diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 7c47d7b..e62ac3b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -302,15 +302,12 @@ jobs:
       # Clone this repo
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
-        with:
-          path: actions-checkout
 
       # Basic checkout using git
       - name: Checkout basic
         id: checkout
-        uses: ./actions-checkout
+        uses: ./
         with:
-          path: cloned-using-local-action
           ref: test-data/v2/basic
 
       # Verify output
@@ -328,3 +325,7 @@ jobs:
             echo "Expected commit to be 82f71901cf8c021332310dcc8cdba84c4193ff5d"
             exit 1
           fi
+
+      # needed to make checkout post cleanup succeed
+      - name: Fix Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4.1.6
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b24767b..9a32e9a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,13 +1,6 @@
 [![Build and Test](https://github.com/actions/checkout/actions/workflows/test.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/actions/checkout/actions/workflows/test.yml)
 
-# Checkout v6-beta
-
-## What's new
-
-- Updated `persist-credentials` to store the credentials under `$RUNNER_TEMP` instead of directly in the local git config.
-  - This requires a minimum Actions Runner version of [v2.329.0](https://github.com/actions/runner/releases/tag/v2.329.0) to access the persisted credentials for [Docker container action](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/tutorials/use-containerized-services/create-a-docker-container-action) scenarios.
-
-# Checkout v5
+# Checkout V5
 
 ## What's new
 
@@ -15,7 +8,7 @@
   - This requires a minimum Actions Runner version of [v2.327.1](https://github.com/actions/runner/releases/tag/v2.327.1) to run.
 
 
-# Checkout v4
+# Checkout V4
 
 This action checks-out your repository under `$GITHUB_WORKSPACE`, so your workflow can access it.
 
diff --git a/__test__/git-auth-helper.test.ts b/__test__/git-auth-helper.test.ts
index ad3566a..7633704 100644
--- a/__test__/git-auth-helper.test.ts
+++ b/__test__/git-auth-helper.test.ts
@@ -86,29 +86,16 @@ describe('git-auth-helper tests', () => {
     // Act
     await authHelper.configureAuth()
 
-    // Assert config - check that .git/config contains includeIf entries
-    const localConfigContent = (
+    // Assert config
+    const configContent = (
       await fs.promises.readFile(localGitConfigPath)
     ).toString()
-    expect(
-      localConfigContent.indexOf('includeIf.gitdir:')
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-
-    // Assert credentials config file contains the actual credentials
-    const credentialsFiles = (await fs.promises.readdir(runnerTemp)).filter(
-      f => f.startsWith('git-credentials-') && f.endsWith('.config')
-    )
-    expect(credentialsFiles.length).toBe(1)
-    const credentialsConfigPath = path.join(runnerTemp, credentialsFiles[0])
-    const credentialsContent = (
-      await fs.promises.readFile(credentialsConfigPath)
-    ).toString()
     const basicCredential = Buffer.from(
       `x-access-token:${settings.authToken}`,
       'utf8'
     ).toString('base64')
     expect(
-      credentialsContent.indexOf(
+      configContent.indexOf(
         `http.${expectedServerUrl}/.extraheader AUTHORIZATION: basic ${basicCredential}`
       )
     ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
@@ -133,7 +120,7 @@ describe('git-auth-helper tests', () => {
     'inject https://github.com as github server url'
   it(configureAuth_AcceptsGitHubServerUrlSetToGHEC, async () => {
     await testAuthHeader(
-      configureAuth_AcceptsGitHubServerUrlSetToGHEC,
+      configureAuth_AcceptsGitHubServerUrl,
       'https://github.com'
     )
   })
@@ -154,17 +141,12 @@ describe('git-auth-helper tests', () => {
       // Act
       await authHelper.configureAuth()
 
-      // Assert config - check credentials config file (not local .git/config)
-      const credentialsFiles = (await fs.promises.readdir(runnerTemp)).filter(
-        f => f.startsWith('git-credentials-') && f.endsWith('.config')
-      )
-      expect(credentialsFiles.length).toBe(1)
-      const credentialsConfigPath = path.join(runnerTemp, credentialsFiles[0])
-      const credentialsContent = (
-        await fs.promises.readFile(credentialsConfigPath)
+      // Assert config
+      const configContent = (
+        await fs.promises.readFile(localGitConfigPath)
       ).toString()
       expect(
-        credentialsContent.indexOf(
+        configContent.indexOf(
           `http.https://github.com/.extraheader AUTHORIZATION`
         )
       ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
@@ -269,16 +251,13 @@ describe('git-auth-helper tests', () => {
       expectedSshCommand
     )
 
-    // Assert git config
+    // Asserty git config
     const gitConfigLines = (await fs.promises.readFile(localGitConfigPath))
       .toString()
       .split('\n')
       .filter(x => x)
-    // Should have includeIf entries pointing to credentials file
-    expect(gitConfigLines.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
-    expect(
-      gitConfigLines.some(line => line.indexOf('includeIf.gitdir:') >= 0)
-    ).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(gitConfigLines).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(gitConfigLines[0]).toMatch(/^http\./)
   })
 
   const configureAuth_setsSshCommandWhenPersistCredentialsTrue =
@@ -440,20 +419,8 @@ describe('git-auth-helper tests', () => {
     expect(
       configContent.indexOf('value-from-global-config')
     ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-    // Global config should have include.path pointing to credentials file
-    expect(configContent.indexOf('include.path')).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-
-    // Check credentials in the separate config file
-    const credentialsFiles = (await fs.promises.readdir(runnerTemp)).filter(
-      f => f.startsWith('git-credentials-') && f.endsWith('.config')
-    )
-    expect(credentialsFiles.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
-    const credentialsConfigPath = path.join(runnerTemp, credentialsFiles[0])
-    const credentialsContent = (
-      await fs.promises.readFile(credentialsConfigPath)
-    ).toString()
     expect(
-      credentialsContent.indexOf(
+      configContent.indexOf(
         `http.https://github.com/.extraheader AUTHORIZATION: basic ${basicCredential}`
       )
     ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
@@ -496,20 +463,8 @@ describe('git-auth-helper tests', () => {
       const configContent = (
         await fs.promises.readFile(path.join(git.env['HOME'], '.gitconfig'))
       ).toString()
-      // Global config should have include.path pointing to credentials file
-      expect(configContent.indexOf('include.path')).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-
-      // Check credentials in the separate config file
-      const credentialsFiles = (await fs.promises.readdir(runnerTemp)).filter(
-        f => f.startsWith('git-credentials-') && f.endsWith('.config')
-      )
-      expect(credentialsFiles.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
-      const credentialsConfigPath = path.join(runnerTemp, credentialsFiles[0])
-      const credentialsContent = (
-        await fs.promises.readFile(credentialsConfigPath)
-      ).toString()
       expect(
-        credentialsContent.indexOf(
+        configContent.indexOf(
           `http.https://github.com/.extraheader AUTHORIZATION: basic ${basicCredential}`
         )
       ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
@@ -595,15 +550,15 @@ describe('git-auth-helper tests', () => {
       await authHelper.configureSubmoduleAuth()
 
       // Assert
-      // Should configure insteadOf (2 calls for two values)
-      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3)
+      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(4)
       expect(mockSubmoduleForeach.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatch(
         /unset-all.*insteadOf/
       )
-      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach.mock.calls[1][0]).toMatch(
+      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach.mock.calls[1][0]).toMatch(/http.*extraheader/)
+      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach.mock.calls[2][0]).toMatch(
         /url.*insteadOf.*git@github.com:/
       )
-      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach.mock.calls[2][0]).toMatch(
+      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach.mock.calls[3][0]).toMatch(
         /url.*insteadOf.*org-123456@github.com:/
       )
     }
@@ -634,12 +589,12 @@ describe('git-auth-helper tests', () => {
       await authHelper.configureSubmoduleAuth()
 
       // Assert
-      // Should configure sshCommand (1 call)
-      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3)
       expect(mockSubmoduleForeach.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatch(
         /unset-all.*insteadOf/
       )
-      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach.mock.calls[1][0]).toMatch(/core\.sshCommand/)
+      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach.mock.calls[1][0]).toMatch(/http.*extraheader/)
+      expect(mockSubmoduleForeach.mock.calls[2][0]).toMatch(/core\.sshCommand/)
     }
   )
 
