Passwords and Privileges Commands

This chapter describes the commands used to establish password protection and configure privilege levels. Password protection lets you restrict access to a network or a network device. Privilege levels let you define what commands users can issue after they have logged in to a network device. For information on how to establish password protection or configure privilege levels, refer to the Configuring Passwords and Privileges chapter in the Security Configuration Guide. For configuration examples using the commands in this chapter, refer to the Passwords and Privileges Configuration Examples section located at the end of the Configuring Passwords and Privileges chapter in the Security Configuration Guide.

Security Command Reference

SR-421

Passwords and Privileges Commands enable password

enable password
To set a local password to control access to various privilege levels, use the enable password global configuration command. Use the no form of this command to remove the password requirement. enable password [level level] {password | [encryption-type] encrypted-password} no enable password [level level]

Syntax Description

level level

(Optional) Level for which the password applies. You can specify up to 16 privilege levels, using numbers 0 through 15. Level 1 is normal EXEC-mode user privileges. If this argument is not specified in the command or the no form of the command, the privilege level defaults to 15 (traditional enable privileges). Password users type to enter enable mode. (Optional) Cisco-proprietary algorithm used to encrypt the password. Currently the only encryption type available is 7. If you specify encryption-type, the next argument you supply must be an encrypted password (a password already encrypted by a Cisco router). Encrypted password you enter, copied from another router configuration.

password encryption-type

encrypted-password

Defaults

No password is defined. The default is level 15.

Command Modes

Global configuration

Command History

Release 10.0

Modification This command was introduced.

Usage Guidelines
Caution

If neither the enable password command nor the enable secret command is configured, and if there is a line password configured for the console, the console line password will serve as the enable password for all VTY (Telnet and Secure Shell [SSH]) sessions. Use this command with the level option to define a password for a specific privilege level. After you specify the level and the password, give the password to the users who need to access this level. Use the privilege level (global) configuration command to specify commands accessible at various levels. You will not ordinarily enter an encryption type. Typically you enter an encryption type only if you copy and paste into this command a password that has already been encrypted by a Cisco router.

Security Command Reference

SR-422

Passwords and Privileges Commands enable password

Caution

If you specify an encryption type and then enter a clear text password, you will not be able to reenter enable mode. You cannot recover a lost password that has been encrypted by any method. If the service password-encryption command is set, the encrypted form of the password you create with the enable password command is displayed when a more nvram:startup-config command is entered. You can enable or disable password encryption with the service password-encryption command. An enable password is defined as follows:

Must contain from 1 to 25 uppercase and lowercase alphanumeric characters. Must not have a number as the first character. Can have leading spaces, but they are ignored. However, intermediate and trailing spaces are recognized. Can contain the question mark (?) character if you precede the question mark with the key combination Crtl-V when you create the password; for example, to create the password abc?123, do the following:
Enter abc. Type Crtl-V. Enter ?123.

When the system prompts you to enter the enable password, you need not precede the question mark with the Ctrl-V; you can simply enter abc?123 at the password prompt.

Examples

The following example enables the password pswd2 for privilege level 2:
enable password level 2 pswd2

The following example sets the encrypted password $1$i5Rkls3LoyxzS8t9, which has been copied from a router configuration file, for privilege level 2 using encryption type 7:
enable password level 2 7 $1$i5Rkls3LoyxzS8t9

Related Commands

Command disable enable enable secret privilege service password-encryption show privilege

Description Exits privileged EXEC mode and return to user EXEC mode, enter the disable EXEC command. Enters privileged EXEC mode. Specifies an additional layer of security over the enable password command. Configures a new privilege level for users and associate commands with that privilege level. Encrypts passwords. Displays your current level of privilege.

