Traced this down in the base-passwd package to /usr/sbin/update-passwd. Ran the command with --verbose and it throws the same error.
-- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to base-passwd in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1986619 Title: Fail to install base-passwd Status in base-passwd package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: /home/frank/Downloads# dpkg -i base-passwd_3.5.52build1_amd64.deb (Reading database ... 236425 files and directories currently installed.) Preparing to unpack base-passwd_3.5.52build1_amd64.deb ... Unpacking base-passwd (3.5.52build1) over (3.5.52build1) ... Setting up base-passwd (3.5.52build1) ... Changing home-directory of irc from /var/run/ircd to /run/ircd 1 changes have been made, rewriting files Writing passwd-file to /etc/passwd Failed to open passwd-file /etc/passwd.upwd-write for writing: Permission denied dpkg: error processing package base-passwd (--install): installed base-passwd package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 4 Errors were encountered while processing: base-passwd root@CNQDSX:/home/frank/Downloads# To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/base-passwd/+bug/1986619/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
