python / python/cpython

http.cookiejar.http2time raises ValueError instead of returning None for a strict-format fake month

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stdlib type-bug
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Bug description

http.cookiejar.http2time() documents that it returns None for an
unrecognized date format, but its STRICT_DATE_RE fast path raises a raw
ValueError when the month field matches the pattern [JFMASOND][a-z][a-z]
yet names a month that does not exist:

>>> from http.cookiejar import http2time
>>> http2time('Wed, 09 Foo 1994 22:23:32 GMT')
Traceback (most recent call last):
  ...
ValueError: 'foo' is not in list
>>> http2time('Wed, 09 Feb 1994 22:23:32 GMT')   # a real month still works
760832612.0

The slower parser (_str2time) already handles the same input via
try/except and returns None; only the strict fast path leaks. It is
reachable from parse_ns_headers() through a cookie's expires= attribute,
e.g. Set-Cookie: x=y; expires=Wed, 09 Foo 1994 22:23:32 GMT.

gh-60385 previously established the "returns None, never raises" contract
for a different http2time code path; the later STRICT_DATE_RE fast path
reintroduced a leak on this separate path.

CPython versions tested on

3.13, 3.14, 3.15

Operating systems tested on

Linux, macOS

Linked PRs
  • gh-153678

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  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start in Python's http.cookiejar module by tracing http2time() through the STRICT_DATE_RE fast path and comparing it with _str2time's handling of invalid months. The change is done when a strict-format fake month returns None without raising, while a valid month still parses successfully; consider the parse_ns_headers() cookie expiry path described in the issue.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
networking
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
2/5
Estimated time
1-3 hours
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Clearly specified
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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