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Verify Group Ownership on SSH Server Public *.pub Key Files

An XCCDF Rule

Description

SSH server public keys, files that match the /etc/ssh/*.pub glob, must be group-owned by root group.

Rationale

If a public host key file is modified by an unauthorized user, the SSH service may be compromised.

ID
xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_file_groupownership_sshd_pub_key
Severity
Medium
References
Updated



Remediation - Shell Script

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if dpkg-query --show --showformat='${db:Status-Status}
' 'kernel' 2>/dev/null | grep -q installed; then

find -L /etc/ssh/ -maxdepth 1 -type f ! -group 0 -regextype posix-extended -regex '^.*\.pub$' -exec chgrp -L 0 {} \;

Remediation - Ansible

- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - configure_strategy
  - file_groupownership_sshd_pub_key