Nginx HTTP authorization only for git push

Question

I host a private git server using Nginx. I'd like anyone to clone into my repos (without authorization) but require authorization if they try to push a commit.

My Nginx configuration is as follows:

server {
  listen 443 ssl;
  server_name git.example.com;
  ssl_certificate /fullchain.pem;
  ssl_certificate_key /privkey.pem;

  location ~ ^.*\.git/(HEAD|info/refs|objects/info/.*|git-(upload|recieve)-pack) {
    root /usr/share/nginx/git;

# --- incorrect solution ---

#    if ($1 = git-upload-pack) {
#        auth_basic "Restricted";
#        auth_basic_user_file /usr/share/nginx/htpasswd;
#    }
    client_max_body_size 0;
    include fastcgi_params;
    fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME /usr/lib/git-core/git-http-backend;
    fastcgi_param GIT_HTTP_EXPORT_ALL "";
    fastcgi_param GIT_PROJECT_ROOT $realpath_root;
    fastcgi_param REMOTE_USER $remote_user;
    fastcgi_param PATH_INFO $uri;
    fastcgi_param unix:/var/fcgiwrap.socket;

  }

From my understanding, a git push request sends a git-receive-pack to my server. My simple solution was to capture this suffix with $1 and use an if statement, but I found quickly that this is not the correct use for ifs (ifisevil).

Is there a more appropriate solution to what I'm trying to accomplish?

Answer 1

Try separating the locations:

server {
  listen 443 ssl;
  server_name git.example.com;
  ssl_certificate /fullchain.pem;
  ssl_certificate_key /privkey.pem;

  location ~ ^.*\.git/(HEAD|info/refs|objects/info/.*|git-recieve-pack) {
    # Do your stuff 

  location ~ ^.*\.git/git-upload-pack {
    auth_basic "Restricted";
    auth_basic_user_file /usr/share/nginx/htpasswd;
    # Do your stuff 

Answer 2

You can auth/deny based on request_method.

        if ($request_method ~* "^(POST|PUT|DELETE)$" ) {
                # check if is there a cookie or something like that
                # and redirect to login if not
        }