Package: grub-pc
Version: 2.12-9+deb13u2
Severity: normal
Dear Maintainer,
After several grub-pc and kernel package upgrades on a Debian 13 (trixie)
system, the GRUB stages embedded on disk (MBR boot.img + core.img in the
post-MBR gap) drifted out of sync with the modules under /boot/grub/i386-pc/ and
the regenerated /boot/grub/grub.cfg. The visible symptom was that GRUB
consistently booted an older installed kernel (6.12.48) instead of the current
default (6.12.90), across multiple reboots, despite /boot/grub/grub.cfg
correctly listing 6.12.90 as the default entry.
A second tell-tale symptom: next_entry=0 in /boot/grub/grubenv was never cleared
on boot, even though grub.cfg contains the standard set default="${next_entry}";
set next_entry=; save_env next_entry block. This indicates the running GRUB was
not executing (or not successfully writing back) the current grub.cfg.
Steps to reproduce:
1. Install Debian on a BIOS/MBR system (in my case via Hetzner installimage,
which runs grub-install once at provisioning).
2. Over time, allow normal apt upgrade runs to upgrade grub-pc, grub-common,
grub-pc-bin, and install new kernels. update-grub runs as part of these
upgrades; grub-install does not.
3. Reboot. GRUB picks an older kernel than the one listed as default in
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.
Workaround:
Re-running grub-install /dev/sda followed by update-grub resyncs the on-disk
core.img with the current modules and config. After this, reboots correctly
select the newest kernel and grubenv writes work again.
Expected behavior:
Either (a) grub-pc package upgrades should re-run grub-install on the configured
target device(s) when the on-disk core.img would otherwise become incompatible
with the upgraded modules, or (b) the package should detect this drift and warn
the administrator that grub-install needs to be re-run manually. The current
silent-failure mode is hard to diagnose, especially on remote/headless systems
where the GRUB menu cannot be observed.
-- Package-specific info:
*********************** BEGIN /proc/mounts
/dev/mapper/puss--vg-root / ext4 rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 0
/dev/sda1 /boot ext2 rw,relatime 0 0
*********************** END /proc/mounts
*********************** BEGIN /boot/grub/grub.cfg
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
set default="${next_entry}"
set next_entry=
save_env next_entry
set boot_once=true
else
set default="0"
fi
if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi
export menuentry_id_option
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi
function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}
function load_video {
if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
insmod all_video
else
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod ieee1275_fb
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
fi
}
if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod lvm
insmod ext2
set
root='lvmid/HBW541-0C9Z-0zG1-5aQt-LLjO-Q0k3-vclhCy/dYcMtZ-SAlu-jN5D-e3s9-7izO-ZkuC-4rDBlM'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
--hint='lvmid/HBW541-0C9Z-0zG1-5aQt-LLjO-Q0k3-vclhCy/dYcMtZ-SAlu-jN5D-e3s9-7izO-ZkuC-4rDBlM'
4b9a5e9c-9288-4aea-9713-0793ea5ab9a7
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 4b9a5e9c-9288-4aea-9713-0793ea5ab9a7
fi
font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi
if loadfont $font ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
set timeout=30
else
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
set timeout_style=menu
set timeout=5
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
set timeout=5
fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
}
set linux_gfx_mode=
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu
--class os $menuentry_id_option
'gnulinux-simple-4b9a5e9c-9288-4aea-9713-0793ea5ab9a7' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1
--hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1
bf89d3fe-cd9e-4465-bee8-9d6f9a27cd0c
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
bf89d3fe-cd9e-4465-bee8-9d6f9a27cd0c
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64 ...'
linux /vmlinuz-6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64 root=/dev/mapper/puss--vg-root
ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Debian GNU/Linux' $menuentry_id_option
'gnulinux-advanced-4b9a5e9c-9288-4aea-9713-0793ea5ab9a7' {
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64' --class
debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option
'gnulinux-6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64-advanced-4b9a5e9c-9288-4aea-9713-0793ea5ab9a7' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio;
fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
--hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1
bf89d3fe-cd9e-4465-bee8-9d6f9a27cd0c
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
bf89d3fe-cd9e-4465-bee8-9d6f9a27cd0c
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64 ...'
linux /vmlinuz-6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64
root=/dev/mapper/puss--vg-root ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64 (recovery
mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os
$menuentry_id_option
'gnulinux-6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64-recovery-4b9a5e9c-9288-4aea-9713-0793ea5ab9a7' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio;
fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
--hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1
bf89d3fe-cd9e-4465-bee8-9d6f9a27cd0c
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
bf89d3fe-cd9e-4465-bee8-9d6f9a27cd0c
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64 ...'
