#1111836 courier-webadmin: webadmin doesn't run after upgrade to Trixie, probably looking for wrong socket dirs #1111836
- Package:
- courier-webadmin
- Source:
- courier-webadmin
- Description:
- Courier mail server - web-based administration frontend
- Submitter:
- Jean Louis
- Date:
- 2025-09-01 16:05:01 UTC
- Severity:
- normal
Dear Maintainer,
* What led up to the situation?
Upgrade to Trixie
* What exactly did you do (or not do) that was effective (or
ineffective)?
I just tried to run it as usual, I was running it all time before. It breaks the Courier mail management.
* What was the outcome of this action?
connect: something cannot connect, but I found how to make sockets, however, then:
The webmail system is temporarily unavailable. An error occurred in function sendmsg(filedescriptor): Broken pipe
* What outcome did you expect instead?
For web management to work.
Thank you for your bug report. Investigation shows that the core of this problem is that webadmin changed architecture in version 1.1.9. 2022-04-03 Sam Varshavchik <mrsam@courier-mta.com> * courier: Webadmin refresh: convert the UI to UTF-8, integrate with systemd. Replace the suid root cgi-bin binary with a sqwebmail-style daemon that communicates with a non-privileged cgi-bin-invoked binary over a filesystem socket. Update courier.sysvinit to start webadmin accordingly. https://github.com/svarshavchik/courier/blob/master/courier/ChangeLog#L345-L351 When I salvaged the package and upgraded from the stale 1.0.16 to 1.3.13 I missed this change (because webadmin is not a feature of currier I personally use, at least up until now). I will work on uploading a fix shortly.
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-22 22:45]: Alright, good you understand it. I hae been using it for years, maybe decade or longer, can't remember when it started. It is for management of hosted domains, SPF, e-mail addresses, Bastard Operator of Hell features and much more! ☺️ And I see that one binary is in the directory webmail/webadmin and I wonder if it was intended so.
I have asked upstream for some assistance in getting this working.
I have asked upstream for some assistance in getting this working.
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-23 22:41]: I have tried setting 755 to /var/lib/courier, but I am getting: The webmail system is temporarily unavailable. An error occurred in function sendmsg(filedescriptor): Broken pipe My system is still broken, if you find way how to run it without package, let me know. Jean Louis
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-23 22:41]: I have tried setting 755 to /var/lib/courier, but I am getting: The webmail system is temporarily unavailable. An error occurred in function sendmsg(filedescriptor): Broken pipe My system is still broken, if you find way how to run it without package, let me know. Jean Louis
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-23 22:41]: I have tried setting 755 to /var/lib/courier, but I am getting: The webmail system is temporarily unavailable. An error occurred in function sendmsg(filedescriptor): Broken pipe My system is still broken, if you find way how to run it without package, let me know. Jean Louis
We believe that the bug you reported is fixed in the latest version of
courier, which is due to be installed in the Debian FTP archive.
A summary of the changes between this version and the previous one is
attached.
Thank you for reporting the bug, which will now be closed. If you
have further comments please address them to 1111836@bugs.debian.org,
and the maintainer will reopen the bug report if appropriate.
Debian distribution maintenance software
pp.
Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> (supplier of updated courier package)
(This message was generated automatically at their request; if you
believe that there is a problem with it please contact the archive
administrators by mailing ftpmaster@ftp-master.debian.org)
Format: 1.8
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:35:50 -0700
Source: courier
Architecture: source
Version: 1.4.1-7
Distribution: unstable
Urgency: medium
Maintainer: Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org>
Changed-By: Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org>
Closes: 1111836
Changes:
courier (1.4.1-7) unstable; urgency=medium
.
* Add debian/courier-webadmin.init and debian/courier-webadmin.service
(closes: #1111836).
* Add debian/courier-webadmin.links to create a cgi-bin link.
* Add debian/lrc.config.
* Add debian/patches/webadmin-restart-commands.patch.
* debian/control: Add "Pre-Depends: ${misc:Pre-Depends}".
* debian/copyright: Mark afx/configure and courier/doc/configure as released
under the FSFUL license.
* debian/courier-base.postinst:
- Remove dpkg-statoverride for /var/lib/courier, which diverged from
upstream and caused problems with webadmin.
- Do not display error messages for temporary --force-statoverride-add.
* debian/courier-base.postrm: Remove the deletion of the dpkg-statoverride
for /var/lib/courier.
* debian/courier-webadmin.dirs: Remove the unnecessary etc/courier/webadmin
entry.
* debian/courier-webadmin.install: Install the new
etc/courier/webadmin/restartcmd.
* debian/courier-webadmin.postinst: Stop copying the CGI binary, as it is now
a link instead.
* debian/courier-webadmin.postrm:
- No longer delete the CGI binary, as it is a link and will automatically be
removed.
- Remove the webadmin socket on purge if it was left behind by the service.
