Re: Cannot SFTP into FreeBSD boxes with Midnight Commander

Nov 17, 2022, 02:22 by Olivier.Nicole@cs.ait.ac.th:

> iio7@tutanota.com writes:
>
>> Apparently the default option for "PasswordAuthentication" is set to
>> "no" in sshd_config on FreeBSD, which is what is causing the error. On
>> OpenBSD and Linux it's default "yes".
>>
>
> I just checked on a machine I am currently installing and the
> "PasswordAuthentication No" is commented out by dedfault and I can SSH
> to that machine. It may depend on the level of security you choose when
> installing FreeBSD?
>
It's commented out because it's the default setting. When it's set to "no",
SFTP via Midnight Commander doesn't work. However, normal SSH and
SFTP via the console works fine. Setting it to the upstream default "yes",
then SFTP via Midnight Commander works.

The install script doesn't change the setting, it's default "no" is
documented in the man page as well.

The default SSH authentication mechanism is to ask for a username and a
password, which is what OpenSSH does when PasswordAuthentication is
said to "yes". When the option is changed to "no", using a password
doesn't work and you have to login by e.g. a key.

However, the FreeBSD version has the option "UsePAM", which is default
set to "yes". So this means that PAM is authenticating users.

I don't know why this doesn't work with Midnight Commander, but I guess
it has to do with exactly how Midnight Commander sends the command.

Perhaps someone else can clarify whether I should file this as a bug
to the MC maintainer?

Kind regards.