Verify Permissions on SSH Server Public *.pub Key Files

Description

To properly set the permissions of /etc/ssh/*.pub, run the command:

$ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/ssh/*.pub

Rationale

If a public host key file is modified by an unauthorized user, the SSH service may be compromised.

Remediation

Shell script

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

#!/bin/bash

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

find -L /etc/ssh/ -maxdepth 1 -perm /u+xs,g+xws,o+xwt  -type f -regextype posix-extended -regex '^.*\.pub$' -exec chmod u-xs,g-xws,o-xwt {} \;

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

Ansible playbook

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

- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - NIST-800-171-3.1.13
  - NIST-800-171-3.13.10
  - NIST-800-53-AC-17(a)
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-2.2.4
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_permissions_sshd_pub_key
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Find /etc/ssh/ file(s)
  command: find -H /etc/ssh/ -maxdepth 1 -perm /u+xs,g+xws,o+xwt  -type f -regextype
    posix-extended -regex "^.*\.pub$"
  register: files_found
  changed_when: false
  failed_when: false
  check_mode: false
  when: '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  tags:
  - NIST-800-171-3.1.13
  - NIST-800-171-3.13.10
  - NIST-800-53-AC-17(a)
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-2.2.4
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_permissions_sshd_pub_key
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Set permissions for /etc/ssh/ file(s)
  file:
    path: '{{ item }}'
    mode: u-xs,g-xws,o-xwt
    state: file
  with_items:
  - '{{ files_found.stdout_lines }}'
  when: '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  tags:
  - NIST-800-171-3.1.13
  - NIST-800-171-3.13.10
  - NIST-800-53-AC-17(a)
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-2.2.4
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_permissions_sshd_pub_key
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed