27. Configuring the Secure Shell (SSH) 1 Server

 

 

This chapter describes how to configure and maintain the MultiNet Secure Shell (SSH) v1 server.

This is the server side of the software that allows secure interactive connections to other computers in the manner of rlogin/rshell/telnet. The SSH server has been developed to discriminate between SSH v1 and SSH v2 protocols, so the two protocols can coexist simultaneously on the same system.

SSH1 and SSH2 Differences

SSH1 and SSH2 are different, and incompatible, protocols. While SSH2 is generally regarded to be more secure than SSH1, both protocols are offered by MultiNet, and although they are incompatible, they may exist simultaneously on a MultiNet system. The MultiNet server front-end identifies what protocol a client desires to use, and will create an appropriate server for that client.

 

Note: You must install the DEC C 6.0 backport library on all OpenVMS VAX v5.5-2 and v6.0 systems prior to using SSH. This is the AACRT060.A file. You can find the ECO on the MultiNet CD the following directory: VAX55_DECC_RTL.DIR.

 

 

Restrictions:

When using SSH1 to connect to a VMS server, if the VMS account is set up with a secondary password, SSH1 does not prompt the user for the secondary password. If the VMS primary password entered is valid, the user is logged in, bypassing the secondary password.

When using SSH1 to execute single commands (in the same manner as RSHELL), some keystrokes like CTRL+Y are ignored. In addition, some interactive programs such as HELP may not function as expected. This is a restriction of SSH1. If this behavior poses a problem, log into the remote system using SSH1 in interactive mode to execute the program.

 

Understanding the MultiNet Secure Shell Server

Secure Shell daemon (SSHD) is the daemon program for SSH that listens for connections from clients. The server program replaces rshell and telnet programs. The server/client programs provide secure encrypted communications between two untrusted hosts over an insecure network. A new daemon is created for each incoming connection. These daemons handle key exchange, encryption, authentication, command execution, and data exchange.

Servers and Clients

A MultiNet SSH server is an OpenVMS system server that acts as a host for executing interactive commands or for conducting an interactive session. The server software consists of two processes (for future reference, SSHD will refer to both SSHD_MASTER and SSHD, unless otherwise specified):

·         SSHD_MASTER, recognizes the differences between SSH v1 and SSH v2 and starts the appropriate server. If the request is for SSH v1, then a new SSH v1 server is run; if the request is for SSH v2, then a new SSH v2 server is run.

·         SSHD, a copy of which is spawned for each time a new connection attempt is made from a client.  SSHD handles all the interaction with the SSH client.

A client is any system that accesses the server. A client program (SSH) is provided with MultiNet, but any SSH client that uses SSH version 1 protocol may be used to access the server. Examples of such programs are FISSH, MultiNet SSH, and TCPware SSH on OpenVMS systems; TTSSH, SecureCRT, F-Secure SSH Client, and PuTTY on Windows-based systems; and other SSH programs on UNIX-based systems.

Security

Each host has a host-specific RSA key that identifies the host. Additionally, when the SSHD daemon starts, it generates a server RSA key. This key is regenerated every hour (the time may be changed in the configuration file) if it has been used, and is never stored on disk. Whenever a client connects to the SSHD daemon:

·         SSHD sends its host and server public keys to the client.

·         The client compares the host key against its own database to verify that it has not changed.

·         The client generates a 256 bit random number. It encrypts this random number using both the host key and the server key, and sends the encrypted number to the server.

·         The client and the server start to use this random number as a session key which is used to encrypt all further communications in the session.

The rest of the session is encrypted using a conventional cipher. Currently, IDEA (the default), DES, 3DES, Blowfish, and ARCFOUR are supported.

·         The client selects the encryption algorithm to use from those offered by the server.

·         The server and the client enter an authentication dialog.

·         The client tries to authenticate itself using any of the following methods:

o   .rhosts authentication

o   .rhosts authentication combined with RSA host authentication

o   RSA challenge-response authentication

o   password-based authentication

 

Note: Rhosts authentication is normally disabled because it is fundamentally insecure, but can be enabled in the server configuration file, if desired.

 

 

System security is not improved unless the RLOGIN and RSHELL services are disabled.

When the client authenticates itself successfully, a dialog is entered for preparing the session. At this time the client may request things such as:

·         forwarding X11 connections

·         forwarding TCP/IP connections

·         forwarding the authentication agent connection over the secure channel

Finally, the client either requests an interactive session or execution of a command. The client and the server enter session mode. In this mode, either the client or the server may send data at any time, and such data is forwarded to/from the virtual terminal or command on the server side, and the user terminal in the client side. When the user program terminates and all forwarded X11 and other connections have been closed, the server sends command exit status to the client, and both sides exit.

