Unlocking a Root Account

Steps:

  • 1. Boot from a live media.
  • 2. Create a backup of the /etc/shadow file.
  • 3. Open the /etc/shadow file in nano.
  • 4. Change this line root:*:19953:0:99999:7 or something similar to root:$y$j9T$HnFlM7MzlDXwpow4d9lyP/$fcPtzuJlSPrWoejZqWfNqRFwPUd1wZ5YLr6J6rz2iyC:20024:0:99999:7::: this will unlock the root account and change it’s password to “kali”.
  • 5. Now boot to the main Linux OS and you should have access to the root account.

To clarify, altering the /etc/shadow file directly can have significant security implications, as this file stores the encrypted passwords for user accounts on Linux systems. Here’s a summary of the steps and additional considerations when working with the root account in this way:

  1. Boot from Live Media:
    Boot the system using a live Linux media (e.g., a USB drive or DVD) to access the file system without needing credentials.

  2. Backup the /etc/shadow File:
    Always create a backup of the /etc/shadow file before making any modifications:

    cp /etc/shadow /etc/shadow.bak

  3. Edit the /etc/shadow File:
    Use a text editor like nano to modify the file:

    nano /etc/shadow

  4. Modify the Root Password Hash:
    Find the line beginning with root: and replace it with:

    root:$y$j9T$HnFlM7MzlDXwpow4d9lyP/$fcPtzuJlSPrWoejZqWfNqRFwPUd1wZ5YLr6J6rz2iyC:20024:0:99999:7:::

    This will set the root password to “kali”.

  5. Reboot and Test:
    Restart the system and boot into the main OS to log in as root with the new password.

Note: This method should be used responsibly and typically only for recovery purposes, as altering system files can expose the system to vulnerabilities. For less invasive options, consider using a chroot environment from live media to reset passwords safely.