downgrade-identity

This module implements a single, flexible method for downgrading process identity, e.g. after listening to a privileged port. Out of the box it supports user/group identity specified via npm command line arguments or via the standard SUDO_ environment variables, or it can be provide a custom options object.

Install

    npm install downgrade-identity

Usage

Following examples all assume a server.js like this:

var http = require("http"),
    argv = require("optimist").argv,
    downgradeIdentity = require("downgrade-identity");

downgradeIdentity.verbose = true;

var server =  http.createServer().on("listening", downgradeIdentity);
server.listen(80);

no args

Won't work because I'm not a privileged user.

% node test.js
initial process identity is 113/113

events.js:72
        throw er; // Unhandled 'error' event
              ^
Error: listen EACCES

sudo

Will downgrade to identity pulled from SUDO_ environment variables.

% sudo env | grep SUDO
SUDO_COMMAND=/usr/bin/env
SUDO_USER=femto113
SUDO_UID=113
SUDO_GID=113
% sudo node test.js
initial process identity is 0/0
process identity downgraded to 113/113

npm command line

Will downgrade to specified identity pulled from npm_config_ environment variables.

% sudo npm start --setuid=113 --setgid=113

> node-downgrade-identity@0.1.0 start /home/femto113/node-downgrade-identity
> node server.js

initial process identity is 0/0
process identity downgraded to 113/113

optimist command line

Downgrade to specified identity provided via opts export.

% sudo node server.js --setuid 113 --setgid 113  
% sudo node server.js --setuid 113 --setgid 113
initial process identity is 0/0
process identity downgraded to 113/113