AlmaLinux OS 9 SSH public host key files must have mode 0644 or less permissive.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-269266 | ALMA-09-021030 | SV-269266r1050148_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| If a public host key file is modified by an unauthorized user, the SSH service may be compromised. Whilst public keys are publicly readable, they should not be writeable by nonowners. |
| STIG | Date |
| CloudLinux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-22 |
Details
| Check Text (C-73297r1048174_chk) |
| Verify the SSH public host key files have a mode of "0644" or less permissive with the following command: Note: SSH public key files may be found in other directories on the system depending on the installation. $ stat -c "%#a %n" /etc/ssh/ssh_host*key.pub 0644 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key.pub 0644 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key.pub If any public key has a mode more permissive than "0644", this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-73198r1048175_fix) |
| Change the mode of public host key files under "/etc/ssh" to "0644" with the following command: $ chmod 0644 /etc/ssh/*key.pub Restart the SSH daemon for the changes to take effect: $ systemctl restart sshd.service |