System failed to boot with the new kernel due to a permission error: "Failed at step EXEC spawning /usr/bin/systemctl."

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • After applying the patch, the system fails to boot and drops into emergency mode with the following message:

    systemd[xxx]: Failed at step EXEC spawning /usr/bin/systemctl: Exec format error
systemd[xxx]: Failed at step EXEC spawning /usr/bin/systemctl: Exec format error
systemd[xxx]: Failed at step EXEC spawning /usr/bin/systemctl: Exec format error

  • The system gets stuck during boot with the following message :

    systemd[xxx]: dbus.socket: Failed at step EXEC spawning /usr/bin/systemctl: Permission denied
systemctl[xxx]: dbus.socket: Failed to execute command: Permission denied

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10

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