Forgetting a password can be a minor hiccup for most, but when it comes to Linux—a system known for its robust security features—it can feel like a daunting obstacle. Whether you’re new to the world of open-source operating systems or a seasoned Linux veteran, resetting your password doesn’t have to be a complex chore. This guide offers a concise, step-by-step approach to help you swiftly regain access to your Linux machine.
Resetting Linux Password using GRUB
Resetting a Linux password using the GRUB bootloader involves booting into single-user mode or recovery mode and then using the command line to reset the password. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Access the GRUB menu. GRUB (Grand Unified Bootloader) is the default bootloader for most Linux distributions. First, restart or power on your computer. As soon as the boot process begins, press and hold the Shift key (for some systems it might be the Esc key) to bring up the GRUB menu.
2. Enter the Edit Mode. Before booting into the system, you need to edit the boot parameters. First, highlight the default boot entry (usually the first in the list) using arrow keys.
- Press ‘E’ to edit the entry.
3. Modify Boot Parameters. To boot into single-user mode, you need to modify the Linux boot parameters. Here are the following steps:
• Find the line that starts with linux or linux16. This line specifies the boot parameters.
• At this line, locate ‘ro quiet’, replace ‘ro’ to ‘rw’ then add the word single or init=/bin/bash, depending on your distribution and setup.
• Press Ctrl + X or F10 to boot with the modified parameters.
Here’s an example:
4. Remount the File System with Write Permissions. By default, the filesystem might be in read-only mode in this state. To change the password, you’ll need write permissions. Enter the following command:
mount -n -o remount,rw /5. Reset the Password. Use the passwd command to reset the password for a user. Enter the command below, replacing ‘username’ with the actual username for which you want to reset the password:
passwd usernameWhen prompted, enter the new password twice.
6. Reboot the System. Now that the password is reset, it’s best to reboot the system to return to normal operation. Enter the following command:
syncThen, force a reboot with:
reboot -fThe new password should now be active, and you can test it. In the following section, we’ll explore an alternative method using a live CD or USB.
Resetting Linux Password Using Live CD/USB
Resetting a Linux password using a Live CD or USB is a useful method when you’ve forgotten the root or user password. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
1. Boot from the Live CD/USB. Insert your Live CD or USB stick. Reboot the computer and choose to boot from the CD/USB from the BIOS or UEFI boot menu.
2. Open a Terminal. Once the live environment is loaded, locate and open a terminal window.
3. Identify the System’s Root Partition. You can use tools like fdisk or lsblk to identify your system’s root partition.
sudo fdisk -l# orsudo lsblk -fLook for partitions that are likely Linux root partitions, such as ext4, xfs, etc.
4. Mount the Root Partition. Create a mount point by running this command:
sudo mkdir /mnt/myrootMount the identified root partition (replace /dev/sdXY with your partition, for example, /dev/sda1):
sudo mount /dev/sdXY /mnt/myroot5. Change Root into the System. Use chroot to change the root directory by using this command:
sudo chroot /mnt/myroot6. Reset the Password. Now that you’ve chrooted into your system, you can use the passwd command to change the password for any user, including root.
passwd usernameReplace “username” with the actual username or use root to reset the root password.
7. Exit and Unmount. Exit the chroot environment and unmount the partition.
exitsudo umount /mnt/myroot8. Reboot. Remove the Live CD/USB and reboot your computer. Now, you should now be able to log in using the new password.
That’s it! You’re now able to reset passwords in Linux. To reset passwords, you can use either the GRUB method or a Live CD. The GRUB method is fast and doesn’t need external tools, but a Live CD is more universal and works well for complex system setups or restricted GRUB access.
