[JENKINS-65545] env vars are not consistent

I'm trying to do something like this:

node {

    stage('reproduce') {

sh """

    echo '1'

    printenv PATH

    echo "$PATH"

"""

docker.image('python:3.6.4-slim').inside {

    sh """

echo '2'

printenv PATH

echo "$PATH"

    """

    withEnv(["PATH=$PATH:/my/custom/path"]) {

sh """

    echo '3'

    printenv PATH

    echo "$PATH"

"""

    }

}

    }

}

sh (1) gives me:

```
+ printenv PATH
/opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
+ echo /opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
/opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
```

all is good so far

sh (2) gives me:

```
+ printenv PATH
/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
+ echo /opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
/opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
```

which is already confusing

sh (3) gives:

```
+ printenv PATH
/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
+ echo /opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/my/custom/path
/opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/my/custom/path
```

 

I have couple of questions about this:

• why printenv and echo in sh(2) show different results? sounds like printenv prints original env which comes from docker image while echo prints value from host jenkins.


• why withEnv which is executed inside docker container does not modify docker's PATH but modifies Jenkins's PATH.

---
Originally reported by spugachev, imported from: env vars are not consistent

• status: Open
  
• priority: Minor
  
• component(s): docker-workflow-plugin
  
• resolution: Unresolved
  
• votes: 0
  
• watchers: 2
  
• imported: 2025-12-07
  

Raw content of original issue

I'm trying to do something like this:



node {

    stage('reproduce') {

        sh """

            echo '1'

            printenv PATH

            echo "$PATH"

        """

        docker.image('python:3.6.4-slim').inside {

            sh """

                echo '2'

                printenv PATH

                echo "$PATH"

            """

            withEnv(["PATH=$PATH:/my/custom/path"]) {

                sh """

                    echo '3'

                    printenv PATH

                    echo "$PATH"

                """

            }

        }

    }

}





sh (1) gives me:



+ printenv PATH

/opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

+ echo /opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin 

/opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin



all is good so far


sh (2) gives me:



+ printenv PATH

/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

+ echo /opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin 

/opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin



which is already confusing


sh (3) gives:



+ printenv PATH

/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

+ echo /opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/my/custom/path 

/opt/java/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/my/custom/path



 


I have couple of questions about this:



	
why printenv and echo in sh(2) show different results? sounds like printenv prints original env which comes from docker image while echo prints value from host jenkins.

	
why withEnv which is executed inside docker container does not modify docker's PATH but modifies Jenkins's PATH.

environment

```
jenkins 2.287

docker-plugin: 1.2.2

docker-workflow: 1.2.6
```