[GRLUG] get back access to root

[Michael Mol]

LiveCD route:

1. Drop in an Ubuntu or KNOPPIX LiveCD
2. Open a terminal
3. Mount the hard drive
4. Modify /etc/hosts and /etc/hostname
5. Unmount the hard drive
6. Reboot

On 9/5/06, Bob Kline <bob.kline at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
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> >
> >
> > --
> > :wq
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