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GeezerVison is showing github.com — gh-148773: Fix undefined behaviour in `write()` call by sideeffect42 · Pull Request #148774 · python/cpython

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@sideeffect42

@sideeffect42 sideeffect42 commented Apr 19, 2026 •
edited by bedevere-app Bot
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write()ing zero bytes to not a regular file (e.g. stdout) is undefined behaviour and can generate a SIGHUP under certain circumstances, e.g. on AIX when running with unbuffered stdout within sudo, screen, tmux:

$ sudo python3 -u -c 'print(""); print("foo")'
Hangup

Python's print() implementation in this case calls write() twice:

# truss python3 -u -c 'print("")'
[...]
kwrite(1, 0x08001000A001B910, 0)                = 0

kwrite(1, "\n", 1)                              = 1

However, the first write() is undefined behaviour.

ssize_t write(int fildes, const void *buf, size_t nbyte);

The write() function shall attempt to write nbyte bytes from the buffer
pointed to by buf to the file associated with the open file descriptor,
fildes.

Before any action described below is taken, and if nbyte is zero and the
file is a regular file, the write() function may detect and return errors as
described below. In the absence of errors, or if error detection is not
performed, the write() function shall return zero and have no other results.
If nbyte is zero and the file is not a regular file, the results are
unspecified.

https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/functions/write.html

  • Issue: Hangup when printing empty string to unbuffered stdout #148773

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@sideeffect42
Fix undefined behaviour in write() call
192e36a
write()ing zero bytes to not a regular file (e.g. stdout) is undefined behaviour
and can generate a SIGHUP under certain circumstances, e.g. on AIX when running
with unbuffered stdout within sudo, screen, tmux:

    $ sudo python3 -u -c 'print(""); print("foo")'
    Hangup

Python's print() implementation in this case calls write() twice:

    # truss python3 -u -c 'print("")'
    [...]
    kwrite(1, 0x08001000A001B910, 0)                = 0

    kwrite(1, "\n", 1)                              = 1

However, the first write() is undefined behaviour.

    ssize_t write(int fildes, const void *buf, size_t nbyte);

    The write() function shall attempt to write nbyte bytes from the buffer
    pointed to by buf to the file associated with the open file descriptor,
    fildes.

    Before any action described below is taken, and if nbyte is zero and the
    file is a regular file, the write() function may detect and return errors as
    described below. In the absence of errors, or if error detection is not
    performed, the write() function shall return zero and have no other results.
    If nbyte is zero and the file is not a regular file, the results are
    unspecified.

https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/functions/write.html
@bedevere-app bedevere-app Bot added the awaiting review label Apr 19, 2026
@bedevere-app

bedevere-app Bot commented Apr 19, 2026

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Most changes to Python require a NEWS entry. Add one using the blurb_it web app or the blurb command-line tool.

If this change has little impact on Python users, wait for a maintainer to apply the skip news label instead.

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@bedevere-app bedevere-app Bot mentioned this pull request Apr 19, 2026
Hangup when printing empty string to unbuffered stdout #148773
Open
@sideeffect42
Add NEWS entry
8587261
picnixz
picnixz reviewed Apr 20, 2026
View reviewed changes
Comment thread Python/fileutils.c Resolved

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@sideeffect42
Reword code comment
8b5be69
@github-actions

github-actions Bot commented Jul 25, 2026

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This PR is stale because it has been open for 90 days with no activity.

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@github-actions github-actions Bot added the stale Stale PR or inactive for long period of time. label Jul 25, 2026
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@sideeffect42 @picnixz
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