[Bug 1034834] [NEW] Captive WiFi portals corrupt package lists

[TJ]

Public bug reported:

I've dealt with several users reporting apt is broken. The cause is
corrupted package lists in /var/lib/apt/lists/ caused by captive portals
on WiFi networks that are returning HTTP 200 responses but with the
content being the captive portal's login page.

apt doesn't realise the content is invalid - it doesn't check the
signature - before writing it to the system.

This affects Precise users with apt 0.8.16.

It shouldn't affect Quantal's 0.9.7 since that apparently checks the gpg
signatures.

** Affects: apt (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: Confirmed

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1034834

Title:
  Captive WiFi portals corrupt package lists

Status in “apt” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  I've dealt with several users reporting apt is broken. The cause is
  corrupted package lists in /var/lib/apt/lists/ caused by captive
  portals on WiFi networks that are returning HTTP 200 responses but
  with the content being the captive portal's login page.

  apt doesn't realise the content is invalid - it doesn't check the
  signature - before writing it to the system.

  This affects Precise users with apt 0.8.16.

  It shouldn't affect Quantal's 0.9.7 since that apparently checks the
  gpg signatures.

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