fix: composite nested uses clone token (#1041)

## Summary

A nested `uses:` action inside a **local composite action** fails to clone with a bare `authentication required: Unauthorized` (401) when the instance resolves host-less action references against itself (`DEFAULT_ACTIONS_URL = self`). The job fails at the composite **main→post boundary**, even though the composite's own steps and all post-steps report success.

## Root cause

`newCompositeRunContext` nils `Config.Secrets` so composite steps do not see job secrets. But the action-clone path in `prepareActionExecutor` sourced its token via `getGitCloneToken` → `Config.GetToken()` → `Config.Secrets`, which is empty inside a composite RunContext. The nested action is therefore cloned anonymously → 401 against the authenticated instance.

Two details explain the exact symptom:

- It surfaces at the composite **main→post boundary** because the swallowed nested-step error is re-emitted by `common.JobError` at the end of the composite main pipeline.
- It carries **no clone URL** because, on a warm action cache, only `r.Fetch` runs (not `PlainClone`), and the go-git fetch error is returned verbatim.

## Fix

Source the clone token from `github.Token` instead of `Config.Secrets`. It is preserved across the composite config copy (`Config.Token` / `PresetGitHubContext`) and is identical to `Config.GetToken()` at the top level, so top-level and `act exec` behaviour is unchanged. The `shouldCloneURLUseToken` host gate is kept so the token is never sent to a foreign host. This also aligns the git-clone path with the ActionCache fetch path, which already uses `github.Token`.

Reusable workflows are unaffected — their RunContext keeps `Config.Secrets`.

## Before / after

Local composite action with a nested `uses:` (+ post step), followed by a marker step. Same workflow, same runner host — only the runner fix differs.

| Job step | Before fix | After fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `Run actions/checkout@v6` | ✅ success | ✅ success |
| `Run ./.gitea/actions/probe-composite` (nested `uses:` + post) | ❌ **failure** — bare 401 at the main→post boundary | ✅ success |
| `Step after composite` | ⊘ **skipped** | ✅ **ran** |
| Job result | ❌ **failed** | ✅ **succeeded** |

### Before — boundary log

```text
::endgroup::
##[error]authentication required: Unauthorized   ← bare 401, no clone target
Run Post ./.gitea/actions/probe-composite
Success - Post ./.gitea/actions/probe-composite  ← post steps run and succeed
Success - Post actions/checkout@v6
Job failed
```

The composite's own steps and both post-steps report `Success`; the job fails solely on the bare 401 emitted at the main→post boundary, and the next step is skipped.

### After — boundary log

```text
Run ./.gitea/actions/probe-composite
  ...composite steps...
Success - ./.gitea/actions/probe-composite
Run Marker after composite
PASSED composite boundary — no 401 (runner fix confirmed)
Success - Marker after composite
Job succeeded
```

## Reproduction

`.gitea/actions/probe-composite/action.yml`:

```yaml
name: probe-composite
runs:
  using: composite
  steps:
    - uses: actions/setup-node@v6   # nested uses → has a post step
      with: { node-version: 22 }
    - run: echo "composite inner step OK"
      shell: bash
```

`.gitea/workflows/probe.yaml`:

```yaml
on: [push]
jobs:
  composite-boundary:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
      - uses: ./.gitea/actions/probe-composite
      - run: echo "step after composite"   # skipped before the fix; runs after
```

## Verification

- **Before:** bare 401 at the boundary, reproduced with a `delay=0` tail — rules out a token-TTL / expiry effect; it is a missing credential.
- **After:** the composite step succeeds, the step after the composite runs, the job succeeds, and there is no `authentication required` in the log.
- A reusable workflow (`workflow_call`) with the same nested `uses:` + post step never hit the 401, which isolated the bug to the composite main/post path.

## Tests

Adds `TestStepActionRemoteCloneTokenSurvivesNilSecrets` (`act/runner`): asserts the clone token is forwarded when the RunContext mirrors a composite (`Secrets == nil`, token via `Config.Token`), and that the host gate still withholds the token for a foreign host. Verified to fail without the fix and pass with it.

---------

Reviewed-on: https://gitea.com/gitea/runner/pulls/1041
Reviewed-by: Zettat123 <39446+zettat123@noreply.gitea.com>
Co-authored-by: Christian Heim <christian@heimdaheim.de>
Co-committed-by: Christian Heim <christian@heimdaheim.de>

Dockerfile

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ RUN make clean && make build
 ### DIND VARIANT
 #
 #
-FROM docker:29.5.3-dind AS dind
+FROM docker:29.6.0-dind AS dind
 
 ARG VERSION=dev
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ ENTRYPOINT ["s6-svscan","/etc/s6"]
 ### DIND-ROOTLESS VARIANT
 #
 #
-FROM docker:29.5.3-dind-rootless AS dind-rootless
+FROM docker:29.6.0-dind-rootless AS dind-rootless
 
 ARG VERSION=dev
 

Makefile

@@ -38,12 +38,15 @@ endif
 ifeq ($(OS), Windows_NT)
 	GOFLAGS := -v -buildmode=exe
 	EXECUTABLE ?= $(EXECUTABLE).exe
+	GO_ENV_WINDOWS := set GOOS=windows&&
 else ifeq ($(OS), Windows)
 	GOFLAGS := -v -buildmode=exe
 	EXECUTABLE ?= $(EXECUTABLE).exe
+	GO_ENV_WINDOWS := set GOOS=windows&&
 else
 	GOFLAGS := -v
 	EXECUTABLE ?= $(EXECUTABLE)
+	GO_ENV_WINDOWS := GOOS=windows
 endif
 
 STORED_VERSION_FILE := VERSION
@@ -108,12 +111,17 @@ deps-tools: ## install tool dependencies
 	wait
 
 .PHONY: lint
-lint: lint-go ## lint everything
+lint: lint-go lint-go-windows ## lint everything
 
 .PHONY: lint-go
 lint-go: ## lint go files
 	$(GO) run $(GOLANGCI_LINT_PACKAGE) run
 
+.PHONY: lint-go-windows
+lint-go-windows: ## lint Windows go files
+	$(GO) install $(GOLANGCI_LINT_PACKAGE)
+	$(GO_ENV_WINDOWS) golangci-lint run
+
 .PHONY: lint-go-fix
 lint-go-fix: ## lint go files and fix issues
 	$(GO) run $(GOLANGCI_LINT_PACKAGE) run --fix

act/common/git/git.go

@@ -257,6 +257,10 @@ type NewGitCloneExecutorInput struct {
 	Token       string
 	OfflineMode bool
 
+	// Depth limits the clone/fetch to the given number of commits from the tip of the requested ref.
+	// 0 for full clone.
+	Depth int
+
 	// For Gitea
 	InsecureSkipTLS bool
 }
@@ -309,7 +313,7 @@ func CloneIfRequired(ctx context.Context, refName plumbing.ReferenceName, input
 		}
 	}
 
-	r, err = git.PlainCloneContext(ctx, input.Dir, false, &cloneOptions)
+	r, err = cloneAtDepth(ctx, input, cloneOptions, logger)
 	if err != nil {
 		logger.Errorf("Unable to clone %v %s: %v", input.URL, refName, err)
 		return nil, false, err
@@ -364,6 +368,16 @@ func NewGitCloneExecutor(input NewGitCloneExecutorInput) common.Executor {
 			pullOptions.InsecureSkipTLS = true
 		}
 
