Given that root has all privileges, why is root ALL=(ALL) ALL in /etc/sudoers? [duplicate]
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This question already has an answer here:
Why does the root user need sudo permission?
3 answers
I looked at this question:
Trying to understand the difference between “modernNeo ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL” and “modernNeo ALL=(ALL) ALL” in the sudoers file
I still have a question. Since the "root" user has all privileges, why is root ALL=(ALL) ALL in /etc/sudoers on Linux systems?
## Allow root to run any commands anywhere
root ALL=(ALL) ALL
I tried to comment it out, and the root user still had all privileges, it doesn't affect the root user at all. It looks like root ALL=(ALL) ALL is useless.
sudo root
edited Jan 18 at 1:20
Jeff Schaller
40.8k1056129
asked Jan 17 at 14:01
Bruce XieBruce Xie
15115
marked as duplicate by Jeff Schaller, Braiam, Stephen Kitt, Christopher, Wouter Verhelst Jan 18 at 16:31
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
add a comment |
This question already has an answer here:
Why does the root user need sudo permission?
3 answers
I looked at this question:
Trying to understand the difference between “modernNeo ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL” and “modernNeo ALL=(ALL) ALL” in the sudoers file
I still have a question. Since the "root" user has all privileges, why is root ALL=(ALL) ALL in /etc/sudoers on Linux systems?
## Allow root to run any commands anywhere
root ALL=(ALL) ALL
I tried to comment it out, and the root user still had all privileges, it doesn't affect the root user at all. It looks like root ALL=(ALL) ALL is useless.
sudo root
edited Jan 18 at 1:20
Jeff Schaller
40.8k1056129
asked Jan 17 at 14:01
Bruce XieBruce Xie
15115
marked as duplicate by Jeff Schaller, Braiam, Stephen Kitt, Christopher, Wouter Verhelst Jan 18 at 16:31
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
People should remember that sudo is a package. You can actually still install Debian without sudo, and add it later by sudo apt install sudo ... naturally, if sudo is going to wrap around root for non-super users, it would need to define root in its configuration, along with the other users that contain the same privilege.
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:14
1
And ... on freeBSD, the default installation does not even contain sudo. Sudo stands for "su" and "do" commands, or switch user and to do ... it was added early on to stop harm that could happen from always being the root user, as I understand it. But it is not required at all ... fyi
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:17
add a comment |
This question already has an answer here:
Why does the root user need sudo permission?
3 answers
I looked at this question:
Trying to understand the difference between “modernNeo ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL” and “modernNeo ALL=(ALL) ALL” in the sudoers file
I still have a question. Since the "root" user has all privileges, why is root ALL=(ALL) ALL in /etc/sudoers on Linux systems?
## Allow root to run any commands anywhere
root ALL=(ALL) ALL
I tried to comment it out, and the root user still had all privileges, it doesn't affect the root user at all. It looks like root ALL=(ALL) ALL is useless.
sudo root
edited Jan 18 at 1:20
Jeff Schaller
40.8k1056129
asked Jan 17 at 14:01
Bruce XieBruce Xie
15115
This question already has an answer here:
Why does the root user need sudo permission?
3 answers
I looked at this question:
Trying to understand the difference between “modernNeo ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL” and “modernNeo ALL=(ALL) ALL” in the sudoers file
I still have a question. Since the "root" user has all privileges, why is root ALL=(ALL) ALL in /etc/sudoers on Linux systems?
## Allow root to run any commands anywhere
root ALL=(ALL) ALL
I tried to comment it out, and the root user still had all privileges, it doesn't affect the root user at all. It looks like root ALL=(ALL) ALL is useless.
This question already has an answer here:
Why does the root user need sudo permission?
3 answers
sudo root
sudo root
edited Jan 18 at 1:20
Jeff Schaller
40.8k1056129
asked Jan 17 at 14:01
Bruce XieBruce Xie
15115
edited Jan 18 at 1:20
Jeff Schaller
40.8k1056129
asked Jan 17 at 14:01
Bruce XieBruce Xie
15115
edited Jan 18 at 1:20
Jeff Schaller
40.8k1056129
edited Jan 18 at 1:20
Jeff Schaller
40.8k1056129
edited Jan 18 at 1:20
Jeff Schaller
40.8k1056129
40.8k1056129
asked Jan 17 at 14:01
Bruce XieBruce Xie
15115
asked Jan 17 at 14:01
Bruce XieBruce Xie
15115
asked Jan 17 at 14:01
Bruce XieBruce Xie
15115
15115
marked as duplicate by Jeff Schaller, Braiam, Stephen Kitt, Christopher, Wouter Verhelst Jan 18 at 16:31
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
marked as duplicate by Jeff Schaller, Braiam, Stephen Kitt, Christopher, Wouter Verhelst Jan 18 at 16:31
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
People should remember that sudo is a package. You can actually still install Debian without sudo, and add it later by sudo apt install sudo ... naturally, if sudo is going to wrap around root for non-super users, it would need to define root in its configuration, along with the other users that contain the same privilege.
