[Bug 1042210] [NEW] Error dialog for message with svn+ssh:// link

[era]

Public bug reported:

When displaying a particular message, I get this warning dialog:

  [ ]  <- // sic, no window title
  An error occurred while loading or saving
  configuration information for thunderbird. Some
  of your configuration settings may not work
  properly.

  [Details]
  [OK]

Clicking on Details reveals a text box with the following:

  Bad key or directory name: "/desktop/gnome/url-handlers/svn+ssh/command": `+' is an invalid character in key/directory names
  Bad key or directory name: "/desktop/gnome/url-handlers/svn+ssh/command": `+' is an invalid character in key/directory names

See also bug #411358 which has a similar symptom but apparently not much
else in common.

The problematic message contains the following text:

   Subject: Launchpad bug

   svn+ssh://path/to/somewhere

... and nothing else.

I would consider this a pretty serious problem, given that the error
message text is alarmist and misleading for what is apparently a simple
user interface glitch.  I wonder what else could cause this message to
appear, and/or something more sinister to happen just because of the
contents of a message from a stranger.  I hesitantly refrain from
raising the security flag at this point, though.

vnix$ lsb_release -rd
Description:    Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS
Release:        10.04

vnix$ apt-cache policy thunderbird
thunderbird:
  Installed: 14.0+build1-0ubuntu0.10.04.1
  Candidate: 14.0+build1-0ubuntu0.10.04.1
  Version table:
 *** 14.0+build1-0ubuntu0.10.04.1 0
        500 http://mirrors.nic.funet.fi/ubuntu/ lucid-updates/main Packages
        500 http://mirrors.nic.funet.fi/ubuntu/ lucid-security/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     3.0.4+nobinonly-0ubuntu4 0
        500 http://mirrors.nic.funet.fi/ubuntu/ lucid/main Packages

** Affects: thunderbird (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Description changed:

  When displaying a particular message, I get this warning dialog:
  
-   [ ]  <- // sic, no window title
-   An error occurred while loading or saving
-   configuration information for thunderbird. Some
-   of your configuration settings may not work
-   properly.
+   [ ]  <- // sic, no window title
+   An error occurred while loading or saving
+   configuration information for thunderbird. Some
+   of your configuration settings may not work
+   properly.
  
-   [Details]
-   [OK]
+   [Details]
+   [OK]
  
  Clicking on Details reveals a text box with the following:
  
-   Bad key or directory name: "/desktop/gnome/url-handlers/svn+ssh/command": `+' is an invalid character in key/directory names
-   Bad key or directory name: "/desktop/gnome/url-handlers/svn+ssh/command": `+' is an invalid character in key/directory names
-   Bad key or directory name: "/desktop/gnome/url-handlers/svn+ssh/command": `+' is an invalid character in key/directory names
-   Bad key or directory name: "/desktop/gnome/url-handlers/svn+ssh/command": `+' is an invalid character in key/directory names
+   Bad key or directory name: "/desktop/gnome/url-handlers/svn+ssh/command": `+' is an invalid character in key/directory names
+   Bad key or directory name: "/desktop/gnome/url-handlers/svn+ssh/command": `+' is an invalid character in key/directory names
  
  See also bug #411358 which has a similar symptom but apparently not much
  else in common.
  
  The problematic message contains the following text:
  
-    Subject: Launchpad bug
+    Subject: Launchpad bug
  
-    svn+ssh://path/to/somewhere
+    svn+ssh://path/to/somewhere
  
  ... and nothing else.
  
  I would consider this a pretty serious problem, given that the error
  message text is alarmist and misleading for what is apparently a simple
  user interface glitch.  I wonder what else could cause this message to
  appear, and/or something more sinister to happen just because of the
  contents of a message from a stranger.  I hesitantly refrain from
  raising the security flag at this point, though.
  
  vnix$ lsb_release -rd
  Description:    Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS
  Release:        10.04
  
  vnix$ apt-cache policy thunderbird
  thunderbird:
-   Installed: 14.0+build1-0ubuntu0.10.04.1
-   Candidate: 14.0+build1-0ubuntu0.10.04.1
-   Version table:
-  *** 14.0+build1-0ubuntu0.10.04.1 0
-         500 http://mirrors.nic.funet.fi/ubuntu/ lucid-updates/main Packages
-         500 http://mirrors.nic.funet.fi/ubuntu/ lucid-security/main Packages
-         100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
-      3.0.4+nobinonly-0ubuntu4 0
-         500 http://mirrors.nic.funet.fi/ubuntu/ lucid/main Packages
+   Installed: 14.0+build1-0ubuntu0.10.04.1
+   Candidate: 14.0+build1-0ubuntu0.10.04.1
+   Version table:
+  *** 14.0+build1-0ubuntu0.10.04.1 0
+         500 http://mirrors.nic.funet.fi/ubuntu/ lucid-updates/main Packages
+         500 http://mirrors.nic.funet.fi/ubuntu/ lucid-security/main Packages
+         100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
+      3.0.4+nobinonly-0ubuntu4 0
+         500 http://mirrors.nic.funet.fi/ubuntu/ lucid/main Packages

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1042210

Title:
  Error dialog for message with svn+ssh:// link

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