Expired certificates must be removed from the vCenter Server.

From VMware vCenter Server Version 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000366

SV-51411r1_rule Expired certificates must be removed from the vCenter Server.

Vulnerability discussion

If expired certificates are not removed from the vCenter Server, the user can be subject to a MiTM attack, which potentially might enable compromise through impersonation with the user's credentials to the vCenter Server system.

Check content

To check the status of SSL certificates on vCenter Server, open the vSphere Client and connect to the vCenter Server and log in. In the Security Warning dialog, click View Certificate and check the Valid from mm/dd/yy to mm/dd/yy field for the expiry information. Click OK. If unable to determine the certificate status from the certificate details, ask the SA if there is a site procedure to ensure the monitoring and removal of expired certificates from the vCenter Server Windows host. Use this procedure to check the vCenter Server/host for the presence of expired certificates. If a procedure does not exist and/or expired certificates are found, this is a finding.

Fix text

If a site procedure to ensure the monitoring and removal of expired certificates from the vCenter Server Windows host does not exist, create one. Check the vCenter Server/host for the presence of expired certificates. Remove all expired certificates.

Pro Tips

Lavender hyperlinks in small type off to the right (of CSS class id, if you view the page source) point to globally unique URIs for each document and item. Copy the link location and paste anywhere you need to talk unambiguously about these things.

You can obtain data about documents and items in other formats. Simply provide an HTTP header Accept: text/turtle or Accept: application/rdf+xml.