+		// Action clones only ever need the tip commit, so keep a shallow cache cheap on update at depth 1 regardless of its original depth
+		// Turning action_shallow_clone off does not convert an existing shallow cache; evict it for a full clone.
+		shallow := isShallow(r)
+		if shallow {
+			fetchOptions.Depth = 1
+			if spec, ok := shallowFetchRefSpec(r, input.Ref); ok {
+				fetchOptions.RefSpecs = []config.RefSpec{spec}
+			}
+		}
+
 		if !isOfflineMode {
 			err = r.Fetch(&fetchOptions)
 			if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, git.NoErrAlreadyUpToDate) {
@@ -431,11 +445,13 @@ func NewGitCloneExecutor(input NewGitCloneExecutorInput) common.Executor {
 
 		reusedMsg := ""
 
-		if !isOfflineMode {
+		switch {
+		case !isOfflineMode && !shallow:
+			// In shallow mode the depth-limited fetch above already advanced the ref.
 			if err = w.Pull(&pullOptions); err != nil && err != git.NoErrAlreadyUpToDate {
 				logger.Debugf("Unable to pull %s: %v", refName, err)
 			}
-		} else if reused {
+		case isOfflineMode && reused:
 			reusedMsg = " (reused in offline mode)"
 		}
 
@@ -468,3 +484,53 @@ func NewGitCloneExecutor(input NewGitCloneExecutorInput) common.Executor {
 		return nil
 	}
 }
+
+// cloneAtDepth clones input.URL into input.Dir using opts.
+// With input.Depth > 0 it first tries a shallow, single-branch clone of input.Ref, falling back when error.
+func cloneAtDepth(ctx context.Context, input NewGitCloneExecutorInput, opts git.CloneOptions, logger log.FieldLogger) (*git.Repository, error) {
+	if input.Depth > 0 {
+		for _, refName := range []plumbing.ReferenceName{
+			plumbing.NewBranchReferenceName(input.Ref),
+			plumbing.NewTagReferenceName(input.Ref),
+		} {
+			shallowOpts := opts
+			shallowOpts.Depth = input.Depth
+			shallowOpts.SingleBranch = true
+			shallowOpts.ReferenceName = refName
+			shallowOpts.Tags = git.NoTags
+
+			r, err := git.PlainCloneContext(ctx, input.Dir, false, &shallowOpts)
+			if err == nil {
+				return r, nil
+			}
+			logger.Debugf("Shallow clone of %s as %s failed: %v", input.URL, refName, err)
+			if rmErr := os.RemoveAll(input.Dir); rmErr != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("remove partial clone %s: %w", input.Dir, rmErr)
+			}
+		}
+		logger.Debugf("Falling back to a full clone of %s for ref %q", input.URL, input.Ref)
+	}
+
+	return git.PlainCloneContext(ctx, input.Dir, false, &opts)
+}
+
+// isShallow reports whether the local repository was cloned with a limited depth.
+func isShallow(r *git.Repository) bool {
+	shallows, err := r.Storer.Shallow()
+	return err == nil && len(shallows) > 0
+}
+
+// shallowFetchRefSpec returns the single refspec that updates only input.Ref, keeping a shallow clone from re-downloading every branch's history.
+// ok is false when the ref is not present locally as a tag or remote-tracking branch, in which case the broad default refspec is used.
+func shallowFetchRefSpec(r *git.Repository, ref string) (config.RefSpec, bool) {
+	tagRef := plumbing.NewTagReferenceName(ref)
+	if _, err := r.Reference(tagRef, false); err == nil {
+		return config.RefSpec(fmt.Sprintf("+%s:%s", tagRef, tagRef)), true
+	}
+	remoteRef := plumbing.NewRemoteReferenceName("origin", ref)
+	if _, err := r.Reference(remoteRef, false); err == nil {
+		branchRef := plumbing.NewBranchReferenceName(ref)
+		return config.RefSpec(fmt.Sprintf("+%s:%s", branchRef, remoteRef)), true
+	}
+	return "", false
+}

act/common/git/git_test.go

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"syscall"
@@ -380,6 +381,96 @@ func TestGitCloneExecutorOfflineMode(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestGitCloneExecutorShallow(t *testing.T) {
+	// Build a local "remote" with several commits on main plus a tag, so a full clone would pull noticeably more history than a shallow one.
+	remoteDir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, gitCmd("init", "--bare", "--initial-branch=main", remoteDir))
+	workDir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, gitCmd("clone", remoteDir, workDir))
+	require.NoError(t, gitCmd("-C", workDir, "checkout", "-b", "main"))
+	for _, m := range []string{"c1", "c2", "c3"} {
+		require.NoError(t, gitCmd("-C", workDir, "commit", "--allow-empty", "-m", m))
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, gitCmd("-C", workDir, "tag", "v1"))
+	sha := gitRevParse(t, workDir, "HEAD~1") // c2, a SHA that go-git cannot shallow-clone
+	require.NoError(t, gitCmd("-C", workDir, "push", "-u", "origin", "main"))
+	require.NoError(t, gitCmd("-C", workDir, "push", "origin", "v1"))
+
+	shallowMarker := func(dir string) string { return filepath.Join(dir, ".git", "shallow") }
+
+	t.Run("branch is cloned shallowly", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+		require.NoError(t, NewGitCloneExecutor(NewGitCloneExecutorInput{
+			URL: remoteDir, Ref: "main", Dir: dir, Depth: 1,
+		})(t.Context()))
+		assert.FileExists(t, shallowMarker(dir), "clone should be shallow")
+		assert.Equal(t, 1, gitRevCount(t, dir), "only the tip commit should be present")
+		assert.Equal(t, "c3", gitHeadSubject(t, dir))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("tag is cloned shallowly", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+		require.NoError(t, NewGitCloneExecutor(NewGitCloneExecutorInput{
+			URL: remoteDir, Ref: "v1", Dir: dir, Depth: 1,
+		})(t.Context()))
+		assert.FileExists(t, shallowMarker(dir), "clone should be shallow")
+		assert.Equal(t, 1, gitRevCount(t, dir))
+		assert.Equal(t, "c3", gitHeadSubject(t, dir))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("SHA falls back to a full clone", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+		require.NoError(t, NewGitCloneExecutor(NewGitCloneExecutorInput{
+			URL: remoteDir, Ref: sha, Dir: dir, Depth: 1,
+		})(t.Context()))
+		// go-git cannot shallow-clone a raw SHA, so it falls back to a full clone; the absence of a shallow marker proves the fallback happened.
+		assert.NoFileExists(t, shallowMarker(dir), "a SHA ref must not produce a shallow clone")
+		assert.Equal(t, sha, gitRevParse(t, dir, "HEAD"))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("moving branch updates while staying shallow", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+		require.NoError(t, NewGitCloneExecutor(NewGitCloneExecutorInput{
+			URL: remoteDir, Ref: "main", Dir: dir, Depth: 1,
+		})(t.Context()))
+		require.Equal(t, "c3", gitHeadSubject(t, dir))
+
+		// Advance main on the remote, then reuse the existing shallow clone.
+		require.NoError(t, gitCmd("-C", workDir, "commit", "--allow-empty", "-m", "c4"))
+		require.NoError(t, gitCmd("-C", workDir, "push", "origin", "main"))
+
+		require.NoError(t, NewGitCloneExecutor(NewGitCloneExecutorInput{
+			URL: remoteDir, Ref: "main", Dir: dir, Depth: 1,
+		})(t.Context()))
+		assert.Equal(t, "c4", gitHeadSubject(t, dir), "reused shallow clone should update to the new tip")
+		assert.FileExists(t, shallowMarker(dir), "repo should remain shallow after update")
+		assert.Equal(t, 1, gitRevCount(t, dir))
+	})
+}
+
+func gitRevParse(t *testing.T, dir, rev string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	out, err := exec.Command("git", "-C", dir, "rev-parse", rev).Output()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return strings.TrimSpace(string(out))
+}
+
+func gitRevCount(t *testing.T, dir string) int {
+	t.Helper()
+	out, err := exec.Command("git", "-C", dir, "rev-list", "--count", "HEAD").Output()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return n
+}
+
+func gitHeadSubject(t *testing.T, dir string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	out, err := exec.Command("git", "-C", dir, "log", "-1", "--format=%s").Output()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return strings.TrimSpace(string(out))
+}
+
 func gitCmd(args ...string) error {
 	cmd := exec.Command("git", args...)
 	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout

act/common/job_error.go

@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ func JobError(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func SetJobError(ctx context.Context, err error) {
-	ctx.Value(jobErrorContextKeyVal).(map[string]error)["error"] = err
+	if container, ok := ctx.Value(jobErrorContextKeyVal).(map[string]error); ok {
+		container["error"] = err
+	}
 }
 
