Fixing Kibana Cypress Test Failures: Trusted Apps RBAC Issues

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Hey everyone, let's dive into a common headache when working with Kibana and its security features: Cypress test failures. Specifically, we're going to troubleshoot a failing test related to the Trusted Apps RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) in the Security Solution. This kind of issue can be a real time-sink, so understanding how to diagnose and fix it is super valuable. We'll be using a real-world example from a failed test run on a tracked branch, so you can see how to apply these techniques in a practical scenario. Let's get started, shall we?

The Problem: AssertionError: Timed out retrying...

Alright, so the error message we're dealing with is an AssertionError in a Cypress test. The core of the problem is this: "Timed out retrying after 60000ms: Expected to find element: [data-test-subj="trustedAppsListPage-card-criteriaConditions"], but never found it."" What this means is that the Cypress test was looking for a specific element on the page – a UI component related to the criteria conditions within the Trusted Apps list – but it couldn't find it within the allotted 60 seconds. That's a long time to wait, so this definitely points to a problem.

The failure occurred during a test named "Trusted apps RBAC siemV2 When on the Trusted applications entries list given there is an existing artifact write - should be able to update an existing Trusted applications entry write - should be able to update an existing Trusted applications entry" This test is designed to verify that users with the correct permissions can update existing trusted application entries. It's a critical test for ensuring the security features are working as intended. The fact that it failed on a tracked branch is a big deal because it means a potential bug or regression was introduced, and the test prevented it from merging into the main branch. The error often occurs when the UI hasn't loaded properly, the element's selector is incorrect, or there's an issue with the RBAC configuration preventing the element from being displayed. Let's break down how to tackle this.

When you see this sort of timeout error, it's crucial to understand what the test is trying to do and where it's failing. Is it a problem with the UI, the backend, or the test itself? Gathering as much information as possible will help pinpoint the root cause.

Understanding the Error's Context

First things first, let's break down the error message. The critical part is the timeout and the element it was looking for. The element is identified by a data-test-subj attribute, which is a common way to select elements for Cypress tests. The attribute's value is "trustedAppsListPage-card-criteriaConditions". This suggests that the test is trying to interact with, or verify the existence of, a UI component related to the criteria conditions on the Trusted Apps List Page. The test is likely failing in a step where it's trying to confirm that the criteria conditions are displayed or loaded correctly on the page.

Why is this element not being found? There are a few possibilities, and we'll explore them in the following sections:

  • UI Loading Issues: The page might not have fully loaded within the 60-second timeout. This can be due to various reasons, such as slow API calls, network issues, or inefficient rendering.
  • Incorrect Selector: The Cypress test might be using an incorrect selector. Perhaps the data-test-subj attribute value has changed, or the element is nested differently in the DOM than the test expects.
  • RBAC Configuration: The user running the test might not have the necessary permissions to view the criteria conditions. If the RBAC configuration is incorrect, the UI might not render the element because the user doesn't have access.
  • Test Flakiness: Sometimes, tests can be flaky. This means they pass sometimes and fail others, even without any code changes. This can be due to race conditions, timing issues, or environmental factors. It's also an important factor in these types of scenarios.

Each of these possibilities requires a different approach to debugging and fixing the test. Let's move on and look at how to tackle these.

Debugging Steps: Finding the Root Cause

Alright, time to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty. When debugging Cypress test failures, here's a systematic approach to identify the root cause:

1. Analyze the Test Logs and Buildkite Output

The first step is to examine the test logs and build output. The error message we have provides valuable clues. Let's go back to the Buildkite link provided in the initial problem description. You'll want to inspect the Buildkite logs for more details. Look for:

  • Network Requests: Are there any failing or slow network requests? Slow API calls can cause the UI to load slowly, leading to timeouts.
  • JavaScript Errors: Are there any JavaScript errors in the console? These errors can prevent the UI from rendering correctly.
  • Test Steps: Review the test steps to understand the sequence of actions and identify the point of failure. What was the test doing immediately before the timeout?
  • Screenshot: Cypress automatically takes screenshots when tests fail. Check the screenshot to see what the UI looked like when the test failed. Does the element exist in the screenshot, but it just hasn't loaded correctly? Or is it missing entirely?

Example: Let's say you find a 500 error in the network requests. This indicates a server-side issue. This could be related to the API call needed to fetch data for the criteria conditions. You would then have to investigate the server logs to understand why the call is failing.

2. Inspect the Kibana UI

Next, manually inspect the Kibana UI in the same environment where the test failed. You will need to access the Kibana instance and navigate to the Trusted Apps section. Here's what to check:

  • Element Existence: Does the element with the data-test-subj="trustedAppsListPage-card-criteriaConditions" attribute exist in the DOM? Use your browser's developer tools (right-click, 'Inspect') to search for this element. If the element doesn't exist, it confirms the test's failure.
  • Permissions: Verify that the user you are logged in as has the necessary permissions to view the criteria conditions. Are you logged in as an admin, or a user with limited access? Sometimes, RBAC configurations can prevent certain elements from loading if the user lacks the necessary permissions.
  • UI State: Observe the state of the UI. Are there any loading spinners? Does the page appear to be loading slowly? If there are any visual clues that the page isn't fully rendered, then you can narrow down the issues.

Example: If the element is missing, you'll have to consider whether there's a bug in the UI code or if the user doesn't have the right permissions. If the element is there but loading very slowly, you'll need to investigate the network requests.

