RestrictedPython 3.5.0

RestrictedPython provides a restricted execution environment for Python, e.g. for running untrusted code.

Contents

• Overview

• Implementing a policy

• Examples

  • print

  • Built-ins

  • Guards

• Changes

  • 3.5.0 (2009-02-09)

  • 3.4.3 (2008-10-26)

  • 3.4.2 (2007-07-28)

  • 3.4.1 (2007-06-23)

  • 3.4.0 (2007-06-04)

  • 3.2.0 (2006-01-05)

  • 3.1.0 (2005-10-03)

  • 3.0.0 (2004-11-07)

Overview

RestrictedPython provides a restricted_compile function that works like the built-in compile function, except that it allows the controlled and restricted execution of code:

>>> src = '''
... def hello_world():
...     return "Hello World!"
... '''
>>> from RestrictedPython import compile_restricted
>>> code = compile_restricted(src, '<string>', 'exec')

The resulting code can be executed using the exec built-in:

>>> exec(code)

As a result, the hello_world function is now available in the global namespace:

>>> hello_world()
'Hello World!'

Implementing a policy

RestrictedPython only provides the raw material for restricted execution. To actually enforce any restrictions, you need to supply a policy implementation by providing restricted versions of print, getattr, setattr, import, etc. These restricted implementations are hooked up by providing a set of specially named objects in the global dict that you use for execution of code. Specifically:

1. _print_ is a callable object that returns a handler for print statements. This handler must have a write() method that accepts a single string argument, and must return a string when called. RestrictedPython.PrintCollector.PrintCollector is a suitable implementation.

2. _write_ is a guard function taking a single argument. If the object passed to it may be written to, it should be returned, otherwise the guard function should raise an exception. _write is typically called on an object before a setattr operation.

3. _getattr_ and _getitem_ are guard functions, each of which takes two arguments. The first is the base object to be accessed, while the second is the attribute name or item index that will be read. The guard function should return the attribute or subitem, or raise an exception.

4. __import__ is the normal Python import hook, and should be used to control access to Python packages and modules.

5. __builtins__ is the normal Python builtins dictionary, which should be weeded down to a set that cannot be used to get around your restrictions. A usable “safe” set is RestrictedPython.Guards.safe_builtins.

To help illustrate how this works under the covers, here’s an example function:

def f(x):
    x.foo = x.foo + x[0]
    print x
    return printed

and (sort of) how it looks after restricted compilation:

def f(x):
    # Make local variables from globals.
    _print = _print_()
    _write = _write_
    _getattr = _getattr_
    _getitem = _getitem_

    # Translation of f(x) above
    _write(x).foo = _getattr(x, 'foo') + _getitem(x, 0)
    print >>_print, x
    return _print()

Examples

print

To support the print statement in restricted code, we supply a _print_ object (note that it’s a factory, e.g. a class or a callable, from which the restricted machinery will create the object):

>>> from RestrictedPython.PrintCollector import PrintCollector
>>> _print_ = PrintCollector

>>> src = '''
... print "Hello World!"
... '''
>>> code = compile_restricted(src, '<string>', 'exec')
>>> exec(code)

As you can see, the text doesn’t appear on stdout. The print collector collects it. We can have access to the text using the printed variable, though:

>>> src = '''
... print "Hello World!"
... result = printed
... '''
>>> code = compile_restricted(src, '<string>', 'exec')
>>> exec(code)

>>> result
'Hello World!\n'

Built-ins

By supplying a different __builtins__ dictionary, we can rule out unsafe operations, such as opening files:

>>> from RestrictedPython.Guards import safe_builtins
>>> restricted_globals = dict(__builtins__ = safe_builtins)

>>> src = '''
... open('/etc/passwd')
... '''
>>> code = compile_restricted(src, '<string>', 'exec')
>>> exec(code) in restricted_globals
Traceback (most recent call last):
  ...
NameError: name 'open' is not defined

Guards

Here’s an example of a write guard that never lets restricted code modify (assign, delete an attribute or item) except dictionaries and lists:

>>> from RestrictedPython.Guards import full_write_guard
>>> _write_ = full_write_guard
>>> _getattr_ = getattr

>>> class BikeShed(object):
...     colour = 'green'
...
>>> shed = BikeShed()

Normally accessing attriutes works as expected, because we’re using the standard getattr function for the _getattr_ guard:

>>> src = '''
... print shed.colour
... result = printed
... '''
>>> code = compile_restricted(src, '<string>', 'exec')
>>> exec(code)

>>> result
'green\n'

However, changing an attribute doesn’t work:

>>> src = '''
... shed.colour = 'red'
... '''
>>> code = compile_restricted(src, '<string>', 'exec')
>>> exec(code)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  ...
TypeError: attribute-less object (assign or del)

As said, this particular write guard (full_write_guard) will allow restricted code to modify lists and dictionaries:

>>> fibonacci = [1, 1, 2, 3, 4]
>>> transl = dict(one=1, two=2, tres=3)
>>> src = '''
... # correct mistake in list
... fibonacci[-1] = 5
... # one item doesn't belong
... del transl['tres']
... '''
>>> code = compile_restricted(src, '<string>', 'exec')
>>> exec(code)

>>> fibonacci
[1, 1, 2, 3, 5]
>>> sorted(transl.keys())
['one', 'two']

Changes

3.5.0 (2009-02-09)

• Dropped legacy support for Python 2.1 / 2.2 (__future__ imports of nested_scopes / generators.).

3.4.3 (2008-10-26)

• Fixed deprecation warning: with is now a reserved keyword on Python 2.6. That means RestrictedPython should run on Python 2.6 now. Thanks to Ranjith Kannikara, GSoC Student for the patch.

• Added tests for ternary if expression and for ‘with’ keyword and context managers.

3.4.2 (2007-07-28)

• Changed homepage URL to the CheeseShop site

• Greatly improved README.txt

3.4.1 (2007-06-23)

• Fixed http://www.zope.org/Collectors/Zope/2295: Bare conditional in a Zope 2 PythonScript followed by a comment causes SyntaxError.

3.4.0 (2007-06-04)

• RestrictedPython now has its own release cycle as a separate egg.

• Synchronized with RestrictedPython from Zope 2 tree.

3.2.0 (2006-01-05)

• Corresponds to the verison of the RestrictedPython package shipped as part of the Zope 3.2.0 release.

• No changes from 3.1.0.

3.1.0 (2005-10-03)

• Corresponds to the verison of the RestrictedPython package shipped as part of the Zope 3.1.0 release.

• Removed unused fossil module, SafeMapping.

• Replaced use of deprecated ‘whrandom’ module with ‘random’ (aliased to ‘whrandom’ for backward compatibility).

3.0.0 (2004-11-07)

• Corresponds to the verison of the RestrictedPython package shipped as part of the Zope X3.0.0 release.