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

Active Directory ESX Admin group membership must not be used when adding ESXi hosts to Active Directory.

DISA Rule

SV-256404r958482_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-256404

Group Title

SRG-OS-000104-VMM-000500

Rule Version

ESXI-70-000039

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000764 - Uniquely identify and authenticate organizational users and associate that unique identification with processes acting on behalf of those users.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Click "Edit". Select the "Config.HostAgent.plugins.hostsvc.esxAdminsGroup" key and configure its value to an appropriate Active Directory group other than "ESX Admins".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Config.HostAgent.plugins.hostsvc.esxAdminsGroup | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value <AD Group>

Check Contents

For systems that do not use Active Directory, this is not applicable.

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Select the "Config.HostAgent.plugins.hostsvc.esxAdminsGroup" value and verify it is not set to "ESX Admins".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Config.HostAgent.plugins.hostsvc.esxAdminsGroup

If the "Config.HostAgent.plugins.hostsvc.esxAdminsGroup" key is set to "ESX Admins", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-256404

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-70-000039

Severity Override Guidance

For systems that do not use Active Directory, this is not applicable.

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Select the "Config.HostAgent.plugins.hostsvc.esxAdminsGroup" value and verify it is not set to "ESX Admins".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Config.HostAgent.plugins.hostsvc.esxAdminsGroup

If the "Config.HostAgent.plugins.hostsvc.esxAdminsGroup" key is set to "ESX Admins", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5518