[[modules-scripting-security]]
=== Scripting and the Java Security Manager

Elasticsearch runs with the https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/environment/security.html[Java Security Manager]
enabled by default.  The security policy in Elasticsearch locks down the
permissions granted to each class to the bare minimum required to operate.
The benefit of doing this is that it severely limits the attack vectors
available to a hacker.

Restricting permissions is particularly important with scripting languages
like Groovy and Javascript which are designed to do anything that can be done
in Java itself, including writing to the file system, opening sockets to
remote servers, etc.

[float]
=== Script Classloader Whitelist

Scripting languages are only allowed to load classes which appear in a
hardcoded whitelist that can be found in
https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/blob/{branch}/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/script/ClassPermission.java[`org.elasticsearch.script.ClassPermission`].


In a script, attempting to load a class that does not appear in the whitelist
_may_ result in a `ClassNotFoundException`, for instance this script:

[source,json]
------------------------------
GET _search
{
  "script_fields": {
    "the_hour": {
      "script": "use(java.math.BigInteger); new BigInteger(1)"
    }
  }
}
------------------------------

will return the following exception:

[source,json]
------------------------------
{
  "reason": {
    "type": "script_exception",
    "reason": "failed to run inline script [use(java.math.BigInteger); new BigInteger(1)] using lang [groovy]",
    "caused_by": {
      "type": "no_class_def_found_error",
      "reason": "java/math/BigInteger",
      "caused_by": {
        "type": "class_not_found_exception",
        "reason": "java.math.BigInteger"
      }
    }
  }
}
------------------------------

However, classloader issues may also result in more difficult to interpret
exceptions.  For instance, this script:

[source,groovy]
------------------------------
use(groovy.time.TimeCategory); new Date(123456789).format('HH')
------------------------------

Returns the following exception:

[source,json]
------------------------------
{
  "reason": {
    "type": "script_exception",
    "reason": "failed to run inline script [use(groovy.time.TimeCategory); new Date(123456789).format('HH')] using lang [groovy]",
    "caused_by": {
      "type": "missing_property_exception",
      "reason": "No such property: groovy for class: 8d45f5c1a07a1ab5dda953234863e283a7586240"
    }
  }
}
------------------------------

[float]
== Dealing with Java Security Manager issues

If you encounter issues with the Java Security Manager, you have three options
for resolving these issues:

[float]
=== Fix the security problem

The safest and most secure long term solution is to change the code causing
the security issue.  We recognise that this may take time to do correctly and
so we provide the following two alternatives.

[float]
=== Disable the Java Security Manager

deprecated[2.2.0,The ability to disable the Java Security Manager will be removed in a future version]

You can disable the Java Security Manager entirely with the
`security.manager.enabled` command line flag:

[source,sh]
-----------------------------
./bin/elasticsearch --security.manager.enabled false
-----------------------------

WARNING: This disables the Security Manager entirely and makes Elasticsearch
much more vulnerable to attacks! It is an option that should only be used in
the most urgent of situations and for the shortest amount of time possible.
Optional security is not secure at all because it **will** be disabled and
leave the system vulnerable.  This option will be removed in a future version.

[float]
=== Customising the classloader whitelist

The classloader whitelist can be customised by tweaking the local Java
Security Policy either:

* system wide: `$JAVA_HOME/lib/security/java.policy`,
* for just the `elasticsearch` user: `/home/elasticsearch/.java.policy`, or
* from a file specified on the command line: `-Djava.security.policy=someURL`

Permissions may be granted at the class, package, or global level.  For instance:

[source,js]
----------------------------------
grant {
    permission org.elasticsearch.script.ClassPermission "java.util.Base64"; // allow class
    permission org.elasticsearch.script.ClassPermission "java.util.*"; // allow package
    permission org.elasticsearch.script.ClassPermission "*"; // allow all (disables filtering basically)
};
----------------------------------

Here is an example of how to enable the `groovy.time.TimeCategory` class:

[source,js]
----------------------------------
grant {
    permission org.elasticsearch.script.ClassPermission "java.lang.Class";
    permission org.elasticsearch.script.ClassPermission "groovy.time.TimeCategory";
};
----------------------------------

[TIP]
======================================

Before adding classes to the whitelist, consider the security impact that it
will have on Elasticsearch. Do you really need an extra class or can your code
be rewritten in a more secure way?

It is quite possible that we have not whitelisted a generically useful and
safe class. If you have a class that you think should be whitelisted by
default, please open an issue on GitHub and we will consider the impact of
doing so.

======================================

See http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/technotes/guides/security/PolicyFiles.html for more information.