losing capabilities after setuid()

Question

Trying to set cap_setgid,cap_setuid,cap_setpcap.

#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/capability.h>

int main()
{
    cap_t caps;
    caps = cap_get_proc();
    cap_value_t cap_list[2];

    cap_list[0] = CAP_SETUID;
    cap_list[1] = CAP_SETGID;

    cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_EFFECTIVE, 2, cap_list, CAP_SET);
    cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_INHERITABLE, 2, cap_list, CAP_SET);
    cap_set_proc(caps);
    cap_free(caps);
    setgid(65534);
    setuid(65534);

    cap_get_proc();
    setgid(0);
    setuid(0);

    return 0;
}

Execution is going under root user. Tracing the program shows this

capget({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, NULL) = 0
capget({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, {CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, 0}) = 0
capset({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, {CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP}) = 0
setgid(65534)                           = 0
setuid(65534)                           = 0
capget({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, NULL) = 0
capget({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, {0, 0, CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP}) = 0
setgid(0)                               = -1 EPERM (Operation not permitted)
setuid(0)                               = -1 EPERM (Operation not permitted)
exit_group(0)                           = ?
+++ exited with 0 +++

Privileges are set but do not work. Any suggestions how to solve this problem?

UPDATE: prctl added to code

21a22
> prctl(PR_SET_KEEPCAPS, 1, 0, 0, 0);
24a26
> cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_EFFECTIVE, 3, cap_list, CAP_SET);

so now it is

prctl(PR_SET_KEEPCAPS, 1, 0, 0, 0);
setgid(65534);
setuid(65534);
cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_EFFECTIVE, 3, cap_list, CAP_SET);

Caps were inherited after setuid, and caps that were set manually are still there, but it didn't solve the problem

setgid(65534)                           = 0
setuid(65534)                           = 0
capget({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, NULL) = 0
capget({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, {0, CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP}) = 0
setgid(0)                               = -1 EPERM (Operation not permitted)
setuid(0)                               = -1 EPERM (Operation not permitted)
exit_group(0)                           = ?
+++ exited with 0 +++

UPDATE2: Can't understand it. Ive added 2strs after 1st setuid, to check out for caps.

printf("cape set %d\n", cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_EFFECTIVE, 3, cap_list, CAP_SET));
printf("%s\n", cap_to_text(cap_get_proc(), NULL));

it returned

catp set 0
=p cap_setgid,cap_setuid,cap_setpcap+i

Effective flag is not set, but cap_set_flag returned 0

sorry. solved by adding cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_INHERITABLE, 2, cap_list, CAP_SET) — Dmitry Fedorov, Aug 27 '12 at 12:08
Post it as an answer and accept it. It's recommended to do it if you solved your own problem. Future programmer will find it easily. Add also an explanation on why it's needed. — Zagorax, Aug 27 '12 at 13:25
Ok. Wait for someone to help you. Consider my comments only if you solve it. — Zagorax, Aug 27 '12 at 14:08

ephemient · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-29T06:35:39.053

By default, capability sets are lost across an UID transition; use

prctl(PR_SET_KEEPCAPS, 1, 0, 0, 0);

to retain permitted capabilities (cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_PERMITTED, ...)). Note that the effective capability set will be reset, but can be re-established.

The following works fine for me.

#include <sys/capability.h>
#include <sys/prctl.h>
#include <unistd.h>

int main(int argc, char **argv) {
    cap_value_t cap_values[] = {CAP_SETUID, CAP_SETGID};
    cap_t caps;

    caps = cap_get_proc();
    cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_PERMITTED, 2, cap_values, CAP_SET);
    cap_set_proc(caps);
    prctl(PR_SET_KEEPCAPS, 1, 0, 0, 0);
    cap_free(caps);

    setgid(65534);
    setuid(65534);

    caps = cap_get_proc();
    cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_EFFECTIVE, 2, cap_values, CAP_SET);
    cap_set_proc(caps);
    cap_free(caps);

    setgid(0);
    setuid(0);

    return 0;
}

$ sudo strace ./a.out
...
capget({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, {CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, 0}) = 0
capset({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, {CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, 0}) = 0
prctl(PR_SET_KEEPCAPS, 1)               = 0
setgid(65534)                           = 0
setuid(65534)                           = 0
capget({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, NULL) = 0
capget({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, {0, CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, 0}) = 0
capset({_LINUX_CAPABILITY_VERSION_3, 0}, {CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID, CAP_CHOWN|CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE|CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH|CAP_FOWNER|CAP_FSETID|CAP_KILL|CAP_SETGID|CAP_SETUID|CAP_SETPCAP|CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE|CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE|CAP_NET_BROADCAST|CAP_NET_ADMIN|CAP_NET_RAW|CAP_IPC_LOCK|CAP_IPC_OWNER|CAP_SYS_MODULE|CAP_SYS_RAWIO|CAP_SYS_CHROOT|CAP_SYS_PTRACE|CAP_SYS_PACCT|CAP_SYS_ADMIN|CAP_SYS_BOOT|CAP_SYS_NICE|CAP_SYS_RESOURCE|CAP_SYS_TIME|CAP_SYS_TTY_CONFIG|CAP_MKNOD|CAP_LEASE|CAP_AUDIT_WRITE|CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL|CAP_SETFCAP, 0}) = 0
setgid(0)                               = 0
setuid(0)                               = 0
...

Thanks. Ive made changes in code after ur post, but the problem is still there. look at question update, pls — Dmitry Fedorov, Aug 28 '12 at 06:49

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 27 '18 at 21:34

I think you confused CAP_PERMITTED set with CAP_INHERITABLE, Unless you are using threads/exec , you want to use CAP_PERMITTED.

Inheritable (formerly known as allowed): This set is ANDed with the thread's inheritable set to determine which inheritable capabilities are enabled in the permitted set of the thread after the execve(2)

As for update2: try printing out cap_to_text(cap_get_proc()) before/after and also consider what is the difference between cap_set_flag and cap_set_proc.

losing capabilities after setuid()

2 Answers2