[Bug 886090] [NEW] grub password entry freezes upon excessive backspace

[Nick Bishop]

Public bug reported:

My system is $ lsb_release -rd
Description:	Ubuntu 10.04.3 LTS
Release:	10.04
$ apt-cache policy grub-pc
grub-pc:
  Installed: 1.98-1ubuntu12

In my 00_header, I have arranged for boot-time passwords, and therefore have entries like these in my /boot/grub/grub.cfg
-----
set superusers="guru"
password guru the_passwd
password tom the_passwd
password dick the_passwd
password harry the_passwd
# ...
menuentry --users tom,dick,harry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-34-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
        recordfail
        insmod ext2
        set root='(hd0,1)'
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set a46053d3-b5da-42f2-92ce-271e59a175a6
        linux   /vmlinuz-2.6.32-34-generic root=UUID=4aece489-c5b2-45db-927c-07218c7e47d8 ro   quiet splash
        initrd  /initrd.img-2.6.32-34-generic
}
-----

When I boot the computer, I get the grub menu, and I choose an entry
like the one above. It then asks me for the username.

If I type at least one character, then press enough backspaces to erase the character(s), then TWO MORE backspaces, then the following happens.
-> Any characters I type do not have any effect. But pressing ENTER does the usual.
-> Even if I type in the correct password (for the blindly typed username), it says Access Denied.

Workaround: press ENTER to get past username and password prompts, then
try again (without being quite so trigger-happy on the backspace key).

I believe the same effect happens on the password prompt, but is harder
to see, given the no_echo. This causes difficulties if your fingers slip
during password entry.

Can you also check on this other behaviour: pressing backspace on the username entry does a NON-DESTRUCTIVE backspace. Like this
Username:
ivan_the_terrible   (then backspace * 8)
         ^ cursor position, under 't', 't' and 'errible' still visible.

** Affects: grub2 (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/886090

Title:
  grub password entry freezes upon excessive backspace

Status in “grub2” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  My system is $ lsb_release -rd
  Description:	Ubuntu 10.04.3 LTS
  Release:	10.04
  $ apt-cache policy grub-pc
  grub-pc:
    Installed: 1.98-1ubuntu12

  In my 00_header, I have arranged for boot-time passwords, and therefore have entries like these in my /boot/grub/grub.cfg
  -----
  set superusers="guru"
  password guru the_passwd
  password tom the_passwd
  password dick the_passwd
  password harry the_passwd
  # ...
  menuentry --users tom,dick,harry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-34-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
          recordfail
          insmod ext2
          set root='(hd0,1)'
          search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set a46053d3-b5da-42f2-92ce-271e59a175a6
          linux   /vmlinuz-2.6.32-34-generic root=UUID=4aece489-c5b2-45db-927c-07218c7e47d8 ro   quiet splash
          initrd  /initrd.img-2.6.32-34-generic
  }
  -----

  When I boot the computer, I get the grub menu, and I choose an entry
  like the one above. It then asks me for the username.

  If I type at least one character, then press enough backspaces to erase the character(s), then TWO MORE backspaces, then the following happens.
  -> Any characters I type do not have any effect. But pressing ENTER does the usual.
  -> Even if I type in the correct password (for the blindly typed username), it says Access Denied.

  Workaround: press ENTER to get past username and password prompts,
  then try again (without being quite so trigger-happy on the backspace
  key).

  I believe the same effect happens on the password prompt, but is
  harder to see, given the no_echo. This causes difficulties if your
  fingers slip during password entry.

  Can you also check on this other behaviour: pressing backspace on the username entry does a NON-DESTRUCTIVE backspace. Like this
  Username:
  ivan_the_terrible   (then backspace * 8)
           ^ cursor position, under 't', 't' and 'errible' still visible.

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