VM Tools: guest-8.tools-prevent-recustomization

Information

The guest OS on deployed and customized virtual machines must prevent being recustomized. The VM deployment process offers many options for vSphere Admins to customize VMs, using scripts and running commands. This can also be an avenue for an adversary to gain access to data inside a VM, by cloning & recustomizing. Once a VM is deployed it should be prevented from being customized again (if you change your mind you can always revert it). Do not do this on template VMs.

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

Solution

C:\\Program Files\\VMware\\VMware Tools\\VMwareToolboxCmd.exe config set deployPkg enable-customization false

See Also

https://github.com/vmware/vcf-security-and-compliance-guidelines/raw/refs/heads/main/security-configuration-hardening-guide/vsphere/8.0/