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node: warn for Object.prototype.__* accessors common in security warnings #39824

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node: warn accessors common in security warnings
bmeck Aug 20, 2021
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bmeck committed Aug 21, 2021
commit bc2ef674a8ebb58d4635117199dea6b2d6e31550
23 changes: 23 additions & 0 deletions doc/api/deprecations.md
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Expand Up @@ -2801,7 +2801,30 @@ non-number value for `hints` option, a non-nullish non-boolean value for `all`
option, or a non-nullish non-boolean value for `verbatim` option in
[`dns.lookup()`][] and [`dnsPromises.lookup()`][] is deprecated.

### DEP0154: `Object.prototype` Legacy Accessors
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<!-- YAML
changes:
- version: REPLACEME
pr-url: https://github.com/nodejs/node/pull/38906
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description: Documentation-only deprecation.
-->

Type: Runtime

Accessors on `Object.prototype` are subject to object traversal attacks and
cause concerns for security audits. A variety of these are considered deprecated
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by the [Legacy Object.prototype Accessor Methods][] by the JS standard. Modern
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replacements are `Object.defineProperty`, `Object.getPrototypeOf`, and
`Object.setPrototypeOf` and not subject to path traversal. This affects:

* `Object.prototype.__defineGetter__`
* `Object.prototype.__defineSetter__`
* `Object.prototype.__lookupGetter__`
* `Object.prototype.__lookupSetter__`
* `Object.prototype.__proto__`
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@addaleax addaleax Aug 22, 2021

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I get that __proto__ is annoying, but it’s also widely used (which is why I had excluded it from #39576 as well). Runtime-deprecating that is a big breaking change.

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@bmeck bmeck Aug 22, 2021 •
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__proto__ is the main problem for CVEs regarding prototype pollution, it is the most important to figure out how to address. I am not arguing popularity or utility, just that the API is problematic in practice.

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@addaleax addaleax Aug 22, 2021

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Right – that’s what --disable-proto is for, no? Anyway, if we do this, it should be communicated very clearly to users.

(I also don’t think putting this behind --pending-deprecation is particularly useful, given that there already is a flag to opt-out of this behavior. If we do make the decision to runtime-deprecate fully eventually, then I guess that decision can also be made now.)

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@bmeck bmeck Aug 22, 2021

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--disable-proto is a bit different, it doesn't let you see that something is using __proto__ so you can fix it. It just removes it or makes it throw; also it is opt-in so the ecosystem noise is just permanent since it doesn't actually cause any sort of signal that security warning isn't a false positive.

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@addaleax addaleax Aug 22, 2021

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Well, I would say that throwing exceptions definitely lets you do that :)

In any case, to be clear I’m not -1 on this per se, I just think that this is a big change and we should call it out very explicitly.

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@bmeck bmeck Aug 22, 2021

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Throwing alters behavior, so maybe --disable-proto could get a warning mode that lets programs run and you fix it when you see it rather than taking down a process potentially?

Seems fine to have whole blog posts before this and waiting for a major to me on this PR. Since this affects legacy codebases as well it will likely also take some effort to PR things.

We could also add a flag to re-add the accessors if we ever do remove them for people needing to run legacy code.

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@addaleax addaleax Aug 22, 2021

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Throwing alters behavior, so maybe --disable-proto could get a warning mode that lets programs run and you fix it when you see it rather than taking down a process potentially?

I mean – yes, throwing alters behavior, but practically speaking, people will notice whether they are using __proto__ with either method, which is the point here anyw2ay.

We could also add a flag to re-add the accessors if we ever do remove them for people needing to run legacy code.

Yeah, I think in the long run that might be a good idea – just remove the accessors, but add a flag to add them for those who really need them.

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@kapouer kapouer Sep 9, 2022

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Too bad that --disable-proto=log wasn't an option ?

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@kapouer kapouer Sep 9, 2022

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On the other hand, --disable-proto=throw during development should spot all issues (if using a package lock).


[Legacy URL API]: url.md#url_legacy_url_api
[Legacy Object.prototype Accessor Methods]: https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-object.prototype-legacy-accessor-methods
[NIST SP 800-38D]: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nistspecialpublication800-38d.pdf
[RFC 6066]: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6066#section-3
[WHATWG URL API]: url.md#url_the_whatwg_url_api
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3 changes: 1 addition & 2 deletions lib/internal/bootstrap/pre_execution.js
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Expand Up @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const {
NumberParseInt,
ObjectDefineProperty,
ObjectGetOwnPropertyDescriptor,
ObjectGetPrototypeOf,
ObjectPrototype,
SafeMap,
SafeWeakMap,
StringPrototypeStartsWith,
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -337,7 +337,6 @@ function initializeDeprecations() {
});

let warnedForProto = false;
const ObjectPrototype = ObjectGetPrototypeOf({});
function warnOnProto() {
if (!warnedForProto) {
warnedForProto = true;
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