The ESXi Host Client must be configured with a session timeout.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-256441ESXI-70-000089SV-256441r959010_ruleCCI-000366medium
Description
The ESXi Host Client is the UI served up by the host itself, outside of vCenter. It is accessed by browsing to "https://<ESX FQDN>/ui". ESXi is not usually administered via this interface for long periods, and all users will be highly privileged. Implementing a mandatory session idle limit will ensure that orphaned, forgotten, or ignored sessions will be closed promptly.
STIGDate
VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide2025-02-11

Details

Check Text (C-256441r959010_chk)

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings. Select the "UserVars.HostClientSessionTimeout" value and verify it is set to "600". or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command: Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name UserVars.HostClientSessionTimeout If the "UserVars.HostClientSessionTimeout" setting is not set to "600", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-60059r886103_fix)

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings. Select the "UserVars.HostClientSessionTimeout" value and set it to "600". or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command: Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name UserVars.HostClientSessionTimeout | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value "600"