The ESXi host Secure Shell (SSH) daemon must use FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic modules to protect the confidentiality of remote access sessions.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-258732ESXI-80-000014SV-258732r933257_ruleCCI-000068high
Description
Without confidentiality protection mechanisms, unauthorized individuals may gain access to sensitive information via a remote access session. OpenSSH on the ESXi host ships with a FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic module and it is enabled by default. For backward compatibility reasons, this can be disabled so this setting must be audited and corrected if necessary.
STIGDate
VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide2023-10-11

Related Frameworks

3 paths across 3 frameworks
NIST 800-531 mapping
  • DISA · V1R1 · disa_xccdf · related
  • DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
NIST 800-1711 mapping
3.1.13
1.00
  • DISA · V1R1 · disa_xccdf · related
  • DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
  • NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
CCI1 mapping
CCI-000068
1.00
  • DISA · V1R1 · disa_xccdf · related

Details

Check Text (C-258732r933257_chk)

From an ESXi shell, run the following command: # esxcli system security fips140 ssh get or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands: $esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2 $esxcli.system.security.fips140.ssh.get.invoke() Expected result: Enabled: true If the FIPS mode is not enabled for SSH, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-62381r933256_fix)

From an ESXi shell, run the following command: # esxcli system security fips140 ssh set -e true or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands: $esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2 $arguments = $esxcli.system.security.fips140.ssh.set.CreateArgs() $arguments.enable = $true $esxcli.system.security.fips140.ssh.set.Invoke($arguments)