Use parse_{int,str} and assert from http.servlet

parse_integer and parse_string can take a request and raise errors
in case we have wrong or missing params.
This PR tries to use them more to deduplicate some code and make it
better readable

14 files changed, 91 insertions, 155 deletions

diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
index 2b091d61a5..6b3c496418 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.api.constants import Membership
 from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, Codes, NotFoundError, SynapseError
-from synapse.http.servlet import parse_json_object_from_request
+from synapse.http.servlet import (
+    assert_params_in_request,
+    parse_json_object_from_request,
+    parse_integer,
+    parse_string
+)
 from synapse.types import UserID, create_requester
 
 from .base import ClientV1RestServlet, client_path_patterns
@@ -98,16 +103,8 @@ class PurgeMediaCacheRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         if not is_admin:
             raise AuthError(403, "You are not a server admin")
 
-        before_ts = request.args.get("before_ts", None)
-        if not before_ts:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing 'before_ts' arg")
-
-        logger.info("before_ts: %r", before_ts[0])
-
-        try:
-            before_ts = int(before_ts[0])
-        except Exception:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Invalid 'before_ts' arg")
+        before_ts = parse_integer(request, "before_ts", required=True)
+        logger.info("before_ts: %r", before_ts)
 
         ret = yield self.media_repository.delete_old_remote_media(before_ts)
 
@@ -300,10 +297,8 @@ class ShutdownRoomRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             raise AuthError(403, "You are not a server admin")
 
         content = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-
-        new_room_user_id = content.get("new_room_user_id")
-        if not new_room_user_id:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Please provide field `new_room_user_id`")
+        assert_params_in_request(content, ["new_room_user_id"])
+        new_room_user_id = content["new_room_user_id"]
 
         room_creator_requester = create_requester(new_room_user_id)
 
@@ -464,9 +459,8 @@ class ResetPasswordRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             raise AuthError(403, "You are not a server admin")
 
         params = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
+        assert_params_in_request(params, ["new_password"])
         new_password = params['new_password']
-        if not new_password:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing 'new_password' arg")
 
         logger.info("new_password: %r", new_password)
 
@@ -514,12 +508,9 @@ class GetUsersPaginatedRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             raise SynapseError(400, "Can only users a local user")
 
         order = "name"  # order by name in user table
-        start = request.args.get("start")[0]
-        limit = request.args.get("limit")[0]
-        if not limit:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing 'limit' arg")
-        if not start:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing 'start' arg")
+        start = parse_integer(request, "start", required=True)
+        limit = parse_integer(request, "limit", required=True)
+
         logger.info("limit: %s, start: %s", limit, start)
 
         ret = yield self.handlers.admin_handler.get_users_paginate(
@@ -551,12 +542,9 @@ class GetUsersPaginatedRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
         order = "name"  # order by name in user table
         params = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
+        assert_params_in_request(params, ["limit", "start"])
         limit = params['limit']
         start = params['start']
-        if not limit:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing 'limit' arg")
-        if not start:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing 'start' arg")
         logger.info("limit: %s, start: %s", limit, start)
 
         ret = yield self.handlers.admin_handler.get_users_paginate(
@@ -604,10 +592,7 @@ class SearchUsersRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         if not self.hs.is_mine(target_user):
             raise SynapseError(400, "Can only users a local user")
 
-        term = request.args.get("term")[0]
-        if not term:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing 'term' arg")
-
+        term = parse_string(request, "term", required=True)
         logger.info("term: %s ", term)
 
         ret = yield self.handlers.admin_handler.search_users(
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py
index 4fdbb83815..3003cde94e 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ import logging
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
-from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, Codes, SynapseError
-from synapse.http.servlet import parse_json_object_from_request
+from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, SynapseError
+from synapse.http.servlet import assert_params_in_request, parse_json_object_from_request
 from synapse.types import RoomAlias
 
 from .base import ClientV1RestServlet, client_path_patterns
@@ -52,15 +52,14 @@ class ClientDirectoryServer(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_PUT(self, request, room_alias):
+        room_alias = RoomAlias.from_string(room_alias)
+
         content = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
         if "room_id" not in content:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing room_id key",
+            raise SynapseError(400, 'Missing params: ["room_id"]',
                                errcode=Codes.BAD_JSON)
 
