QNX4 Boot Disk

[BAT2788969]

I need to break into my Qnx system -- password file is either corrupt or
missing.
Or, more likely, someone who is not authorized messed with passwords.
How do "break into" QNX 4? Please e-mail me at BAT27...@aol.com

It's an emergency! Any help is greatly appreciated.

I'm not a "HACKER" -- however, if you feel that you need to speak with me
before giving me this information, I can be reached at 914/969-1248,
untill 1:00pm est.

Bill

[Mitchell Schoenbrun]

: I'm not a "HACKER"

That's obvious, a HACKER would know how to break in. Sorry for the
jab.

Well in case you haven't gotten in, here are two ways to do it.

If you have a QNX network and another node is up and running,
you can just access the password file (if you are root) from the
other node. (This is too easy).

Otherwise here is how to do it.

1) Find your original install disks.
2) Boot the system with the boot disk
3) I think you will just get a shell prompt, but if you get a login:
probably "root" will work.
4) Now you must start your hard disk driver. If you have an IDE drive
you will do it something like this:
# Fsys.ata &
5) A few messages will appear. Check that you have a hard disk as follows:
# cd /dev
# echo *
You should see "hd0".
6) Next you must mount your partitions:
# mount -p /dev/hd0
7) check the /dev directory again, you should see a device "hd0t77"
8) mount the file system as follows:
# mount /dev/hd0t77 /hd

This makes your hard disk root available as /hd...
The next thing to do is probably copy the boot disk's password file
onto the hard disk.

# cp /etc/passwd /hd/etc/passwd

It's possible that you might have to "zap" the old one first. This
could be tricky, but this should work:

# /hd/bin/zap /hd/etc/passwd

If you suspect corruption you might want to try running "chkfsys"

# /hd/bin/chkfsys /hd

Good luck.

--

Mitchell Schoenbrun --------- masc...@netcom.com

[Richard Copeman]

OK. Boot your PC from the QNX boot floppy that you were originally
shipped and once you have the prompt enter the following commands:

Fsys.eide (assuming you have an EIDE drive. If not start the appropriate
hard disk driver for your system.)

mount -p /dev/hd0
mount /dev/hd0t77 /hd0
/hd0/bin/prefix -R /=/hd0

This now has you logged on as root to your hard drive's root directory.
Simply removing /etc/shadow or editing /etc/passwd to remove password
checking from the users will fix things temporarily. You'll need to dig
around and determine exactly what's wrong with your system.

To remove password checking:

Your /etc/passwd file contains lines that look like this:

richard:x:100:100:Richard Copeman:/home/richard:/bin/sh

Simply change it to look like this:

richard::100:100:Richard Copeman:/home/richard:/bin/sh

Next time richard logs in he will not be asked for a password.

Hope this helps.

Richard.