Merge pull request #99 from corvus-migratorius/sshd-further-hardening

sshd further hardening
This commit is contained in:
Alexander Gorelyshev
2026-06-08 16:58:32 +04:00
committed by GitHub
11 changed files with 125 additions and 40 deletions

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@@ -1,28 +1,76 @@
sshd
====
Deploy a hardened `sshd` server
A hardened OpenSSH server role for Debian/Ubuntu and RHEL/Rocky systems.
This role installs and configures the `sshd` server with secure defaults and a small set of tunable options for authentication and forwarding.
Requirements
------------
None
- Target hosts must be Debian-family or RedHat-family Linux systems
Supported Platforms
-------------------
- Debian
- Ubuntu
- RHEL 9+
- Rocky Linux 9+
Role Variables
--------------
None
Authentication
Dependencies
------------
- `sshd_disable_pam`: disable PAM support in `sshd_config`. Default: `false`
- `sshd_password_auth`: allow password authentication. Default: `false`
- `sshd_challenge_response_auth`: allow challenge-response authentication. Default: `false`
- `sshd_gss_api_auth`: allow GSSAPI authentication. Default: `false`
None
Forwarding & tunneling
- `sshd_allow_agent_forwarding`: allow SSH agent forwarding. Default: `false`
- `sshd_allow_tcp_forwarding`: allow TCP forwarding. Default: `false`
- `sshd_gateway_ports`: allow gateway ports. Default: `false`
- `sshd_permit_tunnel`: allow SSH tunneling. Default: `false`
Access control
- `sshd_allow_users`: optional space-separated list of users permitted to log in via SSH
- `sshd_allow_groups`: optional space-separated list of groups permitted to log in via SSH
Behavior
--------
By default this role:
- installs `openssh-server`
- enforces `Protocol 2`
- disables `PermitRootLogin`
- disables `X11Forwarding`, `HostbasedAuthentication`, `KbdInteractiveAuthentication`, and `PermitUserEnvironment`
- disables weak(-er) host keys (`ecdsa`, `dsa`)
- disables empty passwords
- sets `LogLevel VERBOSE`
- restricts `/etc/ssh/sshd_config` to `0600`
Compatibility Notes
-------------------
- The role uses `sshd` validation via `/usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s`.
- Debian/Ubuntu systems use the `ssh` service name; RHEL/Rocky systems use `sshd`.
- The role is intentionally conservative with forwarding and tunneling defaults.
Example Playbook
----------------
See: [converge.yml](molecule/default/converge.yml)
Dependencies
------------
None
License
-------

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@@ -3,3 +3,7 @@ sshd_disable_pam: false
sshd_password_auth: false
sshd_challenge_response_auth: false
sshd_gss_api_auth: false
sshd_allow_agent_forwarding: false
sshd_allow_tcp_forwarding: false
sshd_gateway_ports: false
sshd_permit_tunnel: false

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@@ -1,7 +1,18 @@
---
- name: "Restart sshd"
- name: "Restart the ssh service"
listen: "Restart ssh"
when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
ansible.builtin.service:
name: ssh
state: restarted
enabled: true
daemon_reload: true
- name: "Restart the sshd service"
listen: "Restart ssh"
when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
ansible.builtin.service:
name: sshd
state: restarted
enabled: true
daemon_reload: true

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@@ -3,4 +3,9 @@
hosts: all
roles:
- role: "genlab.common.sshd"
sshd_password_auth: false
sshd_allow_agent_forwarding: false
sshd_allow_tcp_forwarding: false
sshd_gateway_ports: false
sshd_permit_tunnel: false
sshd_allow_users: "testusr"

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@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
---
# next task requires this directory to exist for sshd -t flag
- name: Ensure /run/sshd exists
- name: "Algorithms | ensure /run/sshd exists"
ansible.builtin.file:
path: /run/sshd
state: directory
@@ -10,33 +10,33 @@
# NOTE: order of preference for openssh-server ed25519 -> rsa
- name: "Algorithms | enable ed25519 authentication algorithm"
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
regexp: '^HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key'
line: 'HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key'
validate: sshd -f %s -t
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
- name: "Algorithms | enable the RSA authentication algorithm"
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
regexp: '^HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key'
line: 'HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key'
validate: sshd -f %s -t
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
- name: "Algorithms | disable the ECDSA algorithm (deemed to be less safe)"
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
regexp: '^HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key'
state: absent
validate: sshd -f %s -t
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
- name: "Algorithms | disable the DSA algorithm (considered to be defunct)"
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
regexp: '^HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key'
state: absent
validate: sshd -f %s -t
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s

