tarfile leaks ValueError instead of InvalidHeaderError for a malformed GNU sparse pax number
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Description
Bug description:
When a pax extended header carries a malformed GNU sparse number, tarfile parses it with a bare int() and lets the ValueError escape to the caller, unlike the GNU sparse 0.0 handler which reports such corruption as tarfile.InvalidHeaderError.
import tarfile
tarfile.TarInfo("x")._apply_pax_info(
{"GNU.sparse.size": "x"}, "utf-8", "strict") # ValueError
Reporting InvalidHeaderError makes the reader stop at the bad member like the 0.0 format does; a maintainer may prefer to raise instead, so the direction is open.
CPython versions tested on:
3.13, 3.14, 3.15
Operating systems tested on:
macOS
Linked PRs
- gh-153637
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start at TarInfo._apply_pax_info using the malformed GNU.sparse.size example in the issue, and review linked PR gh-153637 for the current direction. Confirm that the chosen handling of a malformed GNU sparse pax number matches the intended behavior and no longer leaks an unintended bare ValueError.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- backend
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100