If you don't specify the user it'll just use the username you run the command as (so root, with sudo).
As noted you should be able to work around the bug with ALTER USER, i.e. running: sudo mysql -e "ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH 'mysql_native_password' BY 'passphrase';" on the command line -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1610574 Title: mysql_secure_installation locks out root database user To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mysql-5.7/+bug/1610574/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
