The ESXi host must enable bidirectional Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) authentication for Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) traffic.

An XCCDF Rule

Description

<VulnDiscussion>When enabled, vSphere performs bidirectional authentication of both the iSCSI target and host. When not authenticating both the iSCSI target and host, there is potential for a man-in-the-middle attack, in which an attacker might impersonate either side of the connection to steal data. Bidirectional authentication mitigates this risk.</VulnDiscussion><FalsePositives></FalsePositives><FalseNegatives></FalseNegatives><Documentable>false</Documentable><Mitigations></Mitigations><SeverityOverrideGuidance></SeverityOverrideGuidance><PotentialImpacts></PotentialImpacts><ThirdPartyTools></ThirdPartyTools><MitigationControl></MitigationControl><Responsibility></Responsibility><IAControls></IAControls>

ID: SV-256415r886026_rule
Severity: Medium
References: CCI-000366
Updated: 9 months ago

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> Storage >> Storage Adapters.

Select the iSCSI adapter >> Properties >> Authentication. 
Click "Edit...". Set "Authentication Method" to "Use bidirectional CHAP" and enter a unique secret for each traffic flow direction.

or

From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostHba | Where {$_.Type -eq "iscsi"} | Set-VMHostHba -ChapType Required -ChapName "chapname" -ChapPassword "password" -MutualChapEnabled $true -MutualChapName "mutualchapname" -MutualChapPassword "mutualpassword"

The ESXi host must enable bidirectional Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) authentication for Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) traffic.

Description

Remediation - Manual Procedure