xsu Is an interface for the command `su - username -c command` in Gnome. When the user executes xsu, he will be prompted for a command, a username and a password. If the username and password are correct xsu will execute the command as the entered user. So if the username was root, then the command will be executed as root. Of course it's also possible to predefine the username and the command by using the [-u,--username] and [-c,--command] arguments at the command line of xsu. This can be very useful when using xsu in for example gmenu or the panel.
Gnome Xsu 0.2.0 uses the standard su binary to gain it's root access. This way, all security issues should be solved. The security of all older xsu versions was very bad. With xsu version 0.1.0 I introduced the use of a pipe to a secured non-Gnome SUID application. This has been replaced with a special type of pipe to the standard su application. For example the one from GNU sh-utils can be used with Gnome Xsu.
Gnome Xsu uses the Unix 'su' execute the command. This means that your DISPLAY environment variable of the user must be set correctly. You can put for example export DISPLAY=:0 in the file /etc/profile (bash). You can also use the option --set-display which will set the DISPLAY environment variable to ":0" before starting the command.
! You need the Gnome (And GTK+, GDK) development packages (Gnome libs) Example (RedHat Linux) ./configure make make install Special options for ./configure usage: configure [--option=value] Help: --help print this message Directory and file names: --man-base=PATH Set path to man pages [/usr/share/man] --doc-path=PATH Set path for documentation [/usr/share/doc] --compiler=PATH Set compiler [cc] --gnome-config-prefix=PATH Where to find gnome-config [] --prefix=PATH Installation base --su-pwd-out=STRVALUE Set what su outputs while waiting for password. Gnome Xsu will wait for this string to send the password through the faked terminal. So this string MUST be correct ! (test with "su - root -c test") [Password: ] --max-su-delay=INTVALUE Delay before su fails [30000] --debug Enables debugging mode (only for developpers) Uninstallation (dont remove the Makefile nor do make distclean) make uninstall Doing a distclean make distclean For distrubutions which do not use a standard Unix su command Argh, get yourself GNU sh-utils. Oh well, in case you don't want to install another su-package, you can try the configuration option --su-pwd-out. Basicly it comes to this : Gnome Xsu will wait until the faked zvt terminal where su has been executed returns "Password: " before it sends the password which you typed at the password textbox to the terminal. Using this configuration option, you can change that string. However, I still recommend installing GNU sh-utils. Gnome Xsu has only been tested with the GNU sh-utils package.
- Commandline parameters for xsu * [-u|--username] "username" Sets the username. * [-c|--command] "command line" Sets the command. * [-m|--message] "Message^line" Sets the message. * [-t|--title] "Window title" Sets the window title. * [-i|--icon] "pixmap file" Loads another icon. * [-e|--hide] Hides the username. * [-a|--set-display] "hostname:port" Sets the DISPLAY environment variable to :0 before starting the command if no 2e argument is given. Else use the Xserver at hostname:p * [-d|--unadaptable] Disables the username and command textboxes if possible. * [-h|--help] Displays help. ps. When using -m or --message you can use the character ^ in your message if you want to use a new line, and the character ~ if you want to use a tabulation. If no message is set, then the default message will be used : The action you requested requires root priveleges. Please enter the correct password for it below and press [Return] or click OK. Example : xsu --message "The action you requested requires root^priveleges.^Please enter the correct password for it^below and press [Return] or click OK." - Using xsu in gmenu (Menu Editor) At the "Command:" textbox just use for example xsu -c "The command line" -u "root" -m "Enter the root password^please." * Examples : Command: xsu -c "gmenu" -u "root" -m "To start the Menu Editor^you have to enter^the root password^here." Command: xsu --title "" -c DrakConf -u root -d -e -m "In order to run \"DrakConf\" as root.^Additional information is required." Command: xsu --title "" -c xterm -u root -d -e -m "In order to run \"xterm\" as root.^Additional information is required." -i "/usr/share/pixmaps/gnome-hint.png"
xsu --command "gmenu" --username "root" --message "For the Menu Editor you need root access.^Enter the root password Below."
xsu --title "" -c DrakConf -u root -d -e -m "In order to run \"DrakConf\" as root.^Additional information is required."
xsu --title "" -c xterm -u root -d -e -m "In order to run \"xterm\" as root.^Additional information is required." -i "/usr/share/pixmaps/gnome-hint.png"