Permissions

[stephen]

As recommended by fellow Mac users in PhilMUG, I have made it a point to always repair disk permissions after installing applications/updates/patches on my system. During the first few months of using Panther, Disk Utility would repair permissions accordingly and those that had already been repaired would not resurface in subsequent repair sessions.

However, since last month, Disk Utility had been displaying this same message repeatedly:

Repairing permissions for “iBook”
Determining correct file permissions.
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util. New permissions are 33261
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume

Permissions repair complete

I do not know what resets the permissions of the file cd9660.util after Disk Utility repairs them. Serious problem or not, I’m not sure; but this is quite annoying:dry:

Does anyone know how to repair its permissions for good? Or should I just leave this be? If the latter were to be resorted to, would it pose any harm to my system?

Thank you!

[gonz]

Originally posted by stephen
Does anyone know how to repair its permissions for good? Or should I just leave this be? If the latter were to be resorted to, would it pose any harm to my system?

Found this MacFixit forum thread on the same issue. It seems that while no one knows how to fix it yet, you're not alone in seeing this issue. If you get any more info, please post.

[Edited on 4-14-2004 by gonz]

[docnap]

Did a permissions repair on my AlBook and saw this...

__________________________________________________ ________________
Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
Determining correct file permissions.
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util. New permissions are 33261
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume

Permissions repair complete

__________________________________________________ ________________

I never realized that I am seeing the same notification everytime I do permissions repair. All the while I thought it was different everytime I do one. Exact message as yours, Stephen, this one on a powerbook. Oh well.......will just have to live with it in the meantime.

Nap

[ginoledesma]

Hi, Stephen

What you're seeing is a carried-over trivial bug from Jaguar to Panther. In Mac OS 10.3.x, Apple started "sugar coating" Unix error messages with simpler ones, though the simpler ones don't give us much clues.

Here's a little explanation which I hope you find useful.

We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util. New permissions are 33261

The above message simpy says that the file cd9660.util is using permissions other than what Apple intends it to be. The permissions "33261" correspond to "-rwsr-xr-x" in the Unix world, which means its readable and executable by all users, but is "setuid" to the owner of the file. The "s" part in the permissions indicates that the program will be run as whoever owns the file -- in this case, root.

This makes me raise suspcision a bit, since anything that "runs as root" can be potentially harmful if used improperly. The cd9660.util is a Darwin tool that mounts/unmounts CDs. Doesn't seem to harmful, and I see where the need for "root privleges" is for the task.

In any case, there is no explanation yet as to why or how the permissions change from setsuid to non-setsuid. I know that this has been a carry-over trivial bug from Jaguar. Apple's knowledge-base marks it as a non-issue, so you needn't worry about it. Macintouch had a discussion on that sometime ago, but I've not religiously followed the thread anymore.

[stephen]

Thanks so much for the inputs, gonz and gino:P It's comforting, to say the least, to know that I'm not the only one experiencing this.

It's great to learn something new everyday

[Adel]

Originally posted by ginoledesma
Hi, Stephen

What you're seeing is a carried-over trivial bug from Jaguar to Panther. In Mac OS 10.3.x, Apple started "sugar coating" Unix error messages with simpler ones, though the simpler ones don't give us much clues.

Here's a little explanation which I hope you find useful.

We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util. New permissions are 33261

The above message simpy says that the file cd9660.util is using permissions other than what Apple intends it to be. The permissions "33261" correspond to "-rwsr-xr-x" in the Unix world, which means its readable and executable by all users, but is "setuid" to the owner of the file. The "s" part in the permissions indicates that the program will be run as whoever owns the file -- in this case, root.

This makes me raise suspcision a bit, since anything that "runs as root" can be potentially harmful if used improperly. The cd9660.util is a Darwin tool that mounts/unmounts CDs. Doesn't seem to harmful, and I see where the need for "root privleges" is for the task.

In any case, there is no explanation yet as to why or how the permissions change from setsuid to non-setsuid. I know that this has been a carry-over trivial bug from Jaguar. Apple's knowledge-base marks it as a non-issue, so you needn't worry about it. Macintouch had a discussion on that sometime ago, but I've not religiously followed the thread anymore.

I KNEW we didn't make a mistake in putting Gino in the Genius Bar/Geek Room.

[quicksilver]

newbie questions: what is the purpose of repairing disk permissions? i've had my Albk for over a month now and i havent done this yet. how do i go about doing this? thanks in advance.

[Arel]

Go to the Utilities folder in Applications, QUICKSILVER, then double-click on Disk Utility. Select a disk, volume, or image supported by OS X, then choose First Aid, & then click on Repair Disk Permissions.

[Edited on 4-29-2004 by Arel]

[Arel]

This is how Mac Help explains it, QUICKSILVER:

"If you have problems with a disk or volume, use Disk Utility to test and repair it. Disk Utility verifies and repairs the partitions, the layout map of the disk, and the directory structure.

You can also verify and repair permissions on a Mac OS X startup disk. Occasionally the user permissions associated with files or applications become damaged, which can prevent a file or application from opening.

Repairing permissions is also a good maintenance task after updating the system or installing new software."

[quote]Originally posted by quicksilver
newbie questions: what is the purpose of repairing disk permissions?

[quicksilver]

Thanks, Arel!

If I repair permissions on my hard disk, do I have to do it from my start-up CD?