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5.3.11 Ensure SSH root login is disabled

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. 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/3144

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL

References: 800-53|AC-2(9), CSCv6|5.8, CSCv7|4.3

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: c13d76f309875e221939b1d9a99c3cc41d44ffdb250573cd5623b4583f8522ee