Closes #16681: Introduce render_config permission for configuration rendering (#20555)

* Closes #16681: Introduce render_config permission for configuration rendering

Add a new custom permission action `render_config` for rendering device and
virtual machine configurations via the REST API. This allows users to render
configurations without requiring the `add` permission.

Changes:
- Add permission check to RenderConfigMixin.render_config() for devices and VMs
- Update API tests to use render_config permission instead of add
- Add tests verifying permission enforcement (403 without render_config)
- Document new permission requirement in configuration-rendering.md

Note: Currently requires both render_config AND add permissions due to the
automatic POST='add' filter in BaseViewSet.initial(). Removing the add
requirement will be addressed in a follow-up commit.

* Correct permission denied message and enable translation

* Remove add permission requirement for render_config endpoint

Remove the add permission requirement from the render-config API endpoint
while maintaining token write_enabled enforcement as specified in #16681.

Changes:
- Add TokenWritePermission class to check token write ability without requiring
  specific model permissions
- Override get_permissions() in RenderConfigMixin to use TokenWritePermission
  instead of TokenPermissions for render_config action
- Replace queryset restriction: use render_config instead of add
- Remove add permissions from tests - render_config permission now sufficient
- Update tests to expect 404 when permission denied (NetBox standard pattern)

Per #16681: 'requirement for write permission makes sense for API calls
(because we're accepting and processing arbitrary user data), the specific
permission for creating devices does not'

* Add render_config permission to ConfigTemplate render endpoint

Extend render_config permission requirement to the ConfigTemplate render
endpoint per issue comments.

Changes:
- Add TokenWritePermission check via get_permissions() override in
  ConfigTemplateViewSet
- Restrict queryset to render_config permission in render() method
- Add explicit render_config permission check
- Add tests for ConfigTemplate.render() with and without permission
- Update documentation to include ConfigTemplate endpoint

* Address PR feedback on render_config permissions

Remove redundant permission checks, add view permission enforcement via
chained restrict() calls, and rename ConfigTemplate permission action
from render_config to render for consistency.

* Address second round of PR feedback on render_config permissions

- Remove ConfigTemplate view permission check from render_config endpoint
- Add sanity check to TokenWritePermission for non-token auth
- Use named URL patterns instead of string concatenation in tests
- Remove extras.view_configtemplate from test permissions
- Add token write_enabled enforcement tests for all render endpoints

