qubes-doc/developer/services/qrexec3.md

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---

# Qrexec: command execution in VMs

(*This page is about qrexec v3. For qrexec v2, see [here](/doc/qrexec2/).*)

The **qrexec** framework is used by core Qubes components to implement communication between domains.
Qubes domains are strictly isolated by design.
However, the OS needs a mechanism to allow the administrative domain (dom0) to force command execution in another domain (VM).
For instance, when a user selects an application from the KDE menu, it should start in the selected VM.
Also, it is often useful to be able to pass stdin/stdout/stderr from an application running in a VM to dom0 (and the other way around).
(For example, so that a VM can notify dom0 that there are updates available for it).
By default, Qubes allows VMs initiate such communications in specific circumstances.
The qrexec framework generalizes this process.
It allows users and developers to use and design secure inter-VM tools.

## Qrexec basics: architecture and examples

Qrexec is built on top of *vchan*, a Xen library providing data links between VMs.
During domain creation, a process named `qrexec-daemon` is started in dom0, and a process named `qrexec-agent` is started in the VM.
They are connected over a **vchan** channel.
`qrexec-daemon` listens for connections from a dom0 utility named `qrexec-client`.
Let's say we want to start a process (call it `VMprocess`) in a VM (`someVM`).
Typically, the first thing that a `qrexec-client` instance does is to send a request to the `qrexec-daemon`, which in turn relays it to `qrexec-agent` running in `someVM`.
`qrexec-daemon` assigns unique vchan connection details and sends them to both `qrexec-client` (in dom0) and `qrexec-agent` (in `someVM`).
`qrexec-client` starts a vchan server, which `qrexec-agent` then connects to.
Once this channel is established, stdin/stdout/stderr from the VMprocess is passed between `qrexec-agent` and the `qrexec-client` process.

The `qrexec-client` command is used to make connections to VMs from dom0.
For example, the following command

    qrexec-client -e -d someVM user:'touch hello-world.txt'

creates an empty file called `hello-world.txt` in the home folder of `someVM`.

The string before the colon specifies what user to run the command as.
The `-e` flag tells `qrexec-client` to exit immediately after sending the execution request and receiving a status code from `qrexec-agent` (whether the process creation succeeded).
With this option, no further data is passed between the domains.
By contrast, the following command demonstrates an open channel between two VMs: in this case, a remote shell.

    qrexec-client -d someVM user:bash

The `qvm-run` command is heavily based on `qrexec-client`.
It also takes care of additional activities, e.g. starting the domain if it is not up yet and starting the GUI daemon.
Thus, it is usually more convenient to use `qvm-run`.

There can be almost arbitrary number of `qrexec-client` processes for a domain (so, connected to the same `qrexec-daemon`, same domain) -- their data is multiplexed independently.
Number of available vchan channels is the limiting factor here, it depends on the underlying hypervisor.

## Qubes RPC services

Some tasks (like inter-vm file copy) share the same RPC-like structure: a process in one VM (say, file sender) needs to invoke and send/receive data to some process in other VM (say, file receiver).
Thus, the Qubes RPC framework was created, facilitating such actions.

Obviously, inter-VM communication must be tightly controlled to prevent one VM from taking control over other, possibly more privileged, VM.
Therefore the design decision was made to pass all control communication via dom0, that can enforce proper authorization.
Then, it is natural to reuse the already-existing qrexec framework.

Also, note that bare qrexec provides `VM <-> dom0` connectivity, but the command execution is always initiated by dom0.
There are cases when VM needs to invoke and send data to a command in dom0 (e.g. to pass information on newly installed `.desktop` files).
Thus, the framework allows dom0 to be the RPC target as well.

Thanks to the framework, RPC programs are very simple -- both RPC client and server just use their stdin/stdout to pass data.
The framework does all the inner work to connect these processes to each other via `qrexec-daemon` and `qrexec-agent`.
Additionally, disposable VMs are tightly integrated -- RPC to a DisposableVM is identical to RPC to a normal domain, all one needs is to pass `$dispvm` as the remote domain name.

