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PAM_GET_USER

Section: Linux-PAM Manual (3)
Updated: 02/02/2026
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NAME

pam_get_user - get user name

SYNOPSIS

#include <security/pam_modules.h>

int pam_get_user(const pam_handle_t *pamh, const char **user, const char *prompt);

DESCRIPTION

The pam_get_user function returns the name of the user specified by pam_start(3). If no user was specified it returns what pam_get_item (pamh, PAM_USER, ... ); would have returned. If this is NULL it obtains the username via the pam_conv(3) mechanism, it prompts the user with the first non-NULL string in the following list:

: * The prompt argument passed to the function.

: * What is returned by pam_get_item (pamh, PAM_USER_PROMPT, ... );

: * The default prompt: "login: "

By whatever means the username is obtained, a pointer to it is returned as the contents of *user. Note, this memory should not be free()'d or modified by the module.

This function sets the PAM_USER item associated with the pam_set_item(3) and pam_get_item(3) functions.

RETURN VALUES

PAM_SUCCESS

: User name was successful retrieved.

PAM_SYSTEM_ERR

: A NULL pointer was submitted.

PAM_CONV_ERR

: The conversation method supplied by the application failed to obtain the username.

PAM_BUF_ERR

: Memory buffer error.

PAM_ABORT

: Error resuming an old conversation.

PAM_CONV_AGAIN

: The conversation method supplied by the application is waiting for an event.