AlmaLinux OS 9 SSH public host key files must have mode 0644 or less permissive.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-269266 | ALMA-09-021030 | SV-269266r1050148_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| If a public host key file is modified by an unauthorized user, the SSH service may be compromised. Whilst public keys are publicly readable, they should not be writeable by nonowners. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Cloud Linux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-27 | |||
Related Frameworks
4 paths across 3 frameworks
Related Frameworks
NIST 800-531 mapping
CM-6
1.00
- DISA · V1R6 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
NIST 800-1712 mappings
3.4.1
1.00
- DISA · V1R6 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
3.4.2
1.00
- DISA · V1R6 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
CCI1 mapping
CCI-000366
1.00
- DISA · V1R6 · disa_xccdf · related
Details
Check Text (C-269266r1050148_chk)
Verify the SSH public host key files have a mode of "0644" or less permissive with the following command:
Note: SSH public key files may be found in other directories on the system depending on the installation.
$ stat -c "%#a %n" /etc/ssh/ssh_host*key.pub
0644 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key.pub
0644 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key.pub
If any public key has a mode more permissive than "0644", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-73198r1048175_fix)
Change the mode of public host key files under "/etc/ssh" to "0644" with the following command:
$ chmod 0644 /etc/ssh/*key.pub
Restart the SSH daemon for the changes to take effect:
$ systemctl restart sshd.service