The ESXi host Secure Shell (SSH) daemon must perform strict mode checking of home directory configuration files.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-256389 | ESXI-70-000020 | SV-256389r959010_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| If other users have access to modify user-specific SSH configuration files, they may be able to log on the system as another user. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-02-11 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-256389r959010_chk)
From an ESXi shell, run the following command:
# /usr/lib/vmware/openssh/bin/sshd -T|grep strictmodes
Expected result:
strictmodes yes
If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-60007r885947_fix)
From an ESXi shell, add or correct the following line in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config":
StrictModes yes