Cannot do anything as root


 
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# 1  
Old 10-19-2005
Cannot do anything as root

Hello,

I have a problem with a server. I have access to 2 different root accounts, and they appear to be stuck doing something with sh. I also could not get to the machine with ssh as I usually do; I had to use rlogin.

Here is what happens when I try to su to a root acount:

-bash-3.00$ su testroot
Password:
sh: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.


And it goes back to the shell of the normal user. I cannot rlogin as root because remote login by root is disabled, and I cannot edit the /etc/default/login file to allow remote login by root because I cannot edit the file without root access. Therefore, I appear to be stuck unless if someone knows how to get sh to stop doing whatever it is doing. I also do not want to reboot the machine.

Additionally, I cannot execute any commands as root with su, which would have helped a lot.
For example:
-bash-3.00$ su testroot -c "vi login"
Password:
sh: invalid option -- c
Usage: sh [options] [target] ...
Options:
-b, -m Ignored for compatibility.
-B, --always-make Unconditionally make all targets.
-C DIRECTORY, --directory=DIRECTORY
Change to DIRECTORY before doing anything.
-d Print lots of debugging information.
--debug[=FLAGS] Print various types of debugging information.
-e, --environment-overrides
Environment variables override makefiles.
-f FILE, --file=FILE, --makefile=FILE
Read FILE as a makefile.
-h, --help Print this message and exit.
-i, --ignore-errors Ignore errors from commands.
-I DIRECTORY, --include-dir=DIRECTORY
Search DIRECTORY for included makefiles.
-j [N], --jobs[=N] Allow N jobs at once; infinite jobs with no arg.
-k, --keep-going Keep going when some targets can't be made.
-l [N], --load-average[=N], --max-load[=N]
Don't start multiple jobs unless load is below N.
-n, --just-print, --dry-run, --recon
Don't actually run any commands; just print them.
-o FILE, --old-file=FILE, --assume-old=FILE
Consider FILE to be very old and don't remake it.
-p, --print-data-base Print make's internal database.
-q, --question Run no commands; exit status says if up to date.
-r, --no-builtin-rules Disable the built-in implicit rules.
-R, --no-builtin-variables Disable the built-in variable settings.
-s, --silent, --quiet Don't echo commands.
-S, --no-keep-going, --stop
Turns off -k.
-t, --touch Touch targets instead of remaking them.
-v, --version Print the version number of make and exit.
-w, --print-directory Print the current directory.
--no-print-directory Turn off -w, even if it was turned on implicitly.
-W FILE, --what-if=FILE, --new-file=FILE, --assume-new=FILE
Consider FILE to be infinitely new.
--warn-undefined-variables Warn when an undefined variable is referenced.

This program built for i386-pc-solaris2.10
Report bugs to <bug-make@gnu.org>


If you need anymore information I will give it to you ASAP. Thank you for your time.
# 2  
Old 10-19-2005
What happens if you do

su - testroot
or

su -

?
# 3  
Old 10-19-2005
Can you run the command "grep root /etc/passwd"? What is the shell? Also, can you check if the /bin/sh binary is as it should be? try running /bin/sh as any user.
# 4  
Old 10-19-2005
Quote:
Originally Posted by blowtorch
Can you run the command "grep root /etc/passwd"? What is the shell? Also, can you check if the /bin/sh binary is as it should be? try running /bin/sh as any user.
In addition to what blowtorch said, The root shell should be /sbin/sh, the root standard shell is the statically linked sh.
# 5  
Old 10-19-2005
Quote:
Originally Posted by reborg
What happens if you do

su - testroot
or

su -

?
-bash-3.00$ su - testroot
Password:
-sh: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.
-bash-3.00$


I receive the same result with su -
# 6  
Old 10-19-2005
Quote:
Originally Posted by blowtorch
Can you run the command "grep root /etc/passwd"? What is the shell? Also, can you check if the /bin/sh binary is as it should be? try running /bin/sh as any user.
-bash-3.00$ grep root /etc/passwd
root:x:0:0:Super-User:/:/sbin/sh
testroot:x:0:0:Super-User:/:/sbin/sh

-bash-3.00$ ls -l /bin/sh
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 13 Aug 25 21:44 /bin/sh -> ../../sbin/sh

-bash-3.00$ ls -l /sbin/sh
-r-xr-xr-x 1 root root 812188 Oct 16 21:24 /sbin/sh


I'm guessing there is something wrong with sh? Because this is the result if I run it as any user:

-bash-3.00$ sh
sh: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.
# 7  
Old 10-19-2005
I just noticed that the date of /sbin/sh is October 16, and that is when the problem began.
 
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