The ESXi host must set a timeout to automatically disable idle shell sessions after two minutes.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-256405 | ESXI-70-000041 | SV-256405r970703_rule | CCI-001133 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| If a user forgets to log out of their local or remote ESXi Shell session, the idle connection will remain open indefinitely and increase the likelihood of inappropriate host access via session hijacking. The "ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut" allows the automatic termination of idle shell sessions. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000163-VMM-000700, SRG-OS-000279-VMM-001010 | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-02-11 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-256405r970703_chk)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.
Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.
Select the "UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut" value and verify it is set to "120" (two minutes).
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:
Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut
If the "UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut" setting is not set to "120", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-60023r885995_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.
Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.
Click "Edit". Select the "UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut" value and configure it to "120".
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:
Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name UserVars.ESXiShellInteractiveTimeOut | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value 120