Subject: IMPORTANT: Mandatory password and ssh key change by 2011-11-30

Jon Ciesla limb at jcomserv.net
Wed Oct 12 18:25:13 UTC 2011


> On Wed, 2011-10-12 at 13:06 -0500, Jon Ciesla wrote:
>> > On Wed, 2011-10-12 at 10:51 -0700, Adam Williamson wrote:
>> >> On Wed, 2011-10-12 at 18:41 +0100, Richard Hughes wrote:
>> >> > On 12 October 2011 17:44, Kevin Fenzi <kevin at scrye.com> wrote:
>> >> > > All existing users of the Fedora Account System (FAS) at
>> >> > > https://admin.fedoraproject.org/accounts are required to change
>> >> their
>> >> > > password and upload a NEW ssh public key before 2011-11-30.
>> >> >
>> >> > I have to upload a *new* public key? Why should I have two sets of
>> >> keys?
>> >>
>> >> Meant 'replacement'. You can only have one key in FAS, afaict.
>> >
>> >
>> > You can have more than one. Just paste them in place all together.
>> >
>> >
>> > And we're verifying key changes by checking the fingerprint of the
>> > pubkeys vs your prior ones.
>>
>> It's really not a huge hassle.  I've already done it.  I configured the
>> .ssh/config files where I needed to, and it doesn't conflict with any
>> other keys I have.  I don't get what the big deal is.  The disruption
>> is,
>> like, five minutes of work.  The potential benefit is unknown, but
>> certainly not zero.
>>
>> Why wait for a breach to do this?   This is a perfect time.  Doing it
>> after the 2008 breach was wise.  This is better.
>
> A breach won't compromise my actual keys even if it happened now or a
> year ago.

Unless the breach alters a package that gets pushed to your machine and
snarfs your keys.  </devilsadvocate>

> Plus there are limitations on how many keys (and passpharases I can
> remember, especially for stuff I use less often).

keepassx.

> Plus there are limitation about how many keys ssh/ssh-agent can use
> before failing to log you in no matter what.

If your client config knows what key to use for what host, and you know
the password, I fail to see the problem.  Plus, you could have multiple
keys, all with the same passphrase, for different things, should you so
desire.

> Compound all this.
>
> Simo.
>
> --
> Simo Sorce * Red Hat, Inc * New York
>


-- 
in your fear, seek only peace
in your fear, seek only love

-d. bowie



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