@@ -705,201 +660,19 @@ describe('git-auth-helper tests', () => {
     await setup(removeAuth_removesToken)
     const authHelper = gitAuthHelper.createAuthHelper(git, settings)
     await authHelper.configureAuth()
-
-    // Verify includeIf entries exist in local config
-    let localConfigContent = (
+    let gitConfigContent = (
       await fs.promises.readFile(localGitConfigPath)
     ).toString()
-    expect(
-      localConfigContent.indexOf('includeIf.gitdir:')
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-
-    // Verify both host and container includeIf entries are present
-    const hostGitDir = path.join(workspace, '.git').replace(/\\/g, '/')
-    expect(
-      localConfigContent.indexOf(`includeIf.gitdir:${hostGitDir}.path`)
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-    expect(
-      localConfigContent.indexOf('includeIf.gitdir:/github/workspace/.git.path')
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-
-    // Verify credentials file exists
-    let credentialsFiles = (await fs.promises.readdir(runnerTemp)).filter(
-      f => f.startsWith('git-credentials-') && f.endsWith('.config')
-    )
-    expect(credentialsFiles.length).toBe(1)
-    const credentialsFilePath = path.join(runnerTemp, credentialsFiles[0])
-
-    // Verify credentials file contains the auth token
-    let credentialsContent = (
-      await fs.promises.readFile(credentialsFilePath)
-    ).toString()
-    const basicCredential = Buffer.from(
-      `x-access-token:${settings.authToken}`,
-      'utf8'
-    ).toString('base64')
-    expect(
-      credentialsContent.indexOf(
-        `http.https://github.com/.extraheader AUTHORIZATION: basic ${basicCredential}`
-      )
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-
-    // Verify the includeIf entries point to the credentials file
-    const containerCredentialsPath = path.posix.join(
-      '/github/runner_temp',
-      path.basename(credentialsFilePath)
-    )
-    expect(
-      localConfigContent.indexOf(credentialsFilePath)
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-    expect(
-      localConfigContent.indexOf(containerCredentialsPath)
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
+    expect(gitConfigContent.indexOf('http.')).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0) // sanity check
 
     // Act
     await authHelper.removeAuth()
 
-    // Assert all includeIf entries removed from local git config
-    localConfigContent = (
+    // Assert git config
+    gitConfigContent = (
       await fs.promises.readFile(localGitConfigPath)
     ).toString()
-    expect(localConfigContent.indexOf('includeIf.gitdir:')).toBeLessThan(0)
-    expect(
-      localConfigContent.indexOf(`includeIf.gitdir:${hostGitDir}.path`)
-    ).toBeLessThan(0)
-    expect(
-      localConfigContent.indexOf('includeIf.gitdir:/github/workspace/.git.path')
-    ).toBeLessThan(0)
-    expect(localConfigContent.indexOf(credentialsFilePath)).toBeLessThan(0)
-    expect(localConfigContent.indexOf(containerCredentialsPath)).toBeLessThan(0)
-
-    // Assert credentials config file deleted
-    credentialsFiles = (await fs.promises.readdir(runnerTemp)).filter(
-      f => f.startsWith('git-credentials-') && f.endsWith('.config')
-    )
-    expect(credentialsFiles.length).toBe(0)
-
-    // Verify credentials file no longer exists on disk
-    try {
-      await fs.promises.stat(credentialsFilePath)
-      throw new Error('Credentials file should have been deleted')
-    } catch (err) {
-      if ((err as any)?.code !== 'ENOENT') {
-        throw err
-      }
-    }
-  })
-
-  const removeAuth_removesTokenFromSubmodules =
-    'removeAuth removes token from submodules'
-  it(removeAuth_removesTokenFromSubmodules, async () => {
-    // Arrange
-    await setup(removeAuth_removesTokenFromSubmodules)
-
-    // Create fake submodule config paths
-    const submodule1Dir = path.join(workspace, '.git', 'modules', 'submodule-1')
-    const submodule2Dir = path.join(workspace, '.git', 'modules', 'submodule-2')
-    const submodule1ConfigPath = path.join(submodule1Dir, 'config')
-    const submodule2ConfigPath = path.join(submodule2Dir, 'config')
-
-    await fs.promises.mkdir(submodule1Dir, {recursive: true})
-    await fs.promises.mkdir(submodule2Dir, {recursive: true})
-    await fs.promises.writeFile(submodule1ConfigPath, '')
-    await fs.promises.writeFile(submodule2ConfigPath, '')
-
-    // Mock getSubmoduleConfigPaths to return our fake submodules (for both configure and remove)
-    const mockGetSubmoduleConfigPaths =
-      git.getSubmoduleConfigPaths as jest.Mock<any, any>
-    mockGetSubmoduleConfigPaths.mockResolvedValue([
-      submodule1ConfigPath,
-      submodule2ConfigPath
-    ])
-
-    const authHelper = gitAuthHelper.createAuthHelper(git, settings)
-    await authHelper.configureAuth()
-    await authHelper.configureSubmoduleAuth()
-
-    // Verify credentials file exists
-    let credentialsFiles = (await fs.promises.readdir(runnerTemp)).filter(
-      f => f.startsWith('git-credentials-') && f.endsWith('.config')
-    )
-    expect(credentialsFiles.length).toBe(1)
-    const credentialsFilePath = path.join(runnerTemp, credentialsFiles[0])
-
-    // Verify submodule 1 config has includeIf entries
-    let submodule1Content = (
-      await fs.promises.readFile(submodule1ConfigPath)
-    ).toString()
-    const submodule1GitDir = submodule1Dir.replace(/\\/g, '/')
-    expect(
-      submodule1Content.indexOf(`includeIf.gitdir:${submodule1GitDir}.path`)
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-    expect(
-      submodule1Content.indexOf(credentialsFilePath)
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-
-    // Verify submodule 2 config has includeIf entries
-    let submodule2Content = (
-      await fs.promises.readFile(submodule2ConfigPath)
-    ).toString()
-    const submodule2GitDir = submodule2Dir.replace(/\\/g, '/')
-    expect(
-      submodule2Content.indexOf(`includeIf.gitdir:${submodule2GitDir}.path`)
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-    expect(
-      submodule2Content.indexOf(credentialsFilePath)
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-
-    // Verify both host and container paths are in each submodule config
-    const containerCredentialsPath = path.posix.join(
-      '/github/runner_temp',
-      path.basename(credentialsFilePath)
-    )
-    expect(
-      submodule1Content.indexOf(containerCredentialsPath)
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-    expect(
-      submodule2Content.indexOf(containerCredentialsPath)
-    ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-
-    // Act - ensure mock persists for removeAuth
-    mockGetSubmoduleConfigPaths.mockResolvedValue([
-      submodule1ConfigPath,
-      submodule2ConfigPath
-    ])
-    await authHelper.removeAuth()
-
-    // Assert submodule 1 includeIf entries removed
-    submodule1Content = (
-      await fs.promises.readFile(submodule1ConfigPath)
-    ).toString()
-    expect(submodule1Content.indexOf('includeIf.gitdir:')).toBeLessThan(0)
-    expect(submodule1Content.indexOf(credentialsFilePath)).toBeLessThan(0)
-    expect(submodule1Content.indexOf(containerCredentialsPath)).toBeLessThan(0)
-
-    // Assert submodule 2 includeIf entries removed
-    submodule2Content = (
-      await fs.promises.readFile(submodule2ConfigPath)
-    ).toString()
-    expect(submodule2Content.indexOf('includeIf.gitdir:')).toBeLessThan(0)
-    expect(submodule2Content.indexOf(credentialsFilePath)).toBeLessThan(0)
-    expect(submodule2Content.indexOf(containerCredentialsPath)).toBeLessThan(0)
-
-    // Assert credentials config file deleted
-    credentialsFiles = (await fs.promises.readdir(runnerTemp)).filter(
-      f => f.startsWith('git-credentials-') && f.endsWith('.config')
-    )
-    expect(credentialsFiles.length).toBe(0)
-
-    // Verify credentials file no longer exists on disk
-    try {
-      await fs.promises.stat(credentialsFilePath)
-      throw new Error('Credentials file should have been deleted')
-    } catch (err) {
-      if ((err as any)?.code !== 'ENOENT') {
-        throw err
-      }
-    }
+    expect(gitConfigContent.indexOf('http.')).toBeLessThan(0)
   })
 
