From fad1b46e08d16135bde8bd6f963aa548b92a5fe3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jim Meyering Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2003 08:15:11 +0000 Subject: (chown invocation): Warn that chown now clears set-user-ID and set-group-ID bits on some systems. --- doc/coreutils.texi | 12 ++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 12 insertions(+) (limited to 'doc/coreutils.texi') diff --git a/doc/coreutils.texi b/doc/coreutils.texi index eef61a7d2..407adf3bd 100644 --- a/doc/coreutils.texi +++ b/doc/coreutils.texi @@ -7522,6 +7522,18 @@ but you may be able to work around the compatibility problems by setting New scripts should avoid the use of @samp{.} because @sc{gnu} @command{chown} may fail if @var{owner} contains @samp{.} characters. +Warning: The @command{chown} command may clear the set-user-ID or +set-group-ID bits on some systems. The @command{chown} command is +dependent upon the policy and functionality of the underlying system +which may make system-dependent file mode modifications outside the +control of the @command{chown} command. On some systems (e.g., Linux) +the @command{chown} command clears the set-UID and set-GID bits because +the underlying system @function{chown} function clears them. On other +systems (e.g., HP-UX and Solaris) the @command{chown} command does not +affect those bits when operated as the superuser. On systems which allow +non-privileged use of chown those bits are always cleared by the system. +When in doubt, check the underlying system behavior. + The program accepts the following options. Also see @ref{Common options}. @table @samp -- cgit v1.2.3-54-g00ecf