git.delta.rocks / remowt / refs/commits / 751b8f1ca8aa

difftreelog

feat subprocess through agent

kwlonlsvYaroslav Bolyukin5 days agoparent: #99930b3.patch.diff
in: trunk

15 files changed

modifiedCargo.lockdiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -308,9 +308,9 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "bifrostlink"
-version = "0.2.2"
+version = "0.2.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "4bd6d4c7cf73270cbf6846a42361d409df23262d276ff15110e787067d89ad1d"
+checksum = "704657867d2107831c57edd363726440c86675464b5fc113702854e17062cafc"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "async_fn_traits",
@@ -327,9 +327,9 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "bifrostlink-macros"
-version = "0.2.2"
+version = "0.2.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "329813d3e34c7e65638480cefbb09d1e1dc47fa5dbf0f5f0cf8d9eee424f4f19"
+checksum = "158308eb569b467c0116680f79d0ecc389f4d540f6d5a0c9279bfe79b1cd5bdb"
 dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
@@ -338,9 +338,9 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "bifrostlink-ports"
-version = "0.2.2"
+version = "0.2.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "d6683eb0d4366b762fc45c0eb14e384d3554a23bc1ba3f1246368900d41e3700"
+checksum = "7612993f0bd8bc6a71867461266567212a35a716b2a5aef5f9967ab08c891782"
 dependencies = [
  "bifrostlink",
  "bytes",
@@ -1835,7 +1835,7 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "polkit-backend"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.1.3"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "clap",
@@ -2055,7 +2055,7 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "remowt-agent"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.1.3"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "bifrostlink",
@@ -2083,13 +2083,14 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "remowt-client"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.1.3"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "bifrostlink",
  "bifrostlink-ports",
  "bytes",
  "camino",
+ "futures",
  "remowt-endpoints",
  "remowt-link-shared",
  "russh",
@@ -2098,13 +2099,14 @@
  "serde_json",
  "tempfile",
  "tokio",
+ "tokio-util",
  "tracing",
  "uuid",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "remowt-endpoints"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.1.3"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "bifrostlink",
@@ -2122,7 +2124,7 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "remowt-link-shared"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.1.3"
 dependencies = [
  "bifrostlink",
  "bytes",
@@ -2136,7 +2138,7 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "remowt-plugin"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.1.3"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "bifrostlink",
@@ -2150,7 +2152,7 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "remowt-polkit-shared"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.1.3"
 dependencies = [
  "nix",
  "serde",
@@ -2159,7 +2161,7 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "remowt-ssh"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.1.3"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-trait",
@@ -2187,7 +2189,7 @@
 
 [[package]]
 name = "remowt-ui-prompt"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.1.3"
 dependencies = [
  "bifrostlink",
  "bifrostlink-macros",
modifiedCargo.tomldiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -3,18 +3,18 @@
 resolver = "2"
 
 [workspace.package]
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.1.3"
 license = "MIT"
 edition = "2021"
-repository = "https://gitlab.delta.directory/iam/remowt"
+repository = "https://git.delta.rocks/r/remowt"
 
 [workspace.dependencies]
-remowt-client = { version = "0.1.1", path = "crates/remowt-client" }
-remowt-polkit-shared = { version = "0.1.1", path = "crates/polkit-shared" }
-remowt-link-shared = { version = "0.1.1", path = "crates/remowt-link-shared" }
-remowt-plugin = { version = "0.1.1", path = "crates/remowt-plugin" }
-remowt-ui-prompt = { version = "0.1.1", path = "crates/remowt-ui-prompt" }
-remowt-endpoints = { version = "0.1.1", path = "crates/remowt-endpoints" }
+remowt-client = { version = "0.1.3", path = "crates/remowt-client" }
+remowt-polkit-shared = { version = "0.1.3", path = "crates/polkit-shared" }
+remowt-link-shared = { version = "0.1.3", path = "crates/remowt-link-shared" }
+remowt-plugin = { version = "0.1.3", path = "crates/remowt-plugin" }
+remowt-ui-prompt = { version = "0.1.3", path = "crates/remowt-ui-prompt" }
+remowt-endpoints = { version = "0.1.3", path = "crates/remowt-endpoints" }
 
 bifrostlink = "0.2.0"
 bifrostlink-macros = "0.2.0"
modifiedcmds/remowt-agent/src/main.rsdiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/cmds/remowt-agent/src/main.rs
+++ b/cmds/remowt-agent/src/main.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 use bifrostlink_ports::stdio::from_stdio;
 use bifrostlink_ports::unix_socket::from_socket;
 use clap::Parser;
-use remowt_endpoints::{fs::Fs, pty::Pty, systemd::Systemd};
+use remowt_endpoints::{fs::Fs, nix_daemon::NixDaemon, pty::Pty, subprocess::Subprocess, systemd::Systemd};
 use remowt_link_shared::{editor::EditorEndpointsClient, Address, BifConfig};
 use remowt_polkit_shared::{emphasize, BackendRequest, Identity, PidDisplay};
 use remowt_ui_prompt::bifrost::PromptEndpointsClient;
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 use tokio::net::UnixStream;
 use tokio::runtime::Builder;
 use tokio::task::AbortHandle;
-use tracing::{debug, info, trace};
+use tracing::{debug, trace};
 use zbus::fdo;
 use zbus::zvariant::{OwnedValue, Str};
 use zbus::{interface, proxy, Connection};
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
 		identities: Vec<Identity>,
 	) -> zbus::fdo::Result<()> {
 		use std::fmt::Write;
-		info!("begin auth");
+		debug!("begin auth");
 		let _cancel_guard = Arc::new(OnceLock::new());
 		let task = {
 			let helper = self.helper.clone();
@@ -220,6 +220,8 @@
 		/// Expect own address to be AgentPrivileged, skip installing polkit agent
 		#[arg(long)]
 		privileged: bool,
+		#[arg(long)]
+		local: bool,
 	},
 	LocalAgent,
 }
@@ -240,7 +242,11 @@
 		} => runtime.block_on(askpass::ask(&prompt, description)),
 		Opts::LocalAgent => runtime.block_on(main_real()),
 		Opts::Editor { path } => runtime.block_on(editor::edit(path)),
-		Opts::RealAgent { path, privileged } => runtime.block_on(main_real_agent(path, privileged)),
+		Opts::RealAgent {
+			path,
+			privileged,
+			local,
+		} => runtime.block_on(main_real_agent(path, privileged, local)),
 	}
 }
 async fn main_real() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
@@ -253,7 +259,11 @@
 	let _conn = conn;
 	pending().await
 }
-async fn main_real_agent(path: Option<PathBuf>, privileged: bool) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+async fn main_real_agent(
+	path: Option<PathBuf>,
+	privileged: bool,
+	local: bool,
+) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 	let address = if privileged {
 		Address::AgentPrivileged
 	} else {
@@ -264,6 +274,8 @@
 	Fs::new().register_endpoints(&mut rpc);
 	Systemd.register_endpoints(&mut rpc);
 	Pty::new().register_endpoints(&mut rpc);
+	Subprocess::new().register_endpoints(&mut rpc);
+	NixDaemon.register_endpoints(&mut rpc);
 
 	remowt_plugin::host::serve(&mut rpc);
 
@@ -312,7 +324,7 @@
 	};
 	rpc.add_direct(Address::User, port, bifrostlink::Rtt(0));
 