Security Command Reference

SR-423

Passwords and Privileges Commands enable secret

enable secret
To specify an additional layer of security over the enable password command, use the enable secret global configuration command. Use the no form of this command to turn off the enable secret function. enable secret [level level] {password | [encryption-type] encrypted-password} no enable secret [level level]

Syntax Description

level level

(Optional) Level for which the password applies. You can specify up to sixteen privilege levels, using numbers 0 through 15. Level 1 is normal EXEC-mode user privileges. If this argument is not specified in the command or in the no form of the command, the privilege level defaults to 15 (traditional enable privileges). The same holds true for the no form of the command. Password for users to enter enable mode. This password should be different from the password created with the enable password command. (Optional) Cisco-proprietary algorithm used to encrypt the password. Currently the only encryption type available for this command is 5. If you specify encryption-type, the next argument you supply must be an encrypted password (a password encrypted by a Cisco router). Encrypted password you enter, copied from another router configuration.

password

encryption-type

encrypted-password

Defaults

No password is defined. The default level is 15.

Command Modes

Global configuration

Command History

Release 11.0

Modification This command was introduced.

Usage Guidelines
Caution

If neither the enable password command nor the enable secret command is configured, and if there is a line password configured for the console, the console line password will serve as the enable password for all VTY (Telnet and Secure Shell [SSH]) sessions. Use this command to provide an additional layer of security over the enable password. The enable secret command provides better security by storing the enable secret password using a non-reversible cryptographic function. The added layer of security encryption provides is useful in environments where the password crosses the network or is stored on a TFTP server.

Security Command Reference

SR-424

Passwords and Privileges Commands enable secret

You will not ordinarily enter an encryption type. Typically you enter an encryption type only if you paste into this command an encrypted password that you copied from a router configuration file.

Caution

If you specify an encryption-type and then enter a clear text password, you will not be able to reenter enable mode. You cannot recover a lost password that has been encrypted by any method. If you use the same password for the enable password and enable secret commands, you receive an error message warning that this practice is not recommended, but the password will be accepted. By using the same password, however, you undermine the additional security the enable secret command provides.

Note

After you set a password using enable secret command, a password set using the enable password command works only if the enable secret is disabled or an older version of Cisco IOS software is being used, such as when running an older rxboot image. Additionally, you cannot recover a lost password that has been encrypted by any method. If service password-encryption is set, the encrypted form of the password you create here is displayed when a more nvram:startup-config command is entered. You can enable or disable password encryption with the service password-encryption command. An enable password is defined as follows:

Must contain from 1 to 25 uppercase and lowercase alphanumeric characters Must not have a number as the first character Can have leading spaces, but they are ignored. However, intermediate and trailing spaces are recognized. Can contain the question mark (?) character if you precede the question mark with the key combination Crtl-V when you create the password; for example, to create the password abc?123, do the following:
Enter abc. Type Crtl-V. Enter ?123.

When the system prompts you to enter the enable password, you need not precede the question mark with the Ctrl-V; you can simply enter abc?123 at the password prompt.

Examples

The following example specifies the enable secret password of greentree:

After specifying an enable secret password, users must enter this password to gain access. Any passwords set through enable password will no longer work.
Password: greentree

The following example enables the encrypted password $1$FaD0$Xyti5Rkls3LoyxzS8, which has been copied from a router configuration file, for privilege level 2 using encryption type 5:
enable password level 2 5 $1$FaD0$Xyti5Rkls3LoyxzS8

Security Command Reference

SR-425

Passwords and Privileges Commands enable secret

Related Commands

Command enable enable password

Description Enters privileged EXEC mode. Sets a local password to control access to various privilege levels.

Security Command Reference

SR-426

Passwords and Privileges Commands ip identd

ip identd
To enable identification support, use the ip identd global configuration command. Use the no form of this command to disable identification support. ip identd no ip identd

Syntax Description

This command has no arguments or keywords.

Defaults

Identification support is not enabled.

Command Modes

Global configuration

Command History

Release 11.1

Modification This command was introduced.

Usage Guidelines

The ip identd command returns accurate information about the host TCP port; however, no attempt is made to protect against unauthorized queries.

Examples

The following example enables identification support:

Security Command Reference

SR-427

Passwords and Privileges Commands password

password
To specify a password on a line, use the password line configuration command. Use the no form of this command to remove the password. password password no password

Syntax Description

password

Character string that specifies the line password. The first character cannot be a number. The string can contain any alphanumeric characters, including spaces, up to 80 characters. You cannot specify the password in the format number-space-anything. The space after the number causes problems. For example, hello 21 is a legal password, but 21 hello is not. The password checking is case sensitive. For example, the password Secret is different than the password secret.

