---
name: "pam_set_items"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "pam_wrapper"
version: "1.1.8-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pam_set_items"
---

# pam\_set\_items(8)

A PAM test module to set module-specific PAM items

## NAME

pam\_set\_items - A PAM test module to set module-specific PAM items

## SYNOPSIS

pam\_set\_items.so

## DESCRIPTION

PAM modules store data in PAM *items*. These items are only accessible from module context, not application context as they might include private data (PAM\_AUTHTOK normally contains the password). But when testing PAM modules, it’s often nice to make sure a PAM module under test can retrieve data from the stack. The pam\_set\_items module makes this possible by reading environment variables and setting them as PAM items.

## OPTIONS

None

## MODULE TYPES PROVIDED

All module types (**account**, **auth**, **password** and **session**) are provided.

## EXAMPLE

Consider an example that tests that pam\_unix is able to read a provided password and doesn’t query on its own. The test service file would contain:

```
auth required        pam_set_items.so
auth required        pam_unix.so
```

Then the test would put the item to the test environment with:

```
setenv("PAM_AUTHTOK", "secret");
```

Then run the PAM conversation.