SKEYINIT(1)

NAME
skeyinit - change password or add user to S/Key authentication system

SYNOPSIS
skeyinit [-CDErsx] [-a auth-type] [-n count] [-md4 | -md5 | -rmd160 | -sha1] [user]

DESCRIPTION
skeyinit initializes the system so you can use S/Key one-time passwords to log in. The program will ask you to enter a secret passphrase which is used by skey(1) to generate one-time passwords: enter a phrase of several words in response. After the S/Key database has been updated you can log in using either your regular password or using S/Key one-time passwords.

skeyinit requires you to type a secret passphrase, so it should be used only on a secure terminal. For example, on the console of a workstation or over an encrypted network session. If you are using skeyinit while logged in over an untrusted network, follow the instructions given below with the -s option.

Before initializing an S/Key entry, the user must authenticate using either a standard password or an S/Key challenge. To use a one-time password for initial authentication, skeyinit -a skey can be used. The user will then be presented with the standard S/Key challenge and allowed to proceed if it is correct.

skeyinit prints a sequence number and a one-time password. This password can't be used to log in; one-time passwords should be generated using skey(1) first. The one-time password printed by skeyinit can be used to verify if the right passphrase has been given to skey(1). The one-time password with the corresponding sequence number printed by skey(1) should match the one printed by skeyinit.

The options are as follows:

-a auth-type
    Before an S/Key entry can be initialised, the user must authenticate themselves to the system. This option allows the authentication type to be specified, such as “krb5”, “passwd”, or “skey”.

-C  Converts from the old-style /etc/skeykeys database to a new-style database where user records are stored in the /etc/skey directory. If an entry already exists in the new-style database it will not be overwritten.

-D  Disables access to the S/Key database. Only the superuser may use the -D option.

-E  Enables access to the S/Key database. Only the superuser may use the -E option.

-md4 | -md5 | -rmd160 | -sha1
    Selects the hash algorithm: MD4, MD5, RMD-160 (160-bit Ripe Message Digest), or SHA1 (NIST Secure Hash Algorithm Revision 1).

-n count
    Start the skey sequence at count (default is 100).

-r  Removes the user's S/Key entry.

-s  Secure mode. The user is expected to have already used a secure machine to generate the first one-time password. Without the -s option the system will assume you are directly connected over secure communications and prompt you for your secret passphrase. The -s option also allows one to set the seed and count for complete control of the parameters.

    When the -s option is specified, skeyinit will try to authenticate the user via S/Key, instead of the default listed in /etc/login.conf. If a user has no entry in the S/Key database, an alternate authentication type must be specified via the -a option (see above). Please note that entering a password or passphrase in plain text defeats the purpose of using “secure” mode.

    You can use skeyinit -s in combination with the skey command to set the seed and count if you do not like the defaults. To do this run skeyinit -s in one window and put in your count and seed, then run skey(1) in another window to generate the correct 6 English words for that count and seed. You can then "cut-and-paste" or type the words into the skeyinit window.

-x  Displays one-time passwords in hexadecimal instead of ASCII.

user
    The username to be changed/added. By default the current user is operated on.

FILES
/etc/login.conf
    file containing authentication types
/etc/skey
    directory containing user entries for S/Key

EXAMPLES

    $ skeyinit
    Reminder - Only use this method if you are directly connected
               or have an encrypted channel.  If you are using telnet,
               hit return now and use skeyinit -s.
    Password: enter your regular password here
    [Updating user with md5]
    Old seed: [md5] host12377
    Enter new secret passphrase: type a new passphrase here
    Again secret passphrase: again
    ID user skey is otp-md5 100 host12378
    Next login password: CITE BREW IDLE CAIN ROD DOME
    $ otp-md5 -n 3 100 host12378
    Reminder - Do not use this program while logged in via telnet.
    Enter secret passphrase: type your passphrase here
    98: WERE TUG EDDY GEAR GILL TEE
    99: NEAR HA TILT FIN LONG SNOW
    100: CITE BREW IDLE CAIN ROD DOME

The one-time password for the next login will have sequence number 99.

ERRORS
skey disabled
    /etc/skey does not exist or is not accessible by the user. The superuser may enable skeyinit via the -E flag.

SEE ALSO
skey(1), skeyaudit(1), skeyinfo(1), skey(5), skeyprune(8)

AUTHORS
Phil Karn, Neil M. Haller, John S. Walden, Scott Chasin, Todd Miller