implement unsafe deletion, and wire it

- implement unsafe deletion, and wire it
- aggregate corrupt object error(s) from the storage LIST operation
- extend storage error:
a) add a new type ErrCodeCorruptObj to represent a corrupt object:
b) add a new member 'InnerErr error' to StorageError to hold
   the inner error
- add API status error

pkg/features/versioned_kube_features.go

@@ -211,6 +211,10 @@ var defaultVersionedKubernetesFeatureGates = map[featuregate.Feature]featuregate
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.30"), Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.GA, LockToDefault: true},
 	},
 
+	genericfeatures.AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion: {
+		{Version: version.MustParse("1.32"), Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
+	},
+
 	genericfeatures.AnonymousAuthConfigurableEndpoints: {
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.31"), Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.32"), Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Beta},

staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors/errors.go

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ var knownReasons = map[metav1.StatusReason]struct{}{
 	metav1.StatusReasonGone:                  {},
 	metav1.StatusReasonInvalid:               {},
 	metav1.StatusReasonServerTimeout:         {},
+	metav1.StatusReasonStoreReadError:        {},
 	metav1.StatusReasonTimeout:               {},
 	metav1.StatusReasonTooManyRequests:       {},
 	metav1.StatusReasonBadRequest:            {},
@@ -775,6 +776,12 @@ func IsUnexpectedObjectError(err error) bool {
 	return err != nil && (ok || errors.As(err, &uoe))
 }
 
+// IsStoreReadError determines if err is due to either failure to transform the
+// data from the storage, or failure to decode the object appropriately.
+func IsStoreReadError(err error) bool {
+	return ReasonForError(err) == metav1.StatusReasonStoreReadError
+}
+
 // SuggestsClientDelay returns true if this error suggests a client delay as well as the
 // suggested seconds to wait, or false if the error does not imply a wait. It does not
 // address whether the error *should* be retried, since some errors (like a 3xx) may

staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/types.go

@@ -931,6 +931,22 @@ const (
 	// Status code 500
 	StatusReasonServerTimeout StatusReason = "ServerTimeout"
 
+	// StatusReasonStoreReadError means that the server encountered an error while
+	// retrieving resources from the backend object store.
+	// This may be due to backend database error, or because processing of the read
+	// resource failed.
+	// Details:
+	//   "kind" string - the kind attribute of the resource being acted on.
+	//   "name" string - the prefix where the reading error(s) occurred
+	//   "causes" []StatusCause
+	//      - (optional):
+	//        - "type" CauseType - CauseTypeUnexpectedServerResponse
+	//        - "message" string - the error message from the store backend
+	//        - "field" string - the full path with the key of the resource that failed reading
+	//
+	// Status code 500
+	StatusReasonStoreReadError StatusReason = "StorageReadError"
+
 	// StatusReasonTimeout means that the request could not be completed within the given time.
 	// Clients can get this response only when they specified a timeout param in the request,
 	// or if the server cannot complete the operation within a reasonable amount of time.

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/endpoints/handlers/delete.go

@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ func DeleteResource(r rest.GracefulDeleter, allowsOptions bool, scope *RequestSc
 				}
 			}
 		}
+		if !utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion) && options != nil {
+			options.IgnoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential = nil
+		}
 		if errs := validation.ValidateDeleteOptions(options); len(errs) > 0 {
 			err := errors.NewInvalid(schema.GroupKind{Group: metav1.GroupName, Kind: "DeleteOptions"}, "", errs)
 			scope.err(err, w, req)
@@ -125,6 +128,22 @@ func DeleteResource(r rest.GracefulDeleter, allowsOptions bool, scope *RequestSc
 		}
 		options.TypeMeta.SetGroupVersionKind(metav1.SchemeGroupVersion.WithKind("DeleteOptions"))
 
+		if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion) {
+			if options != nil && ptr.Deref(options.IgnoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential, false) {
+				// let's make sure that the audit will reflect that this delete request
+				// was tried with ignoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential enabled
+				audit.AddAuditAnnotation(ctx, "apiserver.k8s.io/unsafe-delete-ignore-read-error", "")
+
+				p, ok := r.(rest.CorruptObjectDeleterProvider)
+				if !ok || p.GetCorruptObjDeleter() == nil {
+					// this is a developer error
+					scope.err(errors.NewInternalError(fmt.Errorf("no unsafe deleter provided, can not honor ignoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential")), w, req)
+					return
+				}
+				r = p.GetCorruptObjDeleter()
+			}
+		}
+
 		span.AddEvent("About to delete object from database")
 		wasDeleted := true
 		userInfo, _ := request.UserFrom(ctx)
@@ -262,19 +281,24 @@ func DeleteCollection(r rest.CollectionDeleter, checkBody bool, scope *RequestSc
 				}
 			}
 		}
+		if !utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion) && options != nil {
+			options.IgnoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential = nil
+		}
 		if errs := validation.ValidateDeleteOptions(options); len(errs) > 0 {
 			err := errors.NewInvalid(schema.GroupKind{Group: metav1.GroupName, Kind: "DeleteOptions"}, "", errs)
 			scope.err(err, w, req)
 			return
 		}
 
