Bug#181189: dpkg does not notice symlinks in /usr/local

[Daniel Johnson <lmailles@visionforisrael.com>]

Package: dpkg
Version: 1.9.21 (i386)

If a directory that dpkg wants to create when installing a package already
exists as a symlink, it treats it the same as if it was a directory. When
in /usr/local this is not correct behaviour and could cause problems.

I will explain using the context in which the bug was discovered as an
example :

the package zsh contains directories in /usr/local :

/usr/local/share
/usr/local/share/zsh
/usr/local/share/zsh/site-functions

If for some reason when this package comes to be installed, share/ already
exists as a symlink to another directory, the zsh stuff will be put in
that directory. This can happen in certain circumstances when using stow.

I believe the correct action for dselect upon detecting this situation
would be to ask the user or to abort installation of the package. At the
moment it does not appear even to notice.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

--
Daniel