102
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by Sandal6823@sh.itjust.works to c/linux@lemmy.ml

On a server I have a public key auth only for root account. Is there any point of logging in with a different account?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] miss_demeanour@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago

Simple solution is to not use sudo.
Sorta like Slackware's default.

[-] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 months ago

Nah just set up PAM to use TOTP or a third party MFA service to send a push to your phone for sudo privs.

[-] miss_demeanour@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago

...and if you don't have your phone attached to your hand...?

[-] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I...I don't understand the question.

Also, yubikey or any other token. Plenty of MFA options compatible with sudo.

[-] 4am@lemm.ee -2 points 2 months ago

Then you can’t gain root privileges on your server. Are you really arguing for less security because it’s inconvenient?

This is end-user behavior and it’s honestly embarrassing. You should realize your security posture is much more important than “I left my phone on the other room”

[-] slothrop@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 months ago

This thread is embarrassing,
The person you're responding to could wipe your ass with a cli.

[-] miss_demeanour@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago

ffs...am I dealing with children here?
You've accessed your server as a user, and then you su - to root.
You don't need a phone or a yubi or a dreamcatcher, or a unicorn.
Please stop with your pretension.
You're so far out of your league that it's embarrassing to me that I've bothered to answer.

[-] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

There must at least be MFA somewhere on the path then.

Even just keys, I wouldn't trust, unless they are stored on smartcards or some other physical "something I have", require a PIN/passphrase. and centrally managed so they can be revoked and rotated. Too many people use unprotected SSH keys.

[-] ShortN0te@lemmy.ml -1 points 2 months ago

And what do you suggest to use otherwise to maintain a server? I am not aware of a solution that would help here? As an attacker you could easily alias any command or even start a modified shell that logs ever keystroke and simulates the default bash/zsh or whatever.

[-] miss_demeanour@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 months ago
[-] ShortN0te@lemmy.ml -3 points 2 months ago

And how would you not be able to hijack the password when you have control over the user session?

[-] slothrop@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 months ago

You would have to know the root password.

[-] ShortN0te@lemmy.ml -2 points 2 months ago

With aliases in the bashrc you can hijack any command and execute instead of the command any arbitrary commands. So the command can be extracted, as already stated above, this is not a weakness of sudo but a general one.

[-] slothrop@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 months ago

You would have to KNOW the root password.

[-] ShortN0te@lemmy.ml -1 points 2 months ago

No you can alias that command and hijack the password promt via bashrc and then you have the root password as soon as the user enters it.

[-] miss_demeanour@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

As root:

  # chattr +i /home/ShortN0te/.bashrc

Anything else?

[-] ShortN0te@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 months ago

There are many ways to harden against it, but "just disable root auth" is not really it, since it in itself does not add much.

[-] miss_demeanour@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 months ago

??

Seriously - if you're "advising" on linux best practices, get lots of liability insurance.

[-] 2ndSkin@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

So, you learned about .bashrc today, and you're now an expert?
Perhaps stand down and let the experts have their say.

[-] 2ndSkin@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

No, that's not how it works.
You really should stop talking shit about things you know nothing about.
Truly sad.

this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2025
102 points (96.4% liked)

Linux

55347 readers
659 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS