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swingarm
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Joined: 08 Jun 2002
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Location: Northern Colorado

PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2002 8:22 pm    Post subject: Sudo security question.. Reply with quote

I'm using Gentoo 1.4rc1 and Blackbox. My question is in the way I use sudo. I setup my sudo conf file to let all the users in the wheel group to run all commands without a password. So I can do 'sudo endeavour2' without worrying about permissions when I'm copying, moving,...etc. I was wondering if by using sudo this way is it just the same as logging in as root therefore nullifying the reason for having a user in the first place? I'm asking this because I frankly don't know. Couldn't someone conceivably break into my computer and get permission to do anything just by typing 'sudo XXX'? I just need someone with more experience in this to chime in.
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pjp
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2002 8:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Moved from Chat.
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delta407
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Joined: 23 Apr 2002
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2002 8:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Sudo security question.. Reply with quote

swingarm wrote:
I was wondering if by using sudo this way is it just the same as logging in as root therefore nullifying the reason for having a user in the first place?
Yes, in that one particular program is running as root and (if compromised) would give total control over your machine; but no, in that not all of the programs are running as root. It's more secure than logging in as root, but less secure than carefully setting permissions so root needn't be used.

swingarm wrote:
Couldn't someone conceivably break into my computer and get permission to do anything just by typing 'sudo XXX'?
Yes.
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