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The vCenter Server must disable CDP/LLDP on distributed switches.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-258964VCSA-80-000299SV-258964r961863_ruleCCI-000366low
Description
The vSphere Distributed Virtual Switch can participate in Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) or Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP), as a listener, advertiser, or both. The information is sensitive, including IP addresses, system names, software versions, and more. It can be used by an adversary to gain a better understanding of your environment, and to impersonate devices. It is also transmitted unencrypted on the network, and as such the recommendation is to disable it.
STIGDate
VMware vSphere 8.0 vCenter Security Technical Implementation Guide2026-05-23

Related Frameworks

1 mapping across 5 frameworks
SCF0 mappings

No source states a mapping between these directly.

Also reachable in 3 hops (8) derived by us, not asserted by any source

Each of these is a route we composed by chaining published mappings. No publisher states a relationship between the two endpoints.

CFG-01Configuration Management Program
1.00
END-01Endpoint Device Management (EDM)
1.00
END-04Malicious Code Protection (Anti-Malware)
1.00
END-06Endpoint File Integrity Monitoring (FIM)
1.00
MON-01Continuous Monitoring
1.00
MON-01.7File Integrity Monitoring (FIM)
1.00
CFG-02Secure Baseline Configurations
0.50
CFG-02.7Approved Configuration Deviations
0.50
NIST 800-530 mappings

No source states a mapping between these directly.

Also reachable in 2 hops (100) derived by us, not asserted by any source

Each of these is a route we composed by chaining published mappings. No publisher states a relationship between the two endpoints.

AC-12Session Termination
1.00
AC-16(1)Dynamic Attribute Association
1.00
AC-17(1)Monitoring and Control
1.00
AC-2Account Management
1.00
AC-2(1)Automated System Account Management
1.00
AC-2(11)Usage Conditions
1.00
AC-2(3)Disable Accounts
1.00
AC-2(4)Automated Audit Actions
1.00
AC-24(1)Transmit Access Authorization Information
1.00
AC-25Reference Monitor
1.00

+90 more (top 10 by confidence shown)

NIST 800-1710 mappings

No source states a mapping between these directly.

Also reachable in 3 hops (2) derived by us, not asserted by any source

Each of these is a route we composed by chaining published mappings. No publisher states a relationship between the two endpoints.

3.4.1
1.00
3.4.2
1.00
CCI1 mapping
CCI-000366
1.00
NIST CSF 2.00 mappings

No source states a mapping between these directly.

Also reachable in 3 hops (5) derived by us, not asserted by any source

Each of these is a route we composed by chaining published mappings. No publisher states a relationship between the two endpoints.

DE.CM-09
1.00
PR.PS-01
1.00
PR.DS-10
0.50
PR.PSPlatform Security
0.50
PR.PS-05
0.50

Who does this work

10 NICE work roles and 9 EC-Council certifications.

This is an inference across published mappings, not a single claim by anyone. This check maps to a control, which maps to a Cybersecurity Framework outcome, which NIST assigns to the work roles below. EC-Council separately maps its certifications to those same roles.

A certification prepares someone for a role. It is not evidence that a holder is qualified, and neither NIST nor EC-Council has stated that any certification here addresses this check.

Work-role assignments published by NIST (NICE Framework Components 2.2.0 and the CSF 2.0 OLIR crosswalk). Certification mappings published by EC-Council.

Details

Check Text (C-258964r961863_chk)

If distributed switches are not used, this is not applicable. From the vSphere Client, go to "Networking". Select a distributed switch >> Configure >> Settings >> Properties. Review the "Discovery Protocol" configuration. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the vCenter server, run the following command: Get-VDSwitch | Select Name,LinkDiscoveryProtocolOperation If any distributed switch does not have "Discovery Protocols" disabled, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-62613r934549_fix)

From the vSphere Client, go to "Networking". Select a distributed switch >> Configure >> Settings >> Properties. Click "Edit". Select the advanced tab and update the "Type" under "Discovery Protocol" to disabled and click "OK". or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the vCenter server, run the following command: Get-VDSwitch -Name "DSwitch" | Set-VDSwitch -LinkDiscoveryProtocolOperation "Disabled"