libpam                    = CDLL(find_library("pam"))

pam_authenticate          = libpam.pam_authenticate
pam_authenticate.restype  = c_int
pam_authenticate.argtypes = [PamHandle, c_int]

pam_acct_mgmt          = libpam.pam_acct_mgmt
pam_acct_mgmt.restype  = c_int
pam_acct_mgmt.argtypes = [PamHandle, c_int]

def authenticate(username, password, service='login'):
    def my_conv(n_messages, messages, p_response, app_data):
        """
        Simple conversation function that responds to any prompt where the echo is off with the supplied password
        """
        ...

    handle = PamHandle()
    conv   = PamConv(my_conv, 0)
    retval = pam_start(service, username, byref(conv), byref(handle))

    retval = pam_authenticate(handle, 0)
    if retval == 0:
        retval = pam_acct_mgmt(handle, 0)
    return retval == 0