SAFE_FINGER(R)      Linux Programmer's Manual      SAFE_FINGER(R)



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 pro-
       grams may react to stuff in the first column.  Other  pro-
       grams  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(s), hosts_options(s), tcpd(d)

AUTHOR
       Wietse  Venema,  Eindhoven  University  of Technology, The
       Netherlands.




Linux                     21th June 1997           SAFE_FINGER(R)