## Qubes RPC administration

<!-- (*TODO: fix for non-linux dom0*) -->

The dom0 directory `/etc/qubes-rpc/policy/` contains a group of files for available RPC actions.
Together their contents make up the RPC access policy database.
Currently, the defined actions are:

    qubes.ClipboardPaste
    qubes.Filecopy
    qubes.GetImageRGBA
    qubes.GetRandomizedTime
    qubes.Gpg
    qubes.GpgImportKey
    qubes.InputKeyboard
    qubes.InputMouse
    qubes.NotifyTools
    qubes.NotifyUpdates
    qubes.OpenInVM
    qubes.OpenURL
    qubes.PdfConvert
    qubes.ReceiveUpdates
    qubes.SyncAppMenus
    qubes.USB
    qubes.VMShell
    qubes.WindowIconUpdater

These files contain lines with the following format:

    srcvm destvm (allow|deny|ask)[,user=user_to_run_as][,target=VM_to_redirect_to]

You can specify srcvm and destvm by name or by one of three reserved keywords: `$anyvm`, `$dispvm`, and `dom0` (without the `$`).
Only `$anyvm` keyword makes sense in srcvm field.
(Service calls from dom0 are currently always allowed, `$dispvm` means "new VM created for this particular request," so it is never a source of request.)
Currently there is no way to specify source VM by type.
Whenever a RPC request for an action is received, the domain checks the first matching line of the relevant file in `/etc/qubes-rpc/policy/` to determine access:
whether to allow the request, what VM to redirect the execution to, and what user account the program should run under.
Note that if the request is redirected (`target=` parameter), policy action remains the same - even if there is another rule which would otherwise deny such request.
If the policy file does not exist, the user is prompted to create one.
If still there is no policy file after prompting, the action is denied.

In the target VM, the `/etc/qubes-rpc/RPC_ACTION_NAME` must exist, containing the file name of the program that will be invoked, or being that program itself - in which case it must have executable permission set (`chmod +x`).

In the src VM, one should invoke the client via:

    /usr/lib/qubes/qrexec-client-vm target_vm_name RPC_ACTION_NAME rpc_client_path client arguments

Note that only stdin/stdout is passed between RPC server and client -- notably, no command line arguments are passed.
Source VM name is specified by `QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN` environment variable.
By default, stderr of client and server is logged to respective `/var/log/qubes/qrexec.XID` files.
It is also possible to call service without specific client program - in which case server stdin/out will be connected with the terminal:

    /usr/lib/qubes/qrexec-client-vm target_vm_name RPC_ACTION_NAME

Be very careful when coding and adding a new RPC service.
Unless the offered functionality equals full control over the target (it is the case with e.g. `qubes.VMShell` action), any vulnerability in an RPC server can be fatal to Qubes security.
On the other hand, this mechanism allows to delegate processing of untrusted input to less privileged (or disposable) AppVMs, thus wise usage of it increases security.

For example, this command will run the `firefox` command in a DisposableVM based on `work`:

```
$ qvm-run --dispvm=work firefox
```

By contrast, consider this command:

```
$ qvm-run --dispvm=work --service qubes.StartApp+firefox
```

This will look for a `firefox.desktop` file in a standard location in a DisposableVM based on `work`, then launch the application described by that file.
The practical difference is that the bare `qvm-run` command uses the `qubes.VMShell` service, which allows you to run an arbitrary command with arbitrary arguments, essentially providing full control over the target VM.
By contrast, the `qubes.StartApp` service allows you to run only applications that are advertised in `/usr/share/applications` (or other standard locations) *without* control over the arguments, so giving a VM access to `qubes.StartApp` is much safer.
While there isn't much practical difference between the two commands above when starting an application from dom0 in Qubes 4.0, there is a significant security risk when launching applications from a domU (e.g., from a separate GUI domain).
This is why `qubes.StartApp` uses our standard `qrexec` argument grammar to strictly filter the permissible grammar of the `Exec=` lines in `.desktop` files that are passed from untrusted domUs to dom0, thereby protecting dom0 from command injection by maliciously-crafted `.desktop` files.

