Working draft

F15 pax-size-on-dir

A pax size on a directory, which takes the next header for its data.

Reject(draft) A strict parser must reject this archive.

Category
framing
Default policy
rejects it
Files
F15-pax-size-on-dir.tar test archive, 3,072 bytes sha256 b0046b27e497e1d60f2a8689c3cf1bc475598c474ff6dbfbd21d4b2c03a92dd5
F15-pax-size-on-dir.jsonexpected result
F15-pax-size-on-dir.txtannotated blocks
F15-pax-size-on-dir.pygenerator script

The case

The pax extended header of a directory has size=512. In POSIX, no data is stored for a directory, whatever its size, so the next block is the header of a file, dir/smuggled. This case is ambiguous in practice because, if the size applies, that block is the directory's data instead, and the tree is a directory alone.

Decision point: whether a pax size applies to a member without data.

Seen in: llama_index_workflows 2.26.0, with a pax size on a directory.

The archive

Every block of 512 bytes, to scale, with its offset. Hover over a field for its bytes.

F15-pax-size-on-dir: every block of the archive0x000000header: pax extended header, for dir/, with size=512name [0,100): "PaxHeader" + 91 NULnamemode [100,108): "0000644" + NUL, 644 (octal)uid [108,116): "0000000" + NUL, 0gid [116,124): "0000000" + NUL, 0size [124,136): "00000000014" + NUL, 12mtime [136,148): "00000000000" + NUL, 0chksum [148,156): "011074\0 ", 4668: the unsigned sum of the header, this field as spacestypeflag [156,157): "x", pax extended headerlinkname [157,257): 100 NULlinknamemagic [257,263): "ustar" + NULversion [263,265): "00"uname [265,297): 32 NULunamegname [297,329): 32 NULgnamedevmajor [329,337): "0000000" + NUL, 0devminor [337,345): "0000000" + NUL, 0prefix [345,500): 155 NULprefixpad [500,512): 12 NULname "PaxHeader" + 91 NUL0x000200data: pax records12 bytes of pax records, then 500 NUL; "12 size=512\n""12 size=512\n"0x000400header: directory, no data, but the pax size is 512name [0,100): "dir/" + 96 NULnamemode [100,108): "0000755" + NUL, 755 (octal)uid [108,116): "0000000" + NUL, 0gid [116,124): "0000000" + NUL, 0size [124,136): "00000000000" + NUL, 0mtime [136,148): "00000000000" + NUL, 0chksum [148,156): "007763\0 ", 4083: the unsigned sum of the header, this field as spacestypeflag [156,157): "5", directorylinkname [157,257): 100 NULlinknamemagic [257,263): "ustar" + NULversion [263,265): "00"uname [265,297): 32 NULunamegname [297,329): 32 NULgnamedevmajor [329,337): "0000000" + NUL, 0devminor [337,345): "0000000" + NUL, 0prefix [345,500): 155 NULprefixpad [500,512): 12 NULname "dir/" + 96 NUL0x000600header: regular file, the block that the pax size coversname [0,100): "dir/smuggled" + 88 NULnamemode [100,108): "0000644" + NUL, 644 (octal)uid [108,116): "0000000" + NUL, 0gid [116,124): "0000000" + NUL, 0size [124,136): "00000000000" + NUL, 0mtime [136,148): "00000000000" + NUL, 0chksum [148,156): "011503\0 ", 4931: the unsigned sum of the header, this field as spacestypeflag [156,157): "0", regular filelinkname [157,257): 100 NULlinknamemagic [257,263): "ustar" + NULversion [263,265): "00"uname [265,297): 32 NULunamegname [297,329): 32 NULgnamedevmajor [329,337): "0000000" + NUL, 0devminor [337,345): "0000000" + NUL, 0prefix [345,500): 155 NULprefixpad [500,512): 12 NULname "dir/smuggled" + 88 NUL0x0008002 zero blocks: the end-of-archive markerbytes 0 to 512 of 1024: 512 NUL0x000a002 zero blocks, continuedbytes 512 to 1024 of 1024: 512 NUL0x000c00end of fileNULprintable ASCIIspacecontrol character, such as a newlinebyte over 0x7fwritten by the case itself
Every block, as text 
F15-pax-size-on-dir: must reject

A pax `size` on a directory, which takes the next header for its data.

The pax extended header of a directory has `size=512`. In POSIX, no data is stored for a directory,
whatever its size, so the next block is the header of a file, `dir/smuggled`. This case is
ambiguous in practice because, if the size applies, that block is the directory's data instead, and
the tree is a directory alone.

Decision point: whether a pax `size` applies to a member without data.
Seen in: llama_index_workflows 2.26.0, with a pax size on a directory.
See also: F33, a size in the ustar header of a directory, and F35, a pax `size` on a hard link,
which are rejected as well.