 // WithJobErrorContainer adds a value to the context as a container for an error

act/lookpath/lp_windows.go

@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func LookPath2(file string, lenv Env) (string, error) {
 	var exts []string
 	x := lenv.Getenv(`PATHEXT`)
 	if x != "" {
-		for _, e := range strings.Split(strings.ToLower(x), `;`) {
+		for e := range strings.SplitSeq(strings.ToLower(x), `;`) {
 			if e == "" {
 				continue
 			}

act/runner/action.go

@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ package runner
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"crypto/sha256"
 	"embed"
+	"encoding/hex"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -272,6 +274,36 @@ func removeGitIgnore(ctx context.Context, directory string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// dockerActionImageTag derives the local docker image tag used when an action
+// is built from a Dockerfile.
+//
+// For Gitea: a local action (`uses: ./` or `uses: ./path`) has an actionName
+// that is the workspace-relative path of the action. That path is identical
+// across repositories (e.g. "./" for a self-referencing action), so without
+// namespacing, every repository's local docker action would build and reuse the
+// same `act-dockeraction:latest` image on a shared docker daemon. A subsequent
+// repository would then silently run the image built for an earlier one.
+// Including the repository keeps the tag stable for caching within a repository
+// while preventing cross-repository collisions.
+// See https://gitea.com/gitea/runner/issues/1039.
+func dockerActionImageTag(repository, actionName string, localAction bool) string {
+	name := actionName
+	if localAction {
+		name = path.Join(repository, actionName)
+	}
+	// The human-readable name is sanitized by collapsing every non-alphanumeric character to "-".
+	sanitized := regexp.MustCompile("[^a-zA-Z0-9]").ReplaceAllString(name, "-")
+	if localAction {
+		// For local actions a short hash of the raw repository and action path is appended so the tag stays unique per repository.
+		sum := sha256.Sum256([]byte(repository + "\x00" + actionName))
+		sanitized += "-" + hex.EncodeToString(sum[:])[:12]
+	}
+	// "-dockeraction" ensures that "./", "./test " won't get converted to "act-:latest", "act-test-:latest" which are invalid docker image names
+	image := fmt.Sprintf("%s-dockeraction:%s", sanitized, "latest")
+	image = "act-" + strings.TrimLeft(image, "-")
+	return strings.ToLower(image)
+}
+
 // TODO: break out parts of function to reduce complexicity
 func execAsDocker(ctx context.Context, step actionStep, actionName, actionDir, basedir string, localAction bool) error {
 	logger := common.Logger(ctx)
@@ -286,10 +318,7 @@ func execAsDocker(ctx context.Context, step actionStep, actionName, actionDir, b
 		// Apply forcePull only for prebuild docker images
 		forcePull = rc.Config.ForcePull
 	} else {
-		// "-dockeraction" enshures that "./", "./test " won't get converted to "act-:latest", "act-test-:latest" which are invalid docker image names
+		image = dockerActionImageTag(step.getGithubContext(ctx).Repository, actionName, localAction)
-		image = fmt.Sprintf("%s-dockeraction:%s", regexp.MustCompile("[^a-zA-Z0-9]").ReplaceAllString(actionName, "-"), "latest")
-		image = "act-" + strings.TrimLeft(image, "-")
-		image = strings.ToLower(image)
 		contextDir, fileName := filepath.Split(filepath.Join(basedir, action.Runs.Image))
 
 		anyArchExists, err := ContainerImageExistsLocally(ctx, image, "any")

act/runner/action_test.go

@@ -455,3 +455,50 @@ func TestExecAsDockerHoldsCloneLockForRemoteUncached(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("execAsDocker did not return after inner was released and ctx was canceled")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestDockerActionImageTag(t *testing.T) {
+	// Remote actions already carry a unique, ref-scoped actionName (the uses
+	// hash), so the tag must be left untouched for backwards compatibility.
+	assert.Equal(t,
+		"act-abc123-dockeraction:latest",
+		dockerActionImageTag("owner/repo", "abc123", false),
+	)
+
+	// Local actions keep a human-readable, repository-namespaced prefix and gain a short hash suffix that makes the tag unique per (repository, actionName).
+	// See https://gitea.com/gitea/runner/issues/1039.
+	assert.Equal(t,
+		"act-owner-repo-baca2daaa2fe-dockeraction:latest",
+		dockerActionImageTag("owner/repo", "./", true),
+	)
+	assert.Equal(t,
+		"act-owner-repo-sub-e847b61255a8-dockeraction:latest",
+		dockerActionImageTag("owner/repo", "./sub", true),
+	)
+
+	// Sanitizing every non-alphanumeric character to "-" is lossy, so distinct inputs can collapse to the same readable prefix.
+	// The hash suffix must keep such cases apart, otherwise an image built for one repository is reused for another.
+	collisions := [][2]struct {
+		repoName   string
+		actionName string
+	}{
+		// Two different repositories, both `uses: ./`: "a/b-c" and "a-b/c" both sanitize to "a-b-c".
+		{{"a/b-c", "./"}, {"a-b/c", "./"}},
+		// A repository's root action vs another repository's sub-path action:
+		// "owner/repo-a" + "./" and "owner/repo" + "./a" both sanitize to "owner-repo-a".
+		{{"owner/repo-a", "./"}, {"owner/repo", "./a"}},
+	}
+	for _, c := range collisions {
+		assert.NotEqual(t,
+			dockerActionImageTag(c[0].repoName, c[0].actionName, true),
+			dockerActionImageTag(c[1].repoName, c[1].actionName, true),
+			"local docker action tags must differ for %q/%q vs %q/%q",
+			c[0].repoName, c[0].actionName, c[1].repoName, c[1].actionName,
+		)
+	}
+
+	// Distinct local actions within the same repository keep distinct tags.
+	assert.NotEqual(t,
+		dockerActionImageTag("owner/repo", "./", true),
+		dockerActionImageTag("owner/repo", "./sub", true),
+	)
+}

