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(BackTrack: Lesson 7)

{ Use BackTrack Grub to boot into single user mode }


Section 0. Background Information
  1. Background information.
    • Lets say you lost the root password and you have no way to figure it out.  No problem.  All you simply have to do is to physically power off the BackTrack machine and power it back on.  During the start of the reboot, HOLD DOWN on the "shift" key.  If you are using VMware, you will need to click in the Black VMware window before reboot and then HOLD DOWN on the "shift" key.

  2. Prerequisite
  3. Lab Notes
    • In this lab we will do the following:
      1. We will access the Grub menu during the boot process.
      2. We will edit the Grub menu to boot into single user mode.
      3. We will change the root password.

  4. Legal Disclaimer
    • As a condition of your use of this Web site, you warrant to computersecuritystudent.com that you will not use this Web site for any purpose that is unlawful or that is prohibited by these terms, conditions, and notices.
    • In accordance with UCC § 2-316, this product is provided with "no warranties, either express or implied." The information contained is provided "as-is", with "no guarantee of merchantability."
    • In addition, this is a teaching website that does not condone malicious behavior of any kind.
    • You are on notice, that continuing and/or using this lab outside your "own" test environment is considered malicious and is against the law.
    • © 2012 No content replication of any kind is allowed without express written permission.

     

Section 1: Start BackTrack
  1. Start VMware Player
    • Instructions
      1. For Windows 7
        • Start --> All Programs --> VMware Player
      2. For Windows XP
        • Starts --> Programs --> VMware Player

     

  2. Start Up BackTrack.
    • Instructions:
      1. Start Up your VMware Player
      2. Play virtual machine
     
Section 2: Boot to Grub 2 Menu
  1. Boot to Grub 2 Menu
    • Instructions
      1. Once you see the below vmware screen, (1) Left Click in the screen and (2) HOLD DOWN on the <Shift> key.

     

  2. The Grub 2 Menu
    • Informational
      1. Below is the Grub 2 menu.
      2. Continue to Next Section.

     

Section 3: Use Grub to Boot into Single User Mode
  1. Edit the Grub Menu
    • Instructions
      1. Make sure Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.39.4 is highlighted.
      2. Press "e".

     

  2. Cursor Placement
    • Instructions
      1. Cursor down to the line that starts with "linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.39.4".
      2. Cursor right until the cursor is positioned at the end of the line.  In my case, my cursor is directly after vga=791.
      3. Continue to next step.

     

  3. Delete "o  quite splash vga=791"
    • Instructions
      1. Use the backspace key to delete the following characters:
        • "o  quite splash vga=791"
      2. Continue to next step.

     

  4. Add the string "w init=/bin/bash"
    • Instructions
      1. Type the follow string after the "r".
        • w init=/bin/bash
      2. Press <Ctrl> and "x" to boot to single mode.

     

  5. Welcome to root (Got Root?)
    • Informational
      1. You are now the root user.  Congrats!!!
      2. Continue to next section.

     

Section 4: Reset the root password
  1. Reset root's password
    • Instructions
      1. passwd root
      2. Supply the password of your choice.

     

  2. Sync and Reboot
    • Instructions
      1. sync
      2. reboot -f

     

  3. Login with New Reset Root Password
    • Instructions
      1. bt login: root
      2. Password: <Provide the New Reset Root Password>

     

  4. Start Graphical Interface
    • Instructions
      1. startx

     

  5. Open a console terminal
    • Instructions:
      1. Click on the console terminal

 

Section 5: Proof of Lab
 
  1. Proof of Lab
    • Instructions:
      1. chage -l root
        • Where (-l) is a lowercase L.
      2. date
      3. echo "Your Name"
        • Replace the string "Your Name" with your actual name.
        • e.g., echo "John Gray"
    • Proof of Lab Instructions
      1. Press both the <Ctrl> and <Alt> keys at the same time.
      2. Do a <PrtScn>
      3. Paste into a word document
      4. Upload to Moodle

     



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