python / python/cpython

time.tzset() races on process-global timezone state

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extension-modules type-bug
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Bug report

Bug description:
import time, os, threading
N=8; ITERS=5000
barrier=threading.Barrier(N)
def setter():
    barrier.wait()
    for i in range(ITERS):
        os.environ['TZ']='UTC0' if i&1 else 'EST5EDT'
        time.tzset()
def reader():
    barrier.wait()
    for _ in range(ITERS):
        time.localtime(); 
        try: time.strftime('%Z')
        except Exception: pass
ts=[threading.Thread(target=setter) for _ in range(N//2)]+[threading.Thread(target=reader) for _ in range(N//2)]
[t.start() for t in ts]; [t.join() for t in ts]
print("done tzset")
WARNING: ThreadSanitizer: data race
  Read of size 4 by thread T3:
    #0 strncpy
    #1 get_zone       Modules/timemodule.c:1773
    #2 init_timezone  Modules/timemodule.c:1864
    #3 time_tzset     Modules/timemodule.c:1182
  Previous write of size 8 by thread T1 (malloc, in another time_tzset)
  Location is heap block of size 20 allocated by thread T1
(also: read at tmtotuple Modules/timemodule.c:490 — localtime/gmtime struct_time builder)

(truncated sanitizer output)
CPython versions tested on:

CPython main branch

Operating systems tested on:

Linux

Linked PRs
  • gh-157806

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 with Modules/timemodule.c, especially get_zone, init_timezone, time_tzset, and the tmtotuple path named in the sanitizer report. Reproduce the example under ThreadSanitizer and review linked PR gh-157806; done means the reported races no longer occur while timezone APIs retain their expected behavior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
c, python
Domain
operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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