Veeam VBR Four-Eyes Authorization: How to Enable Dual Control for Backup Security

What Is Four-Eyes Authorization in Veeam VBR?

Veeam VBR Four-Eyes Authorization is a security feature that requires a second administrator’s approval before performing sensitive operations, such as:

• Deleting backups

• Modifying backup repositories

• Changing critical configuration settings

This dual-control mechanism significantly reduces insider threats and ransomware risks.

Why Four-Eyes Authorization Is Critical for Backup Security

Modern ransomware attacks specifically target backup infrastructure.
If attackers gain administrative access, they attempt to delete or encrypt backups first.

With Four-Eyes Authorization enabled:

• A single compromised account cannot delete backups

• Malicious configuration changes require approval

• Audit trails improve compliance and governance

This aligns with Zero Trust and defense-in-depth principles.

Prerequisites and Limitations

1. This feature is only available for Veeam Universal License or Enterprise Plus editions.

2. After a subscription license expires, existing requests can still be processed, but no new requests can be submitted.

3. Sensitive operations cannot be performed on tasks that are currently occupied or running.

4. Files in hardened storage cannot be directly deleted even with Four-Eyes Authorization.

5. At least two users must have Veeam Backup Administrator or Veeam Security Administrator permissions.

Creating Administrator Accounts

1. Create a new local computer account on the backup console server.

2. Open the backup console and select Users & Roles.

3. Click "Add" to add the account.

4. Enter the user account you just created and assign it Veeam Backup Administrator or Veeam Security Administrator permissions.

Enabling Four-Eyes Authorization

1. In the same interface, select Authorization.

2. Check the option; the number 7 indicates that requests will be automatically rejected if not approved within 7 days. (Disabling the Four-Eyes Authorization feature also requires approval from another administrator.)

Verifying Four-Eyes Authorization

The following key operations require Four-Eyes Authorization:

1. Deleting backups.

2. Managing storage infrastructure.

3. User management and authentication.

In this demonstration, we are disabling the MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) feature. The system will prompt that this change will only be applied after another administrator approves it.

1. After clicking YES, a pending approval will appear in the left taskbar.

2. Click to view details; the event is disabling MFA.

3. Log in with the other administrator account.

4. Once the console is open, the task will be under pending approvals.

5. You can click to Accept or Reject.

6. You can find the relevant record in the History tab.

7. The MFA feature has been successfully disabled.

Summary

Four-Eyes Authorization is a dual-authorization strategy that prevents errors or malicious actions caused by a single person. It effectively reduces the risks associated with the abuse of superuser privileges and human configuration errors. Configuring Four-Eyes Authorization is actually very simple. If you want to test it out, just make sure to check if your Veeam VBR version and license support it.

• Veeam Official Security Best Practices Guide
  https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backup/vsphere/security_best_practices.html

• Veeam Ransomware Protection Whitepaper
  https://www.veeam.com/ransomware-protection.html

• NIST Zero Trust Architecture (SP 800-207)
  https://www.nist.gov/publications/zero-trust-architecture

🔹 Security & Malware Defense

• VBR Security Feature Deep Dive – Malware Protection
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/vbr-security-feature-deep-dive-malware.html

• Veeam v13 Malware Detection – Comprehensive Guide
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/v13-malware-detection-comprehensive.html

• Top 10 High-Risk Cloud & Virtualization Threats
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/top-10-high-risk-cloudvirtualization.html

🔹 Installation & Upgrade Context

• Which Veeam v13 ISO Should You Download?
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/which-veeam-v13-iso-should-you-download.html

• Veeam Agent Installation Error Fix
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/veeam-agent-installation-error.html

Fix Yellow Exclamation Mark in WIFI: Causes and Proven Solutions

 A yellow exclamation mark usually indicates a warning-level issue, not a critical failure. The Yellow Exclamation Mark Next to Your Wi-Fi Signal: It's More Than Just a Reboot

Diagnostic Flowchart: Pinpoint the Problem in Three Minutes

First, answer three key questions:

1. Is the exclamation mark on all devices, or just one?

2. Does it say "Connected, but no internet access"?

3. Does the problem occur at a specific time (like after work)?

Based on your answers, use the following flowchart to quickly locate the issue:

Device shows exclamation mark → Check other devices →

   ├─> Other devices are fine → Problem is with the local device (75% probability)

   └─> All devices have issues → Problem is with the router or ISP (25% probability)

Scenario One: Single Device Failure (Most Common)

Step 1: Force a DHCP Renewal

Windows users open Command Prompt and enter:

 
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

macOS/Linux users use:

 
sudo dhclient -r
sudo dhclient

This command causes the device to obtain a new IP address, resolving 90% of configuration conflicts.

Step 2: Clear DNS Cache

Windows:  ipconfig /flushdns

macOS:  sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Android/iPhone: Turn on Airplane Mode for 10 seconds, then turn it off.

Step 3: Check for Static IP Conflict

If you ever manually set an IP, it might conflict with another device. Go to Wi-Fi settings → Advanced options → Change to "Obtain IP address and DNS automatically."

Professional Tool Assistance:

Use Fing (a phone app) to scan your network and see if your IP is being used by another device. If you find a conflict, assign a static IP (DHCP reservation) to your device in the router settings.

