passwd: Authentication token manipulation error

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Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11

Situation

Root can change all users' passwords but no user is unable to change their own password.

Each user receives this error when attempting to change their own password:

passwd: Authentication token manipulation error

Resolution

A display of /etc/pam.d/common-password indicated that "Restricting Use of Previous Passwords" had been previously setup but the file /etc/security/opasswd was mistakenly deleted.

Either restore the /etc/security/opasswd from backup to retain the history

or create a new one as follows:

touch /etc/security/opasswd
chown root:root /etc/security/opasswd
chmod 600 /etc/security/opasswd

Cause

/etc/security/opasswd was missing

Additional Information

Disclaimer

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