gh-111089: Add PyUnicode_AsUTF8NoNUL() function

[vstinner]

Revert PyUnicode_AsUTF8() change: it no longer rejects embedded null characters: the PyUnicode_AsUTF8NoNUL() function should be used instead.

• Issue: [C API] Change PyUnicode_AsUTF8() to return NULL on embedded null characters #111089

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📚 Documentation preview 📚: https://cpython-previews--111688.org.readthedocs.build/

[vstinner]

I'm not sure about PyUnicode_AsUTF8Safe() name: "safe" might give a feeling of security which can be wrong. As written in the function documentation, it doesn't check for "dangerous Unicode characters". It implements a single check: only tests if the string contains null characters.

For example, if the string is used to open a file, the function doesn't reject ../ substring which is commonly used for directory traversal vulnerabilities. Further sanitization and validation is required depending on the domain where the string is used.

Maybe the name should be more explicitly about its purpose, such as: PyUnicode_AsUTF8NoNul()? Can such name be misunderstood as "the result cannot be NULL", such as "the function cannot fail"? Or maybe PyUnicode_AsUTF8NoNulChar()?

[AlexWaygood]

the clinic.py changes look fine to me; I have no opinion on the C changes :)

[erlend-aasland]

Clinic changes are ok with me. I'll leave the C API discussion to the C API WG :)

[vstinner]

If this change is merged, it would be interesting to go through PyUnicode_AsUTF8() usage in the Python code base and check if switching PyUnicode_AsUTF8Safe() would be worth it.

See #111656 (comment) list for example.

[vstinner]

I'll leave the C API discussion to the C API WG :)

The working group doesn't exist yet, it's still a draft PEP: https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-731-c-api-working-group-charter/36117

[vstinner]

@encukou@gpshead@Yhg1s@serhiy-storchaka: Would you mind to review this change?

[serhiy-storchaka]

Are there strong objections against simply making PyUnicode_AsUTF8AdnSize(unicode, NULL) to check for embedded NULs?

[serhiy-storchaka]

There should be different code for limited_capi is true.

[vstinner]

Oh. I wanted to add PyUnicode_AsUTF8Safe() to the limited C API in a separated PR. Maybe it's more convenient to do it in the PR, since there is a lot of code generated by Argument Clinic impacted by these changes.

[vstinner]

Are there strong objections against simply making PyUnicode_AsUTF8AdnSize(unicode, NULL) to check for embedded NULs?

I suppose that it's too late to change it, same rationale than changing PyUnicode_AsUTF8().

Moreover, PyUnicode_AsUTF8AndSize(str, NULL) is the most convenient API of the stable ABI to convert a Python str to char* (as UTF-8) without storing the size.

[vstinner]

I rebased the PR on the main branch to get the test_asyncio fix. I also squashed commits.

[encukou]

Wait until the WG can discuss this.

I agree that Safe is too generic.

I wouldn't mind naming it UTF8Z, with Z used for “zero-terminated string without NUL characters” for all new API from now on.

[vstinner]

If "Safe" is too generic, what about "AsUTF8NoNul"? I propose "Nul" instead of "Null" which looks like "NULL pointer". Or maybe "AsUTF8NoNullChars"?

"Z" looks too short to me, it's not easy to guess its intent.

[vstinner]

If "Safe" is too generic, what about "AsUTF8NoNul"? I propose "Nul" instead of "Null" which looks like "NULL pointer". Or maybe "AsUTF8NoNullChars"?

Alternative short name: PyUnicode_AsUTF8NoNUL() since it's common to refer to "null characters" as NUL. It's commonly used in encoding tables such as the ASCII table. Example on Wikipedia: ASCII: Character Set.

[vstinner]

@serhiy-storchaka@erlend-aasland: I renamed the function to PyUnicode_AsUTF8NoNUL(). Are you fine with this name?

[erlend-aasland]

@serhiy-storchaka@erlend-aasland: I renamed the function to PyUnicode_AsUTF8NoNUL(). Are you fine with this name?

I didn't follow the discussion. My first impression is that I don't understand what that API is supposed to do, based on the name only.

[serhiy-storchaka]

I am fine with added the embedded null character check in PyUnicode_AsUTF8() or PyUnicode_AsUTF8AndSize(). If you ask for a char pointer, but have no way to get the size, you ask for a null-terminated C string. If the Python string contains embedded nulls, the result is ambiguous, therefore it must be exception.

If people not fine with this, ask them with what are they fine.

[vstinner]

If people not fine with this, ask them with what are they fine.

I asked @gpshead and @Yhg1s for a review ;-)

[Yhg1s]

I don't know why we need a new public function. For a new function, if you feel like it needs a strlen check, that's fine. I don't think it's a sensible way to deal with C strings (everyone who works with C strings should know about the importance of NUL), but for new APIs I don't really care either way.

However:

• Changing existing functions is a really, really bad idea.
• Does this really need to be a public API function? It seems stunningly trivial.
• There's nothing 'safer' about propagating NULs rather than truncating, so avoid that framing. It would be safer to remind people to learn about C strings when dealing with strings in C.
• I think these kinds of decisions should go to the C API WG that's being considered. It doesn't hurt to wait a few weeks to see if that is going to happen.

[vstinner]

I close my issue: #111089 (comment)