VCSA-80-000077 The vCenter Server must enable FIPS-validated cryptography.

Information

FIPS 140-2 is the current standard for validating that mechanisms used to access cryptographic modules use authentication that meets DOD requirements.

In vSphere 6.7 and later, ESXi and vCenter Server use FIPS-validated cryptography to protect management interfaces and the VMware Certificate Authority (VMCA).

vSphere 7.0 Update 2 and later adds additional FIPS-validated cryptography to vCenter Server Appliance. By default, this FIPS validation option is disabled and must be enabled.

Satisfies: SRG-APP-000172, SRG-APP-000179, SRG-APP-000224, SRG-APP-000231, SRG-APP-000412, SRG-APP-000514, SRG-APP-000555, SRG-APP-000600, SRG-APP-000610, SRG-APP-000620, SRG-APP-000630, SRG-APP-000635

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

Solution

From the vSphere Web Client go to Developer Center >> API Explorer.

From the "Select API" drop-down menu, select appliance.

Expand system/security/global_fips >> PUT.

In the response body under "Try it out" paste the following:

{
"enabled": true
}

Click "Execute".

or

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

$spec = Initialize-SystemSecurityGlobalFipsUpdateSpec -Enabled $true; Invoke-SetSystemGlobalFips -SystemSecurityGlobalFipsUpdateSpec $spec

Note: The vCenter server reboots after FIPS is enabled or disabled.

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_VMW_vSphere_8-0_Y24M08_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION, MAINTENANCE, SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

References: 800-53|IA-3(1), 800-53|IA-5(1)(c), 800-53|IA-7, 800-53|MA-4(6), 800-53|SC-13, 800-53|SC-23(3), 800-53|SC-28, CAT|I, CCI|CCI-000197, CCI|CCI-000803, CCI|CCI-001188, CCI|CCI-001199, CCI|CCI-001967, CCI|CCI-002450, CCI|CCI-003123, Rule-ID|SV-258917r961029_rule, STIG-ID|VCSA-80-000077, Vuln-ID|V-258917

Plugin: VMware

Control ID: 2584fe3185f26edc5747d32742c3add43882aa6448ef58aeea273174fbf7f4c4