CA2321: Do not deserialize with JavaScriptSerializer using a SimpleTypeResolver
Property | Value |
---|---|
Rule ID | CA2321 |
Title | Do not deserialize with JavaScriptSerializer using a SimpleTypeResolver |
Category | Security |
Fix is breaking or non-breaking | Non-breaking |
Enabled by default in .NET 8 | No |
Cause
A System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer deserialization method was called or referenced after initializing with a System.Web.Script.Serialization.SimpleTypeResolver.
By default, this rule analyzes the entire codebase, but this is configurable.
Rule description
Insecure deserializers are vulnerable when deserializing untrusted data. An attacker could modify the serialized data to include unexpected types to inject objects with malicious side effects. An attack against an insecure deserializer could, for example, execute commands on the underlying operating system, communicate over the network, or delete files.
This rule finds System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer deserialization method calls or references, after initializing the JavaScriptSerializer with a System.Web.Script.Serialization.SimpleTypeResolver.
How to fix violations
- Don't initialize JavaScriptTypeResolver with a System.Web.Script.Serialization.SimpleTypeResolver.
- If your code needs to read data serialized using a SimpleTypeResolver, restrict deserialized types to an expected list by implementing a custom JavaScriptTypeResolver.
- Make the serialized data tamper-proof. After serialization, cryptographically sign the serialized data. Before deserialization, validate the cryptographic signature. Protect the cryptographic key from being disclosed and design for key rotations.
When to suppress warnings
It's safe to suppress a warning from this rule if:
- You know the input is trusted. Consider that your application's trust boundary and data flows may change over time.
- You've taken one of the precautions in How to fix violations.
Suppress a warning
If you just want to suppress a single violation, add preprocessor directives to your source file to disable and then re-enable the rule.
#pragma warning disable CA2321
// The code that's violating the rule is on this line.
#pragma warning restore CA2321
To disable the rule for a file, folder, or project, set its severity to none
in the configuration file.
[*.{cs,vb}]
dotnet_diagnostic.CA2321.severity = none
For more information, see How to suppress code analysis warnings.
Configure code to analyze
Use the following options to configure which parts of your codebase to run this rule on.
You can configure these options for just this rule, for all rules it applies to, or for all rules in this category (Security) that it applies to. For more information, see Code quality rule configuration options.
Exclude specific symbols
You can exclude specific symbols, such as types and methods, from analysis. For example, to specify that the rule should not run on any code within types named MyType
, add the following key-value pair to an .editorconfig file in your project:
dotnet_code_quality.CAXXXX.excluded_symbol_names = MyType
Allowed symbol name formats in the option value (separated by |
):
- Symbol name only (includes all symbols with the name, regardless of the containing type or namespace).
- Fully qualified names in the symbol's documentation ID format. Each symbol name requires a symbol-kind prefix, such as
M:
for methods,T:
for types, andN:
for namespaces. .ctor
for constructors and.cctor
for static constructors.
Examples:
Option Value | Summary |
---|---|
dotnet_code_quality.CAXXXX.excluded_symbol_names = MyType |
Matches all symbols named MyType . |
dotnet_code_quality.CAXXXX.excluded_symbol_names = MyType1|MyType2 |
Matches all symbols named either MyType1 or MyType2 . |
dotnet_code_quality.CAXXXX.excluded_symbol_names = M:NS.MyType.MyMethod(ParamType) |
Matches specific method MyMethod with the specified fully qualified signature. |
dotnet_code_quality.CAXXXX.excluded_symbol_names = M:NS1.MyType1.MyMethod1(ParamType)|M:NS2.MyType2.MyMethod2(ParamType) |
Matches specific methods MyMethod1 and MyMethod2 with the respective fully qualified signatures. |
Exclude specific types and their derived types
You can exclude specific types and their derived types from analysis. For example, to specify that the rule should not run on any methods within types named MyType
and their derived types, add the following key-value pair to an .editorconfig file in your project:
dotnet_code_quality.CAXXXX.excluded_type_names_with_derived_types = MyType
Allowed symbol name formats in the option value (separated by |
):
- Type name only (includes all types with the name, regardless of the containing type or namespace).
- Fully qualified names in the symbol's documentation ID format, with an optional
T:
prefix.
