How to Bypass Authentication on a Linux System
Major bug affects Debian/Ubuntu distributions.
Researchers have discovered a flaw in the Cryptsetup utility that allows an attacker to bypass the authentication process on some Linux-based systems just by pressing and holding the Enter key for 70 seconds.
Debian/Ubuntu-based systems with encrypted system partitions are affected by this vulnerability. Researchers warn that other distributions using Dracut instead of initramfs are also vulnerable.
Hector Marco and Ismael Ripoll from the Cybersecurity Group explained in their security advisory that the vulnerability allows you to obtain a root initramfs shell on the affected system. “The vulnerability is very reliable because it doesn't depend on specific systems or configurations. Attackers can copy, modify, or destroy the hard disk as well as setup the network to exfiltrate data. This vulnerability is especially serious in environments like libraries, ATMs, airport machines, labs, etc, where the whole boot process is protected (password in BIOS and GRUB) and you only have a keyboard and/or a mouse,” Marco and Ripol wrote.
The worst thing about this vulnerability is that you don’t need physical access to the machine; it is possible to exploit the vulnerability remotely in cloud environments.
Last year, the same researchers discovered a bug in GRUB 2 that allowed an attacker to bypass all securities on a locked-down Linux machine by hitting the Enter key 28 times when asked for a user name.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Plasma 6.3 Ready for Public Beta Testing
Plasma 6.3 will ship with KDE Gear 24.12.1 and KDE Frameworks 6.10, along with some new and exciting features.
-
Budgie 10.10 Scheduled for Q1 2025 with a Surprising Desktop Update
If Budgie is your desktop environment of choice, 2025 is going to be a great year for you.
-
Firefox 134 Offers Improvements for Linux Version
Fans of Linux and Firefox rejoice, as there's a new version available that includes some handy updates.
-
Serpent OS Arrives with a New Alpha Release
After months of silence, Ikey Doherty has released a new alpha for his Serpent OS.
-
HashiCorp Cofounder Unveils Ghostty, a Linux Terminal App
Ghostty is a new Linux terminal app that's fast, feature-rich, and offers a platform-native GUI while remaining cross-platform.
-
Fedora Asahi Remix 41 Available for Apple Silicon
If you have an Apple Silicon Mac and you're hoping to install Fedora, you're in luck because the latest release supports the M1 and M2 chips.
-
Systemd Fixes Bug While Facing New Challenger in GNU Shepherd
The systemd developers have fixed a really nasty bug amid the release of the new GNU Shepherd init system.
-
AlmaLinux 10.0 Beta Released
The AlmaLinux OS Foundation has announced the availability of AlmaLinux 10.0 Beta ("Purple Lion") for all supported devices with significant changes.
-
Gnome 47.2 Now Available
Gnome 47.2 is now available for general use but don't expect much in the way of newness, as this is all about improvements and bug fixes.
-
Latest Cinnamon Desktop Releases with a Bold New Look
Just in time for the holidays, the developer of the Cinnamon desktop has shipped a new release to help spice up your eggnog with new features and a new look.