First Published: October 31, 2018

Last Updated: July 18, 2024

Configure vCenter Security Hardening Settings

For the security hardening of vCenter, there are two additional parameters that must be configured manually in addition to the ones set via the automated script. For information on the automated script, see Automation Script for Setting STIG Parameters.

To configure these two additional vCenter Security Hardening settings:

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Set the vpxd.hostPasswordLength parameter to 32.
  2. Disable the vCenter Server Datastore browser.

DETAILED STEPS

Step 1

Set the vpxd.hostPasswordLength parameter to 32.

  • The vpxuser password default length is 32 characters.

  • The vpxuser password length must never be modified to less than the default length of 32 characters.

  • From the vSphere Web Client, go to vCenter Inventory Lists >> vCenter Servers >> Select your vCenter Server >> Manage >> Settings >> Advanced Settings. Click Edit and edit the config.vpxd.hostPasswordLength setting to 32, or if the value does not exist, create it by entering the values in the Key and Value fields. Then click Add.

  • If required, to change the password length policy, locate the vCenter Server configuration file “vpxd.cfg” on the system where vCenter Server is running and edit the vpxd.hostPasswordLength parameter.

  • Restart the vCenter Server.

Step 2

Disable the vCenter Server Datastore browser.

  • Stop the VirtualCenter Server service.

  • Locate the vpxd.cfg file on the system where vCenter Server is running.

  • Open the vpxd.cfg file using a text editor.

  • Locate the <vpxd> and </vpxd> tags and add the following entry in tags, shown as follows: 
    <vpxd>
     <enableHttpDatastoreAccess>false</enableHttpDatastoreAccess>
</vpxd>

  • Save the changes to the vpxd.cfg file.

  • Start the VirtualCenter Server service.

Automation Script for Setting STIG Parameters

The STIG automation script for setting the STIG parameters for the Controller VMs, ESXi hosts, and vCenter in an HX Cluster can be executed either from the Controller VM or from a server with the following specification:

  • Ubuntu Version: 16.04.4 LTS (Xenial Xerus)

  • Python Version: 2.7.12

  • Packages required: pyvmomi

The script, the configuration file, and log file are present on the controller VM at location. The file names are:

  • /usr/share/secureshell-config/configureStig.py

  • /var/log/hyperflex/check_and_enable_stig.log

  • /var/log/hyperflex/apply_stig.log

The following versions are supported for multiple ESXi and vCenter versions:

  • v 6.0

  • v 6.5

  • v 6.7

  • v 7.0

For more information on the parameters, see https://hxsrc.cisco.com/bitbucket-eng-chn-sjc1.cisco.com/HXDP/cypress@master/-/blob/src/sysmgmt/stig/config/stig_parameters.ini Valid log in credentials are required.

To run the STIG automation script, Log in to cluster or any of the controller VM and run the command configureStig or run this script /usr/share/secureshell-config/configureStig.py.

To set the STIG parameters manually for security hardening, see the following sections:


Note

1. When an HX cluster is expanded where STIG is already enabled, the STIG settings are automatically applied to the newly added hosts and VMs. If STIG is not enabled on the cluster the script needs to be run again or the settings have to be manually applied.

2. Currently if user wants to reset the STIG settings, this has to be done manually.

Set STIG Parameters for ESXi Hosts

This procedure provides the instructions for manually setting the STIG parameters for ESXi hosts.


Warning

This causes the ESXi shell to be disabled after 900 seconds, which causes the HX upgrade to fail.

To manually set the STIG parameters for ESXi hosts:

Steps for vCenter Version 6.0 Using vSphere Web Client:

This workflow is for use with HyperFlex Release 5.0(1c) and earlier.

  1. Browse to the host in the vSphere Web client inventory.

  2. Click the Manage tab and click Settings.

  3. Under System, select Advanced System Settings.

  4. Select UserVars.ESXiShellTimeOut and click the Edit icon.

  5. Enter the idle timeout setting.

  6. Restart the SSH service for the timeout to take effect.

    1. Select the host.

    2. Click the Manage tab and click Settings.

    3. Under System, select Security Profile.

    4. In the Services section, click Edit.

    5. Select SSH.

    6. Click Restart.

    7. Click OK.

  7. Click OK.

Steps for vCenter Version 6.5 and 6.7 Using vSphere Web Client:

This workflow is for use with HyperFlex Release 5.0(2a) and 5.5(x).

  1. Browse to the host in the vSphere Web Client inventory.

  2. Click Configure.

  3. Under System, select Advanced System Settings.

  4. Select UserVars.ESXiShellTimeOut and click the Edit icon.

  5. Enter the Value.

  6. Restart the SSH service for the timeout to take effect.

    1. Select the host.

    2. Click the Manage tab and click Settings.

    3. Under System, select Security Profile.

    4. In the Services section, click Edit.

    5. Select SSH.

    6. Click Restart.

    7. Click OK.

Steps for vCenter Version 7.0:

This workflow is for use with HyperFlex Release 6.0(1a) and later.

Configure STIG:Configure stig on a cluster by running the configureStig command on the HX shell or by invoking the REST API :

Verify STIG Settings:After stig is enbled on a cluster, verify the compliance using the check stig command or the rest API:

Set STIG Parameters for Controller VMs

This procedure provides the instructions for setting the STIG parameters for Controller VMs:


Note

It is recommended that you set this parameter for the VMs in the cluster one at a time. Each time after powering on the VM, wait for the cluster state to be healthy before proceeding to the next one.

Procedure

Step 1

To set the STIG parameters for vCenter version 6.0 using vSphere web client:

  1. Log in to the vCenter Server system using the vSphere Client.

  2. Select the virtual machine in the inventory.

  3. Right click on the virtual machine > Power > Power off.

  4. Select the Virtual Machine.

  5. Right click and go to Edit Settings.

  6. Select Virtual Hardware >> target hard disk and change the mode to Independent-persistent.

  7. Right click the virtual machine > Power > Power on.

Step 2

To set the STIG parameters for vCenter version 6.5 using vSphere web client:

  1. Log in to the vCenter Server system using the vSphere web client.

  2. Select the virtual machine in the inventory.

  3. Right click on the vitual machine > Power > Power off.

  4. Select the Virtual Machine.

  5. Right click and go to Edit Settings.

  6. Select Virtual Hardware >> target hard disk and change the mode to Independent-persistent.

  7. Right click on the virtual machine > Power > Power on.

Set ESXi Welcome Message

To manually set the ESXi Welcome message:

Procedure

Step 1

Using the vSphere Client, select the ESXi host in the Inventory.

Step 2

Click the Configuration tab.

Step 3

Click Advanced Settings under Software.

Step 4

Click Annotations.

Step 5

Enter the desired text in the Annotations.WelcomeMessage field.

Step 6

Click OK.

Or, you can use the following procedure:

  1. Browse to the host in the vSphere Web Client inventory.

  2. Click the Manage tab and click Settings.

  3. Under System, select Advanced System Settings.

  4. Select Annotations.WelcomeMessage and click the Edit icon.

  5. Enter the desired text.

  6. Click OK.

    Note

     

    When a HX cluster is expanded, the STIG settings do not automatically get applied to the newly added hosts and VMs. Either the script has be to run again or the settings have to applied manually.

    Currently if user wants to reset the STIG settings, it has to be done manually.

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