diff --git a/lib/internal/bootstrap/node.js b/lib/internal/bootstrap/node.js
index 35565769d21706..33d79689d0993f 100644
--- a/lib/internal/bootstrap/node.js
+++ b/lib/internal/bootstrap/node.js
@@ -23,8 +23,7 @@ const {
   _setupPromises, _chdir, _cpuUsage,
   _hrtime, _hrtimeBigInt,
   _memoryUsage, _rawDebug,
-  _umask, _initgroups, _setegid, _seteuid,
-  _setgid, _setuid, _setgroups,
+  _umask,
   _shouldAbortOnUncaughtToggle
 } = bootstrappers;
 const { internalBinding, NativeModule } = loaderExports;
@@ -72,13 +71,28 @@ function startup() {
   NativeModule.require('internal/process/warning').setup();
   NativeModule.require('internal/process/next_tick').setup(_setupNextTick,
                                                            _setupPromises);
+  const credentials = internalBinding('credentials');
+  if (credentials.implementsPosixCredentials) {
+    process.getuid = credentials.getuid;
+    process.geteuid = credentials.geteuid;
+    process.getgid = credentials.getgid;
+    process.getegid = credentials.getegid;
+    process.getgroups = credentials.getgroups;
+
+    if (isMainThread) {
+      const wrapped = mainThreadSetup.wrapPosixCredentialSetters(credentials);
+      process.initgroups = wrapped.initgroups;
+      process.setgroups = wrapped.setgroups;
+      process.setegid = wrapped.setegid;
+      process.seteuid = wrapped.seteuid;
+      process.setgid = wrapped.setgid;
+      process.setuid = wrapped.setuid;
+    }
+  }
 
   if (isMainThread) {
     mainThreadSetup.setupStdio();
-    mainThreadSetup.setupProcessMethods(
-      _chdir, _umask, _initgroups, _setegid, _seteuid,
-      _setgid, _setuid, _setgroups
-    );
+    mainThreadSetup.setupProcessMethods(_chdir, _umask);
   } else {
     workerThreadSetup.setupStdio();
   }
diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
index b70171cc5da8c1..bf6a9d4029c2a5 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ const {
   internalModuleReadJSON,
   internalModuleStat
 } = internalBinding('fs');
-const { safeGetenv } = internalBinding('util');
+const { safeGetenv } = internalBinding('credentials');
 const {
   makeRequireFunction,
   requireDepth,
diff --git a/lib/internal/process/main_thread_only.js b/lib/internal/process/main_thread_only.js
index b8b7a454dc2f9f..5f53f3408406b9 100644
--- a/lib/internal/process/main_thread_only.js
+++ b/lib/internal/process/main_thread_only.js
@@ -29,13 +29,7 @@ function setupStdio() {
 
 // Non-POSIX platforms like Windows don't have certain methods.
 // Workers also lack these methods since they change process-global state.
-function setupProcessMethods(_chdir, _umask, _initgroups, _setegid,
-                             _seteuid, _setgid, _setuid, _setgroups) {
-  if (_setgid !== undefined) {
-    setupPosixMethods(_initgroups, _setegid, _seteuid,
-                      _setgid, _setuid, _setgroups);
-  }
-
+function setupProcessMethods(_chdir, _umask) {
   process.chdir = function chdir(directory) {
     validateString(directory, 'directory');
     return _chdir(directory);
@@ -51,10 +45,17 @@ function setupProcessMethods(_chdir, _umask, _initgroups, _setegid,
   };
 }
 
-function setupPosixMethods(_initgroups, _setegid, _seteuid,
-                           _setgid, _setuid, _setgroups) {
-
-  process.initgroups = function initgroups(user, extraGroup) {
+function wrapPosixCredentialSetters(credentials) {
+  const {
+    initgroups: _initgroups,
+    setgroups: _setgroups,
+    setegid: _setegid,
+    seteuid: _seteuid,
+    setgid: _setgid,
+    setuid: _setuid
+  } = credentials;
+
+  function initgroups(user, extraGroup) {
     validateId(user, 'user');
     validateId(extraGroup, 'extraGroup');
     // Result is 0 on success, 1 if user is unknown, 2 if group is unknown.
@@ -64,25 +65,9 @@ function setupPosixMethods(_initgroups, _setegid, _seteuid,
     } else if (result === 2) {
       throw new ERR_UNKNOWN_CREDENTIAL('Group', extraGroup);
     }
-  };
-
-  process.setegid = function setegid(id) {
-    return execId(id, 'Group', _setegid);
-  };
-
-  process.seteuid = function seteuid(id) {
-    return execId(id, 'User', _seteuid);
-  };
-
-  process.setgid = function setgid(id) {
-    return execId(id, 'Group', _setgid);
-  };
-
-  process.setuid = function setuid(id) {
-    return execId(id, 'User', _setuid);
-  };
+  }
 
-  process.setgroups = function setgroups(groups) {
+  function setgroups(groups) {
     if (!Array.isArray(groups)) {
       throw new ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE('groups', 'Array', groups);
     }
@@ -95,15 +80,17 @@ function setupPosixMethods(_initgroups, _setegid, _seteuid,
     if (result > 0) {
       throw new ERR_UNKNOWN_CREDENTIAL('Group', groups[result - 1]);
     }
-  };
+  }
 