act/runner/cancellation_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,285 @@
+// Copyright 2026 The Gitea Authors. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+package runner
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.com/gitea/runner/act/common"
+	"gitea.com/gitea/runner/act/exprparser"
+	"gitea.com/gitea/runner/act/model"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"go.yaml.in/yaml/v4"
+)
+
+// TestCancelledJobStatusEnablesAlwaysAndCancelledSteps verifies that once a job is
+// cancelled, getJobContext reports the "cancelled" status so the step `if` functions
+// evaluate the way GitHub Actions does: cancelled()/always() are true, success()/failure()
+// are false. A step that defaults to success() is therefore skipped while an always() step
+// still runs. Before the fix the status could only ever be success/failure, so cancelled()
+// was structurally impossible and cancel-only cleanup steps never ran.
+func TestCancelledJobStatusEnablesAlwaysAndCancelledSteps(t *testing.T) {
+	rc := createIfTestRunContext(map[string]*model.Job{
+		"job1": createJob(t, `runs-on: ubuntu-latest`, ""),
+	})
+	rc.markCancelled()
+
+	// The core fix: the job status context now reports "cancelled" instead of being
+	// pinned to success/failure.
+	jobCtx := rc.getJobContext()
+	require.Equal(t, "cancelled", jobCtx.Status)
+
+	// Feed that status through the step-context expression functions, which is what a
+	// step `if` evaluates. On a cancelled job only always()/cancelled() are true.
+	interp := exprparser.NewInterpeter(
+		&exprparser.EvaluationEnvironment{Job: jobCtx},
+		exprparser.Config{Context: "step"},
+	)
+	for expr, want := range map[string]bool{
+		"cancelled()":  true,
+		"always()":     true,
+		"success()":    false,
+		"failure()":    false,
+		"!cancelled()": false,
+	} {
+		got, err := interp.Evaluate(expr, exprparser.DefaultStatusCheckNone)
+		require.NoErrorf(t, err, "Evaluate(%q)", expr)
+		assert.Equalf(t, want, got, "Evaluate(%q) on a cancelled job", expr)
+	}
+
+	// A step without an `if` defaults to success() and must be skipped on cancel,
+	// while an `if: always()` step must still run.
+	disabled, err := interp.Evaluate("", exprparser.DefaultStatusCheckSuccess)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, false, disabled, "default-success step must be skipped on a cancelled job")
+
+	enabled, err := interp.Evaluate("always()", exprparser.DefaultStatusCheckSuccess)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, true, enabled, "`if: always()` step must run on a cancelled job")
+}
+
+// TestMainStepsExecutorRunsAlwaysStepsAfterCancel verifies that newMainStepsExecutor does
+// not abandon the remaining steps when the run is cancelled mid-pipeline. The later step
+// still runs (so a main-stage always() step is reached), it runs under a fresh,
+// non-cancelled context, and the job is marked cancelled. The interrupt error is still
+// propagated so callers up the chain see the cancellation.
+func TestMainStepsExecutorRunsAlwaysStepsAfterCancel(t *testing.T) {
+	rc := createIfTestRunContext(map[string]*model.Job{
+		"job1": createJob(t, `runs-on: ubuntu-latest`, ""),
+	})
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	var ran []string
+	var laterStepCtxErr error
+	steps := []common.Executor{
+		func(_ context.Context) error {
+			ran = append(ran, "step1")
+			cancel() // server cancellation lands while step1 runs
+			return nil
+		},
+		func(c context.Context) error {
+			ran = append(ran, "always-step")
+			laterStepCtxErr = c.Err()
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	err := newMainStepsExecutor(rc, steps)(ctx)
+
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, context.Canceled, "interrupt error is propagated")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"step1", "always-step"}, ran, "the always() step still runs after cancel")
+	require.NoError(t, laterStepCtxErr, "remaining steps run under a fresh, non-cancelled context")
+	assert.True(t, rc.jobCancelled, "the job is marked cancelled")
+}
+
+// TestMainStepsExecutorMarksFailedOnTimeoutBetweenSteps guards the timeout path's symmetry with the cancel path.
+// When the job deadline (timeout-minutes) lands in the gap between two steps, the job must be marked as failed (not cancelled),
+// so always()/failure() cleanup steps run while default success() steps skip, and so the timed-out job is not reported as success.
+func TestMainStepsExecutorMarksFailedOnTimeoutBetweenSteps(t *testing.T) {
+	rc := createIfTestRunContext(map[string]*model.Job{
+		"job1": createJob(t, `runs-on: ubuntu-latest`, ""),
+	})
+
+	// A short deadline that we let elapse between steps, so no step records the error itself.
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Millisecond)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	var ran []string
+	var laterStepCtxErr error
+	steps := []common.Executor{
+		func(c context.Context) error {
+			ran = append(ran, "step1")
+			// Block until the job deadline elapses, then return cleanly: the interrupt lands in the loop's between-steps check, not inside a step.
+			<-c.Done()
+			return nil
+		},
+		func(c context.Context) error {
+			ran = append(ran, "always-step")
+			laterStepCtxErr = c.Err()
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	err := newMainStepsExecutor(rc, steps)(ctx)
+
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, context.DeadlineExceeded, "the timeout error is propagated")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"step1", "always-step"}, ran, "the always() step still runs after a timeout")
+	require.NoError(t, laterStepCtxErr, "remaining steps run under a fresh, non-expired context")
+	assert.True(t, rc.jobFailed, "a job timeout marks the job failed")
+	assert.False(t, rc.jobCancelled, "a timeout is not a cancellation")
+
+	// The status the real main-step `if` evaluation sees: "failure", so default success() steps skip while always()/failure() steps run.
+	assert.Equal(t, "failure", rc.getJobContext().Status)
+}
+
+// TestStepsExecutorRunsMainStepsAfterPreCancel verifies that a cancellation landing during the
+// pre phase does not abandon the main steps: newStepsExecutor still runs the main-steps executor,
+// so a main-stage always()/cancelled() step is reached (under a fresh, non-cancelled context),
+// the job is marked cancelled, and the cancellation is propagated. Before the fix the `.Then(...)`
+// short-circuit skipped the main steps entirely when a pre step was cancelled.
+func TestStepsExecutorRunsMainStepsAfterPreCancel(t *testing.T) {
+	rc := createIfTestRunContext(map[string]*model.Job{
+		"job1": createJob(t, `runs-on: ubuntu-latest`, ""),
+	})
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	var ran []string
+	var mainStepCtxErr error
+	preSteps := []common.Executor{
+		func(_ context.Context) error {
+			ran = append(ran, "pre1")
+			cancel() // server cancellation lands during the pre phase
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+	steps := []common.Executor{
+		func(c context.Context) error {
+			ran = append(ran, "always-step")
+			mainStepCtxErr = c.Err()
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	err := newStepsExecutor(rc, preSteps, steps)(ctx)
+
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, context.Canceled, "the cancellation is propagated")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"pre1", "always-step"}, ran, "the main always() step runs after a pre-phase cancel")
+	require.NoError(t, mainStepCtxErr, "the main step runs under a fresh, non-cancelled context")
+	assert.True(t, rc.jobCancelled, "the job is marked cancelled")
+}
+
+// TestStepsExecutorRunsMainStepsAfterPreFailure verifies that a failing pre step does not abandon
+// the main steps: they still run (so a main-stage always()/failure() step is reached), and the
+// pre-step error is propagated so the job is reported as failed. The main steps' own `if`
+// evaluation is what skips success()-default steps, so running them here is safe.
+func TestStepsExecutorRunsMainStepsAfterPreFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	rc := createIfTestRunContext(map[string]*model.Job{
+		"job1": createJob(t, `runs-on: ubuntu-latest`, ""),
+	})
+
+	var ran []string
+	preSteps := []common.Executor{
+		func(_ context.Context) error {
+			ran = append(ran, "pre1")
+			return assert.AnError
+		},
+	}
+	steps := []common.Executor{
+		func(_ context.Context) error {
+			ran = append(ran, "always-step")
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	err := newStepsExecutor(rc, preSteps, steps)(context.Background())
+
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, assert.AnError, "the pre-step error is propagated")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"pre1", "always-step"}, ran, "the main always() step runs after a pre-step failure")
+	assert.False(t, rc.jobCancelled, "a pre-step failure is not a cancellation")
+}
+
+// TestPreStepFailureAffectsMainStepIfStatus verifies the status path used by real
+// main-step `if` evaluation. A pre-step failure is not present in StepResults, so
+// recording only the context job error is not enough: getJobContext must also report
+// failure so success()-default main steps skip and failure() steps run.
+func TestPreStepFailureAffectsMainStepIfStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	rc := createIfTestRunContext(map[string]*model.Job{
+		"job1": createJob(t, `runs-on: ubuntu-latest`, ""),
+	})
+	ctx := common.WithJobErrorContainer(context.Background())
+
+	reportStepError(ctx, rc, assert.AnError)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "failure", rc.getJobContext().Status)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, common.JobError(ctx), assert.AnError)
+
+	defaultStep := &stepRun{
+		RunContext: rc,
+		Step:       &model.Step{ID: "default-step"},
+		env:        map[string]string{},
+	}
+	defaultEnabled, err := isStepEnabled(ctx, defaultStep.getIfExpression(ctx, stepStageMain), defaultStep, stepStageMain)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, defaultEnabled, "default success() main step must skip after a pre-step failure")
+
+	failureStep := &stepRun{
+		RunContext: rc,
+		Step: &model.Step{
+			ID: "failure-step",
+			If: yaml.Node{Value: "failure()"},
+		},
+		env: map[string]string{},
+	}
+	failureEnabled, err := isStepEnabled(ctx, failureStep.getIfExpression(ctx, stepStageMain), failureStep, stepStageMain)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, failureEnabled, "failure() main step must run after a pre-step failure")
+}
+
+// TestPostStepsContextCancelledIsUsableForFailingStep guards against a panic: post/cleanup
+// steps run on a context derived from the cancelled job context, and a failing post step
+// records its error via common.SetJobError. If that derived context lacks a job-error container,
+// SetJobError dereferences a nil map and panics. The post context must therefore be detached
+// from cancellation (so the steps run) yet still carry a usable error container.
+func TestPostStepsContextCancelledIsUsableForFailingStep(t *testing.T) {
+	cancelled, cancel := context.WithCancel(common.WithJobErrorContainer(context.Background()))
+	cancel()
+	require.ErrorIs(t, cancelled.Err(), context.Canceled)
+
+	postCtx, done := postStepsContext(cancelled)
+	defer done()
+
+	// Detached from cancellation, so the post steps actually run.
+	require.NoError(t, postCtx.Err(), "post context must not be cancelled")
+
+	// A failing post step records its error instead of panicking.
+	require.NotPanics(t, func() {
+		common.SetJobError(postCtx, assert.AnError)
+	}, "a failing post step must not panic on the cancel path")
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, common.JobError(postCtx), assert.AnError)
+}
+
+// TestPostStepsContextDeadlinePreservesJobError verifies the job-timeout path keeps the original
+// job-error container (via context.WithoutCancel), so the timeout failure and any post-step error
+// survive into the post phase and the job is still reported as failed.
+func TestPostStepsContextDeadlinePreservesJobError(t *testing.T) {
+	base := common.WithJobErrorContainer(context.Background())
+	common.SetJobError(base, assert.AnError)
+	expired, cancel := context.WithDeadline(base, time.Now().Add(-time.Hour))
+	defer cancel()
+	require.ErrorIs(t, expired.Err(), context.DeadlineExceeded)
+
+	postCtx, done := postStepsContext(expired)
+	defer done()
+
+	require.NoError(t, postCtx.Err(), "post context must not carry the expired deadline")
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, common.JobError(postCtx), assert.AnError, "the timeout job error must be preserved")
+}

