<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"><title>3.1. What can be expected by the application</title><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.78.1"><link rel="home" href="Linux-PAM_ADG.html" title="The Linux-PAM Application Developers' Guide"><link rel="up" href="adg-interface.html" title="Chapter 3. The public interface to Linux-PAM"><link rel="prev" href="adg-interface.html" title="Chapter 3. The public interface to Linux-PAM"><link rel="next" href="adg-interface-of-app-expected.html" title="3.2. What is expected of an application"></head><body bgcolor="white" text="black" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084" alink="#0000FF"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">3.1. What can be expected by the application</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="adg-interface.html">Prev</a> </td><th width="60%" align="center">Chapter 3.
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</th><td width="20%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="adg-interface-of-app-expected.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="adg-interface-by-app-expected"></a>3.1. What can be expected by the application</h2></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_start"></a>3.1.1. Initialization of PAM transaction</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_start</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">service_name</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">user</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">pam_conversation</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>const char *<var class="pdparam">service_name</var></code>;<br><code>const char *<var class="pdparam">user</var></code>;<br><code>const struct pam_conv *<var class="pdparam">pam_conversation</var></code>;<br><code>pam_handle_t **<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_start-description"></a>3.1.1.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_start</code> function creates the PAM context
and initiates the PAM transaction. It is the first of the PAM
functions that needs to be called by an application. The transaction
state is contained entirely within the structure identified by this
handle, so it is possible to have multiple transactions in parallel.
But it is not possible to use the same handle for different
transactions, a new one is needed for every new context.
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>service_name</em></span> argument specifies the name
of the service to apply and will be stored as PAM_SERVICE item in
the new context. The policy for the service will be read from the
file <code class="filename">/etc/pam.d/service_name</code> or, if that file
does not exist, from <code class="filename">/etc/pam.conf</code>.
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>user</em></span> argument can specify the name
of the target user and will be stored as PAM_USER item. If
the argument is NULL, the module has to ask for this item if
necessary.
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>pam_conversation</em></span> argument points to
a <span class="emphasis"><em>struct pam_conv</em></span> describing the
conversation function to use. An application must provide this
for direct communication between a loaded module and the
application.
</p><p>
Following a successful return (PAM_SUCCESS) the contents of
<span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span> is a handle that contains the PAM
context for successive calls to the PAM functions. In an error
case is the content of <span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span> undefined.
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>pam_handle_t</em></span> is a blind structure and
the application should not attempt to probe it directly for
information. Instead the PAM library provides the functions
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_set_item</span>(3)</span> and
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_get_item</span>(3)</span>.
The PAM handle cannot be used for mulitiple authentications at the
same time as long as <code class="function">pam_end</code> was not called on
it before.
</p></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_start-return_values"></a>3.1.1.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_ABORT</span></dt><dd><p>
General failure.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_BUF_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Memory buffer error.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
Transaction was successful created.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SYSTEM_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
System error, for example a NULL pointer was submitted
instead of a pointer to data.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_end"></a>3.1.2. Termination of PAM transaction</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_end</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">pam_status</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>int <var class="pdparam">pam_status</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_end-description"></a>3.1.2.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_end</code> function terminates the PAM
transaction and is the last function an application should call
in the PAM context. Upon return the handle <span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span>
is no longer valid and all memory associated with it will be
invalid.
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>pam_status</em></span> argument should be set to
the value returned to the application by the last PAM
library call.
</p><p>
The value taken by <span class="emphasis"><em>pam_status</em></span> is used as
an argument to the module specific callback function,
<code class="function">cleanup()</code>
(See <span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_set_data</span>(3)</span> and
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_get_data</span>(3)</span>). In this way the module can be given notification
of the pass/fail nature of the tear-down process, and perform any
last minute tasks that are appropriate to the module before it is
unlinked. This argument can be logically OR'd with
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_DATA_SILENT</em></span> to indicate to indicate that
the module should not treat the call too seriously. It is generally
used to indicate that the current closing of the library is in a
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">fork</span>(2)</span>ed
process, and that the parent will take care of cleaning up things
that exist outside of the current process space (files etc.).
