The system must use templates to deploy VMs whenever possible.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-39504	ESXI5-VM-000050	SV-51362r1_rule		Low

Description
By capturing a hardened base operating system image (with no applications installed) in a template, ensure all virtual machines are created with a known baseline level of security. Then use this template to create other, application-specific templates, or use the application template to deploy virtual machines. Manual installation of the OS and applications into a VM introduces the risk of misconfiguration due to human or process error.

Description

By capturing a hardened base operating system image (with no applications installed) in a template, ensure all virtual machines are created with a known baseline level of security. Then use this template to create other, application-specific templates, or use the application template to deploy virtual machines. Manual installation of the OS and applications into a VM introduces the risk of misconfiguration due to human or process error.

STIG	Date
VMware ESXi Version 5 Virtual Machine Security Technical Implementation Guide	2015-03-31

Details

Check Text ( C-46764r1_chk )
Ask the SA if hardened, patched templates are used for VM creation, properly configured OS deployments, including applications both dependent and non-dependent on VM-specific configurations. If hardened, patched templates are not used for VM creation, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-44516r1_fix)
Hardened, patched templates must be used for VM creation, properly configured OS deployments and applications. Applications dependent on VM-specific information must also use hardened, patched templates.