#593737 mailman: user list does not have a home directory (/var/list)

Package:
base-passwd
Source:
base-passwd
Description:
Debian base system master password and group files
Submitter:
Date:
2017-09-15 17:45:08 UTC
Severity:
normal
#593737#5
Date:
2010-08-19 21:17:59 UTC
From:
To:
When "su - list", the home directory does not exist for the 'list' user.
/var/list

Also, chapter 5 of the FHS states:

Applications must generally not add directories to the top level of /var. Such directories should only be added if they have some system-wide implication, and in consultation with the FHS mailing list.

Thus, it seems like /var/list as a home directory for the user 'list' violates
that section of the FHS.

Thanks for your contribution to free software and Debian.
#593737#10
Date:
2010-08-21 11:40:38 UTC
From:
To:
reassign 593737 base-passwd
thanks

Hi,

The 'list' user is created and maintained by the base-passwd package.
I'm reassigning your request accordingly.


Cheers,
Thijs
#593737#19
Date:
2017-09-15 17:44:49 UTC
From:
To:
Control: merge 250802 -1

This has been reported before in #250802, I'm merging the bugs.  The
home directory of the list user has been changed to /var/list over
twenty years ago in base-passwd 1.2.0-4, apparently for the smartlist
package which abuses /var/list to store programs and conffiles there, in
gross violation of the FHS and Debian Policy:
https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=10044.

Cheers,
       Sven