Java executable not found on ubuntu-latest, after installing with actions/setup-java@v4

[j0nathontayl0r]

Description:
I'm installing Java using the action-setup-java@v4. However I can't execute the Java binary though it is found in the path, and I can see the binary on the actions file system.

Action to install Java:

      - uses: actions/setup-java@v4
        with:
          java-version: '21'
          distribution: 'temurin'
          check-latest: true

Debugging script:

      - name: Semgrep Scan
        run: |
          chmod +x $JAVA_HOME/bin/java
          echo "Path is: $PATH"
          echo "JAVA_HOME is: $JAVA_HOME"
          echo "JAVA_HOME_21_X64 is $JAVA_HOME_21_X64"
          echo "Which Java? $(which java)"
          echo "Which Java version? $(java -version)"
          echo "What files are found in $JAVA_HOME_21_X64/bin? $(ls -la $JAVA_HOME_21_X64/bin)"
          echo "What files are found in $JAVA_HOME/bin? $(ls -la $JAVA_HOME/bin)"
          $JAVA_HOME_21_X64/bin/java -version
          semgrep ci --allow-local-builds --verbose

Output in my action is below:

Path is: /__t/Java_Temurin-Hotspot_jdk/21.0.7-6.0.LTS/x64/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
JAVA_HOME is: /__t/Java_Temurin-Hotspot_jdk/21.0.7-6.0.LTS/x64
JAVA_HOME_21_X64 is /__t/Java_Temurin-Hotspot_jdk/21.0.7-6.0.LTS/x64
Which Java? /__t/Java_Temurin-Hotspot_jdk/21.0.7-6.0.LTS/x64/bin/java
/__w/_temp/179145c7-767b-4d7c-b398-5aaa1a0e8ada.sh: line 5: java: not found
Which Java version? 
What files are found in /__t/Java_Temurin-Hotspot_jdk/21.0.7-6.0.LTS/x64/bin? total 468
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root          4096 May 22 03:39 .
drwxrwxrwx    9 root     root          4096 May 22 03:40 ..
-rwxr-xr-x    1 root     root         12304 May 22 03:39 jar
-rwxr-xr-x    1 root     root         12304 May 22 03:39 jarsigner
-rwxr-xr-x    1 root     root         12248 May 22 03:39 java

Task version:
v4

Platform:

• Ubuntu

Runner type:

• Hosted

Repro steps:
Tried using java-version: '17' and java-version: '21', no change.

Expected behavior:
java -version should work.

Actual behavior:
Getting "java not found" when trying to execute it, even when using absolute path.

E.g., both of the below don't work:

$JAVA_HOME_21_X64/bin/java -version
java -version

Here's the whole action pipeline:

name: Shared Deploy

permissions:
  contents: read
  id-token: write

env:
  ENVIRONMENT: ${{ inputs.ENVIRONMENT }}

jobs:

  semgrep:
    name: Scan
    #continue-on-error: false
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    container:
      image: semgrep/semgrep
    env:
      SEMGREP_APP_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SEMGREP_APP_TOKEN }}
    steps:
      - name: Checkout repository
        uses: actions/checkout@v4
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0
      - uses: actions/setup-java@v4
        with:
          java-version: '21'
          distribution: 'temurin'
          check-latest: true
      #- run: java HelloWorldApp.java # commented out, not working
      - name: Checkout repository
        uses: actions/checkout@v4
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0
      - name: Semgrep Scan
        run: |
          chmod +x $JAVA_HOME/bin/java
          echo "Path is: $PATH"
          echo "JAVA_HOME is: $JAVA_HOME"
          echo "JAVA_HOME_21_X64 is $JAVA_HOME_21_X64"
          echo "Which Java? $(which java)"
          echo "Which Java version? $(java -version)"
          echo "What files are found in $JAVA_HOME_21_X64/bin? $(ls -la $JAVA_HOME_21_X64/bin)"
          echo "What files are found in $JAVA_HOME/bin? $(ls -la $JAVA_HOME/bin)"
          $JAVA_HOME_21_X64/bin/java -version

[aparnajyothi-y]

Hello @j0nathontayl0r, Thank you for creating this issue and we will look into it :)

[gowridurgad]

Hi @j0nathontayl0r, The issue arises because the GitHub Actions job runs inside the semgrep/semgrep container, which is based on Alpine Linux. While actions/setup-java successfully downloads and extracts the Temurin JDK binaries, these are built for systems that use the GNU C Library (glibc).

However, Alpine Linux uses a different C library called musl, which is not compatible with glibc-based binaries. As a result, although the Java files are present and the JAVA_HOME variable is set, the Java executable cannot run due to missing required system libraries. This results in the java: not found error because, although the binary exists, it fails to execute due to the incompatibility between glibc and musl.
To resolve this, please use one of the following approaches:

1. Use a container image based on Ubuntu, or another glibc-based distribution so that actions/setup-java works as expected.
2. Remove the container: section to run on the default GitHub Actions runner, where actions/setup-java is compatible.
3. If Alpine must be used, install Java directly via Alpine's package manager:
   apk add openjdk<version>
   This will provide a working Java environment inside Alpine. However, note that the Temurin JDK installed by actions/setup-java will not function due to the lack of glibc support. In this case, use only the Java version provided by apk.

[gowridurgad]

Hi @j0nathontayl0r, Just a gentle reminder regarding this issue, If you have any updates or need further assistance, Please let us know.

[j0nathontayl0r]

Hey thank you for the reminder! Yep the comment re. glibc makes total sense.

Yep I'm happy with that, again, thank you for the assistance. I'll close it.

[gowridurgad]

Hi @j0nathontayl0r, Great to hear! Since the explanation resolved your question, we will proceed to close this issue. If you have any further concerns or need assistance in the future, please feel free to reach out to us.