Enable Telnet for Scan?

carlosinfl · 10-16-2006, 08:48 AM

I have a RHEL3 ES and our security dept needs to do a scan on the box and requested that TELNET be enabled.

How is this done on the box?

Someone recommended this but I have no clue. All my previous scans required just SSH.

Code:

# chkconfig telnet on

# service xinetd reload

Reloading configuration: [  OK  ]

bulliver · 10-16-2006, 05:11 PM

Quote:

I have a RHEL3 ES and our security dept needs to do a scan on the box and requested that TELNET be enabled.

Eh? They want to do a security scan of the box so they tell you to turn on an insecure service?

Quote:

Someone recommended this but I have no clue.

Haven't used Redhat in a while but that looks about right. Have you tried it? Might be telnetd rather than telnet...

carlosinfl · 10-17-2006, 07:29 AM

I tried it but am not sure that is working...

Code:

[cwilliams@tunafish ~]$ sudo su -
Password:
[root@tunafish ~]# users
cwilliams
[root@tunafish ~]# chkconfig telnet
[root@tunafish ~]# chkconfig telnet off
error reading information on service telnet: No such file or directory
[root@tunafish ~]# chkconfig telnet on
error reading information on service telnet: No such file or directory
[root@tunafish ~]# chkconfig telnetd off
error reading information on service telnetd: No such file or directory

michaelk · 10-17-2006, 07:50 AM

telnet runs from xinetd. However since telnet is not secure it is typically disabled. You will need to edit the telnet file located in the /etc/xinetd.d directory.
Change the line:
disable = yes
to
disable = no

You can then start or restart xinetd via the service command.

See man pages for chkconfig.