Allow 'runsc do' to run without root

'--rootless' flag lets a non-root user execute 'runsc do'.
The drawback is that the sandbox and gofer processes will
run as root inside a user namespace that is mapped to the
caller's user, intead of nobody. And network is defaulted
to '--network=host' inside the root network namespace. On
the bright side, it's very convenient for testing:

runsc --rootless do ls
runsc --rootless do curl www.google.com

PiperOrigin-RevId: 252840970

14 files changed, 210 insertions, 152 deletions

diff --git a/runsc/boot/config.go b/runsc/boot/config.go
index 8564c502d..6112b6c0a 100644
--- a/runsc/boot/config.go
+++ b/runsc/boot/config.go
@@ -226,6 +226,12 @@ type Config struct {
 	// to the same underlying network device. This allows netstack to better
 	// scale for high throughput use cases.
 	NumNetworkChannels int
+
+	// Rootless allows the sandbox to be started with a user that is not root.
+	// Defense is depth measures are weaker with rootless. Specifically, the
+	// sandbox and Gofer process run as root inside a user namespace with root
+	// mapped to the caller's user.
+	Rootless bool
 }
 
 // ToFlags returns a slice of flags that correspond to the given Config.
@@ -250,6 +256,7 @@ func (c *Config) ToFlags() []string {
 		"--profile=" + strconv.FormatBool(c.ProfileEnable),
 		"--net-raw=" + strconv.FormatBool(c.EnableRaw),
 		"--num-network-channels=" + strconv.Itoa(c.NumNetworkChannels),
+		"--rootless=" + strconv.FormatBool(c.Rootless),
 	}
 	if c.TestOnlyAllowRunAsCurrentUserWithoutChroot {
 		// Only include if set since it is never to be used by users.
diff --git a/runsc/cmd/boot.go b/runsc/cmd/boot.go
index 3a547d4aa..e0a950e9c 100644
--- a/runsc/cmd/boot.go
+++ b/runsc/cmd/boot.go
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ func (b *Boot) Execute(_ context.Context, f *flag.FlagSet, args ...interface{})
 	// Ensure that if there is a panic, all goroutine stacks are printed.
 	debug.SetTraceback("all")
 
+	conf := args[0].(*boot.Config)
+
 	if b.setUpRoot {
 		if err := setUpChroot(b.pidns); err != nil {
 			Fatalf("error setting up chroot: %v", err)
@@ -143,14 +145,16 @@ func (b *Boot) Execute(_ context.Context, f *flag.FlagSet, args ...interface{})
 					args = append(args, arg)
 				}
 			}
-			// Note that we've already read the spec from the spec FD, and
-			// we will read it again after the exec call. This works
-			// because the ReadSpecFromFile function seeks to the beginning
-			// of the file before reading.
-			if err := callSelfAsNobody(args); err != nil {
-				Fatalf("%v", err)
+			if !conf.Rootless {
+				// Note that we've already read the spec from the spec FD, and
+				// we will read it again after the exec call. This works
+				// because the ReadSpecFromFile function seeks to the beginning
+				// of the file before reading.
+				if err := callSelfAsNobody(args); err != nil {
+					Fatalf("%v", err)
+				}
+				panic("callSelfAsNobody must never return success")
 			}
-			panic("callSelfAsNobody must never return success")
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -163,9 +167,6 @@ func (b *Boot) Execute(_ context.Context, f *flag.FlagSet, args ...interface{})
 	}
 	specutils.LogSpec(spec)
 
-	conf := args[0].(*boot.Config)
-	waitStatus := args[1].(*syscall.WaitStatus)
-
 	if b.applyCaps {
 		caps := spec.Process.Capabilities
 		if caps == nil {
@@ -251,6 +252,7 @@ func (b *Boot) Execute(_ context.Context, f *flag.FlagSet, args ...interface{})
 
