RHEL 8, for certificate-based authentication, must enforce authorized access to the corresponding private key.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-230230 | RHEL-08-010100 | SV-230230r1069287_rule | CCI-000186 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| If an unauthorized user obtains access to a private key without a passcode, that user would have unauthorized access to any system where the associated public key has been installed. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-14 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-230230r1069287_chk)
Verify the SSH private key files have a passcode.
For each private key stored on the system, use the following command:
$ sudo ssh-keygen -y -f /path/to/file
Enter passphrase:
If the contents of the key are displayed, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-32874r1069183_fix)
Create a new private and public key pair that utilizes a passcode with the following command:
$ sudo ssh-keygen -p -f /path/to/file