act/runner/job_executor.go

@@ -58,9 +58,10 @@ type jobInfo interface {
 
 // reportStepError emits the GitHub Actions ##[error] annotation and records
 // the error against the job so the job is reported as failed.
-func reportStepError(ctx context.Context, err error) {
+func reportStepError(ctx context.Context, rc *RunContext, err error) {
 	common.Logger(ctx).Errorf("##[error]%v", err)
 	common.SetJobError(ctx, err)
+	rc.markFailed()
 }
 
 func newJobExecutor(info jobInfo, sf stepFactory, rc *RunContext) common.Executor {
@@ -118,9 +119,9 @@ func newJobExecutor(info jobInfo, sf stepFactory, rc *RunContext) common.Executo
 			rc.CurrentStepIndex = stepIdx
 			preErr := preExec(ctx)
 			if preErr != nil {
-				reportStepError(ctx, preErr)
+				reportStepError(ctx, rc, preErr)
 			} else if ctx.Err() != nil {
-				reportStepError(ctx, ctx.Err())
+				reportStepError(ctx, rc, ctx.Err())
 			}
 			return preErr
 		}))
@@ -130,9 +131,9 @@ func newJobExecutor(info jobInfo, sf stepFactory, rc *RunContext) common.Executo
 			rc.CurrentStepIndex = stepIdx
 			err := stepExec(ctx)
 			if err != nil {
-				reportStepError(ctx, err)
+				reportStepError(ctx, rc, err)
 			} else if ctx.Err() != nil {
-				reportStepError(ctx, ctx.Err())
+				reportStepError(ctx, rc, ctx.Err())
 			}
 			return nil
 		}))
@@ -142,9 +143,9 @@ func newJobExecutor(info jobInfo, sf stepFactory, rc *RunContext) common.Executo
 			rc.CurrentStepIndex = stepIdx
 			err := postFn(ctx)
 			if err != nil {
-				reportStepError(ctx, err)
+				reportStepError(ctx, rc, err)
 			} else if ctx.Err() != nil {
-				reportStepError(ctx, ctx.Err())
+				reportStepError(ctx, rc, ctx.Err())
 			}
 			return err
 		})
@@ -159,7 +160,12 @@ func newJobExecutor(info jobInfo, sf stepFactory, rc *RunContext) common.Executo
 	postExecutor = postExecutor.Finally(func(ctx context.Context) error {
 		jobError := common.JobError(ctx)
 		var err error
-		if rc.Config.AutoRemove || jobError == nil {
+		// jobError == nil keeps a failed job's container alive for post-mortem debugging when
+		// AutoRemove is off (the act-CLI --rm behavior; the shipped runner always sets
+		// AutoRemove). A cancelled run is not a failure to inspect, and the cancel-path post
+		// context now carries its own error container so a failing post step makes jobError
+		// non-nil — OR in rc.jobCancelled so cancellation still always tears the container down.
+		if rc.Config.AutoRemove || jobError == nil || rc.jobCancelled {
 			// always allow 1 min for stopping and removing the runner, even if we were cancelled
 			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(common.WithLogger(context.Background(), common.Logger(ctx)), time.Minute)
 			defer cancel()
@@ -198,35 +204,107 @@ func newJobExecutor(info jobInfo, sf stepFactory, rc *RunContext) common.Executo
 		return err
 	})
 
-	pipeline := make([]common.Executor, 0)
+	stepsExecutor := newStepsExecutor(rc, preSteps, steps)
-	pipeline = append(pipeline, preSteps...)
-	pipeline = append(pipeline, steps...)
 
