feat: propagate actions dependencies (#4372)

Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com>
Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Salman Chishti <salmanmkc@GitHub.com>

.devcontainer/devcontainer.json

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 {
   "name": "Actions Runner Devcontainer",
-  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:focal",
+  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:noble",
   "features": {
-    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/docker-in-docker:1": {},
+    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/docker-in-docker:2": {},
     "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/dotnet": {
-      "version": "8.0.416"
+      "version": "8.0.420"
     },
     "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/node:1": {
       "version": "20"

.github/workflows/build.yml

@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ on:
     paths-ignore:
     - '**.md'
 
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
 jobs:
   build:
     strategy:
@@ -50,7 +53,7 @@ jobs:
 
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
     # Build runner layout
     - name: Build & Layout Release
@@ -75,8 +78,53 @@ jobs:
     # Upload runner package tar.gz/zip as artifact
     - name: Publish Artifact
       if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
-      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v5
+      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
       with:
         name: runner-package-${{ matrix.runtime }}
         path: |
           _package
+
+  docker:
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        os: [ ubuntu-latest, ubuntu-24.04-arm ]
+        include:
+          - os: ubuntu-latest
+            docker_platform: linux/amd64
+          - os: ubuntu-24.04-arm
+            docker_platform: linux/arm64
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+
+    - name: Get latest runner version
+      id: latest_runner
+      uses: actions/github-script@v9
+      with:
+        github-token: ${{secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN}}
+        script: |
+          const release = await github.rest.repos.getLatestRelease({
+            owner: 'actions',
+            repo: 'runner',
+          });
+          const version = release.data.tag_name.replace(/^v/, '');
+          core.setOutput('version', version);
+
+    - name: Setup Docker buildx
+      uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v4
+
+    - name: Build Docker image
+      uses: docker/build-push-action@v7
+      with:
+        context: ./images
+        load: true
+        platforms: ${{ matrix.docker_platform }}
+        tags: |
+          ${{ github.sha }}:latest
+        build-args: |
+          RUNNER_VERSION=${{ steps.latest_runner.outputs.version }}
+
+    - name: Test Docker image
+      run: |
+        docker run --rm ${{ github.sha }}:latest ./run.sh --version
+  

.github/workflows/codeql.yml

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
     - name: Checkout repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
     # Initializes the CodeQL tools for scanning.
     - name: Initialize CodeQL

.github/workflows/dependency-check.yml

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ jobs:
       npm-vulnerabilities: ${{ steps.check-versions.outputs.npm-vulnerabilities }}
       open-dependency-prs: ${{ steps.check-prs.outputs.open-dependency-prs }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:

.github/workflows/docker-buildx-upgrade.yml

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
       BUILDX_CURRENT_VERSION: ${{ steps.check_buildx_version.outputs.CURRENT_VERSION }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
       - name: Check Docker version
         id: check_docker_version
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
       - name: Update Docker version
         shell: bash

.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+name: Publish DockerImage from Release Branch
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      releaseBranch:
+        description: 'Release Branch (releases/mXXX)'
+        required: true
+
+jobs:
+  publish-image:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      packages: write
+      id-token: write
+      attestations: write
+    env:
+      REGISTRY: ghcr.io
+      IMAGE_NAME: ${{ github.repository_owner }}/actions-runner
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ github.event.inputs.releaseBranch }}
+
+      - name: Compute image version
+        id: image
+        uses: actions/github-script@v9
+        with:
+          script: |
+            const fs = require('fs');
+            const runnerVersion = fs.readFileSync('${{ github.workspace }}/releaseVersion', 'utf8').replace(/\n$/g, '');
+            console.log(`Using runner version ${runnerVersion}`);
+            if (!/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+$/.test(runnerVersion)) {
+              throw new Error(`Invalid runner version: ${runnerVersion}`);
+            }
+            core.setOutput('version', runnerVersion);
+
+      - name: Setup Docker buildx
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v4
+
+      - name: Log into registry ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
+        uses: docker/login-action@v4
+        with:
+          registry: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Build and push Docker image
+        id: build-and-push
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v7
+        with:
+          context: ./images
+          platforms: |
+            linux/amd64
+            linux/arm64
+          tags: |
+            ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:${{ steps.image.outputs.version }}
+            ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:latest
+          build-args: |
+            RUNNER_VERSION=${{ steps.image.outputs.version }}
+          push: true
+          labels: |
+            org.opencontainers.image.source=${{github.server_url}}/${{github.repository}}
+            org.opencontainers.image.licenses=MIT
+          annotations: |
+            org.opencontainers.image.description=https://github.com/actions/runner/releases/tag/v${{ steps.image.outputs.version }}
+
+      - name: Generate attestation
+        uses: actions/attest-build-provenance@v4
+        with:
+          subject-name: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
+          subject-digest: ${{ steps.build-and-push.outputs.digest }}
+          push-to-registry: true

.github/workflows/dotnet-upgrade.yml

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
       DOTNET_CURRENT_MAJOR_MINOR_VERSION: ${{ steps.fetch_current_version.outputs.DOTNET_CURRENT_MAJOR_MINOR_VERSION }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Get current major minor version
         id: fetch_current_version
         shell: bash
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ jobs:
     if: ${{ needs.dotnet-update.outputs.SHOULD_UPDATE == 1 && needs.dotnet-update.outputs.BRANCH_EXISTS == 0 }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
           ref: feature/dotnetsdk-upgrade/${{ needs.dotnet-update.outputs.DOTNET_LATEST_MAJOR_MINOR_PATCH_VERSION }}
       - name: Create Pull Request

.github/workflows/node-upgrade.yml

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ jobs:
   update-node:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Get latest Node versions
         id: node-versions
         run: |
@@ -159,18 +159,36 @@ jobs:
           git config --global user.name "github-actions[bot]"
           git config --global user.email "<41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>"
 
+          # Build version summary for commit message and PR body (only include changed versions)
+          COMMIT_VERSIONS=""
+          PR_VERSION_LINES=""
+
+          if [ "${{ steps.node-versions.outputs.needs_update20 }}" == "true" ]; then
+            COMMIT_VERSIONS="20: $NODE20_VERSION"
+            PR_VERSION_LINES="- Node 20: ${{ steps.node-versions.outputs.current_node20 }} → $NODE20_VERSION"
+          fi
+
+          if [ "${{ steps.node-versions.outputs.needs_update24 }}" == "true" ]; then
+            if [ -n "$COMMIT_VERSIONS" ]; then
+              COMMIT_VERSIONS="$COMMIT_VERSIONS, 24: $NODE24_VERSION"
+            else
+              COMMIT_VERSIONS="24: $NODE24_VERSION"
+            fi
+            PR_VERSION_LINES="${PR_VERSION_LINES:+$PR_VERSION_LINES
+          }- Node 24: ${{ steps.node-versions.outputs.current_node24 }} → $NODE24_VERSION"
+          fi
+
           # Create branch and commit changes
           branch_name="chore/update-node"
           git checkout -b "$branch_name"
-          git commit -a -m "chore: update Node versions (20: $NODE20_VERSION, 24: $NODE24_VERSION)"
+          git commit -a -m "chore: update Node versions ($COMMIT_VERSIONS)"
           git push --force origin "$branch_name"
 
           # Create PR body using here-doc for proper formatting
           cat > pr_body.txt << EOF
           Automated Node.js version update:
 
-          - Node 20: ${{ steps.node-versions.outputs.current_node20 }} → $NODE20_VERSION
-          - Node 24: ${{ steps.node-versions.outputs.current_node24 }} → $NODE24_VERSION
+          $PR_VERSION_LINES
 
           This update ensures we're using the latest stable Node.js versions for security and performance improvements.
 

.github/workflows/npm-audit-typescript.yml

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ jobs:
   npm-audit-with-ts-fix:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:

.github/workflows/npm-audit.yml

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ jobs:
   npm-audit:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v6

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ jobs:
     if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/releases/') || github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
     # Make sure ./releaseVersion match ./src/runnerversion
     # Query GitHub release ensure version is not used
     - name: Check version
-      uses: actions/github-script@v8.0.0
+      uses: actions/github-script@v9
       with:
         github-token: ${{secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN}}
         script: |
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ jobs:
 
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
     # Build runner layout
     - name: Build & Layout Release
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ jobs:
     # Upload runner package tar.gz/zip as artifact.
     - name: Publish Artifact
       if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
-      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v5
+      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
       with:
         name: runner-packages-${{ matrix.runtime }}
         path: |
@@ -129,41 +129,41 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
 
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
     # Download runner package tar.gz/zip produced by 'build' job
     - name: Download Artifact (win-x64)
-      uses: actions/download-artifact@v6
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@v8
       with:
         name: runner-packages-win-x64
         path: ./
     - name: Download Artifact (win-arm64)
-      uses: actions/download-artifact@v6
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@v8
       with:
         name: runner-packages-win-arm64
         path: ./
     - name: Download Artifact (osx-x64)
-      uses: actions/download-artifact@v6
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@v8
       with:
         name: runner-packages-osx-x64
         path: ./
     - name: Download Artifact (osx-arm64)
-      uses: actions/download-artifact@v6
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@v8
       with:
         name: runner-packages-osx-arm64
         path: ./
     - name: Download Artifact (linux-x64)
-      uses: actions/download-artifact@v6
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@v8
       with:
         name: runner-packages-linux-x64
         path: ./
     - name: Download Artifact (linux-arm)
-      uses: actions/download-artifact@v6
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@v8
       with:
         name: runner-packages-linux-arm
         path: ./
     - name: Download Artifact (linux-arm64)
-      uses: actions/download-artifact@v6
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@v8
       with:
         name: runner-packages-linux-arm64
         path: ./
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ jobs:
     # Create ReleaseNote file
     - name: Create ReleaseNote
       id: releaseNote
-      uses: actions/github-script@v8.0.0
+      uses: actions/github-script@v9
       with:
         github-token: ${{secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN}}
         script: |
@@ -296,11 +296,11 @@ jobs:
       IMAGE_NAME: ${{ github.repository_owner }}/actions-runner
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
       - name: Compute image version
         id: image
-        uses: actions/github-script@v8.0.0
+        uses: actions/github-script@v9
         with:
           script: |
             const fs = require('fs');
@@ -309,10 +309,10 @@ jobs:
             core.setOutput('version', runnerVersion);
 
       - name: Setup Docker buildx
-        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v4
 
       - name: Log into registry ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
-        uses: docker/login-action@v3
+        uses: docker/login-action@v4
         with:
           registry: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
           username: ${{ github.actor }}
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build and push Docker image
         id: build-and-push
-        uses: docker/build-push-action@v6
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v7
         with:
           context: ./images
           platforms: |
@@ -334,11 +334,12 @@ jobs:
           push: true
           labels: |
             org.opencontainers.image.source=${{github.server_url}}/${{github.repository}}
-            org.opencontainers.image.description=https://github.com/actions/runner/releases/tag/v${{ steps.image.outputs.version }}
             org.opencontainers.image.licenses=MIT
+          annotations: |
+            org.opencontainers.image.description=https://github.com/actions/runner/releases/tag/v${{ steps.image.outputs.version }}
 
       - name: Generate attestation
-        uses: actions/attest-build-provenance@v3
+        uses: actions/attest-build-provenance@v4
         with:
           subject-name: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
           subject-digest: ${{ steps.build-and-push.outputs.digest }}

README.md

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ We are taking the following steps to better direct requests related to GitHub Ac
 
 2. High Priority bugs can be reported through Community Discussions or you can report these to our support team https://support.github.com/contact/bug-report.
 
-3. Security Issues should be handled as per our [security.md](security.md)
+3. Security Issues should be handled as per our [SECURITY.md](https://github.com/actions/runner?tab=security-ov-file)
 
 We will still provide security updates for this project and fix major breaking changes during this time.
 

docs/start/envlinux.md

@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ Debian based OS (Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint)
 - liblttng-ust1 or liblttng-ust0
 - libkrb5-3
 - zlib1g
-- libssl1.1, libssl1.0.2 or libssl1.0.0
-- libicu63, libicu60, libicu57 or libicu55
+- libssl3t64, libssl3, libssl1.1, libssl1.0.2 or libssl1.0.0
+- libicu76, libicu75, ..., libicu66, libicu65, libicu63, libicu60, libicu57, libicu55, or libicu52
 
 Fedora based OS (Fedora, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, Oracle Linux 7)
 

images/Dockerfile

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # Source: https://github.com/dotnet/dotnet-docker
-FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/runtime-deps:8.0-jammy AS build
+FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/runtime-deps:8.0-noble AS build
 
 ARG TARGETOS
 ARG TARGETARCH
 ARG RUNNER_VERSION
 ARG RUNNER_CONTAINER_HOOKS_VERSION=0.7.0
-ARG DOCKER_VERSION=29.0.1
-ARG BUILDX_VERSION=0.30.0
+ARG DOCKER_VERSION=29.4.0
+ARG BUILDX_VERSION=0.33.0
 
 RUN apt update -y && apt install curl unzip -y
 
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ RUN curl -f -L -o runner-container-hooks.zip https://github.com/actions/runner-c
     && unzip ./runner-container-hooks.zip -d ./k8s \
     && rm runner-container-hooks.zip
 
-RUN curl -f -L -o runner-container-hooks.zip https://github.com/actions/runner-container-hooks/releases/download/v0.8.0/actions-runner-hooks-k8s-0.8.0.zip \
+RUN curl -f -L -o runner-container-hooks.zip https://github.com/actions/runner-container-hooks/releases/download/v0.8.1/actions-runner-hooks-k8s-0.8.1.zip \
     && unzip ./runner-container-hooks.zip -d ./k8s-novolume \
     && rm runner-container-hooks.zip
 
@@ -33,15 +33,15 @@ RUN export RUNNER_ARCH=${TARGETARCH} \
     && rm -rf docker.tgz \
     && mkdir -p /usr/local/lib/docker/cli-plugins \
     && curl -fLo /usr/local/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-buildx \
-        "https://github.com/docker/buildx/releases/download/v${BUILDX_VERSION}/buildx-v${BUILDX_VERSION}.linux-${TARGETARCH}" \
+    "https://github.com/docker/buildx/releases/download/v${BUILDX_VERSION}/buildx-v${BUILDX_VERSION}.linux-${TARGETARCH}" \
     && chmod +x /usr/local/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-buildx
 
-FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/runtime-deps:8.0-jammy
+FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/runtime-deps:8.0-noble
 
 ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
 ENV RUNNER_MANUALLY_TRAP_SIG=1
 ENV ACTIONS_RUNNER_PRINT_LOG_TO_STDOUT=1
-ENV ImageOS=ubuntu22
+ENV ImageOS=ubuntu24
 
 # 'gpg-agent' and 'software-properties-common' are needed for the 'add-apt-repository' command that follows
 RUN apt update -y \
@@ -54,8 +54,6 @@ RUN add-apt-repository ppa:git-core/ppa \
     && apt install -y git \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
-WORKDIR /home/runner
-
 RUN adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" --uid 1001 runner \
     && groupadd docker --gid 123 \
     && usermod -aG sudo runner \
@@ -64,6 +62,8 @@ RUN adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" --uid 1001 runner \
     && echo "Defaults env_keep += \"DEBIAN_FRONTEND\"" >> /etc/sudoers \
     && chmod 777 /home/runner
 
+WORKDIR /home/runner
+
 COPY --chown=runner:docker --from=build /actions-runner .
 COPY --from=build /usr/local/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-buildx /usr/local/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-buildx
 

releaseNote.md

@@ -1,30 +1,36 @@
 ## What's Changed
-* Custom Image: Preflight checks by @lawrencegripper in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4081
-* Update dotnet sdk to latest version @8.0.415 by @github-actions[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4080
-* Link to an extant discussion category by @jsoref in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4084
-* Improve logic around decide IsHostedServer. by @TingluoHuang in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4086
-* chore: update Node versions by @github-actions[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4093
-* Compare updated template evaluator by @ericsciple in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4092
-* fix(dockerfile): set more lenient permissions on /home/runner by @caxu-rh in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4083
-* Add support for libicu73-76 for newer Debian/Ubuntu versions by @lets-build-an-ocean in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4098
-* Bump actions/download-artifact from 5 to 6 by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4089
-* Bump actions/upload-artifact from 4 to 5 by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4088
-* Bump Azure.Storage.Blobs from 12.25.1 to 12.26.0 by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4077
-* Only start runner after network is online by @dupondje in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4094
-* Retry http error related to DNS resolution failure. by @TingluoHuang in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4110
-* Update Docker to v29.0.1 and Buildx to v0.30.0 by @github-actions[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4114
-* chore: update Node versions by @github-actions[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4115
-* Update dotnet sdk to latest version @8.0.416 by @github-actions[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4116
-* Compare updated workflow parser for ActionManifestManager by @ericsciple in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4111
-* Bump npm pkg version for hashFiles. by @TingluoHuang in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4122
+* Bump flatted from 3.2.7 to 3.4.2 in /src/Misc/expressionFunc/hashFiles by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4307
+* Add DAP server by @rentziass in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4298
+* Bump @typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin from 8.57.1 to 8.57.2 in /src/Misc/expressionFunc/hashFiles by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4310
+* Remove AllowCaseFunction feature flag by @ericsciple in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4316
+* chore: update Node versions by @github-actions[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4319
+* Batch and deduplicate action resolution across composite depths by @stefanpenner in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4296
+* Add support for Bearer token in action archive downloads by @TingluoHuang in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4321
+* Bump brace-expansion in /src/Misc/expressionFunc/hashFiles by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4318
+* Add devtunnel connection for debugger jobs by @rentziass in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4317
+* Update Docker to v29.3.1 and Buildx to v0.33.0 by @github-actions[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4324
+* Bump @typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin from 8.57.2 to 8.58.1 in /src/Misc/expressionFunc/hashFiles by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4327
+* Bump actions/github-script from 8 to 9 by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4331
+* Bump typescript from 5.9.3 to 6.0.2 in /src/Misc/expressionFunc/hashFiles by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4329
+* fix: only show changed versions in node upgrade PR description by @salmanmkc in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4332
+* Bump System.Formats.Asn1, Cryptography.Pkcs, ProtectedData, ServiceController, CodePages, Threading.Channels, @actions/glob, @typescript-eslint/parser, lint-staged, picomatch by @Copilot in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4333
+* feat: add `job.workflow_*` typed accessors to JobContext by @salmanmkc in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4335
+* Add WS bridge over DAP TCP server by @rentziass in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4328
+* chore: update Node versions by @github-actions[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4355
+* Bump Docker version to 29.4.0 by @Copilot in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4352
+* Update dotnet sdk to latest version @8.0.420 by @github-actions[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4356
+* Bump @typescript-eslint/parser from 8.58.1 to 8.59.0 in /src/Misc/expressionFunc/hashFiles by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4360
+* Bump System.Formats.Asn1 and System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4362
+* Add vulnerability-alerts permission by @salmanmkc in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4350
+* Bump @typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin from 8.58.1 to 8.59.0 in /src/Misc/expressionFunc/hashFiles by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4359
+* Bump System.ServiceProcess.ServiceController from 10.0.3 to 10.0.6 by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4358
+* Bump typescript from 6.0.2 to 6.0.3 in /src/Misc/expressionFunc/hashFiles by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4353
+* Bump Microsoft.DevTunnels.Connections from 1.3.16 to 1.3.39 by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4339
 
 ## New Contributors
-* @lawrencegripper made their first contribution in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4081
-* @caxu-rh made their first contribution in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4083
-* @lets-build-an-ocean made their first contribution in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4098
-* @dupondje made their first contribution in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4094
+* @stefanpenner made their first contribution in https://github.com/actions/runner/pull/4296
 
-**Full Changelog**: https://github.com/actions/runner/compare/v2.329.0...v2.330.0
+**Full Changelog**: https://github.com/actions/runner/compare/v2.333.1...v2.334.0
 
 _Note: Actions Runner follows a progressive release policy, so the latest release might not be available to your enterprise, organization, or repository yet.
 To confirm which version of the Actions Runner you should expect, please view the download instructions for your enterprise, organization, or repository.

releaseVersion

@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.330.0
+<Update to ./src/runnerversion when creating release>

src/Misc/expressionFunc/hashFiles/package.json

@@ -32,20 +32,20 @@
   "author": "GitHub Actions",
   "license": "MIT",
   "dependencies": {
-    "@actions/glob": "^0.4.0"
+    "@actions/glob": "^0.7.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@stylistic/eslint-plugin": "^3.1.0",
+    "@stylistic/eslint-plugin": "^5.10.0",
     "@types/node": "^22.0.0",
-    "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^8.0.0",
-    "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^8.0.0",
+    "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^8.59.0",
+    "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^8.59.0",
     "@vercel/ncc": "^0.38.3",
     "eslint": "^8.47.0",
     "eslint-plugin-github": "^4.10.2",
     "eslint-plugin-prettier": "^5.0.0",
     "husky": "^9.1.7",
-    "lint-staged": "^15.5.0",
+    "lint-staged": "^16.4.0",
     "prettier": "^3.0.3",
-    "typescript": "^5.9.2"
+    "typescript": "^6.0.3"
   }
 }

src/Misc/externals.sh

@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ NODE_URL=https://nodejs.org/dist
 NODE_ALPINE_URL=https://github.com/actions/alpine_nodejs/releases/download
 # When you update Node versions you must also create a new release of alpine_nodejs at that updated version.
 # Follow the instructions here: https://github.com/actions/alpine_nodejs?tab=readme-ov-file#getting-started
-NODE20_VERSION="20.19.5"
-NODE24_VERSION="24.11.1"
+NODE20_VERSION="20.20.2"
+NODE24_VERSION="24.15.0"
 
 get_abs_path() {
   # exploits the fact that pwd will print abs path when no args

src/Misc/layoutbin/installdependencies.sh

@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ then
             exit 1
         fi
 
-        apt_get_with_fallbacks libssl1.1$ libssl1.0.2$ libssl1.0.0$
+        apt_get_with_fallbacks libssl3t64$ libssl3$ libssl1.1$ libssl1.0.2$ libssl1.0.0$
         if [ $? -ne 0 ]
         then
             echo "'$apt_get' failed with exit code '$?'"

src/Misc/layoutroot/run-helper.cmd.template

@@ -10,6 +10,13 @@ if %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 (
   exit /b 0
 )
 
+if "%ACTIONS_RUNNER_RETURN_VERSION_DEPRECATED_EXIT_CODE%"=="1" (
+  if %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 7 (
+    echo "Runner listener exit with deprecated version error code: %ERRORLEVEL%."
+    exit /b %ERRORLEVEL%
+  )
+)
+
 if %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 1 (
   echo "Runner listener exit with terminated error, stop the service, no retry needed."
   exit /b 0

src/Misc/layoutroot/run-helper.sh.template

@@ -34,11 +34,13 @@ fi
 
 updateFile="update.finished"
 "$DIR"/bin/Runner.Listener run $*
-
 returnCode=$?
 if [[ $returnCode == 0 ]]; then
     echo "Runner listener exit with 0 return code, stop the service, no retry needed."
     exit 0
+elif [[ "$ACTIONS_RUNNER_RETURN_VERSION_DEPRECATED_EXIT_CODE" == "1" && $returnCode -eq 7 ]]; then
+    echo "Runner listener exit with deprecated version exit code: ${returnCode}."
+    exit "$returnCode"
 elif [[ $returnCode == 1 ]]; then
     echo "Runner listener exit with terminated error, stop the service, no retry needed."
     exit 0

src/Misc/layoutroot/run.cmd

@@ -25,7 +25,14 @@ call "%~dp0run-helper.cmd" %*
 if %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 1 (
   echo "Restarting runner..."
   goto :launch_helper
-) else (  
-  echo "Exiting runner..."
-  exit /b 0
 )
+
+if "%ACTIONS_RUNNER_RETURN_VERSION_DEPRECATED_EXIT_CODE%"=="1" (
+  if %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 7 (
+    echo "Exiting runner with deprecated version error code: %ERRORLEVEL%"
+    exit /b %ERRORLEVEL%
+  )
+)
+
+echo "Exiting runner..."
+exit /b 0

src/Misc/layoutroot/run.sh

@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ run() {
         returnCode=$?
         if [[ $returnCode -eq 2 ]]; then
             echo "Restarting runner..."
+        elif [[ "$ACTIONS_RUNNER_RETURN_VERSION_DEPRECATED_EXIT_CODE" == "1" && $returnCode -eq 7 ]]; then
+            echo "Exiting runner..."
+            exit "$returnCode"
         else
             echo "Exiting runner..."
             exit 0
@@ -42,6 +45,9 @@ runWithManualTrap() {
         returnCode=$?
         if [[ $returnCode -eq 2 ]]; then
             echo "Restarting runner..."
+        elif [[ "$ACTIONS_RUNNER_RETURN_VERSION_DEPRECATED_EXIT_CODE" == "1" && $returnCode -eq 7 ]]; then
+            echo "Exiting runner..."
+            exit "$returnCode"
         else
             echo "Exiting runner..."
             # Unregister signal handling before exit

src/Misc/layoutroot/safe_sleep.sh

@@ -1,5 +1,36 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+# try to use sleep if available
+if [ -x "$(command -v sleep)" ]; then
+    sleep "$1"
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+# try to use ping if available
+if [ -x "$(command -v ping)" ]; then
+    ping -c $(( $1 + 1 )) 127.0.0.1 > /dev/null
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+# try to use read -t from stdin/stdout/stderr if we are in bash
+if [ -n "$BASH_VERSION" ]; then
+    if command -v read >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        if [ -t 0 ]; then
+            read -t "$1" -u 0 || :;
+            exit 0
+        fi
+        if [ -t 1 ]; then
+            read -t "$1" -u 1 || :;
+            exit 0
+        fi
+        if [ -t 2 ]; then
+            read -t "$1" -u 2 || :;
+            exit 0
+        fi
+    fi
+fi
+
+# fallback to a busy wait
 SECONDS=0
 while [[ $SECONDS -lt $1 ]]; do
     :

src/Runner.Common/ActionCommand.cs

@@ -204,6 +204,26 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Common
             return unescaped;
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Escapes special characters in a value using the standard action command escape mappings.
+        /// Iterates in reverse so that '%' is escaped first to avoid double-encoding.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static string EscapeValue(string value)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(value))
+            {
+                return value;
+            }
+
+            string escaped = value;
+            for (int i = _escapeMappings.Length - 1; i >= 0; i--)
+            {
+                escaped = escaped.Replace(_escapeMappings[i].Token, _escapeMappings[i].Replacement);
+            }
+
+            return escaped;
+        }
+
         private static string UnescapeProperty(string escaped)
         {
             if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(escaped))

src/Runner.Common/ConfigurationStore.cs

@@ -75,6 +75,41 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Common
                 {
                     return UrlUtil.IsHostedServer(new UriBuilder(GitHubUrl));
                 }
+                else
+                {
+                    // feature flag env in case the new logic is wrong.
+                    if (StringUtil.ConvertToBoolean(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("GITHUB_ACTIONS_RUNNER_FORCE_EMPTY_GITHUB_URL_IS_HOSTED")))
+                    {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+
+                    // GitHubUrl will be empty for jit configured runner
+                    // We will try to infer it from the ServerUrl/ServerUrlV2
+                    if (StringUtil.ConvertToBoolean(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("GITHUB_ACTIONS_RUNNER_FORCE_GHES")))
+                    {
+                        // Allow env to override and force GHES in case the inference logic is wrong.
+                        return false;
+                    }
+
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(ServerUrl))
+                    {
+                        // pipelines services
+                        var serverUrl = new UriBuilder(ServerUrl);
+                        return serverUrl.Host.EndsWith(".actions.githubusercontent.com", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                                || serverUrl.Host.EndsWith(".codedev.ms", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+                    }
+
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(ServerUrlV2))
+                    {
+                        // broker-listener
+                        var serverUrlV2 = new UriBuilder(ServerUrlV2);
+                        return serverUrlV2.Host.EndsWith(".actions.githubusercontent.com", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                                || serverUrlV2.Host.EndsWith(".githubapp.com", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                                || serverUrlV2.Host.EndsWith(".ghe.com", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                                || serverUrlV2.Host.EndsWith(".actions.localhost", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                                || serverUrlV2.Host.EndsWith(".ghe.localhost", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+                    }
+                }
 
