The vCenter Server for Windows must use a least-privileges assignment for the vCenter Server database user.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-216855	VCWN-65-000033	SV-216855r612237_rule		Medium

Description
Least-privileges mitigates attacks if the vCenter database account is compromised. vCenter requires very specific privileges on the database. Privileges normally required only for installation and upgrade must be removed for/during normal operation. These privileges may be reinstated if/when any future upgrade must be performed.

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

Details

Check Text ( C-18086r366279_chk )
Verify only the following permissions are allowed on the vCenter database for the following roles and users. vCenter database administrator role used only for initial setup and periodic maintenance of the database: Schema permissions ALTER, REFERENCES, and INSERT. Permissions CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, VIEW, and CREATE PROCEDURES. vCenter database user role: SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and EXECUTE. EXECUTE permissions on sp_add_job, sp_delete_job, sp_add_jobstep, sp_update_job, sp_add_jobserver, sp_add_jobschedule, and sp_add_category stored procedures. SELECT permission on syscategories, sysjobsteps, sysjobs_view, and sysjobs tables. vCenter database user: VIEW SERVER STATE and VIEW ANY DEFINITIONS. Equivalent permissions must be set for Non-MS databases. If the above database permissions are not set correctly, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-18086r366279_chk )

Verify only the following permissions are allowed on the vCenter database for the following roles and users.

vCenter database administrator role used only for initial setup and periodic maintenance of the database:
Schema permissions ALTER, REFERENCES, and INSERT.
Permissions CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, VIEW, and CREATE PROCEDURES.

vCenter database user role:
SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and EXECUTE.
EXECUTE permissions on sp_add_job, sp_delete_job, sp_add_jobstep, sp_update_job, sp_add_jobserver, sp_add_jobschedule, and sp_add_category stored procedures.
SELECT permission on syscategories, sysjobsteps, sysjobs_view, and sysjobs tables.

vCenter database user:
VIEW SERVER STATE and VIEW ANY DEFINITIONS.

Equivalent permissions must be set for Non-MS databases.

If the above database permissions are not set correctly, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-18084r366280_fix)
Configure correct permissions and roles for SQL: Grant these privileges to a vCenter database administrator role used only for initial setup and periodic maintenance of the database: Schema permissions ALTER, REFERENCES, and INSERT. Permissions CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, VIEW, and CREATE PROCEDURES. Grant these privileges to a vCenter database user role: SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and EXECUTE. EXECUTE permissions on sp_add_job, sp_delete_job, sp_add_jobstep, sp_update_job, sp_add_jobserver, sp_add_jobschedule, and sp_add_category stored procedures. SELECT permission on syscategories, sysjobsteps, sysjobs_view, and sysjobs tables. Grant the permissions VIEW SERVER STATE and VIEW ANY DEFINITIONS to the vCenter database user.

Fix Text (F-18084r366280_fix)

Configure correct permissions and roles for SQL:

Grant these privileges to a vCenter database administrator role used only for initial setup and periodic maintenance of the database:
Schema permissions ALTER, REFERENCES, and INSERT.
Permissions CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, VIEW, and CREATE PROCEDURES.

Grant these privileges to a vCenter database user role:
SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and EXECUTE.
EXECUTE permissions on sp_add_job, sp_delete_job, sp_add_jobstep, sp_update_job, sp_add_jobserver, sp_add_jobschedule, and sp_add_category stored procedures.
SELECT permission on syscategories, sysjobsteps, sysjobs_view, and sysjobs tables.

Grant the permissions VIEW SERVER STATE and VIEW ANY DEFINITIONS to the vCenter database user.