TOOLS: Use file descriptor to avoid races when creating a home directory

When creating a home directory, the destination tree can be modified in
various ways while it is being constructed because directory permissions
are set before populating the directory. This can lead to file creation
and permission changes outside the target directory tree, using hard links.

This security problem was assigned CVE-2013-0219

https://fedorahosted.org/sssd/ticket/1782

4 files changed, 364 insertions, 354 deletions

diff --git a/src/tests/files-tests.c b/src/tests/files-tests.c
index cb20e1aae..06aa59670 100644
--- a/src/tests/files-tests.c
+++ b/src/tests/files-tests.c
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ START_TEST(test_simple_copy)
 
     /* and finally copy.. */
     DEBUG(5, ("Will copy from '%s' to '%s'\n", dir_path, dst_path));
-    ret = copy_tree(dir_path, dst_path, uid, gid);
+    ret = copy_tree(dir_path, dst_path, 0700, uid, gid);
     fail_unless(ret == EOK, "copy_tree failed\n");
 
     /* check if really copied */
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ START_TEST(test_copy_symlink)
 
     /* and finally copy.. */
     DEBUG(5, ("Will copy from '%s' to '%s'\n", dir_path, dst_path));
-    ret = copy_tree(dir_path, dst_path, uid, gid);
+    ret = copy_tree(dir_path, dst_path, 0700, uid, gid);
     fail_unless(ret == EOK, "copy_tree failed\n");
 
     /* check if really copied */
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ START_TEST(test_copy_node)
 
     /* and finally copy.. */
     DEBUG(5, ("Will copy from '%s' to '%s'\n", dir_path, dst_path));
-    ret = copy_tree(dir_path, dst_path, uid, gid);
+    ret = copy_tree(dir_path, dst_path, 0700, uid, gid);
     fail_unless(ret == EOK, "copy_tree failed\n");
 
     /* check if really copied */
diff --git a/src/tools/files.c b/src/tools/files.c
index 3d7b8d421..4a6625eae 100644
--- a/src/tools/files.c
+++ b/src/tools/files.c
@@ -66,13 +66,12 @@
 #include "util/util.h"
 #include "tools/tools_util.h"
 
-int copy_tree(const char *src_root, const char *dst_root,
-              uid_t uid, gid_t gid);
-
 struct copy_ctx {
     const char *src_orig;
     const char *dst_orig;
     dev_t       src_dev;
+    uid_t       uid;
+    gid_t       gid;
 };
 
 /* wrapper in order not to create a temporary context in
@@ -197,66 +196,13 @@ fail:
     return ret;
 }
 
-static int copy_dir(const char *src, const char *dst,
-                    const struct stat *statp, const struct timeval mt[2],
-                    uid_t uid, gid_t gid)
-{
-    int ret = 0;
-
-    /*
-     * Create a new target directory, make it owned by
-     * the user and then recursively copy that directory.
-     */
-    selinux_file_context(dst);
-
-    ret = mkdir(dst, statp->st_mode);
-    if (ret != 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot mkdir directory '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        return ret;
-    }
-
-    ret = chown(dst, uid, gid);
-    if (ret != 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot chown directory '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        return ret;
-    }
-
-    ret = chmod(dst, statp->st_mode);
-    if (ret != 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot chmod directory '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        return ret;
-    }
-
-    ret = copy_tree(src, dst, uid, gid);
-    if (ret != 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot copy directory from '%s' to '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  src, dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        return ret;
-    }
-
-    ret = utimes(dst, mt);
-    if (ret != 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot set utimes on a directory '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        return ret;
-    }
-
-    return EOK;
-}
-
-static char *talloc_readlink(TALLOC_CTX *mem_ctx, const char *filename)
+static char *talloc_readlinkat(TALLOC_CTX *mem_ctx, int dir_fd,
+                               const char *filename)
 {
     size_t size = 1024;
     ssize_t nchars;
     char *buffer;
+    char *new_buffer;
 
     buffer = talloc_array(mem_ctx, char, size);
     if (!buffer) {
@@ -264,8 +210,9 @@ static char *talloc_readlink(TALLOC_CTX *mem_ctx, const char *filename)
     }
 
     while (1) {
-        nchars = readlink(filename, buffer, size);
+        nchars = readlinkat(dir_fd, filename, buffer, size);
         if (nchars < 0) {
+            talloc_free(buffer);
             return NULL;
         }
 