                 // Default to true since Hosted runners likely don't have this property set.
                 return true;

src/Runner.Common/Constants.cs

@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Common
                 // and the runner should be restarted. This is a temporary code and will be removed in the future after
                 // the runner is migrated to runner admin.
                 public const int RunnerConfigurationRefreshed = 6;
+                public const int RunnerVersionDeprecated = 7;
             }
 
             public static class Features
@@ -169,26 +170,49 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Common
                 public static readonly string AllowRunnerContainerHooks = "DistributedTask.AllowRunnerContainerHooks";
                 public static readonly string AddCheckRunIdToJobContext = "actions_add_check_run_id_to_job_context";
                 public static readonly string DisplayHelpfulActionsDownloadErrors = "actions_display_helpful_actions_download_errors";
-                public static readonly string ContainerActionRunnerTemp = "actions_container_action_runner_temp";
                 public static readonly string SnapshotPreflightHostedRunnerCheck = "actions_snapshot_preflight_hosted_runner_check";
                 public static readonly string SnapshotPreflightImageGenPoolCheck = "actions_snapshot_preflight_image_gen_pool_check";
                 public static readonly string CompareWorkflowParser = "actions_runner_compare_workflow_parser";
+                public static readonly string ServiceContainerCommand = "actions_service_container_command";
+                public static readonly string SetOrchestrationIdEnvForActions = "actions_set_orchestration_id_env_for_actions";
+                public static readonly string SendJobLevelAnnotations = "actions_send_job_level_annotations";
+                public static readonly string EmitCompositeMarkers = "actions_runner_emit_composite_markers";
+                public static readonly string BatchActionResolution = "actions_batch_action_resolution";
+                public static readonly string UseBearerTokenForCodeload = "actions_use_bearer_token_for_codeload";
             }
-            
+
             // Node version migration related constants
             public static class NodeMigration
             {
                 // Node versions
                 public static readonly string Node20 = "node20";
                 public static readonly string Node24 = "node24";
-                
+
                 // Environment variables for controlling node version selection
                 public static readonly string ForceNode24Variable = "FORCE_JAVASCRIPT_ACTIONS_TO_NODE24";
                 public static readonly string AllowUnsecureNodeVersionVariable = "ACTIONS_ALLOW_USE_UNSECURE_NODE_VERSION";
-                
+
                 // Feature flags for controlling the migration phases
                 public static readonly string UseNode24ByDefaultFlag = "actions.runner.usenode24bydefault";
                 public static readonly string RequireNode24Flag = "actions.runner.requirenode24";
+                public static readonly string WarnOnNode20Flag = "actions.runner.warnonnode20";
+
+                // Feature flags for Linux ARM32 deprecation
+                public static readonly string DeprecateLinuxArm32Flag = "actions_runner_deprecate_linux_arm32";
+                public static readonly string KillLinuxArm32Flag = "actions_runner_kill_linux_arm32";
+
+                // Blog post URL for Node 20 deprecation
+                public static readonly string Node20DeprecationUrl = "https://github.blog/changelog/2025-09-19-deprecation-of-node-20-on-github-actions-runners/";
+
+                // Node 20 migration dates (hardcoded fallbacks, can be overridden via job variables)
+                public static readonly string Node24DefaultDate = "June 2nd, 2026";
+                public static readonly string Node20RemovalDate = "September 16th, 2026";
+
+                // Variable keys for server-overridable dates
+                public static readonly string Node24DefaultDateVariable = "actions_runner_node24_default_date";
+                public static readonly string Node20RemovalDateVariable = "actions_runner_node20_removal_date";
+
+                public static readonly string LinuxArm32DeprecationMessage = "Linux ARM32 runners are deprecated and will no longer be supported after {0}. Please migrate to a supported platform.";
             }
 
             public static readonly string InternalTelemetryIssueDataKey = "_internal_telemetry";
@@ -270,6 +294,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Common
                 public static readonly string AllowUnsupportedCommands = "ACTIONS_ALLOW_UNSECURE_COMMANDS";
                 public static readonly string AllowUnsupportedStopCommandTokens = "ACTIONS_ALLOW_UNSECURE_STOPCOMMAND_TOKENS";
                 public static readonly string RequireJobContainer = "ACTIONS_RUNNER_REQUIRE_JOB_CONTAINER";
+                public static readonly string ReturnVersionDeprecatedExitCode = "ACTIONS_RUNNER_RETURN_VERSION_DEPRECATED_EXIT_CODE";
                 public static readonly string RunnerDebug = "ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG";
                 public static readonly string StepDebug = "ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG";
             }
@@ -283,6 +308,8 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Common
                 public static readonly string ForcedActionsNodeVersion = "ACTIONS_RUNNER_FORCE_ACTIONS_NODE_VERSION";
                 public static readonly string PrintLogToStdout = "ACTIONS_RUNNER_PRINT_LOG_TO_STDOUT";
                 public static readonly string ActionArchiveCacheDirectory = "ACTIONS_RUNNER_ACTION_ARCHIVE_CACHE";
+                public static readonly string SymlinkCachedActions = "ACTIONS_RUNNER_SYMLINK_CACHED_ACTIONS";
+                public static readonly string EmitCompositeMarkers = "ACTIONS_RUNNER_EMIT_COMPOSITE_MARKERS";
             }
 
             public static class System

src/Runner.Common/Runner.Common.csproj

@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Win32.Registry" Version="5.0.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
-    <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.ProtectedData" Version="8.0.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="System.Text.Encoding.CodePages" Version="8.0.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="System.Threading.Channels" Version="8.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.ProtectedData" Version="10.0.3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Text.Encoding.CodePages" Version="10.0.3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Threading.Channels" Version="10.0.3" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == 'Debug' ">

src/Runner.Common/Tracing.cs

@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Common
         private ISecretMasker _secretMasker;
         private TraceSource _traceSource;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The underlying <see cref="System.Diagnostics.TraceSource"/> for this instance.
+        /// Useful when third-party libraries require a <see cref="System.Diagnostics.TraceSource"/>
+        /// to route their diagnostics into the runner's log infrastructure.
+        /// </summary>
+        public TraceSource Source => _traceSource;
+
         public Tracing(string name, ISecretMasker secretMasker, SourceSwitch sourceSwitch, HostTraceListener traceListener, StdoutTraceListener stdoutTraceListener = null)
         {
             ArgUtil.NotNull(secretMasker, nameof(secretMasker));

src/Runner.Common/Util/NodeUtil.cs

@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Common.Util
             {
                 return (Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node24, null);
             }
-            
+
             // Get environment variable details with source information
             var forceNode24Details = GetEnvironmentVariableDetails(
                 Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.ForceNode24Variable, workflowEnvironment);
@@ -108,14 +108,50 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Common.Util
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Checks if Node24 is requested but running on ARM32 Linux, and determines if fallback is needed.
+        /// Also handles ARM32 deprecation and kill switch phases.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="preferredVersion">The preferred Node version</param>
+        /// <param name="deprecateArm32">Feature flag indicating ARM32 Linux is deprecated</param>
+        /// <param name="killArm32">Feature flag indicating ARM32 Linux should no longer work</param>
         /// <returns>A tuple containing the adjusted node version and an optional warning message</returns>
-        public static (string nodeVersion, string warningMessage) CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(string preferredVersion)
+        public static (string nodeVersion, string warningMessage) CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(
+            string preferredVersion,
+            bool deprecateArm32 = false,
+            bool killArm32 = false,
+            string node20RemovalDate = null)
         {
-            if (string.Equals(preferredVersion, Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node24, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) &&
-                Constants.Runner.PlatformArchitecture.Equals(Constants.Architecture.Arm) &&
-                Constants.Runner.Platform.Equals(Constants.OSPlatform.Linux))
+            bool isArm32Linux = Constants.Runner.PlatformArchitecture.Equals(Constants.Architecture.Arm) &&
+                                Constants.Runner.Platform.Equals(Constants.OSPlatform.Linux);
+
+            if (!isArm32Linux)
+            {
+                return (preferredVersion, null);
+            }
+
+            // ARM32 kill switch: runner should no longer work on this platform
+            if (killArm32)
+            {
+                return (null, "Linux ARM32 runners are no longer supported. Please migrate to a supported platform.");
+            }
+
+            // ARM32 deprecation warning: continue using node20 but warn about upcoming end of support
+            if (deprecateArm32)
+            {
+                string effectiveDate = string.IsNullOrEmpty(node20RemovalDate) ? Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20RemovalDate : node20RemovalDate;
+                string deprecationWarning = string.Format(
+                    Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.LinuxArm32DeprecationMessage,
+                    effectiveDate);
+
+                if (string.Equals(preferredVersion, Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node24, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                {
+                    return (Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20, deprecationWarning);
+                }
+
+                return (preferredVersion, deprecationWarning);
+            }
+
+            // Legacy behavior: fall back to node20 if node24 was requested on ARM32
+            if (string.Equals(preferredVersion, Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node24, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
             {
                 return (Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20, "Node 24 is not supported on Linux ARM32 platforms. Falling back to Node 20.");
             }

src/Runner.Listener/Configuration/ConfigurationManager.cs

@@ -178,8 +178,12 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener.Configuration
                         }
                     }
 
-                    // Validate can connect.
-                    await _runnerServer.ConnectAsync(new Uri(runnerSettings.ServerUrl), creds);
+                    // Validate can connect using the obtained vss credentials.
+                    // In Runner Admin flow there's nothing new to test connection to at this point as registerToken is already validated via GetTenantCredential.
+                    if (!runnerSettings.UseRunnerAdminFlow)
+                    {
+                        await _runnerServer.ConnectAsync(new Uri(runnerSettings.ServerUrl), creds);
+                    }
 
                     _term.WriteLine();
                     _term.WriteSuccessMessage("Connected to GitHub");

src/Runner.Listener/JobDispatcher.cs

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
     public interface IJobDispatcher : IRunnerService
     {
         bool Busy { get; }
-        TaskCompletionSource<bool> RunOnceJobCompleted { get; }
+        TaskCompletionSource<TaskResult> RunOnceJobCompleted { get; }
         void Run(Pipelines.AgentJobRequestMessage message, bool runOnce = false);
         bool Cancel(JobCancelMessage message);
         Task WaitAsync(CancellationToken token);
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
         // timeout limit can be overwritten by environment GITHUB_ACTIONS_RUNNER_CHANNEL_TIMEOUT
         private TimeSpan _channelTimeout;
 
-        private TaskCompletionSource<bool> _runOnceJobCompleted = new();
+        private TaskCompletionSource<TaskResult> _runOnceJobCompleted = new();
 
         public event EventHandler<JobStatusEventArgs> JobStatus;
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
             Trace.Info($"Set runner/worker IPC timeout to {_channelTimeout.TotalSeconds} seconds.");
         }
 
-        public TaskCompletionSource<bool> RunOnceJobCompleted => _runOnceJobCompleted;
+        public TaskCompletionSource<TaskResult> RunOnceJobCompleted => _runOnceJobCompleted;
 
         public bool Busy { get; private set; }
 
@@ -340,18 +340,19 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
 
         private async Task RunOnceAsync(Pipelines.AgentJobRequestMessage message, string orchestrationId, WorkerDispatcher previousJobDispatch, CancellationToken jobRequestCancellationToken, CancellationToken workerCancelTimeoutKillToken)
         {
+            var jobResult = TaskResult.Succeeded;
             try
             {
-                await RunAsync(message, orchestrationId, previousJobDispatch, jobRequestCancellationToken, workerCancelTimeoutKillToken);
+                jobResult = await RunAsync(message, orchestrationId, previousJobDispatch, jobRequestCancellationToken, workerCancelTimeoutKillToken);
             }
             finally
             {
                 Trace.Info("Fire signal for one time used runner.");
-                _runOnceJobCompleted.TrySetResult(true);
+                _runOnceJobCompleted.TrySetResult(jobResult);
             }
         }
 
-        private async Task RunAsync(Pipelines.AgentJobRequestMessage message, string orchestrationId, WorkerDispatcher previousJobDispatch, CancellationToken jobRequestCancellationToken, CancellationToken workerCancelTimeoutKillToken)
+        private async Task<TaskResult> RunAsync(Pipelines.AgentJobRequestMessage message, string orchestrationId, WorkerDispatcher previousJobDispatch, CancellationToken jobRequestCancellationToken, CancellationToken workerCancelTimeoutKillToken)
         {
             Busy = true;
             try
@@ -399,7 +400,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
                     {
                         // renew job request task complete means we run out of retry for the first job request renew.
                         Trace.Info($"Unable to renew job request for job {message.JobId} for the first time, stop dispatching job to worker.");
-                        return;
+                        return TaskResult.Abandoned;
                     }
 
                     if (jobRequestCancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
@@ -412,7 +413,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
 
                         // complete job request with result Cancelled
                         await CompleteJobRequestAsync(_poolId, message, systemConnection, lockToken, TaskResult.Canceled);
-                        return;
+                        return TaskResult.Canceled;
                     }
 
                     HostContext.WritePerfCounter($"JobRequestRenewed_{requestId.ToString()}");
@@ -523,7 +524,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
                             await renewJobRequest;
 
                             // not finish the job request since the job haven't run on worker at all, we will not going to set a result to server.
-                            return;
+                            return TaskResult.Failed;
                         }
 
                         // we get first jobrequest renew succeed and start the worker process with the job message.
@@ -604,7 +605,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
                                     Trace.Error(detailInfo);
                                 }
 
-                                return;
+                                return TaskResultUtil.TranslateFromReturnCode(returnCode);
                             }
                             else if (completedTask == renewJobRequest)
                             {
@@ -706,6 +707,8 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
 
                             // complete job request
                             await CompleteJobRequestAsync(_poolId, message, systemConnection, lockToken, resultOnAbandonOrCancel);
+
+                            return resultOnAbandonOrCancel;
                         }
                         finally
                         {

src/Runner.Listener/Program.cs

@@ -141,9 +141,9 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
             }
             catch (AccessDeniedException e) when (e.ErrorCode == 1)
             {
-                terminal.WriteError($"An error occured: {e.Message}");
+                terminal.WriteError($"An error occurred: {e.Message}");
                 trace.Error(e);
-                return Constants.Runner.ReturnCode.TerminatedError;
+                return GetRunnerVersionDeprecatedExitCode();
             }
             catch (RunnerNotFoundException e)
             {
@@ -159,6 +159,16 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
             }
         }
 
+        private static int GetRunnerVersionDeprecatedExitCode()
+        {
+            if (StringUtil.ConvertToBoolean(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(Constants.Variables.Actions.ReturnVersionDeprecatedExitCode)))
+            {
+                return Constants.Runner.ReturnCode.RunnerVersionDeprecated;
+            }
+
+            return Constants.Runner.ReturnCode.TerminatedError;
+        }
+
         private static void LoadAndSetEnv()
         {
             var binDir = Path.GetDirectoryName(Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().Location);

src/Runner.Listener/Runner.Listener.csproj

@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Win32.Registry" Version="5.0.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
     <PackageReference Include="System.IO.FileSystem.AccessControl" Version="5.0.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.ProtectedData" Version="8.0.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="System.ServiceProcess.ServiceController" Version="8.0.1" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.ProtectedData" Version="10.0.3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.ServiceProcess.ServiceController" Version="10.0.7" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == 'Debug' ">

src/Runner.Listener/Runner.cs

@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Reflection;
 using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
-using System.Security.Cryptography;
 using System.Security.Claims;
+using System.Security.Cryptography;
 using System.Text;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
@@ -324,8 +324,11 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
                         HostContext.EnableAuthMigration("EnableAuthMigrationByDefault");
                     }
 
+                    // hosted runner only run one job and would like to know the result of the job for telemetry and alerting on failure spike.
+                    var returnJobResultForHosted = StringUtil.ConvertToBoolean(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("ACTIONS_RUNNER_RETURN_JOB_RESULT_FOR_HOSTED"));
+
                     // Run the runner interactively or as service
-                    return await ExecuteRunnerAsync(settings, command.RunOnce || settings.Ephemeral);
+                    return await ExecuteRunnerAsync(settings, command.RunOnce || settings.Ephemeral || returnJobResultForHosted, returnJobResultForHosted);
                 }
                 else
                 {
@@ -401,17 +404,32 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
         }
 
         //create worker manager, create message listener and start listening to the queue
-        private async Task<int> RunAsync(RunnerSettings settings, bool runOnce = false)
+        private async Task<int> RunAsync(RunnerSettings settings, bool runOnce = false, bool returnRunOnceJobResult = false)
         {
             try
             {
                 Trace.Info(nameof(RunAsync));
-                
+
+                // Validate directory permissions.
+                string workDirectory = HostContext.GetDirectory(WellKnownDirectory.Work);
+                Trace.Info($"Validating directory permissions for: '{workDirectory}'");
+                try
+                {
+                    Directory.CreateDirectory(workDirectory);
+                    IOUtil.ValidateExecutePermission(workDirectory);
+                }
+                catch (Exception ex)
+                {
+                    Trace.Error(ex);
+                    _term.WriteError($"Fail to create and validate runner's work directory '{workDirectory}'.");
+                    return Constants.Runner.ReturnCode.TerminatedError;
+                }
+
                 // First try using migrated settings if available
                 var configManager = HostContext.GetService<IConfigurationManager>();
                 RunnerSettings migratedSettings = null;
-                
-                try 
+
+                try
                 {
                     migratedSettings = configManager.LoadMigratedSettings();
                     Trace.Info("Loaded migrated settings from .runner_migrated file");
@@ -422,15 +440,15 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
                     // If migrated settings file doesn't exist or can't be loaded, we'll use the provided settings
                     Trace.Info($"Failed to load migrated settings: {ex.Message}");
                 }
-                
+
                 bool usedMigratedSettings = false;
-                
+
                 if (migratedSettings != null)
                 {
                     // Try to create session with migrated settings first
                     Trace.Info("Attempting to create session using migrated settings");
                     _listener = GetMessageListener(migratedSettings, isMigratedSettings: true);
-                    
+
                     try
                     {
                         CreateSessionResult createSessionResult = await _listener.CreateSessionAsync(HostContext.RunnerShutdownToken);
@@ -450,7 +468,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
                         Trace.Error($"Exception when creating session with migrated settings: {ex}");
                     }
                 }
-                
+
                 // If migrated settings weren't used or session creation failed, use original settings
                 if (!usedMigratedSettings)
                 {
@@ -503,7 +521,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
                             restartSession = true;
                             break;
                         }
-                        
+
                         TaskAgentMessage message = null;
                         bool skipMessageDeletion = false;
                         try
@@ -565,6 +583,21 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
                                         Trace.Info($"Ignore any exception after cancel message loop. {ex}");
                                     }
 
+                                    if (returnRunOnceJobResult)
+                                    {
+                                        try
+                                        {
+                                            var jobResult = await jobDispatcher.RunOnceJobCompleted.Task;
+                                            return TaskResultUtil.TranslateToReturnCode(jobResult);
+                                        }
+                                        catch (Exception ex)
+                                        {
+                                            Trace.Error("run once job finished with error.");
+                                            Trace.Error(ex);
+                                            return Constants.Runner.ReturnCode.TerminatedError;
+                                        }
+                                    }
+
                                     return Constants.Runner.ReturnCode.Success;
                                 }
                             }
@@ -851,15 +884,15 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
             return Constants.Runner.ReturnCode.Success;
         }
 
-        private async Task<int> ExecuteRunnerAsync(RunnerSettings settings, bool runOnce)
+        private async Task<int> ExecuteRunnerAsync(RunnerSettings settings, bool runOnce, bool returnRunOnceJobResult)
         {
             int returnCode = Constants.Runner.ReturnCode.Success;
             bool restart = false;
             do
             {
                 restart = false;
-                returnCode = await RunAsync(settings, runOnce);
-                
+                returnCode = await RunAsync(settings, runOnce, returnRunOnceJobResult);
+
                 if (returnCode == Constants.Runner.ReturnCode.RunnerConfigurationRefreshed)
                 {
                     Trace.Info("Runner configuration was refreshed, restarting session...");

src/Runner.Listener/SelfUpdater.cs

@@ -120,8 +120,10 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
             }
             catch (Exception ex)
             {
+                Trace.Error(ex);
+                _terminal.WriteError($"Runner update failed: {ex.Message}");
                 _updateTrace.Enqueue(ex.ToString());
-                throw;
+                return false;
             }
             finally
             {

src/Runner.Listener/SelfUpdaterV2.cs

@@ -120,8 +120,10 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Listener
             }
             catch (Exception ex)
             {
+                Trace.Error(ex);
+                _terminal.WriteError($"Runner update failed: {ex.Message}");
                 _updateTrace.Enqueue(ex.ToString());
-                throw;
+                return false;
             }
             finally
             {

src/Runner.Sdk/Runner.Sdk.csproj

@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="System.Text.Encoding.CodePages" Version="8.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Text.Encoding.CodePages" Version="10.0.3" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Win32.Registry" Version="5.0.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="System.Threading.Channels" Version="8.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Threading.Channels" Version="10.0.3" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == 'Debug' ">

src/Runner.Sdk/Util/IOUtil.cs

@@ -93,6 +93,16 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Sdk
             }
         }
 
+        public static FileSystemInfo CreateSymbolicLink(string destDirectory, string srcDirectory)
+        {
+            // ensure directory chain exists
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(destDirectory);
+            // delete leaf directory
+            Directory.Delete(destDirectory);
+            // create symlink for the leaf directory
+            return Directory.CreateSymbolicLink(destDirectory, srcDirectory);
+        }
+
         public static void Delete(string path, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
         {
             DeleteDirectory(path, cancellationToken);

src/Runner.Worker/ActionCommandManager.cs

@@ -318,6 +318,17 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 context.AddIssue(issue, ExecutionContextLogOptions.Default);
             }
 
+            if (!context.Global.HasDeprecatedSetOutput)
+            {
+                context.Global.HasDeprecatedSetOutput = true;
+                var telemetry = new JobTelemetry
+                {
+                    Type = JobTelemetryType.ActionCommand,
+                    Message = "DeprecatedCommand: set-output"
+                };
+                context.Global.JobTelemetry.Add(telemetry);
+            }
+
             if (!command.Properties.TryGetValue(SetOutputCommandProperties.Name, out string outputName) || string.IsNullOrEmpty(outputName))
             {
                 throw new Exception("Required field 'name' is missing in ##[set-output] command.");
@@ -353,6 +364,17 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 context.AddIssue(issue, ExecutionContextLogOptions.Default);
             }
 
+            if (!context.Global.HasDeprecatedSaveState)
+            {
+                context.Global.HasDeprecatedSaveState = true;
+                var telemetry = new JobTelemetry
+                {
+                    Type = JobTelemetryType.ActionCommand,
+                    Message = "DeprecatedCommand: save-state"
+                };
+                context.Global.JobTelemetry.Add(telemetry);
+            }
+
             if (!command.Properties.TryGetValue(SaveStateCommandProperties.Name, out string stateName) || string.IsNullOrEmpty(stateName))
             {
                 throw new Exception("Required field 'name' is missing in ##[save-state] command.");

src/Runner.Worker/ActionManager.cs

@@ -79,6 +79,13 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 PreStepTracker = new Dictionary<Guid, IActionRunner>()
             };
             var containerSetupSteps = new List<JobExtensionRunner>();
+            var batchActionResolution = (executionContext.Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.BatchActionResolution) ?? false)
+                || StringUtil.ConvertToBoolean(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("ACTIONS_BATCH_ACTION_RESOLUTION"));
+            // Stack-local cache: same action (owner/repo@ref) is resolved only once,
+            // even if it appears at multiple depths in a composite tree.
+            var resolvedDownloadInfos = batchActionResolution
+                ? new Dictionary<string, WebApi.ActionDownloadInfo>(StringComparer.Ordinal)
+                : null;
             var depth = 0;
             // We are running at the start of a job
             if (rootStepId == default(Guid))
@@ -105,13 +112,23 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             PrepareActionsState result = new PrepareActionsState();
             try
             {
-                result = await PrepareActionsRecursiveAsync(executionContext, state, actions, depth, rootStepId);
+                result = batchActionResolution
+                    ? await PrepareActionsRecursiveAsync(executionContext, state, actions, resolvedDownloadInfos, depth, rootStepId)
+                    : await PrepareActionsRecursiveLegacyAsync(executionContext, state, actions, depth, rootStepId);
             }
             catch (FailedToResolveActionDownloadInfoException ex)
             {
                 // Log the error and fail the PrepareActionsAsync Initialization.
                 Trace.Error($"Caught exception from PrepareActionsAsync Initialization: {ex}");
-                executionContext.InfrastructureError(ex.Message, category: "resolve_action");
+                executionContext.InfrastructureError(ex.InnerException?.Message ?? ex.Message, category: "resolve_action");
+                executionContext.Result = TaskResult.Failed;
+                throw;
+            }
+            catch (FailedToDownloadActionException ex)
+            {
+                // Log the error and fail the PrepareActionsAsync Initialization.
+                Trace.Error($"Caught exception from PrepareActionsAsync Initialization: {ex}");
+                executionContext.InfrastructureError(ex.InnerException?.Message ?? ex.Message, category: "error_download_action");
                 executionContext.Result = TaskResult.Failed;
                 throw;
             }
@@ -161,7 +178,192 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             return new PrepareResult(containerSetupSteps, result.PreStepTracker);
         }
 
