STIGQter 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 virtual switch security policies to reject Media Access Control (MAC) address changes.

DISA Rule

SV-258772r959010_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258772

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-VMM-002000

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000217

Severity

CAT I

CCI(s)

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> Networking >> Virtual Switches.

On each standard switch, click "Edit" and select Security.

Set "MAC Address Changes" to "Reject". Click "OK".

For each port group, click the '...' button and select "Edit Settings" then Security.

Set "MAC Address Changes" to "Reject" and uncheck the "Override" box. Click "OK".

or

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

Get-VirtualSwitch | Get-SecurityPolicy | Set-SecurityPolicy -MacChanges $false
Get-VirtualPortGroup | Get-SecurityPolicy | Set-SecurityPolicy -MacChangesInherited $true

Check Contents

This control addresses ESXi standard switches. Distributed switches are addressed in the vCenter STIG. If there is no standard switch on the ESXi host, this is not applicable.

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> Networking >> Virtual Switches.

On each standard switch, click the '...' button next to each port group and select "Edit Settings".

Click the "Security" tab. Verify that "MAC Address Changes" is set to "Reject" and that "Override" is not checked.

or

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

Get-VirtualSwitch | Get-SecurityPolicy
Get-VirtualPortGroup | Get-SecurityPolicy | Select-Object *

If the "MAC Address Changes" policy is set to "Accept" (or "true", via PowerCLI) or the security policy inherited from the virtual switch is overridden, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258772

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000217

Severity Override Guidance

This control addresses ESXi standard switches. Distributed switches are addressed in the vCenter STIG. If there is no standard switch on the ESXi host, this is not applicable.

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> Networking >> Virtual Switches.

On each standard switch, click the '...' button next to each port group and select "Edit Settings".

Click the "Security" tab. Verify that "MAC Address Changes" is set to "Reject" and that "Override" is not checked.

or

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

Get-VirtualSwitch | Get-SecurityPolicy
Get-VirtualPortGroup | Get-SecurityPolicy | Select-Object *

If the "MAC Address Changes" policy is set to "Accept" (or "true", via PowerCLI) or the security policy inherited from the virtual switch is overridden, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5562