The Linux-PAM Module Writers' Guide: What is expected of a module

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## 3. What is expected of a module

The module must supply a sub-set of the six functions listed below. Together they define the function of a Linux-PAM module. Module developers are strongly urged to read the comments on security that follow this list.

## 3.1 Overview

The six module functions are grouped into four independent management groups. These groups are as follows: authentication, account, session and password. To be properly defined, a module must define all functions within at least one of these groups. A single module may contain the necessary functions for all four groups.

### Functional independence

The independence of the four groups of service a module can offer means that the module should allow for the possibility that any one of these four services may legitimately be called in any order. Thus, the module writer should consider the appropriateness of performing a service without the prior success of some other part of the module.

As an informative example, consider the possibility that an application applies to change a user's authentication token, without having first requested that Linux-PAM authenticate the user. In some cases this may be deemed appropriate: when `root` wants to change the authentication token of some lesser user. In other cases it may not be appropriate: when `joe` maliciously wants to reset `alice`'s password; or when anyone other than the user themself wishes to reset their KERBEROS authentication token. A policy for this action should be defined by any reasonable authentication scheme, the module writer should consider this when implementing a given module.

### Minimizing administration problems

To avoid system administration problems and the poor construction of a `/etc/pam.conf` file, the module developer may define all six of the following functions. For those functions that would not be called, the module should return `PAM_SERVICE_ERR` and write an appropriate message to the system log. When this action is deemed inappropriate, the function would simply return `PAM_IGNORE`.

### Arguments supplied to the module

The `flags` argument of each of the following functions can be logically OR'd with `PAM_SILENT`, which is used to inform the module to not pass any text (errors or warnings) to the application.

The `argc` and `argv` arguments are taken from the line appropriate to this module---that is, with the service_name matching that of the application---in the configuration file (see the Linux-PAM System Administrators' Guide). Together these two parameters provide the number of arguments and an array of pointers to the individual argument tokens. This will be familiar to C programmers as the ubiquitous method of passing command arguments to the function `main()`. Note, however, that the first argument (`argv[0]`) is a true argument and not the name of the module.

## 3.2 Authentication management

To be correctly initialized, `PAM_SM_AUTH` must be `#define`'d prior to including `<security/pam_modules.h>`. This will ensure that the prototypes for static modules are properly declared.

- `PAM_EXTERN int pam_sm_authenticate(pam_handle_t *pamh, int flags, int argc, const char **argv);`

  This function performs the task of authenticating the user.

  The `flags` argument can be a logically OR'd with `PAM_SILENT` and optionally take the following value:

  `PAM_DISALLOW_NULL_AUTHTOK`

    return `PAM_AUTH_ERR` if the database of authentication tokens for this authentication mechanism has a `NULL` entry for the user. Without this flag, such a `NULL` token will lead to a success without the user being prompted.

  Besides `PAM_SUCCESS` return values that can be sent by this function are one of the following:

  `PAM_AUTH_ERR`

    The user was not authenticated

  `PAM_CRED_INSUFFICIENT`

    For some reason the application does not have sufficient credentials to authenticate the user.

  `PAM_AUTHINFO_UNAVAIL`

    The modules were not able to access the authentication information. This might be due to a network or hardware failure etc.

  `PAM_USER_UNKNOWN`

    The supplied username is not known to the authentication service

  `PAM_MAXTRIES`

    One or more of the authentication modules has reached its limit of tries authenticating the user. Do not try again.

- `PAM_EXTERN int pam_sm_setcred(pam_handle_t *pamh, int flags, int argc, const char **argv);`

  This function performs the task of altering the credentials of the user with respect to the corresponding authorization scheme. Generally, an authentication module may have access to more information about a user than their authentication token. This function is used to make such information available to the application. It should only be called after the user has been authenticated and after a session has been established.

  Permitted flags, one of which, may be logically OR'd with `PAM_SILENT` are,

  `PAM_ESTABLISH_CRED`

    Set the credentials for the authentication service,

  `PAM_DELETE_CRED`

    Delete the credentials associated with the authentication service,

  `PAM_REINITIALIZE_CRED`

    Reinitialize the user credentials, and

  `PAM_REFRESH_CRED`

    Extend the lifetime of the user credentials.

  Generally, the module should attempt to return the same error code as `pam_sm_authenticate` did. This will preserve the logic followed by libpam as it executes the stack of authentication modules, when the application calls `pam_authenticate()` and `pam_setcred()`. Failing to do this, will lead to much confudion on the part of the System administrator.

  The following text is depreciated. Some thought needs to be given to how the credential setting modules are supposed to be stacked...

  Besides `PAM_SUCCESS`, the module may return one of the following errors:

  `PAM_CRED_UNAVAIL`

    This module cannot retrieve the user's credentials.

  `PAM_CRED_EXPIRED`

    The user's credentials have expired.

  `PAM_USER_UNKNOWN`

    The user is not known to this authentication module.

