full-disclosure - Any update on SSH brute force attempts?

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From: KKadow at gmail.com (Kevin)
Subject: Any update on SSH brute force attempts?

On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 14:57:31 +1300, James Riden <j.riden@...sey.ac.nz> wrote:
> Jay Libove <libove@...ines.org> writes:
> > What are you doing/changing about your SSH configurations to reduce the
> > possibility of these attacks finding any kind of hole in the OpenSSH
> > software (that's what I run, so that's the only version I'm particularly
> > concerned about) ?  Are you doing anything at all?

Use one time passwords (OTP, e.g. S/Key).
Restrict which addresses are allowed to connect (via
/etc/hosts.allow), and/or which user accounts are allowed from which
sources (using AllowUsers in sshd_config).

I l prefer to bind the listener to a specific IP address on hosts with
multiple addresses, the BOFH might choose to have a  tarpit *:22/TCP
listener on hosts with many alias IPs..

> One or more of the following, depending on local requirements:
> 
> * Run on a non-standard port - this will stop brain-dead scanning programs
> * Use key-based auth instead of passwords
> * Restrict what IP addresses are allowed to connect (at your firewall)
> * Disable root logins
> * Use john or crack to audit password strength
> * Use logwatch or similar to monitor failed login attempts
> * Make a honeypot and see what techniques people are trying out
> 
> (Everyone's forcing version 2 of the protocol, right?)

$ sudo tail -5 /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Protocol 2
ListenAddress 172.23.97.2
MaxAuthTries 2
PermitRootLogin no
LogLevel VERBOSE
$ exit

I'm sorely tempted to forgo SSH for telnet encapsulated in SSL (via
stunnel), with non-reusable passwords.  Anybody else remember "Stel"?

Kevin