Vulnerability Discussion

If other users have access to modify user-specific SSH configuration files, they may be able to log on to the system as another user.

Check

Verify the SUSE operating system SSH daemon performs strict mode checking of home directory configuration files.

Check that the SSH daemon performs strict mode checking of home directory configuration files with the following command:

> sudo /usr/sbin/sshd -dd 2>&1 | awk '/filename/ {print $4}' | tr -d '\r' | tr '\n' ' ' | xargs sudo grep -iH '^\s*strictmodes'

StrictModes yes

If "StrictModes" is set to "no", is missing, or the returned line is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix

Configure the SUSE operating system SSH daemon performs strict mode checking of home directory configuration files.

Uncomment the "StrictModes" keyword in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" and set the value to "yes":

StrictModes yes