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I have attempted to change the file /etc/passwd in ubuntu server 12.04 and I tried to change the root username. I only changed one part of the root username this is what i have: 

main:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
daemon:x:1:1:daemon:/usr/sbin:/bin/sh
bin:x:2:2:bin:/bin:/bin/sh
sys:x:3:3:sys:/dev:/bin/sh
sync:x:4:65534:sync:/bin:/bin/sync
games:x:5:60:games:/usr/games:/bin/sh
man:x:6:12:man:/var/cache/man:/bin/sh
lp:x:7:7:lp:/var/spool/lpd:/bin/sh
mail:x:8:8:mail:/var/mail:/bin/sh
news:x:9:9:news:/var/spool/news:/bin/sh
uucp:x:10:10:uucp:/var/spool/uucp:/bin/sh
proxy:x:13:13:proxy:/bin:/bin/sh
www-data:x:33:33:www-data:/var/www:/bin/sh
backup:x:34:34:backup:/var/backups:/bin/sh
list:x:38:38:Mailing List Manager:/var/list:/bin/sh
irc:x:39:39:ircd:/var/run/ircd:/bin/sh
gnats:x:41:41:Gnats Bug-Reporting System (admin):/var/lib/gnats:/bin/sh
nobody:x:65534:65534:nobody:/nonexistent:/bin/sh
libuuid:x:100:101::/var/lib/libuuid:/bin/sh
                [ Read 53 lines (Warning: No write permission) ]

The top line where it says main needs to say root. I cannot change this file because no other user has sudo access. This is a server hosted by another company so I cannot access recovery mode or the live boot disc. Thanks, Bryce Pruett

user269398
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    Does pkexec nano /etc/passwd work? – Jos Apr 28 '14 at 15:26
  • I hope pkexec trick works. ...but why? Personal advice: download VirtualBox, install an Ubuntu server in it, and do this kind of dangerous things in it first. The problem in logging is as main is probably because you changed only /etc/passwd and not the other files (/etc/shadow, /etc/passwd-, group files, etc). – Rmano Apr 28 '14 at 16:24

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If you lose access to an install like this where you have no physical access to, you're completely at the mercy of your host, their feature-set and how willing to bend-over backwards they are for you.

  • If you have virtual console access (or your host has it - ask them), they might be able to log in as root, either directly or through recovery mode. Some hosts (Linode for one) have this as a feature but some will require a real person at their end.

  • Or you could beg them to do a local fix where they mount your filesystem for you and do the fix. I have no idea whether or not they'd even be willing to do this, let alone how much it would cost.

  • If that doesn't pan out you could ask them for a disk dump. You send them a disk, an image to it and send it back and you fix the file... And send it back and they restore from it. This is not a standard arrangement that hosts have with their customers. Expect to pay for postage in 4 directions and at least ~$100 for their time.

It's still a long-shot with some hosts.
Basically this process is going to teach you how good your host really is. Good hunting.

Oli
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