> guess there are simple embedded js interpreters

In fact a duktape backend has just landed:

https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/polkit/polkit/-/merge_request...

Speaking of security though, I'd trust SpiderMonkey much more because it's battle-tested in the most hostile environment imaginable (millions of browser instances loading completely untrusted code 24/7). But in this context we don't execute untrusted code so whatever :)

> pkexec should not exist

Hmm. For things that do want "just a graphical sudo" for whatever reason, it is kinda the perfect answer. Reusing the per-desktop authorization UI that is used for more fine-grained actions for a sudo-like tool is the correct thing to do. No one wants to have more redundant authorization mechanisms and UIs…