-	let polkit_conn = if !privileged {
+	let polkit_conn = if !privileged && !local {
 		// The unprivileged agent doubles as a polkit authentication agent so
 		// `run0` (e.g. our own elevation) routes its prompt to the User over
 		// bifrost instead of failing on a tty-less session.
modifiedcmds/remowt-ssh/Cargo.tomldiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/cmds/remowt-ssh/Cargo.toml
+++ b/cmds/remowt-ssh/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 tracing-subscriber.workspace = true
 bifrostlink.workspace = true
 remowt-link-shared.workspace = true
-remowt-client = { workspace = true, features = ["shell"] }
+remowt-client.workspace = true
 tokio = { workspace = true, features = [
 	"macros",
 	"fs",
modifiedcmds/remowt-ssh/src/main.rsdiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/cmds/remowt-ssh/src/main.rs
+++ b/cmds/remowt-ssh/src/main.rs
@@ -24,9 +24,16 @@
 #[derive(Parser)]
 enum Opts {
 	/// Connect to remote host with remowt agent.
-	Ssh { host: String },
+	Ssh {
+		host: String,
+		#[arg(long)]
+		escalate: bool,
+	},
 	/// Connect to local host for testing the connectivity.
-	Local,
+	Local {
+		#[arg(long)]
+		escalate: bool,
+	},
 }
 
 fn agents_dir() -> anyhow::Result<PathBuf> {
@@ -45,9 +52,9 @@
 	let opts = Opts::parse();
 
 	let bundle = AgentBundle::from_dir(agents_dir()?)?;
-	let conn = match &opts {
-		Opts::Ssh { host } => Remowt::connect(host, &bundle).await?,
-		Opts::Local => Remowt::connect_local(&bundle).await?,
+	let (conn, escalate) = match &opts {
+		Opts::Ssh { host, escalate } => (Remowt::connect(host, &bundle).await?, *escalate),
+		Opts::Local { escalate } => (Remowt::connect_local(&bundle).await?, *escalate),
 	};
 	let mut rpc = conn.rpc();
 
@@ -56,8 +63,8 @@
 		PrependSourcePrompter {
 			prompter: RofiPrompter,
 			source: match opts {
-				Opts::Ssh { host } => vec![Source(Cow::Owned(format!("ssh host: {}", host)))],
-				Opts::Local => vec![],
+				Opts::Ssh { host, .. } => vec![Source(Cow::Owned(format!("ssh host: {}", host)))],
+				Opts::Local { .. } => vec![],
 			},
 			description: "".to_owned(),
 		},
@@ -67,13 +74,13 @@
 	}
 
 	debug!("entering shell");
-	run_shell(&conn).await?;
+	run_shell(&conn, escalate).await?;
 	debug!("shell ended");
 
 	Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn run_shell(conn: &Remowt) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+async fn run_shell(conn: &Remowt, escalate: bool) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 	let term = match std::env::var("TERM") {
 		Ok(v) => v,
 		Err(VarError::NotPresent) => "xterm-256color".to_owned(),
@@ -81,7 +88,7 @@
 	};
 	let (cols, rows) = term_size().unwrap_or((80, 24));
 
-	let shell = conn.open_shell(&term, cols, rows).await?;
+	let shell = conn.open_shell(&term, cols, rows, escalate).await?;
 	let resizer = shell.resizer();
 	let stream = shell.stream;
 
