macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install passwdqclocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 9753
Install passwdqc with Homebrew, apt, dnf, Nix, zypper
Password/passphrase strength checking and enforcement toolset. Version 2.1.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-09-11. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install libpam-passwdqc.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install passwdqcDebian stable package indexes · passwdqc · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install passwdqcFedora Rawhide package metadata · passwdqc · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#passwdqcnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/pa/passwdqc/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install passwdqcopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · passwdqc · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Password/passphrase strength checking and enforcement toolset
Project links
Commands and aliases
- pwqcheck
- pwqfilter
- pwqgen
history
Project history and usage
passwdqc is Openwall's password and passphrase strength-checking and policy-enforcement suite. It includes a PAM module, command-line programs, and a library.
Project history
passwdqc grew from the earlier pam_passwdqc PAM module into a toolset containing pam_passwdqc, libpasswdqc, and the pwqcheck, pwqgen, and pwqfilter commands. The upstream source moved to GitHub before the 2.0.0 release.
Adoption history
pam_passwdqc was integrated into FreeBSD and DragonFly BSD, while passwdqc or its PAM component has been packaged for major Linux and BSD distributions. Openwall reports default use by ALT Linux and CIQ's RLC Pro Hardened, with historical packages in RHEL and CentOS.
How it is used
Administrators stack pam_passwdqc into a PAM password-changing configuration and may load policy from passwdqc.conf. Scripts can use pwqcheck to test candidate passwords, pwqgen to create passphrases, and pwqfilter to build or query binary filters.
Why package nerds care
passwdqc is a long-lived alternative to dictionary-oriented password checkers, with explicit passphrase support, a reusable library, PAM integration, standalone Unix tools, and compact binary filters for checking large compromised-password sets.
Timeline
- Before passwdqc: pam_passwdqc was distributed as a standalone PAM module.
- 2021: passwdqc 2.0.0 added external wordlist, denylist, and binary-filter support after upstream development moved to GitHub.
- 2026: passwdqc 2.1.0 was released with new Linux packages and continued hardened-system adoption.
Related projects
- pam_passwdqc is the PAM policy module included in the project.
- libpasswdqc exposes the checking engine to other software.
- pwqcheck checks candidate secrets, pwqgen generates passphrases, and pwqfilter manages binary passphrase filters.
Sources
- Official 2.0.0 announcement: https://www.openwall.com/lists/announce/2021/02/18/1
- Official 2.1.0 announcement: https://www.openwall.com/lists/announce/2026/03/05/1
- Official homepage: https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
- Official installation guide: https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/INSTALL
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
/etc/passwdqc.conf
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
pwqcheck | cli | global executable | |
pwqfilter | cli | global executable | |
pwqgen | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-09-19
manager version2.1.0
manager updated2026-09-11
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:passwdqc |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.1.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/passwdqc |
| Homepage | https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/ |
| Upstream docs | https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/ |
| License | 0BSD |
| Source archive | https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/passwdqc-2.1.0.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-09-11T18:39:01Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Uses from macOS | libxcrypt |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | passwdqc |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
libpam-passwdqc 2.0.3-2+b1
PAM module for password strength policy enforcement
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo apt install libpam-passwdqc- Section: admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 5 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
Debian apt95%
libpasswdqc-dev 2.0.3-2+b1
password checking and policy enforcement library (devel)
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo apt install libpasswdqc-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
Debian apt95%
libpasswdqc1 2.0.3-2+b1
password strength checking and policy enforcement library
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo apt install libpasswdqc1- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
Debian apt95%
passwdqc 2.0.3-2+b1
password strength checking and policy enforcement toolset
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo apt install passwdqc- Section: admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
Nix95%
passwdqc
nix profile install nixpkgs#passwdqc- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
Ubuntu apt95%
libpam-passwdqc 2.0.3-1build1
PAM module for password strength policy enforcement
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo apt install libpam-passwdqc- Section: universe/admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 5 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
Ubuntu apt95%
libpasswdqc-dev 2.0.3-1build1
password checking and policy enforcement library (devel)
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo apt install libpasswdqc-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
Ubuntu apt95%
libpasswdqc1 2.0.3-1build1
password strength checking and policy enforcement library
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo apt install libpasswdqc1- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
Ubuntu apt95%
passwdqc 2.0.3-1build1
password strength checking and policy enforcement toolset
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo apt install passwdqc- Section: universe/admin
- Architecture: amd64
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
dnf95%
libpasswdqc 2.0.3-10.fc45
Passphrase quality checker shared library
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo dnf install libpasswdqc- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 2 dependencies
- 4 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
dnf95%
libpasswdqc-devel 2.0.3-10.fc45
Development files for building passwdqc-aware applications
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo dnf install libpasswdqc-devel- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 3 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
dnf95%
pam_passwdqc 2.0.3-10.fc45
Pluggable passphrase quality checker
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo dnf install pam_passwdqc- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 6 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
dnf95%
passwdqc 2.0.3-10.fc45
A password/passphrase strength checking and policy enforcement toolset
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo dnf install passwdqc- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
dnf95%
passwdqc-utils 2.0.3-10.fc45
Password quality checker utilities
https://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo dnf install passwdqc-utils- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: passwdqc
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
zypper95%
passwdqc 1.4.0-2.17
Tools for Password Checking and Generation
http://www.openwall.com/passwdqc/
sudo zypper install passwdqc- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Productivity/Networking/Diagnostic
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: pam_passwdqc
- 2 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Passwdqc
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation