I’m running Whonix on Virtualbox and Linux Mint. I opened the gateway then workstation. I tried to download Tor and open it and get the folling message:
ERROR: User home folder permission issue?
Failed to run the following command:
cp --verbose --recursive --no-clobber /var/cache/tb-binary/.cache /home/user/
Tip: If something does not work, do not arbitrarily try to use sudo / root without indication that this would be appropriate.
To fix this, you could try:
sudo chown --recursive “user”:“user” “/home/user”
Then try starting Tor Browser again.
To debug this, you could try to start Tor Browser Starter (by Whonix developers) from command line in:
See also Tor Browser Starter (by Whonix developers) Permission Issues:
–
Many thanks for any help in advance.
When debugging this, you also need to post the debug output.
Tip: Please do not accidentally substitute Tor for a question related to Tor Browser , as this causes confusion.
Not related to user home folder permission issues.
I think this is what you mean when you say debug output:
user@host:~$ cp --verbose --recursive --no-clobber /var/cache/tb-binary/.cache /home/user/
Sorry, I mean Tor Browser is the main problem here.
See https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Tor_Browser#Permission_Issues
Run the following command to reset permissions of user user’s home folder /home/user back to owner user and group user.
sudo chown --recursive user:user /home/user
The full output of that command is required.
Attempt to debug:
Start Tor Browser Start by Whonix ™ in In Verbose Mode . This will show verbose output messages which might be useful for the user to identify the issue. In doubt, Support might help interpreting these messages.
Then also the link from there
https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Tor_Browser#In_Verbose_Mode
Run that command and also post that output here.
Workstation terminal:
user@host:~$ sudo chown --recursive user:user /home/user
user@host:~$ Start Menu → Xfce Terminal
Don’t copy that into the terminal. These are instructions to follow. Not things to paste into terminal. I.e. click on the start menu, then open Xfce terminal.
37874938:
user@host:~$
You already have a terminal open. No need to start another.
user@host:~$ bash -x torbrowser
set -e
set -o pipefail
set -o errtrace
‘[’ -f /usr/lib/helper-scripts/pre.bsh ‘]’
source /usr/lib/helper-scripts/pre.bsh.conf’ .conf’
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
SCRIPTNAME=torbrowser
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
IDENTIFIER=torbrowser
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
ICON=/usr/share/icons/anon-icon-pack/tbupdate.ico
trap tb_error_handler ERR
tb_run_function main_function
case $tb_skip_functions in
true ‘INFO: Running main_function, because tb_skip_functions does not include it.’
main_function
tb_run_function root_check
case $tb_skip_functions in
true ‘INFO: Running root_check, because tb_skip_functions does not include it.’
root_check
‘[’ 1000 ‘!=’ 0 ‘]’
true
tb_run_function tb_preparation
case $tb_skip_functions in
true ‘INFO: Running tb_preparation, because tb_skip_functions does not include it.’
tb_preparation
who_ami=user
command -v qubesdb-read
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
is_qubes=false
test -f /run/qubes/this-is-templatevm
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_user_home=/home/user
echo /home/user
grep -q tor-browser
tb_user_home_dirname=/home
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_install_folder=tb
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_install_folder_dot=.tb
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_browser_name=tor-browser
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_settings_folder=torbrowser.d
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_title=‘Tor Browser’
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_wiki=Tor_Browser
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_bin=torbrowser
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_browser_runner=start-tor-browser
‘[’ -n torbrowser ‘]’
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_home_folder=/home/user/.tb
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_browser_folder=/home/user/.tb/tor-browser
‘[’ -n ‘’ ‘]’
tb_user_js_target_file=/home/user/.tb/tor-browser/Browser/TorBrowser/Data/Browser/profile.default/user.js
‘[’ -n /usr/share/homepage/whonix-welcome-page/whonix.html ‘]’
export TOR_DEFAULT_HOMEPAGE
‘[’ ‘’ = ‘’ ‘]’
‘[’ :0.0 = ‘’ ‘]’
display=:0.0
output=/usr/lib/msgcollector/msgcollector
local my_tty
local my_tty_exit_code
my_tty_exit_code=0
my_tty=/dev/pts/0
‘[’ ‘!’ 0 = 0 ‘]’
‘[’ /dev/pts/0 = ‘’ ‘]’
who_ami=user
output_opt_1=‘–icon /usr/share/icons/anon-icon-pack/tbupdate.ico’
output_opt_2=‘–parentpid 1276’
output_opt_3=‘–identifier torbrowser’
output_opt_4=‘–parenttty /dev/pts/0’
output_opt_5=‘–whoami user’
output_opts=(“$output_opt_1” “$output_opt_2” “$output_opt_3” “$output_opt_4” “$output_opt_5”)
TITLE=‘Tor Browser Starter (by Whonix developers)’
tb_run_function tb_config_folder_parser
case $tb_skip_functions in
true ‘INFO: Running tb_config_folder_parser, because tb_skip_functions does not include it.’
