SAFE_FINGER(8)		   Linux Programmers 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)