Issue

• Overwriting /etc/security/limits.conf prevents login into any session (ssh, gnome, console, etc.)
• /var/log/secure shows the following errors:

Jan 31 19:01:51 hostname sshd[2169]: pam_limits(sshd:session): cannot read settings from /etc/security/limits.conf: Permission denied  
Jan 31 19:01:51 hostname sshd[2169]: pam_limits(sshd:session): error parsing the configuration file: '/etc/security/limits.conf'  
Jan 31 19:01:51 hostname sshd[2169]: pam_unix(sshd:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)  
Jan 31 19:01:51 hostname sshd[2169]: error: PAM: pam\_open\_session(): Error in service module