MM-43077 Allow inline JSON in config.json for advanced logging config (#23324)

* add AdvancedLoggingJSON to LogSettings and deprecate AdvancedLoggingConfig
* allow embedded JSON in config for advanced logging.

server/channels/app/audit.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/model"
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/shared/mlog"
+	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/utils"
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/v8/channels/audit"
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/v8/channels/store"
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/v8/config"
@@ -109,14 +110,14 @@ func (s *Server) configureAudit(adt *audit.Audit, bAllowAdvancedLogging bool) er
 	adt.OnError = s.onAuditError
 
 	var logConfigSrc config.LogConfigSrc
-	dsn := *s.platform.Config().ExperimentalAuditSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig
+	dsn := s.platform.Config().ExperimentalAuditSettings.GetAdvancedLoggingConfig()
-	if bAllowAdvancedLogging && dsn != "" {
+	if bAllowAdvancedLogging && !utils.IsEmptyJSON(dsn) {
 		var err error
 		logConfigSrc, err = config.NewLogConfigSrc(dsn, s.platform.GetConfigStore())
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("invalid config source for audit, %w", err)
 		}
-		mlog.Debug("Loaded audit configuration", mlog.String("source", dsn))
+		mlog.Debug("Loaded audit configuration", mlog.String("source", string(dsn)))
 	}
 
 	// ExperimentalAuditSettings provides basic file audit (E0, E10); logConfigSrc provides advanced config (E20).

server/channels/app/platform/config.go

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/model"
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/shared/mlog"
+	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/utils"
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/v8/channels/product"
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/v8/channels/store"
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/v8/config"
@@ -120,14 +121,14 @@ func (ps *PlatformService) ConfigureLogger(name string, logger *mlog.Logger, log
 	// file is loaded.  If no valid E20 license exists then advanced logging will be
 	// shutdown once license is loaded/checked.
 	var err error
-	dsn := *logSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig
 	var logConfigSrc config.LogConfigSrc
-	if dsn != "" {
+	dsn := logSettings.GetAdvancedLoggingConfig()
+	if !utils.IsEmptyJSON(dsn) {
 		logConfigSrc, err = config.NewLogConfigSrc(dsn, ps.configStore)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("invalid config source for %s, %w", name, err)
 		}
-		ps.logger.Info("Loaded configuration for "+name, mlog.String("source", dsn))
+		ps.logger.Info("Loaded configuration for "+name, mlog.String("source", string(dsn)))
 	}
 
 	cfg, err := config.MloggerConfigFromLoggerConfig(logSettings, logConfigSrc, getPath)

server/config/logconfigsrc.go

@@ -7,13 +7,20 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/shared/mlog"
 )
 
+const (
+	LogConfigSrcTypeJSON LogConfigSrcType = "json"
+	LogConfigSrcTypeFile LogConfigSrcType = "file"
+)
+
 type LogSrcListener func(old, new mlog.LoggerConfiguration)
+type LogConfigSrcType string
 
 // LogConfigSrc abstracts the Advanced Logging configuration so that implementations can
 // fetch from file, database, etc.
@@ -22,7 +29,10 @@ type LogConfigSrc interface {
 	Get() mlog.LoggerConfiguration
 
 	// Set updates the dsn specifying the source and reloads
-	Set(dsn string, configStore *Store) (err error)
+	Set(dsn []byte, configStore *Store) (err error)
+
+	// GetType returns the type of config source (JSON, file, ...)
+	GetType() LogConfigSrcType
 
 	// Close cleans up resources.
 	Close() error
@@ -30,8 +40,8 @@ type LogConfigSrc interface {
 
 // NewLogConfigSrc creates an advanced logging configuration source, backed by a
 // file, JSON string, or database.
-func NewLogConfigSrc(dsn string, configStore *Store) (LogConfigSrc, error) {
+func NewLogConfigSrc(dsn json.RawMessage, configStore *Store) (LogConfigSrc, error) {
-	if dsn == "" {
+	if len(dsn) == 0 {
 		return nil, errors.New("dsn should not be empty")
 	}
 
@@ -39,17 +49,28 @@ func NewLogConfigSrc(dsn string, configStore *Store) (LogConfigSrc, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("configStore should not be nil")
 	}
 
