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this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2024
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It seems I wasn't clear as most people misunderstood me.
But, to give a very precise example; say
~/some/folder.chattr,chmodorchownor similar utilities that remove access as long as one doesn't have elevated privileges.Then, what prevents whosoever, to copy that file through cloning the complete disk?
Even if they're not able to get past the password, it will be found on the cloned disk. SO, basically, I ask for some method that prevents the file to even be copied through a disk clone. I don't care that it has three passwords protecting it. What I want is for the disk clone (or whatever sophisticated copy/mv/cut or whatsoever utility exists) to somehow fail while trying to attempt the action on the protected files.
By definition, you can't. Any software level solution will fail since you can just move the drive somewhere else. It must be baked into the hardware and firmware.
Edit to add further clarification. Do you need it to be failing on every device or just on a device that you control? Since as stated before, moving a mass storage will completely overthrow any software solution
Actually, I'm fine with a solution that only works on a device that I control. But, failing on every device is nice as well.
Right, working on every device requires a hardware solution. I haven't encountered any such hardware yet but I do know that it is possible. Next, your second requirement makes what you're trying to accomplish impossible. Privilege escalation by definition will escalate the privilege. The problem lies in the fact that the root user is basically a god in linux. You can even wipe your system if you so desire. However, you can read more into SELinux or other similar systems. It works by basically running check on the kernel level not user level. But the only solutions I can think of will make other day-to-day tasks more of a hassle. Also, note that whoever knows how to modify the SELinux can also bypass the system. I found an answer on serverfault that points to a blog. However, I haven't read the blog yet. You may find an answer there.
Thank you!
You're welcome. I also recommends Arch Wiki on SELinux. It helps clarify a lot of things and how different it is with traditional linux privilege escalation.
Will do.
Very informative. I appreciate it!
Oh that's quite simple! Just don't have the files on the first disk in the first place. Make them a remote mount from a server, for example via sshfs, webdav, etc. Heck, even ftp if it comes down to it. That way, even though you can clone the disks, you can not get to the files if you don't also have the full authentication requirements for the remote server (such as a password).
At a conceptual level, you can't do anything via
rootto prevent someone who clones the disk from... well, cloning the disk. Having physical access to a disk is a much higher level of access than even root, so if what you are looking for is for your content to not be cloned, you need to fortify physical access to the device.Understood. Thank you!