NEWROLE(1) General Commands Manual NEWROLE(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

newrole - run a shell with a new SELinux role

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**newrole** \[**-r**|**--role**] *ROLE* \[**-t**|**--type**] *TYPE* \[**-l**|**--level**] \[**-p**|**--preserve-environment**] *LEVEL* \[-- \[*ARGS*]...]

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

Run a new shell in a new context. The new context is derived from the old context in which **newrole** is originally executed. If the **-r** or **--role** option is specified, then the new context will have the role specified by *ROLE*. If the **-t** or **--type** option is specified, then the new context will have the type (domain) specified by *TYPE*. If a role is specified, but no type is specified, the default type is derived from the specified role. If the **-l** or **--level** option is specified, then the new context will have the sensitivity level specified by *LEVEL*. If *LEVEL* is a range, the new context will have the sensitivity level and clearance specified by that range. If the **-p** or **--preserve-environment** option is specified, the shell with the new SELinux context will preserve environment variables, otherwise a new minimal environment is created.

Additional arguments *ARGS* may be provided after a -- option, in which case they are supplied to the new shell. In particular, an argument of -- -c will cause the next argument to be treated as a command by most command interpreters.

If a command argument is specified to newrole and the command name is found in /etc/selinux/newrole\_pam.conf, then the pam service name listed in that file for the command will be used rather than the normal newrole pam configuration. This allows for per-command pam configuration when invoked via newrole, e.g. to skip the interactive re-authentication phase.

The new shell will be the shell specified in the user's entry in the */etc/passwd* file.

The **-V** or **--version** shows the current version of newrole

# [EXAMPLE](#EXAMPLE)

Changing role:  
\# id -Z  
staff\_u:staff\_r:staff\_t:SystemLow-SystemHigh  
\# newrole -r sysadm\_r  
\# id -Z  
staff\_u:sysadm\_r:sysadm\_t:SystemLow-SystemHigh

Changing sensitivity only:  
\# id -Z  
staff\_u:sysadm\_r:sysadm\_t:Unclassified-SystemHigh  
\# newrole -l Secret  
\# id -Z  
staff\_u:sysadm\_r:sysadm\_t:Secret-SystemHigh

Changing sensitivity and clearance:  
\# id -Z  
staff\_u:sysadm\_r:sysadm\_t:Unclassified-SystemHigh  
\# newrole -l Secret-Secret  
\# id -Z  
staff\_u:sysadm\_r:sysadm\_t:Secret

Running a program in a given role or level:  
\# newrole -r sysadm\_r -- -c "/path/to/app arg1 arg2..."  
\# newrole -l Secret -- -c "/path/to/app arg1 arg2..."

# [FILES](#FILES)

/etc/passwd - user account information  
/etc/shadow - encrypted passwords and age information  
/etc/selinux/<policy>/contexts/default\_type - default types for roles  
/etc/selinux/<policy>/contexts/securetty\_types - securetty types for level changes  
/etc/selinux/newrole\_pam.conf - optional mapping of commands to separate pam service names

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**runcon**(1)](/man/enterprise-packages/policycoreutils/runcon.1)

# [AUTHORS](#AUTHORS)

```
Anthony Colatrella
Tim Fraser
Steve Grubb <sgrubb@redhat.com>
Darrel Goeddel <DGoeddel@trustedcs.com>
Michael Thompson <mcthomps@us.ibm.com>
Dan Walsh <dwalsh@redhat.com>
```

October 2000 Security Enhanced Linux

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Document: newrole(1) from policycoreutils 3.11-r3 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/SELinuxProject/selinux.git