chcon command returns "failed to change context, invalid argument" error

Solution Verified - Updated -

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • selinux-policy

Issue

  • chcon command returns "failed to change context, invalid argument" error
# file /root/unique.options
unique.options: ASCII text
# chcon -u unconfined_u -t admin_home_t /root/unique.options
/usr/bin/chcon: failed to change context of /root/unique options to unconfined_u:object_r:admin_home_t:s0: invalid argument

Resolution

  • If the SELinux type is invalid or not available in the policy, chcon returns the above error.
  • Check if the type is available in the policy.
[root@localhost ~]# semanage fcontext -l | grep admin_home_t
  • On RHEL5 systems, we don't have admin_home_t type available.
  • Replace admin_home_t type with the valid SELinux type.

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