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/2970

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: f6ecd3c299441a0d991904b98f8bcc64a5d3878033c6cd97e2c8b2a9d0adcd32