No permission for direct access to security database

This message shows up when you try to change password on Firebird 2.0 database using some of older methods that access the database file directly. Firebird 2.0 prevents this, as it is a security issue. The only way to update passwords is via Services API. Use the appropriate interface your connection library provides.

Alternatively, you can use Firebird's gsec tool:

gsec -database path -mo username -pw new_password -user sysdba -pass masterkey

For example, to change SYSDBA password from masterkey to mykey:

/opt/firebird/bin/gsec -database localhost:/opt/firebird/security.fdb -mo sysdba -pw mykey -user sysdba -pass masterkey

Do you find this FAQ incorrect or incomplete? Please e-mail us what needs to be changed. To ensure quality, each change is checked by our editors (and often tested on live Firebird databases), before it enters the main FAQ database. If you desire so, the changes will be credited to your name. To learn more, visit our add content page.