Table of Contents

PHP RFC: Enable session.use_strict_mode by default

Introduction

Due to HTTP cookie implementation, it is easy to create unchangeable/undeletable cookies via JavaScript injections. Single JavaScript injection vulnerability or cookie storage modification via physical access to the client allows attackers to steal user session forever without session.use_strict_mode=1.

NOTE: When multiple cookies are valid for a request, browser sends a highest precedence cookie. Cookie sent by browsers differs browser by browser because there is no cookie precedence standard. Attacker can exploit this browser behavior to set unchangeable cookies by using httponly, secure, domain and path cookie attributes. Security impact differs according to web site setup, used browser and session handling code.

Proposal

Enable session.use_strict_mode INI setting by default.

in hard coded, php.ini-*.

Document deprecation of obsolete session save handler API that does not support session.use_strict_mode.

Performance Impact

session.use_strict_mode=1 requires

Files save handler will not be affected much, but external session data storage may have noticeable impact.

Backward Incompatible Changes

session.use_strict_mode=1 can result in lost sessions without changes like

However, lost sessions are far better than stolen sessions.

When attackers set unchangeable session ID cookie for a user, the user will not be able to get valid session ID. i.e. Cannot login via attacker supplied unchangeable session ID, etc.

3rd party session save handlers must implement session ID validation handler for session.use_strict_mode=1 to work actually. i.e. 3rd party session save handlers must use PS_FUNCS_SID or PS_FUNCS_UPDATE_TIMESTAMP. PS_FUNCS_UPDATE_TIMESTAMP is strongly recommended.

Proposed PHP Version(s)

PHP 7.1.0

RFC Impact

To SAPIs

None

To Existing Extensions

Session

To Opcache

None

New Constants

None

php.ini Defaults

session.use_strict_mode=1 for all

Open Issues

Unaffected PHP Functionality

3rd party and user defined session save handlers implementation is not affected.

3rf party session handlers must implement session ID validation handler for session.use_strict_mode=1 to work actually. i.e. PS_FUNCS_SID or PS_FUNCS_UPDATE_TIMESTAMP must be used. PS_FUNCS_UPDATE_TIMESTAMP is strongly recommended.

Future Scope

Vote

This project requires 2/3 majority

Enable session.use_strict_mode by default
Real name Yes No
derick (derick)  
guilhermeblanco (guilhermeblanco)  
kguest (kguest)  
kinncj (kinncj)  
mcmic (mcmic)  
stas (stas)  
yohgaki (yohgaki)  
zimt (zimt)  
Final result: 4 4
This poll has been closed.

Vote starts 2016/7/12, ends 2016/07/19 23:59:59 UTC.

Patches and Tests

Not provided as this change is trivial INI default change. Tests scripts are modified to work regardless of session.use_strict_mode=0/1 already.

Implementation

After the project is implemented, this section should contain

  1. the version(s) it was merged to
  2. a link to the git commit(s)
  3. a link to the PHP manual entry for the feature

References

Rejected Features

Keep this updated with features that were discussed on the mail lists.