Prevent template lookup and action from masking `ansible_managed` value (#85075)

* deprecate DEFAULT_MANAGED_STR and prevent masking of ansible_managed var

* adjust public API behavior

* restore backward-compatible behavior on existing public API

changelogs/fragments/templates_types_datatagging.yml

@@ -127,8 +127,6 @@ bugfixes:
     Previously, there were cases where a non-list could be received.
 
 deprecated_features:
-  - templating - The ``ansible_managed`` variable available for certain templating scenarios, such as the ``template`` action and ``template`` lookup has been deprecated.
-    Define and use a custom variable instead of relying on ``ansible_managed``.
   - display - The ``Display.get_deprecation_message`` method has been deprecated.
     Call ``Display.deprecated`` to display a deprecation message, or call it with ``removed=True`` to raise an ``AnsibleError``.
   - config - The ``DEFAULT_JINJA2_NATIVE`` option has no effect.

changelogs/fragments/unmask_ansible_managed.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+minor_changes:
+- template action and lookup plugin - The value of the ``ansible_managed`` variable (if set) will not be masked by the ``template`` action and lookup.
+  Previously, the value calculated by the ``DEFAULT_MANAGED_STR`` configuration option always masked the variable value during plugin execution, preventing runtime customization.

lib/ansible/_internal/_templating/_template_vars.py

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+from __future__ import annotations as _annotations
+
+import datetime as _datetime
+import os as _os
+import pwd as _pwd
+import time as _time
+
+from ansible import constants as _constants
+from ansible.module_utils._internal import _datatag
+
+
+def generate_ansible_template_vars(
+    path: str,
+    fullpath: str | None = None,
+    dest_path: str | None = None,
+    include_ansible_managed: bool = True,
+) -> dict[str, object]:
+    """
+    Generate and return a dictionary with variable metadata about the template specified by `fullpath`.
+    If `fullpath` is `None`, `path` will be used instead.
+    """
+    # deprecated description="update the ansible.windows collection to inline this logic instead of calling this internal function" core_version="2.23"
+    if fullpath is None:
+        fullpath = _os.path.abspath(path)
+
+    template_path = fullpath
+    template_stat = _os.stat(template_path)
+
+    template_uid: int | str
+
+    try:
+        template_uid = _pwd.getpwuid(template_stat.st_uid).pw_name
+    except KeyError:
+        template_uid = template_stat.st_uid
+
+    temp_vars = dict(
+        template_host=_os.uname()[1],
+        template_path=path,
+        template_mtime=_datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(template_stat.st_mtime),
+        template_uid=template_uid,
+        template_run_date=_datetime.datetime.now(),
+        template_destpath=dest_path,
+        template_fullpath=fullpath,
+    )
+
+    if include_ansible_managed:  # only inject the config default value if the variable wasn't set
+        temp_vars['ansible_managed'] = _generate_ansible_managed(template_stat)
+
+    return temp_vars
+
+
+def _generate_ansible_managed(template_stat: _os.stat_result) -> str:
+    """Generate and return the `ansible_managed` variable."""
+    # deprecated description="remove the `_generate_ansible_managed` function and use a constant instead" core_version="2.23"
+
+    from ansible.template import trust_as_template
+
+    managed_default = _constants.config.get_config_value('DEFAULT_MANAGED_STR')
+
+    managed_str = managed_default.format(
+        # IMPORTANT: These values must be constant strings to avoid template injection.
+        #            Use Jinja template expressions where variables are needed.
+        host="{{ template_host }}",
+        uid="{{ template_uid }}",
+        file="{{ template_path }}",
+    )
+
+    ansible_managed = _time.strftime(managed_str, _time.localtime(template_stat.st_mtime))
+    ansible_managed = _datatag.AnsibleTagHelper.tag_copy(managed_default, ansible_managed)
+    ansible_managed = trust_as_template(ansible_managed)
+
+    return ansible_managed

lib/ansible/config/base.yml

@@ -906,6 +906,10 @@ DEFAULT_MANAGED_STR:
   ini:
   - {key: ansible_managed, section: defaults}
   yaml: {key: defaults.ansible_managed}
+  deprecated:
+    why: The `ansible_managed` variable can be set just like any other variable, or a different variable can be used.
+    version: "2.23"
+    alternatives: Set the `ansible_managed` variable, or use any custom variable in templates.
 DEFAULT_MODULE_ARGS:
   name: Adhoc default arguments
   default: ~

lib/ansible/plugins/action/template.py

@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_bytes, to_text, to_na
 from ansible.module_utils.parsing.convert_bool import boolean
 from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 from ansible.plugins.action import ActionBase
-from ansible.template import generate_ansible_template_vars, trust_as_template
+from ansible.template import trust_as_template
+from ansible._internal._templating import _template_vars
 
 
 class ActionModule(ActionBase):
@@ -115,7 +116,12 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
 
