Is it safe to remove read rights from all /var/log files for others?
Am I supposed to be able to revoke read access recursively to /var/log/ for others or will it break some applications which rely on being able to read from /var/log/ with other rights?
linux logging access-control
edited Nov 22 at 16:23
harrymc
253k12260563
asked Nov 22 at 15:31
Senkaku
3241316
add a comment |
Am I supposed to be able to revoke read access recursively to /var/log/ for others or will it break some applications which rely on being able to read from /var/log/ with other rights?
linux logging access-control
edited Nov 22 at 16:23
harrymc
253k12260563
asked Nov 22 at 15:31
Senkaku
3241316
What applications do you have installed that read /var/log as another user?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:09
@Ramhound That basically is the question. Are application developers required to gain the necessary privileges to read from /var/log/* or is it normal to expect to be able to read from /var/log/* with the other privilege?
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:24
What is preventing you from trying your idea?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:34
@Ramhound Some application could fail silently. I guess I will do it anyway and report here later.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:36
add a comment |
Am I supposed to be able to revoke read access recursively to /var/log/ for others or will it break some applications which rely on being able to read from /var/log/ with other rights?
linux logging access-control
edited Nov 22 at 16:23
harrymc
253k12260563
asked Nov 22 at 15:31
Senkaku
3241316
Am I supposed to be able to revoke read access recursively to /var/log/ for others or will it break some applications which rely on being able to read from /var/log/ with other rights?
linux logging access-control
linux logging access-control
edited Nov 22 at 16:23
harrymc
253k12260563
asked Nov 22 at 15:31
Senkaku
3241316
edited Nov 22 at 16:23
harrymc
253k12260563
asked Nov 22 at 15:31
Senkaku
3241316
edited Nov 22 at 16:23
harrymc
253k12260563
edited Nov 22 at 16:23
harrymc
253k12260563
edited Nov 22 at 16:23
harrymc
253k12260563
253k12260563
asked Nov 22 at 15:31
Senkaku
3241316
asked Nov 22 at 15:31
Senkaku
3241316
asked Nov 22 at 15:31
Senkaku
3241316
3241316
What applications do you have installed that read /var/log as another user?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:09
@Ramhound That basically is the question. Are application developers required to gain the necessary privileges to read from /var/log/* or is it normal to expect to be able to read from /var/log/* with the other privilege?
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:24
What is preventing you from trying your idea?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:34
@Ramhound Some application could fail silently. I guess I will do it anyway and report here later.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:36
add a comment |
What applications do you have installed that read /var/log as another user?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:09
@Ramhound That basically is the question. Are application developers required to gain the necessary privileges to read from /var/log/* or is it normal to expect to be able to read from /var/log/* with the other privilege?
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:24
What is preventing you from trying your idea?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:34
@Ramhound Some application could fail silently. I guess I will do it anyway and report here later.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:36
What applications do you have installed that read /var/log as another user?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:09
What applications do you have installed that read /var/log as another user?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:09
@Ramhound That basically is the question. Are application developers required to gain the necessary privileges to read from /var/log/* or is it normal to expect to be able to read from /var/log/* with the other privilege?
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:24
@Ramhound That basically is the question. Are application developers required to gain the necessary privileges to read from /var/log/* or is it normal to expect to be able to read from /var/log/* with the other privilege?
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:24
What is preventing you from trying your idea?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:34
What is preventing you from trying your idea?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:34
@Ramhound Some application could fail silently. I guess I will do it anyway and report here later.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:36
@Ramhound Some application could fail silently. I guess I will do it anyway and report here later.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:36
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Many Linux distributions give only limited access to the files under /var/log. However, the directories are mostly accessible.
As far as programs that use files under var/log, getting info for last logins with last requires (read) access to /var/log/wtmp, so revoking access would break that functionality.
answered Nov 22 at 20:59
Ljm Dullaart
59828
Thanks for pointing that out to me. Nevertheless I think that is expected behavior because/usr/bin/lasttries to access/var/log/lastlogwith the permissions of the caller. If executed as root or a member of utmp in Ubuntulastis still able to perform.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 21:18
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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oldest
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1 Answer
1
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oldest
votes
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oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Many Linux distributions give only limited access to the files under /var/log. However, the directories are mostly accessible.
As far as programs that use files under var/log, getting info for last logins with last requires (read) access to /var/log/wtmp, so revoking access would break that functionality.
answered Nov 22 at 20:59
Ljm Dullaart
59828
Thanks for pointing that out to me. Nevertheless I think that is expected behavior because/usr/bin/lasttries to access/var/log/lastlogwith the permissions of the caller. If executed as root or a member of utmp in Ubuntulastis still able to perform.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 21:18
add a comment |
Many Linux distributions give only limited access to the files under /var/log. However, the directories are mostly accessible.
As far as programs that use files under var/log, getting info for last logins with last requires (read) access to /var/log/wtmp, so revoking access would break that functionality.
answered Nov 22 at 20:59
Ljm Dullaart
59828
Thanks for pointing that out to me. Nevertheless I think that is expected behavior because/usr/bin/lasttries to access/var/log/lastlogwith the permissions of the caller. If executed as root or a member of utmp in Ubuntulastis still able to perform.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 21:18
add a comment |
Many Linux distributions give only limited access to the files under /var/log. However, the directories are mostly accessible.
As far as programs that use files under var/log, getting info for last logins with last requires (read) access to /var/log/wtmp, so revoking access would break that functionality.
answered Nov 22 at 20:59
Ljm Dullaart
59828
Many Linux distributions give only limited access to the files under /var/log. However, the directories are mostly accessible.
As far as programs that use files under var/log, getting info for last logins with last requires (read) access to /var/log/wtmp, so revoking access would break that functionality.
answered Nov 22 at 20:59
Ljm Dullaart
59828
answered Nov 22 at 20:59
Ljm Dullaart
59828
answered Nov 22 at 20:59
Ljm Dullaart
59828
answered Nov 22 at 20:59
Ljm Dullaart
59828
59828
Thanks for pointing that out to me. Nevertheless I think that is expected behavior because/usr/bin/lasttries to access/var/log/lastlogwith the permissions of the caller. If executed as root or a member of utmp in Ubuntulastis still able to perform.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 21:18
add a comment |
Thanks for pointing that out to me. Nevertheless I think that is expected behavior because/usr/bin/lasttries to access/var/log/lastlogwith the permissions of the caller. If executed as root or a member of utmp in Ubuntulastis still able to perform.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 21:18
Thanks for pointing that out to me. Nevertheless I think that is expected behavior because
/usr/bin/last tries to access /var/log/lastlog with the permissions of the caller. If executed as root or a member of utmp in Ubuntu last is still able to perform.– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 21:18
Thanks for pointing that out to me. Nevertheless I think that is expected behavior because
/usr/bin/last tries to access /var/log/lastlog with the permissions of the caller. If executed as root or a member of utmp in Ubuntu last is still able to perform.– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 21:18
add a comment |
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What applications do you have installed that read /var/log as another user?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:09
@Ramhound That basically is the question. Are application developers required to gain the necessary privileges to read from /var/log/* or is it normal to expect to be able to read from /var/log/* with the other privilege?
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:24
What is preventing you from trying your idea?
– Ramhound
Nov 22 at 16:34
@Ramhound Some application could fail silently. I guess I will do it anyway and report here later.
– Senkaku
Nov 22 at 16:36