Linux - What happens to user's running processes when its password is changed?

user_6489803 0
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On one server I have an application running as a non-root linux user. I forgot its password, so I was about to change it using root priviledges, but then I wondered if that could harm the application running with that user.

I looked online but I didn't find any answers to this. Does anything happens to the user's running processes when the user's password is changed?

change-password process linux
2 Answers

tl;dr

some testing did not cause any problems in a new user, it seems safe to change password without changing any access parameters.

Steps:

  • Created a new user: testing
useradd -d /home/testing -m -p testing1 testing
  • logged into 'testing' user in another terminal.
  • launched htop (accesses system resources and updates constantly).
  • changed password with passwd.
  • changed back to the testing terminal and everything was working fine.

Caveat: Havent tested on any software where auth is required (ssh, pc etc...)

user_111544070

The service will keep running, But it won't start the next time. You will have to reconfigure the service with the new password.

user_51488050
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