How to configure vsftpd to allow root logins?

Question

I'm on SLES 10.1, and trying to configure vsftpd to allow root logins. Does anyone know how to do this?

So far, I have this:

local_enable=YES
chroot_local_user=NO
userlist_enable=YES
userlist_deny=NO
userlist_file=/etc/vsftpd.users

And I've added root to /etc/vsftpd.users. When I try to log in, here's what I get:

$ ftp susebox
Connected to susebox.example.com.
220-FTP Server (user '[email protected]')
220
User (susebox.example.com:(none)): root
331-Password:
331
Password:
Connection closed by remote host.

C:\>

BTW, if you don't know the answer, please don't bother lecturing me about how I shouldn't allow root logins. I know what I'm doing, and I accept full responsibility for any ruptures in the space-time continuum that may result.

Solution 1

DISCLAIMER: Enabling root login for FTP is a Very Bad Idea for many, many reasons.

Edit your vsftpd.conf file, and add the following line:

userlist_deny=YES

Edit user_list and ftpusers and comment out "root".

Solution 2

For those (like me) using VSFTPD on Ubuntu server in mid-2013, it appears that root is allowed to login via secure SFTP by default, no special changes necessary.

However, if you really need plain old FTP access, all I had to do was:

sudo nano /etc/ftpusers

And comment out the line with root on it by placing a # at the start. Save the file, and reloading the server is not even necessary.

BEWARE: This potentially allows the root password to be transmitted over the network, completely unencrypted, in PLAIN TEXT. It's a very bad idea unless you're working on a local virtual machine.

Solution 3

vi /etc/pam.d/vsftpd -> if you use vsftpd

find

auth blablabla sense=deny file=/etc/ftpusers 

Make it to be sense= allow or you can uncomment script above it, or modify the file:ftpusers or add another ftpusers files

Solution 4

for Debian 8 Jessie, you just need to edit /etc/ftpusers and comment out or delete root. nothing else needed, just restart vsftpd

View more solutions

Comments

[Roman]

Not only are you creating huge dents in the continuum, you're raping the very fabric of it's integrity! The only use I can think up for this is a honeypot, but AFAIK nobody even tries to login with root by ftp. All other uses....bit.ly/yzoSbB That being said, it's answered below.

[Xsv23]

I have this exact problem but it's in a completely isolated test network. Not all systems are on the Internet, you know.

[sr9yar]

I don't see why this fuss is about. I'm setting this up for testing and the server will be wiped out in a couple of days. Using root is the quickest way to get over with my task, why should I makes things overly complicated, because somebody told me this at school?

[GoTTimw]

Just FYI for those using vsftpd, the user_list file is located under /etc/vsftpd/user_list

[ATorras]

Fedora 20: I had to change it in both places: user_list and also ftpusers.