forgejo/modules/setting
mfenniak 99dd35d3e4 feat: ensure only expected ssh public keys are in authorized_keys file (#10010)
A security vulnerability that was fixed in #9840 had the potential to corrupt the `authorized_keys` file that Forgejo is managing to allow ssh access.  In the event that it was corrupted, the existing behaviour of Forgejo is to maintain the contents that it finds in the `authorized_keys` file, potentially making an exploit of a Forgejo server persistent despite attempts to rewrite the key file.

This feature adds a new layer of security resiliency in order to prevent persistent ssh key corruption.  When Forgejo starts up, if relevant, Forgejo will read the `authorized_keys` file and validate the file's contents.  If any keys are found in the file that are not expected, then Forgejo will terminate its startup in order to signal to the server administrator that a critical security risk is present that must be addressed:

```
2025/11/07 10:13:50 modules/ssh/init.go:86:Init() [F] An unexpected ssh public key was discovered. Forgejo will shutdown to require this to be fixed. Fix by either:
Option 1: Delete the file /home/forgejo/.ssh/authorized_keys, and Forgejo will recreate it with only expected ssh public keys.
Option 2: Permit unexpected keys by setting [server].SSH_ALLOW_UNEXPECTED_AUTHORIZED_KEYS=true in Forgejo's config file.
        Unexpected key on line 1 of /home/forgejo/.ssh/authorized_keys
        Unexpected key on line 2 of /home/forgejo/.ssh/authorized_keys
        Unexpected key on line 3 of /home/forgejo/.ssh/authorized_keys
        Unexpected key on line 4 of /home/forgejo/.ssh/authorized_keys
        Unexpected key on line 5 of /home/forgejo/.ssh/authorized_keys
```

As noted in the log message, the server administrator can address this problem in one of two ways:
- If they delete the file that contains the unexpected keys, Forgejo will regenerate it containing only the expected keys from the Forgejo database.
- If they would like to run their server with ssh keys that are not managed by Forgejo (for example, if they're reusing a `git` ssh user that is accessed through `git@server` and does not invoke Forgejo's ssh handlers), then they can disable the new security check by setting `[server].SSH_ALLOW_UNEXPECTED_AUTHORIZED_KEYS = true` in their `app.ini`.

**This is a breaking change**: the default behaviour is to be restrictive in the contents of `authorized_keys` in order to ensure that server administrators with unexpected keys in `authorized_keys` are aware of those keys.

If `SSH_ALLOW_UNEXPECTED_AUTHORIZED_KEYS=false`, then the behaviour when Forgejo rewrites the `authorized_keys` file is changed to not maintain any unexpected keys in the file.  If the value is `true`, then the old behaviour is retained.

The `doctor check` subcommand is updated to use the new validity routines:
```
[4] Check if OpenSSH authorized_keys file is up-to-date
 - [E] Unexpected key on line 1 of /home/forgejo/.ssh/authorized_keys
 - [E] Key in database is not present in /home/forgejo/.ssh/authorized_keys: ...
 - [E] authorized_keys file "/home/forgejo/.ssh/authorized_keys" contains validity errors.
Regenerate it with:
        "forgejo admin regenerate keys"
or
        "forgejo doctor check --run authorized-keys --fix"
ERROR
```

## Checklist

The [contributor guide](https://forgejo.org/docs/next/contributor/) contains information that will be helpful to first time contributors. There also are a few [conditions for merging Pull Requests in Forgejo repositories](https://codeberg.org/forgejo/governance/src/branch/main/PullRequestsAgreement.md). You are also welcome to join the [Forgejo development chatroom](https://matrix.to/#/#forgejo-development:matrix.org).