Break-in and Intrusion Detection

Care must be exercised when configuring the SSH clients and server to minimize problems due to intrusion records created by OpenVMS security auditing. The SSH user should consult the system manager to determine the authentication methods offered by the SSH server. The client should then be configured to not attempt any authentication method that is not offered by the server.

If a client attempts authentication methods not offered by the server, the OpenVMS security auditing system may log several intrusion records for each attempt to create a session to that server. The result being that the user could be locked out and prevented from accessing the server system without intervention from the server's system manager.

The authentication methods to be offered by the server are determined by the configuration keywords RhostsAuthentication, RhostsRSAAuthentication, RSAAuthentication, and PasswordAuthentication. The number of intrusion records to be logged for any attempted SSH session is determined by the StrictIntrusionLogging configuration keyword.

When StrictIntrusionLogging is set to YES (the default), each method that is tried and fails causes an intrusion record to be logged. When Rhosts, RhostsRSA or RSA authentications are attempted and fail, one intrusion record will be logged for each failed method.

When password authentication is attempted, one intrusion record will be logged for each failed password.

Example 1

The server is set up to allow Rhosts, RSA, and password authentication; also, up to three password attempts are allowed. If all methods fail, five intrusion records are logged:

1 for the failed Rhosts
1 for the failed RSA
3 for the failed password attempts, one per attempt

When StrictIntrusionLogging is set to NO, it has the effect of relaxing the number of intrusions logged. Overall failure of all authentication methods simply counts as a single failure, except for password authentication. The following rules apply:

·         When password authentication is attempted, one intrusion record is logged for each failed password.

·         When any of Rhosts, RhostsRSA, or RSA authentication fails, and password authentication is not attempted, exactly one intrusion record is logged, as opposed to one for each failed method.

·         When any of Rhosts, RhostsRSA, or RSA authentication fails, but password authentication is attempted and succeeds, the only intrusion record(s) logged is one for each failed password attempt.

Example 2:

The server is set up to allow Rhosts, RSA, and password authentication; also, up to three password attempts are allowed. If all methods fail, three intrusion records are logged:

0 for the failed Rhosts
0 for the failed RSA
3 for the failed password attempts, one per attempt

Example 3:

The server is set up to allow Rhosts, RSA, and password authentication; also, up to three password attempts are allowed. Rhosts and RSA fail, but password authentication is successful after 1 failed password. Therefore, one intrusion record is logged:

0 for the failed Rhosts
0 for the failed RSA
1 for the failed password attempt

Example 4:

The server is set up to allow Rhosts, RhostsRSA, and RSA authentication, but not password authentication. If all methods fail, one intrusion record is logged.

Example 5:

The server is set up to allow Rhosts, RhostsRSA, and RSA authentication, but not password authentication. Rhosts and RSA authentication both fail, but RhostsRSA succeeds. No intrusion records are logged.

 

Configuring SSHD Master for SSH1

SSHD Master is configured using the MULTINET CONFIGURE/SERVER command, selecting SSH, and using the following options:

$ MULTINET CONFIGURE /SERVER
MultiNet Server Configuration Utility V5.6
[Reading in configuration from MULTINET:SERVICES.MASTER_SERVER]
SERVER-CONFIG>SELECT SSH
[The Selected SERVER entry is now SSH]
SERVER-CONFIG>SET PARAM
Delete parameter "enable-ssh1" ? [NO] RETURN
Delete parameter "enable-ssh2" ? [NO] RETURN
You can now add new parameters for SSH.  An empty line terminates.
Add Parameter: PORT 33000
Add Parameter: RETURN
[Service specific parameters for SSH changed]
SERVER-CONFIG>SHOW/FULL
Service "SSH":
         INIT() = Merge_Image
         Program = "MULTINET:LOADABLE_SSH_CONTROL"
         Priority = 5
         Log for Accepts & Rejects = OPCOM
         Parameters = "enable-ssh1"
                      "enable-ssh2"
                      "port 33000"

SERVER-CONFIG>EXIT
[Writing configuration to
MULTINET_COMMON_ROOT:[MULTINET]SERVICES.MASTER_SERVER]

 

Note: The recommended method to start SSHD Master is to use the MULTINET NETCONTROL SSH START command. All of these options are set using MULTINET CONFIG/SERVER, and modifying the SSH service.

 

Expired Passwords

The SSH v1 protocol does not provide a method for changing an expired VMS password. When an expired password is encountered by the SSH1 server, it will do one of two things.

