DollhouseMCP

# Docker CI Multi-Agent Investigation Coordination **PR**: #611 - Fix server initialization race condition **Issue**: Docker tests failing with "permission denied" errors **Started**: August 17, 2025, 11:00 AM EST **Orchestrator**: Opus ## 🎯 Mission Statement Fix Docker CI test failures by resolving permission issues with tmpfs mounts in read-only containers. ## 📊 Agent Status | Agent | Status | Started | Completed | Key Finding | |-------|--------|---------|-----------|-------------| | Alpha (Local Reproducer) | ✅ Completed | 13:17 EST | 13:18 EST | **ROOT CAUSE FOUND**: tmpfs mount creates `/app/tmp` owned by root:root, user 1001 cannot write | | Beta (Permission Analyzer) | ✅ Completed | 13:20 EST | 13:25 EST | **SOLUTION IDENTIFIED**: Use `mode=1777` on tmpfs mounts (uid/gid options not implemented in Docker) | | Gamma (Fix Implementer) | ✅ Completed | 13:24 EST | 13:25 EST | **PRIMARY FIX IMPLEMENTED**: Added `mode=1777` to tmpfs mounts, Docker tests pass locally | | Delta (CI Monitor) | ⏸️ Waiting | | | | ## 🔍 Critical Findings ### From Previous Investigation (Context) 1. **Race condition fixed**: Server initialization moved to run() method ✅ 2. **Portfolio directory set**: Using `/app/tmp/portfolio` environment variable ✅ 3. **Cache directory set**: Using `/app/tmp/cache` environment variable ✅ 4. **Current blocker**: EACCES permission denied when creating these directories ❌ ### From Agent-Alpha (Local Reproduction) **Status**: ✅ COMPLETED **Started**: 13:17 EST | **Completed**: 13:18 EST #### ✅ Successfully Reproduced CI Failure Both `docker run` and `docker-compose` show identical permission errors: ``` [2025-08-17T13:17:24.096Z] [WARN] [PortfolioManager] Cannot create portfolio directory (read-only environment?): EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/tmp/portfolio' [2025-08-17T13:17:24.097Z] [ERROR] Failed to create cache directory: Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/tmp/cache' [2025-08-17T13:17:24.097Z] [ERROR] Failed to save collection cache: Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/tmp/cache' ``` #### 🔍 ROOT CAUSE IDENTIFIED **Problem**: tmpfs mount ownership conflict 1. **Dockerfile creates**: `/app/tmp` owned by `dollhouse:nodejs` (1001:1001) with permissions `drwx------` 2. **tmpfs mount replaces it**: New `/app/tmp` owned by `root:root` (0:0) with permissions `drwx------` 3. **User 1001 cannot write**: Permission denied when trying to create subdirectories #### 📊 Debug Results ```bash # Without tmpfs (Dockerfile permissions): drwx------ 2 dollhouse nodejs 4096 Aug 16 22:46 tmp touch: cannot touch '/app/tmp/test': Read-only file system # Expected # With tmpfs (root-owned filesystem): drwx------ 2 root root 40 Aug 17 13:17 tmp touch: cannot touch '/app/tmp/test': Permission denied # The problem! ``` #### ✅ Behavior Confirmed - **Docker run**: Reproduces exact CI failure ✅ - **Docker Compose**: Reproduces exact CI failure ✅ - **Server response**: Returns successful JSON-RPC response despite errors ✅ - **Error logging**: Matches CI logs perfectly ✅ ### From Agent-Beta (Permission Analysis) **Status**: ✅ COMPLETED **Started**: 13:20 EST | **Completed**: 13:25 EST #### 🔍 Permission Structure Analysis **Current Docker Configuration**: 1. **User Setup**: `dollhouse:nodejs` (1001:1001) created correctly in Dockerfile 2. **Directory Creation**: `/app/tmp` created with `chown dollhouse:nodejs` and `chmod 700` 3. **Security Hardening**: