STIGQter: STIG Summary: VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 4 Benchmark Date: 02 Apr 2025:

The ESXi host must disable ESXi Shell unless needed for diagnostics or troubleshooting.

DISA Rule

SV-256401r958478_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-256401

Group Title

SRG-OS-000095-VMM-000480

Rule Version

ESXI-70-000036

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000381 - Configure the system to provide only organization-defined mission essential capabilities.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Services.

Under "Services", select the "ESXi Shell" service and click the "Stop" button.

Click the "Edit Startup policy..." button.

Select the "Start and stop manually" radio button.

Click "OK".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "ESXi Shell"} | Set-VMHostService -Policy Off
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "ESXi Shell"} | Stop-VMHostService

Check Contents

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Services.

Under "Services", locate the "ESXi Shell" service and verify it is "Stopped".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "ESXi Shell"}

If the ESXi Shell service is "Running", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-256401

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-70-000036

Severity Override Guidance

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Services.

Under "Services", locate the "ESXi Shell" service and verify it is "Stopped".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "ESXi Shell"}

If the ESXi Shell service is "Running", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5518