The Ubuntu operating system must configure the SSH daemon to only use Message Authentication Codes (MACs) employing FIPS 140-2 approved cryptographic hash algorithms to protect the integrity of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic communications.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-219312	UBTU-18-010417	SV-219312r508662_rule		High

Description
Without cryptographic integrity protections, information can be altered by unauthorized users without detection. Nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic activities are those activities conducted by individuals communicating through a network, either an external network (e.g., the Internet) or an internal network. Local maintenance and diagnostic activities are those activities carried out by individuals physically present at the information system or information system component and not communicating across a network connection. Remote access (e.g., RDP) is access to DoD nonpublic information systems by an authorized user (or an information system) communicating through an external, non-organization-controlled network. Remote access methods include, for example, dial-up, broadband, and wireless. Cryptographic mechanisms used for protecting the integrity of information include, for example, signed hash functions using asymmetric cryptography enabling distribution of the public key to verify the hash information while maintaining the confidentiality of the secret key used to generate the hash. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000250-GPOS-00093, SRG-OS-000393-GPOS-00173, SRG-OS-000394-GPOS-00174

Description

Without cryptographic integrity protections, information can be altered by unauthorized users without detection. Nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic activities are those activities conducted by individuals communicating through a network, either an external network (e.g., the Internet) or an internal network. Local maintenance and diagnostic activities are those activities carried out by individuals physically present at the information system or information system component and not communicating across a network connection. Remote access (e.g., RDP) is access to DoD nonpublic information systems by an authorized user (or an information system) communicating through an external, non-organization-controlled network. Remote access methods include, for example, dial-up, broadband, and wireless. Cryptographic mechanisms used for protecting the integrity of information include, for example, signed hash functions using asymmetric cryptography enabling distribution of the public key to verify the hash information while maintaining the confidentiality of the secret key used to generate the hash. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000250-GPOS-00093, SRG-OS-000393-GPOS-00173, SRG-OS-000394-GPOS-00174

STIG	Date
Canonical Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide	2020-09-10

Details

Check Text ( C-21037r305264_chk )
Verify the Ubuntu operating system configures the SSH daemon to only use Message Authentication Codes (MACs) that employ FIPS 140-2 approved ciphers. Check that the SSH daemon is configured to only use MACs that employ FIPS 140-2 approved ciphers with the following command: # sudo grep -i macs /etc/ssh/sshd_config MACs hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512 If any ciphers other than "hmac-sha2-256" or "hmac-sha2-512" are listed or the returned line is commented out, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-21037r305264_chk )

Verify the Ubuntu operating system configures the SSH daemon to only use Message Authentication Codes (MACs) that employ FIPS 140-2 approved ciphers.

Check that the SSH daemon is configured to only use MACs that employ FIPS 140-2 approved ciphers with the following command:

# sudo grep -i macs /etc/ssh/sshd_config
MACs hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512

If any ciphers other than "hmac-sha2-256" or "hmac-sha2-512" are listed or the returned line is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-21036r305265_fix)
Configure the Ubuntu operating system to allow the SSH daemon to only use Message Authentication Codes (MACs) that employ FIPS 140-2 approved ciphers. Edit the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file to uncomment or add the line for the "MACs" keyword and set its value to "hmac-sha2-256" and/or "hmac-sha2-512": MACs hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512 In order for the changes to take effect, reload the SSH daemon. # sudo systemctl reload sshd.service

Fix Text (F-21036r305265_fix)

Configure the Ubuntu operating system to allow the SSH daemon to only use Message Authentication Codes (MACs) that employ FIPS 140-2 approved ciphers.

Edit the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file to uncomment or add the line for the "MACs" keyword and set its value to "hmac-sha2-256" and/or "hmac-sha2-512":

MACs hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512

In order for the changes to take effect, reload the SSH daemon.

# sudo systemctl reload sshd.service