PAM is not working and reports error: Failed at step PAM spawnin ... Operation not permitted
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Environment
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
Situation
Server was upgraded from SLES 11 SP4 to SLES 12 SP3 | SP4. The /var/log/messages contains a lot of messages e.g.
Failed at step PAM spawning /usr/lib/systemd/systemd: Operation not permittedFailed at step PAM spawning /usr/lib/systemd/systemd: Operation not permittedFailed at step PAM spawning /usr/lib/systemd/systemd: Operation not permittedFailed at step PAM spawning /usr/lib/systemd/systemd: Operation not permitted
Resolution
The above issue can be fixed by replacing pam_unix2 with pam_unix.
Another cause for this problem happens when the user doesn't have an entry in /etc/shadow file.
After upgrade, search for new PAM related configuration (/etc/pam.d/*.rpmnew) and move them. E.g.
Save the current files:
cp /etc/pam.d/common-account /etc/pam.d/common-account.backupcp /etc/pam.d/common-auth /etc/pam.d/common-auth.backupcp /etc/pam.d/common-password /etc/pam.d/common-password.backupcp /etc/pam.d/common-session /etc/pam.d/common-session.backup
Then, use the newer pam files:
cp /etc/pam.d/common-account.rpmnew /etc/pam.d/common-accountcp /etc/pam.d/common-auth.rpmnew /etc/pam.d/common-authcp /etc/pam.d/common-password.rpmnew /etc/pam.d/common-passwordcp /etc/pam.d/common-session.rpmnew /etc/pam.d/common-session
Another cause for this problem happens when the user doesn't have an entry in /etc/shadow file.
Cause
SLES 12 uses pam_unix by default but SLES 11 is using pam_unix2.
This error comes from PAM, please double check PAM configuration.
This error comes from PAM, please double check PAM configuration.
Disclaimer
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- Document ID:7023782
- Creation Date: 20-Mar-2019
- Modified Date:14-Dec-2020
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- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
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