Include gpg's stderr in the error when gpg fails (closes #146)

When gpg failed while decrypting, encrypting or looking up a key
fingerprint, the error gave only gpg's exit status, so the user could
not tell why. cmd.Output keeps gpg's stderr in the *exec.ExitError it
returns; the three errors now end with that stderr, trimmed. When gpg
wrote nothing to stderr, the error is left as it was.

gpg's stderr can run to more than one line, and the error then does too.

The regression test gives gpg data that is not an OpenPGP message
instead of one encrypted to a missing key: gpg reports both the same
way, and this case starts no gpg-agent the test would have to stop.

Model: opus-5-5

README.md

@@ -129,17 +129,6 @@ one.
 
 ### Secret Management
 
-#### Secret Size
-
-While `secret` works on a secret's value it keeps the value in locked memory, so
-the value counts against the locked-memory limit (`ulimit -l`). `secret` raises
-that limit to the hard limit when it starts. `secret add`, `secret import` and
-`secret generate secret` refuse a value that does not fit in the limit with 8
-memory pages to spare (32 KiB with 4 KiB pages), with an error that names the
-limit. Linux's usual limit of 8 MiB allows a value of nearly 8 MiB; a larger one
-needs a higher hard limit, such as `memlock` in `/etc/security/limits.conf`. No
-value may be over 100 MiB, whatever the limit.
-
 #### `secret add <secret-name> [--force]`
 
 Adds a secret to the current vault. Reads the secret value from stdin.

internal/cli/generate.go

@@ -72,12 +72,6 @@ func newGenerateSecretCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return fmt.Errorf("failed to initialize CLI: %w", err)
 			}
 
-			// Before readSecretEnv, which makes the first locked allocation
-			err = checkLockedMemoryLimit(0)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
 			destroySecrets := cli.readSecretEnv()
 			defer destroySecrets()
 
@@ -141,16 +135,10 @@ func (cli *Instance) GenerateSecret(
 		return errLengthTooSmall
 	}
 
-	if length > maxSecretSize {
+	var (
-		return errSecretTooLarge
+		secretValue string
-	}
+		err         error
-
+	)
-	err := checkLockedMemoryLimit(length)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	var secretValue string
 
 	switch secretType {
 	case "base58":

internal/cli/root.go

@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ import (
 // every memguard buffer before it returns, so the caller must do nothing
 // but exit with the code.
 func Entry() int {
-	raiseLockedMemoryLimit()
-
 	// On SIGINT or SIGTERM memguard runs this function, wipes every buffer
 	// and exits with status 1. The passphrase prompt turns echo off on the
 	// controlling terminal until the read finishes, so a signal there would
@@ -53,19 +51,6 @@ func Entry() int {
 	return 0
 }
 
-// raiseLockedMemoryLimit raises this process's limit on locked memory, which
-// holds every secret value, to the hard limit, the most a process may set
-// without privileges. When that fails the limit stays as it was, and
-// checkLockedMemoryLimit names it in its error.
-func raiseLockedMemoryLimit() {
-	var limit unix.Rlimit
-
-	if unix.Getrlimit(unix.RLIMIT_MEMLOCK, &limit) == nil {
-		limit.Cur = limit.Max
-		_ = unix.Setrlimit(unix.RLIMIT_MEMLOCK, &limit)
-	}
-}
-
 func newRootCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	secret.Debug("newRootCmd starting")
 

internal/cli/secrets.go

@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/awnumar/memguard"
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
-	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/secret/internal/secret"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/secret/internal/vault"
 )
@@ -25,30 +24,26 @@ const (
 	// vaultSecretParts is the number of parts when splitting vault:secret
 	vaultSecretParts = 2
 
+	// initialBufferSize is the starting size for secret read buffers (4KB)
+	initialBufferSize = 4 * 1024
 	// maxSecretSize is the maximum allowed size of a secret (100MB)
 	maxSecretSize = 100 * 1024 * 1024
-
-	// lockedMemoryReservePages is the locked memory, in pages, that `secret
-	// add`, `secret import` and `secret generate secret` may need besides
-	// the value they store, for keys and the read buffer: memguard locks
-	// whole pages, at least one for each buffer. `secret add` was measured
-	// to need 7 with both SB_SECRET_MNEMONIC and SB_UNLOCK_PASSPHRASE set,
-	// and 6 with one; the eighth is to spare.
-	lockedMemoryReservePages = 8
-	// kibibyte is the unit of the locked-memory limit in `ulimit -l`.
-	kibibyte = 1024
 )
 