tb_config_folder_parser
‘[’ -n torbrowser.d ‘]’
shopt -s nullglob
local i
for i in /etc/${tb_settings_folder}/.conf /rw/config/${tb_settings_folder}/ .conf /usr/local/etc/${tb_settings_folder}/*.conf
bash -n /etc/torbrowser.d/30_default.conf
source /etc/torbrowser.d/30_default.conf
local j
for j in /etc/${tb_settings_folder}/user.js /usr/local/etc/${tb_settings_folder}/user.js
test -r /etc/torbrowser.d/user.js
continue
for j in /etc/${tb_settings_folder}/user.js /usr/local/etc/${tb_settings_folder}/user.js
test -r /usr/local/etc/torbrowser.d/user.js
continue
tb_run_function tb_templatevm_check
case $tb_skip_functions in
true ‘INFO: Running tb_templatevm_check, because tb_skip_functions does not include it.’
tb_templatevm_check
‘[’ false = false ‘]’
true ‘Not running in Qubes.’
return 0
tb_run_function tb_qubes_dvm_template
case $tb_skip_functions in
true ‘INFO: Running tb_qubes_dvm_template, because tb_skip_functions does not include it.’
tb_qubes_dvm_template
echo ‘’
grep -q --invert-match ‘-dvm’
true ‘INFO: not running inside Qubes DVM Template, ok.’
return 0
tb_run_function check_tb_updater_first_boot_done
case $tb_skip_functions in
true ‘INFO: Running check_tb_updater_first_boot_done, because tb_skip_functions does not include it.’
check_tb_updater_first_boot_done
test -f /run/qubes/this-is-templatevm
local systemctl_output
local wait_counter
wait_counter=0
true
systemctl_output=‘● tb-updater-first-boot.service - Helper Service for /usr/bin/torbrowser to determine when it is save to Copy Tor Browser from /var/cache/tb-binary to user home by Whonix developersGitHub - Kicksecure/tb-updater: Tor Browser Downloader - Automates download and verification of Tor Browser from The Tor Project's website. This package is produced independently of, and carries no guarantee from, The Tor Project.
break
tb_run_function tb_copy_from_root_to_user_maybe
case $tb_skip_functions in
true ‘INFO: Running tb_copy_from_root_to_user_maybe, because tb_skip_functions does not include it.’