   const removeGlobalConfig_removesOverride =
@@ -928,52 +701,6 @@ describe('git-auth-helper tests', () => {
       }
     }
   })
-
-  const testCredentialsConfigPath_matchesCredentialsConfigPaths =
-    'testCredentialsConfigPath matches credentials config paths'
-  it(testCredentialsConfigPath_matchesCredentialsConfigPaths, async () => {
-    // Arrange
-    await setup(testCredentialsConfigPath_matchesCredentialsConfigPaths)
-    const authHelper = gitAuthHelper.createAuthHelper(git, settings)
-
-    // Get a real credentials config path
-    const credentialsConfigPath = await (
-      authHelper as any
-    ).getCredentialsConfigPath()
-
-    // Act & Assert
-    expect(
-      (authHelper as any).testCredentialsConfigPath(credentialsConfigPath)
-    ).toBe(true)
-    expect(
-      (authHelper as any).testCredentialsConfigPath(
-        '/some/path/git-credentials-12345678-abcd-1234-5678-123456789012.config'
-      )
-    ).toBe(true)
-    expect(
-      (authHelper as any).testCredentialsConfigPath(
-        '/some/path/git-credentials-abcdef12-3456-7890-abcd-ef1234567890.config'
-      )
-    ).toBe(true)
-
-    // Test invalid paths
-    expect(
-      (authHelper as any).testCredentialsConfigPath(
-        '/some/path/other-config.config'
-      )
-    ).toBe(false)
-    expect(
-      (authHelper as any).testCredentialsConfigPath(
-        '/some/path/git-credentials-invalid.config'
-      )
-    ).toBe(false)
-    expect(
-      (authHelper as any).testCredentialsConfigPath(
-        '/some/path/git-credentials-.config'
-      )
-    ).toBe(false)
-    expect((authHelper as any).testCredentialsConfigPath('')).toBe(false)
-  })
 })
 
 async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
@@ -988,7 +715,6 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
   await fs.promises.mkdir(tempHomedir, {recursive: true})
   process.env['RUNNER_TEMP'] = runnerTemp
   process.env['HOME'] = tempHomedir
-  process.env['GITHUB_WORKSPACE'] = workspace
 
   // Create git config
   globalGitConfigPath = path.join(tempHomedir, '.gitconfig')
@@ -1007,20 +733,10 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
     checkout: jest.fn(),
     checkoutDetach: jest.fn(),
     config: jest.fn(
-      async (
-        key: string,
-        value: string,
-        globalConfig?: boolean,
-        add?: boolean,
-        configFile?: string
-      ) => {
-        const configPath =
-          configFile ||
-          (globalConfig
-            ? path.join(git.env['HOME'] || tempHomedir, '.gitconfig')
-            : localGitConfigPath)
-        // Ensure directory exists
-        await fs.promises.mkdir(path.dirname(configPath), {recursive: true})
+      async (key: string, value: string, globalConfig?: boolean) => {
+        const configPath = globalConfig
+          ? path.join(git.env['HOME'] || tempHomedir, '.gitconfig')
+          : localGitConfigPath
         await fs.promises.appendFile(configPath, `\n${key} ${value}`)
       }
     ),
@@ -1040,7 +756,6 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
     env: {},
     fetch: jest.fn(),
     getDefaultBranch: jest.fn(),
-    getSubmoduleConfigPaths: jest.fn(async () => []),
     getWorkingDirectory: jest.fn(() => workspace),
     init: jest.fn(),
     isDetached: jest.fn(),
@@ -1079,72 +794,8 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
         return true
       }
     ),
-    tryConfigUnsetValue: jest.fn(
-      async (
-        key: string,
-        value: string,
-        globalConfig?: boolean,
-        configPath?: string
-      ): Promise<boolean> => {
-        const targetConfigPath =
-          configPath ||
-          (globalConfig
-            ? path.join(git.env['HOME'] || tempHomedir, '.gitconfig')
-            : localGitConfigPath)
-        let content = await fs.promises.readFile(targetConfigPath)
-        let lines = content
-          .toString()
-          .split('\n')
-          .filter(x => x)
-          .filter(x => !(x.startsWith(key) && x.includes(value)))
-        await fs.promises.writeFile(targetConfigPath, lines.join('\n'))
-        return true
-      }
-    ),
     tryDisableAutomaticGarbageCollection: jest.fn(),
     tryGetFetchUrl: jest.fn(),
-    tryGetConfigValues: jest.fn(
-      async (
-        key: string,
-        globalConfig?: boolean,
-        configPath?: string
-      ): Promise<string[]> => {
-        const targetConfigPath =
-          configPath ||
-          (globalConfig
-            ? path.join(git.env['HOME'] || tempHomedir, '.gitconfig')
-            : localGitConfigPath)
-        const content = await fs.promises.readFile(targetConfigPath)
-        const lines = content
-          .toString()
-          .split('\n')
-          .filter(x => x && x.startsWith(key))
-          .map(x => x.substring(key.length).trim())
-        return lines
-      }
-    ),
-    tryGetConfigKeys: jest.fn(
-      async (
-        pattern: string,
-        globalConfig?: boolean,
-        configPath?: string
-      ): Promise<string[]> => {
-        const targetConfigPath =
-          configPath ||
-          (globalConfig
-            ? path.join(git.env['HOME'] || tempHomedir, '.gitconfig')
-            : localGitConfigPath)
-        const content = await fs.promises.readFile(targetConfigPath)
-        const lines = content
-          .toString()
-          .split('\n')
-          .filter(x => x)
-        const keys = lines
-          .filter(x => new RegExp(pattern).test(x.split(' ')[0]))
-          .map(x => x.split(' ')[0])
-        return [...new Set(keys)] // Remove duplicates
-      }
-    ),
     tryReset: jest.fn(),
     version: jest.fn()
   }
@@ -1179,7 +830,6 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
 
 async function getActualSshKeyPath(): Promise<string> {
   let actualTempFiles = (await fs.promises.readdir(runnerTemp))
-    .filter(x => !x.startsWith('git-credentials-')) // Exclude credentials config file
     .sort()
     .map(x => path.join(runnerTemp, x))
   if (actualTempFiles.length === 0) {
@@ -1193,7 +843,6 @@ async function getActualSshKeyPath(): Promise<string> {
 
 async function getActualSshKnownHostsPath(): Promise<string> {
   let actualTempFiles = (await fs.promises.readdir(runnerTemp))
-    .filter(x => !x.startsWith('git-credentials-')) // Exclude credentials config file
     .sort()
     .map(x => path.join(runnerTemp, x))
   if (actualTempFiles.length === 0) {
diff --git a/__test__/git-directory-helper.test.ts b/__test__/git-directory-helper.test.ts
index de79dc8..22e9ae6 100644
--- a/__test__/git-directory-helper.test.ts
+++ b/__test__/git-directory-helper.test.ts
@@ -471,7 +471,6 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
     configExists: jest.fn(),
     fetch: jest.fn(),
     getDefaultBranch: jest.fn(),
-    getSubmoduleConfigPaths: jest.fn(async () => []),
     getWorkingDirectory: jest.fn(() => repositoryPath),
     init: jest.fn(),
     isDetached: jest.fn(),
@@ -494,15 +493,12 @@ async function setup(testName: string): Promise<void> {
       return true
     }),
     tryConfigUnset: jest.fn(),
-    tryConfigUnsetValue: jest.fn(),
     tryDisableAutomaticGarbageCollection: jest.fn(),
     tryGetFetchUrl: jest.fn(async () => {
       // Sanity check - this function shouldn't be called when the .git directory doesn't exist
       await fs.promises.stat(path.join(repositoryPath, '.git'))
       return repositoryUrl
     }),
-    tryGetConfigValues: jest.fn(),
-    tryGetConfigKeys: jest.fn(),
     tryReset: jest.fn(async () => {
       return true
     }),
diff --git a/__test__/verify-submodules-recursive.sh b/__test__/verify-submodules-recursive.sh
index 5ecbb42..1b68f9b 100755
--- a/__test__/verify-submodules-recursive.sh
+++ b/__test__/verify-submodules-recursive.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ fi
 