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:14
1
And ... on freeBSD, the default installation does not even contain sudo. Sudo stands for "su" and "do" commands, or switch user and to do ... it was added early on to stop harm that could happen from always being the root user, as I understand it. But it is not required at all ... fyi
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:17
add a comment |
People should remember that sudo is a package. You can actually still install Debian without sudo, and add it later by sudo apt install sudo ... naturally, if sudo is going to wrap around root for non-super users, it would need to define root in its configuration, along with the other users that contain the same privilege.
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:14
1
And ... on freeBSD, the default installation does not even contain sudo. Sudo stands for "su" and "do" commands, or switch user and to do ... it was added early on to stop harm that could happen from always being the root user, as I understand it. But it is not required at all ... fyi
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:17
People should remember that sudo is a package. You can actually still install Debian without sudo, and add it later by sudo apt install sudo ... naturally, if sudo is going to wrap around root for non-super users, it would need to define root in its configuration, along with the other users that contain the same privilege.
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:14
People should remember that sudo is a package. You can actually still install Debian without sudo, and add it later by sudo apt install sudo ... naturally, if sudo is going to wrap around root for non-super users, it would need to define root in its configuration, along with the other users that contain the same privilege.
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:14
1
1
And ... on freeBSD, the default installation does not even contain sudo. Sudo stands for "su" and "do" commands, or switch user and to do ... it was added early on to stop harm that could happen from always being the root user, as I understand it. But it is not required at all ... fyi
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:17
And ... on freeBSD, the default installation does not even contain sudo. Sudo stands for "su" and "do" commands, or switch user and to do ... it was added early on to stop harm that could happen from always being the root user, as I understand it. But it is not required at all ... fyi
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:17
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
That entry ensures that root can run sudo. If you comment it out,
sudo ls
run as root will fail.
It’s a convenience: it means users can run sudo commands without thinking about things too much, i.e. they’ll work the same way whether they’re running as a sudo-enabled user or root (whether that’s a good idea is another question). It also means that scripts can use sudo to request root privileges, and still work without issue when they’re run as root directly.
answered Jan 17 at 14:06
Stephen KittStephen Kitt
170k24382458
looks like that, I got it, thank you!
– Bruce Xie
Jan 17 at 15:18
10
It also allows root to become another user which is handy if you need to debug something or want to run something with limited privileges.
– eckes
Jan 17 at 16:42
5
@eckes indeed; androotcan do that using a variety of tools, without a password (sufor example).
– Stephen Kitt
Jan 17 at 16:45
5
@StephenKittsudoalso sanitizes the environment when you switch users with it, which is kind of important if you're debugging things.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Jan 17 at 18:41
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
That entry ensures that root can run sudo. If you comment it out,
sudo ls
run as root will fail.
It’s a convenience: it means users can run sudo commands without thinking about things too much, i.e. they’ll work the same way whether they’re running as a sudo-enabled user or root (whether that’s a good idea is another question). It also means that scripts can use sudo to request root privileges, and still work without issue when they’re run as root directly.
answered Jan 17 at 14:06
Stephen KittStephen Kitt
170k24382458
looks like that, I got it, thank you!
– Bruce Xie
Jan 17 at 15:18
10
It also allows root to become another user which is handy if you need to debug something or want to run something with limited privileges.
– eckes
Jan 17 at 16:42
5
@eckes indeed; androotcan do that using a variety of tools, without a password (sufor example).
– Stephen Kitt
Jan 17 at 16:45
5
@StephenKittsudoalso sanitizes the environment when you switch users with it, which is kind of important if you're debugging things.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Jan 17 at 18:41
add a comment |
That entry ensures that root can run sudo. If you comment it out,
sudo ls
run as root will fail.
It’s a convenience: it means users can run sudo commands without thinking about things too much, i.e. they’ll work the same way whether they’re running as a sudo-enabled user or root (whether that’s a good idea is another question). It also means that scripts can use sudo to request root privileges, and still work without issue when they’re run as root directly.
answered Jan 17 at 14:06
Stephen KittStephen Kitt
170k24382458
looks like that, I got it, thank you!
