How to change the password of a (vsftpd) FTP account when 'passwd' isnt working

Question

Kinda newbie here,

I have a server which uses vsftpd. I changed the password of user 'aa' from the root account with 'passwd aa', which changed the SSH password for user 'aa', but not for his FTP account.

I can't seem to find much other info on changing a vsftpd password.

Any tips?

Solution

If your FTP server is using virtual users (check local_enable in the /etc/vsftpd.conf file, see man vsftpd.conf), you may have a login.txt file under /etc/vsftpd/, which is of the following form :

login1
password1
login2
password2
etc.

In this case you have to edit it, then use the following command to update the DB :

db4.7_load -T -t hash -f /etc/vsftpd/login.txt /etc/vsftpd/login.db

(you may have to replace db4.7_load by your version of dbXX_load).

Comments

[Admin]

Look at what authentication method vsftpd is using, DB, or config files maybe?

[Admin]

Are you using a management panel like Webmin, cPanel or Plesk? Many of these do not create system users but have users specific to FTP.

[Ziyuan]

I don't see these login.txt and login.db in man vsftpd.conf.

[Skippy le Grand Gourou]

@ziyuang The reference to man vsftpd.conf is only to give more details about local_enable.