Bug report

Bug description

Same class of bug as gh-146452 but in the list pickling path. batch_list_exact() uses PyList_GET_ITEM() which returns a borrowed reference, and a concurrent list.clear() or mutation can free the backing array before Py_INCREF gets to it.

Found while working on the dict fix in gh-146452 — checked the list path and it has the same pattern.

Reproducer

import pickle
import threading

shared = list(range(200))

for trial in range(2000):
    barrier = threading.Barrier(4)

    def dumper():
        try:
            barrier.wait()
            pickle.dumps(shared)
        except Exception:
            pass

    def mutator():
        try:
            barrier.wait()
            for j in range(500):
                shared.append([j] * 20)
                if len(shared) > 100:
                    shared.clear()
                    shared.extend(range(50))
        except Exception:
            pass

    threads = [
        threading.Thread(target=dumper),
        threading.Thread(target=dumper),
        threading.Thread(target=mutator),
        threading.Thread(target=mutator),
    ]
    for t in threads: t.start()
    for t in threads: t.join()

Tested on

3.14.0a4 free-threading (stock install, no sanitizers):

$ python3.14t reproducer.py
Segmentation fault (core dumped)

3.15.0a7+ free-threading (built with --with-address-sanitizer):

==2034815==ERROR: AddressSanitizer: SEGV on unknown address 0x00000000000c
    #0 _Py_atomic_load_uint32_relaxed Include/cpython/pyatomic_gcc.h:367
    #1 Py_INCREF Include/refcount.h:267
    #2 batch_list_exact Modules/_pickle.c:3213
    #3 save_list Modules/_pickle.c:3268
    #4 save Modules/_pickle.c:4595
    #5 dump Modules/_pickle.c:4768
    #6 _pickle_dumps_impl Modules/_pickle.c:7992

Root cause

batch_list_exact() iterates list items using PyList_GET_ITEM() (borrowed ref) at lines 3196 and 3212. A concurrent list mutation can invalidate the borrowed reference before Py_INCREF. Same pattern as the dict issue in gh-146452.

Possible fix

Same helper function approach as gh-146452 — wrap batch_list_exact in Py_BEGIN_CRITICAL_SECTION(obj) / Py_END_CRITICAL_SECTION(). Happy to send a PR.

CPython versions tested on

3.14, CPython main branch

Operating systems tested on

Linux