I have a server where I believe I have disabled root login via ssh. I think it is done correctly, as I cannot login with root myself via ssh, but I would’ve thought that it would be reflected in /var/log/auth.log. Instead, it shows up as failed password entry. Is this intended?

What I’ve done is to uncomment the PermitRootLogin no line in /etc/ssh/sshd_config. Rest of the config file is left at default.

Bonus question: All login attempts by ssh seems to go over some random port (even my own successful logins). Why is this?

  • willybe@lemmy.ca
    2·
    1 year ago

    Yes that’s the right way to block root login. An added filter you can use the ‘match’ config expression to filter logins even further.

    If you’re on the open network, your connection will be heavily hit with login attempts. That is normal. But using another service like Fail2Ban will stop repeated hits to your host.

    Ssh listens on port 22, as soon as a connection is made the host moves the connection to another port to free up 22 for other new connections. Btw: I wasn’t thinking clearly here. Out going connections won’t be using port 22, but the listening incoming port is always 22.

    • cyberwolfie@lemmy.mlOP
      0·
      1 year ago

      Yes that’s the right way to block root login. An added filter you can use the ‘match’ config expression to filter logins even further.

      Not sure what you meant about the ‘match’ config expressions here. Could you elaborate a bit further?

      If you’re on the open network, your connection will be heavily hit with login attempts. That is normal. But using another service like Fail2Ban will stop repeated hits to your host.

      Hehe, yeah, I’ve noticed… The reason I get a little anxious whether I did this correctly, is that 95% of the login attempts are to root, so I want to make sure it is disabled. I have set up Fail2Ban, but I am using default settings, which may be a bit laxer than they need?

      I’ve also been advised and considered moving to ssh keys, but I have not gotten to that yet.

      Ssh listens on port 22, as soon as a connection is made the host moves the connection to another port to free up 22 for other new connections.

      Makes sense. One question that comes from this is: is it possible to disable that? I would never need two ssh-logins at the same time on my server. And the second question is what I asked above regarding whether I should change the port ssh listens to in order to reduce unwanted malicious login attempts?