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fix: Remove dependency on ip command for container support
Fixes #74 ## Problem httpjail failed when running inside Docker containers or minimal environments that don't include the `iproute2` package (which provides the `ip` command). This affected users running httpjail in: - Minimal container images (Alpine, distroless, etc.) - Container runtimes like sysbox-runc that provide CAP_SYS_ADMIN but don't include iproute2 - Custom sandbox environments with limited userspace tools ## Solution Replaced all `ip` command invocations with direct syscalls and netlink operations using the `rtnetlink` and `nix` crates. The implementation now: 1. **Network namespace management**: Uses `unshare()` + bind-mount instead of `ip netns add/del` 2. **Veth pair creation**: Uses rtnetlink instead of `ip link add` 3. **Interface configuration**: Uses rtnetlink for IP addresses and link state instead of `ip addr` and `ip link set` 4. **Namespace execution**: Uses `setns()` + `fork()`/`exec()` instead of `ip netns exec` ## Changes ### New Module: `src/jail/linux/netlink.rs` - `create_netns()` / `delete_netns()`: Manage persistent namespaces - `create_veth_pair()`: Create virtual ethernet pairs - `move_link_to_netns()`: Move interfaces between namespaces - `set_link_up()`: Configure link state - `add_addr()`: Add IP addresses to interfaces - `add_default_route()`: Add routing entries - `execute_in_netns()`: Execute commands in namespaces with privilege dropping - `get_handle_in_netns()`: Get netlink handle in a specific namespace ### Updated Files - `src/jail/linux/resources.rs`: Use netlink functions for namespace/veth resources - `src/jail/linux/mod.rs`: Use netlink for all network configuration and command execution - `Cargo.toml`: Add dependencies: `rtnetlink`, `netlink-packet-route`, `futures`, `nix` - `docs/guide/platform-support.md`: Document container support and removed `ip` dependency ## Testing Built and tested successfully on Linux. The implementation: - Maintains all existing functionality - Works in environments without `iproute2` - Still requires `nft` for nftables rules (documented requirement) - Still requires CAP_SYS_ADMIN and CAP_NET_ADMIN (no change) ## Benefits 1. **Container compatibility**: Works in minimal images and sysbox-runc 2. **Smaller attack surface**: Fewer external dependencies 3. **Better error handling**: Direct syscall errors vs parsing command output 4. **Performance**: No process spawning overhead for network operations 5. **Maintainability**: Pure Rust implementation ## Breaking Changes None. This is a drop-in replacement that maintains the same external behavior. ## Documentation Updated platform support documentation to note that `iproute2` is no longer required and added examples for running inside containers.
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Cargo.lock

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Cargo.toml

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@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ atty = "0.2"
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[target.'cfg(target_os = "linux")'.dependencies]
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libc = "0.2"
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socket2 = "0.5"
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rtnetlink = "0.14"
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netlink-packet-route = "0.19"
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futures = "0.3"
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nix = { version = "0.29", features = ["mount", "sched"] }
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[dev-dependencies]
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tempfile = "3.8"

docs/guide/platform-support.md

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@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ Full network isolation using namespaces and nftables.
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- nftables (`nft` command)
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- libssl-dev (for TLS)
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- sudo access (for namespace creation)
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- CAP_SYS_ADMIN and CAP_NET_ADMIN capabilities (automatically available with sudo, or in privileged containers)
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**Note:** httpjail no longer requires the `ip` command from `iproute2`. It uses direct syscalls and netlink for all network namespace operations. This allows it to work in minimal container images (like Alpine) or container runtimes like sysbox that provide the necessary capabilities but don't include the `iproute2` package.
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### How It Works
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@@ -60,6 +63,39 @@ sudo httpjail --js "r.host === 'github.com'" -- curl https://api.github.com
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httpjail --weak --js "r.host === 'github.com'" -- curl https://api.github.com
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```
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### Running Inside Containers
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httpjail works inside container environments (Docker, sysbox-runc, etc.) with proper capabilities:
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```bash
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# Docker with privileged mode (full capabilities)
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docker run --privileged --rm -it alpine:latest sh -c '
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wget https://github.com/coder/httpjail/releases/latest/download/httpjail-linux-amd64 -O /usr/local/bin/httpjail
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chmod +x /usr/local/bin/httpjail
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apk add --no-cache nftables
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httpjail --js "r.host === \"example.com\"" -- wget -qO- https://example.com
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'
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# sysbox-runc (provides CAP_SYS_ADMIN automatically)
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docker run --runtime=sysbox-runc --rm -it alpine:latest sh -c '
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wget https://github.com/coder/httpjail/releases/latest/download/httpjail-linux-amd64 -O /usr/local/bin/httpjail
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chmod +x /usr/local/bin/httpjail
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apk add --no-cache nftables
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httpjail --js "r.host === \"example.com\"" -- wget -qO- https://example.com
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'
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# Or use weak mode if you don't have the necessary capabilities
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httpjail --weak --js "r.host === \"example.com\"" -- wget -qO- https://example.com
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```
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**Requirements for strong mode in containers:**
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- CAP_SYS_ADMIN capability (for network namespace operations)
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- CAP_NET_ADMIN capability (for network configuration)
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- `nft` binary available (nftables)
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- NO need for `iproute2` package
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**Note:** Weak mode (`--weak`) works in any container but only sets HTTP_PROXY/HTTPS_PROXY environment variables, so applications must respect proxy settings.
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## macOS
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```
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└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
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```
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**Note**: Due to macOS PF (Packet Filter) limitations, httpjail uses environment-based proxy configuration on macOS. PF translation rules (such as `rdr` and `route-to`) cannot match on user or group, making transparent traffic interception impossible. As a result, httpjail operates in "weak mode" on macOS, relying on applications to respect the `HTTP_PROXY` and `HTTPS_PROXY` environment variables. Most command-line tools and modern applications respect these settings, but some may bypass them. See also https://github.com/coder/httpjail/issues/7.
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### Prerequisites
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- No special permissions required
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- Applications must respect proxy environment variables
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### Certificate Trust
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httpjail generates a unique CA certificate for TLS interception:
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```bash
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# Check if CA is trusted
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httpjail trust
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# Install CA to user keychain (prompts for password)
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httpjail trust --install
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# Remove CA from keychain
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httpjail trust --remove
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```
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**Note:** Most CLI tools respect the `SSL_CERT_FILE` environment variable that httpjail sets automatically. Go programs require the CA in the keychain.
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- macOS 10.15+ (Catalina or later recommended)
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- libssl (system OpenSSL or via Homebrew)
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### How It Works
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- Sets `HTTP_PROXY` and `HTTPS_PROXY` environment variables
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- Applications must voluntarily use these proxy settings
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- Cannot force traffic from non-cooperating applications
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- DNS queries are not intercepted
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- Sets HTTP_PROXY/HTTPS_PROXY environment variables
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- Applications must honor proxy settings
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- TLS interception via dynamic certificate generation
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- No system-level packet filtering
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### Usage
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```bash
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# Always runs in weak mode on macOS (no sudo needed)
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# macOS uses weak mode by default (no sudo required)
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httpjail --js "r.host === 'github.com'" -- curl https://api.github.com
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# Server mode for applications that don't respect environment variables
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httpjail --server --js "r.host === 'github.com'"
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# Then configure your app with HTTP_PROXY=http://localhost:8080
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```
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## Windows
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### Limitations
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Support is planned but not yet implemented.
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- Applications must respect HTTP_PROXY/HTTPS_PROXY environment variables
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- Cannot force applications to use the proxy
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- Some programs (Go binaries) require installing the CA certificate in macOS keychain
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## Mode Selection
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## Windows
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httpjail automatically selects the appropriate mode:
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Windows support is planned for a future release. Track progress at [#XX](https://github.com/coder/httpjail/issues/XX).
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- **Linux**: Strong mode by default, use `--weak` to force environment-only mode
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- **macOS**: Always weak mode (environment variables)
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- **Windows**: Not yet supported
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## Weak Mode
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## Environment Variables
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Weak mode is available on all platforms and uses environment variables only:
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httpjail sets these variables for the child process to trust the CA certificate:
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```bash
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httpjail --weak --js "r.host === 'allowed.com'" -- your-app
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```
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- `SSL_CERT_FILE` / `SSL_CERT_DIR` - OpenSSL and most tools
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- `CURL_CA_BUNDLE` - curl
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- `REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE` - Python requests
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- `NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS` - Node.js
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- `CARGO_HTTP_CAINFO` - Cargo
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- `GIT_SSL_CAINFO` - Git
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**Characteristics:**
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- ✅ No root/sudo required
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- ✅ Works on all platforms
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- ❌ Apps must respect HTTP_PROXY/HTTPS_PROXY
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- ❌ Cannot enforce policy on non-compliant apps
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- ⚠️ Lower security than strong mode
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**Use weak mode when:**
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- You don't have root access
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- Testing on macOS (default behavior)
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- Working with proxy-aware applications
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- Running in containers without CAP_SYS_ADMIN

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