Application does not catch exception after running a System.Diagnostics.Process in release mode

[Procee]

Android application type

.NET Android (net7.0-android, net8.0-android, etc.)

Affected platform version

.NET 8.0.101

Description

Application does not catch exception after running a System.Diagnostics.Process in release mode, in debug mode it runs fine.

Note that it does not cause a crash on every exception for example if you throw new Exception(), this won't result in a crash in release mode.

Steps to Reproduce

Use the default Android Application template and add the following code:

using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Xml;
using _Microsoft.Android.Resource.Designer;
using Android.Util;
using Activity = Android.App.Activity;

namespace AndroidApp1;

[Activity(Label = "@string/app_name", MainLauncher = true)]
public class MainActivity : Activity
{
    protected override void OnCreate(Bundle? savedInstanceState)
    {
        base.OnCreate(savedInstanceState);
        SetContentView(ResourceConstant.Layout.activity_main);

        CatchException("Before ShellCommand");

        using var _ = Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo("/system/bin/hostname"));
        
        CatchException("After ShellCommand"); // this will crash the application in release mode
    }

    private static void CatchException(string name)
    {
        const string tag = "net8_Crash";
        Log.Warn(tag, name);
        try
        {
            XmlAttributeCollection? attributes = null;
            _ = attributes!["foo"];
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            Log.Error(tag, $"EXCEPTION {e}");
        }
    }
}

Observe that when the app is started in debug mode the application runs fine but in release mode it crashes.

Did you find any workaround?

Find another way to do what you want to do without using a Process.

