Passport snooping common - study

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The State Department inspector general on Thursday blasted the security of U.S. passport files and said unauthorized access goes undetected and unpunished.

The inspector general launched the investigation after the department admitted in March that the files of three presidential candidates - Sens. Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama - had been breached. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called them to apologize.

Thursday, in a heavily redacted report, the inspector general revealed that a test showed the files of famous movie, television and media personalities, musicians and athletes had been accessed repeatedly, although it was unclear whether the access was authorized.

The report suggested an overhaul in how the department protects the information and follows up on any breaches. –From CNN's Charley Keyes