-		if options != nil && ptr.Deref(options.IgnoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential, true) {
-			fieldErrList := field.ErrorList{
-				field.Invalid(field.NewPath("ignoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential"), true, "is not allowed with DELETECOLLECTION, try again after removing the option"),
+		if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion) {
+			if options != nil && ptr.Deref(options.IgnoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential, true) {
+				fieldErrList := field.ErrorList{
+					field.Invalid(field.NewPath("ignoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential"), true, "is not allowed with DELETECOLLECTION, try again after removing the option"),
+				}
+				err := errors.NewInvalid(schema.GroupKind{Group: metav1.GroupName, Kind: "DeleteOptions"}, "", fieldErrList)
+				scope.err(err, w, req)
+				return
 			}
-			err := errors.NewInvalid(schema.GroupKind{Group: metav1.GroupName, Kind: "DeleteOptions"}, "", fieldErrList)
-			scope.err(err, w, req)
-			return
 		}
 
 		options.TypeMeta.SetGroupVersionKind(metav1.SchemeGroupVersion.WithKind("DeleteOptions"))

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/features/kube_features.go

@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ const (
 	// Allows us to enable anonymous auth for only certain apiserver endpoints.
 	AnonymousAuthConfigurableEndpoints featuregate.Feature = "AnonymousAuthConfigurableEndpoints"
 
+	// owner: @stlaz @tkashem @dgrisonnet
+	// kep: https://kep.k8s.io/3926
+	//
+	// Enables the cluster admin to identify resources that fail to
+	// decrypt or fail to be decoded into an object, and introduces
+	// a new delete option to allow deletion of such corrupt
+	// resources using the Kubernetes API only.
+	AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion featuregate.Feature = "AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion"
+
 	// owner: @smarterclayton
 	// stable: 1.29
 	//
@@ -264,6 +273,10 @@ var defaultVersionedKubernetesFeatureGates = map[featuregate.Feature]featuregate
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.30"), Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.GA, LockToDefault: true},
 	},
 
+	AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion: {
+		{Version: version.MustParse("1.32"), Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
+	},
+
 	AnonymousAuthConfigurableEndpoints: {
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.31"), Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
 		{Version: version.MustParse("1.32"), Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Beta},

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/corrupt_obj_deleter.go

@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2024 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package registry
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+
+	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/validation/field"
+	genericapirequest "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/endpoints/request"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/rest"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage"
+	storeerr "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/errors"
+
+	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
+)
+
+// the corrupt object deleter has the same interface as rest.GracefulDeleter
+var _ rest.GracefulDeleter = &corruptObjectDeleter{}
+
+// NewCorruptObjectDeleter returns a deleter that can perform unsafe deletion
+// of corrupt objects, it makes an attempt to perform a normal deletion flow
+// first, and if the normal deletion flow fails with a corrupt object error
+// then it performs the unsafe delete of the object.
+//
+// NOTE: it skips precondition checks, finalizer constraints, and any
+// post deletion hook defined in 'AfterDelete' of the registry.
+//
+// WARNING: This may break the cluster if the resource being deleted has dependencies.
+func NewCorruptObjectDeleter(store *Store) rest.GracefulDeleter {
+	return &corruptObjectDeleter{store: store}
+}
+
+// corruptObjectDeleter implements unsafe object deletion flow
+type corruptObjectDeleter struct {
+	store *Store
+}
+
+// Delete performs an unsafe deletion of the given resource from the storage.
+//
+// NOTE: This function should NEVER be used for any normal deletion
+// flow, it is exclusively used when the user enables
+// 'IgnoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential' in the delete options.
+func (d *corruptObjectDeleter) Delete(ctx context.Context, name string, deleteValidation rest.ValidateObjectFunc, opts *metav1.DeleteOptions) (runtime.Object, bool, error) {
+	if opts == nil || !ptr.Deref[bool](opts.IgnoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential, false) {
+		// this is a developer error, we should never be here, since the unsafe
+		// deleter is wired in the rest layer only when the option is enabled
+		return nil, false, apierrors.NewInternalError(errors.New("initialization error, expected normal deletion flow to be used"))
+	}
+
+	key, err := d.store.KeyFunc(ctx, name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, false, err
+	}
+	obj := d.store.NewFunc()
+	qualifiedResource := d.store.qualifiedResourceFromContext(ctx)
+	// use the storage implementation directly, bypass the dryRun layer
+	storageBackend := d.store.Storage.Storage
+	// we leave ResourceVersion as empty in the GetOptions so the
+	// object is retrieved from the underlying storage directly
+	err = storageBackend.Get(ctx, key, storage.GetOptions{}, obj)
+	if err == nil || !storage.IsCorruptObject(err) {
+		// TODO: The Invalid error should have a field for Resource.
+		// After that field is added, we should fill the Resource and
+		// leave the Kind field empty. See the discussion in #18526.
+		qualifiedKind := schema.GroupKind{Group: qualifiedResource.Group, Kind: qualifiedResource.Resource}
+		fieldErrList := field.ErrorList{
+			field.Invalid(field.NewPath("ignoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential"), true, "is exclusively used to delete corrupt object(s), try again by removing this option"),
+		}
+		return nil, false, apierrors.NewInvalid(qualifiedKind, name, fieldErrList)
+	}
+
+	// try normal deletion anyway, it is expected to fail
+	obj, deleted, err := d.store.Delete(ctx, name, deleteValidation, opts)
+	if err == nil {
+		return obj, deleted, err
+	}
+	// TODO: unfortunately we can't do storage.IsCorruptObject(err),
+	// conversion to API error drops the inner error chain
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "corrupt object") {
+		return obj, deleted, err
+	}
+
+	// TODO: at this instant, some actor may have a) managed to recreate this
+	// object by doing a delete+create, or b) the underlying error has resolved
+	// since the last time we checked, and the object is readable now.
+	klog.FromContext(ctx).V(1).Info("Going to perform unsafe object deletion", "object", klog.KRef(genericapirequest.NamespaceValue(ctx), name))
+	out := d.store.NewFunc()
+	storageOpts := storage.DeleteOptions{IgnoreStoreReadError: true}
+	// dropping preconditions, and keeping the admission
+	if err := storageBackend.Delete(ctx, key, out, nil, storage.ValidateObjectFunc(deleteValidation), nil, storageOpts); err != nil {
+		if storage.IsNotFound(err) {
+			// the DELETE succeeded, but we don't have the object since it's
+			// not retrievable from the storage, so we send a nil object
+			return nil, false, nil
+		}
+		return nil, false, storeerr.InterpretDeleteError(err, qualifiedResource, name)
+	}
+	// the DELETE succeeded, but we don't have the object sine it's
+	// not retrievable from the storage, so we send a nil objct
+	return nil, true, nil
+}

