[lug] Su problems

D. Stimits stimits at comcast.net
Tue Nov 18 15:06:27 MST 2003


Dan Ferris wrote:

> This is driving me nuts.
>
> The system is SuSE 9.0
>
> dferris at stargate:~> su
> Password:
> su: incorrect password
> dferris at stargate:~>
>
> Now in /var/log/messages:
>
> pam_unix2: session started for user dferris, service su
> pam_unix2: pam_sm_authenticate() called
> pam_unix2: username=[root]
> pam_unix2: wrong password, return PAM_AUTH_ERR
> FAILED SU (to root) root on /dev/pts/2
>
> Here's the PAM configuration:
>
> #%PAM-1.0
> auth sufficient         pam_rootok.so
> auth requisite          pam_unix2.so    debug nullok     #set_secrpc
> account required        pam_unix2.so    debug
> password required       pam_unix2.so    debug nullok use_first_pass
> use_authtok
> session required        pam_unix2.so    debug
>
> There is NO reason why this should fail.  I type in the correct password
> and it dies on me.
>
> Has ANYONE seen this before?
>
> Dan
>
> _______________________________________________
> Web Page:  http://lug.boulder.co.us
> Mailing List: http://lists.lug.boulder.co.us/mailman/listinfo/lug
> Join us on IRC: lug.boulder.co.us port=6667 channel=#colug
>
If someone broke into the system and changed the pass this would happen. 
Or if somehow shadow password got disabled/enabled (opposite of what it 
was) this would also happen. Possibly also if the /etc/passwd file was 
not world readable.

D. Stimits, stimits AT comcast DOT net




More information about the LUG mailing list