Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ginosko!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!apple!zorba!dtynan
From: heilpern@BRL.MIL
Newsgroups: comp.unix
Subject: Re: Passwd file
Message-ID: <3472@zorba.Tynan.COM>
Date: 7 Oct 89 19:55:28 GMT
References: <3474@altos86.Altos.COM>
Sender: dtynan@zorba.Tynan.COM
Reply-To: heilpern@brl.arpa (Mark A. Heilpern (IBD) <heilpern>)
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab (BRL), APG, MD.
Lines: 18
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)

There is no good purpose of this line, it is a pretty serious
security flaw. It was caused when 1) a blank line existed in the
passwd file, and then 2) someone ran the passwd (change passwd)
command. Remove this line (or have your adminitrator do it)
immediately, and make sure there is never any blank lines in your
passwd file again.

>Thanks.

You're welcome,
	Mark A. Heilpern
	--M.
	heilpern@brl.mil