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/corrupt_obj_deleter_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,288 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2024 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package registry
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/apis/example"
+	genericapirequest "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/endpoints/request"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/rest"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage"
+
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
+)
+
+type result struct {
+	deleted bool
+	err     error
+}
+
+type deleteWant struct {
+	deleted  bool
+	checkErr func(err error) bool
+}
+
+var (
+	wantNoError     = func(err error) bool { return err == nil }
+	wantErrContains = func(shouldContain string) func(error) bool {
+		return func(err error) bool {
+			return err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), shouldContain)
+		}
+	}
+)
+
+func (w deleteWant) verify(t *testing.T, got result) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	if !w.checkErr(got.err) {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected failure with the deletion operation, got: %v", got.err)
+	}
+	if w.deleted != got.deleted {
+		t.Errorf("Expected deleted to be: %t, but got: %t", w.deleted, got.deleted)
+	}
+
+}
+
+func TestUnsafeDeletePrecondition(t *testing.T) {
+	option := func(enabled bool) *metav1.DeleteOptions {
+		return &metav1.DeleteOptions{
+			IgnoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential: ptr.To[bool](enabled),
+		}
+	}
+
+	const (
+		unsafeDeleteNotAllowed = "ignoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential: Invalid value: true: is exclusively used to delete corrupt object(s), try again by removing this option"
+		internalErr            = "Internal error occurred: initialization error, expected normal deletion flow to be used"
+	)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		err     error
+		opts    *metav1.DeleteOptions
+		invoked int
+		want    deleteWant
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "option nil, should throw internal error",
+			opts: nil,
+			want: deleteWant{checkErr: wantErrContains(internalErr)},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "option empty, should throw internal error",
+			opts: &metav1.DeleteOptions{},
+			want: deleteWant{checkErr: wantErrContains(internalErr)},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "option false, should throw internal error",
+			opts: option(false),
+			want: deleteWant{checkErr: wantErrContains(internalErr)},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "option true, object readable, should throw invalid error",
+			opts: option(true),
+			want: deleteWant{
+				checkErr: wantErrContains(unsafeDeleteNotAllowed),
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "option true, object not readable with unexpected error, should throw invalid error",
+			opts: option(true),
+			err:  fmt.Errorf("unexpected error"),
+			want: deleteWant{
+				checkErr: wantErrContains(unsafeDeleteNotAllowed),
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "option true, object not readable with storage internal error, should throw invalid error",
+			opts: option(true),
+			err:  storage.NewInternalError(fmt.Errorf("unexpected error")),
+			want: deleteWant{
+				checkErr: wantErrContains(unsafeDeleteNotAllowed),
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "option true, object not readable with corrupt object error, unsafe-delete should trigger",
+			opts: option(true),
+			err:  storage.NewCorruptObjError("foo", fmt.Errorf("object not decodable")),
+			want: deleteWant{
+				deleted:  true,
+				checkErr: wantNoError,
+			},
+			invoked: 1,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx := genericapirequest.WithNamespace(genericapirequest.NewContext(), "test")
+			destroyFunc, registry := NewTestGenericStoreRegistry(t)
+			defer destroyFunc()
+
+			object := &example.Pod{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"},
+				Spec:       example.PodSpec{NodeName: "machine"},
+			}
+			_, err := registry.Create(ctx, object, rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, &metav1.CreateOptions{})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Unexpected error from Create: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			// wrap the storage so it returns the expected error
+			cs := &corruptStorage{
+				Interface: registry.Storage.Storage,
+				err:       test.err,
+			}
+			registry.Storage.Storage = cs
+			deleter := NewCorruptObjectDeleter(registry)
+
+			_, deleted, err := deleter.Delete(ctx, "foo", rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, test.opts)
+
+			got := result{deleted: deleted, err: err}
+			test.want.verify(t, got)
+			if want, got := test.invoked, cs.unsafeDeleteInvoked; want != got {
+				t.Errorf("Expected unsafe-delete to be invoked %d time(s), but got: %d", want, got)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnsafeDeleteWithCorruptObject(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := genericapirequest.WithNamespace(genericapirequest.NewContext(), "test")
+	destroyFunc, registry := NewTestGenericStoreRegistry(t)
+	defer destroyFunc()
+
+	object := &example.Pod{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"},
+		Spec:       example.PodSpec{NodeName: "machine"},
+	}
+	// a) prerequisite: try deleting the object, we expect a not found error
+	_, _, err := registry.Delete(ctx, object.Name, rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, nil)
+	if !errors.IsNotFound(err) {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// b) create the target object
+	_, err = registry.Create(ctx, object, rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, &metav1.CreateOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// c) wrap the storage to return corrupt object error
+	cs := &corruptStorage{
+		Interface: registry.Storage.Storage,
+		err:       storage.NewCorruptObjError("key", fmt.Errorf("untransformable")),
+	}
+	registry.Storage.Storage = cs
+
+	got := result{}
+	// d) try deleting the traget object
+	_, got.deleted, got.err = registry.Delete(ctx, object.Name, rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, nil)
+	want := deleteWant{checkErr: errors.IsInternalError}
+	want.verify(t, got)
+
+	// e) set up an unsafe-deleter
+	deleter := NewCorruptObjectDeleter(registry)
+
+	// f) try to delete the object, but don't set the delete option just yet
+	_, got.deleted, got.err = deleter.Delete(ctx, object.Name, rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, nil)
+	want.verify(t, got)
+
+	// g) this time, set the delete option to ignore store read error
+	_, got.deleted, got.err = deleter.Delete(ctx, object.Name, rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, &metav1.DeleteOptions{
+		IgnoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential: ptr.To[bool](true),
+	})
+	want = deleteWant{
+		deleted:  true,
+		checkErr: wantNoError,
+	}
+	want.verify(t, got)
+	if want, got := 1, cs.unsafeDeleteInvoked; want != got {
+		t.Errorf("Expected unsafe-delete to be invoked %d time(s), but got: %d", want, got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnsafeDeleteWithUnexpectedError(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := genericapirequest.WithNamespace(genericapirequest.NewContext(), "test")
+	// TODO: inject a corrupt transformer
+	destroyFunc, registry := NewTestGenericStoreRegistry(t)
+	defer destroyFunc()
+
+	object := &example.Pod{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo"},
+		Spec:       example.PodSpec{NodeName: "machine"},
+	}
+	// a) create the target object
+	_, err := registry.Create(ctx, object, rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, &metav1.CreateOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// b) wrap the storage to return corrupt object error
+	cs := &corruptStorage{
+		Interface: registry.Storage.Storage,
+		err:       storage.NewInternalError(fmt.Errorf("unexpected error")),
+	}
+	registry.Storage.Storage = cs
+
+	// c) try deleting the object using normal deletion flow
+	got := result{}
+	_, got.deleted, got.err = registry.Delete(ctx, object.Name, rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, nil)
+	want := deleteWant{checkErr: errors.IsInternalError}
+	want.verify(t, got)
+
+	// d) set up a corrupt object deleter for the registry
+	deleter := NewCorruptObjectDeleter(registry)
+
+	// e) try deleting with unsafe-delete
+	_, got.deleted, got.err = deleter.Delete(ctx, object.Name, rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, &metav1.DeleteOptions{
+		IgnoreStoreReadErrorWithClusterBreakingPotential: ptr.To[bool](true),
+	})
+	want = deleteWant{
+		checkErr: wantErrContains("is exclusively used to delete corrupt object(s), try again by removing this option"),
+	}
+	want.verify(t, got)
+	if want, got := 0, cs.unsafeDeleteInvoked; want != got {
+		t.Errorf("Expected unsafe-delete to be invoked %d time(s), but got: %d", want, got)
+	}
+}
+
+type corruptStorage struct {
+	storage.Interface
+	err                 error
+	unsafeDeleteInvoked int
+}
+
+func (s *corruptStorage) Get(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.GetOptions, objPtr runtime.Object) error {
+	if s.err != nil {
+		return s.err
+	}
+	return s.Interface.Get(ctx, key, opts, objPtr)
+}
+
+func (s *corruptStorage) Delete(ctx context.Context, key string, out runtime.Object, preconditions *storage.Preconditions, deleteValidation storage.ValidateObjectFunc, cachedExistingObject runtime.Object, opts storage.DeleteOptions) error {
+	if opts.IgnoreStoreReadError {
+		s.unsafeDeleteInvoked++
+	}
+	return s.Interface.Delete(ctx, key, out, preconditions, deleteValidation, cachedExistingObject, opts)
+}