modifiedcrates/remowt-client/Cargo.tomldiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/crates/remowt-client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/remowt-client/Cargo.toml
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 ] }
 tracing.workspace = true
 uuid = { workspace = true, features = ["v4"] }
-remowt-endpoints = { workspace = true, optional = true }
-
-[features]
-shell = ["dep:remowt-endpoints"]
+remowt-endpoints.workspace = true
+tokio-util = { workspace = true, features = ["codec"] }
+futures.workspace = true
modifiedcrates/remowt-client/src/lib.rsdiffbeforeafterboth
before · crates/remowt-client/src/lib.rs
1use std::collections::HashMap;2use std::env;3use std::path::PathBuf;4use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};56use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, ensure, Context as _, Result};7use bifrostlink::declarative::RemoteEndpoints;8use bifrostlink::{Remote, Rpc, Rtt};9use bifrostlink_ports::unix_socket::from_socket;10use camino::{Utf8Path, Utf8PathBuf};11use remowt_link_shared::plugin::PluginEndpointsClient;12use remowt_link_shared::port::child_port;13use remowt_link_shared::{Address, BifConfig};14use russh::client::{connect, Config, Handle, Handler, Msg, Session};15use russh::keys::agent::client::AgentClient;16use russh::keys::agent::AgentIdentity;17use russh::keys::check_known_hosts;18use russh::keys::ssh_key::PublicKey;19use russh::Channel;20use tempfile::TempDir;21use tokio::net::UnixListener;22use tokio::sync::oneshot::{self, channel};23use tokio::{24	fs,25	io::{AsyncReadExt as _, AsyncWriteExt as _},26};27use tracing::{debug, error};28use uuid::Uuid;2930use self::port::channel_port;31use self::subprocess::RemowtChild;3233pub mod editor;34mod forwarded;35mod port;36#[cfg(feature = "shell")]37mod shell;38mod subprocess;3940pub use forwarded::{RemowtListener, RemowtStream};41#[cfg(feature = "shell")]42pub use shell::{RemowtShell, RemowtShellResizer};4344type Subs = Arc<Mutex<HashMap<Utf8PathBuf, oneshot::Sender<Channel<Msg>>>>>;4546fn sh_quote(s: impl AsRef<str>) -> String {47	format!("'{}'", s.as_ref().replace('\'', "'\\''"))48}4950const ESCALATORS: [(&str, &[&str]); 2] = [("run0", &["--background=", "--pipe"]), ("sudo", &[])];5152pub struct AgentBundle {53	dir: PathBuf,54	hashes: HashMap<String, String>,55}5657impl AgentBundle {58	pub fn from_dir(dir: impl Into<PathBuf>) -> Result<Self> {59		let dir = dir.into();60		let hashes_path = dir.join("hashes");61		let raw = std::fs::read_to_string(&hashes_path)62			.with_context(|| format!("reading agent hashes at {}", hashes_path.display()))?;63		let mut hashes = HashMap::new();64		for line in raw.lines() {65			let line = line.trim();66			if line.is_empty() {67				continue;68			}69			let (arch, hash) = line70				.split_once(char::is_whitespace)71				.ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("malformed hashes line: {line:?}"))?;72			hashes.insert(arch.to_owned(), hash.trim().to_owned());73		}74		ensure!(75			!hashes.is_empty(),76			"agent bundle {} has no hashes",77			dir.display()78		);79		Ok(Self { dir, hashes })80	}8182	fn binary(&self, arch: &str) -> PathBuf {83		self.dir.join(format!("remowt-agent-{arch}"))84	}8586	fn local_binary(&self) -> Result<PathBuf> {87		let arch = env::consts::ARCH;88		let path = self.binary(arch);89		ensure!(90			path.is_file(),91			"no local remowt-agent build for arch {arch} in bundle {}",92			self.dir.display()93		);94		Ok(path)95	}96}9798async fn run(sess: &Handle<SshHandler>, cmd: &str) -> Result<(Option<u32>, Vec<u8>)> {99	let ch = sess.channel_open_session().await?;100	ch.exec(true, cmd).await?;101102	let mut child = RemowtChild::from_exec(ch);103	drop(child.stdin);104105	let mut out = Vec::new();106	let mut err = Vec::new();107	tokio::try_join!(108		child.stdout.read_to_end(&mut out),109		child.stderr.read_to_end(&mut err),110	)?;111	if !err.is_empty() {112		error!("remote stderr: {}", String::from_utf8_lossy(&err).trim());113	}114	let code = child.exit.await.ok().flatten();115	Ok((code, out))116}117118async fn run_string_ok(sess: &Handle<SshHandler>, cmd: &str) -> Result<String> {119	let (code, mut out) = run(sess, cmd).await?;120	ensure!(121		code == Some(0),122		"remote command failed (exit {code:?}): {cmd}"123	);124	if !out.is_empty() {125		ensure!(126			out.ends_with(b"\n"),127			"remote command was not newline-terminated: {cmd}: {out:?}"128		);129		out.pop();130	}131	String::from_utf8(out).context("expected utf8 output for command")132}133134async fn deploy_agent(sess: &Handle<SshHandler>, bundle: &AgentBundle) -> Result<Utf8PathBuf> {135	debug!("uname -a");136	let arch = run_string_ok(sess, "uname -m").await?;137	let hash = bundle138		.hashes139		.get(&arch)140		.ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("no remowt-agent build for remote arch {arch:?}"))?;141142	debug!("get dir");143	let cache = run_string_ok(sess, "echo \"$XDG_CACHE_HOME\"")144		.await?145		.to_owned();146	let dir = if cache.is_empty() {147		let home = run_string_ok(sess, "echo \"$HOME\"").await?;148		ensure!(149			!home.is_empty(),150			"remote $HOME and $XDG_CACHE_HOME both empty"151		);152		Utf8PathBuf::from(home).join(".cache/remowt")153	} else {154		Utf8PathBuf::from(cache).join("remowt")155	};156	let path = dir.join(hash);157158	debug!("presence");159	let (present, _) = run(sess, &format!("test -x {}", sh_quote(&path))).await?;160	if present != Some(0) {161		let bin = bundle.binary(&arch);162		debug!("read");163		let bytes = fs::read(&bin)164			.await165			.with_context(|| format!("reading agent binary {}", bin.display()))?;166		debug!("upload");167		upload_agent(sess, &dir, &path, bytes).await?;168	}169	Ok(path)170}171172async fn upload_agent(173	sess: &Handle<SshHandler>,174	dir: &Utf8Path,175	path: &Utf8Path,176	bytes: Vec<u8>,177) -> Result<()> {178	debug!("mkdirp");179	run_string_ok(sess, &format!("mkdir -p {}", sh_quote(dir))).await?;180181	let tmp = dir.join(format!("tmp.{}", Uuid::new_v4()));182	let ch = sess.channel_open_session().await?;183	debug!("cat");184	ch.exec(true, format!("cat > {}", sh_quote(&tmp))).await?;185186	let mut child = RemowtChild::from_exec(ch);187	child188		.stdin189		.write_all(&bytes)190		.await191		.context("sending agent binary")?;192	child193		.stdin194		.shutdown()195		.await196		.context("sending agent binary")?;197	let code = child.wait().await;198	ensure!(code == Some(0), "agent upload failed (exit {code:?})");199200	debug!("chmod");201	run_string_ok(sess, &format!("chmod 0755 {}", sh_quote(&tmp))).await?;202	run_string_ok(203		sess,204		&format!("mv -f {} {}", sh_quote(&tmp), sh_quote(path)),205	)206	.await?;207	Ok(())208}209210async fn detect_escalation(211	sess: &Handle<SshHandler>,212) -> Result<(&'static str, &'static [&'static str])> {213	for (tool, flags) in ESCALATORS {214		// `tool` is a fixed identifier (no metacharacters), safe to interpolate.215		let (code, _) = run(sess, &format!("command -v {tool}")).await?;216		if code == Some(0) {217			return Ok((tool, flags));218		}219	}220	bail!("no escalation tool found on remote")221}222223fn privileged_cmd(tool: &str, flags: &[&str], agent_path: &Utf8Path, path: Option<&str>) -> String {224	let mut parts = vec![tool.to_owned()];225	parts.extend(flags.iter().map(|f| f.to_string()));226	parts.push(sh_quote(agent_path));227	parts.push("real-agent".to_owned());228	parts.push("--privileged".to_owned());229	if let Some(p) = path {230		parts.push("--path".to_owned());231		parts.push(sh_quote(p));232	}233	parts.join(" ")234}235236fn find_in_path(name: &str) -> Option<std::path::PathBuf> {237	let path = env::var_os("PATH")?;238	env::split_paths(&path)239		.map(|dir| dir.join(name))240		.find(|p| p.is_file())241}242243pub struct SshHandler {244	host: String,245	port: u16,246	subs: Subs,247}248impl Handler for SshHandler {249	type Error = russh::Error;250	async fn check_server_key(251		&mut self,252		server_public_key: &PublicKey,253	) -> Result<bool, Self::Error> {254		Ok(check_known_hosts(&self.host, self.port, server_public_key)?)255	}256	async fn server_channel_open_forwarded_streamlocal(257		&mut self,258		channel: Channel<Msg>,259		socket_path: &str,260		_session: &mut Session,261	) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {262		let Some(ch) = self263			.subs264			.lock()265			.expect("lock")266			.remove(&Utf8PathBuf::from(socket_path))267		else {268			return Err(russh::Error::WrongChannel);269		};270		let _ = ch.send(channel);271		Ok(())272	}273}274275enum Transport {276	Ssh {277		sess: Arc<Handle<SshHandler>>,278		subs: Subs,279		runtime_dir: Utf8PathBuf,280		agent_path: Utf8PathBuf,281	},282	Local {283		agent_path: PathBuf,284		runtime_dir: Utf8PathBuf,285	},286}287288pub struct Remowt {289	transport: Transport,290	rpc: Rpc<BifConfig>,291	elevated: tokio::sync::OnceCell<()>,292	children: Mutex<Vec<tokio::process::Child>>,293	_runtime_tmp: Option<TempDir>,294}295296pub type RemowtRemote = Remote<BifConfig>;297298impl Remowt {299	pub async fn connect(host: &str, bundle: &AgentBundle) -> Result<Self> {300		let conf = russh_config::parse_home(host)?;301		let port = conf.host_config.port.or(conf.port).unwrap_or(22);302		let hostname = conf303			.host_config304			.hostname305			.clone()306			.unwrap_or_else(|| conf.host_name.clone());307		let user = conf308			.user309			.clone()310			.unwrap_or_else(|| env::var("USER").unwrap_or_else(|_| "root".to_owned()));311312		let subs: Subs = Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashMap::new()));313		let mut sess = connect(314			Arc::new(Config::default()),315			(hostname.clone(), port),316			SshHandler {317				host: hostname,318				port,319				subs: subs.clone(),320			},321		)322		.await?;323324		let mut agent = AgentClient::connect_env().await?;325		let rsa_hash = sess.best_supported_rsa_hash().await?.flatten();326		let mut authenticated = false;327		for ident in agent.request_identities().await? {328			let AgentIdentity::PublicKey { key, .. } = ident else {329				continue;330			};331			if sess332				.authenticate_publickey_with(user.clone(), key, rsa_hash, &mut agent)333				.await?334				.success()335			{336				authenticated = true;337				break;338			}339		}340		ensure!