-  function execId(id, type, method) {
-    validateId(id, 'id');
-    // Result is 0 on success, 1 if credential is unknown.
-    const result = method(id);
-    if (result === 1) {
-      throw new ERR_UNKNOWN_CREDENTIAL(type, id);
-    }
+  function wrapIdSetter(type, method) {
+    return function(id) {
+      validateId(id, 'id');
+      // Result is 0 on success, 1 if credential is unknown.
+      const result = method(id);
+      if (result === 1) {
+        throw new ERR_UNKNOWN_CREDENTIAL(type, id);
+      }
+    };
   }
 
   function validateId(id, name) {
@@ -113,6 +100,15 @@ function setupPosixMethods(_initgroups, _setegid, _seteuid,
       throw new ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE(name, ['number', 'string'], id);
     }
   }
+
+  return {
+    initgroups,
+    setgroups,
+    setegid: wrapIdSetter('Group', _setegid),
+    seteuid: wrapIdSetter('User', _seteuid),
+    setgid: wrapIdSetter('Group', _setgid),
+    setuid: wrapIdSetter('User', _setuid)
+  };
 }
 
 // Worker threads don't receive signals.
@@ -181,5 +177,6 @@ module.exports = {
   setupStdio,
   setupProcessMethods,
   setupSignalHandlers,
-  setupChildProcessIpcChannel
+  setupChildProcessIpcChannel,
+  wrapPosixCredentialSetters
 };
diff --git a/lib/os.js b/lib/os.js
index 2c806908eeac98..28e1d7797f65dc 100644
--- a/lib/os.js
+++ b/lib/os.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { safeGetenv } = internalBinding('util');
+const { safeGetenv } = internalBinding('credentials');
 const constants = internalBinding('constants').os;
 const { deprecate } = require('internal/util');
 const isWindows = process.platform === 'win32';
diff --git a/node.gyp b/node.gyp
index db8443d813e789..b337de0a422be6 100644
--- a/node.gyp
+++ b/node.gyp
@@ -350,6 +350,7 @@
         'src/node_config.cc',
         'src/node_constants.cc',
         'src/node_contextify.cc',
+        'src/node_credentials.cc',
         'src/node_domain.cc',
         'src/node_encoding.cc',
         'src/node_env_var.cc',
diff --git a/src/bootstrapper.cc b/src/bootstrapper.cc
index 2c8212177b41fa..0a1cfed2109e5c 100644
--- a/src/bootstrapper.cc
+++ b/src/bootstrapper.cc
@@ -147,17 +147,6 @@ void SetupBootstrapObject(Environment* env,
   BOOTSTRAP_METHOD(_rawDebug, RawDebug);
   BOOTSTRAP_METHOD(_umask, Umask);
 
-#if defined(__POSIX__) && !defined(__ANDROID__) && !defined(__CloudABI__)
-  if (env->is_main_thread()) {
-    BOOTSTRAP_METHOD(_initgroups, InitGroups);
-    BOOTSTRAP_METHOD(_setegid, SetEGid);
-    BOOTSTRAP_METHOD(_seteuid, SetEUid);
-    BOOTSTRAP_METHOD(_setgid, SetGid);
-    BOOTSTRAP_METHOD(_setuid, SetUid);
-    BOOTSTRAP_METHOD(_setgroups, SetGroups);
-  }
-#endif  // __POSIX__ && !defined(__ANDROID__) && !defined(__CloudABI__)
-
   Local<String> should_abort_on_uncaught_toggle =
       FIXED_ONE_BYTE_STRING(env->isolate(), "_shouldAbortOnUncaughtToggle");
   CHECK(bootstrapper->Set(env->context(),
diff --git a/src/env.cc b/src/env.cc
index ed6717d684421b..1e65dfdac88ae2 100644
--- a/src/env.cc
+++ b/src/env.cc
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ Environment::Environment(IsolateData* isolate_data,
   should_abort_on_uncaught_toggle_[0] = 1;
 
   std::string debug_cats;
-  SafeGetenv("NODE_DEBUG_NATIVE", &debug_cats);
+  credentials::SafeGetenv("NODE_DEBUG_NATIVE", &debug_cats);
   set_debug_categories(debug_cats, true);
 
   isolate()->GetHeapProfiler()->AddBuildEmbedderGraphCallback(
diff --git a/src/node.cc b/src/node.cc
index d830b846c90f6e..58722f23b31253 100644
--- a/src/node.cc
+++ b/src/node.cc
@@ -100,12 +100,7 @@ typedef int mode_t;
 #else
 #include <pthread.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>  // getrlimit, setrlimit
-#include <unistd.h>  // setuid, getuid
-#endif
-
-#if defined(__POSIX__) && !defined(__ANDROID__) && !defined(__CloudABI__)
-#include <pwd.h>  // getpwnam()
-#include <grp.h>  // getgrnam()
+#include <unistd.h>        // STDIN_FILENO, STDERR_FILENO
 #endif
 
 namespace node {
@@ -153,8 +148,6 @@ unsigned int reverted = 0;
 
 bool v8_initialized = false;
 
-bool linux_at_secure = false;
-
 // process-relative uptime base, initialized at start-up
 double prog_start_time;
 
