CAP_ENTER(2)              FreeBSD System Calls Manual             CAP_ENTER(2)

NAME

     cap_enter, cap_getmode - Capability mode system calls

LIBRARY

     Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

SYNOPSIS

     #include <sys/capsicum.h>

     int
     cap_enter(void);

     int
     cap_getmode(u_int *modep);

DESCRIPTION

     cap_enter() places the current process into capability mode, a mode of
     execution in which processes may only issue system calls operating on
     file descriptors or reading limited global system state.  Access to
     global name spaces, such as file system or IPC name spaces, is prevented.
     If the process is already in a capability mode sandbox, the system call
     is a no-op.  Future process descendants created with fork(2) or pdfork(2)
     will be placed in capability mode from inception.

     When combined with cap_rights_limit(2), cap_ioctls_limit(2),
     cap_fcntls_limit(2), cap_enter() may be used to create kernel-enforced
     sandboxes in which appropriately-crafted applications or application
     components may be run.

     cap_getmode() returns a flag indicating whether or not the process is in
     a capability mode sandbox.

RUN-TIME SETTINGS

     If the kern.trap_enotcap sysctl MIB is set to a non-zero value, then for
     any process executing in a capability mode sandbox, any syscall which
     results in either an ENOTCAPABLE or ECAPMODE error also generates the
     synchronous SIGTRAP signal to the thread on the syscall return.  On
     signal delivery, the si_errno member of the siginfo signal handler
     parameter is set to the syscall error value, and the si_code member is
     set to TRAP_CAP.

     See also the PROC_TRAPCAP_CTL and PROC_TRAPCAP_STATUS operations of the
     procctl(2) function for similar per-process functionality.

RETURN VALUES

     The cap_enter() and cap_getmode() functions return the value 0 if
     successful; otherwise the value -1 is returned and the global variable
     errno is set to indicate the error.

     When the process is in capability mode, cap_getmode() sets the flag to a
     non-zero value.  A zero value means the process is not in capability
     mode.

ERRORS

     The cap_enter() and cap_getmode() system calls will fail if:

     [ENOSYS]           The running kernel was compiled without options
                        CAPABILITY_MODE.

     The cap_getmode() system call may also return the following error:

     [EFAULT]           Pointer modep points outside the process's allocated
                        address space.

SEE ALSO

     cap_fcntls_limit(2), cap_ioctls_limit(2), cap_rights_limit(2),
     fexecve(2), procctl(2), cap_sandboxed(3), capsicum(4), sysctl(9)

HISTORY

     The cap_getmode() system call first appeared in FreeBSD 8.3.  Support for
     capabilities and capabilities mode was developed as part of the
     TrustedBSD Project.

AUTHORS

     These functions and the capability facility were created by Robert N. M.
     Watson at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory with support
     from a grant from Google, Inc.

CAVEATS

     Creating effective process sandboxes is a tricky process that involves
     identifying the least possible rights required by the process and then
     passing those rights into the process in a safe manner.  Consumers of
     cap_enter() should also be aware of other inherited rights, such as
     access to VM resources, memory contents, and other process properties
     that should be considered.  It is advisable to use fexecve(2) to create a
     runtime environment inside the sandbox that has as few implicitly
     acquired rights as possible.

FreeBSD 15.1-STABLE-HBSD         March 9, 2023                    CAP_ENTER(2)