-	dsn = strings.TrimSpace(dsn)
+	//  check if embedded JSON
-
 	if isJSONMap(dsn) {
 		return newJSONSrc(dsn)
 	}
 
-	path := dsn
+	// Now we're treating the DSN as a string which may contain escaped JSON or be a filespec.
+	str := strings.TrimSpace(string(dsn))
+	if s, err := strconv.Unquote(str); err == nil {
+		str = s
+	}
+
+	// check if escaped JSON
+	strBytes := []byte(str)
+	if isJSONMap(strBytes) {
+		return newJSONSrc(strBytes)
+	}
+
 	// If this is a file based config we need the full path so it can be watched.
-	if strings.HasPrefix(configStore.String(), "file://") && !filepath.IsAbs(dsn) {
+	path := str
+	if strings.HasPrefix(configStore.String(), "file://") && !filepath.IsAbs(path) {
 		configPath := strings.TrimPrefix(configStore.String(), "file://")
-		path = filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(configPath), dsn)
+		path = filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(configPath), path)
 	}
 
 	return newFileSrc(path, configStore)
@@ -63,7 +84,7 @@ type jsonSrc struct {
 	cfg   mlog.LoggerConfiguration
 }
 
-func newJSONSrc(data string) (*jsonSrc, error) {
+func newJSONSrc(data json.RawMessage) (*jsonSrc, error) {
 	src := &jsonSrc{}
 	return src, src.Set(data, nil)
 }
@@ -76,8 +97,8 @@ func (src *jsonSrc) Get() mlog.LoggerConfiguration {
 }
 
 // Set updates the JSON specifying the source and reloads
-func (src *jsonSrc) Set(data string, _ *Store) error {
+func (src *jsonSrc) Set(data []byte, _ *Store) error {
-	cfg, err := logTargetCfgFromJSON([]byte(data))
+	cfg, err := logTargetCfgFromJSON(data)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -86,6 +107,11 @@ func (src *jsonSrc) Set(data string, _ *Store) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// GetType returns the config source type.
+func (src *jsonSrc) GetType() LogConfigSrcType {
+	return LogConfigSrcTypeJSON
+}
+
 func (src *jsonSrc) set(cfg mlog.LoggerConfiguration) {
 	src.mutex.Lock()
 	defer src.mutex.Unlock()
@@ -112,7 +138,7 @@ func newFileSrc(path string, configStore *Store) (*fileSrc, error) {
 	src := &fileSrc{
 		path: path,
 	}
-	if err := src.Set(path, configStore); err != nil {
+	if err := src.Set([]byte(path), configStore); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return src, nil
@@ -128,8 +154,8 @@ func (src *fileSrc) Get() mlog.LoggerConfiguration {
 // Set updates the dsn specifying the file source and reloads.
 // The file will be watched for changes and reloaded as needed,
 // and all listeners notified.
-func (src *fileSrc) Set(path string, configStore *Store) error {
+func (src *fileSrc) Set(path []byte, configStore *Store) error {
-	data, err := configStore.GetFile(path)
+	data, err := configStore.GetFile(string(path))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -143,6 +169,11 @@ func (src *fileSrc) Set(path string, configStore *Store) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// GetType returns the config source type.
+func (src *fileSrc) GetType() LogConfigSrcType {
+	return LogConfigSrcTypeFile
+}
+
 func (src *fileSrc) set(cfg mlog.LoggerConfiguration) {
 	src.mutex.Lock()
 	defer src.mutex.Unlock()

server/config/logconfigsrc_test.go

@@ -4,36 +4,41 @@
 package config
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
-const (
+var (
-	validJSON = `{"file":{ "Type":"file"}}`
+	validJSON        = []byte(`{"file":{ "Type":"file"}}`)
-	badJSON   = `{"file":{ Type="file"}}`
+	badJSON          = []byte(`{"file":{ Type="file"}}`)
+	validEscapedJSON = []byte(`"{\"file\":{ \"Type\":\"file\"}}"`)
+	badEscapedJSON   = []byte(`"{\"file\":{ Type:\"file\"}}"`)
 )
 
