[Bug 1169558] Re: /etc/pam.d/login runs /etc/update-motd.d scripts twice

[Colin Watson]

Re sshd: pam_motd (without noupdate) actually updates /var/run/motd, not
/etc/motd.  This is explained in pam_motd's source:

    /* Run the update-motd dynamic motd scripts, outputting to /var/run/motd.
       If /etc/motd -> /var/run/motd, the displayed MOTD will be dynamic.
       Otherwise, the admin can force a static MOTD by breaking that symlink
       and publishing into an /etc/motd text file. */

It's a bit weird, but I didn't write it. :-)

** Changed in: shadow (Ubuntu Raring)
   Importance: Undecided => Medium

** Changed in: shadow (Ubuntu Raring)
     Assignee: (unassigned) => Colin Watson (cjwatson)

** Changed in: shadow (Ubuntu Raring)
       Status: Confirmed => In Progress

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1169558

Title:
  /etc/pam.d/login runs /etc/update-motd.d scripts twice

Status in “shadow” package in Ubuntu:
  In Progress
Status in “shadow” source package in Raring:
  In Progress

Bug description:
  In performing install audits I noticed the following change to /etc/pam.d/login:
  + session optional pam_motd.so motd=/run/motd.dynamic
    session optional pam_motd.so

  Per man (8) pam_motd, this means that the scripts in /etc/update-motd.d are run twice. One of these should use 'noupdate', like in /etc/pam.d/sshd:
  # Print the message of the day upon successful login.                           
  # This includes a dynamically generated part from /run/motd.dynamic             
  # and a static (admin-editable) part from /etc/motd.                            
  session    optional     pam_motd.so  motd=/run/motd.dynamic noupdate            
  session    optional     pam_motd.so # [1]

  (It seems slightly odd to me that sshd will update /etc/motd
  dynamically rather than /run/motd.dynamic, but that is not this bug)

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
  Package: login 1:4.1.5.1-1ubuntu3
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-17.27+dbusdev1-generic 3.8.6
  Uname: Linux 3.8.0-17-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu5
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Tue Apr 16 08:07:11 2013
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2011-06-28 (657 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110425.2)
  MarkForUpload: True
  SourcePackage: shadow
  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-02-14 (61 days ago)

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