 echo "Testing persisted credential"
 pushd ./submodules-recursive/submodule-level-1/submodule-level-2
-git config --local --includes --name-only --get-regexp http.+extraheader && git fetch
+git config --local --name-only --get-regexp http.+extraheader && git fetch
 if [ "$?" != "0" ]; then
     echo "Failed to validate persisted credential"
     popd
diff --git a/__test__/verify-submodules-true.sh b/__test__/verify-submodules-true.sh
index 4c311f8..43769fe 100755
--- a/__test__/verify-submodules-true.sh
+++ b/__test__/verify-submodules-true.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ fi
 
 echo "Testing persisted credential"
 pushd ./submodules-true/submodule-level-1
-git config --local --includes --name-only --get-regexp http.+extraheader && git fetch
+git config --local --name-only --get-regexp http.+extraheader && git fetch
 if [ "$?" != "0" ]; then
     echo "Failed to validate persisted credential"
     popd
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index a251a19..f3ae6f3 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -162,7 +162,6 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
         this.sshKeyPath = '';
         this.sshKnownHostsPath = '';
         this.temporaryHomePath = '';
-        this.credentialsConfigPath = ''; // Path to separate credentials config file in RUNNER_TEMP
         this.git = gitCommandManager;
         this.settings = gitSourceSettings || {};
         // Token auth header
@@ -230,17 +229,15 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
     configureGlobalAuth() {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
             // 'configureTempGlobalConfig' noops if already set, just returns the path
-            yield this.configureTempGlobalConfig();
+            const newGitConfigPath = yield this.configureTempGlobalConfig();
             try {
                 // Configure the token
-                yield this.configureToken(true);
+                yield this.configureToken(newGitConfigPath, true);
                 // Configure HTTPS instead of SSH
                 yield this.git.tryConfigUnset(this.insteadOfKey, true);
                 if (!this.settings.sshKey) {
                     for (const insteadOfValue of this.insteadOfValues) {
-                        yield this.git.config(this.insteadOfKey, insteadOfValue, true, // globalConfig?
-                        true // add?
-                        );
+                        yield this.git.config(this.insteadOfKey, insteadOfValue, true, true);
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -255,34 +252,19 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
     configureSubmoduleAuth() {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
             // Remove possible previous HTTPS instead of SSH
-            yield this.removeSubmoduleGitConfig(this.insteadOfKey);
+            yield this.removeGitConfig(this.insteadOfKey, true);
             if (this.settings.persistCredentials) {
-                // Get the credentials config file path in RUNNER_TEMP
-                const credentialsConfigPath = this.getCredentialsConfigPath();
-                // Container credentials config path
-                const containerCredentialsPath = path.posix.join('/github/runner_temp', path.basename(credentialsConfigPath));
-                // Get submodule config file paths.
-                const configPaths = yield this.git.getSubmoduleConfigPaths(this.settings.nestedSubmodules);
-                // For each submodule, configure includeIf entries pointing to the shared credentials file.
-                // Configure both host and container paths to support Docker container actions.
+                // Configure a placeholder value. This approach avoids the credential being captured
+                // by process creation audit events, which are commonly logged. For more information,
+                // refer to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/component-updates/command-line-process-auditing
+                const output = yield this.git.submoduleForeach(
+                // wrap the pipeline in quotes to make sure it's handled properly by submoduleForeach, rather than just the first part of the pipeline
+                `sh -c "git config --local '${this.tokenConfigKey}' '${this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue}' && git config --local --show-origin --name-only --get-regexp remote.origin.url"`, this.settings.nestedSubmodules);
+                // Replace the placeholder
+                const configPaths = output.match(/(?<=(^|\n)file:)[^\t]+(?=\tremote\.origin\.url)/g) || [];
                 for (const configPath of configPaths) {
-                    // Submodule Git directory
-                    let submoduleGitDir = path.dirname(configPath); // The config file is at .git/modules/submodule-name/config
-                    submoduleGitDir = submoduleGitDir.replace(/\\/g, '/'); // Use forward slashes, even on Windows
-                    // Configure host includeIf
-                    yield this.git.config(`includeIf.gitdir:${submoduleGitDir}.path`, credentialsConfigPath, false, // globalConfig?
-                    false, // add?
-                    configPath);
-                    // Container submodule git directory
-                    const githubWorkspace = process.env['GITHUB_WORKSPACE'];
-                    assert.ok(githubWorkspace, 'GITHUB_WORKSPACE is not defined');
-                    let relativeSubmoduleGitDir = path.relative(githubWorkspace, submoduleGitDir);
-                    relativeSubmoduleGitDir = relativeSubmoduleGitDir.replace(/\\/g, '/'); // Use forward slashes, even on Windows
-                    const containerSubmoduleGitDir = path.posix.join('/github/workspace', relativeSubmoduleGitDir);
-                    // Configure container includeIf
-                    yield this.git.config(`includeIf.gitdir:${containerSubmoduleGitDir}.path`, containerCredentialsPath, false, // globalConfig?
-                    false, // add?
-                    configPath);
+                    core.debug(`Replacing token placeholder in '${configPath}'`);
+                    yield this.replaceTokenPlaceholder(configPath);
                 }
                 if (this.settings.sshKey) {
                     // Configure core.sshCommand
@@ -313,10 +295,6 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
             }
         });
     }
-    /**
-     * Configures SSH authentication by writing the SSH key and known hosts,
-     * and setting up the GIT_SSH_COMMAND environment variable.
-     */
     configureSsh() {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
             if (!this.settings.sshKey) {
@@ -373,88 +351,43 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
             }
         });
     }
-    /**
-     * Configures token-based authentication by creating a credentials config file
-     * and setting up includeIf entries to reference it.
-     * @param globalConfig Whether to configure global config instead of local
-     */
-    configureToken(globalConfig) {
+    configureToken(configPath, globalConfig) {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            // Get the credentials config file path in RUNNER_TEMP
-            const credentialsConfigPath = this.getCredentialsConfigPath();
-            // Write placeholder to the separate credentials config file using git config.
-            // This approach avoids the credential being captured by process creation audit events,
-            // which are commonly logged. For more information, refer to
-            // https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/component-updates/command-line-process-auditing
-            yield this.git.config(this.tokenConfigKey, this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue, false, // globalConfig?
-            false, // add?
-            credentialsConfigPath);
-            // Replace the placeholder in the credentials config file
-            let content = (yield fs.promises.readFile(credentialsConfigPath)).toString();
+            // Validate args
+            assert.ok((configPath && globalConfig) || (!configPath && !globalConfig), 'Unexpected configureToken parameter combinations');
+            // Default config path
+            if (!configPath && !globalConfig) {
+                configPath = path.join(this.git.getWorkingDirectory(), '.git', 'config');
+            }
+            // Configure a placeholder value. This approach avoids the credential being captured
+            // by process creation audit events, which are commonly logged. For more information,
+            // refer to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/component-updates/command-line-process-auditing
+            yield this.git.config(this.tokenConfigKey, this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue, globalConfig);
+            // Replace the placeholder
+            yield this.replaceTokenPlaceholder(configPath || '');
+        });
+    }
+    replaceTokenPlaceholder(configPath) {
+        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+            assert.ok(configPath, 'configPath is not defined');
+            let content = (yield fs.promises.readFile(configPath)).toString();
             const placeholderIndex = content.indexOf(this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue);
             if (placeholderIndex < 0 ||
                 placeholderIndex != content.lastIndexOf(this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue)) {
-                throw new Error(`Unable to replace auth placeholder in ${credentialsConfigPath}`);
+                throw new Error(`Unable to replace auth placeholder in ${configPath}`);
             }
             assert.ok(this.tokenConfigValue, 'tokenConfigValue is not defined');
             content = content.replace(this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue, this.tokenConfigValue);
-            yield fs.promises.writeFile(credentialsConfigPath, content);
-            // Add include or includeIf to reference the credentials config
-            if (globalConfig) {
-                // Global config file is temporary
-                yield this.git.config('include.path', credentialsConfigPath, true // globalConfig?