Examples:
Option Value | Summary |
---|---|
dotnet_code_quality.CAXXXX.excluded_type_names_with_derived_types = MyType |
Matches all types named MyType and all of their derived types. |
dotnet_code_quality.CAXXXX.excluded_type_names_with_derived_types = MyType1|MyType2 |
Matches all types named either MyType1 or MyType2 and all of their derived types. |
dotnet_code_quality.CAXXXX.excluded_type_names_with_derived_types = M:NS.MyType |
Matches specific type MyType with given fully qualified name and all of its derived types. |
dotnet_code_quality.CAXXXX.excluded_type_names_with_derived_types = M:NS1.MyType1|M:NS2.MyType2 |
Matches specific types MyType1 and MyType2 with the respective fully qualified names, and all of their derived types. |
Pseudo-code examples
Violation 1
using System.Web.Script.Serialization;
public class ExampleClass
{
public T Deserialize<T>(string str)
{
JavaScriptSerializer s = new JavaScriptSerializer(new SimpleTypeResolver());
return s.Deserialize<T>(str);
}
}
Imports System.Web.Script.Serialization
Public Class ExampleClass
Public Function Deserialize(Of T)(str As String) As T
Dim s As JavaScriptSerializer = New JavaScriptSerializer(New SimpleTypeResolver())
Return s.Deserialize(Of T)(str)
End Function
End Class
Solution 1
using System.Web.Script.Serialization;
public class ExampleClass
{
public T Deserialize<T>(string str)
{
JavaScriptSerializer s = new JavaScriptSerializer();
return s.Deserialize<T>(str);
}
}
Imports System.Web.Script.Serialization
Public Class ExampleClass
Public Function Deserialize(Of T)(str As String) As T
Dim s As JavaScriptSerializer = New JavaScriptSerializer()
Return s.Deserialize(Of T)(str)
End Function
End Class
Violation 2
using System.Web.Script.Serialization;
public class BookRecord
{
public string Title { get; set; }
public string Author { get; set; }
public int PageCount { get; set; }
public AisleLocation Location { get; set; }
}
public class AisleLocation
{
public char Aisle { get; set; }
public byte Shelf { get; set; }
}
public class ExampleClass
{
public BookRecord DeserializeBookRecord(string s)
{
JavaScriptSerializer serializer = new JavaScriptSerializer(new SimpleTypeResolver());
return serializer.Deserialize<BookRecord>(s);
}
}
Imports System.Web.Script.Serialization
Public Class BookRecord
Public Property Title As String
Public Property Author As String
Public Property Location As AisleLocation
End Class
Public Class AisleLocation
Public Property Aisle As Char
Public Property Shelf As Byte
End Class
Public Class ExampleClass
Public Function DeserializeBookRecord(str As String) As BookRecord
Dim serializer As JavaScriptSerializer = New JavaScriptSerializer(New SimpleTypeResolver())
Return serializer.Deserialize(Of BookRecord)(str)
End Function
End Class
Solution 2
using System;
using System.Web.Script.Serialization;
public class BookRecordTypeResolver : JavaScriptTypeResolver
{
// For compatibility with data serialized with a JavaScriptSerializer initialized with SimpleTypeResolver.
private static readonly SimpleTypeResolver Simple = new SimpleTypeResolver();
public override Type ResolveType(string id)
{
// One way to discover expected types is through testing deserialization
// of **valid** data and logging the types used.
////Console.WriteLine($"ResolveType('{id}')");
if (id == typeof(BookRecord).AssemblyQualifiedName || id == typeof(AisleLocation).AssemblyQualifiedName)
{
return Simple.ResolveType(id);
}
else
{
throw new ArgumentException("Unexpected type ID", nameof(id));
}
}
public override string ResolveTypeId(Type type)
{
return Simple.ResolveTypeId(type);
}
}
public class BookRecord
{
public string Title { get; set; }
public string Author { get; set; }
public int PageCount { get; set; }
public AisleLocation Location { get; set; }
}
public class AisleLocation
{
public char Aisle { get; set; }
public byte Shelf { get; set; }
}
public class ExampleClass
{
public BookRecord DeserializeBookRecord(string s)
{
JavaScriptSerializer serializer = new JavaScriptSerializer(new BookRecordTypeResolver());
return serializer.Deserialize<BookRecord>(s);
}
}
Imports System
Imports System.Web.Script.Serialization
Public Class BookRecordTypeResolver
Inherits JavaScriptTypeResolver
' For compatibility with data serialized with a JavaScriptSerializer initialized with SimpleTypeResolver.
Private Dim Simple As SimpleTypeResolver = New SimpleTypeResolver()
Public Overrides Function ResolveType(id As String) As Type
' One way to discover expected types is through testing deserialization
' of **valid** data and logging the types used.
''Console.WriteLine($"ResolveType('{id}')")
If id = GetType(BookRecord).AssemblyQualifiedName Or id = GetType(AisleLocation).AssemblyQualifiedName Then
Return Simple.ResolveType(id)
Else
Throw New ArgumentException("Unexpected type", NameOf(id))
End If
End Function
Public Overrides Function ResolveTypeId(type As Type) As String
Return Simple.ResolveTypeId(type)
End Function
End Class
Public Class BookRecord
Public Property Title As String
Public Property Author As String
Public Property Location As AisleLocation
End Class
Public Class AisleLocation
Public Property Aisle As Char
Public Property Shelf As Byte
End Class
Public Class ExampleClass
Public Function DeserializeBookRecord(str As String) As BookRecord
Dim serializer As JavaScriptSerializer = New JavaScriptSerializer(New BookRecordTypeResolver())
Return serializer.Deserialize(Of BookRecord)(str)
End Function
End Class
Related rules
CA2322: Ensure JavaScriptSerializer is not initialized with SimpleTypeResolver before deserializing