fix(install): survive AppLocker/WDAC by staging release before binary test (#1389)

.github/workflows/build-release.yml

@@ -109,6 +109,14 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           uv run pwsh scripts/windows/build-binary.ps1
 
+      - name: Test install.ps1 end-to-end (Windows)
+        if: matrix.platform == 'windows'
+        shell: pwsh
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          pwsh -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts/windows/test-install-script.ps1
+
       - name: Upload binary as workflow artifact
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:

docs/src/content/docs/getting-started/installation.md

@@ -252,6 +252,30 @@ $env:APM_DEBUG = "1"
 apm install <package>
 ```
 
+### `Access is denied` running apm.exe on Windows (AppLocker / App Control for Business)
+
+If the installer (or `apm self-update`) fails at the `Testing binary...` step with `Access is denied` / HRESULT `0x80070005`, an enterprise application control policy ([AppLocker](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/application-security/application-control/app-control-for-business/applocker/applocker-overview) or [App Control for Business / WDAC](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/application-security/application-control/app-control-for-business/)) is blocking execution of `apm.exe` from a user-writable path.
+
+Starting in this release, the installer stages the binary under `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\apm\releases\<tag>` **before** invoking it, so a single allow-list rule for that path is enough.
+
+Ask your endpoint admin to add one of:
+
+- **Path rule:** `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\apm\*`
+- **Publisher / hash rule** for the released `apm.exe`
+
+If you cannot change policy, set `APM_TEMP_DIR` to a directory your policy allows and retry:
+
+```powershell
+$env:APM_TEMP_DIR = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Programs\apm\tmp"
+irm https://aka.ms/apm-windows | iex
+```
+
+As a last resort, install via pip (runs from your Python user site):
+
+```powershell
+pip install --user apm-cli
+```
+
 ## Next steps
 
 See the [Quick Start](../quick-start/) to set up your first project.

install.ps1

@@ -243,6 +243,72 @@ function Write-ManualInstallHelp {
     Write-Host "Need help? Create an issue at: $GithubUrl/$ApmRepo/issues"
 }
 
+function Get-Sha256Hex {
+    # Stream-based SHA256 that works even when Get-FileHash is unavailable
+    # (hardened hosts, $PSModuleAutoLoadingPreference='None', restricted sessions).
+    # System.Security.Cryptography is a core .NET type allowed in ConstrainedLanguage.
+    param([string]$Path)
+    $cmd = Get-Command Get-FileHash -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+    if (-not $cmd) {
+        try {
+            Import-Module Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility -ErrorAction Stop
+            $cmd = Get-Command Get-FileHash -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+        } catch {
+        }
+    }
+    if ($cmd) {
+        return (Get-FileHash -Path $Path -Algorithm SHA256).Hash.ToLower()
+    }
+    $stream = $null
+    $hasher = $null
+    try {
+        $stream = [System.IO.File]::OpenRead($Path)
+        $hasher = [System.Security.Cryptography.SHA256]::Create()
+        $bytes = $hasher.ComputeHash($stream)
+        $sb = New-Object System.Text.StringBuilder
+        foreach ($b in $bytes) { [void]$sb.Append($b.ToString("x2")) }
+        return $sb.ToString()
+    } finally {
+        if ($hasher) { $hasher.Dispose() }
+        if ($stream) { $stream.Dispose() }
+    }
+}
+
+function Test-AccessDeniedError {
+    # AppLocker / WDAC / App Control for Business denies CreateProcess on EXEs
+    # under user-writable paths (e.g. %TEMP%, %LOCALAPPDATA%\Temp) with HRESULT
+    # 0x80070005 (E_ACCESSDENIED), surfaced by PowerShell as "Access is denied".
+    param([string]$Text)
+    if (-not $Text) { return $false }
+    return ($Text -match 'Access is denied' -or $Text -match '0x80070005')
+}
+
+function Write-AppControlGuidance {
+    param(
+        [string]$Path,
+        [string]$TargetInstallDir
+    )
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-ErrorText "The OS denied execution of $Path."
+    Write-Host "This is the standard signature of an enterprise application control policy"
+    Write-Host "(AppLocker or App Control for Business / WDAC) denying an unsigned binary"
+    Write-Host "from a user-writable path."
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-Info "Options to unblock:"
+    if ($TargetInstallDir) {
+        Write-Host "  1. Ask your endpoint admin to allow-list the final install path"
+        Write-Host "     ($TargetInstallDir) via an AppLocker/WDAC Path or Publisher rule."
+    } else {
+        Write-Host "  1. Ask your endpoint admin to allow-list apm.exe via an"
+        Write-Host "     AppLocker/WDAC Path or Publisher rule."
+    }
+    Write-Host "  2. Set APM_TEMP_DIR to a directory your policy permits, then retry:"
+    Write-Host "       `$env:APM_TEMP_DIR = `"`$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Programs\apm\tmp`""
+    Write-Host "  3. Install via pip into your user site:"
+    Write-Host "       pip install --user apm-cli"
+    Write-Host ""
+}
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Banner
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -487,7 +553,7 @@ try {
         if ($fetched -and (Test-Path $sha256Path)) {
             try {
                 $expectedHash = (Get-Content $sha256Path -Raw).Trim().Split(" ")[0]
-                $actualHash = (Get-FileHash -Path $zipPath -Algorithm SHA256).Hash.ToLower()
+                $actualHash = Get-Sha256Hex -Path $zipPath
