usermod -p allows a colon (ie. ':' ) in encrypted password which then breaks /etc/shadow

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • usermod -p allows a colon (ie. ':' ) in encrypted password which then breaks /etc/shadow
  • usermod: The password field cannot contain a colon character.
  • usermod: failure while writing changes to /etc/shadow

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 7

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