-                );
-            }
-            else {
-                // Host git directory
-                let gitDir = path.join(this.git.getWorkingDirectory(), '.git');
-                gitDir = gitDir.replace(/\\/g, '/'); // Use forward slashes, even on Windows
-                // Configure host includeIf
-                const hostIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${gitDir}.path`;
-                yield this.git.config(hostIncludeKey, credentialsConfigPath);
-                // Container git directory
-                const workingDirectory = this.git.getWorkingDirectory();
-                const githubWorkspace = process.env['GITHUB_WORKSPACE'];
-                assert.ok(githubWorkspace, 'GITHUB_WORKSPACE is not defined');
-                let relativePath = path.relative(githubWorkspace, workingDirectory);
-                relativePath = relativePath.replace(/\\/g, '/'); // Use forward slashes, even on Windows
-                const containerGitDir = path.posix.join('/github/workspace', relativePath, '.git');
-                // Container credentials config path
-                const containerCredentialsPath = path.posix.join('/github/runner_temp', path.basename(credentialsConfigPath));
-                // Configure container includeIf
-                const containerIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${containerGitDir}.path`;
-                yield this.git.config(containerIncludeKey, containerCredentialsPath);
-            }
+            yield fs.promises.writeFile(configPath, content);
         });
     }
-    /**
-     * Gets or creates the path to the credentials config file in RUNNER_TEMP.
-     * @returns The absolute path to the credentials config file
-     */
-    getCredentialsConfigPath() {
-        if (this.credentialsConfigPath) {
-            return this.credentialsConfigPath;
-        }
-        const runnerTemp = process.env['RUNNER_TEMP'] || '';
-        assert.ok(runnerTemp, 'RUNNER_TEMP is not defined');
-        // Create a unique filename for this checkout instance
-        const configFileName = `git-credentials-${(0, uuid_1.v4)()}.config`;
-        this.credentialsConfigPath = path.join(runnerTemp, configFileName);
-        core.debug(`Credentials config path: ${this.credentialsConfigPath}`);
-        return this.credentialsConfigPath;
-    }
-    /**
-     * Removes SSH authentication configuration by cleaning up SSH keys,
-     * known hosts files, and SSH command configurations.
-     */
     removeSsh() {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            var _a, _b;
+            var _a;
             // SSH key
             const keyPath = this.sshKeyPath || stateHelper.SshKeyPath;
             if (keyPath) {
                 try {
-                    core.info(`Removing SSH key '${keyPath}'`);
                     yield io.rmRF(keyPath);
                 }
                 catch (err) {
@@ -466,136 +399,37 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
             const knownHostsPath = this.sshKnownHostsPath || stateHelper.SshKnownHostsPath;
             if (knownHostsPath) {
                 try {
-                    core.info(`Removing SSH known hosts '${knownHostsPath}'`);
                     yield io.rmRF(knownHostsPath);
                 }
-                catch (err) {
-                    core.debug(`${(_b = err === null || err === void 0 ? void 0 : err.message) !== null && _b !== void 0 ? _b : err}`);
-                    core.warning(`Failed to remove SSH known hosts '${knownHostsPath}'`);
+                catch (_b) {
+                    // Intentionally empty
                 }
             }
             // SSH command
-            core.info('Removing SSH command configuration');
             yield this.removeGitConfig(SSH_COMMAND_KEY);
-            yield this.removeSubmoduleGitConfig(SSH_COMMAND_KEY);
         });
     }
-    /**
-     * Removes token-based authentication by cleaning up HTTP headers,
-     * includeIf entries, and credentials config files.
-     */
     removeToken() {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            var _a;
-            // Remove HTTP extra header
-            core.info('Removing HTTP extra header');
+            // HTTP extra header
             yield this.removeGitConfig(this.tokenConfigKey);
-            yield this.removeSubmoduleGitConfig(this.tokenConfigKey);
-            // Collect credentials config paths that need to be removed
-            const credentialsPaths = new Set();
-            // Remove includeIf entries that point to git-credentials-*.config files
-            core.info('Removing includeIf entries pointing to credentials config files');
-            const mainCredentialsPaths = yield this.removeIncludeIfCredentials();
-            mainCredentialsPaths.forEach(path => credentialsPaths.add(path));
-            // Remove submodule includeIf entries that point to git-credentials-*.config files
-            const submoduleConfigPaths = yield this.git.getSubmoduleConfigPaths(true);
-            for (const configPath of submoduleConfigPaths) {
-                const submoduleCredentialsPaths = yield this.removeIncludeIfCredentials(configPath);
-                submoduleCredentialsPaths.forEach(path => credentialsPaths.add(path));
-            }
-            // Remove credentials config files
-            for (const credentialsPath of credentialsPaths) {
-                // Only remove credentials config files if they are under RUNNER_TEMP
-                const runnerTemp = process.env['RUNNER_TEMP'];
-                assert.ok(runnerTemp, 'RUNNER_TEMP is not defined');
-                if (credentialsPath.startsWith(runnerTemp)) {
-                    try {
-                        core.info(`Removing credentials config '${credentialsPath}'`);
-                        yield io.rmRF(credentialsPath);
-                    }
-                    catch (err) {
-                        core.debug(`${(_a = err === null || err === void 0 ? void 0 : err.message) !== null && _a !== void 0 ? _a : err}`);
-                        core.warning(`Failed to remove credentials config '${credentialsPath}'`);
-                    }
-                }
-                else {
-                    core.debug(`Skipping removal of credentials config '${credentialsPath}' - not under RUNNER_TEMP`);
-                }
-            }
         });
     }
-    /**
-     * Removes a git config key from the local repository config.
-     * @param configKey The git config key to remove
-     */
-    removeGitConfig(configKey) {
-        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            if ((yield this.git.configExists(configKey)) &&
-                !(yield this.git.tryConfigUnset(configKey))) {
-                // Load the config contents
-                core.warning(`Failed to remove '${configKey}' from the git config`);
+    removeGitConfig(configKey_1) {
+        return __awaiter(this, arguments, void 0, function* (configKey, submoduleOnly = false) {
+            if (!submoduleOnly) {
+                if ((yield this.git.configExists(configKey)) &&
+                    !(yield this.git.tryConfigUnset(configKey))) {
+                    // Load the config contents
+                    core.warning(`Failed to remove '${configKey}' from the git config`);
+                }
             }
-        });
-    }
-    /**
-     * Removes a git config key from all submodule configs.
-     * @param configKey The git config key to remove
-     */
-    removeSubmoduleGitConfig(configKey) {
-        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
             const pattern = regexpHelper.escape(configKey);
             yield this.git.submoduleForeach(
-            // Wrap the pipeline in quotes to make sure it's handled properly by submoduleForeach, rather than just the first part of the pipeline.
+            // wrap the pipeline in quotes to make sure it's handled properly by submoduleForeach, rather than just the first part of the pipeline
             `sh -c "git config --local --name-only --get-regexp '${pattern}' && git config --local --unset-all '${configKey}' || :"`, true);
         });
     }
-    /**
-     * Removes includeIf entries that point to git-credentials-*.config files.
-     * @param configPath Optional path to a specific git config file to operate on
-     * @returns Array of unique credentials config file paths that were found and removed
-     */
-    removeIncludeIfCredentials(configPath) {
-        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            const credentialsPaths = new Set();
-            try {
-                // Get all includeIf.gitdir keys
-                const keys = yield this.git.tryGetConfigKeys('^includeIf\\.gitdir:', false, // globalConfig?
-                configPath);
-                for (const key of keys) {
-                    // Get all values for this key
-                    const values = yield this.git.tryGetConfigValues(key, false, // globalConfig?
-                    configPath);
-                    if (values.length > 0) {
-                        // Remove only values that match git-credentials-<uuid>.config pattern
-                        for (const value of values) {
-                            if (this.testCredentialsConfigPath(value)) {
-                                credentialsPaths.add(value);
-                                yield this.git.tryConfigUnsetValue(key, value, false, configPath);
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-            catch (err) {
-                // Ignore errors - this is cleanup code
-                if (configPath) {
-                    core.debug(`Error during includeIf cleanup for ${configPath}: ${err}`);
-                }
-                else {
-                    core.debug(`Error during includeIf cleanup: ${err}`);
-                }
-            }
-            return Array.from(credentialsPaths);
-        });
-    }
-    /**
-     * Tests if a path matches the git-credentials-*.config pattern.
-     * @param path The path to test
-     * @returns True if the path matches the credentials config pattern
-     */
-    testCredentialsConfigPath(path) {
-        return /git-credentials-[0-9a-f-]+\.config$/i.test(path);
-    }
 }
 
