Git Submodule - Permission Denied

Question

I am not able to clone the submodule existing within my private git repository. I do have access to entire repository,

Have used the below commands but dint work, please help. What is the right way to clone the submodules in an existing repository?

djrecker$ git submodule update --init --recursive
Submodule 'Path' ([email protected]:Path) registered for path 'App'
Cloning into 'Path'...
Permission denied (publickey).
fatal: Could not read from remote repository.

Solution 1

I was facing the same issue. The problem was on your github repo , you might be using some old ssh key.

You need to update the current ssh key.

Steps involved are:

1. vim ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
2. copy the ssh key
3. Go to the github settings
4. Select the option ssh keys
5. Remove the old ssh keys not used anymore.
6. Add a new ssh key.
7. Try running the "git submodule update --recursive"

This worked for me !!

Solution 2

• On Windows:

In my case, it was complaining about the same issue when I was using a regular command line (Git CMD). Then I tried with Git Bash and no issue no more.

Solution 3

I had this issue. In my case, the public key (~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub) wasn't set up on the server properly.

Ensure you're getting all the submodules:

Reference: Git update submodules recursively

# This must be called twice. Once for new and once for existing submodules.
git submodule update --init --recursive
git submodule update --recursive

To diagnose permission issues with your key:

• Access: Ensure that either: (1) you're cloning a public repo or (2) it's private, but your github account has access.
• Diagnose with ssh -vT [email protected]. Ensure the key you set up is listed there. For more help on permissions issues, follow this guide: https://help.github.com/articles/error-permission-denied-publickey/
• Adding a key to Github: https://help.github.com/articles/generating-ssh-keys/

To check details of your submodules

• Open .gitmodules in the project root folder and ensure things look okay. As recommended by @VonC try cloning them in a separate folder.
• You might want to switch submodules from using SSH to HTTPS. That will let you type a username and password. But that can cause issues with your teammates and build automation. Speak to them first.

Solution 4

In my case the issue was caused by console which did not ask me for a password. Solution was to change the console from CMDER to Gitbash. When I used CMDER it does not show the password window which caused this access denied issue.

Solution 5

Interestingly, in a similar occasion using the HTTPS link worked for me.

View more solutions

Comments

[VonC]

Can you clone [email protected]:Path independently? Just to check that a direct clone would work and that you do have access.

[Max]

Yes i did that and i get the entire repo except the submodule,

[VonC]

Can you check the .gitmodules content (in the repo you just cloned), and try cloning the url referenced in it.

[Max]

Can you please tell me how do i do that ? I am a little new to git so please bare with me.

[VonC]

See if the repo you just cloned has a .gitmodules file in it. Then open that file, and try cloning the url(s) listed in it.

[Ke Li]

As @VonC mentioned, after checking the contents within .gitmodules, I see there's a different repo than the main one in which I have to refresh my ssh key. After doing so, it's working.

[famfamfam]

It must be accepted answer by smart way, just go to submodule folder then clone https link -> WORK 100%

[Arcyno]

the issue is when it occurs in a windows gitlab runner... it uses CMD by default !

[Alexis Wilke]

@famfamfam Absolutely not. If you need to do edits and be able to push your changes, you don't want to use the HTTPS protocol.

[Adam Johns]

I had never configured an ssh key, but everything worked fine after I configured my ssh key

[tapizquent]

Was getting the same issue with Windows Terminal. Using Git Lab and running git submodule update fixed it

[Özgür Ağcakaya]

+ This might be a problem with the password protected keys. I've prompted to re-enter the password only from gitbash.