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 use sufficient entropy for cryptographic operations.

DISA Rule

SV-258799r959010_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258799

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-VMM-002000

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000245

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000366 - Implement the security configuration settings.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

From an ESXi shell, run the following commands:

# esxcli system settings kernel set -s disableHwrng -v FALSE
# esxcli system settings kernel set -s entropySources -v 0

or

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

$esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2
$arguments = $esxcli.system.settings.kernel.set.CreateArgs()
$arguments.setting = "disableHwrng"
$arguments.value = "FALSE"
$esxcli.system.settings.kernel.set.invoke($arguments)
$arguments.setting = "entropySources"
$arguments.value = "0"
$esxcli.system.settings.kernel.set.invoke($arguments)

Reboot the ESXi host after updating entropy settings.

Check Contents

From an ESXi shell, run the following commands:

# esxcli system settings kernel list -o disableHwrng
# esxcli system settings kernel list -o entropySources

or

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

$esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2
$esxcli.system.settings.kernel.list.invoke() | Where {$_.Name -eq "disableHwrng" -or $_.Name -eq "entropySources"}

If "disableHwrng" is not set to "false", this is a finding.
If "entropySources" is not set to "0", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258799

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ESXI-80-000245

Severity Override Guidance

From an ESXi shell, run the following commands:

# esxcli system settings kernel list -o disableHwrng
# esxcli system settings kernel list -o entropySources

or

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

$esxcli = Get-EsxCli -v2
$esxcli.system.settings.kernel.list.invoke() | Where {$_.Name -eq "disableHwrng" -or $_.Name -eq "entropySources"}

If "disableHwrng" is not set to "false", this is a finding.
If "entropySources" is not set to "0", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5562