There must be no shosts.equiv files on AlmaLinux OS 9.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-269258	ALMA-09-020150	SV-269258r1050140_rule		Medium

Description

The shosts.equiv files are used to configure host-based authentication for the system via SSH. Host-based authentication is not sufficient for preventing unauthorized access to the system, as it does not require interactive identification and authentication of a connection request, or for the use of two-factor authentication.

STIG	Date
CloudLinux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2025-05-22

Details

Check Text (C-73289r1049400_chk)

Verify there are no "shosts.equiv" files on AlmaLinux OS 9 with the following command:

$ find / -name shosts.equiv

If a "shosts.equiv" file is found, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-73190r1048151_fix)

Remove any found "shosts.equiv" files from the system.

$ rm /[path]/[to]/[file]/shosts.equiv