I think it's generally just a bad practice. I don't believe these files aren't intended to be edited directly, although I'm personally guilty of doing so on occasion. That being said, I think the best way to know what will happen is to look at the source code. Shawn Badger wrote: > Somebody did mention security to me as well, but when I asked them to > elaborate on it they couldn't. > I agree you can maintain a separate file for the comments, but I am > looking for something that would say if you have blank line lines in in > the /etc/passwd or /etc/group file this can happen. And if you have > #comments in them this can happen, but so far I have not been able to > find anything like that. > > In order to defend my stance, I need to be able to say this will happen > if you do that. > > > > On Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 9:24 AM, Eric Shubert > wrote: > > My understanding is that it could compromise security. > Personally, I think this would open a can of worms (so to speak). > > If I had a need to document what's there, I think I'd create a separate > file to documents this. Then you could make it whatever format you like. > For updating, perhaps do a diff between the documentation and the live > file, along with a little scripting, to keep the documentation up to > date a little easier. > > Shawn Badger wrote: > > What are the consequences of adding them in? > > > > On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 4:01 PM, Eric Shubert > > >> wrote: > > > > Shawn Badger wrote: > > > I haven't seen this before, but I am wondering if it > possible to put > > > blank lines and comments in the /etc/passd and group files? > > > I have one person saying you absolutely can't and another > saying > > that > > > you can. > > > Which one is right? > > > > They're both right. > > Question is, are you willing to live with the consequences of > doing > > so. ;) > > > > -- > > -Eric 'shubes' > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > > > -- > -Eric 'shubes' > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > -- -Eric 'shubes' --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss