Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:31:34 +0100 From: Matthew Seaman <m.seaman@infracaninophile.co.uk> To: Chuck Swiger <cswiger@mac.com> Cc: FreeBSD Questions <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>, Chris Brennan <xaero@xaerolimit.net> Subject: Re: unprivledged users (for a service) Message-ID: <4E4A7136.7040203@infracaninophile.co.uk> In-Reply-To: <238F0CF5-33DC-4F9A-88E3-F8356E125573@mac.com> References: <20110815163659.GA22081@gmail.com> <238F0CF5-33DC-4F9A-88E3-F8356E125573@mac.com>
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On 15/08/2011 17:42, Chuck Swiger wrote:
> On Aug 15, 2011, at 9:37 AM, Chris Brennan wrote:
>> > It's been a while since I've had to do this and the drive that conta=
ined=20
>> > all of my notes is dead, along with the backup (I was actually lucky=
to=20
>> > recover my home drive before it also failed but my notes were not=20
>> > there). I cannot for the life of me remember how to properly add an =
>> > unprivledged user that will only be used for running a specific syst=
em=20
>> > service. So it doesn't need a login shell or $HOME.
> Add a user and set the shell to /bin/false or perhaps /sbin/nologin; fo=
r $HOME set it to /var/empty or /tmp, perhaps.
Good advice, except... for this sort of user that exists solely to run
various processes, generally it is preferable for them *not* to be able
to write to their home directory. Especially if the software concerned
is exposed to the internet.
The reasoning here is that if there is, say, a buffer overflow attack
against your software, then an attacker can remotely inject and run
various sorts of shell-code exploits. If they can change arbitrary
files in the accounts home directory, then they can relatively simply
get a login shell.
So, /tmp not a good idea. / is actually a pretty good choice, and
similarly /var/empty (which is specifically designed for this sort of
thing.)
Cheers,
Matthew
--=20
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil. 7 Priory Courtyard
Flat 3
PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey Ramsgate
JID: matthew@infracaninophile.co.uk Kent, CT11 9PW
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