LinuxQuestions.org - Error Starting Connection: Security Alert

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Error Starting Connection: Security Alert

My first posting.

I have looked at several LiveCD's and liked Knoppix and PCLinuxOS. However I have one problem common to all of them - I can't connect to my Network and Internet.

I have to use a PPPoE with User Name and Password to connect. Luckily all LiveCD's include RP-PPPoE on the CD. This offers exactly what I need but when I run it and enter User Name and Password every LiveCD returns the error:

Error starting Connection: SECURITY ALERT - Root (/) writable by group or other.

Does anyone know what I can do to correct this error? I did try fully installing Knoppix to HDD and running RP-PPPoE but I continued to receive the same error.

I have only found one exception - PCLinuxOS in it's Mini version run from a 512Mb SD card. Then I can connect to my Network/Internet using RP-PPPoE. However the Mini version is so limited it's unusable and I would rather use the full LiveCD installation.

Hello and welcome to LQ, hope you like it here.

I have to use a PPPoE with User Name and Password to connect. Luckily all LiveCD's include RP-PPPoE on the CD. This offers exactly what I need but when I run it and enter User Name and Password every LiveCD returns the error: Error starting Connection: SECURITY ALERT - Root (/) writable by group or other.

The check (it's not an application error) is in (rp-pppoe-$version/gui/)wrapper.c where it does a stat on the root directory "/" and proceeds to check the st_mode (DAC or "rwx" access rights) for writability by group (S_IWGRP) and other (S_IWOTH):

Code:

    /* Check root directory */

    if (stat("/", &buf) < 0) {

 // ...

    if (buf.st_mode & (S_IWGRP | S_IWOTH)) {

        fprintf(stderr, "SECURITY ALERT: Root directory (/) writable by group or other\n");

        return 0;

    }

Does anyone know what I can do to correct this error?
You can check for yourself what the rights on "/" are by running running (w/o outer quotes) "stat -c %a /".
It should return "755".
If not, run "chmod 755 /" to fix it.

Terrific answer. I understand it, but I'm not sure how to do it as I'm so new! However I'll try and if I get really stuck I'll repost here.

Entered the stat -c %a / command. Not 755!

Entered chmod 755/

It now works 100%.

Many thanks for the invaluable help.:D

Many thanks for the invaluable help.
Well, thanks for not running away :-]
Maybe I should have just posted "type chmod 755 / in your console as root account user"...