Information
The HostbasedAuthentication parameter specifies if authentication is allowed through trusted hosts via the user of .rhosts, or /etc/hosts.equiv, along with successful public key client host authentication. This option only applies to SSH Protocol Version 2.
Rationale:
Even though the .rhosts files are ineffective if support is disabled in /etc/pam.conf, disabling the ability to use .rhosts files in SSH provides an additional layer of protection.
Solution
Edit the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file to set the parameter as follows:
HostbasedAuthentication no
Default Value:
HostbasedAuthentication no
Item Details
Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT, SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION
References: 800-53|CM-2, 800-53|CM-6, 800-53|CM-7, 800-53|CM-7(1), 800-53|CM-9, 800-53|SA-3, 800-53|SA-8, 800-53|SA-10, CSCv7|16.3, Rule-ID|SV-204435r603261_rule
Control ID: 86a1b393593c1ebc122814a6301d13c5bfd3d60ce67cbbe4855eed5505285cb5