On Linux prevent `sudo` replacing password asterisks with spaces once pressed <kbd>enter</kbd>.
Feb 11, 1:26pm

On Linux, when you type a password for sudo, the terminal typically shows no feedback (not even asterisks) for security reasons. However, if you're using a tool or configuration that shows asterisks (*) and they are replaced with spaces after pressing Enter, this is likely due to the terminal or shell behavior, not sudo itself.

How to Prevent Asterisks from Being Replaced with Spaces

1. Check Your Terminal Emulator Settings

  • Some terminal emulators (like GNOME Terminal, Konsole, or others) may have settings that control how password input is displayed.
  • Look for options like "Show asterisks for password input" or "Password feedback" in your terminal's preferences.

2. Check sudo Configuration

  • By default, sudo does not show any feedback for password input. If you see asterisks, it might be due to a custom configuration or wrapper script.
  • Run sudo -k to reset the timestamp and try again to see if the behavior persists.

3. Check for Custom Prompts or Wrappers

  • If you have a custom sudo prompt or a wrapper script (e.g., in your .bashrc or .zshrc), it might be causing this behavior.
  • Look for aliases or functions that modify sudo behavior, such as: 
    bash
    alias sudo='sudo '
    or scripts that use read -s (silent input) with custom feedback.

4. Check stty Settings

  • The stty command controls terminal settings. If asterisks are being replaced, it might be due to terminal echo settings.
  • Run stty -echo before entering the password to disable echoing (though this will hide all feedback, including asterisks).

5. Check for pam Configuration

  • The Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) system can control password feedback. Check /etc/pam.d/sudo for any custom configurations that might affect password input display.

6. Test in a Different Terminal

  • Try using a different terminal emulator (e.g., xterm, rxvt, or alacritty) to see if the issue persists. This can help isolate whether the problem is terminal-specific.

Example: Debugging Steps

  1. Open a terminal and run:

    bash
    sudo -k

    (This clears the sudo timestamp and forces a password prompt.)

  2. Enter your password and observe if asterisks are replaced with spaces.

  3. If the issue persists, check for custom scripts or terminal settings as described above.

If you provide more details about your terminal emulator, shell, or any custom configurations, I can give more targeted advice! Let me know how it goes.

Feb 11, 1:26pm

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