1. If the logical name MULTINET_SSH_ALLOW_EXPIRED_PW is defined for allowing access for passwords that have exceeded the UAF value for PWDLIFETIME, or if the logical name MULTINET_SSH_ALLOW_PREEXPIRED_PW is defined for allowing access for users that have a pre-expired password, the server will allow the user to log in. In the logical name table LNM$SSH_LOGICALS, the logical name MULTINET_SSH_pid_PWDEXP (where pid is the process ID for the user process) will be defined. The system manager can look for this logical to be defined, and if so, take action such as executing the DCL SET PASSWORD command.

2. If the appropriate logical is not set as described above, the user will be denied access to the system. In that case, the user must log in interactively via another mechanism such as telnet and change the password, or the system manager must reset the password.

When a user is allowed access to the system with an expired password, the LOGIN_FLAGS for the process will reflect this. The values of the LOGIN_FLAGS will be as follows:

·         new mail has been received (JPI$M_NEW_MAIL_AT_LOGIN)

·         the password is about to expire (JPI$M_PASSWORD_WARNING)

·         the password has expired (JPI$M_PASSWORD_EXPIRED)

The DCL lexical function F$GETJPI may be used to examine these flags, as can the $GETJPI(W) system service or LIB$GETJPI RTL function.  When an expired password value is detected, the user may then execute a SET PASSWORD command in the command procedure run for the account.

For example:

$!
$! Login_flags:
$!    1 = new mail messages waiting (JPI$M_NEW_MAIL_AT_LOGIN)
$!    4 = password expired during login (JPI$M_PASSWORD_EXPIRED)
$!    5 = password expires within 5 days (JPI$M_PASSWORD_WARNING)
$!
$ flags = f$getjpi("", "LOGIN_FLAGS")
$ new_flags = (flags/2)*2
$ if new_flags .ne. flags then write sys$output "New mail waiting"
$!
$!Note - new_flags is used below because it has the NEW_MAIL_AT_LOGIN$
$!   bit stripped.  The rest of the possible values are all
$!   discrete; i.e., you can't have combinations of them at the
$!   same time.
$!
$ if new_flags .eq. 4 then write sys$output "Password expired during login"
$ if new_flags .eq. 5 then write sys$output "Password expires within 5 days"
$!

 

OPTIONS

bits n

Specifies the number of bits in the server key. The default is 768.

 

ssh1-config-file filename

Specifies the name of the configuration file. The default is MULTINET:SSHD_CONFIG.

 

debug debug-level

Turns debugging on using any non-zero debug level.

 

enable-ssh1

Enables SSH v1 sessions.

 

host-key-file filename

Specifies the file from which the host key is read. The default is MULTINET:SSH_HOST_KEY.

 

keygen-time n

Specifies how often the server key is regenerated. The default is 3600 seconds (one hour). The motivation for regenerating the key often is that the key is never stored physically on disk. It is kept in the address space of the server, and after an hour, it becomes impossible to recover the key for decrypting intercepted communications even if the machine is broken into or physically seized. A value of zero indicates that the key will never be regenerated.

 

listen-address

Specify the IPV4 address on which to listen for connect request.  This may be a valid IPV4 address or ANY to listen on all addresses.  If not specified, the default is to listen on all addresses.

 

port n

Specifies the port on which the server listens for connections. The default is 22.

 

quiet_mode

Specifies that nothing is sent to the SSH system log. Normally, the beginning, authentication, and termination of each connection is logged.

 

verbose

Specifies that verbose message logging will be performed by SSHD MASTER.

Configuration File

SSHD reads configuration data from MULTINET:SSHD_CONFIG (or the file specified with the ssh1-config-file keyword in MULTINET CONFIGURE/SERVER). The file contains keyword value pairs, one per line. The following keywords are possible. Keywords are case insensitive.

Keyword

Value

Default

Description

AllowForwardingPort

Port list

 

Permit forwarding for the specified ports

AllowForwardingTo

Host/port list

 

Permit forwarding for hosts

AllowGroups

List

 

Access control by UAF rights list entries

AllowHosts

Host list

 

Access control by hostname

AllowShosts

Host list

 

Access control by hostname

AllowTcpForwarding

Y/N

Y

Enable TCP port forwarding

AllowUsers

User list

 

Access control by username

DenyForwardingPort

Port list

 

Forbid forwarding for ports

DenyForwardingTo

Host/port list

 

Forbid forwarding for hosts

DenyGroups

Rights list

 

Deny access for UAF rightslist identifiers

DenyHosts

Host list

 

Deny access for hosts

DenySHosts

Host list

 

Deny access for hosts

DenyUsers

User list

 

Access control by username

FascistLogging

Y/N

Y

Verbose logging

Hostkey

Filename

Ssh_host_key.

