STIGQter: STIG Summary: Apple macOS 15 (Sequoia) Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 7 Benchmark Date: 01 Apr 2026:

The macOS system must limit SSHD to FIPS-compliant connections.

DISA Rule

SV-268438r1184563_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-268438

Group Title

SRG-OS-000033-GPOS-00014

Rule Version

APPL-15-000054

Severity

CAT I

CCI(s)

CCI-000068 - Implement cryptographic mechanisms to protect the confidentiality of remote access sessions.
CCI-000803 - Implement mechanisms for authentication to a cryptographic module that meet the requirements of applicable laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance for such authentication.
CCI-001453 - Implement cryptographic mechanisms to protect the integrity of remote access sessions.
CCI-002890 - Implement organization-defined cryptographic mechanisms to protect the integrity of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic communications.
CCI-003123 - Implement organization-defined cryptographic mechanisms to protect the confidentiality of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic communications.
CCI-002450 - Implement organization-defined types of cryptography for each specified cryptography use.
CCI-002421 - Implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure of information and/or detect changes to information during transmission.

Weight

Fix Recommendation

Configure the macOS system to limit SSHD to FIPS-compliant connections with the following command:

if [ -f /etc/ssh/crypto.conf ] && /usr/bin/grep -q "Include /etc/ssh/crypto.conf" /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/100-macos.conf 2>/dev/null; then
/bin/ln -fs /etc/ssh/crypto/fips.conf /etc/ssh/crypto.conf
fi

include_dir=$(/usr/bin/awk '/^Include/ {print $2}' /etc/ssh/sshd_config | /usr/bin/tr -d '*')

if [[ -z $include_dir ]]; then
/usr/bin/sed -i.bk "1s/.*/Include \/etc\/ssh\/sshd_config.d\/\*/" /etc/ssh/sshd_config
fi

fips_sshd_config=("Ciphers aes128-gcm@openssh.com" "HostbasedAcceptedAlgorithms ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com" "HostKeyAlgorithms ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256@openssh.com" "KexAlgorithms ecdh-sha2-nistp256" "MACs hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256" "PubkeyAcceptedAlgorithms ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com" "CASignatureAlgorithms ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256@openssh.com")
sshd_config=$(/usr/sbin/sshd -G)
for config in $fips_sshd_config; do
if ! echo $sshd_config | /usr/bin/grep -q -i "$config" 2>/dev/null; then
/usr/bin/grep -qxF "$config" "${include_dir}01-mscp-sshd.conf" 2>/dev/null || echo "$config" >> "${include_dir}01-mscp-sshd.conf"
fi
done

for file in $(ls ${include_dir}); do
if [[ "$file" == "100-macos.conf" ]]; then
continue
fi
if [[ "$file" == "01-mscp-sshd.conf" ]]; then
break
fi
/bin/mv ${include_dir}${file} ${include_dir}20-${file}
done

Check Contents

Verify the macOS system is configured to limit SSHD to FIPS-compliant connections with the following command:

fips_sshd_config=("Ciphers aes128-gcm@openssh.com" "HostbasedAcceptedAlgorithms ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com" "HostKeyAlgorithms ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256@openssh.com" "KexAlgorithms ecdh-sha2-nistp256" "MACs hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256" "PubkeyAcceptedAlgorithms ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com" "CASignatureAlgorithms ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256@openssh.com")
total=0
for config in $fips_sshd_config; do
total=$(expr $(/usr/sbin/sshd -G | /usr/bin/grep -i -c "$config") + $total)
done

echo $total

If the result is not "7", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-268438

Documentable

False

Rule Version

APPL-15-000054

Severity Override Guidance

Check Content Reference

Target Key

5661