GNU bug report logs - #54338
enhancement (documentation): explain permission tests in "test"

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From: help-debbugs <at> gnu.org (GNU bug Tracking System)
To: "Ulrich Windl" <Ulrich.Windl <at> rz.uni-regensburg.de>
Subject: bug#54338: closed (Re: bug#54338: enhancement (documentation):
 explain permission tests in "test")
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2022 12:52:02 +0000

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Your bug report

#54338: enhancement (documentation): explain permission tests in "test"

which was filed against the coreutils package, has been closed.

The explanation is attached below, along with your original report.
If you require more details, please reply to 54338 <at> debbugs.gnu.org.

-- 
54338: http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=54338
GNU Bug Tracking System
Contact help-debbugs <at> gnu.org with problems

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From: Pádraig Brady <P <at> draigBrady.com>
To: Ulrich Windl <Ulrich.Windl <at> rz.uni-regensburg.de>,
 54338-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#54338: enhancement (documentation): explain permission tests
 in "test"
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2022 12:51:12 +0000

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On 11/03/2022 10:42, Ulrich Windl wrote:
> I noticed that "test -r file" returns success when called as root for a file
> with these permissions:
> "--w-------" (see also https://stackoverflow.com/q/71435657/6607497)
> 
> The documentation simply states:
> ‘-r FILE’
>       True if FILE exists and read permission is granted.
> 
> Doing an strace it seems stat() is used to check the permissions (well, what
> about ACLs, just in case?)
> 
> I think there should be a better explanatiomn how the permission tests work,
> especially when called as "root".
> 
> (Report based on coreutils-8.32-150300.3.5.1 from openSUSE Leap 15.3)

I agree the current docs are ambiguous.
I'll apply the attached later to address this.

thanks,
Pádraig

[test-access.diff (text/x-patch, attachment)]

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From: "Ulrich Windl" <Ulrich.Windl <at> rz.uni-regensburg.de>
To: <bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org>
Subject: enhancement (documentation): explain permission tests in
 "test"
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2022 11:42:13 +0100

I noticed that "test -r file" returns success when called as root for a file
with these permissions:
"--w-------" (see also https://stackoverflow.com/q/71435657/6607497)

The documentation simply states:
‘-r FILE’
     True if FILE exists and read permission is granted.

Doing an strace it seems stat() is used to check the permissions (well, what
about ACLs, just in case?)

I think there should be a better explanatiomn how the permission tests work,
especially when called as "root".

(Report based on coreutils-8.32-150300.3.5.1 from openSUSE Leap 15.3)

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