 func TestNewLogConfigSrc(t *testing.T) {
 	store := NewTestMemoryStore()
 	require.NotNil(t, store)
-	err := store.SetFile("advancedlogging.conf", []byte(validJSON))
+	err := store.SetFile("advancedlogging.conf", validJSON)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		name        string
-		dsn         string
+		dsn         json.RawMessage
 		configStore *Store
 		wantErr     bool
 		wantType    LogConfigSrc
 	}{
-		{name: "empty dsn", dsn: "", configStore: store, wantErr: true, wantType: nil},
+		{name: "empty dsn", dsn: []byte(""), configStore: store, wantErr: true, wantType: nil},
-		{name: "garbage dsn", dsn: "!@wfejwcevioj", configStore: store, wantErr: true, wantType: nil},
+		{name: "garbage dsn", dsn: []byte("!@wfejwcevioj"), configStore: store, wantErr: true, wantType: nil},
 		{name: "valid json dsn", dsn: validJSON, configStore: store, wantErr: false, wantType: &jsonSrc{}},
 		{name: "invalid json dsn", dsn: badJSON, configStore: store, wantErr: true, wantType: nil},
-		{name: "valid filespec dsn", dsn: "advancedlogging.conf", configStore: store, wantErr: false, wantType: &fileSrc{}},
+		{name: "valid escaped json dsn", dsn: validEscapedJSON, configStore: store, wantErr: false, wantType: &jsonSrc{}},
-		{name: "invalid filespec dsn", dsn: "/nobody/here.conf", configStore: store, wantErr: true, wantType: nil},
+		{name: "invalid escaped json dsn", dsn: badEscapedJSON, configStore: store, wantErr: true, wantType: nil},
+		{name: "valid filespec dsn", dsn: []byte("advancedlogging.conf"), configStore: store, wantErr: false, wantType: &fileSrc{}},
+		{name: "invalid filespec dsn", dsn: []byte("/nobody/here.conf"), configStore: store, wantErr: true, wantType: nil},
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {

server/config/migrate.go

@@ -32,9 +32,11 @@ func Migrate(from, to string) error {
 		*sourceConfig.SamlSettings.PrivateKeyFile,
 	}
 
-	// Only migrate advanced logging config if it is not embedded JSON.
+	// Only migrate advanced logging config if it is a filespec.
-	if !isJSONMap(*sourceConfig.LogSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig) {
+	dsn := sourceConfig.LogSettings.GetAdvancedLoggingConfig()
-		files = append(files, *sourceConfig.LogSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig)
+	cfgSource, err := NewLogConfigSrc(dsn, source)
+	if err == nil && cfgSource.GetType() == LogConfigSrcTypeFile {
+		files = append(files, string(dsn))
 	}
 
 	files = append(files, sourceConfig.PluginSettings.SignaturePublicKeyFiles...)

server/config/utils.go

@@ -179,9 +179,10 @@ func IsDatabaseDSN(dsn string) bool {
 		strings.HasPrefix(dsn, "postgresql://")
 }
 
-func isJSONMap(data string) bool {
+func isJSONMap(data []byte) bool {
 	var m map[string]any
-	return json.Unmarshal([]byte(data), &m) == nil
+	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &m)
+	return err == nil
 }
 
 func GetValueByPath(path []string, obj any) (any, bool) {

server/config/utils_test.go

@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ func TestIsJSONMap(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			if got := isJSONMap(tt.data); got != tt.want {
+			if got := isJSONMap([]byte(tt.data)); got != tt.want {
 				t.Errorf("isJSONMap() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
 			}
 		})

server/platform/services/telemetry/telemetry.go

@@ -533,7 +533,8 @@ func (ts *TelemetryService) trackConfig() {
 		"file_json":                cfg.LogSettings.FileJson,
 		"enable_webhook_debugging": cfg.LogSettings.EnableWebhookDebugging,
 		"isdefault_file_location":  isDefault(cfg.LogSettings.FileLocation, ""),
-		"advanced_logging_config":  *cfg.LogSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig != "",
+		"advanced_logging_json":    len(cfg.LogSettings.AdvancedLoggingJSON) != 0,
+		"advanced_logging_config":  cfg.LogSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig != nil && *cfg.LogSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig != "",
 	})
 
