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The ESXi host must prohibit password reuse for a minimum of five generations.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-258735 ESXI-80-000043 SV-258735r1003559_rule Medium
Description
If a user or root used the same password continuously or was allowed to change it back shortly after being forced to change it to something else, it would provide a potential intruder with the opportunity to keep guessing at one user's password until it was guessed correctly.
STIG Date
VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide 2024-07-11

Details

Check Text ( C-62475r933264_chk )
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Select the "Security.PasswordHistory" value and verify it is set to "5" or greater.

or

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

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

If the "Security.PasswordHistory" setting is set to a value other than 5 or greater, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-62384r933265_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Click "Edit". Select the "Security.PasswordHistory" value and configure it to "5".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Security.PasswordHistory | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value 5