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

RHEL 10 must enable certificate-based smart card authentication.

DISA Rule

SV-281324r1167122_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-281324

Group Title

SRG-OS-000375-GPOS-00160

Rule Version

RHEL-10-701220

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-000765 - Implement multifactor authentication for network access to privileged accounts.
• CCI-000766 - Implement multifactor authentication for network access to non-privileged accounts.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 10 to enable certificate-based smart card authentication.

Edit the file "/etc/sssd/sssd.conf" or a configuration file in "/etc/sssd/conf.d" and add or edit the following line:

pam_cert_auth = True

Check Contents

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

Verify RHEL 10 enables smart cards in the System Security Services Daemon (SSSD) with the following command:

$ sudo grep -ir pam_cert_auth /etc/sssd/sssd.conf /etc/sssd/conf.d/
/etc/sssd/conf.d/sssd.conf:pam_cert_auth = True

If "pam_cert_auth" is not set to "True", the line is commented out, or the line is missing, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-281324

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-10-701220

Severity Override Guidance

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

Verify RHEL 10 enables smart cards in the System Security Services Daemon (SSSD) with the following command:

$ sudo grep -ir pam_cert_auth /etc/sssd/sssd.conf /etc/sssd/conf.d/
/etc/sssd/conf.d/sssd.conf:pam_cert_auth = True

If "pam_cert_auth" is not set to "True", the line is commented out, or the line is missing, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5733