'cpio' bug?

[utzoo!decvax!harpo!ihps3!ixn5c!pcl]

I just found what appears to be a bug in the UNIX (TM) program 'cpio'. 
Although I'm using UNIX 4.0, earlier versions of 'cpio' should probably
be checked for similar behavior.

The problem involves directories that are write-protected against
everyone (which I use for storing the source to things I've obtained
from others, like netnews).  When restoring such a directory out of
a 'cpio' archive, it apparently creates the directory (read-protected
against itself), and then goes into an infinite-loop trying to write the
files in that directory.  No diagnostic is produced, and if you manually
change the mode on the directory to allow it to write, it "instantly"
starts putting the files in it, and then goes on normally.

					Paul Lustgarten
					BTL - Indian Hill South