Ubuntu
shadow package

su should exit with a message that root is locked

Bug #1153901 reported by Byron Hawkins
6
This bug affects 1 person
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
shadow (Ubuntu)
New
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

On a wubi install, attempting "su" results in a bewildering rejection of the only password known to the user. Instead, the "su" command should politely respond, "The root account is locked. To gain root privileges, use 'sudo -s' and enter your user password". Otherwise, how can anyone know what to do? It's crazy to knowningly lock the user out of their own OS. You've got to tell them how they are supposed to get in as root.

Revision history for this message
Adam Conrad (adconrad) wrote :

Given that the installer never asks you to set a root password, it's a bit odd to assume that su (which asks for root's password) would work, but it's perhaps fair to expect that shadow might give a bit of a hint.

Changed in wubi:
status: New → Invalid
Colin Watson (cjwatson)
no longer affects: wubi
Revision history for this message
Byron Hawkins (bhron) wrote :

If there isn't a root password, I don't think the system should ever prompt the user for a root password. Check the web, tons of people find this alarming and are convinced they are locked out of root. Whether it makes sense or not, this is what people do experience and they are reporting it on the web. I installed wubi 3 years ago and completely forgot about whether setup asked for a root password. It was alarming for "su" to prompt for a root password when I don't have one on file. Others are also similarly alarmed by the "su" response, and there is plenty of evidence publicly available.

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