                 if ($actualHash -ne $expectedHash) {
                     Write-ErrorText "Checksum verification FAILED."
                     Write-Host "  Expected: $expectedHash"
@@ -515,49 +581,105 @@ try {
     }
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
-    # Extract
+    # Extract + stage + binary test + promote
+    #
+    # Order matters: AppLocker / App Control for Business commonly block
+    # executable launch from %TEMP%. We move the extracted bundle to the
+    # final per-user install root ($releasesDir, default
+    # %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\apm\releases\<tag>) BEFORE invoking
+    # apm.exe --version, so the binary test runs from the allow-listed
+    # path that the shim will keep pointing at. Until promotion succeeds
+    # we stage to a sibling `.new-<guid>` directory so a failed install
+    # never destroys the currently working release. See issue #1389.
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     Write-Info "Extracting package..."
     Expand-Archive -Path $zipPath -DestinationPath $tempDir -Force
 
     $packageDir = Join-Path $tempDir "apm-windows-x86_64"
-    $exePath = Join-Path $packageDir "apm.exe"
-    if (-not (Test-Path $exePath)) {
-        Write-ErrorText "Extracted package is missing apm.exe."
+    if (-not (Test-Path $packageDir)) {
+        Write-ErrorText "Extracted package is missing the apm-windows-x86_64 directory."
         Write-Info "Attempting automatic fallback to pip..."
         if (Install-ViaPip) { exit 0 }
         Write-ManualInstallHelp -GithubUrl $githubUrl -ApmRepo $apmRepo
         exit 1
     }
 
-    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
-    # Binary test
-    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    $stagingDir = "$releaseDir.new-" + [System.Guid]::NewGuid().ToString("N")
+    if (Test-Path $stagingDir) {
+        Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $stagingDir
+    }
+    try {
+        Move-Item -Path $packageDir -Destination $stagingDir -Force
+    } catch {
+        Write-ErrorText "Failed to stage release at ${stagingDir}: $_"
+        Write-ManualInstallHelp -GithubUrl $githubUrl -ApmRepo $apmRepo
+        exit 1
+    }
+
+    $stagedExe = Join-Path $stagingDir "apm.exe"
+    if (-not (Test-Path $stagedExe)) {
+        Write-ErrorText "Staged package is missing apm.exe."
+        Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $stagingDir -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+        Write-Info "Attempting automatic fallback to pip..."
+        if (Install-ViaPip) { exit 0 }
+        Write-ManualInstallHelp -GithubUrl $githubUrl -ApmRepo $apmRepo
+        exit 1
+    }
 
     Write-Info "Testing binary..."
+    $testFailure = $null
     try {
-        $testOutput = & $exePath --version 2>&1
-        if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "exit code $LASTEXITCODE" }
+        $testOutput = & $stagedExe --version 2>&1
+        if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "exit code $LASTEXITCODE - $testOutput" }
         Write-Success "Binary test successful: $testOutput"
     } catch {
-        Write-ErrorText "Downloaded binary failed to run: $_"
-        Write-Host ""
+        $testFailure = "$_"
+    }
+
+    if ($testFailure) {
+        $denied = Test-AccessDeniedError -Text $testFailure
+        Write-ErrorText "Downloaded binary failed to run: $testFailure"
+        if ($denied) {
+            Write-AppControlGuidance -Path $stagedExe -TargetInstallDir $releaseDir
+        }
+        Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $stagingDir -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
         Write-Info "Attempting automatic fallback to pip..."
         if (Install-ViaPip) { exit 0 }
         Write-ManualInstallHelp -GithubUrl $githubUrl -ApmRepo $apmRepo
         exit 1
     }
 
-    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
-    # Install
-    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
-
+    # Promote: replace any existing release atomically (rename the old one
+    # aside first so concurrent shim invocations can't see a missing dir).
+    $backupDir = $null
     if (Test-Path $releaseDir) {
-        Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $releaseDir
+        $backupDir = "$releaseDir.old-" + [System.Guid]::NewGuid().ToString("N")
+        try {
+            Move-Item -Path $releaseDir -Destination $backupDir -Force
+        } catch {
+            Write-ErrorText "Failed to move existing release aside: $_"
+            Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $stagingDir -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+            Write-ManualInstallHelp -GithubUrl $githubUrl -ApmRepo $apmRepo
+            exit 1
+        }
     }
 
-    Move-Item -Path $packageDir -Destination $releaseDir
+    try {
+        Move-Item -Path $stagingDir -Destination $releaseDir -Force
+    } catch {
+        Write-ErrorText "Failed to promote staged release: $_"
+        if ($backupDir -and (Test-Path $backupDir)) {
+            Move-Item -Path $backupDir -Destination $releaseDir -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+        }
+        Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $stagingDir -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+        Write-ManualInstallHelp -GithubUrl $githubUrl -ApmRepo $apmRepo
+        exit 1
+    }
+
+    if ($backupDir -and (Test-Path $backupDir)) {
+        Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $backupDir -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+    }
 
     $shimPath = Join-Path $binDir "apm.cmd"
     $shimContent = "@echo off`r`n`"$releaseDir\apm.exe`" %*`r`n"