Host key filename

IdleTimeout

Time

0 (infinite)

Set idle timeout

IgnoreRhosts

Y/N

N

Ignore local rhosts

IgnoreRootRhosts

Y/N

Y

Ignore system rhosts

KeepAlive

Y/N

Y

Send keepalives

ListenAddress

IP address

0.0.0.0

Listen on given interface

LoginGraceTime

Time

600

Time limit for authentication in seconds

PasswordAuthentication

Y/N

Y

Permit password authentication

PermitEmptyPasswords

Y/N

N

Permit empty (blank) passwords

PermitRootLogin

Y/N

N

SYSTEM can log in

QuietMode

Y/N

N

Quiet mode

RandomSeed

Filename

Random_seed

Random seed file

RhostsAuthentication

Y/N

N

Enable rhosts authentication

RhostsRSAAuthentication

Y/N

Y

Enable rhosts with RSA authentication

RSAAuthentication

Y/N

Y

Enable RSA authentication

StrictIntrusionLogging

Y/N

Y

Determine how intrusion records are created by failed authentication attempts

StrictModes

Y/N

N

Strict checking for directory and file protection

SyslogFacility

Syslog level

“DAEMON”

Syslog log facility

VerboseLogging

Y/N

Y

Verbose logging

X11Forwarding

Y/N

Y

Enable X11 forwarding

X11DisplayOffset

#offset

10

Limit X displays for SSH

 

Starting the SSH Server for the First Time

Follow these instructions for using SSH for the first time.

1. Use the MULTINET CONFIGURE/SERVER command to enable the SSH  v1 server.

$ MULTINET CONFIGURE/SERVER
MultiNet Server Configuration Utility V5.6
[Reading in configuration from MULTINET:SERVICES.MASTER_SERVER]
SERVER-CONFIG>SHOW/FULL SSH
Service "SSH": ***DISABLED***
        INIT() = Merge_Image
        Program = "MULTINET:LOADABLE_SSH_CONTROL"
        Priority = 5
        Parameters = “enable-ssh1”
                     “enable-ssh2”

SERVER-CONFIG>ENABLE SSH
SERVER-CONFIG>EXIT
[Writing configuration to MULTINET_COMMON_ROOT:[MULTINET]SERVICES.MASTER_SERVER]

 

Note: The parameter enable-ssh1 must be set. If it is not set, SSH v1 sessions will not be accepted by the server.

 

 

2. Use SSHKEYGEN /SSH1 to generate an ssh1 key and to create the file SSH_HOST_KEY in the MULTINET: directory.

$ MULTINET SSHKEYGEN /SSH1 /HOST
Initializing random number generator...
Generating p:  ...++ (distance 64)
Generating q:  .......................................++ (distance 516)
Computing the keys...
Testing the keys...
Key generation complete.
Key file will be MULTINET_ROOT:[MULTINET]SSH_HOST_KEY.
Your identification has been saved in MULTINET:SSH_HOST_KEY.
Your public key is:
1024 37
1210318365576698697865367869291969476388228444969905611864276308
9072776904462744415966821020109463617644202397294642277946718549
4404442577594868297087171013359743853182442579923801302020844011
5343754909847513973160249324735913146330232410424936751015953611
18716872491123857940537322891584850459319961275605927
SYSTEM@roadrr.example.com
Your public key has been saved in MULTINET_ROOT:[MULTINET]SSH_HOST_KEY.pub

3. Copy the template configuration file to the MultiNet directory renaming it to SSHD_CONFIG.;

$ COPY MULTINET:SSHD_CONFIG.TEMPLATE MULTINET:SSHD_CONFIG.;

 

Note: As delivered, the template file provides a reasonably secure SSH environment. However, Process Software recommends this file be examined and modified appropriately to reflect the security policies of your organization.

 

 

4. Restart MultiNet. This creates the SSH server process and defines the SSH logical names.

$ @MULTINET:START_SERVER RESTART
$ SHOW PROCESS "SSHD Master"

7-APR-2020 09:03:06.42  User: SYSTEM      Process ID:   00000057
                        Node: PANTHR      Process name: "SSHD Master"

Terminal:
User Identifier:    [SYSTEM]
Base priority:      4
Default file spec:  Not available
Number of Kthreads: 1

Devices allocated:  BG1:
                    BG2:

$ SHOW LOGICAL/SYSTEM SSH*

(LNM$SYSTEM_TABLE)

  "SSH_DIR" = "MULTINET_SPECIFIC_ROOT:[MULTINET]"
  "SSH_EXE" = "MULTINET_COMMON_ROOT:[MULTINET]"
  "SSH_LOG" = "MULTINET_SPECIFIC_ROOT:[MULTINET.SSH]"
  "SSH_TERM_MBX" = "MBA23:"

 

Configuring the SSH1 Server on a VMScluster with a Common System Disk

When configuring the SSH1 server on a VMScluster with a common system disk, you must create the appropriate directories on all cluster nodes other than one on which MultiNet was originally installed. Note that this does not need to be done for cluster members that do not share a common system disk.

