*BSD News Article 75339


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From: Michael Hancock <michaelh@cet.co.jp>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Is securitylevel implemented in FreeBSD?
Date: Sat, 03 Aug 1996 19:25:00 +0900
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Jin Guojun[ITG] wrote:
> 
> I have a question on setting securitylevel under FreeBSD. Here is what I did:
> 
> # sysctl kern.securelevel
> kern.securelevel = -1                   ??? should be = 1 ???

Maybe, but it would confuse a lot of people, "I'm root but I 
can't install a new kernel, what's chflags and why doesn't it 
work".

> # sysctl -w kern.securelevel=2
> kern.securelevel: -1 -> 2
> 
> #cat > /etc/xxx
> 
> # sysctl -w kern.securelevel=5
> kern.securelevel: 2 -> 5
> 
> # cat > /etc/xxx
> 
> The disk is still writeable. If I remember correctly, when the security
> level is greater (higher) than 1, the entire system is read only.

Making /etc read-only not possible anyway.  You wouldn't be able 
to run your system.

The kernel has "Permanently secure mode" compiled into it.  
"Secure mode" would be a good mode of operation, but you'll have 
to figure out how to get kern.securemode= -1 from being compiled 
in.

Mike Hancock