perf(config): lower default fetch_interval_max from 60s to 5s

- Reduce default maximum polling backoff to improve job pickup time
  for common single-runner deployments (from ~65s to ~5s worst case)
- Large fleets can still tune this value higher in their config

Refs: https://gitea.com/gitea/act_runner/issues/869

Co-Authored-By: Bo-Yi Wu <appleboy.tw@gmail.com>
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

act/artifactcache/handler.go

@@ -5,17 +5,24 @@
 package artifactcache
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/hmac"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
@@ -28,9 +35,36 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	urlBase = "/_apis/artifactcache"
+	apiPath      = "/_apis/artifactcache"
+	internalPath = "/_internal"
+
+	// artifactURLTTL bounds how long a signed artifactLocation URL stays valid.
+	// Short enough that a leaked URL is near-worthless; long enough to let the
+	// @actions/cache client download a big blob that was returned from /cache.
+	artifactURLTTL = 10 * time.Minute
 )
 
+type credKey struct{}
+
+// JobCredential ties a per-job bearer token (ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN) to the
+// repository that owns it. Every cache entry is stamped with Repo on
+// reserve/commit and checked on read/write so one repo can never observe or
+// poison another repo's cache, even from inside a container that reaches the
+// cache server over the docker bridge network.
+type JobCredential struct {
+	Repo string
+}
+
+// credEntry holds a registered job's credential along with an active
+// registration count. RegisterJob is reference-counted so that if two tasks
+// briefly share an ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN — e.g. a runner that retries a task
+// after a crash before the old registration is revoked — the first task's
+// revoker does not cut the second task's auth out from under it.
+type credEntry struct {
+	cred JobCredential
+	refs int
+}
+
 type Handler struct {
 	dir      string
 	storage  *Storage
@@ -43,10 +77,36 @@ type Handler struct {
 	gcAt  time.Time
 
 	outboundIP string
+
+	// internalSecret guards /_internal/{register,revoke}. When set, a remote
+	// runner can use these endpoints to pre-register per-job
+	// ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKENs against this server, enabling the same
+	// per-job auth and repo scoping as the embedded handler over the
+	// network. Empty disables the control-plane entirely.
+	internalSecret string
+
+	// secret signs short-lived artifact download URLs. The @actions/cache
+	// toolkit does not send Authorization on the download request, so blob
+	// GETs authenticate via a per-URL HMAC signature with expiry rather than
+	// via the bearer token used for management endpoints.
+	secret []byte
+
+	credMu sync.RWMutex
+	creds  map[string]*credEntry
 }
 
-func StartHandler(dir, outboundIP string, port uint16, logger logrus.FieldLogger) (*Handler, error) {
-	h := &Handler{}
+// StartHandler opens the on-disk cache store and starts the HTTP server.
+//
+// internalSecret, when non-empty, enables a control-plane API at
+// /_internal/{register,revoke} that lets a remote runner pre-register the
+// per-job ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKENs it expects this server to honor. The
+// embedded in-process handler leaves it empty and registers tokens via the
+// in-process RegisterJob method directly.
+func StartHandler(dir, outboundIP string, port uint16, internalSecret string, logger logrus.FieldLogger) (*Handler, error) {
+	h := &Handler{
+		creds:          make(map[string]*credEntry),
+		internalSecret: internalSecret,
+	}
 
 	if logger == nil {
 		discard := logrus.New()
@@ -83,19 +143,37 @@ func StartHandler(dir, outboundIP string, port uint16, logger logrus.FieldLogger
 		h.outboundIP = ip.String()
 	}
 
+	secret, err := loadOrCreateSecret(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	h.secret = secret
+
 	router := httprouter.New()
-	router.GET(urlBase+"/cache", h.middleware(h.find))
-	router.POST(urlBase+"/caches", h.middleware(h.reserve))
-	router.PATCH(urlBase+"/caches/:id", h.middleware(h.upload))
-	router.POST(urlBase+"/caches/:id", h.middleware(h.commit))
-	router.GET(urlBase+"/artifacts/:id", h.middleware(h.get))
-	router.POST(urlBase+"/clean", h.middleware(h.clean))
+	router.GET(apiPath+"/cache", h.bearerAuth(h.find))
+	router.POST(apiPath+"/caches", h.bearerAuth(h.reserve))
+	router.PATCH(apiPath+"/caches/:id", h.bearerAuth(h.upload))
+	router.POST(apiPath+"/caches/:id", h.bearerAuth(h.commit))
+	router.POST(apiPath+"/clean", h.bearerAuth(h.clean))
+	// Artifact GET is signed via query-string HMAC because @actions/cache
+	// does not attach Authorization when downloading archiveLocation.
+	router.GET(apiPath+"/artifacts/:id", h.signedURLAuth(h.get))
+	// Control-plane: a remote runner registers/revokes per-job tokens so the
+	// cache API can authenticate them. Always wired so the routes exist; the
+	// handlers themselves 401 when internalSecret is unset.
+	router.POST(internalPath+"/register", h.internalAuth(h.internalRegister))
+	router.POST(internalPath+"/revoke", h.internalAuth(h.internalRevoke))
 
 	h.router = router
 
 	h.gcCache()
 
-	listener, err := net.Listen("tcp", fmt.Sprintf(":%d", port)) // listen on all interfaces
+	// Listen on all interfaces. Binding to outboundIP only would give no real
+	// security benefit (it is the LAN/internet-facing address either way) and
+	// can break Docker Desktop variants where the host's outbound IP is not
+	// routable from inside the container network. Authentication is enforced
+	// by the bearer middleware and per-repo scoping, not by reachability.
+	listener, err := net.Listen("tcp", fmt.Sprintf(":%d", port))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -121,6 +199,91 @@ func (h *Handler) ExternalURL() string {
 		h.listener.Addr().(*net.TCPAddr).Port)
 }
 
+// RegisterJob makes token a valid bearer credential for cache requests from
+// the given repository and returns a function that removes it. The runner
+// calls this at job start and defers the returned func so that the credential
+// is only accepted while the job is running.
+//
+// Registrations are reference-counted: if a token is already registered, the
+// existing repo is kept and the refcount is incremented. The entry is
+// removed only when every revoker returned by RegisterJob has been called.
+// This keeps a stray re-registration from silently revoking a live job.
+func (h *Handler) RegisterJob(token, repo string) func() {
+	if h == nil || token == "" {
+		return func() {}
+	}
+	h.credMu.Lock()
+	if existing, ok := h.creds[token]; ok {
+		existing.refs++
+	} else {
+		h.creds[token] = &credEntry{
+			cred: JobCredential{Repo: repo},
+			refs: 1,
+		}
+	}
+	h.credMu.Unlock()
+	return func() {
+		h.credMu.Lock()
+		if entry, ok := h.creds[token]; ok {
+			entry.refs--
+			if entry.refs <= 0 {
+				delete(h.creds, token)
+			}
+		}
+		h.credMu.Unlock()
+	}
+}
+
+// RevokeJob explicitly revokes one registration of token, mirroring one call
+// of the closure returned by RegisterJob. Used by the control-plane endpoint
+// so a remote runner can revoke without holding the closure.
+func (h *Handler) RevokeJob(token string) {
+	if h == nil || token == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	h.credMu.Lock()
+	if entry, ok := h.creds[token]; ok {
+		entry.refs--
+		if entry.refs <= 0 {
+			delete(h.creds, token)
+		}
+	}
+	h.credMu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (h *Handler) lookupCredential(token string) (JobCredential, bool) {
+	h.credMu.RLock()
+	entry, ok := h.creds[token]
+	h.credMu.RUnlock()
+	if !ok {
+		return JobCredential{}, false
+	}
+	return entry.cred, true
+}
+
+// loadOrCreateSecret returns the 32-byte HMAC signing key for artifact URLs,
+// persisted in dir/.secret so signed URLs handed out before a restart stay
+// valid across the restart and so the standalone cache-server can be pointed
+// at by config.Cache.ExternalServer without the URL rotating.
+func loadOrCreateSecret(dir string) ([]byte, error) {
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, ".secret")
+	if data, err := os.ReadFile(path); err == nil {
+		if secret, err := hex.DecodeString(strings.TrimSpace(string(data))); err == nil && len(secret) >= 32 {
+			return secret, nil
+		}
+	} else if !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read cache secret: %w", err)
+	}
+	secret := make([]byte, 32)
+	if _, err := rand.Read(secret); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("generate cache secret: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(hex.EncodeToString(secret)), 0o600); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("write cache secret: %w", err)
+	}
+	return secret, nil
+}
+
 func (h *Handler) Close() error {
 	if h == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -160,6 +323,7 @@ func (h *Handler) openDB() (*bolthold.Store, error) {
 
 // GET /_apis/artifactcache/cache
 func (h *Handler) find(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, _ httprouter.Params) {
+	cred := credFromContext(r.Context())
 	keys := strings.Split(r.URL.Query().Get("keys"), ",")
 	// cache keys are case insensitive
 	for i, key := range keys {
@@ -174,7 +338,7 @@ func (h *Handler) find(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, _ httprouter.Para
 	}
 	defer db.Close()
 
-	cache, err := findCache(db, keys, version)
+	cache, err := findCache(db, cred.Repo, keys, version)
 	if err != nil {
 		h.responseJSON(w, r, 500, err)
 		return
@@ -194,13 +358,14 @@ func (h *Handler) find(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, _ httprouter.Para
 	}
 	h.responseJSON(w, r, 200, map[string]any{
 		"result":          "hit",
-		"archiveLocation": fmt.Sprintf("%s%s/artifacts/%d", h.ExternalURL(), urlBase, cache.ID),
+		"archiveLocation": h.signedArtifactURL(cache.ID, time.Now().Add(artifactURLTTL)),
 		"cacheKey":        cache.Key,
 	})
 }
 
 // POST /_apis/artifactcache/caches
 func (h *Handler) reserve(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, _ httprouter.Params) {
+	cred := credFromContext(r.Context())
 	api := &Request{}
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(api); err != nil {
 		h.responseJSON(w, r, 400, err)
@@ -210,6 +375,7 @@ func (h *Handler) reserve(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, _ httprouter.P
 	api.Key = strings.ToLower(api.Key)
 
 	cache := api.ToCache()
+	cache.Repo = cred.Repo
 	db, err := h.openDB()
 	if err != nil {
 		h.responseJSON(w, r, 500, err)
@@ -231,6 +397,7 @@ func (h *Handler) reserve(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, _ httprouter.P
 
 // PATCH /_apis/artifactcache/caches/:id
 func (h *Handler) upload(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, params httprouter.Params) {
+	cred := credFromContext(r.Context())
 	id, err := strconv.ParseInt(params.ByName("id"), 10, 64)
 	if err != nil {
 		h.responseJSON(w, r, 400, err)
@@ -253,6 +420,11 @@ func (h *Handler) upload(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, params httprout
 		return
 	}
 
+	if cache.Repo != cred.Repo {
+		h.responseJSON(w, r, 403, fmt.Errorf("cache %d: forbidden", id))
+		return
+	}
+
 	if cache.Complete {
 		h.responseJSON(w, r, 400, fmt.Errorf("cache %v %q: already complete", cache.ID, cache.Key))
 		return
@@ -272,6 +444,7 @@ func (h *Handler) upload(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, params httprout
 
 // POST /_apis/artifactcache/caches/:id
 func (h *Handler) commit(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, params httprouter.Params) {
+	cred := credFromContext(r.Context())
 	id, err := strconv.ParseInt(params.ByName("id"), 10, 64)
 	if err != nil {
 		h.responseJSON(w, r, 400, err)
@@ -294,6 +467,11 @@ func (h *Handler) commit(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, params httprout
 		return
 	}
 
+	if cache.Repo != cred.Repo {
+		h.responseJSON(w, r, 403, fmt.Errorf("cache %d: forbidden", id))
+		return
+	}
+
 	if cache.Complete {
 		h.responseJSON(w, r, 400, fmt.Errorf("cache %v %q: already complete", cache.ID, cache.Key))
 		return
@@ -326,6 +504,10 @@ func (h *Handler) commit(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, params httprout
 }
 
 // GET /_apis/artifactcache/artifacts/:id
+// Authenticated via signed URL (see signedURLAuth), not bearer, because the
+// @actions/cache toolkit downloads archiveLocation without Authorization.
+// Repository scoping is already enforced at find() time; the signature binds
+// the URL to the specific cache ID and an expiry.
 func (h *Handler) get(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, params httprouter.Params) {
 	id, err := strconv.ParseInt(params.ByName("id"), 10, 64)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -344,21 +526,158 @@ func (h *Handler) clean(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, _ httprouter.Par
 	h.responseJSON(w, r, 200)
 }
 
