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5.2.10 Ensure SSH root login is disabled

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This audit has been deprecated and will be removed in a future update.

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Information

The PermitRootLogin parameter specifies if the root user can log in using ssh. The default is no.

Rationale:

Disallowing root logins over SSH requires system admins to authenticate using their own individual account, then escalating to root via sudo or su. This in turn limits opportunity for non-repudiation and provides a clear audit trail in the event of a security incident

Solution

Edit the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file to set the parameter as follows:

PermitRootLogin no

Default Value:

PermitRootLogin without-password

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/2851

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL

References: 800-53|AC-17(4), CCE|CCE-27445-6

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 68c5d1b8a2d6a7816bdb2763c5c17fe525c5699dd2cb889a6922a4bf2a8b5191