The ESXi host must prohibit password reuse for a minimum of five generations.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-258735 | ESXI-80-000043 | SV-258735r1003559_rule | CCI-004061 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| If a user or root used the same password continuously or was allowed to change it back shortly after being forced to change it to something else, it would provide a potential intruder with the opportunity to keep guessing at one user's password until it was guessed correctly. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-02-11 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-258735r1003559_chk)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.
Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.
Select the "Security.PasswordHistory" value and verify it is set to "5" or greater.
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:
Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Security.PasswordHistory
If the "Security.PasswordHistory" setting is set to a value other than 5 or greater, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-62384r933265_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.
Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.
Click "Edit". Select the "Security.PasswordHistory" value and configure it to "5".
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:
Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Security.PasswordHistory | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value 5