Re: KDE run Dolphin as root?

[Kushal Kumaran <kushal@locationd.net>]

Default User <hunguponcontent@gmail.com> writes:

> Hi, all.
>
> As an experiment, I just installed Debian 10.4 Stable on a spare drive, and
> installed kde on it.
>
> I have not tried kde in many years, so am not really familiar with it.
> Perhaps I am overlooking something obvious, but I can not seem to run
> Dolphin or Konqueror as root.
>
> Searching online, I was astounded to see many references to this problem,
> saying that this is not a bug, but a feature - that kde developers are
> deliberately working to prevent users from using some programs, including
> Dolphin as root, as a "security measure".
>
> So, can the current version of Dolphin in Debian Stable be run as root
> (without re-compiling, etc)?
>

Dolphin is just checking the SUDO_USER environment variable.  Just unset
the variable before starting dolphin.  Ref:
https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=Executing+Dolphin+with+sudo+is+not+possible+due+to+unfixable+security+vulnerabilities&literal=1

I have no idea what the unfixable security vulnerabilities are.

> And, if not, how (and why) would anyone use kde at all?

You might be overestimating the number of people who need to do file
management as root with a graphical tool.  I, for one, use plasma as my
primary desktop environment, but almost all file management activity is
through emacs (with tramp for root stuff), or just a shell.  Until I saw
your post, I had no idea dolphin would refuse to run as root.

-- 
regards,
kushal