The following procedure should be followed on each cluster node other than the cluster node on which MultiNet was originally installed:

·         Create the necessary directory:

$ CREATE/DIR MULTINET_SPECIFIC[MULTINET_SSH]/PROT=(WO:RE,GR:RE)

·         Edit the MULTINET_SPECIFIC:[MULTINET.SSH]SSHD_CONFIG file as necessary. This may be copied from another cluster node, or it may be created fresh from the SSHD_CONFIG.TEMPLATE file.

·         Configure the SSH1 server using MULTINET CONFIGURE/SERVER

·         Generate the SSH1 host keys using MULTINET SSHKEYGEN/SSH1/HOST

·         (Re)start SSHD Master using MULTINET NETCONTROL SSH RESTART

Changing SSH1 Configuration File after Enabling SSH1

If you make a change to the SSH1 configuration file after you have enabled SSH1, you must restart SSH for these changes to take effect.

$ MULTINET NETCONTROL SSH RESTART

 

Note: When issuing the RESTART command for SSH, all active SSH server sessions are terminated. Active client sessions are not affected.

 

 

Connection and Login Process

To create a session, SSHD does the following:

1. SSHD_MASTER process sees the connection attempt. It creates an SSHD v1 or v2 process, depending on the protocol version presented to it by the client. SSHD_MASTER then passes necessary information to the SSHD process, such as the server key and other operating parameters.

2. SSHD process performs validation for the user.

3. Assuming the login is successful, SSHD process creates a pseudoterminal for the user (an _FTAnn: device). This device is owned by the user logging in.

4. SSHD process creates an interactive process on the pseudoterminal, using the username, priority, and privileges of the user logging in. If a command was specified, it is executed and the session is terminated.

5. SSH generates the file SSHD.LOG in the directory MULTINET_ROOT:[MULTINET.SSH] for each connection to the SSH server. Many connections result in many log files. Instead of purging the files on a regular basis, use the following DCL command to limit the number of versions:

$ SET FILE /VERSION_LIMIT=x MULTINET_ROOT:[MULTINET.SSH]SSHD.LOG

 

Note: The value for /VERSION_LIMIT must not be smaller than the maximum number of simultaneous SSH sessions anticipated. If the value is smaller, SSH users may be prevented from establishing sessions with the server.

 

 

FILES

MULTINET:HOSTS.EQUIV

Contains host names, one per line. This file is used during .rhosts authentication. Users on those hosts are permitted to log in without a password, provided they have the same username on both machines. The hostname may also be followed by a username. Such users are permitted to log in as any user on the remote machine (except SYSTEM). Additionally, the syntax +@group can be used to specify netgroups. Negated entries start with a dash (-). If the client host/user is matched in this file, login is permitted provided the client and server usernames are the same. Successful RSA host authentication is required. This file should be world-readable but writeable only by SYSTEM.

It is never a good idea to use usernames in hosts.equiv. It means the named user(s) can log in as anybody, which includes accounts that own critical programs and directories. Using a username grants the user SYSTEM access. The only valid use for usernames is in negative entries.

 

Note: This warning also applies to RSHELL/RLOGIN.

 

 

MULTINET:SHOSTS.EQUIV

Processed as MULTINET:HOSTS.EQUIV. May be useful in environments that want to run both
RSHELL/RLOGIN and SSH.

 

MULTINET:SSH_HOST_KEY

Contains the private part of the host key. This file does not exist when MultiNet is first installed. The SSH server starts only with this file. This file must be created manually using the command:

$ MULTINET SSHKEYGEN /SSH1 /HOST

This file should be owned by SYSTEM, readable only by SYSTEM, and not accessible to others.

To create a host key with a name that is different than what SSHKEYGEN creates, do one of the following:

·         Generate with MULTINET SSHKEYGEN /SSH1 /HOST and simply rename the file.

·         Generate a public/private key pair using SSHKEYGEN without the /HOST switch, and copying and renaming the resulting files appropriately.

