Host must deactivate the ESXi shell

How it is checked

Audit method: Shell command

out=$(vim-cmd hostsvc/hostconfig 2>/dev/null) || exit 1
p=$(printf '%s\n' "$out" | awk '/key = "TSM"/{f=1} f && $1=="policy" {v=$3; gsub(/[",]/, "", v); print v; exit}')
r=$(printf '%s\n' "$out" | awk '/key = "TSM"/{f=1} f && $1=="running" {v=$3; gsub(/[",]/, "", v); print v; exit}')
[ -n "$p" ] || { echo 'TSM: service not found in hostconfig'; exit 1; }
if [ "$p" = off ] && [ "$r" != true ]; then echo compliant; else echo "TSM: policy=$p running=$r"; fi

Expected output

compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

To disable the ESXi shell, perform the following: 1. From the vSphere Web Client, select the host. 2. Select Configure then expand System and select Services. 3. Click on ESXi Shell then click Edit Startup Policy. 4. Set the Startup Policy is set to Start and Stop Manually. 5. Click on OK. Alternately, use the following PowerCLI command: # Set the ESXi shell to start manually rather than automatically for all hosts Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where { $_.key -eq "TSM" } | Set-VMHostService - Policy Off

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

tmaegis scan --target vmware