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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-258728 ESXI-80-000005 SV-258728r958388_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 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide 2024-07-11

Details

Check Text ( C-62468r933243_chk )
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> 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 the "Security.AccountLockFailures" setting is set to a value other than "3", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-62377r933244_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> 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