Fun with NULL pointers, part 1

Posted Jul 22, 2009 11:19 UTC (Wed) by nix (subscriber, #2304)
In reply to: Fun with NULL pointers, part 1 by cortana
Parent article: Fun with NULL pointers, part 1

So the only way you can see what actions can be run on a system with privilege is... to run a GNOME-specific GUI application?

*sigh*

Fun with NULL pointers, part 1

Posted Jul 22, 2009 12:49 UTC (Wed) by cortana (subscriber, #24596) [Link] (1 responses)

It's not GNOME-specific. It just uses GTK+. Yes, it's unfortunate that there is no command-line equivalent, but it shouldn't be too difficult for one to be written--you are just querying the PolicyKit object after all.

Fun with NULL pointers, part 1

Posted Jul 22, 2009 21:59 UTC (Wed) by nix (subscriber, #2304) [Link]

I think one is essential if PolicyKit can be considered safe to use: we
have to be able to do automated audits and yell at unexpected quiet
changes, lest we miss attacks or accidental fumbles opening up holes.

You're quite right on the fugliness of the UID-setting syscalls in Unix,
but this is not helped by introducing *more* :/ again, userv did all this
better (IMNSHO) many years ago. Why more people don't use it I have no
idea.