PAM_SECURETTY(8) Linux-PAM Manual PAM_SECURETTY(8)
NAME
pam_securetty - Limit root login to special devices
SYNOPSIS
pam_securetty.so [debug]
DESCRIPTION
pam_securetty is a PAM module that allows root logins only if the user is logging in on a "secure" tty, as
defined by the listing in /etc/securetty. pam_securetty also checks to make sure that /etc/securetty is a
plain file and not world writable. It will also allow root logins on the tty specified with console= switch on
the kernel command line and on ttys from the /sys/class/tty/console/active.
This module has no effect on non-root users and requires that the application fills in the PAM_TTY item
correctly.
For canonical usage, should be listed as a required authentication method before any sufficient authentication
methods.
OPTIONS
debug
Print debug information.
noconsole
Do not automatically allow root logins on the kernel console device, as specified on the kernel command
line or by the sys file, if it is not also specified in the /etc/securetty file.
MODULE TYPES PROVIDED
Only the auth module type is provided.
RETURN VALUES
PAM_SUCCESS
The user is allowed to continue authentication. Either the user is not root, or the root user is trying to
log in on an acceptable device.
PAM_AUTH_ERR
Authentication is rejected. Either root is attempting to log in via an unacceptable device, or the
/etc/securetty file is world writable or not a normal file.
PAM_INCOMPLETE
An application error occurred. pam_securetty was not able to get information it required from the
application that called it.
PAM_SERVICE_ERR
An error occurred while the module was determining the user's name or tty, or the module could not open
/etc/securetty.
PAM_USER_UNKNOWN
The module could not find the user name in the /etc/passwd file to verify whether the user had a UID of 0.
Therefore, the results of running this module are ignored.
EXAMPLES
auth required pam_securetty.so
auth required pam_unix.so
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