The ESXi host must enable bidirectional Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) authentication for Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) traffic.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-256415 | ESXI-70-000054 | SV-256415r959010_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| When enabled, vSphere performs bidirectional authentication of both the iSCSI target and host. When not authenticating both the iSCSI target and host, there is potential for a man-in-the-middle attack, in which an attacker might impersonate either side of the connection to steal data. Bidirectional authentication mitigates this risk. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-02-11 | |||
Related Frameworks
4 paths across 3 frameworks
Related Frameworks
NIST 800-531 mapping
CM-6
1.00
- DISA · V1R4 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
NIST 800-1712 mappings
3.4.1
1.00
- DISA · V1R4 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
3.4.2
1.00
- DISA · V1R4 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
CCI1 mapping
CCI-000366
1.00
- DISA · V1R4 · disa_xccdf · related
Details
Check Text (C-256415r959010_chk)
If iSCSI is not used, this is not applicable.
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.
Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> Storage >> Storage Adapters.
Select the iSCSI adapter >> Properties >> Authentication >> Method.
View the CHAP configuration and verify CHAP is required for target and host authentication.
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostHba | Where {$_.Type -eq "iscsi"} | Select AuthenticationProperties -ExpandProperty AuthenticationProperties
If iSCSI is used and CHAP is not set to "required" for both the target and host, this is a finding.
If iSCSI is used and unique CHAP secrets are not used for each host, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-60033r886025_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.
Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> Storage >> Storage Adapters.
Select the iSCSI adapter >> Properties >> Authentication.
Click "Edit...". Set "Authentication Method" to "Use bidirectional CHAP" and enter a unique secret for each traffic flow direction.
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostHba | Where {$_.Type -eq "iscsi"} | Set-VMHostHba -ChapType Required -ChapName "chapname" -ChapPassword "password" -MutualChapEnabled $true -MutualChapName "mutualchapname" -MutualChapPassword "mutualpassword"