-        private async Task<PrepareActionsState> PrepareActionsRecursiveAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, PrepareActionsState state, IEnumerable<Pipelines.ActionStep> actions, Int32 depth = 0, Guid parentStepId = default(Guid))
+        private async Task<PrepareActionsState> PrepareActionsRecursiveAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, PrepareActionsState state, IEnumerable<Pipelines.ActionStep> actions, Dictionary<string, WebApi.ActionDownloadInfo> resolvedDownloadInfos, Int32 depth = 0, Guid parentStepId = default(Guid))
+        {
+            ArgUtil.NotNull(executionContext, nameof(executionContext));
+            if (depth > Constants.CompositeActionsMaxDepth)
+            {
+                throw new Exception($"Composite action depth exceeded max depth {Constants.CompositeActionsMaxDepth}");
+            }
+
+            var repositoryActions = new List<Pipelines.ActionStep>();
+
+            foreach (var action in actions)
+            {
+                if (action.Reference.Type == Pipelines.ActionSourceType.ContainerRegistry)
+                {
+                    ArgUtil.NotNull(action, nameof(action));
+                    var containerReference = action.Reference as Pipelines.ContainerRegistryReference;
+                    ArgUtil.NotNull(containerReference, nameof(containerReference));
+                    ArgUtil.NotNullOrEmpty(containerReference.Image, nameof(containerReference.Image));
+
+                    if (!state.ImagesToPull.ContainsKey(containerReference.Image))
+                    {
+                        state.ImagesToPull[containerReference.Image] = new List<Guid>();
+                    }
+
+                    Trace.Info($"Action {action.Name} ({action.Id}) needs to pull image '{containerReference.Image}'");
+                    state.ImagesToPull[containerReference.Image].Add(action.Id);
+                }
+                else if (action.Reference.Type == Pipelines.ActionSourceType.Repository)
+                {
+                    repositoryActions.Add(action);
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (repositoryActions.Count > 0)
+            {
+                // Resolve download info, skipping any actions already cached.
+                await ResolveNewActionsAsync(executionContext, repositoryActions, resolvedDownloadInfos);
+
+                // Download each action.
+                foreach (var action in repositoryActions)
+                {
+                    var lookupKey = GetDownloadInfoLookupKey(action);
+                    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(lookupKey))
+                    {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    if (!resolvedDownloadInfos.TryGetValue(lookupKey, out var downloadInfo))
+                    {
+                        throw new Exception($"Missing download info for {lookupKey}");
+                    }
+                    await DownloadRepositoryActionAsync(executionContext, downloadInfo);
+                }
+
+                // Parse action.yml and collect composite sub-actions for batched
+                // resolution below. Pre/post step registration is deferred until
+                // after recursion so that HasPre/HasPost reflect the full subtree.
+                var nextLevel = new List<(Pipelines.ActionStep action, Guid parentId)>();
+
+                foreach (var action in repositoryActions)
+                {
+                    var setupInfo = PrepareRepositoryActionAsync(executionContext, action);
+                    if (setupInfo != null && setupInfo.Container != null)
+                    {
+                        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(setupInfo.Container.Image))
+                        {
+                            if (!state.ImagesToPull.ContainsKey(setupInfo.Container.Image))
+                            {
+                                state.ImagesToPull[setupInfo.Container.Image] = new List<Guid>();
+                            }
+
+                            Trace.Info($"Action {action.Name} ({action.Id}) from repository '{setupInfo.Container.ActionRepository}' needs to pull image '{setupInfo.Container.Image}'");
+                            state.ImagesToPull[setupInfo.Container.Image].Add(action.Id);
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            ArgUtil.NotNullOrEmpty(setupInfo.Container.ActionRepository, nameof(setupInfo.Container.ActionRepository));
+
+                            if (!state.ImagesToBuild.ContainsKey(setupInfo.Container.ActionRepository))
+                            {
+                                state.ImagesToBuild[setupInfo.Container.ActionRepository] = new List<Guid>();
+                            }
+
+                            Trace.Info($"Action {action.Name} ({action.Id}) from repository '{setupInfo.Container.ActionRepository}' needs to build image '{setupInfo.Container.Dockerfile}'");
+                            state.ImagesToBuild[setupInfo.Container.ActionRepository].Add(action.Id);
+                            state.ImagesToBuildInfo[setupInfo.Container.ActionRepository] = setupInfo.Container;
+                        }
+                    }
+                    else if (setupInfo != null && setupInfo.Steps != null && setupInfo.Steps.Count > 0)
+                    {
+                        foreach (var step in setupInfo.Steps)
+                        {
+                            nextLevel.Add((step, action.Id));
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Resolve all next-level sub-actions in one batch API call,
+                // then recurse per parent (which hits the cache, not the API).
+                if (nextLevel.Count > 0)
+                {
+                    var nextLevelRepoActions = nextLevel
+                        .Where(x => x.action.Reference.Type == Pipelines.ActionSourceType.Repository)
+                        .Select(x => x.action)
+                        .ToList();
+                    await ResolveNewActionsAsync(executionContext, nextLevelRepoActions, resolvedDownloadInfos);
+
+                    foreach (var group in nextLevel.GroupBy(x => x.parentId))
+                    {
+                        var groupActions = group.Select(x => x.action).ToList();
+                        state = await PrepareActionsRecursiveAsync(executionContext, state, groupActions, resolvedDownloadInfos, depth + 1, group.Key);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Register pre/post steps after recursion so that HasPre/HasPost
+                // are correct (they depend on _cachedEmbeddedPreSteps/PostSteps
+                // being populated by the recursive calls above).
+                foreach (var action in repositoryActions)
+                {
+                    var repoAction = action.Reference as Pipelines.RepositoryPathReference;
+                    if (repoAction.RepositoryType != Pipelines.PipelineConstants.SelfAlias)
+                    {
+                        var definition = LoadAction(executionContext, action);
+                        if (definition.Data.Execution.HasPre)
+                        {
+                            Trace.Info($"Add 'pre' execution for {action.Id}");
+                            // Root Step
+                            if (depth < 1)
+                            {
+                                var actionRunner = HostContext.CreateService<IActionRunner>();
+                                actionRunner.Action = action;
+                                actionRunner.Stage = ActionRunStage.Pre;
+                                actionRunner.Condition = definition.Data.Execution.InitCondition;
+                                state.PreStepTracker[action.Id] = actionRunner;
+                            }
+                            // Embedded Step
+                            else
+                            {
+                                if (!_cachedEmbeddedPreSteps.ContainsKey(parentStepId))
+                                {
+                                    _cachedEmbeddedPreSteps[parentStepId] = new List<Pipelines.ActionStep>();
+                                }
+                                // Clone action so we can modify the condition without affecting the original
+                                var clonedAction = action.Clone() as Pipelines.ActionStep;
+                                clonedAction.Condition = definition.Data.Execution.InitCondition;
+                                _cachedEmbeddedPreSteps[parentStepId].Add(clonedAction);
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        if (definition.Data.Execution.HasPost && depth > 0)
+                        {
+                            if (!_cachedEmbeddedPostSteps.ContainsKey(parentStepId))
+                            {
+                                // If we haven't done so already, add the parent to the post steps
+                                _cachedEmbeddedPostSteps[parentStepId] = new Stack<Pipelines.ActionStep>();
+                            }
+                            // Clone action so we can modify the condition without affecting the original
+                            var clonedAction = action.Clone() as Pipelines.ActionStep;
+                            clonedAction.Condition = definition.Data.Execution.CleanupCondition;
+                            _cachedEmbeddedPostSteps[parentStepId].Push(clonedAction);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    else if (depth > 0)
+                    {
+                        // if we're in a composite action and haven't loaded the local action yet
+                        // we assume it has a post step
+                        if (!_cachedEmbeddedPostSteps.ContainsKey(parentStepId))
+                        {
+                            // If we haven't done so already, add the parent to the post steps
+                            _cachedEmbeddedPostSteps[parentStepId] = new Stack<Pipelines.ActionStep>();
+                        }
+                        // Clone action so we can modify the condition without affecting the original
+                        var clonedAction = action.Clone() as Pipelines.ActionStep;
+                        _cachedEmbeddedPostSteps[parentStepId].Push(clonedAction);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            return state;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Legacy (non-batched) action resolution. Each composite resolves its
+        /// sub-actions individually, with no cross-depth deduplication.
+        /// Used when the BatchActionResolution feature flag is disabled.
+        /// </summary>
+        private async Task<PrepareActionsState> PrepareActionsRecursiveLegacyAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, PrepareActionsState state, IEnumerable<Pipelines.ActionStep> actions, Int32 depth = 0, Guid parentStepId = default(Guid))
         {
             ArgUtil.NotNull(executionContext, nameof(executionContext));
             if (depth > Constants.CompositeActionsMaxDepth)
@@ -247,7 +449,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                     }
                     else if (setupInfo != null && setupInfo.Steps != null && setupInfo.Steps.Count > 0)
                     {
-                        state = await PrepareActionsRecursiveAsync(executionContext, state, setupInfo.Steps, depth + 1, action.Id);
+                        state = await PrepareActionsRecursiveLegacyAsync(executionContext, state, setupInfo.Steps, depth + 1, action.Id);
                     }
                     var repoAction = action.Reference as Pipelines.RepositoryPathReference;
                     if (repoAction.RepositoryType != Pipelines.PipelineConstants.SelfAlias)
@@ -678,6 +880,11 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 return new Dictionary<string, WebApi.ActionDownloadInfo>();
             }
 
+            // Pass lockfile dependencies to Launch when present, so it can
+            // perform ref-scoped policy matching with the original refs.
+            var deps = executionContext.Global.ActionsDependencies;
+            IList<string> dependencies = (deps != null && deps.Count > 0) ? deps : null;
+
             // Resolve download info
             var launchServer = HostContext.GetService<ILaunchServer>();
             var jobServer = HostContext.GetService<IJobServer>();
@@ -689,7 +896,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                     if (MessageUtil.IsRunServiceJob(executionContext.Global.Variables.Get(Constants.Variables.System.JobRequestType)))
                     {
                         var displayHelpfulActionsDownloadErrors = executionContext.Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.DisplayHelpfulActionsDownloadErrors) ?? false;
-                        actionDownloadInfos = await launchServer.ResolveActionsDownloadInfoAsync(executionContext.Global.Plan.PlanId, executionContext.Root.Id, new WebApi.ActionReferenceList { Actions = actionReferences }, executionContext.CancellationToken, displayHelpfulActionsDownloadErrors);
+                        actionDownloadInfos = await launchServer.ResolveActionsDownloadInfoAsync(executionContext.Global.Plan.PlanId, executionContext.Root.Id, new WebApi.ActionReferenceList { Actions = actionReferences, Dependencies = dependencies }, executionContext.CancellationToken, displayHelpfulActionsDownloadErrors);
                     }
                     else
                     {
@@ -754,6 +961,33 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             return actionDownloadInfos.Actions;
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Only resolves actions not already in resolvedDownloadInfos.
+        /// Results are cached for reuse at deeper recursion levels.
+        /// </summary>
+        private async Task ResolveNewActionsAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, List<Pipelines.ActionStep> actions, Dictionary<string, WebApi.ActionDownloadInfo> resolvedDownloadInfos)
+        {
+            var actionsToResolve = new List<Pipelines.ActionStep>();
+            var pendingKeys = new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.Ordinal);
+            foreach (var action in actions)
+            {
+                var lookupKey = GetDownloadInfoLookupKey(action);
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(lookupKey) && !resolvedDownloadInfos.ContainsKey(lookupKey) && pendingKeys.Add(lookupKey))
+                {
+                    actionsToResolve.Add(action);
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (actionsToResolve.Count > 0)
+            {
+                var downloadInfos = await GetDownloadInfoAsync(executionContext, actionsToResolve);
+                foreach (var kvp in downloadInfos)
+                {
+                    resolvedDownloadInfos[kvp.Key] = kvp.Value;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         private async Task DownloadRepositoryActionAsync(IExecutionContext executionContext, WebApi.ActionDownloadInfo downloadInfo)
         {
             Trace.Entering();
@@ -773,10 +1007,6 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             }
             else
             {
-                // make sure we get a clean folder ready to use.
-                IOUtil.DeleteDirectory(destDirectory, executionContext.CancellationToken);
-                Directory.CreateDirectory(destDirectory);
-
                 if (downloadInfo.PackageDetails != null)
                 {
                     executionContext.Output($"##[group]Download immutable action package '{downloadInfo.NameWithOwner}@{downloadInfo.Ref}'");
@@ -811,6 +1041,50 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(actionArchiveCacheDir) &&
                     Directory.Exists(actionArchiveCacheDir))
                 {
+                    var symlinkCachedActions = StringUtil.ConvertToBoolean(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(Constants.Variables.Agent.SymlinkCachedActions));
+                    if (symlinkCachedActions)
+                    {
+                        Trace.Info($"Checking if can symlink '{downloadInfo.ResolvedNameWithOwner}@{downloadInfo.ResolvedSha}'");
+
+                        var cacheDirectory = Path.Combine(actionArchiveCacheDir, downloadInfo.ResolvedNameWithOwner.Replace(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar, '_').Replace(Path.AltDirectorySeparatorChar, '_'), downloadInfo.ResolvedSha);
+                        if (Directory.Exists(cacheDirectory))
+                        {
+                            try
+                            {
+                                Trace.Info($"Found unpacked action directory '{cacheDirectory}' in cache directory '{actionArchiveCacheDir}'");
+
+                                // repository archive from github always contains a nested folder
+                                var nestedDirectories = new DirectoryInfo(cacheDirectory).GetDirectories();
+                                if (nestedDirectories.Length != 1)
+                                {
+                                    throw new InvalidOperationException($"'{cacheDirectory}' contains '{nestedDirectories.Length}' directories");
+                                }
+                                else
+                                {
+                                    executionContext.Debug($"Symlink '{nestedDirectories[0].Name}' to '{destDirectory}'");
+                                    // make sure we get a clean folder ready to use.
+                                    IOUtil.DeleteDirectory(destDirectory, executionContext.CancellationToken);
+                                    IOUtil.CreateSymbolicLink(destDirectory, nestedDirectories[0].FullName);
+                                }
+
+                                executionContext.Debug($"Created symlink from cached directory '{cacheDirectory}' to '{destDirectory}'");
+                                executionContext.Global.JobTelemetry.Add(new JobTelemetry()
+                                {
+                                    Type = JobTelemetryType.General,
+                                    Message = $"Action archive cache usage: {downloadInfo.ResolvedNameWithOwner}@{downloadInfo.ResolvedSha} use cache {useActionArchiveCache} has cache {hasActionArchiveCache} via symlink"
+                                });
+
+                                Trace.Info("Finished getting action repository.");
+                                return;
+                            }
+                            catch (Exception ex)
+                            {
+                                Trace.Error($"Failed to create symlink from cached directory '{cacheDirectory}' to '{destDirectory}'. Error: {ex}");
+                                // Fall through to normal download logic
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+
                     hasActionArchiveCache = true;
                     Trace.Info($"Check if action archive '{downloadInfo.ResolvedNameWithOwner}@{downloadInfo.ResolvedSha}' already exists in cache directory '{actionArchiveCacheDir}'");
 #if OS_WINDOWS
@@ -892,6 +1166,10 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 }
 #endif
 
+                // make sure we get a clean folder ready to use.
+                IOUtil.DeleteDirectory(destDirectory, executionContext.CancellationToken);
+                Directory.CreateDirectory(destDirectory);
+
                 // repository archive from github always contains a nested folder
                 var subDirectories = new DirectoryInfo(stagingDirectory).GetDirectories();
                 if (subDirectories.Length != 1)
@@ -1094,16 +1372,29 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             return $"{repositoryReference.Name}@{repositoryReference.Ref}";
         }
 
-        private AuthenticationHeaderValue CreateAuthHeader(string token)
+        private AuthenticationHeaderValue CreateAuthHeader(IExecutionContext executionContext, string downloadUrl, string token)
         {
             if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(token))
             {
                 return null;
             }
 
-            var base64EncodingToken = Convert.ToBase64String(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes($"x-access-token:{token}"));
-            HostContext.SecretMasker.AddValue(base64EncodingToken);
-            return new AuthenticationHeaderValue("Basic", base64EncodingToken);
+            if (executionContext.Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.UseBearerTokenForCodeload) == true &&
+                Uri.TryCreate(downloadUrl, UriKind.Absolute, out var parsedUrl) &&
+                !string.IsNullOrEmpty(parsedUrl?.Host) &&
+                !string.IsNullOrEmpty(parsedUrl?.PathAndQuery) &&
+                (parsedUrl.Host.StartsWith("codeload.", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) || parsedUrl.PathAndQuery.StartsWith("/_codeload/", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)))
+            {
+                Trace.Info("Using Bearer token for action archive download directly to codeload.");
+                return new AuthenticationHeaderValue("Bearer", token);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                Trace.Info("Using Basic token for action archive download.");
+                var base64EncodingToken = Convert.ToBase64String(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes($"x-access-token:{token}"));
+                HostContext.SecretMasker.AddValue(base64EncodingToken);
+                return new AuthenticationHeaderValue("Basic", base64EncodingToken);
+            }
         }
 
         private async Task DownloadRepositoryArchive(IExecutionContext executionContext, string downloadUrl, string downloadAuthToken, string archiveFile)
@@ -1113,93 +1404,102 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
 
             // Allow up to 20 * 60s for any action to be downloaded from github graph.
             int timeoutSeconds = 20 * 60;
-            while (retryCount < 3)
+            try
             {
-                string requestId = string.Empty;
-                using (var actionDownloadTimeout = new CancellationTokenSource(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(timeoutSeconds)))
-                using (var actionDownloadCancellation = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(actionDownloadTimeout.Token, executionContext.CancellationToken))
+                while (retryCount < 3)
                 {
-                    try
+                    string requestId = string.Empty;
+                    using (var actionDownloadTimeout = new CancellationTokenSource(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(timeoutSeconds)))
+                    using (var actionDownloadCancellation = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(actionDownloadTimeout.Token, executionContext.CancellationToken))
                     {
-                        //open zip stream in async mode
-                        using (FileStream fs = new(archiveFile, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write, FileShare.None, bufferSize: _defaultFileStreamBufferSize, useAsync: true))
-                        using (var httpClientHandler = HostContext.CreateHttpClientHandler())
-                        using (var httpClient = new HttpClient(httpClientHandler))
+                        try
                         {
-                            httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.Authorization = CreateAuthHeader(downloadAuthToken);
-
-                            httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.UserAgent.AddRange(HostContext.UserAgents);
-                            using (var response = await httpClient.GetAsync(downloadUrl))
+                            //open zip stream in async mode
+                            using (FileStream fs = new(archiveFile, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write, FileShare.None, bufferSize: _defaultFileStreamBufferSize, useAsync: true))
+                            using (var httpClientHandler = HostContext.CreateHttpClientHandler())
+                            using (var httpClient = new HttpClient(httpClientHandler))
                             {
-                                requestId = UrlUtil.GetGitHubRequestId(response.Headers);
-                                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(requestId))
-                                {
-                                    Trace.Info($"Request URL: {downloadUrl} X-GitHub-Request-Id: {requestId} Http Status: {response.StatusCode}");
-                                }
+                                httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.Authorization = CreateAuthHeader(executionContext, downloadUrl, downloadAuthToken);
 
-                                if (response.IsSuccessStatusCode)
+                                httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.UserAgent.AddRange(HostContext.UserAgents);
+                                using (var response = await httpClient.GetAsync(downloadUrl))
                                 {
-                                    using (var result = await response.Content.ReadAsStreamAsync())
+                                    requestId = UrlUtil.GetGitHubRequestId(response.Headers);
+                                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(requestId))
                                     {
-                                        await result.CopyToAsync(fs, _defaultCopyBufferSize, actionDownloadCancellation.Token);
-                                        await fs.FlushAsync(actionDownloadCancellation.Token);
-
-                                        // download succeed, break out the retry loop.
-                                        break;
+                                        Trace.Info($"Request URL: {downloadUrl} X-GitHub-Request-Id: {requestId} Http Status: {response.StatusCode}");
+                                    }
+
+                                    if (response.IsSuccessStatusCode)
+                                    {
+                                        using (var result = await response.Content.ReadAsStreamAsync())
+                                        {
+                                            await result.CopyToAsync(fs, _defaultCopyBufferSize, actionDownloadCancellation.Token);
+                                            await fs.FlushAsync(actionDownloadCancellation.Token);
+
+                                            // download succeed, break out the retry loop.
+                                            break;
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                    else if (response.StatusCode == HttpStatusCode.NotFound)
+                                    {
+                                        // It doesn't make sense to retry in this case, so just stop
+                                        throw new ActionNotFoundException(new Uri(downloadUrl), requestId);
+                                    }
+                                    else
+                                    {
+                                        // Something else bad happened, let's go to our retry logic
+                                        response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
                                     }
-                                }
-                                else if (response.StatusCode == HttpStatusCode.NotFound)
-                                {
-                                    // It doesn't make sense to retry in this case, so just stop
-                                    throw new ActionNotFoundException(new Uri(downloadUrl), requestId);
-                                }
-                                else
-                                {
-                                    // Something else bad happened, let's go to our retry logic
-                                    response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
                                 }
                             }
                         }
-                    }
-                    catch (OperationCanceledException) when (executionContext.CancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
-                    {
-                        Trace.Info("Action download has been cancelled.");
-                        throw;
-                    }
-                    catch (OperationCanceledException ex) when (!executionContext.CancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested && retryCount >= 2)
-                    {
-                        Trace.Info($"Action download final retry timeout after {timeoutSeconds} seconds.");
-                        throw new TimeoutException($"Action '{downloadUrl}' download has timed out. Error: {ex.Message} {requestId}");
-                    }
-                    catch (ActionNotFoundException)
-                    {
-                        Trace.Info($"The action at '{downloadUrl}' does not exist");
-                        throw;
-                    }
-                    catch (Exception ex) when (retryCount < 2)
-                    {
-                        retryCount++;
-                        Trace.Error($"Fail to download archive '{downloadUrl}' -- Attempt: {retryCount}");
-                        Trace.Error(ex);
-                        if (actionDownloadTimeout.Token.IsCancellationRequested)
+                        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (executionContext.CancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
                         {
-                            // action download didn't finish within timeout
-                            executionContext.Warning($"Action '{downloadUrl}' didn't finish download within {timeoutSeconds} seconds. {requestId}");
+                            Trace.Info("Action download has been cancelled.");
+                            throw;
                         }
-                        else
+                        catch (OperationCanceledException ex) when (!executionContext.CancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested && retryCount >= 2)
                         {
-                            executionContext.Warning($"Failed to download action '{downloadUrl}'. Error: {ex.Message} {requestId}");
+                            Trace.Info($"Action download final retry timeout after {timeoutSeconds} seconds.");
+                            throw new TimeoutException($"Action '{downloadUrl}' download has timed out. Error: {ex.Message} {requestId}");
+                        }
+                        catch (ActionNotFoundException)
+                        {
+                            Trace.Info($"The action at '{downloadUrl}' does not exist");
+                            throw;
+                        }
+                        catch (Exception ex) when (retryCount < 2)
+                        {
+                            retryCount++;
+                            Trace.Error($"Fail to download archive '{downloadUrl}' -- Attempt: {retryCount}");
+                            Trace.Error(ex);
+                            if (actionDownloadTimeout.Token.IsCancellationRequested)
+                            {
+                                // action download didn't finish within timeout
+                                executionContext.Warning($"Action '{downloadUrl}' didn't finish download within {timeoutSeconds} seconds. {requestId}");
+                            }
+                            else
+                            {
+                                executionContext.Warning($"Failed to download action '{downloadUrl}'. Error: {ex.Message} {requestId}");
+                            }
                         }
                     }
-                }
 
-                if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("_GITHUB_ACTION_DOWNLOAD_NO_BACKOFF")))
-                {
-                    var backOff = BackoffTimerHelper.GetRandomBackoff(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10), TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30));
-                    executionContext.Warning($"Back off {backOff.TotalSeconds} seconds before retry.");
-                    await Task.Delay(backOff);
+                    if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("_GITHUB_ACTION_DOWNLOAD_NO_BACKOFF")))
+                    {
+                        var backOff = BackoffTimerHelper.GetRandomBackoff(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10), TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30));
+                        executionContext.Warning($"Back off {backOff.TotalSeconds} seconds before retry.");
+                        await Task.Delay(backOff);
+                    }
                 }
             }
+            catch (Exception ex) when (!(ex is OperationCanceledException) && !executionContext.CancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                Trace.Error($"Failed to download archive '{downloadUrl}' after {retryCount + 1} attempts.");
+                Trace.Error(ex);
+                throw new FailedToDownloadActionException($"Failed to download archive '{downloadUrl}' after {retryCount + 1} attempts.", ex);
+            }
 
             ArgUtil.NotNullOrEmpty(archiveFile, nameof(archiveFile));
             executionContext.Debug($"Download '{downloadUrl}' to '{archiveFile}'");

src/Runner.Worker/ActionManifestManagerLegacy.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-using System;
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO;
 using System.Threading;

src/Runner.Worker/ActionManifestManagerWrapper.cs

@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 "EvaluateContainerEnvironment",
                 () => _legacyManager.EvaluateContainerEnvironment(executionContext, token, extraExpressionValues),
                 () => _newManager.EvaluateContainerEnvironment(executionContext, ConvertToNewToken(token) as GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.ObjectTemplating.Tokens.MappingToken, ConvertToNewExpressionValues(extraExpressionValues)),
-                (legacyResult, newResult) => {
+                (legacyResult, newResult) =>
+                {
                     var trace = HostContext.GetTrace(nameof(ActionManifestManagerWrapper));
                     return CompareDictionaries(trace, legacyResult, newResult, "ContainerEnvironment");
                 });
@@ -165,9 +166,150 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 return null;
             }
 
-            // Serialize new steps and deserialize to old steps
-            var json = StringUtil.ConvertToJson(newSteps, Newtonsoft.Json.Formatting.None);
-            return StringUtil.ConvertFromJson<List<GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ActionStep>>(json);
+            var result = new List<GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ActionStep>();
+            foreach (var step in newSteps)
+            {
+                var actionStep = new GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ActionStep
+                {
+                    ContextName = step.Id,
+                };
+
+                if (step is GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.RunStep runStep)
+                {
+                    actionStep.Condition = ExtractConditionString(runStep.If);
+                    actionStep.DisplayNameToken = ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(runStep.Name);
+                    actionStep.ContinueOnError = ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(runStep.ContinueOnError);
+                    actionStep.TimeoutInMinutes = ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(runStep.TimeoutMinutes);
+                    actionStep.Environment = ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(runStep.Env);
+                    actionStep.Reference = new GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ScriptReference();
+                    actionStep.Inputs = BuildRunStepInputs(runStep);
+                }
+                else if (step is GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.ActionStep usesStep)
+                {
+                    actionStep.Condition = ExtractConditionString(usesStep.If);
+                    actionStep.DisplayNameToken = ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(usesStep.Name);
+                    actionStep.ContinueOnError = ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(usesStep.ContinueOnError);
+                    actionStep.TimeoutInMinutes = ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(usesStep.TimeoutMinutes);
+                    actionStep.Environment = ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(usesStep.Env);
+                    actionStep.Reference = ParseActionReference(usesStep.Uses?.Value);
+                    actionStep.Inputs = ConvertToLegacyToken<MappingToken>(usesStep.With);
+                }
+
+                result.Add(actionStep);
+            }
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        private string ExtractConditionString(GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.ObjectTemplating.Tokens.BasicExpressionToken ifToken)
+        {
+            if (ifToken == null)
+            {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            // The Expression property is internal, so we use ToString() which formats as "${{ expr }}"
+            // Then strip the delimiters to get just the expression
+            var str = ifToken.ToString();
+            if (str.StartsWith("${{") && str.EndsWith("}}"))
+            {
+                return str.Substring(3, str.Length - 5).Trim();
+            }
+            return str;
+        }
+
+        private MappingToken BuildRunStepInputs(GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.RunStep runStep)
+        {
+            var inputs = new MappingToken(null, null, null);
+
+            // script (from run)
+            if (runStep.Run != null)
+            {
+                inputs.Add(
+                    new StringToken(null, null, null, "script"),
+                    ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(runStep.Run));
+            }
+
+            // shell
+            if (runStep.Shell != null)
+            {
+                inputs.Add(
+                    new StringToken(null, null, null, "shell"),
+                    ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(runStep.Shell));
+            }
+
+            // working-directory
+            if (runStep.WorkingDirectory != null)
+            {
+                inputs.Add(
+                    new StringToken(null, null, null, "workingDirectory"),
+                    ConvertToLegacyToken<TemplateToken>(runStep.WorkingDirectory));
+            }
+
+            return inputs.Count > 0 ? inputs : null;
+        }
+
+        private GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ActionStepDefinitionReference ParseActionReference(string uses)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(uses))
+            {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            // Docker reference: docker://image:tag
+            if (uses.StartsWith("docker://", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+                return new GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ContainerRegistryReference
+                {
+                    Image = uses.Substring("docker://".Length)
+                };
+            }
+
+            // Local path reference: ./path/to/action
+            if (uses.StartsWith("./") || uses.StartsWith(".\\"))
+            {
+                return new GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.RepositoryPathReference
+                {
+                    RepositoryType = "self",
+                    Path = uses
+                };
+            }
+
+            // Repository reference: owner/repo@ref or owner/repo/path@ref
+            var atIndex = uses.LastIndexOf('@');
+            string refPart = null;
+            string repoPart = uses;
+
+            if (atIndex > 0)
+            {
+                refPart = uses.Substring(atIndex + 1);
+                repoPart = uses.Substring(0, atIndex);
+            }
+
+            // Split by / to get owner/repo and optional path
+            var parts = repoPart.Split('/');
+            string name;
+            string path = null;
+
+            if (parts.Length >= 2)
+            {
+                name = $"{parts[0]}/{parts[1]}";
+                if (parts.Length > 2)
+                {
+                    path = string.Join("/", parts, 2, parts.Length - 2);
+                }
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                name = repoPart;
+            }
+
+            return new GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.RepositoryPathReference
+            {
+                RepositoryType = "GitHub",
+                Name = name,
+                Ref = refPart,
+                Path = path
+            };
         }
 
         private T ConvertToLegacyToken<T>(GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.ObjectTemplating.Tokens.TemplateToken newToken) where T : TemplateToken
@@ -633,6 +775,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 return false;
             }
 
