Starting a shell from scripts using su results in "no job control in this shell"

This document (7009640) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 Service Pack 1
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 1
 

Situation

coreutils-6.12-32.26.1

When starting a shell from a su command, the command exits with:

linux:~ # su - test -c "echo 1; echo 2; bash"
1
2
bash: no job control in this shell
test@linux:~>

resulting in not being able to use bash's job control and put processes into the background with "CTRL+z bg".

Resolution

coreutils-6.12-32.26.1 addressed a security issue which allowed a possible hijacking of a tty while executing su. The fix changed the behavior of the -c option and disables job control inside the called shell. To address this, please use the option
 
--session-command

instead of
 
-c

Example:
 
linux:~ # su - test --session-command "echo 1; echo 2; bash"
1
2
test@linux:~>

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

  • Document ID:7009640
  • Creation Date: 26-Oct-2011
  • Modified Date:13-Mar-2021
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

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