PAM_WHEEL(8)                                            Linux-PAM Manual                                            PAM_WHEEL(8)



NAME
       pam_wheel - Only permit root access to members of group wheel

SYNOPSIS
       pam_wheel.so [debug] [deny] [group=name] [root_only] [trust] [use_uid]

DESCRIPTION
       The pam_wheel PAM module is used to enforce the so-called wheel group. By default it permits root access to the system if
       the applicant user is a member of the wheel group. If no group with this name exist, the module is using the group with
       the group-ID 0.

OPTIONS
       debug
           Print debug information.

       deny
           Reverse the sense of the auth operation: if the user is trying to get UID 0 access and is a member of the wheel group
           (or the group of the group option), deny access. Conversely, if the user is not in the group, return PAM_IGNORE
           (unless trust was also specified, in which case we return PAM_SUCCESS).

       group=name
           Instead of checking the wheel or GID 0 groups, use the name group to perform the authentication.

       root_only
           The check for wheel membership is done only.

       trust
           The pam_wheel module will return PAM_SUCCESS instead of PAM_IGNORE if the user is a member of the wheel group (thus
           with a little play stacking the modules the wheel members may be able to su to root without being prompted for a
           passwd).

       use_uid
           The check for wheel membership will be done against the current uid instead of the original one (useful when jumping
           with su from one account to another for example).

MODULE TYPES PROVIDED
       The auth and account module types are provided.

RETURN VALUES
       PAM_AUTH_ERR
           Authentication failure.

       PAM_BUF_ERR
           Memory buffer error.

       PAM_IGNORE
           The return value should be ignored by PAM dispatch.

       PAM_PERM_DENY
           Permission denied.

       PAM_SERVICE_ERR
           Cannot determine the user name.

       PAM_SUCCESS
           Success.

       PAM_USER_UNKNOWN
           User not known.

EXAMPLES
       The root account gains access by default (rootok), only wheel members can become root (wheel) but Unix authenticate
       non-root applicants.

           su      auth     sufficient     pam_rootok.so
           su      auth     required       pam_wheel.so
           su      auth     required       pam_unix.so



SEE ALSO
       pam.conf(5), pam.d(5), pam(8)

AUTHOR
       pam_wheel was written by Cristian Gafton <gaftonATredhat.com>.



Linux-PAM Manual                                           03/02/2009                                               PAM_WHEEL(8)