#52214 base-passwd: removes local users/groups from reserved id space

Package:
base-passwd
Source:
base-passwd
Description:
Debian base system master password and group files
Submitter:
Date:
2015-07-01 08:30:29 UTC
Severity:
normal
#52214#5
Date:
1999-12-08 13:26:43 UTC
From:
To:
Package: base-passwd
Version: 3.1.5

I had a group 'dos', gid 35. Obviously, I shouldn't have because it's
a reserved number, but anyway, I did. base-passwd should (IMHO)
offer to renumber the group, rather than just removing the entry
from /etc/groups.

Obviously the old gid will still be in use -- but that happens if
you just nuke the group too. And nuking it destroys the membership
information.


Hamish
#52214#10
Date:
1999-12-08 15:06:55 UTC
From:
To:
Previously Hamish Moffatt wrote:

The postinst will show you what it wants to change and offers you
the possibility to not change anything. update-passwd cannot renumber
the group since it simply can't go out and look for any file with
the old gid and change its ownership.. at some point that will break
due to races, read-only filesystems, remote filesystems, etc.

I'm closing this bugreport.

Wichert.
#52214#15
Date:
1999-12-08 22:50:38 UTC
From:
To:
reopen 52214
thanks

I don't expect it to adjust the files on disk. Deleting the group will
also leave files on disk with the wrong number -- renumbering the group
is no worse. And deleting the group destroys its membership information.

It can't be too hard to do.


Hamish
#52214#22
Date:
1999-12-09 00:29:17 UTC
From:
To:
Previously Hamish Moffatt wrote:

You're right. You just say no in the postinst.

Wichert.
#52214#27
Date:
1999-12-09 00:39:15 UTC
From:
To:
Is there some reason you won't even consider my suggestion?

There is loss of information here. Isn't that a real bug? I think so.


Hamish
#52214#44
Date:
2007-04-17 22:16:55 UTC
From:
To:
reopen 52214
thanks

Yikes, bug closed by spam.

Hamish
#52214#59
Date:
2008-03-26 21:21:57 UTC
From:
To:
reopen 52214
thanks

I'm not sure if this bug report is still valid anyway?
#52214#66
Date:
2008-03-27 10:57:52 UTC
From:
To:
I think it's still a worthwhile issue; I want to deal with it by
converting update-passwd's user interaction to debconf.