4.2.10 Ensure sshd HostbasedAuthentication is disabled

Information

The HostbasedAuthentication parameter specifies if authentication is allowed through trusted hosts via the user ofrhosts or /etc/hosts.equiv along with successful public key client host authentication.

Even though therhosts files are ineffective if support is disabled in /etc/pam.conf disabling the ability to userhosts files in SSH provides an additional layer of protection.

Solution

Edit the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file to set the HostbasedAuthentication parameter to no :

HostbasedAuthentication no

Note: First occurrence of a option takes precedence, Match set statements withstanding.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/15962

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-7b.

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 1a2195e7ca616d5a86a312805f7b49a22f706f336a4a22f38cd81f30701ed271