Question

PermitRootLogin no still allows root login via SSH

Posted on April 1, 2019
Ubuntu 18.04 Initial Server Setup
Asked by Chris McKulka

I have updated PermitRootLogin in /etc/ssh/sshd_config to no and issued a service ssh restart (multiple times) and I can still login via SSH as root using a public key. This should be blocked correct?

I have read the related Q&As here and various others from a Google Search. As far as I can tell I’ve done the right thing but I can still login.

root@infra:~# cat /etc/ssh/sshd_config  | grep PermitRootLogin
PermitRootLogin no
# the setting of "PermitRootLogin yes
root@infra:~#

Restarting ssh returns no errors, etc.

root@infra:~# service ssh restart
root@infra:~#

PasswordAuthentication is also set to no (although root never had a password – started with a pub key installation) and for good measure UsePAM is set to no.

Love any suggestions!

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Chris McKulka • April 6, 2019

Accepted Answer

FYI re. a solution. Restarting the service didn’t cause the new settings to take effect. Rebooting the server did. No idea why that is the case.

salah93 • August 3, 2019

for me, i had

   ControlMaster auto
   ControlPath ~/.ssh/sockets/%r@%h-%p

set in my ~/.ssh/config deleting the control path directory fixed the issu

Chris McKulka • April 1, 2019

OK, even stranger … I delete the .ssh directory from the root user using my sudo user. I can still login in as root on that machine even after a service ssh restart.

Mystified!