+            // Check for known equivalent error patterns (e.g., JSON parse errors)
+            // where both parsers correctly reject invalid input but with different wording
+            if (PipelineTemplateEvaluatorWrapper.HasJsonExceptionType(legacyException) && PipelineTemplateEvaluatorWrapper.HasJsonExceptionType(newException))
+            {
+                trace.Info("CompareExceptions - both exceptions are JSON parse errors, treating as matched");
+                return true;
+            }
+
             // Compare exception messages recursively (including inner exceptions)
             var legacyMessages = GetExceptionMessages(legacyException);
             var newMessages = GetExceptionMessages(newException);
@@ -697,5 +847,6 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
 
             return messages;
         }
+
     }
 }

src/Runner.Worker/ActionRunner.cs

@@ -379,7 +379,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             {
                 prefix = PipelineTemplateConstants.RunDisplayPrefix;
                 var repositoryReference = action.Reference as RepositoryPathReference;
-                var pathString = string.IsNullOrEmpty(repositoryReference.Path) ? string.Empty : $"/{repositoryReference.Path}";
+                var pathString = string.Empty;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(repositoryReference.Path))
+                {
+                    // For local actions (Name is empty), don't prepend "/" to avoid "/./"
+                    pathString = string.IsNullOrEmpty(repositoryReference.Name)
+                        ? repositoryReference.Path
+                        : $"/{repositoryReference.Path}";
+                }
                 var repoString = string.IsNullOrEmpty(repositoryReference.Ref) ? $"{repositoryReference.Name}{pathString}" :
                     $"{repositoryReference.Name}{pathString}@{repositoryReference.Ref}";
                 tokenToParse = new StringToken(null, null, null, repoString);

src/Runner.Worker/Container/ContainerInfo.cs

@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Container
             this.ContainerImage = containerImage;
             this.ContainerDisplayName = $"{container.Alias}_{Pipelines.Validation.NameValidation.Sanitize(containerImage)}_{Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N").Substring(0, 6)}";
             this.ContainerCreateOptions = container.Options;
+            this.ContainerEntryPoint = container.Entrypoint;
+            this.ContainerEntryPointArgs = container.Command;
             _environmentVariables = container.Environment;
             this.IsJobContainer = isJobContainer;
             this.ContainerNetworkAlias = networkAlias;

src/Runner.Worker/Dap/DapReplExecutor.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,369 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ContextData;
+using GitHub.Runner.Common;
+using GitHub.Runner.Common.Util;
+using GitHub.Runner.Sdk;
+using GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers;
+
+namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Dap
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Executes <see cref="RunCommand"/> objects in the job's runtime context.
+    ///
+    /// Mirrors the behavior of a normal workflow <c>run:</c> step as closely
+    /// as possible by reusing the runner's existing shell-resolution logic,
+    /// script fixup helpers, and process execution infrastructure.
+    ///
+    /// Output is streamed to the debugger via DAP <c>output</c> events with
+    /// secrets masked before emission.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal sealed class DapReplExecutor
+    {
+        private readonly IHostContext _hostContext;
+        private readonly Action<string, string> _sendOutput;
+        private readonly Tracing _trace;
+
+        public DapReplExecutor(IHostContext hostContext, Action<string, string> sendOutput)
+        {
+            _hostContext = hostContext ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(hostContext));
+            _sendOutput = sendOutput ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(sendOutput));
+            _trace = hostContext.GetTrace(nameof(DapReplExecutor));
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Executes a <see cref="RunCommand"/> and returns the exit code as a
+        /// formatted <see cref="EvaluateResponseBody"/>.
+        /// </summary>
+        public async Task<EvaluateResponseBody> ExecuteRunCommandAsync(
+            RunCommand command,
+            IExecutionContext context,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            if (context == null)
+            {
+                return ErrorResult("No execution context available. The debugger must be paused at a step to run commands.");
+            }
+
+            try
+            {
+                return await ExecuteScriptAsync(command, context, cancellationToken);
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                _trace.Error($"REPL run command failed ({ex.GetType().Name})");
+                var maskedError = _hostContext.SecretMasker.MaskSecrets(ex.Message);
+                return ErrorResult($"Command failed: {maskedError}");
+            }
+        }
+
+        private async Task<EvaluateResponseBody> ExecuteScriptAsync(
+            RunCommand command,
+            IExecutionContext context,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            // 1. Resolve shell — same logic as ScriptHandler
+            string shellCommand;
+            string argFormat;
+
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(command.Shell))
+            {
+                // Explicit shell from the DSL
+                var parsed = ScriptHandlerHelpers.ParseShellOptionString(command.Shell);
+                shellCommand = parsed.shellCommand;
+                argFormat = string.IsNullOrEmpty(parsed.shellArgs)
+                    ? ScriptHandlerHelpers.GetScriptArgumentsFormat(shellCommand)
+                    : parsed.shellArgs;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                // Default shell — mirrors ScriptHandler platform defaults
+                shellCommand = ResolveDefaultShell(context);
+                argFormat = ScriptHandlerHelpers.GetScriptArgumentsFormat(shellCommand);
+            }
+
+            _trace.Info("Resolved REPL shell");
+
+            // 2. Expand ${{ }} expressions in the script body, just like
+            //    ActionRunner evaluates step inputs before ScriptHandler sees them
+            var contents = ExpandExpressions(command.Script, context);
+            contents = ScriptHandlerHelpers.FixUpScriptContents(shellCommand, contents);
+
+            // Write to a temp file (same pattern as ScriptHandler)
+            var extension = ScriptHandlerHelpers.GetScriptFileExtension(shellCommand);
+            var scriptFilePath = Path.Combine(
+                _hostContext.GetDirectory(WellKnownDirectory.Temp),
+                $"dap_repl_{Guid.NewGuid()}{extension}");
+
+            Encoding encoding = new UTF8Encoding(false);
+#if OS_WINDOWS
+            contents = contents.Replace("\r\n", "\n").Replace("\n", "\r\n");
+            encoding = Console.InputEncoding.CodePage != 65001
+                ? Console.InputEncoding
+                : encoding;
+#endif
+            File.WriteAllText(scriptFilePath, contents, encoding);
+
+            try
+            {
+                // 3. Format arguments with script path
+                var resolvedPath = scriptFilePath.Replace("\"", "\\\"");
+                if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(argFormat) || !argFormat.Contains("{0}"))
+                {
+                    return ErrorResult($"Invalid shell option '{shellCommand}'. Shell must be a valid built-in (bash, sh, cmd, powershell, pwsh) or a format string containing '{{0}}'");
+                }
+                var arguments = string.Format(argFormat, resolvedPath);
+
+                // 4. Resolve shell command path
+                string prependPath = string.Join(
+                    Path.PathSeparator.ToString(),
+                    Enumerable.Reverse(context.Global.PrependPath));
+                var commandPath = WhichUtil.Which(shellCommand, false, _trace, prependPath)
+                    ?? shellCommand;
+
+                // 5. Build environment — merge from execution context like a real step
+                var environment = BuildEnvironment(context, command.Env);
+
+                // 6. Resolve working directory
+                var workingDirectory = command.WorkingDirectory;
+                if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(workingDirectory))
+                {
+                    var githubContext = context.ExpressionValues.TryGetValue("github", out var gh)
+                        ? gh as DictionaryContextData
+                        : null;
+                    var workspace = githubContext?.TryGetValue("workspace", out var ws) == true
+                        ? (ws as StringContextData)?.Value
+                        : null;
+                    workingDirectory = workspace ?? _hostContext.GetDirectory(WellKnownDirectory.Work);
+                }
+
+                _trace.Info("Executing REPL command");
+
+                // Stream execution info to debugger
+                SendOutput("console", $"$ {shellCommand} {command.Script.Substring(0, Math.Min(command.Script.Length, 80))}{(command.Script.Length > 80 ? "..." : "")}\n");
+
+                // 7. Execute via IProcessInvoker (same as DefaultStepHost)
+                int exitCode;
+                using (var processInvoker = _hostContext.CreateService<IProcessInvoker>())
+                {
+                    processInvoker.OutputDataReceived += (sender, args) =>
+                    {
+                        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(args.Data))
+                        {
+                            var masked = _hostContext.SecretMasker.MaskSecrets(args.Data);
+                            SendOutput("stdout", masked + "\n");
+                        }
+                    };
+
+                    processInvoker.ErrorDataReceived += (sender, args) =>
+                    {
+                        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(args.Data))
+                        {
+                            var masked = _hostContext.SecretMasker.MaskSecrets(args.Data);
+                            SendOutput("stderr", masked + "\n");
+                        }
+                    };
+
+                    exitCode = await processInvoker.ExecuteAsync(
+                        workingDirectory: workingDirectory,
+                        fileName: commandPath,
+                        arguments: arguments,
+                        environment: environment,
+                        requireExitCodeZero: false,
+                        outputEncoding: null,
+                        killProcessOnCancel: true,
+                        cancellationToken: cancellationToken);
+                }
+
+                _trace.Info($"REPL command exited with code {exitCode}");
+
+                // 8. Return only the exit code summary (output was already streamed)
+                return new EvaluateResponseBody
+                {
+                    Result = exitCode == 0 ? $"(exit code: {exitCode})" : $"Process completed with exit code {exitCode}.",
+                    Type = exitCode == 0 ? "string" : "error",
+                    VariablesReference = 0
+                };
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                // Clean up temp script file
+                try { File.Delete(scriptFilePath); }
+                catch { /* best effort */ }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Expands <c>${{ }}</c> expressions in the input string using the
+        /// runner's template evaluator — the same evaluation path that processes
+        /// step inputs before <see cref="ScriptHandler"/> runs them.
+        ///
+        /// Each <c>${{ expr }}</c> occurrence is individually evaluated and
+        /// replaced with its masked string result, mirroring the semantics of
+        /// expression interpolation in a workflow <c>run:</c> step body.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal string ExpandExpressions(string input, IExecutionContext context)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(input) || !input.Contains("${{"))
+            {
+                return input ?? string.Empty;
+            }
+
+            var result = new StringBuilder();
+            int pos = 0;
+
+            while (pos < input.Length)
+            {
+                var start = input.IndexOf("${{", pos, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+                if (start < 0)
+                {
+                    result.Append(input, pos, input.Length - pos);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                // Append the literal text before the expression
+                result.Append(input, pos, start - pos);
+
+                var end = input.IndexOf("}}", start + 3, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+                if (end < 0)
+                {
+                    // Unterminated expression — keep literal
+                    result.Append(input, start, input.Length - start);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                var expr = input.Substring(start + 3, end - start - 3).Trim();
+                end += 2; // skip past "}}"
+
+                // Evaluate the expression
+                try
+                {
+                    var templateEvaluator = context.ToPipelineTemplateEvaluator();
+                    var token = new GitHub.DistributedTask.ObjectTemplating.Tokens.BasicExpressionToken(
+                        null, null, null, expr);
+                    var evaluated = templateEvaluator.EvaluateStepDisplayName(
+                        token,
+                        context.ExpressionValues,
+                        context.ExpressionFunctions);
+                    result.Append(_hostContext.SecretMasker.MaskSecrets(evaluated ?? string.Empty));
+                }
+                catch (Exception ex)
+                {
+                    _trace.Warning($"Expression expansion failed ({ex.GetType().Name})");
+                    // Keep the original expression literal on failure
+                    result.Append(input, start, end - start);
+                }
+
+                pos = end;
+            }
+
+            return result.ToString();
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Resolves the default shell the same way <see cref="ScriptHandler"/>
+        /// does: check job defaults, then fall back to platform default.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal string ResolveDefaultShell(IExecutionContext context)
+        {
+            // Check job defaults
+            if (context.Global?.JobDefaults != null &&
+                context.Global.JobDefaults.TryGetValue("run", out var runDefaults) &&
+                runDefaults.TryGetValue("shell", out var defaultShell) &&
+                !string.IsNullOrEmpty(defaultShell))
+            {
+                _trace.Info("Using job default shell");
+                return defaultShell;
+            }
+
+#if OS_WINDOWS
+            string prependPath = string.Join(
+                Path.PathSeparator.ToString(),
+                context.Global?.PrependPath != null ? Enumerable.Reverse(context.Global.PrependPath) : Array.Empty<string>());
+            var pwshPath = WhichUtil.Which("pwsh", false, _trace, prependPath);
+            return !string.IsNullOrEmpty(pwshPath) ? "pwsh" : "powershell";
+#else
+            return "sh";
+#endif
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Merges the job context environment with any REPL-specific overrides.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal Dictionary<string, string> BuildEnvironment(
+            IExecutionContext context,
+            Dictionary<string, string> replEnv)
+        {
+            var env = new Dictionary<string, string>(VarUtil.EnvironmentVariableKeyComparer);
+
+            // Pull environment from the execution context (same as ActionRunner)
+            if (context.ExpressionValues.TryGetValue("env", out var envData))
+            {
+                if (envData is DictionaryContextData dictEnv)
+                {
+                    foreach (var pair in dictEnv)
+                    {
+                        if (pair.Value is StringContextData str)
+                        {
+                            env[pair.Key] = str.Value;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+                else if (envData is CaseSensitiveDictionaryContextData csEnv)
+                {
+                    foreach (var pair in csEnv)
+                    {
+                        if (pair.Value is StringContextData str)
+                        {
+                            env[pair.Key] = str.Value;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Expose runtime context variables to the environment (GITHUB_*, RUNNER_*, etc.)
+            foreach (var ctxPair in context.ExpressionValues)
+            {
+                if (ctxPair.Value is IEnvironmentContextData runtimeContext && runtimeContext != null)
+                {
+                    foreach (var rtEnv in runtimeContext.GetRuntimeEnvironmentVariables())
+                    {
+                        env[rtEnv.Key] = rtEnv.Value;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Apply REPL-specific overrides last (so they win),
+            // expanding any ${{ }} expressions in the values
+            if (replEnv != null)
+            {
+                foreach (var pair in replEnv)
+                {
+                    env[pair.Key] = ExpandExpressions(pair.Value, context);
+                }
+            }
+
+            return env;
+        }
+
+        private void SendOutput(string category, string text)
+        {
+            _sendOutput(category, text);
+        }
+
+        private static EvaluateResponseBody ErrorResult(string message)
+        {
+            return new EvaluateResponseBody
+            {
+                Result = message,
+                Type = "error",
+                VariablesReference = 0
+            };
+        }
+    }
+}

src/Runner.Worker/Dap/DapReplParser.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,411 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Text;
+
+namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Dap
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Base type for all REPL DSL commands.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal abstract class DapReplCommand
+    {
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// <c>help</c> or <c>help("run")</c>
+    /// </summary>
+    internal sealed class HelpCommand : DapReplCommand
+    {
+        public string Topic { get; set; }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// <c>run("echo hello")</c> or
+    /// <c>run("echo hello", shell: "bash", env: { FOO: "bar" }, working_directory: "/tmp")</c>
+    /// </summary>
+    internal sealed class RunCommand : DapReplCommand
+    {
+        public string Script { get; set; }
+        public string Shell { get; set; }
+        public Dictionary<string, string> Env { get; set; }
+        public string WorkingDirectory { get; set; }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Parses REPL input into typed <see cref="DapReplCommand"/> objects.
+    ///
+    /// Grammar (intentionally minimal — extend as the DSL grows):
+    /// <code>
+    ///   help                                → HelpCommand { Topic = null }
+    ///   help("run")                         → HelpCommand { Topic = "run" }
+    ///   run("script body")                  → RunCommand  { Script = "script body" }
+    ///   run("script", shell: "bash")        → RunCommand  { Shell = "bash" }
+    ///   run("script", env: { K: "V" })      → RunCommand  { Env = { K → V } }
+    ///   run("script", working_directory: "p")→ RunCommand  { WorkingDirectory = "p" }
+    /// </code>
+    ///
+    /// Parsing is intentionally hand-rolled rather than regex-based so it can
+    /// handle nested braces, quoted strings with escapes, and grow to support
+    /// future commands without accumulating regex complexity.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal static class DapReplParser
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Attempts to parse REPL input into a command. Returns null if the
+        /// input does not match any known DSL command (i.e. it should be
+        /// treated as an expression instead).
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static DapReplCommand TryParse(string input, out string error)
+        {
+            error = null;
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(input))
+            {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            var trimmed = input.Trim();
+
+            // help / help("topic")
+            if (trimmed.Equals("help", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) ||
+                trimmed.StartsWith("help(", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+                return ParseHelp(trimmed, out error);
+            }
+
+            // run("...")
+            if (trimmed.StartsWith("run(", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+                return ParseRun(trimmed, out error);
+            }
+
+            // Not a DSL command
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        internal static string GetGeneralHelp()
+        {
+            return """
+                Actions Debug Console
+
+                Commands:
+                  help                  Show this help
+                  help("run")           Show help for the run command
+                  run("script")         Execute a script (like a workflow run step)
+
+                Anything else is evaluated as a GitHub Actions expression.
+                  Example: github.repository
+                  Example: ${{ github.event_name }}
+
+                """;
+        }
+
+        internal static string GetRunHelp()
+        {
+            return """
+                run command — execute a script in the job context
+
+                Usage:
+                  run("echo hello")
+                  run("echo $FOO", shell: "bash")
+                  run("echo $FOO", env: { FOO: "bar" })
+                  run("ls", working_directory: "/tmp")
+                  run("echo $X", shell: "bash", env: { X: "1" }, working_directory: "/tmp")
+
+                Options:
+                  shell:             Shell to use (default: job default, e.g. bash)
+                  env:               Extra environment variables as { KEY: "value" }
+                  working_directory:  Working directory for the command
+
+                Behavior:
+                  - Equivalent to a workflow `run:` step
+                  - Expressions in the script body are expanded (${{ ... }})
+                  - Output is streamed in real time and secrets are masked
+
+                """;
+        }
+
+        #region Parsers
+
+        private static HelpCommand ParseHelp(string input, out string error)
+        {
+            error = null;
+            if (input.Equals("help", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+                return new HelpCommand();
+            }
+
+            // help("topic")
+            var inner = ExtractParenthesizedArgs(input, "help", out error);
+            if (error != null) return null;
+
+            var topic = ExtractQuotedString(inner.Trim(), out error);
+            if (error != null) return null;
+
+            return new HelpCommand { Topic = topic };
+        }
+
+        private static RunCommand ParseRun(string input, out string error)
+        {
+            error = null;
+
+            var inner = ExtractParenthesizedArgs(input, "run", out error);
+            if (error != null) return null;
+
+            // Split into argument list respecting quotes and braces
+            var args = SplitArguments(inner, out error);
+            if (error != null) return null;
+            if (args.Count == 0)
+            {
+                error = "run() requires a script argument. Example: run(\"echo hello\")";
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            // First arg must be the script body (a quoted string)
+            var script = ExtractQuotedString(args[0].Trim(), out error);
+            if (error != null)
+            {
+                error = $"First argument to run() must be a quoted string. {error}";
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            var cmd = new RunCommand { Script = script };
+
+            // Parse remaining keyword arguments
+            for (int i = 1; i < args.Count; i++)
+            {
+                var kv = args[i].Trim();
+                var colonIdx = kv.IndexOf(':');
+                if (colonIdx <= 0)
+                {
+                    error = $"Expected keyword argument (e.g. shell: \"bash\"), got: {kv}";
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                var key = kv.Substring(0, colonIdx).Trim();
+                var value = kv.Substring(colonIdx + 1).Trim();
+
+                switch (key.ToLowerInvariant())
+                {
+                    case "shell":
+                        cmd.Shell = ExtractQuotedString(value, out error);
+                        if (error != null) { error = $"shell: {error}"; return null; }
+                        break;
+
+                    case "working_directory":
+                        cmd.WorkingDirectory = ExtractQuotedString(value, out error);
+                        if (error != null) { error = $"working_directory: {error}"; return null; }
+                        break;
+
+                    case "env":
+                        cmd.Env = ParseEnvBlock(value, out error);
+                        if (error != null) { error = $"env: {error}"; return null; }
+                        break;
+
+                    default:
+                        error = $"Unknown option: {key}. Valid options: shell, env, working_directory";
+                        return null;
+                }
+            }
+
+            return cmd;
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+
+        #region Low-level parsing helpers
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Given "cmd(...)" returns the inner content between the outer parens.
+        /// </summary>
+        private static string ExtractParenthesizedArgs(string input, string prefix, out string error)
+        {
+            error = null;
+            var start = prefix.Length; // skip "cmd"
+            if (start >= input.Length || input[start] != '(')
+            {
+                error = $"Expected '(' after {prefix}";
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            if (input[input.Length - 1] != ')')
+            {
+                error = $"Expected ')' at end of {prefix}(...)";
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            return input.Substring(start + 1, input.Length - start - 2);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Extracts a double-quoted string value, handling escaped quotes.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string ExtractQuotedString(string input, out string error)
+        {
+            error = null;
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(input))
+            {
+                error = "Expected a quoted string, got empty input";
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            if (input[0] != '"')
+            {
+                error = $"Expected a quoted string starting with \", got: {Truncate(input, 40)}";
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            var sb = new StringBuilder();
+            for (int i = 1; i < input.Length; i++)
+            {
+                if (input[i] == '\\' && i + 1 < input.Length)
+                {
+                    sb.Append(input[i + 1]);
+                    i++;
+                }
+                else if (input[i] == '"')
+                {
+                    // Check nothing meaningful follows the closing quote
+                    var rest = input.Substring(i + 1).Trim();
+                    if (rest.Length > 0)
+                    {
+                        error = $"Unexpected content after closing quote: {Truncate(rest, 40)}";
+                        return null;
+                    }
+                    return sb.ToString();
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    sb.Append(input[i]);
+                }
+            }
+
+            error = "Unterminated string (missing closing \")";
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Splits a comma-separated argument list, respecting quoted strings
+        /// and nested braces so that <c>"a, b", env: { K: "V, W" }</c> is
+        /// correctly split into two arguments.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static List<string> SplitArguments(string input, out string error)
+        {
+            error = null;
+            var result = new List<string>();
+            var current = new StringBuilder();
+            int depth = 0;
+            bool inQuote = false;
+
+            for (int i = 0; i < input.Length; i++)
+            {
+                var ch = input[i];
+
+                if (ch == '\\' && inQuote && i + 1 < input.Length)
+                {
+                    current.Append(ch);
+                    current.Append(input[++i]);
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                if (ch == '"')
+                {
+                    inQuote = !inQuote;
+                    current.Append(ch);
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                if (!inQuote)
+                {
+                    if (ch == '{')
+                    {
+                        depth++;
+                        current.Append(ch);
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    if (ch == '}')
+                    {
+                        depth--;
+                        current.Append(ch);
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    if (ch == ',' && depth == 0)
+                    {
+                        result.Add(current.ToString());
+                        current.Clear();
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                current.Append(ch);
+            }
+
+            if (inQuote)
+            {
+                error = "Unterminated string in arguments";
+                return null;
+            }
+            if (depth != 0)
+            {
+                error = "Unmatched braces in arguments";
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            if (current.Length > 0)
+            {
+                result.Add(current.ToString());
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Parses <c>{ KEY: "value", KEY2: "value2" }</c> into a dictionary.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static Dictionary<string, string> ParseEnvBlock(string input, out string error)
+        {
+            error = null;
+            var trimmed = input.Trim();
+            if (!trimmed.StartsWith("{") || !trimmed.EndsWith("}"))
+            {
+                error = "Expected env block in the form { KEY: \"value\" }";
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            var inner = trimmed.Substring(1, trimmed.Length - 2).Trim();
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(inner))
+            {
+                return new Dictionary<string, string>();
+            }
+
+            var pairs = SplitArguments(inner, out error);
+            if (error != null) return null;
+
+            var result = new Dictionary<string, string>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+            foreach (var pair in pairs)
+            {
+                var colonIdx = pair.IndexOf(':');
+                if (colonIdx <= 0)
+                {
+                    error = $"Expected KEY: \"value\" pair, got: {Truncate(pair.Trim(), 40)}";
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                var key = pair.Substring(0, colonIdx).Trim();
+                var val = ExtractQuotedString(pair.Substring(colonIdx + 1).Trim(), out error);
+                if (error != null) return null;
+
+                result[key] = val;
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        private static string Truncate(string value, int maxLength)
+        {
+            if (value == null) return "(null)";
+            return value.Length <= maxLength ? value : value.Substring(0, maxLength) + "...";
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+    }
+}

