Bug 2181840 - F38 Secure Boot dbx Configuration Update 190 -> 217 fails w/Invalid argument
Summary: F38 Secure Boot dbx Configuration Update 190 -> 217 fails w/Invalid argument
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED EOL
Alias: None
Product: Fedora
Classification: Fedora
Component: virt-manager
Version: 38
Hardware: Unspecified
OS: Unspecified
unspecified
high
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Cole Robinson
QA Contact: Fedora Extras Quality Assurance
URL:
Whiteboard:
Depends On:
Blocks:
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 2023-03-26 13:47 UTC by browseria
Modified: 2024-05-21 14:34 UTC (History)
5 users (show)

Fixed In Version:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 2024-05-21 14:34:09 UTC
Type: Bug
Embargoed:


Attachments (Terms of Use)

Description browseria 2023-03-26 13:47:31 UTC
Description of problem:
When installing Fedora 38 into a KVM virtual image using `virt-install --boot uefi`,
it defaults to using the OVMF 2M files. Fedora 38 currently ships with dbx
Configuration Update 190, so one of the updates a user will first encounter is the
"Secure Boot dbx Configuration Update 190 -> 217". Attempting to apply this update
through Software silently fails, and through fwdupdmgr results in:

> failed to write data to efivarfs: Error writing to file descriptor: Invalid argument

What really happened is the UEFI variable store in the 2M OVMF files is too small
to be able to apply this update. Switching to using the ovmf-4m files shipped with
Fedora 38 removes this issue and the update can then be applied correctly.

What I'd like to see is the `virt-install --boot uefi` option default to using the
OVMF 4M files instead of using the current OVMF 2M files, and that Fedora 38 ship
with "Secure Boot dbx Configuration Update 217". Otherwise, the user of the VM
will have this update for the entire lifetime of F38 and never be able to apply it.
I believe the dbx update is a security update, so this adds to the concern.


Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
virt-install 4.1.0


How reproducible:
Every time when using `--boot uefi`.


Steps to Reproduce:
1. `virt-install --boot uefi --osinfo detect=off,name=fedora38 --arch x86_64 --machine q35 ...`
2. Go to Software and try to apply the "Secure Boot dbx Configuration Update 190 -> 217" 
3. OR `fwupdmgr update`


Actual results:
Software silently fails, and fwupdmgr reports:
> failed to write data to efivarfs: Error writing to file descriptor: Invalid argument


Expected results:
The update succeeds and the dbx is updated to 217.


Additional info:
See the discussion here for more details:

https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/t/f38-secure-boot-dbx-configuration-update-190-217-fails-w-invalid-argument/79822

Comment 1 Aoife Moloney 2024-05-07 16:02:52 UTC
This message is a reminder that Fedora Linux 38 is nearing its end of life.
Fedora will stop maintaining and issuing updates for Fedora Linux 38 on 2024-05-21.
It is Fedora's policy to close all bug reports from releases that are no longer
maintained. At that time this bug will be closed as EOL if it remains open with a
'version' of '38'.

Package Maintainer: If you wish for this bug to remain open because you
plan to fix it in a currently maintained version, change the 'version' 
to a later Fedora Linux version. Note that the version field may be hidden.
Click the "Show advanced fields" button if you do not see it.

Thank you for reporting this issue and we are sorry that we were not 
able to fix it before Fedora Linux 38 is end of life. If you would still like 
to see this bug fixed and are able to reproduce it against a later version 
of Fedora Linux, you are encouraged to change the 'version' to a later version
prior to this bug being closed.

Comment 2 Aoife Moloney 2024-05-21 14:34:09 UTC
Fedora Linux 38 entered end-of-life (EOL) status on 2024-05-21.

Fedora Linux 38 is no longer maintained, which means that it
will not receive any further security or bug fix updates. As a result we
are closing this bug.

If you can reproduce this bug against a currently maintained version of Fedora Linux
please feel free to reopen this bug against that version. Note that the version
field may be hidden. Click the "Show advanced fields" button if you do not see
the version field.

If you are unable to reopen this bug, please file a new report against an
active release.

Thank you for reporting this bug and we are sorry it could not be fixed.


Note You need to log in before you can comment on or make changes to this bug.