[Bug 1936299] [NEW] ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS apt update "Unknown error executing apt-key"

[Raj Basnet]

Public bug reported:

I have some machines AWS with Ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS but unable to update
the repository on servers. When I'm trying to update the repo it
throwing an error with Unkown Keys error.

root# apt update
Get:1 http://deb.debian.org/debian unstable InRelease [161 kB]
Get:2 https://artifacts.elastic.co/packages/7.x/apt stable InRelease [10.4 kB]
Err:1 http://deb.debian.org/debian unstable InRelease
  Unknown error executing apt-key
Err:2 https://artifacts.elastic.co/packages/7.x/apt stable InRelease
  Unknown error executing apt-key
Get:3 http://ppa.launchpad.net/deadsnakes/ppa/ubuntu bionic InRelease [15.9 kB]
Get:4 http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt bionic-pgdg InRelease [110 kB]
Err:3 http://ppa.launchpad.net/deadsnakes/ppa/ubuntu bionic InRelease
  Unknown error executing apt-key
Get:5 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic InRelease [242 kB]
Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security InRelease [88.7 kB]
Err:4 http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt bionic-pgdg InRelease
  Unknown error executing apt-key
Err:6 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security InRelease
  Unknown error executing apt-key
Err:5 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic InRelease
  Unknown error executing apt-key
Get:7 https://repos.citusdata.com/community/ubuntu bionic InRelease [23.2 kB]
Err:7 https://repos.citusdata.com/community/ubuntu bionic InRelease
  Unknown error executing apt-key
Reading package lists... Done
W: GPG error: http://deb.debian.org/debian unstable InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
E: The repository 'http://deb.debian.org/debian unstable InRelease' is not signed.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
W: GPG error: https://artifacts.elastic.co/packages/7.x/apt stable InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
E: The repository 'http://ppa.launchpad.net/deadsnakes/ppa/ubuntu bionic InRelease' is not signed.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
W: GPG error: http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt bionic-pgdg InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
E: The repository 'http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt bionic-pgdg InRelease' is not signed.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
W: GPG error: http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
E: The repository 'http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic InRelease' is not signed.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
W: GPG error: http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
E: The repository 'http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates InRelease' is not signed.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
W: GPG error: https://repos.citusdata.com/community/ubuntu bionic InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
E: The repository 'https://repos.citusdata.com/community/ubuntu bionic InRelease' is not signed.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.

All servers are on AWS and facing the same issue on multiple servers.
unable to update server. I have spent many days troubleshooting this
issue. but did not find a solution.

but at Last, i got this command

echo 'APT::Sandbox::User "root";' >/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/00temp
it works and now i can update repository.

Q.1 Why I have to run this command? anyone knows the exact reason behind this.
Q.2 Is this a type of security hole?

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


** Tags: bionic dist-upgrade patch upgrade-software-version

** Tags added: dist-upgrade patch upgrade-software-version

** Tags added: bionic

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1936299

Title:
  ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS  apt update "Unknown error executing apt-key"

Status in apt package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  I have some machines AWS with Ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS but unable to update
  the repository on servers. When I'm trying to update the repo it
  throwing an error with Unkown Keys error.

  root# apt update
  Get:1 http://deb.debian.org/debian unstable InRelease [161 kB]
  Get:2 https://artifacts.elastic.co/packages/7.x/apt stable InRelease [10.4 kB]
  Err:1 http://deb.debian.org/debian unstable InRelease
    Unknown error executing apt-key
  Err:2 https://artifacts.elastic.co/packages/7.x/apt stable InRelease
    Unknown error executing apt-key
  Get:3 http://ppa.launchpad.net/deadsnakes/ppa/ubuntu bionic InRelease [15.9 kB]
  Get:4 http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt bionic-pgdg InRelease [110 kB]
  Err:3 http://ppa.launchpad.net/deadsnakes/ppa/ubuntu bionic InRelease
    Unknown error executing apt-key
  Get:5 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic InRelease [242 kB]
  Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security InRelease [88.7 kB]
  Err:4 http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt bionic-pgdg InRelease
    Unknown error executing apt-key
  Err:6 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security InRelease
    Unknown error executing apt-key
  Err:5 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic InRelease
    Unknown error executing apt-key
  Get:7 https://repos.citusdata.com/community/ubuntu bionic InRelease [23.2 kB]
  Err:7 https://repos.citusdata.com/community/ubuntu bionic InRelease
    Unknown error executing apt-key
  Reading package lists... Done
  W: GPG error: http://deb.debian.org/debian unstable InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
  E: The repository 'http://deb.debian.org/debian unstable InRelease' is not signed.
  N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
  N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
  W: GPG error: https://artifacts.elastic.co/packages/7.x/apt stable InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
  E: The repository 'http://ppa.launchpad.net/deadsnakes/ppa/ubuntu bionic InRelease' is not signed.
  N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
  N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
  W: GPG error: http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt bionic-pgdg InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
  E: The repository 'http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt bionic-pgdg InRelease' is not signed.
  N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
  N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
  W: GPG error: http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
  E: The repository 'http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic InRelease' is not signed.
  N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
  N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
  W: GPG error: http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
  E: The repository 'http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates InRelease' is not signed.
  N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely and is therefore disabled by default.
  N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
  W: GPG error: https://repos.citusdata.com/community/ubuntu bionic InRelease: Unknown error executing apt-key
  E: The repository 'https://repos.citusdata.com/community/ubuntu bionic InRelease' is not signed.
  N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely and is therefore disabled by default.
  N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.

  All servers are on AWS and facing the same issue on multiple servers.
  unable to update server. I have spent many days troubleshooting this
  issue. but did not find a solution.

  but at Last, i got this command

  echo 'APT::Sandbox::User "root";' >/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/00temp
  it works and now i can update repository.

  Q.1 Why I have to run this command? anyone knows the exact reason behind this.
  Q.2 Is this a type of security hole?

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