# CIS Ubuntu 14.04 LTS - 5.2.3 Ensure SSH LogLevel is set to INFO

> Verify SSH LogLevel is configured to INFO for adequate logging of login activity

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-5-2-3-ensure-ssh-loglevel-is-set-to-inf` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-5-2-3-ensure-ssh-loglevel-is-set-to-inf`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-5-2-3-ensure-ssh-loglevel-is-set-to-inf/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-5-2-3-ensure-ssh-loglevel-is-set-to-inf

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# 5.2.3 Ensure SSH LogLevel is set to INFO (Scored)

## Profile Applicability

- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation

## Description

The `INFO` parameter specifies that login and logout activity will be logged.

## Rationale

SSH provides several logging levels with varying amounts of verbosity. `DEBUG` is specifically _not_ recommended other than strictly for debugging SSH communications since it provides so much data that it is difficult to identify important security information. `INFO` level is the basic level that only records login activity of SSH users. In many situations, such as Incident Response, it is important to determine when a particular user was active on a system. The logout record can eliminate those users who disconnected, which helps narrow the field.

## Audit Procedure

Run the following command and verify that output matches:

```bash
grep "^LogLevel" /etc/ssh/sshd_config
```

## Expected Result

```
LogLevel INFO
```

## Remediation

Edit the `/etc/ssh/sshd_config` file to set the parameter as follows:

```
LogLevel INFO
```

## Default Value

LogLevel INFO

## References

- CIS Controls: 16 - Account Monitoring and Control

## Profile

- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation