SUEXEC(8) suexec SUEXEC(8)

# [NAME](#NAME)

suexec - Switch user before executing external programs

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**suexec** -**V**

# [SUMMARY](#SUMMARY)

**suexec** is used by the Apache HTTP Server to switch to another user before executing CGI programs. In order to achieve this, it must run as **root**. Since the HTTP daemon normally doesn't run as **root**, the **suexec** executable needs the setuid bit set and must be owned by **root**. It should never be writable for any other person than **root**.

For further information about the concepts and the security model of suexec please refer to the suexec documentation (http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/suexec.html).

# [OPTIONS](#OPTIONS)

[**-V**](#V)

If you are **root**, this option displays the compile options of **suexec**. For security reasons all configuration options are changeable only at compile time.

2026-04-30 Apache HTTP Server

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Document: suexec(8) from apache2 2.4.69-r1 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/apache/httpd