How to fix vCenter password expiration “Exception in invoking authentication handler User password expired”

The Appliance was deployed more than 90 days ago with default settings. Logging in to the VAMI page of a vCenter (https://:5480) fails with the message “Exception in invoking authentication handler User password expired”

Login to the VCSA Appliance Shell (SSH or VM Console) is working.

Check password expiration
root@localhost [ ~ ]# chage -l root
You are required to change your password immediately (password expired)
chage: PAM: Authentication token is no longer valid; new one required
Change password
root@localhost [ ~ ]# passwd root
New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: password updated successfully
Change expiration – use it only for LABs …
root@localhost [ ~ ]# chage -M -1 root

Verify password expiration

root@localhost [ ~ ]# chage -l root
Last password change : Dec 21, 2021
Password expires : never
Password inactive : never
Account expires : never
Minimum number of days between password change : 0
Maximum number of days between password change : -1
Number of days of warning before password expires : 7

Links:

Author: Daniel Micanek

Senior Service Architect, SAP Platform Services Team at Tietoevry | SUSE SCA | vExpert ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | vExpert NSX | VCIX-DCV/NV | VCAP-DCV/NV Design+Deploy | VCP-DCV/NV/CMA/TKO/DTM | NCIE-DP | OCP | Azure Solutions Architect | Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)