Rule version SLEM-05-232040 · STIG v1 · 2026-08-20
If a public host key file is modified by an unauthorized user, the SSH service may be compromised.
Verify SLEM 5 SSH daemon public host key files have mode "644" 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.
> find /etc/ssh -name 'ssh_host*key.pub' -exec stat -c "%a %n" {} \;
644 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key.pub
644 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key.pub
644 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key.pub
644 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key.pubIf any file has a mode more permissive than "644", this is a finding.
Configure SLEM 5 SSH daemon public host key files have mode "644" or less permissive.
Note: SSH public key files may be found in other directories on the system depending on the installation.
Change the mode of public host key files under "/etc/ssh" to "644" with the following command:
> sudo chmod 644 /etc/ssh/ssh_host*key.pub