Support unprotected file patterns (#16395)

Fixes #16381

Note that changes to unprotected files via the web editor still cannot be pushed directly to the protected branch. I could easily add such support for edits and deletes if needed. But for adding, uploading or renaming unprotected files, it is not trivial.

* Extract & Move GetAffectedFiles to modules/git

integrations/git_test.go

@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ func doBranchProtectPRMerge(baseCtx *APITestContext, dstPath string) func(t *tes
 		t.Run("PushProtectedBranch", doGitPushTestRepository(dstPath, "origin", "protected"))
 
 		ctx := NewAPITestContext(t, baseCtx.Username, baseCtx.Reponame)
-		t.Run("ProtectProtectedBranchNoWhitelist", doProtectBranch(ctx, "protected", ""))
+		t.Run("ProtectProtectedBranchNoWhitelist", doProtectBranch(ctx, "protected", "", ""))
 		t.Run("GenerateCommit", func(t *testing.T) {
 			_, err := generateCommitWithNewData(littleSize, dstPath, "user2@example.com", "User Two", "branch-data-file-")
 			assert.NoError(t, err)
@@ -391,7 +391,15 @@ func doBranchProtectPRMerge(baseCtx *APITestContext, dstPath string) func(t *tes
 		t.Run("MergePR2", doAPIMergePullRequest(ctx, baseCtx.Username, baseCtx.Reponame, pr2.Index))
 		t.Run("MergePR", doAPIMergePullRequest(ctx, baseCtx.Username, baseCtx.Reponame, pr.Index))
 		t.Run("PullProtected", doGitPull(dstPath, "origin", "protected"))
-		t.Run("ProtectProtectedBranchWhitelist", doProtectBranch(ctx, "protected", baseCtx.Username))
+
+		t.Run("ProtectProtectedBranchUnprotectedFilePaths", doProtectBranch(ctx, "protected", "", "unprotected-file-*"))
+		t.Run("GenerateCommit", func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := generateCommitWithNewData(littleSize, dstPath, "user2@example.com", "User Two", "unprotected-file-")
+			assert.NoError(t, err)
+		})
+		t.Run("PushUnprotectedFilesToProtectedBranch", doGitPushTestRepository(dstPath, "origin", "protected"))
+
+		t.Run("ProtectProtectedBranchWhitelist", doProtectBranch(ctx, "protected", baseCtx.Username, ""))
 
 		t.Run("CheckoutMaster", doGitCheckoutBranch(dstPath, "master"))
 		t.Run("CreateBranchForced", doGitCreateBranch(dstPath, "toforce"))
@@ -406,7 +414,7 @@ func doBranchProtectPRMerge(baseCtx *APITestContext, dstPath string) func(t *tes
 	}
 }
 
-func doProtectBranch(ctx APITestContext, branch string, userToWhitelist string) func(t *testing.T) {
+func doProtectBranch(ctx APITestContext, branch string, userToWhitelist string, unprotectedFilePatterns string) func(t *testing.T) {
 	// We are going to just use the owner to set the protection.
 	return func(t *testing.T) {
 		csrf := GetCSRF(t, ctx.Session, fmt.Sprintf("/%s/%s/settings/branches", url.PathEscape(ctx.Username), url.PathEscape(ctx.Reponame)))
@@ -414,8 +422,9 @@ func doProtectBranch(ctx APITestContext, branch string, userToWhitelist string)
 		if userToWhitelist == "" {
 			// Change branch to protected
 			req := NewRequestWithValues(t, "POST", fmt.Sprintf("/%s/%s/settings/branches/%s", url.PathEscape(ctx.Username), url.PathEscape(ctx.Reponame), url.PathEscape(branch)), map[string]string{
-				"_csrf":     csrf,
+				"_csrf":                     csrf,
-				"protected": "on",
+				"protected":                 "on",
+				"unprotected_file_patterns": unprotectedFilePatterns,
 			})
 			ctx.Session.MakeRequest(t, req, http.StatusFound)
 		} else {
@@ -423,11 +432,12 @@ func doProtectBranch(ctx APITestContext, branch string, userToWhitelist string)
 			assert.NoError(t, err)
 			// Change branch to protected
 			req := NewRequestWithValues(t, "POST", fmt.Sprintf("/%s/%s/settings/branches/%s", url.PathEscape(ctx.Username), url.PathEscape(ctx.Reponame), url.PathEscape(branch)), map[string]string{
-				"_csrf":            csrf,
+				"_csrf":                     csrf,
-				"protected":        "on",
+				"protected":                 "on",
-				"enable_push":      "whitelist",
+				"enable_push":               "whitelist",
-				"enable_whitelist": "on",
+				"enable_whitelist":          "on",
-				"whitelist_users":  strconv.FormatInt(user.ID, 10),
+				"whitelist_users":           strconv.FormatInt(user.ID, 10),
+				"unprotected_file_patterns": unprotectedFilePatterns,
 			})
 			ctx.Session.MakeRequest(t, req, http.StatusFound)
 		}