-	return common.NewPipelineExecutor(info.startContainer(), common.NewPipelineExecutor(pipeline...).
+	return common.NewPipelineExecutor(info.startContainer(), stepsExecutor.
 		Finally(func(ctx context.Context) error {
-			var cancel context.CancelFunc
+			// Record an interrupt (backstop for interrupts that land outside the main
-			switch ctx.Err() {
+			// step loop) so the post steps observe the cancelled/failed job status.
-			case context.Canceled:
+			rc.markInterrupted(ctx.Err())
-				// in case of an aborted run, we still should execute the
+			postCtx, cancel := postStepsContext(ctx)
-				// post steps to allow cleanup.
-				ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(common.WithLogger(context.Background(), common.Logger(ctx)), 5*time.Minute)
 			defer cancel()
-			case context.DeadlineExceeded:
+			return postExecutor(postCtx)
-				// The job hit its timeout-minutes. Without a fresh context the post
-				// steps would run against the already-expired context and be skipped,
-				// so cleanup post-hooks (e.g. actions/checkout post, cache save) would
-				// not run. Derive the context with WithoutCancel so the new deadline
-				// applies but the job error state is preserved: the job is still
-				// reported as failed and container teardown matches a normal failure.
-				ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), 5*time.Minute)
-				defer cancel()
-			}
-			return postExecutor(ctx)
 		}).
 		Finally(info.interpolateOutputs()).
 		Finally(info.closeContainer()))
 }
 
+// postStepsContext derives the context used to run the job's post/cleanup steps from the
+// finished main-pipeline context. Cleanup has to run even when the run was interrupted, so the
+// returned context always carries a fresh bounded deadline and is never itself cancelled.
+//
+//   - context.Canceled (server cancel): detach from the cancelled context via a fresh root so
+//     the post steps can run.
+//   - context.DeadlineExceeded (job timeout): detach the deadline with WithoutCancel, which
+//     keeps the original values — including the job-error container — so the timeout failure and
+//     any post-step error are preserved and the job is still reported as failed.
+//   - otherwise: run on the live context unchanged.
+func postStepsContext(ctx context.Context) (context.Context, context.CancelFunc) {
+	switch ctx.Err() {
+	case context.Canceled:
+		// The cancelled context is abandoned for a fresh root, which drops the job-error
+		// container installed at the job root. Re-attach a fresh one so a failing post step
+		// records its error via SetJobError instead of panicking on a nil container.
+		return context.WithTimeout(common.WithJobErrorContainer(common.WithLogger(context.Background(), common.Logger(ctx))), 5*time.Minute)
+	case context.DeadlineExceeded:
+		return context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), 5*time.Minute)
+	default:
+		return ctx, func() {}
+	}
+}
+
+// newStepsExecutor sequences the job's pre steps and main steps.
+//
+// The pre steps run as a normal pipeline that short-circuits on the first failure or
+// cancellation. The main-steps executor then runs unconditionally — even if a pre step failed
+// or the job was interrupted — so always()/cancelled()/failure() main steps still run, mirroring
+// GitHub Actions. This is safe because each main step re-evaluates its own `if` (a pre-step
+// failure flips the expression job status to failure, so success()-default steps skip) and
+// newMainStepsExecutor detaches from an interrupted context before running the remaining steps.
+//
+// A pre-step failure or interrupt is still propagated so the job is reported with the correct
+// conclusion; the pre error takes precedence since it happened first.
+func newStepsExecutor(rc *RunContext, preSteps, steps []common.Executor) common.Executor {
+	preExecutor := common.NewPipelineExecutor(preSteps...)
+	mainExecutor := newMainStepsExecutor(rc, steps)
+	return func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		preErr := preExecutor(ctx)
+		mainErr := mainExecutor(ctx)
+		if preErr != nil {
+			return preErr
+		}
+		return mainErr
+	}
+}
+
+// newMainStepsExecutor runs the job's main-stage step executors in order. Unlike a plain
+// pipeline, an interruption (context.Canceled from a server cancel, or context.DeadlineExceeded
+// from the job timeout) does not abandon the remaining steps: it marks the job cancelled when
+// appropriate and keeps iterating under a fresh, bounded context so steps whose `if` still
+// evaluates true — always() and cancelled() — run for cleanup, mirroring GitHub Actions. Steps
+// that default to success() skip themselves because success() is false once the job is no longer
+// successful. The main-step wrappers report their own errors and return nil, so the loop drives
+// step ordering off the context, not return values.
+func newMainStepsExecutor(rc *RunContext, steps []common.Executor) common.Executor {
+	return func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		for i, step := range steps {
+			if ctx.Err() != nil {
+				return runMainStepsAfterInterrupt(ctx, rc, steps[i:])
+			}
+			_ = step(ctx)
+		}
+		// An interrupt can land during the final step, after the loop's last context
+		// check; record it so the post steps still observe the cancelled/failed status.
+		rc.markInterrupted(ctx.Err())
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
+// runMainStepsAfterInterrupt runs the remaining main steps after the job context was cancelled or
+// timed out. It detaches from the interrupted context (keeping its values: logger and job error)
+// and applies a fresh deadline so always()/cancelled() steps run to completion. The original
+// interrupt error is returned so callers up the chain still see the job as cancelled/timed out.
+func runMainStepsAfterInterrupt(ctx context.Context, rc *RunContext, steps []common.Executor) error {
+	interruptErr := ctx.Err()
+	rc.markInterrupted(interruptErr)
+	freshCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), 5*time.Minute)
+	defer cancel()
+	for _, step := range steps {
+		_ = step(freshCtx)
+	}
+	return interruptErr
+}
+
 func setJobResult(ctx context.Context, info jobInfo, rc *RunContext, success bool) {
 	logger := common.Logger(ctx)
 

act/runner/reusable_workflow.go

@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ func cloneRemoteReusableWorkflow(rc *RunContext, cloneURL, ref, targetDirectory,
 			Dir:         targetDirectory,
 			Token:       token,
 			OfflineMode: rc.Config.ActionOfflineMode,
+			Depth:       rc.Config.ActionCloneDepth,
 		})(ctx)
 	}
 }

act/runner/run_context.go

@@ -73,6 +73,39 @@ type RunContext struct {
 	// captured before execution so each matrix combo interpolates from the originals rather
 	// than from a sibling's already-resolved values written into the shared Job.Outputs.
 	outputTemplate map[string]string
+	// jobCancelled records that this job's run was cancelled (context.Canceled). It makes
+	// getJobContext report the "cancelled" status so cancelled()/always() evaluate the way
+	// GitHub Actions does, letting cleanup and always() steps run while normal steps skip.
+	jobCancelled bool
+	// jobFailed records failures outside normal main-step results, such as action pre-step
+	// failures. Those failures must still make success() false and failure() true for later
+	// main-step if evaluation.
+	jobFailed bool
+}
+
+// markCancelled flags the job as cancelled so subsequent step `if` evaluations and the
+// job status context observe the "cancelled" state.
+func (rc *RunContext) markCancelled() {
+	rc.jobCancelled = true
+}
+
+// markFailed flags the job as failed so subsequent step `if` evaluations observe
+// failure even when the error happened outside a main step result.
+func (rc *RunContext) markFailed() {
+	rc.jobFailed = true
+}
+
+// markInterrupted records the job's interruption status from a context error so later step `if` evaluations and the job result observe it,
+// keeping the timeout path symmetric with the cancel path:
+//   - context.Canceled (server cancel) marks the job cancelled, matching GitHub's "only always()/cancelled() run on cancel".
+//   - context.DeadlineExceeded (job timeout-minutes) marks the job failed, matching the "Timeout -> FAILURE" reporting semantics.
+func (rc *RunContext) markInterrupted(err error) {
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, context.Canceled):
+		rc.markCancelled()
+	case errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded):
+		rc.markFailed()
+	}
 }
 
 func (rc *RunContext) AddMask(mask string) {
@@ -904,12 +937,21 @@ func trimToLen(s string, l int) string {
 