0x000000  header: pax extended header, for dir/, with size=512
          name     [  0,100)  "PaxHeader" + 91 NUL
          mode     [100,108)  "0000644" + NUL  644 (octal)
          uid      [108,116)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          gid      [116,124)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          size     [124,136)  "00000000014" + NUL  12
          mtime    [136,148)  "00000000000" + NUL  0
          chksum   [148,156)  "011074\0 "  4668: the unsigned sum of the header, this field as spaces
          typeflag [156,157)  "x"  pax extended header
          linkname [157,257)  100 NUL
          magic    [257,263)  "ustar" + NUL
          version  [263,265)  "00"
          uname    [265,297)  32 NUL
          gname    [297,329)  32 NUL
          devmajor [329,337)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          devminor [337,345)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          prefix   [345,500)  155 NUL
          pad      [500,512)  12 NUL
0x000200  data: pax records
          12 bytes of pax records, then 500 NUL
          "12 size=512\n"
0x000400  header: directory, no data, but the pax size is 512
          name     [  0,100)  "dir/" + 96 NUL
          mode     [100,108)  "0000755" + NUL  755 (octal)
          uid      [108,116)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          gid      [116,124)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          size     [124,136)  "00000000000" + NUL  0
          mtime    [136,148)  "00000000000" + NUL  0
          chksum   [148,156)  "007763\0 "  4083: the unsigned sum of the header, this field as spaces
          typeflag [156,157)  "5"  directory
          linkname [157,257)  100 NUL
          magic    [257,263)  "ustar" + NUL
          version  [263,265)  "00"
          uname    [265,297)  32 NUL
          gname    [297,329)  32 NUL
          devmajor [329,337)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          devminor [337,345)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          prefix   [345,500)  155 NUL
          pad      [500,512)  12 NUL
0x000600  header: regular file, the block that the pax size covers
          name     [  0,100)  "dir/smuggled" + 88 NUL
          mode     [100,108)  "0000644" + NUL  644 (octal)
          uid      [108,116)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          gid      [116,124)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          size     [124,136)  "00000000000" + NUL  0
          mtime    [136,148)  "00000000000" + NUL  0
          chksum   [148,156)  "011503\0 "  4931: the unsigned sum of the header, this field as spaces
          typeflag [156,157)  "0"  regular file
          linkname [157,257)  100 NUL
          magic    [257,263)  "ustar" + NUL
          version  [263,265)  "00"
          uname    [265,297)  32 NUL
          gname    [297,329)  32 NUL
          devmajor [329,337)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          devminor [337,345)  "0000000" + NUL  0
          prefix   [345,500)  155 NUL
          pad      [500,512)  12 NUL
0x000800  2 zero blocks: the end-of-archive marker
0x000c00  end of file
Every byte, as a hex dump

As xxd writes it: xxd -r makes the archive of it.

00000000: 5061 7848 6561 6465 7200 0000 0000 0000  PaxHeader.......
00000010: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000020: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000030: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000040: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000050: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000060: 0000 0000 3030 3030 3634 3400 3030 3030  ....0000644.0000
00000070: 3030 3000 3030 3030 3030 3000 3030 3030  000.0000000.0000
00000080: 3030 3030 3031 3400 3030 3030 3030 3030  0000014.00000000
00000090: 3030 3000 3031 3130 3734 0020 7800 0000  000.011074. x...
000000a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000000b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000000c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000000d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000000e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000000f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000100: 0075 7374 6172 0030 3000 0000 0000 0000  .ustar.00.......
00000110: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000120: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000130: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000140: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0030 3030 3030 3030  .........0000000
00000150: 0030 3030 3030 3030 0000 0000 0000 0000  .0000000........
00000160: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000170: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000180: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000190: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000001a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000001b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000001c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000001d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000001e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000001f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000200: 3132 2073 697a 653d 3531 320a 0000 0000  12 size=512.....
00000210: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000220: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000230: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000240: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000250: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000260: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000270: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000280: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000290: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000002a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000002b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000002c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000002d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000002e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000002f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000300: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000310: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000320: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000330: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000340: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000350: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000360: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000370: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000380: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000390: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000003a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000003b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000003c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000003d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000003e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000003f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000400: 6469 722f 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  dir/............
00000410: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000420: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000430: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000440: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000450: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000460: 0000 0000 3030 3030 3735 3500 3030 3030  ....0000755.0000
00000470: 3030 3000 3030 3030 3030 3000 3030 3030  000.0000000.0000
00000480: 3030 3030 3030 3000 3030 3030 3030 3030  0000000.00000000
00000490: 3030 3000 3030 3737 3633 0020 3500 0000  000.007763. 5...
000004a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000004b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000004c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000004d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000004e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000004f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000500: 0075 7374 6172 0030 3000 0000 0000 0000  .ustar.00.......
00000510: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000520: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000530: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000540: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0030 3030 3030 3030  .........0000000
00000550: 0030 3030 3030 3030 0000 0000 0000 0000  .0000000........
00000560: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000570: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000580: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000590: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000005a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000005b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000005c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000005d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000005e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000005f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000600: 6469 722f 736d 7567 676c 6564 0000 0000  dir/smuggled....
00000610: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000620: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000630: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000640: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000650: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000660: 0000 0000 3030 3030 3634 3400 3030 3030  ....0000644.0000
00000670: 3030 3000 3030 3030 3030 3000 3030 3030  000.0000000.0000
00000680: 3030 3030 3030 3000 3030 3030 3030 3030  0000000.00000000
00000690: 3030 3000 3031 3135 3033 0020 3000 0000  000.011503. 0...
000006a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000006b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000006c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000006d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000006e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000006f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000700: 0075 7374 6172 0030 3000 0000 0000 0000  .ustar.00.......
00000710: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000720: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000730: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000740: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0030 3030 3030 3030  .........0000000
00000750: 0030 3030 3030 3030 0000 0000 0000 0000  .0000000........
00000760: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000770: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000780: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000790: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000007a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000007b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000007c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000007d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000007e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000007f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000800: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000810: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000820: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000830: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000840: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000850: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000860: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000870: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000880: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000890: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000008a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000008b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000008c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000008d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000008e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000008f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000900: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000910: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000920: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000930: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000940: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000950: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000960: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000970: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000980: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000990: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000009a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000009b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000009c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000009d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000009e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
000009f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000a00: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000a10: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000a20: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000a30: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000a40: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000a50: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000a60: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000a70: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000a80: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000a90: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000aa0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000ab0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000ac0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000ad0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000ae0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000af0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000b00: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000b10: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000b20: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000b30: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000b40: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000b50: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000b60: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000b70: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000b80: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000b90: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000ba0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000bb0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000bc0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000bd0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000be0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
00000bf0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................