Defaults

No password is specified.

Command Modes

Line configuration

Command History

Release 10.0

Modification This command was introduced.

Usage Guidelines

When an EXEC process is started on a line with password protection, the EXEC prompts for the password. If the user enters the correct password, the EXEC prints its normal privileged prompt. The user can try three times to enter a password before the EXEC exits and returns the terminal to the idle state.

Examples

The following example removes the password from virtual terminal lines 1 to 4:
line vty 1 4 no password

Related Commands

Command enable password

Description Sets a local password to control access to various privilege levels.

Security Command Reference

SR-428

Passwords and Privileges Commands privilege

privilege
To configure a new privilege level for users and associate commands with that privilege level, use the privilege command in global configuration mode. Use the no form of this command to revert to default privileges for the specified command. privilege mode {level level | reset} command-string no privilege mode {level level | reset} command-string

Syntax Description

mode level level reset

Configuration mode for the specified command. See Table 418 in the Usage Guidelines section for a list of options for this argument. Specifies the privilege level you are configuring for the specified command or commands. The level argument must be a number from 0 to 15. Resets the privilege level of the specified command or commands to the default and removes the privilege level configuration from the running-config file.
Note

If you use the no form of this command to reset the privilege level to the default, the default form of this command will still appear in the configuration file. To completely remove a privilege configuration, use the reset keyword.

command-string

Command associated with the specified privilege level.

Defaults

User EXEC mode commands are privilege level 1. Privileged EXEC mode and configuration mode commands are privilege level 15.

Command Modes

Global configuration

Command History

Release 10.3

Modification This command was introduced.

Usage Guidelines

The password for a privilege level defined using the privilege global configuration command is configured using the enable secret command. Level 0 can be used to specify a more-limited subset of commands for specific users or lines. For example, you can allow user guest to use only the show users and exit commands.

Note

There are five commands associated with privilege level 0: disable, enable, exit, help, and logout. If you configure AAA authorization for a privilege level greater than 0, these five commands will not be included.

Security Command Reference

SR-429

Passwords and Privileges Commands privilege

When you set the privilege level for a command with multiple words, note that the commands starting with the first word will also have the specified access level. For example, if you set the show ip route command to level 15, the show commands and show ip commands are automatically set to privilege level 15unless you set them individually to different levels. This is necessary because you cant execute, for example, the show ip command unless you have access to show commands. Table 418 shows some of the keyword options for the mode argument in the privilege command. The available mode keywords will vary depending on your hardware and software version. To see a list of available mode options on your system, use the privilege ? command.
.

Table 418

Mode Argument Options

Command accept-dialin accept-dialout address-family alps-ascu alps-circuit atm-bm-config atm-bundle-config atm-vc-config atmsig_e164_table_mode cascustom config-rtr-http configure controller crypto-map crypto-transform dhcp dspfarm exec flow-cache gateway interface interface-dlci ipenacl ipsnacl ip-vrf lane line map-class map-list

Description VPDN Accept-dialin group configuration mode VPDN Accept-dialout group configuration mode Address family configuration mode ALPS ASCU configuration mode ALPS circuit configuration mode ATM VC bundle-member configuration mode ATM VC bundle configuration mode ATM virtual circuit (VC) configuration mode ATMSIG E164 Table CAS custom configuration mode SAA/RTR HTTP raw request configuration mode Global configuration mode Controller configuration mode Crypto map configuration mode Crypto transform configuration mode DHCP pool configuration mode DSP farm configuration mode EXEC mode Flow aggregation cache configuration mode Gateway configuration mode Interface configuration mode Frame Relay DLCI configuration mode IP named extended access-list configuration mode IP named simple access-list configuration mode Configure IP VRF parameters ATM LAN Emulation LECS Configuration Table Line configuration mode Map class configuration mode Map list configuration mode

Security Command Reference

SR-430

Passwords and Privileges Commands privilege

Table 418

Mode Argument Options (continued)

Command mpoa-client mpoa-server null-interface preaut request-dialin request-dialout route-map router rsvp-local-policy rtr sg-radius sg-tacacs+ sip-ua subscriber-policy tcl tdm-conn template translation-rule vc-class voiceclass voiceport voipdialpeer vpdn-group