 
@@ -793,15 +627,9 @@ class GitCommandManager {
             yield this.execGit(args);
         });
     }
-    config(configKey, configValue, globalConfig, add, configFile) {
+    config(configKey, configValue, globalConfig, add) {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            const args = ['config'];
-            if (configFile) {
-                args.push('--file', configFile);
-            }
-            else {
-                args.push(globalConfig ? '--global' : '--local');
-            }
+            const args = ['config', globalConfig ? '--global' : '--local'];
             if (add) {
                 args.push('--add');
             }
@@ -878,16 +706,6 @@ class GitCommandManager {
             throw new Error('Unexpected output when retrieving default branch');
         });
     }
-    getSubmoduleConfigPaths(recursive) {
-        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            // Get submodule config file paths.
-            // Use `--show-origin` to get the config file path for each submodule.
-            const output = yield this.submoduleForeach(`git config --local --show-origin --name-only --get-regexp remote.origin.url`, recursive);
-            // Extract config file paths from the output (lines starting with "file:").
-            const configPaths = output.match(/(?<=(^|\n)file:)[^\t]+(?=\tremote\.origin\.url)/g) || [];
-            return configPaths;
-        });
-    }
     getWorkingDirectory() {
         return this.workingDirectory;
     }
@@ -1018,20 +836,6 @@ class GitCommandManager {
             return output.exitCode === 0;
         });
     }
-    tryConfigUnsetValue(configKey, configValue, globalConfig, configFile) {
-        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            const args = ['config'];
-            if (configFile) {
-                args.push('--file', configFile);
-            }
-            else {
-                args.push(globalConfig ? '--global' : '--local');
-            }
-            args.push('--unset', configKey, configValue);
-            const output = yield this.execGit(args, true);
-            return output.exitCode === 0;
-        });
-    }
     tryDisableAutomaticGarbageCollection() {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
             const output = yield this.execGit(['config', '--local', 'gc.auto', '0'], true);
@@ -1051,46 +855,6 @@ class GitCommandManager {
             return stdout;
         });
     }
-    tryGetConfigValues(configKey, globalConfig, configFile) {
-        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            const args = ['config'];
-            if (configFile) {
-                args.push('--file', configFile);
-            }
-            else {
-                args.push(globalConfig ? '--global' : '--local');
-            }
-            args.push('--get-all', configKey);
-            const output = yield this.execGit(args, true);
-            if (output.exitCode !== 0) {
-                return [];
-            }
-            return output.stdout
-                .trim()
-                .split('\n')
-                .filter(value => value.trim());
-        });
-    }
-    tryGetConfigKeys(pattern, globalConfig, configFile) {
-        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            const args = ['config'];
-            if (configFile) {
-                args.push('--file', configFile);
-            }
-            else {
-                args.push(globalConfig ? '--global' : '--local');
-            }
-            args.push('--name-only', '--get-regexp', pattern);
-            const output = yield this.execGit(args, true);
-            if (output.exitCode !== 0) {
-                return [];
-            }
-            return output.stdout
-                .trim()
-                .split('\n')
-                .filter(key => key.trim());
-        });
-    }
     tryReset() {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
             const output = yield this.execGit(['reset', '--hard', 'HEAD'], true);
diff --git a/src/git-auth-helper.ts b/src/git-auth-helper.ts
index a1950a6..126e8e5 100644
--- a/src/git-auth-helper.ts
+++ b/src/git-auth-helper.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
   private sshKeyPath = ''
   private sshKnownHostsPath = ''
   private temporaryHomePath = ''
-  private credentialsConfigPath = '' // Path to separate credentials config file in RUNNER_TEMP
 
   constructor(
     gitCommandManager: IGitCommandManager,
@@ -127,21 +126,16 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
 
   async configureGlobalAuth(): Promise<void> {
     // 'configureTempGlobalConfig' noops if already set, just returns the path
-    await this.configureTempGlobalConfig()
+    const newGitConfigPath = await this.configureTempGlobalConfig()
     try {
       // Configure the token
-      await this.configureToken(true)
+      await this.configureToken(newGitConfigPath, true)
 
       // Configure HTTPS instead of SSH
       await this.git.tryConfigUnset(this.insteadOfKey, true)
       if (!this.settings.sshKey) {
         for (const insteadOfValue of this.insteadOfValues) {
-          await this.git.config(
-            this.insteadOfKey,
-            insteadOfValue,
-            true, // globalConfig?
-            true // add?
-          )
+          await this.git.config(this.insteadOfKey, insteadOfValue, true, true)
         }
       }
     } catch (err) {
@@ -156,60 +150,24 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
 
   async configureSubmoduleAuth(): Promise<void> {
     // Remove possible previous HTTPS instead of SSH
-    await this.removeSubmoduleGitConfig(this.insteadOfKey)
+    await this.removeGitConfig(this.insteadOfKey, true)
 
     if (this.settings.persistCredentials) {
-      // Get the credentials config file path in RUNNER_TEMP
-      const credentialsConfigPath = this.getCredentialsConfigPath()
-
-      // Container credentials config path
-      const containerCredentialsPath = path.posix.join(
-        '/github/runner_temp',
-        path.basename(credentialsConfigPath)
-      )
-
-      // Get submodule config file paths.
-      const configPaths = await this.git.getSubmoduleConfigPaths(
+      // Configure a placeholder value. This approach avoids the credential being captured
+      // by process creation audit events, which are commonly logged. For more information,
+      // refer to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/component-updates/command-line-process-auditing
+      const output = await this.git.submoduleForeach(
+        // wrap the pipeline in quotes to make sure it's handled properly by submoduleForeach, rather than just the first part of the pipeline
+        `sh -c "git config --local '${this.tokenConfigKey}' '${this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue}' && git config --local --show-origin --name-only --get-regexp remote.origin.url"`,
         this.settings.nestedSubmodules
       )
 
-      // For each submodule, configure includeIf entries pointing to the shared credentials file.
-      // Configure both host and container paths to support Docker container actions.
+      // Replace the placeholder
+      const configPaths: string[] =
+        output.match(/(?<=(^|\n)file:)[^\t]+(?=\tremote\.origin\.url)/g) || []
       for (const configPath of configPaths) {
-        // Submodule Git directory
-        let submoduleGitDir = path.dirname(configPath) // The config file is at .git/modules/submodule-name/config
-        submoduleGitDir = submoduleGitDir.replace(/\\/g, '/') // Use forward slashes, even on Windows
-
-        // Configure host includeIf
-        await this.git.config(
-          `includeIf.gitdir:${submoduleGitDir}.path`,
-          credentialsConfigPath,
-          false, // globalConfig?
-          false, // add?
-          configPath
-        )
-
-        // Container submodule git directory
-        const githubWorkspace = process.env['GITHUB_WORKSPACE']
-        assert.ok(githubWorkspace, 'GITHUB_WORKSPACE is not defined')
-        let relativeSubmoduleGitDir = path.relative(
-          githubWorkspace,
-          submoduleGitDir
-        )
-        relativeSubmoduleGitDir = relativeSubmoduleGitDir.replace(/\\/g, '/') // Use forward slashes, even on Windows
-        const containerSubmoduleGitDir = path.posix.join(
-          '/github/workspace',
-          relativeSubmoduleGitDir
-        )
-
-        // Configure container includeIf
-        await this.git.config(
-          `includeIf.gitdir:${containerSubmoduleGitDir}.path`,
-          containerCredentialsPath,
-          false, // globalConfig?
-          false, // add?
-          configPath
-        )
+        core.debug(`Replacing token placeholder in '${configPath}'`)
+        await this.replaceTokenPlaceholder(configPath)
       }
 
       if (this.settings.sshKey) {
@@ -243,10 +201,6 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Configures SSH authentication by writing the SSH key and known hosts,
-   * and setting up the GIT_SSH_COMMAND environment variable.
-   */
   private async configureSsh(): Promise<void> {
     if (!this.settings.sshKey) {
       return
@@ -318,116 +272,57 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Configures token-based authentication by creating a credentials config file
-   * and setting up includeIf entries to reference it.
-   * @param globalConfig Whether to configure global config instead of local
-   */
-  private async configureToken(globalConfig?: boolean): Promise<void> {
-    // Get the credentials config file path in RUNNER_TEMP
-    const credentialsConfigPath = this.getCredentialsConfigPath()
+  private async configureToken(
+    configPath?: string,
+    globalConfig?: boolean
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    // Validate args
+    assert.ok(
+      (configPath && globalConfig) || (!configPath && !globalConfig),
+      'Unexpected configureToken parameter combinations'
+    )
 
