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

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-258766ESXI-80-000211SV-258766r933359_ruleCCI-000366low
Description
Automatically logging out idle users guards against compromises via hijacked administrative sessions.
STIGDate
VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide2023-10-11

Details

Check Text (C-258766r933359_chk)

From an ESXi shell, run the following command: # esxcli system ssh server config list -k clientaliveinterval 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 'clientaliveinterval'} Example result: clientaliveinterval 200 If "clientaliveinterval" is not configured to "200", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-62415r933358_fix)

From an ESXi shell, run the following command: # esxcli system ssh server config set -k clientaliveinterval -v 200 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 = 'clientaliveinterval' $arguments.value = '200' $esxcli.system.ssh.server.config.set.Invoke($arguments)