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← Back to Apple macOS 26 (Tahoe) Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-277079

CAT II (Medium)

The macOS system must disable root login for SSH.

Rule ID

SV-277079r1148689_rule

STIG

Apple macOS 26 (Tahoe) Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V1R2

CCIs

CCI-004045CCI-001813

Discussion

If SSH is enabled to ensure individual accountability and prevent unauthorized access, logging in as root via SSH must be disabled. The macOS system MUST require individuals to be authenticated with an individual authenticator prior to using a group authenticator, and administrator users must never log in directly as root. Note: /etc/ssh/sshd_config will be automatically modified to its original state following any update or major upgrade to the operating system. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000109-GPOS-00056, SRG-OS-000364-GPOS-00151

Check Content

Verify the macOS system is configured to disable root login for SSH with the following command:

/usr/sbin/sshd -G | /usr/bin/awk '/permitrootlogin/{print $2}'

If the result is not "no", this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the macOS system to disable root login for SSH with the following command:

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

/usr/bin/grep -qxF 'permitrootlogin no' "${include_dir}01-mscp-sshd.conf" 2>/dev/null || echo "permitrootlogin no" >> "${include_dir}01-mscp-sshd.conf"

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