Re: Bug#1117498: pkexec authentication dialog opens as modal window, blocking virtual keyboard input (Cinnamon, Debian 13)

[Simon McVittie <smcv@debian.org>]

Control: reassign -1 cinnamon 6.4.10-2
Control: affects -1 + src:policykit-1

On Mon, 06 Oct 2025 at 21:37:52 +0300, bayram karahan wrote:
> On Debian 13 with the Cinnamon desktop environment, when I run a command using
> `pkexec`, the authentication dialog appears as a modal window that blocks all
> interaction with other windows, including the on-screen keyboard (e.g.,
> Onboard).

polkit (policykit-1) is not responsible for the desktop-specific user 
interface for the authentication dialog (the "polkit agent").

In Cinnamon's case, the authentication dialog is integrated into 
Cinnamon itself. Different desktop environments have different design 
decisions here: some integrate a polkit agent into the desktop shell 
like GNOME and Cinnamon, and some have a separate polkit agent like MATE 
and KDE Plasma.

> Example:
>     /usr/bin/env DISPLAY=:0 XAUTHORITY=/home/etapadmin/.Xauthority
> zamanligorevgui
>
> The authentication dialog appears centered on the screen and prevents
> interaction with the virtual keyboard behind it. As a result, it's impossible
> to enter the password on systems without a physical keyboard.
>
> Expected behavior:
> The authentication dialog should not be strictly modal, or it should allow the
> on-screen keyboard to remain interactive.
>
> System information:
> - Debian 13 (Trixie, Testing)
> - Cinnamon desktop
> - policykit-1 version: 122-3
> - pkexec version: 122
> - Virtual keyboard: onboard 1.4.1
>
> This issue makes authentication impossible on touch-only devices.

    smcv