             # add ansible 'template' vars
             temp_vars = task_vars.copy()
-            temp_vars.update(generate_ansible_template_vars(self._task.args.get('src', None), fullpath=source, dest_path=dest))
+            temp_vars.update(_template_vars.generate_ansible_template_vars(
+                path=self._task.args.get('src', None),
+                fullpath=source,
+                dest_path=dest,
+                include_ansible_managed='ansible_managed' not in temp_vars,  # do not clobber ansible_managed when set by the user
+            ))
 
             overrides = dict(
                 block_start_string=block_start_string,

lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/template.py

@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ import os
 
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
 from ansible.plugins.lookup import LookupBase
-from ansible.template import generate_ansible_template_vars, trust_as_template
+from ansible.template import trust_as_template
+from ansible._internal._templating import _template_vars
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
 
 
@@ -157,7 +158,11 @@ class LookupModule(LookupBase):
                 # argument.
                 # FIXME: why isn't this a chainmap with a sacrificial bottom layer?
                 vars = deepcopy(variables)
-                vars.update(generate_ansible_template_vars(term, fullpath=lookupfile))
+                vars.update(_template_vars.generate_ansible_template_vars(
+                    path=term,
+                    fullpath=lookupfile,
+                    include_ansible_managed='ansible_managed' not in vars,  # do not clobber ansible_managed when set by the user
+                ))
                 vars.update(lookup_template_vars)
 
                 overrides = dict(

lib/ansible/template/__init__.py

@@ -1,22 +1,18 @@
 from __future__ import annotations as _annotations
 
 import contextlib as _contextlib
-import datetime as _datetime
 import io as _io
 import os as _os
-import pwd as _pwd
-import time as _time
 import typing as _t
 
 from jinja2 import environment as _environment
 
 from ansible import _internal
-from ansible import constants as _constants
 from ansible import errors as _errors
 from ansible._internal._datatag import _tags, _wrappers
-from ansible._internal._templating import _jinja_bits, _engine, _jinja_common
+from ansible._internal._templating import _jinja_bits, _engine, _jinja_common, _template_vars
+
 from ansible.module_utils import datatag as _module_utils_datatag
-from ansible.module_utils._internal import _datatag
 from ansible.utils.display import Display as _Display
 
 if _t.TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: nocover
@@ -352,57 +348,17 @@ class Templar:
         )
 
 
-def generate_ansible_template_vars(path: str, fullpath: str | None = None, dest_path: str | None = None) -> dict[str, object]:
+def generate_ansible_template_vars(
+    path: str,
+    fullpath: str | None = None,
+    dest_path: str | None = None,
+) -> dict[str, object]:
     """
     Generate and return a dictionary with variable metadata about the template specified by `fullpath`.
     If `fullpath` is `None`, `path` will be used instead.
     """
-    if fullpath is None:
-        fullpath = _os.path.abspath(path)
-
-    template_path = fullpath
-    template_stat = _os.stat(template_path)
-
-    template_uid: int | str
-
-    try:
-        template_uid = _pwd.getpwuid(template_stat.st_uid).pw_name
-    except KeyError:
-        template_uid = template_stat.st_uid
-
-    managed_default = _constants.config.get_config_value('DEFAULT_MANAGED_STR')
-
-    managed_str = managed_default.format(
-        # IMPORTANT: These values must be constant strings to avoid template injection.
-        #            Use Jinja template expressions where variables are needed.
-        host="{{ template_host }}",
-        uid="{{ template_uid }}",
-        file="{{ template_path }}",
-    )
-
-    ansible_managed = _time.strftime(managed_str, _time.localtime(template_stat.st_mtime))
-    # DTFIX7: this should not be tag_copy, it should either be an origin copy or some kind of derived origin
-    ansible_managed = _datatag.AnsibleTagHelper.tag_copy(managed_default, ansible_managed)
-    ansible_managed = trust_as_template(ansible_managed)
-    ansible_managed = _module_utils_datatag.deprecate_value(
-        value=ansible_managed,
-        msg="The `ansible_managed` variable is deprecated.",
-        help_text="Define and use a custom variable instead.",
-        version='2.23',
-    )
-
-    temp_vars = dict(
-        template_host=_os.uname()[1],
-        template_path=path,
-        template_mtime=_datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(template_stat.st_mtime),
-        template_uid=template_uid,
-        template_run_date=_datetime.datetime.now(),
-        template_destpath=dest_path,
-        template_fullpath=fullpath,
-        ansible_managed=ansible_managed,
-    )
-
-    return temp_vars
+    # deprecated description="deprecate `generate_ansible_template_vars`, collections should inline the necessary variables" core_version="2.23"
+    return _template_vars.generate_ansible_template_vars(path=path, fullpath=fullpath, dest_path=dest_path, include_ansible_managed=True)
 
 
 def trust_as_template(value: _TTrustable) -> _TTrustable:

test/integration/targets/lookup_template/tasks/ansible_managed.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# deprecated: description='ansible_managed has been removed' core_version='2.23'
+- name: invoke template lookup with content using default injected `ansible_managed`
+  debug:
+    msg: "{{ lookup('template', 'uses_ansible_managed.j2') }}"
+  register: default_lookup_result
+
+- name: invoke template lookup with content using explicitly set `ansible_managed` var
+  vars:
+    ansible_managed: '{{ "a " ~ "dynamic " ~ "ansible_managed value" }}'
+  debug:
+    msg: "{{ lookup('template', 'uses_ansible_managed.j2') }}"
+  register: overridden_lookup_result
+
+- name: validate ansible_managed results
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - default_lookup_result.msg is contains "Ansible managed"
+      - overridden_lookup_result.msg is contains "a dynamic ansible_managed value"

test/integration/targets/lookup_template/tasks/main.yml

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
       - lookup('template', 'dict.j2') is not mapping
 
