The VMM must implement replay-resistant authentication mechanisms for network access to privileged accounts by using the vSphere Authentication Proxy.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-63895	ESXI-06-200038	SV-78385r2_rule		Medium

Description
If you configure your host to join an Active Directory domain using Host Profiles the Active Directory credentials are saved in the host profile and are transmitted over the network. To avoid having to save Active Directory credentials in the Host Profile and to avoid transmitting Active Directory credentials over the network use the vSphere Authentication Proxy.

STIG	Date
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2019-01-04

Details

Check Text ( C-64645r2_chk )
From the vSphere Client go to Home >> Host Profiles. Select a Host Profile to edit. View the settings under Authentication Configuration >> Active Directory Configuration >> JoinDomain Method. Verify the method used to join hosts to a domain is set to "Use vSphere Authentication Proxy to add the host to domain". or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to vCenter run the following command: Get-VMHost \| Select Name, ` @{N="HostProfile";E={$_ \| Get-VMHostProfile}}, ` @{N="JoinADEnabled";E={($_ \| Get-VmHostProfile).ExtensionData.Config.ApplyProfile.Authentication.ActiveDirectory.Enabled}}, ` @{N="JoinDomainMethod";E={(($_ \| Get-VMHostProfile).ExtensionData.Config.ApplyProfile.Authentication.ActiveDirectory \| Select -ExpandProperty Policy \| Where {$_.Id -eq "JoinDomainMethodPolicy"}).Policyoption.Id}} Verify if "JoinADEnabled" is "True" then "JoinDomainMethod" should be "FixedCAMConfigOption". For systems that do not use Active Directory and have no local user accounts, other than root, dcui, and/or vpxuser, this is Not Applicable. For systems that do not use Active Directory and do have local user accounts, other than root, dcui, and/or vpxuser, this is a finding. If vSphere Authentication Proxy is not used to join hosts to an Active Directory domain, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-64645r2_chk )

From the vSphere Client go to Home >> Host Profiles.

Select a Host Profile to edit.

View the settings under Authentication Configuration >> Active Directory Configuration >> JoinDomain Method.

Verify the method used to join hosts to a domain is set to "Use vSphere Authentication Proxy to add the host to domain".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Select Name, ` @{N="HostProfile";E={$_ | Get-VMHostProfile}}, ` @{N="JoinADEnabled";E={($_ | Get-VmHostProfile).ExtensionData.Config.ApplyProfile.Authentication.ActiveDirectory.Enabled}}, ` @{N="JoinDomainMethod";E={(($_ | Get-VMHostProfile).ExtensionData.Config.ApplyProfile.Authentication.ActiveDirectory | Select -ExpandProperty Policy | Where {$_.Id -eq "JoinDomainMethodPolicy"}).Policyoption.Id}}

Verify if "JoinADEnabled" is "True" then "JoinDomainMethod" should be "FixedCAMConfigOption".

For systems that do not use Active Directory and have no local user accounts, other than root, dcui, and/or vpxuser, this is Not Applicable.

For systems that do not use Active Directory and do have local user accounts, other than root, dcui, and/or vpxuser, this is a finding.

If vSphere Authentication Proxy is not used to join hosts to an Active Directory domain, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-69823r2_fix)
When using host profiles do the following: From the vSphere Client, go to Home >> Host Profiles. Select a Host Profile to edit. View the settings under Authentication Configuration >> Active Directory Configuration >> JoinDomain Method. Set the method used to join hosts to a domain to "Use vSphere Authentication Proxy to add the host to domain". Provide the IP address of the vSphere Authentication Proxy server. To join a host to Active Directory manually without host profiles do the following: From the vSphere Client, select the ESXi Host and go to Configuration >> Authentication Services. Click Properties. Change the "Directory Service Type" to "Active Directory". Enter the domain to join. Check "Use vSphere Authentication Proxy". Enter the proxy server address. Click "Join Domain".

Fix Text (F-69823r2_fix)

When using host profiles do the following:

From the vSphere Client, go to Home >> Host Profiles.

Select a Host Profile to edit.

View the settings under Authentication Configuration >> Active Directory Configuration >> JoinDomain Method.

Set the method used to join hosts to a domain to "Use vSphere Authentication Proxy to add the host to domain".

Provide the IP address of the vSphere Authentication Proxy server.

To join a host to Active Directory manually without host profiles do the following:

From the vSphere Client, select the ESXi Host and go to Configuration >> Authentication Services.

Click Properties.

Change the "Directory Service Type" to "Active Directory".

Enter the domain to join.

Check "Use vSphere Authentication Proxy".

Enter the proxy server address.

Click "Join Domain".