---
name: "pwdb_chkpwd"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "libpam-pwdb"
version: "0.72-9"
release: "Debian 2.2 (Potato)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pwdb_chkpwd"
---

# pwdb\_chkpwd(8)

check the password of the invoking user

## NAME

**unix\_chkpwd** - check the password of the invoking user

## SYNOPSIS

\<not invoked manually\>

## DESCRIPTION

A helper binary for the pam\_pwdb module, pwdb\_chkpwd, is provided to check the user's password when it is stored in a read protected database, such as shadow'd passwords. This binary is very simple and will only check the password of the user invoking it. It is called transparently on behalf of the user by the authenticating component of the pam\_pwdb module. In this way it is possible for applications like **xlock** to work work without being setuid root.

## USAGE

This program is not intended to be called directly by users and will log to syslog if it is called imporperly (i.e., by some one trying exploit it).