https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=731867
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=731867#c35
--- Comment #35 from Walter Haidinger 2012-02-01 08:40:38 UTC ---
Slightly OT, but I was curious where the '*' (aka blocked) password is
documented. Checked the man-pages of openSUSE 12.1:
passwd(5): mentions '*' in password field but doesn't explain "blocked"
shadow(5): no reference
crypt(3): no reference
passwd(1): only hints the usage of '!' for locked
pwconv(8): no reference
Turns out that '*' is an arbitrary character used for blocked accounts.
Like any other string not matching the password regex of crypt(3).
Apparently this is not explicitly documented in the Linux manpages.
OpenBSD does document this, quoting passwd(5):
By convention, accounts that are not intended to be logged in to
(e.g. bin, daemon, sshd) have a star (`*') in the password field.
Note that there is nothing special about `*', it is just one of many
strings that is not a valid encrypted password (see crypt(3))
http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=passwd&sektion=5
Maybe it wouldn't hurt to include this in passwd(5) and/or shadow(5) too.
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