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Bug 584899 - PackageKit allows non-root users to install software updates
Summary: PackageKit allows non-root users to install software updates
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED CURRENTRELEASE
Alias: None
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Classification: Red Hat
Component: PackageKit
Version: 6.0
Hardware: All
OS: Linux
low
high
Target Milestone: rc
: ---
Assignee: Richard Hughes
QA Contact: desktop-bugs@redhat.com
URL:
Whiteboard:
Depends On:
Blocks:
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 2010-04-22 17:03 UTC by Phil Perry
Modified: 2010-11-11 15:23 UTC (History)
5 users (show)

Fixed In Version:
Doc Type: Bug Fix
Doc Text:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 2010-11-11 15:23:58 UTC
Target Upstream Version:
Embargoed:

Attachments (Terms of Use)

Description Phil Perry 2010-04-22 17:03:28 UTC 
Description of problem:

Non-root users are able to install updated software packages without being prompted for root credentials.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
PackageKit-0.5.6-2.el6

How reproducible:
Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Install RHEL6beta1
2. System > Administration > Software Update
3.
  
Actual results:
Non-root users are able to update system software.

Expected results:
Root credentials would be required to update system software.

Additional info:
Do we really want to allow non-root users to install system updates by default.
Comment 1 Phil Perry 2010-04-22 17:06:09 UTC 
Seems related to this bug in F12:

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=577070
Comment 2 Alan Bartlett 2010-04-22 17:14:59 UTC 
This is clearly a Fedora "feature" that must not be allowed in an Enterprise class OS.

I trust that this bug will be squashed, immediately.
Comment 3 Scott Robbins 2010-04-22 17:15:56 UTC 
Confirmed.

If folks remember, this was really almost identical to 

 https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=534047

which made slashdot and distrowatch.   While, as the developer says, there is a difference between updating already installed packages vs. installing previously uninstalled packages, this is simply unacceptable for many people (e.g., the last person to post in the Fedora bug that Ned mentions.)  

I don't believe that even Windows allows this
Comment 4 Phil Perry 2010-04-22 18:19:55 UTC 
(In reply to comment #3)
> Confirmed.
> 
> If folks remember, this was really almost identical to 
> 
>  https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=534047
> 

I didn't read that bug in it's entirety, but one thing I'd like to point out that I didn't see mentioned is that this bug doesn't just apply to trusted Red Hat repositories, but applies to *all* (signed) repositories.

Given that an administrator might trust content from varying repositories to different extents (do you trust all your 3rd party repos to the same extent as you trust rhel/updates?), I'm not convinced I would want non-root users to be able to install updates by default that may potentially break things (*cough* ClamAV breaks every time it's updated!) and then not have the required privileges (or expertise) to fix what has broken.

IMHO ultimately this is a decision for the system administrator to make and the default policy should be one of caution as was previously the case. I just find it somewhat strange to see this "feature" in a release that also brings SELinux advancements allowing system administrators to further restrict users. It seems like pulling in two completely opposite directions.
Comment 6 RHEL Program Management 2010-04-22 20:13:14 UTC 
This request was evaluated by Red Hat Product Management for inclusion in a Red
Hat Enterprise Linux major release.  Product Management has requested further
review of this request by Red Hat Engineering, for potential inclusion in a Red
Hat Enterprise Linux Major release.  This request is not yet committed for
inclusion.
Comment 12 Richard Hughes 2010-05-04 14:28:29 UTC 
* Tue May 04 2010 Richard Hughes  <rhughes> - 0.5.8-3
- Use more secure defaults to only allow the root user to update the system.
- Resolves: #584899
Comment 14 Tomas Pelka 2010-05-10 10:13:49 UTC 
Reproducer in description, expected behaviour: user should obtain pk password dialog window.

Giving qa_ack.
Comment 15 Tomas Pelka 2010-06-07 07:08:54 UTC 
Expected behaviour verified on PackageKit-0.5.8-6.el6.
Comment 16 releng-rhel@redhat.com 2010-11-11 15:23:58 UTC 
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.0 is now available and should resolve
the problem described in this bug report. This report is therefore being closed
with a resolution of CURRENTRELEASE. You may reopen this bug report if the
solution does not work for you.
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