package hardening-includes 2.7ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration

[Stephen Matthias]

I was installing Java RTE from command line.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.10
Package: hardening-includes 2.7ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.8.0-22.24-generic 4.8.0
Uname: Linux 4.8.0-22-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_uvm nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.3-0ubuntu8
AptOrdering: NULL: ConfigurePending
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Feb 4 22:57:23 2017
DpkgTerminalLog:
 dpkg: error processing package hardening-includes (--configure):
  package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
  reinstall it before attempting configuration
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-01-22 (13 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160421)
PackageArchitecture: all
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.10ubuntu1
 apt 1.3.1
SourcePackage: hardening-wrapper
Title: package hardening-includes 2.7ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[dino99 (9d9)]

This is an unsupported release now. Please think to install the next LTS 'Bionic 18.04'

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-next/daily-live/current/
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/02/ubuntu-18-04-minimal-install-option

[Simon Quigley (tsimonq2)]

Marking as Invalid because the release is EOL is not correct. Marking as Incomplete. Also, 18.04 is (at the time of writing) still in development, and you should expect some breakage.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Responses#Release_has_reached_End_of_Life_.28EOL.29

Reporter, is this still present on 17.10 or 16.04?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for hardening-wrapper (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]