Running Python Scripts With 'sudo'

**Steve Holden** · Jul 18 '05, 10:11 PM

Re: Running Python Scripts With 'sudo'

Tim Daneliuk wrote:[color=blue]
> Given that setuid is a Bad Thing for scripts, what is the general consensus
> here on running a Python script via 'sudo' to give it root system access?
> Is this reasonably secure, or am I still asking for trouble?
>
> TIA,[/color]

The value of "sudo" is that everyone must authenticate as themselves,
and sudo logs all activity. Therefore the system administrators can
partition responsibility and know from the logs exactly who did what.

The risks involved with setuid scripts involve the exploitation of race
conditions within the kernel, IIRC, and since the root permissions are
established by sudo for the invoking process, I believe sudo would
eliminate the risks involved (because the setuid bit would no longer be
used on the script).

regards
Steve
--
Meet the Python developers and your c.l.py favorites March 23-25
Come to PyCon DC 2005 http://www.pycon.org/
Steve Holden http://www.holdenweb.com/

**Jeff Epler** · Jul 18 '05, 10:12 PM

Re: Running Python Scripts With 'sudo'

Does "sudo" sanitize the environment? Imagine that the user can set
PYTHONPATH, PYTHONINSPECT, etc.

Beyond that, you have the same problems as with any code that runs with
"extra privileges". Can the user supply any code that is fed to
patently unsafe primitives (like the unpickler, eval() or the exec
statement)? If your program opens files with user-controlled names, did
you make all the right checks?

Jeff

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.2.1 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQFCJizoJd0 1MZaTXX0RAvBnAK CtvhaxQn5aDGIhc mBCfXgMX+8CUgCe LI3Z
H7bQM84BbIKHWvu AKh59Yb0=
=J0mR
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Running Python Scripts With 'sudo'

Running Python Scripts With 'sudo'

Comment

Comment