Relevant log output

2024-01-18 12:58:27.897   299-299   gralloc                 pid-299                              I  gralloc_unregister_buffer hnd=0xb433e080, share_fd=85, share_attr_fd=96, magic=51647890, format=1, internal_format=1, byte_stride=2880, flags=4, usage=0xb00, size=138240, width=720, height=48, internalWidth=720, internalHeight=48, stride=720, base=0xb57c1000, writeOwner=0, attr_base=0xffffffff, yuv_info=1, fd=-1, buf_idx=0, offset=0, min_pgsz=4096, phyaddr=0
2024-01-18 12:58:28.002   866-866   StatusBar               pid-866                              D  onColorsChanged_2:flag = 1
2024-01-18 12:58:28.002   866-866   StatusBar               pid-866                              D  onColorsChanged_2:darkTextInKeyguard?false
2024-01-18 12:58:28.003   866-866   SystemUI.N...nPanelView pid-866                              D  applyKeyguardTextColor:darkText?false
2024-01-18 12:58:28.003   866-866   KeyguardAffordanceView  pid-866                              D  updateIconColor:color=-1
2024-01-18 12:58:28.003   866-866   KeyguardAffordanceView  pid-866                              D  updateIconColor:color=-1
2024-01-18 12:58:28.003   866-866   LockIcon                pid-866                              D  updateIconColor:color=-1
2024-01-18 12:58:28.003   866-866   StatusBar               pid-866                              D  applyKeyguardTextColor
2024-01-18 12:58:28.003   866-866   StatusBar               pid-866                              D  mKeyguardCarrierLabel.getChildCount() = 2
2024-01-18 12:58:28.008   617-617   CheckTime               pid-617                              W  App running slow: Executing handleBindApplication : installContentProviders took 364ms
2024-01-18 12:58:28.015   277-277   gralloc                 pid-277                              I  gralloc_unregister_buffer hnd=0xa7937b00, share_fd=62, share_attr_fd=67, magic=51647890, format=1, internal_format=1, byte_stride=2880, flags=4, usage=0xb00, size=4147200, width=720, height=1440, internalWidth=720, internalHeight=1440, stride=720, base=0xa122b000, writeOwner=0, attr_base=0xffffffff, yuv_info=1, fd=-1, buf_idx=0, offset=0, min_pgsz=4096, phyaddr=0
2024-01-18 12:58:28.015   277-277   gralloc                 pid-277                              I  gralloc_unregister_buffer hnd=0xa7937bc0, share_fd=76, share_attr_fd=78, magic=51647890, format=1, internal_format=1, byte_stride=2880, flags=4, usage=0xb00, size=4147200, width=720, height=1440, internalWidth=720, internalHeight=1440, stride=720, base=0xa0e36000, writeOwner=0, attr_base=0xffffffff, yuv_info=1, fd=-1, buf_idx=0, offset=0, min_pgsz=4096, phyaddr=0
2024-01-18 12:58:28.015   277-277   gralloc                 pid-277                              I  gralloc_unregister_buffer hnd=0xa7936b40, share_fd=68, share_attr_fd=72, magic=51647890, format=1, internal_format=1, byte_stride=2880, flags=4, usage=0xb00, size=4147200, width=720, height=1440, internalWidth=720, internalHeight=1440, stride=720, base=0xa3c0b000, writeOwner=0, attr_base=0xffffffff, yuv_info=1, fd=-1, buf_idx=0, offset=0, min_pgsz=4096, phyaddr=0
2024-01-18 12:58:28.015   299-299   gralloc                 pid-299                              I  gralloc_unregister_buffer hnd=0xb433e800, share_fd=79, share_attr_fd=89, magic=51647890, format=1, internal_format=1, byte_stride=2880, flags=4, usage=0xb00, size=4147200, width=720, height=1440, internalWidth=720, internalHeight=1440, stride=720, base=0xad88d000, writeOwner=0, attr_base=0xffffffff, yuv_info=1, fd=-1, buf_idx=0, offset=0, min_pgsz=4096, phyaddr=0
2024-01-18 12:58:28.016   299-299   gralloc                 pid-299                              I  gralloc_unregister_buffer hnd=0xb433d900, share_fd=59, share_attr_fd=80, magic=51647890, format=1, internal_format=1, byte_stride=2880, flags=4, usage=0xb00, size=4147200, width=720, height=1440, internalWidth=720, internalHeight=1440, stride=720, base=0xaf78b000, writeOwner=0, attr_base=0xffffffff, yuv_info=1, fd=-1, buf_idx=0, offset=0, min_pgsz=4096, phyaddr=0
2024-01-18 12:58:28.151   617-617   net8_Crash              pid-617                              W  Before ShellCommand
2024-01-18 12:58:28.215   277-277   gralloc                 pid-277                              I  gralloc_unregister_buffer hnd=0xa7937800, share_fd=64, share_attr_fd=65, magic=51647890, format=2, internal_format=2, byte_stride=6720, flags=4, usage=0x933, size=9676800, width=1680, height=1440, internalWidth=1680, internalHeight=1440, stride=1680, base=0xa31d3000, writeOwner=0, attr_base=0xffffffff, yuv_info=1, fd=-1, buf_idx=0, offset=0, min_pgsz=4096, phyaddr=0
2024-01-18 12:58:28.221   617-617   net8_Crash              pid-617                              E  EXCEPTION System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
                                                                                                       at AndroidApp1.MainActivity.CatchException(String name)
2024-01-18 12:58:28.444   617-617   net8_Crash              pid-617                              W  After ShellCommand
2024-01-18 12:58:28.444   617-617   libsigchain             pid-617                              E  exiting due to SIG_DFL handler for signal 11
2024-01-18 12:58:28.445   617-617   libc                    pid-617                              A  Fatal signal 6 (SIGABRT), code -6 in tid 617 (ame.AndroidApp1), pid 617 (ame.AndroidApp1)
2024-01-18 12:58:28.537   638-638   crash_dump32            pid-638                              I  obtaining output fd from tombstoned, type: kDebuggerdTombstone
2024-01-18 12:58:28.538   470-470   /system/bin/tombstoned  pid-470                              I  received crash request for pid 617
2024-01-18 12:58:28.539   638-638   crash_dump32            pid-638                              I  performing dump of process 617 (target tid = 617)
2024-01-18 12:58:28.539   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A  *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
2024-01-18 12:58:28.539   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A  Native Crash TIME: 112261690
2024-01-18 12:58:28.539   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A  *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
2024-01-18 12:58:28.539   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A  Build fingerprint: 'PAX/A50/A50:8.1.0/OPM2.171019.012/6:user/release-keys'
2024-01-18 12:58:28.540   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A  Revision: '0'
2024-01-18 12:58:28.540   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A  ABI: 'arm'
2024-01-18 12:58:28.540   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A  pid: 617, tid: 617, name: ame.AndroidApp1  >>> com.companyname.AndroidApp1 <<<
