SAFE_FINGER(8) Linux Programmer's Manual SAFE_FINGER(8)
NAME
safe_finger - finger client wrapper that protects against nasty stuff
from finger servers
SYNOPSIS
safe_finger [finger_options]
DESCRIPTION
The safe_finger command protects against nasty stuff from finger
servers. Use this program for automatic reverse finger probes from the
tcp_wrapper (tcpd) , not the raw finger command. The safe_finger com-
mand makes sure that the finger client is not run with root privileges.
It also runs the finger client with a defined PATH environment.
safe_finger will also protect you from problems caused by the output of
some finger servers. The problem: some programs may react to stuff in
the first column. Other programs may get upset by thrash anywhere on a
line. File systems may fill up as the finger server keeps sending data.
Text editors may bomb out on extremely long lines. The finger server
may take forever because it is somehow wedged. safe_finger takes care
of all this badness.
SEE ALSO
hosts_access(5), hosts_options(5), tcpd(8)
AUTHOR
Wietse Venema, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands.
Linux 21th June 1997 SAFE_FINGER(8)