setuidSetuid is a UNIX command which allows you to change the identification of a current user to another identification. Using a setuid bit, which is found in UNIX files, the system can be set so that a program will run with the permission of the owner, whether or not the owner invoked the program. This is used as a convenience to allow ordinary users to perform tasks that otherwise would be limited to a system administrator, or super-user. You will find that discussion of setuid on newsgroups normally has to do with the security risk that can be created by setuid. The potential for misuse arises from the opportunity for an ordinary user to assume root privileges in areas where he does not have authorized access.
It is more difficult to breach security using the setuid bit when a Perl script is used, than when C or other languages are used.