8.7.3 Do not send host information to guests

Information

Configure VMware Tools to disable host info from being sent to guests.

*Rationale*

If set to TRUE 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


To implement the recommended configuration state, run the following PowerCLI
command-# Add the setting to all VMs
Get-VM | New-AdvancedSetting -Name 'tools.guestlib.enableHostInfo' -value $false

Impact-Unable to retrieve performance information about the host from inside the guest, there are
times when this can be useful for troubleshooting.

Default Value-The prescribed state is the default state.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/902

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

References: 800-53|SC-4

Plugin: VMware

Control ID: f29f1b21469ef081d302ae0ff22a797e637de4542c4ce2f9142b0c80ce21a2ee