vSphere UI must restrict its cookie path.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-256795VCUI-70-000018SV-256795r889384_ruleCCI-001664medium
Description
Cookies are used to exchange data between the web server and the client. Cookies, such as a session cookie, may contain session information and user credentials used to maintain a persistent connection between the user and the hosted application since HTTP/HTTPS is a stateless protocol. vSphere UI is bound to the "/ui" virtual path behind the reverse proxy, and its cookies are configured as such. This configuration must be confirmed and maintained.
STIGDate
VMware vSphere 7.0 vCenter Appliance UI Security Technical Implementation Guide2023-06-15

Details

Check Text (C-256795r889384_chk)

At the command prompt, run the following command: # xmllint --format /usr/lib/vmware-vsphere-ui/server/conf/context.xml | xmllint --xpath '/Context/@sessionCookiePath' - Expected result: sessionCookiePath="/ui" If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-60413r889383_fix)

Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-vsphere-ui/server/conf/context.xml Add the following configuration to the <Context> node: sessionCookiePath="/ui" Example: <Context useHttpOnly="true" sessionCookieName="VSPHERE-UI-JSESSIONID" sessionCookiePath="/ui"> Restart the service with the following command: # vmon-cli --restart vsphere-ui