bug#24275: Misnamed directory in GuixSD

[Leo Famulari]

On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 10:47:51AM +0200, Vincent Legoll wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> > IIUC it happens because the home directory is created only when a user
> > is added, and is not changed when the user is modified.  See (gnu build
> > activation) module:
> >
> > - 'add-user' runs "useradd" with "-d" option to create home dir
> 
> Maybe the nobody user should be special cased, not to run useradd with
> -d, the non existent directory, should really not exist for nobody. This is a
> (very small ?) security enhancement, I think...

My Debian system uses '/nonexistent' for the nobody user's passwd entry,
but the directory does not actually exist.

> If this is the way to go, I can have a shot at it...
> 
> > - 'modify-user' runs "usermod" without "-d" (and without "--move-home")
> >
> > So the home of nobody was not changed for us to '/nonexistent' when the
> > nobody user was changed.
> >
> > As for me, I wouldn't like to have this directory, and I think it
> > shouldn't be created (if it is not really needed for nobody user).
> 
> Ditto.

I don't fully understand the implications of the change, but it seems
like a worthwhile thing to try doing. At least you might learn something
while implementing it :)

I'll let more experienced people decide if it's the right thing to do.