---
title: Verify Permissions on SSH Server config file
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > OOTB Rules > Verify Permissions on SSH Server config
  file
---

# Verify Permissions on SSH Server config file
 
## Description{% #description %}

To properly set the permissions of `/etc/ssh/sshd_config`, run the command:

```
$ sudo chmod 0600 /etc/ssh/sshd_config
```

## Rationale{% #rationale %}

Service configuration files enable or disable features of their respective services that if configured incorrectly can lead to insecure and vulnerable configurations. Therefore, service configuration files should be owned by the correct group to prevent unauthorized changes.

## Remediation{% #remediation %}

### Shell script{% #shell-script %}

The following script can be run on the host to remediate the issue.

```bash
#!/bin/bash

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if dpkg-query --show --showformat='${db:Status-Status}' 'linux-base' 2>/dev/null | grep -q '^installed$'; then

chmod u-xs,g-xwrs,o-xwrt /etc/ssh/sshd_config

else
    >&2 echo 'Remediation is not applicable, nothing was done'
fi
```

### Ansible playbook{% #ansible-playbook %}

The following playbook can be run with Ansible to remediate the issue.

```zed
- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-17(a)
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_permissions_sshd_config
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Test for existence /etc/ssh/sshd_config
  stat:
    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
  register: file_exists
  when: '"linux-base" in ansible_facts.packages'
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-17(a)
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_permissions_sshd_config
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Ensure permission u-xs,g-xwrs,o-xwrt on /etc/ssh/sshd_config
  file:
    path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
    mode: u-xs,g-xwrs,o-xwrt
  when:
  - '"linux-base" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - file_exists.stat is defined and file_exists.stat.exists
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-17(a)
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_permissions_sshd_config
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
```