truecrypt cant obtain root privileges

Ricio · 07-11-2008, 12:05 PM

Im using debian lenny, and I have installed truecrypt 6.0a, and when I try to do an encrypted filesystem, or when I want to generate a key it prompts me for a password and I give it roots password, then I get an error prompt saying that truecrypt could not obtain administration privileges.

What should I do to fix this?

Im running truecrypt as a normal user.

Thank you all for your help!

simonapnic · 07-11-2008, 04:16 PM

Try to run it as root maybe ?
I guess it needs uid 0 privilleges ?
Just my 2 cents...

Ricio · 07-11-2008, 04:54 PM

problem is that im running the graphical version, and I cant run it as root cuz root cant connect to X server, im going to have to try running it from console.

jschiwal · 07-12-2008, 06:12 AM

See if you have the "sux" program. It is a wrapper around sudo that gives a program running as root access to the screen. (using xauth)

You could try "kdesu <program>" (or the gnome equivalent) to start the program.

Also, look in the logs. I don't know if your system uses PolKit. If so, there may be a policy that forbids it.

stress_junkie · 07-12-2008, 08:04 AM

FYI, not related by may prevent posts about True Crypt not working:

Be aware that the True Crypt developers are aware of a problem with True Crypt version above 4.3 performance on Linux. They claim that this is due to a bug in Linux that was fixed in the 2.6.25 kernel.

I have worked around this bug by using True Crypt v4.3 to create encrypted partitions, then using v5.x for everyday use. When you do this you cannot use the new features in v5.x. True Crypt can only do the things that v4.3 could do.

True Crypt v4.3 can be found on the System Rescue CD at http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page.

Ricio · 07-15-2008, 05:04 PM

Im actually running kernel version 2.4.25-2 and still does not work so I guess the bug continues...
Ill try kdesu program, and Ill tell you what I did if i get it working.

Thank you.. any more replies are always appreciated.

arniekat · 10-19-2008, 07:10 PM

The Truecrypt binary needs to have root privileges. I installed Truecrypt 6.0a on Slackware 12.1 and it gives me the same message. The fix is to create a group with the privilege of running the truecrypt binary and add your unprivileged (non-root) users to the truecrypt group so they can run Truecrypt. Do the following (need to su):
# groupadd truecrypt
Now you edit the sudoers file (must be done with vi!)
# visudo
Add the following 2 lines to the bottom of the sudoers file:
# Allow users of truecrypt group to run truecrypt as root.
%truecrypt ALL=(root) NOPASSWD:/usr/bin/truecrypt
Save it and exit visudo
Now add your regular users to the truecrypt group
# gpasswd -a regularuser1 truecrypt
# gpasswd -a regularuser2 truecrypt
The Truecrypt file containers default mount on:
/media/truecryptX
where X is the slot number you choose from the graphical interface when you mount the file container.
Thank you to the Gentoo Wiki.

arniekat · 10-19-2008, 07:11 PM

The Truecrypt binary needs to have root privileges. I installed Truecrypt 6.0a on Slackware 12.1 and it gives me the same message. The fix is to create a group with the privilege of running the truecrypt binary and add your unprivileged (non-root) users to the truecrypt group so they can run Truecrypt. Do the following (need to su):
# groupadd truecrypt
Now you edit the sudoers file (must be done with vi!)
# visudo
Add the following 2 lines to the bottom of the sudoers file:
# Allow users of truecrypt group to run truecrypt as root.
%truecrypt ALL=(root) NOPASSWD:/usr/bin/truecrypt
Save it and exit visudo
Now add your regular users to the truecrypt group
# gpasswd -a regularuser1 truecrypt
# gpasswd -a regularuser2 truecrypt
The Truecrypt file containers default mount on:
/media/truecryptX
where X is the slot number you choose from the graphical interface when you mount the file container.
Thank you to the Gentoo Wiki.

dogugotw · 11-29-2008, 03:58 PM

arniekat
Thank you! That was perfect (with a little help from elsewhere on how to use Vi...). Your directions work perfectly.

robertobribeiro · 09-11-2011, 03:57 PM

I was facing the same problem with Ubuntu, got it solved through arniekat's directions.

TrueCrypt 7.0a

Code:

$ uname -r -v -m
2.6.38-11-generic #49-Ubuntu SMP xxx xxx xx xx:xx:xx UTC 2011 x86_64

Code:

$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
Description:	Ubuntu 11.04
Release:	11.04
Codename:	natty

repentorperish · 12-29-2013, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arniekat

The Truecrypt binary needs to have root privileges. I installed Truecrypt 6.0a on Slackware 12.1 and it gives me the same message. The fix is to create a group with the privilege of running the truecrypt binary and add your unprivileged (non-root) users to the truecrypt group so they can run Truecrypt. Do the following (need to su):
# groupadd truecrypt
Now you edit the sudoers file (must be done with vi!)
# visudo
Add the following 2 lines to the bottom of the sudoers file:
# Allow users of truecrypt group to run truecrypt as root.
%truecrypt ALL=(root) NOPASSWD:/usr/bin/truecrypt
Save it and exit visudo
Now add your regular users to the truecrypt group
# gpasswd -a regularuser1 truecrypt
# gpasswd -a regularuser2 truecrypt
The Truecrypt file containers default mount on:
/media/truecryptX
where X is the slot number you choose from the graphical interface when you mount the file container.
Thank you to the Gentoo Wiki.

Thanks for this, just want to say that the users you added to group truecrypt will probably have to log out and in again before the changes take effect in case that trips anyone else up. Still working fine on Slackware 14.0. You can mount in a non-default location with

truecrypt /path/to/encrypted/file /path/to/mount/point