VirtualBox Shared Folder - cd: permission denied: /media/sf_shared

[qqqq]

I have the same issue.

sf_name is the shared folder name

Steps to reproduce:

• Followed the Kicksecure guide to setting up a shared folder to the letter (even folder name)

VirtualBox Guest Additions and Shared Folders

I am also getting the Permission denied for any other action such as
sudo apt update or other

Running Whonix XFCE workstation persistent mode version 17.3.9.9 on Ubuntu 25.04 with Virtualbox 7.0.20_Ubuntu

[Patrick]

No help can be provided until a proper bug report has been posted.

@qqqq

I am also getting the Permission denied for any other action such as
sudo apt update or other

This is a very different “issue”. You need to “fix” that first. Please do not mix that discussion into this topic. Please read:

Zsh: permission denied: sudo

Hello I’m brand new to Whonix, I installed a Ubuntu 24 LTS on my mini pc then added a Virtual Box. The Gateway work and the terminal return something when I do a “sudo -l” but when using this same command on the Workstation I have “permission denied : sudo” (no matter the sudo command) It’s normal? So I can’t install anything with sudo on the Workstation? I can’t even do a “sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y” Thanks for any tips.

[qqqq]

The bug report is that following to the letter the guide doesn’t work.

Step 1. Create folder on host named ‘shared’
Step 2. Add it as a shared folder within Virtualbox UI

Step 3. Try to access it from Workstation

[workstation user ~]% cd /media/sf_shared
cd: permission denied: /media/sf_shared
zsh: exit 1

I included the other observation as I thought it might be relevant as it’s also a permission issue.

[Patrick]

I moved this to its own forum thread because there is no mention of sf_name in your issue report.

Failed to open directory “sf_name”. Error opening directory ‘/media/sf_name’: Permission denied might be related or might be different.

@qqqq

cd: permission denied: /media/sf_shared

For some reason, file permissions are no longer already prepared by vm-config-dist This might be a usablity bug, that will be investigated later and will likely be fixed in version 17.4.0.7 and above. (Unreleased at time of writing.)

But there is no need to wait for a fix. Users might be able to easily fix this.

Try this:
Shared Folder Permission Fix
(written just now)

[qqqq]

Thanks for putting that together.

I actually managed to work around it.

I had to remove user-sysmaint-split (using the splash screen option at boot).

As outlined in the wiki:

If using unrestricted admin mode: Not applicable.

Actually I was still getting the issue with unrestricted admin mode, I had to launch thunar with sudo perms: sudo thunar and after transferring files to the user Desktop, I had to edit the permissions to be usable by user.

If there’s a way to reinstall sysmain-split, I’ll gadly test your group configurations!

[Patrick]

@qqqq

As outlined in the wiki:

If using unrestricted admin mode: Not applicable.

Only means the sysmaint notice isn’t applicable. Doesn’t mean to skip the rest of the instructions.

@qqqq

sudo thunar

Graphical Applications and Root Rights

@qqqq

If there’s a way to reinstall sysmain-split

sysmaint, Installation

[qqqq]

The guide you provided worked, adapting the commands (after installing sysmaint again):

sudo addgroup user vboxsf throws an arg error

ended up using sudo usermod -a -G vboxsf user and it works like a charm.

[Patrick]

Command has been corrected in the wiki. (Not using usermod but, see wiki.)