@@ -501,27 +494,6 @@ const char* signo_string(int signo) {
   }
 }
 
-// Look up environment variable unless running as setuid root.
-bool SafeGetenv(const char* key, std::string* text) {
-#if !defined(__CloudABI__) && !defined(_WIN32)
-  if (linux_at_secure || getuid() != geteuid() || getgid() != getegid())
-    goto fail;
-#endif
-
-  {
-    Mutex::ScopedLock lock(environ_mutex);
-    if (const char* value = getenv(key)) {
-      *text = value;
-      return true;
-    }
-  }
-
-fail:
-  text->clear();
-  return false;
-}
-
-
 void* ArrayBufferAllocator::Allocate(size_t size) {
   if (zero_fill_field_ || per_process_opts->zero_fill_all_buffers)
     return UncheckedCalloc(size);
@@ -1157,14 +1129,6 @@ void SetupProcessObject(Environment* env,
   env->SetMethod(process, "dlopen", binding::DLOpen);
   env->SetMethod(process, "reallyExit", Exit);
   env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(process, "uptime", Uptime);
-
-#if defined(__POSIX__) && !defined(__ANDROID__) && !defined(__CloudABI__)
-  env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(process, "getuid", GetUid);
-  env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(process, "geteuid", GetEUid);
-  env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(process, "getgid", GetGid);
-  env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(process, "getegid", GetEGid);
-  env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(process, "getgroups", GetGroups);
-#endif  // __POSIX__ && !defined(__ANDROID__) && !defined(__CloudABI__)
 }
 
 
@@ -1625,37 +1589,40 @@ void Init(std::vector<std::string>* argv,
   {
     std::string text;
     default_env_options->pending_deprecation =
-        SafeGetenv("NODE_PENDING_DEPRECATION", &text) && text[0] == '1';
+        credentials::SafeGetenv("NODE_PENDING_DEPRECATION", &text) &&
+        text[0] == '1';
   }
 
   // Allow for environment set preserving symlinks.
   {
     std::string text;
     default_env_options->preserve_symlinks =
-        SafeGetenv("NODE_PRESERVE_SYMLINKS", &text) && text[0] == '1';
+        credentials::SafeGetenv("NODE_PRESERVE_SYMLINKS", &text) &&
+        text[0] == '1';
   }
 
   {
     std::string text;
     default_env_options->preserve_symlinks_main =
-        SafeGetenv("NODE_PRESERVE_SYMLINKS_MAIN", &text) && text[0] == '1';
+        credentials::SafeGetenv("NODE_PRESERVE_SYMLINKS_MAIN", &text) &&
+        text[0] == '1';
   }
 
   if (default_env_options->redirect_warnings.empty()) {
-    SafeGetenv("NODE_REDIRECT_WARNINGS",
-               &default_env_options->redirect_warnings);
+    credentials::SafeGetenv("NODE_REDIRECT_WARNINGS",
+                            &default_env_options->redirect_warnings);
   }
 
 #if HAVE_OPENSSL
   std::string* openssl_config = &per_process_opts->openssl_config;
   if (openssl_config->empty()) {
-    SafeGetenv("OPENSSL_CONF", openssl_config);
+    credentials::SafeGetenv("OPENSSL_CONF", openssl_config);
   }
 #endif
 