  `PAM_CRED_ERR`

    This module was unable to set the credentials of the user.

## 3.3 Account management

To be correctly initialized, `PAM_SM_ACCOUNT` must be `#define`'d prior to including `<security/pam_modules.h>`. This will ensure that the prototype for a static module is properly declared.

- `PAM_EXTERN int pam_sm_acct_mgmt(pam_handle_t *pamh, int flags, int argc, const char **argv);`

  This function performs the task of establishing whether the user is permitted to gain access at this time. It should be understood that the user has previously been validated by an authentication module. This function checks for other things. Such things might be: the time of day or the date, the terminal line, remote hostname, etc. .

  This function may also determine things like the expiration on passwords, and respond that the user change it before continuing.

  Valid flags, which may be logically OR'd with `PAM_SILENT`, are the same as those applicable to the `flags` argument of `pam_sm_authenticate`.

  This function may return one of the following errors,

  `PAM_ACCT_EXPIRED`

    The user is no longer permitted access to the system.

  `PAM_AUTH_ERR`

    There was an authentication error.

  `PAM_AUTHTOKEN_REQD`

    The user's authentication token has expired. Before calling this function again the application will arrange for a new one to be given. This will likely result in a call to `pam_sm_chauthtok()`.

  `PAM_USER_UNKNOWN`

    The user is not known to the module's account management component.

## 3.4 Session management

To be correctly initialized, `PAM_SM_SESSION` must be `#define`'d prior to including `<security/pam_modules.h>`. This will ensure that the prototypes for static modules are properly declared.

The following two functions are defined to handle the initialization/termination of a session. For example, at the beginning of a session the module may wish to log a message with the system regarding the user. Similarly, at the end of the session the module would inform the system that the user's session has ended.

It should be possible for sessions to be opened by one application and closed by another. This either requires that the module uses only information obtained from `pam_get_item()`, or that information regarding the session is stored in some way by the operating system (in a file for example).

- `PAM_EXTERN int pam_sm_open_session(pam_handle_t *pamh, int flags, int argc, const char **argv);`

  This function is called to commence a session. The only valid, but optional, flag is `PAM_SILENT`.

  As a return value, `PAM_SUCCESS` signals success and `PAM_SESSION_ERR` failure.

- `PAM_EXTERN int pam_sm_close_session(pam_handle_t *pamh, int flags, int argc, const char **argv);`

  This function is called to terminate a session. The only valid, but optional, flag is `PAM_SILENT`.

  As a return value, `PAM_SUCCESS` signals success and `PAM_SESSION_ERR` failure.

## 3.5 Password management

To be correctly initialized, `PAM_SM_PASSWORD` must be `#define`'d prior to including `<security/pam_modules.h>`. This will ensure that the prototype for a static module is properly declared.

- `PAM_EXTERN int pam_sm_chauthtok(pam_handle_t *pamh, int flags, int argc, const char **argv);`

  This function is used to (re-)set the authentication token of the user. A valid flag, which may be logically OR'd with `PAM_SILENT`, can be built from the following list,

  `PAM_CHANGE_EXPIRED_AUTHTOK`

    This argument indicates to the module that the users authentication token (password) should only be changed if it has expired. This flag is optional and must be combined with one of the following two flags. Note, however, the following two options are mutually exclusive.

  `PAM_PRELIM_CHECK`

    This indicates that the modules are being probed as to their ready status for altering the user's authentication token. If the module requires access to another system over some network it should attempt to verify it can connect to this system on receiving this flag. If a module cannot establish it is ready to update the user's authentication token it should return `PAM_TRY_AGAIN`, this information will be passed back to the application.

  `PAM_UPDATE_AUTHTOK`

    This informs the module that this is the call it should change the authorization tokens. If the flag is logically OR'd with `PAM_CHANGE_EXPIRED_AUTHTOK`, the token is only changed if it has actually expired.

  Note, the Linux-PAM library calls this function twice in succession. The first time with `PAM_PRELIM_CHECK` and then, if the module does not return `PAM_TRY_AGAIN`, subsequently with `PAM_UPDATE_AUTHTOK`. It is only on the second call that the authorization token is (possibly) changed.

  `PAM_SUCCESS` is the only successful return value, valid error-returns are:

  `PAM_AUTHTOK_ERR`

    The module was unable to obtain the new authentication token.

  `PAM_AUTHTOK_RECOVERY_ERR`

    The module was unable to obtain the old authentication token.

  `PAM_AUTHTOK_LOCK_BUSY`

    Cannot change the authentication token since it is currently locked.

  `PAM_AUTHTOK_DISABLE_AGING`

    Authentication token aging has been disabled.

  `PAM_PERM_DENIED`

    Permission denied.

  `PAM_TRY_AGAIN`

    Preliminary check was unsuccessful. Signals an immediate return to the application is desired.

  `PAM_USER_UNKNOWN`

    The user is not known to the authentication token changing service.

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