-func (h *Handler) middleware(handler httprouter.Handle) httprouter.Handle {
+// bearerAuth resolves ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN against the set of currently
+// registered jobs. A match attaches the job's JobCredential to the request
+// context; a miss returns 401 before the handler body runs.
+func (h *Handler) bearerAuth(handler httprouter.Handle) httprouter.Handle {
 	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, params httprouter.Params) {
-		h.logger.Debugf("%s %s", r.Method, r.RequestURI)
+		h.logger.Debugf("%s %s", r.Method, r.URL.Path)
+		token := bearerToken(r)
+		if token == "" {
+			h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusUnauthorized, errors.New("missing bearer token"))
+			return
+		}
+		cred, ok := h.lookupCredential(token)
+		if !ok {
+			h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusUnauthorized, errors.New("unknown bearer token"))
+			return
+		}
+		ctx := context.WithValue(r.Context(), credKey{}, cred)
+		handler(w, r.WithContext(ctx), params)
+		go h.gcCache()
+	}
+}
+
+func (h *Handler) signedURLAuth(handler httprouter.Handle) httprouter.Handle {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, params httprouter.Params) {
+		h.logger.Debugf("%s %s", r.Method, r.URL.Path)
+		id, err := strconv.ParseInt(params.ByName("id"), 10, 64)
+		if err != nil {
+			h.responseJSON(w, r, 400, err)
+			return
+		}
+		expStr := r.URL.Query().Get("exp")
+		sig := r.URL.Query().Get("sig")
+		if expStr == "" || sig == "" {
+			h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusUnauthorized, errors.New("missing signature"))
+			return
+		}
+		exp, err := strconv.ParseInt(expStr, 10, 64)
+		if err != nil {
+			h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusUnauthorized, errors.New("invalid expiry"))
+			return
+		}
+		if time.Now().Unix() > exp {
+			h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusUnauthorized, errors.New("signature expired"))
+			return
+		}
+		expected := h.computeSignature(id, exp)
+		if !hmac.Equal([]byte(sig), []byte(expected)) {
+			h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusUnauthorized, errors.New("bad signature"))
+			return
+		}
 		handler(w, r, params)
 		go h.gcCache()
 	}
 }
 
+// internalAuth gates the control-plane endpoints. The bearer must
+// constant-time-equal the configured internalSecret. If the secret is empty,
+// the control-plane is disabled and every request gets 404 — which matches
+// the upstream nektos/act behavior of "the route does not exist".
+func (h *Handler) internalAuth(handler httprouter.Handle) httprouter.Handle {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, params httprouter.Params) {
+		if h.internalSecret == "" {
+			http.NotFound(w, r)
+			return
+		}
+		token := bearerToken(r)
+		if token == "" || !hmac.Equal([]byte(token), []byte(h.internalSecret)) {
+			h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusUnauthorized, errors.New("internal: bad secret"))
+			return
+		}
+		handler(w, r, params)
+	}
+}
+
+type internalRegisterBody struct {
+	Token string `json:"token"`
+	Repo  string `json:"repo"`
+}
+
+type internalRevokeBody struct {
+	Token string `json:"token"`
+}
+
+// POST /_internal/register
+func (h *Handler) internalRegister(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, _ httprouter.Params) {
+	var body internalRegisterBody
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
+		h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, err)
+		return
+	}
+	if body.Token == "" {
+		h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, errors.New("token is required"))
+		return
+	}
+	h.RegisterJob(body.Token, body.Repo)
+	h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusOK)
+}
+
+// POST /_internal/revoke
+func (h *Handler) internalRevoke(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, _ httprouter.Params) {
+	var body internalRevokeBody
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
+		h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, err)
+		return
+	}
+	if body.Token == "" {
+		h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, errors.New("token is required"))
+		return
+	}
+	h.RevokeJob(body.Token)
+	h.responseJSON(w, r, http.StatusOK)
+}
+
+func bearerToken(r *http.Request) string {
+	auth := r.Header.Get("Authorization")
+	const prefix = "Bearer "
+	if len(auth) > len(prefix) && strings.EqualFold(auth[:len(prefix)], prefix) {
+		return auth[len(prefix):]
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func credFromContext(ctx context.Context) JobCredential {
+	if cred, ok := ctx.Value(credKey{}).(JobCredential); ok {
+		return cred
+	}
+	return JobCredential{}
+}
+
+func (h *Handler) computeSignature(cacheID, exp int64) string {
+	mac := hmac.New(sha256.New, h.secret)
+	fmt.Fprintf(mac, "%d:%d", cacheID, exp)
+	return hex.EncodeToString(mac.Sum(nil))
+}
+
+func (h *Handler) signedArtifactURL(cacheID uint64, exp time.Time) string {
+	expUnix := exp.Unix()
+	sig := h.computeSignature(int64(cacheID), expUnix)
+	q := url.Values{}
+	q.Set("exp", strconv.FormatInt(expUnix, 10))
+	q.Set("sig", sig)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s%s/artifacts/%d?%s", h.ExternalURL(), apiPath, cacheID, q.Encode())
+}
+
 // if not found, return (nil, nil) instead of an error.
-func findCache(db *bolthold.Store, keys []string, version string) (*Cache, error) {
+func findCache(db *bolthold.Store, repo string, keys []string, version string) (*Cache, error) {
 	cache := &Cache{}
 	for _, prefix := range keys {
 		// if a key in the list matches exactly, don't return partial matches
 		if err := db.FindOne(cache,
-			bolthold.Where("Key").Eq(prefix).
+			bolthold.Where("Repo").Eq(repo).
+				And("Key").Eq(prefix).
 				And("Version").Eq(version).
 				And("Complete").Eq(true).
 				SortBy("CreatedAt").Reverse()); err == nil || !errors.Is(err, bolthold.ErrNotFound) {
@@ -373,7 +692,8 @@ func findCache(db *bolthold.Store, keys []string, version string) (*Cache, error
 			continue
 		}
 		if err := db.FindOne(cache,
-			bolthold.Where("Key").RegExp(re).
+			bolthold.Where("Repo").Eq(repo).
+				And("Key").RegExp(re).
 				And("Version").Eq(version).
 				And("Complete").Eq(true).
 				SortBy("CreatedAt").Reverse()); err != nil {
@@ -419,7 +739,6 @@ const (
 	keepOld    = 5 * time.Minute
 )
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func (h *Handler) gcCache() {
 	if h.gcing.Load() {
 		return
@@ -494,12 +813,16 @@ func (h *Handler) gcCache() {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Remove the old caches with the same key and version, keep the latest one.
+	// Remove the old caches with the same key and version within the same
+	// repository, keep the latest one. Aggregation must include Repo so two
+	// repos that happen to share a (key, version) do not evict each other —
+	// otherwise per-repo scoping holds for reads but one repo can age
+	// another out after keepOld.
 	// Also keep the olds which have been used recently for a while in case of the cache is still in use.
 	if results, err := db.FindAggregate(
 		&Cache{},
 		bolthold.Where("Complete").Eq(true),
-		"Key", "Version",
+		"Repo", "Key", "Version",
 	); err != nil {
 		h.logger.Warnf("find aggregate caches: %v", err)
 	} else {
@@ -533,7 +856,7 @@ func (h *Handler) responseJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, code int,
 	if len(v) == 0 || v[0] == nil {
 		data, _ = json.Marshal(struct{}{})
 	} else if err, ok := v[0].(error); ok {
-		h.logger.Errorf("%v %v: %v", r.Method, r.RequestURI, err)
+		h.logger.Errorf("%v %v: %v", r.Method, r.URL.Path, err)
 		data, _ = json.Marshal(map[string]any{
 			"error": err.Error(),
 		})

act/artifactcache/handler_test.go

@@ -22,12 +22,38 @@ import (
 	"go.etcd.io/bbolt"
 )
 
+// testToken is registered with the cache server in every test that needs to
+// make authenticated requests; testClient then attaches it as the
+// Authorization: Bearer header. testRepo is the repository scope used when
+// registering it; cross-repo isolation is exercised in its own test.
+const (
+	testToken = "test-runtime-token"
+	testRepo  = "owner/repo"
+)
+
+type bearerTransport struct{ token string }
+
+func (b *bearerTransport) RoundTrip(r *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+	r.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+b.token)
+	return http.DefaultTransport.RoundTrip(r)
+}
+
+var testClient = &http.Client{Transport: &bearerTransport{token: testToken}}
+
+// signArtifactURL builds a signed download URL the same way the server does;
+// tests use it to reach the get handler directly without going through a
+// find/cache-hit round trip.
+func signArtifactURL(h *Handler, id int64) string {
+	return h.signedArtifactURL(uint64(id), time.Now().Add(artifactURLTTL))
+}
+
 func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
-	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, nil)
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	handler.RegisterJob(testToken, testRepo)
 
-	base := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s", handler.ExternalURL(), urlBase)
+	base := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s", handler.ExternalURL(), apiPath)
 
 	defer func() {
 		t.Run("inpect db", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -45,7 +71,10 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, handler.Close())
 			assert.Nil(t, handler.server)
 			assert.Nil(t, handler.listener)
-			_, err := http.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, 1), "", nil) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, 1), "", nil)
+			if err == nil {
+				resp.Body.Close()
+			}
 			assert.Error(t, err)
 		})
 	}()
@@ -53,8 +82,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("get not exist", func(t *testing.T) {
 		key := strings.ToLower(t.Name())
 		version := "c19da02a2bd7e77277f1ac29ab45c09b7d46a4ee758284e26bb3045ad11d9d20"
-		resp, err := http.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, key, version)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, key, version))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 204, resp.StatusCode)
 	})
 
@@ -68,16 +98,18 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("clean", func(t *testing.T) {
-		resp, err := http.Post(base+"/clean", "", nil) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Post(base+"/clean", "", nil)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("reserve with bad request", func(t *testing.T) {
 		body := []byte(`invalid json`)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
-		resp, err := http.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		assert.Equal(t, 400, resp.StatusCode)
 	})
 
@@ -94,8 +126,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 				Size:    100,
 			})
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			resp, err := http.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 
 			require.NoError(t, json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&first))
@@ -108,8 +141,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 				Size:    100,
 			})
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			resp, err := http.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 
 			require.NoError(t, json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&second))
@@ -125,8 +159,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 		req.Header.Set("Content-Range", "bytes 0-99/*")
-		resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Do(req)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		assert.Equal(t, 400, resp.StatusCode)
 	})
 
@@ -136,8 +171,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 		req.Header.Set("Content-Range", "bytes 0-99/*")
-		resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Do(req)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		assert.Equal(t, 400, resp.StatusCode)
 	})
 
@@ -155,8 +191,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 				Size:    100,
 			})
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			resp, err := http.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 
 			got := struct {
@@ -171,13 +208,15 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 			req.Header.Set("Content-Range", "bytes 0-99/*")
-			resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Do(req)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 		{
-			resp, err := http.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, id), "", nil) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, id), "", nil)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 		{
@@ -186,8 +225,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 			req.Header.Set("Content-Range", "bytes 0-99/*")
-			resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Do(req)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 400, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 	})
@@ -206,8 +246,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 				Size:    100,
 			})
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			resp, err := http.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 
 			got := struct {
@@ -222,24 +263,27 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 			req.Header.Set("Content-Range", "bytes xx-99/*")
-			resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Do(req)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 400, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 	})
 
 	t.Run("commit with bad id", func(t *testing.T) {
 		{
-			resp, err := http.Post(base+"/caches/invalid_id", "", nil) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(base+"/caches/invalid_id", "", nil)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 400, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 	})
 
 	t.Run("commit with not exist id", func(t *testing.T) {
 		{
-			resp, err := http.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, 100), "", nil) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, 100), "", nil)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 400, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 	})
@@ -258,8 +302,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 				Size:    100,
 			})
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			resp, err := http.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 
 			got := struct {
@@ -274,18 +319,21 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 			req.Header.Set("Content-Range", "bytes 0-99/*")
-			resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Do(req)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 		{
-			resp, err := http.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, id), "", nil) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, id), "", nil)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 		{
-			resp, err := http.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, id), "", nil) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, id), "", nil)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 400, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 	})
@@ -304,8 +352,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 				Size:    100,
 			})
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			resp, err := http.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 
 			got := struct {
@@ -320,32 +369,37 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 			req.Header.Set("Content-Range", "bytes 0-59/*")
-			resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Do(req)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 		{
-			resp, err := http.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, id), "", nil) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, id), "", nil)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			assert.Equal(t, 500, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
 	})
 
 	t.Run("get with bad id", func(t *testing.T) {
-		resp, err := http.Get(base + "/artifacts/invalid_id") //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(base + "/artifacts/invalid_id")
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 400, resp.StatusCode)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("get with not exist id", func(t *testing.T) {
-		resp, err := http.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/artifacts/%d", base, 100)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(signArtifactURL(handler, 100))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 404, resp.StatusCode)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("get with not exist id", func(t *testing.T) {
-		resp, err := http.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/artifacts/%d", base, 100)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(signArtifactURL(handler, 100))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 404, resp.StatusCode)
 	})
 
@@ -375,8 +429,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			key + "_a",
 		}, ",")
 
-		resp, err := http.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, reqKeys, version)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, reqKeys, version))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 
 		/*
@@ -395,8 +450,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, "hit", got.Result)
 		assert.Equal(t, keys[except], got.CacheKey)
 