 	ts.SendTelemetry(TrackConfigAudit, map[string]any{
@@ -543,7 +544,8 @@ func (ts *TelemetryService) trackConfig() {
 		"file_max_backups":        *cfg.ExperimentalAuditSettings.FileMaxBackups,
 		"file_compress":           *cfg.ExperimentalAuditSettings.FileCompress,
 		"file_max_queue_size":     *cfg.ExperimentalAuditSettings.FileMaxQueueSize,
-		"advanced_logging_config": *cfg.ExperimentalAuditSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig != "",
+		"advanced_logging_json":   len(cfg.ExperimentalAuditSettings.AdvancedLoggingJSON) != 0,
+		"advanced_logging_config": cfg.ExperimentalAuditSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig != nil && *cfg.ExperimentalAuditSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig != "",
 	})
 
 	ts.SendTelemetry(TrackConfigNotificationLog, map[string]any{
@@ -554,7 +556,8 @@ func (ts *TelemetryService) trackConfig() {
 		"file_level":              *cfg.NotificationLogSettings.FileLevel,
 		"file_json":               *cfg.NotificationLogSettings.FileJson,
 		"isdefault_file_location": isDefault(*cfg.NotificationLogSettings.FileLocation, ""),
-		"advanced_logging_config": *cfg.NotificationLogSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig != "",
+		"advanced_logging_json":   len(cfg.NotificationLogSettings.AdvancedLoggingJSON) != 0,
+		"advanced_logging_config": cfg.NotificationLogSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig != nil && *cfg.NotificationLogSettings.AdvancedLoggingConfig != "",
 	})
 
 	ts.SendTelemetry(TrackConfigPassword, map[string]any{

server/public/model/config.go

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mattermost/ldap"
 
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/shared/mlog"
+	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/utils"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -1238,19 +1239,20 @@ func (s *SqlSettings) SetDefaults(isUpdate bool) {
 }
 
 type LogSettings struct {
-	EnableConsole          *bool   `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	EnableConsole          *bool           `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	ConsoleLevel           *string `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	ConsoleLevel           *string         `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	ConsoleJson            *bool   `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	ConsoleJson            *bool           `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	EnableColor            *bool   `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
+	EnableColor            *bool           `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
-	EnableFile             *bool   `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	EnableFile             *bool           `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileLevel              *string `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileLevel              *string         `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileJson               *bool   `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileJson               *bool           `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileLocation           *string `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileLocation           *string         `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	EnableWebhookDebugging *bool   `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	EnableWebhookDebugging *bool           `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	EnableDiagnostics      *bool   `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
+	EnableDiagnostics      *bool           `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
-	VerboseDiagnostics     *bool   `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
+	VerboseDiagnostics     *bool           `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
-	EnableSentry           *bool   `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
+	EnableSentry           *bool           `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
-	AdvancedLoggingConfig  *string `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	AdvancedLoggingJSON    json.RawMessage `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	AdvancedLoggingConfig  *string         `access:"environment_logging,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // Deprecated: use `AdvancedLoggingJSON`
 }
 
 func NewLogSettings() *LogSettings {
@@ -1308,20 +1310,40 @@ func (s *LogSettings) SetDefaults() {
 		s.FileJson = NewBool(true)
 	}
 
-	if s.AdvancedLoggingConfig == nil {
+	if utils.IsEmptyJSON(s.AdvancedLoggingJSON) {
-		s.AdvancedLoggingConfig = NewString("")
+		// copy any non-empty AdvancedLoggingConfig (deprecated) to the new field.
+		if s.AdvancedLoggingConfig != nil && !utils.IsEmptyJSON([]byte(*s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)) {
+			s.AdvancedLoggingJSON = utils.StringPtrToJSON(s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)
+
+		} else {
+			s.AdvancedLoggingJSON = []byte("{}")
+		}
 	}
+	s.AdvancedLoggingConfig = nil
+}
+
+// GetAdvancedLoggingConfig returns the advanced logging config as a []byte.
+// AdvancedLoggingJSON takes precident over the deprecated AdvancedLoggingConfig.
+func (s *LogSettings) GetAdvancedLoggingConfig() []byte {
+	if !utils.IsEmptyJSON(s.AdvancedLoggingJSON) {
+		return s.AdvancedLoggingJSON
+	}
+	if s.AdvancedLoggingConfig != nil && !utils.IsEmptyJSON([]byte(*s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)) {
+		return []byte(*s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)
+	}
+	return []byte("{}")
 }
 
