NAME

     cap_enter, cap_getmode — Capability mode system calls

LIBRARY

     Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

SYNOPSIS

     #include <sys/capability.h>

     int
     cap_enter(void);

     int
     cap_getmode(u_int *modep);

DESCRIPTION

     cap_enter() places the current process into capability mode, a mode of execution in which
     processes may only issue system calls operating on file descriptors or reading limited
     global system state.  Access to global name spaces, such as file system or IPC name spaces,
     is prevented.  If the process is already in a capability mode sandbox, the system call is a
     no-op.  Future process descendants created with fork(2) or pdfork(2) will be placed in
     capability mode from inception.

     When combined with cap_rights_limit(2), cap_ioctls_limit(2), cap_fcntls_limit(2),
     cap_enter() may be used to create kernel-enforced sandboxes in which appropriately-crafted
     applications or application components may be run.

     cap_getmode() returns a flag indicating whether or not the process is in a capability mode
     sandbox.

CAVEAT

     Creating effective process sandboxes is a tricky process that involves identifying the least
     possible rights required by the process and then passing those rights into the process in a
     safe manner.  Consumers of cap_enter() should also be aware of other inherited rights, such
     as access to VM resources, memory contents, and other process properties that should be
     considered.  It is advisable to use fexecve(2) to create a runtime environment inside the
     sandbox that has as few implicitly acquired rights as possible.

RETURN VALUES

     The cap_enter() and cap_getmode() functions return the value 0 if successful; otherwise the
     value -1 is returned and the global variable errno is set to indicate the error.

ERRORS

     The cap_enter() and cap_getmode() system calls will fail if:

     [ENOSYS]           The kernel is compiled without:

                        options CAPABILITY_MODE

     The cap_getmode() system call may also return the following error:

     [EFAULT]           Pointer modep points outside the process's allocated address space.

SEE ALSO

     cap_fcntls_limit(2), cap_ioctls_limit(2), cap_rights_limit(2), fexecve(2), cap_sandboxed(3),
     capsicum(4)

HISTORY

     Support for capabilities and capabilities mode was developed as part of the TrustedBSD
     Project.

AUTHORS

     These functions and the capability facility were created by Robert N. M. Watson at the
     University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory with support from a grant from Google, Inc.