Asking a user for the root password and executing root only c ommands...

[Chad Netzer]

On Wednesday 30 October 2002 22:06, Bengt Richter wrote:

> Kind of funny (not) that /sbin/shutdown must be run as root,
> but by default any doorknob rattler could kick it off with ctrl-alt-del
> without being asked for a password. Not a cool default config IMO ;-/

Well, for nearly all configs, if you have access to the console, you have 
access to the power switch (and the BIOS bootup, etc.).  So needing root 
password to reboot is hardly a deterent.  And for most users, ctrl-alt-del in 
a console is kinda handy sometimes.

More advanced setups that restrict access to the power button, can also 
easily require ctrl-alt-del to take a root password (as well as BIOS entry, 
etc.)

-- 

Chad Netzer
cnetzer at mail.arc.nasa.gov