Scenario Two: Multiple Devices Failing Simultaneously

Step 1: Check Router Status Lights

· Internet light red/blinking: External network failure.

· Wi-Fi light off: Wireless function is disabled.

· Lights normal: DHCP service might be malfunctioning.

Step 2: Log into the Router Admin Page

Type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into your browser and check:

1. Connection Status: Does it show "Connected"?

2. Uptime: If it's been over 30 days, a reboot is recommended.

3. Client List: See if the number of connected devices has exceeded the limit.

Step 3: Diagnose DNS Issues

This is the most common cause. On a computer, run:

nslookup google.com

If it returns "server failure," the DNS is unavailable.

Temporary Solution:

Manually set your DNS to 8.8.8.8 (Google). For a long-term fix, change the DNS settings in your router.

Advanced Troubleshooting: Overlooked Security Settings

Case 1: MAC Address Filtering

If you just got a new device or reset your network settings, your router might have MAC address filtering enabled. Log into the router → Wireless Settings → MAC Filtering → Add your device's MAC address to the allow list.

Case 2: WPA2/WPA3 Compatibility Issues

Older devices may have problems connecting to a WPA3 network. Temporary fix: Change the router to "WPA2/WPA3 Mixed Mode." Long-term fix: Update the device's drivers or operating system.

Case 3: Channel Interference

Use WiFi Analyzer (a phone app) to scan nearby networks. If channels are congested (common on 2.4GHz channels 1, 6, and 11), switch your router to a less crowded channel in its settings.

Special Handling for Corporate Networks

When a yellow exclamation appears on the office Wi-Fi, also consider:

1. Captive Portal Blocking: Clear your browser cache and try opening a webpage again.

2. Certificate Issues: The company's CA certificate may have expired or not be installed.

3. VLAN Misconfiguration: Contact the IT department to check port settings.

4. Bandwidth Limiting Policies: Speeds may be throttled during certain hours.

Red Flags: Signs of a Possible Attack

If you experience the following along with the exclamation mark, disconnect immediately and investigate:

· The Internet is unusually slow, but data usage spikes.

· Unfamiliar hotspot names appear (like "Free WiFi").

· Device frequently disconnects and reconnects.

· Login page URL looks suspicious (not the company domain).

Response Measures:

1. Immediately disconnect from Wi-Fi and use mobile data.

2. Change passwords for all important accounts.

3. Factory reset your router and update its firmware.

4. Check if your router's DNS has been hijacked.

Preventive Maintenance Checklist

Spend 5 minutes each month checking:

· Is the router firmware up to date?

· Is the number of connected devices normal?

· Is the DHCP address pool sufficient?

· Are the 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels congested?

· Is the security mode set to WPA2/WPA3?

Perform quarterly:

· Reboot the router once.

· Change the Wi-Fi password.

· Back up the router configuration.

· Review parental control/access restriction rules.

Ultimate Solution Framework

When all else fails, follow this sequence:

1. Back up the current router configuration.

2. Perform a factory reset.

3. Manually reconfigure the router (do not restore from backup).

4. Reconnect devices one by one.

5. Monitor for 24 hours.

If the problem persists, it could be:

· Router hardware failure (especially for devices over 3 years old).

· ISP line issue (contact customer service for a line test).

· Physical interference in the building (new metal partitions or appliances).

The yellow exclamation mark is not your enemy; it's a messenger. It's telling you something is wrong with a part of your network. Instead of blindly rebooting, learn to "listen" to the information it's conveying. In this era of interconnected everything, the ability to diagnose network problems has become a fundamental skill for digital life. Remember: A good network isn't one without problems; it's one where you can quickly locate and solve them.

Similar Blogs:

• VMware vSphere Monitoring and Health Guide
     

• VMware KB – Host Hardware Health Issues
   

• VMware Best Practices for Datastore Monitoring
  
  

Related Readings:

• VMware ESXi Cannot Expand VMFS Datastore
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/vmware-esxi-cannot-expand-vmfs.html

• VMware vCenter 503 Service Unavailable Fix
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/vmware-vcenter-503-service-unavailable.html

• Top 10 High-Risk Cloud & Virtualization Threats
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/top-10-high-risk-cloudvirtualization.html

You Think You’re Safe Because the Front Door Is Locked? Why Cloud & Backup Security Still Fails

Today, let's talk about "Server-Side Parameter Pollution". What is "Server-Side Parameter Pollution"?

Simply put, some websites have "internal APIs" hidden in their backend that are normally inaccessible from the outside. However, if the website "directly pastes" your input when sending requests to these internal APIs without proper security handling, problems can arise. It's like passing a note to someone without checking if extra lines have been secretly added to it.

In such cases, attackers can exploit vulnerabilities, for example:

• Silently modifying the original parameters;
• Causing the website to behave abnormally;
• Or even accessing data they shouldn't see.

How do you test for this type of vulnerability?

You can try inserting special characters like #, &, = into various input fields—such as after the question mark in a URL, in forms, request headers, or even within the URL path—and then observe if the website reacts abnormally.

For example, suppose there's a website that can search for users. You enter "peter" in the search box, and the browser sends a request like this:

 
GET /userSearch?name=peter&back=/home

At this point, the website backend will send another request to its internal API:

GET /users/search?name=peter&publicProfile=true

If the website doesn't perform security checks on your input, an attacker could influence or even control that internal request by constructing special input, thereby causing damage.

