Details
If enabled, a VM can obtain detailed information about the physical host. The default value for the parameter is FALSE. This setting should not be TRUE unless a particular VM requires this information for performance monitoring. An adversary potentially can use this information to inform further attacks on the host.
Solution
From the vSphere Client select the Virtual Machine right click and go to Edit Settings >> VM Options Tab >> Advanced >> Configuration Parameters. Find the tools.guestlib.enableHostInfo value and set it to false. If the setting does not exist click ‘Add Row’ to add the setting to the virtual machine.
Note: The VM must be powered off to configure the advanced settings through the vSphere Client so it is recommended to configure these settings with PowerCLI as it can be done while the VM is powered on.
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host or vCenter server run the following command:
If the setting does not exist run:
Get-VM ‘VM Name’ | New-AdvancedSetting -Name tools.guestlib.enableHostInfo -Value false
If the setting exists run:
Get-VM ‘VM Name’ | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name tools.guestlib.enableHostInfo | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value false
Supportive Information
The following resource is also helpful.
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-64115
- Rule-ID|SV-78605r1_rule
- STIG-ID|VMCH-06-000039
- Vuln-ID|V-64115