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← Back to Microsoft Windows Server 2025 Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-285321

CAT II (Medium)

Windows Server 2025 OpenSSH private host key files must conform to minimum requirements.

Rule ID

SV-285321r1211191_rule

STIG

Microsoft Windows Server 2025 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V1R2

CCIs

CCI-000366

Discussion

If an unauthorized user obtains the private SSH host key file, the host could be impersonated.

Check Content

If OpenSSH is not installed on the system, this requirement is not applicable.

Verify the SSH private host key files permissions with the following command:

C:\ > Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\ProgramData\ssh" -Filter "*_key" -File | ForEach-Object { icacls.exe $_.FullName }

C:\ProgramData\ssh\ssh_host_ecdsa_key BUILTIN\Administrators:(F)
                                      NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files
C:\ProgramData\ssh\ssh_host_ed25519_key BUILTIN\Administrators:(F)
                                        NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files
C:\ProgramData\ssh\ssh_host_rsa_key BUILTIN\Administrators:(F)
                                    NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

If any private host key file does not have the default permission as in the example output, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Maintain the permissions of the private host key files as follows:

BUILTIN\Administrators:(F)
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)