 #if !defined(NODE_WITHOUT_NODE_OPTIONS)
   std::string node_options;
-  if (SafeGetenv("NODE_OPTIONS", &node_options)) {
+  if (credentials::SafeGetenv("NODE_OPTIONS", &node_options)) {
     std::vector<std::string> env_argv;
     // [0] is expected to be the program name, fill it in from the real argv.
     env_argv.push_back(argv->at(0));
@@ -1687,7 +1654,7 @@ void Init(std::vector<std::string>* argv,
 #if defined(NODE_HAVE_I18N_SUPPORT)
   // If the parameter isn't given, use the env variable.
   if (per_process_opts->icu_data_dir.empty())
-    SafeGetenv("NODE_ICU_DATA", &per_process_opts->icu_data_dir);
+    credentials::SafeGetenv("NODE_ICU_DATA", &per_process_opts->icu_data_dir);
   // Initialize ICU.
   // If icu_data_dir is empty here, it will load the 'minimal' data.
   if (!i18n::InitializeICUDirectory(per_process_opts->icu_data_dir)) {
@@ -2095,7 +2062,7 @@ int Start(int argc, char** argv) {
 #if HAVE_OPENSSL
   {
     std::string extra_ca_certs;
-    if (SafeGetenv("NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS", &extra_ca_certs))
+    if (credentials::SafeGetenv("NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS", &extra_ca_certs))
       crypto::UseExtraCaCerts(extra_ca_certs);
   }
 #ifdef NODE_FIPS_MODE
diff --git a/src/node_binding.cc b/src/node_binding.cc
index 4a47c744c2d7fb..1e78f7c17f7db3 100644
--- a/src/node_binding.cc
+++ b/src/node_binding.cc
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
   V(cares_wrap)                                                                \
   V(config)                                                                    \
   V(contextify)                                                                \
+  V(credentials)                                                               \
   V(domain)                                                                    \
   V(fs)                                                                        \
   V(fs_event_wrap)                                                             \
diff --git a/src/node_credentials.cc b/src/node_credentials.cc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..0f202dfb753bf7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/node_credentials.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,395 @@
+#include "node_internals.h"
+
+#ifdef NODE_IMPLEMENTS_POSIX_CREDENTIALS
+#include <grp.h>  // getgrnam()
+#include <pwd.h>  // getpwnam()
+#endif            // NODE_IMPLEMENTS_POSIX_CREDENTIALS
+
+#if !defined(_MSC_VER)
+#include <unistd.h>  // setuid, getuid
+#endif
+
+namespace node {
+
+using v8::Array;
+using v8::Context;
+using v8::Function;
+using v8::FunctionCallbackInfo;
+using v8::Integer;
+using v8::Isolate;
+using v8::Local;
+using v8::Object;
+using v8::String;
+using v8::Uint32;
+using v8::Value;
+
+namespace per_process {
+bool linux_at_secure = false;
+}  // namespace per_process
+
+namespace credentials {
+
+// Look up environment variable unless running as setuid root.
+bool SafeGetenv(const char* key, std::string* text) {
+#if !defined(__CloudABI__) && !defined(_WIN32)
+  if (per_process::linux_at_secure || getuid() != geteuid() ||
+      getgid() != getegid())
+    goto fail;
+#endif
+
+  {
+    Mutex::ScopedLock lock(environ_mutex);
+    if (const char* value = getenv(key)) {
+      *text = value;
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+
+fail:
+  text->clear();
+  return false;
+}
+
+static void SafeGetenv(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  CHECK(args[0]->IsString());
+  Isolate* isolate = args.GetIsolate();
+  Utf8Value strenvtag(isolate, args[0]);
+  std::string text;
+  if (!SafeGetenv(*strenvtag, &text)) return;
+  Local<Value> result =
+      ToV8Value(isolate->GetCurrentContext(), text).ToLocalChecked();
+  args.GetReturnValue().Set(result);
+}
+
+#ifdef NODE_IMPLEMENTS_POSIX_CREDENTIALS
+
+static const uid_t uid_not_found = static_cast<uid_t>(-1);
+static const gid_t gid_not_found = static_cast<gid_t>(-1);
+
+static uid_t uid_by_name(const char* name) {
+  struct passwd pwd;
+  struct passwd* pp;
+  char buf[8192];
+
+  errno = 0;
+  pp = nullptr;
+
+  if (getpwnam_r(name, &pwd, buf, sizeof(buf), &pp) == 0 && pp != nullptr)
+    return pp->pw_uid;
+
+  return uid_not_found;
+}
+
+static char* name_by_uid(uid_t uid) {
+  struct passwd pwd;
+  struct passwd* pp;
+  char buf[8192];
+  int rc;
+
+  errno = 0;
+  pp = nullptr;
+
+  if ((rc = getpwuid_r(uid, &pwd, buf, sizeof(buf), &pp)) == 0 &&
+      pp != nullptr) {
+    return strdup(pp->pw_name);
+  }
+
+  if (rc == 0) errno = ENOENT;
+
+  return nullptr;
+}
+
+static gid_t gid_by_name(const char* name) {
+  struct group pwd;
+  struct group* pp;
+  char buf[8192];
+
+  errno = 0;
+  pp = nullptr;
+
+  if (getgrnam_r(name, &pwd, buf, sizeof(buf), &pp) == 0 && pp != nullptr)
+    return pp->gr_gid;
+
+  return gid_not_found;
+}
+
+#if 0  // For future use.
+static const char* name_by_gid(gid_t gid) {
+  struct group pwd;
+  struct group* pp;
+  char buf[8192];
+  int rc;
+
+  errno = 0;
+  pp = nullptr;
+
+  if ((rc = getgrgid_r(gid, &pwd, buf, sizeof(buf), &pp)) == 0 &&
+      pp != nullptr) {
+    return strdup(pp->gr_name);
+  }
+
+  if (rc == 0)
+    errno = ENOENT;
+
+  return nullptr;
+}
+#endif
+
+static uid_t uid_by_name(Isolate* isolate, Local<Value> value) {
+  if (value->IsUint32()) {
+    return static_cast<uid_t>(value.As<Uint32>()->Value());
+  } else {
+    Utf8Value name(isolate, value);
+    return uid_by_name(*name);
+  }
+}
+
+static gid_t gid_by_name(Isolate* isolate, Local<Value> value) {
+  if (value->IsUint32()) {
+    return static_cast<gid_t>(value.As<Uint32>()->Value());
+  } else {
+    Utf8Value name(isolate, value);
+    return gid_by_name(*name);
+  }
+}
+
+static void GetUid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  // uid_t is an uint32_t on all supported platforms.
+  args.GetReturnValue().Set(static_cast<uint32_t>(getuid()));
+}
+
+static void GetGid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  // gid_t is an uint32_t on all supported platforms.
+  args.GetReturnValue().Set(static_cast<uint32_t>(getgid()));
+}
+
+static void GetEUid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  // uid_t is an uint32_t on all supported platforms.
+  args.GetReturnValue().Set(static_cast<uint32_t>(geteuid()));
+}
+
+static void GetEGid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  // gid_t is an uint32_t on all supported platforms.
+  args.GetReturnValue().Set(static_cast<uint32_t>(getegid()));
+}
+
+static void SetGid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
+  CHECK(env->is_main_thread());
+
+  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 1);
+  CHECK(args[0]->IsUint32() || args[0]->IsString());
+
+  gid_t gid = gid_by_name(env->isolate(), args[0]);
+
+  if (gid == gid_not_found) {