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/store.go

@@ -234,6 +234,18 @@ type Store struct {
 	// If set, DestroyFunc has to be implemented in thread-safe way and
 	// be prepared for being called more than once.
 	DestroyFunc func()
+
+	// corruptObjDeleter implements unsafe deletion flow to enable deletion
+	// of corrupt object(s), it makes an attempt to perform a normal
+	// deletion flow first, and if the normal deletion flow fails with a
+	// corrupt object error then it proceeds with the unsafe deletion
+	// of the object from the storage.
+	// NOTE: it skips precondition checks, finalizer constraints, and any
+	// after delete hook defined in 'AfterDelete' of the registry.
+	// WARNING: This may break the cluster if the resource has
+	// dependencies. Use when the cluster is broken, and there is no
+	// other viable option to repair the cluster.
+	corruptObjDeleter rest.GracefulDeleter
 }
 
 // Note: the rest.StandardStorage interface aggregates the common REST verbs
@@ -244,6 +256,8 @@ var _ GenericStore = &Store{}
 
 var _ rest.SingularNameProvider = &Store{}
 
+var _ rest.CorruptObjectDeleterProvider = &Store{}
+
 const (
 	OptimisticLockErrorMsg        = "the object has been modified; please apply your changes to the latest version and try again"
 	resourceCountPollPeriodJitter = 1.2
@@ -344,6 +358,11 @@ func (e *Store) GetDeleteStrategy() rest.RESTDeleteStrategy {
 	return e.DeleteStrategy
 }
 
+// GetCorruptObjDeleter returns the unsafe corrupt object deleter
+func (e *Store) GetCorruptObjDeleter() rest.GracefulDeleter {
+	return e.corruptObjDeleter
+}
+
 // List returns a list of items matching labels and field according to the
 // store's PredicateFunc.
 func (e *Store) List(ctx context.Context, options *metainternalversion.ListOptions) (runtime.Object, error) {
@@ -1631,6 +1650,10 @@ func (e *Store) CompleteWithOptions(options *generic.StoreOptions) error {
 		e.ReadinessCheckFunc = e.Storage.Storage.ReadinessCheck
 	}
 