 - include_tasks: trim_blocks.yml
+- include_tasks: ansible_managed.yml
 
 - name: Verify templates with no rendered content return `None`
   assert:

test/integration/targets/lookup_template/templates/uses_ansible_managed.j2

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{{ ansible_managed }}

test/integration/targets/template/tasks/ansible_managed.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# deprecated: description='ansible_managed has been removed' core_version='2.23'
+- name: invoke template action with content using default injected `ansible_managed`
+  template:
+    src: uses_ansible_managed.j2
+    dest: '{{output_dir}}/default_am.txt'
+  register: default_action_result
+
+- name: invoke template action with content using explicitly set `ansible_managed` var
+  vars:
+    ansible_managed: '{{ "a " ~ "dynamic " ~ "ansible_managed value" }}'
+  template:
+    src: uses_ansible_managed.j2
+    dest: '{{output_dir}}/overridden_am.txt'
+  register: overridden_action_result
+
+- name: validate ansible_managed results
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - lookup('file', default_action_result.dest) is contains "Ansible managed"
+      - lookup('file', overridden_action_result.dest) is contains "a dynamic ansible_managed value"

test/integration/targets/template/tasks/main.yml

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 - set_fact:
     output_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'OUTPUT_DIR') }}"
 
+- include_tasks: ansible_managed.yml
+
 - name: render a template which has no content
   template:
     src: none.j2
@@ -512,12 +514,6 @@
     src: foo.unix.txt
     dest: '{{ output_dir }}/foo.unix.txt'
 
-- name: Dump templated file (Unix)
-  command: hexdump -C {{ output_dir }}/foo.unix.templated
-
-- name: Dump expected file (Unix)
-  command: hexdump -C {{ output_dir }}/foo.unix.txt
-
 - name: compare templated file to known good (Unix)
   command: diff -u {{ output_dir }}/foo.unix.templated {{ output_dir }}/foo.unix.txt
   register: diff_result
@@ -559,12 +555,6 @@
     src: foo.dos.txt
     dest: '{{ output_dir }}/foo.dos.txt'
 
-- name: Dump templated file (DOS)
-  command: hexdump -C {{ output_dir }}/foo.dos.templated
-
-- name: Dump expected file (DOS)
-  command: hexdump -C {{ output_dir }}/foo.dos.txt
-
 - name: compare templated file to known good (DOS)
   command: diff -u {{ output_dir }}/foo.dos.templated {{ output_dir }}/foo.dos.txt
   register: diff_result
@@ -581,12 +571,6 @@
     src: foo.unix.txt
     dest: '{{ output_dir }}/foo.unix.txt'
 
-- name: Dump templated file (Unix)
-  command: hexdump -C {{ output_dir }}/foo.unix.templated
-
-- name: Dump expected file (Unix)
-  command: hexdump -C {{ output_dir }}/foo.unix.txt
-
 - name: compare templated file to known good (Unix)
   command: diff -u {{ output_dir }}/foo.unix.templated {{ output_dir }}/foo.unix.txt
   register: diff_result

test/integration/targets/template/templates/uses_ansible_managed.j2

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{{ ansible_managed }}

test/sanity/code-smell/black.json

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
         ".azure-pipelines/",
         "lib/ansible/_internal/",
         "lib/ansible/module_utils/_internal/",
+        "lib/ansible/template/",
         "lib/ansible/utils/collection_loader/__init__.py",
         "packaging/",
         "test/sanity/code-smell/"

test/units/template/test_template.py

@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ import pathlib
 import typing as t
 
 import pytest
+import pytest_mock
 
 from contextlib import nullcontext
 
+from ansible import constants
 from ansible import errors as _errors
 from ansible import template as _template
 from ansible._internal._templating import _engine, _jinja_bits
@@ -370,3 +372,12 @@ def test_copy_with_new_env_with_none() -> None:
     copied = templar.copy_with_new_env(variable_start_string=None)
 
     assert copied.template(trust_as_template('{{ True }}')) is True
+
+
+def test_generate_ansible_template_vars(mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture, tmp_path: pathlib.Path) -> None:
+    """Verify public API passes through ansible_managed."""
+    mocker.patch.object(constants.config, 'get_config_value', return_value='value from config')
+
+    tvars = _template.generate_ansible_template_vars(path="path", fullpath=str(tmp_path), dest_path=str(tmp_path))
+
+    assert tvars['ansible_managed'] == 'value from config'