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@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
---
- name: "Authentication | Configure SSH authentication settings"
notify: Restart sshd
- name: "Authentication | configure SSH authentication settings"
notify: "Restart ssh"
loop:
- { regexp: '^#?\s*PubkeyAuthentication\s+', line: 'PubkeyAuthentication yes' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*PasswordAuthentication\s+', line: 'PasswordAuthentication {{ sshd_password_auth | ternary("yes", "no") }}' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*PermitEmptyPasswords\s+', line: 'PermitEmptyPasswords no' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*ChallengeResponseAuthentication\s+', line: 'ChallengeResponseAuthentication {{ sshd_challenge_response_auth | ternary("yes", "no") }}' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*GSSAPIAuthentication\s+', line: 'GSSAPIAuthentication {{ sshd_gss_api_auth | ternary("yes", "no") }}' }
- { regexp: '^#?IgnoreRhosts', line: 'IgnoreRhosts yes' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*KbdInteractiveAuthentication\s+', line: 'KbdInteractiveAuthentication no' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*HostbasedAuthentication\s+', line: 'HostbasedAuthentication no' }
- {
regexp: '^#?\s*AuthenticationMethods\s+',
line: "{{ 'AuthenticationMethods publickey password' if sshd_password_auth else 'AuthenticationMethods publickey' }}"
@@ -17,14 +20,14 @@
line: "{{ item.line }}"
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
- name: "Check if there is an SSH config forced by cloud-init"
- name: "Authentication | check if there is an SSH config forced by cloud-init"
register: sshd_cloud_init
ansible.builtin.stat:
path: "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-cloud-init.conf"
- name: "Authentication | override password authentication by cloud-init to '{{ sshd_password_auth | ternary('yes', 'no') }}'"
when: sshd_cloud_init.stat.exists
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/50-cloud-init.conf"
regexp: '^#?PasswordAuthentication'

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@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
- /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key.pub
- /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key
- /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key.pub
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.file:
path: "{{ item }}"
state: absent

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@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
---
- name: "Install | install OpenSSH (RHEL flavours)"
- name: "Install | install OpenSSH server (RHEL flavours)"
when: ansible_os_family == "RHEL"
ansible.builtin.dnf:
name: openssh
name: openssh-server
state: installed
- name: "Install | Install OpenSSH (Debian flavours)"
- name: "Install | install OpenSSH server (Debian flavours)"
when: ansible_os_family == "Debian"
ansible.builtin.apt:
name: openssh-server

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@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
ansible.builtin.include_tasks: "whitelists.yml"
- name: "Log at VERBOSE level"
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
regexp: '^#?LogLevel'
line: 'LogLevel VERBOSE'
validate: sshd -f %s -t
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s

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@@ -1,28 +1,42 @@
---
- name: "Restrictions | Configure SSH security restrictions"
- name: "Restrictions | configure SSH security restrictions"
loop:
- { regexp: '^#?Protocol\s+', line: 'Protocol 2' }
- { regexp: '^PermitRootLogin yes', line: 'PermitRootLogin no' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*PermitRootLogin\s+', line: 'PermitRootLogin no' }
- { regexp: '^#?X11Forwarding', line: 'X11Forwarding no' }
- { regexp: '^#?IgnoreRhosts', line: 'IgnoreRhosts yes' }
- { regexp: '^#?DebianBanner\s+', line: 'DebianBanner no' }
notify: Restart sshd
- { regexp: '^#?\s*PermitUserEnvironment\s+', line: 'PermitUserEnvironment no' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*AllowAgentForwarding\s+', line: 'AllowAgentForwarding {{ sshd_allow_agent_forwarding | ternary("yes", "no") }}' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*AllowTcpForwarding\s+', line: 'AllowTcpForwarding {{ sshd_allow_tcp_forwarding | ternary("yes", "no") }}' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*GatewayPorts\s+', line: 'GatewayPorts {{ sshd_gateway_ports | ternary("yes", "no") }}' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*PermitTunnel\s+', line: 'PermitTunnel {{ sshd_permit_tunnel | ternary("yes", "no") }}' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*StrictModes\s+', line: 'StrictModes yes' }
- { regexp: '^#?\s*IgnoreUserKnownHosts\s+', line: 'IgnoreUserKnownHosts yes' }
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
regexp: "{{ item.regexp }}"
line: "{{ item.line }}"
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
- name: "Restrictions | disable Debian banner"
when: "ansible_os_family == 'Debian'"
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
regexp: '^#?DebianBanner\s+'
line: "DebianBanner no"
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
- name: "Restrictions | toggle PAM"
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
regexp: '^#?UsePAM'
line: "UsePAM {{ sshd_disable_pam | ternary('no', 'yes') }}"
validate: sshd -f %s -t
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
- name: "Restrictions | ensure the SSHD config is restricted to the root user"
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.file:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
owner: root

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@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
---
- name: "Configure AllowUsers"
- name: "Whitelists | configure AllowUsers"
when: sshd_allow_users is defined
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
regexp: '^#?\s*AllowUsers\s+'
line: "AllowUsers {{ sshd_allow_users }}"
validate: sshd -f %s -t
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s
- name: "Configure AllowGroups"
- name: "Whitelists | configure AllowGroups"
when: sshd_allow_groups is defined
notify: Restart sshd
notify: "Restart ssh"
ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
regexp: '^#?\s*AllowGroups\s+'
line: "AllowGroups {{ sshd_allow_groups }}"
validate: sshd -f %s -t
validate: /usr/sbin/sshd -t -f %s