</p><p>
This function <span class="emphasis"><em>free</em></span>'s all memory for items
associated with the
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_set_item</span>(3)</span> and
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_get_item</span>(3)</span> functions. Pointers associated with such objects
are not valid anymore after <code class="function">pam_end</code> was called.
</p></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_end-return_values"></a>3.1.2.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
Transaction was successful terminated.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SYSTEM_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
System error, for example a NULL pointer was submitted
as PAM handle or the function was called by a module.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_set_item"></a>3.1.3. Setting PAM items</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_modules.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_set_item</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">item_type</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">item</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>int <var class="pdparam">item_type</var></code>;<br><code>const void *<var class="pdparam">item</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_set_item-description"></a>3.1.3.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_set_item</code> function allows applications
and PAM service modules to access and to update PAM informations
of <span class="emphasis"><em>item_type</em></span>. For this a copy
of the object pointed to by the <span class="emphasis"><em>item</em></span> argument
is created. The following <span class="emphasis"><em>item_type</em></span>s are
supported:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_SERVICE</span></dt><dd><p>
The service name (which identifies that PAM stack that
the PAM functions will use to authenticate the program).
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_USER</span></dt><dd><p>
The username of the entity under whose identity service
will be given. That is, following authentication,
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_USER</em></span> identifies the local entity
that gets to use the service. Note, this value can be mapped
from something (eg., "anonymous") to something else (eg.
"guest119") by any module in the PAM stack. As such an
application should consult the value of
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_USER</em></span> after each call to a PAM function.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_USER_PROMPT</span></dt><dd><p>
The string used when prompting for a user's name. The default
value for this string is a localized version of "login: ".
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_TTY</span></dt><dd><p>
The terminal name: prefixed by <code class="filename">/dev/</code> if
it is a device file; for graphical, X-based, applications the
value for this item should be the
<span class="emphasis"><em>$DISPLAY</em></span> variable.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_RUSER</span></dt><dd><p>
The requesting user name: local name for a locally
requesting user or a remote user name for a remote
requesting user.
</p><p>
Generally an application or module will attempt to supply
the value that is most strongly authenticated (a local account
before a remote one. The level of trust in this value is
embodied in the actual authentication stack associated with
the application, so it is ultimately at the discretion of the
system administrator.
</p><p>
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_RUSER@PAM_RHOST</em></span> should always identify
the requesting user. In some cases,
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_RUSER</em></span> may be NULL. In such situations,
it is unclear who the requesting entity is.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_RHOST</span></dt><dd><p>
The requesting hostname (the hostname of the machine from
which the <span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_RUSER</em></span> entity is requesting
service). That is <span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_RUSER@PAM_RHOST</em></span>
does identify the requesting user. In some applications,
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_RHOST</em></span> may be NULL. In such situations,
it is unclear where the authentication request is originating
from.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTHTOK</span></dt><dd><p>
The authentication token (often a password). This token
should be ignored by all module functions besides
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_sm_authenticate</span>(3)</span> and
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_sm_chauthtok</span>(3)</span>.
In the former function it is used to pass the most recent
authentication token from one stacked module to another. In
the latter function the token is used for another purpose.
It contains the currently active authentication token.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_OLDAUTHTOK</span></dt><dd><p>
The old authentication token. This token should be ignored
by all module functions except
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_sm_chauthtok</span>(3)</span>.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_CONV</span></dt><dd><p>
The pam_conv structure. See
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_conv</span>(3)</span>.
</p></dd></dl></div><p>
The following additional items are specific to Linux-PAM and should not be used in
portable applications:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_FAIL_DELAY</span></dt><dd><p>
A function pointer to redirect centrally managed
failure delays. See
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_fail_delay</span>(3)</span>.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_XDISPLAY</span></dt><dd><p>
The name of the X display. For graphical, X-based applications the
value for this item should be the <span class="emphasis"><em>$DISPLAY</em></span>
variable. This value may be used independently of
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_TTY</em></span> for passing the
name of the display.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_XAUTHDATA</span></dt><dd><p>
A pointer to a structure containing the X authentication data
required to make a connection to the display specified by
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_XDISPLAY</em></span>, if such information is
necessary. See
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_xauth_data</span>(3)</span>.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTHTOK_TYPE</span></dt><dd><p>
The default action is for the module to use the
following prompts when requesting passwords:
"New UNIX password: " and "Retype UNIX password: ".
The example word <span class="emphasis"><em>UNIX</em></span> can
be replaced with this item, by default it is empty.
This item is used by <span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_get_authtok</span>(3)</span>.
</p></dd></dl></div><p>
For all <span class="emphasis"><em>item_type</em></span>s, other than PAM_CONV and
PAM_FAIL_DELAY, <span class="emphasis"><em>item</em></span> is a pointer to a <NUL>
terminated character string. In the case of PAM_CONV,
<span class="emphasis"><em>item</em></span> points to an initialized
<span class="emphasis"><em>pam_conv</em></span> structure. In the case of
PAM_FAIL_DELAY, <span class="emphasis"><em>item</em></span> is a function pointer:
<code class="function">void (*delay_fn)(int retval, unsigned usec_delay, void *appdata_ptr)</code>
</p><p>
Both, PAM_AUTHTOK and PAM_OLDAUTHTOK, will be reseted before
returning to the application. Which means an application is not
able to access the authentication tokens.
</p></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_set_item-return_values"></a>3.1.3.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_BAD_ITEM</span></dt><dd><p>
The application attempted to set an undefined or inaccessible
item.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_BUF_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Memory buffer error.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
Data was successful updated.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SYSTEM_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>pam_handle_t</em></span> passed as first
argument was invalid.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_get_item"></a>3.1.4. Getting PAM items</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_modules.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_get_item</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">item_type</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">item</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>const pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>int <var class="pdparam">item_type</var></code>;<br><code>const void **<var class="pdparam">item</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_get_item-description"></a>3.1.4.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_get_item</code> function allows applications
and PAM service modules to access and retrieve PAM informations
of <span class="emphasis"><em>item_type</em></span>. Upon successful return,
<span class="emphasis"><em>item</em></span> contains a pointer to the value of the
corresponding item. Note, this is a pointer to the
<span class="emphasis"><em>actual</em></span> data and should
<span class="emphasis"><em>not</em></span> be <span class="emphasis"><em>free()</em></span>'ed or
over-written! The following values are supported for
<span class="emphasis"><em>item_type</em></span>:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_SERVICE</span></dt><dd><p>
The service name (which identifies that PAM stack that
the PAM functions will use to authenticate the program).
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_USER</span></dt><dd><p>
The username of the entity under whose identity service
will be given. That is, following authentication,
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_USER</em></span> identifies the local entity
that gets to use the service. Note, this value can be mapped
from something (eg., "anonymous") to something else (eg.
"guest119") by any module in the PAM stack. As such an
application should consult the value of
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_USER</em></span> after each call to a PAM function.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_USER_PROMPT</span></dt><dd><p>
The string used when prompting for a user's name. The default
value for this string is a localized version of "login: ".
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_TTY</span></dt><dd><p>
The terminal name: prefixed by <code class="filename">/dev/</code> if
it is a device file; for graphical, X-based, applications the
value for this item should be the
<span class="emphasis"><em>$DISPLAY</em></span> variable.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_RUSER</span></dt><dd><p>
The requesting user name: local name for a locally
requesting user or a remote user name for a remote
requesting user.