models/branches.go

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ type ProtectedBranch struct {
 	DismissStaleApprovals         bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
 	RequireSignedCommits          bool     `xorm:"NOT NULL DEFAULT false"`
 	ProtectedFilePatterns         string   `xorm:"TEXT"`
+	UnprotectedFilePatterns       string   `xorm:"TEXT"`
 
 	CreatedUnix timeutil.TimeStamp `xorm:"created"`
 	UpdatedUnix timeutil.TimeStamp `xorm:"updated"`
@@ -214,8 +215,17 @@ func (protectBranch *ProtectedBranch) MergeBlockedByOutdatedBranch(pr *PullReque
 
 // GetProtectedFilePatterns parses a semicolon separated list of protected file patterns and returns a glob.Glob slice
 func (protectBranch *ProtectedBranch) GetProtectedFilePatterns() []glob.Glob {
+	return getFilePatterns(protectBranch.ProtectedFilePatterns)
+}
+
+// GetUnprotectedFilePatterns parses a semicolon separated list of unprotected file patterns and returns a glob.Glob slice
+func (protectBranch *ProtectedBranch) GetUnprotectedFilePatterns() []glob.Glob {
+	return getFilePatterns(protectBranch.UnprotectedFilePatterns)
+}
+
+func getFilePatterns(filePatterns string) []glob.Glob {
 	extarr := make([]glob.Glob, 0, 10)
-	for _, expr := range strings.Split(strings.ToLower(protectBranch.ProtectedFilePatterns), ";") {
+	for _, expr := range strings.Split(strings.ToLower(filePatterns), ";") {
 		expr = strings.TrimSpace(expr)
 		if expr != "" {
 			if g, err := glob.Compile(expr, '.', '/'); err != nil {
@@ -260,6 +270,28 @@ func (protectBranch *ProtectedBranch) IsProtectedFile(patterns []glob.Glob, path
 	return r
 }
 
+// IsUnprotectedFile return if path is unprotected
+func (protectBranch *ProtectedBranch) IsUnprotectedFile(patterns []glob.Glob, path string) bool {
+	if len(patterns) == 0 {
+		patterns = protectBranch.GetUnprotectedFilePatterns()
+		if len(patterns) == 0 {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+
+	lpath := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(path))
+
+	r := false
+	for _, pat := range patterns {
+		if pat.Match(lpath) {
+			r = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	return r
+}
+
 // GetProtectedBranchBy getting protected branch by ID/Name
 func GetProtectedBranchBy(repoID int64, branchName string) (*ProtectedBranch, error) {
 	return getProtectedBranchBy(x, repoID, branchName)

models/migrations/migrations.go

@@ -340,6 +340,8 @@ var migrations = []Migration{
 	NewMigration("RecreateIssueResourceIndexTable to have a primary key instead of an unique index", recreateIssueResourceIndexTable),
 	// v193 -> v194
 	NewMigration("Add repo id column for attachment table", addRepoIDForAttachment),
+	// v194 -> v195
+	NewMigration("Add Branch Protection Unprotected Files Column", addBranchProtectionUnprotectedFilesColumn),
 }
 
 // GetCurrentDBVersion returns the current db version

models/migrations/v194.go

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+// Copyright 2021 The Gitea Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a MIT-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package migrations
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"xorm.io/xorm"
+)
+
+func addBranchProtectionUnprotectedFilesColumn(x *xorm.Engine) error {
+	type ProtectedBranch struct {
+		UnprotectedFilePatterns string `xorm:"TEXT"`
+	}
+
+	if err := x.Sync2(new(ProtectedBranch)); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Sync2: %v", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}

modules/convert/convert.go

@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ func ToBranchProtection(bp *models.ProtectedBranch) *api.BranchProtection {
 		DismissStaleApprovals:         bp.DismissStaleApprovals,
 		RequireSignedCommits:          bp.RequireSignedCommits,
 		ProtectedFilePatterns:         bp.ProtectedFilePatterns,
+		UnprotectedFilePatterns:       bp.UnprotectedFilePatterns,
 		Created:                       bp.CreatedUnix.AsTime(),
 		Updated:                       bp.UpdatedUnix.AsTime(),
 	}

