detected unhandled Python exception in '/lib64/security/howdy/compare.py'

[aszabo70]

Hi,

I installed and set up howdy in Fedora 38, (Thinkad X280), but I get the following error in journalctl:

jún 15 20:10:14 thinkpad [11777]: Failure, unknown error1
jún 15 20:10:14 thinkpad python3[11779]: detected unhandled Python exception in '/lib64/security/howdy/compare.py'
jún 15 20:10:09 thinkpad [11777]: Attempting facial authentication for user xxx

Howdy version is 2.6.1-8.

No more info, what is the solution?

Thanks in advance.

---

I've searched for similar issues already, and my issue has not been reported yet.

Linux distribution (if applicable):

Howdy version (sudo howdy version):

[jcst-sdir]

Exactly same error for me. I am on a Thinkpad P16s. Same Howdy version. Kernel 6.3.8-200

[tokox]

Same for me. Fedora 37, Howdy 2.6.1

[tokox]

The python exception that happens:

  File "/lib64/security/howdy/compare.py", line 285, in <module>
    make_snapshot("SUCCESSFUL")
  File "/lib64/security/howdy/compare.py", line 57, in make_snapshot
    snapshot.generate(snapframes, [
  File "/usr/lib64/security/howdy/snapshot.py", line 54, in generate
    os.makedirs(abpath + "/snapshots")
  File "<frozen os>", line 225, in makedirs
PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/usr/lib64/security/howdy/snapshots'

[tokox]

OK, looks like I have solution.
Howdy is trying to save snapshot to /usr/lib64/security/howdy/snapshots/ but it doesn't exist, so it tryies to create directory, but fails for Permission denied. You could just create it manually and it will work.
Try sudo mkdir /usr/lib64/security/howdy/snapshots. Works for me.
Of course there should be solution to not have to manually create this directory, but it also works. Also I have no idea why it cannot create directory, but can write to it.

[MrD-RC]

This was the solution for me too. Thank you!!

[boltgolt]

Hm os.makedirs() is supposed to make any directories that are missing in that path. Howdy 2 should always have write permission to /security/howdy, so maybe the permissions for Howdy are incorrect

[yougotborked]

Just wanted to add that I was experiencing this problem too. Manually creating the dir fixed this for me on fedora 39 beta.

I originally configured howdy in Fedora using the script referenced in the wiki
https://gist.github.com/m1nicrusher/35e79b20553c8863e0c642f8d801da7f

[saschaeggi]

@tokox thank you, that was the root of the problem on my end as well (Fedora 38)

[armeldemarsac92]

fixed it for me too ! thanks a lot man

[saidsay-so]

Adding an entry to the wiki with the solution, thanks @tokox.

[robertoschwald]

It is closed anyways, but in my case it was SELinux. It seems one rule is missing in the bash script for Fedora 39 and Gnome desktop auth:

allow xdm_t lib_t:dir create;