[NTLUG:Discuss] Re: SuSE 9 or 9.1 PATH environment changes after su -- the end result?

[Bryan J. Smith]

Chris Cox wrote:
> This actually goes far back with SUSE.  "su" gives you a safe path,
> whatever you define in /etc/login.defs for root.  Not sure if "pure"
> is correct since you have control over it.
> So, I would say:
> Red Hat
>     su   = (not sure, but sounds like they're striving to be more up-to-date)
>     su - = root path just like a login.
> SUSE
>     su   = path as defined from /etc/login.defs or else a default safe path.
>     su - = root path just like a login (which in SUSE's case includes the
>            default user PATH after /sbin:/usr/sbin:/usr/local/sbin).
> With the advent of profile.d on SUSE, other things may happen as well ...

The end result?

For the best security, su or sudo, I should still be using absolute
paths in my scripts regardless, just like I have always.  ;-p

I tend to put path verification and error handling in even my most
simple of bash/tcsh scripts.

-- 
Bryan J. Smith                                  b.j.smith at ieee.org 
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