### Extra keywords available in Qubes 4.0 and later

**This section is about a not-yet-released version, some details may change**

In Qubes 4.0, target VM can be specified also as `$dispvm:DISP_VM`, which is very similar to `$dispvm` but forces using a particular VM (`DISP_VM`) as a base VM to be started as DisposableVM.
For example:

    anon-whonix $dispvm:anon-whonix-dvm allow

Adding such policy itself will not force usage of this particular `DISP_VM` - it will only allow it when specified by the caller.
But `$dispvm:DISP_VM` can also be used as target in request redirection, so _it is possible_ to force particular `DISP_VM` usage, when caller didn't specify it:

    anon-whonix $dispvm allow,target=$dispvm:anon-whonix-dvm

Note that without redirection, this rule would allow using default Disposable VM (`default_dispvm` VM property, which itself defaults to global `default_dispvm` property).
Also note that the request will be allowed (`allow` action) even if there is no second rule allowing calls to `$dispvm:anon-whonix-dvm`, or even if there is a rule explicitly denying it.
This is because the redirection happens _after_ considering the action.

In Qubes 4.0 there are also additional methods to specify source/target VM:

 * `$tag:some-tag` - meaning a VM with tag `some-tag`
 * `$type:type` - meaning a VM of `type` (like `AppVM`, `TemplateVM` etc)

Target VM can be also specified as `$default`, which matches the case when calling VM didn't specified any particular target (either by using `$default` target, or empty target).

In Qubes 4.0 policy confirmation dialog (`ask` action) allow the user to specify target VM.
User can choose from VMs that, according to policy, would lead to `ask` or `allow` actions.
It is not possible to select VM that policy would deny.
By default no VM is selected, even if the caller provided some, but policy can specify default value using `default_target=` parameter.
For example:

    work-mail work-archive allow
    work-mail $tag:work ask,default_target=work-files
    work-mail $default  ask,default_target=work-files

The first rule allow call from `work-mail` to `work-archive`, without any confirmation.
The second rule will ask the user about calls from `work-mail` VM to any VM with tag `work`.
And the confirmation dialog will have `work-files` VM chosen by default, regardless of the VM specified by the caller (`work-mail` VM).
The third rule allow the caller to not specify target VM at all and let the user choose, still - from VMs with tag `work` (and `work-archive`, regardless of tag), and with `work-files` as default.

### Service argument in policy

Sometimes just service name isn't enough to make reasonable qrexec policy.
One example of such a situation is [qrexec-based USB passthrough](https://github.com/qubesos/qubes-issues/issues/531) - using just service name isn't possible to express the policy "allow access to device X and deny to others".
It also isn't feasible to create a separate service for every device...

For this reason, starting with Qubes 3.2, it is possible to specify a service argument, which will be subject to policy.
Besides the above example of USB passthrough, a service argument can make many service policies more fine-grained and easier to write precise policy with "allow" and "deny" actions, instead of "ask" (offloading additional decisions to the user).
And generally the less choices the user must make, the lower the chance to make a mistake.

The syntax is simple: when calling a service, add an argument to the service name separated with `+` sign, for example:

    /usr/lib/qubes/qrexec-client-vm target_vm_name RPC_ACTION_NAME+ARGUMENT

Then create a policy as usual, including the argument (`/etc/qubes-rpc/policy/RPC_ACTION_NAME+ARGUMENT`).
If the policy for the specific argument is not set (file does not exist), then the default policy for this service is loaded (`/etc/qubes-rpc/policy/RPC_ACTION_NAME`).

