---
name: "suexec"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "apache"
version: "2.4.69-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/suexec"
---

# suexec(8)

Switch user before executing external programs

## NAME

suexec - Switch user before executing external programs

## SYNOPSIS

**suexec** -**V**

## SUMMARY

**suexec** is used by the Apache HTTP Server to switch to another user before executing CGI programs. In order to achieve this, it must run as **root**. Since the HTTP daemon normally doesn't run as **root**, the **suexec** executable needs the setuid bit set and must be owned by **root**. It should never be writable for any other person than **root**.

For further information about the concepts and the security model of suexec please refer to the suexec documentation (http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/suexec.html).

## OPTIONS

- **-V**

  If you are **root**, this option displays the compile options of **suexec**. For security reasons all configuration options are changeable only at compile time.