STIGQter: STIG Summary: VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 4 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

The ESXi host must automatically stop shell services after 10 minutes.

DISA Rule

SV-258756r1003569_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258756

Group Title

SRG-OS-000163-VMM-000700

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000195

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.

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.ESXiShellTimeOut" value and configure it to "600".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name UserVars.ESXiShellTimeOut | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value 600

Check Contents

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Select the "UserVars.ESXiShellTimeOut" value and verify it is set to "600" or less and not "0".

or

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

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

If the "UserVars.ESXiShellTimeOut" setting is set to a value greater than "600" or "0", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258756

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000195

Severity Override Guidance

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Select the "UserVars.ESXiShellTimeOut" value and verify it is set to "600" or less and not "0".

or

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

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

If the "UserVars.ESXiShellTimeOut" setting is set to a value greater than "600" or "0", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5562