Problem with su -

[Bob Goodwin]

On 05/03/12 10:21, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> On 05/03/12 09:39, Bob Goodwin wrote:
>>        I have an F-16 computer that was working normally a couple of
>>        days ago when run this morning has an unusual [to me] problem.
>>
>>        When I su and type in the root password form the XCFE desktop it
>>        spends about 20 seconds before displaying a prompt and then
>>        instead of:
>>
>>            [bobg at box6 ~]$ su
>>            Password:
>>            [root at box6 bobg]# exit
>>
>>
>>        I get a prompt:  bash-4.2#
>>
>>        If instead of bringing up the desktop with startx I "su" it
>>        changes to root quickly after entering the password, also with
>>        the  prompt "bash-4.2#."
>>
>>        Other than that it apparently works? But obviously something has
>>        changed and I can't guess what?
>>
>>        Bob
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> If I ssh into box 9 from this computer [box6] I see the following 
> which appears to indicate an SELinux problem?
>
> bash-4.2# cat /var/log/messages
>
> Mar  5 10:08:18 box9 setroubleshoot: SELinux is preventing 
> /usr/bin/xauth from write access on the None /root. For complete 
> SELinux messages. run sealert -l 90fc420a-dec9-47ce-afa5-6132c99ec61d
> Mar  5 10:08:22 box9 dbus-daemon[906]: ** Message: No devices in use, 
> exit
>
> Not sure what to do ...
>
> Bob
>
>

        I just noticed an obscure little icon that brings up "SELinux
        Alert Browser" which says that it has detected a problem:

            The source process: /usr/bin/xauth
            Attempted this access: write
            On this None: /root

        It offers some solutions but I am uncertain or the proper response?

        Bob