Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!zorba!dtynan From: arnold@mathcs.emory.edu (Arnold D. Robbins {EUCC}) Newsgroups: comp.unix Subject: Re: Passwd file Message-ID: <3460@zorba.Tynan.COM> Date: 10 Sep 89 01:21:32 GMT References: <3474@altos86.Altos.COM> Sender: dtynan@zorba.Tynan.COM Reply-To: uunet!gatech.edu!emory!arnold (Arnold D. Robbins {EUCC}) Organization: Math and Computer Science, Emory University, Atlanta GA Lines: 14 Approved: dtynan@zorba.Tynan.COM In article <3474@altos86.Altos.COM> uunet!ncar.UCAR.EDU!boulder!fred!bobk (Bob Kinne) writes: >What is the purpose of the following /etc/passwd entry? > >::0:0::: (null login, password, and shell) This is the result of leaving a blank line in /etc/passwd after editing it via the vipw program. It is an incredible security hole and should be deleted ASAP. -- Arnold Robbins -- Emory University Computing Center | Laundry increases DOMAIN: arnold@unix.cc.emory.edu | exponentially in the UUCP: gatech!emoryu1!arnold PHONE: +1 404 727-7636 | number of children. BITNET: arnold@emoryu1 FAX: +1 404 727-2599 | -- Miriam Hartholz