Understanding the Capabilities of a Guest or Reporter Token in GitLab with Read and Write Scopes
A guest or reporter token issued to read_repository (r) scope, combined with write_repository (w), does not grant comprehensive access within your private project on GitLab. Here’s why:
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Restricted Access: A Guest role is typically for temporary users who can only view the repository content without making any changes or commits to it. Adding a read and write scope further contradictory as these privileges are not granted simultaneously by default even with elevated permissions like Super-user (which encompasse both r & w).
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Error Encountered: The
403 Forbiddenerror encountered when attempting to clone the repository suggests that there’s an additional layer of access control beyond just user roles, possibly enforced by project settings or GitLab permissions policies which restrict code download for unauthorized users (even if they possess read/write token scopes). -
Project Access Control Issue: There seems to be a nuanced problem that’s already being addressed in the referenced GitLab issue tracker, indicating others have faced similar challenges, suggesting an area for further clarification and resolution within GitLab’s permission system.
Understanding that this token’s access might be limited by additional project settings or permissions not covered merely through role assignment can help troubleshoot the issue effectively:
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Verify whether there are any specific restrictions set on downloading code in your private repository; these could overrule standard scopes assigned to a Guest/Reporter.
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Collaborate with GitLab’s support team or community by raising an official query about this problem, as it may provide insights into nuanced access control mechanisms within the platform that govern such actions beyond basic role definitions like read and write permissions.