Description MPOA Client MPOA Server Null interface configuration mode AAA Preauth definitions VPDN Request-dialin group configuration mode VPDN Request-dialout group configuration mode Route map configuration mode Router configuration mode RSVP local policy configuration mode SAA/RTR configuration mode RADIUS server group definition TACACS+ server group SIP UA configuration mode Subscriber policy configuration mode TCL configuration mode TDM connection configuration mode Template configuration mode Translation-rule configuration mode VC class configuration mode Voice class configuration mode Voice configuration mode Dial peer configuration mode VPDN group configuration mode

Examples

The following example shows how to set the configure command to privilege level 14 and establish SecretPswd14 as the password users must enter to use level 14 commands:
privilege exec level 14 configure enable secret level 14 SecretPswd14

The following example resets the configure command privilege level:

Related Commands

Command enable password enable secret privilege level

Description Sets a local password to control access to various privilege levels. Specifies an additional layer of security over the enable password command. Sets the default privilege level for a line.

Security Command Reference

SR-431

Passwords and Privileges Commands privilege level

privilege level
To set the default privilege level for a line, use the privilege level (line) command. Use the no form of this command to restore the default user privilege level to the line. privilege level level no privilege level

Syntax Description

level

Privilege level associated with the specified line.

Defaults

Level 15 is the level of access permitted by the enable password. Level 1 is normal EXEC-mode user privileges.

Command Modes

Line configuration

Command History

Release 10.3

Modification This command was introduced.

Usage Guidelines

Users can override the privilege level you set using this command by logging in to the line and enabling a different privilege level. They can lower the privilege level by using the disable command. If users know the password to a higher privilege level, they can use that password to enable the higher privilege level. You can use level 0 to specify a subset of commands for specific users or lines. For example, you can allow user guest to use only the show users and exit commands. You might specify a high level of privilege for your console line to restrict line usage.

Examples

The commands in the following example configure the auxiliary line for privilege level 5. Anyone using the auxiliary line has privilege level 5 by default.
line aux 0 privilege level 5

The command in the following example sets all show ip commands, which includes all show commands, to privilege level 7:
privilege exec level 7 show ip route

This is equivalent to the following command:

Security Command Reference

SR-432

Passwords and Privileges Commands privilege level

The commands in the following example set show ip route to level 7 and the show and show ip commands to level 1:
privilege exec level 7 show ip route privilege exec level 1 show ip

Related Commands

Command enable password

Description Sets a local password to control access to various privilege levels.

Security Command Reference

SR-433

Passwords and Privileges Commands service password-encryption

service password-encryption
To encrypt passwords, use the service password-encryption global configuration command. Use the no form of this command to restore the default. service password-encryption no service password-encryption

Syntax Description

This command has no arguments or keywords.

Defaults

No encryption

Command Modes

Global configuration

Command History

Release 10.0

Modification This command was introduced.

Usage Guidelines

The actual encryption process occurs when the current configuration is written or when a password is configured. Password encryption is applied to all passwords, including username passwords, authentication key passwords, the privileged command password, console and virtual terminal line access passwords, and BGP neighbor passwords. This command is primarily useful for keeping unauthorized individuals from viewing your password in your configuration file. When password encryption is enabled, the encrypted form of the passwords is displayed when a more system:running-config command is entered.

Caution

This command does not provide a high level of network security. If you use this command, you should also take additional network security measures.

Note

You cannot recover a lost encrypted password. You must clear NVRAM and set a new password.

Examples

The following example causes password encryption to take place:

Security Command Reference

SR-434

Passwords and Privileges Commands service password-encryption

Related Commands

Command enable password key-string (authentication) neighbor password

Description Sets a local password to control access to various privilege levels. Specifies the authentication string for a key. Enables MD5 authentication on a TCP connection between two BGP peers.

Security Command Reference

SR-435

Passwords and Privileges Commands show privilege

show privilege
To display your current level of privilege, use the show privilege EXEC command. show privilege

Syntax Description

This command has no arguments or keywords.

Command Modes

EXEC

Command History

Release 10.3

Modification This command was introduced.

