SSH authorization keys are managed to maximize security over automated processes as well as sign-on by system administrators, power users, and others who use SSH keys for access. Safeguard for Privileged Passwords (SPP) performs the following.
NOTE:SPP does not currently manage the options for an authorized key. If an imported key has any options configured in the authorized keys file on the asset, these options will not be preserved when the key is rotated by SPP.
- SPP provisions keys by creating a new key pair associated with a managed account. Any of the following methods can be used.
- An authorized key is added in the target account on the target host. A managed account can have more than one authorized key, however only one key can be managed by SPP at a time.
- An SSH key sync group is created for an SSH key pair. The new key is generated for the sync group and configured for each of the synced accounts on the target host. All accounts in the SSH key sync group synchronize the SSH Key so the same key can be used to log into all systems.
- A legacy SSH identity key is uploaded. The legacy SSH key is entrusted to SPP. When legacy SSH keys are exposed, SPP rotates them after they are checked in. SPP may rotate the keys after they are checked in if the Entitlement Policy > Access Configuration option specifies Change SSH Key after check-in.
- SPP requests and rotates SSH keys based on the access request policy (key and session) as well as via A2A when A2A is configured to request and retrieve SSH keys. Rotation is profile-based. Each managed account can have a single SSH key.
Supported implementations
SSH implementations supported include:
- Access requests provide SSH identity keys include OpenSSH, SSH2, and PuTTY format.
- For management, SPP supports OpenSSH file formats and Tectia
Supported key types and key lengths
SPP supports RSA, Ed25519, ECDSA, and DSA algorithms for SSH identity keys. Supported key lengths follow:
-
RSA: 1024, 2048, 4096, and 8192-bit
Larger key sizes take longer to generate. In particular, a key size of 8192-bits may take several minutes.
- DSA: fixed to 1024-bits
- Ed25519: fixed to 32 bits
- ECDSA: 256, 384, and 521 bits
Unsupported algorithms and key strings
SPP reads each line when parsing an authorized_keys file and attempts to extract the data. If a line is properly formatted according to the specification, SPP will report it as a discovered identity key. SPP recognizes keys with either the RSA or DSA algorithm. Other valid key types are still discovered by SPP and are identified as the Key Type of Unknown on the Discovered SSH Keys properties grid.
Management
It is the responsibility of the Appliance Administrator to manage the access request and SSH key passphrase management services.
SSH key change, check, and discovery can be toggled on or off. For more information, see Global Services.
Navigate to Asset Management > Profiles > SSH Key Profiles.
Table 164: SSH Key Management settings
| Change SSH Key settings |
You can add, update, schedule, or remove SSH Key Change settings. |
| Check SSH Key settings |
You can add, update, schedule, or remove SSH Key Check settings. |
|
Discover SSH Key settings |
You can add, update, schedule, or remove SSH Key Discovery jobs. |
| SSH Key Sync Groups settings |
You can add, update, schedule, or remove SSH Key Sync Group settings.
The Asset Administrator or a partition's delegated administrator defines the SSH key sync group for an SSH key pair. The new key is generated for the sync group and configured for each of the synced accounts on the target host. All accounts in the SSH key sync group synchronize so the same key can be used to log into all systems. |
Safeguard for Privileged Passwords requests and rotates SSH keys based on the access request policy (SSH key or SSH session requests) as well as via A2A configurations set up to request and retrieve SSH keys. Rotation is profile-based. Each managed account can have a single managed SSH key.
SSH key check can be toggled on or off. For more information, see Global Services.
Navigate to Asset Management > Profiles > View SSH Key Profiles > Check SSH Key.
Table 165: Check SSH Key properties
|
Name |
The name of the SSH key |
|
Partition |
The partition where the SSH key is managed |
|
Description |
Information about the SSH key |
|
Schedule |
Designates when the SSH key is checked |
Use the following toolbar buttons to manage checking the SSH key.
Table 166: Check SSH Key: Toolbar
 Add |
Add SSH key check settings. |
 Delete |
Permanently remove the selected SSH key. |
 Edit |
Modify the selected SSH key. |
 Refresh |
Update the list of SSH keys. |
|
 Search
|
To locate a value in this list, enter the character string to be used to search for a match. For more information, see Search box.. |
It is the responsibility of the Asset Administrator or the partition's delegated administrator to define the rules SPP uses to verify SSH keys.
Navigate to Asset Management > Profiles > View SSH Key Profiles > Check SSH Key.
To add an SSH key validation schedule
- Click
Add to open the Check SSH Key Settings dialog.
- Enter a Name of up to 50 characters for the rule.
- Enter a Description of up to 255 characters for the rule.
- Browse to select a partition.
-
Optionally, complete either of these settings:
- To change the Check SSH Key schedule, open the Schedule tab. The default is Never.
-
In the Schedule dialog, select Run Every to run the job along per the run details you enter. (If you deselect Run Every, the schedule details are lost.)
-
Configure the following.
To specify the frequency without start and end times, select from the following controls. If you want to specify start and end times, go to the Use Time Window selection in this section.
Enter a frequency for Run Every. Then, select a time frame:
- Minutes: The job runs per the frequency of minutes you specify. For example, Every 30 Minutes runs the job every half hour over a 24-hour period. It is recommended you do not use the frequency of minutes except in unusual situations, such as testing.
-
Hours: The job runs per the minute setting you specify. For example, if it is 9 a.m. and you want to run the job every two hours at 15 minutes past the hour starting at 9:15 a.m., select Runs Every 2 Hours @ 15 minutes after the hour.
-
Days: The job runs on the frequency of days and the time you enter.
For example, Every 2 Days Starting @ 11:59:00 PM runs the job every other evening just before midnight.
-
Weeks The job runs per the frequency of weeks at the time and on the days you specify.
For example, Every 2 Weeks Starting @ 5:00:00 AM and Repeat on these days with MON, WED, FRI selected runs the job every other week at 5 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
-
Months: The job runs on the frequency of months at the time and on the day you specify.
For example, If you select Every 2 Months Starting @ 1:00:00 AM along with First Saturday of the month, the job will run at 1 a.m. on the first Saturday of every other month.
-
Select Use Time Windows if you want to enter the Start and End time. You can click Add or 
Remove to control multiple time restrictions. Each time window must be at least one minute apart and not overlap.
For example, for a job to run every ten minutes every day from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., enter these values:
Enter Every 10 Minutes and Use Time Windows:
If you have selected Days, Weeks, or Months, you will be able to select the number of times for the job to Repeat in the time window you enter.
For a job to run two times every other day at 10:30 am between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 p.m., enter these values:
For days, enter Every 2 Days and set the Use Time Windows as Start 4:00:00 AM and End 8:00:00 PM and Repeat 2.
- (UTC) Coordinated Universal Time is the default time zone. Select a new time zone, if desired.
If the scheduler is unable to complete a task within the scheduled interval, when it finishes execution of the task, it is rescheduled for the next immediate interval.
- Click OK.
Safeguard for Privileged Passwords requests and rotates SSH keys based on the access request policy (SSH key or SSH session requests) as well as via A2A configurations set up to request and retrieve SSH keys. Rotation is profile-based. Each managed account can have a single managed SSH key.
SSH key change can be toggled on or off. For more information, see Global Services.
Navigate to Asset Management > Profiles > View SSH Key Profiles > Change SSH Key.
Table 167: Change SSH Key properties
|
Name |
The name of the SSH key |
|
Partition |
The partition where the SSH key is managed |
|
Description |
Information about the SSH key |
|
Schedule |
Designates when the SSH key is changed |
Use the following toolbar buttons to manage changing the SSH key.
