README.md

@@ -216,8 +216,10 @@ What the [upaas](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/upaas) app for netwatch needs:
     - `CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGINS`, default empty: other origins whose pages may call
       the API
     - `DEBUG`, default `false`: debug logging
-    - `DATA_DIR`, default `/data/reports`: leave unset; reports kept outside
+    - `DATA_DIR`, default `/data/reports`: the directory the reports are kept
-      `/data` do not survive a redeploy
+      in: `/data` or a path below it, with no `.` or `..` part and no extra `/`.
+      The container also stops if a part of the path that exists, `/data`
+      included, is a symbolic link
     - `TRUSTED_PROXIES`, default empty: set it to the address the reverse proxy
       in front of the container connects from, as an IP address or CIDR; several
       are separated by commas. nginx takes the client address from

TODO.md

@@ -23,6 +23,14 @@ latest run passes.
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 2026-09-29: `bin/entrypoint.sh` checks `DATA_DIR` in full before it acts on it
+  as root (issue #80): `DATA_DIR` must be `/data` or a path below it with no
+  `.`, `..` or empty part, and no part of it that exists, `/data` included, may
+  be a symbolic link; anything else stops the start with a message naming
+  `DATA_DIR`. Only then is `DATA_DIR` created and `/data` given to `netwatch`,
+  so a refused start no longer creates directories outside `/data`, and
+  `DATA_DIR=/etc` no longer gives `/etc` to `netwatch`. The `README.md` section
+  "Running under upaas" says which values are accepted
 - 2026-09-29: the container sets up its own data directory (issue #75):
   `bin/entrypoint.sh`, still as root, creates `DATA_DIR` if missing and gives it
   and `/data` to the `netwatch` user with mode 750 before starting the backend

bin/entrypoint.sh

@@ -63,25 +63,43 @@ done > /etc/nginx/trusted-proxies.conf
 
 # netwatch-server keeps its report files in DATA_DIR, on the /data
 # volume, which may be a host directory owned by root or by another
-# uid. Both are given to the netwatch user here, with the mode the
+# uid. /data and everything in it are given to the netwatch user here,
-# server gives a directory it creates, so the host directory needs no
+# and /data and DATA_DIR get the mode the server gives a directory it
-# preparing.
+# creates, so the host directory needs no preparing.
 #
-# chown and chmod, run as root, change whatever a symbolic link on the
+# This runs as root, so nothing is created or changed until DATA_DIR is
-# path points to, anywhere in the container, and the netwatch user can
+# known to be /data or a path below it, with no '.', '..' or empty
-# put one in /data. So the start stops unless readlink -f, which
+# part, and no part of it that exists, /data included, is a symbolic
-# follows every link on a path, gives /data and DATA_DIR back as they
+# link: the netwatch user can put one in /data, and root would follow
-# are. It also writes a path in full, so a DATA_DIR with '.', '..' or
+# it anywhere in the container. Nothing else runs in the container yet,
-# an extra '/' in it is refused too.
+# so no link can appear after the check.
 export DATA_DIR="${DATA_DIR:-/data/reports}"
-mkdir -p "$DATA_DIR" || exit 1
+data_dir_ok() {
-if [ "$(readlink -f /data)" != /data ] ||
+    # With a / added at the end, a last part of '.' or '..', and a / at
-    [ "$(readlink -f "$DATA_DIR")" != "$DATA_DIR" ]; then
+    # the end, match these patterns too.
-    echo "entrypoint: DATA_DIR must be a full path with no '.', '..'," \
+    case "$DATA_DIR/" in
-        "extra '/' or symbolic link on it or on /data, not '$DATA_DIR'" >&2
+        */./* | */../* | *//*) return 1 ;;
+        /data/*) ;;
+        *) return 1 ;;
+    esac
+    # Each part from DATA_DIR up to /data. [ -L ] is false for a part
+    # that does not exist.
+    dir="$DATA_DIR"
+    while [ "$dir" != /data ]; do
+        [ -L "$dir" ] && return 1
+        dir="${dir%/*}"
+    done
+    [ ! -L /data ]
+}
+if ! data_dir_ok; then
+    echo "entrypoint: DATA_DIR must be /data or a path below it, with no" \
+        "'.', '..', extra '/' or symbolic link on it, not '$DATA_DIR'" >&2
     exit 1
 fi
-chown -R netwatch:netwatch /data "$DATA_DIR" || exit 1
+mkdir -p "$DATA_DIR" || exit 1
+# -h: a symbolic link in /data is itself given to netwatch, not what it
+# points to.
+chown -R -h netwatch:netwatch /data || exit 1
 chmod 750 /data "$DATA_DIR" || exit 1
 
 # A stop signal is only noted here; the loop below acts on it.