* Misc cleanup

---------

Co-authored-by: Jeremy Stretch <jstretch@netboxlabs.com>

docs/features/configuration-rendering.md

@@ -90,3 +90,10 @@ http://netbox:8000/api/extras/config-templates/123/render/ \
   "bar": 123
 }'
 ```
+
+!!! note "Permissions"
+    Rendering configuration templates via the REST API requires appropriate permissions for the relevant object type:
+
+    * To render a device's configuration via `/api/dcim/devices/{id}/render-config/`, assign a permission for "DCIM > Device" with the `render_config` action.
+    * To render a virtual machine's configuration via `/api/virtualization/virtual-machines/{id}/render-config/`, assign a permission for "Virtualization > Virtual Machine" with the `render_config` action.
+    * To render a config template directly via `/api/extras/config-templates/{id}/render/`, assign a permission for "Extras > Config Template" with the `render` action.

netbox/dcim/tests/test_api.py

@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ from ipam.choices import VLANQinQRoleChoices
 from ipam.models import ASN, RIR, VLAN, VRF
 from netbox.api.serializers import GenericObjectSerializer
 from tenancy.models import Tenant
-from users.models import User
+from users.constants import TOKEN_PREFIX
+from users.models import Token, User
 from utilities.testing import APITestCase, APIViewTestCases, create_test_device, disable_logging
 from virtualization.models import Cluster, ClusterType
 from wireless.choices import WirelessChannelChoices
@@ -1306,7 +1307,6 @@ class DeviceTest(APIViewTestCases.APIViewTestCase):
     }
     user_permissions = (
         'dcim.view_site', 'dcim.view_rack', 'dcim.view_location', 'dcim.view_devicerole', 'dcim.view_devicetype',
-        'extras.view_configtemplate',
     )
 
     @classmethod
@@ -1486,12 +1486,58 @@ class DeviceTest(APIViewTestCases.APIViewTestCase):
         device.config_template = configtemplate
         device.save()
 
-        self.add_permissions('dcim.add_device')
+        self.add_permissions('dcim.render_config_device', 'dcim.view_device')
-        url = reverse('dcim-api:device-detail', kwargs={'pk': device.pk}) + 'render-config/'
+        url = reverse('dcim-api:device-render-config', kwargs={'pk': device.pk})
         response = self.client.post(url, {}, format='json', **self.header)
         self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_200_OK)
         self.assertEqual(response.data['content'], f'Config for device {device.name}')
 
+    def test_render_config_without_permission(self):
+        configtemplate = ConfigTemplate.objects.create(
+            name='Config Template 1',
+            template_code='Config for device {{ device.name }}'
+        )
+
+        device = Device.objects.first()
+        device.config_template = configtemplate
+        device.save()
+
+        # No permissions added - user has no render_config permission
+        url = reverse('dcim-api:device-render-config', kwargs={'pk': device.pk})
+        response = self.client.post(url, {}, format='json', **self.header)
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND)
+
+    def test_render_config_token_write_enabled(self):
+        configtemplate = ConfigTemplate.objects.create(
+            name='Config Template 1',
+            template_code='Config for device {{ device.name }}'
+        )
+
+        device = Device.objects.first()
+        device.config_template = configtemplate
+        device.save()
+
+        self.add_permissions('dcim.render_config_device', 'dcim.view_device')
+        url = reverse('dcim-api:device-render-config', kwargs={'pk': device.pk})
+
+        # Request without token auth should fail with PermissionDenied
+        response = self.client.post(url, {}, format='json')
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN)
+
+        # Create token with write_enabled=False
+        token = Token.objects.create(version=2, user=self.user, write_enabled=False)
+        token_header = f'Bearer {TOKEN_PREFIX}{token.key}.{token.token}'
+
+        # Request with write-disabled token should fail
+        response = self.client.post(url, {}, format='json', HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=token_header)
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN)
+
+        # Enable write and retry
+        token.write_enabled = True
+        token.save()
+        response = self.client.post(url, {}, format='json', HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=token_header)
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+
 
 class ModuleTest(APIViewTestCases.APIViewTestCase):
     model = Module

netbox/extras/api/mixins.py

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from rest_framework.renderers import JSONRenderer
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 from rest_framework.status import HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST
 
+from netbox.api.authentication import TokenWritePermission
 from netbox.api.renderers import TextRenderer
 from .serializers import ConfigTemplateSerializer
 
@@ -64,12 +65,24 @@ class RenderConfigMixin(ConfigTemplateRenderMixin):
     """
