The ESXi host Secure Shell (SSH) daemon must display the Standard Mandatory DOD Notice and Consent Banner before granting access to the system.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-258753	ESXI-80-000192	SV-258753r958390_rule		Medium

Description
Display of a standardized and approved use notification before granting access to the host ensures privacy and security notification verbiage used is consistent with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance. System use notifications are required only for access via logon interfaces with human users and are not required when such human interfaces do not exist. The banner must be formatted in accordance with applicable DOD policy. Use the following verbiage for a host that can accommodate banners of 1300 characters: "You are accessing a U.S. Government (USG) VMM (IS) that is provided for USG-authorized use only. By using this IS (which includes any device attached to this IS), you consent to the following conditions: -The USG routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this IS for purposes including, but not limited to, penetration testing, COMSEC monitoring, network operations and defense, personnel misconduct (PM), law enforcement (LE), and counterintelligence (CI) investigations. -At any time, the USG may inspect and seize data stored on this IS. -Communications using, or data stored on, this IS are not private, are subject to routine monitoring, interception, and search, and may be disclosed or used for any USG-authorized purpose. -This IS includes security measures (e.g., authentication and access controls) to protect USG interests--not for your personal benefit or privacy. -Notwithstanding the above, using this IS does not constitute consent to PM, LE or CI investigative searching or monitoring of the content of privileged communications, or work product, related to personal representation or services by attorneys, psychotherapists, or clergy, and their assistants. Such communications and work product are private and confidential. See User Agreement for details." Use the following verbiage for VMMs that have severe limitations on the number of characters that can be displayed in the banner: "I've read (literal ampersand) consent to terms in IS user agreem't."

Description

Display of a standardized and approved use notification before granting access to the host ensures privacy and security notification verbiage used is consistent with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance. System use notifications are required only for access via logon interfaces with human users and are not required when such human interfaces do not exist. The banner must be formatted in accordance with applicable DOD policy. Use the following verbiage for a host that can accommodate banners of 1300 characters: "You are accessing a U.S. Government (USG) VMM (IS) that is provided for USG-authorized use only. By using this IS (which includes any device attached to this IS), you consent to the following conditions: -The USG routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this IS for purposes including, but not limited to, penetration testing, COMSEC monitoring, network operations and defense, personnel misconduct (PM), law enforcement (LE), and counterintelligence (CI) investigations. -At any time, the USG may inspect and seize data stored on this IS. -Communications using, or data stored on, this IS are not private, are subject to routine monitoring, interception, and search, and may be disclosed or used for any USG-authorized purpose. -This IS includes security measures (e.g., authentication and access controls) to protect USG interests--not for your personal benefit or privacy. -Notwithstanding the above, using this IS does not constitute consent to PM, LE or CI investigative searching or monitoring of the content of privileged communications, or work product, related to personal representation or services by attorneys, psychotherapists, or clergy, and their assistants. Such communications and work product are private and confidential. See User Agreement for details." Use the following verbiage for VMMs that have severe limitations on the number of characters that can be displayed in the banner: "I've read (literal ampersand) consent to terms in IS user agreem't."

STIG	Date
VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-07-11

Details

Check Text ( C-62493r933318_chk )
From an ESXi shell, run the following command: # esxcli system ssh server config list -k banner or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands: $esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2 $esxcli.system.ssh.server.config.list.invoke() \| Where-Object {$_.Key -eq 'banner'} Example result: banner /etc/issue If "banner" is not configured to "/etc/issue", this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-62493r933318_chk )

From an ESXi shell, run the following command:

# esxcli system ssh server config list -k banner

or

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

$esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2
$esxcli.system.ssh.server.config.list.invoke() | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq 'banner'}

Example result:

banner /etc/issue

If "banner" is not configured to "/etc/issue", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-62402r933319_fix)
From an ESXi shell, run the following command: # esxcli system ssh server config set -k banner -v /etc/issue or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands: $esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2 $arguments = $esxcli.system.ssh.server.config.set.CreateArgs() $arguments.keyword = 'banner' $arguments.value = '/etc/issue' $esxcli.system.ssh.server.config.set.Invoke($arguments)

Fix Text (F-62402r933319_fix)

From an ESXi shell, run the following command:

# esxcli system ssh server config set -k banner -v /etc/issue

or

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

$esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2
$arguments = $esxcli.system.ssh.server.config.set.CreateArgs()
$arguments.keyword = 'banner'
$arguments.value = '/etc/issue'
$esxcli.system.ssh.server.config.set.Invoke($arguments)