The ESXi host must use Active Directory for local user authentication.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-256402	ESXI-70-000037	SV-256402r885987_rule		Low

Description
Join ESXi hosts to an Active Directory domain to eliminate the need to create and maintain multiple local user accounts. Using Active Directory for user authentication simplifies the ESXi host configuration, ensures password complexity and reuse policies are enforced, and reduces the risk of security breaches and unauthorized access. Note: If the Active Directory group "ESX Admins" (default) exists, all users and groups assigned as members to this group will have full administrative access to all ESXi hosts in the domain. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000104-VMM-000500, SRG-OS-000109-VMM-000550, SRG-OS-000112-VMM-000560, SRG-OS-000113-VMM-000570

Description

Join ESXi hosts to an Active Directory domain to eliminate the need to create and maintain multiple local user accounts. Using Active Directory for user authentication simplifies the ESXi host configuration, ensures password complexity and reuse policies are enforced, and reduces the risk of security breaches and unauthorized access. Note: If the Active Directory group "ESX Admins" (default) exists, all users and groups assigned as members to this group will have full administrative access to all ESXi hosts in the domain. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000104-VMM-000500, SRG-OS-000109-VMM-000550, SRG-OS-000112-VMM-000560, SRG-OS-000113-VMM-000570

STIG	Date
VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-06-21

Details

Check Text ( C-60077r885985_chk )
For systems that do not use Active Directory and have no local user accounts other than root and/or service accounts, this is not applicable. From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Authentication Services. Verify the "Directory Services Type" is set to "Active Directory". or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command: Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostAuthentication For systems that do not use Active Directory and do have local user accounts, other than root and/or service accounts, this is a finding. If the Directory Services Type is not set to "Active Directory", this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-60077r885985_chk )

For systems that do not use Active Directory and have no local user accounts other than root and/or service accounts, this is not applicable.

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Authentication Services.

Verify the "Directory Services Type" is set to "Active Directory".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostAuthentication

For systems that do not use Active Directory and do have local user accounts, other than root and/or service accounts, this is a finding.

If the Directory Services Type is not set to "Active Directory", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-60020r885986_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Authentication Services. Click "Join Domain..." and enter the AD domain to join. Select the "Using credentials" radio button and enter the credentials of an account with permissions to join machines to AD (use UPN naming "user@domain"). Click "OK". or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command: Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostAuthentication \| Set-VMHostAuthentication -JoinDomain -Domain "domain name" -User "username" -Password "password" If any local user accounts are present besides root and service accounts, delete them by going to Host UI >> Manage >> Security & Users >> Users.

Fix Text (F-60020r885986_fix)

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Authentication Services.

Click "Join Domain..." and enter the AD domain to join.

Select the "Using credentials" radio button and enter the credentials of an account with permissions to join machines to AD (use UPN naming "user@domain"). Click "OK".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostAuthentication | Set-VMHostAuthentication -JoinDomain -Domain "domain name" -User "username" -Password "password"

If any local user accounts are present besides root and service accounts, delete them by going to Host UI >> Manage >> Security & Users >> Users.