sudo: no valid sudoers sources found, quitting
sudo: unable to initialize policy pluginSteps to recover /etc/sudoers/Step 1 – Press ‘shift’ key to enter in to GRUB while system starts
Step 2 – Select linux (recovery mode) which is usually second boot option in GRUB Menu
Step 3 – After entering to recovery mode wait till the boot-up processes to finish, you’ll be presented with a few options. Use drop down key to select Drop to root shell prompt option and then press Enter to select it.
Step 4 – Enter this command to remount as read-write : mount -o rw,remount / press enter
Step 5 – Be careful what commands you are typing, as its the ultimate administrator can do anything to the ubuntu installation
Step 6 – Then enter this command – chmod 0440 /etc/sudoers
Step 7 – Now type Exit, else shutdown -r now to reboot
This is done and you will be able to sudo now.
In some cases if you confront with a new error like /etc/sudoers.d access denied or /etc/sudoers.d/README access denied
Same repeat step 1 to 3 to go to the Drop to root shell prompt
then remount with the command mount -o rw,remount / and type below these 3 commands one after another
chmod -R a+rx /etc/sudoers.d
chmod -R u+w /etc/sudoers.d
chmod 0440 /etc/sudoers.d/README
shutdown -r now
This will solve the problem.
On Another note when you stuck getting this error (/etc/sudoers syntax error near line 31/ line 17 etc)
Follow above the Steps – 1 to step – 3
then use Root Drop to root shell promt
type this command to give allow r/w operation mount -o rw,remount /
then type visudo -f /etc/sudoers
now shutdown -r now to restart and log in to normal boot
Now you should able to log in and use sudo as before