The challenge in discovering this type of vulnerability lies in how we can quickly and efficiently find parameter names and values that can pollute server requests. This has some similarities with the discovery and exploitation of hidden API parameters discussed earlier. To better distinguish the technical principles and exploitation methods between the two, the following describes their differences:

(1) Server-Side Parameter Pollution (SSPP)

Attack location: You attack request ①, aiming to pollute request ②.

Core principle: The website embeds the value you provide (e.g., name=peter) directly into the parameter value part of the request ② it generates, without security checks. The attacker injects delimiters (&, #) to truncate and add new parameters.

Analogy: You order takeout (request ①: "I want a serving of shredded pork with garlic sauce"). The restaurant owner directly writes your words into the order for the kitchen (request ②), and you write on the takeout order: "shredded pork with garlic sauce & add two extra servings of abalone & make it free". If the kitchen doesn't verify, you might succeed. You are polluting the "order content".

In the previous example:

Your input name=peter is placed directly after name= in the internal request. An SSPP attack would try to add &admin=true after peter, making the internal request become:

GET /users/search?name=peter&admin=true&publicProfile=true

(Attempting to add an administrator parameter)

(2) Discovery and Exploitation of Hidden API Parameters

Attack location: You try to directly guess or discover the structure and parameters of request ②.

Core principle: The internal API itself may have unpublished parameters used to control functionality. Attackers use various methods (such as analyzing frontend JS code, testing common parameter names, and exploiting information leaks) to discover these hidden parameters.

Analogy: You discover that the restaurant's order to the kitchen (request ②) might have "hidden options," like spice level=5, use premium ingredients=true. Although you don't directly modify the order content, you guess the names and usage of these options through various methods, then try to add these commands to your own takeout order (request ①), hoping the restaurant owner will copy them exactly.

In the previous example:

The attacker discovers that the internal API /users/search might accept an unpublished parameter includeSensitiveData=true, besides the known name and publicProfile parameters.

Then they might try in request ①:

GET /userSearch?name=peter&back=/home&includeSensitiveData=true

They hope the website will pass the entire key-value pair includeSensitiveData=true unchanged into internal request ②.

 Why “Front Door Security” Is No Longer Enough

Many organizations believe they are secure simply because:

• Firewalls are enabled

• VPN access is restricted

• Admin portals are protected

However, modern attackers rarely use the front door. They target backup systems, management consoles, APIs, and misconfigurations—areas often overlooked by traditional security models.

This false sense of safety is one of the biggest risks in cloud and virtualization environments.

 Common “Back Doors” Attackers Exploit

Even well-secured environments often expose hidden attack paths, including:

• Unprotected backup repositories

• Weak credentials on management consoles

• Excessive administrative privileges

• Missing MFA on backup software

• Insecure snapshot or replication access

These vulnerabilities allow attackers to bypass perimeter defenses entirely.

Why Backup Systems Are a Prime Target

Attackers increasingly focus on backup infrastructure because:

• It guarantees leverage during ransomware attacks

• It often has elevated privileges

• It’s rarely monitored like production systems

Once backups are compromised, recovery becomes impossible—turning an incident into a disaster.

👉 This makes backup security just as important as production security.

🔹 Backup & Ransomware Defense

• VBR Security Feature Deep Dive – Malware & Ransomware Protection
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/vbr-security-feature-deep-dive-malware.html

• Veeam v13 Malware Detection – Comprehensive Overview
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/v13-malware-detection-comprehensive.html

• Veeam Intelligence Functions – Smart Backup Automation
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/veeam-intelligence-function.html

🔹 Risk & Real-World Impact

• Top 10 High-Risk Cloud & Virtualization Security Threats
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/top-10-high-risk-cloudvirtualization.html

• Reviewing a Case Where Veeam Backup Failed
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/reviewing-case-where-veeam-backup.html

🔹  Trusted security references:

• CISA – Defense-in-Depth Strategy
  https://www.cisa.gov/defense-depth

• NIST Zero Trust Architecture (SP 800-207)
  https://www.nist.gov/publications/zero-trust-architecture

• Veeam Ransomware Trends Report
  https://www.veeam.com/ransomware-trends-report.html

[Article Notice]

• Purpose: This content is created solely for cybersecurity technology research and educational purposes.
• Red Line: Strictly prohibit using the knowledge in this article for any unauthorized illegal activities. Users must comply with relevant laws such as the "Cybersecurity Law."
• Responsibility: Any consequences arising from misuse of the techniques described herein are solely the responsibility of the user and are not associated with this public account or the author.
• Disclaimer: The content is for reference only. The author makes no guarantees regarding its accuracy or completeness.
• Reading this article signifies your agreement to the above terms.

Top 10 High-Risk Cloud & Virtualization Security Threats You Must Not Ignore

As the wave of digital transformation irreversibly pushes core business operations to the cloud, the dynamic and elastic infrastructure composed of virtualization and container technologies has become the invisible backbone of modern society. However, this "cloud continent" carrying limitless possibilities is facing unprecedented, precise attacks on its foundation in 2025. Security boundaries are no longer just dotted lines outlined by network firewalls but extend deep into the instruction sets of every hypervisor, every system call of container runtimes, and even the speculative execution pipelines of CPU microarchitectures.