-		contentResp, err := http.Get(got.ArchiveLocation) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		contentResp, err := testClient.Get(got.ArchiveLocation)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer contentResp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 200, contentResp.StatusCode)
 		content, err := io.ReadAll(contentResp.Body)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -413,8 +469,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 
 		{
 			reqKey := key + "_aBc"
-			resp, err := http.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, reqKey, version)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			resp, err := testClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, reqKey, version))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer resp.Body.Close()
 			require.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 			got := struct {
 				Result          string `json:"result"`
@@ -452,8 +509,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			key + "_a_b",
 		}, ",")
 
-		resp, err := http.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, reqKeys, version)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, reqKeys, version))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 
 		/*
@@ -470,8 +528,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&got))
 		assert.Equal(t, keys[expect], got.CacheKey)
 
-		contentResp, err := http.Get(got.ArchiveLocation) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		contentResp, err := testClient.Get(got.ArchiveLocation)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer contentResp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 200, contentResp.StatusCode)
 		content, err := io.ReadAll(contentResp.Body)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -504,8 +563,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			key + "_a_b",
 		}, ",")
 
-		resp, err := http.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, reqKeys, version)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, reqKeys, version))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 
 		/*
@@ -523,8 +583,9 @@ func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&got))
 		assert.Equal(t, keys[expect], got.CacheKey)
 
-		contentResp, err := http.Get(got.ArchiveLocation) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		contentResp, err := testClient.Get(got.ArchiveLocation)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer contentResp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 200, contentResp.StatusCode)
 		content, err := io.ReadAll(contentResp.Body)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -541,8 +602,9 @@ func uploadCacheNormally(t *testing.T, base, key, version string, content []byte
 			Size:    int64(len(content)),
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
-		resp, err := http.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(body))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 
 		got := struct {
@@ -557,19 +619,22 @@ func uploadCacheNormally(t *testing.T, base, key, version string, content []byte
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 		req.Header.Set("Content-Range", "bytes 0-99/*")
-		resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Do(req)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 	}
 	{
-		resp, err := http.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, id), "", nil) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, id), "", nil)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		assert.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 	}
 	var archiveLocation string
 	{
-		resp, err := http.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, key, version)) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, key, version))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 		got := struct {
 			Result          string `json:"result"`
@@ -582,8 +647,9 @@ func uploadCacheNormally(t *testing.T, base, key, version string, content []byte
 		archiveLocation = got.ArchiveLocation
 	}
 	{
-		resp, err := http.Get(archiveLocation) //nolint:bodyclose // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(archiveLocation)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
 		require.Equal(t, 200, resp.StatusCode)
 		got, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -593,7 +659,7 @@ func uploadCacheNormally(t *testing.T, base, key, version string, content []byte
 
 func TestHandler_gcCache(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
-	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, nil)
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	defer func() {
@@ -699,3 +765,421 @@ func TestHandler_gcCache(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	require.NoError(t, db.Close())
 }
+
+// TestHandler_RejectsMissingBearer covers the advisory's root cause:
+// unauthenticated access to management endpoints is now refused with 401.
+func TestHandler_RejectsMissingBearer(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+
+	base := handler.ExternalURL() + apiPath
+
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		method string
+		path   string
+		body   string
+	}{
+		{"find", http.MethodGet, "/cache?keys=x&version=y", ""},
+		{"reserve", http.MethodPost, "/caches", "{}"},
+		{"upload", http.MethodPatch, "/caches/1", ""},
+		{"commit", http.MethodPost, "/caches/1", ""},
+		{"clean", http.MethodPost, "/clean", ""},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			req, err := http.NewRequest(tc.method, base+tc.path, strings.NewReader(tc.body))
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			resp.Body.Close()
+			assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, resp.StatusCode)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestHandler_RejectsUnknownBearer verifies that a bearer token is only
+// accepted after RegisterJob; stale/forged tokens cannot be replayed.
+func TestHandler_RejectsUnknownBearer(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+
+	base := handler.ExternalURL() + apiPath
+
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, base+"/cache?keys=x&version=y", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer not-a-registered-token")
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, resp.StatusCode)
+}
+
+// TestHandler_UnregisterRevokes ensures that the function returned by
+// RegisterJob invalidates the credential, so a token leaked at job time stops
+// working the moment the job ends instead of living for the runner's lifetime.
+func TestHandler_UnregisterRevokes(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+
+	unregister := handler.RegisterJob("tmp-token", testRepo)
+
+	base := handler.ExternalURL() + apiPath
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, base+"/cache?keys=x&version=y", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer tmp-token")
+
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	assert.NotEqual(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, resp.StatusCode)
+
+	unregister()
+
+	resp, err = http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, resp.StatusCode)
+}
+
+// TestHandler_CrossRepoIsolation addresses the intra-runner poisoning vector
+// raised in GHSA-82g9-637c-2fx2: job containers can reach the cache server
+// over the docker bridge, so IP allowlisting alone does not stop a malicious
+// PR run from another repo. A cache entry created under repoA must be
+// invisible to queries scoped to repoB.
+func TestHandler_CrossRepoIsolation(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+	handler.RegisterJob("token-a", "owner/repoA")
+	handler.RegisterJob("token-b", "owner/repoB")
+
+	base := handler.ExternalURL() + apiPath
+	key := "shared-key"
+	version := "c19da02a2bd7e77277f1ac29ab45c09b7d46a4ee758284e26bb3045ad11d9d20"
+	content := []byte("repoA-payload")
+
+	clientA := &http.Client{Transport: &bearerTransport{token: "token-a"}}
+	clientB := &http.Client{Transport: &bearerTransport{token: "token-b"}}
+
+	// repoA reserves + uploads + commits.
+	reserveBody, err := json.Marshal(&Request{Key: key, Version: version, Size: int64(len(content))})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp, err := clientA.Post(base+"/caches", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(reserveBody))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	var reserved struct {
+		CacheID uint64 `json:"cacheId"`
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&reserved))
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	require.NotZero(t, reserved.CacheID)
+
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodPatch, fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, reserved.CacheID), bytes.NewReader(content))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Range", fmt.Sprintf("bytes 0-%d/*", len(content)-1))
+	resp, err = clientA.Do(req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+
+	resp, err = clientA.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, reserved.CacheID), "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+
+	// repoB with a matching key and version must NOT see repoA's cache.
+	resp, err = clientB.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, key, version))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusNoContent, resp.StatusCode)
+
+	// repoA still sees its own cache.
+	resp, err = clientA.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, key, version))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+
+	// repoB cannot upload to repoA's reserved id either (forbidden, not 401).
+	req, err = http.NewRequest(http.MethodPatch, fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, reserved.CacheID), bytes.NewReader([]byte("poison")))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Range", "bytes 0-5/*")
+	resp, err = clientB.Do(req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusForbidden, resp.StatusCode)
+}
+
+// TestHandler_ArtifactSignature verifies that archive downloads reject
+// missing / tampered / expired signatures, so a leaked archiveLocation stops
+// working after artifactURLTTL even if the bearer token is still registered.
+func TestHandler_ArtifactSignature(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+	handler.RegisterJob(testToken, testRepo)
+
+	base := handler.ExternalURL() + apiPath
+
+	t.Run("missing signature", func(t *testing.T) {
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/artifacts/%d", base, 1))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, resp.StatusCode)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("tampered signature", func(t *testing.T) {
+		good := handler.signedArtifactURL(1, time.Now().Add(artifactURLTTL))
+		bad := good[:len(good)-4] + "dead"
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(bad)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, resp.StatusCode)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("expired signature", func(t *testing.T) {
+		expired := handler.signedArtifactURL(1, time.Now().Add(-time.Second))
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(expired)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, resp.StatusCode)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("signature from a different server", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir2 := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache2")
+		other, err := StartHandler(dir2, "", 0, "", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer other.Close()
+		otherURL := other.signedArtifactURL(1, time.Now().Add(artifactURLTTL))
+		// Rewrite the host so the request still lands on our handler, but
+		// the signature was computed with a different secret.
+		parts := strings.SplitN(otherURL, apiPath, 2)
+		forged := base + parts[1]
+		resp, err := testClient.Get(forged)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, resp.StatusCode)
+	})
+}
+
+// TestHandler_SecretPersistsAcrossRestarts is the property that lets
+// act_runner cache-server be pointed at via cfg.Cache.ExternalServer: a
+// restart must not invalidate signed URLs the handler has already issued
+// (within their expiry window).
+func TestHandler_SecretPersistsAcrossRestarts(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+
+	first, err := StartHandler(dir, "127.0.0.1", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	exp := time.Now().Add(artifactURLTTL).Unix()
+	sig := first.computeSignature(42, exp)
+	require.NoError(t, first.Close())
+
+	second, err := StartHandler(dir, "127.0.0.1", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer second.Close()
+
+	assert.Equal(t, sig, second.computeSignature(42, exp))
+}
+
+// TestHandler_ArtifactSignatureDownload is a happy-path round trip that
+// ensures a real reserve/upload/commit/find/download flow still works after
+// the auth refactor.
+func TestHandler_ArtifactSignatureDownload(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+	handler.RegisterJob(testToken, testRepo)
+
+	base := handler.ExternalURL() + apiPath
+	key := "download-key"
+	version := "c19da02a2bd7e77277f1ac29ab45c09b7d46a4ee758284e26bb3045ad11d9d20"
+	content := []byte("hello")
+	uploadCacheNormally(t, base, key, version, content)
+
+	resp, err := testClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s&version=%s", base, key, version))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+	var hit struct {
+		ArchiveLocation string `json:"archiveLocation"`
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&hit))
+	resp.Body.Close()
+
+	require.Contains(t, hit.ArchiveLocation, "sig=")
+	require.Contains(t, hit.ArchiveLocation, "exp=")
+
+	// Download without any Authorization header — the signature alone must
+	// be enough, because @actions/cache downloads archiveLocation unauth'd.
+	dl, err := http.Get(hit.ArchiveLocation)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	body, err := io.ReadAll(dl.Body)
+	dl.Body.Close()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, dl.StatusCode)
+	assert.Equal(t, content, body)
+}
+
+// TestHandler_RegisterJob_RefCounted verifies that a duplicate RegisterJob
+// for the same token does not silently revoke the first registration on the
+// first revoker call. This matters if a runner ever re-registers a token
+// (restart mid-task, retry), which must not kill the live job's auth.
+func TestHandler_RegisterJob_RefCounted(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+
+	first := handler.RegisterJob("shared", testRepo)
+	second := handler.RegisterJob("shared", testRepo)
+
+	base := handler.ExternalURL() + apiPath
+	probe := func() int {
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, base+"/cache?keys=x&version=v", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer shared")
+		resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		return resp.StatusCode
+	}
+
+	require.NotEqual(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe())
+	first()
+	assert.NotEqual(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe(),
+		"token must stay valid while another registration holds the refcount")
+	second()
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe(),
+		"token is revoked only after every revoker has run")
+}
+
+// TestHandler_GC_PerRepoDedup ensures duplicate-pruning does not evict
+// another repo's entry. Two repos reserve the same (key, version); after the
+// keepOld window, GC must keep the one from each repo.
+func TestHandler_GC_PerRepoDedup(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+	handler.RegisterJob("tok-a", "owner/repoA")
+	handler.RegisterJob("tok-b", "owner/repoB")
+
+	key := "shared-dedup-key"
+	version := "c19da02a2bd7e77277f1ac29ab45c09b7d46a4ee758284e26bb3045ad11d9d20"
+
+	// Seed one completed cache per repo directly via the DB, bypassing the
+	// HTTP round trip so we can precisely control UsedAt.
+	db, err := handler.openDB()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	now := time.Now().Unix()
+	stale := time.Now().Add(-keepOld - time.Minute).Unix()
+	a := &Cache{Repo: "owner/repoA", Key: key, Version: version, Complete: true, CreatedAt: stale, UsedAt: stale, Size: 1}
+	b := &Cache{Repo: "owner/repoB", Key: key, Version: version, Complete: true, CreatedAt: now, UsedAt: now, Size: 1}
+	require.NoError(t, insertCache(db, a))
+	require.NoError(t, insertCache(db, b))
+	// Write the backing blobs so the dedup deletion has something to remove.
+	require.NoError(t, handler.storage.Write(a.ID, 0, strings.NewReader("a")))
+	_, err = handler.storage.Commit(a.ID, 1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, handler.storage.Write(b.ID, 0, strings.NewReader("b")))
+	_, err = handler.storage.Commit(b.ID, 1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, db.Close())
+
+	// Force GC to run regardless of the cooldown.
+	handler.gcAt = time.Time{}
+	handler.gcCache()
+
+	db, err = handler.openDB()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer db.Close()
+	var after []Cache
+	require.NoError(t, db.Find(&after, bolthold.Where("Key").Eq(key).And("Version").Eq(version)))
+
+	repos := make(map[string]bool)
+	for _, c := range after {
+		repos[c.Repo] = true
+	}
+	assert.True(t, repos["owner/repoA"], "repoA's cache must survive dedup against repoB")
+	assert.True(t, repos["owner/repoB"], "repoB's cache must survive dedup against repoA")
+}
+
+// TestHandler_InternalAPI_Disabled verifies that without an internalSecret
+// the control-plane routes are 404 — operators can't accidentally hit
+// register/revoke when the feature is off.
+func TestHandler_InternalAPI_Disabled(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+
+	for _, ep := range []string{"/_internal/register", "/_internal/revoke"} {
+		resp, err := http.Post(handler.ExternalURL()+ep, "application/json", strings.NewReader(`{}`))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusNotFound, resp.StatusCode, ep)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestHandler_InternalAPI_AuthAndUsage covers the control-plane: bad/missing
+// secret → 401, malformed body → 400, happy path round-trips a token through
+// register → cache-API accepts it → revoke → cache-API rejects it.
+func TestHandler_InternalAPI_AuthAndUsage(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	const secret = "internal-secret"
+	handler, err := StartHandler(dir, "", 0, secret, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+
+	base := handler.ExternalURL()
+
+	post := func(path, bearer, body string) int {
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, base+path, strings.NewReader(body))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		if bearer != "" {
+			req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+bearer)
+		}
+		req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		return resp.StatusCode
+	}
+
+	t.Run("missing secret 401", func(t *testing.T) {
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, post("/_internal/register", "", `{"token":"x","repo":"r"}`))
+	})
+	t.Run("wrong secret 401", func(t *testing.T) {
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, post("/_internal/register", "wrong", `{"token":"x","repo":"r"}`))
+	})
+	t.Run("malformed body 400", func(t *testing.T) {
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusBadRequest, post("/_internal/register", secret, `not json`))
+	})
+	t.Run("missing token 400", func(t *testing.T) {
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusBadRequest, post("/_internal/register", secret, `{"repo":"r"}`))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("register then revoke round-trip", func(t *testing.T) {
+		probe := func(token string) int {
+			req, _ := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, base+apiPath+"/cache?keys=k&version=v", nil)
+			req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+			resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			resp.Body.Close()
+			return resp.StatusCode
+		}
+
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe("via-internal-api"))
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, post("/_internal/register", secret, `{"token":"via-internal-api","repo":"owner/repo"}`))
+		assert.NotEqual(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe("via-internal-api"))
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, post("/_internal/revoke", secret, `{"token":"via-internal-api"}`))
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe("via-internal-api"))
+	})
+}

