The vCenter Server must remove unauthorized port mirroring sessions on distributed switches.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-258965 | VCSA-80-000300 | SV-258965r961863_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| The vSphere Distributed Virtual Switch can enable port mirroring sessions allowing traffic to be mirrored from one source to a destination. If port mirroring is configured unknowingly this could allow an attacker to observe network traffic of virtual machines. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| VMware vSphere 8.0 vCenter Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-06-09 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-258965r961863_chk)
If distributed switches are not used, this is not applicable.
From the vSphere Client, go to "Networking".
Select a distributed switch >> Configure >> Settings >> Port Mirroring.
Review any configured "Port Mirroring" sessions.
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the vCenter server, run the following command:
Get-VDSwitch | select Name,@{N="Port Mirroring Sessions";E={$_.ExtensionData.Config.VspanSession.Name}}
If there are any unauthorized port mirroring sessions configured, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-62614r934552_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to "Networking".
Select a distributed switch >> Configure >> Settings >> Port Mirroring.
Select the unauthorized "Port Mirroring" session and click "Remove". Click "OK".