ima_read_file(9)

💖 ima_read_file — the Kernel API Manual moment 💖

okay so bestie, welcome to the ima_read_file(9) page 🎀 this is straight out of the Kernel API Manual and it's lowkey iconic. it's the pre-measure/appraise hook decision based on policy — yes, that's the whole vibe, and we're gonna get into it ✨

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🌸 NAME 🌸

ima_read_file — the pre-measure/appraise hook decision based on policy 🫶

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

int ima_read_file (struct file *file , enum kernel_read_file_id read_id
, bool contents );

like, that's the whole signature, no cap 💅

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🦋 ARGUMENTS 🦋

• file — pointer to the file to be measured/appraised/audit 👑 this is the main character fr
• read_id — caller identifier, i.e. who's asking 🙈
• contents — whether a subsequent call will be made to ima_post_read_file ⭐ (so like, a heads-up about what's coming next)

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💜 DESCRIPTION 💜

So the whole point: this hook permits reading a file based on policy 🔥. The policy rules are written in terms of the policy identifier — that's just how it's done, periodt.

Appraising the integrity of a file requires a file descriptor, bestie 🧚 don't forget it.

For permission return 0 🟢, otherwise return -EACCES 🔴.

ngl, that's the whole decision tree — 0 means slay, -EACCES means not today 💀

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

Kernel file ./security/integrity/ima/ima_main.c — go read it, iykyk 📖

• ima_file_free(9)
• ima_file_mmap(9)
• ima_file_mprotect(9)
• ima_bprm_check(9)
• ima_creds_check(9)
• ima_bprm_creds_for_exec(9)
• ima_file_check(9)
• ima_file_hash(9)
• ima_inode_hash(9)
• ima_post_create_tmpfile(9)
• ima_post_path_mknod(9)
• ima_post_read_file(9)
• ima_load_data(9)
• ima_post_load_data(9)
• process_buffer_measurement(9)
• ima_kexec_cmdline(9)
• ima_measure_critical_data(9)
• ima_measure_raw_policy(9)
• ima_kernel_module_request(9)

like, that's the whole friend group and they all ate 💅✨

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kay so that's the page 🫶 big shoutout to ./security/integrity/ima for being the source (version vibes dated October 2026), and ima_read_file(9) for being the title of this whole masterpiece. mwah 💋 see u in the next manpage bestie 🌸💖