STIGQter STIGQter: STIG Summary: VMware vSphere 8.0 vCenter Appliance Photon OS 4.0 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 2 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

The Photon operating system must display the Standard Mandatory DOD Notice and Consent Banner before granting local or remote access to the system.

DISA Rule

SV-258803r958390_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258803

Group Title

SRG-OS-000023-GPOS-00006

Rule Version

PHTN-40-000005

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Navigate to and open:

/etc/ssh/sshd_config

Ensure the "Banner" line is uncommented and set to the following:

Banner /etc/issue

Navigate to and open:

/etc/issue

Ensure the file contains the Standard Mandatory DOD Notice and Consent Banner.

"You are accessing a U.S. Government (USG) Information System (IS) that is provided for USG-authorized use only. By using this IS (which includes any device attached to this IS), you consent to the following conditions:
-The USG routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this IS for purposes including, but not limited to, penetration testing, COMSEC monitoring, network operations and defense, personnel misconduct (PM), law enforcement (LE), and counterintelligence (CI) investigations.
-At any time, the USG may inspect and seize data stored on this IS.
-Communications using, or data stored on, this IS are not private, are subject to routine monitoring, interception, and search, and may be disclosed or used for any USG authorized purpose.
-This IS includes security measures (e.g., authentication and access controls) to protect USG interests--not for your personal benefit or privacy.
-Notwithstanding the above, using this IS does not constitute consent to PM, LE or CI investigative searching or monitoring of the content of privileged communications, or work product, related to personal representation or services by attorneys, psychotherapists, or clergy, and their assistants. Such communications and work product are private and confidential. See User Agreement for details."

At the command line, run the following command:

# systemctl restart sshd.service

Check Contents

At the command line, run the following command to verify SSH is configured to use the /etc/issue file for a banner:

# sshd -T|&grep -i Banner

Example result:

banner /etc/issue

If the "banner" setting is not configured to "/etc/issue", this is a finding.

Next, open /etc/issue with a text editor.

If the file does not contain the Standard Mandatory DOD Notice and Consent Banner, this is a finding.

Standard Mandatory DOD Notice and Consent Banner:

"You are accessing a U.S. Government (USG) Information System (IS) that is provided for USG-authorized use only. By using this IS (which includes any device attached to this IS), you consent to the following conditions:
-The USG routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this IS for purposes including, but not limited to, penetration testing, COMSEC monitoring, network operations and defense, personnel misconduct (PM), law enforcement (LE), and counterintelligence (CI) investigations.
-At any time, the USG may inspect and seize data stored on this IS.
-Communications using, or data stored on, this IS are not private, are subject to routine monitoring, interception, and search, and may be disclosed or used for any USG authorized purpose.
-This IS includes security measures (e.g., authentication and access controls) to protect USG interests--not for your personal benefit or privacy.
-Notwithstanding the above, using this IS does not constitute consent to PM, LE or CI investigative searching or monitoring of the content of privileged communications, or work product, related to personal representation or services by attorneys, psychotherapists, or clergy, and their assistants. Such communications and work product are private and confidential. See User Agreement for details."

Vulnerability Number

V-258803

Documentable

False

Rule Version

PHTN-40-000005

Severity Override Guidance

At the command line, run the following command to verify SSH is configured to use the /etc/issue file for a banner:

# sshd -T|&grep -i Banner

Example result:

banner /etc/issue

If the "banner" setting is not configured to "/etc/issue", this is a finding.

Next, open /etc/issue with a text editor.

If the file does not contain the Standard Mandatory DOD Notice and Consent Banner, this is a finding.

Standard Mandatory DOD Notice and Consent Banner:

"You are accessing a U.S. Government (USG) Information System (IS) that is provided for USG-authorized use only. By using this IS (which includes any device attached to this IS), you consent to the following conditions:
-The USG routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this IS for purposes including, but not limited to, penetration testing, COMSEC monitoring, network operations and defense, personnel misconduct (PM), law enforcement (LE), and counterintelligence (CI) investigations.
-At any time, the USG may inspect and seize data stored on this IS.
-Communications using, or data stored on, this IS are not private, are subject to routine monitoring, interception, and search, and may be disclosed or used for any USG authorized purpose.
-This IS includes security measures (e.g., authentication and access controls) to protect USG interests--not for your personal benefit or privacy.
-Notwithstanding the above, using this IS does not constitute consent to PM, LE or CI investigative searching or monitoring of the content of privileged communications, or work product, related to personal representation or services by attorneys, psychotherapists, or clergy, and their assistants. Such communications and work product are private and confidential. See User Agreement for details."

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5569