Is it safe to remove read rights from all /var/log files for others?

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0
down vote

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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?

edited Nov 22 at 16:23

harrymc

248k10257548

asked Nov 22 at 15:31

Senkaku

3141315

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 |

up vote
0
down vote

favorite

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?

edited Nov 22 at 16:23

harrymc

248k10257548

asked Nov 22 at 15:31

Senkaku

3141315

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 |

up vote
0
down vote

favorite

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?

edited Nov 22 at 16:23

harrymc

248k10257548

asked Nov 22 at 15:31

Senkaku

3141315

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

248k10257548

asked Nov 22 at 15:31

Senkaku

3141315

edited Nov 22 at 16:23

harrymc

248k10257548

asked Nov 22 at 15:31

Senkaku

3141315

edited Nov 22 at 16:23

harrymc

248k10257548

edited Nov 22 at 16:23

harrymc

248k10257548

edited Nov 22 at 16:23

harrymc

248k10257548

asked Nov 22 at 15:31

Senkaku

3141315

asked Nov 22 at 15:31

Senkaku

3141315

asked Nov 22 at 15:31

Senkaku

3141315

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

@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 |

1 Answer
1

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up vote
1
down vote

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

54925

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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1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

up vote
1
down vote

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

54925

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 |

up vote
1
down vote

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

54925

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 |

up vote
1
down vote

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

54925

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

54925

answered Nov 22 at 20:59

Ljm Dullaart

54925

answered Nov 22 at 20:59

Ljm Dullaart

54925

answered Nov 22 at 20:59

Ljm Dullaart

54925

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 |

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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