Re: Embedding Guile with sandboxing

["Thompson, David" <dthompson2@worcester.edu>]

On Sat, Nov 21, 2015 at 1:35 PM, Matthew Keeter <matt.j.keeter@gmail.com> wrote:
> I’m currently embedding Python in a C / C++ application that evaluates user-provided scripts.
>
> Obviously, this is terribly unsafe: user-provided scripts can execute arbitrary malicious actions,
> and there’s no good way to sandbox Python in a desktop context.
>
> If I were to replace Python with Guile, is there a way to sandbox it so that arbitrary (perhaps
> malicious) user-provided scripts can be run safely?

I recommend using the features of the underlying operating system to
provide the sandbox.  In Linux, one can create new
user/pid/network/mount/etc. namespaces (in other words, a "container")
that isolate a process (or processes) from the rest of the system.
Additionally, you should run the program as an unprivileged user
inside of a chroot.

- Dave