– Bruce Xie
Jan 17 at 15:18
10
It also allows root to become another user which is handy if you need to debug something or want to run something with limited privileges.
– eckes
Jan 17 at 16:42
5
@eckes indeed; androotcan do that using a variety of tools, without a password (sufor example).
– Stephen Kitt
Jan 17 at 16:45
5
@StephenKittsudoalso sanitizes the environment when you switch users with it, which is kind of important if you're debugging things.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Jan 17 at 18:41
add a comment |
That entry ensures that root can run sudo. If you comment it out,
sudo ls
run as root will fail.
It’s a convenience: it means users can run sudo commands without thinking about things too much, i.e. they’ll work the same way whether they’re running as a sudo-enabled user or root (whether that’s a good idea is another question). It also means that scripts can use sudo to request root privileges, and still work without issue when they’re run as root directly.
answered Jan 17 at 14:06
Stephen KittStephen Kitt
170k24382458
That entry ensures that root can run sudo. If you comment it out,
sudo ls
run as root will fail.
It’s a convenience: it means users can run sudo commands without thinking about things too much, i.e. they’ll work the same way whether they’re running as a sudo-enabled user or root (whether that’s a good idea is another question). It also means that scripts can use sudo to request root privileges, and still work without issue when they’re run as root directly.
answered Jan 17 at 14:06
Stephen KittStephen Kitt
170k24382458
edited Jan 17 at 15:12
answered Jan 17 at 14:06
Stephen KittStephen Kitt
170k24382458
answered Jan 17 at 14:06
Stephen KittStephen Kitt
170k24382458
answered Jan 17 at 14:06
Stephen KittStephen Kitt
170k24382458
170k24382458
looks like that, I got it, thank you!
– Bruce Xie
Jan 17 at 15:18
10
It also allows root to become another user which is handy if you need to debug something or want to run something with limited privileges.
– eckes
Jan 17 at 16:42
5
@eckes indeed; androotcan do that using a variety of tools, without a password (sufor example).
– Stephen Kitt
Jan 17 at 16:45
5
@StephenKittsudoalso sanitizes the environment when you switch users with it, which is kind of important if you're debugging things.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Jan 17 at 18:41
add a comment |
looks like that, I got it, thank you!
– Bruce Xie
Jan 17 at 15:18
10
It also allows root to become another user which is handy if you need to debug something or want to run something with limited privileges.
– eckes
Jan 17 at 16:42
5
@eckes indeed; androotcan do that using a variety of tools, without a password (sufor example).
– Stephen Kitt
Jan 17 at 16:45
5
@StephenKittsudoalso sanitizes the environment when you switch users with it, which is kind of important if you're debugging things.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Jan 17 at 18:41
looks like that, I got it, thank you!
– Bruce Xie
Jan 17 at 15:18
looks like that, I got it, thank you!
– Bruce Xie
Jan 17 at 15:18
10
10
It also allows root to become another user which is handy if you need to debug something or want to run something with limited privileges.
– eckes
Jan 17 at 16:42
It also allows root to become another user which is handy if you need to debug something or want to run something with limited privileges.
– eckes
Jan 17 at 16:42
5
5
@eckes indeed; and
root can do that using a variety of tools, without a password (su for example).– Stephen Kitt
Jan 17 at 16:45
@eckes indeed; and
root can do that using a variety of tools, without a password (su for example).– Stephen Kitt
Jan 17 at 16:45
5
5
@StephenKitt
sudo also sanitizes the environment when you switch users with it, which is kind of important if you're debugging things.– Austin Hemmelgarn
Jan 17 at 18:41
@StephenKitt
sudo also sanitizes the environment when you switch users with it, which is kind of important if you're debugging things.– Austin Hemmelgarn
Jan 17 at 18:41
add a comment |
People should remember that sudo is a package. You can actually still install Debian without sudo, and add it later by sudo apt install sudo ... naturally, if sudo is going to wrap around root for non-super users, it would need to define root in its configuration, along with the other users that contain the same privilege.
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:14
1
And ... on freeBSD, the default installation does not even contain sudo. Sudo stands for "su" and "do" commands, or switch user and to do ... it was added early on to stop harm that could happen from always being the root user, as I understand it. But it is not required at all ... fyi
– oemb1905
Jan 18 at 6:17