SETCAP(8)		    System Manager's Manual		     SETCAP(8)

NAME
       setcap - set file capabilities

SYNOPSIS
       setcap [-q] [-n <rootuid>] [-v] {capabilities|-|-r} filename [ ...
       capabilitiesN fileN ]

DESCRIPTION
       In the absence of the -v (verify) option setcap sets the capabilities
       of each specified filename to the capabilities specified.  The optional
       -n <rootuid> argument can be used to set the file capability for use
       only in a user namespace with this root user ID owner. The -v option is
       used to verify that the specified capabilities are currently associated
       with the file. If -v and -n are supplied, the -n <rootuid> argument is
       also verified.

       The capabilities Set are specified in the form described in
       cap_text_formats(7).

       The special capability string, '-', can be used to indicate that
       capabilities are read from the standard input. In such cases, the
       capability set is terminated with a blank line.

       The special capability string, '-r', is used to remove a capability set
       from a file. Note, setting an empty capability set is not the same as
       removing it. An empty set can be used to guarantee a file is not
       executed with privilege in spite of the fact that the prevailing
       ambient+inheritable sets would otherwise bestow capabilities on
       executed binaries.

       The '-f', is used to force completion even when it is in some way
       considered an invalid operation. This can affect '-r' and setting file
       capabilities the kernel will not be able to make sense of.

       The -q flag is used to make the program less verbose in its output.

EXIT CODE
       The setcap program will exit with a 0 exit code if successful. On
       failure, the exit code is 1.

REPORTING BUGS
       Please report bugs via:

       https://bugzilla.kernel.org/buglist.cgi?component=libcap&list_id=1090757

SEE ALSO
       capsh(1), cap_from_text(3), cap_get_file(3), cap_text_formats(7),
       capabilities(7), user_namespaces(7), captree(8), getcap(8) and
       getpcaps(8).

				  2025-03-19			     SETCAP(8)