act/artifactcache/model.go

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ func (c *Request) ToCache() *Cache {
 
 type Cache struct {
 	ID        uint64 `json:"id" boltholdKey:"ID"`
+	Repo      string `json:"repo" boltholdIndex:"Repo"`
 	Key       string `json:"key" boltholdIndex:"Key"`
 	Version   string `json:"version" boltholdIndex:"Version"`
 	Size      int64  `json:"cacheSize"`

act/artifacts/server_test.go

@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ func TestListArtifactContainer(t *testing.T) {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	assert.Equal(1, len(response.Value)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Len(response.Value, 1)
 	assert.Equal("some/file", response.Value[0].Path)
 	assert.Equal("file", response.Value[0].ItemType)
 	assert.Equal("http://localhost/artifact/1/some/file/.", response.Value[0].ContentLocation)
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func runTestJobFile(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, tjfi TestJobFileInfo) {
 		}
 
 		workdir, err := filepath.Abs(tjfi.workdir)
-		assert.Nil(t, err, workdir) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		assert.NoError(t, err, workdir) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 		fullWorkflowPath := filepath.Join(workdir, tjfi.workflowPath)
 		runnerConfig := &runner.Config{
 			Workdir:               workdir,
@@ -299,16 +299,16 @@ func runTestJobFile(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, tjfi TestJobFileInfo) {
 		}
 
 		runner, err := runner.New(runnerConfig)
-		assert.Nil(t, err, tjfi.workflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		assert.NoError(t, err, tjfi.workflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 		planner, err := model.NewWorkflowPlanner(fullWorkflowPath, true)
-		assert.Nil(t, err, fullWorkflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+		assert.NoError(t, err, fullWorkflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 		plan, err := planner.PlanEvent(tjfi.eventName)
 		if err == nil {
 			err = runner.NewPlanExecutor(plan)(ctx)
 			if tjfi.errorMessage == "" {
-				assert.Nil(t, err, fullWorkflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+				assert.NoError(t, err, fullWorkflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 			} else {
 				assert.Error(t, err, tjfi.errorMessage) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 			}

act/common/cartesian_test.go

@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ func TestCartesianProduct(t *testing.T) {
 		"baz": {false, true},
 	}
 	output = CartesianProduct(input)
-	assert.Len(output, 0) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Empty(output)
 
 	input = map[string][]any{}
 	output = CartesianProduct(input)
-	assert.Len(output, 0) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Empty(output)
 }

act/common/executor_test.go

@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ func TestNewWorkflow(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// empty
 	emptyWorkflow := NewPipelineExecutor()
-	assert.Nil(emptyWorkflow(ctx)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(emptyWorkflow(ctx)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	// error case
 	errorWorkflow := NewErrorExecutor(errors.New("test error"))
-	assert.NotNil(errorWorkflow(ctx)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Error(errorWorkflow(ctx)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	// multiple success case
 	runcount := 0
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func TestNewWorkflow(t *testing.T) {
 			runcount++
 			return nil
 		})
-	assert.Nil(successWorkflow(ctx)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(successWorkflow(ctx)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(2, runcount)
 }
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func TestNewConditionalExecutor(t *testing.T) {
 		return nil
 	})(ctx)
 
-	assert.Nil(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(0, trueCount)
 	assert.Equal(1, falseCount)
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func TestNewConditionalExecutor(t *testing.T) {
 		return nil
 	})(ctx)
 
-	assert.Nil(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(1, trueCount)
 	assert.Equal(1, falseCount)
 }
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestNewParallelExecutor(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.Equal(int32(3), count.Load(), "should run all 3 executors")
 	assert.Equal(int32(2), maxCount.Load(), "should run at most 2 executors in parallel")
-	assert.Nil(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	// Reset to test running the executor with 0 parallelism
 	count.Store(0)
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func TestNewParallelExecutor(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.Equal(int32(3), count.Load(), "should run all 3 executors")
 	assert.Equal(int32(1), maxCount.Load(), "should run at most 1 executors in parallel")
-	assert.Nil(errSingle) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(errSingle)
 }
 
 func TestNewParallelExecutorFailed(t *testing.T) {

act/common/git/git.go

@@ -32,12 +32,21 @@ var (
 	githubHTTPRegex     = regexp.MustCompile(`^https?://.*github.com.*/(.+)/(.+?)(?:.git)?$`)
 	githubSSHRegex      = regexp.MustCompile(`github.com[:/](.+)/(.+?)(?:.git)?$`)
 
-	cloneLock sync.Mutex
+	cloneLocks sync.Map // key: clone target directory; value: *sync.Mutex
 
 	ErrShortRef = errors.New("short SHA references are not supported")
 	ErrNoRepo   = errors.New("unable to find git repo")
 )
 
+// acquireCloneLock returns an unlock function after locking the per-directory mutex for dir.
+// Only concurrent operations targeting the same directory are erialized; clones into different directories run in parallel.
+func acquireCloneLock(dir string) func() {
+	v, _ := cloneLocks.LoadOrStore(dir, &sync.Mutex{})
+	mu := v.(*sync.Mutex)
+	mu.Lock()
+	return mu.Unlock
+}
+
 type Error struct {
 	err    error
 	commit string
@@ -293,16 +302,13 @@ func gitOptions(token string) (fetchOptions git.FetchOptions, pullOptions git.Pu
 }
 
 // NewGitCloneExecutor creates an executor to clone git repos
-//
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func NewGitCloneExecutor(input NewGitCloneExecutorInput) common.Executor {
 	return func(ctx context.Context) error {
 		logger := common.Logger(ctx)
 		logger.Infof("  \u2601  git clone '%s' # ref=%s", input.URL, input.Ref)
 		logger.Debugf("  cloning %s to %s", input.URL, input.Dir)
 
-		cloneLock.Lock()
-		defer cloneLock.Unlock()
+		defer acquireCloneLock(input.Dir)()
 
 		refName := plumbing.ReferenceName("refs/heads/" + input.Ref)
 		r, err := CloneIfRequired(ctx, refName, input, logger)

act/common/git/git_test.go

@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ import (
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"syscall"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -303,3 +305,61 @@ func gitCmd(args ...string) error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func TestAcquireCloneLock(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("same directory serializes", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+
+		unlock1 := acquireCloneLock(dir)
+
+		secondAcquired := make(chan struct{})
+		go func() {
+			unlock := acquireCloneLock(dir)
+			close(secondAcquired)
+			unlock()
+		}()
+
+		select {
+		case <-secondAcquired:
+			t.Fatal("second acquire should block while first holds the lock")
+		case <-time.After(50 * time.Millisecond):
+		}
+
+		unlock1()
+
+		select {
+		case <-secondAcquired:
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Fatal("second acquire should proceed after first releases the lock")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("different directories do not block", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dirA := t.TempDir()
+		dirB := t.TempDir()
+
+		unlockA := acquireCloneLock(dirA)
+		defer unlockA()
+
+		done := make(chan struct{})
+		go func() {
+			unlock := acquireCloneLock(dirB)
+			unlock()
+			close(done)
+		}()
+
+		select {
+		case <-done:
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Fatal("acquire on a different directory must not block")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("same directory reuses the same mutex", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+
+		v1, _ := cloneLocks.LoadOrStore(dir, &sync.Mutex{})
+		v2, _ := cloneLocks.LoadOrStore(dir, &sync.Mutex{})
+		require.Same(t, v1, v2)
+	})
+}

act/container/docker_cli.go

@@ -324,8 +324,6 @@ type containerConfig struct {
 // parse parses the args for the specified command and generates a Config,
 // a HostConfig and returns them with the specified command.
 // If the specified args are not valid, it will return an error.
-//
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func parse(flags *pflag.FlagSet, copts *containerOptions, serverOS string) (*containerConfig, error) {
 	var (
 		attachStdin  = copts.attach.Get("stdin")

act/container/docker_cli_test.go

@@ -194,7 +194,6 @@ func TestParseRunWithInvalidArgs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func TestParseWithVolumes(t *testing.T) {
 	// A single volume
 	arr, tryit := setupPlatformVolume([]string{`/tmp`}, []string{`c:\tmp`})
@@ -632,7 +631,7 @@ func TestParseModes(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// uts ko
-	_, _, _, err = parseRun([]string{"--uts=container:", "img", "cmd"}) //nolint:dogsled // ignoring multiple returns in test helpers
+	_, _, _, err = parseRun([]string{"--uts=container:", "img", "cmd"})
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "--uts: invalid UTS mode")
 
 	// uts ok
@@ -693,7 +692,7 @@ func TestParseRestartPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestParseRestartPolicyAutoRemove(t *testing.T) {
 	expected := "Conflicting options: --restart and --rm"
-	_, _, _, err := parseRun([]string{"--rm", "--restart=always", "img", "cmd"}) //nolint:dogsled // ignoring multiple returns in test helpers
+	_, _, _, err := parseRun([]string{"--rm", "--restart=always", "img", "cmd"})
 	if err == nil || err.Error() != expected {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected error %v, but got none", expected)
 	}

act/container/docker_images_test.go

@@ -29,17 +29,17 @@ func TestImageExistsLocally(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Test if image exists with specific tag
 	invalidImageTag, err := ImageExistsLocally(ctx, "library/alpine:this-random-tag-will-never-exist", "linux/amd64")
-	assert.Nil(t, err)                      //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
-	assert.Equal(t, false, invalidImageTag) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.False(t, invalidImageTag)
 
 	// Test if image exists with specific architecture (image platform)
 	invalidImagePlatform, err := ImageExistsLocally(ctx, "alpine:latest", "windows/amd64")
-	assert.Nil(t, err)                           //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
-	assert.Equal(t, false, invalidImagePlatform) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.False(t, invalidImagePlatform)
 
 	// pull an image
 	cli, err := client.NewClientWithOpts(client.FromEnv)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	cli.NegotiateAPIVersion(context.Background())
 
 	// Chose alpine latest because it's so small
@@ -47,25 +47,25 @@ func TestImageExistsLocally(t *testing.T) {
 	readerDefault, err := cli.ImagePull(ctx, "node:16-buster-slim", types.ImagePullOptions{
 		Platform: "linux/amd64",
 	})
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	defer readerDefault.Close()
 	_, err = io.ReadAll(readerDefault)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	imageDefaultArchExists, err := ImageExistsLocally(ctx, "node:16-buster-slim", "linux/amd64")
-	assert.Nil(t, err)                            //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
-	assert.Equal(t, true, imageDefaultArchExists) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.True(t, imageDefaultArchExists)
 