What implementations make of it

implementationversionoutcomewhat it makes of it
GNU tartar (GNU tar) 1.35⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
bsdtarbsdtar 3.8.10 - libarchive 3.8.10⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
BusyBox tarBusyBox v1.38.0, defconfig⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
7-Zip7-Zip (z) 26.05 (x64)⚠️ acceptstree B: dir/
Python tarfile, filter=data, as in pipCPython 3.15.2⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
Python tarfile, filter=tarCPython 3.15.2⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
Python tarfile, filter=fully_trustedCPython 3.15.2⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
node-tartar 7.5.22⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
node-tar, stricttar 7.5.22⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
tar-fstar-fs 3.1.3, on tar-stream 3.2.2⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
Java Commons CompressCommons Compress 1.28.0, Expander, on Java 27.0.1.0.2⚠️ acceptstree B: dir/
.NET System.Formats.TarSystem.Formats.Tar of .NET 10.0.14, ExtractToDirectory✅ as the verdict sayserror: InvalidDataException: The value of the size field for the current entry of type 'Directory' is greater than the expected length.
PHP PharData, as in ComposerPharData of PHP 8.5.12, as Composer's TarDownloader calls it⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
Go containerd archive.Applycontainerd v2.4.2, archive.Apply, of go1.27.3⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
Rust tartar 0.4.46, unpack⚠️ acceptstree B: dir/
Rust astral-tokio-tarastral-tokio-tar 0.7.0, unpack⚠️ acceptstree B: dir/
Rust tar-codec, as in uvtar-codec 0.0.15, with the policies of uv 0.13✅ as the verdict sayserror: at byte 1024: member type Directory cannot carry payload size 512
RubyGemsRubyGems 4.0.20 of Ruby 4.0.9, extract_tar_gz⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
R untar, internalutils::untar of R 4.6.1, tar = "internal"⚠️ acceptstree C: dir/, dir/smuggled (512 B, 076a27c7)
Perl Archive::TarArchive::Tar 3.12 of Perl v5.44.0⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
Haskell tartar 0.7.2.0, extract, of GHC 9.14⚠️ acceptstree A: dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
Julia Tar.jlTar 1.10.0 of Julia 1.13.3✅ as the verdict sayserror: directory with non-zero size Tar.Header("dir/", :directory, 0o755, 512, "")
live-bootstrap untarmescc-tools-extra a151c245e512, as live-bootstrap pins it, built with cc⚠️ acceptstree D: PaxHeader (12 B, 609af461), dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)
live-bootstrap untar, --non-strictmescc-tools-extra a151c245e512, as live-bootstrap pins it, built with cc⚠️ acceptstree D: PaxHeader (12 B, 609af461), dir/, dir/smuggled (0 B, e3b0c442)

Prevalence in release tarballs

Release tarballs of Spack, nixpkgs, Guix and live-bootstrap, and samples of PyPI, crates.io and RubyGems with pax.size-on-dir. The default policy rejects all of them.

ecosystemtarballswith itshare
Spack37,5530none
nixpkgs18,9901<0.01%
Guix10,1680none
PyPI10,00080.08%
crates.io5,0000none
RubyGems5,0000none
live-bootstrap1710none
total (distinct)82,58690.01%

See the list of these 9 tarballs, with the sha256 of each and an example from it.

See also