UCF STIG Viewer Logo

VAMI must force clients to select the most secure cipher.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-256669 VCLD-70-000025 SV-256669r888529_rule Medium
Description
During a Transport Layer Security (TLS) session negotiation, when choosing a cipher during a handshake, normally the client's preference is used. This is potentially problematic as a malicious, dated, or poorly configured client could select the most insecure cipher offered by the server, even if it supports stronger ones. If "ssl.honor-cipher-order" is enabled, the "ssl.cipher-list" setting will be treated as an ordered list of cipher values from most preferred to least, left to right.
STIG Date
VMware vSphere 7.0 VAMI Security Technical Implementation Guide 2023-06-15

Details

Check Text ( C-60344r888527_chk )
At the command prompt, run the following command:

# /opt/vmware/sbin/vami-lighttpd -p -f /opt/vmware/etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf 2>/dev/null|grep "ssl\.honor-cipher-order"|sed 's: ::g'

Expected result:

ssl.honor-cipher-order = "enable"

If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.

Note: The command must be run from a bash shell and not from a shell generated by the "appliance shell". Use the "chsh" command to change the shell for the account to "/bin/bash". Refer to KB Article 2100508 for more details:

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2100508
Fix Text (F-60287r888528_fix)
Navigate to and open:

/opt/vmware/etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf

Add or reconfigure the following setting:

ssl.honor-cipher-order = "enable"

Restart the service with the following command:

# vmon-cli --restart applmgmt