(authenticated, "ssh authentication failed");341342		let sess = Arc::new(sess);343344		debug!("deploying agent");345		let agent_path = deploy_agent(&sess, bundle).await?;346347		debug!("runtime dir");348		let runtime_dir = remote_runtime_dir(&sess).await?;349		let primary = runtime_dir.join(format!("remowt-{}.sock", Uuid::new_v4()));350351		let (onetx, onerx) = channel();352		subs.lock().expect("lock").insert(primary.clone(), onetx);353		sess.streamlocal_forward(primary.clone()).await?;354355		let rpc = Rpc::<BifConfig>::new(Address::User);356357		// TODO: ensure no injection is possible in the socket path.358		let cmd_chan = sess.channel_open_session().await?;359		debug!("starting agent");360		cmd_chan361			.exec(362				true,363				format!(364					"{} real-agent --path={}",365					sh_quote(&agent_path),366					sh_quote(&primary)367				),368			)369			.await?;370371		let port = channel_port(372			onerx373				.await374				.map_err(|_| anyhow!("agent never opened its channel"))?,375		);376		rpc.add_direct(Address::Agent, port, Rtt(0));377378		Ok(Self {379			transport: Transport::Ssh {380				sess,381				subs,382				runtime_dir,383				agent_path,384			},385			rpc,386			elevated: tokio::sync::OnceCell::new(),387			children: Mutex::new(Vec::new()),388			_runtime_tmp: None,389		})390	}391392	pub async fn connect_local(bundle: &AgentBundle) -> Result<Self> {393		let agent_path = bundle.local_binary()?;394		let mut child = tokio::process::Command::new(&agent_path)395			.arg("real-agent")396			.stdin(std::process::Stdio::piped())397			.stdout(std::process::Stdio::piped())398			.kill_on_drop(true)399			.spawn()400			.with_context(|| format!("spawning agent binary {}", agent_path.display()))?;401		let stdin = child.stdin.take().expect("stdin piped");402		let stdout = child.stdout.take().expect("stdout piped");403404		let rpc = Rpc::<BifConfig>::new(Address::User);405		rpc.add_direct(Address::Agent, child_port(stdout, stdin), Rtt(0));406407		let (runtime_dir, runtime_tmp) = local_runtime_dir()?;408409		Ok(Self {410			transport: Transport::Local {411				agent_path,412				runtime_dir,413			},414			rpc,415			elevated: tokio::sync::OnceCell::new(),416			children: Mutex::new(vec![child]),417			_runtime_tmp: runtime_tmp,418		})419	}420421	pub fn ssh(&self) -> Option<Arc<Handle<SshHandler>>> {422		match &self.transport {423			Transport::Ssh { sess, .. } => Some(sess.clone()),424			Transport::Local { .. } => None,425		}426	}427428	pub fn rpc(&self) -> Rpc<BifConfig> {429		self.rpc.clone()430	}431432	pub fn endpoints<R: RemoteEndpoints<BifConfig>>(&self) -> R {433		R::wrap(self.rpc.remote(Address::Agent))434	}435436	pub async fn load_plugin(&self, id: u16, name: &str) -> Result<()> {437		let client: PluginEndpointsClient<BifConfig> = self.endpoints();438		client439			.load_plugin(id, name.to_owned())440			.await?441			.map_err(|e| anyhow!("agent failed to load plugin: {e}"))442	}443	pub async fn run0_load_plugin_path(&self, id: u16, path: &str) -> Result<()> {444		self.ensure_elevated().await?;445		let client: PluginEndpointsClient<BifConfig> =446			PluginEndpointsClient::wrap(self.rpc.remote(Address::AgentPrivileged));447		client448			.load_plugin_path(id, path.to_owned())449			.await?450			.map_err(|e| anyhow!("privileged agent failed to load plugin: {e}"))451	}452	pub fn plugin_endpoints<R: RemoteEndpoints<BifConfig>>(&self, id: u16) -> R {453		R::wrap(self.rpc.remote(Address::Plugin(id)))454	}455	pub async fn run0_endpoints<R: RemoteEndpoints<BifConfig>>(&self) -> Result<R> {456		self.ensure_elevated().await?;457		Ok(R::wrap(self.rpc.remote(Address::AgentPrivileged)))458	}459460	async fn ensure_elevated(&self) -> Result<()> {461		self.elevated462			.get_or_try_init(|| async {463				let port = match &self.transport {464					Transport::Ssh {465						sess, agent_path, ..466					} => {467						let (tool, flags) = detect_escalation(sess).await?;468						let ch = sess.channel_open_session().await?;469						ch.exec(true, privileged_cmd(tool, flags, agent_path, None))470							.await?;471						channel_port(ch)472					}473					Transport::Local { agent_path, .. } => {474						let sock = self475							.runtime_dir()476							.join(format!("remowt-priv-{}.sock", Uuid::new_v4()));477						let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&sock);478						let listener = UnixListener::bind(&sock)?;479						let (tool, flags) = ESCALATORS480							.iter()481							.find(|(t, _)| find_in_path(t).is_some())482							.ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("no escalation tool found"))?;483						let child = tokio::process::Command::new(tool)484							.args(*flags)485							.arg(agent_path)486							.arg("real-agent")487							.arg("--privileged")488							.arg("--path")489							.arg(sock.as_str())490							.kill_on_drop(true)491							.spawn()?;492						self.children.lock().expect("lock").push(child);493						let (stream, _) = listener.accept().await?;494						let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&sock);495						from_socket(stream)496					}497				};498				self.rpc.add_direct(Address::AgentPrivileged, port, Rtt(0));499				anyhow::Ok(())500			})501			.await?;502		Ok(())503	}504505	pub async fn exec(&self, command: String) -> Result<RemowtChild> {506		let Some(sess) = self.ssh() else {507			bail!("exec should not be called on local")508		};509		let ch = sess.channel_open_session().await?;510		ch.exec(true, command).await?;511		Ok(RemowtChild::from_exec(ch))512	}513514	fn runtime_dir(&self) -> Utf8PathBuf {515		match &self.transport {516			Transport::Ssh { runtime_dir, .. } => runtime_dir.clone(),517			Transport::Local { runtime_dir, .. } => runtime_dir.clone(),518		}519	}520521	pub async fn forward_socket(&self, path: &Utf8Path) -> Result<RemowtListener> {522		match &self.transport {523			Transport::Ssh { sess, subs, .. } => {524				let (tx, rx) = oneshot::channel();525				subs.lock().expect("lock").insert(path.to_owned(), tx);526				sess.streamlocal_forward(path.to_owned()).await?;527				Ok(RemowtListener::Ssh(rx))528			}529			Transport::Local { .. } => {530				let _ = std::fs::remove_file(path);531				Ok(RemowtListener::Local(532					UnixListener::bind(path)?,533					path.to_owned(),534				))535			}536		}537	}538}539540fn local_runtime_dir() -> Result<(Utf8PathBuf, Option<TempDir>)> {541	if let Ok(dir) = env::var("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR") {542		if !dir.is_empty() {543			return Ok((Utf8PathBuf::from(dir), None));544		}545	}546	let tmp = tempfile::Builder::new()547		.prefix("remowt.")548		.rand_bytes(12)549		.tempdir()?;550	let dir = Utf8PathBuf::from_path_buf(tmp.path().to_owned())551		.map_err(|p| anyhow!("temp dir {} is not utf-8", p.display()))?;552	Ok((dir, Some(tmp)))553}554555async fn remote_runtime_dir(sess: &Handle<SshHandler>) -> Result<Utf8PathBuf> {556	let dir = run_string_ok(sess, "echo \"$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR\"").await?;557	let dir = dir.trim();558	if dir.is_empty() {559		remote_mktemp(sess).await560	} else {561		Ok(Utf8PathBuf::from(dir))562	}563}564565async fn remote_mktemp(sess: &Handle<SshHandler>) -> Result<Utf8PathBuf> {566	let mut cmd_chan = sess.channel_open_session().await?;567	cmd_chan568		.exec(true, "mktemp -d remowt.XXXXXXXXXXXX --tmpdir")569		.await?;570	let mut stdout = vec![];571	loop {572		let Some(msg) = cmd_chan.wait().await else {573			bail!("unexpected channel end");574		};575		match msg {576			russh::ChannelMsg::Data { data } => stdout.extend(data.as_ref()),577			russh::ChannelMsg::ExitStatus { exit_status } => {578				if exit_status != 0 {579					bail!("mktemp failed");580				}581				break;582			}583			_ => {}584		}585	}586	ensure!(stdout.ends_with(b"\n"));587	stdout.pop();588	Ok(Utf8PathBuf::from(String::from_utf8(stdout)?))589}
deletedcrates/remowt-client/src/port.rsdiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/crates/remowt-client/src/port.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-use std::io;
-
-use bifrostlink::Port;
-use bytes::{Bytes, BytesMut};
-use russh::{Channel, ChannelStream};
-use russh::client::Msg;
-use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt as _, AsyncWriteExt as _, ReadHalf, WriteHalf};
-use tokio::join;
-use tracing::error;
-
-async fn read(srx: &mut ReadHalf<ChannelStream<Msg>>) -> io::Result<BytesMut> {
-	let len = srx.read_u32().await?;
-	let mut buf = BytesMut::zeroed(len as usize);
-	srx.read_exact(&mut buf).await?;
-	Ok(buf)
-}
-async fn write(stx: &mut WriteHalf<ChannelStream<Msg>>, value: Bytes) -> io::Result<()> {
-	stx.write_u32(value.len().try_into().expect("can't be larger"))
-		.await?;
-	stx.write_all(&value).await?;
-	Ok(())
-}
-
-pub fn channel_port(ch: Channel<Msg>) -> Port {
-	Port::new(move |mut rx, tx| async move {
-		let (mut srx, mut stx) = tokio::io::split(ch.into_stream());
-		let srx_task = async move {
-			loop {
-				match read(&mut srx).await {
-					Ok(buf) => {
-						if tx.send(buf.freeze()).is_err() {
-							break;
-						}
-					}
-					Err(e) => {
-						error!("channel read failed: {e}");
-						break;
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		};
-		let stx_task = async move {
-			while let Some(value) = rx.recv().await {
-				if let Err(e) = write(&mut stx, value).await {
-					error!("channel write failed: {e}");
-					break;
-				}
-			}
-		};
-		join!(srx_task, stx_task);
-	})
-}
modifiedcrates/remowt-client/src/shell.rsdiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/crates/remowt-client/src/shell.rs
+++ b/crates/remowt-client/src/shell.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 use bifrostlink::Remote;
 use remowt_endpoints::pty::{PtyClient, ShellId};
 use remowt_link_shared::{Address, BifConfig};
-use uuid::Uuid;
 