</p><p>
Generally an application or module will attempt to supply
the value that is most strongly authenticated (a local account
before a remote one. The level of trust in this value is
embodied in the actual authentication stack associated with
the application, so it is ultimately at the discretion of the
system administrator.
</p><p>
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_RUSER@PAM_RHOST</em></span> should always identify
the requesting user. In some cases,
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_RUSER</em></span> may be NULL. In such situations,
it is unclear who the requesting entity is.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_RHOST</span></dt><dd><p>
The requesting hostname (the hostname of the machine from
which the <span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_RUSER</em></span> entity is requesting
service). That is <span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_RUSER@PAM_RHOST</em></span>
does identify the requesting user. In some applications,
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_RHOST</em></span> may be NULL. In such situations,
it is unclear where the authentication request is originating
from.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTHTOK</span></dt><dd><p>
The authentication token (often a password). This token
should be ignored by all module functions besides
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_sm_authenticate</span>(3)</span> and
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_sm_chauthtok</span>(3)</span>.
In the former function it is used to pass the most recent
authentication token from one stacked module to another. In
the latter function the token is used for another purpose.
It contains the currently active authentication token.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_OLDAUTHTOK</span></dt><dd><p>
The old authentication token. This token should be ignored
by all module functions except
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_sm_chauthtok</span>(3)</span>.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_CONV</span></dt><dd><p>
The pam_conv structure. See
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_conv</span>(3)</span>.
</p></dd></dl></div><p>
The following additional items are specific to Linux-PAM and should not be used in
portable applications:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_FAIL_DELAY</span></dt><dd><p>
A function pointer to redirect centrally managed
failure delays. See
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_fail_delay</span>(3)</span>.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_XDISPLAY</span></dt><dd><p>
The name of the X display. For graphical, X-based applications the
value for this item should be the <span class="emphasis"><em>$DISPLAY</em></span>
variable. This value may be used independently of
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_TTY</em></span> for passing the
name of the display.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_XAUTHDATA</span></dt><dd><p>
A pointer to a structure containing the X authentication data
required to make a connection to the display specified by
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_XDISPLAY</em></span>, if such information is
necessary. See
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_xauth_data</span>(3)</span>.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTHTOK_TYPE</span></dt><dd><p>
The default action is for the module to use the
following prompts when requesting passwords:
"New UNIX password: " and "Retype UNIX password: ".
The example word <span class="emphasis"><em>UNIX</em></span> can
be replaced with this item, by default it is empty.
This item is used by <span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_get_authtok</span>(3)</span>.
</p></dd></dl></div><p>
If a service module wishes to obtain the name of the user,
it should not use this function, but instead perform a call to
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_get_user</span>(3)</span>.
</p><p>
Only a service module is privileged to read the
authentication tokens, PAM_AUTHTOK and PAM_OLDAUTHTOK.
</p></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_get_item-return_values"></a>3.1.4.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_BAD_ITEM</span></dt><dd><p>
The application attempted to set an undefined or inaccessible
item.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_BUF_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Memory buffer error.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_PERM_DENIED</span></dt><dd><p>
The value of <span class="emphasis"><em>item</em></span> was NULL.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
Data was successful updated.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SYSTEM_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>pam_handle_t</em></span> passed as first
argument was invalid.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_strerror"></a>3.1.5. Strings describing PAM error codes</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">const char *<b class="fsfunc">pam_strerror</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">errnum</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>int <var class="pdparam">errnum</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_strerror-description"></a>3.1.5.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_strerror</code> function returns a pointer to
a string describing the error code passed in the argument
<span class="emphasis"><em>errnum</em></span>, possibly using the LC_MESSAGES part of
the current locale to select the appropriate language. This string
must not be modified by the application. No library function will
modify this string.
</p></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_strerror-return_values"></a>3.1.5.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><p>
This function returns always a pointer to a string.
