Set SSH MaxSessions limit

An XCCDF Rule

Description

The MaxSessions parameter specifies the maximum number of open sessions permitted from a given connection. To set MaxSessions edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config as follows:

MaxSessions

Rationale

To protect a system from denial of service due to a large number of concurrent sessions, use the rate limiting function of MaxSessions to protect availability of sshd logins and prevent overwhelming the daemon.

ID: xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_sshd_set_max_sessions
Severity: Medium
References: 2.2.6

CCE-83357-4

4.2.16
Updated: about 1 year ago

- name: XCCDF Value var_sshd_max_sessions # promote to variable
  set_fact:
    var_sshd_max_sessions: !!str <xccdf-1.2:sub xmlns:xccdf-1.2="http://checklists.nist.gov/xccdf/1.2" idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_sshd_max_sessions" use="legacy"/>
  tags:
    - always
- name: Set SSH MaxSessions limit
  block:

  - name: Check for duplicate values
    lineinfile:
      path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
      create: true
      regexp: (?i)^\s*MaxSessions\s+
      state: absent
    check_mode: true
    changed_when: false
    register: dupes

  - name: Deduplicate values from /etc/ssh/sshd_config
    lineinfile:
      path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
      create: true
      regexp: (?i)^\s*MaxSessions\s+
      state: absent
    when: dupes.found is defined and dupes.found > 1

  - name: Insert correct line to /etc/ssh/sshd_config
    lineinfile:
      path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
      create: true
      regexp: (?i)^\s*MaxSessions\s+
      line: MaxSessions {{ var_sshd_max_sessions }}
      state: present
      insertbefore: BOF
      validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
  when: ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  tags:
  - CCE-83357-4
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - sshd_set_max_sessions

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

var_sshd_max_sessions='<xccdf-1.2:sub xmlns:xccdf-1.2="http://checklists.nist.gov/xccdf/1.2" idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_sshd_max_sessions" use="legacy"/>'

if [ -e "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" ] ; then
    
    LC_ALL=C sed -i "/^\s*MaxSessions\s\+/Id" "/etc/ssh/sshd_config"
else
    touch "/etc/ssh/sshd_config"
fi
# make sure file has newline at the end
sed -i -e '$a\' "/etc/ssh/sshd_config"

cp "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.bak"
# Insert at the beginning of the file
printf '%s\n' "MaxSessions $var_sshd_max_sessions" > "/etc/ssh/sshd_config"
cat "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.bak" >> "/etc/ssh/sshd_config"
# Clean up after ourselves.
rm "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.bak"

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

Set SSH MaxSessions limit

Description

Rationale

Remediation - Ansible

Remediation - Shell Script