python / python/cpython

Type cache can expose previous values during finalization of an object

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type-bug
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Bug report

Bug description:

This should always print True, that is an attribute accessed from a class should match the value that's in the type's mappingproxy:

class X:
    def __del__(inner_self):
        v = C.a
        print(v == C.__dict__['a'])

class C:
    a = X()

# prime the cache
C.a
C.a

# destructor shouldn't be able to see inconsisent state
C.a = X()
C.a = X()

But this prints False because the destructor can be run when the assignment into the type dict occurs, but before the type version is invalidated.

CPython versions tested on:

3.8, CPython main branch

Operating systems tested on:

Linux

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by running the reproducer on CPython main and compare the attribute lookup with the type mapping during the destructor triggered by assignment. Trace the type-cache invalidation and finalization sequence; done means the example consistently prints True without exposing the inconsistent state.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
backend
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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