In target VM (when the call is allowed) the service file will searched as:

 - `/etc/qubes-rpc/RPC_ACTION_NAME+ARGUMENT`
 - `/etc/qubes-rpc/RPC_ACTION_NAME`

In any case, the script will receive `ARGUMENT` as its argument and additionally as `QREXEC_SERVICE_ARGUMENT` environment variable.
This means it is also possible to install a different script for a particular service argument.

See below for an example service using an argument.

### Revoking "Yes to All" authorization

Qubes RPC policy supports "ask" action.
This will prompt the user whether given RPC call should be allowed.
That prompt window also has a "Yes to All" option, which will allow the action and add a new entry to the policy file, which will unconditionally allow further calls for the given service-srcVM-dstVM tuple.

In order to remove such authorization, issue this command from a dom0 terminal (for `qubes.Filecopy` service):

    sudo nano /etc/qubes-rpc/policy/qubes.Filecopy

and then remove the first line(s) (before the first `##` comment) which are the "Yes to All" results.

### Qubes RPC example

We will show the necessary files to create an RPC call that adds two integers on the target and returns back the result to the invoker.

 * RPC client code (`/usr/bin/our_test_add_client`):

       #!/bin/sh
       echo $1 $2    # pass data to RPC server
       exec cat >&$SAVED_FD_1 # print result to the original stdout, not to the other RPC endpoint

 * RPC server code (*/usr/bin/our\_test\_add\_server*)

       #!/bin/sh
       read arg1 arg2 # read from stdin, which is received from the RPC client
       echo $(($arg1+$arg2)) # print to stdout - so, pass to the RPC client

 * policy file in dom0 (*/etc/qubes-rpc/policy/test.Add* )

       $anyvm $anyvm ask

 * server path definition ( */etc/qubes-rpc/test.Add*)

       /usr/bin/our_test_add_server

 * invoke RPC via

       /usr/lib/qubes/qrexec-client-vm target_vm test.Add /usr/bin/our_test_add_client 1 2

and we should get "3" as answer, after dom0 allows it.

**Note:** For a real world example of writing a qrexec service, see this [blog post](https://blog.invisiblethings.org/2013/02/21/converting-untrusted-pdfs-into-trusted.html).

### Qubes RPC example - with argument usage

We will show the necessary files to create an RPC call that reads a specific file from a predefined directory on the target.
Besides really naive storage, it may be a very simple password manager.
Additionally, in this example a simplified workflow will be used - server code placed directly in the service definition file (in `/etc/qubes-rpc` directory).
And no separate client script will be used.

 * RPC server code (*/etc/qubes-rpc/test.File*)

       #!/bin/sh
       argument="$1" # service argument, also available as $QREXEC_SERVICE_ARGUMENT
       if [ -z "$argument" ]; then
         echo "ERROR: No argument given!"
         exit 1
       fi
       # service argument is already sanitized by qrexec framework and it is
       # guaranteed to not contain any space or /, so no need for additional path
       # sanitization
       cat "/home/user/rpc-file-storage/$argument"

 * specific policy file in dom0 (*/etc/qubes-rpc/policy/test.File+testfile1* )

       source_vm1 target_vm allow

 * another specific policy file in dom0 (*/etc/qubes-rpc/policy/test.File+testfile2* )

       source_vm2 target_vm allow

 * default policy file in dom0 (*/etc/qubes-rpc/policy/test.File* )

       $anyvm $anyvm deny

 * invoke RPC from `source_vm1` via

       /usr/lib/qubes/qrexec-client-vm target_vm test.File+testfile1

   and we should get content of `/home/user/rpc-file-storage/testfile1` as answer.

 * also possible to invoke RPC from `source_vm2` via

       /usr/lib/qubes/qrexec-client-vm target_vm test.File+testfile2

   But when invoked with other argument or from different VM, it should be denied.

