Flatpak Update Fails After Upgrading Curl To 8.10 In Debian 12 | How To Fix It

This article details a valuable lesson learned about the potential pitfalls of installing core system libraries from Debian's backports repositories. While backports offer access to the latest features, they can also introduce unforeseen problems, particularly with essential system libraries. This experience focuses on a flatpak update failure after upgrading curl to version 8.10 from the backports repository on a Debian 12 system.

Table of Contents

- The Problem: Flatpak Update Error

• The Root Cause
• The Solution: Downgrading libcurl3-gnutls
  • Step 1: Identifying Available Versions
  • Step 2: Performing the Downgrade
  • Step 3: Verification
  • Step 4: Updating Flatpak
• Risks of Backports for Core Libraries
• Key Takeaways
• Conclusion

The Problem: Flatpak Update Error

Attempting a flatpak update resulted in the following error:

<code>Updating 1/23…                        0%  0 bytes/s**  OSTree:ERROR:src/libostree/ostree-fetcher-curl.c:526:sock_cb: code should not be reached  Bail out! OSTree:ERROR:src/libostree/ostree-fetcher-curl.c:526:sock_cb: code should not be reached  Aborted (core dumped)</code>

The culprit was identified as libcurl3-gnutls, installed from the Debian Backports repository.

The Root Cause

libcurl3-gnutls is a core system library facilitating internet communication. Installing a backported version (a newer version than the stable release) introduced incompatibility issues with the flatpak update process. This incompatibility, as noted in a Debian bug report and confirmed by Debian developer Simon McVittie, highlighted the risks of upgrading core system libraries from sources other than the stable repository. The newer curl version (8.10.0) conflicted with the libostree library used by flatpak. Simply reinstalling the stable curl version wasn't sufficient; downgrading libcurl3-gnutls was necessary.

The Solution: Downgrading libcurl3-gnutls

The solution involved downgrading libcurl3-gnutls to the stable Debian 12 version.

Step 1: Identifying Available Versions

Use this command to list available versions:

apt-cache policy libcurl3-gnutls

This reveals both installed and available versions, differentiating between backports ("bpo") and stable releases.

Step 2: Performing the Downgrade

Downgrade using the appropriate stable version number identified in Step 1 (e.g., 7.88.1-10 deb12u7):

sudo apt install libcurl3-gnutls=7.88.1-10+deb12u7

Confirm the downgrade with 'y'.

Step 3: Verification

Re-run apt-cache policy libcurl3-gnutls to confirm the downgrade to the stable version.

Step 4: Updating Flatpak

Retry the flatpak update command. It should now complete successfully.

Risks of Backports for Core Libraries

Using backports for core libraries increases the risk of:

• Regressions: Unexpected breakages of existing functionality.
• Compatibility Issues: Conflicts with software expecting the stable library version.
• Dependency Conflicts: Issues arising from dependencies on newer, unavailable libraries.

Key Takeaways

• Prioritize stable releases for core system libraries.
• Use backports judiciously, understanding the inherent risks.
• Learn how to downgrade packages to revert problematic updates.

Conclusion

This experience underscores the importance of caution when using backports for core system components. While backports can be beneficial, the potential for instability outweighs the advantages when dealing with fundamental system libraries. Sticking to stable releases and understanding rollback procedures are crucial for maintaining a stable and reliable system.

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