src/Runner.Worker/Dap/DapVariableProvider.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,373 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Globalization;
+using GitHub.DistributedTask.Logging;
+using GitHub.DistributedTask.ObjectTemplating.Tokens;
+using GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ContextData;
+
+namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Dap
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Maps runner execution context data to DAP scopes and variables.
+    ///
+    /// This is the single point where runner context values are materialized
+    /// for the debugger. All values pass through the runner's existing
+    /// <see cref="GitHub.DistributedTask.Logging.ISecretMasker"/> so the DAP
+    /// surface never exposes anything beyond what a normal CI log would show.
+    ///
+    /// The secrets scope is intentionally opaque: keys are visible but every
+    /// value is replaced with a constant redaction marker.
+    ///
+    /// Designed to be reusable by future DAP features (evaluate, hover, REPL)
+    /// so that masking policy is never duplicated.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal sealed class DapVariableProvider
+    {
+        // Well-known scope names that map to top-level expression contexts.
+        // Order matters: the index determines the stable variablesReference ID.
+        private static readonly string[] _scopeNames =
+        {
+            "github", "env", "runner", "job", "steps",
+            "secrets", "inputs", "vars", "matrix", "needs"
+        };
+
+        // Scope references occupy the range [1, ScopeReferenceMax].
+        private const int _scopeReferenceBase = 1;
+        private const int _scopeReferenceMax = 100;
+
+        // Dynamic (nested) variable references start above the scope range.
+        private const int _dynamicReferenceBase = 101;
+
+        private const string _redactedValue = "***";
+
+        private readonly ISecretMasker _secretMasker;
+
+        // Maps dynamic variable reference IDs to the backing data and its
+        // dot-separated path (e.g. "github.event.pull_request").
+        private readonly Dictionary<int, (PipelineContextData Data, string Path)> _variableReferences = new();
+        private int _nextVariableReference = _dynamicReferenceBase;
+
+        public DapVariableProvider(ISecretMasker secretMasker)
+        {
+            _secretMasker = secretMasker ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(secretMasker));
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Clears all dynamic variable references.
+        /// Call this whenever the paused execution context changes (e.g. new step)
+        /// so that stale nested references are not served to the client.
+        /// </summary>
+        public void Reset()
+        {
+            _variableReferences.Clear();
+            _nextVariableReference = _dynamicReferenceBase;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Returns the list of DAP scopes for the given execution context.
+        /// Each scope corresponds to a well-known runner expression context
+        /// (github, env, secrets, …) and carries a stable variablesReference
+        /// that the client can use to drill into variables.
+        /// </summary>
+        public List<Scope> GetScopes(IExecutionContext context)
+        {
+            var scopes = new List<Scope>();
+
+            if (context?.ExpressionValues == null)
+            {
+                return scopes;
+            }
+
+            for (int i = 0; i < _scopeNames.Length; i++)
+            {
+                var scopeName = _scopeNames[i];
+                if (!context.ExpressionValues.TryGetValue(scopeName, out var value) || value == null)
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                var scope = new Scope
+                {
+                    Name = scopeName,
+                    VariablesReference = _scopeReferenceBase + i,
+                    Expensive = false,
+                    PresentationHint = scopeName == "secrets" ? "registers" : null
+                };
+
+                if (value is DictionaryContextData dict)
+                {
+                    scope.NamedVariables = dict.Count;
+                }
+                else if (value is CaseSensitiveDictionaryContextData csDict)
+                {
+                    scope.NamedVariables = csDict.Count;
+                }
+
+                scopes.Add(scope);
+            }
+
+            return scopes;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Returns the child variables for a given variablesReference.
+        /// The reference may point at a top-level scope (1–100) or a
+        /// dynamically registered nested container (101+).
+        /// </summary>
+        public List<Variable> GetVariables(IExecutionContext context, int variablesReference)
+        {
+            var variables = new List<Variable>();
+
+            if (context?.ExpressionValues == null)
+            {
+                return variables;
+            }
+
+            PipelineContextData data = null;
+            string basePath = null;
+            bool isSecretsScope = false;
+
+            if (variablesReference >= _scopeReferenceBase && variablesReference <= _scopeReferenceMax)
+            {
+                var scopeIndex = variablesReference - _scopeReferenceBase;
+                if (scopeIndex < _scopeNames.Length)
+                {
+                    var scopeName = _scopeNames[scopeIndex];
+                    isSecretsScope = scopeName == "secrets";
+                    if (context.ExpressionValues.TryGetValue(scopeName, out data))
+                    {
+                        basePath = scopeName;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            else if (_variableReferences.TryGetValue(variablesReference, out var refData))
+            {
+                data = refData.Data;
+                basePath = refData.Path;
+                isSecretsScope = basePath?.StartsWith("secrets", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) == true;
+            }
+
+            if (data == null)
+            {
+                return variables;
+            }
+
+            ConvertToVariables(data, basePath, isSecretsScope, variables);
+            return variables;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Evaluates a GitHub Actions expression (e.g. "github.repository",
+        /// "${{ github.event_name }}") in the context of the current step and
+        /// returns a masked result suitable for the DAP evaluate response.
+        ///
+        /// Uses the runner's standard <see cref="GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ObjectTemplating.IPipelineTemplateEvaluator"/>
+        /// so the full expression language is available (functions, operators,
+        /// context access).
+        /// </summary>
+        public EvaluateResponseBody EvaluateExpression(string expression, IExecutionContext context)
+        {
+            if (context?.ExpressionValues == null)
+            {
+                return new EvaluateResponseBody
+                {
+                    Result = "(no execution context available)",
+                    Type = "string",
+                    VariablesReference = 0
+                };
+            }
+
+            // Strip ${{ }} wrapper if present
+            var expr = expression?.Trim() ?? string.Empty;
+            if (expr.StartsWith("${{") && expr.EndsWith("}}"))
+            {
+                expr = expr.Substring(3, expr.Length - 5).Trim();
+            }
+
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(expr))
+            {
+                return new EvaluateResponseBody
+                {
+                    Result = string.Empty,
+                    Type = "string",
+                    VariablesReference = 0
+                };
+            }
+
+            try
+            {
+                var templateEvaluator = context.ToPipelineTemplateEvaluator();
+                var token = new BasicExpressionToken(null, null, null, expr);
+
+                var result = templateEvaluator.EvaluateStepDisplayName(
+                    token,
+                    context.ExpressionValues,
+                    context.ExpressionFunctions);
+
+                result = _secretMasker.MaskSecrets(result ?? "null");
+
+                return new EvaluateResponseBody
+                {
+                    Result = result,
+                    Type = InferResultType(result),
+                    VariablesReference = 0
+                };
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                var errorMessage = _secretMasker.MaskSecrets($"Evaluation error: {ex.Message}");
+                return new EvaluateResponseBody
+                {
+                    Result = errorMessage,
+                    Type = "string",
+                    VariablesReference = 0
+                };
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Infers a simple DAP type hint from the string representation of a result.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string InferResultType(string value)
+        {
+            value = value?.ToLower();
+            if (value == null || value == "null")
+                return "null";
+            if (value == "true" || value == "false")
+                return "boolean";
+            if (double.TryParse(value, NumberStyles.Any,
+                    CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, out _))
+                return "number";
+            if (value.StartsWith("{") || value.StartsWith("["))
+                return "object";
+            return "string";
+        }
+
+        #region Private helpers
+
+        private void ConvertToVariables(
+            PipelineContextData data,
+            string basePath,
+            bool isSecretsScope,
+            List<Variable> variables)
+        {
+            switch (data)
+            {
+                case DictionaryContextData dict:
+                    foreach (var pair in dict)
+                    {
+                        variables.Add(CreateVariable(pair.Key, pair.Value, basePath, isSecretsScope));
+                    }
+                    break;
+
+                case CaseSensitiveDictionaryContextData csDict:
+                    foreach (var pair in csDict)
+                    {
+                        variables.Add(CreateVariable(pair.Key, pair.Value, basePath, isSecretsScope));
+                    }
+                    break;
+
+                case ArrayContextData array:
+                    for (int i = 0; i < array.Count; i++)
+                    {
+                        var variable = CreateVariable($"[{i}]", array[i], basePath, isSecretsScope);
+                        variables.Add(variable);
+                    }
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private Variable CreateVariable(
+            string name,
+            PipelineContextData value,
+            string basePath,
+            bool isSecretsScope)
+        {
+            var childPath = string.IsNullOrEmpty(basePath) ? name : $"{basePath}.{name}";
+            var variable = new Variable
+            {
+                Name = name,
+                EvaluateName = $"${{{{ {childPath} }}}}"
+            };
+
+            // Secrets scope: redact ALL values regardless of underlying type.
+            // Keys are visible but values are always replaced with the
+            // redaction marker, and nested containers are not drillable.
+            if (isSecretsScope)
+            {
+                variable.Value = _redactedValue;
+                variable.Type = "string";
+                variable.VariablesReference = 0;
+                return variable;
+            }
+
+            if (value == null)
+            {
+                variable.Value = "null";
+                variable.Type = "null";
+                variable.VariablesReference = 0;
+                return variable;
+            }
+
+            switch (value)
+            {
+                case StringContextData str:
+                    variable.Value = _secretMasker.MaskSecrets(str.Value);
+                    variable.Type = "string";
+                    variable.VariablesReference = 0;
+                    break;
+
+                case NumberContextData num:
+                    variable.Value = _secretMasker.MaskSecrets(num.Value.ToString("G15", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+                    variable.Type = "number";
+                    variable.VariablesReference = 0;
+                    break;
+
+                case BooleanContextData boolVal:
+                    variable.Value = boolVal.Value ? "true" : "false";
+                    variable.Type = "boolean";
+                    variable.VariablesReference = 0;
+                    break;
+
+                case DictionaryContextData dict:
+                    variable.Value = $"Object ({dict.Count} properties)";
+                    variable.Type = "object";
+                    variable.VariablesReference = RegisterVariableReference(dict, childPath);
+                    variable.NamedVariables = dict.Count;
+                    break;
+
+                case CaseSensitiveDictionaryContextData csDict:
+                    variable.Value = $"Object ({csDict.Count} properties)";
+                    variable.Type = "object";
+                    variable.VariablesReference = RegisterVariableReference(csDict, childPath);
+                    variable.NamedVariables = csDict.Count;
+                    break;
+
+                case ArrayContextData array:
+                    variable.Value = $"Array ({array.Count} items)";
+                    variable.Type = "array";
+                    variable.VariablesReference = RegisterVariableReference(array, childPath);
+                    variable.IndexedVariables = array.Count;
+                    break;
+
+                default:
+                    var rawValue = value.ToJToken()?.ToString() ?? "unknown";
+                    variable.Value = _secretMasker.MaskSecrets(rawValue);
+                    variable.Type = value.GetType().Name;
+                    variable.VariablesReference = 0;
+                    break;
+            }
+
+            return variable;
+        }
+
+        private int RegisterVariableReference(PipelineContextData data, string path)
+        {
+            var reference = _nextVariableReference++;
+            _variableReferences[reference] = (data, path);
+            return reference;
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+    }
+}

src/Runner.Worker/Dap/DebuggerConfig.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+using GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines;
+
+namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Dap
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Consolidated runtime configuration for the job debugger.
+    /// Populated once from the acquire response and owned by <see cref="GlobalContext"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public sealed class DebuggerConfig
+    {
+        public DebuggerConfig(bool enabled, DebuggerTunnelInfo tunnel)
+        {
+            Enabled = enabled;
+            Tunnel = tunnel;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Whether the debugger is enabled for this job.</summary>
+        public bool Enabled { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Dev Tunnel details for remote debugging.
+        /// Required when <see cref="Enabled"/> is true.
+        /// </summary>
+        public DebuggerTunnelInfo Tunnel { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>Whether the tunnel configuration is complete and valid.</summary>
+        public bool HasValidTunnel => Tunnel != null
+            && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(Tunnel.TunnelId)
+            && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(Tunnel.ClusterId)
+            && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(Tunnel.HostToken)
+            && Tunnel.Port >= 1024 && Tunnel.Port <= 65535;
+    }
+}

src/Runner.Worker/Dap/IDapDebugger.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using GitHub.Runner.Common;
+
+namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Dap
+{
+    public enum DapSessionState
+    {
+        NotStarted,
+        WaitingForConnection,
+        Initializing,
+        Ready,
+        Paused,
+        Running,
+        Terminated
+    }
+
+    [ServiceLocator(Default = typeof(DapDebugger))]
+    public interface IDapDebugger : IRunnerService
+    {
+        Task StartAsync(IExecutionContext jobContext);
+        Task WaitUntilReadyAsync();
+        Task OnStepStartingAsync(IStep step);
+        void OnStepCompleted(IStep step);
+        Task OnJobCompletedAsync();
+    }
+}

src/Runner.Worker/Dap/IWebSocketDapBridge.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using GitHub.Runner.Common;
+
+namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Dap
+{
+    [ServiceLocator(Default = typeof(WebSocketDapBridge))]
+    public interface IWebSocketDapBridge : IRunnerService
+    {
+        void Start(int listenPort, int targetPort);
+        Task ShutdownAsync();
+    }
+}

src/Runner.Worker/Dap/WebSocketDapBridge.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,839 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Net;
+using System.Net.Sockets;
+using System.Net.WebSockets;
+using System.Security.Cryptography;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using GitHub.Runner.Common;
+
+namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Dap
+{
+    internal sealed class WebSocketDapBridge : RunnerService, IWebSocketDapBridge
+    {
+        internal enum IncomingStreamPrefixKind
+        {
+            Unknown,
+            HttpWebSocketUpgrade,
+            PreUpgradedWebSocket,
+            WebSocketReservedBits,
+            Http2Preface,
+            TlsClientHello,
+        }
+
+        private const int _bufferSize = 32 * 1024;
+        private const int _maxHeaderLineLength = 8 * 1024;
+        private const int _defaultMaxInboundMessageSize = 10 * 1024 * 1024; // 10 MB
+        private static readonly TimeSpan _keepAliveInterval = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30);
+        private static readonly TimeSpan _closeTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5);
+        private static readonly TimeSpan _handshakeTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10);
+        private const string _webSocketAcceptMagic = "258EAFA5-E914-47DA-95CA-C5AB0DC85B11";
+        private const int _maxHeaderCount = 64;
+        private static readonly byte[] _headerEndMarker = new byte[] { (byte)'\r', (byte)'\n', (byte)'\r', (byte)'\n' };
+
+        private int _listenPort;
+        private int _targetPort;
+
+        private TcpListener _listener;
+        private CancellationTokenSource _loopCts;
+        private Task _acceptLoopTask;
+
+        public int MaxInboundMessageSize { get; set; } = _defaultMaxInboundMessageSize;
+
+        internal int ListenPort => (_listener?.LocalEndpoint as IPEndPoint)?.Port ?? 0;
+
+        public void Start(int listenPort, int targetPort)
+        {
+            if (_listener != null)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("WebSocket DAP bridge already started.");
+            }
+
+            _listenPort = listenPort;
+            _targetPort = targetPort;
+
+            _listener = new TcpListener(IPAddress.Loopback, _listenPort);
+            _listener.Start();
+            _loopCts = new CancellationTokenSource();
+            _acceptLoopTask = AcceptLoopAsync(_loopCts.Token);
+
+            Trace.Info($"WebSocket DAP bridge listening on {_listener.LocalEndpoint} -> 127.0.0.1:{_targetPort}");
+        }
+
+        public async Task ShutdownAsync()
+        {
+            _loopCts?.Cancel();
+
+            try
+            {
+                _listener?.Stop();
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                Trace.Warning($"Error stopping listener during shutdown ({ex.GetType().Name})");
+            }
+
+            if (_acceptLoopTask != null)
+            {
+                try
+                {
+                    await _acceptLoopTask;
+                }
+                catch (OperationCanceledException)
+                {
+                    // expected on shutdown
+                }
+            }
+
+            _loopCts?.Dispose();
+            _loopCts = null;
+            _listener = null;
+            _acceptLoopTask = null;
+        }
+
+        private async Task AcceptLoopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            while (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                TcpClient client = null;
+                try
+                {
+                    client = await _listener.AcceptTcpClientAsync(cancellationToken);
+                    client.NoDelay = true;
+                    await HandleClientAsync(client, cancellationToken);
+                }
+                catch (OperationCanceledException) when (cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+                {
+                    break;
+                }
+                catch (Exception ex)
+                {
+                    client?.Dispose();
+                    Trace.Error($"WebSocket DAP bridge connection error");
+                    Trace.Error(ex);
+                }
+                finally
+                {
+                    client?.Dispose();
+                }
+            }
+
+            Trace.Info("WebSocket DAP bridge accept loop ended");
+        }
+
+        private async Task HandleClientAsync(TcpClient incomingClient, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            using (var incomingStream = incomingClient.GetStream())
+            {
+                Trace.Info($"WebSocket DAP bridge accepted client {incomingClient.Client.RemoteEndPoint}");
+
+                WebSocket webSocket;
+                using (var handshakeCts = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(cancellationToken))
+                {
+                    handshakeCts.CancelAfter(_handshakeTimeout);
+                    try
+                    {
+                        webSocket = await AcceptWebSocketAsync(incomingStream, handshakeCts.Token);
+                    }
+                    catch (OperationCanceledException) when (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+                    {
+                        Trace.Warning("WebSocket handshake timed out");
+                        return;
+                    }
+                }
+                if (webSocket == null)
+                {
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                using (webSocket)
+                using (var dapClient = new TcpClient())
+                {
+                    dapClient.NoDelay = true;
+                    await dapClient.ConnectAsync(IPAddress.Loopback, _targetPort, cancellationToken);
+
+                    using (var dapStream = dapClient.GetStream())
+                    using (var sessionCts = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(cancellationToken))
+                    {
+                        var proxyToken = sessionCts.Token;
+                        var wsToTcpTask = PumpWebSocketToTcpAsync(webSocket, dapStream, proxyToken);
+                        var tcpToWsTask = PumpTcpToWebSocketAsync(dapStream, webSocket, proxyToken);
+
+                        await Task.WhenAny(wsToTcpTask, tcpToWsTask);
+                        sessionCts.Cancel();
+
+                        await CloseWebSocketAsync(webSocket);
+
+                        try
+                        {
+                            await Task.WhenAll(wsToTcpTask, tcpToWsTask);
+                        }
+                        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (proxyToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+                        {
+                            // expected during shutdown
+                        }
+                        catch (Exception ex)
+                        {
+                            Trace.Warning($"DAP protocol error: {ex}");
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        private async Task<WebSocket> AcceptWebSocketAsync(NetworkStream stream, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var initialBytes = await ReadInitialBytesAsync(stream, cancellationToken);
+            if (initialBytes == null || initialBytes.Length == 0)
+            {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            var prefixKind = ClassifyIncomingStreamPrefix(initialBytes);
+            if (prefixKind == IncomingStreamPrefixKind.PreUpgradedWebSocket)
+            {
+                Trace.Info($"Treating incoming tunnel stream as an already-upgraded websocket connection ({DescribeInitialBytes(initialBytes)})");
+                return WebSocket.CreateFromStream(
+                    new ReplayableStream(stream, initialBytes),
+                    isServer: true,
+                    subProtocol: null,
+                    keepAliveInterval: _keepAliveInterval);
+            }
+
+            if (prefixKind != IncomingStreamPrefixKind.HttpWebSocketUpgrade)
+            {
+                Trace.Warning($"Unsupported debugger tunnel stream prefix ({prefixKind}): {DescribeInitialBytes(initialBytes)}");
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            var handshakeStream = new ReplayableStream(stream, initialBytes);
+            var requestLine = await ReadLineAsync(handshakeStream, cancellationToken);
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(requestLine))
+            {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            var headers = new Dictionary<string, string>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+            while (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                if (headers.Count >= _maxHeaderCount)
+                {
+                    Trace.Warning($"Rejected WebSocket request with too many headers (>{_maxHeaderCount})");
+                    await WriteHttpErrorAsync(stream, HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, "Too many headers.", cancellationToken);
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                var line = await ReadLineAsync(handshakeStream, cancellationToken);
+                if (line == null)
+                {
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                if (line.Length == 0)
+                {
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                var separatorIndex = line.IndexOf(':');
+                if (separatorIndex <= 0)
+                {
+                    await WriteHttpErrorAsync(stream, HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, "Invalid HTTP header.", cancellationToken);
+                    return null;
+                }
+
+                var headerName = line.Substring(0, separatorIndex).Trim();
+                var headerValue = line.Substring(separatorIndex + 1).Trim();
+
+                if (headers.TryGetValue(headerName, out var existingValue))
+                {
+                    headers[headerName] = $"{existingValue}, {headerValue}";
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    headers[headerName] = headerValue;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (!IsValidWebSocketRequest(requestLine, headers))
+            {
+                var method = requestLine.Split(' ')[0];
+                Trace.Info($"Rejected non-websocket request (method={method})");
+                await WriteHttpErrorAsync(stream, HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, "Expected a websocket upgrade request.", cancellationToken);
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            if (!headers.TryGetValue("Sec-WebSocket-Version", out var webSocketVersion) ||
+                !string.Equals(webSocketVersion.Trim(), "13", StringComparison.Ordinal))
+            {
+                Trace.Warning("Rejected WebSocket request with unsupported version");
+                await WriteHttpErrorAsync(stream, (HttpStatusCode)426, "Unsupported WebSocket version. Expected: 13.", cancellationToken);
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            var webSocketKey = headers["Sec-WebSocket-Key"];
+            if (!IsValidWebSocketKey(webSocketKey))
+            {
+                Trace.Warning("Rejected WebSocket request with invalid Sec-WebSocket-Key");
+                await WriteHttpErrorAsync(stream, HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, "Invalid Sec-WebSocket-Key.", cancellationToken);
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            var acceptValue = ComputeAcceptValue(webSocketKey);
+            var responseBytes = Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(
+                "HTTP/1.1 101 Switching Protocols\r\n" +
+                "Connection: Upgrade\r\n" +
+                "Upgrade: websocket\r\n" +
+                $"Sec-WebSocket-Accept: {acceptValue}\r\n" +
+                "\r\n");
+
+            await handshakeStream.WriteAsync(responseBytes, 0, responseBytes.Length, cancellationToken);
+            await handshakeStream.FlushAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+            Trace.Info("WebSocket DAP bridge completed websocket handshake");
+            return WebSocket.CreateFromStream(handshakeStream, isServer: true, subProtocol: null, keepAliveInterval: _keepAliveInterval);
+        }
+
+        private async Task PumpWebSocketToTcpAsync(WebSocket source, NetworkStream destination, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var buffer = new byte[_bufferSize];
+
+            while (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                using (var messageStream = new MemoryStream())
+                {
+                    WebSocketReceiveResult result;
+                    do
+                    {
+                        result = await source.ReceiveAsync(new ArraySegment<byte>(buffer), cancellationToken);
+                        if (result.MessageType == WebSocketMessageType.Close)
+                        {
+                            return;
+                        }
+
+                        if (result.MessageType != WebSocketMessageType.Binary &&
+                            result.MessageType != WebSocketMessageType.Text)
+                        {
+                            break;
+                        }
+
+                        if (result.Count > 0)
+                        {
+                            if (messageStream.Length + result.Count > MaxInboundMessageSize)
+                            {
+                                Trace.Warning($"WebSocket message exceeds maximum allowed size of {MaxInboundMessageSize} bytes, closing connection");
+                                await source.CloseAsync(
+                                    WebSocketCloseStatus.MessageTooBig,
+                                    $"Message exceeds {MaxInboundMessageSize} byte limit",
+                                    CancellationToken.None);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            messageStream.Write(buffer, 0, result.Count);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    while (!result.EndOfMessage && !cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested);
+
+                    if (result.MessageType != WebSocketMessageType.Binary &&
+                        result.MessageType != WebSocketMessageType.Text)
+                    {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
+                    var messageBytes = messageStream.ToArray();
+                    if (messageBytes.Length == 0)
+                    {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
+                    var contentLengthHeader = Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes($"Content-Length: {messageBytes.Length}\r\n\r\n");
+                    await destination.WriteAsync(contentLengthHeader, 0, contentLengthHeader.Length, cancellationToken);
+                    await destination.WriteAsync(messageBytes, 0, messageBytes.Length, cancellationToken);
+                    await destination.FlushAsync(cancellationToken);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static async Task PumpTcpToWebSocketAsync(NetworkStream source, WebSocket destination, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var readBuffer = new byte[_bufferSize];
+            var dapBuffer = new List<byte>();
+
+            while (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                var bytesRead = await source.ReadAsync(readBuffer, 0, readBuffer.Length, cancellationToken);
+                if (bytesRead == 0)
+                {
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                dapBuffer.AddRange(new ArraySegment<byte>(readBuffer, 0, bytesRead));
+
+                while (TryParseDapMessage(dapBuffer, out var messageBody))
+                {
+                    await destination.SendAsync(
+                        new ArraySegment<byte>(messageBody),
+                        WebSocketMessageType.Text,
+                        endOfMessage: true,
+                        cancellationToken);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static bool TryParseDapMessage(List<byte> buffer, out byte[] messageBody)
+        {
+            messageBody = null;
+
+            var headerEndIndex = FindSequence(buffer, _headerEndMarker);
+            if (headerEndIndex == -1)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            var headerBytes = buffer.GetRange(0, headerEndIndex).ToArray();
+            var headerText = Encoding.ASCII.GetString(headerBytes);
+
+            var contentLength = -1;
+            foreach (var line in headerText.Split(new[] { "\r\n" }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries))
+            {
+                if (line.StartsWith("Content-Length:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                {
+                    var valueStart = line.IndexOf(':') + 1;
+                    if (int.TryParse(line.Substring(valueStart).Trim(), out var parsedLength))
+                    {
+                        contentLength = parsedLength;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (contentLength < 0)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("DAP message missing or unparseable Content-Length header; tearing down session.");
+            }
+
+            var messageStart = headerEndIndex + 4;
+            var messageEnd = messageStart + contentLength;
+
+            if (buffer.Count < messageEnd)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            messageBody = buffer.GetRange(messageStart, contentLength).ToArray();
+            buffer.RemoveRange(0, messageEnd);
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        private static int FindSequence(List<byte> buffer, byte[] sequence)
+        {
+            if (buffer.Count < sequence.Length)
+            {
+                return -1;
+            }
+
+            for (int i = 0; i <= buffer.Count - sequence.Length; i++)
+            {
+                var match = true;
+                for (int j = 0; j < sequence.Length; j++)
+                {
+                    if (buffer[i + j] != sequence[j])
+                    {
+                        match = false;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                if (match)
+                {
+                    return i;
+                }
+            }
+
+            return -1;
+        }
+
+        private static bool IsValidWebSocketRequest(string requestLine, IDictionary<string, string> headers)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(requestLine))
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            var requestLineParts = requestLine.Split(' ');
+            if (requestLineParts.Length < 3 || !string.Equals(requestLineParts[0], "GET", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return HeaderContainsToken(headers, "Connection", "Upgrade") &&
+                HeaderContainsToken(headers, "Upgrade", "websocket") &&
+                headers.ContainsKey("Sec-WebSocket-Key");
+        }
+
+        private static bool HeaderContainsToken(IDictionary<string, string> headers, string headerName, string expectedToken)
+        {
+            if (!headers.TryGetValue(headerName, out var headerValue) || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(headerValue))
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return headerValue
+                .Split(',')
+                .Select(token => token.Trim())
+                .Any(token => string.Equals(token, expectedToken, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase));
+        }
+
+        private static string ComputeAcceptValue(string webSocketKey)
+        {
+            using (var sha1 = SHA1.Create())
+            {
+                var inputBytes = Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes($"{webSocketKey}{_webSocketAcceptMagic}");
+                var hashBytes = sha1.ComputeHash(inputBytes);
+                return Convert.ToBase64String(hashBytes);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static bool IsValidWebSocketKey(string key)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(key) || key.IndexOfAny(new[] { '\r', '\n' }) >= 0)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            try
+            {
+                var decoded = Convert.FromBase64String(key);
+                return decoded.Length == 16;
+            }
+            catch (FormatException)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static async Task<string> ReadLineAsync(Stream stream, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var lineBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+            var buffer = new byte[1];
+            var previousWasCarriageReturn = false;
+
+            while (true)
+            {
+                var bytesRead = await stream.ReadAsync(buffer, 0, 1, cancellationToken);
+                if (bytesRead == 0)
+                {
+                    return lineBuilder.Length > 0 ? lineBuilder.ToString() : null;
+                }
+
+                var currentChar = (char)buffer[0];
+                if (currentChar == '\n' && previousWasCarriageReturn)
+                {
+                    if (lineBuilder.Length > 0 && lineBuilder[lineBuilder.Length - 1] == '\r')
+                    {
+                        lineBuilder.Length--;
+                    }
+
+                    return lineBuilder.ToString();
+                }
+
+                previousWasCarriageReturn = currentChar == '\r';
+                lineBuilder.Append(currentChar);
+
+                if (lineBuilder.Length > _maxHeaderLineLength)
+                {
+                    throw new InvalidDataException($"HTTP header line exceeds maximum length of {_maxHeaderLineLength}");
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static async Task<byte[]> ReadInitialBytesAsync(NetworkStream stream, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var buffer = new byte[4];
+            var totalRead = 0;
+
+            while (totalRead < buffer.Length)
+            {
+                var bytesRead = await stream.ReadAsync(buffer, totalRead, buffer.Length - totalRead, cancellationToken);
+                if (bytesRead == 0)
+                {
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                totalRead += bytesRead;
+            }
+
+            if (totalRead == 0)
+            {
+                return Array.Empty<byte>();
+            }
+
+            if (totalRead == buffer.Length)
+            {
+                return buffer;
+            }
+
+            var initialBytes = new byte[totalRead];
+            Array.Copy(buffer, initialBytes, totalRead);
+            return initialBytes;
+        }
+
+        internal static IncomingStreamPrefixKind ClassifyIncomingStreamPrefix(byte[] initialBytes)
+        {
+            if (LooksLikeHttpUpgrade(initialBytes))
+            {
+                return IncomingStreamPrefixKind.HttpWebSocketUpgrade;
+            }
+
+            if (LooksLikeHttp2Preface(initialBytes))
+            {
+                return IncomingStreamPrefixKind.Http2Preface;
+            }
+
+            if (LooksLikeTlsClientHello(initialBytes))
+            {
+                return IncomingStreamPrefixKind.TlsClientHello;
+            }
+
+            if (LooksLikeWebSocketFramePrefix(initialBytes, requireReservedBitsClear: false))
+            {
+                return HasReservedBitsSet(initialBytes[0])
+                    ? IncomingStreamPrefixKind.WebSocketReservedBits
+                    : IncomingStreamPrefixKind.PreUpgradedWebSocket;
+            }
+
+            return IncomingStreamPrefixKind.Unknown;
+        }
+
+        internal static string DescribeInitialBytes(byte[] initialBytes)
+        {
+            if (initialBytes == null || initialBytes.Length == 0)
+            {
+                return "no bytes read";
+            }
+
+            var hex = BitConverter.ToString(initialBytes);
+            var ascii = new string(initialBytes.Select(value => value >= 32 && value <= 126 ? (char)value : '.').ToArray());
+            return $"hex={hex}, ascii=\"{ascii}\"";
+        }
+
+        private static bool LooksLikeHttpUpgrade(byte[] initialBytes)
+        {
+            if (initialBytes == null || initialBytes.Length < 4)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return initialBytes[0] == (byte)'G' &&
+                initialBytes[1] == (byte)'E' &&
+                initialBytes[2] == (byte)'T' &&
+                initialBytes[3] == (byte)' ';
+        }
+
+        private static bool LooksLikeHttp2Preface(byte[] initialBytes)
+        {
+            if (initialBytes == null || initialBytes.Length < 4)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return initialBytes[0] == (byte)'P' &&
+                initialBytes[1] == (byte)'R' &&
+                initialBytes[2] == (byte)'I' &&
+                initialBytes[3] == (byte)' ';
+        }
+
+        private static bool LooksLikeTlsClientHello(byte[] initialBytes)
+        {
+            if (initialBytes == null || initialBytes.Length < 3)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return initialBytes[0] == 0x16 &&
+                initialBytes[1] == 0x03 &&
+                initialBytes[2] >= 0x00 &&
+                initialBytes[2] <= 0x04;
+        }
+
+        private static bool LooksLikeWebSocketFramePrefix(byte[] initialBytes, bool requireReservedBitsClear)
+        {
+            if (initialBytes == null || initialBytes.Length < 2)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            var firstByte = initialBytes[0];
+            var secondByte = initialBytes[1];
+            var opcode = firstByte & 0x0F;
+            var isMasked = (secondByte & 0x80) != 0;
+
+            if (!isMasked || !IsSupportedWebSocketOpcode(opcode))
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return !requireReservedBitsClear || !HasReservedBitsSet(firstByte);
+        }
+
+        private static bool HasReservedBitsSet(byte firstByte)
+        {
+            return (firstByte & 0x70) != 0;
+        }
+
+        private static bool IsSupportedWebSocketOpcode(int opcode)
+        {
+            switch (opcode)
+            {
+                case 0x0:
+                case 0x1:
+                case 0x2:
+                case 0x8:
+                case 0x9:
+                case 0xA:
+                    return true;
+                default:
+                    return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static async Task WriteHttpErrorAsync(
+            NetworkStream stream,
+            HttpStatusCode statusCode,
+            string message,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var bodyBytes = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(message);
+            var responseBytes = Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(
+                $"HTTP/1.1 {(int)statusCode} {statusCode}\r\n" +
+                "Connection: close\r\n" +
+                "Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8\r\n" +
+                $"Content-Length: {bodyBytes.Length}\r\n" +
+                "Sec-WebSocket-Version: 13\r\n" +
+                "\r\n");
+
+            await stream.WriteAsync(responseBytes, 0, responseBytes.Length, cancellationToken);
+            await stream.WriteAsync(bodyBytes, 0, bodyBytes.Length, cancellationToken);
+            await stream.FlushAsync(cancellationToken);
+        }
+
+        private static async Task CloseWebSocketAsync(WebSocket webSocket)
+        {
+            if (webSocket == null)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (webSocket.State != WebSocketState.Open &&
+                webSocket.State != WebSocketState.CloseReceived)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            try
+            {
+                using var cts = new CancellationTokenSource(_closeTimeout);
+                await webSocket.CloseAsync(WebSocketCloseStatus.NormalClosure, string.Empty, cts.Token);
+            }
+            catch (OperationCanceledException)
+            {
+                // Graceful close timed out, abort the connection.
+                webSocket.Abort();
+            }
+            catch (WebSocketException)
+            {
+                // Peer already disconnected.
+            }
+        }
+
+        private sealed class ReplayableStream : Stream
+        {
+            private readonly Stream _innerStream;
+            private readonly byte[] _prefixBytes;
+            private int _prefixOffset;
+
+            public ReplayableStream(Stream innerStream, byte[] prefixBytes)
+            {
+                _innerStream = innerStream ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(innerStream));
+                _prefixBytes = prefixBytes ?? Array.Empty<byte>();
+            }
+
+            public override bool CanRead => _innerStream.CanRead;
+            public override bool CanSeek => false;
+            public override bool CanWrite => _innerStream.CanWrite;
+            public override long Length => throw new NotSupportedException();
+
+            public override long Position
+            {
+                get => throw new NotSupportedException();
+                set => throw new NotSupportedException();
+            }
+
+            public override void Flush() => _innerStream.Flush();
+
+            public override Task FlushAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => _innerStream.FlushAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+            public override int Read(byte[] buffer, int offset, int count)
+            {
+                if (TryReadPrefix(buffer, offset, count, out var bytesRead))
+                {
+                    return bytesRead;
+                }
+
+                return _innerStream.Read(buffer, offset, count);
+            }
+
+            public override async Task<int> ReadAsync(byte[] buffer, int offset, int count, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+            {
+                if (TryReadPrefix(buffer, offset, count, out var bytesRead))
+                {
+                    return bytesRead;
+                }
+
+                return await _innerStream.ReadAsync(buffer, offset, count, cancellationToken);
+            }
+
+            public override async ValueTask<int> ReadAsync(Memory<byte> buffer, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+            {
+                if (_prefixOffset < _prefixBytes.Length)
+                {
+                    var bytesToCopy = Math.Min(buffer.Length, _prefixBytes.Length - _prefixOffset);
+                    new ReadOnlySpan<byte>(_prefixBytes, _prefixOffset, bytesToCopy).CopyTo(buffer.Span);
+                    _prefixOffset += bytesToCopy;
+                    return bytesToCopy;
+                }
+
+                return await _innerStream.ReadAsync(buffer, cancellationToken);
+            }
+
+            public override long Seek(long offset, SeekOrigin origin) => throw new NotSupportedException();
+
+            public override void SetLength(long value) => throw new NotSupportedException();
+
+            public override void Write(byte[] buffer, int offset, int count) => _innerStream.Write(buffer, offset, count);
+
+            public override Task WriteAsync(byte[] buffer, int offset, int count, CancellationToken cancellationToken) =>
+                _innerStream.WriteAsync(buffer, offset, count, cancellationToken);
+
+            public override ValueTask WriteAsync(ReadOnlyMemory<byte> buffer, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default) =>
+                _innerStream.WriteAsync(buffer, cancellationToken);
+
+            private bool TryReadPrefix(byte[] buffer, int offset, int count, out int bytesRead)
+            {
+                if (_prefixOffset >= _prefixBytes.Length)
+                {
+                    bytesRead = 0;
+                    return false;
+                }
+
+                bytesRead = Math.Min(count, _prefixBytes.Length - _prefixOffset);
+                Array.Copy(_prefixBytes, _prefixOffset, buffer, offset, bytesRead);
+                _prefixOffset += bytesRead;
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}

