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Explanation: What’s the ROOT Password in K/Ubuntu?

by Jon on March 21st, 2006

K/Ubuntu (meaning Ubuntu and Kubuntu) force the use of sudo rather than allowing users to switch to the root account proper.

In order to run a command that would normally require root privileges, use sudo commandname instead of su.

Since I appear to be able to run any command on my Kubuntu system using sudo, I’m not really sure what the security value of this system is.

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6 opinions for Explanation: What’s the ROOT Password in K/Ubuntu?

  • Justin
    Mar 21, 2006 at 12:48 pm

    They use sudo because Ubuntu is a desktop distribution (meaning that absolute security is not top priority) and sudo makes administration easier. It adds a layer of security not found in Windows by asking you for your password, and it also makes it easier for new users who don’t want to remember two different passwords or be bothered to learn what a ‘root’ account is.

    It isn’t necessarily there for security, but for ease of use.

  • Jon
    Mar 21, 2006 at 1:11 pm

    OK, I see…glad to know I wasn’t missing some security aspect :)

  • Mark Rais
    Mar 21, 2006 at 1:55 pm

    I will add one other tidbit…

    The premise behind Ubuntu’s use of Sudo (superuser do) instead of creation of a root account is that they felt it would protect the “supernewbie” users from screwing up their system royally.

    On the other hand, as any Linux system admin knows, the more you emphasize sudo accounts, the more vulnerabilities you actually have regarding security from in-bound (external) attacks.

    In other words:
    sudo is better for newies because it keeps them away from root, which is really a nasty thing for new users who tend to always login as root.

    sudo is worse for overall security of the Linux system when in the context of Internet connectivity since the sudo account can do just as much harm and be used maliciously as root.

    The end of the day, I prefer to allow root and then teach people to use their secondary account for Internet surfing etc.

    my 1 centos (that’s less than 2 cents but hopefully worth something to someone),
    mark

  • Jon
    Mar 21, 2006 at 2:03 pm

    It *is* a hard call, isn’t it?

    Is there anything I can’t do on a K/Ubuntu box with Sudo, I wonder?

  • Noid.EXE
    Mar 31, 2006 at 12:58 pm

    For changing theroot password do:
    sudo passwd root
    your_password
    new_root_password

  • Jon
    Mar 31, 2006 at 1:00 pm

    Sweet - thanks Noid.EXE!

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