Description:
If the server has secure_auth=OFF, you can still connect with the mysql client using pre-4.1.1 authentication with the --skip-secure-auth option.
However, you can't manage the server with mysqladmin as mysqladmin doesn't understand --skip-secure-auth.
How to repeat:
$ mysqladmin -p shutdown
mysqladmin: connect to server at '127.0.0.1' failed
error: 'Connection using old (pre-4.1.1) authentication protocol refused (client option 'secure_auth' enabled)'
$ mysqladmin -p --skip-secure-auth shutdown
mysqladmin: unknown option '--skip-secure-auth'
# having defined secure_auth = OFF in /etc/mysql/my.cnf:
$ mysqladmin -p --defaults-file=/etc/mysql/my.cnf
mysqladmin: unknown variable 'secure_auth=OFF'
$ mysql -p
ERROR 2049 (HY000): Connection using old (pre-4.1.1) authentication protocol refused (client option 'secure_auth' enabled)
$ /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql--skip-secure-auth
Welcome to the MySQL monitor. Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 22
...
Suggested fix:
Allow the mysqladmin tool to accept the secure_auth config file option and --skip-secure-auth command line option.
