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authorJohannes Schindelin <johannes.schindelin@gmx.de>2026-01-09 20:05:13 +0000
committerJunio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>2026-01-09 18:32:55 -0800
commit6206f7aeb0c584c91d226e32d446d6d062fa9674 (patch)
treeae634d24fa90de01c9228e6d977d989815ffedd0
parent97be7aa43a711646e66e1b11b43624e0940fe278 (diff)
downloadgit-6206f7aeb0c584c91d226e32d446d6d062fa9674.tar.xz
mingw: try to create symlinks without elevated permissions
As of Windows 10 Build 14972 in Developer Mode, a new flag is supported by `CreateSymbolicLink()` to create symbolic links even when running outside of an elevated session (which was previously required). This new flag is called `SYMBOLIC_LINK_FLAG_ALLOW_UNPRIVILEGED_CREATE` and has the numeric value 0x02. Previous Windows 10 versions will not understand that flag and return an `ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER`, therefore we have to be careful to try passing that flag only when the build number indicates that it is supported. For more information about the new flag, see this blog post: https://blogs.windows.com/buildingapps/2016/12/02/symlinks-windows-10/ Signed-off-by: Johannes Schindelin <johannes.schindelin@gmx.de> Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
-rw-r--r--compat/mingw.c26
1 files changed, 24 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/compat/mingw.c b/compat/mingw.c
index 59a32e454e..3e2110a87a 100644
--- a/compat/mingw.c
+++ b/compat/mingw.c
@@ -331,6 +331,8 @@ static const wchar_t *make_relative_to(const wchar_t *path,
return out;
}
+static DWORD symlink_file_flags = 0, symlink_directory_flags = 1;
+
enum phantom_symlink_result {
PHANTOM_SYMLINK_RETRY,
PHANTOM_SYMLINK_DONE,
@@ -381,7 +383,8 @@ process_phantom_symlink(const wchar_t *wtarget, const wchar_t *wlink)
return PHANTOM_SYMLINK_DONE;
/* otherwise recreate the symlink with directory flag */
- if (DeleteFileW(wlink) && CreateSymbolicLinkW(wlink, wtarget, 1))
+ if (DeleteFileW(wlink) &&
+ CreateSymbolicLinkW(wlink, wtarget, symlink_directory_flags))
return PHANTOM_SYMLINK_DIRECTORY;
errno = err_win_to_posix(GetLastError());
@@ -2846,7 +2849,7 @@ int symlink(const char *target, const char *link)
wtarget[len] = '\\';
/* create file symlink */
- if (!CreateSymbolicLinkW(wlink, wtarget, 0)) {
+ if (!CreateSymbolicLinkW(wlink, wtarget, symlink_file_flags)) {
errno = err_win_to_posix(GetLastError());
return -1;
}
@@ -3523,6 +3526,24 @@ static void maybe_redirect_std_handles(void)
GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_FLAG_NO_BUFFERING);
}
+static void adjust_symlink_flags(void)
+{
+ /*
+ * Starting with Windows 10 Build 14972, symbolic links can be created
+ * using CreateSymbolicLink() without elevation by passing the flag
+ * SYMBOLIC_LINK_FLAG_ALLOW_UNPRIVILEGED_CREATE (0x02) as last
+ * parameter, provided the Developer Mode has been enabled. Some
+ * earlier Windows versions complain about this flag with an
+ * ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER, hence we have to test the build number
+ * specifically.
+ */
+ if (GetVersion() >= 14972 << 16) {
+ symlink_file_flags |= 2;
+ symlink_directory_flags |= 2;
+ }
+
+}
+
#ifdef _MSC_VER
#ifdef _DEBUG
#include <crtdbg.h>
@@ -3558,6 +3579,7 @@ int wmain(int argc, const wchar_t **wargv)
#endif
maybe_redirect_std_handles();
+ adjust_symlink_flags();
/* determine size of argv and environ conversion buffer */
maxlen = wcslen(wargv[0]);