Saturday, 31 March 2018

How to fix SSH vulnerabilities: HMAC algorithms and CBC Ciphers in CentOS 7



SSH Protocol: Enable protocol version 2: Uncomment Protocol 2 in /etc/ssh/sshd_config as below:

[root@linuxcnf  ~]# vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config
….
Protocol 2

Ciphers: Add or modify the "Ciphers" line in /etc/ssh/sshd_config as below:

[root@linuxcnf  ~]# vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Ciphers aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr

MD5 HMACs: Add or modify the "MACs" line in /etc/ssh/sshd_config as below:

[root@linuxcnf  ~]# vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config
MACs hmac-sha1-etm@openssh.com,umac-64-etm@openssh.com,umac-128-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com,hmac-ripemd160-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha1,umac-64@openssh.com,umac-128@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-ripemd160

Finally, restart sshd service to apply the changes:

[root@linuxcnf  ~]# service sshd restart
Redirecting to /bin/systemctl restart sshd.service
[root@linuxcnf ~]#

Done!!!

3 comments:

  1. This article provides practical guidance on identifying and fixing SSH vulnerabilities in CentOS 7 and RHEL 7 systems by focusing on secure configurations, cryptographic settings, and hardening techniques. The explanation of SSH security best practices helps administrators strengthen remote access mechanisms, reduce attack surfaces, and improve the overall security posture of Linux servers.

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  2. Protecting remote access services, securing communication channels, and mitigating system vulnerabilities are important aspects of Cyber Security Projects for Final Year Students. Understanding SSH hardening, vulnerability management, and secure system administration enables students to build resilient infrastructures capable of defending against evolving cyber threats.

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  3. The article also emphasizes the importance of safeguarding authentication methods, encryption standards, and access controls in enterprise environments. Exploring Information Security Projects can help learners gain deeper insights into secure architectures, data protection strategies, and modern security frameworks used across organizations.

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