Fail to install base-passwd

[Frank.D]

/home/frank/Downloads# dpkg -i base-passwd_3.5.52build1_amd64.deb
(Reading database ... 236425 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack base-passwd_3.5.52build1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking base-passwd (3.5.52build1) over (3.5.52build1) ...
Setting up base-passwd (3.5.52build1) ...
Changing home-directory of irc from /var/run/ircd to /run/ircd
1 changes have been made, rewriting files
Writing passwd-file to /etc/passwd
Failed to open passwd-file /etc/passwd.upwd-write for writing: Permission denied
dpkg: error processing package base-passwd (--install):
 installed base-passwd package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 4
Errors were encountered while processing:
 base-passwd
root@CNQDSX:/home/frank/Downloads#

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Andrea Gambacorta (mrmafaldo)]

Hi,
I had the same problem.
First you can check if your file is "immutable" via:
#> lsattr /etc/passwd
----i-------- /etc/passwd

If is not immutable you dont have any reason for not edit via sudo, so the problem can be, like my case, the antivirus.
I kill all mcafee process multiple time, every 2 seconds, because the process try to becoming up, and then I was able to upgrade the library
I hope it will be usefull for you
Ciao

[John (vampire77)]

This occurred to me during an apt dist-upgrade.
   The file /etc/passwd.upwd-write does not exist.
   Attempting to "touch /etc/passwd.upwd-write" gives a permission denied error.
   I can write other files to the /etc/ directory.
   Nothing in lsof has and an fd open to this file.
   Forced a file system check made no difference.
   /etc/passwd is not immutable.
   Made a backup and new copy of /etc. No difference.

[John (vampire77)]

Traced this down in the base-passwd package to /usr/sbin/update-passwd. Ran the command with --verbose and it throws the same error.