function get_session_decode($sessStr) 
{
	if ($sessStr) {
		session_decode($sessStr);
		unset($sessStr);
		$vars = get_defined_vars();
	
		return $vars;
	} //if
} //func

The following function should return an array of session variables:

function get_session_decode($sessStr) 
{
	if ($sessStr) {
		session_decode($sessStr);
		unset($sessStr);
		$vars = get_defined_vars();
	
		return $vars;
	} //if
} //func

print_r(get_session_decode('TEST|s:7:"testing";'));

however session_decode always crashes when you pass it a valid session string. It does not crash if you pass it an invalid session string or an empty/false string. I tried using the function by it self, but it still crashes. No sessions where created at the time (which SHOULD NOT be needed).

If you call session_start() first, it does not crash, but does not set any variables.