@@ -276,10 +223,12 @@ static char *talloc_readlink(TALLOC_CTX *mem_ctx, const char *filename)
 
         /* Try again with a bigger buffer */
         size *= 2;
-        buffer = talloc_realloc(mem_ctx, buffer, char, size);
-        if (!buffer) {
+        new_buffer = talloc_realloc(mem_ctx, buffer, char, size);
+        if (!new_buffer) {
+            talloc_free(buffer);
             return NULL;
         }
+        buffer = new_buffer;
     }
 
     /* readlink does not nul-terminate */
@@ -287,188 +236,174 @@ static char *talloc_readlink(TALLOC_CTX *mem_ctx, const char *filename)
     return buffer;
 }
 
-static int copy_symlink(struct copy_ctx *cctx,
-                        const char *src,
-                        const char *dst,
-                        const struct stat *statp,
-                        const struct timeval mt[],
-                        uid_t uid, gid_t gid)
+static int
+copy_symlink(int src_dir_fd,
+             int dst_dir_fd,
+             const char *file_name,
+             const char *full_path,
+             const struct stat *statp,
+             uid_t uid, gid_t gid)
 {
-    int ret;
-    char *oldlink;
-    char *tmp;
-    TALLOC_CTX *tmp_ctx = NULL;
+    char *buf;
+    errno_t ret;
+    struct timespec timebuf[2];
 
-    tmp_ctx = talloc_new(cctx);
-    if (!tmp_ctx) {
+    buf = talloc_readlinkat(NULL, src_dir_fd, file_name);
+    if (!buf) {
         return ENOMEM;
     }
 
-    /*
-     * Get the name of the file which the link points
-     * to.  If that name begins with the original
-     * source directory name, that part of the link
-     * name will be replaced with the original
-     * destination directory name.
-     */
-    oldlink = talloc_readlink(tmp_ctx, src);
-    if (oldlink == NULL) {
-        ret = ENOMEM;
-        goto done;
+    ret = selinux_file_context(full_path);
+    if (ret != 0) {
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_MINOR_FAILURE,
+              ("Failed to set SELinux context for [%s]\n", full_path));
+        /* Not fatal */
     }
 
-    /* If src was a link to an entry of the src_orig directory itself,
-     * create a link to the corresponding entry in the dst_orig
-     * directory.
-     * FIXME: This may change a relative link to an absolute link
-     */
-    if (strncmp(oldlink, cctx->src_orig, strlen(cctx->src_orig)) == 0) {
-        tmp = talloc_asprintf(tmp_ctx, "%s%s", cctx->dst_orig, oldlink + strlen(cctx->src_orig));
-        if (tmp == NULL) {
-            ret = ENOMEM;
-            goto done;
+    ret = symlinkat(buf, dst_dir_fd, file_name);
+    talloc_free(buf);
+    if (ret == -1) {
+        ret = errno;
+        if (ret == EEXIST) {
+            DEBUG(SSSDBG_MINOR_FAILURE,
+                  ("symlink pointing to already exists at '%s'\n", full_path));
+            return EOK;
         }
 
-        talloc_free(oldlink);
-        oldlink = tmp;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE, ("symlinkat failed: %s\n", strerror(ret)));
+        return ret;
     }
 
-    selinux_file_context(dst);
-
-    ret = symlink(oldlink, dst);
-    if (ret != 0) {
+    ret = fchownat(dst_dir_fd, file_name,
+                   uid, gid, AT_SYMLINK_NOFOLLOW);
+    if (ret == -1) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("symlink() failed on file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto done;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
+             ("fchownat failed: %s\n", strerror(ret)));
+        return ret;
     }
 
