linuxboot / linuxboot/heads

detect_boot_device() prevents OEM factory reset to fully complete

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Description

(coming from https://github.com/osresearch/heads/issues/1255#issuecomment-1499764982)
This is X230 running `x230-maximized` as of https://github.com/osresearch/heads/pull/1350/commits/3c4b1cc083c962998c90c37f44d4124a42bc3e75

If I have `/dev/sda1` populated with various ISO images, but there is no `/boot/grub`, OEM factory reset will skip:

* generation of a rollback counter
* re-signing of /boot with the new key

After that half-done OEM reset I have to reset TPM again and try to sign my `/boot` files. Apparently `gui-init` and other scripts do not have a problem signing and verifying such "incomplete" `/boot`.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start at detect_boot_device() and trace the OEM factory-reset path that calls it; the issue does not name specific files or tests. Reproduce with /dev/sda1 containing ISO images and no /boot/grub, then verify that the reset completes both rollback-counter generation and /boot re-signing.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
linux
Domain
operating-systems, security
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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