* debian/courier-webadmin.README.Debian: Refactor to reflect the new,
non-SUID webadmin architecture.
* debian/courier-webadmin.templates: Remove obsolete install-cgi question.
The link is now created automatically on install.
* debian/rules: Really remove the obsolete copying of CPPFLAGS to CFLAGS and
CXXFLAGS (not needed since debhelper 9, listed in the 1.4.1-5 changelog
but not implemented).
* debian/sqwebmail.init: Add a Short-Description.
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* Debian FTP Masters <ftpmaster@ftp-master.debian.org> [2025-08-26 02:04]: VERY MUCH WORRIED FOR THIS: Does this mean it will maybe remove my directory? It is full of settings! Jean
Courier 1.4.1-7 has been uploaded to unstable, which should fix this issue. If it migrates to testing without any bugs being reported, I will apply the same fix to stable.
Courier 1.4.1-7 has been uploaded to unstable, which should fix this issue. If it migrates to testing without any bugs being reported, I will apply the same fix to stable.
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-26 02:15]: How am I supposed to use it? I was using "stable" and now that is in testing. So the whole Courier package I have to replace with unknown package to see if webadmin will work. It doesn't sound practical. I don't touch things for years, I expect it to work. Do you use it? Does it work? Jean
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-26 02:15]: How am I supposed to use it? I was using "stable" and now that is in testing. So the whole Courier package I have to replace with unknown package to see if webadmin will work. It doesn't sound practical. I don't touch things for years, I expect it to work. Do you use it? Does it work? Jean
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-26 02:15]: How am I supposed to use it? I was using "stable" and now that is in testing. So the whole Courier package I have to replace with unknown package to see if webadmin will work. It doesn't sound practical. I don't touch things for years, I expect it to work. Do you use it? Does it work? Jean
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-26 02:15]: Installing courier-webadmin/unstable removes courier-mta and courier-imap and other packages. Do you know? Why? Removing sqwebmail automatically, removes the symlink and new installation doesn't find it. Really mess! Processing triggers for man-db (2.13.1-1) ... admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ ls courierwebadmin sqwebmail admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ ls -l total 24 -r-sr-xr-x 1 root courier 22608 Aug 18 17:05 courierwebadmin lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 34 Aug 18 17:05 sqwebmail -> ../courier/courier/webmail/webmail admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ sudo ls ../courier/courier/webmail/webm* ls: cannot access '../courier/courier/webmail/webm*': No such file or directory admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ and courierwebadmin doesn't work again: The webmail system is temporarily unavailable. An error occurred in function sendmsg(filedescriptor): Broken pipe So now sqwebmail and webadmin don't work neither in stable nor in unstable version. Jean Louis
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-26 02:15]: Installing courier-webadmin/unstable removes courier-mta and courier-imap and other packages. Do you know? Why? Removing sqwebmail automatically, removes the symlink and new installation doesn't find it. Really mess! Processing triggers for man-db (2.13.1-1) ... admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ ls courierwebadmin sqwebmail admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ ls -l total 24 -r-sr-xr-x 1 root courier 22608 Aug 18 17:05 courierwebadmin lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 34 Aug 18 17:05 sqwebmail -> ../courier/courier/webmail/webmail admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ sudo ls ../courier/courier/webmail/webm* ls: cannot access '../courier/courier/webmail/webm*': No such file or directory admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ and courierwebadmin doesn't work again: The webmail system is temporarily unavailable. An error occurred in function sendmsg(filedescriptor): Broken pipe So now sqwebmail and webadmin don't work neither in stable nor in unstable version. Jean Louis
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-26 02:15]: Installing courier-webadmin/unstable removes courier-mta and courier-imap and other packages. Do you know? Why? Removing sqwebmail automatically, removes the symlink and new installation doesn't find it. Really mess! Processing triggers for man-db (2.13.1-1) ... admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ ls courierwebadmin sqwebmail admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ ls -l total 24 -r-sr-xr-x 1 root courier 22608 Aug 18 17:05 courierwebadmin lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 34 Aug 18 17:05 sqwebmail -> ../courier/courier/webmail/webmail admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ sudo ls ../courier/courier/webmail/webm* ls: cannot access '../courier/courier/webmail/webm*': No such file or directory admin@stw1:/usr/lib/cgi-bin$ and courierwebadmin doesn't work again: The webmail system is temporarily unavailable. An error occurred in function sendmsg(filedescriptor): Broken pipe So now sqwebmail and webadmin don't work neither in stable nor in unstable version. Jean Louis
I would recommend you wait for the updated stable packages.
I have created an trixie-proposed-updates request. https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1112355
I have created an trixie-proposed-updates request. https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1112355
We believe that the bug you reported is fixed in the latest version of
courier, which is due to be installed in the Debian FTP archive.
A summary of the changes between this version and the previous one is
attached.
