Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!ll-xn!ames!lll-lcc!mordor!jdb
From: jdb@mordor.s1.gov (John Bruner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: UW talk problem
Message-ID: <6806@mordor.s1.gov>
Date: Tue, 14-Apr-87 10:58:49 EST
Article-I.D.: mordor.6806
Posted: Tue Apr 14 10:58:49 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Apr-87 23:47:36 EST
References: <213@phoenix.PRINCETON.EDU> <1529@umd5.umd.edu>
Reply-To: jdb@mordor.UUCP (John Bruner)
Organization: S-1 Project, LLNL
Lines: 20

The code in the UW server which is compiled if UTMP is defined does
write entries into "/etc/utmp".  On some machines the utmp file
is world-writeable (e.g. on Suns, so that "suntools" can write it);
on others UW must be setuid or setgid in order to write it.

The code in the server handles windows created from the Mac
(with the "New" command in the "Window" menu) and windows created
via "uwtool".  "uwterm" does its own pseudo-terminal management
and does not write into the utmp file.  (I didn't have time to
implement and test that before the last distribution.)

A general word of advice: you should be very cautious about
installing setuid/setgid programs.  I advise you to look at any
such program (certainly including the UW server) very carefully
so that you understand the implications of installing it setuid
or setgid.
-- 
  John Bruner (S-1 Project, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)
  MILNET: jdb@mordor.s1.gov		(415) 422-0758
  UUCP: ...!ucbvax!decwrl!mordor!jdb 	...!seismo!mordor!jdb