= Proposed System Wide Change: The securetty file is empty by default = https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/securetty_file_is_empty_by_default Change owner(s): quickbooks <quickbooks.office@xxxxxxxxx> The securetty file is empty by default There's on-going discussion for this Change on the devel list. https://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/devel/2014-April/197344.html == Detailed Description == Per: [1] it states: === Method === Disabling root access via any console device (tty). === Description === An empty /etc/securetty file prevents root login on any devices attached to the computer. === Effects === Prevents access to the root account via the console or the network. The following programs are '''prevented''' from accessing the root account: login, gdm, kdm, xdm, Other network services that open a tty === Does Not Affect === Programs that do not log in as root, but perform administrative tasks through setuid or other mechanisms. The following programs are not prevented from accessing the root account: su, sudo, ssh, scp, sftp === More Details === To further limit access to the root account, administrators can disable root logins at the console by editing the /etc/securetty file. This file lists all devices the root user is allowed to log into. If the file does not exist at all, the root user can log in through any communication device on the system, whether via the console or a raw network interface. This is dangerous, because a user can log in to his machine as root via Telnet, which transmits the password in plain text over the network. By default, Fedora's /etc/securetty file only allows the root user to log in at the console physically attached to the machine. To prevent root from logging in, remove the contents of this file by typing the following command: echo > /etc/securetty Warning: A blank /etc/securetty file does not prevent the root user from logging in remotely using the OpenSSH suite of tools because the console is not opened until after authentication. == Scope == * Proposal owners: implement the change * Other developers: None * Release engineering: None * Policies and guidelines: The Security Document mentioned above will need to be updated. [1] https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/Fedora/19/html/Security_Guide/chap-Security_Guide-Securing_Your_Network.html#tabl-Security_Guide-Disallowing_Root_Access-Methods_of_Disabling_the_Root_Account _______________________________________________ devel-announce mailing list devel-announce@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/devel-announce -- devel mailing list devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/devel Fedora Code of Conduct: http://fedoraproject.org/code-of-conduct