     Provides a /render-config/ endpoint for REST API views whose model may have a ConfigTemplate assigned.
     """
+
+    def get_permissions(self):
+        # For render_config action, check only token write ability (not model permissions)
+        if self.action == 'render_config':
+            return [TokenWritePermission()]
+        return super().get_permissions()
+
     @action(detail=True, methods=['post'], url_path='render-config', renderer_classes=[JSONRenderer, TextRenderer])
     def render_config(self, request, pk):
         """
         Resolve and render the preferred ConfigTemplate for this Device.
         """
+        # Override restrict() on the default queryset to enforce the render_config & view actions
+        self.queryset = self.queryset.model.objects.restrict(request.user, 'render_config').restrict(
+            request.user, 'view'
+        )
         instance = self.get_object()
+
         object_type = instance._meta.model_name
         configtemplate = instance.get_config_template()
         if not configtemplate:

netbox/extras/api/views.py

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from rq import Worker
 from extras import filtersets
 from extras.jobs import ScriptJob
 from extras.models import *
-from netbox.api.authentication import IsAuthenticatedOrLoginNotRequired
+from netbox.api.authentication import IsAuthenticatedOrLoginNotRequired, TokenWritePermission
 from netbox.api.features import SyncedDataMixin
 from netbox.api.metadata import ContentTypeMetadata
 from netbox.api.renderers import TextRenderer
@@ -238,13 +238,22 @@ class ConfigTemplateViewSet(SyncedDataMixin, ConfigTemplateRenderMixin, NetBoxMo
     serializer_class = serializers.ConfigTemplateSerializer
     filterset_class = filtersets.ConfigTemplateFilterSet
 
+    def get_permissions(self):
+        # For render action, check only token write ability (not model permissions)
+        if self.action == 'render':
+            return [TokenWritePermission()]
+        return super().get_permissions()
+
     @action(detail=True, methods=['post'], renderer_classes=[JSONRenderer, TextRenderer])
     def render(self, request, pk):
         """
         Render a ConfigTemplate using the context data provided (if any). If the client requests "text/plain" data,
         return the raw rendered content, rather than serialized JSON.
         """
+        # Override restrict() on the default queryset to enforce the render & view actions
+        self.queryset = self.queryset.model.objects.restrict(request.user, 'render').restrict(request.user, 'view')
         configtemplate = self.get_object()
+
         context = request.data
 
         return self.render_configtemplate(request, configtemplate, context)

netbox/extras/tests/test_api.py

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import datetime
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.urls import reverse
 from django.utils.timezone import make_aware, now
+from rest_framework import status
 
 from core.choices import ManagedFileRootPathChoices
 from core.events import *
@@ -11,7 +12,8 @@ from dcim.models import Device, DeviceRole, DeviceType, Manufacturer, Rack, Loca
 from extras.choices import *
 from extras.models import *
 from extras.scripts import BooleanVar, IntegerVar, Script as PythonClass, StringVar
-from users.models import Group, User
+from users.constants import TOKEN_PREFIX
+from users.models import Group, Token, User
 from utilities.testing import APITestCase, APIViewTestCases
 
 
@@ -854,6 +856,47 @@ class ConfigTemplateTest(APIViewTestCases.APIViewTestCase):
         )
         ConfigTemplate.objects.bulk_create(config_templates)
 
+    def test_render(self):
+        configtemplate = ConfigTemplate.objects.first()
+
+        self.add_permissions('extras.render_configtemplate', 'extras.view_configtemplate')
+        url = reverse('extras-api:configtemplate-render', kwargs={'pk': configtemplate.pk})
+        response = self.client.post(url, {'foo': 'bar'}, format='json', **self.header)
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        self.assertEqual(response.data['content'], 'Foo: bar')
+
+    def test_render_without_permission(self):
+        configtemplate = ConfigTemplate.objects.first()
+
+        # No permissions added - user has no render permission
+        url = reverse('extras-api:configtemplate-render', kwargs={'pk': configtemplate.pk})
+        response = self.client.post(url, {'foo': 'bar'}, format='json', **self.header)
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND)
+
+    def test_render_token_write_enabled(self):
+        configtemplate = ConfigTemplate.objects.first()
+
+        self.add_permissions('extras.render_configtemplate', 'extras.view_configtemplate')
+        url = reverse('extras-api:configtemplate-render', kwargs={'pk': configtemplate.pk})
+
+        # Request without token auth should fail with PermissionDenied
+        response = self.client.post(url, {'foo': 'bar'}, format='json')
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN)
+
+        # Create token with write_enabled=False
+        token = Token.objects.create(version=2, user=self.user, write_enabled=False)
