vSphere Client plugins must be verified.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-39564	VCENTER-000029	SV-51422r1_rule		Medium

Description
The vCenter Server includes a vSphere Client extensibility framework, which provides the ability to extend the vSphere Client with menu selections or toolbar icons that provide access to vCenter Server add-on components or external, Web-based functionality. vSphere Client plugins or extensions run at the same privilege level as the user. Malicious extensions might masquerade as useful add-ons while compromising the system by stealing credentials or incorrectly configuring the system.

Description

The vCenter Server includes a vSphere Client extensibility framework, which provides the ability to extend the vSphere Client with menu selections or toolbar icons that provide access to vCenter Server add-on components or external, Web-based functionality. vSphere Client plugins or extensions run at the same privilege level as the user. Malicious extensions might masquerade as useful add-ons while compromising the system by stealing credentials or incorrectly configuring the system.

STIG	Date
VMware vCenter Server Version 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-12-18

Details

Check Text ( C-46789r2_chk )
Verify the vSphere Client used by administrators includes only authorized extensions from trusted sources: From the vSphere Client, "Plug-ins>> Manage Plug-ins" and click the Installed Plug-ins tab. View the Installed/Available Plug-ins list and verify they are all identified as authorized VMware, 3rd party (Partner) and/or site-specific (locally developed and site) approved plug-ins. If any Installed/Available plug-ins in the viewable list cannot be verified as vSphere Client plug-ins and/or authorized extensions from trusted sources, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-46789r2_chk )

Verify the vSphere Client used by administrators includes only authorized extensions from trusted sources:
From the vSphere Client, "Plug-ins>> Manage Plug-ins" and click the Installed Plug-ins tab. View the Installed/Available Plug-ins list and verify they are all identified as authorized VMware, 3rd party (Partner) and/or site-specific (locally developed and site) approved plug-ins.

If any Installed/Available plug-ins in the viewable list cannot be verified as vSphere Client plug-ins and/or authorized extensions from trusted sources, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-44577r2_fix)
Disable/remove all listed plug-ins that cannot be verified as distributed from trusted sources: From the vSphere client, connect to the vCenter server. On the menu bar, go to "Plug-ins >> Manage Plug-ins". Under Installed Plug-ins, right-click the plug-in of choice and select Disable.