 	ws := l.WaitExit()
 	log.Infof("application exiting with %+v", ws)
+	waitStatus := args[1].(*syscall.WaitStatus)
 	*waitStatus = syscall.WaitStatus(ws.Status())
 	l.Destroy()
 	return subcommands.ExitSuccess
diff --git a/runsc/cmd/capability_test.go b/runsc/cmd/capability_test.go
index ee74d33d8..2825dfaa5 100644
--- a/runsc/cmd/capability_test.go
+++ b/runsc/cmd/capability_test.go
@@ -116,6 +116,6 @@ func TestCapabilities(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
-	testutil.RunAsRoot()
+	specutils.MaybeRunAsRoot()
 	os.Exit(m.Run())
 }
diff --git a/runsc/cmd/create.go b/runsc/cmd/create.go
index 8bf9b7dcf..e82e8c667 100644
--- a/runsc/cmd/create.go
+++ b/runsc/cmd/create.go
@@ -82,13 +82,17 @@ func (c *Create) Execute(_ context.Context, f *flag.FlagSet, args ...interface{}
 	id := f.Arg(0)
 	conf := args[0].(*boot.Config)
 
+	if conf.Rootless {
+		return Errorf("Rootless mode not supported with %q", c.Name())
+	}
+
 	bundleDir := c.bundleDir
 	if bundleDir == "" {
 		bundleDir = getwdOrDie()
 	}
 	spec, err := specutils.ReadSpec(bundleDir)
 	if err != nil {
-		Fatalf("reading spec: %v", err)
+		return Errorf("reading spec: %v", err)
 	}
 	specutils.LogSpec(spec)
 
@@ -96,7 +100,7 @@ func (c *Create) Execute(_ context.Context, f *flag.FlagSet, args ...interface{}
 	// container unless the metadata specifies that it should be run in an
 	// existing container.
 	if _, err := container.Create(id, spec, conf, bundleDir, c.consoleSocket, c.pidFile, c.userLog); err != nil {
-		Fatalf("creating container: %v", err)
+		return Errorf("creating container: %v", err)
 	}
 	return subcommands.ExitSuccess
 }
diff --git a/runsc/cmd/do.go b/runsc/cmd/do.go
index 8ea59046c..3f6e46fce 100644
--- a/runsc/cmd/do.go
+++ b/runsc/cmd/do.go
@@ -39,10 +39,9 @@ import (
 // Do implements subcommands.Command for the "do" command. It sets up a simple
 // sandbox and executes the command inside it. See Usage() for more details.
 type Do struct {
-	root             string
-	cwd              string
-	ip               string
-	networkNamespace bool
+	root string
+	cwd  string
+	ip   string
 }
 
 // Name implements subcommands.Command.Name.
@@ -72,7 +71,6 @@ func (c *Do) SetFlags(f *flag.FlagSet) {
 	f.StringVar(&c.root, "root", "/", `path to the root directory, defaults to "/"`)
 	f.StringVar(&c.cwd, "cwd", ".", "path to the current directory, defaults to the current directory")
 	f.StringVar(&c.ip, "ip", "192.168.10.2", "IPv4 address for the sandbox")
-	f.BoolVar(&c.networkNamespace, "netns", true, "run in a new network namespace")
 }
 
 // Execute implements subcommands.Command.Execute.
@@ -85,15 +83,21 @@ func (c *Do) Execute(_ context.Context, f *flag.FlagSet, args ...interface{}) su
 	conf := args[0].(*boot.Config)
 	waitStatus := args[1].(*syscall.WaitStatus)
 
-	// Map the entire host file system, but make it readonly with a writable
-	// overlay on top (ignore --overlay option).
-	conf.Overlay = true
+	if conf.Rootless {
+		if err := specutils.MaybeRunAsRoot(); err != nil {
+			return Errorf("Error executing inside namespace: %v", err)
+		}
+		// Execution will continue here if no more capabilities are needed...
+	}
 
 	hostname, err := os.Hostname()
 	if err != nil {
 		return Errorf("Error to retrieve hostname: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	// Map the entire host file system, but make it readonly with a writable
+	// overlay on top (ignore --overlay option).
+	conf.Overlay = true
 	absRoot, err := resolvePath(c.root)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Errorf("Error resolving root: %v", err)
@@ -119,11 +123,22 @@ func (c *Do) Execute(_ context.Context, f *flag.FlagSet, args ...interface{}) su
 	specutils.LogSpec(spec)
 
