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The ESXi host must enforce the limit of three consecutive invalid logon attempts by a user.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-239262 ESXI-67-000005 SV-239262r674715_rule Medium
Description
By limiting the number of failed logon attempts, the risk of unauthorized access via user password guessing, otherwise known as brute forcing, is reduced. Once the configured number of attempts is reached, the account is locked by the ESXi host.
STIG Date
VMware vSphere 6.7 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide 2022-01-05

Details

Check Text ( C-42495r674713_chk )
From the vSphere Client, select the ESXi host and go to Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Select the "Security.AccountLockFailures" value and verify it is set to "3".

or

From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Security.AccountLockFailures

If "Security.AccountLockFailures" is set to a value other than "3", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-42454r674714_fix)
From the vSphere Client, select the ESXi host and go to Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Click "Edit", select the "Security.AccountLockFailures" value, and configure it to "3".

or

From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Security.AccountLockFailures | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value 3