6.40. pam_wheel - only permit root access to members of group wheel
pam_wheel.so [ debug ] [ deny ] [ group=name ] [ root_only ] [ trust ] [ use_uid ]
The pam_wheel PAM module is used to enforce the so-called wheel group. By default it permits access to the target user if the applicant user is a member of the wheel group. If no group with this name exist, the module is using the group with the group-ID 0.
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debug -
Print debug information.
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deny -
Reverse the sense of the auth operation: if the user is trying to get UID 0 access and is a member of the wheel group (or the group of the
groupoption), deny access. Conversely, if the user is not in the group, return PAM_IGNORE (unlesstrustwas also specified, in which case we return PAM_SUCCESS). -
group=name -
Instead of checking the wheel or GID 0 groups, use the
name -
root_only -
The check for wheel membership is done only when the target user UID is 0.
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trust -
The pam_wheel module will return PAM_SUCCESS instead of PAM_IGNORE if the user is a member of the wheel group (thus with a little play stacking the modules the wheel members may be able to su to root without being prompted for a passwd).
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use_uid -
The check for wheel membership will be done against the current uid instead of the original one (useful when jumping with su from one account to another for example).