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 configure the firewall to block network traffic by default.

DISA Rule

SV-258769r1003571_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258769

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-VMM-002000

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000214

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000366 - Implement the security configuration settings.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

From an ESXi shell, run the following command:

# esxcli network firewall set --default-action false --enabled true

or

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

$esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2
$arguments = $esxcli.network.firewall.set.CreateArgs()
$arguments.enabled = $true
$arguments.defaultaction = $false
$esxcli.network.firewall.set.Invoke($arguments)

Check Contents

From an ESXi shell, run the following command:

# esxcli network firewall get

or

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

$esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2
$esxcli.network.firewall.get.invoke()

If the "Default Action" does not equal "DROP", this is a finding.
If "Enabled" does not equal "true", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258769

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000214

Severity Override Guidance

From an ESXi shell, run the following command:

# esxcli network firewall get

or

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

$esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2
$esxcli.network.firewall.get.invoke()

If the "Default Action" does not equal "DROP", this is a finding.
If "Enabled" does not equal "true", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5562