+	if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion) {
+		e.corruptObjDeleter = NewCorruptObjectDeleter(e)
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/rest/rest.go

@@ -407,3 +407,10 @@ type UpdateResetFieldsStrategy interface {
 	RESTUpdateStrategy
 	ResetFieldsStrategy
 }
+
+// CorruptObjectDeleterProvider is an interface the storage implements
+// to support unsafe deletion of corrupt object(s). It returns a
+// GracefulDeleter that is used to perform unsafe deletion of corrupt object(s).
+type CorruptObjectDeleterProvider interface {
+	GetCorruptObjDeleter() GracefulDeleter
+}

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/errors.go

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ const (
 	ErrCodeInvalidObj
 	ErrCodeUnreachable
 	ErrCodeTimeout
+	ErrCodeCorruptObj
 )
 
 var errCodeToMessage = map[int]string{
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ var errCodeToMessage = map[int]string{
 	ErrCodeInvalidObj:               "invalid object",
 	ErrCodeUnreachable:              "server unreachable",
 	ErrCodeTimeout:                  "request timeout",
+	ErrCodeCorruptObj:               "corrupt object",
 }
 
 func NewKeyNotFoundError(key string, rv int64) *StorageError {
@@ -82,30 +84,45 @@ func NewUnreachableError(key string, rv int64) *StorageError {
 
 func NewTimeoutError(key, msg string) *StorageError {
 	return &StorageError{
-		Code:               ErrCodeTimeout,
-		Key:                key,
-		AdditionalErrorMsg: msg,
+		Code: ErrCodeTimeout,
+		Key:  key,
+		err:  errors.New(msg),
 	}
 }
 
 func NewInvalidObjError(key, msg string) *StorageError {
 	return &StorageError{
-		Code:               ErrCodeInvalidObj,
-		Key:                key,
-		AdditionalErrorMsg: msg,
+		Code: ErrCodeInvalidObj,
+		Key:  key,
+		err:  errors.New(msg),
+	}
+}
+
+// NewCorruptObjError returns a new StorageError, it represents a corrupt object:
+// a) object data retrieved from the storage failed to transform with the given err.
+// b) the given object failed to decode with the given err
+func NewCorruptObjError(key string, err error) *StorageError {
+	return &StorageError{
+		Code: ErrCodeCorruptObj,
+		Key:  key,
+		err:  err,
 	}
 }
 
 type StorageError struct {
-	Code               int
-	Key                string
-	ResourceVersion    int64
-	AdditionalErrorMsg string
+	Code            int
+	Key             string
+	ResourceVersion int64
+
+	// inner error
+	err error
 }
 
+func (e *StorageError) Unwrap() error { return e.err }
+
 func (e *StorageError) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("StorageError: %s, Code: %d, Key: %s, ResourceVersion: %d, AdditionalErrorMsg: %s",
-		errCodeToMessage[e.Code], e.Code, e.Key, e.ResourceVersion, e.AdditionalErrorMsg)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("StorageError: %s, Code: %d, Key: %s, ResourceVersion: %d, AdditionalErrorMsg: %v",
+		errCodeToMessage[e.Code], e.Code, e.Key, e.ResourceVersion, e.err)
 }
 
 // IsNotFound returns true if and only if err is "key" not found error.
@@ -138,6 +155,21 @@ func IsInvalidObj(err error) bool {
 	return isErrCode(err, ErrCodeInvalidObj)
 }
 
+// IsCorruptObject returns true if and only if:
+// a) the given object data retrieved from the storage is not transformable, or
+// b) the given object failed to decode properly
+func IsCorruptObject(err error) bool {
+	if err == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	var storageErr *StorageError
+	if !errors.As(err, &storageErr) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	return storageErr.Code == ErrCodeCorruptObj
+}
+
 func isErrCode(err error, code int) bool {
 	if err == nil {
 		return false

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/errors/storage.go

@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ func InterpretListError(err error, qualifiedResource schema.GroupResource) error
 		return errors.NewServerTimeout(qualifiedResource, "list", 2) // TODO: make configurable or handled at a higher level
 	case storage.IsInternalError(err):
 		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
+	case storage.IsCorruptObject(err):
+		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
 	default:
 		return err
 	}
@@ -47,6 +49,8 @@ func InterpretGetError(err error, qualifiedResource schema.GroupResource, name s
 		return errors.NewServerTimeout(qualifiedResource, "get", 2) // TODO: make configurable or handled at a higher level
 	case storage.IsInternalError(err):
 		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
+	case storage.IsCorruptObject(err):
+		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
 	default:
 		return err
 	}
@@ -62,6 +66,8 @@ func InterpretCreateError(err error, qualifiedResource schema.GroupResource, nam
 		return errors.NewServerTimeout(qualifiedResource, "create", 2) // TODO: make configurable or handled at a higher level
 	case storage.IsInternalError(err):
 		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
+	case storage.IsCorruptObject(err):
+		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
 	default:
 		return err
 	}
@@ -79,6 +85,8 @@ func InterpretUpdateError(err error, qualifiedResource schema.GroupResource, nam
 		return errors.NewNotFound(qualifiedResource, name)
 	case storage.IsInternalError(err):
 		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
+	case storage.IsCorruptObject(err):
+		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
 	default:
 		return err
 	}
@@ -96,6 +104,8 @@ func InterpretDeleteError(err error, qualifiedResource schema.GroupResource, nam
 		return errors.NewConflict(qualifiedResource, name, err)
 	case storage.IsInternalError(err):
 		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
+	case storage.IsCorruptObject(err):
+		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
 	default:
 		return err
 	}
@@ -110,6 +120,8 @@ func InterpretWatchError(err error, resource schema.GroupResource, name string)
 		return errors.NewInvalid(schema.GroupKind{Group: resource.Group, Kind: resource.Resource}, name, invalidError.Errs)
 	case storage.IsInternalError(err):
 		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
+	case storage.IsCorruptObject(err):
+		return errors.NewInternalError(err)
 	default:
 		return err
 	}

