STIGQter: STIG Summary: VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 4 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

The ESXi host must uniquely identify and must authenticate organizational users by using Active Directory.

DISA Rule

SV-258737r1015919_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258737

Group Title

SRG-OS-000104-VMM-000500

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000049

Severity

CAT III

CCI(s)

• CCI-000764 - Uniquely identify and authenticate organizational users and associate that unique identification with processes acting on behalf of those users.
• CCI-004045 - Require users to be individually authenticated before granting access to the shared accounts or resources.
• CCI-001682 - Automatically removes or disables emergency accounts after an organization-defined time period for each type of account.
• CCI-001941 - Implement replay-resistant authentication mechanisms for access to privileged accounts and/or non-privileged accounts.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Click "Join Domain..." and enter the AD domain to join.

Select the "Using credentials" radio button and enter the credentials of an account with permissions to join machines to AD (use UPN naming "user@domain"). Click "OK".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostAuthentication | Set-VMHostAuthentication -JoinDomain -Domain "domain name" -User "username" -Password "password"

If any local user accounts are present besides root and service accounts, delete them by going to Host UI >> Manage >> Security & Users >> Users.

Check Contents

For systems that do not use Active Directory and have no local user accounts other than root and/or service accounts, this is not applicable.

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Verify the "Directory Services Type" is set to "Active Directory".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostAuthentication

For systems that do not use Active Directory and do have local user accounts, other than root and/or service accounts, this is a finding.

If the "Directory Services Type" is not set to "Active Directory", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258737

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000049

Severity Override Guidance

For systems that do not use Active Directory and have no local user accounts other than root and/or service accounts, this is not applicable.

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Verify the "Directory Services Type" is set to "Active Directory".

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostAuthentication

For systems that do not use Active Directory and do have local user accounts, other than root and/or service accounts, this is a finding.

If the "Directory Services Type" is not set to "Active Directory", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5562