+    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
+    args.GetReturnValue().Set(1);
+  } else if (setgid(gid)) {
+    env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "setgid");
+  } else {
+    args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
+  }
+}
+
+static void SetEGid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
+  CHECK(env->is_main_thread());
+
+  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 1);
+  CHECK(args[0]->IsUint32() || args[0]->IsString());
+
+  gid_t gid = gid_by_name(env->isolate(), args[0]);
+
+  if (gid == gid_not_found) {
+    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
+    args.GetReturnValue().Set(1);
+  } else if (setegid(gid)) {
+    env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "setegid");
+  } else {
+    args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
+  }
+}
+
+static void SetUid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
+  CHECK(env->is_main_thread());
+
+  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 1);
+  CHECK(args[0]->IsUint32() || args[0]->IsString());
+
+  uid_t uid = uid_by_name(env->isolate(), args[0]);
+
+  if (uid == uid_not_found) {
+    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
+    args.GetReturnValue().Set(1);
+  } else if (setuid(uid)) {
+    env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "setuid");
+  } else {
+    args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
+  }
+}
+
+static void SetEUid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
+  CHECK(env->is_main_thread());
+
+  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 1);
+  CHECK(args[0]->IsUint32() || args[0]->IsString());
+
+  uid_t uid = uid_by_name(env->isolate(), args[0]);
+
+  if (uid == uid_not_found) {
+    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
+    args.GetReturnValue().Set(1);
+  } else if (seteuid(uid)) {
+    env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "seteuid");
+  } else {
+    args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
+  }
+}
+
+static void GetGroups(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
+
+  int ngroups = getgroups(0, nullptr);
+
+  if (ngroups == -1) return env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "getgroups");
+
+  gid_t* groups = new gid_t[ngroups];
+
+  ngroups = getgroups(ngroups, groups);
+
+  if (ngroups == -1) {
+    delete[] groups;
+    return env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "getgroups");
+  }
+
+  Local<Array> groups_list = Array::New(env->isolate(), ngroups);
+  bool seen_egid = false;
+  gid_t egid = getegid();
+
+  for (int i = 0; i < ngroups; i++) {
+    groups_list->Set(env->context(), i, Integer::New(env->isolate(), groups[i]))
+        .FromJust();
+    if (groups[i] == egid) seen_egid = true;
+  }
+
+  delete[] groups;
+
+  if (seen_egid == false)
+    groups_list
+        ->Set(env->context(), ngroups, Integer::New(env->isolate(), egid))
+        .FromJust();
+
+  args.GetReturnValue().Set(groups_list);
+}
+
+static void SetGroups(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
+
+  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 1);
+  CHECK(args[0]->IsArray());
+
+  Local<Array> groups_list = args[0].As<Array>();
+  size_t size = groups_list->Length();
+  gid_t* groups = new gid_t[size];
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+    gid_t gid = gid_by_name(
+        env->isolate(), groups_list->Get(env->context(), i).ToLocalChecked());
+
+    if (gid == gid_not_found) {
+      delete[] groups;
+      // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
+      args.GetReturnValue().Set(static_cast<uint32_t>(i + 1));
+      return;
+    }
+
+    groups[i] = gid;
+  }
+
+  int rc = setgroups(size, groups);
+  delete[] groups;
+
+  if (rc == -1) return env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "setgroups");
+
+  args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
+}
+
+static void InitGroups(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
+
+  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 2);
+  CHECK(args[0]->IsUint32() || args[0]->IsString());
+  CHECK(args[1]->IsUint32() || args[1]->IsString());
+
+  Utf8Value arg0(env->isolate(), args[0]);
+  gid_t extra_group;
+  bool must_free;
+  char* user;
+
+  if (args[0]->IsUint32()) {
+    user = name_by_uid(args[0].As<Uint32>()->Value());
+    must_free = true;
+  } else {
+    user = *arg0;
+    must_free = false;
+  }
+
+  if (user == nullptr) {
+    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
+    return args.GetReturnValue().Set(1);
+  }
+
+  extra_group = gid_by_name(env->isolate(), args[1]);
+
+  if (extra_group == gid_not_found) {
+    if (must_free) free(user);
+    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
+    return args.GetReturnValue().Set(2);
+  }
+
+  int rc = initgroups(user, extra_group);
+
+  if (must_free) free(user);
+
+  if (rc) return env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "initgroups");
+
+  args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
+}
+
+#endif  // NODE_IMPLEMENTS_POSIX_CREDENTIALS
+
+static void Initialize(Local<Object> target,
+                       Local<Value> unused,
+                       Local<Context> context,
+                       void* priv) {
+  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(context);
+  Isolate* isolate = env->isolate();
+
+  env->SetMethod(target, "safeGetenv", SafeGetenv);
+
+#ifdef NODE_IMPLEMENTS_POSIX_CREDENTIALS
+  READONLY_TRUE_PROPERTY(target, "implementsPosixCredentials");
+  env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(target, "getuid", GetUid);
+  env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(target, "geteuid", GetEUid);
+  env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(target, "getgid", GetGid);
+  env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(target, "getegid", GetEGid);
+  env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(target, "getgroups", GetGroups);
+
+  if (env->is_main_thread()) {
+    env->SetMethod(target, "initgroups", InitGroups);
+    env->SetMethod(target, "setegid", SetEGid);
+    env->SetMethod(target, "seteuid", SetEUid);
+    env->SetMethod(target, "setgid", SetGid);
+    env->SetMethod(target, "setuid", SetUid);
+    env->SetMethod(target, "setgroups", SetGroups);
+  }
+#endif  // NODE_IMPLEMENTS_POSIX_CREDENTIALS
+}
+
+}  // namespace credentials
+}  // namespace node
+
+NODE_MODULE_CONTEXT_AWARE_INTERNAL(credentials, node::credentials::Initialize)
diff --git a/src/node_internals.h b/src/node_internals.h
index d9a72a10a440ea..2c6aad5b967c3d 100644
--- a/src/node_internals.h
+++ b/src/node_internals.h
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ void RegisterSignalHandler(int signal,
                            bool reset_handler = false);
 #endif
 
