Disable Java reflection for the current thread - java

I need to call some semi-trustworthy Java code and want to disable the ability to use reflection for the duration of that code's execution.
try{
// disable reflection somehow
someObject.method();
}
finally{
// enable reflection again
}
Can this be done with a SecurityManager, and if so, how?
Clarification/Context: This is a follow-up to another question about restricting the packages that can be called from JavaScript/Rhino. The accepted answer references a blog entry on how to do that, and it requires two steps, the first one using a Rhino API (ClassShutter), the second one turning off reflection and Class.forName(). I was thinking I can do that second step more cleanly using a SecurityManager (learning about SecurityManager, which as has been pointed out, is a complex beast, along the way).
To sum up, I want (from code, not setting file) to turn off Class.forName() and any access to the whole reflection package.

It depends on what you are trying to restrict.
In general, publicly accessible API is not restricted. However, as long as you don't grant the untrustworthy code the ReflectPermission("suppressAccessChecks") permission, it won't be able to get access to non-public API in another package.
If you have a list of packages to which you want to restrict all access, there are two steps. First, in the Security properties, include the restricted package in the package.access list. Then give your trusted code RuntimePermission("accessClassInPackage." + pkg).
A common way to distinguish your untrusted code is to load it from a different location, and refer to the different codebases in your policy file when granting permissions.
The Java security architecture is very powerful, but I know it is also complicated; if you would like a more concrete example, please describe exactly what calls you want to restrict and I'll try to be more explicit.
To do what you want without modifying the java.policy file and/or the java.security file would be very difficult, maybe impossible. The java.security.Policy represents the information in java.policy, but it doesn't offer write access. You could create your own Policy implementation and install it at runtime as long as any existing SecurityManager permits it.
On the other hand, you can specify a custom java.policy file as a command-line option. If you are providing a complete application with some sort of launcher, that might be easily accomplished. It also provides some transparency to your users. A sophisticated user can review the permissions you'd like to have granted to the application.

Well, you can override SecurityManager.checkMemberAccess and give a stricter definition. However, it doesn't really work like that. What happens for instance if the code defines a finaliser?
On the clarification: Other APIs use reflection and other APIs. For instance, java.beans, LiveConnect and Rhino. An adversary could from within a script, say, create a new Rhino context without the shutter and thereby bootstrap into the full JRE. With an open system, a blacklist can never be finished.
In summary: to use the Java security model you need to work with it, not against it.

I wrote a replacement of ClassShutter that allows fine grained access control, per instance, per method, per field:
http://riven8192.blogspot.com/2010/07/java-rhino-fine-grained-classshutter.html

Related

Can I modify the byte code of a Java method in the runtime?

I am writing a plugin of another large java program .
I want to modify some byte code of some java method of the java program during runtime, so that I can intercept the method calls (namely, inject some hooking code into the method).
Any way can achieve this?
PS:
I've checked the following approaches:
1.change the classloader of the java program. (we CANNOT change it)
2.use java proxy. (We CANNOT use java proxy, because java proxy would create a new proxy object. We DON'T use the proxy object. We need to hook the java program's object, and Use that object)
3. use -javaagent option ( we CANNOT add the commandline option for the java program.)
PS more [Edited again]:
My classes was loaded by ext class loader (I put my jar files in JAVA_HOME\lib\ext folder).
The large java program is an applet program loaded by Browser. When the browser start the applet, it also loads my classes.
PS more more [Edited again]:
Although it's running in Applet. I can have full permission. Because I can modify java.policy and java.security file.
Thanks,
Calvin
Just use -javaagent opiton, which is used to modify the bytecode at runtime. You can find more about -javaagent from This Link or from This Link
There are several libraries which you can use. See for example here.
Once a class was already loaded/initialized by the VM it will be impossible to manipulate, though.
By the way, in principle you can also just replace the class to be 'hooked' with your own proxy class file. As long as the class' visible interface does not change this may work. (Sub-classes of the class may horribly fail at runtime though.) This replacement can be as easy as changing the classpath so that your class of the same name will be found first, before the original one. Delegating to the original class of the same name may be a little more complex in this case.
Yes, you can, but the process would be a bit tricky, as you would operate directly with memory. For this purpose, you'd look at unofficial documentation on sun.misc package and its Unsafe class.
Warning 1: the Unsafe class would be removed in JDK 9 according to official sources.
Warning 2: the Sun company would not take responsibility for your code to work correctly, as this class should not be used at all, and exists for system usage only.
Sorry, but this is not possible. First off, bytecode is immutable after classloading. The JVM provides several APIs that can be used to do something like this, but they are obviously highly privileged.
If you're running in a low privilege environment like a browser Applet, then you're obviously not going to be allowed to do this, and any method you could should be considered a security vulnerability.
But the question is why you are using applets in the first place, and why you want to modify code after loading. There's almost certainly a better way to do what you're trying to do.

