6.28. pam_rootok - gain only root access
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## 6.28. pam_rootok - gain only root access

`pam_rootok.so` [ debug ]

### 6.28.1. DESCRIPTION

pam_rootok is a PAM module that authenticates the user if their UID is 0. Applications that are created setuid-root generally retain the UID of the user but run with the authority of an enhanced effective-UID. It is the real UID that is checked.

### 6.28.2. OPTIONS

debug

  Print debug information.

### 6.28.3. MODULE TYPES PROVIDED

The `auth`, `account` and `password` module types are provided.

### 6.28.4. RETURN VALUES

PAM_SUCCESS

  The UID is 0.

PAM_AUTH_ERR

  The UID is not 0.

### 6.28.5. EXAMPLES

In the case of the su(1) application the historical usage is to permit the superuser to adopt the identity of a lesser user without the use of a password. To obtain this behavior with PAM the following pair of lines are needed for the corresponding entry in the `/etc/pam.d/su` configuration file:

    # su authentication. Root is granted access by default.
    auth  sufficient   pam_rootok.so
    auth  required     pam_unix.so

### 6.28.6. AUTHOR

pam_rootok was written by Andrew G. Morgan, <morgan@kernel.org>.

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