Verify Permissions on SSH Server Public *.pub Key Files

An XCCDF Rule

Description

To properly set the permissions of /etc/ssh/*.pub, run the command:

$ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/ssh/*.pub

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_permissions_sshd_pub_key
Severity: Medium
References: 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

SV-204596r603261_rule

4.2.3
Updated: about 1 year ago

- name: Find /etc/ssh/ file(s)
  command: find -H /etc/ssh/ -maxdepth 1 -perm /u+xs,g+xws,o+xwt  -type f -regex "^.*\.pub$"
  register: files_found
  changed_when: false
  failed_when: false
  check_mode: false  when: ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  tags:
  - DISA-STIG-RHEL-07-040410
  - 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_pub_key
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Set permissions for /etc/ssh/ file(s)
  file:
    path: '{{ item }}'
    mode: u-xs,g-xws,o-xwt
    state: file
  with_items:
  - '{{ files_found.stdout_lines }}'
  when: ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  tags:
  - DISA-STIG-RHEL-07-040410
  - 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_pub_key
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

include ssh_public_key_perms

class ssh_public_key_perms {
  exec { 'sshd_pub_key':
    command => "chmod 0644 /etc/ssh/*.pub",
    path    => '/bin:/usr/bin'  }
}

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

find -H /etc/ssh/ -maxdepth 1 -perm /u+xs,g+xws,o+xwt  -type f -regex '^.*\.pub$' -exec chmod u-xs,g-xws,o-xwt {} \;

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

Verify Permissions on SSH Server Public *.pub Key Files

Description

Rationale

Remediation - Ansible

Remediation - Puppet

Remediation - Shell Script