Running with `--user 1001:1001`, `--read-only`, `--security-opt no-new-privileges` 4. **tmpfs Mounts**: Using basic tmpfs without ownership options #### 🚨 Root Cause Confirmed **tmpfs Mount Ownership Conflict**: Docker tmpfs mounts ALWAYS create directories as `root:root` regardless of user context. The uid/gid options for tmpfs are **NOT IMPLEMENTED** in Docker as of 2025. **Current State**: ```bash # Dockerfile creates: drwx------ dollhouse nodejs /app/tmp # tmpfs replaces with: drwx------ root root /app/tmp # Result: User 1001 cannot write → EACCES permission denied ``` #### 📊 Research Findings **tmpfs uid/gid Support Status**: - ❌ **NOT IMPLEMENTED**: `--tmpfs /path:uid=1001,gid=1001` syntax exists but is ignored - ❌ **6-Year TODO**: Docker has had this as a TODO item since 2017 - ❌ **Compose Limitation**: Docker Compose also cannot set tmpfs ownership - ✅ **Mode Support**: tmpfs mode permissions (e.g., `mode=1777`) ARE supported **Key Research Sources**: - GitHub Issue #278 (compose-spec): uid/gid support requested but not implemented - Docker Forums: Multiple reports confirming uid/gid options are ignored - Stack Overflow: Consistent workarounds all avoid uid/gid, use mode instead #### 💡 Solution Analysis **Primary Solution (RECOMMENDED)**: **Permissive Mode with Sticky Bit** ```yaml tmpfs: - /tmp:noexec,nosuid,size=100M,mode=1777 - /app/tmp:noexec,nosuid,size=50M,mode=1777 - /app/logs:noexec,nosuid,size=50M,mode=1777 ``` **Why This Works**: - `mode=1777`: World-writable with sticky bit (only owner can delete files) - `1`: Sticky bit prevents other users from deleting each other's files - `777`: Read/write/execute for all users (required since tmpfs is root-owned) - Security maintained: `noexec,nosuid` flags prevent privilege escalation **Alternative Solution**: **Remove Pre-existing Directories** ```dockerfile # Add to Dockerfile before USER dollhouse RUN rm -rf /app/tmp /app/logs ``` - Ensures tmpfs mount doesn't inherit existing directory permissions - Forces Docker to use mount-time permissions **Fallback Solution**: **Init Script Approach** - Create entrypoint script that runs as root, fixes permissions, drops to user 1001 - More complex but guaranteed to work - Requires changing container startup flow #### 🔒 Security Impact Assessment **Mode 1777 Security Analysis**: - ✅ **Acceptable**: tmpfs is memory-only, not persistent storage - ✅ **Isolated**: Container filesystem isolation prevents host access - ✅ **Non-executable**: `noexec` flag prevents code execution from tmpfs - ✅ **No setuid**: `nosuid` flag prevents privilege escalation - ✅ **Sticky bit**: Prevents cross-user file deletion within container **Risk Mitigation**: - Container runs as non-root user 1001 - Read-only root filesystem prevents permanent changes - Limited tmpfs size (50M-100M) prevents abuse - No network exposure for MCP stdio-based servers ### From Agent-Gamma (Implementation) **Status**: ✅ COMPLETED **Started**: 13:24 EST | **Completed**: 13:25 EST #### ✅ PRIMARY SOLUTION IMPLEMENTED **Files Modified**: 1. **docker/docker-compose.yml**: Added `mode=1777` to all tmpfs mounts (lines 31-33) ```yaml tmpfs: - /tmp:noexec,nosuid,size=100M,mode=1777 - /app/tmp:noexec,nosuid,size=50M,mode=1777 - /app/logs:noexec,nosuid,size=50M,mode=1777 ``` 2. **.github/workflows/docker-testing.yml**: Added `mode=1777` to all --tmpfs options (lines 115-116, 160-161) ```bash --tmpfs /tmp:noexec,nosuid,mode=1777 --tmpfs /app/tmp:noexec,nosuid,mode=1777 ``` #### 🧪 LOCAL TESTING RESULTS **Test 1: Docker Run** ✅ SUCCESS - Command: `docker run -i --user 1001:1001 --security-opt no-new-privileges --read-only --tmpfs /tmp:mode=1777 --tmpfs /app/tmp:mode=1777 test-gamma-fix` - Result: **Perfect JSON-RPC response received** - Portfolio directories created successfully: `/app/tmp/portfolio/personas`, `/app/tmp/portfolio/skills`, etc. - Cache directory created successfully: `/app/tmp/cache` - **No permission denied errors** **Test 2: Docker Compose** ✅ SUCCESS - Command: `docker compose --file docker/docker-compose.yml run --rm -T dollhousemcp` - Result: **Perfect JSON-RPC response received** - All directory creation successful - **No permission denied errors** #### 📊 Key Results **Before Fix**: ``` [WARN] Cannot create portfolio directory (read-only environment?): EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/tmp/portfolio' [ERROR] Failed to create cache directory: Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/tmp/cache' ``` **After Fix**: ``` [INFO] [PortfolioManager] Portfolio directory structure initialized [DEBUG] [PortfolioManager] Created directory: /app/tmp/portfolio/personas [DEBUG] CollectionCache: Using environment cache directory: /app/tmp/cache [INFO] Collection cache initialized with 34 items [INFO] DollhouseMCP server ready - waiting for MCP connection on stdio ``` #### 🔒 Security Impact - **tmpfs mode 1777**: World-writable with sticky bit (prevents cross-user file deletion) - **Security flags maintained**: `noexec,nosuid` prevent privilege escalation - **Container isolation**: tmpfs is memory-only, not persistent - **Non-root user**: Still running as user 1001:1001 - **Read-only root**: Root filesystem remains read-only #### ✅ Fix Verification 1. **Docker image builds successfully** ✅ 2. **Docker run with security constraints works** ✅ 3. **Docker Compose works** ✅ 4. **JSON-RPC initialization successful** ✅ 5. **Portfolio directory creation works** ✅ 6. **Cache directory creation works** ✅ 7. **No permission denied errors** ✅ 8. **Security posture maintained** ✅ ## 🛠️ Recommended Solutions ### Solution 1: Permissive tmpfs Mode (PRIMARY) - **Agent**: Beta (Analysis Complete) - **Approach**: Add `mode=1777` to all tmpfs mounts in docker-compose.yml and GitHub Actions - **Implementation**: ```yaml tmpfs: - /tmp:noexec,nosuid,size=100M,mode=1777 - /app/tmp:noexec,nosuid,size=50M,mode=1777 - /app/logs:noexec,nosuid,size=50M,mode=1777 ``` ```bash # GitHub Actions CI --tmpfs /tmp:noexec,nosuid,mode=1777 --tmpfs /app/tmp:noexec,nosuid,mode=1777 ``` - **Pros**: Simple, security maintained, works with all Docker versions - **Cons**: World-writable tmpfs (mitigated by sticky bit + container isolation) - **Security**: ✅ Acceptable (memory-only, sticky bit, noexec/nosuid flags) ### Solution 2: Remove Pre-existing Directories (ALTERNATIVE) - **Agent**: Beta (Analysis Complete) - **Approach**: Remove `/app/tmp` and `/app/logs` from Dockerfile before USER directive - **Implementation**: ```dockerfile # Add before USER dollhouse line: RUN rm -rf /app/tmp /app/logs ``` - **Pros**: More restrictive permissions possible - **Cons**: May still require mode=777 due to root ownership - **Use Case**: Combine with Solution 1 for best results ### Solution 3: Entrypoint Script (FALLBACK) - **Agent**: Beta (Analysis Complete) - **Approach**: Create entrypoint that fixes permissions then drops to user 1001 - **Implementation**: Add entrypoint.sh