---
title: "HOST-SSH-008 SSH Authentication Controls Too Permissive"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-SSH-008.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-SSH-008.html
site: OpenVAPT, https://openvapt.com/
license: OpenVAPT Source-Available Licence 1.3, https://openvapt.com/legal/licence-text.html
modified: 2026-10-14
version: 0.1.0-alpha.6
---

# HOST-SSH-008 SSH Authentication Controls Too Permissive

Checks effective SSH authentication method and login grace settings.

- Domain: Server
- Severity: Low
- Control category: Identity and Authentication
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N`
- CIS Controls v8: 4.1
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.PS-01
- CWE: CWE-307, CWE-308
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AC-7, IA-2
- Benchmark topic: SSH server configuration: authentication restrictions (topic only, no benchmark text)

## Why It Matters

Long login windows and unconstrained single-factor authentication give online guessing and stolen credentials more opportunity.

## How It Detects

Evaluates applicable Match contexts and flags LoginGraceTime over 60 seconds, or password or keyboard-interactive login enabled without an AuthenticationMethods list that requires a second method.

## How to Fix

Set LoginGraceTime 60 or lower and choose AuthenticationMethods appropriate to the server, such as publickey, then restrict access with AllowUsers or AllowGroups where practical.

## How to Verify

```
Use sshd -T -C for each allowed user and source context and inspect logingracetime, authenticationmethods, allowusers and allowgroups.
```

## Learn the Theory

- [P2 SSH Security](https://openvapt.com/academy/p2.md)
- [P15 Access Control: Accounts, Sudo and Logins](https://openvapt.com/academy/p15.md)

## References

- [OpenBSD, sshd_config(5) manual page](https://man.openbsd.org/sshd_config)

## Source Code

https://github.com/OpenVAPT/openvapt/blob/574f7f3333c44b75a3c649e2d93a76d507f75adf/internal/checks/host/ssh_forwarding.go

Run it: `openvapt scan --only HOST-SSH-008`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain HOST-SSH-008`.

---

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