The ESXi host must be configured to disable nonessential capabilities by disabling the ESXi shell.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-258755 | ESXI-80-000194 | SV-258755r933326_rule | CCI-000381 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| The ESXi Shell is an interactive command line environment available locally from the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) or remotely via SSH. Activities performed from the ESXi Shell bypass vCenter role-based access control (RBAC) and audit controls. The ESXi shell must only be turned on when needed to troubleshoot/resolve problems that cannot be fixed through the vSphere client. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2023-10-11 | |||
Related Frameworks
3 paths across 3 frameworks
Related Frameworks
NIST 800-531 mapping
CM-7
1.00
- DISA · V1R1 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
NIST 800-1711 mapping
3.4.6
1.00
- DISA · V1R1 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
CCI1 mapping
CCI-000381
1.00
- DISA · V1R1 · disa_xccdf · related
Details
Check Text (C-258755r933326_chk)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.
Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Services.
Under Services, locate the "ESXi Shell" service and verify it is "Stopped".
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command:
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "ESXi Shell"}
If the ESXi Shell service is "Running", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-62404r933325_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.
Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Services.
Under "Services", select the "ESXi Shell" service and click the "Stop" button.
Click the "Edit Startup policy..." button.
Select the "Start and stop manually" radio button.
Click "OK".
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following commands:
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "ESXi Shell"} | Set-VMHostService -Policy Off
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "ESXi Shell"} | Stop-VMHostService