Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!tank!mimsy!chris
From: chris@mimsy.UUCP (Chris Torek)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: Password entry
Message-ID: <19230@mimsy.UUCP>
Date: 23 Aug 89 20:42:48 GMT
References: <10975@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 13

In article <10975@boulder.Colorado.EDU> bobk@fred.colorado.edu (Bob Kinne)
writes:
>What is the purpose of the following /etc/passwd entry?
>::0:0:::	(null login, password, and shell)

To let any and all {cr,h,wr,att}ackers get in to your system as root.

Such password entries are created by an over-trusting `getpwent' mixed
with an incautious `passwd' program and a fumble-fingered operator or
super-user.
-- 
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7163)
Domain:	chris@mimsy.umd.edu	Path:	uunet!mimsy!chris