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From: Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im>
To: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Cc: Karthik Nayak <karthik.188@gmail.com>,
	Chris Torek <chris.torek@gmail.com>,
	git@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH 7/8] refs: add 'update-symref' command to 'update-ref'
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:31:59 +0200	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <ZhbND7flvT7INnrz@ncase> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <xmqqzfu1w6ay.fsf@gitster.g>

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On Wed, Apr 10, 2024 at 09:06:45AM -0700, Junio C Hamano wrote:
> Patrick Steinhardt <ps@pks.im> writes:
> 
> >> > I might have missed it while scanning through this thread, but why
> >> > exactly is the zero OID not a good enough placeholder here to say that
> >> > the ref must not exist? A symref cannot point to a ref named after the
> >> > zero OID anyway.
> >
> >> > In my opinion, "update-symref" with an old-value must be able to accept
> >> > both object IDs and symrefs as old value. Like this it would be possible
> >> > to update a proper ref to a symref in a race-free way. So you can say:
> >> >
> >> >     git update-ref SYMREF refs/heads/main 19981daefd7c147444462739375462b49412ce33
> >
> >> > To update "SYRMEF" to "refs/heads/main", but only in case it currently
> >> > is a proper ref that points to 19981daefd7c147444462739375462b49412ce33.
> >> > Similarly...
> >> >
> >> >     git update-ref SYMREF refs/heads/main refs/heads/master
> >
> >> > would update "SYMREF" to "refs/heads/main", but only if it currently
> >> > points to the symref "refs/heads/master".
> 
> I think that would work well.  We need to explicitly forbid a file
> $GIT_DIR/[0-9a-f]{40} to be used as a pseudoref, which I think that
> is an improvement.  I do not know how the transition to move to a
> world with a stricter rule would look like, though.

I thought that Git already refuses such refnames anyway. Otherwise it
would be impossible to distinguish a ref called [0-9a-f]{40} from the
actual object hash in much of our tooling. I certainly know that GitLab
does refuse such refnames, and thought that GitHub does, too.

But turns out that at least git-update-ref(1) is happy to write such
refs:

```
$ git update-ref 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111 HEAD
$ cat .git/1111111111111111111111111111111111111111
cf6ba211cd2fce88f5d22d9f036029d502565509
```

What does it resolve to?

```
$ git rev-parse --verify 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111
warning: refname '1111111111111111111111111111111111111111' is ambiguous.
Git normally never creates a ref that ends with 40 hex characters
because it will be ignored when you just specify 40-hex. These refs
may be created by mistake. For example,

  git switch -c $br $(git rev-parse ...)

where "$br" is somehow empty and a 40-hex ref is created. Please
examine these refs and maybe delete them. Turn this message off by
running "git config advice.objectNameWarning false"
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111
```

It resolves to 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111 because it's a
valid object ID already. And what if we try to peel it?

```
$ git rev-parse --verify 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111^{commit}
warning: refname '1111111111111111111111111111111111111111' is ambiguous.
Git normally never creates a ref that ends with 40 hex characters
because it will be ignored when you just specify 40-hex. These refs
may be created by mistake. For example,

  git switch -c $br $(git rev-parse ...)

where "$br" is somehow empty and a 40-hex ref is created. Please
examine these refs and maybe delete them. Turn this message off by
running "git config advice.objectNameWarning false"
fatal: Needed a single revision
```

Doesn't work.

So these refs essentially cannot be accessed anyway. Restricting
git-update-ref(1) such that it cannot write them in the first place thus
shouldn't be breaking much, I'd claim, and feels like a strict
improvement overall.