 // Sentinel errors for secret operations
 var (
 	errSecretTooLarge              = errors.New("secret too large: exceeds 100MB limit")
-	errLockedMemoryLimit = errors.New(
-		"secret too large for the locked-memory limit")
 	errCrossVaultSourceUnqualified = errors.New(
 		"source must specify vault (e.g., vault:secret) for cross-vault move")
 	errMoveOntoItself = errors.New("cannot be moved onto itself")
 )
 
+// bufferInfo tracks a protected buffer and the number of bytes used in it
+type bufferInfo struct {
+	buffer *memguard.LockedBuffer
+	used   int
+}
+
 // ParseVaultSecretRef parses a "vault:secret" or just "secret" reference
 // Returns (vaultName, secretName, isQualified)
 // If no vault is specified, returns empty vaultName and isQualified=false
@@ -80,12 +75,6 @@ func newAddCmd() *cobra.Command {
 
 			cli.cmd = cmd // Set the command for stdin access
 
-			// Before readSecretEnv, which makes the first locked allocation
-			err = checkLockedMemoryLimit(0)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
 			destroySecrets := cli.readSecretEnv()
 			defer destroySecrets()
 
@@ -185,12 +174,6 @@ func newImportCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return fmt.Errorf("failed to initialize CLI: %w", err)
 			}
 
-			// Before readSecretEnv, which makes the first locked allocation
-			err = checkLockedMemoryLimit(0)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
 			destroySecrets := cli.readSecretEnv()
 			defer destroySecrets()
 
@@ -287,105 +270,88 @@ The source secret is deleted after successful copy.`,
 	return cmd
 }
 
-// checkLockedMemoryLimit returns an error naming the locked-memory limit
+// updateBufferSize updates the buffer size based on usage pattern
-// (`ulimit -l`) when a value of size bytes does not fit in it with
+func updateBufferSize(currentSize int, sameSize *int) int {
-// lockedMemoryReservePages. memguard, which holds secret values in locked
+	const (
-// memory, crashes or hangs the process when it cannot lock more, so a
+		doubleAfterBuffers = 2
-// command calls this with size 0 before its first locked allocation, and
+		growthFactor       = 2
-// again with the value's size before a buffer for the value is allocated.
+	)
-func checkLockedMemoryLimit(size int) error {
-	var limit unix.Rlimit
 
-	err := unix.Getrlimit(unix.RLIMIT_MEMLOCK, &limit)
+	*sameSize++
-	if err != nil {
+	if *sameSize >= doubleAfterBuffers {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to read the locked-memory limit: %w", err)
+		*sameSize = 0
+
+		return currentSize * growthFactor
 	}
 
-	// memguard locks whole pages, so the value is counted in whole pages.
+	return currentSize
-	pageSize := os.Getpagesize()
-	valuePages := (size + pageSize - 1) / pageSize
-
-	//nolint:gosec // G115: a page count and a page size are never negative
-	needed := uint64((valuePages + lockedMemoryReservePages) * pageSize)
-	if needed > limit.Cur {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w of %d KiB (ulimit -l)",
-			errLockedMemoryLimit, limit.Cur/kibibyte)
 }
 
-	return nil
+// destroyBuffers destroys every buffer in the list
+func destroyBuffers(buffers []bufferInfo) {
+	for _, b := range buffers {
+		b.buffer.Destroy()
+	}
 }
 
-// readSecretFromReader reads all of reader into a new locked buffer, which
+// readSecretFromReader reads all data from reader into protected buffers,
-// the caller must destroy, leaving out one trailing newline when trimNewline
+// enforcing the maximum secret size. On failure the accumulated buffers
-// is set. It reads a page at a time into a memguard.Stream, which keeps what
+// are destroyed; on success the caller must destroy them.
-// it is given encrypted, so that the value is in locked memory only once, in
+func readSecretFromReader(reader io.Reader) ([]bufferInfo, int, error) {
-// the buffer returned, and both size checks come before that buffer is
+	var buffers []bufferInfo
-// allocated. It takes the value back out with Stream.Next, not Stream.Read:
-// Read puts back the part of a piece that does not fit, and memguard hangs
-// when it runs out of locked memory doing that.
-func readSecretFromReader(
-	reader io.Reader, trimNewline bool,
-) (*memguard.LockedBuffer, error) {
-	stream := memguard.NewStream()
 
