elf_flagelf - Man Page

set or clear flags on ELF descriptors and components

Synopsis

#include <libelf.h>

unsigned int elf_flagelf(Elf * elf, Elf_Cmd cmd, unsigned int flags);
unsigned int elf_flagehdr(Elf * elf, Elf_Cmd cmd, unsigned int flags);
unsigned int elf_flagphdr(Elf * elf, Elf_Cmd cmd, unsigned int flags);
unsigned int elf_flagscn(Elf_Scn * scn, Elf_Cmd cmd, unsigned int flags);
unsigned int elf_flagshdr(Elf_Scn * scn, Elf_Cmd cmd, unsigned int flags);
unsigned int elf_flagdata(Elf_Data * data, Elf_Cmd cmd, unsigned int flags);

Description

These functions allow the caller to set or clear flags on various ELF components managed by libelf . They are typically used to indicate that a component has been modified (dirty), or to control layout behavior during output.

elf_flagelf() modifies flags on the top-level Elf descriptor.

elf_flagdata() modifies flags on an Elf_Data descriptor, typically retrieved using elf_getdata(3) or created with elf_newdata(3).

elf_flagehdr() modifies flags on the ELF header for a ELF descriptor (e.g., the result of gelf_getehdr(3)).

elf_flagphdr() modifies flags on the program header table of an ELF descriptor.

elf_flagscn() modifies flags on an Elf_Scn (section) descriptor.

elf_flagshdr() modifies flags on the section header of a given Elf_Scn .

The cmd argument determines whether the given flags should be set ( ELF_C_SET ) or cleared ( ELF_C_CLR ).

The following flag values may be passed via the flags parameter:

ELF_F_DIRTY

Marks the object as modified. This ensures changes to the component is written out during elf_update(3).

ELF_F_LAYOUT

Indicates that the layout of the ELF component is managed manually. Offsets and sizes will be preserved as provided.  This flag is only used with elf_flagelf() and is ignored when used with other functions. If this flag is set the user must set Ehdr e_phoff, e_shoff, as well as Elf_Data d_off and Shdr sh_offset. If not set, then these offsets will be recalculated when elf_update is called. If ELF_F_LAYOUT is set then changes to phdr offsets will prevent elf_update from automatically adjusting shdr offsets.

ELF_F_PERMISSIVE

Enables relaxed validation of object structure. This flag permits nonstandard layouts without strict checks.  Specifically this removes a check in elf_update() that the section sh_size is a multiple of the section sh_entsize (if not zero).  This flag is only used with elf_flagelf() and is ignored when used with other functions. ELF_F_PERMISSIVE is an elfutils libelf extention and may not be available in other libelf implementations.

Parameters

obj

The object to be modified: For elf_flagelf, elf_flagehdr, elf_flagphdr, this is an Elf * descriptor. For elf_flagscn and elf_flagshdr , this is an Elf_Scn * descriptor. For elf_flagdata , an Elf_Data * buffer.

cmd

Must be either: ELF_C_SET to set the given flags, or ELF_C_CLR to clear them.

flags

Bitmask of flags to modify. May include any combination of ELF_F_DIRTY , ELF_F_LAYOUT , and ELF_F_PERMISSIVE .

Note that ELF_F_LAYOUT and ELF_F_PERMISSIVE are only used with elf_flagelf() and are ignored for other functions.

Return Value

Returns the new value of the flags after the set/clear operation.

Returns 0 on error, and sets an error code retrievable via elf_errmsg(3). If the first argument is NULL then 0 is return and no error code is set.

If the last flag is cleared, 0 will be returned as the new flag value. In this case 0 is not an error indicator and no error code is set.

See Also

elf_errmsg(3), elf_update(3), libelf(3), elf(5)

Attributes

InterfaceAttributeValue
elf_flagelf(), elf_flagehdr(), elf_flagphdr(), elf_flagscn(), elf_flagshdr(), elf_flagdata()Thread safetyMT-Unsafe race

Reporting Bugs

Report bugs to <elfutils-devel@sourceware.org> or https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/.

Referenced By

elf32_getshdr(3).

The man pages elf_flagdata(3), elf_flagehdr(3), elf_flagphdr(3), elf_flagscn(3) and elf_flagshdr(3) are aliases of elf_flagelf(3).

2025-06-23 Libelf Programmer's Manual