#432 [linux] pwsafe 0.94.1 error: Unable to create intermediate backup

[Marco Guazzone]

Hello,

I'm running pwsafe 0.94.1 x86_64 (rpm) under Fedora 21.

I'm unable to make changes to the password database as every time I
try to save them I get the error:
Unable to create intermediate backup

I don't think it's a permission problem as the database files are
writable by me:

-rw-rw-r--. 1 sguazt sguazt 440 Dec 26 09:12 pwsafe_001.ibak
-rw-rw-r--. 1 sguazt sguazt 61000 Dec 26 09:20 pwsafe.psafe3

I've tried the following hacks without success:
1. Assign 755 (rwxr-xr-x) permissions to parent directory (instead of
700, that is rwx------).
2. Rebuild the entire database.

In particular, hack #2 left me somewhat surprised so here below are more details
1. Exported current database pwsafe.psafe3 to text file pwsafe.txt
(with default settings) => OK
2. Closed current database and removed it together with all ".ibak" files => OK
3. Created a new empty database pwsafe.psafe3 and reclosed => OK
4. Opened the just created database pwsafe.psafe3 e imported the
previously exported database pwsafe.txt => OK
5. Saved the database pwsafe.psafe3 and closed => OK
6. Reopened the database pwsafe.psafe3 and changed some detail => KO

In summary, as soon as I try make some change (see step #6) I get the
error in the subject.

I am wrong in doing something or is this a kind of bug?

Thank you very much for the help.

Best,

Marco

PS: I've tried to submit this to the linux mailing list (after subscribing it) but the email returned back. Sorry, for this double post.

[Rony Shapiro]

If you can run "strace pwsafe" on an sample database reproducing the problem and send me the output, that could help a lot.

[Marco Guazzone]

Sure!
I've created a test database that I've included in the attachment.
If you need to inspect the database, the safe combination is "123456".

Thank you

[Saurav Ghosh]

Is your Backup directory (as in Options => Backups) writeable?

[Marco Guazzone]

Yes, it is the same as database's. Permissions are:

drwx------. 2 sguazt sguazt 4096 Dec 28 11:15 .
drwx------. 68 sguazt sguazt 12288 Dec 28 11:15 ..
-rw-rw-r--. 1 sguazt sguazt 344 Dec 28 11:10 pwsafe_001.ibak
-rw-rw-r--. 1 sguazt sguazt 650 Dec 28 11:07 pwsafe.cfg
-rw-rw-r--. 1 sguazt sguazt 552 Dec 28 11:11 pwsafe.psafe3
-rw-rw-r--. 1 sguazt sguazt 10212863 Dec 28 11:11 pwsafe.strace

Also, note that in my previous tests I've tried to change the permissions of the "." directory from "drwx------" into "drwxr-xr-x" (see my first email for more details), but the problem persisted.

Cheers

[Rony Shapiro]

OK. Here's the problem:
rename("/home/sguazt/.pwsafe/pwsafe.psafe3", "/_002.ibak") = -1 EXDEV (Invalid cross-device link)

PasswordSafe thinks your backup directory is "/", and the backup filename "_002.ibak".

I think I've fixed this very bug recently. Please keep a look out for the 0.95 release (hopefully very soon) and let me know if it resolves the issue for you.

[Marco Guazzone]

Hi,
I've just updated to version 0.95.
It works like a charm and solved the problem.
Thank you very much.

-- Marco