4.2.8 Ensure SSH 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 parameter as follows:

HostbasedAuthentication no

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

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/13007

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-7b.

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: c80cb79e0203511fe3d2b3e70b770f9dabb372f1d8be5acc917681d72472d7ff