-    ret = lchown(dst, uid, gid);
-    if (ret != 0) {
+    timebuf[0] = statp->st_atim;
+    timebuf[1] = statp->st_mtim;
+    ret = utimensat(dst_dir_fd, file_name, timebuf,
+                    AT_SYMLINK_NOFOLLOW);
+    if (ret == -1) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("lchown() failed on file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto done;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_MINOR_FAILURE, ("utimensat failed [%d]: %s\n",
+              ret, strerror(ret)));
+        /* Do not fail */
     }
 
-done:
-    talloc_free(tmp_ctx);
-    return ret;
+    return EOK;
 }
 
-static int copy_special(const char *dst,
+/* Create a special file named file_name under a directory with file
+ * descriptor dst_dir_fd. full_path is used for both setting SELinux
+ * context and logging. The node is owned by uid/gid and its mode
+ * and device number is read from statp.
+ */
+static int copy_special(int dst_dir_fd,
+                        const char *file_name,
+                        const char *full_path,
                         const struct stat *statp,
-                        const struct timeval mt[],
                         uid_t uid, gid_t gid)
 {
-    int ret = 0;
+    int ret;
+    struct timespec timebuf[2];
 
-    selinux_file_context(dst);
+    ret = selinux_file_context(full_path);
+    if (ret != 0) {
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_MINOR_FAILURE,
+              ("Failed to set SELinux context for [%s]\n", full_path));
+        /* Not fatal */
+    }
 
-    ret = mknod(dst, statp->st_mode & ~07777, statp->st_rdev);
+    ret = mknodat(dst_dir_fd, file_name, statp->st_mode & ~07777,
+                  statp->st_rdev);
     if (ret != 0) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot mknod special file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE,
+              ("Cannot mknod special file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
+              full_path, ret, strerror(ret)));
         return ret;
     }
 
-    ret = chown(dst, uid, gid);
+    ret = fchownat(dst_dir_fd, file_name, uid, gid, 0);
     if (ret != 0) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot chown special file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
+              ("fchownat failed for '%s': [%d][%s]\n",
+              full_path, ret, strerror(ret)));
         return ret;
     }
 
-    ret = chmod(dst, statp->st_mode & 07777);
+    ret = fchmodat(dst_dir_fd, file_name, statp->st_mode & 07777, 0);
     if (ret != 0) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot chmod special file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
+              ("fchmodat failed for '%s': [%d][%s]\n",
+              full_path, ret, strerror(ret)));
         return ret;
     }
 
-    ret = utimes(dst, mt);
-    if (ret != 0) {
+    timebuf[0] = statp->st_atim;
+    timebuf[1] = statp->st_mtim;
+    ret = utimensat(dst_dir_fd, file_name, timebuf, 0);
+    if (ret == -1) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot call utimes on special file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        return ret;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_MINOR_FAILURE,
+              ("utimensat failed for '%s': [%d][%s]\n",
+              full_path, ret, strerror(ret)));
+        /* Do not fail, this shouldn't be fatal */
     }
 
     return EOK;
 }
 
-static int copy_file(const char *src,
-                     const char *dst,
-                     const struct stat *statp,
-                     const struct timeval mt[],
-                     uid_t uid, gid_t gid)
+/* Copy bytes from input file descriptor ifd into file named
+ * dst_named under directory with dest_dir_fd. Own the new file
+ * by uid/gid
+ */
+static int
+copy_file(int ifd,
+          int dest_dir_fd,
+          const char *file_name,
+          const char *full_path,
+          const struct stat *statp,
+          uid_t uid, gid_t gid)
 {
-    int ret;
-    int ifd = -1;
     int ofd = -1;
+    errno_t ret;
     char buf[1024];
     ssize_t cnt, written;
-    struct stat fstatbuf;
-
-    ifd = open(src, O_RDONLY);
-    if (ifd < 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot open() source file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  src, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto fail;
-    }
-
-    ret = fstat(ifd, &fstatbuf);
-    if (ret != 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot fstat() source file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  src, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto fail;
-    }
+    struct timespec timebuf[2];
 
