Host SSH daemon, if enabled, must not allow host-based authentication

MediumLevel 1Automatedvmware

Description

Ensuring the SSH daemon on the host disallows host-based authentication is a crucial step towards hardening system services. This prevents a host from authenticating on behalf of the users, thereby enforcing individual accountability and minimizing the risk of unauthorized access. The audit reads /etc/ssh/sshd_config and requires HostbasedAuthentication no (unset = OpenSSH default no). Runs in the ESXi Shell (busybox sh) as root.

How it is checked

Audit method: Shell command

shell

f=/etc/ssh/sshd_config; [ -r "$f" ] || exit 1
v=$(awk 'tolower($1)=="hostbasedauthentication" {print tolower($2); exit}' "$f")
case "$v" in '') echo compliant ;; no) echo compliant ;; *) echo "HostbasedAuthentication $v" ;; esac

Expected output: compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

To remediate this recommendation, set HostbasedAuthentication no, restart SSH if it is authorized to run, and verify host-based authentication is rejected.

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: vmwareesxiservices
Reference: CIS VMware ESXi 9.0 Benchmark v1.0.0 - 6.5.4 Host SSH daemon, if enabled, must not allow host-based authentication

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target vmware