Title

RHEL 9, for PKI-based authentication, must enforce authorized access to the corresponding private key. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

If the private key is discovered, an attacker can use the key to authenticate as an authorized user and gain access to the network infrastructure. The cornerstone of the PKI is the private key used to encrypt or digitally sign information. If the private key is stolen, this will lead to the compromise of the authentication and nonrepudiation gained through PKI because the attacker can use the private key to digitally sign documents and pretend to be the authorized user. Both the holders of a digital certificate and the issuing authority must protect the computers, storage devices, or whatever they use to keep the private keys.

Check Content

Verify the SSH private key files have a passcode. For each private key stored on the system, use the following command: $ sudo ssh-keygen -y -f /path/to/file If the contents of the key are displayed, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Create a new private and public key pair that utilizes a passcode with the following command: $ sudo ssh-keygen -n [passphrase]

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-258127r926368_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-258127

Group Title: SRG-OS-000067-GPOS-00035

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.