linux /vmlinuz-6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64
root=/dev/mapper/puss--vg-root ro single dis_ucode_ldr
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64
}
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/25_bli ###
if [ "$grub_platform" = "efi" ]; then
insmod bli
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/25_bli ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
if [ "$grub_platform" = "efi" ]; then
fwsetup --is-supported
if [ "$?" = 0 ]; then
menuentry 'UEFI Firmware Settings' $menuentry_id_option
'uefi-firmware' {
fwsetup
}
fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
*********************** END /boot/grub/grub.cfg
*********************** BEGIN /proc/mdstat
cat: /proc/mdstat: No such file or directory
*********************** END /proc/mdstat
*********************** BEGIN /dev/disk/by-id
total 0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 May 29 12:52 ata-QEMU_DVD-ROM_QM00003 -> ../../sr0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52 dm-name-puss--vg-root -> ../../dm-0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52 dm-name-puss--vg-swap_1 -> ../../dm-1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52
dm-uuid-LVM-HBW5410C9Z0zG15aQtLLjOQ0k3vclhCyAbnz2AfQMQNlrxMura6dQEDLJgRpoQah ->
../../dm-1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52
dm-uuid-LVM-HBW5410C9Z0zG15aQtLLjOQ0k3vclhCydYcMtZSAlujN5De3s97izOZkuC4rDBlM ->
../../dm-0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52
lvm-pv-uuid-Y3ZtJV-WdpX-gOXm-cxev-AD6i-ABJ1-KMJKp3 -> ../../sda5
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 May 29 12:52 scsi-0QEMU_QEMU_HARDDISK_38212 ->
../../sda
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52 scsi-0QEMU_QEMU_HARDDISK_38212-part1 ->
../../sda1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52 scsi-0QEMU_QEMU_HARDDISK_38212-part2 ->
../../sda2
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52 scsi-0QEMU_QEMU_HARDDISK_38212-part5 ->
../../sda5
*********************** END /dev/disk/by-id
*********************** BEGIN /dev/disk/by-uuid
total 0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52 4b9a5e9c-9288-4aea-9713-0793ea5ab9a7 ->
../../dm-0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52 bf89d3fe-cd9e-4465-bee8-9d6f9a27cd0c ->
../../sda1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 29 12:52 f4feec06-ac9f-4b85-abbd-87422875d885 ->
../../dm-1
*********************** END /dev/disk/by-uuid
-- System Information:
Debian Release: 13.5
APT prefers stable-updates
APT policy: (500, 'stable-updates'), (500, 'stable-security'), (500, 'stable')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)
Kernel: Linux 6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64 (SMP w/4 CPU threads; PREEMPT)
Locale: LANG=C.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=C.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8), LANGUAGE not set
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /usr/bin/dash
Init: systemd (via /run/systemd/system)
LSM: AppArmor: enabled
Versions of packages grub-pc depends on:
ii debconf [debconf-2.0] 1.5.91
ii grub-common 2.12-9+deb13u2
ii grub-pc-bin 2.12-9+deb13u2
ii grub2-common 2.12-9+deb13u2
ii ucf 3.0052
grub-pc recommends no packages.
grub-pc suggests no packages.
-- debconf information:
grub2/kfreebsd_cmdline:
grub2/enable_os_prober: false
grub-pc/postrm_purge_boot_grub: false
grub-pc/kopt_extracted: false
* grub2/linux_cmdline:
grub-pc/install_devices_failed: false
grub-pc/timeout: 5
grub-pc/install_devices_empty: false
grub-pc/partition_description:
grub-pc/hidden_timeout: false
grub2/force_efi_extra_removable: false
grub-pc/mixed_legacy_and_grub2: true
grub2/update_nvram: true
grub-pc/install_devices_failed_upgrade: true
grub2/device_map_regenerated:
* grub-pc/install_devices: /dev/disk/by-id/scsi-0QEMU_QEMU_HARDDISK_38212-part1
grub-pc/chainload_from_menu.lst: true
* grub2/linux_cmdline_default: quiet
* grub-pc/install_devices_disks_changed:
/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-0QEMU_QEMU_HARDDISK_38212-part1
grub-pc/disk_description:
grub2/kfreebsd_cmdline_default: quiet
