[Bug 346386] Re: [MASTER] Update fails with invalid package files with "Encountered a section with no Package: header"

[Launchpad Bug Tracker]

This bug was fixed in the package apt - 0.8.16~exp12ubuntu10.5

---------------
apt (0.8.16~exp12ubuntu10.5) precise-proposed; urgency=low

  * apt-pkg/pkgcachegen.cc:
    - Fix crash if the cache is remapped while writing a Provides version
      (LP: #1066445).

apt (0.8.16~exp12ubuntu10.4) precise-proposed; urgency=low

  [ David Kalnischkies ]
  * apt-pkg/packagemanager.cc:
    - do not run into loop on new-pre-depends-breaks (Closes: #673536)
      LP: #1050791
  * apt-pkg/cachefile.cc:
    - clean up lost atomic cachefiles with 'clean' (Closes: #650513)
      LP: #1050779

  [ TJ ]
  * apt-pkg/contrib/netrc.cc:
    - increase LOGINSIZE/PASSWORDSIZE limits and add proper error
      if the limits are reached (LP: #1065429)

  [ Michael Vogt ]
  * lp:~mvo/apt/lp346386-precise:
    - fail gracefully when a InRelease file is not valid, e.g. behind
      paywalls (LP: #346386)
 -- Colin Watson <cjwatson at ubuntu.com>   Mon, 15 Oct 2012 05:42:45 +0100

** Changed in: apt (Ubuntu Precise)
       Status: Fix Committed => Fix Released

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/346386

Title:
  [MASTER] Update fails with invalid package files with "Encountered a
  section with no Package: header"

Status in “apt” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “apt” source package in Natty:
  Fix Released
Status in “apt” source package in Precise:
  Fix Released
Status in “apt” package in Debian:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: adept-updater

  Pertinent data printed when attempting to run Updater as follows:

  An unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package
  information.

  Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and
  include the following error message:

  'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with
  MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu
  .com_ubuntu_dists_intrepid_universe_binary-amd64_Packages, E:The
  package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'

  WORKAROUND:
  Remove problematic files from /var/lib/apt/lists/ and rerun apt-get update.

  In the event that one is connected to a network with a proxy server
  that returns html pages (like a web page requesting you to login) and
  not package list files.   Those html files will get downloaded to
  /var/lib/apt/lists/ and prevent someone from using a package manager
  until the problem html pages are removed.

  TEST CASE:
  1) download the dummy-proxy attachment from this bug report
  2) run dummy-proxy (python dummy-proxy) on a precise system (this simulates a proxy that is not allowing access to archive.ubuntu.com and gives you   garbage html instead)
  2.5) Execute 'sudo -i' in a terminal
  3) Execute 'http_proxy=http://localhost:8080 apt-get update' in same terminal
  4) Observe the following error messages in your terminal:
  W: GPG error: http://archive.ubuntu.com precise InRelease: File /var/lib/apt/lists/partial/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_InRelease doesn't  start with a clearsigned message
  W: Failed to fetch http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/precise/multiverse/i18n/Index  No Hash entry in Release file /var/lib/apt/lists/partial/    archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_multiverse_i18n_Index
  W: Failed to fetch gzip:/var/lib/apt/lists/partial/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_multiverse_source_Sources Encountered a section with no    Package: header
  5) Stop dummy-proxy
  6) Execute 'sudo apt-get update' in a terminal
  7) Observe the following error message:
  Reading package lists... Done
  W: GPG error: http://archive.ubuntu.com precise Release: The following signatures were invalid: BADSIG 40976EAF437D05B5 Ubuntu Archive Automatic      Signing Key <ftpmaster at ubuntu.com>
  8) Remove the problematic files in /var/lib/apt/lists (sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/*)

  Install apt from -proposed
  1) run dummy-proxy (python dummy-proxy) on a precise system (this simulates a proxy that is not allowing access to archive.ubuntu.com and gives you   garbarge html instead)
  1.5) Execute 'sudo -i' in a terminal
  2) Execute 'http_proxy=http://localhost:8080 apt-get update' in same terminal
  3) Observe the following error messages in your terminal:
  W: A error occurred during the signature verification. The repository is not updated and the previous index files will be used. GPG error: http://    archive.ubuntu.com precise Release: The following signatures were invalid: NODATA 1 NODATA 2
  W: Failed to fetch http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release
  W: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
  4) Stop dummy-proxy
  5) Execute 'sudo apt-get update' in a terminal
  6) Observe the update succeed

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