# Qubes RPC internals

(*This is about the implementation of qrexec v3. For the implementation of qrexec v2, see [here](/doc/qrexec2/#qubes-rpc-internals).*)

Qrexec framework consists of a number of processes communicating with each other using common IPC protocol (described in detail below).
Components residing in the same domain (`qrexec-client-vm` to `qrexec-agent`, `qrexec-client` to `qrexec-daemon`) use pipes as the underlying transport medium, while components in separate domains (`qrexec-daemon` to `qrexec-agent`, data channel between `qrexec-agent`s) use vchan link.
Because of [vchan limitation](https://github.com/qubesos/qubes-issues/issues/951), it is not possible to establish qrexec connection back to the source domain.

## Dom0 tools implementation

* `/usr/lib/qubes/qrexec-daemon`: One instance is required for every active domain. Responsible for:
  * Handling execution and service requests from **dom0** (source: `qrexec-client`).
  * Handling service requests from the associated domain (source: `qrexec-client-vm`, then `qrexec-agent`).
* Command line: `qrexec-daemon domain-id domain-name [default user]`
* `domain-id`: Numeric Qubes ID assigned to the associated domain.
* `domain-name`: Associated domain name.
* `default user`: Optional. If passed, `qrexec-daemon` uses this user as default for all execution requests that don't specify one.
* `/usr/lib/qubes/qrexec-policy`: Internal program used to evaluate the RPC policy and deciding whether a RPC call should be allowed.
* `/usr/lib/qubes/qrexec-client`: Used to pass execution and service requests to `qrexec-daemon`. Command line parameters:
  * `-d target-domain-name`: Specifies the target for the execution/service request.
  * `-l local-program`: Optional. If present, `local-program` is executed and its stdout/stdin are used when sending/receiving data to/from the remote peer.
  * `-e`: Optional. If present, stdout/stdin are not connected to the remote   peer. Only process creation status code is received.
  * `-c <request-id,src-domain-name,src-domain-id>`: used for connecting a VM-VM service request by `qrexec-policy`. Details described below in the service example.
  * `cmdline`: Command line to pass to `qrexec-daemon` as the execution/service request. Service request format is described below in the service example.

**Note:** None of the above tools are designed to be used by users directly.

## VM tools implementation

* `qrexec-agent`: One instance runs in each active domain. Responsible for:
  * Handling service requests from `qrexec-client-vm` and passing them to connected `qrexec-daemon` in dom0.
  * Executing associated `qrexec-daemon` execution/service requests.
* Command line parameters: none.
* `qrexec-client-vm`: Runs in an active domain. Used to pass service requests to `qrexec-agent`.
* Command line: `qrexec-client-vm target-domain-name service-name local-program [local program arguments]`
* `target-domain-name`: Target domain for the service request. Source is the current domain.
* `service-name`: Requested service name.
* `local-program`: `local-program` is executed locally and its stdin/stdout are connected to the remote service endpoint.

## Qrexec protocol details

Qrexec protocol is message-based.
All messages share a common header followed by an optional data packet.

    /* uniform for all peers, data type depends on message type */
    struct msg_header {
       uint32_t type;           /* message type */
       uint32_t len;            /* data length */
    };

When two peers establish connection, the server sends `MSG_HELLO` followed by `peer_info` struct:

    struct peer_info {
       uint32_t version; /* qrexec protocol version */
    };

The client then should reply with its own `MSG_HELLO` and `peer_info`.
The lower of two versions define protocol used for this connection.
If either side does not support this version, the connection is closed.

Details of all possible use cases and the messages involved are described below.

### dom0: request execution of `some_command` in domX and pass stdin/stdout

- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` is invoked in **dom0** as follows:

      qrexec-client -d domX [-l local_program] user:some_command`

  `user` may be substituted with the literal `DEFAULT`. In that case, default Qubes user will be used to execute `some_command`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` sets `QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN` environment variable to **domX**.
- **dom0**: If `local_program` is set, `qrexec-client` executes it and uses that child's stdin/stdout in place of its own when exchanging data with `qrexec-agent` later.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` connects to **domX**'s `qrexec-daemon`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-daemon` sends `MSG_HELLO` header followed by `peer_info` to `qrexec-client`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` replies with `MSG_HELLO` header followed by `peer_info` to `qrexec-daemon`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` sends `MSG_EXEC_CMDLINE` header followed by `exec_params` to `qrexec-daemon`.