 func (rc *RunContext) getJobContext() *model.JobContext {
 	jobStatus := "success"
+	if rc.jobFailed {
+		jobStatus = "failure"
+	}
 	for _, stepStatus := range rc.StepResults {
 		if stepStatus.Conclusion == model.StepStatusFailure {
 			jobStatus = "failure"
 			break
 		}
 	}
+	// A cancelled run takes precedence over success/failure so cancelled() is true and
+	// success()/failure() are false, matching GitHub Actions: on cancellation only
+	// always() and cancelled() steps run.
+	if rc.jobCancelled {
+		jobStatus = "cancelled"
+	}
 	return &model.JobContext{
 		Status: jobStatus,
 	}

act/runner/runner.go

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	Workdir                            string                                        // path to working directory
 	ActionCacheDir                     string                                        // path used for caching action contents
 	ActionOfflineMode                  bool                                          // when offline, use cached action contents
+	ActionCloneDepth                   int                                           // limit history when cloning an action repo; 0 clones every branch in full
 	BindWorkdir                        bool                                          // bind the workdir to the job container
 	EventName                          string                                        // name of event to run
 	EventPath                          string                                        // path to JSON file to use for event.json in containers

act/runner/step_action_remote.go

@@ -114,13 +114,23 @@ func (sar *stepActionRemote) prepareActionExecutor() common.Executor {
 
 		actionDir := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", sar.RunContext.ActionCacheDir(), sar.Step.UsesHash())
 		defaultActionURL := sar.RunContext.Config.DefaultActionURL()
-		token := getGitCloneToken(sar.getRunContext().Config, sar.remoteAction.CloneURL(defaultActionURL))
+		// For Gitea
+		// A composite RunContext nils Config.Secrets, so getGitCloneToken would yield an
+		// empty token and clone the action anonymously (401 against the authenticated
+		// instance). github.Token survives the composite config copy and matches the
+		// top-level token; keep the shouldCloneURLUseToken host gate to avoid leaking it.
+		cloneURL := sar.remoteAction.CloneURL(defaultActionURL)
+		token := ""
+		if shouldCloneURLUseToken(sar.RunContext.Config.GitHubInstance, cloneURL) {
+			token = github.Token
+		}
 		gitClone := stepActionRemoteNewCloneExecutor(git.NewGitCloneExecutorInput{
-			URL:         sar.remoteAction.CloneURL(defaultActionURL),
+			URL:         cloneURL,
 			Ref:         sar.remoteAction.Ref,
 			Dir:         actionDir,
 			Token:       token,
 			OfflineMode: sar.RunContext.Config.ActionOfflineMode,
+			Depth:       sar.RunContext.Config.ActionCloneDepth,
 
 			InsecureSkipTLS: sar.cloneSkipTLS(), // For Gitea
 		})

act/runner/step_action_remote_test.go

@@ -838,3 +838,83 @@ func Test_safeFilename(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// Regression: a nested action in a composite cloned anonymously (401) because the
+// composite RunContext nils Config.Secrets. The token must come from github.Token,
+// which survives the config copy; the host gate must still withhold it cross-host.
+func TestStepActionRemoteCloneTokenSurvivesNilSecrets(t *testing.T) {
+	const wantToken = "job-token"
+
+	table := []struct {
+		name                  string
+		gitHubInstance        string
+		defaultActionInstance string
+		wantCloneToken        string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:           "same host forwards token despite nil secrets",
+			gitHubInstance: "gitea.example.com",
+			wantCloneToken: wantToken,
+		},
+		{
+			name:                  "foreign host is not given the token",
+			gitHubInstance:        "gitea.example.com",
+			defaultActionInstance: "github.com",
+			wantCloneToken:        "",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range table {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx := context.Background()
+
+			var capturedToken string
+			origStepAtionRemoteNewCloneExecutor := stepActionRemoteNewCloneExecutor
+			stepActionRemoteNewCloneExecutor = func(input git.NewGitCloneExecutorInput) common.Executor {
+				capturedToken = input.Token
+				return func(ctx context.Context) error { return nil }
+			}
+			defer (func() {
+				stepActionRemoteNewCloneExecutor = origStepAtionRemoteNewCloneExecutor
+			})()
+
+			sarm := &stepActionRemoteMocks{}
+			sar := &stepActionRemote{
+				Step: &model.Step{Uses: "org/repo@v1"},
+				RunContext: &RunContext{
+					Config: &Config{
+						GitHubInstance:        tt.gitHubInstance,
+						DefaultActionInstance: tt.defaultActionInstance,
+						ActionCacheDir:        "/tmp/test-cache",
+						// Mirrors the state of a composite RunContext: job secrets are
+						// stripped, but the job token is still reachable via Config.Token.
+						Secrets: nil,
+						Token:   wantToken,
+					},
+					Run: &model.Run{
+						JobID: "1",
+						Workflow: &model.Workflow{
+							Jobs: map[string]*model.Job{"1": {}},
+						},
+					},
+					StepResults: map[string]*model.StepResult{},
+				},
+				readAction: sarm.readAction,
+			}
+			sar.RunContext.ExprEval = sar.RunContext.NewExpressionEvaluator(ctx)
+
+			suffixMatcher := func(suffix string) any {
+				return mock.MatchedBy(func(actionDir string) bool {
+					return strings.HasSuffix(actionDir, suffix)
+				})
+			}
+			sarm.On("readAction", sar.Step, suffixMatcher(sar.Step.UsesHash()), "", mock.Anything, mock.Anything).Return(&model.Action{}, nil)
+
+			err := sar.prepareActionExecutor()(ctx)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantCloneToken, capturedToken)
+
+			sarm.AssertExpectations(t)
+		})
+	}
+}

go.mod

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/containerd/errdefs v1.0.0
 	github.com/creack/pty v1.1.24
 	github.com/distribution/reference v0.6.0
-	github.com/docker/cli v29.5.3+incompatible
+	github.com/docker/cli v29.6.0+incompatible
 	github.com/docker/go-connections v0.7.0
 	github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5 v5.9.0
 	github.com/go-git/go-git/v5 v5.19.1
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ require (
 	github.com/kballard/go-shellquote v0.0.0-20180428030007-95032a82bc51
 	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.22
 	github.com/moby/go-archive v0.2.0
-	github.com/moby/moby/api v1.54.2
+	github.com/moby/moby/api v1.55.0
-	github.com/moby/moby/client v0.4.1
+	github.com/moby/moby/client v0.5.0
 	github.com/moby/patternmatcher v0.6.1
 	github.com/opencontainers/image-spec v1.1.1
 	github.com/opencontainers/selinux v1.15.1

