cis-ubuntu1204-v110-9-3-3

name	cis-ubuntu1204-v110-9-3-3
description	Set Permissions on /etc/ssh/sshd_config
category	cis-os-hardening
version	1.1.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","ubuntu",12.04,"linux","authentication","ssh","permissions"]
cis_id	9.3.3
cis_benchmark	CIS Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Server Benchmark v1.1.0
tech_stack	["ubuntu","linux"]
cwe_ids	[]
chains_with	[]
prerequisites	[]
severity_boost	{}

9.3.3 Set Permissions on /etc/ssh/sshd_config (Scored)

Profile Applicability

• Level 1

Description

The /etc/ssh/sshd_config file contains configuration specifications for sshd. The command below sets the owner and group of the file to root.

Rationale

The /etc/ssh/sshd_config file needs to be protected from unauthorized changes by nonprivileged users, but needs to be readable as this information is used with many nonprivileged programs.

Audit Procedure

Using Command Line

Run the following command to determine the user and group ownership on the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file:

/bin/ls -l /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Expected Result

-rw------- 1 root root 762 Sep 23 002 /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Remediation

Using Command Line

If the user and group ownership of the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file are incorrect, run the following command to correct them:

chown root:root /etc/ssh/sshd_config

If the permissions are incorrect, run the following command to correct them:

chmod 600 /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Default Value

The default ownership is root:root with permissions 644.

References

• CIS Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Server Benchmark v1.1.0

Profile

Level 1 - Scored