</p></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_fail_delay"></a>3.1.6. Request a delay on failure</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_fail_delay</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">usec</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>unsigned int <var class="pdparam">usec</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_fail_delay-description"></a>3.1.6.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_fail_delay</code> function provides a
mechanism by which an application or module can suggest a minimum
delay of <span class="emphasis"><em>usec</em></span> micro-seconds. The
function keeps a record of the longest time requested with this
function. Should
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_authenticate</span>(3)</span> fail, the failing return to the application is
delayed by an amount of time randomly distributed (by up to 25%)
about this longest value.
</p><p>
Independent of success, the delay time is reset to its zero
default value when the PAM service module returns control to
the application. The delay occurs <span class="emphasis"><em>after</em></span> all
authentication modules have been called, but <span class="emphasis"><em>before</em></span>
control is returned to the service application.
</p><p>
When using this function the programmer should check if it is
available with:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
#ifdef HAVE_PAM_FAIL_DELAY
....
#endif /* HAVE_PAM_FAIL_DELAY */
</pre><p>
For applications written with a single thread that are event
driven in nature, generating this delay may be undesirable.
Instead, the application may want to register the delay in some
other way. For example, in a single threaded server that serves
multiple authentication requests from a single event loop, the
application might want to simply mark a given connection as
blocked until an application timer expires. For this reason
the delay function can be changed with the
<span class="emphasis"><em>PAM_FAIL_DELAY</em></span> item. It can be queried and
set with
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_get_item</span>(3)</span>
and
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_set_item </span>(3)</span> respectively. The value used to set it should be
a function pointer of the following prototype:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
void (*delay_fn)(int retval, unsigned usec_delay, void *appdata_ptr);
</pre><p>
The arguments being the <span class="emphasis"><em>retval</em></span> return code
of the module stack, the <span class="emphasis"><em>usec_delay</em></span>
micro-second delay that libpam is requesting and the
<span class="emphasis"><em>appdata_ptr</em></span> that the application has associated
with the current <span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span>. This last value was set
by the application when it called
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_start</span>(3)</span> or explicitly with
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_set_item</span>(3)</span>.
Note, if PAM_FAIL_DELAY item is unset (or set to NULL), then no delay
will be performed.
</p></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_fail_delay-return_values"></a>3.1.6.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
Delay was successful adjusted.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SYSTEM_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
A NULL pointer was submitted as PAM handle.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_authenticate"></a>3.1.7. Authenticating the user</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_authenticate</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">flags</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>int <var class="pdparam">flags</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_authenticate-description"></a>3.1.7.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_authenticate</code> function is used to
authenticate the user. The user is required to provide an
authentication token depending upon the authentication service,
usually this is a password, but could also be a finger print.
</p><p>
The PAM service module may request that the user enter their
username vio the the conversation mechanism (see
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_start</span>(3)</span> and
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_conv</span>(3)</span>). The name of the authenticated user
will be present in the PAM item PAM_USER. This item may be
recovered with a call to
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_get_item</span>(3)</span>.
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span> argument is an authentication
handle obtained by a prior call to pam_start().
The flags argument is the binary or of zero or more of the
following values:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_SILENT</span></dt><dd><p>
Do not emit any messages.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_DISALLOW_NULL_AUTHTOK</span></dt><dd><p>
The PAM module service should return PAM_AUTH_ERR
if the user does not have a registered authentication token.
