[Bug 1551511] [NEW] apt: packages that need to download other files do not work

[Hariharan Iyer]

Public bug reported:

Packages that need to download and install other files, such as pepperflashplugin-nonfree and msttfcorefonts fail to download the files. Errors similar to the following are observed:
Can't drop privileges for downloading as file '/var/lib/update-notifier/package-data-downloads/partial/courie32.exe' couldn't be accessed by user '_apt'. - pkgAcquire::Run (13: Permission denied)
or
ERROR: failed to retrieve status information from google : W: Can't drop privileges for downloading as file './var/lib/apt/lists/partial/dl.google.com_linux_chrome_deb_dists_stable_InRelease' couldn't be accessed by user '_apt'. - pkgAcquire::Run (13: Permission denied)
More information might be available at:
  http://wiki.debian.org/PepperFlashPlayer

Ubuntu version: 16.04
apt version: 1.2.3 (amd64)

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

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1551511

Title:
  apt: packages that need to download other files do not work

Status in apt package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Packages that need to download and install other files, such as pepperflashplugin-nonfree and msttfcorefonts fail to download the files. Errors similar to the following are observed:
  Can't drop privileges for downloading as file '/var/lib/update-notifier/package-data-downloads/partial/courie32.exe' couldn't be accessed by user '_apt'. - pkgAcquire::Run (13: Permission denied)
  or
  ERROR: failed to retrieve status information from google : W: Can't drop privileges for downloading as file './var/lib/apt/lists/partial/dl.google.com_linux_chrome_deb_dists_stable_InRelease' couldn't be accessed by user '_apt'. - pkgAcquire::Run (13: Permission denied)
  More information might be available at:
    http://wiki.debian.org/PepperFlashPlayer

  Ubuntu version: 16.04
  apt version: 1.2.3 (amd64)

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