 	cid := fmt.Sprintf("runsc-%06d", rand.Int31n(1000000))
-	if !c.networkNamespace {
-		if conf.Network != boot.NetworkHost {
-			Fatalf("The current network namespace can be used only if --network=host is set", nil)
+	if conf.Network == boot.NetworkNone {
+		netns := specs.LinuxNamespace{
+			Type: specs.NetworkNamespace,
+		}
+		if spec.Linux != nil {
+			panic("spec.Linux is not nil")
 		}
-	} else if conf.Network != boot.NetworkNone {
+		spec.Linux = &specs.Linux{Namespaces: []specs.LinuxNamespace{netns}}
+
+	} else if conf.Rootless {
+		if conf.Network == boot.NetworkSandbox {
+			fmt.Println("*** Rootless requires changing network type to host ***")
+			conf.Network = boot.NetworkHost
+		}
+
+	} else {
 		clean, err := c.setupNet(cid, spec)
 		if err != nil {
 			return Errorf("Error setting up network: %v", err)
diff --git a/runsc/cmd/restore.go b/runsc/cmd/restore.go
index 3ab2f5676..a78a0dce6 100644
--- a/runsc/cmd/restore.go
+++ b/runsc/cmd/restore.go
@@ -80,25 +80,29 @@ func (r *Restore) Execute(_ context.Context, f *flag.FlagSet, args ...interface{
 	conf := args[0].(*boot.Config)
 	waitStatus := args[1].(*syscall.WaitStatus)
 
+	if conf.Rootless {
+		return Errorf("Rootless mode not supported with %q", r.Name())
+	}
+
 	bundleDir := r.bundleDir
 	if bundleDir == "" {
 		bundleDir = getwdOrDie()
 	}
 	spec, err := specutils.ReadSpec(bundleDir)
 	if err != nil {
-		Fatalf("reading spec: %v", err)
+		return Errorf("reading spec: %v", err)
 	}
 	specutils.LogSpec(spec)
 
 	if r.imagePath == "" {
-		Fatalf("image-path flag must be provided")
+		return Errorf("image-path flag must be provided")
 	}
 
 	conf.RestoreFile = filepath.Join(r.imagePath, checkpointFileName)
 
 	ws, err := container.Run(id, spec, conf, bundleDir, r.consoleSocket, r.pidFile, r.userLog, r.detach)
 	if err != nil {
-		Fatalf("running container: %v", err)
+		return Errorf("running container: %v", err)
 	}
 	*waitStatus = ws
 
diff --git a/runsc/cmd/run.go b/runsc/cmd/run.go
index c228b4f93..abf602239 100644
--- a/runsc/cmd/run.go
+++ b/runsc/cmd/run.go
@@ -67,19 +67,23 @@ func (r *Run) Execute(_ context.Context, f *flag.FlagSet, args ...interface{}) s
 	conf := args[0].(*boot.Config)
 	waitStatus := args[1].(*syscall.WaitStatus)
 
+	if conf.Rootless {
+		return Errorf("Rootless mode not supported with %q", r.Name())
+	}
+
 	bundleDir := r.bundleDir
 	if bundleDir == "" {
 		bundleDir = getwdOrDie()
 	}
 	spec, err := specutils.ReadSpec(bundleDir)
 	if err != nil {
-		Fatalf("reading spec: %v", err)
+		return Errorf("reading spec: %v", err)
 	}
 	specutils.LogSpec(spec)
 
 	ws, err := container.Run(id, spec, conf, bundleDir, r.consoleSocket, r.pidFile, r.userLog, r.detach)
 	if err != nil {
-		Fatalf("running container: %v", err)
+		return Errorf("running container: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	*waitStatus = ws
diff --git a/runsc/container/container_test.go b/runsc/container/container_test.go
index 72c5ecbb0..867bf8187 100644
--- a/runsc/container/container_test.go
+++ b/runsc/container/container_test.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import (
 	"gvisor.googlesource.com/gvisor/pkg/sentry/control"
 	"gvisor.googlesource.com/gvisor/pkg/sentry/kernel/auth"
 	"gvisor.googlesource.com/gvisor/runsc/boot"
+	"gvisor.googlesource.com/gvisor/runsc/specutils"
 	"gvisor.googlesource.com/gvisor/runsc/test/testutil"
 )
 
