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The ESXi host Secure Shell (SSH) daemon must not allow authentication using an empty password.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-256387 ESXI-70-000015 SV-256387r885942_rule Low
Description
Configuring this setting for the SSH daemon provides additional assurance that remote logon via SSH will require a password, even in the event of misconfiguration elsewhere.
STIG Date
VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide 2023-06-21

Details

Check Text ( C-60062r885940_chk )
From an ESXi shell, run the following command:

# /usr/lib/vmware/openssh/bin/sshd -T|grep permitemptypasswords

Expected result:

permitemptypasswords no

If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-60005r885941_fix)
From an ESXi shell, add or correct the following line in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config":

PermitEmptyPasswords no