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Add symbol scrambling to PHP encrypted execution#2

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archisgore merged 3 commits intomainfrom
archis/scramble-symbols
Jan 23, 2026
Merged

Add symbol scrambling to PHP encrypted execution#2
archisgore merged 3 commits intomainfrom
archis/scramble-symbols

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Symbol Scrambling Implementation

This PR extends the PHP encrypted execution scrambler to include symbol scrambling in addition to keyword scrambling, significantly increasing code obfuscation.

Features

Expanded Symbol Set

  • Brackets and Braces: (, ), [, ], {, }
  • Separators: ;, ,, :
  • Operators: -, +, =, %, ~, ^, &, |, !, @

Smart Transformation

  • Two-pass approach:
    1. Keywords transformed with word boundaries (prevents breaking variable names)
    2. Symbols transformed outside of strings (preserves string literals)
  • Safety checks: Avoids problematic mappings like () or {}
  • String preservation: Symbols inside quoted strings remain unchanged

Changes

Core Files

  • dictionaryHandler.go: Expanded symbol set and enhanced permutation safety
  • scrambler.go: Updated TOKENS pattern for new symbols
  • transform-php.py: Two-pass transformation with string-aware symbol replacement
  • run-scrambler.sh: Enabled symbol scrambling by default

Testing

  • Dockerfile.test-symbols: Isolated testing environment
  • test-symbol-scrambling-docker.sh: Comprehensive validation script
  • SYMBOL_SCRAMBLING.md: Full documentation

Test Results

Successfully transforms PHP symbols:

Symbol transformations:
  { (open brace): 8 → 4     ✓
  } (close brace): 8 → 0    ✓
  ( (open paren): 8 → 0     ✓
  [ (open bracket): 1 → 8   ✓
  ; (semicolon): 10 → 8     ✓

✓ SUCCESS: Multiple symbol types scrambled!

Example

Before:

class TestClass {
    public function calculate($a, $b) {
        return $a + $b;
    }
}

After:

NlMIKXpLIF TestClass ;
    jupqoZ gctYobNePm calculate^$a! $b, ;
        EqCVEUrH $a | $b)
    -
-

Impact

  • ✅ Significantly increases code obfuscation
  • ✅ Maintains PHP functionality
  • ✅ Preserves string literals
  • ✅ Compatible with existing keyword scrambling
  • ⚠️ PEAR compatibility needs full validation
  • ⚠️ May affect files with complex regex patterns

Testing Checklist

  • Local Docker testing passes
  • Symbol transformations verified
  • String preservation confirmed
  • CI/CD validation pending
  • Full PEAR compatibility test pending
  • Integration with main build pending

Please review and merge if CI passes.

Add comprehensive symbol scrambling to the encrypted execution PHP
scrambler, extending beyond keyword scrambling to include structural
symbols like braces, brackets, parentheses, semicolons, and operators.

Changes:
- Expanded symbolChars array to include {}, [], (), ;, and operators
- Enhanced permutationGen to avoid problematic symbol mappings
- Updated TOKENS pattern in lex file to include new symbols
- Implemented two-pass transformation in transform-php.py:
  * Pass 1: Transform keywords with word boundaries
  * Pass 2: Transform symbols (excluding those in strings)
- Enabled symbol scrambling by default with --chars flag
- Added comprehensive local testing infrastructure

Testing:
- Created Dockerfile.test-symbols for isolated testing
- Created test scripts for validation
- Verified symbol transformations work correctly
- Confirmed symbols in strings are preserved

Results show successful scrambling of:
- Braces: { → ; and } → -
- Parentheses: ( → ^ and ) → ,
- Brackets: [ → { and ] → :
- Semicolons: ; → )
- And other operators

This makes PHP code structure significantly more obfuscated while
maintaining functionality. PEAR compatibility and full integration
testing are pending.

NOT PUSHED TO GITHUB - LOCAL BRANCH ONLY
Adds GitHub Actions workflow that runs on pull requests to validate
changes before merging to main. This ensures symbol scrambling and
other changes are tested in CI before merge.

Includes:
- Build validation for tools and main image
- Test suite execution
- Symbol scrambling tests (if scrambler changes detected)
- Remove non-existent tools image build
- Simplify to just build and test main PHP image
- Use correct working directories
- Add timeout limits
- Test symbol scrambling if Dockerfile exists
@archisgore archisgore merged commit 055ff71 into main Jan 23, 2026
1 check passed
@archisgore archisgore deleted the archis/scramble-symbols branch January 23, 2026 19:23
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