@@ -1853,7 +1854,7 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	if err := testutil.ConfigureExePath(); err != nil {
 		panic(err.Error())
 	}
-	testutil.RunAsRoot()
+	specutils.MaybeRunAsRoot()
 
 	os.Exit(m.Run())
 }
diff --git a/runsc/main.go b/runsc/main.go
index a214f6ba0..cfe3a78d0 100644
--- a/runsc/main.go
+++ b/runsc/main.go
@@ -61,16 +61,19 @@ var (
 	straceLogSize  = flag.Uint("strace-log-size", 1024, "default size (in bytes) to log data argument blobs")
 
 	// Flags that control sandbox runtime behavior.
-	platform                                   = flag.String("platform", "ptrace", "specifies which platform to use: ptrace (default), kvm")
-	network                                    = flag.String("network", "sandbox", "specifies which network to use: sandbox (default), host, none. Using network inside the sandbox is more secure because it's isolated from the host network.")
-	gso                                        = flag.Bool("gso", true, "enable generic segmenation offload")
-	fileAccess                                 = flag.String("file-access", "exclusive", "specifies which filesystem to use for the root mount: exclusive (default), shared. Volume mounts are always shared.")
-	overlay                                    = flag.Bool("overlay", false, "wrap filesystem mounts with writable overlay. All modifications are stored in memory inside the sandbox.")
-	watchdogAction                             = flag.String("watchdog-action", "log", "sets what action the watchdog takes when triggered: log (default), panic.")
-	panicSignal                                = flag.Int("panic-signal", -1, "register signal handling that panics. Usually set to SIGUSR2(12) to troubleshoot hangs. -1 disables it.")
-	profile                                    = flag.Bool("profile", false, "prepares the sandbox to use Golang profiler. Note that enabling profiler loosens the seccomp protection added to the sandbox (DO NOT USE IN PRODUCTION).")
-	netRaw                                     = flag.Bool("net-raw", false, "enable raw sockets. When false, raw sockets are disabled by removing CAP_NET_RAW from containers (`runsc exec` will still be able to utilize raw sockets). Raw sockets allow malicious containers to craft packets and potentially attack the network.")
-	numNetworkChannels                         = flag.Int("num-network-channels", 1, "number of underlying channels(FDs) to use for network link endpoints.")
+	platform           = flag.String("platform", "ptrace", "specifies which platform to use: ptrace (default), kvm")
+	network            = flag.String("network", "sandbox", "specifies which network to use: sandbox (default), host, none. Using network inside the sandbox is more secure because it's isolated from the host network.")
+	gso                = flag.Bool("gso", true, "enable generic segmenation offload")
+	fileAccess         = flag.String("file-access", "exclusive", "specifies which filesystem to use for the root mount: exclusive (default), shared. Volume mounts are always shared.")
+	overlay            = flag.Bool("overlay", false, "wrap filesystem mounts with writable overlay. All modifications are stored in memory inside the sandbox.")
+	watchdogAction     = flag.String("watchdog-action", "log", "sets what action the watchdog takes when triggered: log (default), panic.")
+	panicSignal        = flag.Int("panic-signal", -1, "register signal handling that panics. Usually set to SIGUSR2(12) to troubleshoot hangs. -1 disables it.")
+	profile            = flag.Bool("profile", false, "prepares the sandbox to use Golang profiler. Note that enabling profiler loosens the seccomp protection added to the sandbox (DO NOT USE IN PRODUCTION).")
+	netRaw             = flag.Bool("net-raw", false, "enable raw sockets. When false, raw sockets are disabled by removing CAP_NET_RAW from containers (`runsc exec` will still be able to utilize raw sockets). Raw sockets allow malicious containers to craft packets and potentially attack the network.")
+	numNetworkChannels = flag.Int("num-network-channels", 1, "number of underlying channels(FDs) to use for network link endpoints.")
+	rootless           = flag.Bool("rootless", false, "it allows the sandbox to be started with a user that is not root. Sandbox and Gofer processes may run with same privileges as current user.")
+
+	// Test flags, not to be used outside tests, ever.
 	testOnlyAllowRunAsCurrentUserWithoutChroot = flag.Bool("TESTONLY-unsafe-nonroot", false, "TEST ONLY; do not ever use! This skips many security measures that isolate the host from the sandbox.")
 )
 
