The ESXi host Secure Shell (SSH) daemon must not allow host-based authentication.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-256386 | ESXI-70-000013 | SV-256386r959010_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| SSH trust relationships mean a compromise on one host can allow an attacker to move trivially to other hosts. SSH's cryptographic host-based authentication is more secure than ".rhosts" authentication because hosts are cryptographically authenticated. However, it is not recommended that hosts unilaterally trust one another, even within an organization. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-02-11 | |||
Related Frameworks
4 paths across 3 frameworks
Related Frameworks
NIST 800-531 mapping
CM-6
1.00
- DISA · V1R4 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
NIST 800-1712 mappings
3.4.1
1.00
- DISA · V1R4 · 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 · V1R4 · 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 · V1R4 · disa_xccdf · related
Details
Check Text (C-256386r959010_chk)
From an ESXi shell, run the following command:
# /usr/lib/vmware/openssh/bin/sshd -T|grep hostbasedauthentication
Expected result:
hostbasedauthentication no
If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-60004r885938_fix)
From an ESXi shell, add or correct the following line in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config":
HostbasedAuthentication no