SSH Authentication Failure Messages: RHEL 7 Shows "Authentication Failed" While RHEL 8 Shows "Connection Closed" Despite Same Login Failure

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • SSH does not return "Authentication failed." message.

  • "Authentication failed" prompt is not presented after unsuccessful login

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 SSH client does not show "Authentication failed." prompt after unsuccessful login denied by PAM pam_access.

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 client shows the prompt correctly, leading to user confusion on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8+.

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • OpenSSH

Subscriber exclusive content

A Red Hat subscription provides unlimited access to our knowledgebase, tools, and much more.

Current Customers and Partners

Log in for full access

Log In

New to Red Hat?

Learn more about Red Hat subscriptions

Using a Red Hat product through a public cloud?

How to access this content