 	// Validate if another architecture platform can be pulled
 	readerArm64, err := cli.ImagePull(ctx, "node:16-buster-slim", types.ImagePullOptions{
 		Platform: "linux/arm64",
 	})
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	defer readerArm64.Close()
 	_, err = io.ReadAll(readerArm64)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	imageArm64Exists, err := ImageExistsLocally(ctx, "node:16-buster-slim", "linux/arm64")
-	assert.Nil(t, err)                      //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
-	assert.Equal(t, true, imageArm64Exists) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.True(t, imageArm64Exists)
 }

act/container/docker_pull_test.go

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestGetImagePullOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	config.SetDir("/non-existent/docker")
 
 	options, err := getImagePullOptions(ctx, NewDockerPullExecutorInput{})
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Failed to create ImagePullOptions")                                                     //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to create ImagePullOptions")                                                 //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(t, "", options.RegistryAuth, "RegistryAuth should be empty if no username or password is set") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	options, err = getImagePullOptions(ctx, NewDockerPullExecutorInput{
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func TestGetImagePullOptions(t *testing.T) {
 		Username: "username",
 		Password: "password",
 	})
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Failed to create ImagePullOptions") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to create ImagePullOptions") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(t, "eyJ1c2VybmFtZSI6InVzZXJuYW1lIiwicGFzc3dvcmQiOiJwYXNzd29yZCJ9", options.RegistryAuth, "Username and Password should be provided")
 
 	config.SetDir("testdata/docker-pull-options")
@@ -59,6 +59,6 @@ func TestGetImagePullOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	options, err = getImagePullOptions(ctx, NewDockerPullExecutorInput{
 		Image: "nektos/act",
 	})
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Failed to create ImagePullOptions") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to create ImagePullOptions") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(t, "eyJ1c2VybmFtZSI6InVzZXJuYW1lIiwicGFzc3dvcmQiOiJwYXNzd29yZFxuIiwic2VydmVyYWRkcmVzcyI6Imh0dHBzOi8vaW5kZXguZG9ja2VyLmlvL3YxLyJ9", options.RegistryAuth, "RegistryAuth should be taken from local docker config")
 }

act/container/docker_socket_test.go

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func TestGetSocketAndHostWithSocket(t *testing.T) {
 	ret, err := GetSocketAndHost(socketURI)
 
 	// Assert
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(t, SocketAndHost{socketURI, dockerHost}, ret)
 }
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestGetSocketAndHostNoSocket(t *testing.T) {
 	ret, err := GetSocketAndHost("")
 
 	// Assert
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(t, SocketAndHost{dockerHost, dockerHost}, ret)
 }
 
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ func TestGetSocketAndHostOnlySocket(t *testing.T) {
 	ret, err := GetSocketAndHost(socketURI)
 
 	// Assert
-	assert.NoError(t, err, "Expected no error from GetSocketAndHost")            //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
-	assert.Equal(t, true, defaultSocketFound, "Expected to find default socket") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Expected no error from GetSocketAndHost") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.True(t, defaultSocketFound, "Expected to find default socket")
 	assert.Equal(t, socketURI, ret.Socket, "Expected socket to match common location")
 	assert.Equal(t, defaultSocket, ret.Host, "Expected ret.Host to match default socket location")
 }
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func TestGetSocketAndHostDontMount(t *testing.T) {
 	ret, err := GetSocketAndHost("-")
 
 	// Assert
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(t, SocketAndHost{"-", dockerHost}, ret)
 }
 
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ func TestGetSocketAndHostNoHostNoSocket(t *testing.T) {
 	ret, err := GetSocketAndHost("")
 
 	// Assert
-	assert.Equal(t, true, found, "Expected a default socket to be found") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Expected no error from GetSocketAndHost")         //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.True(t, found, "Expected a default socket to be found")
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Expected no error from GetSocketAndHost") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(t, SocketAndHost{defaultSocket, defaultSocket}, ret, "Expected to match default socket location")
 }
 
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ func TestGetSocketAndHostNoHostNoSocketDefaultLocation(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Assert
 	assert.Equal(t, unixSocket, defaultSocket, "Expected default socket to match common socket location")
-	assert.Equal(t, true, found, "Expected default socket to be found") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Expected no error from GetSocketAndHost")       //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.True(t, found, "Expected default socket to be found")
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Expected no error from GetSocketAndHost") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(t, SocketAndHost{unixSocket, unixSocket}, ret, "Expected to match default socket location")
 }
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func TestGetSocketAndHostNoHostInvalidSocket(t *testing.T) {
 	ret, err := GetSocketAndHost(mySocket)
 
 	// Assert
-	assert.Equal(t, false, found, "Expected no default socket to be found")      //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.False(t, found, "Expected no default socket to be found")
 	assert.Equal(t, "", defaultSocket, "Expected no default socket to be found") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(t, SocketAndHost{}, ret, "Expected to match default socket location")
 	assert.Error(t, err, "Expected an error in invalid state")
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ func TestGetSocketAndHostOnlySocketValidButUnusualLocation(t *testing.T) {
 	// Assert
 	// Default socket locations
 	assert.Equal(t, "", defaultSocket, "Expect default socket location to be empty") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
-	assert.Equal(t, false, found, "Expected no default socket to be found")          //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.False(t, found, "Expected no default socket to be found")
 	// Sane default
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Expect no error from GetSocketAndHost") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Expect no error from GetSocketAndHost") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Equal(t, socketURI, ret.Host, "Expect host to default to unusual socket")
 }

act/exprparser/functions_test.go

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestFunctionContains(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 		})
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func TestFunctionStartsWith(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 		})
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func TestFunctionEndsWith(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 		})
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func TestFunctionJoin(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 		})
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func TestFunctionToJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 		})
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ func TestFunctionFromJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 		})
@@ -205,9 +205,9 @@ func TestFunctionHashFiles(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			workdir, err := filepath.Abs("testdata")
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{WorkingDir: workdir}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 		})
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ func TestFunctionFormat(t *testing.T) {
 			if tt.error != nil {
 				assert.Equal(t, tt.error, err.Error())
 			} else {
-				assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+				assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 				assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 			}
 		})

act/exprparser/interpreter.go

@@ -156,7 +156,6 @@ func (impl *interperterImpl) evaluateNode(exprNode actionlint.ExprNode) (any, er
 	}
 }
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func (impl *interperterImpl) evaluateVariable(variableNode *actionlint.VariableNode) (any, error) {
 	switch strings.ToLower(variableNode.Name) {
 	case "github":
@@ -584,7 +583,6 @@ func (impl *interperterImpl) evaluateLogicalCompare(compareNode *actionlint.Logi
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("Unable to compare incompatibles types '%s' and '%s'", leftValue.Kind(), rightValue.Kind())
 }
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func (impl *interperterImpl) evaluateFuncCall(funcCallNode *actionlint.FuncCallNode) (any, error) {
 	args := make([]reflect.Value, 0)
 

act/exprparser/interpreter_test.go

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func TestLiterals(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 		})
@@ -105,10 +105,10 @@ func TestOperators(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
 			if tt.error != "" {
-				assert.NotNil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+				assert.Error(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 				assert.Equal(t, tt.error, err.Error())
 			} else {
-				assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+				assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 			}
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func TestOperatorsCompare(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 		})
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ func TestOperatorsBooleanEvaluation(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			if expected, ok := tt.expected.(float64); ok && math.IsNaN(expected) {
 				assert.True(t, math.IsNaN(output.(float64)))
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ func TestContexts(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range table {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			output, err := NewInterpeter(env, Config{}).Evaluate(tt.input, DefaultStatusCheckNone)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, output)
 		})

act/filecollector/file_collector.go

@@ -128,7 +128,6 @@ func (*DefaultFs) Readlink(path string) (string, error) {
 	return os.Readlink(path)
 }
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func (fc *FileCollector) CollectFiles(ctx context.Context, submodulePath []string) filepath.WalkFunc {
 	i, _ := fc.Fs.OpenGitIndex(path.Join(fc.SrcPath, path.Join(submodulePath...)))
 	return func(file string, fi os.FileInfo, err error) error {

act/model/planner.go

@@ -61,8 +61,6 @@ type WorkflowFiles struct {
 }
 
 // NewWorkflowPlanner will load a specific workflow, all workflows from a directory or all workflows from a directory and its subdirectories
-//
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func NewWorkflowPlanner(path string, noWorkflowRecurse bool) (WorkflowPlanner, error) {
 	path, err := filepath.Abs(path)
 	if err != nil {

act/model/planner_test.go

@@ -57,11 +57,11 @@ func TestWorkflow(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Check that an invalid job id returns error
 	result, err := createStages(&workflow, "invalid_job_id")
-	assert.NotNil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Error(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Nil(t, result)
 
 	// Check that an valid job id returns non-error
 	result, err = createStages(&workflow, "valid_job")
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.NotNil(t, result)
 }

act/model/workflow.go

@@ -440,8 +440,6 @@ func (j *Job) Matrix() map[string][]any {
 
 // GetMatrixes returns the matrix cross product
 // It skips includes and hard fails excludes for non-existing keys
-//
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func (j *Job) GetMatrixes() ([]map[string]any, error) {
 	matrixes := make([]map[string]any, 0)
 	if j.Strategy != nil {

act/model/workflow_test.go

@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ jobs:
 	assert.NoError(t, err, "read workflow should succeed") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	newSchedules = workflow.OnSchedule()
-	assert.Len(t, newSchedules, 0) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Empty(t, newSchedules)
 
 	yaml = `
 name: local-action-docker-url
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ jobs:
 	assert.NoError(t, err, "read workflow should succeed") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	newSchedules = workflow.OnSchedule()
-	assert.Len(t, newSchedules, 0) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Empty(t, newSchedules)
 
 	yaml = `
 name: local-action-docker-url
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ jobs:
 	assert.NoError(t, err, "read workflow should succeed") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	newSchedules = workflow.OnSchedule()
-	assert.Len(t, newSchedules, 0) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Empty(t, newSchedules)
 }
 
 func TestReadWorkflow_StringEvent(t *testing.T) {
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ jobs:
 					assert.Nil(t, matrix, "matrix should be nil for jobs without strategy")
 				} else {
 					assert.NotNil(t, matrix, "matrix should not be nil")
-					assert.Equal(t, tt.wantLen, len(matrix), "matrix should have expected number of keys") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+					assert.Len(t, matrix, tt.wantLen, "matrix should have expected number of keys")
 					if tt.checkFn != nil {
 						tt.checkFn(t, matrix)
 					}

act/runner/action.go

@@ -265,8 +265,6 @@ func removeGitIgnore(ctx context.Context, directory string) error {
 }
 
 // TODO: break out parts of function to reduce complexicity
-//
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func execAsDocker(ctx context.Context, step actionStep, actionName, basedir string, localAction bool) error {
 	logger := common.Logger(ctx)
 	rc := step.getRunContext()
@@ -429,7 +427,7 @@ func newStepContainer(ctx context.Context, step step, image string, cmd, entrypo
 		Image:        image,
 		Username:     rc.Config.Secrets["DOCKER_USERNAME"],
 		Password:     rc.Config.Secrets["DOCKER_PASSWORD"],
-		Name:         createSimpleContainerName(rc.jobContainerName(), "STEP-"+stepModel.ID),
+		Name:         createContainerName(rc.jobContainerName(), "STEP-"+stepModel.ID),
 		Env:          envList,
 		Mounts:       mounts,
 		NetworkMode:  networkMode,

act/runner/action_test.go

@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ runs:
 
 			action, err := readActionImpl(context.Background(), tt.step, "actionDir", "actionPath", readFile, writeFile)
 
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, action)
 
 			closerMock.AssertExpectations(t)
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ func TestActionRunner(t *testing.T) {
 
 			err := runActionImpl(tt.step, "dir", newRemoteAction("org/repo/path@ref"))(ctx)
 
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 			cm.AssertExpectations(t)
 		})
 	}

act/runner/expression.go

@@ -405,7 +405,6 @@ func escapeFormatString(in string) string {
 	return strings.ReplaceAll(strings.ReplaceAll(in, "{", "{{"), "}", "}}")
 }
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func rewriteSubExpression(ctx context.Context, in string, forceFormat bool) (string, error) { //nolint:unparam // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	if !strings.Contains(in, "${{") || !strings.Contains(in, "}}") {
 		return in, nil
@@ -472,7 +471,6 @@ func rewriteSubExpression(ctx context.Context, in string, forceFormat bool) (str
 	return out, nil
 }
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func getEvaluatorInputs(ctx context.Context, rc *RunContext, step step, ghc *model.GithubContext) map[string]any {
 	inputs := map[string]any{}
 

act/runner/job_executor.go

@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ type jobInfo interface {
 	result(result string)
 }
 
-//nolint:contextcheck,gocyclo // composes many step executors
 func newJobExecutor(info jobInfo, sf stepFactory, rc *RunContext) common.Executor {
 	steps := make([]common.Executor, 0)
 	preSteps := make([]common.Executor, 0)
@@ -157,7 +156,7 @@ func newJobExecutor(info jobInfo, sf stepFactory, rc *RunContext) common.Executo
 	pipeline = append(pipeline, steps...)
 
