package ebtables 2.0.10.4-3.5ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 143

I was trying to install virt-manager on 17.10, but it hung for several hours while trying to start/restart ebtables via systemctl. The process tree showed that systemctl had spawned an instance of systemd-tty-ask-password, and I guess nothing was responding to it.

This is a default installation of 17,10 desktop.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: ebtables 2.0.10.4-3.5ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-16.19-generic 4.13.4
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-16-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.1
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Nov 6 02:15:45 2017
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 143
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-10-26 (10 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Release amd64 (20171018)
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.3, python3-minimal, 3.6.3-0ubuntu2
PythonDetails: /usr/bin/python2.7, Python 2.7.14, python-minimal, 2.7.14-2ubuntu1
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.24ubuntu1
 apt 1.5
SourcePackage: ebtables
Title: package ebtables 2.0.10.4-3.5ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 143
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)