+        token_header = f'Bearer {TOKEN_PREFIX}{token.key}.{token.token}'
+
+        # Request with write-disabled token should fail
+        response = self.client.post(url, {'foo': 'bar'}, format='json', HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=token_header)
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN)
+
+        # Enable write and retry
+        token.write_enabled = True
+        token.save()
+        response = self.client.post(url, {'foo': 'bar'}, format='json', HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=token_header)
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+
 
 class ScriptTest(APITestCase):
 

netbox/netbox/api/authentication.py

@@ -164,6 +164,20 @@ class TokenPermissions(DjangoObjectPermissions):
         return super().has_object_permission(request, view, obj)
 
 
+class TokenWritePermission(BasePermission):
+    """
+    Verify the token has write_enabled for unsafe methods, without requiring specific model permissions.
+    Used for custom actions that accept user data but don't map to standard CRUD operations.
+    """
+
+    def has_permission(self, request, view):
+        if not isinstance(request.auth, Token):
+            raise exceptions.PermissionDenied(
+                "TokenWritePermission requires token authentication."
+            )
+        return bool(request.method in SAFE_METHODS or request.auth.write_enabled)
+
+
 class IsAuthenticatedOrLoginNotRequired(BasePermission):
     """
     Returns True if the user is authenticated or LOGIN_REQUIRED is False.

netbox/virtualization/tests/test_api.py

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ from extras.choices import CustomFieldTypeChoices
 from extras.models import ConfigTemplate, CustomField
 from ipam.choices import VLANQinQRoleChoices
 from ipam.models import Prefix, VLAN, VRF
+from users.constants import TOKEN_PREFIX
+from users.models import Token
 from utilities.testing import (
     APITestCase, APIViewTestCases, create_test_device, create_test_virtualmachine, disable_logging,
 )
@@ -281,12 +283,60 @@ class VirtualMachineTest(APIViewTestCases.APIViewTestCase):
         vm.config_template = configtemplate
         vm.save()
 
-        self.add_permissions('virtualization.add_virtualmachine')
+        self.add_permissions(
-        url = reverse('virtualization-api:virtualmachine-detail', kwargs={'pk': vm.pk}) + 'render-config/'
+            'virtualization.render_config_virtualmachine', 'virtualization.view_virtualmachine'
+        )
+        url = reverse('virtualization-api:virtualmachine-render-config', kwargs={'pk': vm.pk})
         response = self.client.post(url, {}, format='json', **self.header)
         self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_200_OK)
         self.assertEqual(response.data['content'], f'Config for virtual machine {vm.name}')
 
+    def test_render_config_without_permission(self):
+        configtemplate = ConfigTemplate.objects.create(
+            name='Config Template 1',
+            template_code='Config for virtual machine {{ virtualmachine.name }}'
+        )
+
+        vm = VirtualMachine.objects.first()
+        vm.config_template = configtemplate
+        vm.save()
+
+        # No permissions added - user has no render_config permission
+        url = reverse('virtualization-api:virtualmachine-render-config', kwargs={'pk': vm.pk})
+        response = self.client.post(url, {}, format='json', **self.header)
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND)
+
+    def test_render_config_token_write_enabled(self):
+        configtemplate = ConfigTemplate.objects.create(
+            name='Config Template 1',
+            template_code='Config for virtual machine {{ virtualmachine.name }}'
+        )
+
+        vm = VirtualMachine.objects.first()
+        vm.config_template = configtemplate
+        vm.save()
+
+        self.add_permissions('virtualization.render_config_virtualmachine', 'virtualization.view_virtualmachine')
+        url = reverse('virtualization-api:virtualmachine-render-config', kwargs={'pk': vm.pk})
+
+        # Request without token auth should fail with PermissionDenied
+        response = self.client.post(url, {}, format='json')
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN)
+
+        # Create token with write_enabled=False
+        token = Token.objects.create(version=2, user=self.user, write_enabled=False)
+        token_header = f'Bearer {TOKEN_PREFIX}{token.key}.{token.token}'
+
+        # Request with write-disabled token should fail
+        response = self.client.post(url, {}, format='json', HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=token_header)
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN)
+
+        # Enable write and retry
+        token.write_enabled = True
+        token.save()
+        response = self.client.post(url, {}, format='json', HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=token_header)
+        self.assertHttpStatus(response, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+
 
 class VMInterfaceTest(APIViewTestCases.APIViewTestCase):
     model = VMInterface