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+ "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+ <head>
+ <meta name="generator" content="HTML Tidy, see www.w3.org" />
+
+ <title>Apache suEXEC Support</title>
+ </head>
+ <!-- Background white, links blue (unvisited), navy (visited), red (active) -->
+
+ <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000" link="#0000FF"
+ vlink="#000080" alink="#FF0000">
+ <!--#include virtual="header.html" -->
+
+ <h1 align="CENTER">Apache suEXEC Support</h1>
+
+ <ol>
+ <li><big><strong>CONTENTS</strong></big></li>
+
+ <li><a href="#what">What is suEXEC?</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="#before">Before we begin.</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="#model">suEXEC Security Model.</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="#install">Configuring &amp; Installing
+ suEXEC</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="#enable">Enabling &amp; Disabling
+ suEXEC</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="#usage">Using suEXEC</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="#debug">Debugging suEXEC</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="#jabberwock">Beware the Jabberwock: Warnings
+ &amp; Examples</a></li>
+ </ol>
+
+ <h3><a id="what" name="what">What is suEXEC?</a></h3>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">The <strong>suEXEC</strong> feature --
+ introduced in Apache 1.2 -- provides Apache users the ability
+ to run <strong>CGI</strong> and <strong>SSI</strong> programs
+ under user IDs different from the user ID of the calling
+ web-server. Normally, when a CGI or SSI program executes, it
+ runs as the same user who is running the web server.</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">Used properly, this feature can reduce
+ considerably the security risks involved with allowing users to
+ develop and run private CGI or SSI programs. However, if suEXEC
+ is improperly configured, it can cause any number of problems
+ and possibly create new holes in your computer's security. If
+ you aren't familiar with managing setuid root programs and the
+ security issues they present, we highly recommend that you not
+ consider using suEXEC.</p>
+
+ <p align="CENTER"><strong><a href="suexec.html">BACK TO
+ CONTENTS</a></strong></p>
+
+ <h3><a id="before" name="before">Before we begin.</a></h3>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">Before jumping head-first into this document,
+ you should be aware of the assumptions made on the part of the
+ Apache Group and this document.</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">First, it is assumed that you are using a UNIX
+ derivate operating system that is capable of
+ <strong>setuid</strong> and <strong>setgid</strong> operations.
+ All command examples are given in this regard. Other platforms,
+ if they are capable of supporting suEXEC, may differ in their
+ configuration.</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">Second, it is assumed you are familiar with
+ some basic concepts of your computer's security and its
+ administration. This involves an understanding of
+ <strong>setuid/setgid</strong> operations and the various
+ effects they may have on your system and its level of
+ security.</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">Third, it is assumed that you are using an
+ <strong>unmodified</strong> version of suEXEC code. All code
+ for suEXEC has been carefully scrutinized and tested by the
+ developers as well as numerous beta testers. Every precaution
+ has been taken to ensure a simple yet solidly safe base of
+ code. Altering this code can cause unexpected problems and new
+ security risks. It is <strong>highly</strong> recommended that
+ you do not alter the suEXEC code unless you are well versed in
+ the particulars of security programming and are willing to share
+ your work with the Apache Group for consideration.</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">Fourth, and last, it has been the decision of
+ the Apache Group to <strong>NOT</strong> make suEXEC part of
+ the default installation of Apache. To this end, suEXEC
+ configuration requires careful attention to details from the
+ administrator. After due consideration has been given to the
+ various settings for suEXEC, the administrator may install
+ suEXEC through normal installation methods. The values for
+ these settings need to be carefully determined and specified by
+ the administrator to properly maintain system security during
+ the use of suEXEC functionality. It is through this detailed
+ process that the Apache Group hopes to limit suEXEC
+ installation only to those who are careful and determined
+ enough to use it.</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">Still with us? Yes? Good. Let's move on!</p>
+
+ <p align="CENTER"><strong><a href="suexec.html">BACK TO
+ CONTENTS</a></strong></p>
+
+ <h3><a id="model" name="model">suEXEC Security Model</a></h3>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">Before we begin configuring and installing
+ suEXEC, we will first discuss the security model you are about
+ to implement. By doing so, you may better understand what
+ exactly is going on inside suEXEC and what precautions are
+ taken to ensure your system's security.</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT"><strong>suEXEC</strong> is based on a setuid
+ "wrapper" program that is called by the main Apache web server.