### Tests

- I added test coverage for Go changes...
  - [x] in their respective `*_test.go` for unit tests.
  - [ ] in the `tests/integration` directory if it involves interactions with a live Forgejo server.
- I added test coverage for JavaScript changes...
  - [ ] in `web_src/js/*.test.js` if it can be unit tested.
  - [ ] in `tests/e2e/*.test.e2e.js` if it requires interactions with a live Forgejo server (see also the [developer guide for JavaScript testing](https://codeberg.org/forgejo/forgejo/src/branch/forgejo/tests/e2e/README.md#end-to-end-tests)).

### Documentation

- [x] I created a pull request [to the documentation](https://codeberg.org/forgejo/docs) to explain to Forgejo users how to use this change.
    - **Documentation updates required**; pending initial reviews of this change.
- [ ] I did not document these changes and I do not expect someone else to do it.

### Release notes

- [ ] I do not want this change to show in the release notes.
- [ ] I want the title to show in the release notes with a link to this pull request.
- [x] I want the content of the `release-notes/<pull request number>.md` to be be used for the release notes instead of the title.

Reviewed-on: https://codeberg.org/forgejo/forgejo/pulls/10010
Reviewed-by: Earl Warren <earl-warren@noreply.codeberg.org>
Reviewed-by: Gusted <gusted@noreply.codeberg.org>
Co-authored-by: mfenniak <mfenniak@noreply.codeberg.org>
Co-committed-by: mfenniak <mfenniak@noreply.codeberg.org>
2025-11-09 01:06:04 +01:00
..
config chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
actions.go feat: implement "concurrency" block in Forgejo Actions at the workflow level (#9434) 2025-10-03 18:43:02 +02:00
actions_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
admin.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
admin_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
api.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
asset_dynamic.go Use a general approach to access custom/static/builtin assets (#24022) 2023-04-12 18:16:45 +08:00
asset_static.go Use a general approach to access custom/static/builtin assets (#24022) 2023-04-12 18:16:45 +08:00
attachment.go feat: Make AVIF Images work with Forgejo 2024-11-13 19:09:40 +01:00
attachment_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
badges.go [GITEA] Add support for shields.io-based badges 2024-02-05 16:09:42 +01:00
cache.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
camo.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
config.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
config_env.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
config_env_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
config_provider.go fix: [quota.default].TOTAL config setting supports unit suffixes (#9252) 2025-09-12 00:44:09 +02:00
config_provider_test.go fix: [quota.default].TOTAL config setting supports unit suffixes (#9252) 2025-09-12 00:44:09 +02:00
cors.go Fix settings not being loaded at CLI (#26402) 2025-01-05 12:13:48 +00:00
cron.go Replace interface{} with any (#25686) 2023-07-04 18:36:08 +00:00
cron_test.go fix: LFS GC is never running because of a bug in the parsing of the INI file (#9202) 2025-09-09 22:32:49 +02:00
database.go fix: add missing loadbalancing policies for EngineGroup connections (#7799) 2025-05-14 01:17:57 +00:00
database_sqlite.go Implement FSFE REUSE for golang files (#21840) 2022-11-27 18:20:29 +00:00
database_test.go feat: use XORM EngineGroup instead of single Engine connection (#7212) 2025-03-30 11:34:02 +00:00
disposable_email_domain_data.go feat: add setting to block disposable emails 2024-11-20 23:17:37 -06:00
f3.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
federation.go feat(activitiypub): enable HTTP signatures on all ActivityPub endpoints (#7035) 2025-04-03 15:24:15 +00:00
forgejo_storage_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
git.go chore: remove two Git settings (#9815) 2025-10-23 00:38:47 +02:00
git_test.go chore: QoL improvements to tests (#7917) 2025-05-21 15:45:56 +02:00
highlight.go Refactor the setting to make unit test easier (#22405) 2023-02-20 00:12:01 +08:00
i18n.go fix(UI): i18n: improve naming (#7539) 2025-04-15 05:48:19 +00:00