1. Kubernetes Ingress-NGINX Admission Controller Remote Code Execution Vulnerability  

CVE ID: CVE-2025-1974  

Affected Products and Versions:  

• ingress-nginx controller: versions ≤ 1.11.4, version = 1.12.0  

CVSS Score: 9.8  

Description and Impact: A template injection vulnerability exists in the ingress-nginx controller. When processing validation requests for Ingress objects, insufficient input validation and filtering (e.g., for the uid field) allow attackers to inject arbitrary directives into the NGINX configuration. An attacker within the cluster network (e.g., via cloud VPC or container escape) can send malicious requests to the default-enabled ValidatingAdmissionWebhook service, injecting directives such as ssl_engine to force NGINX to load malicious shared libraries.

2. VMware ESXi, Workstation VMCI Heap Overflow Vulnerability (TOCTOU)  

CVE ID: CVE-2025-22224  

Affected Products and Versions:  

• VMware ESXi 7.0 < ESXi70U3s-24585291  

• VMware ESXi 8.0 < ESXi80U3d-24585383, ESXi80U2d-24585300  

• VMware Workstation 17.x < 17.6.3  

• VMware Fusion 13.x < 13.6.3  

• VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.x, 5.x  

• VMware Telco Cloud Platform 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.x  

CVSS Score: 9.3  

Description and Impact: This is a Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) vulnerability in the VMware Virtual Machine Communication Interface (VMCI), leading to heap memory overflow and out-of-bounds write. Successful exploitation results in VM Escape, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the host operating system, thereby threatening all virtual machines on the same host and the entire virtualization environment.

3. Docker Desktop Unauthorized Container Access / Container Escape Vulnerability  

CVE ID: CVE-2025-9074  

Affected Products and Versions:  

• Docker Desktop (Windows and macOS versions) < 4.44.3  

CVSS Score: 9.3  

Description and Impact: This is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) / unauthorized access vulnerability. Due to a failure in container isolation mechanisms, processes inside a container can access the host's Docker Engine API without authentication. An attacker from within a compromised container can send requests to the API to directly create and start a new privileged container capable of mounting the host's disk, requiring only a few simple HTTP requests. This attack does not rely on mounting the Docker socket, and enabling Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) does not defend against it.

4. Docker Compose Path Traversal Vulnerability Leading to Arbitrary File Overwrite  

CVE ID: CVE-2025-62725  

Affected Products and Versions:  

• Docker Compose all versions before v2.40.2 (excluding v2.40.2). Affected usage scenarios include: Docker Desktop, standalone Compose binaries, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud development environments.  

CVSS Score: 8.9  

Description and Impact: A critical path traversal design flaw. When parsing OCI Compose artifacts from remote repositories, Docker Compose unconditionally trusts embedded path annotations (e.g., com.docker.compose.extends).

5. VMware vCenter Server Post-Authentication Command Execution Vulnerability  

CVE ID: CVE-2025-41225  

Affected Products and Versions:  

• vCenter Server 7.0 < 7.0 U3v  

• vCenter Server 8.0 < 8.0 U3e  

• VMware Cloud Foundation (vCenter) 4.5.x and 5.x versions  

• VMware Telco Cloud series related versions  

CVSS Score: 8.8  

Description and Impact: This is an authenticated remote command execution vulnerability. After obtaining login access to vCenter Server and possessing special operation permissions such as "create or modify alerts" and "run scripts," an attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands on the vCenter Server operating system. Successful exploitation means the attacker can fully control the vCenter management server, potentially threatening all ESXi hosts and virtual machines managed by it, leading to data breaches, service disruptions, or using the server as a springboard for further attacks.

6. Helm Symlink Vulnerability Leading to Malicious Code Execution  

CVE ID: CVE-2025-53547  

Affected Products and Versions:  

• Helm: versions ≤ 3.18.3  

CVSS Score: 8.5  

Description and Impact: Helm is Kubernetes' package management tool. This is a symlink hijacking vulnerability. When executing the helm dependency update command, the program writes dependencies from Chart.yaml into the Chart.lock file but does not verify the file attributes of Chart.lock beforehand. An attacker can preset the Chart.lock file in the project as a symlink pointing to a user environment file (e.g., ~/.bashrc) and embed malicious commands in Chart.yaml. When the user updates dependencies, the malicious commands are written and contaminate the target environment file.

7. NVIDIA Container Toolkit Symlink Vulnerability Leading to Container Escape  

CVE ID: CVE-2025-23267  

Affected Products and Versions:  

• NVIDIA Container Toolkit: versions ≤ 1.17.7  

• NVIDIA GPU Operator: versions ≤ 25.3.0  

CVSS Score: 8.5  

Description and Impact: This is a symlink traversal vulnerability, categorized under CWE-59 "Improper Link Resolution Before File Access." The vulnerability is in the update-ldcache hook, which is used to update the cache after mounting GPU libraries inside a container. An attacker can create a container image containing malicious symlinks. When the container starts and executes this hook, the program follows these symlinks and writes to critical host files (e.g., /etc/ld.so.cache), achieving path traversal from inside the container to the host.