-    // Write placeholder to the separate credentials config file using git config.
-    // This approach avoids the credential being captured by process creation audit events,
-    // which are commonly logged. For more information, refer to
-    // https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/component-updates/command-line-process-auditing
+    // Default config path
+    if (!configPath && !globalConfig) {
+      configPath = path.join(this.git.getWorkingDirectory(), '.git', 'config')
+    }
+
+    // Configure a placeholder value. This approach avoids the credential being captured
+    // by process creation audit events, which are commonly logged. For more information,
+    // refer to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/component-updates/command-line-process-auditing
     await this.git.config(
       this.tokenConfigKey,
       this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue,
-      false, // globalConfig?
-      false, // add?
-      credentialsConfigPath
+      globalConfig
     )
 
-    // Replace the placeholder in the credentials config file
-    let content = (await fs.promises.readFile(credentialsConfigPath)).toString()
+    // Replace the placeholder
+    await this.replaceTokenPlaceholder(configPath || '')
+  }
+
+  private async replaceTokenPlaceholder(configPath: string): Promise<void> {
+    assert.ok(configPath, 'configPath is not defined')
+    let content = (await fs.promises.readFile(configPath)).toString()
     const placeholderIndex = content.indexOf(this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue)
     if (
       placeholderIndex < 0 ||
       placeholderIndex != content.lastIndexOf(this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue)
     ) {
-      throw new Error(
-        `Unable to replace auth placeholder in ${credentialsConfigPath}`
-      )
+      throw new Error(`Unable to replace auth placeholder in ${configPath}`)
     }
     assert.ok(this.tokenConfigValue, 'tokenConfigValue is not defined')
     content = content.replace(
       this.tokenPlaceholderConfigValue,
       this.tokenConfigValue
     )
-    await fs.promises.writeFile(credentialsConfigPath, content)
-
-    // Add include or includeIf to reference the credentials config
-    if (globalConfig) {
-      // Global config file is temporary
-      await this.git.config(
-        'include.path',
-        credentialsConfigPath,
-        true // globalConfig?
-      )
-    } else {
-      // Host git directory
-      let gitDir = path.join(this.git.getWorkingDirectory(), '.git')
-      gitDir = gitDir.replace(/\\/g, '/') // Use forward slashes, even on Windows
-
-      // Configure host includeIf
-      const hostIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${gitDir}.path`
-      await this.git.config(hostIncludeKey, credentialsConfigPath)
-
-      // Container git directory
-      const workingDirectory = this.git.getWorkingDirectory()
-      const githubWorkspace = process.env['GITHUB_WORKSPACE']
-      assert.ok(githubWorkspace, 'GITHUB_WORKSPACE is not defined')
-      let relativePath = path.relative(githubWorkspace, workingDirectory)
-      relativePath = relativePath.replace(/\\/g, '/') // Use forward slashes, even on Windows
-      const containerGitDir = path.posix.join(
-        '/github/workspace',
-        relativePath,
-        '.git'
-      )
-
-      // Container credentials config path
-      const containerCredentialsPath = path.posix.join(
-        '/github/runner_temp',
-        path.basename(credentialsConfigPath)
-      )
-
-      // Configure container includeIf
-      const containerIncludeKey = `includeIf.gitdir:${containerGitDir}.path`
-      await this.git.config(containerIncludeKey, containerCredentialsPath)
-    }
+    await fs.promises.writeFile(configPath, content)
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Gets or creates the path to the credentials config file in RUNNER_TEMP.
-   * @returns The absolute path to the credentials config file
-   */
-  private getCredentialsConfigPath(): string {
-    if (this.credentialsConfigPath) {
-      return this.credentialsConfigPath
-    }
-
-    const runnerTemp = process.env['RUNNER_TEMP'] || ''
-    assert.ok(runnerTemp, 'RUNNER_TEMP is not defined')
-
-    // Create a unique filename for this checkout instance
-    const configFileName = `git-credentials-${uuid()}.config`
-    this.credentialsConfigPath = path.join(runnerTemp, configFileName)
-
-    core.debug(`Credentials config path: ${this.credentialsConfigPath}`)
-    return this.credentialsConfigPath
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Removes SSH authentication configuration by cleaning up SSH keys,
-   * known hosts files, and SSH command configurations.
-   */
   private async removeSsh(): Promise<void> {
     // SSH key
     const keyPath = this.sshKeyPath || stateHelper.SshKeyPath
     if (keyPath) {
       try {
-        core.info(`Removing SSH key '${keyPath}'`)
         await io.rmRF(keyPath)
       } catch (err) {
         core.debug(`${(err as any)?.message ?? err}`)
@@ -440,149 +335,40 @@ class GitAuthHelper {
       this.sshKnownHostsPath || stateHelper.SshKnownHostsPath
     if (knownHostsPath) {
       try {
-        core.info(`Removing SSH known hosts '${knownHostsPath}'`)
         await io.rmRF(knownHostsPath)
-      } catch (err) {
-        core.debug(`${(err as any)?.message ?? err}`)
-        core.warning(`Failed to remove SSH known hosts '${knownHostsPath}'`)
+      } catch {
+        // Intentionally empty
       }
     }
 
     // SSH command
-    core.info('Removing SSH command configuration')
     await this.removeGitConfig(SSH_COMMAND_KEY)
-    await this.removeSubmoduleGitConfig(SSH_COMMAND_KEY)
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Removes token-based authentication by cleaning up HTTP headers,
-   * includeIf entries, and credentials config files.
-   */
   private async removeToken(): Promise<void> {
-    // Remove HTTP extra header
-    core.info('Removing HTTP extra header')
+    // HTTP extra header
     await this.removeGitConfig(this.tokenConfigKey)
-    await this.removeSubmoduleGitConfig(this.tokenConfigKey)
+  }
 
-    // Collect credentials config paths that need to be removed
-    const credentialsPaths = new Set<string>()
-
-    // Remove includeIf entries that point to git-credentials-*.config files
-    core.info('Removing includeIf entries pointing to credentials config files')
-    const mainCredentialsPaths = await this.removeIncludeIfCredentials()
-    mainCredentialsPaths.forEach(path => credentialsPaths.add(path))
-
-    // Remove submodule includeIf entries that point to git-credentials-*.config files
-    const submoduleConfigPaths = await this.git.getSubmoduleConfigPaths(true)
-    for (const configPath of submoduleConfigPaths) {
-      const submoduleCredentialsPaths =
-        await this.removeIncludeIfCredentials(configPath)
-      submoduleCredentialsPaths.forEach(path => credentialsPaths.add(path))
-    }
-
-    // Remove credentials config files
-    for (const credentialsPath of credentialsPaths) {
-      // Only remove credentials config files if they are under RUNNER_TEMP
-      const runnerTemp = process.env['RUNNER_TEMP']
-      assert.ok(runnerTemp, 'RUNNER_TEMP is not defined')
-      if (credentialsPath.startsWith(runnerTemp)) {
-        try {
-          core.info(`Removing credentials config '${credentialsPath}'`)
-          await io.rmRF(credentialsPath)
-        } catch (err) {
-          core.debug(`${(err as any)?.message ?? err}`)
-          core.warning(
-            `Failed to remove credentials config '${credentialsPath}'`
-          )
-        }
-      } else {
-        core.debug(
-          `Skipping removal of credentials config '${credentialsPath}' - not under RUNNER_TEMP`
-        )
+  private async removeGitConfig(
+    configKey: string,
+    submoduleOnly: boolean = false
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    if (!submoduleOnly) {
+      if (
+        (await this.git.configExists(configKey)) &&
+        !(await this.git.tryConfigUnset(configKey))
+      ) {
+        // Load the config contents
+        core.warning(`Failed to remove '${configKey}' from the git config`)
       }
     }
-  }
 
