URGENT: Need to verify user's password in Linux proghrammatically

vigosh_j · 01-25-2005, 01:22 PM

Hi

The program has to prompt for user name and password and check it if it's correct , must work under any user account. on Fedora

getspnam doesnot work , due to read only flag set only for root on /etc/shadow file

Any ideas appreciated

Thanks in advance

Vigen

leonscape · 01-25-2005, 01:30 PM

How about su? If it suceeds then you have the right password, if not then it fails.

Matir · 01-25-2005, 03:20 PM

If using pam, use the pam libraries. You should still be able to use those from userspace. I think.

dustu76 · 01-25-2005, 11:56 PM

Code:

[/home/soumen/tmp] $ cat ext
echo "su: correct password"
[/home/soumen/tmp] $ ls -l ext
-rwxr-xr-x    1 soumen   soumen         28 Jan 26 11:20 ext
[/home/soumen/tmp] $ #I am trying with correct password
[/home/soumen/tmp] $ su soumen -c "ext"
Password: 
su: correct password
[/home/soumen/tmp] $ echo $?
0
[/home/soumen/tmp] $ #I am trying with in-correct password
[/home/soumen/tmp] $ su soumen -c "ext"
Password: 
su: incorrect password
[/home/soumen/tmp] $ echo $?
1
[/home/soumen/tmp] $

This should enable you to come up with a shell script that suits your needs.

HTH.

vigosh_j · 01-26-2005, 06:36 AM

PAM really worked from userspace
i did pam_start("su", ......
It worked on Fedora Core2, HP-UX 11 , but failed on SUN
An it only works for currently logged in user.

acid_kewpie · 01-26-2005, 06:56 AM

please do not mark threads as urgent. it is not urgent for all the members whjo kindly donate the time to help others.