8. runc /dev/console Race Condition Container Escape Vulnerability  

CVE ID: CVE-2025-52565  

Affected Products and Versions:  

• v1.2.7 and earlier  

• v1.3.2 and earlier  

• v1.4.0-rc.2 and earlier  

CVSS Score: 8.4  

Description and Impact: runc has a path validation and race condition defect when bind-mounting the /dev/console device for a container, failing to adequately validate the target path. Through a malicious container image, an attacker can, at a specific moment during container startup, replace the container's /dev/pts/$n device with a symlink pointing to a sensitive file on the host (e.g., /proc/sys/kernel/core_pattern). This results in the host's critical file being mounted into the container with write permissions.

9. VMware Tools and VMware Aria Operations Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability  

CVE ID: CVE-2025-41244  

Affected Products and Versions:  

• VMware Tools: 11.x, 12.x, 13.x versions  

• VMware Aria Operations: 8.x, 5.x, 4.x, 3.x, 2.x versions  

• Related platforms: VMware Cloud Foundation (4.x, 5.x), VMware Telco Cloud Platform, and multiple other product lines  

CVSS Score: 7.8  

Description and Impact: VMware Tools' "Service Discovery" feature has a regular expression matching flaw. This flaw allows an attacker to place a malicious file with the same name as a critical system file in a writable directory (e.g., /tmp/), tricking VMware Tools into executing this malicious file with root privileges. A local attacker with low privileges on a virtual machine can use this vulnerability to escalate privileges to the highest administrator (root) level within the virtual machine.

10. VMSCAPE: Spectre-BTI-Based Virtual Machine Escape Vulnerability  

CVE ID: CVE-2025-40300  

Affected Products and Versions:  

• Affected CPUs: All AMD Zen 1 to Zen 5 architecture processors; Intel Coffee Lake and some earlier model processors.  

CVSS Score: 7.1  

Description and Impact: The first practical Spectre-BTI attack targeting unmodified, default-configured virtualization environments. It exploits isolation flaws in the branch predictor of modern CPUs (AMD Zen/Intel Coffee Lake) in virtualized scenarios, using a technique called Virtualized Branch Target Injection (vBTI) to corrupt the prediction state.

🔍 Why Cloud and Virtualization Risks Are Increasing

As enterprises accelerate cloud adoption and virtualization, attack surfaces grow rapidly.
Misconfigurations, unpatched platforms, and weak backup security make cloud and virtual environments prime targets for attackers.

Understanding the top high-risk cloud and virtualization threats is essential to maintaining business continuity and data protection.

🚨 Top Risk Categories Affecting Virtualized Environments

Most critical incidents fall into these categories:

• Insecure hypervisor configurations

• Weak access control and credential exposure

• Unprotected backup infrastructure

• Ransomware targeting virtual machines

• Lack of immutability and offline backups

These risks impact VMware, Hyper-V, and cloud-based workloads alike.

🧠 Why Backup Infrastructure Is a High-Value Target

Modern attacks increasingly focus on backup systems, not production servers.
If backups are compromised, recovery becomes impossible—even if production systems are restored.

This makes secure backup architecture a core part of any cloud security strategy.

🔹 Backup & Ransomware Security

• VBR Security Feature Deep Dive – Malware & Ransomware Protection
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/vbr-security-feature-deep-dive-malware.html

• Veeam v13 Malware Detection – Comprehensive Overview
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/v13-malware-detection-comprehensive.html

• Veeam Intelligence Functions – Smart Backup Automation
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/veeam-intelligence-function.html

🔹 Recovery & Failure Impact

• Reviewing a Case Where Veeam Backup Failed
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/reviewing-case-where-veeam-backup.html

• Veeam 12 Upgrade Failed – Root Cause Analysis
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/veeam-12-upgrade-failed-turns-out-to-be.html

Authority & Trust sources:

• CISA – Cloud Security Best Practices
  https://www.cisa.gov/cloud-security

• NIST Cloud Computing Security Reference
  https://www.nist.gov/cloud-computing

• VMware vSphere Security Guide
  https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-security

Which Veeam v13 ISO Should You Download? Complete Edition Selection Guide

Last week, a friend posted in a group chat: "Downloaded the Veeam V13 ISO, but the upgrade failed."

I asked him: "Which one did you download?"

He said: "The Veeam Data Platform Premium ISO, the 20 GB one."

I sighed and waved my hand: "You downloaded the wrong ISO file."

Core Change in V13: VDP Premium ISO Can No Longer Be Used

This change in V13 left many people confused at first.

In the past, when upgrading Veeam, no matter which ISO you downloaded, you could use it to upgrade the VBR server.

In V12, one Veeam Data Platform ISO worked for everything. Not anymore.

Starting with V13, the Veeam Data Platform Premium ISO cannot be used to upgrade VBR.

Honestly, this change was quite sudden. But if you didn't know and, like my friend, downloaded the 20 GB ISO only to find out it couldn't be used when you tried to upgrade—that's a waste of time.

Three Types of ISO—Don’t Mix Them Up Anymore

V13 now has three main types of ISO, each with completely different uses.

