Re: nmap root vs user question

ToddAndMargo <[email protected]> Mon, 14 Oct 2013 15:58:01 -0700
Newsgroups gmane.comp.security.basics
Message-ID <[email protected]>
 >> On Fri, Oct 4, 2013 at 5:29 PM, ToddAndMargo <[email protected]
 >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
 >>
 >>     Hi All,
 >>
 >>     "#" is my "root" prompt and "$" is my user prompt.
 >>
 >>     Question: why does namp sometimes work as root
 >>     and not as a user?  Why no warning that a command
 >>     has to be run as root?
 >>
 >>
 >>     This works as root:
 >>           # nmap -p T:5020,5900 192.168.202.210
 >>           Starting Nmap 6.40 ( http://nmap.org ) at 2013-10-04 14:25 PDT
 >>           Nmap scan report for 192.168.202.210
 >>           Host is up (0.00063s latency).
 >>           PORT     STATE    SERVICE
 >>           5020/tcp filtered zenginkyo-1
 >>           5900/tcp filtered vnc
 >>
 >>     Same command does not work as a user:
 >>           $ nmap  -p T:5020,5900 192.168.202.210
 >>           Starting Nmap 6.40 ( http://nmap.org ) at 2013-10-04 14:25 PDT
 >>           Note: Host seems down. If it is really up, but blocking our
 >>                 ping probes, try -Pn
 >>
 >>
 >>     Many thanks,
 >>     -T

On 10/07/2013 06:26 AM, Duane Dunston wrote:
 > NMAP has a discussion about this issue: 
http://nmap.org/bennieston-tutorial/
 >
 > As a normal user, nmap uses the connect() method with scans.  As root,
 > it can make use of raw sockets and other methods to craft TCP/IP
 > packets, but those functions require root access.
 >
 > Regarding the no warning, it requires understanding the operating
 > system, the application you are running and what has to run in
 > privileged mode or non-privileged mode considering both of those
 > factors.  Also factors such as files and directories that are
 > written/open during the applications execution may play a factor, as 
well.


Hi Duane,

    Makes sense now.  nmap tries to use what tools it has at
its disposal and doesn't complain about the lack thereof.

Thank you!

-T

-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Computers are like air conditioners.
They malfunction when you open windows
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


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