Remote logging for ESXi hosts must be configured.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-256378	ESXI-70-000004	SV-256378r885915_rule		Medium

Description
Remote logging to a central log host provides a secure, centralized store for ESXi logs. By gathering host log files onto a central host, it can more easily monitor all hosts with a single tool. It can also do aggregate analysis and searching to look for such things as coordinated attacks on multiple hosts. Logging to a secure, centralized log server also helps prevent log tampering and provides a long-term audit record. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000032-VMM-000130, SRG-OS-000342-VMM-001230, SRG-OS-000479-VMM-001990, SRG-OS-000059-VMM-000280, SRG-OS-000058-VMM-000270, SRG-OS-000051-VMM-000230

Description

Remote logging to a central log host provides a secure, centralized store for ESXi logs. By gathering host log files onto a central host, it can more easily monitor all hosts with a single tool. It can also do aggregate analysis and searching to look for such things as coordinated attacks on multiple hosts. Logging to a secure, centralized log server also helps prevent log tampering and provides a long-term audit record. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000032-VMM-000130, SRG-OS-000342-VMM-001230, SRG-OS-000479-VMM-001990, SRG-OS-000059-VMM-000280, SRG-OS-000058-VMM-000270, SRG-OS-000051-VMM-000230

STIG	Date
VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-06-21

Details

Check Text ( C-60053r885913_chk )
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings. Select the "Syslog.global.logHost" value and verify it is set to a site-specific syslog server. Follow the conventions shown below: udp://:514 tcp://:514 ssl://:1514 Multiple servers can be specified when separated by commas. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command: Get-VMHost \| Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Syslog.global.logHost If the "Syslog.global.logHost" setting is not set to a valid, site-specific syslog server, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-60053r885913_chk )

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Select the "Syslog.global.logHost" value and verify it is set to a site-specific syslog server.

Follow the conventions shown below:

udp://:514
tcp://:514
ssl://:1514

Multiple servers can be specified when separated by commas.

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Syslog.global.logHost

If the "Syslog.global.logHost" setting is not set to a valid, site-specific syslog server, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-59996r885914_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings. Click "Edit". Select the "Syslog.global.logHost" value and configure it to a site-specific syslog server. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command: Get-VMHost \| Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Syslog.global.logHost \| Set-AdvancedSetting -Value ""

Fix Text (F-59996r885914_fix)

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Click "Edit". Select the "Syslog.global.logHost" value and configure it to a site-specific syslog server.

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Syslog.global.logHost | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value ""