/dev/diskXXX entries for external devices only readable by root

Originator:kaspesla
Number:rdar://11621536 Date Originated:6/7/2012
Status:Duplicate/10949407 Resolved:
Product:Mac OS X Product Version:10.8
Classification:Serious Bug Reproducible:Yes
 
Summary:
On 10.7 and below /dev/diskXXX entries for external devices were owned by the user, allowing apps to read from them with user permissions. Now on 10.8 they are root, which breaks a lot of apps.

Steps to Reproduce:

Try to open one of the /dev/diskXXX devices with normal user permissions.

Expected Results:

Should be readable.

Actual Results:

Isn't readable.

Regression:

This is new to 10.8.

Notes:

Existing apps on the App Store using this functionality with suddenly break with 10.8.

The obvious workaround here is to authenticate the user, but for some reason that's not allowed on App Store apps.

Comments


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