[Bug 1579560] [NEW] mix-up of cron job stderr outputs for simultaneous jobs when sent over postfix

Sun May 8 18:55:22 UTC 2016

Public bug reported:

Description already available at
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/293431.

Use case: two (non-root) cron jobs trigger simultaneously (i.e. two different crontab entries scheduled at the same time)

Context: Trusty 14.04.4 Desktop LTS
$ uname -r /// 3.16.0-50-generic
Cron version: 3.0pl1-124ubuntu2 (trusty)
Postfix version: 2.11.0-1 (trusty)

# cron entry #1
# `rsync' Mozilla FF's profile from RAM-DISK to SSD every 4 hrs.
# (FF's profile lives in RAM right from boot on.)
0 */4 * * * . $HOME/.profile; /opt/bin/fxram-sync profile

# cron entry #2
# Download an embedded picture from a specific web page every 2 hrs.
# Save with date-stamp.
0 */2 * * * . $HOME/.profile; /usr/bin/wget -O $HOME/Press-rev/Pix/$(/bin/date +%Y%m%D%H%M%S).png -o $HOME/Downloads/Logs/wget.log -- https://some.domain.net/news/that-pix.png

Cron jobs and pertinent script(s) function perfectly well.
Postfix is configured and has be stable in last 18 months.

As soon as the 2 cron entries are enabled (to trigger simultaneously)
however, Cron Daemon starts sending mixed up stderr outputs (via
Postfix). See example below:

===============================
    From: Cron Daemon <---@ ---->
    Subject: Cron . $HOME/.profile; /usr/bin/wget -O $HOME/Press-rev/Pix/$(/bin/date +%Y%m%D%H%M%S).png -- https://some.domain.net/news/that-pix.png
    To: mailuser at domain.com

    rsync: stat "/home/user/.mozilla/firefox/main/.cookies.sqlite-wal.YA5Dzv" failed: No such file or directory (2)
    rsync: rename "/home/user/.mozilla/firefox/main/.cookies.sqlite-wal.YA5Dzv" -> "cookies.sqlite-wal": No such file or directory (2)
    rsync error: some files/attrs were not transferred (see previous errors) (code 23) at main.c(1183) [sender=3.1.0]
===============================

In the example above one gets the header subject line from cron entry
#2, which otherwise produces no error, and in the message body the
stderr of cron entry #1 about .cookies.sqlite-wal not being found
(normal in my setup).

By delaying either one of the two cron entries by a few minutes, the email snafu disappears completely and no stderr output report is mailed.
___________________________________________________________________

COPY OF THE NON-SANITIZED Cron Daemon email provided as attachment.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: cron 3.0pl1-124ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-50.67~14.04.1-generic 3.16.7-ckt16
Uname: Linux 3.16.0-50-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.19
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sun May  8 20:43:48 2016
ExecutablePath: /usr/sbin/cron
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-09 (729 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 TERM=linux
SourcePackage: cron
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
mtime.conffile..etc.init.cron.conf: 2014-10-10T12:35:19.881072

** Affects: cron (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Tags: amd64 apport-bug third-party-packages trusty

** Attachment added: "Cron <ckb at Schubert> . $HOME_.profile; _usr_bin_wget -O $HOME_.thunderbird_835kzmqu.default_Mail_se-flair_4592671.png -o $HOME_Downloads_Logs_wget.log -- https:_stackexchange.com_users_flair_4592671.png.eml"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1579560/+attachment/4658814/+files/Cron%20%3Cckb%40Schubert%3E%20.%20%24HOME_.profile%3B%20_usr_bin_wget%20-O%20%24HOME_.thunderbird_835kzmqu.default_Mail_se-flair_4592671.png%20-o%20%24HOME_Downloads_Logs_wget.log%20--%20https%3A_stackexchange.com_users_flair_4592671.png.eml

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1579560

Title:
  mix-up of cron job stderr outputs for simultaneous jobs when sent over
  postfix

Status in cron package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Description already available at
  https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/293431.

  Use case: two (non-root) cron jobs trigger simultaneously (i.e. two different crontab entries scheduled at the same time)

  Context: Trusty 14.04.4 Desktop LTS
  $ uname -r /// 3.16.0-50-generic
  Cron version: 3.0pl1-124ubuntu2 (trusty)
  Postfix version: 2.11.0-1 (trusty)

  # cron entry #1
  # `rsync' Mozilla FF's profile from RAM-DISK to SSD every 4 hrs.
  # (FF's profile lives in RAM right from boot on.)
  0 */4 * * * . $HOME/.profile; /opt/bin/fxram-sync profile

  # cron entry #2
  # Download an embedded picture from a specific web page every 2 hrs.
  # Save with date-stamp.
  0 */2 * * * . $HOME/.profile; /usr/bin/wget -O $HOME/Press-rev/Pix/$(/bin/date +%Y%m%D%H%M%S).png -o $HOME/Downloads/Logs/wget.log -- https://some.domain.net/news/that-pix.png

  Cron jobs and pertinent script(s) function perfectly well.
  Postfix is configured and has be stable in last 18 months.

  As soon as the 2 cron entries are enabled (to trigger simultaneously)
  however, Cron Daemon starts sending mixed up stderr outputs (via
  Postfix). See example below:

  ===============================
      From: Cron Daemon <---@ ---->
      Subject: Cron . $HOME/.profile; /usr/bin/wget -O $HOME/Press-rev/Pix/$(/bin/date +%Y%m%D%H%M%S).png -- https://some.domain.net/news/that-pix.png
      To: mailuser at domain.com

      rsync: stat "/home/user/.mozilla/firefox/main/.cookies.sqlite-wal.YA5Dzv" failed: No such file or directory (2)
      rsync: rename "/home/user/.mozilla/firefox/main/.cookies.sqlite-wal.YA5Dzv" -> "cookies.sqlite-wal": No such file or directory (2)
      rsync error: some files/attrs were not transferred (see previous errors) (code 23) at main.c(1183) [sender=3.1.0]
  ===============================

  In the example above one gets the header subject line from cron entry
  #2, which otherwise produces no error, and in the message body the
  stderr of cron entry #1 about .cookies.sqlite-wal not being found
  (normal in my setup).

  By delaying either one of the two cron entries by a few minutes, the email snafu disappears completely and no stderr output report is mailed.
  ___________________________________________________________________

  COPY OF THE NON-SANITIZED Cron Daemon email provided as attachment.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
  Package: cron 3.0pl1-124ubuntu2
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-50.67~14.04.1-generic 3.16.7-ckt16
  Uname: Linux 3.16.0-50-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.19
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Sun May  8 20:43:48 2016
  ExecutablePath: /usr/sbin/cron
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-09 (729 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
  ProcEnviron:
   PATH=(custom, no user)
   TERM=linux
  SourcePackage: cron
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
  mtime.conffile..etc.init.cron.conf: 2014-10-10T12:35:19.881072

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