How to Securely Sandbox Python Scripting in Web Applications?

Sandboxing Python in Python: A Comprehensive Examination

Executing arbitrary code in a controlled environment is a crucial security concern in web applications. When developing an application with Pythonic scripting capabilities, it becomes necessary to sandbox that scripting to prevent malicious users from compromising the host system.

Challenges of Sandboxing Python

Sandboxing Python effectively can be challenging due to its dynamic nature and extensive capabilities. Traditional approaches like using a restricted environment with limited globals have proven vulnerable to breakouts.

Execution and Parsing Approaches

Two primary approaches exist for sandboxing Python:

• Execution within a Restricted Environment:
  Create a sandbox with reduced globals and execute the code within it. While this offers a complete language experience, it entails risks of breakout vulnerabilities.
• Code Parsing and Compilation:
  Parse the input code and eliminate unwanted constructs like imports and function definitions before compilation. This approach is suitable for using Python as a configuration language.

PyPy Sandbox

For more stringent security, PyPy provides an isolated Python environment that is reportedly the only genuine sandbox available.

Alternative Approach for Limited Requirements

Based on the stated requirements (variables, conditionals, and function calls without definitions), a feasible solution is to adopt the parsing approach. Removing everything else from the code can provide a secure and constrained scripting environment.

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