-  /**
-   * Removes a git config key from the local repository config.
-   * @param configKey The git config key to remove
-   */
-  private async removeGitConfig(configKey: string): Promise<void> {
-    if (
-      (await this.git.configExists(configKey)) &&
-      !(await this.git.tryConfigUnset(configKey))
-    ) {
-      // Load the config contents
-      core.warning(`Failed to remove '${configKey}' from the git config`)
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Removes a git config key from all submodule configs.
-   * @param configKey The git config key to remove
-   */
-  private async removeSubmoduleGitConfig(configKey: string): Promise<void> {
     const pattern = regexpHelper.escape(configKey)
     await this.git.submoduleForeach(
-      // Wrap the pipeline in quotes to make sure it's handled properly by submoduleForeach, rather than just the first part of the pipeline.
+      // wrap the pipeline in quotes to make sure it's handled properly by submoduleForeach, rather than just the first part of the pipeline
       `sh -c "git config --local --name-only --get-regexp '${pattern}' && git config --local --unset-all '${configKey}' || :"`,
       true
     )
   }
-
-  /**
-   * Removes includeIf entries that point to git-credentials-*.config files.
-   * @param configPath Optional path to a specific git config file to operate on
-   * @returns Array of unique credentials config file paths that were found and removed
-   */
-  private async removeIncludeIfCredentials(
-    configPath?: string
-  ): Promise<string[]> {
-    const credentialsPaths = new Set<string>()
-
-    try {
-      // Get all includeIf.gitdir keys
-      const keys = await this.git.tryGetConfigKeys(
-        '^includeIf\\.gitdir:',
-        false, // globalConfig?
-        configPath
-      )
-
-      for (const key of keys) {
-        // Get all values for this key
-        const values = await this.git.tryGetConfigValues(
-          key,
-          false, // globalConfig?
-          configPath
-        )
-        if (values.length > 0) {
-          // Remove only values that match git-credentials-<uuid>.config pattern
-          for (const value of values) {
-            if (this.testCredentialsConfigPath(value)) {
-              credentialsPaths.add(value)
-              await this.git.tryConfigUnsetValue(key, value, false, configPath)
-            }
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    } catch (err) {
-      // Ignore errors - this is cleanup code
-      if (configPath) {
-        core.debug(`Error during includeIf cleanup for ${configPath}: ${err}`)
-      } else {
-        core.debug(`Error during includeIf cleanup: ${err}`)
-      }
-    }
-
-    return Array.from(credentialsPaths)
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Tests if a path matches the git-credentials-*.config pattern.
-   * @param path The path to test
-   * @returns True if the path matches the credentials config pattern
-   */
-  private testCredentialsConfigPath(path: string): boolean {
-    return /git-credentials-[0-9a-f-]+\.config$/i.test(path)
-  }
 }
diff --git a/src/git-command-manager.ts b/src/git-command-manager.ts
index a45e15a..8e42a38 100644
--- a/src/git-command-manager.ts
+++ b/src/git-command-manager.ts
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ export interface IGitCommandManager {
     configKey: string,
     configValue: string,
     globalConfig?: boolean,
-    add?: boolean,
-    configFile?: string
+    add?: boolean
   ): Promise<void>
   configExists(configKey: string, globalConfig?: boolean): Promise<boolean>
   fetch(
@@ -42,7 +41,6 @@ export interface IGitCommandManager {
     }
   ): Promise<void>
   getDefaultBranch(repositoryUrl: string): Promise<string>
-  getSubmoduleConfigPaths(recursive: boolean): Promise<string[]>
   getWorkingDirectory(): string
   init(): Promise<void>
   isDetached(): Promise<boolean>
@@ -61,24 +59,8 @@ export interface IGitCommandManager {
   tagExists(pattern: string): Promise<boolean>
   tryClean(): Promise<boolean>
   tryConfigUnset(configKey: string, globalConfig?: boolean): Promise<boolean>
-  tryConfigUnsetValue(
-    configKey: string,
-    configValue: string,
-    globalConfig?: boolean,
-    configFile?: string
-  ): Promise<boolean>
   tryDisableAutomaticGarbageCollection(): Promise<boolean>
   tryGetFetchUrl(): Promise<string>
-  tryGetConfigValues(
-    configKey: string,
-    globalConfig?: boolean,
-    configFile?: string
-  ): Promise<string[]>
-  tryGetConfigKeys(
-    pattern: string,
-    globalConfig?: boolean,
-    configFile?: string
-  ): Promise<string[]>
   tryReset(): Promise<boolean>
   version(): Promise<GitVersion>
 }
@@ -241,15 +223,9 @@ class GitCommandManager {
     configKey: string,
     configValue: string,
     globalConfig?: boolean,
-    add?: boolean,
-    configFile?: string
+    add?: boolean
   ): Promise<void> {
-    const args: string[] = ['config']
-    if (configFile) {
-      args.push('--file', configFile)
-    } else {
-      args.push(globalConfig ? '--global' : '--local')
-    }
+    const args: string[] = ['config', globalConfig ? '--global' : '--local']
     if (add) {
       args.push('--add')
     }
@@ -347,21 +323,6 @@ class GitCommandManager {
     throw new Error('Unexpected output when retrieving default branch')
   }
 
-  async getSubmoduleConfigPaths(recursive: boolean): Promise<string[]> {
-    // Get submodule config file paths.
-    // Use `--show-origin` to get the config file path for each submodule.
-    const output = await this.submoduleForeach(
-      `git config --local --show-origin --name-only --get-regexp remote.origin.url`,
-      recursive
-    )
-
-    // Extract config file paths from the output (lines starting with "file:").
-    const configPaths =
-      output.match(/(?<=(^|\n)file:)[^\t]+(?=\tremote\.origin\.url)/g) || []
-
-    return configPaths
-  }
-
   getWorkingDirectory(): string {
     return this.workingDirectory
   }
@@ -494,24 +455,6 @@ class GitCommandManager {
     return output.exitCode === 0
   }
 
-  async tryConfigUnsetValue(
-    configKey: string,
-    configValue: string,
-    globalConfig?: boolean,
-    configFile?: string
-  ): Promise<boolean> {
-    const args = ['config']
-    if (configFile) {
-      args.push('--file', configFile)
-    } else {
-      args.push(globalConfig ? '--global' : '--local')
-    }
-    args.push('--unset', configKey, configValue)
-
-    const output = await this.execGit(args, true)
-    return output.exitCode === 0
-  }
-
   async tryDisableAutomaticGarbageCollection(): Promise<boolean> {
     const output = await this.execGit(
       ['config', '--local', 'gc.auto', '0'],
@@ -538,56 +481,6 @@ class GitCommandManager {
     return stdout
   }
 
-  async tryGetConfigValues(
-    configKey: string,
-    globalConfig?: boolean,
-    configFile?: string
-  ): Promise<string[]> {
-    const args = ['config']
-    if (configFile) {
-      args.push('--file', configFile)
-    } else {
-      args.push(globalConfig ? '--global' : '--local')
-    }
-    args.push('--get-all', configKey)
-
-    const output = await this.execGit(args, true)
-
-    if (output.exitCode !== 0) {
-      return []
-    }
-
-    return output.stdout
-      .trim()
-      .split('\n')
-      .filter(value => value.trim())
-  }
-
-  async tryGetConfigKeys(
-    pattern: string,
-    globalConfig?: boolean,
-    configFile?: string
-  ): Promise<string[]> {
-    const args = ['config']
-    if (configFile) {
-      args.push('--file', configFile)
-    } else {
-      args.push(globalConfig ? '--global' : '--local')
-    }
-    args.push('--name-only', '--get-regexp', pattern)
-
-    const output = await this.execGit(args, true)
-
-    if (output.exitCode !== 0) {
-      return []
-    }
-
-    return output.stdout
-      .trim()
-      .split('\n')
-      .filter(key => key.trim())
-  }
-
   async tryReset(): Promise<boolean> {
     const output = await this.execGit(['reset', '--hard', 'HEAD'], true)
     return output.exitCode === 0