 use crate::forwarded::RemowtStream;
 use crate::Remowt;
@@ -38,15 +37,21 @@
 }
 
 impl Remowt {
-	pub async fn open_shell(&self, term: &str, cols: u16, rows: u16) -> Result<RemowtShell> {
-		let sock = self
-			.runtime_dir()
-			.join(format!("remowt-shell-{}.sock", Uuid::new_v4()));
-
-		let forwarded = self.forward_socket(&sock).await?;
-		let client: PtyClient<BifConfig> = self.endpoints();
+	pub async fn open_shell(
+		&self,
+		term: &str,
+		cols: u16,
+		rows: u16,
+		escalate: bool,
+	) -> Result<RemowtShell> {
+		let (forwarded, path) = self.bind_runtime_unix("shell").await?;
+		let client: PtyClient<BifConfig> = if escalate {
+			self.run0_endpoints().await?
+		} else {
+			self.endpoints()
+		};
 		let id = client
-			.open_shell(sock, term.to_owned(), cols, rows)
+			.open_shell(path, term.to_owned(), cols, rows)
 			.await?
 			.map_err(|e| anyhow!("agent failed to open shell: {e}"))?;
 		let stream = forwarded.accept().await?;
@@ -54,7 +59,7 @@
 		Ok(RemowtShell {
 			id,
 			stream,
-			remote: self.rpc.remote(Address::Agent),
+			remote: self.0.rpc.remote(Address::Agent),
 		})
 	}
 }
addedcrates/remowt-client/src/ssh_exec.rsdiffbeforeafterboth
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/remowt-client/src/ssh_exec.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+use bytes::Bytes;
+use russh::client::Msg;
+use russh::{Channel, ChannelMsg};
+use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt as _, AsyncWriteExt as _, DuplexStream};
+use tokio::sync::oneshot;
+
+const BUF: usize = 64 * 1024;
+
+pub(crate) struct SshExecChild {
+	pub stdin: DuplexStream,
+	pub stdout: DuplexStream,
+	pub stderr: DuplexStream,
+	pub exit: oneshot::Receiver<Option<u32>>,
+}
+
+impl SshExecChild {
+	/// Manage channel returned by russh exec().
+	pub(crate) fn from_exec(ch: Channel<Msg>) -> Self {
+		let (stdin, mut stdin_r) = tokio::io::duplex(BUF);
+		let (mut out_w, stdout) = tokio::io::duplex(BUF);
+		let (mut err_w, stderr) = tokio::io::duplex(BUF);
+		let (exit_tx, exit) = oneshot::channel();
+
+		tokio::spawn(async move {
+			let (mut read, write) = ch.split();
+
+			let stdin_pump = tokio::spawn(async move {
+				let mut buf = vec![0u8; BUF];
+				loop {
+					match stdin_r.read(&mut buf).await {
+						Ok(0) | Err(_) => break,
+						Ok(n) => {
+							if write
+								.data_bytes(Bytes::copy_from_slice(&buf[..n]))
+								.await
+								.is_err()
+							{
+								return;
+							}
+						}
+					}
+				}
+				let _ = write.eof().await;
+			});
+
+			let mut code = None;
+			while let Some(msg) = read.wait().await {
+				match msg {
+					ChannelMsg::Data { data } => {
+						if out_w.write_all(&data).await.is_err() {
+							break;
+						}
+					}
+					ChannelMsg::ExtendedData { data, .. } => {
+						if err_w.write_all(&data).await.is_err() {
+							break;
+						}
+					}
+					ChannelMsg::ExitStatus { exit_status } => code = Some(exit_status),
+					_ => {}
+				}
+			}
+
+			stdin_pump.abort();
+			let _ = out_w.shutdown().await;
+			let _ = err_w.shutdown().await;
+			let _ = exit_tx.send(code);
+		});
+
+		SshExecChild {
+			stdin,
+			stdout,
+			stderr,
+			exit,
+		}
+	}
+
+	/// Wait for the process to finish, returning its exit status.
+	pub(crate) async fn wait(self) -> Option<u32> {
+		self.exit.await.ok().flatten()
+	}
+}
modifiedcrates/remowt-client/src/subprocess.rsdiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/crates/remowt-client/src/subprocess.rs
+++ b/crates/remowt-client/src/subprocess.rs
@@ -1,84 +1,430 @@
-use bytes::Bytes;
-use russh::client::Msg;
-use russh::{Channel, ChannelMsg};
-use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt as _, AsyncWriteExt as _, DuplexStream};
-use tokio::sync::oneshot;
+use std::pin::pin;
+
+use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Result};
+use camino::Utf8PathBuf;
+use futures::StreamExt as _;
+use remowt_endpoints::subprocess::{ProcId, SpawnSpec, StderrSpec, StdioSpec, SubprocessClient};
+use remowt_link_shared::BifConfig;
+use serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
+use tokio::io::{AsyncBufReadExt as _, AsyncWriteExt as _, BufReader};
+use tokio::select;
+use tokio_util::codec::{BytesCodec, FramedRead, LinesCodec};
+use tracing::{debug, info, warn};
+
+use crate::forwarded::{RemowtListener, RemowtStream};
+use crate::Remowt;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum StdioMode {
+	#[default]
+	Null,
+	Pipe,
+	Inherit,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum StderrMode {
+	#[default]
+	Null,
+	Pipe,
+	Inherit,
+	MergeWithStdout,
+}
 
-const BUF: usize = 64 * 1024;
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct SpawnOptions {
+	pub program: String,
+	pub args: Vec<String>,
+	pub env: Vec<(String, String)>,
+	pub env_clear: bool,
+	pub cwd: Option<Utf8PathBuf>,
+	pub escalated: bool,
+	pub stdin: StdioMode,
+	pub stdout: StdioMode,
+	pub stderr: StderrMode,
+}
 
 pub struct RemowtChild {
-	pub stdin: DuplexStream,
-	pub stdout: DuplexStream,
-	pub stderr: DuplexStream,
-	pub exit: oneshot::Receiver<Option<u32>>,
+	pub stdin: Option<RemowtStream>,
+	pub stdout: Option<RemowtStream>,
+	pub stderr: Option<RemowtStream>,
+	id: ProcId,
+	client: SubprocessClient<BifConfig>,
 }
 