Thank you for reporting the bug, which will now be closed. If you
have further comments please address them to 1111836@bugs.debian.org,
and the maintainer will reopen the bug report if appropriate.
Debian distribution maintenance software
pp.
Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> (supplier of updated courier package)
(This message was generated automatically at their request; if you
believe that there is a problem with it please contact the archive
administrators by mailing ftpmaster@ftp-master.debian.org)
Format: 1.8
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:59:42 -0700
Source: courier
Architecture: source
Version: 1.4.1-3+deb13u1
Distribution: trixie
Urgency: medium
Maintainer: Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org>
Changed-By: Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org>
Closes: 1111836
Changes:
courier (1.4.1-3+deb13u1) trixie; urgency=medium
.
* Add debian/courier-webadmin.init and debian/courier-webadmin.service
(closes: #1111836).
* Add debian/tests/smoke-webadmin.
* Add debian/courier-webadmin.links to create a cgi-bin link.
* Add debian/patches/webadmin-restart-commands.patch.
* debian/control: Add "Pre-Depends: ${misc:Pre-Depends}".
* debian/courier.base.postinst:
- Remove the dpkg-statoverride for /var/lib/courier, which diverged from
upstream and caused problems with webadmin.
* debian/courier-base.postrm: Remove the deletion of the dpkg-statoverride
for /var/lib/courier.
* debian/courier-webadmin.config: Remove the courier-webadmin/install-cgi
section.
* debian/courier-webadmin.dirs: Remove the unnecessary etc/courier/webadmin
entry.
* debian/courier-webadmin.install:
- Install the new etc/courier/webadmin/restartcmd.
- Install /etc/courier/webadmin/password.
* debian/courier-webadmin.postinst:
- Remove the processing of the now-removed install-cgi debconf question.
- Stop manually creating and setting permissions for
/etc/courier/webadmin/password.
- Add a dpkg-statoverride for /etc/courier/webadmin/password.
* debian/courier-webadmin.postrm:
- Remove the processing of the now-removed install-cgi debconf question.
- Remove the webadmin socket on purge if it was left behind by the service.
- Remove the dpkg-statoverride for /etc/courier/webadmin/password on purge.
* debian/courier-webadmin.README.Debian:
- Refactor to reflect the new, non-SUID webadmin architecture.
- Add information about enabling cgi-bin symlinks.
* debian/courier-webadmin.templates: Remove obsolete install-cgi question.
The link is now created automatically on install.
* debian/rules: Create an empty /etc/courier/webadmin/password file.
* debian/tests/control: Enable the smoke-webadmin test.
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This fix is now in trixie-proposed-updates. You can install the packages using the instructions at: https://wiki.debian.org/StableProposedUpdates
This fix is now in trixie-proposed-updates. You can install the packages using the instructions at: https://wiki.debian.org/StableProposedUpdates
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-30 23:47]: Thanks, I have installed it and it works. But there was symlink, and if you have script to put that symlink, that one doesn't work due to permissions. What I did, I copied webadmin and webmail binaries as sudo and placed them in /usr/lib/cgi-bin/ and that worked. So I think if script is placing symlinks, then symlink can't work if target directory is protected. In my Apache configuration I can follow symlinks, but if target directory doesn't allow it, then symlink will not work over web. I suggest making those scripts right: - checking if it exists; - ensuring permissions are correct for webserver to access it; Jean Louis
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-30 23:47]: Thanks, I have installed it and it works. But there was symlink, and if you have script to put that symlink, that one doesn't work due to permissions. What I did, I copied webadmin and webmail binaries as sudo and placed them in /usr/lib/cgi-bin/ and that worked. So I think if script is placing symlinks, then symlink can't work if target directory is protected. In my Apache configuration I can follow symlinks, but if target directory doesn't allow it, then symlink will not work over web. I suggest making those scripts right: - checking if it exists; - ensuring permissions are correct for webserver to access it; Jean Louis
* Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> [2025-08-30 23:47]: Thanks, I have installed it and it works. But there was symlink, and if you have script to put that symlink, that one doesn't work due to permissions. What I did, I copied webadmin and webmail binaries as sudo and placed them in /usr/lib/cgi-bin/ and that worked. So I think if script is placing symlinks, then symlink can't work if target directory is protected. In my Apache configuration I can follow symlinks, but if target directory doesn't allow it, then symlink will not work over web. I suggest making those scripts right: - checking if it exists; - ensuring permissions are correct for webserver to access it; Jean Louis
This works without issue in a default Debian installation. There are probably many ways that system administrators could modify their Debian installation in ways that would be incompatible with the default cgi-bin implementation. It would be inappropriate for courier to attempt to undo any such modifications, as system administrators might have made those modifications on purpose and for good reasons in their environment. /usr/share/doc/courier-webadmin/ README.Debian contains some useful information for any sysadmin who might have made such incompatible configuration changes.