+++ This bug was initially created as a clone of Bug #171422 +++ Description of problem: chgrp alters the ownership of a file when operating on a symbolic link. The same behavior was reported in the FC4 coreutils and fixed in FC5 (coreutils-5.93-1). Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): coreutils-5.2.1-31.4 How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. create a file owned by user/group 'a' 2. create a symlink to the file owned by user/group 'b' 3. run chgrp on the symlink to change group ownership of the target to 'b' Actual results: Both the user & group ownership are assigned to 'b' The problem happens because chgrp assumes it's OK to stat the argument and simply propagate the uid to the file it is chgrping (src/chown-core.c:211). That's OK in most cases but if the ownership of the link & target differ, the ownership is incorrectly copied from the link to the target. The FC4 version of this bug (bug 171422) was closed RAWHIDE when FC5 rebased the package & there have been a large number of changes to this part of coreutils in the meantime. The attached patch attempts to take the minimum changes from 5.93 to correct this behavior; we check if we're operating on a link & re-stat the file to get the correct ownership.
Created attachment 141083 [details] Patch correcting behavior of chgrp on symlinks
An advisory has been issued which should help the problem described in this bug report. This report is therefore being closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information on the solution and/or where to find the updated files, please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report if the solution does not work for you. http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2007-0786.html