Your message dated: Tue, 16 Sep 97 10:11:31 +0200
> >>>>> "Sergei" == Sergei Barbarash <sgt@deltathree.com> writes:
> 
>     >> Is xterm supposed to be setuid root? Mine is, and I can't
>     >> remember if I set it that way while poking around and forgot to
>     >> unset it, or is it supposed to be that way?
> 
>     Sergei> It certainly is. It has to append new records to utmp/wtmp
>     Sergei> when started.
> 
> It certainly is not. xterm does not "have to append new records to
> utmp". It works just fine when it doesn't have sufficient privilege to
> do so. Nothing breaks if the utmp record isn't written: all that
> happens is the xterm session isn't seen in the output from who or w
> and the xterm user can't be on the receiving end of the write, wall
> and talk commands. This is no Big Deal. These benefits(?) don't
> justify making xterm setuid-root IMHO.

Xterms must chown and chmod pty devices

Alex

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