-    if (statp->st_dev != fstatbuf.st_dev ||
-        statp->st_ino != fstatbuf.st_ino) {
-        DEBUG(1, ("File %s was modified between lstat and open.\n", src));
-        ret = EIO;
-        goto fail;
-    }
-
-    selinux_file_context(dst);
-
-    ofd = open(dst, O_WRONLY | O_CREAT | O_TRUNC, statp->st_mode & 07777);
-    if (ofd < 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot open() destination file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto fail;
-    }
-
-    ret = fchown(ofd, uid, gid);
+    ret = selinux_file_context(full_path);
     if (ret != 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot fchown() destination file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto fail;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_MINOR_FAILURE,
+              ("Failed to set SELinux context for [%s]\n", full_path));
+        /* Not fatal */
     }
 
-    ret = fchmod(ofd, statp->st_mode & 07777);
-    if (ret != 0) {
+    /* Start with absolutely restrictive permissions */
+    ofd = openat(dest_dir_fd, file_name,
+                 O_EXCL | O_CREAT | O_WRONLY | O_NOFOLLOW,
+                 0);
+    if (ofd < 0 && errno != EEXIST) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot fchmod() destination file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto fail;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE,
+               ("Cannot open() destination file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
+               full_path, ret, strerror(ret)));
+        goto done;
     }
 
     while ((cnt = sss_atomic_read_s(ifd, buf, sizeof(buf))) != 0) {
         if (cnt == -1) {
             ret = errno;
             DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
-                  ("Cannot read() from source file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                   src, ret, strerror(ret)));
-            goto fail;
+                  ("Cannot read() from source file: [%d][%s].\n",
+                   ret, strerror(ret)));
+            goto done;
         }
 
         errno = 0;
@@ -476,222 +411,324 @@ static int copy_file(const char *src,
         if (written == -1) {
             ret = errno;
             DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
-                  ("Cannot write() to destination file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                   dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-            goto fail;
+                  ("Cannot write() to destination file: [%d][%s].\n",
+                   ret, strerror(ret)));
+            goto done;
         }
 
         if (written != cnt) {
             DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
                   ("Wrote %d bytes, expected %d\n", written, cnt));
-            goto fail;
+            goto done;
         }
     }
 
-    ret = close(ifd);
-    ifd = -1;
-    if (ret != 0) {
+    /* Set the ownership; permissions are still
+     * restrictive. */
+    ret = fchown(ofd, uid, gid);
+    if (ret == -1 && errno != EPERM) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot close() source file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto fail;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE,
+              ("Error changing owner of '%s': %s\n",
+              full_path, strerror(ret)));
+        goto done;
     }
 
-    ret = close(ofd);
-    ifd = -1;
-    if (ret != 0) {
+    /* Set the desired mode. */
+    ret = fchmod(ofd, statp->st_mode);
+    if (ret == -1) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot close() destination file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto fail;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE, ("Error changing owner of '%s': %s\n",
+              full_path, strerror(ret)));
+              goto done;
     }
 
-    ret = utimes(dst, mt);
-    if (ret != 0) {
+    timebuf[0] = statp->st_atim;
+    timebuf[1] = statp->st_mtim;
+    ret = futimens(ofd, timebuf);
+    if (ret == -1) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot call utimes() on destination file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto fail;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_MINOR_FAILURE, ("futimens failed [%d]: %s\n",
+              ret, strerror(ret)));
+        /* Do not fail */
     }
 
-    return EOK;
+    close(ofd);
+    ofd = -1;
+    ret = EOK;
 
-    /* Reachable by jump only */
-fail:
-    if (ifd != -1) close(ifd);
+done:
     if (ofd != -1) close(ofd);
     return ret;
 }
 
