UNSHADOW(8)

📦 version 1.9.0, in debian bookworm, debian trixie, ubuntu jammy, ubuntu noble, ubuntu questing, ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking

✨ UNSHADOW(8) ✨

okay bestie, pull up a chair, we're talking about unshadow from the System Manager's Manual 🫶 this is section 8, so it's a system admin type of situation, and it's lowkey iconic.

🌸 NAME 🌸

unshadow — it literally combines your passwd and shadow files into one. that's the whole job. and it does it flawlessly. 💅

🎀 SYNOPSIS 🎀

unshadow password-file shadow-file

two files in, one glorious combined thing out. that's it. no cap.

💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

so this manual page is here to give you the quick rundown on the unshadow command, which is part of the john package. 🦋 and real talk — this page was written specifically for the Debian GNU/Linux distribution, because the original program doesn't even have a manual page. we're doing charity work out here. 🙈

and who is john? bestie, john, better known as John the Ripper, is a tool that finds weak passwords of users on a server. it's giving security audit main character energy. 👑

now, the unshadow tool combines the passwd and shadow files so John can actually use them. and you might be like "why would I need that tho" — okay so here's the tea: if you only used your shadow file, the GECOS information wouldn't be used by the "single crack" mode, and also you wouldn't be able to use the -shells option. two whole features, gone. tragic. 😭

⚠️ and on a normal system you'll need to run unshadow as root to be able to read the shadow file. it's locked down for a reason, babes. respect the permissions.

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

and ngl, these programs are documented fully by John's documentation, which should be available in /usr/share/doc/john or some other location, depending on your system. iykyk. 🎀

💜 AUTHOR 💜

this manual page was written by Jordi Mallach <jordi@debian.org>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but it may be used by others, sharing is caring 🫶).

John the Ripper and mailer were written by Solar Designer <solar@openwall.com>. and the complete list of contributors can be found in the CREDITS file in the documentation directory. give them their flowers, fr fr. 💐

okay that's the whole vibe check, bestie. this page is john, dated June 03, 2004, and it's living its best life as UNSHADOW(8). slay, periodt. 💅✨

📦 where this page comes from