Bug#674951: [libapt-pkg4.12] aptitude crashes while updating packages list

[Grigory Ivanov <grundik-com@grundik.spb.ru>]

On 16.06.2012 10:40, David Kalnischkies wrote:
>> Another crash in version 0.9.6 with similar conditions:
>> [Â…]
> 
> Are these crashes reproducible?

They were 100% reproducible at the time of bug filing. They are not
reproducible now, probably because changed(updated) package lists. But
aptitude should not crash anyways, regardless of contents of package lists.

> If so, does it still crash if you do:
>  rm -f /var/cache/apt/*.bin
> ?
> 
> Or if you do
>  rm -f /var/cache/apt/*.bin
>  apt-get update -o APT::Cache-Start=100000000
> ?

I cannot reproduce these crashes now, since it looks like they were
caused by some package/list or combination of such. But I can send you
core file, if you want.

> 
> Also, ensure that your hardware is not at fault:
> Such unreproducible crashes are often the first symptom
> of a faulty memory (or other hardware pieces).
> 

Hardware is in good condition, this is definitely some defect/insuffient
validation in libapt-pkg.

Thanks.