that runs as root, chowns directories, exec su-exec user - **Pros**: Guaranteed to work, full control over permissions - **Cons**: More complex, requires changing container startup, security implications - **When to Use**: If Solutions 1+2 fail (unlikely) ## 💻 Current System State - **Docker version**: 28.3.2 (local) - **Branch**: `fix/server-initialization-race-condition` - **Last commit**: 7e162f8 (Added debug logging to CollectionCache) - **Local tests**: Not yet run - **CI tests**: ❌ Failing (3 Docker tests) - Docker Build & Test (linux/amd64) ❌ - Docker Build & Test (linux/arm64) ❌ - Docker Compose Test ❌ ## 📝 Error Details from CI ``` [2025-08-16T22:47:56.298Z] [WARN] Cannot create portfolio directory (read-only environment?): EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/tmp/portfolio' [2025-08-16T22:47:56.299Z] [ERROR] Failed to create cache directory: Error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/app/tmp/cache' ``` ## 🔧 Docker Configuration ### Current tmpfs mounts (docker-compose.yml) ```yaml tmpfs: - /tmp:noexec,nosuid,size=100M - /app/tmp:noexec,nosuid,size=50M - /app/logs:noexec,nosuid,size=50M ``` ### User configuration - Running as user `1001:1001` (dollhouse:nodejs) - User created in Dockerfile with proper home directory ## 🎯 Next Actions 1. ✅ **Completed**: Agent-Alpha successfully reproduced CI failure and identified root cause 2. ✅ **Completed**: Agent-Beta completed permission analysis and identified concrete solutions 3. **Ready for Agent-Gamma**: Implement Solution 1 (Primary) - add `mode=1777` to tmpfs mounts 4. **After local success**: Launch Agent-Delta for CI deployment ### 🎯 Implementation Plan for Agent-Gamma **Primary Implementation** (Recommended): 1. **Update docker-compose.yml**: Add `mode=1777` to all tmpfs mounts 2. **Update GitHub Actions**: Add `mode=1777` to all `--tmpfs` options in `.github/workflows/docker-testing.yml` 3. **Test locally**: Verify both `docker run` and `docker-compose` work 4. **Optional**: Add `RUN rm -rf /app/tmp /app/logs` to Dockerfile for extra safety **Files to Modify**: - `/Users/mick/Developer/Organizations/DollhouseMCP/active/mcp-server/docker/docker-compose.yml` (lines 30-33) - `/Users/mick/Developer/Organizations/DollhouseMCP/active/mcp-server/.github/workflows/docker-testing.yml` (lines 115-116, 160-161) ## 📋 Known Constraints 1. Must maintain read-only root filesystem for security 2. Must run as non-root user (1001:1001) 3. Must work with tmpfs mounts 4. Must pass in both docker run and docker-compose 5. Solution must work in GitHub Actions CI environment ## 🚀 Success Criteria - [x] Can reproduce CI failure locally ✅ Agent-Alpha - [x] Understand root cause of permission issue ✅ Agent-Alpha - [x] Analyze permission structure and identify solutions ✅ Agent-Beta - [x] Fix works locally with docker run ✅ Agent-Gamma - [x] Fix works locally with docker-compose ✅ Agent-Gamma - [ ] All Docker CI tests pass in GitHub Actions (Agent-Delta) - [ ] No regression in security posture (Agent-Delta) ## 📚 Reference Documents - [DOCKER_CI_INVESTIGATION_COORDINATION.md](./DOCKER_CI_INVESTIGATION_COORDINATION.md) - Previous investigation - [QUICK_START_DOCKER_CI_FIX_PR611.md](./QUICK_START_DOCKER_CI_FIX_PR611.md) - Quick reference - [SESSION_DOCKER_CI_DEBUG_2025_08_16_EVENING.md](./SESSION_DOCKER_CI_DEBUG_2025_08_16_EVENING.md) - Last session details --- *Coordination document will be updated by agents as they complete their tasks*