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
command 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.