The SUSE operating system SSH daemon must not allow compression or must only allow compression after successful authentication.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-217279 | SLES-12-030250 | SV-217279r991589_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| If compression is allowed in an SSH connection prior to authentication, vulnerabilities in the compression software could result in compromise of the system from an unauthenticated connection, potentially with root privileges. |
| STIG | Date |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-14 |
Details
| Check Text (C-18507r880923_chk) |
| Note: If the installed version of OpenSSH is 7.4 or above, this requirement is not applicable. Verify the SUSE operating system SSH daemon performs compression after a user successfully authenticates. Check that the SSH daemon performs compression after a user successfully authenticates with the following command: # sudo grep -i compression /etc/ssh/sshd_config Compression delayed If the "Compression" keyword is set to "yes", is missing, or the returned line is commented out, this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-18505r880924_fix) |
| Configure the SUSE operating system SSH daemon performs compression after a user successfully authenticates. Uncomment the "Compression" keyword in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" on the system and set the value to "delayed" or "no": Compression no |