Security-Enhanced Linux secures the sysadm_passwd processes via flexible mandatory access control.
The sysadm_passwd processes execute with the sysadm_passwd_t SELinux type. You can check if you have these processes running by executing the ps command with the -Z qualifier.
The sysadm_passwd_t SELinux type can be entered via the admin_passwd_exec_t file type.
Policy governs the access confined processes have to files. SELinux sysadm_passwd policy is very flexible allowing users to setup their sysadm_passwd processes in as secure a method as possible.
Note: semanage permissive -a sysadm_passwd_t can be used to make the process type sysadm_passwd_t permissive. SELinux does not deny access to permissive process types, but the AVC (SELinux denials) messages are still generated.
SELinux policy is customizable based on least access required. sysadm_passwd policy is extremely flexible and has several booleans that allow you to manipulate the policy and run sysadm_passwd with the tightest access possible.
The SELinux process type sysadm_passwd_t can manage files labeled with the following file types. The paths listed are the default paths for these file types. Note the processes UID still need to have DAC permissions.