Troubleshooting GitHub Actions: Overcoming Permission Issues When Committing Changes

If you’re working on automating data updates using GitHub Actions and encounter persistent permission errors during the commit phase, you’re not alone. Many developers—especially those new to web development—face challenges with proper access rights when configuring automated workflows. Here’s a comprehensive overview and some guidance to help you resolve such issues.

Understanding the Workflow

In this scenario, the goal is to extract data from an external calendar, store it in a JSON file, and then have a static website display this updated information. To automate this process, GitHub Actions is used, automating tasks like web scraping and JSON updates.

The core issue arises during the commit step, where the workflow attempts to push changes back to the repository. Despite verifying the presence of a token, the process fails with permission denied errors, typically returning a 403 status code.

Common Causes of Permission Failures

• Incorrect Token Scope: The personal access token (PAT) used might not have the necessary permissions, especially for repository write access.
• Missing Repository Secrets: The token must be securely stored as a secret in your GitHub repository settings, then correctly referenced in your workflow.
• Misconfigured Workflow Permissions: Recent GitHub updates require explicit permission settings for workflows to push code.
• Using the Wrong User Identity: The configured user.name or email in git settings might not align with authenticated credentials.

Steps to Resolve the Issue

1. Verify Token Permissions
   Ensure your personal access token includes the ‘repo’ scope for private repositories or the appropriate permissions for public repositories. Create or regenerate the token with the correct scope.

2. Store the Token Securely
   Add the token as a secret in your GitHub repository:

3. Navigate to Settings > Secrets and variables > Actions

4. Add a new secret, e.g., ACTIONS_DEPLOY_TOKEN

5. Update Your Workflow Configuration
   Make sure your workflow references the secret correctly. For example:

“`yaml
steps:
– name: Checkout repository
uses: actions/checkout@v2

• name: Set up git
  run: |
  git config –global user.name ‘GitHub Actions Bot’
  git config –global user.email ‘[email protected]’

• name: Commit and push changes
  env:
  GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_DEPLOY_TOKEN }}
  run: |
  git add .
  git commit -m “Automated update