This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Faruk
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The Hidden Danger of Old Users: Why I Regularly Audit /etc/passwd on My Linux Servers
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Intro: Think your server is secure because it has no root logins and a strong firewall? You might be forgetting something silent but dangerous: stale user accounts . Over time, forgotten system users, leftover developers, or unrevoked test accounts pile up — and they’re a goldmine for attackers. Here’s why I audit /etc/passwd regularly, and how you can do it too.
/etc/passwd
1. Why Old User Accounts Are a Real Risk
- Unused accounts are often ignored in patching or permission reviews.
- Some may still have sudo access or weak passwords.
- If one is compromised, it could provide lateral movement inside your environment.
2. My Quick Script to List Human Users
System accounts are usually below UID 1000. I use this to find real users:
awk -F: '$3 >= 1000 && $1 != "nobody" { print $1 }' /etc/passwd
Want more detail?
getent passwd | awk -F: '$3 >= 1000 && $7 != "/usr/sbin/nologin" && $7 != "/bin/false"' | cut -d: -f1,6,7
This lists:
- Username
- Home directory
👉 Read Full Blog on Medium Here
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Faruk
Faruk | Sciencx (2025-09-24T18:33:21+00:00) The Hidden Danger of Old Users: Why I Regularly Audit /etc/passwd on My Linux Servers | by Faruk Ahmed | nextgenthreat. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/24/the-hidden-danger-of-old-users-why-i-regularly-audit-etc-passwd-on-my-linux-servers-by-faruk-ahmed-nextgenthreat/
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