cyberstrikeus 5.1.7 Ensure SSH MaxAuthTries is set to 4 or less (Automated)
Description
The MaxAuthTries parameter specifies the maximum number of authentication attempts permitted per connection. When the login failure count reaches half the number, error messages will be written to the journald logs detailing the login failure.
Rationale
Setting the MaxAuthTries parameter to a low number will minimize the risk of successful brute force attacks to the SSH server. While the recommended setting is 4, set the number based on site policy.
Audit Procedure
Run the following command and verify that output MaxAuthTries is 4 or less:
# sshd -T | grep maxauthtries
MaxAuthTries 4
Expected Result
Output should show MaxAuthTries set to 4 or less.
Remediation
Edit the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file to set the parameter as follows:
MaxAuthTries 4
Default Value
MaxAuthTries 6
CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v8 | 8.2 Collect Audit Logs | x | x | x |
| v7 | 16.13 Alert on Account Login Behavior Deviation | x |
Profile
- Level 2 - Server