By default the logical name SSH_DIR points to the MULTINET_SPECIFIC_ROOT:[MULTINET] directory.

Refer to the MultiNet User’s Guide, Chapter 8, for more details about SSHKEYGEN.

 

MULTINET:SSH_HOST_KEY.PUB

Contains the public part of the host key. This file should be world-readable but writeable only by SYSTEM. Its contents should match the private part of the key. This file is not used for anything; it is only provided for the convenience of the user so its contents can be copied to known hosts files.

 

MULTINET:SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS
SYS$LOGIN:[.SSH]KNOWN_HOSTS

Checks the public key of the host. These files are consulted when using rhosts with RSA host authentication. The key must be listed in one of these files to be accepted. (The client uses the same files to verify that the remote host is the one you intended to connect.) These files should be writeable only by SYSTEM (the owner). MULTINET:SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS should be world-readable, and SYS$LOGIN:[.SSH]KNOWN_HOSTS can, but need not be, world-readable.

 

SSH2:SSH_RANDOM_SEED
SYS$LOGIN:[.SSH]RANDOM_SEED

Contains a seed for the random number generator. This file should only be accessible by SYSTEM.

 

MULTINET:SSHD_CONFIG

Contains configuration data for SSHD. This file should be writeable by system only, but it is recommended (though not necessary) that it be world-readable.

 

AUTHORIZED_KEYS

Located in the user’s SYS$LOGIN[.SSH]directory, this file lists the RSA keys that can be used to log into the user's account. This file must be readable by SYSTEM. It is recommended that it not be accessible by others. The format of this file is described in the next section.

 

SYS$LOGIN:.SHOSTS

Located in the user’s SYS$LOGIN:[.SSH] directory, permits access using SSH only. For SSH, this file is the same as for .rhosts. However, this file is not used by the RLOGIN and RSHELL daemon.

 

SYS$LOGIN:.RHOSTS

This file contains host-username pairs, separated by a space, one per line. The given user on the corresponding host is permitted to log in without a password. The same file is used by RLOGIN and RSHELL. SSH differs from RLOGIN and RSHELL in that it requires RSA host authentication in addition to validating the hostname retrieved from domain name servers. The file must be writeable only by the user. It is recommended that it not be accessible by others. It is possible to use netgroups in the file. Either host or username may be of the form +@groupname to specify all hosts or all users in the group.

 

AUTHORIZED_KEYS File Format

The SYS$LOGIN:[.SSH]AUTHORIZED_KEYS file lists the RSA keys that are permitted for RSA authentication. Each line of the file contains one key (empty lines and lines starting with a # are comments and ignored). Each line consists of the following fields, separated by spaces:

Key

Description

bits

The length of the key in bits.

comment

Not used for anything (but may be convenient for the user to identify the key).

exponent

Used to identify and make up the key.

modulus

Used to identify and make up the key.

options

Optional; its presence is determined by whether the line starts with a number or not (the option field never starts with a number.)

 

 

Note: Lines in this file are usually several hundred characters long (because of the size of the RSA key modulus). You do not want to type them in; instead, copy the IDENTITY.PUB file and edit it. The options (if present) consists of comma-separated option specifications. No spaces are permitted, except within double quotes. Option names are case insensitive.

 

 

The following RSA key file AUTHORIZED_KEYS option specifications are supported:

Allowforwardingport=”port-list”

Can be followed by any number of port numbers, separated by spaces. Remote forwarding is allowed for those ports whose number matches one of the patterns.

You can use * as a wildcard entry for all ports.

You can use these formats “>x”, “<x”, and “x_y” to specify greater than, less than, or inclusive port range. By default, all port forwardings are allowed.

The quotes (“ “) are required. For example:

allowforwardingport “2,52,2043”

 

Allowforwardingto=”hostname:port-list”

Can be followed by any number of hostname and port number patterns, separated by spaces. A port number pattern is separated from a hostname pattern by a colon. For example: hostname:port

Forwardings from the client are allowed to those hosts and port pairs whose name and port number match one of the patterns.

You can use ‘*’ and ‘?’ as wildcards in the patterns for host names. Normal name servers are used to map the client’s host into a fully-qualified host name. If the name cannot be mapped, its IP address is used as the hostname.

You can use ‘*’ as a wildcard entry for all ports.

You can use these formats ‘>x’, ‘<x’, and ‘x_y’ to specify greater than, less than, or inclusive port range. By default, all port forwardings are allowed.