modules/git/diff.go

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
@@ -273,3 +274,46 @@ func CutDiffAroundLine(originalDiff io.Reader, line int64, old bool, numbersOfLi
 		oldBegin, oldNumOfLines, newBegin, newNumOfLines)
 	return strings.Join(newHunk, "\n"), nil
 }
+
+// GetAffectedFiles returns the affected files between two commits
+func GetAffectedFiles(oldCommitID, newCommitID string, env []string, repo *Repository) ([]string, error) {
+	stdoutReader, stdoutWriter, err := os.Pipe()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("Unable to create os.Pipe for %s", repo.Path)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		_ = stdoutReader.Close()
+		_ = stdoutWriter.Close()
+	}()
+
+	affectedFiles := make([]string, 0, 32)
+
+	// Run `git diff --name-only` to get the names of the changed files
+	err = NewCommand("diff", "--name-only", oldCommitID, newCommitID).
+		RunInDirTimeoutEnvFullPipelineFunc(env, -1, repo.Path,
+			stdoutWriter, nil, nil,
+			func(ctx context.Context, cancel context.CancelFunc) error {
+				// Close the writer end of the pipe to begin processing
+				_ = stdoutWriter.Close()
+				defer func() {
+					// Close the reader on return to terminate the git command if necessary
+					_ = stdoutReader.Close()
+				}()
+				// Now scan the output from the command
+				scanner := bufio.NewScanner(stdoutReader)
+				for scanner.Scan() {
+					path := strings.TrimSpace(scanner.Text())
+					if len(path) == 0 {
+						continue
+					}
+					affectedFiles = append(affectedFiles, path)
+				}
+				return scanner.Err()
+			})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("Unable to get affected files for commits from %s to %s in %s: %v", oldCommitID, newCommitID, repo.Path, err)
+	}
+
+	return affectedFiles, err
+}

modules/repofiles/delete.go

@@ -56,37 +56,8 @@ func DeleteRepoFile(repo *models.Repository, doer *models.User, opts *DeleteRepo
 				BranchName: opts.NewBranch,
 			}
 		}
-	} else {
+	} else if err := VerifyBranchProtection(repo, doer, opts.OldBranch, opts.TreePath); err != nil {
-		protectedBranch, err := repo.GetBranchProtection(opts.OldBranch)
+		return nil, err
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		if protectedBranch != nil {
-			if !protectedBranch.CanUserPush(doer.ID) {
-				return nil, models.ErrUserCannotCommit{
-					UserName: doer.LowerName,
-				}
-			}
-			if protectedBranch.RequireSignedCommits {
-				_, _, _, err := repo.SignCRUDAction(doer, repo.RepoPath(), opts.OldBranch)
-				if err != nil {
-					if !models.IsErrWontSign(err) {
-						return nil, err
-					}
-					return nil, models.ErrUserCannotCommit{
-						UserName: doer.LowerName,
-					}
-				}
-			}
-			patterns := protectedBranch.GetProtectedFilePatterns()
-			for _, pat := range patterns {
-				if pat.Match(strings.ToLower(opts.TreePath)) {
-					return nil, models.ErrFilePathProtected{
-						Path: opts.TreePath,
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
 	}
 
 	// Check that the path given in opts.treeName is valid (not a git path)

modules/repofiles/update.go

@@ -148,37 +148,8 @@ func CreateOrUpdateRepoFile(repo *models.Repository, doer *models.User, opts *Up
 		if err != nil && !git.IsErrBranchNotExist(err) {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-	} else {
+	} else if err := VerifyBranchProtection(repo, doer, opts.OldBranch, opts.TreePath); err != nil {
-		protectedBranch, err := repo.GetBranchProtection(opts.OldBranch)
+		return nil, err
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		if protectedBranch != nil {
-			if !protectedBranch.CanUserPush(doer.ID) {
-				return nil, models.ErrUserCannotCommit{
-					UserName: doer.LowerName,
-				}
-			}
-			if protectedBranch.RequireSignedCommits {
-				_, _, _, err := repo.SignCRUDAction(doer, repo.RepoPath(), opts.OldBranch)
-				if err != nil {
-					if !models.IsErrWontSign(err) {
-						return nil, err
-					}
-					return nil, models.ErrUserCannotCommit{
-						UserName: doer.LowerName,
-					}
-				}
-			}
-			patterns := protectedBranch.GetProtectedFilePatterns()
-			for _, pat := range patterns {
-				if pat.Match(strings.ToLower(opts.TreePath)) {
-					return nil, models.ErrFilePathProtected{
-						Path: opts.TreePath,
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
 	}
 