 impl RemowtChild {
-	/// Manage channel returned by russh exec().
-	pub(crate) fn from_exec(ch: Channel<Msg>) -> Self {
-		let (stdin, mut stdin_r) = tokio::io::duplex(BUF);
-		let (mut out_w, stdout) = tokio::io::duplex(BUF);
-		let (mut err_w, stderr) = tokio::io::duplex(BUF);
-		let (exit_tx, exit) = oneshot::channel();
+	pub async fn wait(self) -> Result<Option<i32>> {
+		let RemowtChild {
+			stdin,
+			stdout,
+			stderr,
+			id,
+			client,
+		} = self;
+		drop(stdin);
+		drop(stdout);
+		drop(stderr);
+		client
+			.wait(id)
+			.await?
+			.map_err(|e| anyhow!("agent wait failed: {e}"))
+	}
+
+	pub async fn kill(&self, signal: i32) -> Result<()> {
+		self.client
+			.kill(self.id, signal)
+			.await?
+			.map_err(|e| anyhow!("agent kill failed: {e}"))
+	}
+}
+
+fn needs_socket(m: StdioMode) -> bool {
+	matches!(m, StdioMode::Pipe | StdioMode::Inherit)
+}
+
+fn stderr_needs_socket(m: StderrMode) -> bool {
+	matches!(m, StderrMode::Pipe | StderrMode::Inherit)
+}
+
+impl Remowt {
+	pub async fn spawn(&self, opts: SpawnOptions) -> Result<RemowtChild> {
+		let SpawnOptions {
+			program,
+			args,
+			env,
+			env_clear,
+			cwd,
+			escalated,
+			stdin,
+			stdout,
+			stderr,
+		} = opts;
+
+		if matches!(stderr, StderrMode::MergeWithStdout) && !needs_socket(stdout) {
+			bail!("stderr=MergeWithStdout requires stdout=Pipe or Inherit");
+		}
+
+		let stdin_bound = if needs_socket(stdin) {
+			Some(self.bind_runtime_unix("proc-stdin").await?)
+		} else {
+			None
+		};
+		let stdout_bound = if needs_socket(stdout) {
+			Some(self.bind_runtime_unix("proc-stdout").await?)
+		} else {
+			None
+		};
+		let stderr_bound = if stderr_needs_socket(stderr) {
+			Some(self.bind_runtime_unix("proc-stderr").await?)
+		} else {
+			None
+		};
+
+		let stdin_spec = match &stdin_bound {
+			Some((_, p)) => StdioSpec::Socket(p.clone()),
+			None => StdioSpec::Null,
+		};
+		let stdout_spec = match &stdout_bound {
+			Some((_, p)) => StdioSpec::Socket(p.clone()),
+			None => StdioSpec::Null,
+		};
+		let stderr_spec = match (&stderr, &stderr_bound) {
+			(StderrMode::Pipe | StderrMode::Inherit, Some((_, p))) => StderrSpec::Socket(p.clone()),
+			(StderrMode::MergeWithStdout, _) => StderrSpec::MergeWithStdout,
+			_ => StderrSpec::Null,
+		};
 
-		tokio::spawn(async move {
-			let (mut read, write) = ch.split();
+		let client: SubprocessClient<BifConfig> = if escalated {
+			// Boxed to break the async-fn type cycle
+			Box::pin(self.run0_endpoints::<SubprocessClient<BifConfig>>()).await?
+		} else {
+			self.endpoints()
+		};
 
-			// Forward our stdin to the channel, signalling EOF when it closes.
-			let stdin_pump = tokio::spawn(async move {
-				let mut buf = vec![0u8; BUF];
-				loop {
-					match stdin_r.read(&mut buf).await {
-						Ok(0) | Err(_) => break,
-						Ok(n) => {
-							if write
-								.data_bytes(Bytes::copy_from_slice(&buf[..n]))
-								.await
-								.is_err()
-							{
-								return;
-							}
-						}
+		let spec = SpawnSpec {
+			program: program.clone(),
+			args,
+			env,
+			env_clear,
+			cwd,
+			stdin: stdin_spec,
+			stdout: stdout_spec,
+			stderr: stderr_spec,
+		};
+		let id = client
+			.spawn(spec)
+			.await?
+			.map_err(|e| anyhow!("agent spawn failed: {e}"))?;
+
+		let (stdin_res, stdout_res, stderr_res) = tokio::join!(
+			accept(stdin_bound),
+			accept(stdout_bound),
+			accept(stderr_bound),
+		);
+
+		let stdin_stream = handle_stdin(stdin, stdin_res?, &program);
+		let stdout_stream = handle_output(stdout, stdout_res?, &program, false);
+		let stderr_stream = handle_output_err(stderr, stderr_res?, &program);
+
+		Ok(RemowtChild {
+			stdin: stdin_stream,
+			stdout: stdout_stream,
+			stderr: stderr_stream,
+			id,
+			client,
+		})
+	}
+
+	pub fn cmd(&self, program: impl AsRef<str>) -> RemowtCommand {
+		let program = program.as_ref().to_owned();
+		RemowtCommand {
+			program,
+			args: vec![],
+			env: vec![],
+			remowt: self.clone(),
+			escalated: false,
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+async fn accept(b: Option<(RemowtListener, Utf8PathBuf)>) -> Result<Option<RemowtStream>> {
+	match b {
+		Some((l, _)) => Ok(Some(l.accept().await?)),
+		None => Ok(None),
+	}
+}
+
+fn handle_stdin(mode: StdioMode, s: Option<RemowtStream>, program: &str) -> Option<RemowtStream> {
+	match mode {
+		StdioMode::Pipe => s,
+		StdioMode::Inherit => {
+			if let Some(s) = s {
+				let program = program.to_owned();
+				tokio::spawn(async move {
+					let mut stdin = tokio::io::stdin();
+					let mut s = s;
+					if let Err(e) = tokio::io::copy(&mut stdin, &mut s).await {
+						warn!(program, "stdin forward ended: {e}");
 					}
-				}
-				let _ = write.eof().await;
-			});
+					let _ = s.shutdown().await;
+				});
+			}
+			None
+		}
+		StdioMode::Null => None,
+	}
+}
+
+fn handle_output(
+	mode: StdioMode,
+	s: Option<RemowtStream>,
+	program: &str,
+	is_stderr: bool,
+) -> Option<RemowtStream> {
+	match mode {
+		StdioMode::Pipe => s,
+		StdioMode::Inherit => {
+			if let Some(s) = s {
+				let program = program.to_owned();
+				tokio::spawn(pump_to_tracing(s, program, is_stderr));
+			}
+			None
+		}
+		StdioMode::Null => None,
+	}
+}
+
+fn handle_output_err(
+	mode: StderrMode,
+	s: Option<RemowtStream>,
+	program: &str,
+) -> Option<RemowtStream> {
+	match mode {
+		StderrMode::Pipe => s,
+		StderrMode::Inherit => {
+			if let Some(s) = s {
+				let program = program.to_owned();
+				tokio::spawn(pump_to_tracing(s, program, true));
+			}
+			None
+		}
+		StderrMode::MergeWithStdout | StderrMode::Null => None,
+	}
+}
 
-			let mut code = None;
-			while let Some(msg) = read.wait().await {
-				match msg {
-					ChannelMsg::Data { data } => {
-						if out_w.write_all(&data).await.is_err() {
-							break;
-						}
-					}
-					ChannelMsg::ExtendedData { data, .. } => {
-						if err_w.write_all(&data).await.is_err() {
-							break;
-						}
-					}
-					ChannelMsg::ExitStatus { exit_status } => code = Some(exit_status),
-					_ => {}
+async fn pump_to_tracing(stream: RemowtStream, program: String, is_stderr: bool) {
+	let mut reader = BufReader::new(stream).lines();
+	loop {
+		match reader.next_line().await {
+			Ok(Some(line)) => {
+				if is_stderr {
+					warn!(program, "{line}");
+				} else {
+					info!(program, "{line}");
 				}
 			}
+			Ok(None) => break,
+			Err(e) => {
+				warn!(program, "child log stream error: {e}");
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+fn escape_bash(input: &str, out: &mut String) {
+	const TO_ESCAPE: &str = "$ !\"#&'()*,;<>?[\\]^`{|}";
+	if input.chars().all(|c| !TO_ESCAPE.contains(c)) {
+		out.push_str(input);
+		return;
+	}
+	out.push('\'');
+	for (i, v) in input.split('\'').enumerate() {
+		if i != 0 {
+			out.push_str("'\"'\"'");
+		}
+		out.push_str(v);
+	}
+	out.push('\'');
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct RemowtCommand {
+	program: String,
+	args: Vec<String>,
+	env: Vec<(String, String)>,
+	remowt: Remowt,
+	escalated: bool,
+}
+
+impl RemowtCommand {
+	pub fn arg(&mut self, arg: impl AsRef<str>) -> &mut Self {
+		self.args.push(arg.as_ref().to_owned());
+		self
+	}
+	pub fn args<V: AsRef<str>>(&mut self, args: impl IntoIterator<Item = V>) -> &mut Self {
+		for arg in args {
+			self.args.push(arg.as_ref().to_owned());
+		}
+		self
+	}
+	pub fn eqarg(&mut self, key: impl AsRef<str>, value: impl AsRef<str>) -> &mut Self {
+		self.args
+			.push(format!("{}={}", key.as_ref(), value.as_ref()));
+		self
+	}
+	pub fn comparg(&mut self, key: impl AsRef<str>, value: impl AsRef<str>) -> &mut Self {
+		self.args.push(key.as_ref().to_owned());
+		self.args.push(value.as_ref().to_owned());
+		self
+	}
+	pub fn env(&mut self, name: impl AsRef<str>, value: impl AsRef<str>) -> &mut Self {
+		self.env
+			.push((name.as_ref().to_owned(), value.as_ref().to_owned()));
+		self
+	}
 