src/Runner.Worker/ExecutionContext.cs

@@ -77,8 +77,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
 
         List<string> StepEnvironmentOverrides { get; }
 
-        ExecutionContext Root { get; }
-        ExecutionContext Parent { get; }
+        IExecutionContext Root { get; }
 
         // Initialize
         void InitializeJob(Pipelines.AgentJobRequestMessage message, CancellationToken token);
@@ -251,7 +250,9 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             }
         }
 
-        public ExecutionContext Root
+        IExecutionContext IExecutionContext.Root => Root;
+
+        private ExecutionContext Root
         {
             get
             {
@@ -266,13 +267,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             }
         }
 
-        public ExecutionContext Parent
-        {
-            get
-            {
-                return _parentExecutionContext;
-            }
-        }
+
 
         public JobContext JobContext
         {
@@ -499,7 +494,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
 
             PublishStepTelemetry();
 
-            if (_record.RecordType == "Task")
+            if (_record.RecordType == ExecutionContextType.Task)
             {
                 var stepResult = new StepResult
                 {
@@ -532,6 +527,25 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 Global.StepsResult.Add(stepResult);
             }
 
+            if (Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.SendJobLevelAnnotations) ?? false)
+            {
+                if (_record.RecordType == ExecutionContextType.Job)
+                {
+                    _record.Issues?.ForEach(issue =>
+                    {
+                        var annotation = issue.ToAnnotation();
+                        if (annotation != null)
+                        {
+                            Global.JobAnnotations.Add(annotation.Value);
+                            if (annotation.Value.IsInfrastructureIssue && string.IsNullOrEmpty(Global.InfrastructureFailureCategory))
+                            {
+                                Global.InfrastructureFailureCategory = issue.Category;
+                            }
+                        }
+                    });
+                }
+            }
+
             if (Root != this)
             {
                 // only dispose TokenSource for step level ExecutionContext
@@ -837,6 +851,15 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             // Job level annotations
             Global.JobAnnotations = new List<Annotation>();
 
+            // Track Node.js 20 actions for deprecation warning
+            Global.DeprecatedNode20Actions = new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+
+            // Track actions upgraded from Node.js 20 to Node.js 24
+            Global.UpgradedToNode24Actions = new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+
+            // Track actions stuck on Node.js 20 due to ARM32 (separate from general deprecation)
+            Global.Arm32Node20Actions = new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+
             // Job Outputs
             JobOutputs = new Dictionary<string, VariableValue>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
 
@@ -852,6 +875,9 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             // File table
             Global.FileTable = new List<String>(message.FileTable ?? new string[0]);
 
+            // Workflow dependencies (lockfile pins)
+            Global.ActionsDependencies = message.ActionsDependencies;
+
             // What type of job request is running (i.e. Run Service vs. pipelines)
             Global.Variables.Set(Constants.Variables.System.JobRequestType, message.MessageType);
 
@@ -869,15 +895,12 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
 
             Trace.Info("Initializing Job context");
             var jobContext = new JobContext();
-            if (Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.AddCheckRunIdToJobContext) ?? false)
+            ExpressionValues.TryGetValue("job", out var jobDictionary);
+            if (jobDictionary != null)
             {
-                ExpressionValues.TryGetValue("job", out var jobDictionary);
-                if (jobDictionary != null)
+                foreach (var pair in jobDictionary.AssertDictionary("job"))
                 {
-                    foreach (var pair in jobDictionary.AssertDictionary("job"))
-                    {
-                        jobContext[pair.Key] = pair.Value;
-                    }
+                    jobContext[pair.Key] = pair.Value;
                 }
             }
             ExpressionValues["job"] = jobContext;
@@ -946,6 +969,9 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             // Verbosity (from GitHub.Step_Debug).
             Global.WriteDebug = Global.Variables.Step_Debug ?? false;
 
+            // Debugger enabled flag (from acquire response).
+            Global.Debugger = new Dap.DebuggerConfig(message.EnableDebugger, message.DebuggerTunnel);
+
             // Hook up JobServerQueueThrottling event, we will log warning on server tarpit.
             _jobServerQueue.JobServerQueueThrottling += JobServerQueueThrottling_EventReceived;
         }
@@ -1306,9 +1332,9 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             UpdateGlobalStepsContext();
         }
 
-        internal IPipelineTemplateEvaluator ToPipelineTemplateEvaluatorInternal(ObjectTemplating.ITraceWriter traceWriter = null)
+        internal IPipelineTemplateEvaluator ToPipelineTemplateEvaluatorInternal(bool allowServiceContainerCommand, ObjectTemplating.ITraceWriter traceWriter = null)
         {
-            return new PipelineTemplateEvaluatorWrapper(HostContext, this, traceWriter);
+            return new PipelineTemplateEvaluatorWrapper(HostContext, this, allowServiceContainerCommand, traceWriter);
         }
 
         private static void NoOp()
@@ -1396,10 +1422,13 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
 
         public static IPipelineTemplateEvaluator ToPipelineTemplateEvaluator(this IExecutionContext context, ObjectTemplating.ITraceWriter traceWriter = null)
         {
+            var allowServiceContainerCommand = (context.Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.ServiceContainerCommand) ?? false)
+                || StringUtil.ConvertToBoolean(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("ACTIONS_SERVICE_CONTAINER_COMMAND"));
+
             // Create wrapper?
             if ((context.Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.CompareWorkflowParser) ?? false) || StringUtil.ConvertToBoolean(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("ACTIONS_RUNNER_COMPARE_WORKFLOW_PARSER")))
             {
-                return (context as ExecutionContext).ToPipelineTemplateEvaluatorInternal(traceWriter);
+                return (context as ExecutionContext).ToPipelineTemplateEvaluatorInternal(allowServiceContainerCommand, traceWriter);
             }
 
             // Legacy
@@ -1411,6 +1440,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             return new PipelineTemplateEvaluator(traceWriter, schema, context.Global.FileTable)
             {
                 MaxErrorMessageLength = int.MaxValue, // Don't truncate error messages otherwise we might not scrub secrets correctly
+                AllowServiceContainerCommand = allowServiceContainerCommand,
             };
         }
 

src/Runner.Worker/FeatureManager.cs

@@ -11,10 +11,5 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             var isContainerHooksPathSet = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(Constants.Hooks.ContainerHooksPath));
             return isContainerHookFeatureFlagSet && isContainerHooksPathSet;
         }
-
-        public static bool IsContainerActionRunnerTempEnabled(Variables variables)
-        {
-            return variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.ContainerActionRunnerTemp) ?? false;
-        }
     }
 }

src/Runner.Worker/GlobalContext.cs

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ using GitHub.Actions.RunService.WebApi;
 using GitHub.DistributedTask.WebApi;
 using GitHub.Runner.Common.Util;
 using GitHub.Runner.Worker.Container;
+using GitHub.Runner.Worker.Dap;
 using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
 using Sdk.RSWebApi.Contracts;
 
@@ -27,9 +28,16 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
         public StepsContext StepsContext { get; set; }
         public Variables Variables { get; set; }
         public bool WriteDebug { get; set; }
+        public DebuggerConfig Debugger { get; set; }
         public string InfrastructureFailureCategory { get; set; }
         public JObject ContainerHookState { get; set; }
         public bool HasTemplateEvaluatorMismatch { get; set; }
         public bool HasActionManifestMismatch { get; set; }
+        public bool HasDeprecatedSetOutput { get; set; }
+        public bool HasDeprecatedSaveState { get; set; }
+        public HashSet<string> DeprecatedNode20Actions { get; set; }
+        public HashSet<string> UpgradedToNode24Actions { get; set; }
+        public HashSet<string> Arm32Node20Actions { get; set; }
+        public IList<String> ActionsDependencies { get; set; }
     }
 }

src/Runner.Worker/Handlers/CompositeActionHandler.cs

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
@@ -226,6 +227,11 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
         {
             ArgUtil.NotNull(embeddedSteps, nameof(embeddedSteps));
 
+            bool emitCompositeMarkers =
+                (ExecutionContext.Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.EmitCompositeMarkers) ?? false)
+                || StringUtil.ConvertToBoolean(
+                    System.Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(Constants.Variables.Agent.EmitCompositeMarkers));
+
             foreach (IStep step in embeddedSteps)
             {
                 Trace.Info($"Processing embedded step: DisplayName='{step.DisplayName}'");
@@ -297,6 +303,27 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                     SetStepConclusion(step, TaskResult.Failed);
                 }
 
+                // Marker ID uses the step's fully qualified context name (ScopeName.ContextName),
+                // which encodes the full composite nesting chain at any depth.
+                var markerId = emitCompositeMarkers ? step.ExecutionContext.GetFullyQualifiedContextName() : null;
+                var stepStopwatch = default(Stopwatch);
+                var endMarkerEmitted = false;
+
+                // Emit start marker after full context setup so display name expressions resolve correctly
+                if (emitCompositeMarkers)
+                {
+                    try
+                    {
+                        step.EvaluateDisplayName(step.ExecutionContext.ExpressionValues, step.ExecutionContext, out _);
+                    }
+                    catch (Exception ex)
+                    {
+                        Trace.Warning("Caught exception while evaluating embedded step display name. {0}", ex);
+                    }
+                    ExecutionContext.Output($"##[start-action display={EscapeProperty(SanitizeDisplayName(step.DisplayName))};id={EscapeProperty(markerId)}]");
+                    stepStopwatch = Stopwatch.StartNew();
+                }
+
                 // Register Callback
                 CancellationTokenRegistration? jobCancelRegister = null;
                 try
@@ -381,6 +408,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                         // Condition is false
                         Trace.Info("Skipping step due to condition evaluation.");
                         SetStepConclusion(step, TaskResult.Skipped);
+
+                        if (emitCompositeMarkers)
+                        {
+                            stepStopwatch.Stop();
+                            ExecutionContext.Output($"##[end-action id={EscapeProperty(markerId)};outcome=skipped;conclusion=skipped;duration_ms=0]");
+                            endMarkerEmitted = true;
+                        }
+
                         continue;
                     }
                     else if (conditionEvaluateError != null)
@@ -389,13 +424,31 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                         step.ExecutionContext.Error(conditionEvaluateError);
                         SetStepConclusion(step, TaskResult.Failed);
                         ExecutionContext.Result = TaskResult.Failed;
+
+                        if (emitCompositeMarkers)
+                        {
+                            stepStopwatch.Stop();
+                            ExecutionContext.Output($"##[end-action id={EscapeProperty(markerId)};outcome=failure;conclusion=failure;duration_ms={stepStopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds}]");
+                            endMarkerEmitted = true;
+                        }
+
                         break;
                     }
                     else
                     {
                         await RunStepAsync(step);
-                    }
 
+                        if (emitCompositeMarkers)
+                        {
+                            stepStopwatch.Stop();
+                            // Outcome = raw result before continue-on-error (null when continue-on-error didn't fire)
+                            // Result = final result after continue-on-error
+                            var outcome = (step.ExecutionContext.Outcome ?? step.ExecutionContext.Result ?? TaskResult.Succeeded).ToActionResult().ToString().ToLowerInvariant();
+                            var conclusion = (step.ExecutionContext.Result ?? TaskResult.Succeeded).ToActionResult().ToString().ToLowerInvariant();
+                            ExecutionContext.Output($"##[end-action id={EscapeProperty(markerId)};outcome={outcome};conclusion={conclusion};duration_ms={stepStopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds}]");
+                            endMarkerEmitted = true;
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
                 finally
                 {
@@ -404,6 +457,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                         jobCancelRegister?.Dispose();
                         jobCancelRegister = null;
                     }
+
+                    if (emitCompositeMarkers && !endMarkerEmitted)
+                    {
+                        stepStopwatch.Stop();
+                        var outcome = (step.ExecutionContext.Outcome ?? step.ExecutionContext.Result ?? TaskResult.Failed).ToActionResult().ToString().ToLowerInvariant();
+                        var conclusion = (step.ExecutionContext.Result ?? TaskResult.Failed).ToActionResult().ToString().ToLowerInvariant();
+                        ExecutionContext.Output($"##[end-action id={EscapeProperty(markerId)};outcome={outcome};conclusion={conclusion};duration_ms={stepStopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds}]");
+                    }
                 }
                 // Check failed or cancelled
                 if (step.ExecutionContext.Result == TaskResult.Failed || step.ExecutionContext.Result == TaskResult.Canceled)
@@ -470,5 +531,44 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
             step.ExecutionContext.Result = result;
             step.ExecutionContext.UpdateGlobalStepsContext();
         }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Escapes marker property values so they cannot break the ##[command key=value] format.
+        /// Delegates to ActionCommand.EscapeValue which escapes `;`, `]`, `\r`, `\n`, and `%`.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string EscapeProperty(string value)
+        {
+            return ActionCommand.EscapeValue(value);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Maximum character length for display names in markers to prevent log bloat.</summary>
+        internal const int MaxDisplayNameLength = 1000;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Normalizes a step display name for safe embedding in a marker property.
+        /// Trims leading whitespace, drops everything after the first newline, and
+        /// truncates to <see cref="MaxDisplayNameLength"/> characters.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string SanitizeDisplayName(string displayName)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(displayName)) return displayName;
+
+            // Take first line only (FormatStepName in ActionRunner.cs already does this
+            // for most cases, but be defensive for any code path that skips it)
+            var result = displayName.TrimStart(' ', '\t', '\r', '\n');
+            var firstNewLine = result.IndexOfAny(new[] { '\r', '\n' });
+            if (firstNewLine >= 0)
+            {
+                result = result.Substring(0, firstNewLine);
+            }
+
+            // Truncate excessively long names
+            if (result.Length > MaxDisplayNameLength)
+            {
+                result = result.Substring(0, MaxDisplayNameLength);
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }
     }
 }

src/Runner.Worker/Handlers/ContainerActionHandler.cs

@@ -191,19 +191,13 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
             ArgUtil.Directory(tempWorkflowDirectory, nameof(tempWorkflowDirectory));
 
             container.MountVolumes.Add(new MountVolume("/var/run/docker.sock", "/var/run/docker.sock"));
-            if (FeatureManager.IsContainerActionRunnerTempEnabled(ExecutionContext.Global.Variables))
-            {
-                container.MountVolumes.Add(new MountVolume(tempDirectory, "/github/runner_temp"));
-            }
+            container.MountVolumes.Add(new MountVolume(tempDirectory, "/github/runner_temp"));
             container.MountVolumes.Add(new MountVolume(tempHomeDirectory, "/github/home"));
             container.MountVolumes.Add(new MountVolume(tempWorkflowDirectory, "/github/workflow"));
             container.MountVolumes.Add(new MountVolume(tempFileCommandDirectory, "/github/file_commands"));
             container.MountVolumes.Add(new MountVolume(defaultWorkingDirectory, "/github/workspace"));
 
-            if (FeatureManager.IsContainerActionRunnerTempEnabled(ExecutionContext.Global.Variables))
-            {
-                container.AddPathTranslateMapping(tempDirectory, "/github/runner_temp");
-            }
+            container.AddPathTranslateMapping(tempDirectory, "/github/runner_temp");
             container.AddPathTranslateMapping(tempHomeDirectory, "/github/home");
             container.AddPathTranslateMapping(tempWorkflowDirectory, "/github/workflow");
             container.AddPathTranslateMapping(tempFileCommandDirectory, "/github/file_commands");
@@ -245,6 +239,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                 Environment["ACTIONS_RESULTS_URL"] = resultsUrl;
             }
 
+            if (ExecutionContext.Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.SetOrchestrationIdEnvForActions) ?? false)
+            {
+                if (ExecutionContext.Global.Variables.TryGetValue(Constants.Variables.System.OrchestrationId, out var orchestrationId) && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(orchestrationId))
+                {
+                    Environment["ACTIONS_ORCHESTRATION_ID"] = orchestrationId;
+                }
+            }
+
             foreach (var variable in this.Environment)
             {
                 container.ContainerEnvironmentVariables[variable.Key] = container.TranslateToContainerPath(variable.Value);

src/Runner.Worker/Handlers/HandlerFactory.cs

@@ -25,6 +25,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
 
     public sealed class HandlerFactory : RunnerService, IHandlerFactory
     {
+        internal static bool ShouldTrackAsArm32Node20(bool deprecateArm32, string preferredNodeVersion, string finalNodeVersion, string platformWarningMessage)
+        {
+            return deprecateArm32 &&
+                !string.IsNullOrEmpty(platformWarningMessage) &&
+                string.Equals(preferredNodeVersion, Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node24, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) &&
+                string.Equals(finalNodeVersion, Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        }
+
         public IHandler Create(
             IExecutionContext executionContext,
             Pipelines.ActionStepDefinitionReference action,
@@ -65,6 +73,13 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                     nodeData.NodeVersion = Common.Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20;
                 }
 
+                // Read flags early; actionName is also resolved up front for tracking after version is determined
+                bool warnOnNode20 = executionContext.Global.Variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.WarnOnNode20Flag) ?? false;
+                bool deprecateArm32 = executionContext.Global.Variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.DeprecateLinuxArm32Flag) ?? false;
+                bool killArm32 = executionContext.Global.Variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.KillLinuxArm32Flag) ?? false;
+                string node20RemovalDate = executionContext.Global.Variables?.Get(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20RemovalDateVariable);
+                string actionName = GetActionName(action);
+
                 // Check if node20 was explicitly specified in the action
                 // We don't modify if node24 was explicitly specified
                 if (string.Equals(nodeData.NodeVersion, Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20, StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase))
@@ -73,7 +88,15 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                     bool requireNode24 = executionContext.Global.Variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.RequireNode24Flag) ?? false;
 
                     var (nodeVersion, configWarningMessage) = NodeUtil.DetermineActionsNodeVersion(environment, useNode24ByDefault, requireNode24);
-                    var (finalNodeVersion, platformWarningMessage) = NodeUtil.CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(nodeVersion);
+                    var (finalNodeVersion, platformWarningMessage) = NodeUtil.CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(nodeVersion, deprecateArm32, killArm32, node20RemovalDate);
+
+                    // ARM32 kill switch: fail the step
+                    if (finalNodeVersion == null)
+                    {
+                        executionContext.Error(platformWarningMessage);
+                        throw new InvalidOperationException(platformWarningMessage);
+                    }
+
                     nodeData.NodeVersion = finalNodeVersion;
 
                     if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(configWarningMessage))
@@ -86,14 +109,59 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                         executionContext.Warning(platformWarningMessage);
                     }
 
