[SunHELP] Password validation

[Sheldon T. Hall]

"Edward Chase" <echase at studentweb.providence.edu> wrote ...

> At 10:21 AM 1/13/2003 -0500, Sheldon T. Hall wrote:
> >Is there a simple way to check someone's password from a shell script?
I.e.
> >have them enter their system password and be sure that's actually their
> >password on a pass/fail basis?  I expect I could use `expect` but I'd
prefer
> >something that would be a standard part of UNIX.

> Not 100% part of standard unix...  However I've done something similar
> using Perl and the libnet module (I think).  Perl did come with Solaris
8...
>
> I wrote a password change program, but part of it needs to determine if I
> had the true user by validation of their current password.  This was done
> by having the script open an FTP session to the machine itself.  I you got
> a connection, you must have the proper username / password combination.
My
> program is a web based interface, the users aren't allowed shell
> access.  The machine is a POP mail server.

Well, this has to be portable, but your "FTP to self" idea might work.
Thanks for the idea!

-Shel