smack_inode_init_security(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💅 smack_inode_init_security(9) 💅

ok so first things first, bestie: this is a page out of the Kernel API Manual, section 9, straight out of the ./security/smack corner of the kernel 💖 it's giving "security module internals" energy and honestly? iconic of you to be reading it.

✨ NAME ✨

smack_inode_init_security — copy out the smack from an inode 🎀 literally that's the whole job. it copies. the smack. out. of. the inode. periodt.

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

no cap, here's the signature, verbatim, don't touch it:

int smack_inode_init_security (struct inode *inode , struct inode *dir ,
       const struct qstr *qstr , struct xattr *xattrs , int *xattr_count );

✨ ARGUMENTS ✨

ok so the cast of characters, in order, main-character energy each one:

  • inode — the newly created inode 🌱 like, fresh out the box. baby inode. brand new.
  • dir — the containing directory object 🗂️ the inode's parent, basically its whole support system.
  • qstr — unused 🙈 it's literally just vibing in the parameter list, it does not get a job here.
  • xattrs — where to put the attributes 🎁 this is the drop-off spot. the attributes go here.
  • xattr_count — current number of LSM-provided xattrs, and yes it gets updated ✏️ so it's an in-and-out kind of situation, not just a read.

✨ DESCRIPTION ✨

she returns 0 if it all works out 🫶 and she returns -ENOMEM if there's no memory 😭 that's the entire deal, no plot twist, no hidden lore. iykyk.

lowkey important: -ENOMEM is the no memory situation, so if you see it, the box is out of memory — not your fault, bestie, but definitely your problem.

✨ SEE ALSO ✨

ok so the whole extended smack family showed up to this function's birthday party 🎉 like every single relative, no plus-one left behind. the kernel file is ./security/smack/smack_lsm.c and here's the entire guest list, in order:

like. that's the whole friend group 💀 every single one of them, no skips.

and that's the page, bestie!! 🦋 the source is ./security/smack and this particular slay was dated October 2026 — so yeah, future-flavoured documentation, we love to see it. go forth and init your inode security attributes responsibly 💜✨

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