Applying Multi-Factor Authentication

The following section details adding Multi-Factor Authentication to RedHat Linux and Ubuntu operating systems.

RedHat Linux

To apply the SafeNet 2-FA to different login types, perform one of the following three instruction sets. To disable the agent, revert the described changes.

• For login console and ssh access formats, change the parameter of the pam_unix.so module from sufficient to required in the /etc/pam.d/password-auth file.

  Also, add the following content after the pam_unix.so module row:

  auth required /usr/local/thales/pam/bin/SASAuth.so

  

  Note

  The above setting does not apply for authenticating with a Domain user.

  To enable only OTP-based login sessions, comment the pam_unix.so module row:

  #auth required pam_unix.so nullok

  This action ensures that the user need not provide the system password, and will be granted system access, based on a combination of system username and SafeNet Credentials.

  Before (RedHat Linux Example) Connecting to the Serial Console:

  

  After (RedHat Linux Example):

  

• For SSH connections, add the following content at the end of the /etc/pam.d/sshd file:

  auth required /usr/local/thales/pam/bin/SASAuth.so

  

  Note

  The above setting is also applicable when authenticating with a Domain user.

  Before (RedHat Linux Example):

  

  After (RedHat Linux Example):

  

• For when the user is switched, add the following content at the end of the /etc/pam.d/su file:

  auth required /usr/local/thales/pam/bin/SASAuth.so

  

  Note

  The above setting is also applicable when authenticating with a Domain user.

  Before (RedHat Linux Example):

  

  After (RedHat Linux Example):

  

  

  Note

  To disable the agent, comment the following content (as added above): #auth required /usr/local/thales/pam/bin/SASAuth.so

Ubuntu

To apply the SafeNet 2-FA to different login types, perform one of the following three instruction sets. To disable the agent, revert the described changes.

Note

Due to a known UI discrepancy on the login console of Ubuntu 22.04, we recommend to apply MFA on command line using SSH mode only.

• For all the access formats (login console, su, and ssh), change the parameter of the pam_unix.so module from sufficient to required in the /etc/pam.d/common-auth file.

  Also, add the following content after the pam_unix.so module row:

  auth required /usr/local/thales/pam/bin/SASAuth.so

  

  Note

  The above setting does not apply for authenticating with a Domain user.

  Before (Ubuntu Example):

  

  After (Ubuntu Example):

  

  To enable only OTP-based login sessions, comment the pam_unix.so module row:

  #auth required pam_unix.so nullok

  This action ensures that the user need not provide the system password, and will be granted system access, based on a combination of system username and SafeNet credentials.

• For SSH connections, add the following content to the /etc/pam.d/sshd file:

  auth required /usr/local/thales/pam/bin/SASAuth.so

  

  Note

  The above setting is also applicable when authenticating with a Domain user.

• For when the user is switched, add the following content to the /etc/pam.d/su file:

  auth sufficient /usr/local/thales/pam/bin/SASAuth.so

  

  Note

  The above setting is also applicable when authenticating with a Domain user.

  Before (Ubuntu Example):

  

  After (Ubuntu Example):

  

  

  Note

  To disable the agent, comment the following content (as added above): #auth required /usr/local/thales/pam/bin/SASAuth.so