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 configure NTP time synchronization.

DISA Rule

SV-256409r1038976_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-256409

Group Title

SRG-OS-000355-VMM-001330

Rule Version

ESXI-70-000046

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000366 - Implement the security configuration settings.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration.

Under "Network Time Protocol", click "Edit...". Ensure the "NTP Servers" are authorized DOD time sources.

Ensure the "NTP Service Startup Policy" is set to "Start and stop with host".

Ensure the "Enable" checkbox, in the upper left, is checked. Click "OK".

Click "Edit" to configure the NTP service to start and stop with the host and with authoritative DOD time sources.

or

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

$NTPServers = "ntpserver1","ntpserver2"
Get-VMHost | Add-VMHostNTPServer $NTPServers
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} | Set-VMHostService -Policy On
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} | Start-VMHostService

Check Contents

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration.

Under "Current Time Configuration", verify "Time Synchronization" is set to "Network Time Protocol".

Under "Network Time Protocol", verify the "NTP Servers" are authorized DOD time sources.

If the ESXi host is not configured to pull time from authoritative DOD time sources, this is a finding.

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostNTPServer
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"}

If the NTP service is not configured with authoritative DOD time sources or the service does not have a "Policy" of "on" or is stopped, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-256409

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-70-000046

Severity Override Guidance

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Time Configuration.

Under "Current Time Configuration", verify "Time Synchronization" is set to "Network Time Protocol".

Under "Network Time Protocol", verify the "NTP Servers" are authorized DOD time sources.

If the ESXi host is not configured to pull time from authoritative DOD time sources, this is a finding.

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostNTPServer
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"}

If the NTP service is not configured with authoritative DOD time sources or the service does not have a "Policy" of "on" or is stopped, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5518