Password authentication token manipulation error is generally observed when user types his new password in place of the current password while changing the password when password has aged.
Once password is expired, user gets above screen when he tries to login to the system.
Make sure you type the old password when screen prompts for “Current password”(refer above snip). If you type new password when it prompts for Current password it will give be below error.
“passwd: Authentication token manipulation error”
If user tries multiple time typing new password in place of current password, system gets locked and it doesnt allows the users even if he correctly enters old password when screen prompts for current password.
Solution
Try to reboot the server, generally if you reboot the system and login with proper credentials ,it should work.
After rebooting, if you are still facing the same “Authentication token manipulation error”, then please reboot your system into rescuse mode and then login with root and change the password.
Note!: you should use step number 2 only when system doesnt allows you to login with your root password.
Once you change/reset password from rescuse mode, you should now be able to login to your system.
Conclusion
Hence we have successfully Fixed “passwd: Authentication token manipulation error”. You can learn more about Authentication type from here.
