VMware ESXi
TMA-ESXI9-3.10
Host must not suppress warnings that the shell is enabled
Description
Having warnings for enabled SSH or ESXi Shell provides insight into potential security risks. Disabling such warnings can mask ongoing attacks. The parameter governing this behavior is UserVars.SuppressShellWarning with a recommended value of 0. The audit reads UserVars.SuppressShellWarning with esxcli and requires 0. Runs in the ESXi Shell (busybox sh) as root.
How it is checked
Audit method: Shell command
out=$(esxcli system settings advanced list -o /UserVars/SuppressShellWarning 2>/dev/null) || exit 1
v=$(printf '%s\n' "$out" | awk '$1=="Int" && $2=="Value:" {print $3; exit}')
case "$v" in ''|*[!0-9-]*) echo '/UserVars/SuppressShellWarning: no integer value'; exit 1 ;; esac
if [ "$v" -eq 0 ]; then echo compliant; else echo "/UserVars/SuppressShellWarning = $v (expected 0)"; fi- Expected output
compliant
How it is fixed
Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch
From an administrative PowerCLI session. 1. Execute Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name UserVars.SuppressShellWarning | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value 0 -Confirm:$false 2. Shell access should normally remain disabled; do not suppress the warning when it is enabled.
Properties
- Operating systems
- Any
- Tags
- vmwareesximanagement
- Reference
- CIS VMware ESXi 9.0 Benchmark v1.0.0 - 3.10 Host must not suppress warnings that the shell is enabled
Check this host
Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.
tmaegis scan --target vmware