[Plugin: WordPress Automatic upgrade] Problems with permissions?

This plugin worked just perfect a few times. And then suddenly it was full stop.

I have had a lot of problems lately on my server (centOS, cPanel, shared with a lot of other domains) with folders and files getting the owner “nobody” as it is being created by php that runs as this user.

After searching a lot (and having some complaints from my admin about poorly written scripts) I found some interesting things regarding the use of umask under php. Please take a look at this thread:

http://ww.wp.xz.cn/support/topic/213163?replies=2#post-885410

Can this be the root of the permission problems? Can someone confirm or deny this?