Ensure access to /etc/ssh/sshd_config is configured (Automated)
Profile Applicability
- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation
Description
The file /etc/ssh/sshd_config, and files ending in .conf in the /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d directory, contain configuration specifications for sshd.
Rationale
Configuration specifications for sshd need to be protected from unauthorized changes by non-privileged users.
Audit Procedure
Command Line
Run the following script and verify /etc/ssh/sshd_config and files ending in .conf in the /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d directory are:
- Mode
0600or more restrictive - Owned by the
rootuser - Group owned by the group
root.
#!/usr/bin/env bash
{
a_output=(); a_output2=()
perm_mask='0177' && maxperm="$( printf '%o' $(( 0777 & ~$perm_mask )) )"
f_sshd_files_chk()
{
while IFS=: read -r l_mode l_user l_group; do
a_out2=()
[ $(( $l_mode & $perm_mask )) -gt 0 ] && a_out2+=(" Is mode: \"$l_mode\" \
should be mode: \"$maxperm\" or more restrictive")
[ "$l_user" != "root" ] && a_out2+=(" Is owned by \"$l_user\" should be owned by \"root\"")
[ "$l_group" != "root" ] && a_out2+=(" Is group owned by \"$l_user\" should be group owned by \"root\"")
if [ "${#a_out2[@]}" -gt "0" ]; then
a_output2+=(" - File: \"$l_file\":" "${a_out2[@]}")
else
a_output+=(" - File: \"$l_file\":" " Correct: mode ($l_mode), owner ($l_user) \
and group owner ($l_group) configured")
fi
done < <(stat -Lc '%#a:%U:%G' "$l_file")
}
{
[ -e "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" ] && l_file="/etc/ssh/sshd_config" && f_sshd_files_chk
while IFS= read -r -d $'\0' l_file; do
[ -e "$l_file" ] && f_sshd_files_chk
done < <(find /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d -type f -name '*.conf' \( -perm /077 -o ! -user root -o ! -group root \) -print0 2>/dev/null)
}
if [ "${#a_output2[@]}" -le 0 ]; then
printf '%s\n' "" "- Audit Result:" " ** PASS **" "${a_output[@]}" ""
else
printf '%s\n' "" "- Audit Result:" " ** FAIL **" " - Reason(s) for audit failure:" "${a_output2[@]}"
[ "${#a_output[@]}" -gt 0 ] && printf '%s\n' "" "- Correctly set:" "${a_output[@]}" ""
fi
}
- IF - other locations are listed in an
Includestatement,*.conffiles in these locations should also be checked.
Expected Result
- Audit Result:
** PASS **
Remediation
Command Line
Run the following script to set ownership and permissions on /etc/ssh/sshd_config and files ending in .conf in the /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d directory:
#!/usr/bin/env bash
{
chmod u-x,og-rwx /etc/ssh/sshd_config
chown root:root /etc/ssh/sshd_config
while IFS= read -r -d $'\0' l_file; do
if [ -e "$l_file" ]; then
chmod u-x,og-rwx "$l_file"
chown root:root "$l_file"
fi
done < <(find /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d -type f -print0 2>/dev/null)
}
- IF - other locations are listed in an
Includestatement,*.conffiles in these locations access should also be modified.
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AC-3. MP-2
CIS Controls
v8 - 3.3 Configure Data Access Control Lists Configure data access control lists based on a user's need to know. Apply data access control lists, also known as access permissions, to local and remote file systems, databases, and applications.
v7 - 14.6 Protect Information through Access Control Lists Protect all information stored on systems with file system, network share, claims, application, or database specific access control lists. These controls will enforce the principle that only authorized individuals should have access to the information based on their need to access the information as a part of their responsibilities.
MITRE ATT&CK Mappings: T1098, T1098.004, T1543, T1543.002 | TA0005 | M1022