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

RHEL 9 must implement certificate status checking for multifactor authentication.

DISA Rule

SV-258123r1134923_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258123

Group Title

SRG-OS-000375-GPOS-00160

Rule Version

RHEL-09-611170

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-004046 - Implement multi-factor authentication for local; network; and/or remote access to privileged accounts; and/or non-privileged accounts such that one of the factors is provided by a device separate from the system gaining access.
• CCI-001954 - Electronically verifies Personal Identity Verification-compliant credentials.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 9 to implement certificate status checking for multifactor authentication.

Review the "/etc/sssd/conf.d/certificate_verification.conf" file to determine if the system is configured to prevent OCSP or certificate verification.

Add the following line to the "/etc/sssd/conf.d/certificate_verification.conf" file:

certificate_verification = ocsp_dgst=sha512

Set the correct ownership and permissions on the "/etc/sssd/conf.d/certificate_verification.conf" file by running these commands:

$ sudo chown root:root "/etc/sssd/conf.d/certificate_verification.conf"
$ sudo chmod 600 "/etc/sssd/conf.d/certificate_verification.conf"

The "sssd" service must be restarted for the changes to take effect. To restart the "sssd" service, run the following command:

$ sudo systemctl restart sssd.service

Check Contents

Note: If the system administrator (SA) demonstrates the use of an approved alternate multifactor authentication method, this requirement is not applicable.

Verify the operating system implements Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) and is using the proper digest value on the system with the following command:

$ sudo grep -sir certificate_verification /etc/sssd/sssd.conf /etc/sssd/conf.d/ | grep -v "^#"

/etc/sssd/conf.d/certificate_verification:certificate_verification = ocsp_dgst=sha512

If the certificate_verification line is missing from the [sssd] section, or is missing "ocsp_dgst=sha512", ask the administrator to indicate what type of multifactor authentication is being used and how the system implements certificate status checking.

If there is no evidence of certificate status checking being used, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258123

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-611170

Severity Override Guidance

Note: If the system administrator (SA) demonstrates the use of an approved alternate multifactor authentication method, this requirement is not applicable.

Verify the operating system implements Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) and is using the proper digest value on the system with the following command:

$ sudo grep -sir certificate_verification /etc/sssd/sssd.conf /etc/sssd/conf.d/ | grep -v "^#"

/etc/sssd/conf.d/certificate_verification:certificate_verification = ocsp_dgst=sha512

If the certificate_verification line is missing from the [sssd] section, or is missing "ocsp_dgst=sha512", ask the administrator to indicate what type of multifactor authentication is being used and how the system implements certificate status checking.

If there is no evidence of certificate status checking being used, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551