Usage Guidelines

Use this command to display your current level of privilege.

Examples

The following is sample output from the show privilege command. The current privilege level is 15.
Router# show privilege Current privilege level is 15

Related Commands

Command enable password enable secret

Description Sets a local password to control access to various privilege levels. Specifies an additional layer of security over the enable password command.

Security Command Reference

SR-436

Passwords and Privileges Commands username

username
To establish a username-based authentication system, use the username command in global configuration mode. username name {nopassword | password password | password encryption-type encrypted-password} username name password secret username name [access-class number] username name [autocommand command] username name [callback-dialstring telephone-number] username name [callback-rotary rotary-group-number] username name [callback-line [tty] line-number [ending-line-number]] username name dnis username name [nocallback-verify] username name [noescape] [nohangup] username name [privilege level] username name user-maxlinks number username [lawful-intercept] name [privilege privilege-level | view view-name] password password

Syntax Description

name nopassword password password encryption-type

Host name, server name, user ID, or command name. The name argument can be only one word. Blank spaces and quotation marks are not allowed. No password is required for this user to log in. This is usually most useful in combination with the autocommand keyword. Specifies a possibly encrypted password for this username. Password a user enters. Single-digit number that defines whether the text immediately following is encrypted, and, if so, what type of encryption is used. Currently defined encryption types are 0, which means that the text immediately following is not encrypted, and 7, which means that the text is encrypted using a Cisco-defined encryption algorithm. Encrypted password a user enters. Password to access the name argument. A password must be from 1 to 25 characters, can contain embedded spaces, and must be the last option specified in the username command.

encrypted-password password

Security Command Reference

SR-437

Passwords and Privileges Commands username

secret

For CHAP authentication: specifies the secret for the local router or the remote device. The secret is encrypted when it is stored on the local router. The secret can consist of any string of up to 11 ASCII characters. There is no limit to the number of username and password combinations that can be specified, allowing any number of remote devices to be authenticated. (Optional) Specifies an outgoing access list that overrides the access list specified in the access-class line configuration command. It is used for the duration of the users session. (Optional) Access list number. (Optional) Causes the specified command to be issued automatically after the user logs in. When the command is complete, the session is terminated. Because the command can be any length and contain embedded spaces, commands using the autocommand keyword must be the last option on the line. (Optional) The command string. Because the command can be any length and contain embedded spaces, commands using the autocommand keyword must be the last option on the line. (Optional) For asynchronous callback only: permits you to specify a telephone number to pass to the DCE device. (Optional) For asynchronous callback only: telephone number to pass to the DCE device. (Optional) For asynchronous callback only: permits you to specify a rotary group number. The next available line in the rotary group is selected. (Optional) For asynchronous callback only: integer between 1 and 100 that identifies the group of lines on which you want to enable a specific username for callback. (Optional) For asynchronous callback only: specific line on which you enable a specific username for callback. (Optional) For asynchronous callback only: standard asynchronous line. (Optional) For asynchronous callback only: relative number of the terminal line (or the first line in a contiguous group) on which you want to enable a specific username for callback. Numbering begins with zero. (Optional) Relative number of the last line in a contiguous group on which you want to enable a specific username for callback. If you omit the keyword (such as tty), then line-number and ending-line-number are absolute rather than relative line numbers. Do not require password when obtained via DNIS. (Optional) Authentication not required for EXEC callback on the specified line. (Optional) Prevents a user from using an escape character on the host to which that user is connected. (Optional) Prevents Cisco IOS software from disconnecting the user after an automatic command (set up with the autocommand keyword) has completed. Instead, the user gets another EXEC prompt. (Optional) Sets the privilege level for the user. (Optional) Number between 0 and 15 that specifies the privilege level for the user.

access-class

number autocommand

command

callback-dialstring telephone-number callback-rotary rotary-group-number

callback-line tty line-number

ending-line-number

dnis nocallback-verify noescape nohangup

privilege level

Security Command Reference

SR-438

Passwords and Privileges Commands username

user-maxlinks number lawful-intercept name privilege privilege-level view

Limit the users number of inbound links. User-maxlinks limit for inbound links. (Optional) Configures lawful intercept users on a Cisco device. Host name, server name, user ID, or command name. The name argument can be only one word. Blank spaces and quotation marks are not allowed. (Optional) Sets the privilege level for the user. (Optional) Number between 0 and 15 that specifies the privilege level for the user. (Optional) For command-line interface (CLI) view only: associates a CLI view name with the local authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) database. (Optional) For CLI view only: view name, which was specified via the parser view command, that is to be associated with the AAA local database. Password to access the CLI view.

view-name

password password

Defaults

No username-based authentication system is established.