+                    // Track actions based on their final node version
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(actionName))
+                    {
+                        if (string.Equals(finalNodeVersion, Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node24, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                        {
+                            // Action was upgraded from node20 to node24
+                            executionContext.Global.UpgradedToNode24Actions?.Add(actionName);
+                        }
+                        else if (ShouldTrackAsArm32Node20(deprecateArm32, nodeVersion, finalNodeVersion, platformWarningMessage))
+                        {
+                            // Action is on node20 because ARM32 can't run node24
+                            executionContext.Global.Arm32Node20Actions?.Add(actionName);
+                        }
+                        else if (warnOnNode20)
+                        {
+                            // Action is still running on node20 (general case)
+                            executionContext.Global.DeprecatedNode20Actions?.Add(actionName);
+                        }
+                    }
+
                     // Show information about Node 24 migration in Phase 2
                     if (useNode24ByDefault && !requireNode24 && string.Equals(finalNodeVersion, Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node24, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
                     {
                         string infoMessage = "Node 20 is being deprecated. This workflow is running with Node 24 by default. " +
-                                             "If you need to temporarily use Node 20, you can set the ACTIONS_ALLOW_USE_UNSECURE_NODE_VERSION=true environment variable.";
+                                             "If you need to temporarily use Node 20, you can set the ACTIONS_ALLOW_USE_UNSECURE_NODE_VERSION=true environment variable. " +
+                                             $"For more information see: {Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20DeprecationUrl}";
                         executionContext.Output(infoMessage);
                     }
                 }
+                else if (string.Equals(nodeData.NodeVersion, Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node24, StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase))
+                {
+                    var (finalNodeVersion, platformWarningMessage) = NodeUtil.CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(nodeData.NodeVersion, deprecateArm32, killArm32, node20RemovalDate);
+
+                    // ARM32 kill switch: fail the step
+                    if (finalNodeVersion == null)
+                    {
+                        executionContext.Error(platformWarningMessage);
+                        throw new InvalidOperationException(platformWarningMessage);
+                    }
+
+                    var preferredVersion = nodeData.NodeVersion;
+                    nodeData.NodeVersion = finalNodeVersion;
+
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(platformWarningMessage))
+                    {
+                        executionContext.Warning(platformWarningMessage);
+                    }
+
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(actionName) && ShouldTrackAsArm32Node20(deprecateArm32, preferredVersion, finalNodeVersion, platformWarningMessage))
+                    {
+                        executionContext.Global.Arm32Node20Actions?.Add(actionName);
+                    }
+                }
 
                 (handler as INodeScriptActionHandler).Data = nodeData;
             }
@@ -129,5 +197,25 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
             handler.LocalActionContainerSetupSteps = localActionContainerSetupSteps;
             return handler;
         }
+
+        private static string GetActionName(Pipelines.ActionStepDefinitionReference action)
+        {
+            if (action is Pipelines.RepositoryPathReference repoRef)
+            {
+                var pathString = string.Empty;
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(repoRef.Path))
+                {
+                    pathString = string.IsNullOrEmpty(repoRef.Name)
+                        ? repoRef.Path
+                        : $"/{repoRef.Path}";
+                }
+                var repoString = string.IsNullOrEmpty(repoRef.Ref)
+                    ? $"{repoRef.Name}{pathString}"
+                    : $"{repoRef.Name}{pathString}@{repoRef.Ref}";
+                return string.IsNullOrEmpty(repoString) ? null : repoString;
+            }
+
+            return null;
+        }
     }
 }

src/Runner.Worker/Handlers/NodeScriptActionHandler.cs

@@ -77,6 +77,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                 Environment["ACTIONS_CACHE_SERVICE_V2"] = bool.TrueString;
             }
 
+            if (ExecutionContext.Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.SetOrchestrationIdEnvForActions) ?? false)
+            {
+                if (ExecutionContext.Global.Variables.TryGetValue(Constants.Variables.System.OrchestrationId, out var orchestrationId) && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(orchestrationId))
+                {
+                    Environment["ACTIONS_ORCHESTRATION_ID"] = orchestrationId;
+                }
+            }
+
             // Resolve the target script.
             string target = null;
             if (stage == ActionRunStage.Main)

src/Runner.Worker/Handlers/OutputManager.cs

@@ -90,6 +90,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                 }
             }
 
+            // Strip runner-controlled markers from user output to prevent injection
+            if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(line) &&
+                (line.Contains("##[start-action") || line.Contains("##[end-action")))
+            {
+                line = line.Replace("##[start-action", @"##[\start-action")
+                           .Replace("##[end-action", @"##[\end-action");
+            }
+
             // Problem matchers
             if (_matchers.Length > 0)
             {

src/Runner.Worker/Handlers/ScriptHandler.cs

@@ -318,6 +318,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
                 Environment["ACTIONS_ID_TOKEN_REQUEST_TOKEN"] = systemConnection.Authorization.Parameters[EndpointAuthorizationParameters.AccessToken];
             }
 
+            if (ExecutionContext.Global.Variables.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.Features.SetOrchestrationIdEnvForActions) ?? false)
+            {
+                if (ExecutionContext.Global.Variables.TryGetValue(Constants.Variables.System.OrchestrationId, out var orchestrationId) && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(orchestrationId))
+                {
+                    Environment["ACTIONS_ORCHESTRATION_ID"] = orchestrationId;
+                }
+            }
+
             ExecutionContext.Debug($"{fileName} {arguments}");
 
             Inputs.TryGetValue("standardInInput", out var standardInInput);

src/Runner.Worker/Handlers/StepHost.cs

@@ -58,13 +58,23 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
 
         public Task<string> DetermineNodeRuntimeVersion(IExecutionContext executionContext, string preferredVersion)
         {
-            // Use NodeUtil to check if Node24 is requested but we're on ARM32 Linux
-            var (nodeVersion, warningMessage) = Common.Util.NodeUtil.CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(preferredVersion);
+            bool deprecateArm32 = executionContext.Global.Variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.DeprecateLinuxArm32Flag) ?? false;
+            bool killArm32 = executionContext.Global.Variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.KillLinuxArm32Flag) ?? false;
+            string node20RemovalDate = executionContext.Global.Variables?.Get(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20RemovalDateVariable);
+
+            var (nodeVersion, warningMessage) = Common.Util.NodeUtil.CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(preferredVersion, deprecateArm32, killArm32, node20RemovalDate);
+
+            if (nodeVersion == null)
+            {
+                executionContext.Error(warningMessage);
+                throw new InvalidOperationException(warningMessage);
+            }
+
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(warningMessage))
             {
                 executionContext.Warning(warningMessage);
             }
-            
+
             return Task.FromResult(nodeVersion);
         }
 
@@ -142,8 +152,18 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
 
         public async Task<string> DetermineNodeRuntimeVersion(IExecutionContext executionContext, string preferredVersion)
         {
-            // Use NodeUtil to check if Node24 is requested but we're on ARM32 Linux
-            var (nodeExternal, warningMessage) = Common.Util.NodeUtil.CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(preferredVersion);
+            bool deprecateArm32 = executionContext.Global.Variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.DeprecateLinuxArm32Flag) ?? false;
+            bool killArm32 = executionContext.Global.Variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.KillLinuxArm32Flag) ?? false;
+            string node20RemovalDate = executionContext.Global.Variables?.Get(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20RemovalDateVariable);
+
+            var (nodeExternal, warningMessage) = Common.Util.NodeUtil.CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(preferredVersion, deprecateArm32, killArm32, node20RemovalDate);
+
+            if (nodeExternal == null)
+            {
+                executionContext.Error(warningMessage);
+                throw new InvalidOperationException(warningMessage);
+            }
+
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(warningMessage))
             {
                 executionContext.Warning(warningMessage);
@@ -273,8 +293,18 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker.Handlers
 
         private string CheckPlatformForAlpineContainer(IExecutionContext executionContext, string preferredVersion)
         {
-            // Use NodeUtil to check if Node24 is requested but we're on ARM32 Linux
-            var (nodeExternal, warningMessage) = Common.Util.NodeUtil.CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(preferredVersion);
+            bool deprecateArm32 = executionContext.Global.Variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.DeprecateLinuxArm32Flag) ?? false;
+            bool killArm32 = executionContext.Global.Variables?.GetBoolean(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.KillLinuxArm32Flag) ?? false;
+            string node20RemovalDate = executionContext.Global.Variables?.Get(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20RemovalDateVariable);
+
+            var (nodeExternal, warningMessage) = Common.Util.NodeUtil.CheckNodeVersionForLinuxArm32(preferredVersion, deprecateArm32, killArm32, node20RemovalDate);
+
+            if (nodeExternal == null)
+            {
+                executionContext.Error(warningMessage);
+                throw new InvalidOperationException(warningMessage);
+            }
+
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(warningMessage))
             {
                 executionContext.Warning(warningMessage);

src/Runner.Worker/InternalsVisibleTo.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
+
+[assembly: InternalsVisibleTo("Test")]
+[assembly: InternalsVisibleTo("DynamicProxyGenAssembly2")]

src/Runner.Worker/JobContext.cs

@@ -82,5 +82,69 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 }
             }
         }
+
+        public string WorkflowRef
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                if (this.TryGetValue("workflow_ref", out var value) && value is StringContextData str)
+                {
+                    return str.Value;
+                }
+                return null;
+            }
+            set
+            {
+                this["workflow_ref"] = value != null ? new StringContextData(value) : null;
+            }
+        }
+
+        public string WorkflowSha
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                if (this.TryGetValue("workflow_sha", out var value) && value is StringContextData str)
+                {
+                    return str.Value;
+                }
+                return null;
+            }
+            set
+            {
+                this["workflow_sha"] = value != null ? new StringContextData(value) : null;
+            }
+        }
+
+        public string WorkflowRepository
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                if (this.TryGetValue("workflow_repository", out var value) && value is StringContextData str)
+                {
+                    return str.Value;
+                }
+                return null;
+            }
+            set
+            {
+                this["workflow_repository"] = value != null ? new StringContextData(value) : null;
+            }
+        }
+
+        public string WorkflowFilePath
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                if (this.TryGetValue("workflow_file_path", out var value) && value is StringContextData str)
+                {
+                    return str.Value;
+                }
+                return null;
+            }
+            set
+            {
+                this["workflow_file_path"] = value != null ? new StringContextData(value) : null;
+            }
+        }
     }
 }

src/Runner.Worker/JobExtension.cs

@@ -112,6 +112,13 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                                             groupName = "Machine Setup Info";
                                         }
 
+                                        // not output internal groups
+                                        if (groupName.StartsWith("_internal_", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                                        {
+                                            jobContext.Global.JobTelemetry.Add(new JobTelemetry() { Type = JobTelemetryType.General, Message = info.Detail });
+                                            continue;
+                                        }
+
                                         context.Output($"##[group]{groupName}");
                                         var multiLines = info.Detail.Replace("\r\n", "\n").TrimEnd('\n').Split('\n');
                                         foreach (var line in multiLines)
@@ -728,6 +735,39 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                             context.Global.JobTelemetry.Add(new JobTelemetry() { Type = JobTelemetryType.ConnectivityCheck, Message = $"Fail to check service connectivity. {ex.Message}" });
                         }
                     }
+
+                    // Read dates from server variables with hardcoded fallbacks
+                    var node24DefaultDateRaw = context.Global.Variables?.Get(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node24DefaultDateVariable);
+                    var node24DefaultDate = string.IsNullOrEmpty(node24DefaultDateRaw) ? Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node24DefaultDate : node24DefaultDateRaw;
+                    var node20RemovalDateRaw = context.Global.Variables?.Get(Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20RemovalDateVariable);
+                    var node20RemovalDate = string.IsNullOrEmpty(node20RemovalDateRaw) ? Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20RemovalDate : node20RemovalDateRaw;
+
+                    // Add deprecation warning annotation for Node.js 20 actions (Phase 1 - actions still running on node20)
+                    if (context.Global.DeprecatedNode20Actions?.Count > 0)
+                    {
+                        var sortedActions = context.Global.DeprecatedNode20Actions.OrderBy(a => a, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+                        var actionsList = string.Join(", ", sortedActions);
+                        var deprecationMessage = $"Node.js 20 actions are deprecated. The following actions are running on Node.js 20 and may not work as expected: {actionsList}. Actions will be forced to run with Node.js 24 by default starting {node24DefaultDate}. Node.js 20 will be removed from the runner on {node20RemovalDate}. Please check if updated versions of these actions are available that support Node.js 24. To opt into Node.js 24 now, set the FORCE_JAVASCRIPT_ACTIONS_TO_NODE24=true environment variable on the runner or in your workflow file. Once Node.js 24 becomes the default, you can temporarily opt out by setting ACTIONS_ALLOW_USE_UNSECURE_NODE_VERSION=true. For more information see: {Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20DeprecationUrl}";
+                        context.Warning(deprecationMessage);
+                    }
+
+                    // Add annotation for actions upgraded from Node.js 20 to Node.js 24 (Phase 2/3)
+                    if (context.Global.UpgradedToNode24Actions?.Count > 0)
+                    {
+                        var sortedActions = context.Global.UpgradedToNode24Actions.OrderBy(a => a, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+                        var actionsList = string.Join(", ", sortedActions);
+                        var upgradeMessage = $"Node.js 20 is deprecated. The following actions target Node.js 20 but are being forced to run on Node.js 24: {actionsList}. For more information see: {Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20DeprecationUrl}";
+                        context.Warning(upgradeMessage);
+                    }
+
+                    // Add annotation for ARM32 actions stuck on Node.js 20 (ARM32 can't run node24)
+                    if (context.Global.Arm32Node20Actions?.Count > 0)
+                    {
+                        var sortedActions = context.Global.Arm32Node20Actions.OrderBy(a => a, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+                        var actionsList = string.Join(", ", sortedActions);
+                        var arm32Message = $"The following actions are running on Node.js 20 because Node.js 24 is not available on Linux ARM32: {actionsList}. Linux ARM32 runners are deprecated and will no longer be supported after {node20RemovalDate}. Please migrate to a supported platform. For more information see: {Constants.Runner.NodeMigration.Node20DeprecationUrl}";
+                        context.Warning(arm32Message);
+                    }
                 }
                 catch (Exception ex)
                 {

src/Runner.Worker/JobRunner.cs

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ using GitHub.DistributedTask.WebApi;
 using GitHub.Runner.Common;
 using GitHub.Runner.Common.Util;
 using GitHub.Runner.Sdk;
+using GitHub.Runner.Worker.Dap;
 using GitHub.Services.Common;
 using GitHub.Services.WebApi;
 using Sdk.RSWebApi.Contracts;
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
 
     public sealed class JobRunner : RunnerService, IJobRunner
     {
+        private const string DebuggerConnectionTelemetryPrefix = "DebuggerConnectionResult";
         private IJobServerQueue _jobServerQueue;
         private RunnerSettings _runnerSettings;
         private ITempDirectoryManager _tempDirectoryManager;
@@ -112,6 +114,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
 
             IExecutionContext jobContext = null;
             CancellationTokenRegistration? runnerShutdownRegistration = null;
+            IDapDebugger dapDebugger = null;
             try
             {
                 // Create the job execution context.
@@ -178,6 +181,26 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 _tempDirectoryManager = HostContext.GetService<ITempDirectoryManager>();
                 _tempDirectoryManager.InitializeTempDirectory(jobContext);
 
+                // Setup the debugger
+                if (jobContext.Global.Debugger?.Enabled == true)
+                {
+                    Trace.Info("Debugger enabled for this job run");
+
+                    try
+                    {
+                        dapDebugger = HostContext.GetService<IDapDebugger>();
+                        await dapDebugger.StartAsync(jobContext);
+                    }
+                    catch (Exception ex)
+                    {
+                        Trace.Error($"Failed to start DAP debugger: {ex.Message}");
+                        AddDebuggerConnectionTelemetry(jobContext, $"Failed: {ex.Message}");
+                        jobContext.Error("Failed to start debugger.");
+                        return await CompleteJobAsync(server, jobContext, message, TaskResult.Failed);
+                    }
+                }
+
+
                 // Get the job extension.
                 Trace.Info("Getting job extension.");
                 IJobExtension jobExtension = HostContext.CreateService<IJobExtension>();
@@ -219,6 +242,33 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                     await Task.WhenAny(_jobServerQueue.JobRecordUpdated.Task, Task.Delay(1000));
                 }
 
+                // Wait for DAP debugger client connection and handshake after "Set up job"
+                // so the job page shows the setup step before we block on the debugger
+                if (dapDebugger != null)
+                {
+                    try
+                    {
+                        await dapDebugger.WaitUntilReadyAsync();
+                        AddDebuggerConnectionTelemetry(jobContext, "Connected");
+                    }
+                    catch (OperationCanceledException) when (jobRequestCancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+                    {
+                        Trace.Info("Job was cancelled before debugger client connected.");
+                        AddDebuggerConnectionTelemetry(jobContext, "Canceled");
+                        jobContext.Error("Job was cancelled before debugger client connected.");
+                        return await CompleteJobAsync(server, jobContext, message, TaskResult.Canceled);
+                    }
+                    catch (Exception ex)
+                    {
+                        Trace.Error($"DAP debugger failed to become ready: {ex.Message}");
+                        AddDebuggerConnectionTelemetry(jobContext, $"Failed: {ex.Message}");
+
+                        // If debugging was requested but the debugger is not available, fail the job
+                        jobContext.Error("The debugger failed to start or no debugger client connected in time.");
+                        return await CompleteJobAsync(server, jobContext, message, TaskResult.Failed);
+                    }
+                }
+
                 // Run all job steps
                 Trace.Info("Run all job steps.");
                 var stepsRunner = HostContext.GetService<IStepsRunner>();
@@ -259,6 +309,11 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                     runnerShutdownRegistration = null;
                 }
 
+                if (dapDebugger != null)
+                {
+                    await dapDebugger.OnJobCompletedAsync();
+                }
+
                 await ShutdownQueue(throwOnFailure: false);
             }
         }
@@ -440,6 +495,15 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             throw new AggregateException(exceptions);
         }
 
+        private static void AddDebuggerConnectionTelemetry(IExecutionContext jobContext, string result)
+        {
+            jobContext.Global.JobTelemetry.Add(new JobTelemetry
+            {
+                Type = JobTelemetryType.General,
+                Message = $"{DebuggerConnectionTelemetryPrefix}: {result}"
+            });
+        }
+
         private void MaskTelemetrySecrets(List<JobTelemetry> jobTelemetry)
         {
             foreach (var telemetryItem in jobTelemetry)

src/Runner.Worker/PipelineTemplateEvaluatorWrapper.cs

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-using System;
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Threading;
 using GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser;
 using GitHub.DistributedTask.Expressions2;
 using GitHub.DistributedTask.ObjectTemplating.Tokens;
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
         public PipelineTemplateEvaluatorWrapper(
             IHostContext hostContext,
             IExecutionContext context,
+            bool allowServiceContainerCommand,
             ObjectTemplating.ITraceWriter traceWriter = null)
         {
             ArgUtil.NotNull(hostContext, nameof(hostContext));
@@ -40,11 +42,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             _legacyEvaluator = new PipelineTemplateEvaluator(traceWriter, schema, context.Global.FileTable)
             {
                 MaxErrorMessageLength = int.MaxValue, // Don't truncate error messages otherwise we might not scrub secrets correctly
+                AllowServiceContainerCommand = allowServiceContainerCommand,
             };
 
             // New evaluator
             var newTraceWriter = new GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.ObjectTemplating.EmptyTraceWriter();
-            _newEvaluator = new WorkflowTemplateEvaluator(newTraceWriter, context.Global.FileTable, features: null)
+            var features = WorkflowFeatures.GetDefaults();
+            features.AllowServiceContainerCommand = allowServiceContainerCommand;
+            _newEvaluator = new WorkflowTemplateEvaluator(newTraceWriter, context.Global.FileTable, features)
             {
                 MaxErrorMessageLength = int.MaxValue, // Don't truncate error messages otherwise we might not scrub secrets correctly
             };
@@ -216,12 +221,19 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             }
         }
 
-        private TLegacy EvaluateAndCompare<TLegacy, TNew>(
+        internal TLegacy EvaluateAndCompare<TLegacy, TNew>(
             string methodName,
             Func<TLegacy> legacyEvaluator,
             Func<TNew> newEvaluator,
             Func<TLegacy, TNew, bool> resultComparer)
         {
+            // Use the root (job-level) cancellation token to detect cancellation race conditions.
+            // The step-level token only fires on step timeout, not on job cancellation.
+            // Job cancellation mutates JobContext.Status which expression functions read,
+            // so we need the root token to properly detect cancellation between evaluator runs.
+            var rootCancellationToken = _context.Root?.CancellationToken ?? CancellationToken.None;
+            var cancellationRequestedBefore = rootCancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested;
+
             // Legacy evaluator
             var legacyException = default(Exception);
             var legacyResult = default(TLegacy);
@@ -253,14 +265,18 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                     newException = ex;
                 }
 
+                // Capture cancellation state after evaluation
+                var cancellationRequestedAfter = rootCancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested;
+
                 // Compare results or exceptions
+                bool hasMismatch = false;
                 if (legacyException != null || newException != null)
                 {
                     // Either one or both threw exceptions - compare them
                     if (!CompareExceptions(legacyException, newException))
                     {
                         _trace.Info($"{methodName} exception mismatch");
-                        RecordMismatch($"{methodName}");
+                        hasMismatch = true;
                     }
                 }
                 else
@@ -269,6 +285,20 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                     if (!resultComparer(legacyResult, newResult))
                     {
                         _trace.Info($"{methodName} mismatch");
+                        hasMismatch = true;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Only record mismatch if it wasn't caused by a cancellation race condition
+                if (hasMismatch)
+                {
+                    if (!cancellationRequestedBefore && cancellationRequestedAfter)
+                    {
+                        // Cancellation state changed during evaluation window - skip recording
+                        _trace.Info($"{methodName} mismatch skipped due to cancellation race condition");
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
                         RecordMismatch($"{methodName}");
                     }
                 }
@@ -380,6 +410,18 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 return false;
             }
 
+            if (!string.Equals(legacyResult.Entrypoint, newResult.Entrypoint, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+            {
+                _trace.Info($"CompareJobContainer mismatch - Entrypoint differs (legacy='{legacyResult.Entrypoint}', new='{newResult.Entrypoint}')");
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            if (!string.Equals(legacyResult.Command, newResult.Command, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+            {
+                _trace.Info($"CompareJobContainer mismatch - Command differs (legacy='{legacyResult.Command}', new='{newResult.Command}')");
+                return false;
+            }
+
             if (!CompareDictionaries(legacyResult.Environment, newResult.Environment, "Environment"))
             {
                 return false;
@@ -612,6 +654,13 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                 return false;
             }
 
+            // Check for known equivalent error patterns (e.g., JSON parse errors)
+            // where both parsers correctly reject invalid input but with different wording
+            if (IsKnownEquivalentErrorPattern(legacyException, newException))
+            {
+                return true;
+            }
+
             // Compare exception messages recursively (including inner exceptions)
             var legacyMessages = GetExceptionMessages(legacyException);
             var newMessages = GetExceptionMessages(newException);
@@ -634,6 +683,67 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             return true;
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Checks if two exceptions match a known pattern where both parsers correctly reject
+        /// invalid input but with different error messages (e.g., JSON parse errors from fromJSON).
+        /// </summary>
+        private bool IsKnownEquivalentErrorPattern(Exception legacyException, Exception newException)
+        {
+            // fromJSON('') - both parsers fail when parsing empty string as JSON
+            // The error messages differ but both indicate JSON parsing failure.
+            // Legacy throws raw JsonReaderException: "Error reading JToken from JsonReader..."
+            // New wraps it: "Error parsing fromJson" with inner JsonReaderException
+            // Both may be wrapped in TemplateValidationException: "The template is not valid..."
+            if (HasJsonExceptionType(legacyException) && HasJsonExceptionType(newException))
+            {
+                _trace.Info("CompareExceptions - both exceptions are JSON parse errors, treating as matched");
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Checks if the exception chain contains a JSON-related exception type.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static bool HasJsonExceptionType(Exception ex)
+        {
+            var toProcess = new Queue<Exception>();
+            toProcess.Enqueue(ex);
+            int count = 0;
+
+            while (toProcess.Count > 0 && count < 50)
+            {
+                var current = toProcess.Dequeue();
+                if (current == null) continue;
+
+                count++;
+
+                if (current is Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReaderException ||
+                    current is System.Text.Json.JsonException)
+                {
+                    return true;
+                }
+
+                if (current is AggregateException aggregateEx)
+                {
+                    foreach (var innerEx in aggregateEx.InnerExceptions)
+                    {
+                        if (innerEx != null && count < 50)
+                        {
+                            toProcess.Enqueue(innerEx);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+                else if (current.InnerException != null)
+                {
+                    toProcess.Enqueue(current.InnerException);
+                }
+            }
+
+            return false;
+        }
+
         private IList<string> GetExceptionMessages(Exception ex)
         {
             var messages = new List<string>();

src/Runner.Worker/Runner.Worker.csproj

@@ -19,10 +19,11 @@
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.ProtectedData" Version="8.0.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="System.ServiceProcess.ServiceController" Version="8.0.1" />
-    <PackageReference Include="System.Threading.Channels" Version="8.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.ProtectedData" Version="10.0.3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.ServiceProcess.ServiceController" Version="10.0.3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Threading.Channels" Version="10.0.3" />
     <PackageReference Include="YamlDotNet.Signed" Version="5.3.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.DevTunnels.Connections" Version="1.3.39" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>

src/Runner.Worker/StepsRunner.cs

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ using GitHub.DistributedTask.WebApi;
 using GitHub.Runner.Common;
 using GitHub.Runner.Common.Util;
 using GitHub.Runner.Sdk;
+using GitHub.Runner.Worker.Dap;
 using GitHub.Runner.Worker.Expressions;
 
 namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
             jobContext.JobContext.Status = (jobContext.Result ?? TaskResult.Succeeded).ToActionResult();
             var scopeInputs = new Dictionary<string, PipelineContextData>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
             bool checkPostJobActions = false;
+            var dapDebugger = HostContext.GetService<IDapDebugger>();
             while (jobContext.JobSteps.Count > 0 || !checkPostJobActions)
             {
                 if (jobContext.JobSteps.Count == 0 && !checkPostJobActions)
@@ -226,9 +228,14 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
                         }
                         else
                         {
+                            // Pause for DAP debugger before step execution
+                            await dapDebugger?.OnStepStartingAsync(step);
+
                             // Run the step
                             await RunStepAsync(step, jobContext.CancellationToken);
                             CompleteStep(step);
+
+                            dapDebugger?.OnStepCompleted(step);
                         }
                     }
                     finally
@@ -255,6 +262,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Runner.Worker
 
                 Trace.Info($"Current state: job state = '{jobContext.Result}'");
             }
+
         }
 
         private async Task RunStepAsync(IStep step, CancellationToken jobCancellationToken)

src/Sdk/DTExpressions2/Expressions2/ExpressionConstants.cs

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Expressions2
     {
         static ExpressionConstants()
         {
+            AddFunction<Case>("case", 3, Byte.MaxValue);
             AddFunction<Contains>("contains", 2, 2);
             AddFunction<EndsWith>("endsWith", 2, 2);
             AddFunction<Format>("format", 1, Byte.MaxValue);

src/Sdk/DTExpressions2/Expressions2/ExpressionParser.cs

@@ -349,6 +349,10 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Expressions2
             {
                 throw new ParseException(ParseExceptionKind.TooManyParameters, token: @operator, expression: context.Expression);
             }
+            else if (functionInfo.Name.Equals("case", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) && function.Parameters.Count % 2 == 0)
+            {
+                throw new ParseException(ParseExceptionKind.EvenParameters, token: @operator, expression: context.Expression);
+            }
         }
 
