[Bug 1173013] Re: Administrative Password Not Recognized

[Will Jordan]

I just experienced this bug on Ubuntu 13.04 amd-64 desktop. The
following appeared in /var/log/auth.log after attempting to install a
VirtualBox extension package:

Jul 30 12:47:54 will-desktop su[9696]: pam_unix(su:auth): authentication failure; logname= uid=1000 euid=0 tty=/dev/pts/5 ruser=will rhost=  user=root
Jul 30 12:47:56 will-desktop su[9696]: pam_authenticate: Authentication failure
Jul 30 12:47:56 will-desktop su[9696]: FAILED su for root by will
Jul 30 12:47:56 will-desktop su[9696]: - /dev/pts/5 will:root

Running gksu-properties, it seems that the 'authentication mode' is
originally set to 'su', which does not work when there is no root
administrator password set (default + strongly recommended for Ubuntu
desktop installation, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo).
Switching the option in gksu-properties to 'sudo' and then using the
logged-in user's password fixed the issue.

It seems this default should really be fixed in Ubuntu's default
install, but application developers could also call 'gksudo' instead of
'gksu', which seems to use 'sudo' properly regardless of the gksu-
properties setting.

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to gdebi in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1173013

Title:
  Administrative Password Not Recognized

Status in “gdebi” package in Ubuntu:
  Expired

Bug description:
  When I try to install a deb file using gdebi (0.9~exp2), gdebi will
  not accept my password.  Install fails to run

  When I try to install the Virtualbox extensionpack, Virtualbox
  (4.2.12-84980~Ubuntu~raring) will not accept my password.  Install
  fails to run

  But I can use my password to install packages via Synaptic.  And the
  same password also works in terminal when using apt-get.

  I just installed Ubuntu 13.04

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gdebi/+bug/1173013/+subscriptions