Thanks for the help so far. That path doesn't appear to exist. I imagine it must be built from the database.
To clarify the process that results in the error:
On any site go to Admin--Extensions--Install New Extension
Site 1- Install skin package, works fine
Site 2- Install skin package, works fine
Site 3- Install skin package, after choosing the file and clicking ok the error appears where sites 1 and 2 parse the file and show the summary page
Site 3- Install renamed skin package (including updating the manifest files)- works fine.
I've repeated this with different variations of skin packages on different sites and on a test copy of the whole installation. Same results.
To me it has to be a bug/issue in a DB query that changed from v7.0.5 to 7.2
I'm going to test an update to 7.2.2 and see what happens.