Unauthorized USB devices must be disconnected on the virtual machine (VM).
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-256461 | VMCH-70-000012 | SV-256461r959010_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Ensure no device is connected to a virtual machine if it is not required. For example, floppy, serial, and parallel ports are rarely used for virtual machines in a data center environment, and CD/DVD drives are usually connected only temporarily during software installation. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| VMware vSphere 7.0 Virtual Machine Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2024-12-16 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-256461r959010_chk)
From the vSphere Client, right-click the Virtual Machine and go to "Edit Settings".
Review the VM's hardware and verify no USB devices exist.
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host or vCenter server, run the following commands:
Get-VM | Where {$_.ExtensionData.Config.Hardware.Device.DeviceInfo.Label -match "usb"}
Get-VM | Get-UsbDevice
If a virtual machine has any USB devices or USB controllers present, this is a finding.
If USB smart card readers are used to pass smart cards through the VM console to a VM, the use of a USB controller and USB devices for that purpose is not a finding.
Fix Text (F-60079r886425_fix)
From the vSphere Client, right-click the Virtual Machine and go to "Edit Settings".
Select the USB controller, click the circled "X" to remove it, and click "OK".
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host or vCenter server, run the following command:
Get-VM "VM Name" | Get-USBDevice | Remove-USBDevice
Note: This will not remove the USB controller, just any connected devices.