Error while changing the authentication - mongoDB

Question

I had database level authentication in mongoDB, I had tried to change the password for existing user. It is throwing not authorized error.

Steps i followed to change the password

use wallet
db.auth("username","password")
db.changeUserPassword("username","newpassword");

Error

Changing password failed: not authorized for update on wallet.system.users at src/mongo/shell/db.js:186

Any suggestion will be grateful.

Answer 1

You need to login and use ADMIN database to perform the operation.

Answer 2

If you have changed security settings in Mongo configuration file you would not be able to change the password. To do so, set authorization to disabled:

Stop mongod service:

$ sudo service mongod stop

Open Mongo configuration file (paths may be different on your system):

Linux

Config file path: "/etc/mongod.conf"

Windows

Config file path: "C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\3.6\mongod.cfg"

Find authorization and set it to disabled:

security:
  authorization: enabled

change to:

security:
  authorization: disabled

Now start Mongo service:

$ sudo service mongod start

and change password from within Mongo shell:

> use mydb
> db.updateUser("myUser", {pwd: "myNewPassword" })

Now you can set authorization back to what it was. Just stop Mongo service, change settings and start service.