Workspace runs shows error "Failed to ingress slug Failed to clone Failed updating submodules exit status 1"

Problem

VCS-driven Terraform Enterprise (TFE) or Terraform Cloud (TFC) workspaces, whose code is using submodules within the VCS repository, may error failing to retrieve configuration when runs are triggered.

The error message logs reported in the TFE or TFC workspace may also include the following excerpt.

Fatal: Authentication failed for 'https://github.com/$companyname/$path/'
Fatal: clone of 'https://github.com/$companyname/$path/' into submodule path '/local/slug-ingressXXXX/clone/$module-name' failed
failed to clone '$submodule-name', Retry Scheduled

Cause

• The .gitmodules file contains the incorrect URL or protocol

[submodule "modules"]
path = modules
url = https://github.com/$companyname/$path (Wrong protocol)

• As displayed in the error message the URL is using https instead of ssh
• ssh is the expected protocol for submodule authentication connection 

Solutions:

• Change the url setting in the .gitmodules file to use ssh for connection, for example

[submodule "modules"]
path = modules
url = git@github.com/$companyname/$path

• After the correct URL has been modified, retry the workspace run

Additional Information

• For additional assistance please contact HashiCorp Support.