make .bash_history uneditable, but still functional O_o

caibbor · 12-03-2009, 03:34 PM

I want to make .bash_history for all my users uneditable by anyone but root. obviously changing the owner to root makes it undeleteable, but they can still modify it. if I remove write permissions, then the file doesn't even do it's job. I swear I saw this done once on a wargames server somewhere... how can I achieve this?

unSpawn · 12-03-2009, 03:48 PM

You might try the "append-only" extended attribute ('man chattr') but I'd rather use a shell wrapper like Rootsh instead. This way you keep track of history completely outside of the users realm of influence.

caibbor · 12-03-2009, 04:35 PM

awesome, chattr +a works good enough for this situation.

one other thing I'd like to figure out how to do is make a file unREADable, but still appendable. I've seen this done before, but don't see the options in `man chattr`

unSpawn · 12-03-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caibbor

works good enough

Note there may be a difference between what you think is "good enough" and what would be appropriate, depending on the situation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by caibbor

one other thing I'd like to figure out how to do is make a file unREADable, but still appendable.

See 'man chmod'?

caibbor · 12-03-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unSpawn

Note there may be a difference between what you think is "good enough" and what would be appropriate, depending on the situation.

the users of my server arent given root access. they also aren't even able to log in. passwords are randomized (even i dont know them), account is disabled from any kind of login (remote or local) aside from `su`ing, ssh keys are the only way to log in, it will only let users execute one paticular command, and then disconnects.

and the users are all pretty computer illiterate, using windows and a gui.

Quote:

Originally Posted by unSpawn

See 'man chmod'?

hah, will do