The strongest way to reduce SSH password guessing is to use public-key authentication and disable password-based login once you have verified that a separate key-based session works. Then limit which accounts and networks can reach SSH, restrict direct root access, and monitor authentication activity. Apply changes cautiously: keep your existing session open and preserve a console or provider recovery path until a new login succeeds.
Prepare a recovery path before changing SSH
A mistaken SSH setting or allow-list can lock out legitimate administrators. Before editing the daemon configuration, confirm that a privileged account can open a new SSH session using the key and method you intend to keep. Leave the current working session open, and make sure you can reach the server through a console or another recovery method.
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Check the installed OpenSSH documentation and configuration rather than assuming a setting in one file is the effective value. Included configuration snippets and Match blocks can change behavior, and OpenSSH’s first-obtained-value rules mean that a later line may not override an earlier one. The OpenSSH sshd_config(5) manual describes these configuration rules.
Prefer public keys and close password-based paths
Verify key access first
OpenSSH provides PubkeyAuthentication for public-key login and PasswordAuthentication for password authentication. The manual documents both as enabled by default in its configuration context, but distribution packaging and included files can change the effective settings. Confirm the actual values on your server before relying on a default.
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Test key authentication from a separate client session before disabling passwords. Fail2Ban’s upstream OpenSSH filter guidance likewise warns administrators to establish working public-key authentication before turning off PasswordAuthentication.
Check keyboard-interactive authentication and PAM
Setting PasswordAuthentication no may not close every password-like route. Inspect KbdInteractiveAuthentication, PAM-related configuration, and any applicable Match blocks. The OpenSSH manual explains that PAM keyboard-interactive authentication can serve a role equivalent to password authentication, so evaluate the complete authentication path rather than one directive in isolation.
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For a key-only policy, configure the relevant methods for your installed OpenSSH build, then validate the effective configuration and test a fresh login. Do not copy a fragment blindly: included files and directive ordering can make the result differ from what a single file suggests.
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Limit who can log in
Choose a root-login policy
Where possible, administer through named accounts and a controlled privilege-escalation workflow instead of logging in directly as root. OpenSSH supports several PermitRootLogin policies, including yes, prohibit-password, forced-commands-only, and no. The manual states that prohibit-password disables password and keyboard-interactive authentication for root; it still permits other configured methods. Choose the policy that fits your recovery and administration model.
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Red Hat’s guidance for securing networks on RHEL 8 discusses PermitRootLogin prohibit-password and restricting permitted users or groups. That guidance is specific to RHEL 8; check your own distribution’s documentation and configuration.
Allow only required accounts or groups
Use AllowUsers or AllowGroups where appropriate to limit SSH access to accounts that need it. Review the matching rules carefully before applying them: a narrow or incorrect allow-list can block administrators, automation, or recovery accounts. Test from a new session while the existing session remains available.
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Restrict network access to SSH
If administrators connect from known networks, restrict SSH at both the cloud firewall or security group and the server’s host firewall. These are separate control points: changing one does not necessarily change the other. Confirm that approved management networks and recovery routes remain allowed.
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Red Hat’s RHEL 8 network-security guidance includes SSH firewall examples, but firewall commands and service names vary across distributions and providers. OpenSSH authorized-key options can also constrain a key to specified source addresses in suitable deployments; see the OpenSSH sshd(8) manual for authorized-key behavior.
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Use attempt limits and bans as supporting controls
Understand the scope of OpenSSH limits
MaxAuthTries limits authentication attempts allowed in one connection. The cited OpenSSH manual documents a default of 6; this is a configuration default in that manual, not a measure of attack frequency or protection effectiveness. MaxStartups controls concurrent unauthenticated connections. Set values with legitimate client behavior in mind: these limits do not replace secure authentication or access restrictions.
Consider Fail2Ban for log-driven blocking
Fail2Ban can react to matching authentication log patterns and temporarily block source IP addresses. Confirm that its installed SSH filter matches your server’s log format, and make sure bans will not disrupt trusted administrators or automation. Treat it as an additional layer, not a substitute for disabling unnecessary password access or limiting who can connect.
Apply, validate, and test changes safely
- Keep a known-good session open. Confirm the intended account can connect with its key, and keep console or provider recovery access available.
- Review the complete configuration. Check the main SSH daemon configuration, included files, authentication settings, and relevant
Matchblocks using documentation for the installed OpenSSH version. - Validate before applying. Use the syntax-checking method supported by the installed OpenSSH build, then inspect effective settings where available. Exact validation commands and service-management steps vary by system.
- Apply the configuration using your distribution’s procedure. Do not assume reload behavior or service names are identical across Linux distributions.
- Open a fresh SSH connection. Test from an approved client and network, check the authentication logs, and confirm required administrators and automation still work before closing the old session.
Optional: use FIDO-backed SSH keys
OpenSSH documents FIDO security-key authentication options, including touch-required and verify-required through PubkeyAuthOptions. These options affect FIDO key types and require compatible client, server, and deployment support. A FIDO security key is optional; it is not required to disable password authentication or restrict SSH access.
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| Control | What it addresses | Operational consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Public-key-only authentication | Removes password-based SSH login when all required users and systems can use keys. | Prove key access works first; account lifecycle and recovery must support the policy. |
| Account and root restrictions | Limits which users can log in and whether root can connect directly. | Incorrect allow-lists or root policy can obstruct administration or recovery. |
| Firewall and source restrictions | Reduces which network sources can reach the SSH service. | Configure relevant cloud and host firewalls, and preserve approved access paths. |
MaxAuthTries and MaxStartups |
Control attempts per connection and concurrent unauthenticated connections, respectively. | These limits have different scopes and do not replace strong authentication. |
| Fail2Ban | Uses log patterns to impose temporary source-IP bans. | Verify log-format compatibility and avoid blocking trusted clients. |
CISA’s communications infrastructure hardening guidance also recommends disabling SSH version 1 and using version 2. This is broad infrastructure guidance, not a brute-force-specific control; follow the supported protocol behavior of your installed OpenSSH release.
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