-/*
- * The context is not freed in case of error
- * because this is a recursive function, will be freed when we
- * reach the top level copy_tree() again
- */
-static int copy_entry(struct copy_ctx *cctx,
-                      const char *src,
-                      const char *dst,
-                      uid_t uid,
-                      gid_t gid)
+static errno_t
+copy_dir(struct copy_ctx *cctx,
+         int src_dir_fd, const char *src_dir_path,
+         int dest_parent_fd, const char *dest_dir_name,
+         const char *dest_dir_path,
+         mode_t mode,
+         const struct stat *src_dir_stat);
+
+static errno_t
+copy_entry(struct copy_ctx *cctx,
+           int src_dir_fd,
+           const char *src_dir_path,
+           int dest_dir_fd,
+           const char *dest_dir_path,
+           const char *ent_name)
 {
-    int ret = EOK;
-    struct stat sb;
-    struct timeval mt[2];
-
-    ret = lstat(src, &sb);
-    if (ret == -1) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot lstat() the source file '%s': [%d][%s].\n",
-                  src, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        return ret;
+    char *src_ent_path = NULL;
+    char *dest_ent_path = NULL;
+    int ifd = -1;
+    errno_t ret;
+    struct stat st;
+
+    /* Build the path of the source file or directory and its
+     * corresponding member in the new tree. */
+    src_ent_path = talloc_asprintf(cctx, "%s/%s", src_dir_path, ent_name);
+    dest_ent_path = talloc_asprintf(cctx, "%s/%s", dest_dir_path, ent_name);
+    if (!src_ent_path || !dest_ent_path) {
+        ret = ENOMEM;
+        goto done;
     }
 
-    mt[0].tv_sec  = sb.st_atime;
-    mt[0].tv_usec = 0;
-
-    mt[1].tv_sec  = sb.st_mtime;
-    mt[1].tv_usec = 0;
+    /* Open the input entry first, then we can fstat() it and be
+     * certain that it is still the same file.  O_NONBLOCK protects
+     * us against FIFOs and perhaps side-effects of the open() of a
+     * device file if there ever was one here, and doesn't matter
+     * for regular files or directories. */
+    ifd = openat(src_dir_fd, ent_name,
+                 O_RDONLY | O_CLOEXEC | O_NOFOLLOW | O_NONBLOCK);
+    if (ifd == -1 && errno != ELOOP) {
+        /* openat error */
+        ret = errno;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE, ("openat failed on '%s': %s\n",
+              src_ent_path, strerror(ret)));
+        goto done;
+    } else if (ifd == -1 && errno == ELOOP) {
+        /* Should be a symlink.. */
+        ret = fstatat(src_dir_fd, ent_name, &st, AT_SYMLINK_NOFOLLOW);
+        if (ret == -1) {
+            ret = errno;
+            DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE, ("fstatat failed on '%s': %s\n",
+                  src_ent_path, strerror(ret)));
+            goto done;
+        }
 
-    if (S_ISLNK (sb.st_mode)) {
-        ret = copy_symlink(cctx, src, dst, &sb, mt, uid, gid);
+        /* Handle symlinks */
+        ret = copy_symlink(src_dir_fd, dest_dir_fd, ent_name,
+                           dest_ent_path, &st, cctx->uid, cctx->gid);
         if (ret != EOK) {
-            DEBUG(1, ("Cannot copy symlink '%s' to '%s': [%d][%s]\n",
-                      src, dst, ret, strerror(ret)));
+            DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE, ("Cannot copy '%s' to '%s'\n",
+                  src_ent_path, dest_ent_path));
         }
-        return ret;
+        goto done;
     }
 