</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_authenticate-return_values"></a>3.1.7.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_ABORT</span></dt><dd><p>
The application should exit immediately after calling
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_end</span>(3)</span> first.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTH_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
The user was not authenticated.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_CRED_INSUFFICIENT</span></dt><dd><p>
For some reason the application does not have sufficient
credentials to authenticate the user.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTHINFO_UNVAIL</span></dt><dd><p>
The modules were not able to access the authentication
information. This might be due to a network or hardware
failure etc.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_MAXTRIES</span></dt><dd><p>
One or more of the authentication modules has reached its
limit of tries authenticating the user. Do not try again.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
The user was successfully authenticated.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_USER_UNKNOWN</span></dt><dd><p>
User unknown to authentication service.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_setcred"></a>3.1.8. Setting user credentials</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_setcred</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">flags</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>int <var class="pdparam">flags</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_setcred-description"></a>3.1.8.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_setcred</code> function is used to establish,
maintain and delete the credentials of a user. It should be called
to set the credentials after a user has been authenticated and before
a session is opened for the user (with
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_open_session</span>(3)</span>). The credentials should be deleted after the session
has been closed (with
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_close_session</span>(3)</span>).
</p><p>
A credential is something that the user possesses. It is some
property, such as a <span class="emphasis"><em>Kerberos</em></span> ticket, or a
supplementary group membership that make up the uniqueness of a
given user. On a Linux system the user's <span class="emphasis"><em>UID</em></span>
and <span class="emphasis"><em>GID</em></span>'s are credentials too. However, it
has been decided that these properties (along with the default
supplementary groups of which the user is a member) are credentials
that should be set directly by the application and not by PAM.
Such credentials should be established, by the application, prior
to a call to this function. For example,
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">initgroups</span>(2)</span> (or equivalent) should have been performed.
</p><p>
Valid <span class="emphasis"><em>flags</em></span>, any one of which, may be
logically OR'd with <code class="option">PAM_SILENT</code>, are:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_ESTABLISH_CRED</span></dt><dd><p>Initialize the credentials for the user.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_DELETE_CRED</span></dt><dd><p>Delete the user's credentials.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_REINITIALIZE_CRED</span></dt><dd><p>Fully reinitialize the user's credentials.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_REFRESH_CRED</span></dt><dd><p>Extend the lifetime of the existing credentials.</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_setcred-return_values"></a>3.1.8.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_BUF_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Memory buffer error.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_CRED_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Failed to set user credentials.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_CRED_EXPIRED</span></dt><dd><p>
User credentials are expired.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_CRED_UNAVAIL</span></dt><dd><p>
Failed to retrieve user credentials.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
Data was successful stored.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SYSTEM_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
A NULL pointer was submitted as PAM handle, the
function was called by a module or another system
error occured.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_USER_UNKNOWN</span></dt><dd><p>
User is not known to an authentication module.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_acct_mgmt"></a>3.1.9. Account validation management</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_acct_mgmt</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">flags</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>int <var class="pdparam">flags</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_acct_mgmt-description"></a>3.1.9.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_acct_mgmt</code> function is used to determine
if the users account is valid. It checks for authentication token
and account expiration and verifies access restrictions. It is
typically called after the user has been authenticated.
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span> argument is an authentication
handle obtained by a prior call to pam_start().
The flags argument is the binary or of zero or more of the
following values:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_SILENT</span></dt><dd><p>
Do not emit any messages.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_DISALLOW_NULL_AUTHTOK</span></dt><dd><p>
The PAM module service should return PAM_NEW_AUTHTOK_REQD
if the user has a null authentication token.
</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_acct_mgmt-return_values"></a>3.1.9.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_ACCT_EXPIRED</span></dt><dd><p>
User account has expired.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTH_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Authentication failure.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_NEW_AUTHTOK_REQD</span></dt><dd><p>
The user account is valid but their authentication token
is <span class="emphasis"><em>expired</em></span>. The correct response to
this return-value is to require that the user satisfies
the <code class="function">pam_chauthtok()</code> function before
obtaining service. It may not be possible for some
applications to do this. In such cases, the user should be
denied access until such time as they can update their password.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_PERM_DENIED</span></dt><dd><p>
Permission denied.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
The authentication token was successfully updated.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_USER_UNKNOWN</span></dt><dd><p>
User unknown to password service.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_chauthtok"></a>3.1.10. Updating authentication tokens</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_chauthtok</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">flags</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>int <var class="pdparam">flags</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_chauthtok-description"></a>3.1.10.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_chauthtok</code> function is used to change the
authentication token for a given user (as indicated by the state
associated with the handle <span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span>).
