Bug#1126502: dpkg does not accept non-ascii chars in email address

Hi!

On Tue, 2026-01-27 at 22:15:36 +0530, Nilesh Patra wrote:
> Package: dpkg
> Severity: important
> X-Debbugs-Cc: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>.org
> Control: affects -1 + src:lintian
> Version: 1.23.5

> Lintian’s test suite reflects this error:
> 
> | dpkg-source: warning: --auto-commit is not a valid option for Dpkg::Source::Package::V3::Native
> | dpkg-source: error: cannot parse Maintainer field value "Colorful <"colorful"@43-1.org>”
> | dpkg-buildpackage: error: dpkg-source -iNEVER_MATCH_ANYTHING -INEVER_MATCH_ANYTHING --auto-commit --before-build . subprocess failed with exit status 255
> | make: *** [/tmp/autopkgtest-lxc.18_8mz9y/downtmp/autopkgtest_tmp/build-and-evaluate-test-packages/package-sources/checks/fields/terminal-control/colorful/Makefile:39: colorful_1.0_amd64.changes] Error 255

Hmm, TBH I don't think I'm comfortable allowing ANSI escapes as part
of email addresses? This feels unnecessary and a recipe for terminal
exploits and similar.

> This is a fallout with #962277.
> 
> dpkg should allow domains with non-ascii chars. For now I’ll try to
> drop this test from lintian test suite.

Otherwise the parser already supports UTF-8 characters in both the
local and domain parts:

  $ perl -Mv5.40 -MDpkg::Email::Address -E '\
      my $e = Dpkg::Email::Address->new("Foo Bar <föo\@bår.org>"); \
      say $e->as_string(); \
    '
  Foo Bar <föo@bår.org>

So, I'm inclined to close this one.

Thanks,
Guillem