-    if (S_ISDIR(sb.st_mode)) {
-        /* Check if we're still on the same FS */
-        if (sb.st_dev != cctx->src_dev) {
-            DEBUG(2, ("Will not descend to other FS\n"));
-            /* Skip this without error */
-            return EOK;
+    ret = fstat(ifd, &st);
+    if (ret != 0) {
+        ret = errno;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
+                ("couldn't stat '%s': %s", src_ent_path, strerror(ret)));
+        goto done;
+    }
+
+    if (S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
+        /* If it's a directory, descend into it. */
+        ret = copy_dir(cctx, ifd, src_ent_path,
+                       dest_dir_fd, ent_name,
+                       dest_ent_path, st.st_mode & 07777,
+                       &st);
+        if (ret != EOK) {
+            DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE,
+                    ("Could recursively copy '%s' to '%s': %s\n",
+                    src_ent_path, dest_dir_fd, strerror(ret)));
+            goto done;
+        }
+    } else if (S_ISREG(st.st_mode)) {
+        /* Copy a regular file */
+        ret = copy_file(ifd, dest_dir_fd, ent_name, dest_ent_path,
+                        &st, cctx->uid, cctx->gid);
+        if (ret) {
+            DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE, ("Cannot copy '%s' to '%s'\n",
+                    src_ent_path, dest_ent_path));
+            goto done;
         }
-        return copy_dir(src, dst, &sb, mt, uid, gid);
-    } else if (!S_ISREG(sb.st_mode)) {
-        /*
-         * Deal with FIFOs and special files.  The user really
-         * shouldn't have any of these, but it seems like it
-         * would be nice to copy everything ...
-         */
-        return copy_special(dst, &sb, mt, uid, gid);
     } else {
-        /*
-         * Create the new file and copy the contents.  The new
-         * file will be owned by the provided UID and GID values.
-         */
-        return copy_file(src, dst, &sb, mt, uid, gid);
+        /* Copy a special file */
+        ret = copy_special(dest_dir_fd, ent_name, dest_ent_path,
+                           &st, cctx->uid, cctx->gid);
+        if (ret) {
+            DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE, ("Cannot copy '%s' to '%s'\n",
+                  src_ent_path, dest_ent_path));
+            goto done;
+        }
     }
 
+    ret = EOK;
+done:
+    talloc_free(src_ent_path);
+    talloc_free(dest_ent_path);
+    if (ifd != -1) close(ifd);
     return ret;
 }
 
-/*
- * The context is not freed in case of error
- * because this is a recursive function, will be freed when we
- * reach the top level copy_tree() again
- */
-static int copy_tree_ctx(struct copy_ctx *cctx,
-                         const char *src_root,
-                         const char *dst_root,
-                         uid_t uid,
-                         gid_t gid)
+static errno_t
+copy_dir(struct copy_ctx *cctx,
+         int src_dir_fd, const char *src_dir_path,
+         int dest_parent_fd, const char *dest_dir_name,
+         const char *dest_dir_path,
+         mode_t mode,
+         const struct stat *src_dir_stat)
 {
-    DIR *src_dir = NULL;
-    int ret, err;
-    struct dirent *result;
-    struct dirent direntp;
-    char *src_name, *dst_name;
-    TALLOC_CTX *tmp_ctx;
+    errno_t ret;
+    int dest_dir_fd = -1;
+    DIR *dir = NULL;
+    struct dirent *ent;
+    struct timespec timebuf[2];
 
-    tmp_ctx = talloc_new(cctx);
+    if (!dest_dir_path) {
+        return EINVAL;
+    }
 
-    src_dir = opendir(src_root);
-    if (src_dir == NULL) {
+    dir = fdopendir(src_dir_fd);
+    if (dir == NULL) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot open the source directory %s: [%d][%s].\n",
-                  src_root, ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto fail;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
+              ("Error reading '%s': %s", src_dir_path, strerror(ret)));
+        goto done;
     }
 
-    while (readdir_r(src_dir, &direntp, &result) == 0) {
-        if (result == NULL) {
-            /* End of directory */
-            break;
-        }
+    /* Create the directory.  It starts owned by us (presumbaly root), with
+     * fairly restrictive permissions that still allow us to use the
+     * directory.
+     * */
+    errno = 0;
+    ret = mkdirat(dest_parent_fd, dest_dir_name, S_IRWXU);
+    if (ret == -1 && errno != EEXIST) {
+        ret = errno;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
+              ("Error reading '%s': %s", dest_dir_path, strerror(ret)));
+        goto done;
+    }
 
