The Oracle Linux operating system must be configured so that the SSH daemon performs strict mode checking of home directory configuration files.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-221862 | OL07-00-040450 | SV-221862r991589_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| If other users have access to modify user-specific SSH configuration files, they may be able to log on to the system as another user. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Oracle Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-08 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-221862r991589_chk)
Verify the SSH daemon performs strict mode checking of home directory configuration files.
The location of the "sshd_config" file may vary if a different daemon is in use.
Inspect the "sshd_config" file with the following command:
# grep -i strictmodes /etc/ssh/sshd_config
StrictModes yes
If "StrictModes" is set to "no", is missing, or the returned line is commented out, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-23566r419659_fix)
Uncomment the "StrictModes" keyword in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" (this file may be named differently or be in a different location if using a version of SSH that is provided by a third-party vendor) and set the value to "yes":
StrictModes yes
The SSH service must be restarted for changes to take effect.