A system administrator is hardening a new Linux server and is auditing the default file permissions. They notice that while /etc/passwd is readable by all users, the /etc/shadow file is restricted to root access only. What is the primary purpose of the /etc/shadow file in a modern Linux system?
To store system-wide environment variables and startup scripts that are executed for all users upon login.
To define the primary and supplementary group memberships for each user on the system.
To store sensitive user information, including hashed passwords and password expiration data, protecting it from non-privileged users.
To serve as a template for new user home directories, containing default profile and configuration files.
The correct answer is that the /etc/shadow file stores sensitive user information, including hashed passwords and password expiration data. In early Linux systems, the encrypted password was stored in the world-readable /etc/passwd file, creating a security risk where any user could access the password hashes and attempt to crack them offline. The introduction of /etc/shadow, which is only accessible by the root user, mitigates this risk by separating sensitive authentication data from general user account information.
The /etc/group file is used to define group memberships for users. The /etc/skel directory acts as a template, and its contents are copied to a new user's home directory upon creation. The /etc/profile file contains system-wide environment settings and startup scripts for all users who log in with a shell.
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Why is `/etc/shadow` restricted to root-only access?
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