STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 9 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

The RHEL 9 SSH server configuration file must be owned by root.

DISA Rule

SV-257998r1082181_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-257998

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227

Rule Version

RHEL-09-255110

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000366 - Implement the security configuration settings.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file and the contents of "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d" to be owned by root with the following command:

$ sudo chown -R root /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d

Check Contents

Verify the ownership of the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file and the contents of "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d" with the following command:

$ sudo find /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d -exec stat -c "%U %n" {} \;

root /etc/ssh/sshd_config
root /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d
root /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-cloud-init.conf
root /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-redhat.conf

If the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file or "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d" or any files in the "sshd_config.d" directory do not have an owner of "root", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-257998

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-255110

Severity Override Guidance

Verify the ownership of the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file and the contents of "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d" with the following command:

$ sudo find /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d -exec stat -c "%U %n" {} \;

root /etc/ssh/sshd_config
root /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d
root /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-cloud-init.conf
root /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-redhat.conf

If the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file or "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d" or any files in the "sshd_config.d" directory do not have an owner of "root", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551