 	return common.NewPipelineExecutor(info.startContainer(), common.NewPipelineExecutor(pipeline...).
-		Finally(func(ctx context.Context) error { //nolint:contextcheck // intentionally detaches from canceled parent
+		Finally(func(ctx context.Context) error {
 			var cancel context.CancelFunc
 			if ctx.Err() == context.Canceled {
 				// in case of an aborted run, we still should execute the

act/runner/job_executor_test.go

@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ func TestNewJobExecutor(t *testing.T) {
 
 			executor := newJobExecutor(jim, sfm, rc)
 			err := executor(ctx)
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.executedSteps, executorOrder)
 
 			jim.AssertExpectations(t)

act/runner/max_parallel_test.go

@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func TestMaxParallelStrategy(t *testing.T) {
 			matrixes, err := job.GetMatrixes()
 			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 			assert.NotNil(t, matrixes)
-			assert.Equal(t, 5, len(matrixes)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.Len(t, matrixes, 5)
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectedMaxParallel, job.Strategy.MaxParallel)
 		})
 	}

act/runner/run_context.go

@@ -101,8 +101,7 @@ func (rc *RunContext) jobContainerName() string {
 	if rc.caller != nil {
 		nameParts = append(nameParts, "CALLED-BY-"+rc.caller.runContext.JobName)
 	}
-	// return createSimpleContainerName(rc.Config.ContainerNamePrefix, "WORKFLOW-"+rc.Run.Workflow.Name, "JOB-"+rc.Name)
-	return createSimpleContainerName(nameParts...) // For Gitea
+	return createContainerName(nameParts...) // For Gitea
 }
 
 // networkNameForGitea return the name of the network
@@ -260,7 +259,6 @@ func (rc *RunContext) startHostEnvironment() common.Executor {
 	}
 }
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func (rc *RunContext) startJobContainer() common.Executor {
 	return func(ctx context.Context) error {
 		logger := common.Logger(ctx)
@@ -769,7 +767,6 @@ func mergeMaps(maps ...map[string]string) map[string]string {
 	return rtnMap
 }
 
-// Deprecated: use createSimpleContainerName
 func createContainerName(parts ...string) string {
 	name := strings.Join(parts, "-")
 	pattern := regexp.MustCompile("[^a-zA-Z0-9]")
@@ -783,22 +780,6 @@ func createContainerName(parts ...string) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s-%x", trimmedName, hash)
 }
 
-func createSimpleContainerName(parts ...string) string {
-	pattern := regexp.MustCompile("[^a-zA-Z0-9-]")
-	name := make([]string, 0, len(parts))
-	for _, v := range parts {
-		v = pattern.ReplaceAllString(v, "-")
-		v = strings.Trim(v, "-")
-		for strings.Contains(v, "--") {
-			v = strings.ReplaceAll(v, "--", "-")
-		}
-		if v != "" {
-			name = append(name, v)
-		}
-	}
-	return strings.Join(name, "_")
-}
-
 func trimToLen(s string, l int) string {
 	if l < 0 {
 		l = 0
@@ -826,7 +807,6 @@ func (rc *RunContext) getStepsContext() map[string]*model.StepResult {
 	return rc.StepResults
 }
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func (rc *RunContext) getGithubContext(ctx context.Context) *model.GithubContext {
 	logger := common.Logger(ctx)
 	ghc := &model.GithubContext{

act/runner/run_context_test.go

@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ func TestGetGitHubContext(t *testing.T) {
 	log.SetLevel(log.DebugLevel)
 
 	cwd, err := os.Getwd()
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	rc := &RunContext{
 		Config: &Config{
@@ -622,23 +622,16 @@ func TestRunContextGetEnv(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func Test_createSimpleContainerName(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		parts []string
-		want  string
-	}{
-		{
-			parts: []string{"a--a", "BB正", "c-C"},
-			want:  "a-a_BB_c-C",
-		},
-		{
-			parts: []string{"a-a", "", "-"},
-			want:  "a-a",
-		},
-	}
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(strings.Join(tt.parts, " "), func(t *testing.T) {
-			assert.Equalf(t, tt.want, createSimpleContainerName(tt.parts...), "createSimpleContainerName(%v)", tt.parts)
-		})
-	}
+func TestCreateContainerNameBoundedForLongMatrixInput(t *testing.T) {
+	longMatrixValue := strings.Repeat("os=ubuntu-latest-go=1.24-node=22-", 20)
+	name := createContainerName(
+		"gitea",
+		"WORKFLOW-super-long-workflow-name",
+		"JOB-build-matrix-"+longMatrixValue,
+	)
+
+	assert.LessOrEqual(t, len(name), 128)
+	assert.LessOrEqual(t, len(name+"-env"), 255)
+	assert.LessOrEqual(t, len(name+"-network"), 255)
+	assert.LessOrEqual(t, len(name+"-job1234567890"), 255)
 }

act/runner/runner.go

@@ -137,8 +137,6 @@ func (runner *runnerImpl) configure() (Runner, error) {
 }
 
 // NewPlanExecutor ...
-//
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func (runner *runnerImpl) NewPlanExecutor(plan *model.Plan) common.Executor {
 	maxJobNameLen := 0
 

act/runner/runner_test.go

@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func TestGraphMissingEvent(t *testing.T) {
 	plan, err := planner.PlanEvent("push")
 	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.NotNil(t, plan)
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, len(plan.Stages)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Empty(t, plan.Stages)
 
 	assert.Contains(t, buf.String(), "no events found for workflow: no-event.yml")
 	log.SetOutput(out)
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestGraphMissingFirst(t *testing.T) {
 	plan, err := planner.PlanEvent("push")
 	assert.EqualError(t, err, "unable to build dependency graph for no first (no-first.yml)") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.NotNil(t, plan)
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, len(plan.Stages)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Empty(t, plan.Stages)
 }
 
 func TestGraphWithMissing(t *testing.T) {
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func TestGraphWithMissing(t *testing.T) {
 
 	plan, err := planner.PlanEvent("push")
 	assert.NotNil(t, plan)
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, len(plan.Stages))                                                    //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Empty(t, plan.Stages)
 	assert.EqualError(t, err, "unable to build dependency graph for missing (missing.yml)") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.Contains(t, buf.String(), "unable to build dependency graph for missing (missing.yml)")
 	log.SetOutput(out)
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func TestGraphWithSomeMissing(t *testing.T) {
 	plan, err := planner.PlanAll()
 	assert.Error(t, err, "unable to build dependency graph for no first (no-first.yml)") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.NotNil(t, plan)
-	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(plan.Stages)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Len(t, plan.Stages, 1)
 	assert.Contains(t, buf.String(), "unable to build dependency graph for missing (missing.yml)")
 	assert.Contains(t, buf.String(), "unable to build dependency graph for no first (no-first.yml)")
 	log.SetOutput(out)
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ func TestGraphEvent(t *testing.T) {
 	plan, err = planner.PlanEvent("release")
 	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	assert.NotNil(t, plan)
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, len(plan.Stages)) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.Empty(t, plan.Stages)
 }
 
 type TestJobFileInfo struct {
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ func (j *TestJobFileInfo) runTest(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, cfg *Config
 	log.SetLevel(logLevel)
 
 	workdir, err := filepath.Abs(j.workdir)
-	assert.Nil(t, err, workdir) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err, workdir) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	fullWorkflowPath := filepath.Join(workdir, j.workflowPath)
 	runnerConfig := &Config{
@@ -197,17 +197,17 @@ func (j *TestJobFileInfo) runTest(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, cfg *Config
 	}
 
 	runner, err := New(runnerConfig)
-	assert.Nil(t, err, j.workflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err, j.workflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	planner, err := model.NewWorkflowPlanner(fullWorkflowPath, true)
-	assert.Nil(t, err, fullWorkflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err, fullWorkflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	plan, err := planner.PlanEvent(j.eventName)
 	assert.True(t, (err == nil) != (plan == nil), "PlanEvent should return either a plan or an error") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 	if err == nil && plan != nil {
 		err = runner.NewPlanExecutor(plan)(ctx)
 		if j.errorMessage == "" {
-			assert.Nil(t, err, fullWorkflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err, fullWorkflowPath) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 		} else {
 			assert.Error(t, err, j.errorMessage) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 		}

act/runner/step_action_local_test.go

@@ -97,10 +97,10 @@ func TestStepActionLocalTest(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	err := sal.pre()(ctx)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	err = sal.main()(ctx)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	cm.AssertExpectations(t)
 	salm.AssertExpectations(t)

act/runner/step_action_remote.go

@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ type stepActionRemote struct {
 
 var stepActionRemoteNewCloneExecutor = git.NewGitCloneExecutor
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func (sar *stepActionRemote) prepareActionExecutor() common.Executor {
 	return func(ctx context.Context) error {
 		if sar.remoteAction != nil && sar.action != nil {

act/runner/step_action_remote_test.go

@@ -272,8 +272,8 @@ func TestStepActionRemotePre(t *testing.T) {
 
 			err := sar.pre()(ctx)
 
-			assert.Nil(t, err)                  //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
-			assert.Equal(t, true, clonedAction) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.True(t, clonedAction)
 
 			sarm.AssertExpectations(t)
 		})
@@ -343,8 +343,8 @@ func TestStepActionRemotePreThroughAction(t *testing.T) {
 
 			err := sar.pre()(ctx)
 
-			assert.Nil(t, err)                  //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
-			assert.Equal(t, true, clonedAction) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.True(t, clonedAction)
 
 			sarm.AssertExpectations(t)
 		})
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ func TestStepActionRemotePreThroughActionToken(t *testing.T) {
 
 			err := sar.pre()(ctx)
 
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 			// Verify that the clone was called (URL should be redirected to github.com)
 			assert.True(t, actualURL != "", "Expected clone to be called") //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 			assert.Equal(t, "https://github.com/org/repo", actualURL, "URL should be redirected to github.com")

act/runner/step_docker.go

@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func (sd *stepDocker) newStepContainer(ctx context.Context, image string, cmd, e
 		Image:        image,
 		Username:     rc.Config.Secrets["DOCKER_USERNAME"],
 		Password:     rc.Config.Secrets["DOCKER_PASSWORD"],
-		Name:         createSimpleContainerName(rc.jobContainerName(), "STEP-"+step.ID),
+		Name:         createContainerName(rc.jobContainerName(), "STEP-"+step.ID),
 		Env:          envList,
 		Mounts:       mounts,
 		NetworkMode:  networkMode,

act/runner/step_docker_test.go

@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func TestStepDockerMain(t *testing.T) {
 	cm.On("GetContainerArchive", ctx, "/var/run/act/workflow/pathcmd.txt").Return(io.NopCloser(&bytes.Buffer{}), nil)
 
 	err := sd.main()(ctx)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	assert.Equal(t, "node:14", input.Image)
 
@@ -114,10 +114,10 @@ func TestStepDockerPrePost(t *testing.T) {
 	sd := &stepDocker{}
 
 	err := sd.pre()(ctx)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	err = sd.post()(ctx)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
 func TestStepDockerNewStepContainerNetworkMode(t *testing.T) {

act/runner/step_factory_test.go

@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func TestStepFactoryNewStep(t *testing.T) {
 			step, err := sf.newStep(tt.model, &RunContext{})
 
 			assert.True(t, tt.check((step)))
-			assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+			assert.NoError(t, err)
 		})
 	}
 }

act/runner/step_run_test.go

@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func TestStepRun(t *testing.T) {
 	cm.On("GetContainerArchive", ctx, "/var/run/act/workflow/pathcmd.txt").Return(io.NopCloser(&bytes.Buffer{}), nil)
 
 	err := sr.main()(ctx)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	cm.AssertExpectations(t)
 }
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ func TestStepRunPrePost(t *testing.T) {
 	sr := &stepRun{}
 
 	err := sr.pre()(ctx)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	err = sr.post()(ctx)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
 }

act/runner/step_test.go

@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func TestSetupEnv(t *testing.T) {
 	sm.On("getEnv").Return(&env)
 
 	err := setupEnv(context.Background(), sm)
-	assert.Nil(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assert.NoError(t, err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	// These are commit or system specific
 	delete((env), "GITHUB_REF")
@@ -318,35 +318,35 @@ func TestIsContinueOnError(t *testing.T) {
 	step := createTestStep(t, "name: test")
 	continueOnError, err := isContinueOnError(context.Background(), step.getStepModel().RawContinueOnError, step, stepStageMain)
 	assertObject.False(continueOnError)
-	assertObject.Nil(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assertObject.NoError(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	// explcit true
 	step = createTestStep(t, "continue-on-error: true")
 	continueOnError, err = isContinueOnError(context.Background(), step.getStepModel().RawContinueOnError, step, stepStageMain)
 	assertObject.True(continueOnError)
-	assertObject.Nil(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assertObject.NoError(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	// explicit false
 	step = createTestStep(t, "continue-on-error: false")
 	continueOnError, err = isContinueOnError(context.Background(), step.getStepModel().RawContinueOnError, step, stepStageMain)
 	assertObject.False(continueOnError)
-	assertObject.Nil(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assertObject.NoError(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	// expression true
 	step = createTestStep(t, "continue-on-error: ${{ 'test' == 'test' }}")
 	continueOnError, err = isContinueOnError(context.Background(), step.getStepModel().RawContinueOnError, step, stepStageMain)
 	assertObject.True(continueOnError)
-	assertObject.Nil(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assertObject.NoError(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	// expression false
 	step = createTestStep(t, "continue-on-error: ${{ 'test' != 'test' }}")
 	continueOnError, err = isContinueOnError(context.Background(), step.getStepModel().RawContinueOnError, step, stepStageMain)
 	assertObject.False(continueOnError)
-	assertObject.Nil(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assertObject.NoError(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
 
