MISC_CONV(3) Linux-PAM Manual MISC_CONV(3)
NAME
misc_conv - text based conversation function
SYNOPSIS
#include <security/pam_misc.h>
int misc_conv(int num_msg, const struct pam_message **msgm,
struct pam_response **response, void *appdata_ptr);
DESCRIPTION
The misc_conv function is part of libpam_misc and not of the standard
libpam library. This function will prompt the user with the appropriate
comments and obtain the appropriate inputs as directed by authentication
modules.
In addition to simply slotting into the appropriate pam_conv(3), this
function provides some time-out facilities. The function exports five
variables that can be used by an application programmer to limit the
amount of time this conversation function will spend waiting for the
user to type something. The five variables are as follows:
time_t pam_misc_conv_warn_time;
This variable contains the time (as returned by time(2)) that the
user should be first warned that the clock is ticking. By default it
has the value 0, which indicates that no such warning will be given.
The application may set its value to sometime in the future, but
this should be done prior to passing control to the Linux-PAM
library.
const char *pam_misc_conv_warn_line;
Used in conjunction with pam_misc_conv_warn_time, this variable is a
pointer to the string that will be displayed when it becomes time to
warn the user that the timeout is approaching. Its default value is
a translated version of “...Time is running out...”, but this can be
changed by the application prior to passing control to Linux-PAM.
time_t pam_misc_conv_die_time;
This variable contains the time (as returned by time(2)) that the
will time out. By default it has the value 0, which indicates that
the conversation function will not timeout. The application may set
its value to sometime in the future, but this should be done prior
to passing control to the Linux-PAM library.
const char *pam_misc_conv_die_line;
Used in conjunction with pam_misc_conv_die_time, this variable is a
pointer to the string that will be displayed when the conversation
times out. Its default value is a translated version of “...Sorry,
your time is up!”, but this can be changed by the application prior
to passing control to Linux-PAM.
int pam_misc_conv_died;
Following a return from the Linux-PAM library, the value of this
variable indicates whether the conversation has timed out. A value
of 1 indicates the time-out occurred.
The following two function pointers are available for supporting binary
prompts in the conversation function. They are optimized for the current
incarnation of the libpamc library and are subject to change.
int (*pam_binary_handler_fn)(void *appdata, pamc_bp_t *prompt_p);
This function pointer is initialized to NULL but can be filled with
a function that provides machine-machine (hidden) message exchange.
It is intended for use with hidden authentication protocols such as
RSA or Diffie-Hellman key exchanges. (This is still under
development.)
int (*pam_binary_handler_free)(void *appdata, pamc_bp_t *delete_me);
This function pointer is initialized to PAM_BP_RENEW(delete_me, 0,
0), but can be redefined as desired by the application.
SEE ALSO
pam_conv(3), pam(7)
STANDARDS
The misc_conv function is part of the libpam_misc Library and not
defined in any standard.
Linux-PAM 06/29/2025 MISC_CONV(3)
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