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  command  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)