-	chunk := memguard.NewBuffer(os.Getpagesize())
+	totalSize := 0
-	defer chunk.Destroy()
+	currentBufferSize := initialBufferSize
-
+	sameSize := 0
-	size := 0
-	endsWithNewline := false
 
 	for {
-		n, err := io.ReadFull(reader, chunk.Bytes())
+		// Create a new buffer
-		if n > 0 {
+		buffer := memguard.NewBuffer(currentBufferSize)
-			size += n
+		n, err := io.ReadFull(reader, buffer.Bytes())
-			if size > maxSecretSize {
+
-				return nil, errSecretTooLarge
+		if n == 0 {
+			// No data read, destroy the unused buffer
+			buffer.Destroy()
+		} else {
+			buffers = append(buffers, bufferInfo{buffer: buffer, used: n})
+			totalSize += n
+
+			if totalSize > maxSecretSize {
+				destroyBuffers(buffers)
+
+				return nil, 0, errSecretTooLarge
 			}
 
-			endsWithNewline = chunk.Bytes()[n-1] == '\n'
+			// If we filled the buffer, consider growing for next iteration
-
+			if n == currentBufferSize {
-			// Write encrypts the bytes and wipes them from chunk.
+				currentBufferSize = updateBufferSize(currentBufferSize, &sameSize)
-			_, _ = stream.Write(chunk.Bytes()[:n])
+			}
 		}
 
-		if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) || errors.Is(err, io.ErrUnexpectedEOF) {
+		if err == io.EOF || errors.Is(err, io.ErrUnexpectedEOF) {
 			break
-		}
+		} else if err != nil {
+			destroyBuffers(buffers)
 
-		if err != nil {
+			return nil, 0, err
-			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Freed before the value's buffer is allocated, so that the two are
+	return buffers, totalSize, nil
-	// never locked at once.
-	chunk.Destroy()
-
-	if trimNewline && endsWithNewline {
-		size--
 }
 
-	err := checkLockedMemoryLimit(size)
+// combineBuffers copies the used portions of buffers into a single
-	if err != nil {
+// protected buffer of totalSize bytes
-		return nil, err
+func combineBuffers(buffers []bufferInfo, totalSize int) *memguard.LockedBuffer {
+	valueBuffer := memguard.NewBuffer(totalSize)
+
+	offset := 0
+	for _, b := range buffers {
+		copy(valueBuffer.Bytes()[offset:], b.buffer.Bytes()[:b.used])
+		offset += b.used
 	}
 
-	value := memguard.NewBuffer(size)
+	return valueBuffer
-
-	// copy stops at the value's size, so a trimmed newline is not copied.
-	for offset := 0; offset < size; {
-		decrypted, err := stream.Next()
-		if err != nil {
-			value.Destroy()
-
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to decrypt the value read: %w", err)
-		}
-
-		offset += copy(value.Bytes()[offset:], decrypted.Bytes())
-		decrypted.Destroy()
-	}
-
-	return value, nil
 }
 
 // AddSecret adds a secret to the current vault
@@ -404,20 +370,34 @@ func (cli *Instance) AddSecret(secretName string, force bool) error {
 
 	secret.Debug("Got current vault", "vault_name", vlt.GetName())
 
-	// Read the secret value, less a trailing newline, into locked memory
+	// Read secret value directly into protected buffers
-	secret.Debug("Reading secret value from stdin into a protected buffer")
+	secret.Debug("Reading secret value from stdin into protected buffers")
 
-	valueBuffer, err := readSecretFromReader(cli.cmd.InOrStdin(), true)
+	buffers, totalSize, err := readSecretFromReader(cli.cmd.InOrStdin())
 	if err != nil {
-		if errors.Is(err, errSecretTooLarge) || errors.Is(err, errLockedMemoryLimit) {
+		if errors.Is(err, errSecretTooLarge) {
 			return err
 		}
 
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to read secret value: %w", err)
 	}
-	defer valueBuffer.Destroy()
+	defer destroyBuffers(buffers)
 
-	secret.Debug("Read secret value from stdin", "value_length", valueBuffer.Size())
+	// Check for trailing newline in the last buffer
+	if len(buffers) > 0 && totalSize > 0 {
+		lastBuffer := &buffers[len(buffers)-1]
+		if lastBuffer.buffer.Bytes()[lastBuffer.used-1] == '\n' {
+			lastBuffer.used--
+			totalSize--
+		}
+	}
+
+	secret.Debug("Read secret value from stdin",
+		"value_length", totalSize, "buffers", len(buffers))
+
+	// Combine all buffers into a single protected buffer
+	valueBuffer := combineBuffers(buffers, totalSize)
+	defer valueBuffer.Destroy()
 