Patrick

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  reply	other threads:[~2024-04-10 17:32 UTC|newest]

Thread overview: 194+ messages / expand[flat|nested]  mbox.gz  Atom feed  top
2024-03-30 22:46 [PATCH 0/8] update-ref: add support for update-symref option Karthik Nayak
2024-03-30 22:46 ` [PATCH 1/8] files-backend: extract out `create_symref_lock` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-02 12:20   ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-03 14:52     ` Karthik Nayak
2024-03-30 22:46 ` [PATCH 2/8] reftable-backend: extract out `write_symref_with_log` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-02 12:20   ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-03-30 22:46 ` [PATCH 3/8] reftable-backend: move `write_symref_with_log` up Karthik Nayak
2024-03-30 22:46 ` [PATCH 4/8] refs: accept symref in `ref_transaction_add_update` Karthik Nayak
2024-03-30 22:46 ` [PATCH 5/8] refs/files-backend: add support for symref updates Karthik Nayak
2024-04-02 12:20   ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-03-30 22:46 ` [PATCH 6/8] refs/reftable-backend: " Karthik Nayak
2024-04-02 12:20   ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-03-30 22:46 ` [PATCH 7/8] refs: add 'update-symref' command to 'update-ref' Karthik Nayak
2024-03-31 22:08   ` Junio C Hamano
2024-03-31 22:27     ` Chris Torek
2024-03-31 23:14       ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-01  1:31         ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-02 12:20           ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-02 16:40             ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-09 11:55               ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-09 16:15                 ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-10  4:20                   ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-10 16:06                     ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-10 17:31                       ` Patrick Steinhardt [this message]
2024-04-01 10:38       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-01 11:48     ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-01 16:17       ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-01 20:40         ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-01 22:37         ` Karthik Nayak
2024-03-30 22:46 ` [PATCH 8/8] refs: support symrefs in 'reference-transaction' hook Karthik Nayak
2024-04-02 12:20   ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-12  9:59 ` [PATCH v2 0/7] update-ref: add symref oriented commands Karthik Nayak
2024-04-12  9:59   ` [PATCH v2 1/7] refs: accept symref values in `ref_transaction[_add]_update` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-18 14:25     ` Christian Couder
2024-04-19 10:28       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-18 15:08     ` Phillip Wood
2024-04-19  9:40       ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-19 15:47       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-04 15:15         ` phillip.wood123
2024-04-19  9:40     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-19 18:09       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23  6:31         ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-23 10:48           ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-12  9:59   ` [PATCH v2 2/7] update-ref: add support for symref-verify Karthik Nayak
2024-04-18 14:26     ` Christian Couder
2024-04-19 21:21       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-19  9:40     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-19 21:53       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-12  9:59   ` [PATCH v2 3/7] update-ref: add support for symref-delete Karthik Nayak
2024-04-18 14:52     ` Christian Couder
2024-04-21 10:43       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-19  9:40     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-21 10:45       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-12  9:59   ` [PATCH v2 4/7] files-backend: extract out `create_symref_lock` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-12  9:59   ` [PATCH v2 5/7] update-ref: add support for symref-create Karthik Nayak
2024-04-19  9:40     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-19 15:48       ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-21 12:50       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-21 15:57         ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23  6:39         ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-23 10:52           ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-12  9:59   ` [PATCH v2 6/7] update-ref: add support for symref-update Karthik Nayak
2024-04-19  9:40     ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-21 19:00       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23  6:49         ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-23 11:30           ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-12  9:59   ` [PATCH v2 7/7] refs: support symrefs in 'reference-transaction' hook Karthik Nayak
2024-04-12 18:01   ` [PATCH v2 0/7] update-ref: add symref oriented commands Junio C Hamano
2024-04-12 18:49     ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-18 15:05   ` Christian Couder
