package initramfs-tools 0.130ubuntu3 failed to install/upgrade: installed initramfs-tools package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 143

[Michael Neuffer]

Adding library-link /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libcap-ng.so.0
Adding library /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libcap-ng.so.0.0.0
Adding binary /sbin/dumpe2fs
Calling hook dmsetup
Calling hook klibc-utils
/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/panic/ORDER ignored: not executable
/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/local-bottom/ORDER ignored: not executable
/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/init-bottom/ORDER ignored: not executable
/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/local-block/ORDER ignored: not executable
/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/local-top/ORDER ignored: not executable
/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/local-premount/ORDER ignored: not executable
/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/init-premount/ORDER ignored: not executable
/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/init-top/ORDER ignored: not executable
dns: libnss_files: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libnss_files.so.2
Adding library-link /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libnss_files.so.2
Adding library /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libnss_files-2.27.so
dns: libnss_dns: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libnss_dns.so.2
Adding library-link /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libnss_dns.so.2
Adding library /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libnss_dns-2.27.so
dns: libresolv: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libresolv.so.2
Adding library-link /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libresolv.so.2
Adding library /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libresolv-2.27.so
Building cpio /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-12-generic.new initramfs

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: initramfs-tools 0.130ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-12.13-generic 4.15.7
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-12-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.8-0ubuntu10
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Mar 17 21:17:40 2018
ErrorMessage: installed initramfs-tools package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 143
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-02-28 (17 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Release amd64 (20180105)
PackageArchitecture: all
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.5rc1, python3-minimal, 3.6.4-1
PythonDetails: /usr/bin/python2.7, Python 2.7.14+, python-minimal, 2.7.14-4
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.19.0.5ubuntu1
 apt 1.6~beta1
SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
Title: package initramfs-tools 0.130ubuntu3 failed to install/upgrade: installed initramfs-tools package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 143
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Michael Neuffer (neuffer)]

Start of the log (above is only the tail end where it gets stuck during the cpio:
root@charion:/boot# update-initramfs -u -k 4.15.0-12-generic -b /boot -t -v
Keeping /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-12-generic.dpkg-bak
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-12-generic
Copying module directory kernel/drivers/usb/host
(excluding hwa-hc.ko sl811_cs.ko sl811-hcd.ko u132-hcd.ko whci-hcd.ko)
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/host/isp116x-hcd.ko
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/ssb/ssb.ko
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/host/ssb-hcd.ko
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/host/xhci-plat-hcd.ko
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/host/r8a66597-hcd.ko
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/host/oxu210hp-hcd.ko
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/host/max3421-hcd.ko
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/bcma/bcma.ko
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/host/bcma-hcd.ko
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/host/isp1362-hcd.ko
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/host/fotg210-hcd.ko
Copying module directory kernel/drivers/usb/c67x00
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/c67x00/c67x00.ko
Copying module directory kernel/drivers/usb/chipidea
Adding module /lib/modules/4.15.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/gadget/udc/udc-core.ko
[...]

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Rainer Lungershausen (ranuda)]

Not having very serious problems with my Linux per se (Kernel: 4.15.0-122-generic i686 Bits: 32 Desktop: MATE 1.20.1 Distro: Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa) I also wonder about these irritating initramfs-tools messages saying "ORDER ignored: not executable", although they don't seem to be error messages: maybe it is meant that these scripts are "not executable".
But anyway i've got a question, maybe a silly one: Would it make sense to alter the access privileges of these scripts by giving them execute permission?