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submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month 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?

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[-] ShortN0te@lemmy.ml -1 points 1 month 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 1 month ago
[-] ShortN0te@lemmy.ml -3 points 1 month 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 1 month ago

You would have to know the root password.

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

You would have to KNOW the root password.

[-] ShortN0te@lemmy.ml -1 points 1 month 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 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

As root:

  # chattr +i /home/ShortN0te/.bashrc

Anything else?

[-] ShortN0te@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 month 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 1 month ago

??

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

[-] 2ndSkin@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month 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 1 month 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)

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