Question

FreeBSD/security question re: root login on ssh

Asked by: jcoman777

I'm wondering...

What is the setting in FreeBSD &/or SSH that allows or disallows being able to log in as root.

I have a number of boxes and some of them allow root login and some do not.  I would like to know how to set all of my boxes so root login is either enabled or disabled.  I'm only talking about login by SSH -- NOT telnet, etc.

I understand that it is considered bad security policy to allow the root account a log in. Is there a reason for this if I'm always using SSH?

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Asked On
2004-03-05 at 13:37:22ID20908936
Tags

root

,

freebsd

,

ssh

,

login

Topic

FreeBSD

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
2

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Answers

 

by: hibbidijiPosted on 2004-03-05 at 13:57:19ID: 10527320

there's a setting in /etc/ssh/sshd_config called PermitRootLogin that's a yes|no setting

Setting that should get you all setup ;)

 

by: Droby10Posted on 2004-03-05 at 23:10:37ID: 10529826

it's a bad idea because even encrypted data is subject to the same properties of the underlying network.  in this case, a simple arp poison and you're logging into a rogue ssh service providing root credentials.  -vs- logging into the same evilhost (unknowingly) with a non-priviledged account, realizing that something isn't the same prior to su-ing and, yes losing a non-priviledged account to escalate from in the process, but you at least have the buffer/window/time to act on before losing root.


20120131-EE-VQP-002

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