UCF STIG Viewer Logo

The VMM must enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-63867 ESXI-06-200031 SV-78357r1_rule Medium
Description
To enforce the use of complex passwords, minimum numbers of characters of different classes are mandated. The use of complex passwords reduces the ability of attackers to successfully obtain valid passwords using guessing or exhaustive search techniques. Complexity requirements increase the password search space by requiring users to construct passwords from a larger character set than they may otherwise use.
STIG Date
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2019-01-04

Details

Check Text ( C-64617r1_chk )
From the vSphere Client select the ESXi Host and go to Configuration >> Advanced Settings. Select the Security.PasswordQualityControl value and verify it is set to "similar=deny retry=3 min=disabled,disabled,disabled,disabled,15"

or

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

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

If the Security.PasswordQualityControl setting is not set to "similar=deny retry=3 min=disabled,disabled,disabled,disabled,15", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-69795r1_fix)
From the vSphere Client select the ESXi Host and go to Configuration >> Advanced Settings. Select the Security.PasswordQualityControl value and configure it to "similar=deny retry=3 min=disabled,disabled,disabled,disabled,15".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Security.PasswordQualityControl | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value "similar=deny retry=3 min=disabled,disabled,disabled,disabled,15"