 type ExperimentalAuditSettings struct {
-	FileEnabled           *bool   `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileEnabled           *bool           `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileName              *string `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
+	FileName              *string         `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
-	FileMaxSizeMB         *int    `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileMaxSizeMB         *int            `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileMaxAgeDays        *int    `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileMaxAgeDays        *int            `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileMaxBackups        *int    `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileMaxBackups        *int            `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileCompress          *bool   `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileCompress          *bool           `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileMaxQueueSize      *int    `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileMaxQueueSize      *int            `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	AdvancedLoggingConfig *string `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	AdvancedLoggingJSON   json.RawMessage `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	AdvancedLoggingConfig *string         `access:"experimental_features,write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // Deprecated: use `AdvancedLoggingJSON`
 }
 
 func (s *ExperimentalAuditSettings) SetDefaults() {
@@ -1353,21 +1375,40 @@ func (s *ExperimentalAuditSettings) SetDefaults() {
 		s.FileMaxQueueSize = NewInt(1000)
 	}
 
-	if s.AdvancedLoggingConfig == nil {
+	if utils.IsEmptyJSON(s.AdvancedLoggingJSON) {
-		s.AdvancedLoggingConfig = NewString("")
+		// copy any non-empty AdvancedLoggingConfig (deprecated) to the new field.
+		if s.AdvancedLoggingConfig != nil && !utils.IsEmptyJSON([]byte(*s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)) {
+			s.AdvancedLoggingJSON = utils.StringPtrToJSON(s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)
+		} else {
+			s.AdvancedLoggingJSON = []byte("{}")
+		}
 	}
+	s.AdvancedLoggingConfig = nil
+}
+
+// GetAdvancedLoggingConfig returns the advanced logging config as a []byte.
+// AdvancedLoggingJSON takes precident over the deprecated AdvancedLoggingConfig.
+func (s *ExperimentalAuditSettings) GetAdvancedLoggingConfig() []byte {
+	if !utils.IsEmptyJSON(s.AdvancedLoggingJSON) {
+		return s.AdvancedLoggingJSON
+	}
+	if s.AdvancedLoggingConfig != nil && !utils.IsEmptyJSON([]byte(*s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)) {
+		return []byte(*s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)
+	}
+	return []byte("{}")
 }
 
 type NotificationLogSettings struct {
-	EnableConsole         *bool   `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	EnableConsole         *bool           `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	ConsoleLevel          *string `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	ConsoleLevel          *string         `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	ConsoleJson           *bool   `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	ConsoleJson           *bool           `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	EnableColor           *bool   `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
+	EnableColor           *bool           `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // telemetry: none
-	EnableFile            *bool   `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	EnableFile            *bool           `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileLevel             *string `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileLevel             *string         `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileJson              *bool   `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileJson              *bool           `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	FileLocation          *string `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	FileLocation          *string         `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
-	AdvancedLoggingConfig *string `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	AdvancedLoggingJSON   json.RawMessage `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"`
+	AdvancedLoggingConfig *string         `access:"write_restrictable,cloud_restrictable"` // Deprecated: use `AdvancedLoggingJSON`
 }
 
 func (s *NotificationLogSettings) SetDefaults() {
@@ -1403,9 +1444,27 @@ func (s *NotificationLogSettings) SetDefaults() {
 		s.FileJson = NewBool(true)
 	}
 
-	if s.AdvancedLoggingConfig == nil {
+	if utils.IsEmptyJSON(s.AdvancedLoggingJSON) {
-		s.AdvancedLoggingConfig = NewString("")
+		// copy any non-empty AdvancedLoggingConfig (deprecated) to the new field.
+		if s.AdvancedLoggingConfig != nil && !utils.IsEmptyJSON([]byte(*s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)) {
+			s.AdvancedLoggingJSON = utils.StringPtrToJSON(s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)
+		} else {
+			s.AdvancedLoggingJSON = []byte("{}")
+		}
 	}
+	s.AdvancedLoggingConfig = nil
+}
+
+// GetAdvancedLoggingConfig returns the advanced logging config as a []byte.
+// AdvancedLoggingJSON takes precident over the deprecated AdvancedLoggingConfig.
+func (s *NotificationLogSettings) GetAdvancedLoggingConfig() []byte {
+	if !utils.IsEmptyJSON(s.AdvancedLoggingJSON) {
+		return s.AdvancedLoggingJSON
+	}
+	if s.AdvancedLoggingConfig != nil && !utils.IsEmptyJSON([]byte(*s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)) {
+		return []byte(*s.AdvancedLoggingConfig)
+	}
+	return []byte("{}")
 }
 
