avc_open

Section: SELinux API documentation (3)
Updated: 12 Jun 2008
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NAME

avc_open, avc_destroy, avc_reset, avc_cleanup - userspace SELinux AVC setup and teardown.

SYNOPSIS

#include <selinux/selinux.h>

#include <selinux/avc.h>

int avc_open(struct selinux_opt *options, unsigned nopt);

void avc_destroy(void);

int avc_reset(void);

void avc_cleanup(void);

DESCRIPTION

avc_open initializes the userspace AVC and must be called before any other AVC operation can be performed.

avc_destroy destroys the userspace AVC, freeing all internal memory structures. After this call has been made, avc_open must be called again before any AVC operations can be performed.

avc_reset flushes the userspace AVC, causing it to forget any cached access decisions. The userspace AVC normally calls this function automatically when needed, see NETLINK NOTIFICATION below.

avc_cleanup attempts to free unused memory within the userspace AVC, but does not flush any cached access decisions. Under normal operation, calling this function should not be necessary.

OPTIONS

The userspace AVC obeys callbacks set via selinux_set_callback(3), in particular the logging and audit callbacks.

The options which may be passed to avc_open include the following:

AVC_OPT_SETENFORCE: This option forces the userspace AVC into enforcing mode if the option value is non-NULL; permissive mode otherwise. The system enforcing mode will be ignored.

NETLINK NOTIFICATION

Beginning with version 2.6.4, the Linux kernel supports SELinux status change notification via netlink. Two message types are currently implemented, indicating changes to the enforcing mode and to the loaded policy in the kernel, respectively. The userspace AVC listens for these messages and takes the appropriate action, modifying the behavior of avc_has_perm(3) to reflect the current enforcing mode and flushing the cache on receipt of a policy load notification. Audit messages are produced when netlink notifications are processed.

RETURN VALUE

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

AUTHOR

Eamon Walsh <ewalsh@tycho.nsa.gov>