Re: [PATCHES] Doc-patch: PAM authentication fails for local UNIX users

2007-12-28 Thread Bruce Momjian

I have updated the documentation to read:

 If PAM is set up to read /etc/shadow, authentication
 will fail because the PostgreSQL server is started by a non-root
 user.  However, this is not an issue with LDAP or other authentication
 methods.

Thanks.

---

Dhanaraj M wrote:
>  
> >>>
> >>> This is the continuation to the discussion that we had in the 
> >>> hacker's list.
> >>> http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-hackers/2007-08/msg00684.php
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Here, I like to add some details in 20.2.6. PAM authentication section.
> >>> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/interactive/auth-methods.html#AUTH-PAM 
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Can someone review and make changes, if required? Thanks.
> >>> 
> >>
> >> Eh, those extensions are only valid if you use PAM with a shadow 
> >> password
> >> file, no? You shouldn't need root if you use say PAM-with-LDAP?
> >>  
> >
> > Also, it strikes me that granting the postgres user read access to the 
> > shadow file is probably very poor security practice, and not something 
> > I would want to recommend without considerable thought. What we should 
> > say, rather, is that PAM auth is likely to fail if your PAM is set up 
> > to use the shadow file rather than an auth source such as LDAP which 
> > does not require privileged file access.
> >
> >
> Is this change Ok?
> 
> 
> 
> *** client-auth.sgml.orig   Tue Aug 21 16:52:45 2007
> --- client-auth.sgmlTue Aug 21 17:02:52 2007
> ***
> *** 987,992 
> --- 987,1001 
> and the http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/pam/";>
> Solaris PAM Page.
>
> +
> +
> + 
> +  If your PAM is set up to use the shadow file, the PAM authentication
> +  is likely to fail for local UNIX users because the postgresql server
> +  is started by a non-root user. However, this is not an issue
> +  when LDAP or other authentication mechanism is used.
> + 
> +
>   
>  
> 
> 
> 
> ---(end of broadcast)---
> TIP 9: In versions below 8.0, the planner will ignore your desire to
>choose an index scan if your joining column's datatypes do not
>match

-- 
  Bruce Momjian  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>http://momjian.us
  EnterpriseDB http://postgres.enterprisedb.com

  + If your life is a hard drive, Christ can be your backup. +

---(end of broadcast)---
TIP 4: Have you searched our list archives?

   http://archives.postgresql.org


Re: [PATCHES] Doc-patch: PAM authentication fails for local UNIX users

2007-12-21 Thread Dhanaraj M




This is the continuation to the discussion that we had in the 
hacker's list.

http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-hackers/2007-08/msg00684.php


Here, I like to add some details in 20.2.6. PAM authentication section.
http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/interactive/auth-methods.html#AUTH-PAM 



Can someone review and make changes, if required? Thanks.



Eh, those extensions are only valid if you use PAM with a shadow 
password

file, no? You shouldn't need root if you use say PAM-with-LDAP?
 


Also, it strikes me that granting the postgres user read access to the 
shadow file is probably very poor security practice, and not something 
I would want to recommend without considerable thought. What we should 
say, rather, is that PAM auth is likely to fail if your PAM is set up 
to use the shadow file rather than an auth source such as LDAP which 
does not require privileged file access.




Is this change Ok?



*** client-auth.sgml.orig   Tue Aug 21 16:52:45 2007
--- client-auth.sgmlTue Aug 21 17:02:52 2007
***
*** 987,992 
--- 987,1001 
   and the http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/pam/";>
   Solaris PAM Page.
  
+
+
+ 
+  If your PAM is set up to use the shadow file, the PAM authentication
+  is likely to fail for local UNIX users because the postgresql server
+  is started by a non-root user. However, this is not an issue
+  when LDAP or other authentication mechanism is used.
+ 
+
 




---(end of broadcast)---
TIP 9: In versions below 8.0, the planner will ignore your desire to
  choose an index scan if your joining column's datatypes do not
  match


Re: [PATCHES] Doc-patch: PAM authentication fails for local UNIX users

2007-12-19 Thread Andrew Dunstan



Magnus Hagander wrote:

On Tue, Dec 18, 2007 at 12:41:56PM +0530, Dhanaraj M wrote:
  

Hi all,

This is the continuation to the discussion that we had in the hacker's 
list.

http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-hackers/2007-08/msg00684.php


Here, I like to add some details in 20.2.6. PAM authentication section.
http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/interactive/auth-methods.html#AUTH-PAM

Can someone review and make changes, if required? Thanks.



Eh, those extensions are only valid if you use PAM with a shadow password
file, no? You shouldn't need root if you use say PAM-with-LDAP?


  


Also, it strikes me that granting the postgres user read access to the 
shadow file is probably very poor security practice, and not something I 
would want to recommend without considerable thought. What we should 
say, rather, is that PAM auth is likely to fail if your PAM is set up to 
use the shadow file rather than an auth source such as LDAP which does 
not require privileged file access.


cheers

andrew

---(end of broadcast)---
TIP 6: explain analyze is your friend


Re: [PATCHES] Doc-patch: PAM authentication fails for local UNIX users

2007-12-19 Thread Magnus Hagander
On Tue, Dec 18, 2007 at 12:41:56PM +0530, Dhanaraj M wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> This is the continuation to the discussion that we had in the hacker's 
> list.
> http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-hackers/2007-08/msg00684.php
> 
> 
> Here, I like to add some details in 20.2.6. PAM authentication section.
> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/interactive/auth-methods.html#AUTH-PAM
> 
> Can someone review and make changes, if required? Thanks.

Eh, those extensions are only valid if you use PAM with a shadow password
file, no? You shouldn't need root if you use say PAM-with-LDAP?

//Magnus


---(end of broadcast)---
TIP 7: You can help support the PostgreSQL project by donating at

http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate