Sudo command failng with "conversation failed, auth could not identify password for [user]"

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • sudo prompts for password repeatedly
  • correct password is always entered
  • root login and password works fine
secure:Nov  4 09:58:18   sudo: pam_unix(sudo:auth): authentication failure; logname=testuser uid=1266 euid=0 tty=/dev/pts/5 ruser=testuser rhost=  user=testuser
secure:Nov  4 09:58:27   sudo: pam_unix(sudo:auth): conversation failed
secure:Nov  4 09:58:27   sudo: pam_unix(sudo:auth): auth could not identify password for [testuser]

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

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