The Photon operating system must configure sshd to use approved encryption algorithms.

Without confidentiality protection mechanisms, unauthorized individuals may gain access to sensitive information via a remote access session.

OpenSSH on the Photon operating system is compiled with a FIPS-validated cryptographic module. The "FipsMode" setting controls whether this module is initialized and used in FIPS 140-2 mode.

Satisfies: SRG-OS-000033-GPOS-00014, SRG-OS-000393-GPOS-00173, SRG-OS-000396-GPOS-00176, SRG-OS-000250-GPOS-00093, SRG-OS-000423-GPOS-00187

At the command line, run the following command:

# sshd -T|&grep -i FipsMode

Expected result:

FipsMode yes

If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.

Navigate to and open:

/etc/ssh/sshd_config

Ensure the "FipsMode" line is uncommented and set to the following:

FipsMode yes

At the command line, run the following command:

# systemctl restart sshd.service