Fix Error Failed to load SELinux policy freezing with best 1 Solution

In this guide, we want to show you how to Fix Error Failed to load SELinux policy freezing. The SELinux Policy is the set of rules that guide the SELinux security engine. It defines types for file objects and domains for processes. It uses roles to limit the domains that can be entered and has user identities to specify the roles that can be attained. In essence, types and domains are equivalent, the difference being that types apply to objects while domains apply to processes. If you encounter a "Failed to load SELinux policy, freezing" error, it indicates a critical issue that prevents your system from booting correctly.

Now follow the guide steps below on the Orcacore website to resolve the SELinux policy freezing error.

When I want to start one of my VMs (Centos 7), it doesn’t start. And I got the following error that said:

So when I fixed it, I decided to share it with you.

The reason that I get the SELinux policy freezing error is that somewhere I had messed up the settings of SELinux. To resolve this, follow the steps below.

Fix Error Failed to load SELinux policy freezing

When your server opens kernel list will appear on your screen. You use the arrow keys to a kernel line like “Centos Linux 7 (Core) with Linux….” and type the “e” button to edit.

Find the line which starts with Linux add “selinux=0” like this below and type Ctrl button+x.

Your server will open normally. SELinux Policy error freezing will be solved.

At this point, you need to reinstall the SELinux Policy targeted package with the command below:

sudo yum reinstall selinux-policy-targeted

When your installation is completed, edit your SELinux config file:

sudo vi /etc/selinux/config

At the file set SELinux to disabled:

SELINUX=disabled

When you are done, save and close the file. Now your system is booting well.

Conclusion

At this point, you have learned to Fix the Error Failed to load SELinux policy freezing.

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Alternative Solutions to Fix Error Failed to load SELinux policy freezing

While the provided solution effectively disables SELinux to bypass the error, it’s crucial to understand that disabling SELinux significantly reduces your system’s security posture. It’s generally recommended to attempt to resolve the underlying SELinux policy issue rather than permanently disabling it. Here are two alternative approaches to address the "Failed to load SELinux policy, freezing" error, aiming to restore SELinux functionality:

1. Relabeling the Filesystem:

A corrupted SELinux context on the filesystem can lead to policy loading failures. Relabeling the entire filesystem forces SELinux to re-evaluate and assign the correct security contexts to all files and directories. This can resolve inconsistencies and allow the policy to load successfully.

Explanation:

SELinux relies on extended attributes to store security contexts associated with files and processes. These contexts determine the permissions and capabilities granted to different processes when accessing specific files. If these contexts become corrupted or inconsistent, SELinux might fail to load its policy, leading to the "Failed to load SELinux policy freezing" error. Relabeling essentially resets these contexts to their default, policy-defined values.

Steps:

1. Boot into Emergency Mode: Similar to the original solution, you’ll need to interrupt the boot process and edit the kernel parameters. This time, instead of selinux=0, add enforcing=0 and init=/bin/bash. This will boot the system into a minimal environment without enforcing SELinux.

2. Mount the Root Filesystem: Often, the root filesystem is mounted read-only in emergency mode. Remount it in read-write mode:

   mount -o remount,rw /

3. Relabel the Filesystem: Use the touch command to create the .autorelabel file in the root directory. This file signals the system to perform a full relabel on the next boot.

   touch /.autorelabel

4. Reboot the System: Exit the shell and reboot the system:

   exit
   reboot

   During the next boot, the system will automatically relabel the entire filesystem. This process can take a significant amount of time, depending on the size of your disk. Be patient and allow it to complete.

5. Verify SELinux is Enforcing: After the reboot, verify that SELinux is enforcing.

 sestatus

The output should show that SELinux is enabled and in enforcing mode.

2. Restoring from a Backup:

If you have a recent backup of your system configuration, including the SELinux policy files, restoring from this backup can be a straightforward way to resolve the issue, especially if the corruption is limited to the SELinux policy itself.

Explanation:

This method assumes that the SELinux policy files themselves have been corrupted. Restoring from a known good backup replaces the corrupted files with working versions, effectively resolving the loading error. This is a quicker solution than relabeling if you have a readily available and reliable backup.

Steps:

1. Boot into Rescue Mode: Boot the system from a rescue disk or a live environment. This allows you to access the filesystem without relying on the corrupted system.

2. Mount the Root Filesystem: Mount the root filesystem of the affected system. The exact command will depend on your system’s partitioning scheme, but it might look something like this:

   mount /dev/sda1 /mnt

   Replace /dev/sda1 with the correct device identifier for your root partition.

3. Restore SELinux Policy Files: Locate the backup of your SELinux policy files. These are typically located in /etc/selinux/. Restore these files to their original location on the mounted filesystem:

   cp /path/to/backup/etc/selinux/* /mnt/etc/selinux/ -r

   Replace /path/to/backup with the actual path to your backup directory.

4. Unmount the Filesystem: Unmount the root filesystem:

   umount /mnt

5. Reboot the System: Reboot the system from the hard drive.

Important Considerations for Both Alternative Solutions:

• Backup: Before attempting either of these solutions, it is highly recommended to create a full backup of your system. This provides a safety net in case something goes wrong during the recovery process.
• Root Cause Analysis: While these solutions can resolve the immediate error, it’s essential to investigate the underlying cause of the SELinux policy corruption. This could be due to faulty software, hardware issues, or incorrect manual configuration changes. Understanding the root cause can help prevent future occurrences.
• SELinux Knowledge: Working with SELinux requires a good understanding of its principles and configuration. If you’re not comfortable with SELinux, consider seeking assistance from a qualified system administrator.

These alternative solutions offer methods to resolve the "Failed to load SELinux policy, freezing" error while preserving the security benefits of SELinux. Remember to proceed with caution and back up your system before making any changes. The solution to Fix Error Failed to load SELinux policy freezing may be found here.