2024-04-21 19:06     ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-20  6:16   ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-21 19:11     ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23 21:28   ` [PATCH v3 0/8] refs: add symref support to 'git-update-ref' Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23 21:28     ` [PATCH v3 1/8] refs: accept symref values in `ref_transaction[_add]_update` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23 21:28     ` [PATCH v3 2/8] update-ref: support parsing ref targets in `parse_next_oid` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23 21:28     ` [PATCH v3 3/8] files-backend: extract out `create_symref_lock` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23 21:28     ` [PATCH v3 4/8] update-ref: support symrefs in the verify command Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23 21:28     ` [PATCH v3 5/8] update-ref: support symrefs in the delete command Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23 21:28     ` [PATCH v3 6/8] update-ref: support symrefs in the create command Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23 21:28     ` [PATCH v3 7/8] update-ref: support symrefs in the update command Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23 21:28     ` [PATCH v3 8/8] ref: support symrefs in 'reference-transaction' hook Karthik Nayak
2024-04-23 22:03     ` [PATCH v3 0/8] refs: add symref support to 'git-update-ref' Jeff King
2024-04-24  1:17       ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-24 16:25       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-25  6:40         ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-25 21:12           ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-25 18:01         ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-25 21:14           ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-25 21:55             ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-26 12:48               ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 20:41         ` Jeff King
2024-04-25 17:09     ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-25 21:07       ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 15:24     ` [PATCH v4 0/7] add symref-* commands to 'git-update-ref --stdin' Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 15:24       ` [PATCH v4 1/7] refs: accept symref values in `ref_transaction[_add]_update` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 19:31         ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-26 21:15           ` Jeff King
2024-04-29  7:02             ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-04-29  7:55               ` Jeff King
2024-04-29  9:29                 ` phillip.wood123
2024-04-29  9:32             ` phillip.wood123
2024-04-29 16:18               ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-30 10:33                 ` Jeff King
2024-04-30 10:30               ` Jeff King
2024-04-28 19:36           ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-29 13:38         ` Phillip Wood
2024-04-29 14:01           ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 15:24       ` [PATCH v4 2/7] files-backend: extract out `create_symref_lock` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 21:39         ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-28 19:57           ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 15:24       ` [PATCH v4 3/7] update-ref: add support for 'symref-verify' command Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 22:51         ` Junio C Hamano
2024-04-28 22:28           ` Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 15:24       ` [PATCH v4 4/7] update-ref: add support for 'symref-delete' command Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 15:24       ` [PATCH v4 5/7] update-ref: add support for 'symref-create' command Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 15:24       ` [PATCH v4 6/7] update-ref: add support for 'symref-update' command Karthik Nayak
2024-04-26 15:24       ` [PATCH v4 7/7] ref: support symrefs in 'reference-transaction' hook Karthik Nayak
2024-04-30 10:14       ` [PATCH v4 0/7] add symref-* commands to 'git-update-ref --stdin' Karthik Nayak
2024-05-01 20:22       ` [PATCH v5 0/7] refs: add support for transactional symref updates Karthik Nayak
2024-05-01 20:22         ` [PATCH v5 1/7] refs: accept symref values in `ref_transaction_update()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-01 20:22         ` [PATCH v5 2/7] files-backend: extract out `create_symref_lock()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-01 22:06           ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-02  7:47             ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-05-02 11:05               ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-02 16:49               ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-01 20:22         ` [PATCH v5 3/7] refs: support symrefs in 'reference-transaction' hook Karthik Nayak
2024-05-01 23:05           ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-02  5:32             ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-01 20:22         ` [PATCH v5 4/7] refs: add support for transactional symref updates Karthik Nayak
2024-05-01 23:52           ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-02  5:50             ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-02  7:47               ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-05-02 11:10                 ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-02 16:51                 ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-02 16:00               ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-02 17:53           ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-01 20:22         ` [PATCH v5 5/7] refs: use transaction in `refs_create_symref()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-02  7:47           ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-05-01 20:22         ` [PATCH v5 6/7] refs: rename `refs_create_symref()` to `refs_update_symref()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-02  7:47           ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-05-02 11:34             ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-01 20:22         ` [PATCH v5 7/7] refs: remove `create_symref` and associated dead code Karthik Nayak
