version: "1.0.0" name: strace-ltrace description: Use strace and ltrace for authorized syscall and library-call tracing of provided binaries and processes.

strace-ltrace

Use strace and ltrace for syscall and library-call tracing during authorized runtime analysis.

Help first

Before constructing commands, use installed help or version output as the source of truth:

strace --help
ltrace --help

Usage rules

• Trace only provided binaries, task-scoped test programs, or authorized processes.
• Save traces to files for anything beyond a short bounded run.
• Set follow-fork, string length, syscall filters, and timeout behavior deliberately.
• Treat command-line arguments, environment values, file paths, and network endpoints as potentially sensitive.
• Do not run untrusted samples unless execution is explicitly authorized.

Common workflows

Trace a short local run and follow child processes:

strace -f -s 256 -o strace.log -- ./program arg1

Focus on file, process, and network syscalls:

strace -f -s 256 -e trace=file,process,network -o strace-focused.log -- ./program

Trace dynamic library calls when the binary is dynamically linked:

ltrace -f -o ltrace.log -- ./program arg1

Attach only to authorized processes:

strace -p 1234 -o strace-pid.log

Output

Report traced program or PID, command used, output path, notable syscalls or library calls, and any sensitive data handling.