Re: Gain root access on linux servers with physical access

["Aman Raheja" <araheja () techquotes com>]

Booting with Linux live cd and changing password should work.
Let me add to the mix - even after the access is gained a lot of work 
probably remains to be done, since there could probably be back doors or 
logic bombs.
For example if developer ABC does not login for x number of days, the 
system will wipe out the code or something worse.

Aman Raheja, CISSP
http://ar.techquotes.com/weblog


On 14 Dec 2006 18:27:15 -0000, spammailme () gmail com wrote :

> All -
>
> I was wondering ideas on how to gain control of linux boxes with physical 
access to them in the hosting facility. 
> The owner has code on them yet never bothered monitoring or gaining root 
access and her developers are blackmailing her. She has access the the 
hosting facility and the servers and backup staff yet needs to regain 
control of the servers.
> I asked what OS are they? She did not know. nmap cannot tell and p0f 
states:
> # p0f
> p0f - passive os fingerprinting utility, version 2.0.8
> (C) M. Zalewski <lcamtuf () dione cc>, W. Stearns <wstearns () pobox com>
> p0f: listening (SYN) on 'eth0', 262 sigs (14 generic, cksum 0F1F5CA2), 
rule: 'all'.
> x.x.122.x:54368 - Linux 2.6 (newer, 2) (up: 410 hrs)
>   -> x.114.33.x:80 (distance 0, link: ethernet/modem)
>
> Any ideas how to get root with physical access? I remember in the past 
booting to a knoppix CD and messing with boot loader yet it has been a 
while.
> Also the only ports open are 80 & 443.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>
>
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