2024-05-02  7:47           ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-05-02 16:53             ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-02  0:20         ` [PATCH v5 0/7] refs: add support for transactional symref updates Junio C Hamano
2024-05-02  5:53           ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-03 12:41         ` [PATCH v6 " Karthik Nayak
2024-05-03 12:41           ` [PATCH v6 1/7] refs: accept symref values in `ref_transaction_update()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-04 15:18             ` Phillip Wood
2024-05-05 15:10               ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-05 15:19                 ` phillip.wood123
2024-05-03 12:41           ` [PATCH v6 2/7] files-backend: extract out `create_symref_lock()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-03 12:41           ` [PATCH v6 3/7] refs: support symrefs in 'reference-transaction' hook Karthik Nayak
2024-05-03 12:41           ` [PATCH v6 4/7] refs: add support for transactional symref updates Karthik Nayak
2024-05-05 14:09             ` Phillip Wood
2024-05-05 16:09               ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-06  9:35                 ` Phillip Wood
2024-05-06 11:19                   ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-06 13:19                     ` Phillip Wood
2024-05-06  9:54                 ` Phillip Wood
2024-05-06 11:22                   ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-06 13:17                     ` Phillip Wood
2024-05-03 12:41           ` [PATCH v6 5/7] refs: use transaction in `refs_create_symref()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-03 12:41           ` [PATCH v6 6/7] refs: rename `refs_create_symref()` to `refs_update_symref()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-03 12:41           ` [PATCH v6 7/7] refs: remove `create_symref` and associated dead code Karthik Nayak
2024-05-03 23:09             ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-04  9:30               ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-03 16:45           ` [PATCH v6 0/7] refs: add support for transactional symref updates Junio C Hamano
2024-05-06  7:36           ` Patrick Steinhardt
2024-05-07  6:00           ` [PATCH v7 0/8] " Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07  6:00             ` [PATCH v7 1/8] refs: accept symref values in `ref_transaction_update()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07  6:00             ` [PATCH v7 2/8] files-backend: extract out `create_symref_lock()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07  6:00             ` [PATCH v7 3/8] refs: support symrefs in 'reference-transaction' hook Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07  6:00             ` [PATCH v7 4/8] refs: move `original_update_refname` to 'refs.c' Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07  6:00             ` [PATCH v7 5/8] refs: add support for transactional symref updates Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07  6:00             ` [PATCH v7 6/8] refs: use transaction in `refs_create_symref()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07  6:00             ` [PATCH v7 7/8] refs: rename `refs_create_symref()` to `refs_update_symref()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07  6:00             ` [PATCH v7 8/8] refs: remove `create_symref` and associated dead code Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07  6:25             ` [PATCH v7 0/8] refs: add support for transactional symref updates Junio C Hamano
2024-05-07  6:31               ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-07 12:58             ` [PATCH v8 " Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07 12:58               ` [PATCH v8 1/8] refs: accept symref values in `ref_transaction_update()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07 12:58               ` [PATCH v8 2/8] files-backend: extract out `create_symref_lock()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07 12:58               ` [PATCH v8 3/8] refs: support symrefs in 'reference-transaction' hook Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07 12:58               ` [PATCH v8 4/8] refs: move `original_update_refname` to 'refs.c' Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07 12:58               ` [PATCH v8 5/8] refs: add support for transactional symref updates Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07 12:58               ` [PATCH v8 6/8] refs: use transaction in `refs_create_symref()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07 12:58               ` [PATCH v8 7/8] refs: rename `refs_create_symref()` to `refs_update_symref()` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07 12:58               ` [PATCH v8 8/8] refs: remove `create_symref` and associated dead code Karthik Nayak
2024-05-07 15:50               ` [PATCH v8 0/8] refs: add support for transactional symref updates phillip.wood123
2024-05-07 16:32               ` Junio C Hamano
2024-05-12 17:17                 ` Karthik Nayak
2024-05-13 17:15                   ` Junio C Hamano

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