Scroll to navigation

explain_setuid(3) Library Functions Manual explain_setuid(3)

NAME

explain_setuid - explain setuid(2) errors

SYNOPSIS

#include <libexplain/setuid.h>

const char *explain_setuid(int uid);
const char *explain_errno_setuid(int errnum, int uid);
void explain_message_setuid(char *message, int message_size, int uid);
void explain_message_errno_setuid(char *message, int message_size, int errnum, int uid);

DESCRIPTION

These functions may be used to obtain explanations for errors returned by the setuid(2) system call.

explain_setuid

const char *explain_setuid(int uid);

The explain_setuid function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the setuid(2) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errno), but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

The errno global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.

The original uid, exactly as passed to the setuid(2) system call.
The message explaining the error. This message buffer is shared by all libexplain functions which do not supply a buffer in their argument list. This will be overwritten by the next call to any libexplain function which shares this buffer, including other threads.

Note: This function is not thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library.

Example: This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:


if (setuid(uid) < 0)
{

fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_setuid(uid));

exit(EXIT_FAILURE); }

The above code example is available pre-packaged as the explain_setuid_or_die(3) function.

explain_errno_setuid

const char *explain_errno_setuid(int errnum, int uid);

The explain_errno_setuid function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the setuid(2) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errno), but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the errno global variable just before this function is called. This is necessary if you need to call any code between the system call to be explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the value of errno.
The original uid, exactly as passed to the setuid(2) system call.
The message explaining the error. This message buffer is shared by all libexplain functions which do not supply a buffer in their argument list. This will be overwritten by the next call to any libexplain function which shares this buffer, including other threads.

Note: This function is not thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library.

Example: This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:


if (setuid(uid) < 0)
{

int err = errno;

fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_errno_setuid(err, uid));

exit(EXIT_FAILURE); }

The above code example is available pre-packaged as the explain_setuid_or_die(3) function.

explain_message_setuid

void explain_message_setuid(char *message, int message_size, int uid);

The explain_message_setuid function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the setuid(2) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errno), but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

The errno global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.

The location in which to store the returned message. If a suitable message return buffer is supplied, this function is thread safe.
The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.
The original uid, exactly as passed to the setuid(2) system call.

Example: This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:


if (setuid(uid) < 0)
{

char message[3000];
explain_message_setuid(message, sizeof(message), uid);


fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
exit(EXIT_FAILURE); }

The above code example is available pre-packaged as the explain_setuid_or_die(3) function.

explain_message_errno_setuid

void explain_message_errno_setuid(char *message, int message_size, int errnum, int uid);

The explain_message_errno_setuid function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the setuid(2) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of strerror(errno), but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

The location in which to store the returned message. If a suitable message return buffer is supplied, this function is thread safe.
The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.
The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the errno global variable just before this function is called. This is necessary if you need to call any code between the system call to be explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the value of errno.
The original uid, exactly as passed to the setuid(2) system call.

Example: This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:


if (setuid(uid) < 0)
{

int err = errno;
char message[3000];
explain_message_errno_setuid(message, sizeof(message), err, uid);


fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
exit(EXIT_FAILURE); }

The above code example is available pre-packaged as the explain_setuid_or_die(3) function.

SEE ALSO

setuid(2)
set user identity
explain_setuid_or_die(3)
set user identity and report errors

COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4
Copyright (C) 2012 Peter Miller