Oracle Linux: Console Login & su Fails with Error "permission denied" & "could not open session"

(Doc ID 2400885.1)

Last updated on MAY 23, 2018

Applies to:

Linux OS - Version Oracle Linux 5.0 and later
Linux x86-64

Symptoms

Console login failed for any user with error "permission denied" and also su "could not open session", whereas the ssh login works.

Following errors are seen in /var/log/secure:

su: pam_unix(su-l:session): session opened for user <someuser> by root(uid=0)
su: pam_tty_audit(su-l:session): changed status from 1 to 0
su: PAM (su-l) illegal module type: isession
su: PAM (su-l) illegal module type: isession

Cause

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