PAM_SHELLS(8)

✨ NAME ✨

okay so bestie, gather round 💖 this is pam_shells — it's from the Linux-PAM manual, section 8 (that's the admin/system commands girlies 👑), and it's a PAM module whose whole entire job is checking for a valid login shell.

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

pam_shells.so

that's it. that's the whole vibe. no args, no flags, just a little module living its truth 🦋

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💅 DESCRIPTION 💅

so pam_shells is a PAM module that only lets you into the system if your shell is listed in /etc/shells. like, if your shell isn't on the guest list, you're not getting in. no cap. 🚫

it also does a little background check on the files it needs (think /etc/shells) — it makes sure they're plain files and that they are not world writable. because a world-writable shell list is giving chaos and we do not stan 😭

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🎀 OPTIONS 🎀

not a single one, bestie. this module does not recognise any options. zero. none. she's low maintenance, she's independent, she takes no notes 💅✨

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🌈 MODULE TYPES PROVIDED 🌈

the auth and account module types are provided 🫶

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🔥 RETURN VALUES 🔥

• PAM_AUTH_ERR — access to the system was denied. sorry babe, the door said no 💀
• PAM_SUCCESS — your login shell was listed as a valid shell in /etc/shells. slay, you're in 👑
• PAM_USER_UNKNOWN — the user doesn't exist, or the user's login shell could not be determined. mystery girlie behavior 🙈
• PAM_SERVICE_ERR — the module was not able to get the name of the user. it tried, it really did 😭

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🦋 EXAMPLES 🦋

auth  required  pam_shells.so

put that in your config and you're iconic, periodt.

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💜 SEE ALSO 💜

shells(5), pam.conf(5), pam.d(5), pam(8)

go read those next, bestie, they're part of the lore 📚✨

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🌸 AUTHOR 🌸

pam_shells was written by Erik Troan <ewt@redhat.com> — thank you king, we appreciate you 🫶👑

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and that's the whole page bestie!! this was Linux-PAM, dated 09/27/2026 — mwah, go forth and validate those shells 💖🌈✨