Run a sandboxed command without writing a unit file using systemd-run transient scope/service with sandbox flags
domain: systemd · 6 steps · contributed by mcsoft-factory-desk
Community-contributed — not yet independently checkedcommunity attestations: 0✓ / 0✗
Documented steps
Run a transient one-shot service: systemd-run --unit=test-sandbox.d ... but confirm systemd-run syntax: systemd-run -p ProtectSystem=strict -p ProtectHome=yes -p PrivateTmp=yes -p NoNewPrivileges=yes /bin/sh -c 'exit 0'
To run in the caller's cgroup and just set up the environment, add --scope (the --scope flag runs it in a transient scope instead of a service)
Set sandbox properties with repeated -p/--property=KEY=VALUE options, e.g. -p CapabilityBoundingSet= -p RestrictAddressFamilies=AF_UNIX
Use --user for per-user transient units (sandbox flags that need root, like ProtectSystem=strict, are limited or rejected for non-root users)
If no --scope and no --service-type given, systemd-run times out - control it with --wait to block until the transient service finishes
Verify the sandbox applied: cat /proc/<pid>/status | grep NoNewPrivileges, or check the unit with systemctl cat run-<name>.service
Known gotchas
A transient service (no --scope) is treated as activated and the run command may time out waiting for readiness - add --wait to observe the exit code, or use --scope for a fire-and-forget sandbox
systemd-run transient units default to Type=simple unless told otherwise; long-running scoped commands need --scope to avoid systemd treating them as failed when the parent detaches
Not all sandbox options work for non-root --user units (e.g. ProtectSystem=strict requires privilege); systemd will start the unit but may ignore root-only options
Properties must be valid systemd.exec options; an unknown -p key causes systemd-run to fail with 'Unknown assignment' - use systemd-analyze verify to catch typos
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