Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Seven-year-old make-me-root bug in Linux kernel patched (www.theregister.com)

submitted 3 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 years ago (3 children)

It's not a bug in the kernel, the bug is in polkit. If you don't have polkit installed you are fine.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (2 children)

@[email protected] this is true, please fix the title.

If you don’t have polkit installed you are fine.

Which distributions have polkit installed by default? Which applications need polkit? Do you have polkit installed?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (1 children)

Which distributions have polkit installed by default?

Most that come with a desktop environment. (idk if the non-systemd versions are vulnerable though)

Which applications need polkit?

If you get a password prompt when a program needs higher privileges it most likely uses polkit.

Do you have polkit installed?

Nope, I just couldn't get it to work :D It's pretty annoying because some programs don't work without it, but most of the time you shouldn't be running those anyway.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 years ago

If you get a password prompt when a program needs higher privileges it most likely uses polkit.

Or gksudo, those were the times…