RPG PROGRAM USER(*OWNER) - Adopts the object owner level of Authority
Most IBM i Programmers are aware of the USER(*OWNER) compile setting -- anyone calling this program will adopt the authority level of the program. So if a program is compiled by user QSECOFR and USER(*OWNER) then anyone calling that program will automatically be elevated to QSECOFR level rights for the duration of that program execution.
This is a simple trick that's sometimes used to create utilities that need specific authority settings.
It's also used to allow users to adopt an authority setting for access to a specific application (without needing to grant authority levels to all the users in question).
Adopting USER(*OWNER) rights lets a user access a database that he/she might usually not be authorised to.... but only when calling that program. You may be able to see that if a user initial program is *OWNER, this can be used to automatically grants specific users rights to an application and its database when they wouldnt normally have that access just from a command line.