Public bug reported:
Ubuntu release: 24.04.4 LTS (Noble)
Affected packages:
- virtualbox-dkms 7.0.16-dfsg-2ubuntu1.3
- linux-image-7.0.0-28-generic 7.0.0-28.28~24.04.1
Expected:
The DKMS module builds for the supported Noble HWE kernel, or the kernel
package installation fails safely without leaving an unbootable default entry.
Actual:
vboxdrv fails at MODPOST because it uses kvm_enable_virtualization,
kvm_disable_virtualization, cr4_update_irqsoff and cr4_read_shadow from
namespaces which it does not import. DKMS returns status 11. The linux 7.0
image and headers remain half-configured, /boot/initrd.img-7.0.0-28-generic is
not generated, and /boot/initrd.img points to that missing file. On this host
the root filesystem is on LVM, so selecting the 7.0 kernel causes an early
kernel panic before journald starts.
The same virtualbox-dkms package builds successfully for 6.17.0-40 and
6.8.0-136 on this host. Full Apport data, the exact DKMS make.log,
package state and recovery details are attached.
This is the same namespace class of failure as LP #2143821, but that fix
is tracked/released for Resolute. Noble HWE 7.0 still ships virtualbox-
dkms 7.0.16 and needs an SRU/backport or another safe resolution.
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 24.04
Package: virtualbox-dkms 7.0.16-dfsg-2ubuntu1.3
Regression: Yes
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.17.0-40.40~24.04.1-generic 6.17.13
Uname: Linux 6.17.0-40-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.28.2-0ubuntu0.1
AptFailureSummary:
dkms autoinstall on 7.0.0-28-generic/x86_64 failed for virtualbox.
linux-headers-7.0.0-28-generic post-installation returned exit status 11.
linux-image-7.0.0-28-generic post-installation returned exit status 11.
apt-get dist-upgrade ended with dpkg error code 1.
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CloudArchitecture: x86_64
CloudID: none
CloudName: none
CloudPlatform: none
CloudSubPlatform: config
Date: Fri Jul 17 08:22:49 2026
DpkgAuditBeforeRepair:
linux-generic-hwe-24.04 and linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04 were unpacked but
not configured.
linux-headers-7.0.0-28-generic and linux-image-7.0.0-28-generic were
half-configured.
IncidentSummary:
During the Ubuntu 24.04.4 HWE upgrade to linux 7.0.0-28, virtualbox-dkms
7.0.16 fails at MODPOST because vboxdrv uses KVM and CR4 symbols from
namespaces which it does not import. DKMS returns status 11.
linux-headers-7.0.0-28-generic and linux-image-7.0.0-28-generic remain
half-configured, and /boot/initrd.img-7.0.0-28-generic is never generated.
The root filesystem is ext4 on /dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-ubuntu--lv. Booting the
7.0 image without initramfs causes an early kernel panic before journald
starts, so there is no 7.0 boot entry in journalctl --list-boots.
virtualbox-dkms builds and installs successfully for 6.17.0-40-generic and
6.8.0-136-generic on the same host. No VirtualBox VM was running during
diagnosis.
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-03-14 (1951 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Server 20.04.2 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64
(20210201.2)
MissingInitramfsEvidence:
Present before repair: /boot/vmlinuz-7.0.0-28-generic and
/lib/modules/7.0.0-28-generic.
Missing before repair: /boot/initrd.img-7.0.0-28-generic and
/var/lib/initramfs-tools/7.0.0-28-generic.
/boot/initrd.img pointed to the missing 7.0 initramfs. Complete vmlinuz and
initramfs pairs existed for 6.17.0-40 and 6.8.0-136.
ProcEnviron:
LANG=C.UTF-8
PATH=(custom, no user)
SHELL=/bin/bash
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
ReproductionSteps:
1. On Ubuntu 24.04.4 with virtualbox-dkms 7.0.16-dfsg-2ubuntu1.3 installed,
install the HWE linux 7.0.0-28 image and headers.
2. Observe the virtualbox DKMS build fail during MODPOST with missing
namespace imports.
3. Observe dpkg --audit report the HWE meta packages unpacked and the 7.0
image/headers half-configured.
4. Observe that the 7.0 vmlinuz exists but its initramfs does not; on an LVM
root host, attempting to boot it panics before journald.
SourcePackage: virtualbox
Title: [noble] virtualbox-dkms 7.0.16 fails on linux 7.0.0-28 and leaves kernel
without initramfs
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to noble on 2025-03-04 (500 days ago)
Workaround: Boot the complete 6.17.0-40 kernel, remove only the incomplete HWE
7.0 image/modules/headers and HWE meta packages, keep the GA linux-generic 6.8
meta package, then run dpkg --configure -a, apt-get -f install and update-grub.
VirtualBox remains installed and its DKMS modules remain valid for 6.17 and 6.8.
** Affects: virtualbox (Ubuntu)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Tags: amd64 apport-bug dkms kernel-7.0 noble virtualbox
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2161051
Title:
[noble] virtualbox-dkms 7.0.16 fails on linux 7.0.0-28 and leaves
kernel without initramfs
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