package virtualbox-dkms 5.0.40-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2 failed to install/upgrade: package virtualbox-dkms is already installed and configured

[Marek Polak]

the problem arose when i wanted to update the kernel.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: virtualbox-dkms 5.0.40-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-26.29~16.04.2-generic 4.13.13
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-26-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_drm nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15
AptdaemonVersion: 1.1.1+bzr982-0ubuntu14
Architecture: amd64
CrashReports:
 600:0:117:178834:2018-01-11 15:21:56.627121806 +0100:2018-01-11 15:25:26.484114439 +0100:/var/crash/nvidia-384.0.crash
 600:0:117:286419:2018-01-12 09:35:44.730878829 +0100:2018-01-12 09:35:45.730878829 +0100:/var/crash/virtualbox-dkms.0.crash
 600:0:117:286421:2018-01-12 09:35:45.710880922 +0100:2018-01-12 09:35:45.478905830 +0100:/var/crash/unattended-upgrades.0.crash
 600:0:117:286409:2018-01-12 09:35:45.746877058 +0100:2018-01-12 09:35:45.730878775 +0100:/var/crash/virtualbox.0.crash
Date: Fri Jan 12 09:35:45 2018
DuplicateSignature:
 package:virtualbox-dkms:5.0.40-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2
 Processing triggers for mime-support (3.59ubuntu1) ...
 dpkg: error processing package unattended-upgrades (--configure):
  package unattended-upgrades is already installed and configured
ErrorMessage: package virtualbox-dkms is already installed and configured
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-10-07 (96 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170801)
PackageArchitecture: all
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.3
 apt 1.2.24
SourcePackage: dpkg
Title: package virtualbox-dkms 5.0.40-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2 failed to install/upgrade: package virtualbox-dkms is already installed and configured
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)