2024-01-18 12:58:28.540   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A  signal 6 (SIGABRT), code -6 (SI_TKILL), fault addr --------
2024-01-18 12:58:28.540   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A      r0 00000000  r1 00000269  r2 00000006  r3 00000008
2024-01-18 12:58:28.540   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A      r4 00000269  r5 00000269  r6 abd85c34  r7 0000010c
2024-01-18 12:58:28.540   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A      r8 00000000  r9 abd85c90  sl 0000000b  fp 00000000
2024-01-18 12:58:28.540   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A      ip abd85c64  sp abd85c20  lr aa9acc1b  pc aa9a6734  cpsr 20000030
2024-01-18 12:58:28.546   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A  
                                                                                                    backtrace:
2024-01-18 12:58:28.546   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A      #00 pc 00019734  /system/lib/libc.so (abort+63)
2024-01-18 12:58:28.546   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A      #01 pc 00002441  /system/bin/app_process32 (art::SignalChain::Handler(int, siginfo*, void*)+736)
2024-01-18 12:58:28.546   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A      #02 pc 0001922c  /system/lib/libc.so
2024-01-18 12:58:28.546   638-638   DEBUG                   pid-638                              A      #03 pc 000004ac  /data/app/com.companyname.AndroidApp1-b4nVVJh7NPmbCugJKx_nug==/split_config.armeabi_v7a.apk (offset 0xd2000)
2024-01-18 12:58:28.769   663-663   SprdLightsUtils         pid-663                              D  id = 4; isBatteryLightOpen = true
2024-01-18 12:58:29.213   470-470   /system/bin/tombstoned  pid-470                              E  Tombstone written to: /data/tombstones/tombstone_01
2024-01-18 12:58:29.215   663-639   ActivityManager         pid-663                              W    Force finishing activity com.companyname.AndroidApp1/crc64a6e0c00971f6cd91.MainActivity
2024-01-18 12:58:29.218   663-682   BootReceiver            pid-663                              I  Copying /data/tombstones/tombstone_01 to DropBox (SYSTEM_TOMBSTONE)
2024-01-18 12:58:29.223   663-1033  PowerContr...r.AppState pid-663                              D  - reportAppStateEventInfo() E -
2024-01-18 12:58:29.223   663-1036  PowerController.RecogA  pid-663                              D  handleMessage(MSG_REPORT_EVENT)
2024-01-18 12:58:29.234   663-678   ActivityManager         pid-663                              I  Showing crash dialog for package com.companyname.AndroidApp1 u0
2024-01-18 12:58:29.260   277-277   gralloc                 pid-277                              I  gralloc_unregister_buffer hnd=0xa79378c0, share_fd=56, share_attr_fd=61, magic=51647890, format=1, internal_format=1, byte_stride=2880, flags=4, usage=0x933, size=4147200, width=720, height=1440, internalWidth=720, internalHeight=1440, stride=720, base=0xa2dde000, writeOwner=0, attr_base=0xffffffff, yuv_info=1, fd=-1, buf_idx=0, offset=0, min_pgsz=4096, phyaddr=0
2024-01-18 12:58:29.264   663-678   WindowManager           pid-663                              D  Input focus has changed to Window{70a4b4a u0 Application Error: com.companyname.AndroidApp1}
2024-01-18 12:58:29.269   663-3928  ActivityManager         pid-663                              W  Process com.companyname.AndroidApp1 (pid 617) has died: fore TOP 
2024-01-18 12:58:29.270   663-679   zygote                  pid-663                              W  kill(-617, 9) failed: No such process
2024-01-18 12:58:29.270   663-679   zygote                  pid-663                              I  Successfully killed process cgroup uid 10232 pid 617 in 0ms
2024-01-18 12:58:29.270   443-443   Zygote                  pid-443                              I  Process 617 exited due to signal (6)
2024-01-18 12:58:29.274   663-778   gralloc                 pid-663                              I  gralloc_unregister_buffer hnd=0x8c3aed40, share_fd=256, share_attr_fd=324, magic=51647890, format=1, internal_format=1, byte_stride=2880, flags=4, usage=0x933, size=4147200, width=720, height=1440, internalWidth=720, internalHeight=1440, stride=720, base=0x7d635000, writeOwner=48, attr_base=0xffffffff, yuv_info=1, fd=-1, buf_idx=0, offset=0, min_pgsz=4096, phyaddr=0
2024-01-18 12:58:29.275   299-299   gralloc                 pid-299                              I  gralloc_unregister_buffer hnd=0xb433de40, share_fd=93, share_attr_fd=101, magic=51647890, format=1, internal_format=1, byte_stride=2880, flags=4, usage=0x933, size=4147200, width=720, height=1440, internalWidth=720, internalHeight=1440, stride=720, base=0xae88b000, writeOwner=0, attr_base=0xffffffff, yuv_info=1, fd=-1, buf_idx=0, offset=0, min_pgsz=4096, phyaddr=0
2024-01-18 12:58:29.280   663-778   WindowManager           pid-663                              W  Failed looking up window callers=com.android.server.wm.WindowManagerService.windowForClientLocked:5850 com.android.server.wm.WindowManagerService.removeWindow:1740 com.android.server.wm.Session.remove:222 
2024-01-18 12:58:29.289   663-1033  PowerContr...r.AppState pid-663                              D  - reportAppStateEventInfo() E -

[grendello]

@Procee Does the issue happen when you do not call S.D.Process.Start() and throw a NullReferenceException() instead? And, what is the device you're running this on? I can see it' a 32-bit arm emulator or device, is it by chance a Samsung one? Also, does the crash happen also on 64-bit devices?

[Procee]

@Procee Does the issue happen when you do not call S.D.Process.Start() and throw a NullReferenceException() instead? And, what is the device you're running this on? I can see it' a 32-bit arm emulator or device, is it by chance a Samsung one? Also, does the crash happen also on 64-bit devices?

I've tested it on a PAX A77 that's the logcat you've seen. I also tested it on a Pixel 3A 64bit emulator and a Samsung A52A. They all behave the same.

If I throw a NullReferenceException manually the application does not crash. And if I don't start the Process the application does not crash either.

[simonrozsival]

I can reproduce the issue directly in .NET without the dependency on Xamarin. I created a new issue in the dotnet/runtime repo and I think we can close this issue in favor of the new one, @grendello.

@grendello I noticed that the runtime sample app crashes even in Debug mode unless I turn on interpreter. Is Xamarin using interpreter in Debug?

[grendello]

@simonrozsival yep, Debug uses the interpreter by default (for hot reload)