Rule version SLES-12-030210 · STIG v3 · 2025-11-24
If a public host key file is modified by an unauthorized user, the SSH service may be compromised.
Verify the SUSE operating system SSH daemon public host key files have mode "0644" or less permissive.
Note: SSH public key files may be found in other directories on the system depending on the installation.
The following command will find all SSH public key files on the system:
> 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.pub
If any file has a mode more permissive than "0644", this is a finding.
Configure the SUSE operating system SSH daemon public host key files have mode "0644" 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 "0644" with the following command:
> sudo chmod 0644 /etc/ssh/ssh_host*key.pub