1. VBR ISO (Use This for Upgrades)

Filename: VeeamBackup&Replication_13.0.x.xxxx_[date].iso

Size: 16.56 GB

Purpose:

- Upgrade from V12 Windows to V13 Windows VBR

- Fresh install of Windows-based VBR

Remember: Want to upgrade VBR? Download this one.

2. VSA ISO (For New Linux Deployments)

Filename: VeeamSoftwareAppliance_13.0.x.xxxx_[date].iso

Size: 12.19 GB

Purpose:

- Deploy a pre-hardened Linux-based virtual appliance

- Only supports fresh deployments; does not support migrating configurations from V12

Remember: Want to use the Linux version of Veeam? Try it for new environments.

3. VDP Premium ISO (Complete Premium Edition)

Filename: VeeamDataPlatform_13.0.x.xxxx_[date].iso

Size: Includes VBR + Veeam ONE + VRO (full suite, approx. 18.8 GB)

Purpose:

- Fresh installation of the complete Veeam Data Platform environment

- Includes VBR + Veeam ONE + VRO

Use it for fresh installations of the full suite. Don’t choose this for upgrading VBR.

Three Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using VDPP ISO to Upgrade VBR

This is the most common one.

The reason is simple: In V12, that’s how it was done—you downloaded a VDP ISO and upgraded.

In V13, that habit is hard to break.

Result? You download 19 GB, wait forever, and then find there’s no upgrade option in the installer.

Solution: Re-download the VBR-specific ISO, the 16.56 GB one.

Mistake 2: Trying to Use VSA with Socket Licenses

VSA (Linux version) only supports VUL licenses.

If you still have old Socket licenses and want to use VSA?

Not possible.

Solution: Either keep using the Windows version of VBR (supports Socket licenses) or convert to VUL licenses when renewing.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Network Port Changes

V13 changed the network communication protocol.

It used Microsoft RPC and Microsoft WMI; now it uses gRPC.

NTLM authentication is also deprecated, replaced by Kerberos.

If you don’t check your firewall rules, you might find backup tasks can’t connect after upgrading.

Solution: Check the official documentation before upgrading to confirm which ports need to be open.

Check these 5 things before downloading

Recommendations

Don’t Rush into VSA

VSA (Linux version) is a major feature of V13—pre-hardened, auto-updating, high security.

But keep these points in mind:

- V13 doesn’t support configuration migration; only fresh deployments

- Some advanced features aren’t yet supported in the web console

- Is your team more familiar with Windows or Linux?

If your current VBR is running smoothly, I recommend:

- Windows users stick with the Windows version of V13

- Consider VSA for new environments

- Give VSA some time to mature

Three Specific Suggestions

1. Test First in a Lab Environment

Don’t upgrade directly in production.

Run through the process in a test environment first and iron out any issues ahead of time.

2. Check the Filename Before Downloading

VeeamBackup&Replication_... → This is the VBR upgrade ISO

VeeamDataPlatform_... → This is the full suite ISO

Don’t mix them up again.

3. Keep Old ISOs for at Least a Year

Veeam’s official site usually only offers the latest version for download.

What if you run into issues and need to roll back? Or want to deploy a new environment with an older version?

Don’t delete the old ISOs after downloading the new one.

🔍 Why Choosing the Correct Veeam v13 ISO Matters

With Veeam Backup & Replication v13, multiple ISO options are available, each designed for different deployment scenarios.
Downloading the wrong ISO can lead to:

• Failed installations

• Missing components

• Unsupported upgrade paths

• Wasted deployment time

Understanding which Veeam v13 ISO you should download ensures a smooth and supported installation.

🔹 Veeam v13 Official Download Page

🔹 Veeam Backup & Replication v13 Documentation

🔹 Veeam Platform Support Matrix

🔹 Upgrade & Installation Related

• Veeam 12 Upgrade Failed – Root Cause Analysis
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/veeam-12-upgrade-failed-turns-out-to-be.html

• Veeam Agent Installation Error – Causes and Fixes
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/veeam-agent-installation-error.html

• Veeam Agent Push Error – Emergency Manual Installation
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/veeam-agent-push-error-emergency-manual.html

🔹 Security & Feature Context

• Veeam v13 Malware Detection – Comprehensive Overview
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/v13-malware-detection-comprehensive.html

• Veeam Intelligence Functions – Smart Backup Automation
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/veeam-intelligence-function.html

Veeam Agent Installation Error – Causes, Fixes, and Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Today, while backing up a file server using Veeam, I encountered an error during agent installation: "Agent is managed by another Veeam server."

Solution

1. Connect to the host that needs to be backed up, type "regedit" in the search box to open Registry Editor (run as administrator):

2. Locate Veeam's registry location HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Veeam, and delete the Veeam entry:

3. Then execute the agent installation again from the Veeam server:

At this point, the error about being managed by another Veeam server no longer appears, and the issue is resolved.

you can also refer to blog links to learn more details

Veeam Agent for Windows Documentation

Veeam Agent for Linux Documentation

🔍 Why Veeam Agent Installation Errors Are So Common

The Veeam Agent installation error usually appears in real-world environments with:

• Strict firewall rules

• Hardened security policies

• Incomplete OS prerequisites

• Failed push installations from VBR

Understanding the root cause is critical—reinstalling blindly often makes the issue worse.

