The Photon operating system must configure Secure Shell (SSH) to disallow Generic Security Service Application Program Interface (GSSAPI) authentication.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-258874PHTN-40-000211SV-258874r933683_ruleCCI-000366medium
Description
GSSAPI authentication is used to provide additional authentication mechanisms to applications. Allowing GSSAPI authentication through Secure Shell (SSH) exposes the system's GSSAPI to remote hosts, increasing the attack surface of the system.
STIGDate
VMware vSphere 8.0 vCenter Appliance Photon OS 4.0 Security Technical Implementation Guide2023-10-29

Details

Check Text (C-258874r933683_chk)

At the command line, run the following command to verify the running configuration of sshd: # sshd -T|&grep -i GSSAPIAuthentication Example result: gssapiauthentication no If "GSSAPIAuthentication" is not set to "no", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-62523r933682_fix)

Navigate to and open: /etc/ssh/sshd_config Ensure the "GSSAPIAuthentication" line is uncommented and set to the following: GSSAPIAuthentication no At the command line, run the following command: # systemctl restart sshd.service