basic_pam_auth(8) System Manager's Manual basic_pam_auth(8)
NAME
basic_pam_auth - Squid PAM Basic authentication helper
SYNOPSIS
basic_pam_auth [-n service name TTL ] [-o] [-1]
DESCRIPTION
basic_pam_auth allows Squid to connect to a mostly any available PAM database to validate the user name and password of Basic HTTP authen-
tication.
OPTIONS
-s service-name
Specifies the PAM service name Squid uses, defaults to squid
-t TTL Enables persistent PAM connections where the connection to the PAM database is kept open and reused for new logins. The TTL
specifies how long the connection will be kept open (in seconds). Default is to not keep PAM connections open. Please note
that the use of persistent PAM connections is slightly outside the PAM specification and may not work with all PAM configura-
tions.
-o Do not perform the PAM account management group (account expiration etc)
CONFIGURATION
The program needs a PAM service to be configured in /etc/pam.conf or /etc/pam.d/squid
The default service name is squid , and the program makes use of the auth and account management groups to verify the password and the
accounts validity.
For details on how to configure PAM services, see the PAM documentation for your system. This manual does not cover PAM configuration
details.
NOTES
When used for authenticating to local UNIX shadow password databases the program must be running as root or else it won't have sufficient
permissions to access the user password database. Such use of this program is not recommended, but if you absolutely need to then make the
program setuid root
chown root basic_pam_auth
chmod u+s basic_pam_auth
Please note that in such configurations it is also strongly recommended that the program is moved into a directory where normal users can-
not access it, as this mode of operation will allow any local user to brute-force other users passwords. Also note the program has not been
fully audited and the author cannot be held responsible for any security issues due to such installations.
AUTHOR
This program and documentation was written by Henrik Nordstrom <hno@squid-cache.org>
COPYRIGHT
Squid basic_pam_auth and this manual is Copyright 1999,2002,2003 Henrik Nordstrom <hno@squid-cache.org> Distributed under the GNU General
Public License (GNU GPL) version 2 or later (GPLv2+).
QUESTIONS
Questions on the usage of this program can be sent to the Squid Users mailing list <squid-users@squid-cache.org>
REPORTING BUGS
Bug reports need to be made in English. See http://wiki.squid-cache.org/SquidFaq/BugReporting for details of what you need to include with
your bug report.
Report bugs or bug fixes using http://bugs.squid-cache.org/
Report serious security bugs to Squid Bugs <squid-bugs@squid-cache.org>
Report ideas for new improvements to the Squid Developers mailing list <squid-dev@squid-cache.org>
SEE ALSO
squid(8), pam(3), pam.conf(5), chown(1), chmod(1), GPL(7),
PAM Systems Administrator Guide
The Squid FAQ wiki http://wiki.squid-cache.org/SquidFaq
The Squid Configuration Manual http://www.squid-cache.org/Doc/config/
5 Sep 2003 basic_pam_auth(8)