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span> argument is an authentication
handle obtained by a prior call to pam_start().
The flags argument is the binary or of zero or more of the
following values:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_SILENT</span></dt><dd><p>
Do not emit any messages.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_CHANGE_EXPIRED_AUTHTOK</span></dt><dd><p>
This argument indicates to the modules that the users
authentication token (password) should only be changed
if it has expired.
If this argument is not passed, the application requires
that all authentication tokens are to be changed.
</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_chauthtok-return_values"></a>3.1.10.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTHTOK_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
A module was unable to obtain the new authentication token.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTHTOK_RECOVERY_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
A module was unable to obtain the old authentication token.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTHTOK_LOCK_BUSY</span></dt><dd><p>
One or more of the modules was unable to change the
authentication token since it is currently locked.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_AUTHTOK_DISABLE_AGING</span></dt><dd><p>
Authentication token aging has been disabled for at least
one of the modules.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_PERM_DENIED</span></dt><dd><p>
Permission denied.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
The authentication token was successfully updated.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_TRY_AGAIN</span></dt><dd><p>
Not all of the modules were in a position to update the
authentication token(s). In such a case none of the user's
authentication tokens are updated.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_USER_UNKNOWN</span></dt><dd><p>
User unknown to password service.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_open_session"></a>3.1.11. Start PAM session management</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_open_session</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">flags</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>int <var class="pdparam">flags</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_open_session-description"></a>3.1.11.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_open_session</code> function sets up a
user session for a previously successful authenticated user.
The session should later be terminated with a call to
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_close_session</span>(3)</span>.
</p><p>
It should be noted that the effective uid,
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">geteuid</span>(2)</span>. of the application should be of sufficient
privilege to perform such tasks as creating or mounting the
user's home directory for example.
</p><p>
The flags argument is the binary or of zero or more of the
following values:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_SILENT</span></dt><dd><p>
Do not emit any messages.
</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_open_session-return_values"></a>3.1.11.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_ABORT</span></dt><dd><p>
General failure.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_BUF_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Memory buffer error.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SESSION_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Session failure.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
Session was successful created.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_close_session"></a>3.1.12. terminating PAM session management</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_close_session</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">flags</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>int <var class="pdparam">flags</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_close_session-description"></a>3.1.12.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_close_session</code> function is used
to indicate that an authenticated session has ended.
The session should have been created with a call to
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">pam_open_session</span>(3)</span>.
</p><p>
It should be noted that the effective uid,
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">geteuid</span>(2)</span>. of the application should be of sufficient
privilege to perform such tasks as unmounting the
user's home directory for example.
</p><p>
The flags argument is the binary or of zero or more of the
following values:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_SILENT</span></dt><dd><p>
Do not emit any messages.
</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_close_session-return_values"></a>3.1.12.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_ABORT</span></dt><dd><p>
General failure.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_BUF_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Memory buffer error.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SESSION_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Session failure.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
Session was successful terminated.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_putenv"></a>3.1.13. Set or change PAM environment variable</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">int <b class="fsfunc">pam_putenv</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">name_value</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>const char *<var class="pdparam">name_value</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_putenv-description"></a>3.1.13.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_putenv</code> function is used to
add or change the value of PAM environment variables as
associated with the <span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span> handle.
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span> argument is an authentication
handle obtained by a prior call to pam_start().
The <span class="emphasis"><em>name_value</em></span> argument is a single NUL
terminated string of one of the following forms:
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">NAME=value of variable</span></dt><dd><p>
In this case the environment variable of the given NAME
is set to the indicated value:
<span class="emphasis"><em>value of variable</em></span>. If this variable
is already known, it is overwritten. Otherwise it is added
to the PAM environment.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">NAME=</span></dt><dd><p>
This function sets the variable to an empty value. It is
listed separately to indicate that this is the correct way
to achieve such a setting.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">NAME</span></dt><dd><p>
Without an '=' the <code class="function">pam_putenv</code>() function
will delete the
corresponding variable from the PAM environment.
