Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ginosko!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!apple!zorba!dtynan
From: gak@gakbox.Corp.Sun.COM (Richard Stueven)
Newsgroups: comp.unix
Subject: Re: Passwd file
Message-ID: <3479@zorba.Tynan.COM>
Date: 7 Oct 89 22:51:18 GMT
References: <3474@altos86.Altos.COM> <3456@zorba.Tynan.COM>
Sender: dtynan@zorba.Tynan.COM
Reply-To: uunet!Sun.COM!gak (Richard Stueven)
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mountain View
Lines: 20
Approved: dtynan@zorba.Tynan.COM

In article <3456@zorba.Tynan.COM> bill@twwells.com (T. William Wells) writes:
>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 purpose to it, unless some hacker put it in to allow
>anyone root access.
>
>Generally, it is created by a bug in the software.

Unless you're on a Sun, in which case it is a signal to "include the
Yellow Pages password file here".

have fun
gak

Richard Stueven       gak@sun.com       ...!attmail!rstueven
***These opinions belong to Ernie and his little pal Gus.***
              ***He's mad!  Mad, I tell you!***