go.sum

@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ github.com/distribution/reference v0.6.0 h1:0IXCQ5g4/QMHHkarYzh5l+u8T3t73zM5Qvfr
 github.com/distribution/reference v0.6.0/go.mod h1:BbU0aIcezP1/5jX/8MP0YiH4SdvB5Y4f/wlDRiLyi3E=
 github.com/docker/cli v29.5.3+incompatible h1:nbEFfz774vBwQ5KRYv7c/AghjReqnGISvrRhzjV0evs=
 github.com/docker/cli v29.5.3+incompatible/go.mod h1:JLrzqnKDaYBop7H2jaqPtU4hHvMKP+vjCwu2uszcLI8=
+github.com/docker/cli v29.6.0+incompatible h1:nw9himxMMZ7eIeherJNlKQq+acnlzGgHd+4uf10QRSc=
+github.com/docker/cli v29.6.0+incompatible/go.mod h1:JLrzqnKDaYBop7H2jaqPtU4hHvMKP+vjCwu2uszcLI8=
 github.com/docker/docker-credential-helpers v0.9.6 h1:cT2PbRPSlnMmNTfT2TDMXRyQ1KMWHG7xoTLBcn1ZNv0=
 github.com/docker/docker-credential-helpers v0.9.6/go.mod h1:v1S+hepowrQXITkEfw6o4+BMbGot02wiKpzWhGUZK6c=
 github.com/docker/go-connections v0.7.0 h1:6SsRfJddP22WMrCkj19x9WKjEDTB+ahsdiGYf0mN39c=
@@ -129,8 +131,12 @@ github.com/moby/go-archive v0.2.0 h1:zg5QDUM2mi0JIM9fdQZWC7U8+2ZfixfTYoHL7rWUcP8
 github.com/moby/go-archive v0.2.0/go.mod h1:mNeivT14o8xU+5q1YnNrkQVpK+dnNe/K6fHqnTg4qPU=
 github.com/moby/moby/api v1.54.2 h1:wiat9QAhnDQjA7wk1kh/TqHz2I1uUA7M7t9SAl/JNXg=
 github.com/moby/moby/api v1.54.2/go.mod h1:+RQ6wluLwtYaTd1WnPLykIDPekkuyD/ROWQClE83pzs=
+github.com/moby/moby/api v1.55.0 h1:2/sexvQyqIWS8pRSCFddBfpW2qE7vR7FCL+vN8pxwMc=
+github.com/moby/moby/api v1.55.0/go.mod h1:+RQ6wluLwtYaTd1WnPLykIDPekkuyD/ROWQClE83pzs=
 github.com/moby/moby/client v0.4.1 h1:DMQgisVoMkmMs7fp3ROSdiBnoAu8+vo3GggFl06M/wY=
 github.com/moby/moby/client v0.4.1/go.mod h1:z52C9O2POPOsnxZAy//WtKcQ32P+jT/NGeXu/7nfjGQ=
+github.com/moby/moby/client v0.5.0 h1:5XhyPk2fuOWf6RlSFa3MkIIgDZkF25xToXW8Q/BH7cc=
+github.com/moby/moby/client v0.5.0/go.mod h1:rcVpF8ncl9vo5gaIBdol6CnbEtSj1uxMvEV/UrykF/s=
 github.com/moby/patternmatcher v0.6.1 h1:qlhtafmr6kgMIJjKJMDmMWq7WLkKIo23hsrpR3x084U=
 github.com/moby/patternmatcher v0.6.1/go.mod h1:hDPoyOpDY7OrrMDLaYoY3hf52gNCR/YOUYxkhApJIxc=
 github.com/moby/sys/sequential v0.6.0 h1:qrx7XFUd/5DxtqcoH1h438hF5TmOvzC/lspjy7zgvCU=

internal/app/run/runner.go

@@ -396,6 +396,12 @@ func (r *Runner) run(ctx context.Context, task *runnerv1.Task, reporter *report.
 		maxLifetime = time.Until(deadline)
 	}
 
+	// shallow clones the requested ref at depth 1, otherwise 0 means a full clone
+	actionCloneDepth := 1
+	if r.cfg.Runner.ActionShallowClone != nil && !*r.cfg.Runner.ActionShallowClone {
+		actionCloneDepth = 0
+	}
+
 	workdirParent := strings.TrimLeft(r.cfg.Container.WorkdirParent, "/")
 	if r.cfg.Container.BindWorkdir {
 		// Append the task ID to isolate concurrent jobs from the same repo.
@@ -418,6 +424,7 @@ func (r *Runner) run(ctx context.Context, task *runnerv1.Task, reporter *report.
 		ActionCacheDir:    filepath.FromSlash(r.cfg.Host.WorkdirParent),
 		AllocatePTY:       r.cfg.Runner.AllocatePTY,
 		ActionOfflineMode: r.cfg.Cache.OfflineMode,
+		ActionCloneDepth:  actionCloneDepth,
 
 		ReuseContainers:      false,
 		ForcePull:            r.cfg.Container.ForcePull,

internal/pkg/config/config.example.yaml

@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ runner:
   # and github_mirror is not empty. In this case,
   # it replaces https://github.com with the value here, which is useful for some special network environments.
   github_mirror: ''
+  # When true (the default), fetch only the requested ref of an action repository (e.g. actions/checkout@v4) at depth 1 instead of cloning every branch's full history. 
+  # Set to false to clone the full history.
+  action_shallow_clone: true
   # The labels of a runner are used to determine which jobs the runner can run, and how to run them.
   # Like: "macos-arm64:host" or "ubuntu-latest:docker://docker.gitea.com/runner-images:ubuntu-latest"
   # Find more images provided by Gitea at https://gitea.com/gitea/runner-images .

internal/pkg/config/config.go

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ type Runner struct {
 	ReportCloseTimeout    time.Duration     `yaml:"report_close_timeout"`     // ReportCloseTimeout caps each RPC attempt when flushing the final logs and task state at job completion, on a detached context so a server cancel can't block the acknowledgement.
 	Labels                []string          `yaml:"labels"`                   // Labels specify the labels of the runner. Labels are declared on each startup
 	GithubMirror          string            `yaml:"github_mirror"`            // GithubMirror defines what mirrors should be used when using github
+	ActionShallowClone    *bool             `yaml:"action_shallow_clone"`     // ActionShallowClone fetches only the requested ref of an action repository at depth 1 instead of cloning every branch's full history. It is a pointer to distinguish between false and not set; if not set, it defaults to true.
 	AllocatePTY           bool              `yaml:"allocate_pty"`             // AllocatePTY allocates a pseudo-TTY for each step's process. Default is false, matching GitHub's actions/runner. Enable only for jobs that need an interactive terminal; tools like docker build emit redrawing progress frames into the captured log when a TTY is present. Applies to both host and docker backends.
 	PostTaskScript        string            `yaml:"post_task_script"`         // PostTaskScript is the path to an executable script run on the host after each task's cleanup completes. Empty disables the hook. On Windows use .exe/.bat/.cmd; PowerShell (.ps1) is not supported yet as the configured path.
 	PostTaskScriptTimeout time.Duration     `yaml:"post_task_script_timeout"` // PostTaskScriptTimeout caps how long the post-task script may run. Default is 5m when post_task_script is set.
@@ -151,6 +152,10 @@ func LoadDefault(file string) (*Config, error) {
 	if cfg.Runner.Timeout <= 0 {
 		cfg.Runner.Timeout = 3 * time.Hour
 	}
+	if cfg.Runner.ActionShallowClone == nil {
+		b := true
+		cfg.Runner.ActionShallowClone = &b
+	}
 	if cfg.Cache.Enabled == nil {
 		b := true
 		cfg.Cache.Enabled = &b

internal/pkg/process/killer_windows.go

@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ func NewKiller(p *os.Process) (*Killer, error) {
 
 	h, err := windows.OpenProcess(windows.PROCESS_SET_QUOTA|windows.PROCESS_TERMINATE, false, uint32(p.Pid))
 	if err != nil {
-		windows.CloseHandle(job)
+		_ = windows.CloseHandle(job)
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	defer windows.CloseHandle(h)
+	defer func() { _ = windows.CloseHandle(h) }()
 
 	if err := windows.AssignProcessToJobObject(job, h); err != nil {
-		windows.CloseHandle(job)
+		_ = windows.CloseHandle(job)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 

internal/pkg/process/killer_windows_test.go

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func processAlive(pid int) bool {
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
-	defer windows.CloseHandle(h)
+	defer func() { _ = windows.CloseHandle(h) }()
 	var code uint32
 	if err := windows.GetExitCodeProcess(h, &code); err != nil {
 		return false