+ This wrapper is called when an HTTP request is made for a CGI
+ or SSI program that the administrator has designated to run as
+ a userid other than that of the main server. When such a
+ request is made, Apache provides the suEXEC wrapper with the
+ program's name and the user and group IDs under which the
+ program is to execute.</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">The wrapper then employs the following process
+ to determine success or failure -- if any one of these
+ conditions fail, the program logs the failure and exits with an
+ error, otherwise it will continue:</p>
+
+ <ol>
+ <li>
+ <strong>Was the wrapper called with the proper number of
+ arguments?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ The wrapper will only execute if it is given the proper
+ number of arguments. The proper argument format is known
+ to the Apache web server. If the wrapper is not receiving
+ the proper number of arguments, it is either being
+ hacked, or there is something wrong with the suEXEC
+ portion of your Apache binary.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the user executing this wrapper a valid user of
+ this system?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ This is to ensure that the user executing the wrapper is
+ truly a user of the system.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is this valid user allowed to run the
+ wrapper?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ Is this user the user allowed to run this wrapper? Only
+ one user (the Apache user) is allowed to execute this
+ program.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Does the target program have an unsafe hierarchical
+ reference?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ Does the target program contain a leading '/' or have a
+ '..' backreference? These are not allowed; the target
+ program must reside within the Apache webspace.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the target user name valid?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ Does the target user exist?
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the target group name valid?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ Does the target group exist?
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the target user <em>NOT</em> superuser?</strong>
+
+
+ <blockquote>
+ Presently, suEXEC does not allow 'root' to execute
+ CGI/SSI programs.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the target userid <em>ABOVE</em> the minimum ID
+ number?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ The minimum user ID number is specified during
+ configuration. This allows you to set the lowest possible
+ userid that will be allowed to execute CGI/SSI programs.
+ This is useful to block out "system" accounts.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the target group <em>NOT</em> the superuser
+ group?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ Presently, suEXEC does not allow the 'root' group to
+ execute CGI/SSI programs.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the target groupid <em>ABOVE</em> the minimum ID
+ number?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ The minimum group ID number is specified during
+ configuration. This allows you to set the lowest possible
+ groupid that will be allowed to execute CGI/SSI programs.
+ This is useful to block out "system" groups.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Can the wrapper successfully become the target user
+ and group?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ Here is where the program becomes the target user and
+ group via setuid and setgid calls. The group access list
+ is also initialized with all of the groups of which the
+ user is a member.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Does the directory in which the program resides
+ exist?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ If it doesn't exist, it can't very well contain files.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the directory within the Apache
+ webspace?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ If the request is for a regular portion of the server, is
+ the requested directory within the server's document
+ root? If the request is for a UserDir, is the requested
+ directory within the user's document root?
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the directory <em>NOT</em> writable by anyone
+ else?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ We don't want to open up the directory to others; only
+ the owner user may be able to alter this directories
+ contents.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Does the target program exist?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ If it doesn't exists, it can't very well be executed.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the target program <em>NOT</em> writable by
+ anyone else?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ We don't want to give anyone other than the owner the
+ ability to change the program.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the target program <em>NOT</em> setuid or
+ setgid?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ We do not want to execute programs that will then change
+ our UID/GID again.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Is the target user/group the same as the program's
+ user/group?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ Is the user the owner of the file?
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Can we successfully clean the process environment
+ to ensure safe operations?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ suEXEC cleans the process' environment by establishing a
+ safe execution PATH (defined during configuration), as
+ well as only passing through those variables whose names
+ are listed in the safe environment list (also created
+ during configuration).