         logger.debug("Got content: %s", content)
-
-        room_alias = RoomAlias.from_string(room_alias)
-
         logger.debug("Got room name: %s", room_alias.to_string())
 
         room_id = content["room_id"]
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/initial_sync.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/initial_sync.py
index fbe8cb2023..00a1a99feb 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/initial_sync.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/initial_sync.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.streams.config import PaginationConfig
+from synapse.http.servlet import parse_boolean
 
 from .base import ClientV1RestServlet, client_path_patterns
 
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ class InitialSyncRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
         as_client_event = "raw" not in request.args
         pagination_config = PaginationConfig.from_request(request)
-        include_archived = request.args.get("archived", None) == ["true"]
+        include_archived = parse_boolean(request, "archived", default=False)
         content = yield self.initial_sync_handler.snapshot_all_rooms(
             user_id=requester.user.to_string(),
             pagin_config=pagination_config,
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/push_rule.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/push_rule.py
index 0df7ce570f..7cf6a99774 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/push_rule.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/push_rule.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from synapse.api.errors import (
     SynapseError,
     UnrecognizedRequestError,
 )
-from synapse.http.servlet import parse_json_value_from_request
+from synapse.http.servlet import parse_json_value_from_request, parse_string
 from synapse.push.baserules import BASE_RULE_IDS
 from synapse.push.clientformat import format_push_rules_for_user
 from synapse.push.rulekinds import PRIORITY_CLASS_MAP
@@ -75,11 +75,11 @@ class PushRuleRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         except InvalidRuleException as e:
             raise SynapseError(400, e.message)
 
-        before = request.args.get("before", None)
+        before = parse_string(request, "before")
         if before:
             before = _namespaced_rule_id(spec, before[0])
 
-        after = request.args.get("after", None)
+        after = parse_string(request, "after")
         if after:
             after = _namespaced_rule_id(spec, after[0])
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/pusher.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/pusher.py
index 1581f88db5..95b9252b61 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/pusher.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/pusher.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from synapse.api.errors import Codes, StoreError, SynapseError
 from synapse.http.server import finish_request
 from synapse.http.servlet import (
     RestServlet,
+    assert_params_in_request,
     parse_json_object_from_request,
     parse_string,
 )
@@ -91,15 +92,11 @@ class PushersSetRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             )
             defer.returnValue((200, {}))
 
-        reqd = ['kind', 'app_id', 'app_display_name',
-                'device_display_name', 'pushkey', 'lang', 'data']
-        missing = []
-        for i in reqd:
-            if i not in content:
-                missing.append(i)
-        if len(missing):
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing parameters: " + ','.join(missing),
-                               errcode=Codes.MISSING_PARAM)
+        assert_params_in_request(
+            content,
+            ['kind', 'app_id', 'app_display_name',
+             'device_display_name', 'pushkey', 'lang', 'data']
+        )
 
         logger.debug("set pushkey %s to kind %s", content['pushkey'], content['kind'])
         logger.debug("Got pushers request with body: %r", content)
@@ -148,7 +145,7 @@ class PushersRemoveRestServlet(RestServlet):
     SUCCESS_HTML = "<html><body>You have been unsubscribed</body><html>"
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
-        super(RestServlet, self).__init__()
+        super(PushersRemoveRestServlet, self).__init__()
         self.hs = hs
         self.notifier = hs.get_notifier()
         self.auth = hs.get_auth()
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py
index 3ce5f8b726..744ed04455 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py
@@ -18,15 +18,13 @@ import hmac
 import logging
 from hashlib import sha1
 
-from six import string_types
-
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 import synapse.util.stringutils as stringutils
 from synapse.api.auth import get_access_token_from_request
 from synapse.api.constants import LoginType
 from synapse.api.errors import Codes, SynapseError
-from synapse.http.servlet import parse_json_object_from_request
+from synapse.http.servlet import assert_params_in_request, parse_json_object_from_request
 from synapse.types import create_requester
 
 from .base import ClientV1RestServlet, client_path_patterns
@@ -124,8 +122,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         session = (register_json["session"]
                    if "session" in register_json else None)
         login_type = None
-        if "type" not in register_json:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing 'type' key.")
+        assert_params_in_request(register_json, ["type"])
 
         try:
             login_type = register_json["type"]
@@ -312,9 +309,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     def _do_app_service(self, request, register_json, session):
         as_token = get_access_token_from_request(request)
 
