[SOLVED] RPM %post as a different user

Issue

I need to run a command as a different user in the %post section of an RPM.

At the moment I am using a bit of a hack via python but it can't be the best way (it does feel a little dirty) ...

%post -p /usr/bin/python
import os, pwd, subprocess
os.setuid(pwd.getpwnam('apache')[2])
subprocess.call(['/usr/bin/something', 'an arg'])

Is there a proper way to do this?

Solution

If /usr/bin/something is something you are installing as part of the package, install it with something like

attr(4755, apache, apache)   /usr/bin/something

When installed like this, /usr/bin/something will always run as user apache, regardless of what user actually runs it.

Answered By - chepner

Answer Checked By - Gilberto Lyons (WPSolving Admin)