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avc_init(3)                SELinux API documentation               avc_init(3)

NAME
       avc_init - legacy userspace SELinux AVC setup

SYNOPSIS
       #include <selinux/selinux.h>
       #include <selinux/avc.h>

       int avc_init(const char *msgprefix,
                    const struct avc_memory_callback *mem_callbacks,
                    const struct avc_log_callback *log_callbacks,
                    const struct avc_thread_callback *thread_callbacks,
                    const struct avc_lock_callback *lock_callbacks);

DESCRIPTION
       avc_init()  is  deprecated;  please use avc_open(3) in conjunction with
       selinux_set_callback(3) in all new code.

       avc_init() initializes the userspace AVC and must be called before  any
       other  AVC  operation  can  be performed.  A non-NULL msgprefix will be
       prepended to all audit messages produced by the userspace AVC.  The de-
       fault  is  `uavc'.  The remaining arguments, if non-NULL, specify call-
       backs to be used by the userspace AVC.

CALLBACKS
       The userspace AVC can be directed how  to  perform  memory  allocation,
       logging,  thread creation, and locking via callback functions passed to
       avc_init().   The  purpose  of  this  functionality  is  to  allow  the
       userspace  AVC to be smoothly integrated into existing userspace object
       managers.

       Use an avc_memory_callback structure to specify alternate functions for
       dynamic memory allocation.

              struct avc_memory_callback {
                  void  *(*func_malloc)(size_t size);
                  void  (*func_free)(void *ptr);
              };

       The  two  fields of the structure should be pointers to functions which
       behave as malloc(3) and free(3), which are used by default.

       Use an avc_log_callback structure to specify  alternate  functions  for
       logging.

              struct avc_log_callback {
                  void  (*func_log)(const char *fmt, ...);
                  void  (*func_audit)(void *auditdata,
                                      security_class_t class,
                                      char *msgbuf, size_t msgbufsize);
              };

       The  func_log callback should accept a printf(3) style format and argu-
       ments and log them as desired.  The default behavior prints the message
       on  the  standard  error.  The func_audit callback should interpret the
       auditdata parameter for the given class, printing a human-readable  in-
       terpretation  to  msgbuf using no more than msgbufsize characters.  The
       default behavior is to ignore auditdata.

       Use an avc_thread_callback structure to specify functions for  starting
       and manipulating threads.

              struct avc_thread_callback {
                  void  *(*func_create_thread)(void (*run)(void));
                  void  (*func_stop_thread)(void *thread);
              };

       The func_create_thread callback should create a new thread and return a
       pointer which references it.  The thread should execute the  run  argu-
       ment,   which   does   not   return   under   normal  conditions.   The
       func_stop_thread callback should cancel the running  thread  referenced
       by  thread.   By default, threading is not used; see KERNEL STATUS PAGE
       and NETLINK NOTIFICATION below.

       Use an avc_lock_callback structure to specify functions to create,  ob-
       tain, and release locks for use by threads.

              struct avc_lock_callback {
                  void  *(*func_alloc_lock)(void);
                  void  (*func_get_lock)(void *lock);
                  void  (*func_release_lock)(void *lock);
                  void  (*func_free_lock)(void *lock);
              };

       The  func_alloc_lock  callback  should  create  a new lock, returning a
       pointer which references it.  The func_get_lock callback should  obtain
       lock, blocking if necessary.  The func_release_lock callback should re-
       lease lock.  The func_free_lock callback should destroy  lock,  freeing
       any  resources associated with it.  The default behavior is not to per-
       form any locking.  Note that undefined behavior may result if threading
       is used without appropriate locking.

KERNEL STATUS PAGE
       Linux  kernel  version  2.6.37 supports the SELinux kernel status page,
       enabling userspace applications to  mmap(2)  SELinux  status  state  in
       read-only mode to avoid system calls during the cache hit code path.

       avc_init()  calls selinux_status_open(3) to initialize the selinux sta-
       tus state. If successfully initialized, the userspace AVC will  default
       to   single-threaded   mode   and  ignore  the  func_create_thread  and
       func_stop_thread callbacks. All  callbacks  set  via  selinux_set_call-
       back(3) will still be honored.

       avc_has_perm(3)  and  selinux_check_access(3) both check for status up-
       dates through calls to selinux_status_updated(3) at the start  of  each
       permission query and take the appropriate action.

       Two  status  types  are  currently implemented.  setenforce events will
       change the effective enforcing state used within the AVC,  and  policy-
       load events will result in a cache flush.

NETLINK NOTIFICATION
       In the event that the kernel status page is not successfully mmap(2)'ed
       the AVC will default to the netlink fallback mechanism, which  opens  a
       netlink socket for receiving status updates.  setenforce and policyload
       events will have the same results as for the  status  page  implementa-
       tion, but all status update checks will now require a system call.

       By default, avc_open(3) does not set threading or locking callbacks. In
       the fallback case, the userspace AVC checks for new netlink messages at
       the  start of each permission query. If threading and locking callbacks
       are passed to avc_init(), a dedicated thread will be started to  listen
       on the netlink socket.  This may increase performance in the absence of
       the status page and will ensure that log messages are generated immedi-
       ately rather than at the time of the next permission query.

RETURN VALUE
       Functions  with a return value return zero on success.  On error, -1 is
       returned and errno is set appropriately.

NOTES
       The msgprefix argument to avc_init() currently has a length limit of 15
       characters and will be truncated if necessary.

       If  a provided func_malloc callback does not set errno appropriately on
       error, userspace AVC calls may exhibit the same behavior.

       If a netlink thread has been created and an error occurs on the  socket
       (such  as  an  access  error),  the  thread may terminate and cause the
       userspace AVC to return EINVAL on all further permission  checks  until
       avc_destroy is called.

AUTHOR
       Eamon Walsh <ewalsh@tycho.nsa.gov>

SEE ALSO
       avc_open(3),     selinux_status_open(3),     selinux_status_updated(3),
       selinux_set_callback(3), selinux(8)

                                  27 May 2004                      avc_init(3)

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