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/etcd3/corrupt_obj_deleter.go

@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2024 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package etcd3
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+
+	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema"
+	utilerrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/errors"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/value"
+	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
+)
+
+// NewStoreWithUnsafeCorruptObjectDeletion wraps the given store implementation
+// and adds support for unsafe deletion of corrupt objects
+func NewStoreWithUnsafeCorruptObjectDeletion(delegate storage.Interface, gr schema.GroupResource) storage.Interface {
+	return &corruptObjectDeleter{
+		Interface:     delegate,
+		groupResource: gr,
+	}
+}
+
+// WithCorruptObjErrorHandlingDecoder decorates the given decoder, it determines
+// if the error returned by the given decoder represents a corrupt object (the
+// object is undecodable), and then it wraps the error appropriately so the
+// unsafe deleter can determine if the object is a candidate for unsafe deletion
+func WithCorruptObjErrorHandlingDecoder(decoder Decoder) Decoder {
+	return &corruptObjErrorInterpretingDecoder{Decoder: decoder}
+}
+
+// WithCorruptObjErrorHandlingTransformer decorates the given decoder, it
+// determines if the error returned by the given transformer represents a
+// corrupt object (the data from the storage is untransformable), and then it
+// wraps the error appropriately so the unsafe deleter can determine
+// if the object is a candidate for unsafe deletion
+func WithCorruptObjErrorHandlingTransformer(transformer value.Transformer) value.Transformer {
+	return &corruptObjErrorInterpretingTransformer{Transformer: transformer}
+}
+
+// corruptObjErrAggregatorFactory returns an error aggregator that aggregates
+// corrupt object error(s) that the list operation encounters while
+// retrieving objects from the storage.
+// maxCount: it is the maximum number of error that will be aggregated
+func corruptObjErrAggregatorFactory(maxCount int) func() ListErrorAggregator {
+	if maxCount <= 0 {
+		return defaultListErrorAggregatorFactory
+	}
+	return func() ListErrorAggregator {
+		return &corruptObjErrAggregator{maxCount: maxCount}
+	}
+}
+
+var errTooMany = errors.New("too many errors, the list is truncated")
+
+// aggregate corrupt object errors from the LIST operation
+type corruptObjErrAggregator struct {
+	errs     []error
+	abortErr error
+	maxCount int
+}
+
+func (a *corruptObjErrAggregator) Aggregate(key string, err error) bool {
+	if len(a.errs) >= a.maxCount {
+		// add a sentinel error to indicate there are more
+		a.errs = append(a.errs, errTooMany)
+		return true
+	}
+	var corruptObjErr *corruptObjectError
+	if errors.As(err, &corruptObjErr) {
+		a.errs = append(a.errs, storage.NewCorruptObjError(key, corruptObjErr))
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// not a corrupt object error, the list operation should abort
+	a.abortErr = err
+	return true
+}
+
+func (a *corruptObjErrAggregator) Err() error {
+	switch {
+	case len(a.errs) == 0 && a.abortErr != nil:
+		return a.abortErr
+	case len(a.errs) > 0:
+		err := utilerrors.NewAggregate(a.errs)
+		return &aggregatedStorageError{errs: err, resourcePrefix: "list"}
+	default:
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
+// corruptObjectDeleter facilitates unsafe deletion of corrupt objects for etcd
+type corruptObjectDeleter struct {
+	storage.Interface
+	groupResource schema.GroupResource
+}
+
+func (s *corruptObjectDeleter) Get(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.GetOptions, out runtime.Object) error {
+	if err := s.Interface.Get(ctx, key, opts, out); err != nil {
+		var corruptObjErr *corruptObjectError
+		if !errors.As(err, &corruptObjErr) {
+			// this error does not represent a corrupt object
+			return err
+		}
+		// the unsafe deleter at the registry layer will check whether
+		// the given err represents a corrupt object in order to
+		// initiate the unsafe deletion flow.
+		return storage.NewCorruptObjError(key, corruptObjErr)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *corruptObjectDeleter) GetList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object) error {
+	err := s.Interface.GetList(ctx, key, opts, listObj)
+	if err == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	var aggregatedErr *aggregatedStorageError
+	if errors.As(err, &aggregatedErr) {
+		// we have aggregated a list of corrupt objects
+		klog.V(5).ErrorS(aggregatedErr, "corrupt objects")
+		return aggregatedErr.NewAPIStatusError(s.groupResource)
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
+// corruptObjErrorInterpretingDecoder wraps the error returned by the decorated decoder
+type corruptObjErrorInterpretingDecoder struct {
+	Decoder
+}
+
+func (d *corruptObjErrorInterpretingDecoder) Decode(value []byte, objPtr runtime.Object, rev int64) error {
+	// TODO: right now any error is deemed as undecodable, in
+	// the future, we can apply some filter, if need be.
+	if err := d.Decoder.Decode(value, objPtr, rev); err != nil {
+		return &corruptObjectError{err: err, errType: undecodable, revision: rev}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// decodeListItem decodes bytes value in array into object.
+func (d *corruptObjErrorInterpretingDecoder) DecodeListItem(ctx context.Context, data []byte, rev uint64, newItemFunc func() runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, error) {
+	// TODO: right now any error is deemed as undecodable, in
+	// the future, we can apply some filter, if need be.
+	obj, err := d.Decoder.DecodeListItem(ctx, data, rev, newItemFunc)
+	if err != nil {
+		err = &corruptObjectError{err: err, errType: undecodable, revision: int64(rev)}
+	}
+	return obj, err
+}
+
+// corruptObjErrorInterpretingTransformer wraps the error returned by the transformer
+type corruptObjErrorInterpretingTransformer struct {
+	value.Transformer
+}
+
+func (t *corruptObjErrorInterpretingTransformer) TransformFromStorage(ctx context.Context, data []byte, dataCtx value.Context) ([]byte, bool, error) {
+	// TODO: right now any error is deemed as undecodable, in the future, we
+	// can apply some filter, if need be. For example, any network error
+	out, stale, err := t.Transformer.TransformFromStorage(ctx, data, dataCtx)
+	if err != nil {
+		err = &corruptObjectError{err: err, errType: untransformable}
+	}
+	return out, stale, err
+}
+
+// corruptObjectError is used internally, only by the corrupt object
+// deleter, this error represents a corrup object:
+// a) the data from the storage failed to transform, or
+// b) the data failed to decode into an object
+// NOTE: this error does not have any information to identify the object
+// that is corrupt, for example the storage key associated with the object
+type corruptObjectError struct {
+	err      error
+	errType  int
+	revision int64
+}
+
+const (
+	untransformable int = iota + 1
+	undecodable
+)
+
+var typeToMessage = map[int]string{
+	untransformable: "data from the storage is not transformable",
+	undecodable:     "object not decodable",
+}
+
+func (e *corruptObjectError) Unwrap() error { return e.err }
+func (e *corruptObjectError) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s revision=%d: %v", typeToMessage[e.errType], e.revision, e.err)
+}
+
+// aggregatedStorageError holds an aggregated list of storage.StorageError
+type aggregatedStorageError struct {
+	resourcePrefix string
+	errs           utilerrors.Aggregate
+}
+
+func (e *aggregatedStorageError) Error() string {
+	errs := e.errs.Errors()
+	var b strings.Builder
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "unable to transform or decode %d objects: {\n", len(errs))
+	for _, err := range errs {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\t%s\n", err.Error())
+	}
+	b.WriteString("}")
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+// NewAPIStatusError creates a new APIStatus object from the
+// aggregated list of StorageError
+func (e *aggregatedStorageError) NewAPIStatusError(qualifiedResource schema.GroupResource) *apierrors.StatusError {
+	var causes []metav1.StatusCause
+	for _, err := range e.errs.Errors() {
+		var storageErr *storage.StorageError
+		if errors.As(err, &storageErr) {
+			causes = append(causes, metav1.StatusCause{
+				Type:  metav1.CauseTypeUnexpectedServerResponse,
+				Field: storageErr.Key,
+				// TODO: do we need to expose the internal error message here?
+				Message: err.Error(),
+			})
+			continue
+		}
+		if errors.Is(err, errTooMany) {
+			causes = append(causes, metav1.StatusCause{
+				Type:    metav1.CauseTypeTooMany,
+				Message: errTooMany.Error(),
+			})
+		}
+	}
+
+	return &apierrors.StatusError{
+		ErrStatus: metav1.Status{
+			Status: metav1.StatusFailure,
+			Code:   http.StatusInternalServerError,
+			Reason: metav1.StatusReasonStoreReadError,
+			Details: &metav1.StatusDetails{
+				Group:  qualifiedResource.Group,
+				Kind:   qualifiedResource.Resource,
+				Name:   e.resourcePrefix,
+				Causes: causes,
+			},
+			Message: fmt.Sprintf("failed to read one or more %s from the storage", qualifiedResource.String()),
+		},
+	}
+}

