pam_unix(sshd:auth): auth could not identify password for [admin] - sshd[6968]?

Question

Why is the following log produced?

pam_unix(sshd:auth): auth could not identify password for [admin] - sshd[6968]

Is it because of a timeout, or is there some other reason?

ADD : One of the pam libraries in the sshd pam config file is making the password to be null and hence pam_unix does not get any password for authentication. Problem solved by editing the custom pam library. — soma sekhar, Apr 09 '14 at 16:44

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 07 '16 at 19:28

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One of the pam modules have made the password null and it is passed to the pam_unix. Once I fixed it, it started working fine. Thanks.

answered Jun 07 '16 at 19:28

soma sekhar

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Please, what module made the password null? I am seeing a very similar error. – Milo Gertjejansen Oct 25 '16 at 03:08
@MiloGertjejansen PAM allows us to write our own modules and plug them into it. So one of my custom module was making it null. – soma sekhar Nov 08 '16 at 12:22

score -1 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 23 '15 at 05:12

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Check your /etc/ssh/sshd_config file. If this user admin is listed as DenyUsers. Comment the particular line and restart the sshd service.

edited Aug 23 '15 at 05:12

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answered Oct 21 '13 at 18:54

rootslash

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`DenyUsers` controls what SSH itself does. It does *not* control PAM. – Charles Duffy Nov 07 '19 at 23:26

pam_unix(sshd:auth): auth could not identify password for [admin] - sshd[6968]?

2 Answers2