5.2.9 Ensure SSH HostbasedAuthentication is disabled

Information

The HostbasedAuthentication parameter specifies if authentication is allowed through
trusted hosts via the user of .rhosts, or /etc/hosts.equiv, along with successful public
key client host authentication. This option only applies to SSH Protocol Version 2.

Rationale:

Even though the .rhosts files are ineffective if support is disabled in /etc/pam.conf,
disabling the ability to use .rhosts 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

Default Value:

HostbasedAuthentication no

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/2420

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL, IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|AC-14a., 800-53|IA-5, CSCv6|9, CSCv7|16.3

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 0fbc26a23b344aafbd1319f6851bdd3412773a33dad94e3fa19d04bd4eb1bd33