Hi,
I've found, that at least half of unserialise() security problems, occurs because of non-symmetric serialize/unserialize assumption, regarding references encoded with "r".
serialize() assumes it's an object.
https://github.com/php/php-src/blob/master/ext/standard/var.c#L828
universalize() allows any value.
https://github.com/php/php-src/blob/master/ext/standard/var_unserializer.re#L677
This allows manual crafting of strings that may lead to creation of unexpected data structures.
I propose to fix this just by fixing the symmetry.
https://gist.github.com/dstogov/53382540bdfee7b6c7dadf142dc437ed
This will prohibit, some manually crafted strings.
Of course, this will break few "security" related tests. Especially:
Bug #70284 (Use after free vulnerability in
unserialize()with GMP) [ext/gmp/tests/bug70284.phpt]
Bug #70211 (php 7 ZEND_HASH_IF_FULL_DO_RESIZE use after free) [ext/soap/tests/bug70211.phpt]
Bug #70172 - Use After Free Vulnerability inunserialize()[ext/standard/tests/serialize/bug70172.phpt]
Bug #70963 (Unserialize shows UNKNOW in result) [ext/standard/tests/serialize/bug70963.phpt]
Memleaks if unserialize return a self-referenced array/object [ext/standard/tests/serialize/unserialize_mem_leak.phpt]
Bug #72433: Use After Free Vulnerability in PHP's GC algorithm and unserialize [ext/standard/tests/strings/bug72433.phpt]
Any objections? (this is for master only of course)
Hi,
I don't think this will really fix any vulnerabilities, because the core issue are R references, not r references. If this prevents a vulnerability using r, you can usually replicate something similar using R instead.
However, I still agree that it makes sense to restrict this. Especially because unserialize() currently allows creating structures that are just impossible in plain PHP, such as cyclic arrays without use of references (GLOBALS notwithstanding).
The check looks too strict to me though. Shouldn't it first DEREF the value before performing the OBJECT check? (E.g. for something like "a:3:{i:0;O:8:"stdClass":0:{}i:1;R:2;i:2;r:2;}", in which case r:2 will be a REF to OBJECT).
Thanks, for catching. You are right. I'll fix the patch a bit later. Just add DEREF.
Dmitry.
Regards,
Nikita