}/Dockerfile" ] || continue
 
@@ -221,6 +225,8 @@ for version in "${versions[@]}"; do
       template_file="${parentpath}/Dockerfile-debian.template"
     elif is_debian_slim "${variant}"; then
       template_file="${parentpath}/Dockerfile-slim.template"
+    elif is_debian_core "${variant}"; then
+      template_file="${parentpath}/Dockerfile-debian-core.template"
     elif is_alpine "${variant}"; then
       template_file="${parentpath}/Dockerfile-alpine.template"
     fi
diff --git a/versions.json b/versions.json
index 15e45e5f37..97f9fd11b8 100644
--- a/versions.json
+++ b/versions.json
@@ -38,6 +38,13 @@
         "ppc64le",
         "s390x"
       ],
+      "bookworm-core": [
+        "amd64",
+        "arm32v7",
+        "arm64v8",
+        "ppc64le",
+        "s390x"
+      ],
       "bullseye": [
         "amd64",
         "arm32v7",
@@ -51,6 +58,13 @@
         "arm64v8",
         "ppc64le",
         "s390x"
+      ],
+      "bullseye-core": [
+        "amd64",
+        "arm32v7",
+        "arm64v8",
+        "ppc64le",
+        "s390x"
       ]
     }
   },
@@ -93,6 +107,13 @@
         "ppc64le",
         "s390x"
       ],
+      "bookworm-core": [
+        "amd64",
+        "arm32v7",
+        "arm64v8",
+        "ppc64le",
+        "s390x"
+      ],
       "bullseye": [
         "amd64",
         "arm32v7",
@@ -107,6 +128,13 @@
         "ppc64le",
         "s390x"
       ],
+      "bullseye-core": [
+        "amd64",
+        "arm32v7",
+        "arm64v8",
+        "ppc64le",
+        "s390x"
+      ],
       "buster": [
         "amd64",
         "arm32v7",
@@ -116,6 +144,11 @@
         "amd64",
         "arm32v7",
         "arm64v8"
+      ],
+      "buster-core": [
+        "amd64",
+        "arm32v7",
+        "arm64v8"
       ]
     }
   },
@@ -158,6 +191,13 @@
         "ppc64le",
         "s390x"
       ],
+      "bookworm-core": [
+        "amd64",
+        "arm32v7",
+        "arm64v8",
+        "ppc64le",
+        "s390x"
+      ],
       "bullseye": [
         "amd64",
         "arm32v7",
@@ -172,6 +212,13 @@
         "ppc64le",
         "s390x"
       ],
+      "bullseye-core": [
+        "amd64",
+        "arm32v7",
+        "arm64v8",
+        "ppc64le",
+        "s390x"
+      ],
       "buster": [
         "amd64",
         "arm32v7",
@@ -181,6 +228,11 @@
         "amd64",
         "arm32v7",
         "arm64v8"
+      ],
+      "buster-core": [
+        "amd64",
+        "arm32v7",
+        "arm64v8"
       ]
     }
   }