STIGQter: STIG Summary: VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 4 Benchmark Date: 02 Apr 2025:

The ESXi host must set a timeout to automatically disable idle shell sessions after two minutes.

DISA Rule

SV-256405r970703_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-256405

Group Title

SRG-OS-000163-VMM-000700

Rule Version

ESXI-70-000041

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-001133 - Terminate the network connection associated with a communications session at the end of the session or after an organization-defined time period of inactivity.
• CCI-002361 - Automatically terminate a user session after organization-defined conditions or trigger events requiring session disconnect.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Click "Edit". Select the "UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut" value and configure it to "120".

or

From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value 120

Check Contents

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Select the "UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut" value and verify it is set to "120" (two minutes).

or

From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut

If the "UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut" setting is not set to "120", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-256405

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-70-000041

Severity Override Guidance

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Select the "UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut" value and verify it is set to "120" (two minutes).

or

From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut

If the "UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut" setting is not set to "120", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5518