 

command=”command”

Specifies the command to be executed whenever this key is used for authentication. The user-supplied command (if any) is ignored. You may include a quote in the command by surrounding it with a backslash (\). Use this option to restrict certain RSA keys to perform just a specific operation. An example might be a key that permits remote backups but nothing else. Notice that the client may specify TCP/IP and/or X11 forwardings unless they are prohibited explicitly.

 

Denyforwardingport=”port-list”

Can be followed by any number of port numbers, separated by spaces. Remote forwardings are disallowed for those ports whose number matches one of the patterns.

You can use “*” as a wildcard entry for all ports.

You can use these formats ‘>x’, ‘<x’, and ‘x_x’ to specify greater than, less than, or inclusive port range.

 

Denyforwardingto=”hostname:port-list”

Can be followed by any number of hostname and port number patterns, separated by spaces. A port number pattern is separated from a hostname by a colon. For example: hostname:port number pattern

Forwardings from the client are disallowed to those hosts and port pairs whose name and port number match one of the patterns.

You can use ‘*’ and ‘?’ as wildcards in the patterns for host names. Normal name servers are used to map the client’s host into a fully-qualified host name. If the name cannot be mapped, its IP address is used as a host name.

You can use ‘*’ as a wildcard entry for all ports.

You can use these formats ‘>x’, ‘<x’, and ‘x_x’ to specify greater than, less than, or inclusive port range.

 

from=”pattern-list”

In addition to RSA authentication, specifies that the fully-qualified name of the remote host must be present in the comma-separated list of patterns. You can use ‘*’ and ‘?’ as wildcards.

The list may contain patterns negated by prefixing them with ‘!’; if the fully-qualified host name matches a negated pattern, the key is not accepted.

This option increases security. RSA authentication by itself does not trust the network or name servers (but the key). However, if somebody steals the key, the key permits login from anywhere in the world. This option makes using a stolen key more difficult because the name servers and/or routers would have to be comprised in addition to just the key.

 

idle-timeout=time

Sets the idle timeout limit to a time in seconds (s or nothing after the number), in minutes (m), in hours (h), in days (d), or in weeks (w). If the connection has been idle (all channels) for that time, the process is terminated and the connection is closed.

 

no-agent-forwarding

Forbids authentication agent forwarding when used for authentication.

 

no-port-forwarding

Forbids TCP/IP forwarding when used for authentication. Any port forward requests by the client will return an error. For example, this might be used in connection with the command option.

 

no-X11-forwarding

Forbids X11 forwarding when used for authentication. Any X11 forward requests by the client will return an error.

 

RSA Key File Examples

1024 33 12121...312314325 ylo@foo.bar
from="*.emptybits.com,!sluf.psccos.com"

 

1024 35 23...2334 ylo@niksula
command="dir *.txt",no-port-forwarding

 

1024 33 23...2323 xxxxx.acme.com
allowforwardingport="localhost:80"

 

1024 35 23...2334 www@localhost

 

SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS File Format

The MULTINET:SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS and SYS$LOGIN:[.SSH]KNOWN_HOSTS files contain host public keys for all known hosts. The global file should be prepared by the administrator (optional), and the per-user file is maintained automatically; whenever the user connects an unknown host its key is added to the per-user file. Each line in these files contains the following fields: hostnames, bits, exponent, modulus, comment. The fields are separated by spaces.

Hostnames is a comma-separated list of patterns (* and ? act as wildcards). Each pattern is matched against the fully-qualified host names (when authenticating a client) or against the user-supplied name (when authenticating a server). A pattern may be preceded by '!' to indicate negation; if the hostname matches a negated pattern, it is not accepted (by that line) even if it matched another pattern on the line.

Bits, exponent, and modulus are taken directly from the host key. They can be obtained from MULTINET:SSH_HOST_KEY.PUB. The optional comment field continues to the end of the line, and is not used. Lines starting with # and empty lines are ignored as comments. When performing host authentication, authentication is accepted if any matching line has the proper key.

It is permissible (but not recommended) to have several lines or different host keys for the same names. This happens when short forms of host names from different domains are put in the file. It is possible that the files contain conflicting information. Authentication is accepted if valid information can be found from either file.

 

Note: The lines in these files are hundreds of characters long. Instead of typing in the host keys, generate them by a script or by copying MULTINET:SSH_HOST_KEY.PUB and adding the host names at the front.

 

 

 

Example

bos,bos.example.com,...,10.0.0.41
1024  37  159...93 bos.example.com

 

SSH Logicals

These logicals are used with the SSH server in the system logical name table.

 

SSH_DIR

Points to the directory where the SSH1 configuration, master server log file, and host key files are kept. Normally, this is MULTINET_SPECIFIC_ROOT:[MULTINET]. It is defined in START_SSH.COM.