Command Modes

Global configuration

Command History

Release 10.0 11.1

Modification This command was introduced. The following keywords and arguments were added:

username name [callback-dialstring telephone-number] username name [callback-rotary rotary-group-number] username name [callback-line [tty] line-number [ending-line-number]] username name [nocallback-verify] lawful-intercept view view-name

12.3(7)T

The following keywords and arguments were added:

Usage Guidelines

The username command provides username or password authentication, or both, for login purposes only. Multiple username commands can be used to specify options for a single user. Add a username entry for each remote system with which the local router communicates and from which it requires authentication. The remote device must have a username entry for the local router. This entry must have the same password as the local routers entry for that remote device.

Security Command Reference

SR-439

Passwords and Privileges Commands username

This command can be useful for defining usernames that get special treatment. For example, you can use this command to define an info username that does not require a password but connects the user to a general purpose information service. The username command is required as part of the configuration for the Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP). Add a username entry for each remote system from which the local router requires authentication.

Note

To enable the local router to respond to remote CHAP challenges, one username name entry must be the same as the hostname entry that has already been assigned to the other router.

Note

To avoid the situation of a privilege level 1 user entering into a higher privilege level, configure a per-user privilege level other than 1 (for example, 0 or 2 through 15).

Note

Per-user privilege levels override virtual terminal (VTY) privilege levels.

Both CLI views and lawful intercept views restrict access to specified commands and configuration information. A lawful intercept view allows a user to secure access to lawful intercept commands that are held within the TAP-MIB, which is a special set of simple network management protocol (SNMP) commands that stores information about calls and users. Users who are specified via the lawful-intercept keyword are placed in the lawful-intercept view, by default, if no other privilege level or view name has been explicitly specified. If there is no secret specified and the debug serial-interface command is enabled, an error is displayed when a link is established and the CHAP challenge is not implemented. CHAP debugging information is available using the debug ppp negotiation, debug serial-interface, and debug serial-packet commands. For more information about debug commands, refer to the Cisco IOS Debug Command Reference.

Examples

The following example implements a service similar to the UNIX who command, which can be entered at the login prompt and lists the current users of the router:
username who nopassword nohangup autocommand show users

The following example implements an information service that does not require a password to be used. The command takes the following form:
username info nopassword noescape autocommand telnet nic.ddn.mil

The following example implements an ID that works even if all the TACACS+ servers break. The command takes the following form:
username superuser password superpassword

The following example enables CHAP on interface serial 0 of server_l. It also defines a password for a remote server named server_r.

Security Command Reference

SR-440

Passwords and Privileges Commands username

hostname server_l username server_r password theirsystem interface serial 0 encapsulation ppp ppp authentication chap

When you look at your configuration file, the passwords will be encrypted, and the display will look similar to the following:
hostname server_l username server_r password 7 121F0A18 interface serial 0 encapsulation ppp ppp authentication chap

In both of the following configuration examples, a privilege level 1 user is denied access to privilege levels higher than 1:
username user privilege 0 password 0 cisco username user 2 privilege 2 password 0 cisco

Related Commands

Command arap callback callback forced-wait ppp callback (DDR)

Description Enables an ARA client to request a callback from an ARA client. Forces the Cisco IOS software to wait before initiating a callback to a requesting client. Enables a dialer interface that is not a DTR interface to function either as a callback client that requests callback or as a callback server that accepts callback requests.

ppp callback (PPP client) Enables a PPP client to dial into an asynchronous interface and request a callback. show users Displays information about the active lines on the router.

Security Command Reference

SR-441

Passwords and Privileges Commands username

Security Command Reference

SR-442