LFCS User and Group Management Practice Question
An administrator wants to force a user to change their password at next login. Which command should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse account locking (`passwd -l` or `usermod -p '!'`) with password expiration, as both prevent normal login but only expiration forces a password change at next login.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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passwd -e user
The `passwd -e user` command immediately expires the user's password, forcing them to change it at the next login. This is the standard method to achieve this requirement on Linux systems.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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passwd -l user
Why it's wrong here
passwd -l prefixes the stored hash with a lock marker, disabling password authentication entirely rather than expiring the credential. Locking is correct for suspending an account; forcing a change at next login requires expiring the password field instead.
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passwd -e user
Why this is correct
passwd -e user expires the account's password immediately, setting the shadow field so the next login forces a change. This directly satisfies the requirement to force a password change at next login, unlike -l or -d which lock or clear it.
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chage -m 0 user
Why it's wrong here
chage -m 0 sets the minimum days between password changes to zero, which only permits immediate changes; it does not expire the current password. It is used to relax change-frequency limits, whereas forcing a change at next login requires expiring the password.
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usermod -p '!' user
Why it's wrong here
usermod -p '!' writes a literal locked hash into the password field, disabling login rather than expiring the password. This is used to lock an account; forcing a change at next login requires marking the password as expired so the user must set a new one.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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