Log files must be cleaned up after failed installations of the vCenter Server.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-39554	VCENTER-000016	SV-51412r1_rule		Medium

Description
If the vCenter installation fails, a log file (with a name of the form "hs_err_pidXXXX") is created that contains the database password in plain text. An attacker who breaks into the vCenter Server could potentially steal this password and access the vCenter Database.

STIG	Date
VMware vCenter Server Version 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2014-11-10

Details

Check Text ( C-46779r1_chk )
If at any time a vCenter Server installation fails, only the log files of format "hs_err_pid...." should be identified on the Windows host and deleted securely before putting the host into production. Determine if a site policy exists for handling failed installation cleanup of the Windows host prior to deployment. Using the Windows host search function, determine the existence of any log files of format "hs_err_pid". If a file name of the format "hs_err_pid" is found, this is a finding. If a site policy does not exist and/or is not followed, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-46779r1_chk )

If at any time a vCenter Server installation fails, only the log files of format "hs_err_pid...." should be identified on the Windows host and deleted securely before putting the host into production. Determine if a site policy exists for handling failed installation cleanup of the Windows host prior to deployment. Using the Windows host search function, determine the existence of any log files of format "hs_err_pid".

If a file name of the format "hs_err_pid" is found, this is a finding.

If a site policy does not exist and/or is not followed, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-44567r1_fix)
Develop a site policy for handling failed installation cleanup of the Windows host prior to deployment. Using the Windows host search function, determine the existence of any log files of format "hs_err_pid and remove them.