Processes getting wedged in "U" (uninterruptible wait) state after Security Update 2020-003

[Greg Earle]

On 29 May 2020, at 4:47, Franco Vaccari wrote:

> I would try other options before reinstalling the system, who knows, 
> reinstalling the developer tools, restarting with shift to clean 
> caches, reinstalling the security update, but ok, maybe reinstalling 
> everything from backup may be the easiest…
>
> Let us know how it went…

Just to summarize the (apparent) solution for the list:

It looks like Security Update 2020-003 changed the "taskgated" plist 
file

/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.taskgated.plist

It added a single line with a new "-sp" switch:

--
whdmac:~ root# diff -rC 3 
/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/*com.apple.taskgated.plist*
*** 
/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/DO_NOT_USE_com.apple.taskgated.plist_BAD	2020-04-16 
21:28:38.000000000 -0700
--- /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.taskgated.plist	2019-04-14 
18:58:56.000000000 -0700
***************
*** 19,25 ****
   	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
   	<array>
   		<string>/usr/libexec/taskgated</string>
- 		<string>-sp</string>
   	</array>
   </dict>
   </plist>
--- 19,24 ----
--

The trouble is, "taskgated" does not seem to support "-sp":

--
whdmac:/ root# /usr/libexec/taskgated -sp
taskgated: invalid option -- s
Usage: taskgated [-ps] [-t seconds] [-i pid]
--

So, I don't understand why Apple added this switch.

I also don't understand why everyone who installed this Security Update 
has not also been affected by this?!?

Anyway, I removed the "-sp" line, rebooted, and now everything works 
again - "taskgated" is running and isn't exiting anymore, my Postgres 
server is running happily, and my MacPorts binaries are running without 
wedging.

Apologies for the slightly off-topic thread ...

		- Greg