The SSH daemon must perform strict mode checking of home directory configuration files.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-269299 | ALMA-09-024770 | SV-269299r1050181_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| If other users have access to modify user-specific SSH configuration files or read keys, they may be able to log into the system as another user. |
| STIG | Date |
| CloudLinux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-22 |
Details
| Check Text (C-73330r1048273_chk) |
| Verify the SSH daemon performs strict mode checking of home directory configuration files with the following command: $ sshd -T | grep strictmodes strictmodes yes If the "StrictModes" keyword is set to "no", or no output is returned, this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-73231r1048274_fix) |
| To configure the SSH daemon to perform strict mode checking of home directory configuration files, add or modify the following line in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config", or uncomment the line and set the value to "yes": StrictModes yes Alternatively, add the setting to an include file if the line "Include /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/*.conf" is found at the top of the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file: $ echo "StrictModes yes" > /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/strictmodes.conf Restart the SSH daemon for the settings to take effect: $ systemctl restart sshd.service |