6.27. pam_rootok - gain only root access
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6.27. pam_rootok - gain only root access

pam_rootok.so [ debug ]

6.27.1. DESCRIPTION

pam_rootok is a PAM module that authenticates the user if their UID is 0. Applications that are created setuid-root generally retain the UID of the user but run with the authority of an enhanced effective-UID. It is the real UID that is checked.

6.27.2. OPTIONS

debug

Print debug information.

6.27.3. MODULE TYPES PROVIDED

The auth, acct and password module types are provided.

6.27.4. RETURN VALUES

PAM_SUCCESS

The UID is 0.

PAM_AUTH_ERR

The UID is not 0.

6.27.5. EXAMPLES

In the case of the su(1) application the historical usage is to permit the superuser to adopt the identity of a lesser user without the use of a password. To obtain this behavior with PAM the following pair of lines are needed for the corresponding entry in the /etc/pam.d/su configuration file: 

# su authentication. Root is granted access by default.
auth  sufficient   pam_rootok.so
auth  required     pam_unix.so

6.27.6. AUTHOR

pam_rootok was written by Andrew G. Morgan, <morgan@kernel.org>.

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