GNU bug report logs - #19477
24.4; Init script from su terminal

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Package: emacs; Severity: minor; Reported by: ibeas@HIDDEN (Álvar Ibeas); Keywords: notabug; merged with #36583, #36604; dated Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:38:02 UTC; Maintainer for emacs is bug-gnu-emacs@HIDDEN.
Forcibly Merged 19477 36583 36604. Request was from Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi@HIDDEN> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. Full text available.
Severity set to 'minor' from 'normal' Request was from Glenn Morris <rgm@HIDDEN> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. Full text available.
Did not alter fixed versions and reopened. Request was from Debbugs Internal Request <help-debbugs@HIDDEN> to internal_control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. Full text available.
bug No longer marked as fixed in versions 24.4. Request was from Glenn Morris <rgm@HIDDEN> to control <at> debbugs.gnu.org. Full text available.

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From: Glenn Morris <rgm@HIDDEN>
To: 19477 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#19477: 24.4; Init script from su terminal
References: <87iogrixn9.fsf@HIDDEN>
 <mailman.17015.1420051024.1147.bug-gnu-emacs@HIDDEN>
 <87mw638vgq.fsf_-_@HIDDEN>
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I'm not sure this should be closed.
Perhaps there is a better way for Emacs to do what it wants
(get the name under which you logged in) than consulting LOGNAME.
Eg it could do what `logname' the program does.
Although reading the info page for that, what it does (check
/var/run/utmp etc) doesn't seem that great, or portable.

I'm not sure that what Debian's su does is "correct", but I could not
find a standard for su. In any case, this seems like one of those things
that is impossible to ever get changed, because people come to rely on
it behaving the way it does.

In any case, I think the Emacs documentation could stand to be tweaked a
bit. Eg util-linux/coreutils su only leaves LOGNAME alone if you change
to root, not if you change to a non-root user.
Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs@HIDDEN:
bug#19477; Package emacs. Full text available.

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From: ibeas@HIDDEN (=?utf-8?Q?=C3=81lvar?= Ibeas)
To: 19477-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: 24.4; Init script from su terminal
References: <87iogrixn9.fsf@HIDDEN>
 <mailman.17015.1420051024.1147.bug-gnu-emacs@HIDDEN>
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:34:13 +0100
In-Reply-To: <mailman.17015.1420051024.1147.bug-gnu-emacs@HIDDEN> (Glenn
 Morris's message of "Wed, 31 Dec 2014 13:36:26 -0500")
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Glenn Morris <rgm@HIDDEN> writes:

> Emacs is behaving as documented.
>
> The `su' programs from coreutils (it's since been removed in favour of
> the util-linux one) and util-linux (as used by eg Red Hat) do not change
> LOGNAME or USER when su'ing to root.
>
> It seems that Debian's `su' comes from the `shadow' package and does
> change them.

Thanks for replying. I see now that most of the environment variables
are kept with the `-p' option.
Notification sent to ibeas@HIDDEN (Álvar Ibeas):
bug acknowledged by developer. Full text available.
Reply sent to ibeas@HIDDEN (Álvar Ibeas):
You have taken responsibility. Full text available.

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From: Glenn Morris <rgm@HIDDEN>
To: ibeas@HIDDEN (=?utf-8?Q?=C3=81lvar?= Ibeas)
Subject: Re: bug#19477: 24.4; Init script from su terminal
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=C3=81lvar Ibeas wrote:

> ``if you run Emacs from a shell started by `su', Emacs tries to find
> your own `.emacs', not that of the user you are currently pretending
> to be [...] It gets your user name from the environment variables
> `LOGNAME' and `USER'.''
>
> The variables LOGNAME and USER have both the value `root'. The command
> `logname' returns instead my own user name.

Emacs is behaving as documented.

The `su' programs from coreutils (it's since been removed in favour of
the util-linux one) and util-linux (as used by eg Red Hat) do not change
LOGNAME or USER when su'ing to root.

It seems that Debian's `su' comes from the `shadow' package and does
change them.

But all the `su' programs are behaving as documented too.
It's a shame they don't agree with each other...
Information forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs@HIDDEN:
bug#19477; Package emacs. Full text available.

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From: ibeas@HIDDEN (=?utf-8?Q?=C3=81lvar?= Ibeas)
To: bug-gnu-emacs@HIDDEN
Subject: 24.4; Init script from su terminal
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 17:36:58 +0100
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Hello,

Working under Debian, when I switch to root using `su', Emacs doesn't
load the init script located in my user's home folder, as the manual
says:

``if you run Emacs from a shell started by `su', Emacs tries to find
your own `.emacs', not that of the user you are currently pretending
to be [...] It gets your user name from the environment variables
`LOGNAME' and `USER'.''

The variables LOGNAME and USER have both the value `root'. The command
`logname' returns instead my own user name.

Is this an Emacs bug?
Acknowledgement sent to ibeas@HIDDEN (Álvar Ibeas):
New bug report received and forwarded. Copy sent to bug-gnu-emacs@HIDDEN. Full text available.
Report forwarded to bug-gnu-emacs@HIDDEN:
bug#19477; Package emacs. Full text available.
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