 	// Locked only now that stdin has been read: in `secret encrypt key |
 	// secret add name`, holding the lock while reading would leave each
@@ -687,7 +667,7 @@ func (cli *Instance) ImportSecret(
 
 	vlt.Mnemonic, vlt.UnlockPassphrase = cli.Mnemonic, cli.UnlockPassphrase
 
-	// Read secret value from the source file into a protected buffer
+	// Read secret value from the source file into protected buffers
 	file, err := cli.fs.Open(sourceFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to open file %s: %w", sourceFile, err)
@@ -699,10 +679,14 @@ func (cli *Instance) ImportSecret(
 		}
 	}()
 
-	valueBuffer, err := readSecretFromReader(file, false)
+	buffers, totalSize, err := readSecretFromReader(file)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to read secret from file %s: %w", sourceFile, err)
 	}
+	defer destroyBuffers(buffers)
+
+	// Combine all buffers into a single protected buffer
+	valueBuffer := combineBuffers(buffers, totalSize)
 	defer valueBuffer.Destroy()
 
 	// Locked only now that the file has been read, as in AddSecret: the

internal/cli/secrets_size_test.go

@@ -3,23 +3,17 @@ package cli
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"context"
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"os"
-	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/secret/internal/secret"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/secret/internal/vault"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/secret/pkg/agehd"
 )
@@ -214,25 +208,23 @@ func TestImportSecretVariousSizes(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestAddSecretAroundPageSize tests that secret add, which reads its input
+// TestAddSecretBufferGrowth tests that our buffer growth strategy works correctly
-// one memory page (usually 4 KiB) at a time, stores values just under, at and
-// just over one and two pages unchanged.
 //
 //nolint:paralleltest // in parallel, size tests could exceed the memlock limit
-func TestAddSecretAroundPageSize(t *testing.T) {
+func TestAddSecretBufferGrowth(t *testing.T) {
-	// Sizes around one and two pages of 4 KiB, then larger ones up to 1 MiB
+	// Test various sizes that should trigger buffer growth
 	sizes := []int{
 		1,       // Single byte
 		100,     // Small
-		4095,    // Just under 4KB
+		4095,    // Just under initial 4KB
 		4096,    // Exactly 4KB
 		4097,    // Just over 4KB
-		8191,    // Just under 8KB
+		8191,    // Just under 8KB (first double)
 		8192,    // Exactly 8KB
 		8193,    // Just over 8KB
-		12288,   // 12KB
+		12288,   // 12KB (should trigger second double)
 		16384,   // 16KB
-		32768,   // 32KB
+		32768,   // 32KB (after more doublings)
 		65536,   // 64KB
 		131072,  // 128KB
 		524288,  // 512KB
@@ -323,144 +315,6 @@ func TestAddSecretStreamingBehavior(t *testing.T) {
 		"Retrieved secret should match original")
 }
 
