Bash Script to Change All Passwords of cPanel Users via SSH

Changing passwords of cPanel users via SSH can be a handy task for server administrators to ensure the security of accounts. Bash scripting can automate this process effectively. Below is a simple bash script that can be used to change passwords of all cPanel users on a server:

#!/bin/bash

# Get a list of cPanel users
USERS=$(cut -d: -f1 /etc/trueuserowners)

# Loop through each user and change the password
for USER in $USERS
do
    NEWPASS=$(openssl rand -base64 12)
    /scripts/chpass $USER $NEWPASS
    echo "Changed password for user $USER to: $NEWPASS"
done

This script retrieves a list of cPanel users from the server and then loops through each user, generating a random password using OpenSSL and setting it for the user using the '/scripts/chpass' command. Remember to run this script with appropriate permissions and after testing in a controlled environment.

Example Usage:

chmod +x change_passwords.sh
./change_passwords.sh

Disclaimer:

Remember to always have proper backups and permissions in place before making bulk changes like this on a production server. Incorrect usage can lead to account lockouts and potential data loss.

Conclusion

Automating tasks like changing cPanel user passwords via SSH can save time and effort, especially on servers with a large number of accounts. Bash scripting provides a powerful way to achieve this automation while ensuring security and consistency across user passwords.