Linux / UNIX: Restrict Access To A Given Command

There are several ways to restrict access to a given command on a Linux or Unix system. Here are a few examples:

1. Use the chmod command to change the permissions of the command executable file to prevent unauthorized users from accessing it. For example:

# chmod 700 /path/to/command

This will set the permissions of the /path/to/command file to 700, which means that only the owner of the file will have permission to execute the command. Other users will not be able to access the command.

2. Use the sudo command to allow certain users to execute the command with superuser privileges. For example, you can add a line to the /etc/sudoers file that specifies which users are allowed to execute the command, and under what conditions. For example:

user1 ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /path/to/command

This will allow the user1 user to execute the /path/to/command command without entering a password, provided that the command is prefixed with sudo. Other users will not be able to execute the command without superuser privileges.

3. Use the alias command to create a wrapper script that executes the command with certain options or restrictions. For example, you can create a script named restricted-command that executes the command with certain options or restrictions, and then use the alias command to associate the script with the original command. For example:

# alias command='restricted-command'

This will allow users to execute the command command, but it will actually run the restricted-command script, which can enforce certain restrictions or options on the original command.

These are just a few examples of how to restrict access to a given command on a Linux or Unix system. There are many other methods and tools that you can use to achieve this, depending on your specific needs and requirements. Consult the documentation and online resources for more information on how to restrict access to a given command on your system.