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Date:      Fri, 24 Aug 2012 06:53:59 +0100
From:      Steve O'Hara-Smith <steve@sohara.org>
To:        freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: implications of adding root to a group
Message-ID:  <20120824065359.82c1dc4b.steve@sohara.org>
In-Reply-To: <B8CE39B4-6A1C-42CA-93FB-148CA392B4FA@my.gd>
References:  <CAK0Kb5FfcKzjOoLLwM%2BTX%2BZ17ZBC-gVSBUtrZNF7Ufpxk1c7FA@mail.gmail.com> <20120823162621.ae92b733.steve@sohara.org> <B8CE39B4-6A1C-42CA-93FB-148CA392B4FA@my.gd>

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On Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:07:04 +0200
Damien Fleuriot <ml@my.gd> wrote:

> 
> On 23 Aug 2012, at 17:26, Steve O'Hara-Smith <steve@sohara.org> wrote:
> 
> > On Thu, 23 Aug 2012 07:51:10 -0700
> > Krims G <krimskrims@gmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> >> Hello, I've been looking at the /etc/group and have noticed that some
> >> groups have root included in them, for example "operator". Is it not
> >> implied that root has access to all things and groups? What is the
> >> purpose of adding root to a group? If I add root to some new arbitrary
> >> group, what does it result in differently than if I do not add root to
> >> that group?
> > 
> >    The root user has the ability to ignore file permissions, but not
> > the ability to subvert group membership tests in scripts or programs.
> > 
> > -- 
> > Steve O'Hara-Smith                          |   
> 
> 
> While I can compute what you wrote, I fail to see the implications.
> 
> Would you kindly explain in layman's terms ?

	Any script or program that checks group membership before
proceeding will execute for root regardless of permissions but won't do
anything (except emit a message) unless root is also a member of the
required group.
 
-- 
Steve O'Hara-Smith                          |   Directable Mirror Arrays
C:>WIN                                      | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins.                |    licences available see
You lose and Bill collects.                 |    http://www.sohara.org/



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