Managing a user password for linux in puppet

Question

I need to create a test user with a password using puppet.

I've read that puppet cannot manage user passwords in a generic cross-platform way, which is a pity. I am doing this for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 6.3.

I do as follows:

user { 'test_user': 
  ensure   => present,
  password => sha1('hello'),
}

puppet updates the password of the user, but Linux says login/pwd incorrect when I try to log in.

It works (I can login) if I set the password manually in Linux with sudo passwd test_user, and then look at /etc/shadow and hardcode that value in puppet. something like:

user { 'test_user': 
  ensure   => present,
  password => '$1$zi13KdCr$zJvdWm5h552P8b34AjxO11',
}

I've tried also by adding $1$ in front of the sha1('hello'), but it does not work either (note, $1$ stands for sha1).

How to modify the first example to make it work (using the plaintext password in the puppet file)?

P.S.: I am aware that I should use LDAP, or sshkeys, or something else, instead of hardcoding the user passwords in the puppet file. however, I am doing this only for running a puppet vagrant test, so it is ok to hardcode the user password.

Answer 1

Linux users have their passwords stored as hash in /etc/shadow file. Puppet passes the password supplied in the user type definition in the /etc/shadow file.

Generate your hash password using openssl command:

 #openssl passwd -1  
 #Enter your password here 
 Password: 
 Verifying - Password: 
 $1$HTQUGYUGYUGwsxQxCp3F/nGc4DCYM

The previous example generate this hash: $1$HTQUGYUGYUGwsxQxCp3F/nGc4DCYM/

Add this hash password to your class as shown (do not forget the quotes)

user { 'test_user': 
  ensure   => present,
  password => '$1$HTQUGYUGYUGwsxQxCp3F/nGc4DCYM/',
}