unable to input sudo password on terminal

cyberparrot · 10-12-2022, 10:55 AM

The following two lines were shown in the terminal:-

joseyau@joseyau-H81M-DS2:~$ sudo apt install basilik
[sudo] password for joseyau: X

Seeing the prompt for password, I tried to input the password, but an empty space showed up in the "x" position. Could not clear it to input the password.

How can I clear up this to continue putting in the password?

EatMyFedora · 10-12-2022, 11:00 AM

Did you try typing the password and hitting enter even though you can't see any characters being output?

Emerson · 10-12-2022, 11:32 AM

Normally passwords are not echoed to the screen, for sudo you can add this to your sudoers file, use visudo command to edit it.

Code:

Defaults        pwfeedback

chrism01 · 10-12-2022, 09:11 PM

On Linux, passwds are not normally echoed as you type them, for security.
Just get into the habit of typing them 'blind'.

wpeckham · 10-12-2022, 11:00 PM

You absolutely COULD enter the password, and started to do so. Why did you stop?
Just because you cannot see what you have typed does not make it mysteriously no longer exist, it just means you cannot SEE it. For Password entry, that is NORMAL!

boughtonp · 10-13-2022, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpeckham

For Password entry, that is NORMAL!

Normal for sudo / command-line entry.

For most people/software, what's normal is feedback in the form of asterisks or dots.

wpeckham · 10-13-2022, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boughtonp

Normal for sudo / command-line entry.

For most people/software, what's normal is feedback in the form of asterisks or dots.

On most systems, that is configurable for PAM and SSHD, and many other services. All of mine are set to not give feedback on security entry for passwords or codes. .

boughtonp · 10-13-2022, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpeckham

On most systems, that is configurable for PAM and SSHD, and many other services. All of mine are set to not give feedback on security entry for passwords or codes. .

How is it done with PAM? I can't find anything relevant online, nor in man pages, nor looking through /etc/pam.d files

For sudo, showing password asterisks is an easy config change:

Code:

sudo sh -c 'echo "Defaults pwfeedback" > /etc/sudoers.d/01_feedback'

(Where "01_feedback" is a new file named as per man sudoers. Reverting the change can be done by removing the file, or renaming it to 01_feedback.disabled)