Layer 2 Switch Security Requirements Guide

Overview

VersionDateFinding Count (28)Downloads
32025-03-05CAT I (High): 1CAT II (Medium): 23CAT III (Low): 4
STIG Description
This Security Requirements Guide is published as a tool to improve the security of Department of Defense (DOD) information systems. The requirements are derived from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 800-53 and related documents. Comments or proposed revisions to this document should be sent via email to the following address: disa.stig_spt@mail.mil.
ClassifiedPublicSensitive
I - Mission Critical ClassifiedI - Mission Critical PublicI - Mission Critical Sensitive
II - Mission Support ClassifiedII - Mission Support PublicII - Mission Support Sensitive
III - Administrative ClassifiedIII - Administrative PublicIII - Administrative Sensitive

Findings - MAC I - Mission Critical Classified

Finding IDSeverityTitleDescription
V-206646
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must be configured to disable non-essential capabilities.A compromised switch introduces risk to the entire network infrastructure as well as data resources that are accessible via the network. The perimeter...
V-206648
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must authenticate all VLAN Trunk Protocol (VTP) messages with a hash function using the most secured cryptographic algorithm available.VLAN Trunk Protocol (VTP) provides central management of VLAN domains, thus reducing administration in a switched network. When configuring a new VLAN...
V-206649
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must manage excess bandwidth to limit the effects of packet flooding types of denial of service (DoS) attacks.Denial of service is a condition when a resource is not available for legitimate users. Packet flooding DDoS attacks are referred to as volumetric att...
V-206650
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must be configured to fail securely in the event of an operational failure.If the switch fails in an unsecure manner (open), unauthorized traffic originating externally to the enclave may enter or the device may permit unauth...
V-206653
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must authenticate all network-connected endpoint devices before establishing any connection.Without authenticating devices, unidentified or unknown devices may be introduced, thereby facilitating malicious activity. For distributed architect...
V-206655
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have BPDU Guard enabled on all user-facing or untrusted access switch ports.If a rogue switch is introduced into the topology and transmits a Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) with a lower bridge priority than the existing root...
V-206656
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have STP Loop Guard enabled on all non-designated STP switch ports.The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) loop guard feature provides additional protection against STP loops. An STP loop is created when an STP blocking port...
V-206657
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have Unknown Unicast Flood Blocking (UUFB) enabled.Access layer switches use the Content Addressable Memory (CAM) table to direct traffic to specific ports based on the VLAN number and the destination ...
V-206658
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have DHCP snooping for all user VLANs to validate DHCP messages from untrusted sources.In an enterprise network, devices under administrative control are trusted sources. These devices include the switches, routers, and servers in the ne...
V-206659
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have IP Source Guard enabled on all user-facing or untrusted access switch ports.IP Source Guard provides source IP address filtering on a Layer 2 port to prevent a malicious host from impersonating a legitimate host by assuming th...
V-206660
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have Dynamic Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) Inspection (DAI) enabled on all user VLANs.DAI intercepts Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests and verifies that each of these packets has a valid IP-to-MAC address binding before updatin...
V-206663
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must implement Rapid STP where VLANs span multiple switches with redundant links.Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is implemented on bridges and switches to prevent layer 2 loops when a broadcast domain spans multiple bridges and switch...
V-206664
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must enable Unidirectional Link Detection (UDLD) to protect against one-way connections.In topologies where fiber optic interconnections are used, physical misconnections can occur that allow a link to appear to be up when there is a mism...
V-206665
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have all trunk links enabled statically.When trunk negotiation is enabled via Dynamic Trunk Protocol (DTP), considerable time can be spent negotiating trunk settings (802.1q or ISL) when a n...
V-206666
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have all disabled switch ports assigned to an unused VLAN.It is possible that a disabled port that is assigned to a user or management VLAN becomes enabled by accident or by an attacker and as a result gains ...
V-206667
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must not have the default VLAN assigned to any host-facing switch ports.In a VLAN-based network, switches use the default VLAN (i.e., VLAN 1) for in-band management and to communicate with other networking devices using Sp...
V-206668
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have the default VLAN pruned from all trunk ports that do not require it.The default VLAN (i.e., VLAN 1) is a special VLAN used for control plane traffic such as Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP), Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP)...
V-206669
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must not use the default VLAN for management traffic.Switches use the default VLAN (i.e., VLAN 1) for in-band management and to communicate with directly connected switches using Spanning-Tree Protocol (...
V-206670
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have all user-facing or untrusted ports configured as access switch ports.Double encapsulation can be initiated by an attacker who has access to a switch port belonging to the native VLAN of the trunk port. Knowing the victi...
V-206671
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have the native VLAN assigned to an ID other than the default VLAN for all 802.1q trunk links.VLAN hopping can be initiated by an attacker who has access to a switch port belonging to the same VLAN as the native VLAN of the trunk link connectin...
V-216507
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must be configured in accordance with the security configuration settings based on DoD security configuration or implementation guidance, including STIGs, NSA configuration guides, CTOs, and DTMs.Configuring the network device to implement organization-wide security implementation guides and security checklists ensures compliance with federal s...
V-263667
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must implement physically or logically separate subnetworks to isolate organization-defined critical system components and functions.Separating critical system components and functions from other noncritical system components and functions through separate subnetworks may be necessa...
V-263668
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must establish organization-defined alternate communications paths for system operations organizational command and control.An incident, whether adversarial- or nonadversarial-based, can disrupt established communications paths used for system operations and organizational ...
V-206654
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have Root Guard enabled on all switch ports connecting to access layer switches and hosts.Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) does not provide any means for the network administrator to securely enforce the topology of the switched network. Any sw...
V-206661
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have Storm Control configured on all host-facing switch ports.A traffic storm occurs when packets flood a LAN, creating excessive traffic and degrading network performance. Traffic storm control prevents network ...
V-206662
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must have IGMP or MLD Snooping configured on all VLANsIGMP and MLD snooping provides a way to constrain multicast traffic at Layer 2. By monitoring the IGMP or MLD membership reports sent by hosts within ...
V-206672
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must not have any switch ports assigned to the native VLAN.Double encapsulation can be initiated by an attacker who has access to a switch port belonging to the native VLAN of the trunk port. Knowing the victi...
V-206647
LOWMEDIUMHIGH
The layer 2 switch must uniquely identify all network-connected endpoint devices before establishing any connection.Controlling LAN access via 802.1x authentication can assist in preventing a malicious user from connecting an unauthorized PC to a switch port to inje...