5.1.12 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 above any Include and Match entries as follows:

HostbasedAuthentication no

Note: First occurrence of a option takes precedence, Match set statements withstanding. If Include locations are enabled, used, and order of precedence is understood in your environment, the entry may be created in a file in Include location.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/18211

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-7b.

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: ef1d75032c4bdfd95c921921a61329811d64767ded8f4d627d4cb15b941c8dc9