System fails to boot with message "Default target masked"

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • System drops in rescue mode, with message "Default target masked":

    Nov 01 17:33:38 <hostname> systemd[1]: Default target masked.                <---
Nov 01 17:33:38 <hostname> systemd[1]: Trying to load rescue target...    <---

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
  • systemd

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