Eval - Security Risks

Security Risks

Special care must be taken when using eval with data from an untrusted source. For instance, assuming that the get_data function gets data from the Internet, this Python code is insecure:

session = False data = get_data foo = eval(data)

An attacker could supply the program with the string "session.update(authenticated=True)" as data, which would update the session dictionary to set an authenticated key to be True. To remedy this, all data which will be used with eval must be escaped, or it must be run without access to potentially harmful functions.

Read more about this topic:  Eval

Famous quotes containing the words security and/or risks:

    “Learned institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty and dangerous encroachments on the public liberty.”
    —James Madison (1751–1836)

    “The question is whether personal freedom is worth the terrible effort, the never-lifted burden and risks of self-reliance.”
    —Rose Wilder Lane (1886–1968)