Steam Permissions Bug Caused By Patch

[sOlitude24k]

ISSUE
Fresh installations of Steam client do not have proper permissions to write to the desktop or add entries to the file system.

OPERATING SYSTEM
Windows 10, Update 1809

STEPS
On a fresh, fully updated installation of Windows 10, install the Steam client. Then install a game.
RESULTS

No changes to the file system are made, and no desktop icons is created.

EXPECTED
An entry to the start menu and desktop icons for the game is created.

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Per the unofficial Steam Discord, this is a reproducable issue affecting multiple users. My post from Discord follows below:

@christizzz @Dakube @snokie I think I figured out what this issue. Steam issued a patch on September 12 to patch a privilege escalation vulnerability.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/54236/

https://www.theregister.co.uk/AMP/2019/08/08/escalation_of_privilege_vuln_in_steam_reported_rejected_as_not_applicable/

Now, when they issued this patch, for those of us who didn't have Steam already installed, we don't have the permissions necessary to create desktop icons or write new folders, and there is no UAC prompt to allow this access. The only workaround is to run Steam in administrator mode. This should only be a temporary fix, as you want to follow the rule of least-privilege, and avoid launching anything as admin/root when you don't absolutely have to.

My support ticket with Steam is still open, so if they update me at all, I'll post again here.

[Yamo]

Wow I JUST did a fresh install of Windows 10 + Steam LAST NIGHT and was pulling my hair out trying to figure out why this was happening when I never had any permission issues with Steam in the past


Running Steam without admin privileges compatibility enabled:

- Cannot create start menu entry or desktop shortcuts during game install (no error message)

- Cannot create desktop shortcuts by right clicking game > 'Create Desktop Shortcut'. Error says "Could not create shortcut. A shortcut to this game is probably already on the desktop"

- Error when clicking 'Steam > Check for Steam Client Updates...' "The Steam service component is not working properly on this computer. Reinstalling the Steam service requires administrator privileges"

[back2thelotus]

Originally posted by Yamo:

Wow I JUST did a fresh install of Windows 10 + Steam LAST NIGHT and was pulling my hair out trying to figure out why this was happening when I never had any permission issues with Steam in the past


Running Steam without admin privileges compatibility enabled:

- Cannot create start menu entry or desktop shortcuts during game install (no error message)

- Cannot create desktop shortcuts by right clicking game > 'Create Desktop Shortcut'. Error says "Could not create shortcut. A shortcut to this game is probably already on the desktop"

- Error when clicking 'Steam > Check for Steam Client Updates...' "The Steam service component is not working properly on this computer. Reinstalling the Steam service requires administrator privileges"

I've been having this exact issue today. I've submitted a support request to Steam, hopefully this is fixed soon!

[austinp_valve]

This is being worked on - thanks for the report.

[eDax_]

Originally posted by austinp:

This is being worked on - thanks for the report.

Is this confirmed to also be the cause of the "Steam service component is not working properly on this pc" error i get when checking for client updates after i recently reinstalled my OS? I have tried all fixes and still nothing. Really hoping Valve can fix this soon.

[sOlitude24k]

Steam is aware of the issue.

Per Steam support, regarding the permissions bug caused by the update:

Thank you for taking the time to report this - I have passed this information onto the appropriate department.

Steam Support does not have an ETA on when this will be fixed but we recommend opting into the Steam Client Beta if you have not done so already. That way when an update is made for it you will immediately be prompted for it.

For the latest update notes and fixes, please refer to our News Page.

Steam Support / Jr. Portal Cake Tester
Vido

[Nathan]

i got that fix, exit steam and open it as administrator

[sOlitude24k]

Not really a fix so much as a workaround. You generally want to try and avoid launching things as an administrator/root most of the time.

[back2thelotus]

Opening Steam with administrator privileges doesn't work for me. Some of my games are now having freezing issues when launching, which I think is interlinked with the original desktop shortcuts problem. I've now opted into Steam Client Beta, so hopefully an update with a fix rolls out soon.

[2390-400]

I had the same problem. The solution proposed in the Steam Service Bug thread worked for me, i.e. copying what seems to be a missing dll. After a reboot the Steam Client Service was running and I could create desktop links from Steam. Thansk to Lapis Lazuli for sharing this solution!

[Nathan]

exit steam then right click the steam icon then click properties, then to the compatibility tab the click the box RUM THIS PROGRAM AS AN ADMINISTRATOR . this will fix steam not making a shortcut for your games

[Catsdawn]

Also the new update creates "n" (the number changes) warning messages in Microsoft-Windows-Security-Mitigations/Kernel Mode every 4-5 minutes. 683 messages created today

[sOlitude24k]

So the new patch breaks Windows? Or is Windows breaking Steam?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Patched in the beta...

https://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta#announcements/detail/3352290225503924276



Edit: This also fixed the VAC error issue many users have had.

[Seroz]

Still not fixed for me unfortunately.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Seroz:

Still not fixed for me unfortunately.

Are you in the beta?