Non-root user cannot change own password nor can they ssh via putty

taz.hasan · 01-17-2020, 04:43 AM

Hi

User cannot change own passwd, they gets the message:

(current) UNIX password:
passwd: Authentication token manipulation error

Also, user cannot access server via putty, they keep getting the message that the session is closed, and kicks them off straight away.

wpeckham · 01-17-2020, 05:45 AM

So, is this a well secured and managed system that is running as expected, or a desktop system of your own that is misbehaving?

taz.hasan · 01-17-2020, 05:58 AM

Hi

This is an RHEL6 VM:

[root@el6svr ~]# su - user
[user@el6svr ~]$ passwd
Changing password for user user.
Changing password for user.
(current) UNIX password:
passwd: Authentication token manipulation error

This user can login to another similar VM no problem.
I have not been able to identify any difference in permissions, ownership of files, file contents, etc.

dc.901 · 01-17-2020, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taz.hasan

Hi

This is an RHEL6 VM:

[root@el6svr ~]# su - user
[user@el6svr ~]$ passwd
Changing password for user user.
Changing password for user.
(current) UNIX password:
passwd: Authentication token manipulation error

This user can login to another similar VM no problem.
I have not been able to identify any difference in permissions, ownership of files, file contents, etc.

Anything in syslog?

What happens when you try to change password for the user as root, so:

Code:

passwd user

taz.hasan · 01-17-2020, 08:07 AM

root can change the passwd no problem, and there is nothing in the logs (messages, /var/log/secure)

scasey · 01-17-2020, 01:34 PM

Is the failure on the entry of the current password? That's what it looks like.
Are you sure the current password is being entered correctly?

Code:

$ passwd
Changing password for user user.
Changing password for user.
(current) UNIX password:  ##<< enter the current password here 
New password:
...

273 · 01-17-2020, 01:37 PM

Why not just passwd <user>?

scasey · 01-17-2020, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 273

Why not just passwd <user>?

On my CentOS 7 system:

Code:

user@localhost$ passwd user
passwd: Only root can specify a user name.

273 · 01-17-2020, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scasey

On my CentOS 7 system:

Code:

user@localhost$ passwd user
passwd: Only root can specify a user name.

My apologies, I mean change the password when you are root.

scasey · 01-17-2020, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 273

My apologies, I mean change the password when you are root.

The OP confirmed that they could do that...change the password as root.

I still think they're missing the requirement that the old password be entered first, which does not happen when changing the password as root.