 type PasswordSettings struct {

server/public/utils/json.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package utils
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
@@ -54,3 +55,32 @@ func NewHumanizedJSONError(err error, data []byte, offset int64) *HumanizedJSONE
 		Err:       errors.Wrapf(err, "parsing error at line %d, character %d", line, character),
 	}
 }
+
+func IsEmptyJSON(j json.RawMessage) bool {
+	if len(j) == 0 || bytes.Equal(j, []byte("{}")) || bytes.Equal(j, []byte("\"\"")) || bytes.Equal(j, []byte("[]")) {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func StringPtrToJSON(ptr *string) json.RawMessage {
+	if ptr == nil || len(*ptr) == 0 {
+		return []byte("{}")
+	}
+	s := *ptr
+
+	if strings.HasPrefix(s, "{") && strings.HasSuffix(s, "}") {
+		return []byte(s)
+	}
+
+	if strings.HasPrefix(s, "[") && strings.HasSuffix(s, "]") {
+		return []byte(s)
+	}
+
+	if strings.HasPrefix(s, "\"") && strings.HasSuffix(s, "\"") {
+		return []byte(s)
+	}
+
+	// This must be a bare string which will need quotes to make a valid JSON document.
+	return []byte("\"" + s + "\"")
+}

server/public/utils/json_test.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 
+	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/model"
 	"github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server/server/public/utils"
 )
 
@@ -233,3 +234,119 @@ func TestNewHumanizedJSONError(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestIsJSONEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		Description string
+		Data        []byte
+		Empty       bool
+	}{
+		{
+			"nil []byte is empty",
+			nil,
+			true,
+		},
+		{
+			"Zero length slice is empty",
+			[]byte(""),
+			true,
+		},
+		{
+			"braces are empty",
+			[]byte("{}"),
+			true,
+		},
+		{
+			"square brackets are empty",
+			[]byte("[]"),
+			true,
+		},
+		{
+			"empty string is empty",
+			[]byte("\"\""),
+			true,
+		},
+		{
+			"map is not empty",
+			[]byte("{\"foo\":7}"),
+			false,
+		},
+		{
+			"array is not empty",
+			[]byte("[1,2,3]"),
+			false,
+		},
+		{
+			"string is not empty",
+			[]byte("\"hello\""),
+			false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, testCase := range testCases {
+		testCase := testCase
+		t.Run(testCase.Description, func(t *testing.T) {
+			empty := utils.IsEmptyJSON(testCase.Data)
+			assert.Equal(t, testCase.Empty, empty)
+
+			if !testCase.Empty {
+				// don't really need to test the JSON unmarshaller but this is included
+				// to ensure the test cases stay valid.
+				var v interface{}
+				err := json.Unmarshal(testCase.Data, &v)
+				assert.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStringPtrToJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		Description string
+		Ptr         *string
+		Expect      json.RawMessage
+	}{
+		{
+			"nil string ptr",
+			nil,
+			[]byte("{}"),
+		},
+		{
+			"Zero length string",
+			model.NewString(""),
+			[]byte("{}"),
+		},
+		{
+			"JSON map",
+			model.NewString("{\"foo\":7}"),
+			[]byte("{\"foo\":7}"),
+		},
+		{
+			"JSON array",
+			model.NewString("[1,2,3]"),
+			[]byte("[1,2,3]"),
+		},
+		{
+			"JSON string",
+			model.NewString("\"hello\""),
+			[]byte("\"hello\""),
+		},
+		{
+			"bare string",
+			model.NewString("hello"),
+			[]byte("\"hello\""),
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, testCase := range testCases {
+		testCase := testCase
+		t.Run(testCase.Description, func(t *testing.T) {
+			j := utils.StringPtrToJSON(testCase.Ptr)
+			assert.Equal(t, testCase.Expect, j)
+		})
+	}
+}