Is there a lightweight, programmable Sandbox API for the Windows platform?

Question

To run untrusted code at home I use a VMWare virtual machine. I want to find an alternate lightweight sandbox API for running untrusted applications, without the overhead of installing VMWare, or any other kind of end-user virtualization tool like that. (Edit: I don't want it to host an OS - I want it to run untrusted apps).

Ideally the sandbox would be (or could be made) transparent so the app running in the sandbox doesn't display any extra chrome or features. (Don't they do this in Parallels on the Mac)

The Windows .NET developer side of me wishes for an API so instead of booting up a special GUI, I can script scenarios for it.

It would be like how the Google Chrome web browser contains its own technology to sandbox scripts running from the Internet to protect the system. Google doesn't need to distribute VMWare with their browser and yet they achieve sandbox security for apps.

Edit:

Looking for something lightweight like Google Chrome contains with features like greatly restricted file/network/UI access, low privileges, etc. Not looking for running/hosting its own OS.

Answer 1

No, there is not.

I mean, you can use a different Windows account (with whatever permissions you consider appropriate), but then you need to be comfortable that the untrusted app can't break out of that. But you do have that same problem with VMWare (it has had bugs in the past that let you break out). Best thing to do is run in a Virtual Machine.

Answer 2

You may also be interested in Google's Native Client (also known as NaCl). This is a project that aims to be able to run (verifiable) x86 code inside a sandbox.