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 | 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 | 2024-12-16 |
Details
| Check Text (C-60064r885946_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 |