-			// The process is gone; stop waiting on stdin we'll never forward.
-			stdin_pump.abort();
-			let _ = out_w.shutdown().await;
-			let _ = err_w.shutdown().await;
-			let _ = exit_tx.send(code);
-		});
+	pub fn sudo(mut self) -> Self {
+		self.escalated = true;
+		self
+	}
 
-		RemowtChild {
-			stdin,
-			stdout,
-			stderr,
-			exit,
+	/// Only for display.
+	fn shell_line(&self) -> String {
+		let mut out = String::new();
+		if self.escalated {
+			out.push_str("run0 ");
+		}
+		if !self.env.is_empty() {
+			out.push_str("env");
+			for (k, v) in &self.env {
+				out.push(' ');
+				assert!(!k.contains('='));
+				escape_bash(k, &mut out);
+				out.push('=');
+				escape_bash(v, &mut out);
+			}
+			out.push(' ');
 		}
+		escape_bash(&self.program, &mut out);
+		for arg in &self.args {
+			out.push(' ');
+			escape_bash(arg, &mut out);
+		}
+		out
 	}
 
-	/// Wait for the process to finish, returning its exit status.
-	pub async fn wait(self) -> Option<u32> {
-		self.exit.await.ok().flatten()
+	fn into_spawn_options(self) -> (Remowt, SpawnOptions, String) {
+		let line = self.shell_line();
+		let opts = SpawnOptions {
+			program: self.program,
+			args: self.args,
+			env: self.env,
+			env_clear: false,
+			cwd: None,
+			escalated: self.escalated,
+			stdin: StdioMode::Null,
+			stdout: StdioMode::Pipe,
+			stderr: StderrMode::Pipe,
+		};
+		(self.remowt, opts, line)
+	}
+
+	pub async fn run(self) -> Result<()> {
+		run_inner(self, false).await.map(|_| ())
+	}
+	pub async fn run_string(self) -> Result<String> {
+		let bytes = run_inner(self, true).await?.expect("want_stdout");
+		Ok(String::from_utf8(bytes)?)
+	}
+	pub async fn run_value<T: DeserializeOwned>(self) -> Result<T> {
+		let s = self.run_string().await?;
+		Ok(serde_json::from_str(&s)?)
+	}
+}
+
+async fn run_inner(cmd: RemowtCommand, want_stdout: bool) -> Result<Option<Vec<u8>>> {
+	let (remowt, opts, line) = cmd.into_spawn_options();
+	debug!("running command {line:?} over remowt");
+	let program = opts.program.clone();
+	let mut child = remowt.spawn(opts).await?;
+	let stderr = child.stderr.take().expect("stderr=Pipe");
+	let stdout = child.stdout.take().expect("stdout=Pipe");
+
+	let mut err = FramedRead::new(stderr, LinesCodec::new());
+	let (mut out_bytes, mut out_lines) = if want_stdout {
+		(Some(FramedRead::new(stdout, BytesCodec::new())), None)
+	} else {
+		(None, Some(FramedRead::new(stdout, LinesCodec::new())))
+	};
+
+	let mut buf = if want_stdout { Some(Vec::new()) } else { None };
+
+	let mut wait = pin!(child.wait());
+	let exit = loop {
+		select! {
+			biased;
+
+			Some(e) = err.next() => {
+				let e = e?;
+				warn!(program = %program, "{e}");
+			}
+			Some(o) = async { out_bytes.as_mut()?.next().await }, if want_stdout => {
+				buf.as_mut().expect("want_stdout").extend_from_slice(&o?);
+			}
+			Some(o) = async { out_lines.as_mut()?.next().await }, if !want_stdout => {
+				let o = o?;
+				info!(program = %program, "{o}");
+			}
+			res = &mut wait => {
+				break res?;
+			}
+		}
+	};
+
+	match exit {
+		Some(0) => Ok(buf),
+		Some(c) => bail!("command '{line}' failed with status {c}"),
+		None => Err(anyhow!("command '{line}' ended without an exit status")),
 	}
 }
modifiedcrates/remowt-endpoints/Cargo.tomldiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/crates/remowt-endpoints/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/remowt-endpoints/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,5 +16,5 @@
 tokio = { workspace = true, features = ["net", "io-util", "rt", "process"] }
 tracing.workspace = true
 uuid.workspace = true
-nix = { workspace = true, features = ["process", "term"] }
+nix = { workspace = true, features = ["process", "signal", "term"] }
 zbus.workspace = true
modifiedcrates/remowt-endpoints/src/lib.rsdiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/crates/remowt-endpoints/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/remowt-endpoints/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 pub mod fs;
 pub mod nix_daemon;
 pub mod pty;
+pub mod subprocess;
 pub mod systemd;
modifiedcrates/remowt-endpoints/src/pty.rsdiffbeforeafterboth
--- a/crates/remowt-endpoints/src/pty.rs
+++ b/crates/remowt-endpoints/src/pty.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 use tokio::io::unix::AsyncFd;
 use tokio::io::{AsyncRead, AsyncWrite, ReadBuf};
 use tokio::net::UnixStream;
-use tracing::{info, warn};
+use tracing::{debug, info, warn};
 
 pub type ShellId = u64;
 
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
 		};
 		let pty = AsyncPty::new(master)?;
 
