this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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For improved security during file edits that require root access, it's highly advised to use
sudoedit
(orsudo -e
). This method is considered the standard practice to avoid the security pitfalls associated with directly invoking editors withsudo
. To ensure the use ofnano
withsudoedit
, simply set theVISUAL
environment variable withexport VISUAL=nano
before runningsudoedit
. Alternatively, for a one-off command:VISUAL=nano sudoedit /path/to/file
.Please note that while
sudoedit
is a safer starting point, it's not the only method available. Alternatives such asdoas
,doasedit
, or leveragingpolkit
withpkexec
can offer even more controlled and secure ways to manage file editing with elevated privileges. However, it's perfectly acceptable to stick withsudoedit
, as it's a commonly trusted tool.Be aware that direct usage of
sudo nano
or other editors is strongly discouraged. It bypasses important security mechanisms and can lead to inadvertent system-wide risks.EDIT: changed
VISUAL=nano sudoedit
toVISUAL=nano sudoedit /path/to/file
.I agree with the general sentiment. Thank you for mentioning that!
Though, the use of
sudo nano
might still pose a risk if any software found on the system is either vulnerable/exploitable, not trusted, or simply exploitative. In that case, like what's achieved through sandboxing i.e. not allow the software to go beyond their intended scope, it makes sense to put a limit on the capabilities of the software. And to that effect, the use ofsudoedit
still offers merit oversudo nano
.Though, if the user doesn't (already) rely on bubblejail, firejail, Flatpak etc for what they offer in sandboxing. And/or if said user simply doesn't care for the principle of least privilege, then the use of
sudo nano
is perfectly valid.This isn’t a scenario I’m familiar with. How can I learn more?
Never heard of sudoedit. I want to experiment with a system where I
alias sudo=pkexec
, VanillaOS does that