Software library to manage authentication on Linux systems
Linux Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) is a suite of libraries that allow a Linux system administrator to configure methods to authenticate users. It provides a flexible and centralized way to switch authentication methods for secured applications by using configuration files instead of changing application code.[1] There are Linux PAM libraries allowing authentication using methods such as local passwords, LDAP, or fingerprint readers.[2] Linux PAM is evolved from the Unix Pluggable Authentication Modules architecture.[3]
Linux-PAM separates the tasks of authentication into four independent management groups:[4]
- account modules check that the specified account is a valid authentication target under current conditions. This may include conditions like account expiration, time of day, and that the user has access to the requested service.
- authentication modules verify the user's identity, for example by requesting and checking a password or other secret. They may also pass authentication information on to other systems like a keyring.
- password modules are responsible for updating passwords, and are generally coupled to modules employed in the authentication step. They may also be used to enforce strong passwords.
- session modules define actions that are performed at the beginning and end of sessions. A session starts after the user has successfully authenticated.
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