Bug 358118 - Not possible to launch ksystemlog as root
Summary: Not possible to launch ksystemlog as root
Status: CONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: KSystemLog
Classification: Applications
Component: general (show other bugs)
Version: unspecified
Platform: Debian unstable Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Nicolas Ternisien
URL:
Keywords:
: 451440 (view as bug list)
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2016-01-17 11:36 UTC by crptdngl71
Modified: 2025-04-15 15:38 UTC (History)
4 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:


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Description crptdngl71 2016-01-17 11:36:05 UTC
Steps to reproduce:
(1) Login to plasma as normal user (no root)
(2) in kde menu  / applications / system: select entry for ksystemlog
(3) ksystemlog requests root password. The root password (although valid) is not accepted by kdesu in this context.
(4) kde su again requests password stating that access was denied.

I have seen this problem in relation with ksystemlog only. With other applications requiring root access, e.g. synaptic, root password works.

Reproducible: Always
Comment 1 Justin Zobel 2021-03-10 00:32:26 UTC
Thank you for the bug report.

As this report hasn't seen any changes in 5 years or more, we ask if you can please confirm that the issue still persists.

If this bug is no longer persisting or relevant please change the status to resolved.
Comment 2 Jarrod Farrell 2021-12-16 22:51:24 UTC
(In reply to Justin Zobel from comment #1)
> Thank you for the bug report.
> 
> As this report hasn't seen any changes in 5 years or more, we ask if you can
> please confirm that the issue still persists.
> 
> If this bug is no longer persisting or relevant please change the status to
> resolved.

I'm having this exact issue with 21.12.0, Manjaro. My guess is that they have a install where you don't have a root login set, but their user can `sudo` themselves privileges which is common for a good handful of distros. So the user cannot `su` directly in this case and this is what KSystemLog is trying to do.

I do acknowledge that #354106 talking about PolicyKit or anything better than giving an application effective root might be the best course of action.
Comment 3 Jarrod Farrell 2021-12-16 22:53:01 UTC
Pardon, bug 354106. I'm used to GitHub's markdown.
Comment 4 Patrick Silva 2024-03-17 13:01:40 UTC
*** Bug 451440 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 5 crptdngl71 2024-03-17 16:26:42 UTC
I have to confirm that this issue still exists (system deails see below).

It is possible to run ksystemlog via Konsole.
In Konsole enter root-mode using su + PW, then run ksystemlog:

root@pucki:/home/lw# ksystemlog
QStandardPaths: runtime directory '/run/user/1000' is not owned by UID 0, but a directory permissions 0700 owned by UID 1000 GID 1005
Could not find color scheme "GradientLightColorScheme" falling back to BreezeLight
QStandardPaths: runtime directory '/run/user/1000' is not owned by UID 0, but a directory permissions 0700 owned by UID 1000 GID 1005
log_ksystemlog: Log manager is not yet initialized

This could actually hint to an issue of missing access permission rights.

Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux 12
KDE Plasma Version: 5.27.10
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.107.0
Qt Version: 5.15.10
Kernel Version: 6.7.9-1-siduction-amd64 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 8 × Intel® Core™ i5-8350U CPU @ 1.70GHz
Memory: 15.5 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: Mesa Intel® UHD Graphics 620
Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Product Name: Latitude 7490
Comment 6 8ball 2025-03-12 02:02:02 UTC
Can confirm the same issue on KDE Neon 6.3 (Ubuntu 24.04).
Running from console using the standard user by typing 'ksystemlog' launches without asking for a password.
This can be replicated by right-clicking KDE application menu -> Edit Applications -> selecting entry fro kjournaldbrowser, going to the 'advanced' tab, and unchecking 'run as different user' and saving. It now runs from the launcher without asking for a password.

Note that next to 'run as different user' no username is entered in the 'Username' box - I don't know if this is an error or if a blank box is an accepted shorthand for 'root.'

App seems to run fine at a cursory glance - but perhaps it is intended to run as root to give some extra functionality?
Comment 7 mateMat 2025-04-15 15:38:41 UTC
Hi,
This bug has been seen many time on kubuntu and KDE Neon from 2020 at least on my side as well.
It would be nice to solve it.

It has a conundrum, assess to some types of logs require admin power.
It should have some hybrid access that this prompt tries to achieve, but was not maintained.

Running `$ sudo -EH ksystemlog`     does the job.
Why not using it?