cap_setgroups - Linux
Overview
cap_setgroups manipulates capability sets and groups for processes. Capability sets represent individual capabilities that may be granted to processes, while groups represent combinations of capabilities. This command provides fine-grained control over the capabilities that a process may exercise.
Syntax
cap_setgroups username <GROUP_LIST>
cap_setgroups -r username
cap_setgroups -e username
cap_setgroups -d username
Options/Flags
| Option | Description | Default |
|—|—|—|
| -r
| Remove all groups from the specified user. | N/A |
| -e
| Disable all capabilities for the specified user. | N/A |
| -d
| Delete the user from the capability groups database. | N/A |
Examples
Granting Capabilities to a User
To grant a user specific capabilities using a group, use the following syntax:
cap_setgroups username @GROUP_NAME
For example, to grant the "sys_admin" capability:
cap_setgroups user1 @sys_admin
Removing Capabilities from a User
To remove all capabilities from a user, use the -r
option:
cap_setgroups -r username
Common Issues
Insufficient Privileges
To modify capabilities, the user must have the CAP_SETPCAP
capability. If the command fails with an error, ensure that the user has the necessary privileges.
Invalid Group Name
Group names must exist in the capability groups database. If a non-existent group name is specified, the command will fail.
Integration
cap_setgroups can be combined with other commands to manage capabilities effectively. For example, you can use getcap
to view the current capability settings for a process:
getcap user1
Related Commands
- getcap – Display the capabilities of a process or file.
- setcap – Set the capabilities of a file.
- cap_enter – Enter a user namespace where a process has different capabilities.