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/etcd3/store.go

@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ type store struct {
 	watcher             *watcher
 	leaseManager        *leaseManager
 	decoder             Decoder
+	listErrAggrFactory  func() ListErrorAggregator
 }
 
 func (s *store) RequestWatchProgress(ctx context.Context) error {
@@ -99,9 +100,49 @@ type objState struct {
 	stale bool
 }
 
+// ListErrorAggregator aggregates the error(s) that the LIST operation
+// encounters while retrieving object(s) from the storage
+type ListErrorAggregator interface {
+	// Aggregate aggregates the given error from list operation
+	// key: it identifies the given object in the storage.
+	// err: it represents the error the list operation encountered while
+	// retrieving the given object from the storage.
+	// done: true if the aggregation is done and the list operation should
+	// abort, otherwise the list operation will continue
+	Aggregate(key string, err error) bool
+
+	// Err returns the aggregated error
+	Err() error
+}
+
+// defaultListErrorAggregatorFactory returns the default list error
+// aggregator that maintains backward compatibility, which is abort
+// the list operation as soon as it encounters the first error
+func defaultListErrorAggregatorFactory() ListErrorAggregator { return &abortOnFirstError{} }
+
+// LIST aborts on the first error it encounters (backward compatible)
+type abortOnFirstError struct {
+	err error
+}
+
+func (a *abortOnFirstError) Aggregate(key string, err error) bool {
+	a.err = err
+	return true
+}
+func (a *abortOnFirstError) Err() error { return a.err }
+
 // New returns an etcd3 implementation of storage.Interface.
 func New(c *kubernetes.Client, codec runtime.Codec, newFunc, newListFunc func() runtime.Object, prefix, resourcePrefix string, groupResource schema.GroupResource, transformer value.Transformer, leaseManagerConfig LeaseManagerConfig, decoder Decoder, versioner storage.Versioner) storage.Interface {
-	return newStore(c, codec, newFunc, newListFunc, prefix, resourcePrefix, groupResource, transformer, leaseManagerConfig, decoder, versioner)
+	if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion) {
+		transformer = WithCorruptObjErrorHandlingTransformer(transformer)
+		decoder = WithCorruptObjErrorHandlingDecoder(decoder)
+	}
+	var store storage.Interface
+	store = newStore(c, codec, newFunc, newListFunc, prefix, resourcePrefix, groupResource, transformer, leaseManagerConfig, decoder, versioner)
+	if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion) {
+		store = NewStoreWithUnsafeCorruptObjectDeletion(store, groupResource)
+	}
+	return store
 }
 