-// newBinaryTestStateDir returns a new state directory holding a vault made
-// from the test mnemonic, for the secret binary to use.
-func newBinaryTestStateDir(t *testing.T) string {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	stateDir := t.TempDir()
-	_, err := vault.CreateVault(afero.NewOsFs(), stateDir, "default",
-		testMnemonicBuffer(t), nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	return stateDir
-}
-
-// runAtLockedMemoryLimit runs the secret binary with args, stdin, the state
-// directory stateDir and the test mnemonic, its locked-memory limit (ulimit
-// -l) lowered to limitKiB, and returns what it printed.
-func runAtLockedMemoryLimit(
-	t *testing.T, stateDir string, limitKiB int, stdin io.Reader,
-	args ...string,
-) (string, error) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	const commandWait = 10 * time.Second
-
-	secretPath, err := filepath.Abs("../../secret")
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(t.Context(), commandWait)
-	defer cancel()
-
-	// The shell lowers the limit for itself and the binary only.
-	script := fmt.Sprintf(`ulimit -l %d && exec "$0" "$@"`, limitKiB)
-
-	//nolint:gosec // G204: runs the freshly built secret binary
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "sh",
-		append([]string{"-c", script, secretPath}, args...)...)
-	cmd.Env = []string{
-		secret.EnvStateDir + "=" + stateDir,
-		secret.EnvMnemonic + "=" + testMnemonic,
-	}
-	cmd.Stdin = stdin
-
-	output, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
-
-	return string(output), err
-}
-
-// requireRefusedAtLockedMemoryLimit runs the secret binary as
-// runAtLockedMemoryLimit does, and requires it to exit with status 1 and
-// print wantError, with no panic.
-func requireRefusedAtLockedMemoryLimit(
-	t *testing.T, stateDir string, limitKiB int, wantError string,
-	stdin io.Reader, args ...string,
-) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	output, err := runAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, limitKiB, stdin, args...)
-
-	var exitErr *exec.ExitError
-
-	require.ErrorAs(t, err, &exitErr, "%v: %s", args, output)
-	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitErr.ExitCode(), "%v: %s", args, output)
-	assert.Contains(t, output, wantError, args)
-	assert.NotContains(t, output, "panic", args)
-}
-
-// TestSecretsAtLockedMemoryLimit runs the secret binary with the
-// locked-memory limit (ulimit -l) lowered to 1 MiB, where memguard would crash
-// the process with a panic instead of returning an error. add must store the
-// largest value that fits, which takes holding it in locked memory only once.
-// add, import and generate secret must refuse a value one byte larger with
-// exit status 1 and an error saying why.
-func TestSecretsAtLockedMemoryLimit(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	const limitKiB = 1024
-
-	fits := limitKiB*kibibyte - lockedMemoryReservePages*os.Getpagesize()
-	limitError := fmt.Sprintf("locked-memory limit of %d KiB", limitKiB)
-	stateDir := newBinaryTestStateDir(t)
-
-	tooBigFile := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "too-big")
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(tooBigFile, make([]byte, fits+1), 0o600))
-
-	output, err := runAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, limitKiB,
-		bytes.NewReader(make([]byte, fits)), "add", "fits")
-	require.NoError(t, err, "the largest value that fits: %s", output)
-
-	requireRefusedAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, limitKiB, limitError,
-		bytes.NewReader(make([]byte, fits+1)), "add", "too-big")
-	requireRefusedAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, limitKiB, limitError,
-		nil, "import", "too-big", "--source", tooBigFile)
-	requireRefusedAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, limitKiB, limitError,
-		nil, "generate", "secret", "too-big", "--length", strconv.Itoa(fits+1))
-}
-
-// TestSecretsUnderSmallLockedMemoryLimits runs add, import and generate
-// secret with a short value under two small locked-memory limits (ulimit
-// -l). Under 20 KiB, too little for the buffers they need besides the value,
-// each must refuse it with exit status 1 and an error naming the limit, where
-// memguard would panic or hang. Under 64 KiB, the default of older Linux
-// kernels, each must store it.
-func TestSecretsUnderSmallLockedMemoryLimits(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	const (
-		tooSmallLimitKiB   = 20
-		oldDefaultLimitKiB = 64
-		shortValue         = "hunter2"
-	)
-
-	tooSmallLimitError := fmt.Sprintf("locked-memory limit of %d KiB",
-		tooSmallLimitKiB)
-	stateDir := newBinaryTestStateDir(t)
-
-	shortFile := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "short")
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(shortFile, []byte(shortValue), 0o600))
-
-	requireRefusedAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, tooSmallLimitKiB,
-		tooSmallLimitError, strings.NewReader(shortValue), "add", "added")
-	requireRefusedAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, tooSmallLimitKiB,
-		tooSmallLimitError, nil, "import", "imported", "--source", shortFile)
-	requireRefusedAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, tooSmallLimitKiB,
-		tooSmallLimitError, nil, "generate", "secret", "generated")
-
-	output, err := runAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, oldDefaultLimitKiB,
-		strings.NewReader(shortValue), "add", "added")
-	require.NoError(t, err, "add: %s", output)
-
-	output, err = runAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, oldDefaultLimitKiB,
-		nil, "import", "imported", "--source", shortFile)
-	require.NoError(t, err, "import: %s", output)
-
-	output, err = runAtLockedMemoryLimit(t, stateDir, oldDefaultLimitKiB,
-		nil, "generate", "secret", "generated")
-	require.NoError(t, err, "generate secret: %s", output)
-}
-
 // slowReader simulates a reader that returns data in small chunks
 type slowReader struct {
 	data      []byte