---
name: "pam_chroot"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pam_chroot"
---

# pam\_chroot(8)

Chroot PAM module

## NAME

**pam\_chroot** – Chroot PAM module

## SYNOPSIS

\[*service-name*\] *module-type* *control-flag* *pam\_chroot* \[*arguments*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The chroot service module for PAM chroots users into either a predetermined directory or one derived from their home directory. If a user's home directory as specified in the *passwd* structure returned by [getpwnam(3)](/getpwnam/3.md) contains the string “/./”, the portion of the directory name to the left of that string is used as the chroot directory, and the portion to the right will be the current working directory inside the chroot tree. Otherwise, the directories specified by the **dir** and **cwd** options (see below) are used.

- **also\_root**

  Do not hold user ID 0 exempt from the chroot requirement.

- **always**

  Report a failure if a chroot directory could not be derived from the user's home directory, and the **dir** option was not specified.

- **cwd**=*directory*

  Specify the directory to [chdir(2)](/chdir/2.md) into after a successful [chroot(2)](/chroot/2.md) call.

- **dir**=*directory*

  Specify the chroot directory to use if one could not be derived from the user's home directory.

## SEE ALSO

[pam(3)](/pam/3.md), [pam.conf(5)](/pam.conf/5.md)

## AUTHORS

The **pam\_chroot** module and this manual page were developed for the FreeBSD Project by ThinkSec AS and NAI Labs, the Security Research Division of Network Associates, Inc. under DARPA/SPAWAR contract N66001-01-C-8035 (“CBOSS”), as part of the DARPA CHATS research program.