Other Articles
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- Servers – Configure /tmp Partition
- Servers – Configure /home Partition
- Servers – Configure /var Partition
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- Servers – Enable dm-verity
- Servers – Enforce Authentication for Single User Mode
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- Servers – Enable Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR)
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- Servers – Configure Remote Login Banner
- Servers – Configure Message of the Day (MOTD) Permissions
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- Servers – Configure Password Permissions
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- Servers – Configure Group Permissions
- Servers – Configure Gshadow Backup Permissions
- Servers – Configure Gshadow Permissions
- Servers – Configure Passwd Backup Permissions
- Servers – Configure Shadow Backup Permissions
- Servers – Configure Shadow Permissions
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- Servers – Ensure No Users Have .forward Files
- Servers – Ensure No Users Have .netrc Files
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- Servers – Remove Legacy '+' Entries from Passwd
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- Servers – Restrict Access to .netrc Files
- Servers – Secure System Accounts
- Servers – Ensure Users' Home Directory Permissions are 750 or More Restrictive
- Servers – Ensure Users Own Their Home Directories
- Servers – Verify Security Of Dot Files
- Servers – Verify Existence of passwd Groups
- Servers – Ensure No Duplicate UIDs Exist
- Servers – Ensure No Duplicate GIDs Exist
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- Servers – Ensure SSH Private Host Key Permissions
- Servers – Ensure SSH Public Host Key Permissions Are Configured
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- Servers – Ensure SSH X11 Forwarding is Disabled
- Servers – Ensure SSH MaxAuthTries is Set to 4 or Less
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- Servers – Ensure SSH HostbasedAuthentication is Disabled
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- Servers – Configure SSH MaxStartups
- Servers – Verify SSH MaxSessions Configuration
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- Servers – Ensure Password Expiration Days is 365 or Less
- Servers – Ensure Minimum Days Between Password Changes is 7 or More
- Servers – Ensure Password Expiration Warning Days is 7 or More
- Servers – Ensure Inactive Password Lock is 30 Days or Less
- Servers – Ensure All Users Last Password Change Date is in the Past
- Servers – Ensure System Accounts Are Secured
- Servers – Ensure Default Group for Root Account is GID 0
- Servers – Verify Default User Umask
- Servers – Ensure Default User Shell Timeout is 900 Seconds or Less
- Servers – Ensure Root Login is Restricted to System Console
- Servers – Ensure Access to su Command is Restricted
Servers – Ensure SSH Idle Timeout Interval is Configured
Support > Fixing Checks > Server
06 March, 2026
This check ensures that SSH idle timeout interval is properly configured on the server.
Without an idle timeout, inactive SSH sessions may remain open indefinitely, increasing the risk of unauthorized access if a session is left unattended.
Check Details
- Resource: Server
- Check: Ensure SSH idle timeout interval is configured
- Risk: Unattended SSH sessions may allow unauthorized access if not automatically terminated.
Remediation Steps
- Open a terminal session with root or sudo privileges.
-
Verify current SSH idle timeout configuration:
sshd -T | grep -i clientalive
-
Ensure:
ClientAliveIntervalis set between 1 and 300
ClientAliveCountMaxis set to 3 or less -
Edit SSH configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
-
Add or modify the following lines:
ClientAliveInterval 300 ClientAliveCountMax 0
- Save the file and exit.
-
Restart SSH service:
sudo systemctl restart sshd
- Re-run the audit command to confirm configuration.
- Perform regular audits to ensure compliance.