Re: Including PL/PgSQL by default - Mailing list pgsql-hackers

From Josh Berkus
Subject Re: Including PL/PgSQL by default
Date
Msg-id 200802210954.15159.josh@agliodbs.com
Whole thread Raw
In response to Re: Including PL/PgSQL by default  ("Greg Sabino Mullane" <greg@turnstep.com>)
List pgsql-hackers
Tom,

> > I grow weary of repeating this: it's not about resource consumption, nor
> > about potential security holes in plpgsql itself.  It's about handing
> > attackers the capability to further exploit *other* security holes.
>
> Well, without specific examples, I'm not sure I understand what plpgsql
> buys you that you could not do other ways (e.g. generate_series() for
> looping).

I have to agree with Greg here: I don't see what significant new security 
issues PL/pgSQL opens up.  Certainly including PL/perl or PL/sh would, but 
PL/pgSQL?

One of the reasons we advertise to use PostgreSQL is our ability to do 
sophisticated backend database things, which other OSDBs don't have.  

I agree that there should be some way to disable PL/pgSQL for "locked down" 
installations, but I think the majority of users want it to just be there.

-- 
Josh Berkus
PostgreSQL @ Sun
San Francisco


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