Verify Permissions on SSH Server Private *_key Key Files

An XCCDF Rule

Description

SSH server private keys - files that match the /etc/ssh/*_key glob, have to have restricted permissions. If those files are owned by the root user and the root group, they have to have the 0600 permission or stricter. If they are owned by the root user, but by a dedicated group ssh_keys, they can have the 0640 permission or stricter.

Rationale

If an unauthorized user obtains the private SSH host key file, the host could be impersonated.

ID: xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_file_permissions_sshd_private_key
Severity: Medium
References: BP28(R36)

12 13 14 15 16 18 3 5

APO01.06 DSS05.04 DSS05.07 DSS06.02

3.1.13 3.13.10

CCI-000366

4.3.3.7.3

SR 2.1 SR 5.2

A.10.1.1 A.11.1.4 A.11.1.5 A.11.2.1 A.13.1.1 A.13.1.3 A.13.2.1 A.13.2.3 A.13.2.4 A.14.1.2 A.14.1.3 A.6.1.2 A.7.1.1 A.7.1.2 A.7.3.1 A.8.2.2 A.8.2.3 A.9.1.1 A.9.1.2 A.9.2.3 A.9.4.1 A.9.4.4 A.9.4.5

CIP-003-8 R5.1.1 CIP-003-8 R5.3 CIP-004-6 R2.3 CIP-007-3 R2.1 CIP-007-3 R2.2 CIP-007-3 R2.3 CIP-007-3 R5.1 CIP-007-3 R5.1.1 CIP-007-3 R5.1.2

AC-17(a) AC-6(1) CM-6(a)

PR.AC-4 PR.DS-5

Req-2.2.4

2.2.6

SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227
Updated: about 1 year ago

- name: Find root:root-owned keys
  ansible.builtin.command: find -H /etc/ssh/ -maxdepth 1 -user root -regex ".*_key$"
    -type f -group root -perm /u+xs,g+xwrs,o+xwrt
  register: root_owned_keys
  changed_when: false
  failed_when: false  check_mode: false
  when: ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  tags:
  - NIST-800-171-3.1.13
  - NIST-800-171-3.13.10
  - NIST-800-53-AC-17(a)
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-2.2.4
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_permissions_sshd_private_key
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Set permissions for root:root-owned keys
  ansible.builtin.file:
    path: '{{ item }}'
    mode: u-xs,g-xwrs,o-xwrt
    state: file
  with_items:
  - '{{ root_owned_keys.stdout_lines }}'
  when: ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  tags:
  - NIST-800-171-3.1.13
  - NIST-800-171-3.13.10
  - NIST-800-53-AC-17(a)
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-2.2.4
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_permissions_sshd_private_key
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Find root:ssh_keys-owned keys
  ansible.builtin.command: find -H /etc/ssh/ -maxdepth 1 -user root -regex ".*_key$"
    -type f -group ssh_keys -perm /u+xs,g+xws,o+xwrt
  register: dedicated_group_owned_keys
  changed_when: false
  failed_when: false
  check_mode: false
  when: ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  tags:
  - NIST-800-171-3.1.13
  - NIST-800-171-3.13.10
  - NIST-800-53-AC-17(a)
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-2.2.4
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_permissions_sshd_private_key
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Set permissions for root:ssh_keys-owned keys
  ansible.builtin.file:
    path: '{{ item }}'
    mode: u-xs,g-xws,o-xwrt
    state: file
  with_items:
  - '{{ dedicated_group_owned_keys.stdout_lines }}'
  when: ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  tags:
  - NIST-800-171-3.1.13
  - NIST-800-171-3.13.10
  - NIST-800-53-AC-17(a)
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-2.2.4
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_permissions_sshd_private_key
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if [ ! -f /.dockerenv ] && [ ! -f /run/.containerenv ]; then

for keyfile in /etc/ssh/*_key; do
    test -f "$keyfile" || continue
    if test root:root = "$(stat -c "%U:%G" "$keyfile")"; then    
	chmod u-xs,g-xwrs,o-xwrt "$keyfile"
    
    elif test root:ssh_keys = "$(stat -c "%U:%G" "$keyfile")"; then
	chmod u-xs,g-xws,o-xwrt "$keyfile"
    else
        echo "Key-like file '$keyfile' is owned by an unexpected user:group combination"
    fi
done

else
    >&2 echo 'Remediation is not applicable, nothing was done'
fi

include ssh_private_key_perms

class ssh_private_key_perms {
  exec { 'sshd_priv_key':
    command => "chmod 0640 /etc/ssh/*_key",
    path    => '/bin:/usr/bin'  }
}

Verify Permissions on SSH Server Private *_key Key Files

Description

Rationale

Remediation - Ansible

Remediation - Shell Script

Remediation - Puppet