package libssl1.0.0:amd64 1.0.2d-0ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

[gbnreddy]

Setting up libncurses5:amd64 (5.9+20150516-2ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.21-0ubuntu4) ...
dpkg: warning: files list file for package 'rsyslog' missing; assuming package has no files currently installed
(Reading database ... 239645 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../libsqlite3-0_3.8.11.1-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libsqlite3-0:amd64 (3.8.11.1-1) over (3.8.7.4-1ubuntu0.1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../libpython3.4-stdlib_3.4.3-8_amd64.deb ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/libpython3.4-stdlib:amd64.prerm: 8: /var/lib/dpkg/info/libpython3.4-stdlib:amd64.prerm: awk: not found
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned error exit status 127
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
dpkg: ... it looks like that went OK
Unpacking libpython3.4-stdlib:amd64 (3.4.3-8) over (3.4.3-3) ...
Preparing to unpack .../libssl1.0.0_1.0.2d-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libssl1.0.0:amd64 (1.0.2d-0ubuntu1) over (1.0.1f-1ubuntu11.4) ...
Preparing to unpack .../libpython3.4-minimal_3.4.3-8_amd64.deb ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/libpython3.4-minimal:amd64.prerm: 8: /var/lib/dpkg/info/libpython3.4-minimal:amd64.prerm: awk: not found
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned error exit status 127
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
dpkg: ... it looks like that went OK
Unpacking libpython3.4-minimal:amd64 (3.4.3-8) over (3.4.3-3) ...
Preparing to unpack .../dh-python_2.20150826_all.deb ...
Unpacking dh-python (2.20150826) over (1.20141111-2ubuntu1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../python3-minimal_3.4.3-4ubuntu1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking python3-minimal (3.4.3-4ubuntu1) over (3.4.3-1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.0.2-5) ...
Setting up libssl1.0.0:amd64 (1.0.2d-0ubuntu1) ...
Checking for services that may need to be restarted.../var/lib/dpkg/info/libssl1.0.0:amd64.postinst: 83: /var/lib/dpkg/info/libssl1.0.0:amd64.postinst: awk: not found
dpkg: error processing package libssl1.0.0:amd64 (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libpython3.4-minimal:amd64:
 libpython3.4-minimal:amd64 depends on libssl1.0.0 (>= 1.0.1); however:
  Package libssl1.0.0:amd64 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package libpython3.4-minimal:amd64 (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up libexpat1:amd64 (2.1.0-7) ...
No apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup error from a previous failure.
                          Setting up libexpat1:i386 (2.1.0-7) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python3.4-minimal:
 python3.4-minimal depends on libpython3.4-minimal (= 3.4.3-8); however:
  Package libpython3.4-minimal:amd64 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package python3.4-minimal (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup error from a previous failure.
                          dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python3-minimal:
 python3-minimal depends on python3.4-minimal (>= 3.4.3-1); however:
  Package python3.4-minimal is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package python3-minimal (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
                                                              Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.21-0ubuntu4) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 libssl1.0.0:amd64
 libpython3.4-minimal:amd64
 python3.4-minimal
 python3-minimal
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.10
Package: libssl1.0.0:amd64 1.0.2d-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.19.0-26.28-generic 3.19.8-ckt4
Uname: Linux 3.19.0-26-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.17.2-0ubuntu1.3
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sun Aug 30 16:15:44 2015
DuplicateSignature: package:libssl1.0.0:amd64:1.0.2d-0ubuntu1:subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-08-26 (4 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 15.04 "Vivid Vervet" - Release amd64 (20150422)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.2ubuntu3
 apt 1.0.9.7ubuntu4.1
SourcePackage: openssl
Title: package libssl1.0.0:amd64 1.0.2d-0ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Seth Arnold (seth-arnold)]

I'm not sure how this got into a state where awk wasn't available. So, I'm resetting to apt since it feels like something went wrong somewhere other than OpenSSL.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Julian Andres Klode (juliank)]

As seth wrote, something really went wrong somewhere. But that system is basically completely screwed up: Not only does it miss essential system programs, it also misses files in the database. I don't think any software caused that.