-bool SafeGetenv(const char* key, std::string* text);
 v8::Local<v8::Object> CreateEnvVarProxy(v8::Local<v8::Context> context,
                                         v8::Isolate* isolate,
                                         v8::Local<v8::Value> data);
@@ -734,19 +733,13 @@ void ProcessTitleSetter(v8::Local<v8::Name> property,
                         const v8::PropertyCallbackInfo<void>& info);
 
 #if defined(__POSIX__) && !defined(__ANDROID__) && !defined(__CloudABI__)
-void SetGid(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
-void SetEGid(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
-void SetUid(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
-void SetEUid(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
-void SetGroups(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
-void InitGroups(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
-void GetUid(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
-void GetGid(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
-void GetEUid(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
-void GetEGid(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
-void GetGroups(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
+#define NODE_IMPLEMENTS_POSIX_CREDENTIALS 1
 #endif  // __POSIX__ && !defined(__ANDROID__) && !defined(__CloudABI__)
 
+namespace credentials {
+bool SafeGetenv(const char* key, std::string* text);
+}  // namespace credentials
+
 void DefineZlibConstants(v8::Local<v8::Object> target);
 
 }  // namespace node
diff --git a/src/node_main.cc b/src/node_main.cc
index bea1af7bdde5e3..7107aea8c1a455 100644
--- a/src/node_main.cc
+++ b/src/node_main.cc
@@ -88,7 +88,9 @@ extern char** environ;
 #endif
 
 namespace node {
-  extern bool linux_at_secure;
+namespace per_process {
+extern bool linux_at_secure;
+}  // namespace per_process
 }  // namespace node
 
 int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
   Elf_auxv_t* auxv = reinterpret_cast<Elf_auxv_t*>(envp);
   for (; auxv->a_type != AT_NULL; auxv++) {
     if (auxv->a_type == AT_SECURE) {
-      node::linux_at_secure = auxv->a_un.a_val;
+      node::per_process::linux_at_secure = auxv->a_un.a_val;
       break;
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/node_process.cc b/src/node_process.cc
index ccd8ce2fd92b83..b9376953e241be 100644
--- a/src/node_process.cc
+++ b/src/node_process.cc
@@ -24,12 +24,6 @@ typedef int mode_t;
 #include <pthread.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>  // getrlimit, setrlimit
 #include <termios.h>  // tcgetattr, tcsetattr
-#include <unistd.h>  // setuid, getuid
-#endif
-
-#if defined(__POSIX__) && !defined(__ANDROID__) && !defined(__CloudABI__)
-#include <pwd.h>  // getpwnam()
-#include <grp.h>  // getgrnam()
 #endif
 
 namespace node {
@@ -42,7 +36,6 @@ using v8::Float64Array;
 using v8::Function;
 using v8::FunctionCallbackInfo;
 using v8::HeapStatistics;
-using v8::Integer;
 using v8::Isolate;
 using v8::Local;
 using v8::Name;
@@ -254,331 +247,6 @@ void Uptime(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
   args.GetReturnValue().Set(uptime / 1000);
 }
 
