Connecting to MariaDB Securely: Alternatives to sudo without Password

• sudo: This is a command in Linux that allows users to run programs with the privileges of another user, typically the root user.
• MariaDB root user: MariaDB, like MySQL, has a root user account that has full access to the database system.

By default, on some MariaDB versions, the root user is configured to allow connections from the local machine (localhost) without a password. This means that if you use the sudo mysql command, you can connect to MariaDB as the root user without entering a password, because sudo gives you the root user's privileges.

However, there are some important points to consider:

• Security Risk: Granting root access without a password is a security risk. If someone gains unauthorized access to your system, they can easily compromise your entire database.
• MariaDB Versions: This method may not work on all MariaDB versions, especially MariaDB 10.4 and later which prioritize stronger security by default.
• Alternative: A more secure approach is to create a less privileged user account for everyday tasks and grant it only the permissions it needs. You can then use sudo to connect with that user account when needed.

Here are some resources for creating a secure MariaDB user:

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type the following command:

sudo mysql

This command uses sudo to run the mysql program with root privileges. If MariaDB is configured to allow root access from localhost without a password, you will be connected to the MariaDB server.

mysql -u username -p

This method leverages the local Unix socket file for authentication. If enabled, it allows the system's root user to connect to MariaDB on the local machine (localhost) without a password.

• By default, MariaDB listens for connections on a local Unix socket file.
• If the root user on the system attempts to connect to MariaDB using the sudo mysql command, MariaDB recognizes the user's identity through the system and grants access.

Note: This method only works for local connections and shouldn't be used for remote access. Additionally, MariaDB 10.4 and later prioritize stronger security by default, so this method might not be available in those versions.

Password with Secure Privileges:

This is the recommended approach. Here, you create a user account specifically for your application and grant it only the permissions it needs to perform its tasks within the database. Then, you can connect using sudo with that user account when necessary.

Here are the steps involved:

• Connect using sudo mysql -u username -p where username is the user you created and -p prompts you for the password.

Manage Users with a Secure Script:

If you need to manage multiple user accounts or automate connections, you can create a script that uses mysql commands with the appropriate username and password. However, ensure proper security measures are followed when storing the password within the script. Here are some options:

• Environment Variables: Store the password in an environment variable accessible only to the script's execution environment.
• Password Management Tool: Utilize a password management tool to securely store and retrieve the password during script execution.