How does Lua's simplicity make it more secure?

Owned by Eliot Muir
Last updated: Nov 09, 2023
2 min read

The simplicity of the Lua programming language contributes to reducing the likelihood of zero-day attacks. Zero-day attacks are exploits that target vulnerabilities in software before they are publicly known or patched by the software's developers. Here's how the simplicity of Lua can help in this context:

  1. Smaller Attack Surface: Lua's minimalistic design and small standard library mean that there are fewer built-in features and components that could potentially contain security vulnerabilities. With fewer features, there are fewer opportunities for attackers to find and exploit weaknesses in the language itself.

  2. Fewer Complexity-Related Bugs: Simplicity often leads to fewer lines of code in both the language's implementation and the programs written in it. Fewer lines of code mean a reduced likelihood of complex, hard-to-detect, or hard-to-understand bugs that could be exploited by attackers. This aligns with the design of IguanaX itself also.

  3. Easier Code Review: The simplicity of Lua makes it easier for developers to understand and review code, which can lead to better code quality and security. When code is more accessible and less convoluted, it's easier for both developers and security experts to spot potential vulnerabilities during code reviews.

  4. Reduced Risk of Hidden Features: Complex programming languages often have many features and behaviors that are not well-documented or understood by all developers. These hidden features can become security risks when used in unintended ways. In contrast, Lua's simplicity means there are fewer hidden or unexpected features that attackers can exploit.

  5. Strong Typing and Memory Safety: While Lua is dynamically typed, it still provides a degree of memory safety and type safety. This can help prevent certain types of vulnerabilities, such as buffer overflows or type confusion, which are common attack vectors in languages with weaker typing and memory management.

These are all important parts of the conversation we need to have about security.