-
-#if defined(__POSIX__) && !defined(__ANDROID__) && !defined(__CloudABI__)
-
-static const uid_t uid_not_found = static_cast<uid_t>(-1);
-static const gid_t gid_not_found = static_cast<gid_t>(-1);
-
-
-static uid_t uid_by_name(const char* name) {
-  struct passwd pwd;
-  struct passwd* pp;
-  char buf[8192];
-
-  errno = 0;
-  pp = nullptr;
-
-  if (getpwnam_r(name, &pwd, buf, sizeof(buf), &pp) == 0 && pp != nullptr)
-    return pp->pw_uid;
-
-  return uid_not_found;
-}
-
-
-static char* name_by_uid(uid_t uid) {
-  struct passwd pwd;
-  struct passwd* pp;
-  char buf[8192];
-  int rc;
-
-  errno = 0;
-  pp = nullptr;
-
-  if ((rc = getpwuid_r(uid, &pwd, buf, sizeof(buf), &pp)) == 0 &&
-      pp != nullptr) {
-    return strdup(pp->pw_name);
-  }
-
-  if (rc == 0)
-    errno = ENOENT;
-
-  return nullptr;
-}
-
-
-static gid_t gid_by_name(const char* name) {
-  struct group pwd;
-  struct group* pp;
-  char buf[8192];
-
-  errno = 0;
-  pp = nullptr;
-
-  if (getgrnam_r(name, &pwd, buf, sizeof(buf), &pp) == 0 && pp != nullptr)
-    return pp->gr_gid;
-
-  return gid_not_found;
-}
-
-
-#if 0  // For future use.
-static const char* name_by_gid(gid_t gid) {
-  struct group pwd;
-  struct group* pp;
-  char buf[8192];
-  int rc;
-
-  errno = 0;
-  pp = nullptr;
-
-  if ((rc = getgrgid_r(gid, &pwd, buf, sizeof(buf), &pp)) == 0 &&
-      pp != nullptr) {
-    return strdup(pp->gr_name);
-  }
-
-  if (rc == 0)
-    errno = ENOENT;
-
-  return nullptr;
-}
-#endif
-
-
-static uid_t uid_by_name(Isolate* isolate, Local<Value> value) {
-  if (value->IsUint32()) {
-    return static_cast<uid_t>(value.As<Uint32>()->Value());
-  } else {
-    Utf8Value name(isolate, value);
-    return uid_by_name(*name);
-  }
-}
-
-
-static gid_t gid_by_name(Isolate* isolate, Local<Value> value) {
-  if (value->IsUint32()) {
-    return static_cast<gid_t>(value.As<Uint32>()->Value());
-  } else {
-    Utf8Value name(isolate, value);
-    return gid_by_name(*name);
-  }
-}
-
-void GetUid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  // uid_t is an uint32_t on all supported platforms.
-  args.GetReturnValue().Set(static_cast<uint32_t>(getuid()));
-}
-
-
-void GetGid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  // gid_t is an uint32_t on all supported platforms.
-  args.GetReturnValue().Set(static_cast<uint32_t>(getgid()));
-}
-
-
-void GetEUid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  // uid_t is an uint32_t on all supported platforms.
-  args.GetReturnValue().Set(static_cast<uint32_t>(geteuid()));
-}
-
-
-void GetEGid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  // gid_t is an uint32_t on all supported platforms.
-  args.GetReturnValue().Set(static_cast<uint32_t>(getegid()));
-}
-
-
-void SetGid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
-  CHECK(env->is_main_thread());
-
-  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 1);
-  CHECK(args[0]->IsUint32() || args[0]->IsString());
-
-  gid_t gid = gid_by_name(env->isolate(), args[0]);
-
-  if (gid == gid_not_found) {
-    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
-    args.GetReturnValue().Set(1);
-  } else if (setgid(gid)) {
-    env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "setgid");
-  } else {
-    args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
-  }
-}
-
-
-void SetEGid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
-  CHECK(env->is_main_thread());
-
-  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 1);
-  CHECK(args[0]->IsUint32() || args[0]->IsString());
-
-  gid_t gid = gid_by_name(env->isolate(), args[0]);
-
-  if (gid == gid_not_found) {
-    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
-    args.GetReturnValue().Set(1);
-  } else if (setegid(gid)) {
-    env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "setegid");
-  } else {
-    args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
-  }
-}
-
-
-void SetUid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
-  CHECK(env->is_main_thread());
-
-  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 1);
-  CHECK(args[0]->IsUint32() || args[0]->IsString());
-
-  uid_t uid = uid_by_name(env->isolate(), args[0]);
-
-  if (uid == uid_not_found) {
-    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
-    args.GetReturnValue().Set(1);
-  } else if (setuid(uid)) {
-    env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "setuid");
-  } else {
-    args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
-  }
-}
-
-
-void SetEUid(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
-  CHECK(env->is_main_thread());
-
-  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 1);
-  CHECK(args[0]->IsUint32() || args[0]->IsString());
-
-  uid_t uid = uid_by_name(env->isolate(), args[0]);
-
-  if (uid == uid_not_found) {
-    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
-    args.GetReturnValue().Set(1);
-  } else if (seteuid(uid)) {
-    env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "seteuid");
-  } else {
-    args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
-  }
-}
-
-
-void GetGroups(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
-
-  int ngroups = getgroups(0, nullptr);
-
-  if (ngroups == -1)
-    return env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "getgroups");
-
-  gid_t* groups = new gid_t[ngroups];
-
-  ngroups = getgroups(ngroups, groups);
-
-  if (ngroups == -1) {
-    delete[] groups;
-    return env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "getgroups");
-  }
-
-  Local<Array> groups_list = Array::New(env->isolate(), ngroups);
-  bool seen_egid = false;
-  gid_t egid = getegid();
-
-  for (int i = 0; i < ngroups; i++) {
-    groups_list->Set(env->context(),
-                     i, Integer::New(env->isolate(), groups[i])).FromJust();
-    if (groups[i] == egid)
-      seen_egid = true;
-  }
-
-  delete[] groups;
-
-  if (seen_egid == false)
-    groups_list->Set(env->context(),
-                     ngroups,
-                     Integer::New(env->isolate(), egid)).FromJust();
-
-  args.GetReturnValue().Set(groups_list);
-}
-
-
-void SetGroups(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
-
-  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 1);
-  CHECK(args[0]->IsArray());
-
-  Local<Array> groups_list = args[0].As<Array>();
-  size_t size = groups_list->Length();
-  gid_t* groups = new gid_t[size];
-
-  for (size_t i = 0; i < size; i++) {
-    gid_t gid = gid_by_name(env->isolate(),
-                            groups_list->Get(env->context(),
-                                             i).ToLocalChecked());
-
-    if (gid == gid_not_found) {
-      delete[] groups;
-      // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
-      args.GetReturnValue().Set(static_cast<uint32_t>(i + 1));
-      return;
-    }
-
-    groups[i] = gid;
-  }
-
-  int rc = setgroups(size, groups);
-  delete[] groups;
-
-  if (rc == -1)
-    return env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "setgroups");
-
-  args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
-}
-
-
-void InitGroups(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
-
-  CHECK_EQ(args.Length(), 2);
-  CHECK(args[0]->IsUint32() || args[0]->IsString());
-  CHECK(args[1]->IsUint32() || args[1]->IsString());
-
-  Utf8Value arg0(env->isolate(), args[0]);
-  gid_t extra_group;
-  bool must_free;
-  char* user;
-
-  if (args[0]->IsUint32()) {
-    user = name_by_uid(args[0].As<Uint32>()->Value());
-    must_free = true;
-  } else {
-    user = *arg0;
-    must_free = false;
-  }
-
-  if (user == nullptr) {
-    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
-    return args.GetReturnValue().Set(1);
-  }
-
-  extra_group = gid_by_name(env->isolate(), args[1]);
-
-  if (extra_group == gid_not_found) {
-    if (must_free)
-      free(user);
-    // Tells JS to throw ERR_INVALID_CREDENTIAL
-    return args.GetReturnValue().Set(2);
-  }
-
-  int rc = initgroups(user, extra_group);
-
-  if (must_free)
-    free(user);
-
-  if (rc)
-    return env->ThrowErrnoException(errno, "initgroups");
-
-  args.GetReturnValue().Set(0);
-}
-
-#endif  // __POSIX__ && !defined(__ANDROID__) && !defined(__CloudABI__)
-
 void ProcessTitleGetter(Local<Name> property,
                         const PropertyCallbackInfo<Value>& info) {
   char buffer[512];
diff --git a/src/node_util.cc b/src/node_util.cc
index f6ebee895fe3bf..f7412d92bcd8e7 100644
--- a/src/node_util.cc
+++ b/src/node_util.cc
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ using v8::Integer;
 using v8::Isolate;
 using v8::KeyCollectionMode;
 using v8::Local;
-using v8::NewStringType;
 using v8::Object;
 using v8::ONLY_CONFIGURABLE;
 using v8::ONLY_ENUMERABLE;
@@ -172,17 +171,6 @@ void WatchdogHasPendingSigint(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
   args.GetReturnValue().Set(ret);
 }
 