 	// If FromTreePath is not set, set it to the opts.TreePath
@@ -465,3 +436,43 @@ func CreateOrUpdateRepoFile(repo *models.Repository, doer *models.User, opts *Up
 	}
 	return file, nil
 }
+
+// VerifyBranchProtection verify the branch protection for modifying the given treePath on the given branch
+func VerifyBranchProtection(repo *models.Repository, doer *models.User, branchName string, treePath string) error {
+	protectedBranch, err := repo.GetBranchProtection(branchName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if protectedBranch != nil {
+		isUnprotectedFile := false
+		glob := protectedBranch.GetUnprotectedFilePatterns()
+		if len(glob) != 0 {
+			isUnprotectedFile = protectedBranch.IsUnprotectedFile(glob, treePath)
+		}
+		if !protectedBranch.CanUserPush(doer.ID) && !isUnprotectedFile {
+			return models.ErrUserCannotCommit{
+				UserName: doer.LowerName,
+			}
+		}
+		if protectedBranch.RequireSignedCommits {
+			_, _, _, err := repo.SignCRUDAction(doer, repo.RepoPath(), branchName)
+			if err != nil {
+				if !models.IsErrWontSign(err) {
+					return err
+				}
+				return models.ErrUserCannotCommit{
+					UserName: doer.LowerName,
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		patterns := protectedBranch.GetProtectedFilePatterns()
+		for _, pat := range patterns {
+			if pat.Match(strings.ToLower(treePath)) {
+				return models.ErrFilePathProtected{
+					Path: treePath,
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}

modules/structs/repo_branch.go

@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ type BranchProtection struct {
 	DismissStaleApprovals         bool     `json:"dismiss_stale_approvals"`
 	RequireSignedCommits          bool     `json:"require_signed_commits"`
 	ProtectedFilePatterns         string   `json:"protected_file_patterns"`
+	UnprotectedFilePatterns       string   `json:"unprotected_file_patterns"`
 	// swagger:strfmt date-time
 	Created time.Time `json:"created_at"`
 	// swagger:strfmt date-time
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ type CreateBranchProtectionOption struct {
 	DismissStaleApprovals         bool     `json:"dismiss_stale_approvals"`
 	RequireSignedCommits          bool     `json:"require_signed_commits"`
 	ProtectedFilePatterns         string   `json:"protected_file_patterns"`
+	UnprotectedFilePatterns       string   `json:"unprotected_file_patterns"`
 }
 
 // EditBranchProtectionOption options for editing a branch protection
@@ -97,4 +99,5 @@ type EditBranchProtectionOption struct {
 	DismissStaleApprovals         *bool    `json:"dismiss_stale_approvals"`
 	RequireSignedCommits          *bool    `json:"require_signed_commits"`
 	ProtectedFilePatterns         *string  `json:"protected_file_patterns"`
+	UnprotectedFilePatterns       *string  `json:"unprotected_file_patterns"`
 }

options/locale/locale_en-US.ini

@@ -1908,6 +1908,8 @@ settings.require_signed_commits = Require Signed Commits
 settings.require_signed_commits_desc = Reject pushes to this branch if they are unsigned or unverifiable.
 settings.protect_protected_file_patterns = Protected file patterns (separated using semicolon '\;'):
 settings.protect_protected_file_patterns_desc = Protected files that are not allowed to be changed directly even if user has rights to add, edit, or delete files in this branch. Multiple patterns can be separated using semicolon ('\;'). See <a href="https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/gobwas/glob#Compile">github.com/gobwas/glob</a> documentation for pattern syntax. Examples: <code>.drone.yml</code>, <code>/docs/**/*.txt</code>.
+settings.protect_unprotected_file_patterns = Unprotected file patterns (separated using semicolon '\;'):
+settings.protect_unprotected_file_patterns_desc = Unprotected files that are allowed to be changed directly if user has write access, bypassing push restriction. Multiple patterns can be separated using semicolon ('\;'). See <a href="https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/gobwas/glob#Compile">github.com/gobwas/glob</a> documentation for pattern syntax. Examples: <code>.drone.yml</code>, <code>/docs/**/*.txt</code>.
 settings.add_protected_branch = Enable protection
 settings.delete_protected_branch = Disable protection
 settings.update_protect_branch_success = Branch protection for branch '%s' has been updated.

routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go

@@ -498,6 +498,7 @@ func CreateBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		DismissStaleApprovals:         form.DismissStaleApprovals,
 		RequireSignedCommits:          form.RequireSignedCommits,
 		ProtectedFilePatterns:         form.ProtectedFilePatterns,
+		UnprotectedFilePatterns:       form.UnprotectedFilePatterns,
 		BlockOnOutdatedBranch:         form.BlockOnOutdatedBranch,
 	}
 
@@ -643,6 +644,10 @@ func EditBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		protectBranch.ProtectedFilePatterns = *form.ProtectedFilePatterns
 	}
 
+	if form.UnprotectedFilePatterns != nil {
+		protectBranch.UnprotectedFilePatterns = *form.UnprotectedFilePatterns
+	}
+
 	if form.BlockOnOutdatedBranch != nil {
 		protectBranch.BlockOnOutdatedBranch = *form.BlockOnOutdatedBranch
 	}

routers/private/hook.go

@@ -343,6 +343,23 @@ func HookPreReceive(ctx *gitea_context.PrivateContext) {
 						return
 					}
 
+					// Allow commits that only touch unprotected files
+					globs := protectBranch.GetUnprotectedFilePatterns()
+					if len(globs) > 0 {
+						unprotectedFilesOnly, err := pull_service.CheckUnprotectedFiles(oldCommitID, newCommitID, globs, env, gitRepo)
+						if err != nil {
+							log.Error("Unable to check file protection for commits from %s to %s in %-v: %v", oldCommitID, newCommitID, repo, err)
+							ctx.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, private.Response{
+								Err: fmt.Sprintf("Unable to check file protection for commits from %s to %s: %v", oldCommitID, newCommitID, err),
+							})
+							return
+						}
+						if unprotectedFilesOnly {
+							// Commit only touches unprotected files, this is allowed
+							continue
+						}
+					}
+
 					// Or we're simply not able to push to this protected branch
 					log.Warn("Forbidden: User %d is not allowed to push to protected branch: %s in %-v", opts.UserID, branchName, repo)
 					ctx.JSON(http.StatusForbidden, private.Response{

routers/web/repo/setting_protected_branch.go

@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@ func SettingsProtectedBranchPost(ctx *context.Context) {
 		protectBranch.DismissStaleApprovals = f.DismissStaleApprovals
 		protectBranch.RequireSignedCommits = f.RequireSignedCommits
 		protectBranch.ProtectedFilePatterns = f.ProtectedFilePatterns
+		protectBranch.UnprotectedFilePatterns = f.UnprotectedFilePatterns
 		protectBranch.BlockOnOutdatedBranch = f.BlockOnOutdatedBranch
 
 		err = models.UpdateProtectBranch(ctx.Repo.Repository, protectBranch, models.WhitelistOptions{

services/forms/repo_form.go

@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ type ProtectBranchForm struct {
 	DismissStaleApprovals         bool
 	RequireSignedCommits          bool
 	ProtectedFilePatterns         string
+	UnprotectedFilePatterns       string
 }
 
 // Validate validates the fields

services/pull/patch.go

@@ -245,70 +245,59 @@ func checkConflicts(pr *models.PullRequest, gitRepo *git.Repository, tmpBasePath
 
