SSH: Security NORMAL VS HIGH

WTI Knowledge Base

SSH Security Modes

WTI units support two SSH Security Levels: Normal and High. These settings control which SSH algorithms are advertised by the unit.

WTI devices provide two SSH Security Level options: Normal and High. Normal mode is intended for greater compatibility with a wider range of SSH clients. High mode provides a more restrictive SSH configuration by limiting the available MAC algorithms and changing the KEX algorithm list/order.

Changing the SSH Security Level

From the WTI command line interface, go to:

/N
22. SSH Access
3. Security Level

Then select either:

Normal High

Example SSH Access submenu:

SSH ACCESS: [Shared]
1. Enable: On
2. Port: 22
3. Security Level: Normal
4. SSH View Port Enable: Off
5. SSH View Port Bidirection: Off

Normal vs High Mode Comparison

Category Normal Mode High Mode
Ciphers chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com
aes128-gcm@openssh.com
aes256-gcm@openssh.com
aes128-ctr
aes192-ctr
aes256-ctr
chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com
aes128-gcm@openssh.com
aes256-gcm@openssh.com
aes128-ctr
aes192-ctr
aes256-ctr
MACs umac-64-etm@openssh.com
umac-128-etm@openssh.com
hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com
hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com
hmac-sha1-etm@openssh.com
umac-64@openssh.com
umac-128@openssh.com
hmac-sha2-256
hmac-sha2-512
hmac-sha1
umac-128-etm@openssh.com
hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com
hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com
KEX Algorithms mlkem768x25519-sha256
sntrup761x25519-sha512
sntrup761x25519-sha512@openssh.com
curve25519-sha256
curve25519-sha256@libssh.org
ecdh-sha2-nistp256
ecdh-sha2-nistp384
ecdh-sha2-nistp521
diffie-hellman-group18-sha512
diffie-hellman-group14-sha256
diffie-hellman-group16-sha512
curve25519-sha256@libssh.org
curve25519-sha256
diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256
mlkem768x25519-sha256
sntrup761x25519-sha512
sntrup761x25519-sha512@openssh.com
Host Key Algorithms rsa-sha2-512
rsa-sha2-256
ssh-ed25519
rsa-sha2-512
rsa-sha2-256
ssh-ed25519

Notes

  • SSH key size is 2048.
  • Actual negotiated algorithms may vary depending on the SSH client and the algorithms supported by both the client and the WTI device.
  • chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com is an authenticated encryption cipher. When selected, the MAC is implicit.
  • High mode restricts MAC algorithms and changes the KEX algorithm list/order, but it does not remove ChaCha20-Poly1305 from the advertised cipher list.