Controlling access to loading of a JAVA class at runtime

I have a requirement to restrict access to loading of a particular class of a JAVA application, at runtime. Just wondering whether this is possible using JAVA Security Manager with a security policy. Also, if this is a possibility, I'd like to know how the permission configuration would look like in a JAVA security policy. I'd done some researching on this but couldn't really find any useful solution yet.
These two:
java.security.Permission
java.io.FilePermission
and providing you need to continue the application operating in some way without it you need to load classes using java.lang.ClassLoader and loadClass method to be able to throw it into an if-else to bypass potentially if simple instantiation is not involved.
I managed to come up with a custom permission implementation extending java.security.RuntimePermission class and get my requirement fulfilled. The only overhead (which is unavoidable) associated with the approach of introducing a custom permission is that, you need to hack into all your classloading implementations and add an additional check to evaluate your custom permission.

fine grained authentication in java

It there a way to scope javax.crypto.Cipher calls within "trusted" part of the application? I would like to make sure cipher.init and cipher.doFinal happen only in "authorized" part of the program, so perhaps the fingerprint of these calls can be made a part of the key?
You might be able to use a policy file to enforce restrictions on certain methods: see http://download.oracle.com/javase/1,5.0/docs/guide/security/PolicyFiles.html for policy file detail. I'm not sure if the security manager can cover those methods though, but its worth trying.
You indicate you would like to include the call path in the key. You can trivially restrict the the creation of valid keys by including a unique private parameter when you call the privileged functions, and incorporate it into the key.
This will remove the dependency on the code structure, while still linking the calling location to the authorisation. Of course, you now have another key component to secure.
The native Policy implementation may well be sufficient if you can trust the application deployments not to be subverted.

SecurityManager like facility in Groovy to deny usage of certain classes during parsing phase

I am wondering how one can attack the problem of denying *.groovy files the ability to reference and make use of certain classes that i pick. One approach is of course to install a security manager and classloader to block attempts toload or execute certain methods on certain classes eg java.io.File. This however of course from what i can imagine not affect interpretted mode as no class is ever generatd or loaded by the classloader.
Ideally i would like the equivalent of class verifying but for groovy files during the parsing phase and similar evaluations are executed.
Any pointers would be appreciated.
Not sure, but I believe the SecureASTCustomizer might help you (Groovy 1.8)
There is a blog post by Cedric Champeau which shows how it is used. Basically, you can set up a blacklist or whitelist of classes, imports, operators, etc that a script is allowed to use. Or indeed you can set more complex rules (see the examples on the blog post about debying variable names that start with a caps char, or denying the use of System.exit)
Also have a look at the java-sandbox library: http://blog.datenwerke.net/2013/06/sandboxing-groovy-with-java-sandbox.html

Outside classes accessing package-private methods

Suppose I have a class in my package org.jake and it has a method with default access (no modifier). Then the method is visible inside the package only.
However, when someone receives the jar of my framework, what is to stop them from writing a new class, declaring its package as org.jake, and using my supposedly invisible method?
In other words, is there anything I can do to prevent this?
You could seal the package in your jar file. It's not bullet-proof though.
The main thing is not to rely on access modifiers etc from a security point of view to start with, really. If someone is running the code with unrestricted permissions, they're going to have access to all kinds of things. Access modifiers really just help to stop people from accidentally shooting themselves in the foot.
If someone is willing to put classes in your package to circumvent your encapsulation, they're clearly ignoring your best intentions - I say let 'em get on with it, but don't provide support for that scenario.
There is nothing you can do to prevent this. Even private members can be accessed via reflection. You should consider the access modifiers in java to be merely suggestive.
First off, this is the “DRM” scenario: ultimately, someone determined enough can defeat any protections you put in place by supplying a funky modified runtime or other such things. The reverse scenario – where the runtime is trusted but some of the packages are not – is tackled properly by Java through the use of suitable ClassLoader restrictions, but that can only work where there's something that can enforce the restrictions in a trusted fashion; that's why your scenario is basically doomed.
However, if we assume that the runtime itself is trustable then you could try, in your super-secret method, getting the stack trace of the currently executing stack (see stackoverflow.com/questions/1069066/… for how) and testing to see whether the caller of the current method is one that you trust to get access. A security manager would be even more suitable, but you can't trust the environment to have one of those installed that you like (it's much more clearly under the control of the attacker). Note that I have not tried the options in this paragraph!
The other alternative is to put your secrets on a service you control and only offer remote access to them. Or stop worrying about using technical mechanisms to deal with a problem that is fundamentally about business and legal issues (e.g., why are you dealing with people you can't trust?)
I'd say simply do not allow them to run code where it can call yours, i.e. in the same JVM. You could instead consider offering only a (web)service they can call externally. I'm not very up to date on the best ways to implement this though.

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