3. Review the Cypress Test Code

Examine the Cypress test code. It's essential to analyze the test steps related to the failing element. Here's what to look for:

  • Selector Accuracy: Is the selector [data-test-subj="trustedAppsListPage-card-criteriaConditions"] correct? Verify that the selector matches the actual element in the UI. Use the browser's developer tools to examine the element's attributes and confirm the selector is accurate.
  • Test Logic: Understand the test's logic. Does it wait for the element to load? Does it correctly handle asynchronous operations? Cypress provides commands like cy.get().should('exist') to wait for an element to appear. Ensure that these commands are used appropriately.
  • Timing: Is the test waiting long enough for the element to load? If the UI is slow, you might need to increase the timeout value. However, increasing the timeout without addressing the root cause is often a band-aid solution.
  • Dependencies: Check for any dependencies that might be causing problems. For instance, is the test dependent on specific data being present? If the data isn't present, the UI might not render the element correctly.

Example: If the test is using cy.get('[data-test-subj="trustedAppsListPage-card-criteriaConditions"]').should('exist'), this is a good start. But if the UI is loading slowly, you might need to add cy.wait() to give the page time to load before checking for the element.

4. Verify RBAC Configuration

RBAC issues are a common source of problems. If the test is failing because of permissions, you'll need to verify the RBAC configuration.

  • User Role: Identify the user role used by the Cypress test. Determine the specific roles and permissions assigned to this user.
  • Kibana Privileges: Make sure the user role has the necessary Kibana privileges for the Trusted Apps feature. This includes permissions to view, create, update, and delete trusted apps.
  • Index Privileges: Verify that the user role has the necessary index privileges to access the underlying data. The Trusted Apps feature likely relies on indices to store and retrieve data. The user role must have the required permissions to access these indices.
  • Security Settings: Review the security settings in Kibana. Make sure there are no misconfigurations that might be preventing the user from accessing the necessary resources.

Example: You might discover that the user role is missing the permission to view the criteria conditions, and adding that permission resolves the issue.

Troubleshooting Steps: Implementing the Fix

Once you've identified the root cause, it's time to implement a fix. The fix will vary depending on the issue. Here are some potential solutions:

1. UI Loading Issues

If the UI is loading slowly, you can try the following solutions:

  • Optimize API Calls: Review the API calls used to fetch data for the criteria conditions. Optimize the API calls for performance. This may involve reducing the amount of data returned, caching data, or using pagination.
  • Improve Rendering: Identify any rendering bottlenecks in the UI code. Optimize the UI code to improve rendering performance. This may involve using virtualized lists, lazy loading, or other optimization techniques.
  • Increase Timeout: If the UI is consistently slow, you might need to increase the timeout value in the Cypress test. However, this is a workaround, and you should prioritize addressing the root cause of the slow loading.

2. Incorrect Selector

If the selector is incorrect, you can try the following solutions:

  • Update Selector: Update the selector in the Cypress test to match the actual element in the UI. Use the browser's developer tools to inspect the element and verify the correct selector. Keep in mind that UI elements can change over time, so make sure your tests are up to date.
  • Use More Specific Selectors: If possible, use more specific selectors to target the element. This will reduce the risk of the test failing if the UI code changes in the future. Using more specific selectors increases the robustness of your tests.
  • Test Automation Best Practices: Follow Cypress's best practices for writing robust selectors. This includes using data attributes, avoiding brittle selectors like those based on CSS classes that can change due to code refactoring, and making use of data-test-subj attributes.

3. RBAC Configuration Issues

If there are RBAC configuration issues, you can try these solutions:

  • Fix Permissions: Grant the user role the necessary permissions to access the criteria conditions. This might involve assigning new roles or modifying existing ones.
  • Verify Role Assignments: Double-check that the user running the test has the correct role assignments. Ensure that the user is assigned the roles with the correct privileges.
  • Review Security Settings: Review the security settings in Kibana and make sure they're configured correctly. Pay special attention to any settings that might be preventing the user from accessing the necessary resources.

4. Test Flakiness

If the test is flaky, you can try the following solutions:

  • Reduce Flakiness: Implement strategies to reduce test flakiness. This might involve adding retries, using better waiting strategies, or avoiding race conditions.
  • Retries: Implement retries in the Cypress test. Cypress provides the cy.retry() command to automatically retry failing tests. This can help mitigate transient issues that cause the test to fail occasionally.
  • Waiting Strategies: Use appropriate waiting strategies to ensure that the UI is in the correct state before interacting with it. Cypress provides commands like cy.get().should('exist') and cy.wait() to wait for elements to load and operations to complete.

Implementing the Fix: A Practical Example

Let's say you've gone through the debugging steps and discovered that the test user was missing the necessary permissions to view the criteria conditions. The fix would involve the following:

  1. Identify the Missing Permission: Determine the specific Kibana privilege required to access the criteria conditions. You can often find this information in the Kibana documentation or by consulting with a security expert.
  2. Update the Role: Modify the user role used by the Cypress test. Use the Kibana security features to assign the missing privilege to the user role. This could involve editing an existing role or creating a new one.
  3. Verify the Fix: Rerun the Cypress test to verify that the issue is resolved. The test should now pass because the user has the necessary permissions to access the criteria conditions.

In this example, the fix is relatively straightforward. However, the specific fix will vary depending on the root cause of the failure. The key is to systematically debug the test and identify the underlying issue.