How to test if root user is enabled in Mac?

Question

I need to test if Mac root user is enabled or not.

I usually enable/disable it by using dsenableroot.

Answer 1

sudo dscl . -read /Users/root Password

If root is enabled it will output Password: ********, otherwise it will be just No such key: Password.

Edit: After Apple's security patch 2017 Nov 29, if root is disabled, it may output Password: *

---

Alternative:

sudo plutil -p /var/db/dslocal/nodes/Default/users/root.plist | grep -A 2 passwd

If the result is:

"passwd" => [
0 => "********"
]

Then root is enabled. If it's:

"passwd" => [
0 => "*"
]

then root is disabled.