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <strong>Can we successfully become the target program and
+ execute?</strong>
+
+ <blockquote>
+ Here is where suEXEC ends and the target program begins.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+ </ol>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">This is the standard operation of the
+ suEXEC wrapper's security model. It is somewhat stringent and
+ can impose new limitations and guidelines for CGI/SSI design,
+ but it was developed carefully step-by-step with security in
+ mind.</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">For more information as to how this security
+ model can limit your possibilities in regards to server
+ configuration, as well as what security risks can be avoided
+ with a proper suEXEC setup, see the <a
+ href="#jabberwock">"Beware the Jabberwock"</a> section of this
+ document.</p>
+
+ <p align="CENTER"><strong><a href="suexec.html">BACK TO
+ CONTENTS</a></strong></p>
+
+ <h3><a id="install" name="install">Configuring &amp; Installing
+ suEXEC</a></h3>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">Here's where we begin the fun. If you use
+ Apache 1.2 or prefer to configure Apache 1.3 with the
+ "<code>src/Configure</code>" script you have to edit the suEXEC
+ header file and install the binary in its proper location
+ manually. This procedure is described in an <a
+ href="suexec_1_2.html">extra document</a>. The following
+ sections describe the configuration and installation for Apache
+ 1.3 with the AutoConf-style interface (APACI).</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT"><strong>APACI's suEXEC configuration
+ options</strong><br />
+ </p>
+
+ <dl>
+ <dt><code>--enable-suexec</code></dt>
+
+ <dd>This option enables the suEXEC feature which is never
+ installed or activated by default. At least one
+ --suexec-xxxxx option has to be provided together with the
+ --enable-suexec option to let APACI accept your request for
+ using the suEXEC feature.</dd>
+
+ <dt><code>--suexec-caller=<em>UID</em></code></dt>
+
+ <dd>The <a href="mod/core.html#user">username</a> under which
+ Apache normally runs. This is the only user allowed to
+ execute this program.</dd>
+
+ <dt><code>--suexec-docroot=<em>DIR</em></code></dt>
+
+ <dd>Define as the DocumentRoot set for Apache. This will be
+ the only hierarchy (aside from UserDirs) that can be used for
+ suEXEC behavior. The default directory is the --datadir value
+ with the suffix "/htdocs", <em>e.g.</em> if you configure
+ with "<code>--datadir=/home/apache</code>" the directory
+ "/home/apache/htdocs" is used as document root for the suEXEC
+ wrapper.</dd>
+
+ <dt><code>--suexec-logfile=<em>FILE</em></code></dt>
+
+ <dd>This defines the filename to which all suEXEC
+ transactions and errors are logged (useful for auditing and
+ debugging purposes). By default the logfile is named
+ "suexec_log" and located in your standard logfile directory
+ (--logfiledir).</dd>
+
+ <dt><code>--suexec-userdir=<em>DIR</em></code></dt>
+
+ <dd>Define to be the subdirectory under users' home
+ directories where suEXEC access should be allowed. All
+ executables under this directory will be executable by suEXEC
+ as the user so they should be "safe" programs. If you are
+ using a "simple" UserDir directive (ie. one without a "*" in
+ it) this should be set to the same value. suEXEC will not
+ work properly in cases where the UserDir directive points to
+ a location that is not the same as the user's home directory
+ as referenced in the passwd file. Default value is
+ "public_html".<br />
+ If you have virtual hosts with a different UserDir for each,
+ you will need to define them to all reside in one parent
+ directory; then name that parent directory here. <strong>If
+ this is not defined properly, "~userdir" cgi requests will
+ not work!</strong></dd>
+
+ <dt><code>--suexec-uidmin=<em>UID</em></code></dt>
+
+ <dd>Define this as the lowest UID allowed to be a target user
+ for suEXEC. For most systems, 500 or 100 is common. Default
+ value is 100.</dd>
+
+ <dt><code>--suexec-gidmin=<em>GID</em></code></dt>
+
+ <dd>Define this as the lowest GID allowed to be a target
+ group for suEXEC. For most systems, 100 is common and
+ therefore used as default value.</dd>
+
+ <dt><code>--suexec-safepath=<em>PATH</em></code></dt>
+
+ <dd>Define a safe PATH environment to pass to CGI
+ executables. Default value is
+ "/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin".</dd>
+ </dl>
+
+ <p align="LEFT"><strong>Checking your suEXEC
+ setup</strong><br />
+ Before you compile and install the suEXEC wrapper you can
+ check the configuration with the --layout option.<br />
+ Example output:</p>
+<pre>
+ suEXEC setup:
+ suexec binary: /usr/local/apache/sbin/suexec
+ document root: /usr/local/apache/share/htdocs
+ userdir suffix: public_html
+ logfile: /usr/local/apache/var/log/suexec_log
+ safe path: /usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin
+ caller ID: www
+ minimum user ID: 100
+ minimum group ID: 100
+</pre>
+
+ <p align="LEFT"><strong>Compiling and installing the suEXEC
+ wrapper</strong><br />
+ If you have enabled the suEXEC feature with the
+ --enable-suexec option the suexec binary (together with Apache
+ itself) is automatically built if you execute the command
+ "make".<br />
+ After all components have been built you can execute the
+ command "make install" to install them. The binary image
+ "suexec" is installed in the directory defined by the --sbindir
+ option. Default location is
+ "/usr/local/apache/sbin/suexec".<br />
+ Please note that you need <strong><em>root
+ privileges</em></strong> for the installation step. In order
+ for the wrapper to set the user ID, it must be installed as
+ owner <code><em>root</em></code> and must have the setuserid
+ execution bit set for file modes.</p>
+
+ <p align="CENTER"><strong><a href="suexec.html">BACK TO
+ CONTENTS</a></strong></p>
+
+ <h3><a id="enable" name="enable">Enabling &amp; Disabling
+ suEXEC</a></h3>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">Upon startup of Apache, it looks for the file
+ "suexec" in the "sbin" directory (default is
+ "/usr/local/apache/sbin/suexec"). If Apache finds a properly
+ configured suEXEC wrapper, it will print the following message
+ to the error log:</p>
+<pre>
+ [notice] suEXEC mechanism enabled (wrapper: <em>/path/to/suexec</em>)
+</pre>
+
+ <p>If you don't see this message at server startup, the server
+ is most likely not finding the wrapper program where it expects
+ it, or the executable is not installed <em>setuid
+ root</em>.<br />
+ If you want to enable the suEXEC mechanism for the first time
+ and an Apache server is already running you must kill and
+ restart Apache. Restarting it with a simple HUP or USR1 signal
+ will not be enough.<br />
+ If you want to disable suEXEC you should kill and restart
+ Apache after you have removed the "suexec" file.</p>
+
+ <p align="CENTER"><strong><a href="suexec.html">BACK TO
+ CONTENTS</a></strong></p>
+
+ <h3><a id="usage" name="usage">Using suEXEC</a></h3>
+
+ <p align="LEFT"><strong>Virtual Hosts:</strong><br />
+ One way to use the suEXEC wrapper is through the <a
+ href="mod/core.html#user">User</a> and <a
+ href="mod/core.html#group">Group</a> directives in <a
+ href="mod/core.html#virtualhost">VirtualHost</a> definitions.
