Merge branch 'docs-protected-variables-update' into 'master'

Update protected variables with permissions

Closes #8736

See merge request gitlab-org/gitlab!36644

doc/ci/variables/README.md

@@ -227,7 +227,8 @@ To protect a variable:
 1. Select the **Protect variable** check box.
 1. Click **Update variable**.
 
-The variable is available for all subsequent pipelines.
+The variable is available for all subsequent pipelines. Protected variables can only
+be updated or viewed by project members with [maintainer permissions](../../user/permissions.md#project-members-permissions).
 
 ### Custom variables validated by GitLab
 

doc/user/permissions.md

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ The following table depicts the various user permission levels in a project.
 |---------------------------------------------------|---------|------------|-------------|----------|--------|
 | Download project                                  | ✓ (*1*) | ✓          | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
 | Leave comments                                    | ✓ (*1*) | ✓          | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
-| View allowed and denied licenses **(ULTIMATE)** | ✓ (*1*) | ✓          | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
+| View allowed and denied licenses **(ULTIMATE)**   | ✓ (*1*) | ✓          | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
 | View License Compliance reports **(ULTIMATE)**    | ✓ (*1*) | ✓          | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
 | View Security reports **(ULTIMATE)**              | ✓ (*3*) | ✓          | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
 | View Dependency list **(ULTIMATE)**               | ✓ (*1*) | ✓          | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ The following table depicts the various user permission levels in a project.
 | View metrics dashboard annotations                |         | ✓          | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
 | Create/edit requirements **(ULTIMATE)**           |         | ✓          | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
 | Pull [packages](packages/index.md) **(PREMIUM)**  |         | ✓          | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
-| Publish [packages](packages/index.md) **(PREMIUM)**|         |            | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
+| Publish [packages](packages/index.md) **(PREMIUM)**|        |            | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
 | Upload [Design Management](project/issues/design_management.md) files |  |  | ✓        | ✓        | ✓      |
 | Create/edit/delete [Releases](project/releases/index.md)|   |            | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |
 | Create new branches                               |         |            | ✓           | ✓        | ✓      |