 	// expression parse error
 	step = createTestStep(t, "continue-on-error: ${{ 'test' != test }}")
 	continueOnError, err = isContinueOnError(context.Background(), step.getStepModel().RawContinueOnError, step, stepStageMain)
 	assertObject.False(continueOnError)
-	assertObject.NotNil(err) //nolint:testifylint // pre-existing issue from nektos/act
+	assertObject.Error(err)
 }

act/workflowpattern/workflow_pattern.go

@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ func CompilePattern(rawpattern string) (*WorkflowPattern, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
-//nolint:gocyclo // function handles many cases
 func PatternToRegex(pattern string) (string, error) {
 	var rpattern strings.Builder
 	rpattern.WriteString("^")

go.mod

@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ require (
 	code.gitea.io/actions-proto-go v0.4.1
 	connectrpc.com/connect v1.19.2
 	github.com/avast/retry-go/v4 v4.7.0
-	github.com/docker/docker v25.0.13+incompatible
+	github.com/docker/docker v25.0.15+incompatible
 	github.com/joho/godotenv v1.5.1
-	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.20
+	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.22
 	github.com/sirupsen/logrus v1.9.4
 	github.com/spf13/cobra v1.10.2
 	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.11.1
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/julienschmidt/httprouter v1.3.0
 	github.com/kballard/go-shellquote v0.0.0-20180428030007-95032a82bc51
 	github.com/moby/buildkit v0.13.2
-	github.com/moby/patternmatcher v0.6.0
+	github.com/moby/patternmatcher v0.6.1
 	github.com/opencontainers/image-spec v1.1.1
 	github.com/opencontainers/selinux v1.13.1
 	github.com/pkg/errors v0.9.1

go.sum

@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ github.com/docker/cli v25.0.7+incompatible h1:scW/AbGafKmANsonsFckFHTwpz2QypoPA/
 github.com/docker/cli v25.0.7+incompatible/go.mod h1:JLrzqnKDaYBop7H2jaqPtU4hHvMKP+vjCwu2uszcLI8=
 github.com/docker/docker v25.0.13+incompatible h1:YeBrkUd3q0ZoRDNoEzuopwCLU+uD8GZahDHwBdsTnkU=
 github.com/docker/docker v25.0.13+incompatible/go.mod h1:eEKB0N0r5NX/I1kEveEz05bcu8tLC/8azJZsviup8Sk=
+github.com/docker/docker v25.0.14+incompatible h1:+HNue3fKbqiDHYFAriyiMjfS5u25zB0E2/R8f42lOMc=
+github.com/docker/docker v25.0.14+incompatible/go.mod h1:eEKB0N0r5NX/I1kEveEz05bcu8tLC/8azJZsviup8Sk=
+github.com/docker/docker v25.0.15+incompatible h1:JhRD6vZdk0Ms3SEMztefBISJL13NbxudQnGix6l+T5M=
+github.com/docker/docker v25.0.15+incompatible/go.mod h1:eEKB0N0r5NX/I1kEveEz05bcu8tLC/8azJZsviup8Sk=
 github.com/docker/docker-credential-helpers v0.9.5 h1:EFNN8DHvaiK8zVqFA2DT6BjXE0GzfLOZ38ggPTKePkY=
 github.com/docker/docker-credential-helpers v0.9.5/go.mod h1:v1S+hepowrQXITkEfw6o4+BMbGot02wiKpzWhGUZK6c=
 github.com/docker/go-connections v0.6.0 h1:LlMG9azAe1TqfR7sO+NJttz1gy6KO7VJBh+pMmjSD94=
@@ -131,6 +135,8 @@ github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.14 h1:9A9LHSqF/7dyVVX6g0U9cwm9pG3kP9gSzcuIPHP
 github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.14/go.mod h1:6LmQG8QLFO4G5z1gPvYEzlUgJ2wF+stgPZH1UqBm1s8=
 github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.20 h1:xfD0iDuEKnDkl03q4limB+vH+GxLEtL/jb4xVJSWWEY=
 github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.20/go.mod h1:W+V8PltTTMOvKvAeJH7IuucS94S2C6jfK/D7dTCTo3Y=
+github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.22 h1:j8l17JJ9i6VGPUFUYoTUKPSgKe/83EYU2zBC7YNKMw4=
+github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.22/go.mod h1:ZXfXG4SQHsB/w3ZeOYbR0PrPwLy+n6xiMrJlRFqopa4=
 github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.20 h1:WcT52H91ZUAwy8+HUkdM3THM6gXqXuLJi9O3rjcQQaQ=
 github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.20/go.mod h1:XBkDxAl56ILZc9knddidhrOlY5R/pDhgLpndooCuJAs=
 github.com/mattn/go-shellwords v1.0.12 h1:M2zGm7EW6UQJvDeQxo4T51eKPurbeFbe8WtebGE2xrk=
@@ -141,6 +147,8 @@ github.com/moby/buildkit v0.13.2 h1:nXNszM4qD9E7QtG7bFWPnDI1teUQFQglBzon/IU3SzI=
 github.com/moby/buildkit v0.13.2/go.mod h1:2cyVOv9NoHM7arphK9ZfHIWKn9YVZRFd1wXB8kKmEzY=
 github.com/moby/patternmatcher v0.6.0 h1:GmP9lR19aU5GqSSFko+5pRqHi+Ohk1O69aFiKkVGiPk=
 github.com/moby/patternmatcher v0.6.0/go.mod h1:hDPoyOpDY7OrrMDLaYoY3hf52gNCR/YOUYxkhApJIxc=
+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=
 github.com/moby/sys/sequential v0.6.0/go.mod h1:uyv8EUTrca5PnDsdMGXhZe6CCe8U/UiTWd+lL+7b/Ko=
 github.com/moby/sys/user v0.4.0 h1:jhcMKit7SA80hivmFJcbB1vqmw//wU61Zdui2eQXuMs=

internal/app/cmd/cache-server.go

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
@@ -47,10 +48,15 @@ func runCacheServer(configFile *string, cacheArgs *cacheServerArgs) func(cmd *co
 			port = cacheArgs.Port
 		}
 
+		secret := cfg.Cache.ExternalSecret
+		if secret == "" {
+			return errors.New("cache.external_secret must be set for cache-server; configure the same value on each runner that points at this server via cache.external_server")
+		}
 		cacheHandler, err := artifactcache.StartHandler(
 			dir,
 			host,
 			port,
+			secret,
 			log.StandardLogger().WithField("module", "cache_request"),
 		)
 		if err != nil {

internal/app/cmd/exec.go

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"encoding/hex"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"maps"
@@ -368,7 +370,7 @@ func runExec(ctx context.Context, execArgs *executeArgs) func(cmd *cobra.Command
 		}
 
 		// init a cache server
-		handler, err := artifactcache.StartHandler("", "", 0, log.StandardLogger().WithField("module", "cache_request"))
+		handler, err := artifactcache.StartHandler("", "", 0, "", log.StandardLogger().WithField("module", "cache_request"))
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -393,6 +395,25 @@ func runExec(ctx context.Context, execArgs *executeArgs) func(cmd *cobra.Command
 			execArgs.artifactServerPath = tempDir
 		}
 
+		// Register ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN against local cache server
+		env := execArgs.LoadEnvs()
+		const actionsRuntimeTokenEnvName = "ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN"
+		actionsRuntimeToken := env[actionsRuntimeTokenEnvName]
+		if actionsRuntimeToken == "" {
+			actionsRuntimeToken = os.Getenv(actionsRuntimeTokenEnvName)
+		}
+		if actionsRuntimeToken == "" {
+			tmpBranch := make([]byte, 12)
+			if _, err := rand.Read(tmpBranch); err != nil {
+				actionsRuntimeToken = "token"
+			} else {
+				actionsRuntimeToken = hex.EncodeToString(tmpBranch)
+			}
+			env[actionsRuntimeTokenEnvName] = actionsRuntimeToken
+			os.Setenv(actionsRuntimeTokenEnvName, actionsRuntimeToken)
+		}
+		handler.RegisterJob(actionsRuntimeToken, "__local/__exec")
+
 		// run the plan
 		config := &runner.Config{
 			Workdir:               execArgs.Workdir(),
@@ -402,7 +423,7 @@ func runExec(ctx context.Context, execArgs *executeArgs) func(cmd *cobra.Command
 			ForceRebuild:          execArgs.forceRebuild,
 			LogOutput:             true,
 			JSONLogger:            execArgs.jsonLogger,
-			Env:                   execArgs.LoadEnvs(),
+			Env:                   env,
 			Vars:                  execArgs.LoadVars(),
 			Secrets:               execArgs.LoadSecrets(),
 			InsecureSecrets:       execArgs.insecureSecrets,

internal/app/run/runner.go

@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@
 package run
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"maps"
+	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
@@ -38,9 +40,10 @@ type Runner struct {
 
 	cfg *config.Config
 
-	client client.Client
-	labels labels.Labels
-	envs   map[string]string
+	client       client.Client
+	labels       labels.Labels
+	envs         map[string]string
+	cacheHandler *artifactcache.Handler
 
 	runningTasks sync.Map
 	runningCount atomic.Int64
@@ -55,21 +58,24 @@ func NewRunner(cfg *config.Config, reg *config.Registration, cli client.Client)
 	}
 	envs := make(map[string]string, len(cfg.Runner.Envs))
 	maps.Copy(envs, cfg.Runner.Envs)
+	var cacheHandler *artifactcache.Handler
 	if cfg.Cache.Enabled == nil || *cfg.Cache.Enabled {
 		if cfg.Cache.ExternalServer != "" {
 			envs["ACTIONS_CACHE_URL"] = cfg.Cache.ExternalServer
 		} else {
-			cacheHandler, err := artifactcache.StartHandler(
+			handler, err := artifactcache.StartHandler(
 				cfg.Cache.Dir,
 				cfg.Cache.Host,
 				cfg.Cache.Port,
+				"",
 				log.StandardLogger().WithField("module", "cache_request"),
 			)
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Errorf("cannot init cache server, it will be disabled: %v", err)
 				// go on
 			} else {
-				envs["ACTIONS_CACHE_URL"] = cacheHandler.ExternalURL() + "/"
+				cacheHandler = handler
+				envs["ACTIONS_CACHE_URL"] = handler.ExternalURL() + "/"
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -84,11 +90,12 @@ func NewRunner(cfg *config.Config, reg *config.Registration, cli client.Client)
 	envs["GITEA_ACTIONS_RUNNER_VERSION"] = ver.Version()
 
 	return &Runner{
-		name:   reg.Name,
-		cfg:    cfg,
-		client: cli,
-		labels: ls,
-		envs:   envs,
+		name:         reg.Name,
+		cfg:          cfg,
+		client:       cli,
+		labels:       ls,
+		envs:         envs,
+		cacheHandler: cacheHandler,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -199,6 +206,21 @@ func (r *Runner) run(ctx context.Context, task *runnerv1.Task, reporter *report.
 		giteaRuntimeToken = preset.Token
 	}
 	r.envs["ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN"] = giteaRuntimeToken
+	// Mask the runtime token so it cannot be echoed in user step output; it is
+	// now also the cache server's bearer credential and leaking it would let
+	// any reader of the log impersonate this job against the cache.
+	if giteaRuntimeToken != "" {
+		task.Secrets["ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN"] = giteaRuntimeToken
+	}
+
+	// Register this job's runtime token with the local cache server so that
+	// cache requests from the job container can authenticate. The credential
+	// is removed when the task finishes, so a leaked token stops working as
+	// soon as the job ends rather than remaining valid for the runner's
+	// lifetime. Only applies to the embedded cache server; when the operator
+	// points the runner at an external cache via cfg.Cache.ExternalServer, it
+	// is that server's responsibility to authenticate requests.
+	defer r.registerCacheForTask(giteaRuntimeToken, preset.Repository, reporter)()
 
 	eventJSON, err := json.Marshal(preset.Event)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -278,6 +300,82 @@ func (r *Runner) run(ctx context.Context, task *runnerv1.Task, reporter *report.
 	return execErr
 }
 