+ By setting these directives to values different from the main
+ server user ID, all requests for CGI resources will be executed
+ as the <em>User</em> and <em>Group</em> defined for that
+ <code>&lt;VirtualHost&gt;</code>. If only one or neither of
+ these directives are specified for a
+ <code>&lt;VirtualHost&gt;</code> then the main server userid is
+ assumed.</p>
+
+ <p><strong>User directories:</strong><br />
+ The suEXEC wrapper can also be used to execute CGI programs as
+ the user to which the request is being directed. This is
+ accomplished by using the "<strong><code>~</code></strong>"
+ character prefixing the user ID for whom execution is desired.
+ The only requirement needed for this feature to work is for CGI
+ execution to be enabled for the user and that the script must
+ meet the scrutiny of the <a href="#model">security checks</a>
+ above.</p>
+
+ <p align="CENTER"><strong><a href="suexec.html">BACK TO
+ CONTENTS</a></strong></p>
+
+ <h3><a id="debug" name="debug">Debugging suEXEC</a></h3>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">The suEXEC wrapper will write log information
+ to the file defined with the --suexec-logfile option as
+ indicated above. If you feel you have configured and installed
+ the wrapper properly, have a look at this log and the error_log
+ for the server to see where you may have gone astray.</p>
+
+ <p align="CENTER"><strong><a href="suexec.html">BACK TO
+ CONTENTS</a></strong></p>
+
+ <h3><a id="jabberwock" name="jabberwock">Beware the Jabberwock:
+ Warnings &amp; Examples</a></h3>
+
+ <p align="LEFT"><strong>NOTE!</strong> This section may not be
+ complete. For the latest revision of this section of the
+ documentation, see the Apache Group's <a
+ href="http://httpd.apache.org/docs/suexec.html">Online
+ Documentation</a> version.</p>
+
+ <p align="LEFT">There are a few points of interest regarding
+ the wrapper that can cause limitations on server setup. Please
+ review these before submitting any "bugs" regarding suEXEC.</p>
+
+ <ul>
+ <li><strong>suEXEC Points Of Interest</strong></li>
+
+ <li>
+ Hierarchy limitations
+
+ <blockquote>
+ For security and efficiency reasons, all suexec requests
+ must remain within either a top-level document root for
+ virtual host requests, or one top-level personal document
+ root for userdir requests. For example, if you have four
+ VirtualHosts configured, you would need to structure all
+ of your VHosts' document roots off of one main Apache
+ document hierarchy to take advantage of suEXEC for
+ VirtualHosts. (Example forthcoming.)
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ suEXEC's PATH environment variable
+
+ <blockquote>
+ This can be a dangerous thing to change. Make certain
+ every path you include in this define is a
+ <strong>trusted</strong> directory. You don't want to
+ open people up to having someone from across the world
+ running a trojan horse on them.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ Altering the suEXEC code
+
+ <blockquote>
+ Again, this can cause <strong>Big Trouble</strong> if you
+ try this without knowing what you are doing. Stay away
+ from it if at all possible.
+ </blockquote>
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+
+ <p align="CENTER"><strong><a href="suexec.html">BACK TO
+ CONTENTS</a></strong></p>
+ <!--#include virtual="footer.html" -->
+ </body>
+</html>
+