         /// <summary>

src/Sdk/DTExpressions2/Expressions2/ParseException.cs

@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Expressions2
                 case ParseExceptionKind.TooManyParameters:
                     description = "Too many parameters supplied";
                     break;
+                case ParseExceptionKind.EvenParameters:
+                    description = "Even number of parameters supplied, requires an odd number of parameters";
+                    break;
                 case ParseExceptionKind.UnexpectedEndOfExpression:
                     description = "Unexpected end of expression";
                     break;

src/Sdk/DTExpressions2/Expressions2/ParseExceptionKind.cs

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
         ExceededMaxLength,
         TooFewParameters,
         TooManyParameters,
+        EvenParameters,
         UnexpectedEndOfExpression,
         UnexpectedSymbol,
         UnrecognizedFunction,

src/Sdk/DTExpressions2/Expressions2/Sdk/Functions/Case.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#nullable disable // Consider removing in the future to minimize likelihood of NullReferenceException; refer https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/nullable-references
+
+using System;
+using GitHub.Actions.Expressions.Data;
+
+namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Expressions2.Sdk.Functions
+{
+    internal sealed class Case : Function
+    {
+        protected sealed override Object EvaluateCore(
+            EvaluationContext context,
+            out ResultMemory resultMemory)
+        {
+            resultMemory = null;
+            // Validate argument count - must be odd (pairs of predicate-result plus default)
+            if (Parameters.Count % 2 == 0)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("case requires an odd number of arguments");
+            }
+
+            // Evaluate predicate-result pairs
+            for (var i = 0; i < Parameters.Count - 1; i += 2)
+            {
+                var predicate = Parameters[i].Evaluate(context);
+
+                // Predicate must be a boolean
+                if (predicate.Kind != ValueKind.Boolean)
+                {
+                    throw new InvalidOperationException("case predicate must evaluate to a boolean value");
+                }
+
+                // If predicate is true, return the corresponding result
+                if ((Boolean)predicate.Value)
+                {
+                    var result = Parameters[i + 1].Evaluate(context);
+                    return result.Value;
+                }
+            }
+
+            // No predicate matched, return default (last argument)
+            var defaultResult = Parameters[Parameters.Count - 1].Evaluate(context);
+            return defaultResult.Value;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/Sdk/DTPipelines/Pipelines/AgentJobRequestMessage.cs

@@ -253,6 +253,35 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines
             set;
         }
 
+        [DataMember(EmitDefaultValue = false)]
+        public bool EnableDebugger
+        {
+            get;
+            set;
+        }
+
+        [DataMember(EmitDefaultValue = false)]
+        public DebuggerTunnelInfo DebuggerTunnel
+        {
+            get;
+            set;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the workflow-level action dependencies (lockfile entries)
+        /// </summary>
+        public IList<String> ActionsDependencies
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                if (m_actionsDependencies == null)
+                {
+                    m_actionsDependencies = new List<String>();
+                }
+                return m_actionsDependencies;
+            }
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets the collection of variables associated with the current context.
         /// </summary>
@@ -427,6 +456,11 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines
                 m_variables = null;
             }
 
+            if (m_actionsDependencies?.Count == 0)
+            {
+                m_actionsDependencies = null;
+            }
+
             // todo: remove after feature-flag DistributedTask.EvaluateContainerOnRunner is enabled everywhere
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(m_jobContainerResourceAlias))
             {
@@ -452,6 +486,9 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines
         [DataMember(Name = "Variables", EmitDefaultValue = false)]
         private IDictionary<String, VariableValue> m_variables;
 
+        [DataMember(Name = "dependencies", EmitDefaultValue = false)]
+        private List<String> m_actionsDependencies;
+
         // todo: remove after feature-flag DistributedTask.EvaluateContainerOnRunner is enabled everywhere
         [DataMember(Name = "JobSidecarContainers", EmitDefaultValue = false)]
         private IDictionary<String, String> m_jobSidecarContainers;

src/Sdk/DTPipelines/Pipelines/DebuggerTunnelInfo.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+using System.Runtime.Serialization;
+
+namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Dev Tunnel information the runner needs to host the debugger tunnel.
+    /// Matches the run-service <c>DebuggerTunnel</c> contract.
+    /// </summary>
+    [DataContract]
+    public sealed class DebuggerTunnelInfo
+    {
+        [DataMember(EmitDefaultValue = false)]
+        public string TunnelId { get; set; }
+
+        [DataMember(EmitDefaultValue = false)]
+        public string ClusterId { get; set; }
+
+        [DataMember(EmitDefaultValue = false)]
+        public string HostToken { get; set; }
+
+        [DataMember(EmitDefaultValue = false)]
+        public ushort Port { get; set; }
+    }
+}

src/Sdk/DTPipelines/Pipelines/JobContainer.cs

@@ -39,6 +39,24 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines
             set;
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets the container entrypoint override.
+        /// </summary>
+        public String Entrypoint
+        {
+            get;
+            set;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets the container command and args (after the image name).
+        /// </summary>
+        public String Command
+        {
+            get;
+            set;
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets or sets the volumes which are mounted into the container.
         /// </summary>

src/Sdk/DTPipelines/Pipelines/ObjectTemplating/PipelineTemplateConstants.cs

@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ObjectTemplating
         public const String NumberStrategyContext = "number-strategy-context";
         public const String On = "on";
         public const String Options = "options";
+        public const String Entrypoint = "entrypoint";
+        public const String Command = "command";
         public const String Outputs = "outputs";
         public const String OutputsPattern = "needs.*.outputs";
         public const String Password = "password";

src/Sdk/DTPipelines/Pipelines/ObjectTemplating/PipelineTemplateConverter.cs

@@ -237,7 +237,8 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ObjectTemplating
         internal static JobContainer ConvertToJobContainer(
             TemplateContext context,
             TemplateToken value,
-            bool allowExpressions = false)
+            bool allowExpressions = false,
+            bool allowServiceContainerCommand = false)
         {
             var result = new JobContainer();
             if (allowExpressions && value.Traverse().Any(x => x is ExpressionToken))
@@ -280,6 +281,22 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ObjectTemplating
                         case PipelineTemplateConstants.Options:
                             result.Options = containerPropertyPair.Value.AssertString($"{PipelineTemplateConstants.Container} {propertyName}").Value;
                             break;
+                        case PipelineTemplateConstants.Entrypoint:
+                            if (!allowServiceContainerCommand)
+                            {
+                                context.Error(containerPropertyPair.Key, $"The key '{PipelineTemplateConstants.Entrypoint}' is not allowed");
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            result.Entrypoint = containerPropertyPair.Value.AssertString($"{PipelineTemplateConstants.Container} {propertyName}").Value;
+                            break;
+                        case PipelineTemplateConstants.Command:
+                            if (!allowServiceContainerCommand)
+                            {
+                                context.Error(containerPropertyPair.Key, $"The key '{PipelineTemplateConstants.Command}' is not allowed");
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            result.Command = containerPropertyPair.Value.AssertString($"{PipelineTemplateConstants.Container} {propertyName}").Value;
+                            break;
                         case PipelineTemplateConstants.Ports:
                             var ports = containerPropertyPair.Value.AssertSequence($"{PipelineTemplateConstants.Container} {propertyName}");
                             var portList = new List<String>(ports.Count);
@@ -326,7 +343,8 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ObjectTemplating
         internal static List<KeyValuePair<String, JobContainer>> ConvertToJobServiceContainers(
             TemplateContext context,
             TemplateToken services,
-            bool allowExpressions = false)
+            bool allowExpressions = false,
+            bool allowServiceContainerCommand = false)
         {
             var result = new List<KeyValuePair<String, JobContainer>>();
 
@@ -340,7 +358,7 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ObjectTemplating
             foreach (var servicePair in servicesMapping)
             {
                 var networkAlias = servicePair.Key.AssertString("services key").Value;
-                var container = ConvertToJobContainer(context, servicePair.Value);
+                var container = ConvertToJobContainer(context, servicePair.Value, allowExpressions, allowServiceContainerCommand);
                 result.Add(new KeyValuePair<String, JobContainer>(networkAlias, container));
             }
 

src/Sdk/DTPipelines/Pipelines/ObjectTemplating/PipelineTemplateEvaluator.cs

@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ObjectTemplating
 
         public Int32 MaxResultSize { get; set; } = 10 * 1024 * 1024; // 10 mb
 
+        public bool AllowServiceContainerCommand { get; set; }
+
         public Boolean EvaluateStepContinueOnError(
             TemplateToken token,
             DictionaryContextData contextData,
@@ -357,7 +359,7 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.Pipelines.ObjectTemplating
                 {
                     token = TemplateEvaluator.Evaluate(context, PipelineTemplateConstants.Services, token, 0, null, omitHeader: true);
                     context.Errors.Check();
-                    result = PipelineTemplateConverter.ConvertToJobServiceContainers(context, token);
+                    result = PipelineTemplateConverter.ConvertToJobServiceContainers(context, token, allowServiceContainerCommand: AllowServiceContainerCommand);
                 }
                 catch (Exception ex) when (!(ex is TemplateValidationException))
                 {

src/Sdk/DTPipelines/workflow-v1.0.json

@@ -421,7 +421,22 @@
       "mapping": {
         "properties": {
           "image": "string",
-          "options": "non-empty-string",
+          "options": "string",
+          "env": "container-env",
+          "ports": "sequence-of-non-empty-string",
+          "volumes": "sequence-of-non-empty-string",
+          "credentials": "container-registry-credentials"
+        }
+      }
+    },
+
+    "service-container-mapping": {
+      "mapping": {
+        "properties": {
+          "image": "string",
+          "options": "string",
+          "entrypoint": "string",
+          "command": "string",
           "env": "container-env",
           "ports": "sequence-of-non-empty-string",
           "volumes": "sequence-of-non-empty-string",
@@ -454,7 +469,7 @@
       ],
       "one-of": [
         "string",
-        "container-mapping"
+        "service-container-mapping"
       ]
     },
 

src/Sdk/DTWebApi/WebApi/ActionReferenceList.cs

@@ -12,5 +12,12 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.WebApi
             get;
             set;
         }
+
+        [DataMember(EmitDefaultValue = false)]
+        public IList<string> Dependencies
+        {
+            get;
+            set;
+        }
     }
 }

src/Sdk/DTWebApi/WebApi/Exceptions.cs

@@ -2556,6 +2556,25 @@ namespace GitHub.DistributedTask.WebApi
         }
     }
 
+    [Serializable]
+    public sealed class FailedToDownloadActionException : DistributedTaskException
+    {
+        public FailedToDownloadActionException(String message)
+            : base(message)
+        {
+        }
+
+        public FailedToDownloadActionException(String message, Exception innerException)
+            : base(message, innerException)
+        {
+        }
+
+        private FailedToDownloadActionException(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context)
+            : base(info, context)
+        {
+        }
+    }
+
     [Serializable]
     public sealed class InvalidActionArchiveException : DistributedTaskException
     {

src/Sdk/Expressions/ExpressionConstants.cs

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.Expressions
     {
         static ExpressionConstants()
         {
+            AddFunction<Case>("case", 3, Byte.MaxValue);
             AddFunction<Contains>("contains", 2, 2);
             AddFunction<EndsWith>("endsWith", 2, 2);
             AddFunction<Format>("format", 1, Byte.MaxValue);

src/Sdk/Expressions/ExpressionParser.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#nullable disable // Consider removing in the future to minimize likelihood of NullReferenceException; refer https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/nullable-references
+#nullable disable // Consider removing in the future to minimize likelihood of NullReferenceException; refer https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/nullable-references
 
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.Expressions
                     context.Operators.Pop();
                 }
                 var functionOperands = PopOperands(context, parameterCount);
-                
+
                 // Node already exists on the operand stack
                 function = (Function)context.Operands.Peek();
 
@@ -349,6 +349,10 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.Expressions
             {
                 throw new ParseException(ParseExceptionKind.TooManyParameters, token: @operator, expression: context.Expression);
             }
+            else if (functionInfo.Name.Equals("case", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) && function.Parameters.Count % 2 == 0)
+            {
+                throw new ParseException(ParseExceptionKind.EvenParameters, token: @operator, expression: context.Expression);
+            }
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -468,4 +472,4 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.Expressions
             }
         }
     }
-}
+}

src/Sdk/Expressions/ParseException.cs

@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.Expressions
                 case ParseExceptionKind.TooManyParameters:
                     description = "Too many parameters supplied";
                     break;
+                case ParseExceptionKind.EvenParameters:
+                    description = "Even number of parameters supplied, requires an odd number of parameters";
+                    break;
                 case ParseExceptionKind.UnexpectedEndOfExpression:
                     description = "Unexpected end of expression";
                     break;

src/Sdk/Expressions/ParseExceptionKind.cs

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.Expressions
         ExceededMaxLength,
         TooFewParameters,
         TooManyParameters,
+        EvenParameters,
         UnexpectedEndOfExpression,
         UnexpectedSymbol,
         UnrecognizedFunction,

src/Sdk/Expressions/Sdk/Functions/Case.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#nullable disable // Consider removing in the future to minimize likelihood of NullReferenceException; refer https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/nullable-references
+
+using System;
+using GitHub.Actions.Expressions.Data;
+
+namespace GitHub.Actions.Expressions.Sdk.Functions
+{
+    internal sealed class Case : Function
+    {
+        protected sealed override Object EvaluateCore(
+            EvaluationContext context,
+            out ResultMemory resultMemory)
+        {
+            resultMemory = null;
+            // Validate argument count - must be odd (pairs of predicate-result plus default)
+            if (Parameters.Count % 2 == 0)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("case requires an odd number of arguments");
+            }
+
+            // Evaluate predicate-result pairs
+            for (var i = 0; i < Parameters.Count - 1; i += 2)
+            {
+                var predicate = Parameters[i].Evaluate(context);
+
+                // Predicate must be a boolean
+                if (predicate.Kind != ValueKind.Boolean)
+                {
+                    throw new InvalidOperationException("case predicate must evaluate to a boolean value");
+                }
+
+                // If predicate is true, return the corresponding result
+                if ((Boolean)predicate.Value)
+                {
+                    var result = Parameters[i + 1].Evaluate(context);
+                    return result.Value;
+                }
+            }
+
+            // No predicate matched, return default (last argument)
+            var defaultResult = Parameters[Parameters.Count - 1].Evaluate(context);
+            return defaultResult.Value;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/Sdk/Sdk.csproj

@@ -18,19 +18,19 @@
     </ItemGroup>
 
     <ItemGroup>
-        <PackageReference Include="Azure.Storage.Blobs" Version="12.26.0" />
+        <PackageReference Include="Azure.Storage.Blobs" Version="12.27.0" />
         <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Win32.Registry" Version="5.0.0" />
         <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.3" />
         <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Client" Version="6.0.0" />
         <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.Cng" Version="5.0.0" />
-        <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs" Version="8.0.0" />
-        <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.ProtectedData" Version="8.0.0" />
+        <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs" Version="10.0.6" />
+        <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.ProtectedData" Version="10.0.3" />
         <PackageReference Include="Minimatch" Version="2.0.0" />
         <PackageReference Include="YamlDotNet.Signed" Version="5.3.0" />
         <PackageReference Include="System.Net.Http" Version="4.3.4" />
         <PackageReference Include="System.Text.RegularExpressions" Version="4.3.1" />
         <PackageReference Include="System.Private.Uri" Version="4.3.2" />
-        <PackageReference Include="System.Formats.Asn1" Version="8.0.1" />
+        <PackageReference Include="System.Formats.Asn1" Version="10.0.6" />
     </ItemGroup>
 
     <ItemGroup>

src/Sdk/WebApi/WebApi/LaunchContracts.cs

@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ namespace GitHub.Services.Launch.Contracts
     {
         [DataMember(EmitDefaultValue = false, Name = "actions")]
         public IList<ActionReferenceRequest> Actions { get; set; }
+
+        [DataMember(EmitDefaultValue = false, Name = "actions_dependencies")]
+        public IList<string> ActionsDependencies { get; set; }
     }
 
     [DataContract]

src/Sdk/WebApi/WebApi/LaunchHttpClient.cs

@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ namespace GitHub.Services.Launch.Client
         {
             return new ActionReferenceRequestList
             {
-                Actions = actionReferenceList.Actions?.Select(ToGitHubData).ToList()
+                Actions = actionReferenceList.Actions?.Select(ToGitHubData).ToList(),
+                ActionsDependencies = actionReferenceList.Dependencies
             };
         }
 

src/Sdk/WorkflowParser/Conversion/PermissionsHelper.cs

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
                 return;
             }
 
-            var effectiveMax = explicitMax ?? CreatePermissionsFromPolicy(context, permissionsPolicy, includeIdToken: isTrusted, includeModels: context.GetFeatures().AllowModelsPermission);
+            var effectiveMax = explicitMax ?? CreatePermissionsFromPolicy(context, permissionsPolicy, includeIdToken: isTrusted, includeModels: context.GetFeatures().AllowModelsPermission, includeVulnerabilityAlerts: context.GetFeatures().AllowVulnerabilityAlertsPermission);
             
             if (requested.ViolatesMaxPermissions(effectiveMax, out var permissionLevelViolations))
             {
@@ -59,18 +59,19 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
             TemplateContext context,
             string permissionsPolicy,
             bool includeIdToken,
-            bool includeModels)
+            bool includeModels,
+            bool includeVulnerabilityAlerts)
         {
             switch (permissionsPolicy)
             {
                 case WorkflowConstants.PermissionsPolicy.LimitedRead:
-                    return new Permissions(PermissionLevel.NoAccess, includeIdToken: false, includeAttestations: false, includeModels: false)
+                    return new Permissions(PermissionLevel.NoAccess, includeIdToken: false, includeAttestations: false, includeModels: false, includeVulnerabilityAlerts: false)
                     {
                         Contents = PermissionLevel.Read,
                         Packages = PermissionLevel.Read,
                     };
                 case WorkflowConstants.PermissionsPolicy.Write:
-                    return new Permissions(PermissionLevel.Write, includeIdToken: includeIdToken, includeAttestations: true, includeModels: includeModels);
+                    return new Permissions(PermissionLevel.Write, includeIdToken: includeIdToken, includeAttestations: true, includeModels: includeModels, includeVulnerabilityAlerts: includeVulnerabilityAlerts);
                 default:
                     throw new ArgumentException($"Unexpected permission policy: '{permissionsPolicy}'");
             }

src/Sdk/WorkflowParser/Conversion/WorkflowTemplateConstants.cs

@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
         public const String NumberStrategyContext = "number-strategy-context";
         public const String On = "on";
         public const String Options = "options";
+        public const String Entrypoint = "entrypoint";
+        public const String Command = "command";
         public const String Org = "org";
         public const String Organization = "organization";
         public const String Outputs = "outputs";

src/Sdk/WorkflowParser/Conversion/WorkflowTemplateConverter.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#nullable disable // Consider removing in the future to minimize likelihood of NullReferenceException; refer https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/nullable-references
+#nullable disable // Consider removing in the future to minimize likelihood of NullReferenceException; refer https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/nullable-references
 
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
                     {
                         case WorkflowTemplateConstants.On:
                             var inputTypes = ConvertToOnWorkflowDispatchInputTypes(workflowPair.Value);
-                            foreach(var item in inputTypes)
+                            foreach (var item in inputTypes)
                             {
                                 result.InputTypes.TryAdd(item.Key, item.Value);
                             }
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
                 context.Error(snapshotToken, $"job {WorkflowTemplateConstants.Snapshot} {WorkflowTemplateConstants.ImageName} is required.");
                 return null;
             }
-            
+
             return new Snapshot
             {
                 ImageName = imageName,
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
         {
             var versionSegments = versionString.Split(".");
 
-            if (versionSegments.Length != 2 || 
+            if (versionSegments.Length != 2 ||
                 !versionSegments[1].Equals("*") ||
                 !Int32.TryParse(versionSegments[0], NumberStyles.None, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, result: out int parsedMajor) ||
                 parsedMajor < 0)
@@ -1079,7 +1079,8 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
         internal static JobContainer ConvertToJobContainer(
             TemplateContext context,
             TemplateToken value,
-            bool isEarlyValidation = false)
+            bool isEarlyValidation = false,
+            bool isServiceContainer = false)
         {
             var result = new JobContainer();
             if (isEarlyValidation && value.Traverse().Any(x => x is ExpressionToken))
@@ -1089,11 +1090,34 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
 
             if (value is StringToken containerLiteral)
             {
-                if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(containerLiteral.Value))
+                // Trim "docker://"
+                var trimmedImage = containerLiteral.Value;
+                var hasDockerPrefix = containerLiteral.Value.StartsWith(WorkflowTemplateConstants.DockerUriPrefix, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+                if (hasDockerPrefix)
                 {
+                    trimmedImage = trimmedImage.Substring(WorkflowTemplateConstants.DockerUriPrefix.Length);
+                }
+
+                // Empty shorthand after trimming "docker://" ?
+                if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(trimmedImage))
+                {
+                    // Error at parse-time for:
+                    //   1. container: 'docker://'
+                    //   2. services.foo: ''
+                    //   3. services.foo: 'docker://'
+                    //
+                    // Do not error for:
+                    //   1. container: ''
+                    if (isEarlyValidation && (hasDockerPrefix || isServiceContainer))
+                    {
+                        context.Error(value, "Container image cannot be empty");
+                    }
+
+                    // Short-circuit
                     return null;
                 }
 
+                // Store original, trimmed further below
                 result.Image = containerLiteral.Value;
             }
             else
@@ -1122,6 +1146,22 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
                         case WorkflowTemplateConstants.Options:
                             result.Options = containerPropertyPair.Value.AssertString($"{WorkflowTemplateConstants.Container} {propertyName}").Value;
                             break;
+                        case WorkflowTemplateConstants.Entrypoint:
+                            if (!context.GetFeatures().AllowServiceContainerCommand)
+                            {
+                                context.Error(containerPropertyPair.Key, $"The key '{WorkflowTemplateConstants.Entrypoint}' is not allowed");
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            result.Entrypoint = containerPropertyPair.Value.AssertString($"{WorkflowTemplateConstants.Container} {propertyName}").Value;
+                            break;
+                        case WorkflowTemplateConstants.Command:
+                            if (!context.GetFeatures().AllowServiceContainerCommand)
+                            {
+                                context.Error(containerPropertyPair.Key, $"The key '{WorkflowTemplateConstants.Command}' is not allowed");
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            result.Command = containerPropertyPair.Value.AssertString($"{WorkflowTemplateConstants.Container} {propertyName}").Value;
+                            break;
                         case WorkflowTemplateConstants.Ports:
                             var ports = containerPropertyPair.Value.AssertSequence($"{WorkflowTemplateConstants.Container} {propertyName}");
                             var portList = new List<String>(ports.Count);
@@ -1152,15 +1192,28 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
                 }
             }
 
-            if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(result.Image))
+            // Trim "docker://"
+            var hadDockerPrefix = false;
+            if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(result.Image) && result.Image.StartsWith(WorkflowTemplateConstants.DockerUriPrefix, StringComparison.Ordinal))
             {
-                context.Error(value, "Container image cannot be empty");
-                return null;
+                hadDockerPrefix = true;
+                result.Image = result.Image.Substring(WorkflowTemplateConstants.DockerUriPrefix.Length);
             }
 
-            if (result.Image.StartsWith(WorkflowTemplateConstants.DockerUriPrefix, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+            if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(result.Image))
             {
-                result.Image = result.Image.Substring(WorkflowTemplateConstants.DockerUriPrefix.Length);
+                // Error at parse-time for:
+                //   1. container: {image: 'docker://'}
+                //   2. services.foo: {image: ''}
+                //   3. services.foo: {image: 'docker://'}
+                //
+                // Do not error for:
+                //   1. container: {image: ''}
+                if (isEarlyValidation && (hadDockerPrefix || isServiceContainer))
+                {
+                    context.Error(value, "Container image cannot be empty");
+                }
+                return null;
             }
 
             return result;
@@ -1183,7 +1236,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
             foreach (var servicePair in servicesMapping)
             {
                 var networkAlias = servicePair.Key.AssertString("services key").Value;
-                var container = ConvertToJobContainer(context, servicePair.Value);
+                var container = ConvertToJobContainer(context, servicePair.Value, isEarlyValidation, isServiceContainer: true);
                 result.Add(new KeyValuePair<String, JobContainer>(networkAlias, container));
             }
 
@@ -1824,7 +1877,7 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
                         permissionsStr.AssertUnexpectedValue(permissionsStr.Value);
                         break;
                 }
-                return new Permissions(permissionLevel, includeIdToken: true, includeAttestations: true, includeModels: context.GetFeatures().AllowModelsPermission);
+                return new Permissions(permissionLevel, includeIdToken: true, includeAttestations: true, includeModels: context.GetFeatures().AllowModelsPermission, includeVulnerabilityAlerts: context.GetFeatures().AllowVulnerabilityAlertsPermission);
             }
 
             var mapping = token.AssertMapping("permissions");
@@ -1838,9 +1891,9 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
                     case "actions":
                         permissions.Actions = permissionLevel;
                         break;
-					case "artifact-metadata":
-						permissions.ArtifactMetadata = permissionLevel;
-						break;
+                    case "artifact-metadata":
+                        permissions.ArtifactMetadata = permissionLevel;
+                        break;
                     case "attestations":
                         permissions.Attestations = permissionLevel;
                         break;
@@ -1904,6 +1957,23 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.Conversion
                             context.Error(key, $"The permission 'models' is not allowed");
                         }
                         break;
+                    case "vulnerability-alerts":
+                        if (context.GetFeatures().AllowVulnerabilityAlertsPermission)
+                        {
+                            if (permissionLevel == PermissionLevel.Write)
+                            {
+                                permissions.VulnerabilityAlerts = PermissionLevel.Read;
+                            }
+                            else
+                            {
+                                permissions.VulnerabilityAlerts = permissionLevel;
+                            }
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            context.Error(key, $"The permission 'vulnerability-alerts' is not allowed");
+                        }
+                        break;
                     default:
                         break;
                 }

src/Sdk/WorkflowParser/JobContainer.cs

@@ -35,6 +35,24 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser
             set;
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets the container entrypoint override.
+        /// </summary>
+        public String Entrypoint
+        {
+            get;
+            set;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets the container command and args (after the image name).
+        /// </summary>
+        public String Command
+        {
+            get;
+            set;
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets or sets the volumes which are mounted into the container.
         /// </summary>

src/Sdk/WorkflowParser/ObjectTemplating/TemplateContext.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#nullable disable // Consider removing in the future to minimize likelihood of NullReferenceException; refer https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/nullable-references
+#nullable disable // Consider removing in the future to minimize likelihood of NullReferenceException; refer https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/nullable-references
 
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;

src/Sdk/WorkflowParser/ObjectTemplating/Tokens/TemplateToken.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#nullable disable // Consider removing in the future to minimize likelihood of NullReferenceException; refer https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/nullable-references
+#nullable disable // Consider removing in the future to minimize likelihood of NullReferenceException; refer https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/nullable-references
 
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
@@ -289,4 +289,4 @@ namespace GitHub.Actions.WorkflowParser.ObjectTemplating.Tokens
             return result;
         }
     }
-}
+}