apt install python3-venv rendered system unusable

[Andrew Diamond]

I ran `sudo apt install python3-venv` on Ubuntu 24.04. Note that this system was upgraded from 22.04 LTS a few weeks ago using do-release-upgrade.

Expected: A minor installation of a few packages to get venv running.

Actual: A major installation of packages having nothing to do with venv that destroyed all network configs and left the system unsable.

The command `apt install python3-venv` installed new bluetooth, network and sound packages. I have no idea why it would need to install those. Or why it needs to install libraries for an RDP server. I'm wondering if the venv repo was compromised with malware.

Anyway, the updates to network manager tried and failed to rewrite all of my WiFi and VPN configs. After failure, it tried to restore the configs, but all restoration attempts failed. After this, the OS could not connect to any network, and I had to reinstall from scratch.

Attached is the command I ran and the complete output. The network related error messages are far down in the output. It makes no sense why the venv package would need to update network and bluetooth libraries.

[Stefano Rivera (stefanor)]

It sounds very much like you hadn't completed your upgrade. This was just an action that was making the next steps of upgrade happen. Nothing to do with python3-venv itself.

[Nick Rosbrook (enr0n)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. I suspect a support site would be more appropriate, e.g. https://askubuntu.com, or for more options please look at https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/community-support/709.