STIGQter: STIG Summary: Cloud Linux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 7 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

AlmaLinux OS 9 SSHD must accept public key authentication.

DISA Rule

SV-269367r1050250_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-269367

Group Title

SRG-OS-000105-GPOS-00052

Rule Version

ALMA-09-033240

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000765 - Implement multifactor authentication for network access to privileged accounts.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure the SSH daemon to accept public key encryption.

Add the following line to "/etc/ssh/sshd_config", or uncomment the line and set the value to "yes":

PubkeyAuthentication yes

Alternatively, add the setting to an include file if the line "Include /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/*.conf" is found at the top of the "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" file:

$ cat << EOF | tee /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/pubkey.conf
PubkeyAuthentication yes
EOF

Restart the SSH daemon for the settings to take effect:

$ systemctl restart sshd.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 that AlmaLinux OS 9 SSH daemon accepts public key encryption with the following command:

$ sshd -T | grep -i pubkeyauthentication

pubkeyauthentication yes

If "PubkeyAuthentication" is set to no, or the line is missing, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-269367

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ALMA-09-033240

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 that AlmaLinux OS 9 SSH daemon accepts public key encryption with the following command:

$ sshd -T | grep -i pubkeyauthentication

pubkeyauthentication yes

If "PubkeyAuthentication" is set to no, or the line is missing, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5664