-void SafeGetenv(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
-  CHECK(args[0]->IsString());
-  Utf8Value strenvtag(args.GetIsolate(), args[0]);
-  std::string text;
-  if (!node::SafeGetenv(*strenvtag, &text)) return;
-  args.GetReturnValue()
-      .Set(String::NewFromUtf8(
-            args.GetIsolate(), text.c_str(),
-            NewStringType::kNormal).ToLocalChecked());
-}
-
 void EnqueueMicrotask(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
   Environment* env = Environment::GetCurrent(args);
   Isolate* isolate = env->isolate();
@@ -232,8 +220,6 @@ void Initialize(Local<Object> target,
   env->SetMethodNoSideEffect(target, "watchdogHasPendingSigint",
                              WatchdogHasPendingSigint);
 
-  env->SetMethod(target, "safeGetenv", SafeGetenv);
-
   env->SetMethod(target, "enqueueMicrotask", EnqueueMicrotask);
 
   Local<Object> constants = Object::New(env->isolate());
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-bootstrap-modules.js b/test/parallel/test-bootstrap-modules.js
index 8f1592084cd31f..5c1693ca89c5db 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-bootstrap-modules.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-bootstrap-modules.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const common = require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const isMainThread = common.isMainThread;
-const kMaxModuleCount = isMainThread ? 59 : 82;
+const kMaxModuleCount = isMainThread ? 60 : 82;
 
 assert(list.length <= kMaxModuleCount,
        `Total length: ${list.length}\n` + list.join('\n')
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-safe-get-env.js b/test/parallel/test-safe-get-env.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..0bee9971dbb3eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/parallel/test-safe-get-env.js
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+'use strict';
+// Flags: --expose_internals
+
+require('../common');
+const assert = require('assert');
+const { internalBinding } = require('internal/test/binding');
+const { safeGetenv } = internalBinding('credentials');
+
+// FIXME(joyeecheung): this test is not entirely useful. To properly
+// test this we could create a mismatch between the effective/real
+// group/user id of a Node.js process and see if the environment variables
+// are no longer available - but that might be tricky to set up reliably.
+
+for (const oneEnv in process.env) {
+  assert.strictEqual(
+    safeGetenv(oneEnv),
+    process.env[oneEnv]
+  );
+}
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-util-internal.js b/test/parallel/test-util-internal.js
index 4b78cefc6efe60..f16ccfdbdc534f 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-util-internal.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-util-internal.js
@@ -9,17 +9,9 @@ const { internalBinding } = require('internal/test/binding');
 const {
   getHiddenValue,
   setHiddenValue,
-  arrow_message_private_symbol: kArrowMessagePrivateSymbolIndex,
-  safeGetenv
+  arrow_message_private_symbol: kArrowMessagePrivateSymbolIndex
 } = internalBinding('util');
 
-for (const oneEnv in process.env) {
-  assert.strictEqual(
-    safeGetenv(oneEnv),
-    process.env[oneEnv]
-  );
-}
-
 assert.strictEqual(
   getHiddenValue({}, kArrowMessagePrivateSymbolIndex),
   undefined);