The ESXi host must configure NTP time synchronization.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-256409	ESXI-70-000046	SV-256409r886008_rule		Medium

Description
To ensure the accuracy of the system clock, it must be synchronized with an authoritative time source within DOD. Many system functions, including time-based logon and activity restrictions, automated reports, system logs, and audit records, depend on an accurate system clock. If there is no confidence in the correctness of the system clock, time-based functions may not operate as intended and records may be of diminished value. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000355-VMM-001330, SRG-OS-000356-VMM-001340

Description

To ensure the accuracy of the system clock, it must be synchronized with an authoritative time source within DOD. Many system functions, including time-based logon and activity restrictions, automated reports, system logs, and audit records, depend on an accurate system clock. If there is no confidence in the correctness of the system clock, time-based functions may not operate as intended and records may be of diminished value. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000355-VMM-001330, SRG-OS-000356-VMM-001340

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

Details

Check Text ( C-60084r886006_chk )
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration. Under "Current Time Configuration", verify "Time Synchronization" is set to "Network Time Protocol". Under "Network Time Protocol", verify the "NTP Servers" are authorized DOD time sources. If the ESXi host is not configured to pull time from authoritative DOD time sources, this is a finding. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands: Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostNTPServer Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostService \| Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} If the NTP service is not configured with authoritative DOD time sources or the service does not have a "Policy" of "on" or is stopped, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-60084r886006_chk )

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration.

Under "Current Time Configuration", verify "Time Synchronization" is set to "Network Time Protocol".

Under "Network Time Protocol", verify the "NTP Servers" are authorized DOD time sources.

If the ESXi host is not configured to pull time from authoritative DOD time sources, this is a finding.

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostNTPServer
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"}

If the NTP service is not configured with authoritative DOD time sources or the service does not have a "Policy" of "on" or is stopped, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-60027r886007_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration. Under "Network Time Protocol", click "Edit...". Ensure the "NTP Servers" are authorized DOD time sources. Ensure the "NTP Service Startup Policy" is set to "Start and stop with host". Ensure the "Enable" checkbox, in the upper left, is checked. Click "OK". Click "Edit" to configure the NTP service to start and stop with the host and with authoritative DOD time sources. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands: $NTPServers = "ntpserver1","ntpserver2" Get-VMHost \| Add-VMHostNTPServer $NTPServers Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostService \| Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} \| Set-VMHostService -Policy On Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostService \| Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} \| Start-VMHostService

Fix Text (F-60027r886007_fix)

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration.

Under "Network Time Protocol", click "Edit...". Ensure the "NTP Servers" are authorized DOD time sources.

Ensure the "NTP Service Startup Policy" is set to "Start and stop with host".

Ensure the "Enable" checkbox, in the upper left, is checked. Click "OK".

Click "Edit" to configure the NTP service to start and stop with the host and with authoritative DOD time sources.

or

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

$NTPServers = "ntpserver1","ntpserver2"
Get-VMHost | Add-VMHostNTPServer $NTPServers
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} | Set-VMHostService -Policy On
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} | Start-VMHostService