*BSD News Article 37862


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Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.bugs,comp.os.386bsd.questions
Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.uwa.edu.au!DIALix!metapro!bernie
From: bernie@metapro.DIALix.oz.au (Bernd Felsche)
Subject: Re: chroot() in FreeBSD 1.1.5.1
Message-ID: <Cz8xB9.AM2@metapro.DIALix.oz.au>
Organization: MetaPro Systems, Perth, Western Australia
References: <39vvl6$90m@clavin.uprc.com> <3a06kq$9bs@dagny.galt.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 07:11:33 GMT
Lines: 17

In <3a06kq$9bs@dagny.galt.com> alex@pc.cc.cmu.edu (alex wetmore) writes:

>> Big question:  why can't normal users call chroot???
>     This call is restricted to the super-user.

>I'm not sure why its implemented this way.  I thought I would find an 
>answer in Leffler, et al, but I just checked and it didn't say.  The source
>code for the system call doesn't say either.

It'd be a security hole otherwise... it is possible for users to
"escape" from within the chroot environment if they gain sufficient
privileges within. Being able to do your own chroot means that you can
pre-arrange for those privileges.
-- 
Bernd Felsche, MetaPro Systems Pty Ltd
328 Albany Highway, Victoria Park, Western Australia
Phone: +61 9 362 9355  Fax: +61 9 472 3337