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 promiscuous mode requests.

DISA Rule

SV-258773r959010_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258773

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-VMM-002000

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000218

Severity

CAT II

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 "Promiscuous Mode" to "Reject". Click "OK".

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

Set "Promiscuous Mode" 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 -AllowPromiscuous $false
Get-VirtualPortGroup | Get-SecurityPolicy | Set-SecurityPolicy -AllowPromiscuousInherited $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 "Promiscuous Mode" 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 "Promiscuous Mode" 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-258773

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000218

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 "Promiscuous Mode" 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 "Promiscuous Mode" 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