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RHEL 9 SSH daemon must perform strict mode checking of home directory configuration files.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-258008 RHEL-09-255160 SV-258008r991589_rule Medium
Description
If other users have access to modify user-specific SSH configuration files, they may be able to log into the system as another user.
STIG Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2024-06-04

Details

Check Text ( C-61749r952211_chk )
Verify the SSH daemon performs strict mode checking of home directory configuration files with the following command:

$ sudo /usr/sbin/sshd -dd 2>&1 | awk '/filename/ {print $4}' | tr -d '\r' | tr '\n' ' ' | xargs sudo grep -iH '^\s*strictmodes'

StrictModes yes

If the "StrictModes" keyword is set to "no", the returned line is commented out, or no output is returned, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-61673r926010_fix)
Configure the SSH daemon to perform strict mode checking of home directory configuration files.

Add the following line in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config", or uncomment the line and set the value to "yes":

StrictModes yes

The SSH service must be restarted for changes to take effect:

$ sudo systemctl restart sshd.service