        /* variable size */
        struct exec_params {
           uint32_t connect_domain; /* target domain id */
           uint32_t connect_port;   /* target vchan port for i/o exchange */
           char cmdline[0];         /* command line to execute, size = msg_header.len - sizeof(struct exec_params) */
        };

    In this case, `connect_domain` and `connect_port` are set to 0.

- **dom0**: `qrexec-daemon` replies to `qrexec-client` with `MSG_EXEC_CMDLINE` header followed by `exec_params`, but with empty `cmdline` field. `connect_domain` is set to Qubes ID of **domX** and `connect_port` is set to a vchan port allocated by `qrexec-daemon`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-daemon` sends `MSG_EXEC_CMDLINE` header followed by `exec_params` to the associated **domX** `qrexec-agent` over vchan. `connect_domain` is set to 0 (**dom0**), `connect_port` is the same as sent to `qrexec-client`. `cmdline` is unchanged except that the literal `DEFAULT` is replaced with actual user name, if present.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` disconnects from `qrexec-daemon`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` starts a vchan server using the details received from `qrexec-daemon` and waits for connection from **domX**'s `qrexec-agent`.
- **domX**: `qrexec-agent` receives `MSG_EXEC_CMDLINE` header followed by `exec_params` from `qrexec-daemon` over vchan.
- **domX**: `qrexec-agent` connects to `qrexec-client` over vchan using the details from `exec_params`.
- **domX**: `qrexec-agent` executes `some_command` in **domX** and connects the child's stdin/stdout to the data vchan. If the process creation fails, `qrexec-agent` sends `MSG_DATA_EXIT_CODE` to `qrexec-client` followed by the status code (**int**) and disconnects from the data vchan.
- Data read from `some_command`'s stdout is sent to the data vchan using `MSG_DATA_STDOUT` by `qrexec-agent`. `qrexec-client` passes data received as `MSG_DATA_STDOUT` to its own stdout (or to `local_program`'s stdin if used).
- `qrexec-client` sends data read from local stdin (or `local_program`'s stdout if used) to `qrexec-agent` over the data vchan using `MSG_DATA_STDIN`. `qrexec-agent` passes data received as `MSG_DATA_STDIN` to `some_command`'s stdin.
- `MSG_DATA_STDOUT` or `MSG_DATA_STDIN` with data `len` field set to 0 in `msg_header` is an EOF marker. Peer receiving such message should close the associated input/output pipe.
- When `some_command` terminates, **domX**'s `qrexec-agent` sends `MSG_DATA_EXIT_CODE` header to `qrexec-client` followed by the exit code (**int**). `qrexec-agent` then disconnects from the data vchan.

### domY: invoke execution of qubes service `qubes.SomeRpc` in domX and pass stdin/stdout

- **domY**: `qrexec-client-vm` is invoked as follows:

      qrexec-client-vm domX qubes.SomeRpc local_program [params]

- **domY**: `qrexec-client-vm` connects to `qrexec-agent` (via local socket/named pipe).
- **domY**: `qrexec-client-vm` sends `trigger_service_params` data to `qrexec-agent` (without filling the `request_id` field):

         struct trigger_service_params {
            char service_name[64];
            char target_domain[32];
            struct service_params request_id; /* service request id */
         };

         struct service_params {
            char ident[32];
        };

