PHP/PAM to change user password?

Question

Are there any working packages to change a linux user passwords using PHP?

I\'ve tried using PECL:PAM but theres an error when it tries to change the password.

E

Answer 1

Are there any working packages to change a linux user passwords using PHP?

This is really, really dangerous. Assuming you understand the risks then you'll realise that you need to build a number of constraints before applying the change which must be implemented in the privilege level which allows passwords to be changed - i.e. the code to run this must be a standalone executable with either setuid executoin or called via sudo from your php code.

Of course there's no reason that the standalone code couldn't be written in PHP, other than the fact that the (at least, the last time I looked at this) the PAM bindings in PHP were rather immature,

You might want to have a look at the chpasswd program (available on Redhat and some others distros) or use proc_open('/usr/bin/passwd'... and read and respond to the prompts correctly.

HTH

C.