[Pkg-shadow-devel] Bug#276419: Do we fix this in 4.0.14-4?

[Nicolas François]

On Thu, Jan 26, 2006 at 07:44:37AM +0100, bubulle at debian.org wrote:
> The upload of 4.0.14-4 will happen soon.
> 
> We have the opportunity of fixing this bug now. From Nicolas survey,
> it does not seem likely to harm critical things (inclusing sarge to
> etch upgrades, see thread back in November), so the only actions
> (besides stopping to apply the 423 patch) are communication:
> 
> -publish an announcement in d-d
> -include a technical document in /usr/share/doc/passwd

I think it is still too early to call it a survey.
I need more time to check:
 * the Debian native packages
 * the packages that uses cron
 * the packages that install an init.d
 * the maintainer scripts
   (based on the selction of Bill Allombert)

I've started the 3 first points.

> There was a proposal for POSIXLY_CORRECT variable....I'm not deeply
> convinced to add this complexity unless it proves really useful
> (backword compatibility...but with what?).

I don't really like the variable name POSIXLY_CORRECT.
It could save us some RC issues to have such a variable
(SU_EXECUTE_COMMAND?).

> If the patch that adds this is ready then we can go for it. If it
> isn't and you feel it's needed, then convince me..:)

I'm not sure, but "the patch that adds this" is probably just the removal
of a debian patch.

BTW, with all the issues on The Hurd, we gain a additional argument for
fixing this bug: on The Hurd, su is provided by coreutils, which does not
support:
 * specifying a command without -c
 * do not concatenate the commands arguments (and thus requires quotes)

Alexander, can you verify that is true. Does the commands "su <user> ls"
or "su <user> -c ls -l" work on The Hurd?
(maybe some -- must be added: "su <user> -- ls" or "su <user> -- -c ls -l")


-- 
Nekral