Conclusion
Looking to deploy Linux in the cloud? With Gcore Cloud, you can choose from Basic VM, Virtual Instances, or VPS/VDS suitable for Linux:
- Gcore Basic VM offers shared virtual machines from €3.2 per month
- Virtual Instances are virtual machines with a variety of configurations and an application marketplace
- Virtual Dedicated Servers provide outstanding speed of 200+ Mbps in 20+ global locations
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11 simple tips for securing your APIs
A vast 84% of organizations have experienced API security incidents in the past year. APIs (application programming interfaces) are the backbone of modern technology, allowing seamless interaction between diverse software platforms. However, this increased connectivity comes with a downside: a higher risk of security breaches, which can include injection attacks, credential stuffing, and L7 DDoS attacks, as well as the ever-growing threat of AI-based attacks.Fortunately, developers and IT teams can implement DIY API protection. Mitigating vulnerabilities involves using secure coding techniques, conducting thorough testing, and applying strong security protocols and frameworks. Alternatively, you can simply use a WAAP (web application and API protection) solution for specialized, one-click, robust API protection.This article explains 11 practical tips that can help protect your APIs from security threats and hacking attempts, with examples of commands and sample outputs to provide API security.#1 Implement authentication and authorizationUse robust authentication mechanisms to verify user identity and authorization strategies like OAuth 2.0 to manage access to resources. Using OAuth 2.0, you can set up a token-based authentication system where clients request access tokens using credentials. # Requesting an access token curl -X POST https://yourapi.com/oauth/token \ -d "grant_type=client_credentials" \ -d "client_id=your_client_id" \ -d "client_secret=your_client_secret" Sample output: { "access_token": "eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9...", "token_type": "bearer", "expires_in": 3600 } #2 Secure communication with HTTPSEncrypting data in transit using HTTPS can help prevent eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. Enabling HTTPS may involve configuring your web server with SSL/TLS certificates, such as Let’s Encrypt with nginx. sudo certbot --nginx -d yourapi.com #3 Validate and sanitize inputValidating and sanitizing all user inputs protects against injection and other attacks. For a Node.js API, use express-validator middleware to validate incoming data. app.post('/api/user', [ body('email').isEmail(), body('password').isLength({ min: 5 }) ], (req, res) => { const errors = validationResult(req); if (!errors.isEmpty()) { return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() }); } // Proceed with user registration }); #4 Use rate limitingLimit the number of requests a client can make within a specified time frame to prevent abuse. The express-rate-limit library implements rate limiting in Express.js. const rateLimit = require('express-rate-limit'); const apiLimiter = rateLimit({ windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000, // 15 minutes max: 100 }); app.use('/api/', apiLimiter); #5 Undertake regular security auditsRegularly audit your API and its dependencies for vulnerabilities. Runnpm auditin your Node.js project to detect known vulnerabilities in your dependencies. npm audit Sample output: found 0 vulnerabilities in 1050 scanned packages #6 Implement access controlsImplement configurations so that users can only access resources they are authorized to view or edit, typically through roles or permissions. The two more common systems are Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) for a more granular approach.You might also consider applying zero-trust security measures such as the principle of least privilege (PoLP), which gives users the minimal permissions necessary to perform their tasks. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security beyond usernames and passwords.#7 Monitor and log activityMaintain comprehensive logs of API activity with a focus on both performance and security. By treating logging as a critical security measure—not just an operational tool—organizations can gain deeper visibility into potential threats, detect anomalies more effectively, and accelerate incident response.#8 Keep dependencies up-to-dateRegularly update all libraries, frameworks, and other dependencies to mitigate known vulnerabilities. For a Node.js project, updating all dependencies to their latest versions is vital. npm update #9 Secure API keysIf your API uses keys for access, we recommend that you make sure that they are securely stored and managed. Modern systems often utilize dynamic key generation techniques, leveraging algorithms to automatically produce unique and unpredictable keys. This approach enhances security by reducing the risk of brute-force attacks and improving efficiency.#10 Conduct penetration testingRegularly test your API with penetration testing to identify and fix security vulnerabilities. By simulating real-world attack scenarios, your organizations can systematically identify vulnerabilities within various API components. This proactive approach enables the timely mitigation of security risks, reducing the likelihood of discovering such issues through post-incident reports and enhancing overall cybersecurity resilience.#11 Simply implement WAAPIn addition to taking the above steps to secure your APIs, a WAAP (web application and API protection) solution can defend your system against known and unknown threats by consistently monitoring, detecting, and mitigating risks. With advanced algorithms and machine learning, WAAP safeguards your system from attacks like SQL injection, DDoS, and bot traffic, which can compromise the integrity of your APIs.Take your API protection to the next levelThese steps will help protect your APIs against common threats—but security is never one-and-done. Regular reviews and updates are essential to stay ahead of evolving vulnerabilities. To keep on top of the latest trends, we encourage you to read more of our top cybersecurity tips or download our ultimate guide to WAAP.Implementing specialized cybersecurity solutions such as WAAP, which combines web application firewall (WAF), bot management, Layer 7 DDoS protection, and API security, is the best way to protect your assets. Designed to tackle the complex challenges of API threats in the age of AI, Gcore WAAP is an advanced solution that keeps you ahead of security threats.Discover why WAAP is a non-negotiable with our free ebook
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