BUG #3696: FK integrity check bypassed using rules.

The following bug has been logged online:

Bug reference: 3696
Logged by: Pierre-yves Strub
Email address: pierre(dot)yves(dot)strub(at)gmail(dot)com
PostgreSQL version: 8.2.5 / 8.3b
Operating system: Linux 2.6
Description: FK integrity check bypassed using rules.
Details:

Hello.

Here is a SQL script reproducing the error.

CREATE SEQUENCE "sequence";

CREATE TABLE data (
id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT nextval('sequence'),
ref_id INTEGER NULL REFERENCES data(id) ON DELETE CASCADE
);

CREATE RULE data_delete_rule
AS ON DELETE TO data WHERE OLD.ref_id IS NOT NULL
DO INSTEAD NOTHING;

INSERT INTO data (ref_id) VALUES (NULL);
INSERT INTO data (ref_id) SELECT id FROM data LIMIT 1;
DELETE FROM data WHERE ref_id IS NULL;

SELECT * FROM data;

The result of the last SELECT is:

id | ref_id
----+--------
2 | 1
(1 row)

which shows that we have bypassed the foreign key integrity check.

Regards, Pierre-yves.