🧠 Common Root Causes of Veeam Agent Installation Errors

Based on field experience, most failures fall into these categories:

• Missing OS dependencies (.NET, glibc, kernel headers)

• Blocked network ports (RPC, SMB, SSH)

• Insufficient privileges or expired credentials

• Antivirus or EDR is blocking the installer

• Corrupted installer cache or interrupted push deployment

Identifying the correct category saves significant troubleshooting time.

🛠 Practical Troubleshooting Checklist

Before retrying installation, verify the following:

• OS version is supported by the installed Veeam version

• Firewall allows required ports (135/445 for Windows, 22 for Linux)

• The endpoint has enough disk space

• Antivirus exclusions are configured for Veeam directories

• DNS and hostname resolution work correctly

This checklist alone resolves a large percentage of installation failures.

🔹 Directly Related (Highly Recommended)

• Veeam Agent Push Error – Emergency Manual Installation
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/veeam-agent-push-error-emergency-manual.html

• Reviewing a Case Where Veeam Backup Failed
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/reviewing-case-where-veeam-backup.html

🔹 Security & Reliability Context

• Making VBR Login More Secure – Complete Guide
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/09/making-vbr-login-more-secure-complete.html

• VBR Security Feature Deep Dive – Malware & Ransomware
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/vbr-security-feature-deep-dive-malware.html

Practical Method for Resetting vCenter Password – Safe Recovery Without Reinstall

 Introduction

Recently, while upgrading a customer's vCenter, I encountered a situation where the root password was unknown. The customer also asked around but couldn't find it. To recover this root password, I did some research, and today I'm sharing it here. The practical environment for this operation: VMware vSphere vCenter 8.0.

Steps:

1. Use the Administrator@vsphere.local account to log in to https://vCenterIP:5480.

2. Navigate to the "Access" tab and check whether vCenter SSH login is enabled. If SSH remote access is not activated, click "Edit" and enable "Activate SSH Login."

3. Use the Administrator@vsphere.local account to SSH remotely into the vCenter server.

4. Type "shell.set --enabled true" to enable the shell function.

 
shell.set--enabled true

5. Type "shell" to enter the shell bash interface.

6. Use "sudo passwd root" to update the root password. Enter the new password twice.

7. Sometimes the account might be locked, so we need to unlock it first.

version before 8.0 u2 

 
sudo pam_tally2 --user=root --reset

version after 8.0 u2 (include 8.0 u2)

 
sudo /usr/sbin/faillock --user root --reset

Your Can Refer to this VMware official document:

• VMware Official vCenter Password Recovery Documentation
  https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/index.html

• VMware vCSA Security & Access Management
  https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-security

🔍 Why vCenter Password Reset Is a Common Admin Challenge

Password-related lockouts are one of the most frequent vCenter operational issues, especially in environments with:

• Password expiration policies

• Staff turnover

• MFA misconfiguration

• Limited documentation

Using a practical and supported vCenter password reset method helps administrators restore access without risking data loss or reinstallation.

---

🛠 Common Scenarios That Require Resetting vCenter Passwords

You may need to reset a vCenter password when:

• The root or administrator password is forgotten

• vCenter services are running, but the login fails

• Password expired, and SSH access is blocked

• Appliance shell is disabled

• Access is needed urgently during outages

This practical reset approach minimizes downtime and avoids unnecessary rebuilds.

---

✅ Best Practices Before Resetting vCenter Passwords

Before performing a password reset, always:

• Take a snapshot of the vCenter appliance

• Ensure console access via ESXi or vSphere

• Confirm the exact vCenter version

• Schedule a maintenance window if possible

These steps reduce the risk of recovery and help ensure a smooth reset process.

🔹 Password & Recovery Related

• vCenter 8.0 Password Recovery from GRUB
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/vcenter-80-password-recovery-from-grub.html

• How to Reset VMware vCenter 6.7 Root Password
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/09/how-to-reset-vmware-vcenter-67-root.html

🔹 Service & Access Troubleshooting

• VMware vCenter 503 Service Unavailable – Troubleshooting Guide
  https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/vmware-vcenter-503-service-unavailable.html

• Practical Method for Resetting vCenter Password

Veeam 12 Upgrade Failed – Root Cause Analysis and How the Issue Was Finally Resolved

Recently, due to security vulnerabilities, I was performing an upgrade to Veeam Backup & Replication version 12.3. Today, upgrading one Veeam instance failed. This article documents the analysis process and the solution.

Problem Analysis

According to the prompt, checking the log (SetupBackupCheckerBR_26_10_2025_20_50_44.log) shows the error content:

ERROR [PGSQL] 28000: SSPI authentication failed for user "postgres" (Npgsql.PostgresException)

From the error message, it can be seen that error code 28000 indicates authentication failure, and SSPI (Security Support Provider Interface) is an authentication mechanism used by Windows. This error is a PostgreSQL database authentication failure. Some possible causes for the error are:

• Windows user mismatch
• pg_hba.conf configuration issue
• Service account permission issues

I suspected it was due to a Windows user mismatch because I was logged in with my own domain account, while the account that installed this VBR was a different one. Since there was no authorization, it couldn't connect to the PostgreSQL instance.

So I checked the Veeam official explanation:

This error occurs when the account used to interact with the PostgreSQL instance is not authorized.