-        if (strcmp (direntp.d_name, ".") == 0 ||
-            strcmp (direntp.d_name, "..") == 0) {
-            continue;
-        }
+    dest_dir_fd = openat(dest_parent_fd, dest_dir_name,
+                         O_RDONLY | O_CLOEXEC | O_DIRECTORY | O_NOFOLLOW);
+    if (dest_dir_fd == -1) {
+        ret = errno;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
+              ("Error opening '%s': %s", dest_dir_path, strerror(ret)));
+        goto done;
+    }
 
-        /* build src and dst paths */
-        src_name = talloc_asprintf(tmp_ctx, "%s/%s", src_root, direntp.d_name);
-        dst_name = talloc_asprintf(tmp_ctx, "%s/%s", dst_root, direntp.d_name);
-        if (dst_name == NULL || src_name == NULL) {
-            ret = ENOMEM;
-            goto fail;
+    while ((ent = readdir(dir)) != NULL) {
+        /* Iterate through each item in the directory. */
+        /* Skip over self and parent hard links. */
+        if (strcmp(ent->d_name, ".") == 0 ||
+            strcmp(ent->d_name, "..") == 0) {
+            continue;
         }
 
-        /* copy */
-        ret = copy_entry(cctx, src_name, dst_name, uid, gid);
+        ret = copy_entry(cctx,
+                         src_dir_fd, src_dir_path,
+                         dest_dir_fd, dest_dir_path,
+                         ent->d_name);
         if (ret != EOK) {
-            DEBUG(1, ("Cannot copy '%s' to '%s', error %d\n",
-                      src_name, dst_name, ret));
-            goto fail;
+            DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE, ("Could not copy [%s] to [%s]\n",
+                  src_dir_path, dest_dir_path));
+            goto done;
         }
-        talloc_free(src_name);
-        talloc_free(dst_name);
     }
 
-    ret = closedir(src_dir);
-    src_dir = NULL;
-    if (ret != 0) {
+    /* Set the ownership on the directory.  Permissions are still
+     * fairly restrictive. */
+    ret = fchown(dest_dir_fd, cctx->uid, cctx->gid);
+    if (ret == -1 && errno != EPERM) {
         ret = errno;
-        goto fail;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE,
+              ("Error changing owner of '%s': %s",
+              dest_dir_path, strerror(ret)));
+        goto done;
+    }
+
+    /* Set the desired mode. Do this explicitly to preserve S_ISGID and
+     * other bits. Do this after chown, because chown is permitted to
+     * reset these bits. */
+    ret = fchmod(dest_dir_fd, mode);
+    if (ret == -1) {
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_OP_FAILURE,
+              ("Error setting mode of '%s': %s",
+              dest_dir_path, strerror(ret)));
+        goto done;
+    }
+
+    timebuf[0] = src_dir_stat->st_atim;
+    timebuf[1] = src_dir_stat->st_mtim;
+    futimens(dest_dir_fd, timebuf);
+    if (ret == -1) {
+        ret = errno;
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_MINOR_FAILURE, ("futimens failed [%d]: %s\n",
+              ret, strerror(ret)));
+        /* Do not fail */
     }
 
     ret = EOK;
-fail:
-    if (src_dir) {  /* clean up on abnormal exit but retain return code */
-        err = closedir(src_dir);
-        if (err) {
-            DEBUG(1, ("closedir failed, bad dirp?\n"));
-        }
+done:
+    if (dir) closedir(dir);
+
+    if (dest_dir_fd != -1) {
+        close(dest_dir_fd);
     }
-    talloc_free(tmp_ctx);
     return ret;
 }
 