tb_copy_from_root_to_user_maybe
‘[’ ‘’ = none ‘]’
local done_file
done_file=/home/user/.tb/first-boot-home-population.done
‘[’ ‘!’ -d /home/user ‘]’
‘[’ ‘!’ -d /var/cache/tb-binary ‘]’
‘[’ -d /home/user/.tb/tor-browser ‘]’
‘[’ -e /home/user/.tb/first-boot-home-population.done ‘]’
‘[’ -d /var/cache/tb-binary/.cache ‘]’
mkdir -p /home/user/.cache
test -w /home/user/.cache
cp --verbose --recursive --no-clobber /var/cache/tb-binary/.cache /home/user/
tb_permission_issue cp --verbose --recursive --no-clobber /var/cache/tb-binary/.cache /home/user/
local ‘failed_command=cp --verbose --recursive --no-clobber /var/cache/tb-binary/.cache /home/user/’
local ‘MSG=User home folder permission issue?cp --verbose --recursive --no-clobber /var/cache/tb-binary/.cache /home/user/https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Root#Inappropriate_Use_of_Root_Rights
Start Menu → System → Xfce Terminalsudo chown --recursive “user”:“user” “/home/user” https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Tor_Browser#In_Verbose_Mode .https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Tor_Browser#Permission_Issues
’
/usr/lib/msgcollector/msgcollector --icon /usr/share/icons/anon-icon-pack/tbupdate.ico --parentpid 1276 --identifier torbrowser --parenttty /dev/pts/0 --whoami user --messagex --typex error --titlex ‘Tor Browser Starter (by Whonix developers)’ --message ‘User home folder permission issue?cp --verbose --recursive --no-clobber /var/cache/tb-binary/.cache /home/user/https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Root#Inappropriate_Use_of_Root_Rights
Start Menu → System → Xfce Terminalsudo chown --recursive “user”:“user” “/home/user” https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Tor_Browser#In_Verbose_Mode .https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Tor_Browser#Permission_Issues
’ --done
/usr/lib/msgcollector/msgcollector --icon /usr/share/icons/anon-icon-pack/tbupdate.ico --parentpid 1276 --identifier torbrowser --parenttty /dev/pts/0 --whoami user --messagecli --typecli error --titlecli ‘Tor Browser Starter (by Whonix developers)’ --message ‘User home folder permission issue?cp --verbose --recursive --no-clobber /var/cache/tb-binary/.cache /home/user/https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Root#Inappropriate_Use_of_Root_Rights
Start Menu → System → Xfce Terminalsudo chown --recursive “user”:“user” “/home/user” https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Tor_Browser#In_Verbose_Mode .https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Tor_Browser#Permission_Issues
’ --done
Failed to run the following command:
cp --verbose --recursive --no-clobber /var/cache/tb-binary/.cache /home/user/
Tip: If something does not work, do not arbitrarily try to use sudo / root without indication that this would be appropriate.
To fix this, you could try: Start Menu → System → Xfce Terminal
sudo chown --recursive “user”:“user” “/home/user”
To debug this, you could try to start Tor Browser Starter (by Whonix developers) from command line in:Tor Browser Essentials .
See also Tor Browser Starter (by Whonix developers) Permission Issues:
Using Tor Browser in Whonix. Anonymity vs Pseudonymity, HTTPS Everywhere, Torbutton, Protection against dangerous JavaScript, NoScript, Tips, Update Tor Browser, Browser Plugins, Change Language
Could you please provide the following debug output?
cd ~
touch test1
cp --verbose test1 test2
ls -la /home
ls -la /home/user
ls -la /home/user/.cache
ls -la /home/user/.cache/tb
ls -la /home/user/.cache/tb/temp
ls -la /home/user/.cache/tb/files
ls -la /home/user/.cache/tb/tbb_version_last_downloaded_save_file
To fix, delete Tor Browser.
sudo rm -r -v -f /var/cache/tb-binary
sudo rm -r -v -f /home/user/.cache/tb
sudo rm -r -v -f /home/user/.tb
user@host:~$ cd ~
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for user:
[sudo] password for user:
1 Like
Try installing Tor Browser now. Since the broken permission folders should be gone, installation should work. You’ll find it in start menu.
If you try starting Tor Browser and it’s not installed, it should be asking to install it. Should hopefully now be easy either way.
Thank you! The debug output you posted will help to integrate debugging into Whonix Tor Browser startup script to debug such issues in future. I’ll also probably soon have a command which would fix such issues.
Patrick
September 1, 2021, 8:35am
13
A post was split to a new topic: Tor Bootstrap Issue