*BSD News Article 75523


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From: Shawn McMahon <smcmahon@chickasaw.com>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc
Subject: BSDI security
Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 09:43:24 -0500
Organization: Chickasaw Nation Net
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Message-ID: <Pine.BSI.3.94.960805093815.17110A-100000@picard.chickasaw.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: picard.chickasaw.com
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To: bsdi-users@bsdi.com

Does anyone know of a way that a person could su himself to root on a
BSDI system, without having his name in the "wheel" group?

Whether with or without knowledge of the root password, is there a way?

And, is there a defense?

On the system in question, no terminals are marked "secure" except the
console entries.  It's unlikely that the root password got out, although
it is of course possible.


  Shawn McMahon          | Smokesignals Computer Company
  Senior System Operator | Southern Oklahoma's Internet Service Provider
  Chickasaw Nation Net   | 405 332-0033   http://www.chickasaw.com