The ESXi host Secure Shell (SSH) daemon must set a timeout count on idle sessions.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-258765ESXI-80-000210SV-258765r933356_ruleCCI-000366low
Description
Setting a timeout ensures that a user login will be terminated as soon as the "ClientAliveCountMax" is reached.
STIGDate
VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide2023-10-11

Details

Check Text (C-258765r933356_chk)

From an ESXi shell, run the following command: # esxcli system ssh server config list -k clientalivecountmax or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands: $esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2 $esxcli.system.ssh.server.config.list.invoke() | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq 'clientalivecountmax'} Example result: clientalivecountmax 3 If "clientalivecountmax" is not configured to "3", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-62414r933355_fix)

From an ESXi shell, run the following command: # esxcli system ssh server config set -k clientalivecountmax -v 3 or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands: $esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2 $arguments = $esxcli.system.ssh.server.config.set.CreateArgs() $arguments.keyword = 'clientalivecountmax' $arguments.value = '3' $esxcli.system.ssh.server.config.set.Invoke($arguments)