[ale] Allow non-root user to chown file to other user?

[deritchie at earthlink.net]

You hit the nail square on the head. Add both the sender and receiver Uid's into a group not used in /etc/passwd, but list both uids as a new group  in /etc/group with a unique group name. Then chgrp the file's directory to the new group to allow write access to all group members ('chmod a+g newgrp filedir', as I recall). Both readers and writers should be able to access the file.
--Dave Ritchie
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

-----Original Message-----
From: "Michael H. Warfield" <mhw at WittsEnd.com>

Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:24:36 
To:Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts <ale at ale.org>
Cc:mhw at WittsEnd.com
Subject: RE: [ale] Allow non-root user to chown file to other user?


On Fri, 2007-11-16 at 08:47 -0500, Jeff Lightner wrote:
> As clearly detailed below the question is very specifically NOT a
> capabilities question - I noted that I had gone down that path to
> forestall further comment on it.

> The "real" problem I'm trying to solve is I have "Administrative"
> accounts that I prohibit direct logins on.  (Require use of sudo su -
> <account> by real users.)  On occasion users have a need to transfer in
> a file as this admin account but then give ownership to someone else.

	I solve these sorts of problems using supplemental groups.  If the
target user is a member of the group, he can read the file and copy it
and own the copy.  That's the safe way to do it.

> However, I really don't see that "purpose" makes my original question
> vague.  As I've noted in other emails I can think of ways to use sudo to
> do this but was hoping that there was a config utility that allows it.

	The reason it was vague is that you were asking how to perform a
particular action without telling us what you were really trying to
accomplish.  "How do I use this hammer to drive a screw" is asking how
to perform an action.  "What do I need to screw together this cabinet"
is asking how to accomplish a goal.

	Mike

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of
> Derek Carter
> Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 3:15 PM
> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
> Subject: Re: [ale] Allow non-root user to chown file to other user?
> 
> Jeff Lightner wrote:
> > OK the responses so far did what I was asking not to do - that is they
> > are either telling me how to engineer a solution around it or they are
> > saying it is a bad idea.
> > 
> > Also one post mentioned "capabilities" which I had broached in my
> > original post.  My read of that is it is something set for programs or
> > at kernel level not something that is enabled for users.   If the
> chown
> > capability is not on in the kernel then even root couldn't do chown.
> > It doesn't seem to really relate to my question - I had gone down that
> > path before posting.
> > 
> > Again I am asking if there is a way to allow non-root users to simply
> > use the "real" chown command directly.  It just doesn't seem to me
> that
> > this shouldn't be something that is configurable somehow especially
> > given that it is configurable on at least two UNIX variants I'm
> familiar
> > with.     
> 
> Is this just a capabilities question, or are you trying to solve a real 
> problem?  If you are trying to solve a real problem, let us know what it
> 
> is, we may be able to help you find another avenue to fix it?
> 
> --
> Derek aka goozbach
> 
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-- 
Michael H. Warfield (AI4NB) | (770) 985-6132 |  mhw at WittsEnd.com
   /\/\|=mhw=|\/\/          | (678) 463-0932 |  http://www.wittsend.com/mhw/
   NIC whois: MHW9          | An optimist believes we live in the best of all
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