[Bug 1471983] [NEW] USB HDD makes lshw seg-fault when run as root

[Ben Dover]

Public bug reported:

The HDD enclosure causing this is the 'ORICO 2.5 inch USB 3.0' 
As seen here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BH83LYG/ 

When the enclosure is plugged in, the lshw command runs fine as a plain
user, but when run as root with either 'sudo su', 'sudo -i' or just
'sudo' (I tried all to be sure), lshw starts the normal process of
scanning through the stuff it scans, but instead of outputting any
information, it seg-faults with the message "Segmentation Fault".

When I unplug the HDD enclosure, lshw then runs fine as root. 
This problem occurs both with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, and has been tested on an AMD 64-bit machine running Xubuntu 14.04 (upgraded from 12.04). 

I also tested on an older Intel 32-bit machine running Xubuntu 14.04 and got the same problem, except this time the message was different; 
"
terminate called after throwing an instance of 'std::length_error' 
  what(): basic_string::_S_create
"

I have pasted an extract from dmesg (from the AMD 64-bit machine) here: 
http://pastebin.com/mTfJV04k
of which mentions lshw with some information about the USB device.

(this is my first ever bug report, so apologies in advanced if I made any mistakes) 
(Package version lshw 02.16-2ubuntu1.2)

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


** Tags: fault lshw seg-fault segmentation usb

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1471983

Title:
  USB HDD makes lshw seg-fault when run as root

Status in lshw package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  The HDD enclosure causing this is the 'ORICO 2.5 inch USB 3.0' 
  As seen here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BH83LYG/ 

  When the enclosure is plugged in, the lshw command runs fine as a
  plain user, but when run as root with either 'sudo su', 'sudo -i' or
  just 'sudo' (I tried all to be sure), lshw starts the normal process
  of scanning through the stuff it scans, but instead of outputting any
  information, it seg-faults with the message "Segmentation Fault".

  When I unplug the HDD enclosure, lshw then runs fine as root. 
  This problem occurs both with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, and has been tested on an AMD 64-bit machine running Xubuntu 14.04 (upgraded from 12.04). 

  I also tested on an older Intel 32-bit machine running Xubuntu 14.04 and got the same problem, except this time the message was different; 
  "
  terminate called after throwing an instance of 'std::length_error' 
    what(): basic_string::_S_create
  "

  I have pasted an extract from dmesg (from the AMD 64-bit machine) here: 
  http://pastebin.com/mTfJV04k
  of which mentions lshw with some information about the USB device.

  (this is my first ever bug report, so apologies in advanced if I made any mistakes) 
  (Package version lshw 02.16-2ubuntu1.2)

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