@@ -166,26 +169,28 @@ func main() {
 
 	// Create a new Config from the flags.
 	conf := &boot.Config{
-		RootDir:        *rootDir,
-		Debug:          *debug,
-		LogFilename:    *logFilename,
-		LogFormat:      *logFormat,
-		DebugLog:       *debugLog,
-		DebugLogFormat: *debugLogFormat,
-		FileAccess:     fsAccess,
-		Overlay:        *overlay,
-		Network:        netType,
-		GSO:            *gso,
-		LogPackets:     *logPackets,
-		Platform:       platformType,
-		Strace:         *strace,
-		StraceLogSize:  *straceLogSize,
-		WatchdogAction: wa,
-		PanicSignal:    *panicSignal,
-		ProfileEnable:  *profile,
-		EnableRaw:      *netRaw,
+		RootDir:            *rootDir,
+		Debug:              *debug,
+		LogFilename:        *logFilename,
+		LogFormat:          *logFormat,
+		DebugLog:           *debugLog,
+		DebugLogFormat:     *debugLogFormat,
+		FileAccess:         fsAccess,
+		Overlay:            *overlay,
+		Network:            netType,
+		GSO:                *gso,
+		LogPackets:         *logPackets,
+		Platform:           platformType,
+		Strace:             *strace,
+		StraceLogSize:      *straceLogSize,
+		WatchdogAction:     wa,
+		PanicSignal:        *panicSignal,
+		ProfileEnable:      *profile,
+		EnableRaw:          *netRaw,
+		NumNetworkChannels: *numNetworkChannels,
+		Rootless:           *rootless,
+
 		TestOnlyAllowRunAsCurrentUserWithoutChroot: *testOnlyAllowRunAsCurrentUserWithoutChroot,
-		NumNetworkChannels:                         *numNetworkChannels,
 	}
 	if len(*straceSyscalls) != 0 {
 		conf.StraceSyscalls = strings.Split(*straceSyscalls, ",")
diff --git a/runsc/sandbox/sandbox.go b/runsc/sandbox/sandbox.go
index 032190636..5ff6f879c 100644
--- a/runsc/sandbox/sandbox.go
+++ b/runsc/sandbox/sandbox.go
@@ -515,46 +515,64 @@ func (s *Sandbox) createSandboxProcess(spec *specs.Spec, conf *boot.Config, bund
 		} else if specutils.HasCapabilities(capability.CAP_SETUID, capability.CAP_SETGID) {
 			log.Infof("Sandbox will be started in new user namespace")
 			nss = append(nss, specs.LinuxNamespace{Type: specs.UserNamespace})
+			cmd.Args = append(cmd.Args, "--setup-root")
 
