The SSH daemon must not allow host-based authentication.

From Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000766

SV-50413r1_rule The SSH daemon must not allow host-based authentication.

Vulnerability discussion

SSH trust relationships mean a compromise on one host can allow an attacker to move trivially to other hosts.

Check content

To determine how the SSH daemon's "HostbasedAuthentication" option is set, run the following command: # grep -i HostbasedAuthentication /etc/ssh/sshd_config If no line, a commented line, or a line indicating the value "no" is returned, then the required value is set. If the required value is not set, this is a finding.

Fix text

SSH's cryptographic host-based authentication is more secure than ".rhosts" authentication, since hosts are cryptographically authenticated. However, it is not recommended that hosts unilaterally trust one another, even within an organization. To disable host-based authentication, add or correct the following line in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config": HostbasedAuthentication no

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