STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 2 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 10 must be configured so that the Secure Shell (SSH) daemon disables remote X connections for interactive users.

DISA Rule

SV-281258r1184758_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-281258

Group Title

SRG-OS-000445-GPOS-00199

Rule Version

RHEL-10-700550

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-002696 - Verify correct operation of organization-defined security functions.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 10 SSH daemons to not allow X11 forwarding.

In "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d", create a drop file that will lexicographically precede 50-redhat.conf and add the following line:

X11forwarding no

Restart the SSH service with the following command for the changes to take effect:

$ sudo systemctl restart sshd.service

Check Contents

Verify RHEL 10 SSH daemons do not allow X11Forwarding 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*x11forwarding'
/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/10-stig.conf:X11forwarding no
/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-redhat.conf:X11Forwarding yes

Verify the runtime setting with the following command:

$ sudo sshd -T | grep -i x11forwarding
x11forwarding no

If the "X11forwarding" keyword is not set to "no" in a drop-in that lexicographically precedes 50-redhat.conf, or if no output is returned, and X11 forwarding is not documented with the information system security officer as an operational requirement, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-281258

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-10-700550

Severity Override Guidance

Verify RHEL 10 SSH daemons do not allow X11Forwarding 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*x11forwarding'
/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/10-stig.conf:X11forwarding no
/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-redhat.conf:X11Forwarding yes

Verify the runtime setting with the following command:

$ sudo sshd -T | grep -i x11forwarding
x11forwarding no

If the "X11forwarding" keyword is not set to "no" in a drop-in that lexicographically precedes 50-redhat.conf, or if no output is returned, and X11 forwarding is not documented with the information system security officer as an operational requirement, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5733