VMware ESXi
TMA-VMWARE-3.14
Host must configure the password history setting to restrict the reuse of passwords
Description
The goal is to inhibit the reuse of past passwords, acting as a deterrent against potential security breaches stemming from the exploitation of old, compromised credentials. This is achieved by configuring the Security.PasswordHistory parameter, which specifies the number of unique passwords a user must cycle through before a previous password can be reused. The audit reads Security.PasswordHistory with esxcli and requires 5. Runs in the ESXi Shell (busybox sh) as root.
How it is checked
Audit method: Shell command
out=$(esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Security/PasswordHistory 2>/dev/null) || exit 1
v=$(printf '%s\n' "$out" | awk '$1=="Int" && $2=="Value:" {print $3; exit}')
case "$v" in ''|*[!0-9-]*) echo '/Security/PasswordHistory: no integer value'; exit 1 ;; esac
if [ "$v" -eq 5 ]; then echo compliant; else echo "/Security/PasswordHistory = $v (expected 5)"; fi- Expected output
compliant
How it is fixed
Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch
To set the password history 5, perform the following: 1. From the vSphere Web Client, select the host. 2. Click Configure then expand System. 3. Select Advanced System Settings then click Edit. 4. Enter Security.PasswordHistory in the filter. 5. Set the value for this parameter is set to 5. Alternately, the following PowerCLI command may be used: Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting Security.PasswordHistory | Set- AdvancedSetting -Value 5
Properties
- Operating systems
- Any
- Tags
- vmwareesximanagement
- Reference
- CIS VMware ESXi 8.0 Benchmark v1.4.0 - 3.14 Host must configure the password history setting to restrict the reuse of passwords
Check this host
Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.
tmaegis scan --target vmware