-			// Map nobody in the new namespace to nobody in the parent namespace.
-			//
-			// A sandbox process will construct an empty
-			// root for itself, so it has to have the CAP_SYS_ADMIN
-			// capability.
-			//
-			// FIXME(b/122554829): The current implementations of
-			// os/exec doesn't allow to set ambient capabilities if
-			// a process is started in a new user namespace. As a
-			// workaround, we start the sandbox process with the 0
-			// UID and then it constructs a chroot and sets UID to
-			// nobody.  https://github.com/golang/go/issues/2315
-			const nobody = 65534
-			cmd.SysProcAttr.UidMappings = []syscall.SysProcIDMap{
-				{
-					ContainerID: int(0),
-					HostID:      int(nobody - 1),
-					Size:        int(1),
-				},
-				{
-					ContainerID: int(nobody),
-					HostID:      int(nobody),
-					Size:        int(1),
-				},
-			}
-			cmd.SysProcAttr.GidMappings = []syscall.SysProcIDMap{
-				{
-					ContainerID: int(nobody),
-					HostID:      int(nobody),
-					Size:        int(1),
-				},
+			if conf.Rootless {
+				log.Infof("Rootless mode: sandbox will run as root inside user namespace, mapped to the current user, uid: %d, gid: %d", os.Getuid(), os.Getgid())
+				cmd.SysProcAttr.UidMappings = []syscall.SysProcIDMap{
+					{
+						ContainerID: 0,
+						HostID:      os.Getuid(),
+						Size:        1,
+					},
+				}
+				cmd.SysProcAttr.GidMappings = []syscall.SysProcIDMap{
+					{
+						ContainerID: 0,
+						HostID:      os.Getgid(),
+						Size:        1,
+					},
+				}
+				cmd.SysProcAttr.Credential = &syscall.Credential{Uid: 0, Gid: 0}
+
+			} else {
+				// Map nobody in the new namespace to nobody in the parent namespace.
+				//
+				// A sandbox process will construct an empty
+				// root for itself, so it has to have the CAP_SYS_ADMIN
+				// capability.
+				//
+				// FIXME(b/122554829): The current implementations of
+				// os/exec doesn't allow to set ambient capabilities if
+				// a process is started in a new user namespace. As a
+				// workaround, we start the sandbox process with the 0
+				// UID and then it constructs a chroot and sets UID to
+				// nobody.  https://github.com/golang/go/issues/2315
+				const nobody = 65534
+				cmd.SysProcAttr.UidMappings = []syscall.SysProcIDMap{
+					{
+						ContainerID: 0,
+						HostID:      nobody - 1,
+						Size:        1,
+					},
+					{
+						ContainerID: nobody,
+						HostID:      nobody,
+						Size:        1,
+					},
+				}
+				cmd.SysProcAttr.GidMappings = []syscall.SysProcIDMap{
+					{
+						ContainerID: nobody,
+						HostID:      nobody,
+						Size:        1,
+					},
+				}
+
+				// Set credentials to run as user and group nobody.
+				cmd.SysProcAttr.Credential = &syscall.Credential{Uid: 0, Gid: nobody}
 			}
 
-			// Set credentials to run as user and group nobody.
-			cmd.SysProcAttr.Credential = &syscall.Credential{
-				Uid: 0,
-				Gid: nobody,
-			}
-			cmd.Args = append(cmd.Args, "--setup-root")
 		} else {
 			return fmt.Errorf("can't run sandbox process as user nobody since we don't have CAP_SETUID or CAP_SETGID")
 		}
diff --git a/runsc/specutils/BUILD b/runsc/specutils/BUILD
index 15476de6f..0456e4c4f 100644
--- a/runsc/specutils/BUILD
+++ b/runsc/specutils/BUILD
@@ -10,10 +10,7 @@ go_library(
         "specutils.go",
     ],
     importpath = "gvisor.googlesource.com/gvisor/runsc/specutils",
-    visibility = [
-        "//runsc:__subpackages__",
-        "//test:__subpackages__",
-    ],
+    visibility = ["//:sandbox"],
     deps = [
         "//pkg/abi/linux",
         "//pkg/log",
diff --git a/runsc/specutils/namespace.go b/runsc/specutils/namespace.go
index 7d194335c..06c13d1ab 100644
--- a/runsc/specutils/namespace.go
+++ b/runsc/specutils/namespace.go
@@ -220,3 +220,55 @@ func HasCapabilities(cs ...capability.Cap) bool {
 	}
 	return true
 }
+
+// MaybeRunAsRoot ensures the process runs with capabilities needed to create a
+// sandbox, e.g. CAP_SYS_ADMIN, CAP_SYS_CHROOT, etc. If capabilities are needed,
+// it will create a new user namespace and re-execute the process as root
+// inside the namespace with the same arguments and environment.
+//
+// This function returns immediately when no new capability is needed. If
+// another process is executed, it returns straight from here with the same exit
+// code as the child.
+func MaybeRunAsRoot() error {
+	if HasCapabilities(capability.CAP_SYS_ADMIN, capability.CAP_SYS_CHROOT, capability.CAP_SETUID, capability.CAP_SETGID) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Current process doesn't have required capabilities, create user namespace
+	// and run as root inside the namespace to acquire capabilities.
+	log.Infof("*** Re-running as root in new user namespace ***")
+
+	cmd := exec.Command("/proc/self/exe", os.Args[1:]...)
+
+	cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{
+		Cloneflags: syscall.CLONE_NEWUSER | syscall.CLONE_NEWNS,
+		// Set current user/group as root inside the namespace. Since we may not
+		// have CAP_SETUID/CAP_SETGID, just map root to the current user/group.
+		UidMappings: []syscall.SysProcIDMap{
+			{ContainerID: 0, HostID: os.Getuid(), Size: 1},
+		},
+		GidMappings: []syscall.SysProcIDMap{
+			{ContainerID: 0, HostID: os.Getgid(), Size: 1},
+		},
+		Credential:                 &syscall.Credential{Uid: 0, Gid: 0},
+		GidMappingsEnableSetgroups: false,
+	}
+
+	cmd.Env = os.Environ()
+	cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
+	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		if exit, ok := err.(*exec.ExitError); ok {
+			if ws, ok := exit.Sys().(syscall.WaitStatus); ok {
+				os.Exit(ws.ExitStatus())
+			}
+			log.Warningf("No wait status provided, exiting with -1: %v", err)
+			os.Exit(-1)
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("re-executing self: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Child completed with success.
+	os.Exit(0)
+	panic("unreachable")
+}
diff --git a/runsc/test/testutil/BUILD b/runsc/test/testutil/BUILD
index ddec81444..eedf962a4 100644
--- a/runsc/test/testutil/BUILD
+++ b/runsc/test/testutil/BUILD
@@ -18,6 +18,5 @@ go_library(
         "@com_github_cenkalti_backoff//:go_default_library",
         "@com_github_kr_pty//:go_default_library",
         "@com_github_opencontainers_runtime-spec//specs-go:go_default_library",
-        "@com_github_syndtr_gocapability//capability:go_default_library",
     ],
 )
diff --git a/runsc/test/testutil/testutil.go b/runsc/test/testutil/testutil.go
index 727b648a6..1bd5adc54 100644
--- a/runsc/test/testutil/testutil.go
+++ b/runsc/test/testutil/testutil.go
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ import (
 	"os/exec"
 	"os/signal"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
@@ -39,7 +38,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/cenkalti/backoff"
 	specs "github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
-	"github.com/syndtr/gocapability/capability"
 	"gvisor.googlesource.com/gvisor/runsc/boot"
 	"gvisor.googlesource.com/gvisor/runsc/specutils"
 )
@@ -284,54 +282,6 @@ func WaitForHTTP(port int, timeout time.Duration) error {
 	return Poll(cb, timeout)
 }
 
