Details

The vpxuser password default length is 32 characters. Ensure this setting meets site policies; if not, configure to meet password length policies. Longer passwords make brute-force password attacks more difficult. The vpxuser password is added by vCenter, meaning no manual intervention is normally required. The vpxuser password length must never be modified to less than the default length of 32 characters.

Solution

From the vSphere Web Client go to Host and Clusters >> Select a vCenter Server >> Configure >> Settings >> Advanced Settings. Click ‘Edit’ and edit the ‘config.vpxd.hostPasswordLength’ value to ’32’ or if the value does not exist create it by entering the values in the ‘Key’ and ‘Value’ fields and clicking ‘Add’.

or

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

If the setting already exists:
Get-AdvancedSetting -Entity -Name config.vpxd.hostPasswordLength | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value 32

If the setting does not exist:
New-AdvancedSetting -Entity -Name config.vpxd.hostPasswordLength -Value 32

Supportive Information

The following resource is also helpful.

• https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_VMW_vSphere_6-5_Y21M10_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
• Rule-ID|SV-216846r612237_rule
• STIG-ID|VCWN-65-000024
• STIG-Legacy|SV-104589
• STIG-Legacy|V-94759
• Vuln-ID|V-216846

Source

• Tenable.com/audits