Bug#807878: gnome: Gnome freezes when root windows are open on user screen.

[Vlad Orlov]

reassign 807878 libpam-systemd 215-17+deb8u4
forcemerge 732209 807878
thanks


Hi,

This is the same old bug in libpam-systemd that upstream
does not want to fix and maintainers here claim it's not
reproducible. Check [1] and all the merged reports there
for more details.


[1] https://bugs.debian.org/732209

Bug#807878: gnome: Gnome freezes when root windows are open on user screen.

[Laurent Bigonville]

On Sun, 13 Dec 2015 22:28:41 -0300 Edilson Azevedo  
wrote:

> Package: gnome
> Version: 1:3.14+3
> Severity: critical
> Justification: causes serious data loss
>
> *** Scenario ***
>
> Non-classic gnome logged as a regular user and some root windows 
open. e.g.

> synaptic, nautilus-as-root, root-terminal, etc.
>
> *** Causing the problem ***
>
> Hitting the upper left corner of the screen with mouse cursor - or - 
clicking

> over Activities.
>
> *** Problem ***
>
> Screen freezes (no usual shrink) cursor moves. No reaction to clicks.
>
> *** Observation ***
>
> top, running on a  text window shows 
gnome-settings-daemon

> busy (50%).
>
> Logs like syslog, messages, etc. get huge filled with several 
messages like

> below:
>
> <<< gnome-session[1367]: (gnome-settings-daemon:1434): dconf-CRITICAL **:
> unable to create file '/run/user/1000/dconf/user': Access denied. 
dconf will

> not work properly. >>>
>
> ls -l /run/user/1000/dconf/user --> -rw--- 1 root root 2 Dec 13 21:42
> /run/user/1000/dconf/user !!!
> rebooting:
> ls -l /run/user/1000/dconf/user --> -rw--- 1 user user 2 Dec 13 21:54
> /run/user/1000/dconf/user
>
> *** My conclusion ***
>
> For some reason the owner of the file referred above turns from user 
to root.
> >From this moment on gnome system is desperately trying to access it 
as user,

> overloading the machine, filling logs with same message, and no escape.
>
> *** My comments ***
>
> 1) As I don't know which part of software is responsible for
> /run/user/1000/dconf/user writing and creation I blame gnome.
> 2) It can be harmful to the system because when one doesn't what to 
do, he/she

> will press reset button and get corrupted files.
> 3) A workaround for the crash is to hit  and 
.
> 4) By now, when I need work as root, I hit  and 
startx. Some

> say it might lead to safety problems ...
>
> Thanks for your patience, anyway, I believe solution is closer.

Well you should never start a X session as root, as you mentioned, this 
has security implications.


Can you still reproduce this now?

Are you using systemd as PID 1? If I'm not wrong, /run/user/ is 
created by logind. What is loginctl and loginctl show-session 
 showing you?


Cheers,

Laurent Bigonville

Bug#807878: gnome: Gnome freezes when root windows are open on user screen.

[Edilson Azevedo]

Package: gnome
Version: 1:3.14+3
Severity: critical
Justification: causes serious data loss

*** Scenario ***

Non-classic gnome logged as a regular user and some root windows open. e.g.
synaptic, nautilus-as-root, root-terminal, etc.

*** Causing the problem ***

Hitting the upper left corner of the screen with mouse cursor - or - clicking
over Activities.

*** Problem ***

Screen freezes (no usual shrink) cursor moves. No reaction to clicks.

*** Observation ***

top, running on a  text window shows gnome-settings-daemon
busy (50%).

Logs like syslog, messages, etc. get huge filled with several messages like
below:

<<< gnome-session[1367]: (gnome-settings-daemon:1434): dconf-CRITICAL **:
unable to create file '/run/user/1000/dconf/user': Access denied.  dconf will
not work properly. >>>

ls -l /run/user/1000/dconf/user --> -rw--- 1 root root 2 Dec 13 21:42
/run/user/1000/dconf/user !!!
rebooting:
ls -l /run/user/1000/dconf/user --> -rw--- 1 user user 2 Dec 13 21:54
/run/user/1000/dconf/user

*** My conclusion ***

For some reason the owner of the file referred above turns from user to root.
>From this moment on gnome system is desperately trying to access it as user,
overloading the machine, filling logs with same message, and no escape.

