pam_timestamp(8) - Linux man page

Name

pam_timestamp - authenticate using cached successful authentication attempts

Synopsis

auth sufficient /lib/security/pam_timestamp.so
session optional /lib/security/pam_timestamp.so

Description

In a nutshell, pam_timestamp caches successful authentication attempts, and allows you to use a recent successful attempt as the basis for authentication.

When an application opens a session using pam_timestamp, a timestamp file is created in the timestampdir directory for the user. When an application attempts to authenticate the user, a pam_timestamp will treat a sufficiently- recent timestamp file as grounds for succeeding.

Arguments

debug: turns on debugging via syslog(3).
timestampdir=name: tells pam_timestamp.so where to place and search for timestamp files. This should match the directory configured for sudo(1) in the sudoers(5) file.
timestamp_timeout=number: tells pam_timestamp.so how long it should treat timestamp files as valid after their last modification date. This should match the value configured for sudo(1) in the sudoers(5) file.
verbose: attempt to inform the user when access is granted.

Example

/etc/pam.d/some-config-tool:
auth sufficient /lib/security/pam_timestamp.so verbose auth required /lib/security/pam_unix.so
session required /lib/security/pam_permit.so session optional /lib/security/pam_timestamp.so

Caveats

Users can get confused when they aren't always asked for passwords when running a given program. Some users reflexively begin typing information before noticing that it's not being asked for.

Bugs

Let's hope not, but if you find any, please email the author.

Author

Nalin Dahyabhai <nalin@redhat.com>

Referenced By

config-util(5)