[suse-security] Hexediting on a unmountable filesystem?

[Rikard Johnels <rikard.j@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello list.
Complicated question:

I have a old SGI box with an installed IRIX 5.something, that i got for free a 
while back.

Problem: No root passsword. Only "Guest" account access.
Linux cant read the older 5.x XFS system Thus having an unmountable 
filesystem. So i can't mount it and change the password manually.

Question: Can i somehow find the exact place on any given disc for a file, and 
hexedit the "device" and thereby changing it? (In this case; the entry for 
root in /etc/password) 

I know i can get the IRIX media for almost nothing, but i see this as an 
opportunity to delve deeper into security issues...


-- 
         /Rikard

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