6

I installed some software by running its install script with

sudo ./install.sh

After the installation all the accounts on my Ubuntu laptop can gain root access by simply issuing the command sudo -s, even the standard (non administrator) account. Also there is no password prompt when issuing the command sudo -s.

My /etc/sudoers looks like this:

Defaults    env_reset
Defaults    secure_path="/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"

# Host alias specification

# User alias specification

# Cmnd alias specification

# User privilege specification
root    ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

# Members of the admin group may gain root privileges
%admin ALL=(ALL) ALL

# Allow members of group sudo to execute any command
%sudo   ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

# See sudoers(5) for more information on "#include" directives:

#includedir /etc/sudoers.d
ALL ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL
7
  • 1
    Open the install script in text editor. See what it was doing with /etc/sudoers and revert them.
    – Web-E
    Jul 4, 2013 at 10:54
  • 1
    This may have been done by that "particular software" you mentioned. Unless they warned you that this will happen you should file this as a bug against the software.
    – Takkat
    Jul 4, 2013 at 10:54
  • 2
    Can we also get a link to where you got the script please?
    – Rinzwind
    Jul 4, 2013 at 14:04
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    It's a serious security bug for any software's installation script to add a line like ALL ALL=(ALL) to a sudoers file. So if possible, please do let us know where you got the installation script (as @Rinzwind says) and/or what software the script came with or is for, so that the bug can be reported to its developers and hopefully fixed quickly. Thanks! Jul 9, 2013 at 1:35
  • 1
    sooo, what was this software?
    – j0h
    Jul 9, 2013 at 19:23

2 Answers 2

6

If you look at the very bottom of your sudoers file, it says "ALL ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL". This is the syntax for passwordless execution of sudo. Make a backup of the file and then delete that line.

Andrew

2
  • 1
    But why does non adminstrator accounts can also sudo to the root ?
    – coder
    Jul 4, 2013 at 14:36
  • 3
    The line says "ALL", indicating all users.
    – ahalverson
    Jul 4, 2013 at 18:43
4

Remove this line:

ALL ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL

But this is REALLY strange to appear, so the software (basically a script I guess) you installed is probably mallicious. You might want to start a second question, paste the contents of that script there, and ask for advice... this is scary!

2
  • But why does non adminstrator accounts can also sudo to the root ?
    – coder
    Jul 4, 2013 at 14:39
  • 1
    Because that's exactly what that line says? ALL is the keyword here. The line starting with %admin says that all members of group admin have sudo rights, and this line says that everyone has it.
    – Nanne
    Jul 4, 2013 at 14:40

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