SELinux relabel operation prints "filespec_add: conflicting specifications for <dir> and /, using system_u:object_r:root_t:s0." message

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • Relabeling the system doesn't apply the expected contexts, as shown in the example below, even though there is no SELinux customization

    • No SELinux customization

      # semanage fcontext -C -l
      #
      
    • matchpathcon prints a different context than the one applied after having relabeled the system

      # matchpathcon /
      /   system_u:object_r:root_t:s0
      
      # ls -Zd /
      dr-xr-xr-x. root root system_u:object_r:admin_home_t:s0 /
      
  • Running /sbin/fixfiles manually to relabel the system prints the filespec_add message shown below

    # /sbin/fixfiles restore
    Warning: Skipping the following R/O filesystems:
    /sys/fs/cgroup
    Relabeling / /boot /dev ...
    filespec_add:  conflicting specifications for /root and /, using system_u:object_r:root_t:s0.
    100.0%
    Cleaning up labels on /tmp
    
  • Many system services fail to start at boot, including systemd-logind, dbus, polkit and NetworkManager

    [ INFO ] Network Manager is not active.
    [DEPEND] Dependency failed for Network Manager Wait Online.
    ...
    [FAILED] Failed to start Authorization Manager.
    See 'systemctl status polkit.service' for details.
    ...
    [FAILED] Failed to start Login Service.
    See 'systemctl status systemd-logind.service' for details.
    ...
    [  OK  ] Started D-Bus System Message Bus.
             Starting D-Bus System Message Bus...
    ...
    [  OK  ] Started D-Bus System Message Bus.
             Starting D-Bus System Message Bus...
    ...
    

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • selinux

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