*** My comments ***

1) As I don't know which part of software is responsible for
/run/user/1000/dconf/user writing and creation I blame gnome.
2) It can be harmful to the system because when one doesn't what to do, he/she
will press reset button and get corrupted files.
3) A workaround for the crash is to hit  and .
4) By now, when I need work as root, I hit  and startx. Some
say it might lead to safety problems ...

Thanks for your patience, anyway, I believe solution is closer.



-- System Information:
Debian Release: 8.2
  APT prefers stable-updates
  APT policy: (500, 'stable-updates'), (500, 'stable')
Architecture: i386 (i686)

Kernel: Linux 3.16.0-4-686-pae (SMP w/2 CPU cores)
Locale: LANG=pt_BR.utf8, LC_CTYPE=pt_BR.utf8 (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash
Init: systemd (via /run/systemd/system)

Versions of packages gnome depends on:
ii  alacarte   3.11.91-2
ii  avahi-daemon   0.6.31-5
ii  bijiben3.14.2-1+b1
ii  brasero3.11.4-1.1
ii  cheese 3.14.1-2
ii  cups-pk-helper 0.2.5-2+b1
ii  desktop-base   8.0.2
ii  evolution  3.12.9~git20141130.241663-1+b1
ii  evolution-plugins  3.12.9~git20141130.241663-1+b1
ii  file-roller3.14.1-1
ii  gedit  3.14.0-3
ii  gedit-plugins  3.14.0-2
ii  gimp   2.8.14-1+b1
ii  gnome-clocks   3.14.1-1
ii  gnome-color-manager3.14.1-1
ii  gnome-core 1:3.14+3
ii  gnome-documents3.14.2-1
ii  gnome-games1:3.14+3
ii  gnome-getting-started-docs 3.14.1-1
ii  gnome-logs 3.14.2-1
ii  gnome-maps 3.14.1.2-1
ii  gnome-music3.14.1-1
ii  gnome-nettool  3.8.1-1
ii  gnome-orca 3.14.0-4
ii  gnome-photos   3.14.2-1
ii  gnome-shell-extension-weather  0~20140924.git7e28508-1
ii  gnome-sound-recorder   3.14.0.1-1
ii  gnome-tweak-tool   3.14.2-2
ii  goobox 3.3.1-6
ii  gstreamer1.0-libav 1.4.4-2
ii  gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly  1.4.4-2+b1
ii  hamster-applet 2.91.3+git20120514.b9fec3e1-1
ii  inkscape   0.48.5-3
ii  libgtk2-perl   2:1.2492-4
ii  libreoffice-calc   1:4.3.3-2+deb8u2
ii  libreoffice-evolution  1:4.3.3-2+deb8u2
ii  libreoffice-gnome  1:4.3.3-2+deb8u2
ii  libreoffice-impress1:4.3.3-2+deb8u2
ii  libreoffice-writer 1:4.3.3-2+deb8u2
ii  nautilus-sendto3.8.2-1
ii  network-manager-gnome  0.9.10.0-2
ii  polari 3.14.1-1
ii  rhythmbox  3.1-1
ii  rhythmbox-plugin-cdrecorder3.1-1
ii  rhythmbox-plugins  3.1-1
ii  rygel-playbin  0.24.2-1+b1
ii  rygel-tracker  0.24.2-1+b1
ii  seahorse   3.14.0-2
ii  simple-scan3.14.0-1
ii  telepathy-gabble   0.18.3-1+b1
ii  telepathy-rakia0.8.0-3
ii  telepathy-salut0.8.1-4
ii  totem-plugins  3.14.0-2
ii  transmission-gtk   2.84-0.2
ii  vinagre3.14.1-1
ii  xdg-user-dirs-gtk  0.10-1

Versions of packages gnome recommends:
pn  gnome-software  

Versions of packages gnome suggests:
pn  iceweasel-l10n-all 
pn  xul-ext-adblock-plus   
pn  xul-ext-gnome-keyring  

Versions of packages gnome-core depends on:
ii