</p></dd></dl></div><p>
<code class="function">pam_putenv</code>() operates on a copy of
<span class="emphasis"><em>name_value</em></span>, which means in contrast to
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">putenv</span>(3)</span>, the application is responsible to free the data.
</p></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_putenv-return_values"></a>3.1.13.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">PAM_PERM_DENIED</span></dt><dd><p>
Argument <span class="emphasis"><em>name_value</em></span> given is a NULL pointer.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_BAD_ITEM</span></dt><dd><p>
Variable requested (for deletion) is not currently set.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_ABORT</span></dt><dd><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span> handle is corrupt.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_BUF_ERR</span></dt><dd><p>
Memory buffer error.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">PAM_SUCCESS</span></dt><dd><p>
The environment variable was successfully updated.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_getenv"></a>3.1.14. Get a PAM environment variable</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">const char *<b class="fsfunc">pam_getenv</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var>, </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><var class="pdparam">name</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;<br><code>const char *<var class="pdparam">name</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_getenv-description"></a>3.1.14.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_getenv</code> function searches the
PAM environment list as associated with the handle
<span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span> for an item that matches the string
pointed to by <span class="emphasis"><em>name</em></span> and returns a pointer
to the value of the environment variable. The application is
not allowed to free the data.
</p></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_getenv-return_values"></a>3.1.14.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_getenv</code> function returns NULL
on failure.
</p></div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_getenvlist"></a>3.1.15. Getting the PAM environment</h3></div></div></div><div class="funcsynopsis"><pre class="funcsynopsisinfo">#include <security/pam_appl.h></pre><table border="0" class="funcprototype-table" summary="Function synopsis" style="cellspacing: 0; cellpadding: 0;"><tr><td><code class="funcdef">char **<b class="fsfunc">pam_getenvlist</b>(</code></td><td><var class="pdparam">pamh</var><code>)</code>;</td><td> </td></tr></table><div class="paramdef-list"><code>pam_handle_t *<var class="pdparam">pamh</var></code>;</div><div class="funcprototype-spacer"> </div></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_getenvlist-description"></a>3.1.15.1. DESCRIPTION</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_getenvlist</code> function returns a complete
copy of the PAM environment as associated with the handle
<span class="emphasis"><em>pamh</em></span>. The PAM environment variables
represent the contents of the regular environment variables of the
authenticated user when service is granted.
</p><p>
The format of the memory is a malloc()'d array of char pointers,
the last element of which is set to NULL. Each of the non-NULL
entries in this array point to a NUL terminated and malloc()'d
char string of the form: "<span class="emphasis"><em>name=value</em></span>".
</p><p>
It should be noted that this memory will never be free()'d by
libpam. Once obtained by a call to
<code class="function">pam_getenvlist</code>, it is the responsibility of
the calling application to free() this memory.
</p><p>
It is by design, and not a coincidence, that the format and contents
of the returned array matches that required for the third argument of
the
<span class="citerefentry"><span class="refentrytitle">execle</span>(3)</span> function call.
</p></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h4 class="title"><a name="adg-pam_getenvlist-return_values"></a>3.1.15.2. RETURN VALUES</h4></div></div></div><p>
The <code class="function">pam_getenvlist</code> function returns NULL
on failure.
</p></div></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="adg-interface.html">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="adg-interface.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="adg-interface-of-app-expected.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">Chapter 3.
The public interface to <span class="emphasis"><em>Linux-PAM</em></span>
</td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="Linux-PAM_ADG.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> 3.2. What is expected of an application</td></tr></table></div></body></html>
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