---
name: "pam_selinux"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "libpam-runtime"
version: "1.7.0-5"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pam_selinux"
---

# pam\_selinux(8)

PAM module to set the default security context

## NAME

pam\_selinux - PAM module to set the default security context

## SYNOPSIS

**pam\_selinux.so** \[open\] \[close\] \[restore\] \[nottys\] \[debug\] \[verbose\] \[select\_context\] \[env\_params\] \[use\_current\_range\]

## DESCRIPTION

pam\_selinux is a PAM module that sets up the default SELinux security context for the next executed process.

When a new session is started, the open\_session part of the module computes and sets up the execution security context used for the next [**execve**(2)](/execve/2.md) call, the file security context for the controlling terminal, and the security context used for creating a new kernel keyring.

When the session is ended, the close\_session part of the module restores old security contexts that were in effect before the change made by the open\_session part of the module.

Adding pam\_selinux into the PAM stack might disrupt behavior of other PAM modules which execute applications. To avoid that, *pam\_selinux.so open* should be placed after such modules in the PAM stack, and *pam\_selinux.so close* should be placed before them. When such a placement is not feasible, *pam\_selinux.so restore* could be used to temporary restore original security contexts.

## OPTIONS

open

Only execute the open\_session part of the module.

close

Only execute the close\_session part of the module.

restore

In open\_session part of the module, temporarily restore the security contexts as they were before the previous call of the module. Another call of this module without the restore option will set up the new security contexts again.

nottys

Do not setup security context of the controlling terminal.

debug

Turn on debug messages via [**syslog**(3)](/syslog/3.md).

verbose

Attempt to inform the user when security context is set.

select\_context

Attempt to ask the user for a custom security context role. If MLS is on, ask also for sensitivity level.

env\_params

Attempt to obtain a custom security context role from PAM environment. If MLS is on, obtain also sensitivity level. This option and the select\_context option are mutually exclusive. The respective PAM environment variables are *SELINUX\_ROLE\_REQUESTED*, *SELINUX\_LEVEL\_REQUESTED*, and *SELINUX\_USE\_CURRENT\_RANGE*. The first two variables are self describing and the last one if set to 1 makes the PAM module behave as if the use\_current\_range was specified on the command line of the module.

use\_current\_range

Use the sensitivity level of the current process for the user context instead of the default level. Also suppresses asking of the sensitivity level from the user or obtaining it from PAM environment.

## MODULE TYPES PROVIDED

Only the **session** module type is provided.

## RETURN VALUES

PAM\_SUCCESS

The security context was set successfully.

PAM\_SESSION\_ERR

Unable to get or set a valid context.

PAM\_USER\_UNKNOWN

The user is not known to the system.

PAM\_BUF\_ERR

Memory allocation error.

## EXAMPLES

```
auth     required  pam_unix.so
session  required  pam_permit.so
session  optional  pam_selinux.so
```

## SEE ALSO

[**execve**(2)](/execve/2.md), [**tty**(4)](/tty/4.md), [**pam.d**(5)](/pam.d/5.md), [**pam**(7)](/pam/7.md), [**selinux**(8)](/selinux/8.md)

## AUTHOR

pam\_selinux was written by Dan Walsh \<dwalsh@redhat.com\>.