diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ddl.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ddl.sgml
index 9d6ec2c7382..d88651df9e4 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ddl.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ddl.sgml
@@ -3007,56 +3007,57 @@ REVOKE CREATE ON SCHEMA public FROM PUBLIC;
Usage Patterns
- Schemas can be used to organize your data in many ways. There are a few
- usage patterns easily supported by the default configuration, only one of
- which suffices when database users mistrust other database users:
+ Schemas can be used to organize your data in many ways.
+ A secure schema usage pattern prevents untrusted
+ users from changing the behavior of other users' queries. When a database
+ does not use a secure schema usage pattern, users wishing to securely
+ query that database would take protective action at the beginning of each
+ session. Specifically, they would begin each session by
+ setting search_path to the empty string or otherwise
+ removing non-superuser-writable schemas
+ from search_path. There are a few usage patterns
+ easily supported by the default configuration:
+ doesn't preserve that DROP.
+
+ A database owner can attack the database's users via "CREATE SCHEMA
+ trojan; ALTER DATABASE $mydb SET search_path = trojan, public;". A
+ CREATEROLE user can issue "GRANT $dbowner TO $me" and then use the
+ database owner attack. -->
Constrain ordinary users to user-private schemas. To implement this,
issue REVOKE CREATE ON SCHEMA public FROM PUBLIC,
- and create a schema for each user with the same name as that user. If
- affected users had logged in before this, consider auditing the public
+ and create a schema for each user with the same name as that user.
+ Recall that the default search path starts
+ with $user, which resolves to the user name.
+ Therefore, if each user has a separate schema, they access their own
+ schemas by default. After adopting this pattern in a database where
+ untrusted users had already logged in, consider auditing the public
schema for objects named like objects in
- schema pg_catalog. Recall that the default search
- path starts with $user, which resolves to the user
- name. Therefore, if each user has a separate schema, they access their
- own schemas by default.
+ schema pg_catalog. This pattern is a secure schema
+ usage pattern unless an untrusted user is the database owner or holds
+ the CREATEROLE privilege, in which case no secure
+ schema usage pattern exists.
+
+
- Remove the public schema from each user's default search path
- using ALTER ROLE user SET
- search_path = "$user". Everyone retains the ability to
- create objects in the public schema, but only qualified names will
- choose those objects. While qualified table references are fine, calls
- to functions in the public schema will be
- unsafe or unreliable. Also, a user holding
- the CREATEROLE privilege can undo this setting and
- issue arbitrary queries under the identity of users relying on the
- setting. If you create functions or extensions in the public schema or
- grant CREATEROLE to users not warranting this
- almost-superuser ability, use the first pattern instead.
-
-
-
-
-
- Remove the public schema from search_path in
- postgresql.conf.
- The ensuing user experience matches the previous pattern. In addition
- to that pattern's implications for functions
- and CREATEROLE, this trusts database owners
- like CREATEROLE. If you create functions or
- extensions in the public schema or assign
- the CREATEROLE
- privilege, CREATEDB privilege or individual database
- ownership to users not warranting almost-superuser access, use the
- first pattern instead.
+ Remove the public schema from the default search path, by modifying
+ postgresql.conf
+ or by issuing ALTER ROLE ALL SET search_path =
+ "$user". Everyone retains the ability to create objects in
+ the public schema, but only qualified names will choose those objects.
+ While qualified table references are fine, calls to functions in the
+ public schema will be unsafe or
+ unreliable. If you create functions or extensions in the public
+ schema, use the first pattern instead. Otherwise, like the first
+ pattern, this is secure unless an untrusted user is the database owner
+ or holds the CREATEROLE privilege.
@@ -3064,10 +3065,9 @@ REVOKE CREATE ON SCHEMA public FROM PUBLIC;
Keep the default. All users access the public schema implicitly. This
simulates the situation where schemas are not available at all, giving
- a smooth transition from the non-schema-aware world. However, any user
- can issue arbitrary queries under the identity of any user not electing
- to protect itself individually. This pattern is acceptable only when
- the database has a single user or a few mutually-trusting users.
+ a smooth transition from the non-schema-aware world. However, this is
+ never a secure pattern. It is acceptable only when the database has a
+ single user or a few mutually-trusting users.