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North American Network Operators Group Date Prev | Date Next | Date Index | Thread Index | Author Index | Historical Re: Security Practices question
On Sun, Sep 22, 2002 at 03:22:11PM -0700, [email protected] said: > > I have question for the security community on NANOG. > > What is your learned opinion of having host accounts > (unix machines) with UID/GID of 0:0 > > otherwords > > > jmbrown_r:password:0:0:John M. Brown:/export/home/jmbrown:/bin/mysh > > > The argument is that way you don't hav to give out the root password, > you can just nuke a users UID=0 equiv account when the leave and not > have to change the real root account. This is a really /really/ REALLY bad idea. I had nightmare issues dealing with a network formerly run by a 'sysadmin' who thought every user that might need to do something as root should have a uidzero account. I seriously cannot think of ANY scenario, no matter how improbable, in which what you're suggesting would be a good idea (or even defensible). > Now, don't flame me over the question, but provide valid pro's or con's > for this practice from your experience. Names on accounts are strictly an abstraction to make interacting with the system easier for us dumb humans. In reality, there is only one UID 0, no matter how many copies of it you make. This means there is NO difference between giving out the root password to everybody, and giving everybody UID 0 accounts. None. As far as the system is concerned, the two are one and the same. > thank you. > > the reason I'm asking is important. Even were it not, I'd still urge you - please do not consider this a valid option. > john brown -- -= Scott Francis || darkuncle (at) darkuncle (dot) net =- GPG key CB33CCA7 has been revoked; I am now 5537F527 illum oportet crescere me autem minui Attachment:
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