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 synchronize internal information system clocks to an authoritative time source.

DISA Rule

SV-258745r1038976_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258745

Group Title

SRG-OS-000355-VMM-001330

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000124

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-004923 - Compare the internal system clocks on an organization-defined frequency with organization-defined authoritative time source.
• CCI-004926 - Synchronize the internal system clocks to the authoritative time source when the time difference is greater than organization-defined time period.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

To configure NTP, perform the following:

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Click "Add Service" and select "Network Time Protocol".

Enter or update the NTP servers listed with a comma-separated list of authoritative time servers. Click "OK".

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Select the "NTP Daemon" service and click "Edit Startup Policy".

Select "Start and stop with host". Click "OK".

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

To configure PTP, perform the following:

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Click "Add Service" and select "Precision Time Protocol".

Select the network adapter that can receive the PTP traffic.

If NTP servers are available, select "Enable fallback" and enter or update the NTP servers listed with a comma separate list of authoritative time servers. Click "OK".

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Select the "PTP Daemon" service and click "Edit Startup Policy".

Select "Start and stop with host". Click "OK".

Check Contents

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Verify NTP or PTP are configured, and one or more authoritative time sources are listed.

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Verify the NTP or PTP service is running and configured to start and stop with the host.

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" -or $_.Label -eq "PTP Daemon"}

If the NTP service is not configured with authoritative DOD time sources or the service is not configured to start and stop with the host ("Policy" of "on" in PowerCLI) or is stopped, this is a finding.

If PTP is used instead of NTP, this is not a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258745

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000124

Severity Override Guidance

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Verify NTP or PTP are configured, and one or more authoritative time sources are listed.

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

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

Verify the NTP or PTP service is running and configured to start and stop with the host.

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" -or $_.Label -eq "PTP Daemon"}

If the NTP service is not configured with authoritative DOD time sources or the service is not configured to start and stop with the host ("Policy" of "on" in PowerCLI) or is stopped, this is a finding.

If PTP is used instead of NTP, this is not a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5562