-        if "user" not in register_json:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Expected 'user' key.")
-
+        assert_params_in_request(register_json, ["user"])
         user_localpart = register_json["user"].encode("utf-8")
 
         handler = self.handlers.registration_handler
@@ -331,12 +326,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _do_shared_secret(self, request, register_json, session):
-        if not isinstance(register_json.get("mac", None), string_types):
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Expected mac.")
-        if not isinstance(register_json.get("user", None), string_types):
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Expected 'user' key.")
-        if not isinstance(register_json.get("password", None), string_types):
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Expected 'password' key.")
+        assert_params_in_request(register_json, ["mac", "user", "password"])
 
         if not self.hs.config.registration_shared_secret:
             raise SynapseError(400, "Shared secret registration is not enabled")
@@ -419,11 +409,7 @@ class CreateUserRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _do_create(self, requester, user_json):
-        if "localpart" not in user_json:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Expected 'localpart' key.")
-
-        if "displayname" not in user_json:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Expected 'displayname' key.")
+        assert_params_in_request(user_json, ["localpart", "displayname"])
 
         localpart = user_json["localpart"].encode("utf-8")
         displayname = user_json["displayname"].encode("utf-8")
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
index 2470db52ba..3050d040a2 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, Codes, SynapseError
 from synapse.api.filtering import Filter
 from synapse.events.utils import format_event_for_client_v2, serialize_event
 from synapse.http.servlet import (
+    assert_params_in_request,
     parse_integer,
     parse_json_object_from_request,
     parse_string,
@@ -435,7 +436,7 @@ class RoomMessageListRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             request, default_limit=10,
         )
         as_client_event = "raw" not in request.args
-        filter_bytes = request.args.get("filter", None)
+        filter_bytes = parse_string(request, "filter")
         if filter_bytes:
             filter_json = urlparse.unquote(filter_bytes[-1]).decode("UTF-8")
             event_filter = Filter(json.loads(filter_json))
@@ -530,7 +531,7 @@ class RoomEventContextServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     def on_GET(self, request, room_id, event_id):
         requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
 
-        limit = int(request.args.get("limit", [10])[0])
+        limit = parse_integer(request, "limit", default=10)
 
         results = yield self.handlers.room_context_handler.get_event_context(
             requester.user,
@@ -636,8 +637,7 @@ class RoomMembershipRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
         target = requester.user
         if membership_action in ["invite", "ban", "unban", "kick"]:
-            if "user_id" not in content:
-                raise SynapseError(400, "Missing user_id key.")
+            assert_params_in_request(content, ["user_id"])
             target = UserID.from_string(content["user_id"])
 
         event_content = None
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ class SearchRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
         content = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
 
-        batch = request.args.get("next_batch", [None])[0]
+        batch = parse_string(request, "next_batch")
         results = yield self.handlers.search_handler.search(
             requester.user,
             content,
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
index 528c1f43f9..2952472a4a 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
@@ -160,11 +160,10 @@ class PasswordRestServlet(RestServlet):
                     raise SynapseError(404, "Email address not found", Codes.NOT_FOUND)
                 user_id = threepid_user_id
             else:
-                logger.error("Auth succeeded but no known type!", result.keys())
+                logger.error("Auth succeeded but no known type! %r", result.keys())
                 raise SynapseError(500, "", Codes.UNKNOWN)
 
-        if 'new_password' not in params:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "", Codes.MISSING_PARAM)
+        assert_params_in_request(params, ["new_password"])
         new_password = params['new_password']
 
         yield self._set_password_handler.set_password(
@@ -229,15 +228,10 @@ class EmailThreepidRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request):
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-
-        required = ['id_server', 'client_secret', 'email', 'send_attempt']
-        absent = []
-        for k in required:
-            if k not in body:
-                absent.append(k)
-
-        if absent:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing params: %r" % absent, Codes.MISSING_PARAM)
+        assert_params_in_request(
+            body,
+            ['id_server', 'client_secret', 'email', 'send_attempt'],
+        )
 
         if not check_3pid_allowed(self.hs, "email", body['email']):
             raise SynapseError(
@@ -267,18 +261,10 @@ class MsisdnThreepidRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request):
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-
-        required = [
+        assert_params_in_request(body, [
             'id_server', 'client_secret',
             'country', 'phone_number', 'send_attempt',
-        ]
-        absent = []
-        for k in required:
-            if k not in body:
-                absent.append(k)
-
-        if absent:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing params: %r" % absent, Codes.MISSING_PARAM)
+        ])
 
         msisdn = phone_number_to_msisdn(body['country'], body['phone_number'])
 
