GIMP 2.8.10 bug causes severe data loss

[Carl]

The current version of GIMP in the repository used by Linux Mint 17.1 is version 2.8.10. This version has an exceptionally serious bug that can result in total loss of image data in an XCF file saved to an SMB share. Upon saving, this bug causes GIMP to corrupt the XCF file with added null bytes or in the worst case replace image data with null bytes. The user is given NO hint that anything has gone wrong. If she then closes that image file and then reopens it again, she will get what appears to be an empty image and a message "Can't work on an empty image, add a layer first".

This is bug 730211 on GNOME Bugzilla (https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=730211). Contrary to the experience of some posters in that report's discussion, this bug can irrevocably destroy the user's data. It is therefore of critical importance that the repository package be updated to a version of GIMP with this bug fixed. It seems there has been a bug fix despite that bug report not being closed.

It seems the only reliable workaround for GIMP 2.8.10 is to NEVER save to an SMB share.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Sergio Zanchetta (primes2h)]

I confirm this bug using gimp 2.8.10 on Trusty 14.04.3.

It's a critical bug because causes loss of data.

[Michael Schumacher (schumaml)]

We haven't seen any recent reports about this, with post-2.8.14 releases/builds of GIMP, that is. Are there any experiences that would indicate whether this bug is still present?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.