Details

The executable search path (typically the PATH environment variable) contains a list of directories for the shell to search to find executables. If this path includes the current working directory or other relative paths, executables in these directories may be executed instead of system commands. This variable is formatted as a colon-separated list of directories. If there is an empty entry, such as a leading or trailing colon or two consecutive colons, this is interpreted as the current working directory. Entries starting with a slash (/) are absolute paths.

NOTE: Nessus has not performed this check. Please review the benchmark to ensure target compliance.

Solution

Disable lock down mode.
Enable the ESXi Shell.
= /etc/profile
= PATH
= /bin:/sbin
Execute the following command(s):
# vi /etc/profile

Set the ‘PATH’ to ‘/bin:/sbin’.

Re-enable lock down mode.

Supportive Information

The following resource is also helpful.

• https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_VMW_ESXi5_Server_V2R1_STIG.zip

This security hardening control applies to the following category of controls within NIST 800-53: Configuration Management.This control applies to the following type of system VMware.

References

• 800-53|CM-6b.
• CAT|II
• CCI|CCI-000366
• Group-ID|V-39273
• Rule-ID|SV-250575r798724_rule
• STIG-ID|GEN000940-ESXI5-000042
• STIG-Legacy|SV-51089
• STIG-Legacy|V-39273
• Vuln-ID|V-250575

Source

• Tenable.com/audits