package ntp 1:4.2.8p10+dfsg-5ubuntu3.2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 139

[Kevin M Franco]

Issue with package install was reported by system after using Software Updater to install new updates on Lubuntu 17.10. Equipment is a Dell Optiplex GX620.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: ntp 1:4.2.8p10+dfsg-5ubuntu3.2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-36.40-generic 4.13.13
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-36-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Mar 3 02:32:57 2018
DuplicateSignature:
 package:ntp:1:4.2.8p10+dfsg-5ubuntu3.2
 Installing new version of config file /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.ntpd ...
 Segmentation fault (core dumped)
 dpkg: error processing package ntp (--configure):
  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 139
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 139
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-12-30 (62 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Release amd64 (20171017.1)
ProcCmdline: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-36-generic root=UUID=f42c87eb-f326-4389-a256-d2a9d596508e ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.3, python3-minimal, 3.6.3-0ubuntu2
PythonDetails: /usr/bin/python2.7, Python 2.7.14, python-minimal, 2.7.14-2ubuntu1
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.24ubuntu1
 apt 1.5.1
SourcePackage: ntp
Title: package ntp 1:4.2.8p10+dfsg-5ubuntu3.2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 139
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Andreas Hasenack (ahasenack)]

Thanks for filing this bug in Ubuntu.

The logs show:
Setting up ntp (1:4.2.8p10+dfsg-5ubuntu3.2) ...
Installing new version of config file /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.ntpd ...
Segmentation fault (core dumped)
dpkg: error processing package ntp (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 139

And in dmesg:
[721832.927616] addgroup[1326]: segfault at 339 ip 00005569dd6ce6f6 sp 00007ffd260fb1f0 error 4 in perl[5569dd5bb000+1f7000]

The ntp postinst always calls addgroup and adduser:
if [ "$1" = "configure" ]; then
    addgroup --system --quiet ntp
    adduser --system --quiet --ingroup ntp --no-create-home --home /nonexistent ntp
...

Can you check if you already have an ntp user and group please:

id ntp
getent group ntp
getent passwd ntp

And try one more time:
sudo apt update
sudo apt -f install

Please post back the results. Thanks!

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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