@@ -373,15 +359,7 @@ class ThreepidDeleteRestServlet(RestServlet):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request):
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-
-        required = ['medium', 'address']
-        absent = []
-        for k in required:
-            if k not in body:
-                absent.append(k)
-
-        if absent:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Missing params: %r" % absent, Codes.MISSING_PARAM)
+        assert_params_in_request(body, ['medium', 'address'])
 
         requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
         user_id = requester.user.to_string()
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/devices.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/devices.py
index 09f6a8efe3..e346ad4ed6 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/devices.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/devices.py
@@ -18,14 +18,18 @@ import logging
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.api import errors
-from synapse.http import servlet
+from synapse.http.servlet import (
+    assert_params_in_request,
+    parse_json_object_from_request,
+    RestServlet
+)
 
 from ._base import client_v2_patterns, interactive_auth_handler
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class DevicesRestServlet(servlet.RestServlet):
+class DevicesRestServlet(RestServlet):
     PATTERNS = client_v2_patterns("/devices$", v2_alpha=False)
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
@@ -47,7 +51,7 @@ class DevicesRestServlet(servlet.RestServlet):
         defer.returnValue((200, {"devices": devices}))
 
 
-class DeleteDevicesRestServlet(servlet.RestServlet):
+class DeleteDevicesRestServlet(RestServlet):
     """
     API for bulk deletion of devices. Accepts a JSON object with a devices
     key which lists the device_ids to delete. Requires user interactive auth.
@@ -67,19 +71,17 @@ class DeleteDevicesRestServlet(servlet.RestServlet):
         requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
 
         try:
-            body = servlet.parse_json_object_from_request(request)
+            body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
         except errors.SynapseError as e:
             if e.errcode == errors.Codes.NOT_JSON:
-                # deal with older clients which didn't pass a J*DELETESON dict
+                # DELETE
+                # deal with older clients which didn't pass a JSON dict
                 # the same as those that pass an empty dict
                 body = {}
             else:
                 raise e
 
-        if 'devices' not in body:
-            raise errors.SynapseError(
-                400, "No devices supplied", errcode=errors.Codes.MISSING_PARAM
-            )
+        assert_params_in_request(body, ["devices"])
 
         yield self.auth_handler.validate_user_via_ui_auth(
             requester, body, self.hs.get_ip_from_request(request),
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@ class DeleteDevicesRestServlet(servlet.RestServlet):
         defer.returnValue((200, {}))
 
 
-class DeviceRestServlet(servlet.RestServlet):
+class DeviceRestServlet(RestServlet):
     PATTERNS = client_v2_patterns("/devices/(?P<device_id>[^/]*)$", v2_alpha=False)
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
@@ -121,7 +123,7 @@ class DeviceRestServlet(servlet.RestServlet):
         requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
 
         try:
-            body = servlet.parse_json_object_from_request(request)
+            body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
 
         except errors.SynapseError as e:
             if e.errcode == errors.Codes.NOT_JSON:
@@ -144,7 +146,7 @@ class DeviceRestServlet(servlet.RestServlet):
     def on_PUT(self, request, device_id):
         requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
 
-        body = servlet.parse_json_object_from_request(request)
+        body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
         yield self.device_handler.update_device(
             requester.user.to_string(),
             device_id,
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
index 896650d5a5..e2023e3a61 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
@@ -387,9 +387,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(RestServlet):
             add_msisdn = False
         else:
             # NB: This may be from the auth handler and NOT from the POST
-            if 'password' not in params:
-                raise SynapseError(400, "Missing password.",
-                                   Codes.MISSING_PARAM)
+            assert_params_in_request(params, ["password"])
 
             desired_username = params.get("username", None)
             new_password = params.get("password", None)
@@ -566,11 +564,14 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(RestServlet):
         Returns:
             defer.Deferred:
         """
-        reqd = ('medium', 'address', 'validated_at')
-        if any(x not in threepid for x in reqd):
-            # This will only happen if the ID server returns a malformed response
-            logger.info("Can't add incomplete 3pid")
-            defer.returnValue()
+        try:
+            assert_params_in_request(threepid, ['medium', 'address', 'validated_at'])
+        except SynapseError as ex:
+            if ex.errcode == Codes.MISSING_PARAM:
+                # This will only happen if the ID server returns a malformed response
+                logger.info("Can't add incomplete 3pid")
+                defer.returnValue(None)
+            raise
 
         yield self.auth_handler.add_threepid(
             user_id,
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/identicon_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/identicon_resource.py
index a2e391415f..b3217eff53 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/identicon_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/identicon_resource.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 
 from pydenticon import Generator
 
