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The SUSE operating system SSH daemon private host key files must have mode 0640 or less permissive.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-217276 SLES-12-030220 SV-217276r880919_rule Medium
Description
If an unauthorized user obtains the private SSH host key file, the host could be impersonated.
STIG Date
SLES 12 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2022-12-06

Details

Check Text ( C-18504r880917_chk )
Verify the SUSE operating system SSH daemon private host key files have mode "0640" or less permissive.

The following command will find all SSH private key files on the system:

> sudo find / -name '*ssh_host*key' -exec ls -lL {} \;

Check the mode of the private host key files under "/etc/ssh" file with the following command:

> find /etc/ssh -name 'ssh_host*key' -exec stat -c "%a %n" {} \;

640 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
640 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key
640 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key
640 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key

If any file has a mode more permissive than "0640", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-18502r880918_fix)
Configure the mode of the SUSE operating system SSH daemon private host key files under "/etc/ssh" to "0640" with the following command:

> sudo chmod 0640 /etc/ssh/ssh_host*key