7.6 (L1) Virtual machines must limit console sharing.

Information

By default, remote console sessions can be connected to by more than one user at a time. Permit only one remote console connection to a VM at a time. Other attempts will be rejected until the first connection disconnects.

When multiple sessions are activated, each terminal window gets a notification about the new session. If an administrator in the VM logs in using a VMware remote console during their session, a non-administrator in the VM can connect to the console and observe the administrator's actions. Also, this could result in an administrator losing console access to a VM. For example, if a jump box is being used for an open console session, and the admin loses a connection to that box, the console session remains open. Allowing two console sessions permits debugging via a shared session. For highest security, only one remote console session at a time should be allowed.

Solution

To set this configuration utilize the vSphere interface as follows:

- Select the VM then select Actions followed by Edit Settings
- Click on the VM Options tab then expand Advanced
- Click on EDIT CONFIGURATION
- Click on ADD CONFIGURATION PARAMS then input RemoteDisplay.maxConnections with a value of 1
- Click OK then OK again.

Alternatively, run the following PowerCLI command for VMs that do not specify the setting:

# Add the setting to all VMs
Get-VM | New-AdvancedSetting -Name "RemoteDisplay.maxConnections" -value 1

Run the following PowerCLI command for VMs that specify the setting but have the wrong value for it:

# Add the setting to all VMs
Get-VM | New-AdvancedSetting -Name "RemoteDisplay.maxConnections" -value 1 -Force

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/15784

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT, SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION

References: 800-53|CM-1, 800-53|CM-2, 800-53|CM-6, 800-53|CM-7, 800-53|CM-7(1), 800-53|CM-9, 800-53|SA-3, 800-53|SA-8, 800-53|SA-10, CSCv7|9.2, CSCv7|14.7

Plugin: VMware

Control ID: bb9354801eebc9799735e310ab2401cffe80455738b961128bf844cdc785eae4