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

The ESXi host when using Host Profiles and/or Auto Deploy must use the vSphere Authentication Proxy to protect passwords when adding themselves to Active Directory.

DISA Rule

SV-258795r959010_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258795

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-VMM-002000

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000240

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000366 - Implement the security configuration settings.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

From the vSphere Client, go to Home >> Policies and Profiles >> Host Profiles.

Click a Host Profile >> Configure >> Security and Services >> Security Settings >> Authentication Configuration >> Active Directory Configuration.

Click "Edit Host Profile...". Set the "Join Domain Method" to "Use vSphere Authentication Proxy to add the host to domain" and provide the IP address of the vSphere Authentication Proxy server.

Click "Save".

Check Contents

For environments that do not use vCenter server to manage ESXi, this is not applicable.

If the organization is not using Host Profiles to join Active Directory, this is not applicable.

From the vSphere Client, go to Home >> Policies and Profiles >> Host Profiles.

Click a Host Profile >> Configure >> Security and Services >> Security Settings >> Authentication Configuration >> Active Directory Configuration >> Join Domain Method.

If the method used to join hosts to a domain is not set to "Use vSphere Authentication Proxy to add the host to domain", this is a finding.

or

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

Get-VMHost | Select Name, ` @{N="HostProfile";E={$_ | Get-VMHostProfile}}, ` @{N="JoinADEnabled";E={($_ | Get-VmHostProfile).ExtensionData.Config.ApplyProfile.Authentication.ActiveDirectory.Enabled}}, ` @{N="JoinDomainMethod";E={(($_ | Get-VMHostProfile).ExtensionData.Config.ApplyProfile.Authentication.ActiveDirectory | Select -ExpandProperty Policy | Where {$_.Id -eq "JoinDomainMethodPolicy"}).Policyoption.Id}}

If "JoinADEnabled" is "True" and "JoinDomainMethod" is not "FixedCAMConfigOption", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258795

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000240

Severity Override Guidance

For environments that do not use vCenter server to manage ESXi, this is not applicable.

If the organization is not using Host Profiles to join Active Directory, this is not applicable.

From the vSphere Client, go to Home >> Policies and Profiles >> Host Profiles.

Click a Host Profile >> Configure >> Security and Services >> Security Settings >> Authentication Configuration >> Active Directory Configuration >> Join Domain Method.

If the method used to join hosts to a domain is not set to "Use vSphere Authentication Proxy to add the host to domain", this is a finding.

or

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

Get-VMHost | Select Name, ` @{N="HostProfile";E={$_ | Get-VMHostProfile}}, ` @{N="JoinADEnabled";E={($_ | Get-VmHostProfile).ExtensionData.Config.ApplyProfile.Authentication.ActiveDirectory.Enabled}}, ` @{N="JoinDomainMethod";E={(($_ | Get-VMHostProfile).ExtensionData.Config.ApplyProfile.Authentication.ActiveDirectory | Select -ExpandProperty Policy | Where {$_.Id -eq "JoinDomainMethodPolicy"}).Policyoption.Id}}

If "JoinADEnabled" is "True" and "JoinDomainMethod" is not "FixedCAMConfigOption", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5562