[Bug 1038468] Re: data loss on sort -u

[Colin Watson]

** Description changed:

+ [Impact] In some corner cases, 'sort -u' loses data.
+ [Test Case] http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=9780
+ [Regression Potential] It's coreutils, and a change to a vital system utility.  The coreutils test suite should save us from the worst mistakes, but some paranoia would be justified.  Perhaps booting a system with this change and using it for a day or two would be wise.
+ 
+ Original report follows:
+ 
  Last year a bug was reported to upstream coreutils [1] about problems on
  using 'sort -u'. Until recently, there was no known reproducing process;
  one such process was published last week [2].
  
  Although triggering the bug can be said to be a non-completely trivial
  use case, data loss in 'sort' should be looked at as a serious issue.
  
  Today Jim Meyering committed what looks like the final touches of the
  fix (incidentally also solving a different issue (a free memory read),
  also in 'sort'. There are 4 commits affected, and they are shown
  starting in [3].
  
  Given this is a data loss potential, I am opening this bug for all
  affected releases (this bug affects Coreutils 8.6 onwards -- Precise and
  Quantal). I am still to run the tests on Lucid, Natty, and Oneiric.
  
  [1] http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=9780
  [2]  http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-coreutils/2012-08/msg00027.html
  [3] http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-coreutils/2012-08/msg00057.html

** Changed in: coreutils (Ubuntu Precise)
       Status: Confirmed => In Progress

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to coreutils in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1038468

Title:
  data loss on sort -u

Status in “coreutils” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “coreutils” source package in Precise:
  In Progress
Status in “coreutils” source package in Quantal:
  Fix Released
Status in “coreutils” package in Debian:
  New

Bug description:
  [Impact] In some corner cases, 'sort -u' loses data.
  [Test Case] http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=9780
  [Regression Potential] It's coreutils, and a change to a vital system utility.  The coreutils test suite should save us from the worst mistakes, but some paranoia would be justified.  Perhaps booting a system with this change and using it for a day or two would be wise.

  Original report follows:

  Last year a bug was reported to upstream coreutils [1] about problems
  on using 'sort -u'. Until recently, there was no known reproducing
  process; one such process was published last week [2].

  Although triggering the bug can be said to be a non-completely trivial
  use case, data loss in 'sort' should be looked at as a serious issue.

  Today Jim Meyering committed what looks like the final touches of the
  fix (incidentally also solving a different issue (a free memory read),
  also in 'sort'. There are 4 commits affected, and they are shown
  starting in [3].

  Given this is a data loss potential, I am opening this bug for all
  affected releases (this bug affects Coreutils 8.6 onwards -- Precise
  and Quantal). I am still to run the tests on Lucid, Natty, and
  Oneiric.

  [1] http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=9780
  [2]  http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-coreutils/2012-08/msg00027.html
  [3] http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-coreutils/2012-08/msg00057.html

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/coreutils/+bug/1038468/+subscriptions