 // CheckFileProtection check file Protection
 func CheckFileProtection(oldCommitID, newCommitID string, patterns []glob.Glob, limit int, env []string, repo *git.Repository) ([]string, error) {
-	// 1. If there are no patterns short-circuit and just return nil
 	if len(patterns) == 0 {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
-
+	affectedFiles, err := git.GetAffectedFiles(oldCommitID, newCommitID, env, repo)
-	// 2. Prep the pipe
-	stdoutReader, stdoutWriter, err := os.Pipe()
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Error("Unable to create os.Pipe for %s", repo.Path)
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	defer func() {
-		_ = stdoutReader.Close()
-		_ = stdoutWriter.Close()
-	}()
-
 	changedProtectedFiles := make([]string, 0, limit)
-
+	for _, affectedFile := range affectedFiles {
-	// 3. Run `git diff --name-only` to get the names of the changed files
+		lpath := strings.ToLower(affectedFile)
-	err = git.NewCommand("diff", "--name-only", oldCommitID, newCommitID).
+		for _, pat := range patterns {
-		RunInDirTimeoutEnvFullPipelineFunc(env, -1, repo.Path,
+			if pat.Match(lpath) {
-			stdoutWriter, nil, nil,
+				changedProtectedFiles = append(changedProtectedFiles, lpath)
-			func(ctx context.Context, cancel context.CancelFunc) error {
+				break
-				// Close the writer end of the pipe to begin processing
+			}
-				_ = stdoutWriter.Close()
+		}
-				defer func() {
+		if len(changedProtectedFiles) >= limit {
-					// Close the reader on return to terminate the git command if necessary
+			break
-					_ = stdoutReader.Close()
+		}
-				}()
+	}
-
+	if len(changedProtectedFiles) > 0 {
-				// Now scan the output from the command
+		err = models.ErrFilePathProtected{
-				scanner := bufio.NewScanner(stdoutReader)
+			Path: changedProtectedFiles[0],
-				for scanner.Scan() {
+		}
-					path := strings.TrimSpace(scanner.Text())
-					if len(path) == 0 {
-						continue
-					}
-					lpath := strings.ToLower(path)
-					for _, pat := range patterns {
-						if pat.Match(lpath) {
-							changedProtectedFiles = append(changedProtectedFiles, path)
-							break
-						}
-					}
-					if len(changedProtectedFiles) >= limit {
-						break
-					}
-				}
-
-				if len(changedProtectedFiles) > 0 {
-					return models.ErrFilePathProtected{
-						Path: changedProtectedFiles[0],
-					}
-				}
-				return scanner.Err()
-			})
-	// 4. log real errors if there are any...
-	if err != nil && !models.IsErrFilePathProtected(err) {
-		log.Error("Unable to check file protection for commits from %s to %s in %s: %v", oldCommitID, newCommitID, repo.Path, err)
 	}
-
 	return changedProtectedFiles, err
 }
 
+// CheckUnprotectedFiles check if the commit only touches unprotected files
+func CheckUnprotectedFiles(oldCommitID, newCommitID string, patterns []glob.Glob, env []string, repo *git.Repository) (bool, error) {
+	if len(patterns) == 0 {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	affectedFiles, err := git.GetAffectedFiles(oldCommitID, newCommitID, env, repo)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	for _, affectedFile := range affectedFiles {
+		lpath := strings.ToLower(affectedFile)
+		unprotected := false
+		for _, pat := range patterns {
+			if pat.Match(lpath) {
+				unprotected = true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if !unprotected {
+			return false, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return true, nil
+}
+
 // checkPullFilesProtection check if pr changed protected files and save results
 func checkPullFilesProtection(pr *models.PullRequest, gitRepo *git.Repository) error {
 	if err := pr.LoadProtectedBranch(); err != nil {

templates/repo/settings/protected_branch.tmpl

@@ -244,6 +244,11 @@
 						<input name="protected_file_patterns" id="protected_file_patterns" type="text" value="{{.Branch.ProtectedFilePatterns}}">
 						<p class="help">{{.i18n.Tr "repo.settings.protect_protected_file_patterns_desc" | Safe}}</p>
 					</div>
+					<div class="field">
+						<label for="unprotected_file_patterns">{{.i18n.Tr "repo.settings.protect_unprotected_file_patterns"}}</label>
+						<input name="unprotected_file_patterns" id="unprotected_file_patterns" type="text" value="{{.Branch.UnprotectedFilePatterns}}">
+						<p class="help">{{.i18n.Tr "repo.settings.protect_unprotected_file_patterns_desc" | Safe}}</p>
+					</div>
 
 				</div>
 

templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl

@@ -12387,6 +12387,10 @@
           },
           "x-go-name": "StatusCheckContexts"
         },
+        "unprotected_file_patterns": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "x-go-name": "UnprotectedFilePatterns"
+        },
         "updated_at": {
           "type": "string",
           "format": "date-time",
@@ -12834,6 +12838,10 @@
             "type": "string"
           },
           "x-go-name": "StatusCheckContexts"
+        },
+        "unprotected_file_patterns": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "x-go-name": "UnprotectedFilePatterns"
         }
       },
       "x-go-package": "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"
@@ -13836,6 +13844,10 @@
             "type": "string"
           },
           "x-go-name": "StatusCheckContexts"
+        },
+        "unprotected_file_patterns": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "x-go-name": "UnprotectedFilePatterns"
         }
       },
       "x-go-package": "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"