importlib.import_module does not fire sys.audit "import" event

[lisroach]

Bug report

Bug description:

sys.audit raises auditing events for imports (https://docs.python.org/3/library/audit_events.html) but importlib.import_module does not fire an auditing event.

Repro:

>>> import sys
>>> def print_audit(event, args):
...     if event == "import":
...         print("event found: ", args)
...
>>> import importlib
>>> sys.addaudithook(print_audit)
>>> importlib.import_module("foo")
hello world
<module 'foo' from '/Users/lisacarrier/cpython-dev/test_importlib/foo.py'>
>>> importlib.import_module("os")
<module 'os' (frozen)>

(no "event found" logs)

But if you import using the import statement it does fire an event as expected:

>>> import foo
event found:  ('foo', None, ['', '/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.14/lib/python314.zip', '/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.14/lib/python3.14', '/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.14/lib/python3.14/lib-dynload', '/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.14/lib/python3.14/site-packages'], [<class '_frozen_importlib.BuiltinImporter'>, <class '_frozen_importlib.FrozenImporter'>, <class '_frozen_importlib_external.PathFinder'>], [<class 'zipimport.zipimporter'>, <function FileFinder.path_hook.<locals>.path_hook_for_FileFinder at 0x104ac0300>])
hello world

In my opinion both should fire audit events, so that way we can capture all import events. I am trying to use sys.audit today to get a view of all imports in my system, and came across this corner case.

CPython versions tested on:

3.15, 3.14, 3.12

Operating systems tested on:

macOS, Linux

Linked PRs

• gh-138310: Adds sys.audit event for import_module #138311

[AA-Turner]

Are events emitted for __import__()?

A

[nilleb]

@AA-Turner __import_ behaves the same way as import

# foo.py
print("hello world")

# bug.py
import sys

def print_audit(event, args):
    if event == "import":
        print("event found: ", args)

import importlib
sys.addaudithook(print_audit)

print("before import")

if len(sys.argv) == 1:
    print("__import__")
    __import__("foo")
elif sys.argv[1] == "import":
    print("import")
    import foo
elif sys.argv[1] == "importlib":
    print("importlib")
    importlib.import_module("foo")

print("after import")

❯ ./python.exe bugs/auditevent.py importlib
before import
importlib
hello world
after import

❯ ./python.exe bugs/auditevent.py import   
before import
import
event found:  ('foo', None, ['/Users/nilleb/dev/cpython/bugs', '/usr/local/lib/python315.zip', '/Users/nilleb/dev/cpython/Lib', '/Users/nilleb/dev/cpython/build/lib.macosx-15.6-arm64-3.15', '/Users/nilleb/.local/lib/python3.15/site-packages'], [<class '_frozen_importlib.BuiltinImporter'>, <class '_frozen_importlib.FrozenImporter'>, <class '_frozen_importlib_external.PathFinder'>], [<class 'zipimport.zipimporter'>, <function FileFinder.path_hook.<locals>.path_hook_for_FileFinder at 0x1056e5550>])
hello world
after import

❯ ./python.exe bugs/auditevent.py       
before import
__import__
event found:  ('foo', None, ['/Users/nilleb/dev/cpython/bugs', '/usr/local/lib/python315.zip', '/Users/nilleb/dev/cpython/Lib', '/Users/nilleb/dev/cpython/build/lib.macosx-15.6-arm64-3.15', '/Users/nilleb/.local/lib/python3.15/site-packages'], [<class '_frozen_importlib.BuiltinImporter'>, <class '_frozen_importlib.FrozenImporter'>, <class '_frozen_importlib_external.PathFinder'>], [<class 'zipimport.zipimporter'>, <function FileFinder.path_hook.<locals>.path_hook_for_FileFinder at 0x1033a9550>])
hello world
after import

it's the same in historical versions also

[lisroach]

That's right, __import__ is the same behavior as import. The importlib.__import__() is the same as import_module though and does not log an event.