Unix find tutorial

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Part 6: Finding SUID/SGUID files

Suid root refers to a special attribute called set user id. This attribute allows the program to do functions not normally allowed for owner of the file to perform.

Low level networking routines, controlling graphical display functions, changing passwords, and logging in are all examples of programs that rely on executing their functions as a user that is not restricted by standard file permissions. While many programs need this functionality, the program must be bug free in only allowing the user to do the function the program was designed for. Every SUID root program represents a potential security problem.  Attempts of rogue users to install SUID programs in thier home directories are best blocked by using nosuid mounting option for /home partition.

The first step in controlling SUID root programs is to have a baseline, the list of all SUID program in the system. This can be achieved quite easily by using find:

find / -perm /+s -ls # Find any files or directories on your system that are suid or sgid. Older versions of find can try -perm +u+s

find / -type f \( -perm -4000 -o -perm -2000 \) -exec ls -lg {} \; 2>/dev/null >suidfiles.txt

Or it you are interested only in files owned by root:

find / -type f  -user root \( -perm -4000 -o -perm -2000 \) -exec ls -lg {} \; 2>/dev/null >suidfiles.txt

Notes:

1. This will find both set user id and set group id programs.
2. Please note that this program does not detect all SUID programs available on the system, there might be directories perversely set to permissions 000
3. Attempts of rogue users to install SUID programs in their home directories are best blocked by using nosuid mounting option for /home partition.
4. Solaris used to have a script called fix-modes written by Casper Dik that changed permission in a more reasonable, secure set. Such script can be created for any OS. For example on most modem systems it does not make sense to preserve SUID attribute uucp and similar "never used" programs.
5. Most modern Unixes block usage of SUID attribute on shell scripts.

Above command is using GNU find and executes ls command. You can use option -ls instead but output will be slightly different. Solaris POSIX find command is different:

find / -type f \( -perm -4000 -o -perm -2000 \) -exec ls -l {} \; 

This command will find all the SUID programs on a system and pipes the commands to a file called suid.list. The next step in controlling SUID root programs is to analyze which programs should not be SUID root or can be removed without impeding system functionality. An obvious example of something that should not be SUID root is /usr/X11R6/bin/SuperProbe.  This is a program merely used for testing purposes.

'chmod -s /usr/X11R6/bin/SuperProbe'

Other programs that are unneeded to be SUID root include anything in the svgalib  hierarchy. This library itself is buggy and nothing that depends on it should be SUID root in a secure system.

Here is an example of minimized suid.lst though perhaps a little too overzealous. For example, the functionality that does not exist with this setup is ability to use ping and traceroute by a regular users and this is close to a security paranoia. It can be compensated by controlling access to those program via sudo.

But in any case minimization of the number of SUID program is task worth trying. It is excessive zeal that hurts...

See also

• SUID and SGID attributes
• Unix permissions model
• Principle of Least Privilege
• Unix chmod command
• Linux Security HOWTO Files and Filesystem Security
• Download from CERIAS for fix-modes for Solaris 8 and 9 (historical value only)
  • There is a Sun BluePrints[tm] paper discussing fix-modes.
    • Sun BluePrints[tm] Program
  • Fix-modes is incorporated in JumpStart[tm] Architecture and Security Scripts (JASS) toolkit.
    • Solaris Security Toolkit (JASS)
    • Sun Blueprint for JASS
  • Fix-modes was also a part of now abandoned but in 90th popular the Titan Solaris hardening tool.

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