netfilter buglog - Oct 2013 - [Bug 860] New: Bizarre "cannot use" error inconsistent with command line

https://bugzilla.netfilter.org/show_bug.cgi?id=860

           Summary: Bizarre "cannot use" error inconsistent with
command
                    line
           Product: iptables
           Version: 1.4.x
          Platform: arm
        OS/Version: other
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P5
         Component: iptables
        AssignedTo: netfilter-buglog at lists.netfilter.org
        ReportedBy: eric.bock.1980 at gmail.com
   Estimated Hours: 1.0


iptables 1.4.11.1 (sometimes installed by Android) and iptables 1.4.10
(sometimes installed by third parties) produce nonsensical usage errors for
some dubious command lines:

iptables --list -L
iptables v1.4.11.1: Cannot use -L with -L
iptables --list-rules -S
iptables v1.4.11.1: Cannot use -E with -E
iptables --flush -F
iptables v1.4.11.1: Cannot use -F with -F
iptables --zero -Z
iptables v1.4.11.1: Cannot use -Z with -Z
iptables --new -N
iptables v1.4.11.1: chain name not allowed to start with `-'
iptables --policy -P
iptables v1.4.11.1: -X requires a chain and a policy

Note the difference between the arguments and the error for --list-rules and
--policy.  Also, reactions to -E vary in spacing and relevance:

[ 2 ] app_42 at android:/$ iptables -E a
iptables v1.4.11.1: -P requires old-chain-name and new-chain-name
Try `iptables -h' or 'iptables --help' for more information.
[ 2 ] app_42 at android:/$ iptables -E a b -E
iptables v1.4.11.1: option "-E" requires an argument
Try `iptables -h' or 'iptables --help' for more information.
[ 2 ] app_42 at android:/$ iptables -E a b -E b
iptables v1.4.11.1: Cannot use -P with -P

Try `iptables -h' or 'iptables --help' for more information.
[ 2 ] app_42 at android:/$ iptables -E a b -E b c
iptables v1.4.11.1: Cannot use -P with -P

Try `iptables -h' or 'iptables --help' for more information.

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https://bugzilla.netfilter.org/show_bug.cgi?id=860

Phil Oester <netfilter at linuxace.com> changed:

           What    |Removed                     |Added
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Status|NEW                         |RESOLVED
                 CC|                            |netfilter at linuxace.com
         Resolution|                            |INVALID
    Remaining Hours|1.0                         |0.0

--- Comment #1 from Phil Oester <netfilter at linuxace.com> 2013-10-21
22:23:14 CEST ---
Please don't file bugs against ancient iptables versions.  The bugs you are
reporting have been fixed in later versions already.  If you wish to continue
using these old versions, you can backport the fixes yourself.  Otherwise, I
suggest upgrading to the latest iptables release.

# /usr/local/iptables/sbin/iptables -V
iptables v1.4.20

# /usr/local/iptables/sbin/iptables --list-rules -S
iptables v1.4.20: Cannot use -S with -S

# /usr/local/iptables/sbin/iptables --policy -P
iptables v1.4.20: -P requires a chain and a policy

Closing.

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