Arch Linux

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Tasklist

FS#35748 - changing password of any arch install

Attached to Project: Arch Linux
Opened by snhkicker (snhkicker) - Monday, 10 June 2013, 19:09 GMT
Last edited by Dave Reisner (falconindy) - Monday, 10 June 2013, 19:33 GMT
Task Type Bug Report
Category Security
Status Closed
Assigned To No-one
Architecture All
Severity Critical
Priority Normal
Reported Version
Due in Version Undecided
Due Date Undecided
Percent Complete 100%
Votes 0
Private No

Details

Description:
i installed an arch system with an incorrect password and wanted to change it.
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
arch-chroot /mnt
passwd

allows you to change password(root or user) in any arch version with any arch-install-scripts version giving anyone with a ability to chroot to system ability to lock you out of it and change password.

Additional info:
latest arch CD and install scripts


Steps to reproduce:
1-install arch-install-scripts on any system or using CD
This task depends upon

Closed by  Dave Reisner (falconindy)
Monday, 10 June 2013, 19:33 GMT
Reason for closing:  Not a bug
Additional comments about closing:  physical access is root access. Use encryption if this bothers you.
Comment by Etienne Doms (Smod) - Monday, 10 June 2013, 19:28 GMT
You cannot protect an unencrypted partition from being mounted from another operating system. The security issue is that you let your computer boot from an USB key / Live CD / Network / Whatever. Basically, anybody having a physical access to your computer can do whatever they want with your unencrypted data.

You may consider configuring your system (BIOS password ?) to disable boot from external media. You should also configure your boot loader so that it's not possible to edit kernel parameters before booting (appending "init=/bin/sh" gives you root access without password too).

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