-// RunAsRoot ensures the test runs with CAP_SYS_ADMIN and CAP_SYS_CHROOT. If
-// needed it will create a new user namespace and re-execute the test as root
-// inside of the namespace. This function returns when it's running as root. If
-// it needs to create another process, it will exit from there and not return.
-func RunAsRoot() {
-	if specutils.HasCapabilities(capability.CAP_SYS_ADMIN, capability.CAP_SYS_CHROOT) {
-		return
-	}
-
-	fmt.Println("*** Re-running test as root in new user namespace ***")
-
-	// Current process doesn't have CAP_SYS_ADMIN, create user namespace and run
-	// as root inside that namespace to get it.
-	runtime.LockOSThread()
-	defer runtime.UnlockOSThread()
-
-	cmd := exec.Command("/proc/self/exe", os.Args[1:]...)
-	cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{
-		Cloneflags: syscall.CLONE_NEWUSER | syscall.CLONE_NEWNS,
-		// Set current user/group as root inside the namespace.
-		UidMappings: []syscall.SysProcIDMap{
-			{ContainerID: 0, HostID: os.Getuid(), Size: 1},
-		},
-		GidMappings: []syscall.SysProcIDMap{
-			{ContainerID: 0, HostID: os.Getgid(), Size: 1},
-		},
-		GidMappingsEnableSetgroups: false,
-		Credential: &syscall.Credential{
-			Uid: 0,
-			Gid: 0,
-		},
-	}
-	cmd.Env = os.Environ()
-	cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
-	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
-	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
-	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
-		if exit, ok := err.(*exec.ExitError); ok {
-			if ws, ok := exit.Sys().(syscall.WaitStatus); ok {
-				os.Exit(ws.ExitStatus())
-			}
-			os.Exit(-1)
-		}
-		panic(fmt.Sprint("error running child process:", err.Error()))
-	}
-	os.Exit(0)
-}
-
 // Reaper reaps child processes.
 type Reaper struct {
 	// mu protects ch, which will be nil if the reaper is not running.