- **domY**: `qrexec-agent` allocates a locally-unique (for this domain) `request_id` (let's say `13`) and fills it in the `trigger_service_params` struct received from `qrexec-client-vm`.
- **domY**: `qrexec-agent` sends `MSG_TRIGGER_SERVICE` header followed by `trigger_service_params` to `qrexec-daemon` in **dom0** via vchan.
- **dom0**: **domY**'s `qrexec-daemon` executes `qrexec-policy`: `qrexec-policy domY_id domY domX qubes.SomeRpc 13`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-policy` evaluates if the RPC should be allowed or denied. If the action is allowed it returns `0`, if the action is denied it returns `1`.
- **dom0**: **domY**'s `qrexec-daemon` checks the exit code of `qrexec-policy`.
    - If `qrexec-policy` returned **not** `0`: **domY**'s `qrexec-daemon` sends `MSG_SERVICE_REFUSED` header followed by `service_params` to **domY**'s `qrexec-agent`. `service_params.ident` is identical to the one received. **domY**'s `qrexec-agent` disconnects its `qrexec-client-vm` and RPC processing is finished.
    - If `qrexec-policy` returned `0`, RPC processing continues.
- **dom0**: if `qrexec-policy` allowed the RPC, it executed `qrexec-client -d domX -c 13,domY,domY_id user:QUBESRPC qubes.SomeRpc domY`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` sets `QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN` environment variable to **domX**.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` connects to **domX**'s `qrexec-daemon`.
- **dom0**: **domX**'s `qrexec-daemon` sends `MSG_HELLO` header followed by `peer_info` to `qrexec-client`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` replies with `MSG_HELLO` header followed by `peer_info` to **domX**'s`qrexec-daemon`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` sends `MSG_EXEC_CMDLINE` header followed by `exec_params` to **domX**'s`qrexec-daemon`

        /* variable size */
        struct exec_params {
           uint32_t connect_domain; /* target domain id */
           uint32_t connect_port;   /* target vchan port for i/o exchange */
           char cmdline[0];         /* command line to execute, size = msg_header.len - sizeof(struct exec_params) */
        };

    In this case, `connect_domain` is set to id of **domY** (from the `-c` parameter) and `connect_port` is set to 0. `cmdline` field contains the RPC to execute, in this case `user:QUBESRPC qubes.SomeRpc domY`.

- **dom0**: **domX**'s `qrexec-daemon` replies to `qrexec-client` with `MSG_EXEC_CMDLINE` header followed by `exec_params`, but with empty `cmdline` field. `connect_domain` is set to Qubes ID of **domX** and `connect_port` is set to a vchan port allocated by **domX**'s `qrexec-daemon`.
- **dom0**: **domX**'s `qrexec-daemon` sends `MSG_EXEC_CMDLINE` header followed by `exec_params` to **domX**'s `qrexec-agent`. `connect_domain` and `connect_port` fields are the same as in the step above. `cmdline` is set to the one received from `qrexec-client`, in this case `user:QUBESRPC qubes.SomeRpc domY`.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` disconnects from **domX**'s `qrexec-daemon` after receiving connection details.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` connects to **domY**'s `qrexec-daemon` and exchanges `MSG_HELLO` as usual.
- **dom0**: `qrexec-client` sends `MSG_SERVICE_CONNECT` header followed by `exec_params` to **domY**'s `qrexec-daemon`. `connect_domain` is set to ID of **domX** (received from **domX**'s `qrexec-daemon`) and `connect_port` is the one received as well. `cmdline` is set to request ID (`13` in this case).
- **dom0**: **domY**'s `qrexec-daemon` sends `MSG_SERVICE_CONNECT` header followed by `exec_params` to **domY**'s `qrexec-agent`. Data fields are unchanged from the step above.
- **domY**: `qrexec-agent` starts a vchan server on the port received in the step above. It acts as a `qrexec-client` in this case because this is a VM-VM connection.
- **domX**: `qrexec-agent` connects to the vchan server of **domY**'s `qrexec-agent` (connection details were received before from **domX**'s `qrexec-daemon`).
- After that, connection follows the flow of the previous example (dom0-VM).