incoming_email.go feat: add _URI entries for mail config (#8116) 2025-07-09 23:15:26 +02:00
incoming_email_test.go feat: add _URI entries for mail config (#8116) 2025-07-09 23:15:26 +02:00
indexer.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
indexer_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/v2/cmd/golangci-lint to v2.5.0 (forgejo) (#9563) 2025-10-08 13:15:33 +02:00
lfs.go chore(sec): unify usage of crypto/rand.Read (#7453) 2025-04-04 03:31:37 +00:00
lfs_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
log.go feat(log): better parseable and configurable ssh-logs (#9056) 2025-09-11 18:59:24 +02:00
log_test.go feat(log): better parseable and configurable ssh-logs (#9056) 2025-09-11 18:59:24 +02:00
mailer.go feat: add _URI entries for mail config (#8116) 2025-07-09 23:15:26 +02:00
mailer_test.go feat: add _URI entries for mail config (#8116) 2025-07-09 23:15:26 +02:00
markup.go Set MERMAID_MAX_SOURCE_CHARACTERS to 50000 (#34152) 2025-04-14 15:47:37 +02:00
metrics.go Refactor the setting to make unit test easier (#22405) 2023-02-20 00:12:01 +08:00
migrations.go Refactor the setting to make unit test easier (#22405) 2023-02-20 00:12:01 +08:00
mime_type_map.go Refactor the setting to make unit test easier (#22405) 2023-02-20 00:12:01 +08:00
mirror.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
moderation.go feat: add configurable timeout for automatically removing resolved reports (#7940) 2025-07-28 14:52:13 +02:00
oauth2.go chore(sec): unify usage of crypto/rand.Read (#7453) 2025-04-04 03:31:37 +00:00
oauth2_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
other.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
packages.go fix: [quota.default].TOTAL config setting supports unit suffixes (#9252) 2025-09-12 00:44:09 +02:00
packages_test.go fix: [quota.default].TOTAL config setting supports unit suffixes (#9252) 2025-09-12 00:44:09 +02:00
path.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
path_test.go [BRANDING] alias {FORGEJO,GITEA}_{CUSTOM,WORK_DIR} 2024-02-05 16:05:01 +01:00
picture.go Fix all possible setting error related storages and added some tests (#23911) 2023-06-14 11:42:38 +08:00
project.go Refactor the setting to make unit test easier (#22405) 2023-02-20 00:12:01 +08:00
proxy.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
queue.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
quota.go fix: [quota.default].TOTAL config setting supports unit suffixes (#9252) 2025-09-12 00:44:09 +02:00
quota_test.go fix: [quota.default].TOTAL config setting supports unit suffixes (#9252) 2025-09-12 00:44:09 +02:00
repository.go feat: configurable default units for mirrors (#7902) 2025-06-03 08:12:29 +02:00
repository_archive.go Fix all possible setting error related storages and added some tests (#23911) 2023-06-14 11:42:38 +08:00
repository_archive_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
repository_test.go feat(sec): Add SSH signing support for instances (#6897) 2025-04-11 13:25:35 +00:00
security.go feat: replace cross origin protection (#9830) 2025-10-29 22:43:22 +01:00
server.go fix: use correct ACME default (#8550) 2025-07-17 20:40:09 +02:00
server_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
service.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
service_test.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
session.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
setting.go feat: add configurable timeout for automatically removing resolved reports (#7940) 2025-07-28 14:52:13 +02:00
setting_test.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
ssh.go feat: ensure only expected ssh public keys are in authorized_keys file (#10010) 2025-11-09 01:06:04 +01:00
storage.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
storage_test.go Update module github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint to v2 (forgejo) (#7367) 2025-03-28 22:22:21 +00:00
task.go handle deprecated settings (#22992) 2023-02-20 16:18:26 -06:00
time.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00
ui.go chore: remove not working PREFERRED_TIMESTAMP_TENSE setting (#9490) 2025-10-01 15:16:01 +02:00
webhook.go chore: branding import path (#7337) 2025-03-27 19:40:14 +00:00