Aldo Foot wrote:
2008/1/22 Mikkel L. Ellertson <mikkel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
Aldo Foot wrote:
Well, the scenario I described actually happened years ago to someone I
knew.
If I create keys without a passphrase, and share the public keys between
two systems (A and B), then from system A I can log to system B by
simply saying "ssh user@B". This is very convenient for cron jobs.
This is particularly risky when the systems are accessed by the general
public.
How does someone finds out the username? I don't know... company
phonebook,
online profiles listing first/lastname, etc.
You do know that you first have to get the private key of the key
pair, right? So you have to crack user@A's account, at least to the
point of getting the private key. Remember, the key will not work
unless it is only readable by the user. The .ssh directory also
needs to be set this way. So just being able to log into machine A
is not enough. You also need access to the private key.
You are correct. My worst nightmare does not include stealing the private
key. But simply cracking into a user's account who has access to several
systems containing the keys.
Worst scenario is when someone brakes into a system gains root access
and does "su - user" to such account and by looking into the .shosts tries
his luck to other systems.
But even having a pass phrase does not help if someone uses dumb
passwords. Things like first name as user name, and last name as
password. Then they use their full name as the pass phrase on the
key. Or is machine B lets you ssh in using username/password, and
you have a user like this. The key is to use the tools responsibly.
Bingo! There lies my problem.
Perhaps a good practice is to configure accounts such as those for
cron jobs to use only specific commands.
Does anyone reading this thread uses such setup?
I'll play with this a bit.
cron jobs are created either by your vendor (Fedora in this case), or by
users with access to accounts on the system.
If you use decent passwords, exercise due care with invited content
(email, www etc & especially software[1] you install/allow to be
installed), secure your servers[2] I don't think you have a lot to do with.
If you're trying to protect high-value assets, best to hire an expert
with the skills needed, it's pretty clear you don't have them.
[1] I'm very picky. Most stuff from the FOSS world I trust, it will
quickly get a bad name if it contains malware. I mostly avoid Acrobat &
flash (the latter's main use seems to be adware, and there are serious
security concerns), and absolutely shun toys such google desktop etc.
[2] I run ssh, and I allow five connexions/hour globally (not per source
IP) from parts of the world I don't expect connexions from, it covers me
for the case I've been too strict. I don't think anyone's going to
succeed with even a weak password without a fair bit of lock. I don't
think my password's weak.
--
Cheers
John
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