[GRLUG] get back access to root

Bob Kline bob.kline at gmail.com
Tue Sep 5 23:32:28 EDT 2006


Thanks.  I'll try that.  What's the LiveCD route?

   -Bob


On 9/5/06, Michael Mol <mikemol at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hm.  Well, there's the generic Linux root exploit, if you don't want
> to go the LiveCD route.  (Though the LiveCD route is easier, IMO)
>
> Add the following to your kernel command line when you see the grub boot menu:
> init=/bin/sh
>
> Next, remount your root filesystem so that you can write to it:
> mount -o remount,rw /
>
> Then modify your host and hosts file as necessary:
> /usr/bin/vi /etc/hosts
> /usr/bin/vi /etc/hostname
>
> Now remount your root filesystem as read-only (to save your changes to it):
> mount -o remount,ro /
>
> Finally, power off your computer. (The halt and shutdown commands
> won't work; They depend on init or xinit, which isn't running.  Just
> hold the power button in for at least four seconds.)
>
> On 9/5/06, Bob Kline <bob.kline at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Step two is the problem:  su.
> >
> > I can't get in as root. I can log in
> > as myself fine.
> >
> >    -Bob
> >
> >
> > On 9/5/06, bfdamkoehler at worldnet.att.net <bfdamkoehler at worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > I don't know your level of knowledge, so forgive me this is too
> > > detailed. I assume that your problem is caused by the new hostname not
> > > being /etc/hosts. Its seems like that might affect X windows but
> > > "shouldn't" bother any non-X apps.
> > >
> > >     * login to your non-priv account
> > >     * su
> > >     * cd /etc
> > >     * cp -v hosts hosts.save # make sure you have a saved copy in case
> > >       of problems
> > >     * vim hosts
> > >           o shift o
> > >           o newhostname nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn (replace newhostname with your
> > >             new hostname and nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn with the IP address of your
> > >             machine)
> > >           o hit the ESC key and then type :wq
> > >
> > > That "should" fix it, but you will still have the old hostname for your
> > > machine in /etc/hosts as well, which won't hurt anything. You can tell
> > > if its working by typing "ping newhostname" unless you have a firewall
> > > that blocks ping packets.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Michael Mol wrote:
> > >
> > > >Did you check that /etc/hosts and /etc/hostname is sane?
> > > >If not, can you fix them using sudo and vim?
> > > >
> > > >If you can't use sudo et al, try booting off of a livecd and edit the
> > > >files that way.
> > > >
> > > >On 9/4/06, Bob Kline <bob.kline at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >>* used hostname to change,  well,  the host name.
> > > >>
> > > >>*  now cannot get back in as root.  I get a message
> > > >>   saying something like gethostbyname() doesn't work.
> > > >>
> > > >>What have I done to my self?   Is there a way to get
> > > >>back in as root,  or have I found a way of locking myself
> > > >>out of the system now?
> > > >>
> > > >>I won't even get in to why I tried to do this.......  :-(
> > > >>
> > > >>More tales of  the amateur.
> > > >>
> > > >>    -Bob
> > > >>_______________________________________________
> > > >>grlug mailing list
> > > >>grlug at grlug.org
> > > >>http://shinobu.grlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/grlug
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > grlug mailing list
> > > grlug at grlug.org
> > > http://shinobu.grlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/grlug
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > grlug mailing list
> > grlug at grlug.org
> > http://shinobu.grlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/grlug
> >
>
>
> --
> :wq
> _______________________________________________
> grlug mailing list
> grlug at grlug.org
> http://shinobu.grlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/grlug
>


More information about the grlug mailing list