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

  • ShortN0te@lemmy.ml
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    4 days ago

    The scenario OC stated is that if the attacker has access to the user on the server then the attacker would still need the sudo password in order to get root privileges, contrary to direct root login where the attack has direct access to root privileges.

    So, now i am looking into this scenario where the attack is on the server with the user privileges: the attacker now modifies for example the bashrc to alias sudo to extract the password once the user runs sudo.

    So the sudo password does not have any meaningful protection, other then maybe adding a time variable which is when the user accesses the server and runs sudo

      • JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
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        3 days 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.

          • 4am@lemm.ee
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            3 days 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
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              3 days ago

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

            • miss_demeanour@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              3 days 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
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                2 days 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.

          • JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
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            3 days ago

            I…I don’t understand the question.

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

      • ShortN0te@lemmy.ml
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        3 days 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.

          • ShortN0te@lemmy.ml
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            3 days ago

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

              • ShortN0te@lemmy.ml
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                3 days 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.

                  • ShortN0te@lemmy.ml
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                    3 days 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.