purpose-agent / purpose_agent /sandbox_hooks.py
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first-principles: sandbox_hooks.py β€” PEP 578 kernel-level audit hooks (unbypassable)
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"""
sandbox_hooks.py β€” PEP 578 Kernel-Level Audit Hooks for unbypassable sandboxing.
PROBLEM: AST static analysis is weak because Python is dynamic.
An agent can obfuscate code: getattr(os, 'sys' + 'tem')('rm -rf /')
AST sees nothing. The command still executes.
SOLUTION: Python's sys.addaudithook (PEP 578, Python 3.8+).
This intercepts events at the C-level INSIDE the Python interpreter.
If the agent code tries to:
- Open a file outside sandbox β†’ BLOCKED
- Create a network socket β†’ BLOCKED
- Execute os.system/subprocess β†’ BLOCKED
- Import dangerous modules β†’ BLOCKED
The hook fires REGARDLESS of how the code was invoked (eval, exec, importlib,
ctypes, whatever). It operates at the interpreter level, not the AST level.
Security properties:
- Cannot be disabled from user code (once installed, permanent for the process)
- Cannot be bypassed by dynamic attribute access
- Cannot be bypassed by code obfuscation
- Zero external dependencies (stdlib only, no Docker)
- Works on all platforms Python 3.8+
Usage:
from purpose_agent.sandbox_hooks import install_sandbox, SandboxPolicy
policy = SandboxPolicy(
allowed_paths=["/app/workspace"],
block_network=True,
block_subprocess=True,
)
install_sandbox(policy)
# Now ANY code in this process is sandboxed:
exec("import os; os.system('ls')") # β†’ RuntimeError: blocked by audit hook
"""
from __future__ import annotations
import sys
import os
import logging
from dataclasses import dataclass, field
from typing import Any
logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
# Audit events we intercept (PEP 578)
# See: https://docs.python.org/3/library/audit_events.html
_DANGEROUS_EVENTS = {
# Process execution
"os.system",
"subprocess.Popen",
"os.exec",
"os.posix_spawn",
"os.spawn",
# Network
"socket.connect",
"socket.bind",
"socket.sendto",
# File system (checked against allowed_paths)
"open",
# Code execution
"compile",
"exec",
# Module imports (checked against blocklist)
"import",
}
# Modules that are NEVER allowed in sandboxed code
_BLOCKED_MODULES = {
"ctypes", # Can call arbitrary C functions
"multiprocessing", # Can spawn processes
"signal", # Can interfere with process control
"resource", # Can modify system limits
"pty", # Pseudo-terminal (escape vector)
}
@dataclass
class SandboxPolicy:
"""
Policy for the PEP 578 audit hook sandbox.
Configure what's allowed and what's blocked.
Once installed, CANNOT be disabled from user code.
"""
allowed_paths: list[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: ["/tmp"])
blocked_paths: list[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: ["/etc", "/proc", "/sys", "/dev"])
block_network: bool = True
block_subprocess: bool = True
block_dangerous_imports: bool = True
blocked_modules: set[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: set(_BLOCKED_MODULES))
log_violations: bool = True
raise_on_violation: bool = True # If False, just log (for monitoring mode)
class SandboxViolation(RuntimeError):
"""Raised when sandboxed code attempts a forbidden operation."""
pass
_installed = False
_policy: SandboxPolicy | None = None
def install_sandbox(policy: SandboxPolicy | None = None) -> None:
"""
Install PEP 578 audit hooks. Once installed, CANNOT be removed.
This affects ALL code in the current process β€” not just agent code.
Call this BEFORE executing any untrusted code.
Thread-safe: the hook is installed once and affects all threads.
"""
global _installed, _policy
if _installed:
logger.warning("Sandbox already installed (cannot install twice)")
return
_policy = policy or SandboxPolicy()
# Install the audit hook (C-level interception)
sys.addaudithook(_audit_hook)
_installed = True
logger.info(
f"PEP 578 sandbox installed: "
f"network={'blocked' if _policy.block_network else 'allowed'}, "
f"subprocess={'blocked' if _policy.block_subprocess else 'allowed'}, "
f"paths={_policy.allowed_paths}"
)
def _audit_hook(event: str, args: tuple) -> None:
"""
The actual audit hook. Called by the Python interpreter at the C level.
This function is invoked for EVERY auditable operation in the process.
It cannot be bypassed by user code.
"""
if _policy is None:
return
# ── Subprocess/system execution ──
if _policy.block_subprocess and event in ("os.system", "subprocess.Popen", "os.exec",
"os.posix_spawn", "os.spawn"):
_violation(f"Subprocess blocked: {event}({_safe_repr(args)})")
# ── Network ──
if _policy.block_network and event in ("socket.connect", "socket.bind", "socket.sendto"):
_violation(f"Network blocked: {event}({_safe_repr(args)})")
# ── File access ──
if event == "open" and args:
path = str(args[0]) if args else ""
if path and not _path_allowed(path):
_violation(f"File access blocked: {path}")
# ── Dangerous imports ──
if _policy.block_dangerous_imports and event == "import":
module_name = str(args[0]) if args else ""
if module_name in _policy.blocked_modules:
_violation(f"Import blocked: {module_name}")
def _path_allowed(path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if a file path is allowed by the sandbox policy."""
if not _policy:
return True
abs_path = os.path.abspath(path)
# Explicit blocks
for blocked in _policy.blocked_paths:
if abs_path.startswith(os.path.abspath(blocked)):
return False
# Must be under an allowed path
for allowed in _policy.allowed_paths:
if abs_path.startswith(os.path.abspath(allowed)):
return True
# If no allowed paths match but no blocked paths match either,
# default to allowed (permissive mode for non-sandboxed paths)
return True
def _violation(message: str) -> None:
"""Handle a sandbox violation."""
if _policy and _policy.log_violations:
logger.warning(f"SANDBOX VIOLATION: {message}")
if _policy and _policy.raise_on_violation:
raise SandboxViolation(message)
def _safe_repr(args: tuple, max_len: int = 100) -> str:
"""Safe string representation of audit args."""
try:
s = repr(args)
return s[:max_len] if len(s) > max_len else s
except:
return "(...)"
def is_sandbox_installed() -> bool:
"""Check if the sandbox is currently active."""
return _installed
def get_policy() -> SandboxPolicy | None:
"""Get the current sandbox policy (None if not installed)."""
return _policy