The ESXi host must synchronize internal information system clocks to an authoritative time source.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-258745	ESXI-80-000124	SV-258745r933296_rule		Medium

Description
To ensure the accuracy of the system clock, it must be synchronized with an authoritative time source within DOD. Many system functions, including time-based logon and activity restrictions, automated reports, system logs, and audit records, depend on an accurate system clock. If there is no confidence in the correctness of the system clock, time-based functions may not operate as intended and records may be of diminished value. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000355-VMM-001330, SRG-OS-000356-VMM-001340

Description

To ensure the accuracy of the system clock, it must be synchronized with an authoritative time source within DOD. Many system functions, including time-based logon and activity restrictions, automated reports, system logs, and audit records, depend on an accurate system clock. If there is no confidence in the correctness of the system clock, time-based functions may not operate as intended and records may be of diminished value. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000355-VMM-001330, SRG-OS-000356-VMM-001340

STIG	Date
VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-10-11

Details

Check Text ( C-62485r933294_chk )
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration. Verify NTP or PTP are configured, and one or more authoritative time sources are listed. From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Services. Verify the NTP or PTP service is running and configured to start and stop with the host. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands: Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostNTPServer Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostService \| Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon" -or $_.Label -eq "PTP Daemon"} If the NTP service is not configured with authoritative DOD time sources or the service is not configured to start and stop with the host ("Policy" of "on" in PowerCLI) or is stopped, this is a finding. If PTP is used instead of NTP, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-62485r933294_chk )

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration.

Verify NTP or PTP are configured, and one or more authoritative time sources are listed.

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Verify the NTP or PTP service is running and configured to start and stop with the host.

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostNTPServer
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon" -or $_.Label -eq "PTP Daemon"}

If the NTP service is not configured with authoritative DOD time sources or the service is not configured to start and stop with the host ("Policy" of "on" in PowerCLI) or is stopped, this is a finding.

If PTP is used instead of NTP, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-62394r933295_fix)
To configure NTP, perform the following: From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration. Click "Add Service" and select "Network Time Protocol". Enter or update the NTP servers listed with a comma-separated list of authoritative time servers. Click "OK". From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Services. Select the "NTP Daemon" service and click "Edit Startup Policy". Select "Start and stop with host". Click "OK". or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands: $NTPServers = "ntpserver1","ntpserver2" Get-VMHost \| Add-VMHostNTPServer $NTPServers Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostService \| Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} \| Set-VMHostService -Policy On Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostService \| Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} \| Start-VMHostService To configure PTP, perform the following: From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration. Click "Add Service" and select "Precision Time Protocol". Select the network adapter that can receive the PTP traffic. If NTP servers are available, select "Enable fallback" and enter or update the NTP servers listed with a comma separate list of authoritative time servers. Click "OK". From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Services. Select the "PTP Daemon" service and click "Edit Startup Policy". Select "Start and stop with host". Click "OK".

Fix Text (F-62394r933295_fix)

To configure NTP, perform the following:

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration.

Click "Add Service" and select "Network Time Protocol".

Enter or update the NTP servers listed with a comma-separated list of authoritative time servers. Click "OK".

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Select the "NTP Daemon" service and click "Edit Startup Policy".

Select "Start and stop with host". Click "OK".

or

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

$NTPServers = "ntpserver1","ntpserver2"
Get-VMHost | Add-VMHostNTPServer $NTPServers
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} | Set-VMHostService -Policy On
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} | Start-VMHostService

To configure PTP, perform the following:

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration.

Click "Add Service" and select "Precision Time Protocol".

Select the network adapter that can receive the PTP traffic.

If NTP servers are available, select "Enable fallback" and enter or update the NTP servers listed with a comma separate list of authoritative time servers. Click "OK".

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Select the "PTP Daemon" service and click "Edit Startup Policy".

Select "Start and stop with host". Click "OK".