 func newStore(c *kubernetes.Client, codec runtime.Codec, newFunc, newListFunc func() runtime.Object, prefix, resourcePrefix string, groupResource schema.GroupResource, transformer value.Transformer, leaseManagerConfig LeaseManagerConfig, decoder Decoder, versioner storage.Versioner) *store {
@@ -114,6 +155,11 @@ func newStore(c *kubernetes.Client, codec runtime.Codec, newFunc, newListFunc fu
 		pathPrefix += "/"
 	}
 
+	listErrAggrFactory := defaultListErrorAggregatorFactory
+	if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion) {
+		listErrAggrFactory = corruptObjErrAggregatorFactory(100)
+	}
+
 	w := &watcher{
 		client:        c.Client,
 		codec:         codec,
@@ -138,6 +184,7 @@ func newStore(c *kubernetes.Client, codec runtime.Codec, newFunc, newListFunc fu
 		watcher:             w,
 		leaseManager:        newDefaultLeaseManager(c.Client, leaseManagerConfig),
 		decoder:             decoder,
+		listErrAggrFactory:  listErrAggrFactory,
 	}
 
 	w.getCurrentStorageRV = func(ctx context.Context) (uint64, error) {
@@ -271,6 +318,9 @@ func (s *store) Delete(
 	}
 
 	skipTransformDecode := false
+	if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion) {
+		skipTransformDecode = opts.IgnoreStoreReadError
+	}
 	return s.conditionalDelete(ctx, preparedKey, out, v, preconditions, validateDeletion, cachedExistingObject, skipTransformDecode)
 }
 
@@ -693,6 +743,7 @@ func (s *store) GetList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOption
 		metricsOp = "list"
 	}
 
+	aggregator := s.listErrAggrFactory()
 	for {
 		startTime := time.Now()
 		getResp, err = s.getList(ctx, keyPrefix, opts.Recursive, kubernetes.ListOptions{
@@ -736,7 +787,10 @@ func (s *store) GetList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOption
 
 			data, _, err := s.transformer.TransformFromStorage(ctx, kv.Value, authenticatedDataString(kv.Key))
 			if err != nil {
-				return storage.NewInternalError(fmt.Errorf("unable to transform key %q: %w", kv.Key, err))
+				if done := aggregator.Aggregate(string(kv.Key), storage.NewInternalError(fmt.Errorf("unable to transform key %q: %w", kv.Key, err))); done {
+					return aggregator.Err()
+				}
+				continue
 			}
 
 			// Check if the request has already timed out before decode object
@@ -750,7 +804,10 @@ func (s *store) GetList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOption
 			obj, err := s.decoder.DecodeListItem(ctx, data, uint64(kv.ModRevision), newItemFunc)
 			if err != nil {
 				recordDecodeError(s.groupResourceString, string(kv.Key))
-				return err
+				if done := aggregator.Aggregate(string(kv.Key), err); done {
+					return aggregator.Err()
+				}
+				continue
 			}
 
 			// being unable to set the version does not prevent the object from being extracted
@@ -784,6 +841,10 @@ func (s *store) GetList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOption
 		}
 	}
 
+	if err := aggregator.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	if v.IsNil() {
 		// Ensure that we never return a nil Items pointer in the result for consistency.
 		v.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(v.Type(), 0, 0))

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/interfaces.go

@@ -317,4 +317,11 @@ type ListOptions struct {
 
 // DeleteOptions provides the options that may be provided for storage delete operations.
 type DeleteOptions struct {
+	// IgnoreStoreReadError, if enabled, will ignore store read error
+	// such as transformation or decode failure and go ahead with the
+	// deletion of the object.
+	// NOTE: for normal deletion flow it should always be false, it may be
+	// enabled by the caller only to facilitate unsafe deletion of corrupt
+	// object which otherwise can not be deleted using the normal flow
+	IgnoreStoreReadError bool
 }

staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/storagebackend/factory/etcd3.go

@@ -464,7 +464,8 @@ func newETCD3Storage(c storagebackend.ConfigForResource, newFunc, newListFunc fu
 
 	versioner := storage.APIObjectVersioner{}
 	decoder := etcd3.NewDefaultDecoder(c.Codec, versioner)
-	return etcd3.New(client, c.Codec, newFunc, newListFunc, c.Prefix, resourcePrefix, c.GroupResource, transformer, c.LeaseManagerConfig, decoder, versioner), destroyFunc, nil
+	store := etcd3.New(client, c.Codec, newFunc, newListFunc, c.Prefix, resourcePrefix, c.GroupResource, transformer, c.LeaseManagerConfig, decoder, versioner)
+	return store, destroyFunc, nil
 }
 
 // startDBSizeMonitorPerEndpoint starts a loop to monitor etcd database size and update the

test/featuregates_linter/test_data/versioned_feature_list.yaml

@@ -54,6 +54,12 @@
     lockToDefault: true
     preRelease: Deprecated
     version: "1.32"
+- name: AllowUnsafeMalformedObjectDeletion
+  versionedSpecs:
+  - default: false
+    lockToDefault: false
+    preRelease: Alpha
+    version: "1.32"
 - name: AnonymousAuthConfigurableEndpoints
   versionedSpecs:
   - default: false