[Bug 1328819] [NEW] update-grub debconf frontend fails running dpkg --compare-versions after kernel upgrade

[Jens]

Public bug reported:

After running "apt-get upgrade" with a new kernel (3.2.0-64) being
installed, I get the following output:

Searching for GRUB installation directory ... found: /boot/grub
dpkg: error: --compare-versions takes three arguments: <version> <relation> <version>

Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
Use `dselect' or `aptitude' for user-friendly package management;
Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options;
Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files;

Options marked [*] produce a lot of output - pipe it through `less' or `more' !
Searching for default file ... found: /boot/grub/default
Testing for an existing GRUB menu.lst file ... found: /boot/grub/menu.lst
Searching for splash image ... none found, skipping ...
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-64-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-57-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-56-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-43-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-39-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-26-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-25-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic
Updating /boot/grub/menu.lst ... done

This is repeatable by running "update-grub" (and not dependant on the
current locale as I used "LANG=C update-grub".

The error seems to happen in the debconf frontend, as the error occurs
after running this bit:

root at root:~# bash -x update-grub 
+ set -e
+ . /usr/share/debconf/confmodule
++ '[' '!' '' ']'
++ PERL_DL_NONLAZY=1
++ export PERL_DL_NONLAZY
++ '[' '' ']'
++ exec /usr/share/debconf/frontend update-grub
(...)

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: grub 0.97-29ubuntu66
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-57.87-generic 3.2.52
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-57-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu17.6
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Jun 11 10:35:48 2014
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: grub
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-05-04 (767 days ago)

** Affects: grub (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug precise

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1328819

Title:
  update-grub debconf frontend fails running dpkg --compare-versions
  after kernel upgrade

Status in “grub” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  After running "apt-get upgrade" with a new kernel (3.2.0-64) being
  installed, I get the following output:

  Searching for GRUB installation directory ... found: /boot/grub
  dpkg: error: --compare-versions takes three arguments: <version> <relation> <version>

  Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
  Use `dselect' or `aptitude' for user-friendly package management;
  Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
  Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options;
  Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files;

  Options marked [*] produce a lot of output - pipe it through `less' or `more' !
  Searching for default file ... found: /boot/grub/default
  Testing for an existing GRUB menu.lst file ... found: /boot/grub/menu.lst
  Searching for splash image ... none found, skipping ...
  Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-64-generic
  Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-57-generic
  Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-56-generic
  Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-43-generic
  Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-39-generic
  Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-26-generic
  Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-25-generic
  Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic
  Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic
  Updating /boot/grub/menu.lst ... done

  This is repeatable by running "update-grub" (and not dependant on the
  current locale as I used "LANG=C update-grub".

  The error seems to happen in the debconf frontend, as the error occurs
  after running this bit:

  root at root:~# bash -x update-grub 
  + set -e
  + . /usr/share/debconf/confmodule
  ++ '[' '!' '' ']'
  ++ PERL_DL_NONLAZY=1
  ++ export PERL_DL_NONLAZY
  ++ '[' '' ']'
  ++ exec /usr/share/debconf/frontend update-grub
  (...)

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
  Package: grub 0.97-29ubuntu66
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-57.87-generic 3.2.52
  Uname: Linux 3.2.0-57-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu17.6
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Wed Jun 11 10:35:48 2014
  MarkForUpload: True
  ProcEnviron:
   TERM=xterm-256color
   PATH=(custom, no user)
   LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
   SHELL=/bin/bash
  SourcePackage: grub
  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-05-04 (767 days ago)

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