 

SSH_EXE

Points to the directory where SSH executables are kept. Normally, this is MULTINET_COMMON_ROOT:[MULTINET]. It is defined in START_SSH.COM.

 

SSH_LOG

Points to the directory where the log files are kept. Normally, this is MULTINET_SPECIFIC_ROOT:[MULTINET.LOG]. It is defined in START_SSH.COM.

 

SSH_TERM_MBX

Mailbox used by SSHD_MASTER to receive termination messages from SSHD daemon processes. Do not change this logical name.  This is created by the SSHD_MASTER process.

 

MULTINET_SSH_ACC_REJ_LOG_FILE

If the user has set a log file to log connection accept and reject messages, this logical will be defined and will provide the name of the log file. This logical is set by using the SET LOG-FILE keyword in MULTINET CONFIGURE/SERVER, and should not be modified directly by the user.

 

MULTINET_SSH_ALLOW_EXPIRED_PW

Allows logging in to an account when the account's password has expired due to pwdlifetime elapsing. This applies to all users and circumvents normal VMS expired-password checking, and therefore should be used with caution. An entry is made into the SSH_LOG:SSHD.LOG file when access is allowed using this logical name.

When access is allowed by way of this logical, the logical name table LNM$SSH_LOGICALS contains a logical name constructed as MULTINET_SSH_pid_PWDEXP (where pid is the PID for the process). The system manager can use this to execute, for example, the DCL SET PASSWORD command in the site SYLOGIN.COM file.

 

MULTINET_SSH_ALLOW_PREEXPIRED_PW

Allows logging in to an account when the password has been pre-expired. This applies to all users and circumvents normal VMS expired-password checking, and therefore should be used with caution. An entry is made into the SSH_LOG:SSHD.LOG file when access is allowed using this logical name.

When access is allowed by way of this logical, the logical name table LNM$SSH_LOGICALS contains a logical name constructed as MULTINET_SSH_pid_PWDEXP (where pid is the PID for the process). The system manager can use this to execute, for example, the DCL SET PASSWORD command in the site SYLOGIN.COM file.

 

MULTINET_SSH_DISPLAY_SYS$ANNOUNCE

The SSH v1 protocol does not allow for the display of SYS$ANNOUNCE prior to logging in. If this logical is set, the contents of SYS$ANNOUNCE is displayed immediately after successful authentication and prior to the display of the contents of SYS$WELCOME.

 

MULTINET_SSH_ENABLE_SSH1_CONNECTIONS

Set by the MultiNet master server process to enable SSH V1 sessions.

 

MULTINET_SSH_KEYGEN_MIN_PW_LEN

Defines the minimum passphrase length when one is to be set in SSHKEYGEN.  If not defined, defaults to zero.

 

MULTINET_SSH_LOG_ACCEPTS

When set, causes the server to log successful connection requests as either an OPCOM message or a line in a log file. Specified by the SET LOG-ACCEPT command in MULTINET CONFIGURE/SERVER. Note that the server does not use the information set in the ACCEPT-HOSTS keyword in CONFIGURE/SERVER. Rather, it uses the AllowHosts and DenyHosts keywords in the SSH server configuration file. Also, a successful connection request doesn't equate to a successful authentication request. This logical should not be modified directly by the user.

 

MULTINET_SSH_LOG_MBX

Points to the OpenVMS mailbox used to log connection accept and reject messages. This must not be modified by the user.

 

MULTINET_SSH_LOG_REJECTS

When set, causes the server to log rejected connection requests as either an OPCOM message or a line in a log file. Specified by the SET LOG-REJECT command in MULTINET CONFIGURE/SERVER. Note that the server does not use the information set in the REJECT-HOSTS keyword in CONFIGURE/SERVER. Rather, it uses the AllowHosts and DenyHosts keywords in the SSH server configuration file. This logical should not be modified directly by the user.

 

MULTINET_SSH_MAX_SESSIONS

Set this to the maximum number of concurrent SSH sessions you want to allow on the server system. If MULTINET_SSH_MAX_SESSIONS is not defined, the default is 1000. Setting MULTINET_SSH_MAX_SESSIONS to zero (0) causes an error. The value must be between 1 and 1000. The suggested place to set this is in START_SSH.COM. You must restart SSH for these changes to take effect.

 

MULTINET_SSH_PARAMETERS_n

These values are set by MultiNet and must not be modified by the user.

 

MULTINET_SSH_USE_SYSGEN_LGI

If defined, causes SSHD to use the VMS SYSGEN value of LGI_PWD_TMO to set the login grace time, overriding anything specified in the command line or the configuration file.