Jupyter Notebook Misconfiguration Lets Hackers Gain Root Access

Have you ever utilized Jupyter Notebook for any coding or data-related purposes? It’s extremely useful — but the slight downside? If you set up Jupyter incorrectly, a hacker will get root access and complete control of your computer. This sounds insane right? I read it recently and it’s a good reminder for anyone running Jupyter on a server or VPS.

What’s Really Going On​

What’s the issue then? It’s not an issue with Jupyter’s code — it’s with how people set it up. Most people run Jupyter in default mode, without a password or token for login, and sometimes even as the root user.

So, what’s the issue?

• A terminal is available in Jupyter, which lets you run shell commands.
• If Jupyter is run as the root user, and you have not configured any log in credential, then anyone who discovers your Jupyter instance can up open a terminal and run root commands.
• This gives the attacker complete access to your entire system, not just the notebook.

Have you ever thought "it's testing, no big deal"? This is how it ends up happening. Developers forget to secure it, and hackers enjoy finding unobscured Jupyter servers online.

Why It Matters​

I have seen this first-hand – People often run Jupyter for personal projects, and leave it open. But it doesn't matter if it's "dev" context, an attacker can:

• Steal your files and your data.
• Install malware or ransomware, including crypto-miners.
• Compromise the full system with root access.

The worst thing? You may not notice until the system is very slow, or files/data are missing.

Fixing It​

Don't worry — it would be very simple to remain safe as long as you take these steps:

• Do not run Jupyter as root.
• Set up a password or token for login.
• If you do not need to use the terminal feature, disable it.
• Use a tool like JupyterHub if you have multiple users needing access.
• Look at all your logs for odd or strange behavior.

Final Thoughts​

This is not some fancy hack, just an easy mistake. But it can be very difficult. So take a few minutes to check your Jupyter settings today. You will thank me later, it is much easier to fix today than handle a hacked server later on!