On AIX, the SSH server must not permit root logins using remote access programs.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-215287 | AIX7-00-002102 | SV-215287r991589_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Permitting direct root login reduces auditable information about who ran privileged commands on the system and also allows direct attack attempts on root's password. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| IBM AIX 7.x Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2024-08-16 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-215287r991589_chk)
Determine if the SSH daemon is configured to disable root logins:
# grep -iE "PermitRootLogin[[:blank:]]*no" /etc/ssh/sshd_config | grep -v \#
If the above command displays a line, the root login is disabled.
If the root login is not disabled, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-16483r294313_fix)
Edit the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file to have the following line and save the change:
PermitRootLogin no
Restart SSH daemon:
# stopsrc -s sshd
# startsrc -s sshd