+from synapse.http.servlet import parse_integer
+
 from twisted.web.resource import Resource
 
 FOREGROUND = [
@@ -56,8 +58,8 @@ class IdenticonResource(Resource):
 
     def render_GET(self, request):
         name = "/".join(request.postpath)
-        width = int(request.args.get("width", [96])[0])
-        height = int(request.args.get("height", [96])[0])
+        width = parse_integer(request, "width", default=96)
+        height = parse_integer(request, "height", default=96)
         identicon_bytes = self.generate_identicon(name, width, height)
         request.setHeader(b"Content-Type", b"image/png")
         request.setHeader(
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py
index 4e3a18ce08..b70b15c4c2 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ from synapse.http.server import (
     respond_with_json_bytes,
     wrap_json_request_handler,
 )
+from synapse.http.servlet import parse_integer, parse_string
 from synapse.util.async import ObservableDeferred
 from synapse.util.caches.expiringcache import ExpiringCache
 from synapse.util.logcontext import make_deferred_yieldable, run_in_background
@@ -96,9 +97,9 @@ class PreviewUrlResource(Resource):
 
         # XXX: if get_user_by_req fails, what should we do in an async render?
         requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
-        url = request.args.get("url")[0]
+        url = parse_string(request, "url")
         if "ts" in request.args:
-            ts = int(request.args.get("ts")[0])
+            ts = parse_integer(request, "ts")
         else:
             ts = self.clock.time_msec()
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/upload_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/upload_resource.py
index 1a98120e1d..9b22d204a6 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/upload_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/upload_resource.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from twisted.web.server import NOT_DONE_YET
 
 from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
 from synapse.http.server import respond_with_json, wrap_json_request_handler
+from synapse.http.servlet import parse_string
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -65,10 +66,10 @@ class UploadResource(Resource):
                 code=413,
             )
 
-        upload_name = request.args.get("filename", None)
+        upload_name = parse_string(request, "filename")
         if upload_name:
             try:
-                upload_name = upload_name[0].decode('UTF-8')
+                upload_name = upload_name.decode('UTF-8')
             except UnicodeDecodeError:
                 raise SynapseError(
                     msg="Invalid UTF-8 filename parameter: %r" % (upload_name),
diff --git a/synapse/streams/config.py b/synapse/streams/config.py
index 46ccbbda7d..22b0b830f7 100644
--- a/synapse/streams/config.py
+++ b/synapse/streams/config.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import logging
 
 from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
+from synapse.http.servlet import parse_integer, parse_string
 from synapse.types import StreamToken
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -56,23 +57,10 @@ class PaginationConfig(object):
     @classmethod
     def from_request(cls, request, raise_invalid_params=True,
                      default_limit=None):
-        def get_param(name, default=None):
-            lst = request.args.get(name, [])
-            if len(lst) > 1:
-                raise SynapseError(
-                    400, "%s must be specified only once" % (name,)
-                )
-            elif len(lst) == 1:
-                return lst[0]
-            else:
-                return default
-
-        direction = get_param("dir", 'f')
-        if direction not in ['f', 'b']:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "'dir' parameter is invalid.")
-
-        from_tok = get_param("from")
-        to_tok = get_param("to")
+        direction = parse_string(request, "dir", default='f', allowed_values=['f', 'b'])
+
+        from_tok = parse_string(request, "from")
+        to_tok = parse_string(request, "to")
 
         try:
             if from_tok == "END":
@@ -88,12 +76,7 @@ class PaginationConfig(object):
         except Exception:
             raise SynapseError(400, "'to' paramater is invalid")
 
-        limit = get_param("limit", None)
-        if limit is not None and not limit.isdigit():
-            raise SynapseError(400, "'limit' parameter must be an integer.")
-
-        if limit is None:
-            limit = default_limit
+        limit = parse_integer(request, "limit", default=default_limit)
 
         try:
             return PaginationConfig(from_tok, to_tok, direction, limit)