---
name: "unix2_chkpwd"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "libpam-unix2"
version: "1:2.4.1-6"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/unix2_chkpwd"
---

# unix2\_chkpwd(8)

helper binary that verifies the password of the current user

## NAME

unix2\_chkpwd - helper binary that verifies the password of the current user

## SYNOPSIS

/sbin/unix2\_chkpwd *servicename* *username*

## DESCRIPTION

**unix2\_chkpwd** is a helper program for applications that verifies  the password of the current user.  It is not intended to be run directly from  the command line and logs a security violation if done so.

It is typically installed setuid root or setgid shadow and called by applications, which only wishes to do an user authentication and nothing more.

## OPTIONS

unix2\_pwdchk requires the following arguments:

- *pam\_service*

  The name of the service using unix2\_chkpwd. This is required to be one of the services in /etc/pam.d

- *username*

  The name of the user whose password you want to verify.

## INPUTS

unix2\_pwdchk expects the password via stdin.

## RETURN CODES

**unix2\_chkpwd** has the following return codes:

- 1

  unix2\_chkpwd was inappropriately called from the command line or the password is incorrect.

- 0

  The password is correct.

## HISTORY

Written by Olaf Kirch loosely based on unix\_chkpwd by Andrew Morgan

## SEE ALSO

[**pam**(8)](/pam/8.md)

## AUTHOR

Emily Ratliff.