+/* NOTE:
+ * For several reasons, including the fact that we copy even special files
+ * (pipes, etc) from the skeleton directory, the skeldir needs to be trusted
+ */
 int copy_tree(const char *src_root, const char *dst_root,
-              uid_t uid, gid_t gid)
+              mode_t mode_root, uid_t uid, gid_t gid)
 {
     int ret = EOK;
     struct copy_ctx *cctx = NULL;
+    int fd = -1;
     struct stat s_src;
 
-    cctx = talloc_zero(NULL, struct copy_ctx);
+    fd = open(src_root, O_RDONLY | O_CLOEXEC | O_DIRECTORY);
+    if (fd == -1) {
+        ret = errno;
+        goto fail;
+    }
 
-    ret = lstat(src_root, &s_src);
-    if (ret != 0) {
+    ret = fstat(fd, &s_src);
+    if (ret == -1) {
         ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot lstat the source directory '%s': [%d][%s]\n",
-                  src_root, ret, strerror(ret)));
+        goto fail;
+    }
+
+    cctx = talloc_zero(NULL, struct copy_ctx);
+    if (!cctx) {
+        ret = ENOMEM;
         goto fail;
     }
 
     cctx->src_orig = src_root;
     cctx->dst_orig = dst_root;
     cctx->src_dev  = s_src.st_dev;
+    cctx->uid      = uid;
+    cctx->gid      = gid;
 
-    ret = copy_tree_ctx(cctx, src_root, dst_root, uid, gid);
+    ret = copy_dir(cctx, fd, src_root, AT_FDCWD,
+                   dst_root, dst_root, mode_root, &s_src);
     if (ret != EOK) {
-        DEBUG(1, ("copy_tree_ctx failed: [%d][%s]\n", ret, strerror(ret)));
+        DEBUG(SSSDBG_CRIT_FAILURE,
+              ("copy_dir failed: [%d][%s]\n", ret, strerror(ret)));
         goto fail;
     }
 
 fail:
+    if (fd != -1) close(fd);
     reset_selinux_file_context();
     talloc_free(cctx);
     return ret;
diff --git a/src/tools/tools_util.c b/src/tools/tools_util.c
index e87d8e8f0..c5f50e2cd 100644
--- a/src/tools/tools_util.c
+++ b/src/tools/tools_util.c
@@ -467,33 +467,7 @@ int create_homedir(const char *skeldir,
 
     selinux_file_context(homedir);
 
-    ret = mkdir(homedir, 0);
-    if (ret != 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot create user's home directory: [%d][%s].\n",
-                  ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto done;
-    }
-
-    ret = chown(homedir, uid, gid);
-    if (ret != 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot chown user's home directory: [%d][%s].\n",
-                  ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto done;
-    }
-
-    ret = chmod(homedir, 0777 & ~default_umask);
-    if (ret != 0) {
-        ret = errno;
-        DEBUG(1, ("Cannot chmod user's home directory: [%d][%s].\n",
-                  ret, strerror(ret)));
-        goto done;
-    }
-
-    reset_selinux_file_context();
-
-    ret = copy_tree(skeldir, homedir, uid, gid);
+    ret = copy_tree(skeldir, homedir, 0777 & ~default_umask, uid, gid);
     if (ret != EOK) {
         DEBUG(1, ("Cannot populate user's home directory: [%d][%s].\n",
                   ret, strerror(ret)));
diff --git a/src/tools/tools_util.h b/src/tools/tools_util.h
index 47bf3876e..50f5a51f7 100644
--- a/src/tools/tools_util.h
+++ b/src/tools/tools_util.h
@@ -117,9 +117,8 @@ errno_t sss_mc_refresh_grouplist(struct tools_ctx *tctx,
 /* from files.c */
 int remove_tree(const char *root);
 
-int copy_tree(const char *src_root,
-              const char *dst_root,
-              uid_t uid, gid_t gid);
+int copy_tree(const char *src_root, const char *dst_root,
+              mode_t mode_root, uid_t uid, gid_t gid);
 
 /* from nscd.c */
 enum nscd_db {