The TOSS SSH daemon must perform strict mode checking of home directory configuration files.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-253106TOSS-04-040650SV-253106r991589_ruleCCI-000366medium
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.
STIGDate
Tri-Lab Operating System Stack (TOSS) 4 Security Technical Implementation Guide2025-05-08

Details

Check Text (C-253106r991589_chk)

Verify the SSH daemon performs strict mode checking of home directory configuration files with the following command: $ sudo 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-56509r824989_fix)

Configure SSH to perform strict mode checking of home directory configuration files. Uncomment the "StrictModes" keyword in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" and set the value to "yes": StrictModes yes The SSH daemon must be restarted for the changes to take effect. To restart the SSH daemon, run the following command: $ sudo systemctl restart sshd.service