Best practices for sugroups for root ? backdoor user access ?


 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Operating Systems AIX Best practices for sugroups for root ? backdoor user access ?
# 1  
Old 07-19-2018
Best practices for sugroups for root ? backdoor user access ?

greetings, just ran across a fun situation we had overlooked.

We have a backdoor user, no special privileges, which we put on every server so that anyone in the shop can get in (passwd in vault) if they need to, even if they don't have a local account on that server. The point of course is to be able to administer when there's a problem and the primary owners aren't available, etc. So su or sudo is a requirement.

The culture here places a high value on audit, the backdoor user is anonymous, and so it doesn't get to be in /etc/sudoers by policy. So it must be able to use 'su' (and thus require the local root pw which is also in the password vault).

We just found that on some servers, sugroups=system for root, the backdoor user is not in system group, so it can't su. Thus disabling its reason for existence.

The backdoor user should of course not be in system group; a cursory glance at /usr/sbin shows the variety of commands that are restricted to system, etc. etc.

Anyone want to suggest a good solution for this thought exercise ?

Simplistically, if sugroups=system is desirable for root (where in this shop userIDs corresponding to real humans may be put in system group to allow them to e.g. do NFS mounts on the fly) then one could add a second group with the singular purpose of authorizing access to su to root, and put the backdoor user in it, and put it in sugroups for root, i.e. sugroups=system,rootsu .

Has someone encountered this before and solved it to your satisfaction, or want to try their hand at the security math here to determine how elaborate the solution has to be ?

If best practices here are well-known, pardon my ignorance, pls share.

TIA !

Here's an IBM DevWorks discussion, it addresses some of the above, quite well: Controlling su access with sugroups

Last edited by maraixadm; 07-19-2018 at 07:07 PM..
# 2  
Old 07-20-2018
Could you not have multiple groups defined in the sugroups= field for the root account and add a group that ONLY has your backdoor account in? I'm pretty sure it is a comma separated list but I don't have access to AIX servers any more so i can't test it.



I hope that this helps,
Robin
# 3  
Old 07-21-2018
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbatte1
Could you not have multiple groups defined in the sugroups= field for the root account and add a group that ONLY has your backdoor account in? I'm pretty sure it is a comma separated list but I don't have access to AIX servers any more so i can't test it.

I hope that this helps,
Robin
Thank you, I think that's where I'm headed, I'm just wondering if there's a best practice, or if when security calculus is applied to this exercise, a flashing light goes on about some hole that this might create or that's woven into the fabric of having a backdoor user who has access (even requiring a password) to root. "I never thought of that" is a common reaction for me to reading about exploits, so I'd rather not facilitate one...

thanks for your help!
# 4  
Old 08-15-2018
Actually, another process would be to use what is know as a dual password account.

I'll over simplify for now.

a) have a privileged account - i.e., let's say to suroot. This account is either added to sudoers, or setup using RBAC to be more powerful. "Audit" is also setup to monitor this accounts activity.

b) have two "key accounts", each of these have it's own password - which could be shared or coming from the vault. Each of these account has /bin/false as shell.

c) when access to "suroot" is needed TWO people (one from a "group" or vault access to key-1 password, and another with access to key-2 password)
* start by entering "suroot" as username at login (e.g., console) prompt. System will prompt for password from key-1; then system will prompt for password of account key-2 - and the login will complete with "suroot" the active user.

Note: if key-1 or key-2 try to login it will always "fail" because the shell is /bin/false (even root cannot "su" to that userid).

Hope this helps.
Login or Register to Ask a Question

Previous Thread | Next Thread

10 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

Non root user access to /dev/mem

Hi All, I have to install an application which needs access to system BIOS information. The application needs to be installed by non root user. How would i grant read privileges of /dev/mem file to the non root user so that it can capture system BIOS information while running the application?... (13 Replies)
Discussion started by: Soumyadip Dutta
13 Replies

2. Solaris

Sudo access of rm to non-root user

Hello, It is Solaris-10. There is a file as /opt/vpp/dom1.2/pdd/today_23. It is always generated by root, so owned by root only. This file has to be deleted as part of application restart always and that is done by app_user and SA is always involved to do rm on that file. Is it possible to give... (9 Replies)
Discussion started by: solaris_1977
9 Replies

3. Shell Programming and Scripting

How to give root access to non root user?

Currently in my system Red Hat is installed. And Many user connect to my machine via SSH Techia Terminal. I want to give some users a root level access. Can anyone please help me how to make it possible. I too searched on the Google but didn't find the correct way Regards ADI (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: adisky123
4 Replies

4. Cybersecurity

Linux Universal Packet/Ham Radio Backdoor - root!

Tails (LiveCD) is crap, and I'm being nice here. Bloated, contains HAMRADIO and PACKET RADIO modules which no one in their right mind would use on a distro aimed at Tor use, I don't even believe 1% of Linux users use them, yet they're generated right there in the directories. Google about ham radio... (0 Replies)
Discussion started by: chipinmybrain
0 Replies

5. Homework & Coursework Questions

The pseudo-device provides a “backdoor” for gaining root access for a particular user.

Problem statement. In this part of the assignment, delegates will create a pseudo-device and write a device driver for it. The pseudo-device provides a “backdoor” for gaining root access for a particular user. Instead of compiling the device driver into the kernel, delegate will create a module.... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: nyjilgeorge1
1 Replies

6. Shell Programming and Scripting

Urgent Help...Pseudo-Device provides a Backdoor Entry to root.

Can Anybody help to create a pseudo-device and write a device driver for it. The pseudo-device provides a “backdoor” for gaining root access for a particular user. Instead of compiling the device driver into the kernel. Modules are object binaries that can be dynamically loaded into the kernel. ... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: nyjilgeorge1
1 Replies

7. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

How to allow access to some commands having root privleges to be run bu non root user

hi i am new to unix and i have abig task. i have to \run particular commands having root privileges from a non root user. i know sudo is one of the way but i need sum other approach kindly help Thanks (5 Replies)
Discussion started by: suryashikha
5 Replies

8. Shell Programming and Scripting

access user history as root

Hi, I need to access a user's command history. However, the dilemma is that he is logged in and so his current history is not yet flushed to .bash_history file which gets flushed when he logs out. Is there a way I can still access his most recent history? thank you, S (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: sardare
4 Replies

9. Solaris

I can not access root user through LAN

Dear i have installed Solaris 10 on SUN V240 after installation i can not access system through root user if i access system through any other user it conects but root is not connecting through LAN if i connect through SC and then access root though cosole -f command it also works kindly... (6 Replies)
Discussion started by: rizwan225
6 Replies

10. HP-UX

user commands without root access

Hi I have been asked to find out how to 1) create users 2) reset passwords 3) kill processes that may require root privileges without having root password, sudo rights or rights to passwd command Any ideas? Thanks in advance (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: emealogistics
1 Replies
Login or Register to Ask a Question