-		info!(id, shell, "shell opened");
+		debug!(id, shell, "shell opened");
 		let shells = self.shells.clone();
 		tokio::spawn(async move {
 			let mut pty = pty;
addedcrates/remowt-endpoints/src/subprocess.rsdiffbeforeafterboth
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/remowt-endpoints/src/subprocess.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::io;
+use std::process::Stdio;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering};
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+
+use bifrostlink::declarative::endpoints;
+use bifrostlink::Config;
+use camino::Utf8PathBuf;
+use nix::sys::signal::{self, Signal};
+use nix::unistd::Pid;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt as _, AsyncWriteExt as _};
+use tokio::net::UnixStream;
+use tokio::process::{ChildStderr, ChildStdout, Command};
+use tokio::sync::{mpsc, watch};
+use tracing::{debug, warn};
+
+pub type ProcId = u64;
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
+pub enum StdioSpec {
+	Null,
+	Socket(Utf8PathBuf),
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
+pub enum StderrSpec {
+	Null,
+	Socket(Utf8PathBuf),
+	MergeWithStdout,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
+pub struct SpawnSpec {
+	pub program: String,
+	pub args: Vec<String>,
+	pub env: Vec<(String, String)>,
+	pub env_clear: bool,
+	pub cwd: Option<Utf8PathBuf>,
+	pub stdin: StdioSpec,
+	pub stdout: StdioSpec,
+	pub stderr: StderrSpec,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, thiserror::Error)]
+pub enum Error {
+	#[error("spawn failed: {0}")]
+	Spawn(String),
+	#[error("connect to forwarded socket failed: {0}")]
+	Connect(String),
+	#[error("no process with that id")]
+	NoSuchProcess,
+	#[error("MergeWithStdout requires stdout=Socket")]
+	BadMerge,
+	#[error("invalid signal: {0}")]
+	BadSignal(i32),
+	#[error("kill failed: {0}")]
+	Kill(String),
+	#[error("io error: {0}")]
+	Io(String),
+}
+
+impl From<io::Error> for Error {
+	fn from(e: io::Error) -> Self {
+		Error::Io(e.to_string())
+	}
+}
+
+struct ChildState {
+	pid: u32,
+	exit_rx: watch::Receiver<Option<Option<i32>>>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Default)]
+pub struct Subprocess {
+	children: Arc<Mutex<HashMap<ProcId, ChildState>>>,
+	next_id: Arc<AtomicU64>,
+}
+
+impl Subprocess {
+	pub fn new() -> Self {
+		Self::default()
+	}
+}
+
+#[endpoints(ns = 10)]
+impl Subprocess {
+	#[endpoints(id = 1)]
+	async fn spawn(&self, spec: SpawnSpec) -> Result<ProcId, Error> {
+		let SpawnSpec {
+			program,
+			args,
+			env,
+			env_clear,
+			cwd,
+			stdin,
+			stdout,
+			stderr,
+		} = spec;
+
+		if matches!(stderr, StderrSpec::MergeWithStdout) && !matches!(stdout, StdioSpec::Socket(_))
+		{
+			return Err(Error::BadMerge);
+		}
+
+		let mut cmd = Command::new(&program);
+		cmd.args(&args);
+		if env_clear {
+			cmd.env_clear();
+		}
+		for (k, v) in &env {
+			cmd.env(k, v);
+		}
+		if let Some(cwd) = &cwd {
+			cmd.current_dir(cwd);
+		}
+		cmd.stdin(match &stdin {
+			StdioSpec::Socket(_) => Stdio::piped(),
+			StdioSpec::Null => Stdio::null(),
+		});
+		cmd.stdout(match &stdout {
+			StdioSpec::Socket(_) => Stdio::piped(),
+			StdioSpec::Null => Stdio::null(),
+		});
+		cmd.stderr(match &stderr {
+			StderrSpec::Socket(_) | StderrSpec::MergeWithStdout => Stdio::piped(),
+			StderrSpec::Null => Stdio::null(),
+		});
+		cmd.kill_on_drop(false);
+
+		let mut child = cmd.spawn().map_err(|e| Error::Spawn(e.to_string()))?;
+		let pid = child
+			.id()
+			.ok_or_else(|| Error::Spawn("child exited before pid available".to_owned()))?;
+
+		if let StdioSpec::Socket(path) = &stdin {
+			let sock = UnixStream::connect(path)
+				.await
+				.map_err(|e| Error::Connect(e.to_string()))?;
+			let mut stdin_w = child.stdin.take().expect("piped");
+			tokio::spawn(async move {
+				let (mut sr, _) = tokio::io::split(sock);
+				let _ = tokio::io::copy(&mut sr, &mut stdin_w).await;
+				let _ = stdin_w.shutdown().await;
+			});
+		}
+
+		let stdout_handle = child.stdout.take();
+		let stderr_handle = child.stderr.take();
+
+		match (&stdout, &stderr, stdout_handle, stderr_handle) {
+			(StdioSpec::Socket(out_path), StderrSpec::MergeWithStdout, Some(out), Some(err)) => {
+				let sock = UnixStream::connect(out_path)
+					.await
+					.map_err(|e| Error::Connect(e.to_string()))?;
+				tokio::spawn(merge_to_sock(out, err, sock));
+			}
+			(StdioSpec::Socket(out_path), _, Some(out), err_opt) => {
+				let sock = UnixStream::connect(out_path)
+					.await
+					.map_err(|e| Error::Connect(e.to_string()))?;
+				tokio::spawn(pump_to_sock(out, sock));
+				if let (StderrSpec::Socket(err_path), Some(err)) = (&stderr, err_opt) {
+					let err_sock = UnixStream::connect(err_path)
+						.await
+						.map_err(|e| Error::Connect(e.to_string()))?;
+					tokio::spawn(pump_to_sock(err, err_sock));
+				}
+			}
+			(StdioSpec::Null, StderrSpec::Socket(err_path), _, Some(err)) => {
+				let sock = UnixStream::connect(err_path)
+					.await
+					.map_err(|e| Error::Connect(e.to_string()))?;
+				tokio::spawn(pump_to_sock(err, sock));
+			}
+			_ => {}
+		}
+
+		let (exit_tx, exit_rx) = watch::channel(None);
+		let id = self.next_id.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+		self.children
+			.lock()
+			.expect("not poisoned")
+			.insert(id, ChildState { pid, exit_rx });
+
+		debug!(id, pid, program, "subprocess spawned");
+		tokio::spawn(async move {
+			let result = child.wait().await;
+			let code = match result {
+				Ok(status) => status.code(),
+				Err(e) => {
+					warn!(id, "child.wait failed: {e}");
+					None
+				}
+			};
+			let _ = exit_tx.send(Some(code));
+		});
+
+		Ok(id)
+	}
+
+	#[endpoints(id = 2)]
+	async fn wait(&self, id: ProcId) -> Result<Option<i32>, Error> {
+		let mut rx = {
+			let map = self.children.lock().expect("not poisoned");
+			let entry = map.get(&id).ok_or(Error::NoSuchProcess)?;
+			entry.exit_rx.clone()
+		};
+		rx.wait_for(|v| v.is_some())
+			.await
+			.map_err(|_| Error::Io("exit channel closed".to_owned()))?;
+		let code = rx.borrow().flatten();
+		self.children.lock().expect("not poisoned").remove(&id);
+		Ok(code)
+	}
+
+	#[endpoints(id = 3)]
+	async fn kill(&self, id: ProcId, signal: i32) -> Result<(), Error> {
+		let pid = {
+			let map = self.children.lock().expect("not poisoned");
+			let entry = map.get(&id).ok_or(Error::NoSuchProcess)?;
+			entry.pid
+		};
+		let sig = Signal::try_from(signal).map_err(|_| Error::BadSignal(signal))?;
+		signal::kill(Pid::from_raw(pid as i32), sig).map_err(|e| Error::Kill(e.to_string()))?;
+		Ok(())
+	}
+}
+
+async fn pump_to_sock<R>(mut from: R, sock: UnixStream)
+where
+	R: tokio::io::AsyncRead + Unpin,
+{
+	let (_, mut sw) = tokio::io::split(sock);
+	let _ = tokio::io::copy(&mut from, &mut sw).await;
+	let _ = sw.shutdown().await;
+}
+
+async fn merge_to_sock(mut stdout: ChildStdout, mut stderr: ChildStderr, sock: UnixStream) {
+	let (_, mut sw) = tokio::io::split(sock);
+	let (tx, mut rx) = mpsc::channel::<Vec<u8>>(64);
+	let tx_out = tx.clone();
+	let out_pump = tokio::spawn(async move {
+		let mut buf = vec![0u8; 4096];
+		loop {
+			match stdout.read(&mut buf).await {
+				Ok(0) | Err(_) => break,
+				Ok(n) => {
+					if tx_out.send(buf[..n].to_vec()).await.is_err() {
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	});
+	let err_pump = tokio::spawn(async move {
+		let mut buf = vec![0u8; 4096];
+		loop {
+			match stderr.read(&mut buf).await {
+				Ok(0) | Err(_) => break,
+				Ok(n) => {
+					if tx.send(buf[..n].to_vec()).await.is_err() {
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	});
+	while let Some(chunk) = rx.recv().await {
+		if sw.write_all(&chunk).await.is_err() {
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+	let _ = out_pump.await;
+	let _ = err_pump.await;
+	let _ = sw.shutdown().await;
+}