Information Assurance

Information Assurance

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For this assignment, you will be writing a program that provides password access to a file on the class linux system.

Like unix, linix uses the suid bit on files to provide a method of changing domains. Programs that need to run at a privilege level that is higher that that of an individual user are often owned by root and have the suid bit set, so that when they run, they run with root's privilege level. It is possible for others to provide access to their user domain using suid programs as well.

For this project, what you are going to do is write a suid program that will allow others to access a file in your account on ia-class.

• Your program should be named <user_name>.exe. Even though linix ignores the .exe suffix, we will use that to identify which is the executable.
• It should read a password from a user who runs the program.
• If the password is valid, print the contents of an existing file named <user_name>.txt.
• Your program will also log who accessed <user_name>.txt in another file named <user_name>.log
• Rather than have a single password for file access, you will have separate passwords that can be issued to different possible users.
• You can use only passwords as identifiers, or you can assign each user a name at your discretion.
• Provide a mechanism for adding and removing users who may access the file. This does not have to be fancy, and can be part of your suid program, or can be some simple mechanism like hand-editing a configuration file.
• If you use a configuration file, it should be named <user_name>.cfg.

To test your program, you can suid it to your own name and have some one else run it, or run it yourself from a friend's account. If you can't find someone to test it, mail the instructor and he will test it for you, or come by office hours.To make your program suid:

• Make sure it is executable by doing chmod a+x <user_name>.exe
• Make it suid by doing chmod +s <user_name>.exe

When done testing it, I recommend that you unset the suid bit by doing chmod -s <user_name>.exe. This is more secure for the files in your account.

What to turn in:

First, you will create a separate directory in your account on ia-class named NETID-project3 where NETID is your login. Place in this directory a copy of the source code, the executable, the text file to be accessed, and any configuration files required. Do not include any object files you create.

Second, You will mail the instructor a tar file of this directory. You can create this by using the command:

tar -cf NETID.tar NETID-project3

Projects are due before class on February 26th, 2004.

References that might prove useful include:

• Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment, by W.R. Stevens. If it is not in the library, or if you don't have a copy, the instructor has a reference copy he will lend for short periods of time.
• Links to the Secure programming articles on the class web page 
• The recommended text for this class, Secure Programming Cookbook is also excellent.