NFS access control problem

From: Martyn Johnson <Martyn.Johnson_at_cl.cam.ac.uk>
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 09:42:59 +0100

I'm observing a strange access control problem which looks like an NFS caching
bug to me, and wondered if others had encountered it too.

My home directory is on a server, call it "S", running DU V3.2D-1 with a patch
kit dated 20 June 1996. My workstation, call it "W", is running the same
system.

The server S exports the filing system with root access to another server, and
ordinary access to everything else. Therefore, on W, a root process should
have "nobody" access to my home directory.

Here's what happens:

1. On S, I make a file in my home directory, and chmod it to give it user
access only (e.g. mode 600 or 400).

2. I go to a root process on W, and try to read the file. Access is denied, as
it should be.

3. I go to a process of my own on W, and try to read the file. Access is
granted, as it should be.

4. I go back to the root process on W, and try to read the file again. THIS
TIME ACCESS IS GRANTED. This seems very wrong.

If at stage 1 I make the file on W instead of S, then access is erroneously
granted at stage 2. This also seems wrong to me.

Do other people see this, or should I be looking for some strange quirk in my
system?

-- 
Martyn Johnson      maj_at_cl.cam.ac.uk
University of Cambridge Computer Lab
Cambridge UK
Received on Wed Jul 31 1996 - 11:11:34 NZST

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