CHROOT(8) | System Manager's Manual | CHROOT(8)

# NAME

`chroot` — change root directory

# SYNOPSIS

`chroot` | [`-G` group,group,...] [`-g` group] [`-u` user] newroot [command]

# DESCRIPTION

The `chroot` command changes its root directory to the supplied directory newroot and exec's command, or, if not supplied, an interactive copy of your shell.

If the `-u`, `-g`, or `-G` options are given, the user, group, and group list of the process are set to these values after the chroot has taken place; see setgid(2), setgroups(2), setuid(2), getgrnam(3), and getpwnam(3).

Note: command or the shell are run as your real-user-id.

# ENVIRONMENT

The following environment variable is referenced by `chroot`:

`SHELL`
  If set, the string specified by `SHELL` is interpreted as the name of the shell to exec. If the variable `SHELL` is not set, /bin/sh is used.

# SEE ALSO

ldd(1), chdir(2), chroot(2), environ(7)

# HISTORY

The `chroot` utility first appeared in 4.4BSD.

# SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

`chroot` should never be installed setuid root, as it would then be possible to exploit the program to gain root privileges.

August 13, 2011 | NetBSD 11.0