+// registerCacheForTask tells the cache server to accept requests authenticated
+// with the given runtime token for the duration of this task. Returns a
+// function the caller must invoke (typically via defer) to revoke the
+// credential when the task finishes.
+//
+// Three modes:
+//   - Embedded handler: register in-process via RegisterJob.
+//   - external_server + external_secret: POST to the remote server's
+//     /_internal/register, defer a POST to /_internal/revoke. This is what
+//     enables full per-job auth and repo scoping over the network.
+//   - external_server alone (no secret): no-op revoker. The remote server is
+//     in legacy openMode and ignores the runtime token; trust is at the
+//     network layer.
+//
+// Safe with an empty token (older Gitea did not issue one).
+func (r *Runner) registerCacheForTask(token, repo string, reporter *report.Reporter) func() {
+	if token == "" {
+		return func() {}
+	}
+	if r.cacheHandler != nil {
+		return r.cacheHandler.RegisterJob(token, repo)
+	}
+	if r.cfg.Cache.ExternalServer != "" && r.cfg.Cache.ExternalSecret != "" {
+		return r.registerExternalCacheJob(token, repo, reporter)
+	}
+	return func() {}
+}
+
+// registerExternalCacheJob POSTs to the remote cache-server's control-plane.
+// Failures are logged but not fatal: if registration fails, the cache will
+// 401 the job's requests — better than failing the whole task for a cache
+// outage. The warning is mirrored to the job log so users can see why their
+// cache calls 401, instead of having to read the runner daemon's stderr.
+func (r *Runner) registerExternalCacheJob(token, repo string, reporter *report.Reporter) func() {
+	base := strings.TrimRight(r.cfg.Cache.ExternalServer, "/")
+	if err := postInternalCache(base+"/_internal/register", r.cfg.Cache.ExternalSecret,
+		map[string]string{"token": token, "repo": repo}); err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("cache external_server register failed (%s): %v", base, err)
+		if reporter != nil {
+			reporter.Logf("::warning::cache external_server register failed (%s): %v — cache requests from this job will be unauthenticated and likely return 401", base, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return func() {
+		if err := postInternalCache(base+"/_internal/revoke", r.cfg.Cache.ExternalSecret,
+			map[string]string{"token": token}); err != nil {
+			log.Warnf("cache external_server revoke failed (%s): %v", base, err)
+			if reporter != nil {
+				reporter.Logf("::warning::cache external_server revoke failed (%s): %v", base, err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func postInternalCache(url, secret string, body map[string]string) error {
+	buf, err := json.Marshal(body)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, url, bytes.NewReader(buf))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+secret)
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	client := &http.Client{Timeout: 5 * time.Second}
+	resp, err := client.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode/100 != 2 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("status %d", resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (r *Runner) RunningCount() int64 {
 	return r.runningCount.Load()
 }

internal/app/run/runner_cache_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+// Copyright 2026 The Gitea Authors. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+package run
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.com/gitea/act_runner/act/artifactcache"
+	"gitea.com/gitea/act_runner/internal/pkg/config"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func emptyCfg() *config.Config { return &config.Config{} }
+
+func TestRunner_registerCacheForTask(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := artifactcache.StartHandler(dir, "127.0.0.1", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+
+	r := &Runner{cfg: emptyCfg(), cacheHandler: handler}
+	token := "run-token-123"
+	unregister := r.registerCacheForTask(token, "owner/repo", nil)
+
+	base := handler.ExternalURL() + "/_apis/artifactcache"
+	probe := func() int {
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, base+"/cache?keys=x&version=v", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+		resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		return resp.StatusCode
+	}
+
+	assert.NotEqual(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe(),
+		"token should be accepted while task is registered")
+
+	unregister()
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe(),
+		"token must be rejected after the revoker runs")
+}
+
+func TestRunner_registerCacheForTask_NoOps(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("nil cacheHandler", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &Runner{cfg: emptyCfg()}
+		unregister := r.registerCacheForTask("tok", "owner/repo", nil)
+		require.NotNil(t, unregister)
+		unregister()
+	})
+
+	t.Run("empty token", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+		handler, err := artifactcache.StartHandler(dir, "127.0.0.1", 0, "", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer handler.Close()
+
+		r := &Runner{cfg: emptyCfg(), cacheHandler: handler}
+		unregister := r.registerCacheForTask("", "owner/repo", nil)
+		require.NotNil(t, unregister)
+		unregister()
+	})
+}
+
+// Locks in @actions/cache's wire protocol: bearer on reserve/upload/commit
+// /find, no auth on the signed archiveLocation download.
+func TestRunner_CacheFullFlow_MatchesToolkit(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifactcache")
+	handler, err := artifactcache.StartHandler(dir, "127.0.0.1", 0, "", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer handler.Close()
+
+	r := &Runner{cfg: emptyCfg(), cacheHandler: handler}
+	token := "full-flow-token"
+	unregister := r.registerCacheForTask(token, "owner/repo", nil)
+	defer unregister()
+
+	base := handler.ExternalURL() + "/_apis/artifactcache"
+	do := func(method, url, contentType, contentRange, body string) *http.Response {
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(method, url, strings.NewReader(body))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+		if contentType != "" {
+			req.Header.Set("Content-Type", contentType)
+		}
+		if contentRange != "" {
+			req.Header.Set("Content-Range", contentRange)
+		}
+		resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		return resp
+	}
+
+	key := "toolkit-flow"
+	version := "c19da02a2bd7e77277f1ac29ab45c09b7d46a4ee758284e26bb3045ad11d9d20"
+	body := `hello-cache-body`
+
+	// reserve
+	resp := do(http.MethodPost, base+"/caches", "application/json", "",
+		fmt.Sprintf(`{"key":"%s","version":"%s","cacheSize":%d}`, key, version, len(body)))
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+	var reserved struct {
+		CacheID uint64 `json:"cacheId"`
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, decodeJSON(resp, &reserved))
+	require.NotZero(t, reserved.CacheID)
+
+	// upload
+	resp = do(http.MethodPatch, fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, reserved.CacheID),
+		"application/octet-stream", fmt.Sprintf("bytes 0-%d/*", len(body)-1), body)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+
+	// commit
+	resp = do(http.MethodPost, fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, reserved.CacheID), "", "", "")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+
+	// find — @actions/cache always sends comma-separated keys here
+	resp = do(http.MethodGet,
+		fmt.Sprintf("%s/cache?keys=%s,fallback&version=%s", base, key, version), "", "", "")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+	var hit struct {
+		ArchiveLocation string `json:"archiveLocation"`
+		CacheKey        string `json:"cacheKey"`
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, decodeJSON(resp, &hit))
+	require.Equal(t, key, hit.CacheKey)
+	require.NotEmpty(t, hit.ArchiveLocation)
+
+	// download — toolkit does NOT attach Authorization here; the signature
+	// in the URL must be enough.
+	dl, err := http.Get(hit.ArchiveLocation)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer dl.Body.Close()
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, dl.StatusCode)
+	got := make([]byte, 64)
+	n, _ := dl.Body.Read(got)
+	assert.Equal(t, body, string(got[:n]))
+}
+
+func decodeJSON(resp *http.Response, v any) error {
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	return json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(v)
+}
+
+// End-to-end against a remote cache-server: token unknown → 401, register →
+// reserve/upload/commit/find/download all OK, revoke → 401 again.
+func TestRunner_ExternalCacheServer_RegisterRevoke(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "remote-cache")
+	const secret = "shared-secret-for-tests"
+	remote, err := artifactcache.StartHandler(dir, "127.0.0.1", 0, secret, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer remote.Close()
+
+	r := &Runner{cfg: &config.Config{Cache: config.Cache{
+		ExternalServer: remote.ExternalURL(),
+		ExternalSecret: secret,
+	}}}
+
+	token := "external-task-token"
+	repo := "owner/repoX"
+	base := remote.ExternalURL() + "/_apis/artifactcache"
+	probe := func() int {
+		req, _ := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, base+"/cache?keys=k&version=v", nil)
+		req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+		resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		return resp.StatusCode
+	}
+
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe(),
+		"token must be unknown to the remote server before registration")
+
+	unregister := r.registerCacheForTask(token, repo, nil)
+	require.NotEqual(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe(),
+		"token must be accepted after registerCacheForTask")
+
+	// Full reserve→upload→commit→find→download cycle, identical to what
+	// @actions/cache does, against the remote (external) server.
+	body := []byte("payload-from-task")
+	reserveBody, _ := json.Marshal(&artifactcache.Request{Key: "ext-key", Version: "v", Size: int64(len(body))})
+	req, _ := http.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, base+"/caches", bytes.NewReader(reserveBody))
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+	var reserved struct {
+		CacheID uint64 `json:"cacheId"`
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, decodeJSON(resp, &reserved))
+	require.NotZero(t, reserved.CacheID)
+
+	req, _ = http.NewRequest(http.MethodPatch, fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, reserved.CacheID), bytes.NewReader(body))
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Range", fmt.Sprintf("bytes 0-%d/*", len(body)-1))
+	resp, err = http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+
+	req, _ = http.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, fmt.Sprintf("%s/caches/%d", base, reserved.CacheID), nil)
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+	resp, err = http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+
+	req, _ = http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, base+"/cache?keys=ext-key&version=v", nil)
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+	resp, err = http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+	var hit struct {
+		ArchiveLocation string `json:"archiveLocation"`
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, decodeJSON(resp, &hit))
+	require.NotEmpty(t, hit.ArchiveLocation)
+
+	dl, err := http.Get(hit.ArchiveLocation)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer dl.Body.Close()
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, dl.StatusCode)
+
+	unregister()
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, probe(),
+		"token must be rejected after the revoker runs")
+}

internal/pkg/config/config.example.yaml

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ runner:
   # The maximum interval for fetching the job from the Gitea instance.
   # The runner uses exponential backoff when idle, increasing the interval up to this maximum.
   # Set to 0 or same as fetch_interval to disable backoff.
-  fetch_interval_max: 60s
+  fetch_interval_max: 5s
   # The base interval for periodic log flush to the Gitea instance.
   # Logs may be sent earlier if the buffer reaches log_report_batch_size
   # or if log_report_max_latency expires after the first buffered row.
@@ -81,7 +81,12 @@ cache:
   # The external cache server URL. Valid only when enable is true.
   # If it's specified, act_runner will use this URL as the ACTIONS_CACHE_URL rather than start a server by itself.
   # The URL should generally end with "/".
+  # Requires external_secret below to be set to the same value on both this runner and the cache-server.
   external_server: ""
+  # Shared secret between this runner and the external `act_runner cache-server`. Required when external_server
+  # (or `act_runner cache-server`) is in use: the runner pre-registers each job's ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN with the
+  # cache-server, and the cache-server enforces bearer auth + per-repo cache isolation.
+  external_secret: ""
 
 container:
   # Specifies the network to which the container will connect.

internal/pkg/config/config.go

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package config
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"maps"
 	"os"
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ type Cache struct {
 	Host           string `yaml:"host"`            // Host specifies the caching host.
 	Port           uint16 `yaml:"port"`            // Port specifies the caching port.
 	ExternalServer string `yaml:"external_server"` // ExternalServer specifies the URL of external cache server
+	ExternalSecret string `yaml:"external_secret"` // ExternalSecret is a shared secret between this runner and an external act_runner cache-server, enabling per-job ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN authentication and repo scoping over the network. Leave empty to keep the legacy unauthenticated behavior.
 }
 
 // Container represents the configuration for the container.
@@ -135,6 +137,9 @@ func LoadDefault(file string) (*Config, error) {
 			home, _ := os.UserHomeDir()
 			cfg.Cache.Dir = filepath.Join(home, ".cache", "actcache")
 		}
+		if cfg.Cache.ExternalServer != "" && cfg.Cache.ExternalSecret == "" {
+			return nil, errors.New("cache.external_server is set but cache.external_secret is empty; configure the same external_secret on this runner and the act_runner cache-server")
+		}
 	}
 	if cfg.Container.WorkdirParent == "" {
 		cfg.Container.WorkdirParent = "workspace"
@@ -150,7 +155,7 @@ func LoadDefault(file string) (*Config, error) {
 		cfg.Runner.FetchInterval = 2 * time.Second
 	}
 	if cfg.Runner.FetchIntervalMax <= 0 {
-		cfg.Runner.FetchIntervalMax = 60 * time.Second
+		cfg.Runner.FetchIntervalMax = 5 * time.Second
 	}
 	if cfg.Runner.LogReportInterval <= 0 {
 		cfg.Runner.LogReportInterval = 5 * time.Second

internal/pkg/config/config_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+// Copyright 2026 The Gitea Authors. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+package config
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestLoadDefault_RejectsExternalServerWithoutSecret(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "config.yaml")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte(`
+cache:
+  enabled: true
+  external_server: "http://cache.invalid/"
+`), 0o600))
+
+	_, err := LoadDefault(path)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "external_secret")
+}
+
+func TestLoadDefault_AcceptsExternalServerWithSecret(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "config.yaml")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte(`
+cache:
+  enabled: true
+  external_server: "http://cache.invalid/"
+  external_secret: "shh"
+`), 0o600))
+
+	_, err := LoadDefault(path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+}