AlmaLinux OS 9 SSH private host key files must have mode 0640 or less permissive.

STIG ID: ALMA-09-020920 |  SRG: SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227 |  Severity: medium |  CCI:  | Vulnerability Id: V-269265

Vulnerability Discussion

If an unauthorized user obtains the private SSH host key file, the host could be impersonated.

Check

Configure the mode of SSH private host key files under "/etc/ssh" to "0640" with the following command:

$ chmod 0640 /etc/ssh/ssh_host*key

Restart the SSH daemon for the changes to take effect:

$ systemctl restart sshd.service

Fix

Verify the SSH private host key files have a mode of "0640" or less permissive with the following command:

$ stat -c "%#a %n" /etc/ssh/ssh_host*key

0640 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key
0640 /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key

If any private host key file has a mode more permissive than "0640", this is a finding.