Sure enough, since my account wasn't authorized, it naturally couldn't perform the upgrade operation. The solution is quite simple: use the account that deployed the VBR installation to perform the upgrade operation.

Checking the C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\15\data\pg_ident.conf configuration file:

This configuration file records the domain account used during the VBR installation. I didn't have the password for this account, and the colleague who owned it had already left the company, so it couldn't be used. In this case, the only option was to add a new domain account. You can refer to the following steps.

Solution

Check the Veeam PostgreSQL log (C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\15\data\log), scroll to the end where the error occurred:

Add the above domain account to the C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\15\data\pg_ident.conf configuration file:

Save the file, then re-run the upgrade operation:

Problem solved, upgrade completed.

If the hostname of the VBR host has been changed, you might also encounter this issue and need to update the pg_ident.conf file.

Note: Starting from Veeam 12, the underlying data storage can use a PostgreSQL database.

Why Veeam 12 Upgrade Failures Are Often Misleading

Many administrators assume a Veeam 12 upgrade failure is caused by installer bugs or corrupted packages. In reality, upgrade errors are frequently triggered by environmental issues such as:

• Insufficient disk space on system or configuration volumes

• Leftover services or locked processes

• Repository metadata inconsistencies

• Unsupported OS or missing prerequisites

These hidden problems often surface only during the upgrade process, making root cause analysis critical.

Key Lessons Learned from This Veeam 12 Upgrade Case

This case highlights several important upgrade best practices:

• Always validate disk space and file system health before upgrading

• Stop all Veeam-related services cleanly

• Check Windows Event Viewer and Veeam logs, not just installer messages

• Do not ignore “non-critical” warnings shown during pre-checks

Veeam upgrades are reliable—but only when the environment is clean.

✅ Recommended Pre-Upgrade Checklist for Veeam 12

Before upgrading Veeam Backup & Replication, ensure:

• Backup repositories are online and healthy

• No active backup or replication jobs are running

• Windows updates are completed

• Antivirus exclusions are configured for Veeam directories

• A configuration backup has been taken

📌 External reference (Veeam official upgrade guide):
https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backup/vsphere/upgrade_vbr.html

 

vCenter 8.0 Password Recovery from GRUB – Step-by-Step Root Access Guide

A few days ago, I installed vCenter 8.0 to use as a lab environment, but after installation, I found that no matter what password I entered, it was incorrect. After several attempts, I realized I had remembered the wrong password, so I'm documenting this article to help myself and others figure out what to do when you forget your vCenter password.

This article outlines the steps to reset the root password on the ESXi host where vCenter is installed, including reboot procedures, modifying command-line options, and using vDCA to generate a new administrator password.

Introduction

Losing administrative access to VMware vCenter 8.0 can quickly turn into a critical outage. Fortunately, VMware provides a supported way to recover the vCenter root password using GRUB mode, allowing administrators to regain control without reinstalling the vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA).

This guide explains how vCenter 8.0 password recovery from GRUB works, when to use it, and best practices to avoid future lockouts.

Resetting the root account password

1. First, to reset the root password, log in to the ESXi host where vCenter is installed and reboot vCenter.

2. Open the virtual console. When the Photon interface appears, press the "e" key to enter the "Options" settings.

3. After pressing "e", the GNU GRUB interface appears.

4. Add "rw init=/bin/bash" after "fips=1", then press "F10" or "Ctrl+X" to boot into the system.

   This mounts the root filesystem in read-write mode (rw) and specifies the system initialization process as the bash shell (init=/bin/bash), bypassing the normal login process and directly entering a command-line environment with root privileges, used for system troubleshooting (such as resetting passwords, modifying configuration files, etc.).

5. Enter the following commands in sequence:

   mount -o remount,rw / (Remount the already mounted filesystem with read-write permissions to the root directory)

   passwd root (Change the root password)

   Enter the new password

   Enter the new password again

   umount / (Unmount the root filesystem)

   reboot -f (Force reboot the system)

 
mount -o remount,rw / 
passwd root
New password
Retype new password
umount /
reboot -f

Modifying the vCenter password

1. Open the virtual console and press "Alt+F1" to enter the vc command-line interface.

2. Log in with the root account using the newly reset root password.

3. Enter "shell" to enable BASH.

4. Use the "vdcadmintool" command tool to reset the password. Enter the command "/usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/bin/vdcadmintool".

5. Select option 3, "Reset account password", to reset the account password. Enter "3" and press "Enter".

6. Enter "administrator@vsphere.local" and press "Enter". A random password will be generated.

7. Copy the generated random password, open the vc page in a browser, and log in.

8. After entering vc, click the account icon in the upper right corner and select "Change Password".

9. After changing the password, click confirm.

Conclusion

The vCenter 8.0 account password reset process is now complete. For newcomers to the IT field, especially those getting familiar with data center infrastructure, small issues like forgetting a password are actually great opportunities to understand the underlying system logic. It helps you better understand vCenter's boot process, the role of command-line tools (like passwd and vdcadmintool), and more.

However, prevention is always better than recovery—secure your vCenter access, monitor password policies, and document emergency procedures to stay in control of your virtual infrastructure.

Related troubleshooting guide:
https://anfuitblog.blogspot.com/2025/09/how-to-reset-vmware-vcenter-67-root.html