SASL Interface Summaries

The following tables provide brief descriptions of some SASL interfaces.

Table E-1 SASL Functions Common to Clients and Servers

Function	Description
sasl_version	Get version information for the SASL library.
sasl_done	Release all SASL global state.
sasl_dispose	Dispose of `sasl_conn_t` when connection is done.
sasl_getprop	Get property, for example, user name, security layer info.
sasl_setprop	Set a SASL property.
sasl_errdetail	Generate string from last error on connection.
sasl_errstring	Translate SASL error code to a string.
sasl_encode	Encode data to send using security layer.
sasl_encodev	Encode a block of data for transmission through the security layer. Uses `iovec *` as the input parameter.
sasl_listmech	Create list of available mechanisms.
sasl_global_listmech	Return an array of all possible mechanisms. Note that this interface is obsolete.
sasl_seterror	Set the error string to be returned by `sasl_errdetail()`.
sasl_idle	Configure `saslib` to perform calculations during an idle period or during a network round trip.
sasl_decode	Decode data received using security layer.

Table E-2 Basic SASL Client-only Functions

Function	Description
sasl_client_init	Called once initially to load and initialize client plug-ins.
sasl_client_new	Initialize client connection. Sets up the `sasl_conn_t` context.
sasl_client_start	Select mechanism for connection.
sasl_client_step	Perform one authentication step.

Table E-3 Basic SASL Server Functions (Clients Optional)

Function	Description
sasl_server_init	Called once initially to load and initialize server plug-ins.
sasl_server_new	Initialize server connection. Sets up the `sasl_conn_t` context.
sasl_server_start	Begin an authentication exchange.
sasl_server_step	Perform one authentication exchange step.
sasl_checkpass	Check a plain text passphrase.
sasl_checkapop	Check an APOP challenge/response. Uses a pseudo APOP mechanism, which is similar to a CRAM-MD5 mechanism. Optional. Note that this interface is obsolete.
sasl_user_exists	Check whether user exists.
sasl_setpass	Change a password. Optionally, add a user entry.
sasl_auxprop_request	Request auxiliary properties.
sasl_auxprop_getctx	Get auxiliary property context for connection.

Table E-4 SASL Functions for Configuring Basic Services

Function	Description
sasl_set_alloc	Assign memory allocation functions. Note that this interface is obsolete.
sasl_set_mutex	Assign mutex functions. Note that this interface is obsolete.
sasl_client_add_plugin	Add a client plug-in.
sasl_server_add_plugin	Add a server plug-in.
sasl_canonuser_add_plugin	Add a user canonicalization plug-in.
sasl_auxprop_add_plugin	Add an auxiliary property plug-in.

Table E-5 SASL Utility Functions

Function	Description
sasl_decode64	Use base64 to decode.
sasl_encode64	Use base64 to encode.
sasl_utf8verify	Verify that a string is valid UTF-8.
sasl_erasebuffer	Erase a security-sensitive buffer or password. Implementation might use recovery-resistant erase logic.

Table E-6 SASL Property Functions

Function	Description
`prop_clear()`	Clear values and optionally requests from property context
`prop_dispose()`	Dispose of a property context
`prop_dup()`	Create new `propctx` which duplicates the contents of an existing `propctx`
`prop_erase()`	Erase the value of a property
`prop_format()`	Format the requested property names into a string
`prop_get()`	Return array of the `propval` structure from the context
`prop_getnames()`	Fill in an array of `struct` `propval`, given a list of property names
`prop_new()`	Create a property context
`prop_request()`	Add property names to a request
`prop_set()`	Add a property value to the context
`prop_setvals()`	Set the values for a property
`sasl_auxprop_getctx()`	Get auxiliary property context for connection
`sasl_auxprop_request()`	Request auxiliary properties

Table E-7 Callback Data Types

Callback	Description
sasl_getopt_t	Get an option value. Used by both clients and servers.
sasl_log_t	Log message handler. Used by both clients and servers.
sasl_getpath_t	Get path to search for mechanisms. Used by both clients and servers.
sasl_verifyfile_t	Verify files for use by SASL. Used by both clients and servers.
sasl_canon_user_t	User name canonicalization function. Used by both clients and servers.
sasl_getsimple_t	Get user and language list. Used by clients only.
sasl_getsecret_t	Get authentication secret. Used by clients only.
sasl_chalprompt_t	Display challenge and prompt for response. Used by clients only.
sasl_getrealm_t	Get the authentication realm. Used by clients only.
sasl_authorize_t	Authorize policy callback. Used by servers only.
sasl_server_userdb_checkpass_t	Verify plain text password. Used by servers only.
sasl_server_userdb_setpass_t	Set plain text password. Used by servers only.

Table E-8 SASL Include Files

Include File	Comments
`sasl/saslplug.h`
`sasl/sasl.h`	Needed for developing plug-ins
`sasl/saslutil.h`
`sasl/prop.h`

Table E-9 SASL Return Codes: General

Return Code	Description
SASL_BADMAC	Integrity check failed
SASL_BADVERS	Mismatch between versions of a mechanism
SASL_BADPARAM	Invalid parameter supplied
SASL_BADPROT	Bad protocol, cancel operation
SASL_BUFOVER	Overflowed buffer
SASL_CONTINUE	Another step is needed in authentication
SASL_FAIL	Generic failure
SASL_NOMECH	Mechanism not supported
SASL_NOMEM	Insufficient memory to complete operation
SASL_NOTDONE	Cannot request information until later in exchange
SASL_NOTINIT	SASL library not initialized
SASL_OK	Successful result
SASL_TRYAGAIN	Transient failure, for example, a weak key

Table E-10 SASL Return Codes: Client-Only

Function	Description
SASL_BADSERV	Server failed mutual authentication step
SASL_INTERACT	Needs user interaction
SASL_WRONGMECH	Mechanism does not support requested feature

Table E-11 SASL Return Codes: Server-Only

Function	Description
SASL_BADAUTH	Authentication failure
SASL_BADVERS	Version mismatch with plug-in
SASL_DISABLED	Account disabled
SASL_ENCRYPT	Encryption needed to use mechanism
SASL_EXPIRED	Passphrase expired and needs to be reset
SASL_NOAUTHZ	Authorization failure
SASL_NOUSER	User not found
SASL_NOVERIFY	User exists, but without verifier
SASL_TOOWEAK	Mechanism too weak for this user
SASL_TRANS	One-time use of a plain text password enables requested mechanism for user
SASL_UNAVAIL	Remote authentication server unavailable

Table E-12 SASL Return Codes – Password Operations

Function	Description
SASL_NOCHANGE	Requested change not needed
SASL_NOUSERPASS	User-supplied passwords not permitted
SASL_PWLOCK	Passphrase locked
SASL_WEAKPASS	Passphrase too weak for security policy

Skip Navigation Links
Exit Print View
	Developer's Guide to Oracle Solaris Security Oracle Solaris 10 8/11 Information Library