The vCenter Server for Windows must not automatically refresh client sessions.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-216826	VCWN-65-000002	SV-216826r612237_rule		Medium

Description
Terminating an idle session within a short time period reduces the window of opportunity for unauthorized personnel to take control of a management session enabled on the console or console port that has been left unattended. In addition, quickly terminating an idle session will also free up resources committed by the managed network element. Automatic client session refreshes keep unused sessions online, blocking session timeouts.

Description

Terminating an idle session within a short time period reduces the window of opportunity for unauthorized personnel to take control of a management session enabled on the console or console port that has been left unattended. In addition, quickly terminating an idle session will also free up resources committed by the managed network element. Automatic client session refreshes keep unused sessions online, blocking session timeouts.

STIG	Date
VMW vSphere 6.5 vCenter Server for Windows Security Technical Implementation Guide	2021-06-23

Details

Check Text ( C-18057r366192_chk )
On the system where vCenter is installed locate the "webclient.properties" file. Appliance: /etc/vmware/vsphere-client/ Windows: C:\ProgramData\VMware\vCenterServer\cfg\vsphere-client Find the "refresh.rate =" line in the "webclient.properties" file. If the refresh rate is not set to "-1" in the "webclient.properties" file, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-18055r366193_fix)
Change the refresh rate value by editing the "webclient.properties" file. On the system where vCenter is installed locate the "webclient.properties" file. Appliance: /etc/vmware/vsphere-client/ Windows: C:\ProgramData\VMware\vCenterServer\cfg\vsphere-client Edit the file to include the line "refresh.rate = -1" where "-1" indicates sessions are not automatically refreshed. Uncomment the line if necessary. After editing the file the vSphere Web Client service must be restarted.

Fix Text (F-18055r366193_fix)

Change the refresh rate value by editing the "webclient.properties" file.

On the system where vCenter is installed locate the "webclient.properties" file.

Appliance:
/etc/vmware/vsphere-client/

Windows:
C:\ProgramData\VMware\vCenterServer\cfg\vsphere-client

Edit the file to include the line "refresh.rate = -1" where "-1" indicates sessions are not automatically refreshed. Uncomment the line if necessary.

After editing the file the vSphere Web Client service must be restarted.